• Torah (T): Shemot (Exodus) 25:1 – 26:30
• Prophets (P): Isaiah 66:1-13
• Apostolic (A): 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
• Additional (ADD): Tobit 13:10 – 14:5

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Ezra 2:68-70; 1 Chronicles 29:1-19 (T)
• 2 Corinthians 9:1-7 (T)
• Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 3:1-10; Genesis 21-24; Genesis 5:1-2 (T)
• Genesis 31:44-55 (T)
• 1 Kings 6:1-38 (T)
• 1 Kings 8:8-9 (T)
• Numbers 3:1-39; 4:1-49 (T)
• Hebrews 9:1-6 (T)
• Hebrews 8:1-5 (T)
• Acts 7:44-50 (T, H)
• 1 Kings 8:27-53 (H)
• Ezekiel 44:1-16 (H, T)
• Acts 17:24-25 (H)
• Luke 6:21 (H)
• Genesis 2:22-25 (A)
• John 2:19-21 (A)
• 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:18-22; Hebrews 3:1-6; 1 Peter 2:1-10 (A)
• 1 Corinthians 7:20-24 (A)

RELATED ADDITIONAL READINGS

• Wisdom of Solomon 9:1-18 (T)
• Wisdom of Solomon 13:1 – 14:31 (T)
• Judith 9:7-8 (T)
• Sirach 1:1-8 (H)
• Exodus 25:1 – 26:30 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 3.6.1-3 (T)

Note: (T) means the verse relates to that week’s Torah portion. (H) means the verse relates to that week’s Haftarah 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)

13:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Set apart to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and of animal. It is mine.” 3 Moses said to the people, “Remember this day, in which you came out of [the land of]^(DSS)(LXX) Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand YHWH brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. 4 Today you go out in the month Aviv. 5 It shall be, when YHWH [your Elohim]^(DSS)(LXX) brings you into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall serve this service in this month. 6 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to YHWH. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and no leavened bread shall be seen with you. No leaven shall be seen with you, within all your borders. 8 You shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘It is because of that which YHWH did for me when I came out of Egypt.' 9 It shall be for a sign to you on your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that the Torah of YHWH may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand YHWH has brought you out of Egypt. 10 You shall therefore guard this ordinance in its appointed time from year to year. 11 “It shall be, when YHWH [your Elohim]^(DSS)(LXX) brings you into the land of the Canaanite, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and will give it you, 12 that you shall cross over to YHWH all that opens the womb, and every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have. The males shall be YHWH's. 13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and you shall redeem all the firstborn of man among your sons. 14 It shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?' that you shall tell him, ‘By strength of hand YHWH brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage. 15 When Pharaoh made it hard to send us, YHWH killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of livestock. Therefore I slaughter to YHWH all that opens the womb, being males; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.' 16 It shall be for a sign on your hand, and for symbols between your eyes; for by strength of hand YHWH brought us out of Egypt.” 17 When Pharaoh had let the people go, Elohim didn't lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for Elohim said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and they return to Egypt”; 18 but Elohim led the people around by the way of the wilderness by the Sea at the End; and the sons of Israel went up [armed for battle]^(MTT) in fifties out of the land of Egypt. 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for [Joseph]^(LXX)(SP) had made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “Elohim will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones away from here with you.” 20 They took their journey from Sukkot, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. 21 [Elohim]^(LXX) 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.

Haftarah Portion (H)

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. 3 He who kills an ox is [as]^(LXX) he who kills a man; he who slaughters a lamb, as he who breaks a dog’s neck; he who offers an offering, as he who offers pig’s blood; he who burns frankincense, as he who blesses an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations. 4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears on them, because when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, they didn’t listen, but they did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I didn’t delight.” 5 Hear the word of YHWH, you who tremble at his word: “Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for my name’s sake, have said, ‘Let YHWH be glorified, that we may see your joy;’ but it is those who will be disappointed. 6 A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of YHWH that repays his enemies what they deserve. 7 “Before she travailed, she gave birth. Before her pain came, she delivered a son. 8 Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Will a land be born in one day? Will a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she gave birth to her children. 9 Will I bring to the birth, and not cause to be delivered?” says YHWH. “Will I who cause to give birth shut the womb?” says your Elohim. 10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her. Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn over her; 11 that you may nurse and be satisfied at the comforting breasts; that you may drink deeply, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.” 12 For YHWH says, “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream, and you will nurse. You will be carried on her side, and will be dandled on her knees. 13 As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you. You will be comforted in Jerusalem.”

Apostolic Portion (A)

6:12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are expedient. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be brought under the power of anything. 13 “Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods,” but Elohim will bring to nothing both it and them. But the body is not for whoring, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 Now Elohim raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Don’t you know that your bodies are members of Messiah? Will I then take the members of Messiah and make them members of a whore? May it never be! 16 Or don’t you know that he who is joined to a whore is one body? For, “The two”, he says, “will become one flesh.” (cf. Genesis 2:24) 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee whoring! “Every sin that a man does is outside the body,” but he who commits whoring sins against his own body. 19 Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from Elohim? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify Elohim in your body.^{(anc mss.)} and in your spirit, which are Elohim’s.

Additional Portion (ADD)

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.

13:10 Give thanks to the Lord with goodness, and bless the everlasting King, that his tabernacle may be built in you again with joy, and that he may make glad in you those who are captives, and love in you forever those who are miserable. 11 Many nations will come from afar to the name of the Lord Elohim with gifts in their hands, even gifts to the King of the heavens. Generations of generations will praise you, and sing songs of rejoicing. 12 All those who hate you are cursed. All those who love you forever will be blessed. 13 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for the sons of the righteous; for they will be gathered together and will bless the Lord of the righteous. 14 Oh blessed are those who love you. They will rejoice for your peace. Blessed are all those who sorrowed for all your scourges; because they will rejoice for you when they have seen all your glory. They will be made glad forever. 15 Let my soul bless Elohim the great King. 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, “Halleluyah!” and give praise, saying, “Blessed be Elohim, who has exalted you forever!”

14:1 Then Tobit finished giving thanks. 2 He was fifty-eight years old when he lost his sight. After eight years, he received it again. He gave alms and he feared the Lord Elohim more and more, and gave thanks to him. 3 Now he grew very old; and he called his son with the six sons of his son, and said to him, “My child, take your sons. Behold, I have grown old, and am ready to depart out of this life. 4 Go into Media, my child, for I surely believe all the things which Jonah the prophet spoke of Nineveh, that it will be overthrown, but in Media there will rather be peace for a season. Our kindred will be scattered in the land from the good land. Jerusalem will be desolate, and the house of Elohim in it will be burned up, and will be desolate for a time. 5 Elohim will again have mercy on them, and bring them back into the land, and they will build the house, but not like to the former house, until the times of that age are fulfilled. Afterward they will return from the places of their captivity, and build up Jerusalem with honor. The house of Elohim will be built in it forever with a glorious building, even as the prophets spoke concerning it.

Related Scriptures

Ezra 2:68 Some of the heads of fathers’ households, when they came to the house of YHWH which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for Elohim’s house to set it up in its place. 69 They gave according to their ability into the treasury of the work sixty-one thousand darics of gold, five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priests’ garments. 70 So the priests and the Levites, with some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants, lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

1 Chronicles 29:1 David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, whom alone Elohim has chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the temple is not for man, but for YHWH Elohim. 2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my Elohim the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, the bronze for the things of bronze, iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, also onyx stones, stones to be set, stones for inlaid work of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. 3 In addition, because I have set my affection on the house of my Elohim, since I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, I give it to the house of my Elohim, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house: 4 even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, with which to overlay the walls of the houses; 5 of gold for the things of gold, and of silver for the things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be made by the hands of artisans. Who then offers willingly to consecrate himself today to YHWH?” 6 Then the princes of the fathers’ households, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers over the king’s work, offered willingly; 7 and they gave for the service of Elohim’s house of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, of silver ten thousand talents, of bronze eighteen thousand talents, and of iron one hundred thousand talents. 8 People with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of YHWH, under the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 Then the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to YHWH; and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. 10 Therefore David blessed YHWH before all the assembly; and David said, “You are blessed, YHWH, the Elohim of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, YHWH, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty! For all that is in the heavens and in the land is yours. Yours is the reign, YHWH, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all! In your hand is power and might! It is in your hand to make great, and to give strength to all! 13 Now therefore, our Elohim, we thank you and praise your glorious name. 14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from you, and we have given you of your own. 15 For we are strangers before you and foreigners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the land are as a shadow, and there is no remaining. 16 YHWH our Elohim, all this store that we have prepared to build you a house for your holy name comes from your hand, and is all your own. 17 I know also, my Elohim, that you try the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. Now I have seen with joy your people, who are present here, offer willingly to you. 18 YHWH, the Elohim of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the heart of your people, and prepare their heart for you; 19 and give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the temple, for which I have made provision.”

9:1 It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the holy ones, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to those of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for the past year. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them. 3 But I have sent the brothers so that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared, 4 lest by any means, if anyone from Macedonia comes there with me and finds you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) would be disappointed in this confident boasting. 5 I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness. 6 Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for Elohim loves a cheerful giver.

Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 3:1-10; Genesis 21-24; Genesis 5:1-2 (T)

Genesis 1:26 Elohim said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock, [and over all the wild animals of the land],^(syr) and over every creeping thing that creeps on the land.” 27 Elohim created man in his own image. In Elohim’s image he created him; male and female he created them.

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which [Elohim]^(LXX) had made. He said to the woman, “Has Elohim [really]^(DSS) said, ‘You will not eat of any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees of the garden, 3 but not the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden. Elohim has said, ‘You will not eat of it. You will not touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You won’t really die, 5 for Elohim knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like Elohim, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took some of its fruit, and ate. Then she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate it, too. 7 Their eyes were opened, and they both knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made coverings for themselves. 8 They heard the voice of [Elohim]^(LXX) walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the face of [Elohim]^(LXX) among the trees of the garden. 9 [Elohim]^(LXX) called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; so I hid myself.” 11 Elohim said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

Genesis 3:21 [Elohim]^(LXX) made coats of skin for Adam and for his woman, and clothed them. 22 [Elohim]^(LXX) said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand, and also take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever—” 23 Therefore [Elohim]^(LXX) sent him out from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed keruvim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the births of Adam. In the day that Elohim created Adam, he made him in the likeness of Elohim. 2 He created them male and female, and blessed them. On the day they were created, he named them Adam. 3 Adam lived [two hundred](LXX) thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.

31:44 Now come, let’s cut a covenant, you and I. Let it be for a witness between me and you.” 45 Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. 46 Jacob said to his relatives, “Gather stones.” They took stones, and made a heap. They ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Gale’ed. 48 Laban said, “This heap is witness between me and you today.” Therefore it was named Gale’ed 49 and Mizpah, for he said, “YHWH watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another. 50 If you afflict my daughters, or if you take wives in addition to my daughters, no man is with us; behold, Elohim is witness between me and you.” 51 Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap, and see the pillar, which I have set between me and you. 52 May this heap be a witness, and the pillar be a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. 53 The Elohim of Abraham, and the Elohim of Nahor, the Elohim of their father, judge between us.” Then Jacob swore by the fear of his father, Isaac. 54 Jacob offered a slaughter in the mountain, and called his relatives to eat bread. They ate bread, and stayed all night in the mountain. 55 Early in the morning, Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them. Laban departed and returned to his place.

6:1 In the four hundred and eightieth year after the sons of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of YHWH. 2 The house which king Solomon built for YHWH had a length of sixty cubits, and its width twenty, and its height thirty cubits. 3 The porch in front of the temple of the house had a length of twenty cubits, which was along the width of the house. Ten cubits was its width in front of the house. 4 He made windows of fixed lattice work for the house. 5 Against the wall of the house, he built floors all around, against the walls of the house all around, both of the temple and of the inner sanctuary; and he made side rooms all around. 6 The lowest floor was five cubits wide, and the middle was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide; for on the outside he made offsets in the wall of the house all around, that the beams should not be inserted into the walls of the house. 7 The house, when it was under construction, was built of stone prepared at the quarry; and no hammer or ax or any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was under construction. 8 The door for the middle side rooms was in the right side of the house. They went up by winding stairs into the middle floor, and out of the middle into the third. 9 So he built the house and finished it; and he covered the house with beams and planks of cedar. 10 He built the floors all along the house, each five cubits high; and they rested on the house with timbers of cedar. 11 the word of YHWH came to Solomon, saying, 12 “Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in my statutes, and execute my ordinances, and keep all my commandments to walk in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father. 13 I will dwell among the sons of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.” 14 So Solomon built the house and finished it. 15 He built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar; from the floor of the house to the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood. He covered the floor of the house with cypress boards. 16 He built twenty cubits of the back part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the ceiling. He built this within, for an inner sanctuary, even for the most holy place. 17 In front of the temple sanctuary was forty cubits long. 18 There was cedar on the house within, carved with buds and open flowers. All was cedar. No stone was visible. 19 He prepared an inner sanctuary in the middle of the house within, to set the ark of the covenant of YHWH there. 20 Within the inner sanctuary was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in width, and twenty cubits in its height. He overlaid it with pure gold. He covered the altar with cedar. 21 So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold. He drew chains of gold across before the inner sanctuary, and he overlaid it with gold. 22 He overlaid the whole house with gold, until all the house was finished. He also overlaid the whole altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary with gold. 23 In the inner sanctuary he made two keruvim of olive wood, each ten cubits high. 24 Five cubits was the length of one wing of the keruv, and five cubits was the length of the other wing of the keruv. From the tip of one wing to the tip of the other was ten cubits. 25 The other keruv was ten cubits. Both the keruvim were of one measure and one form. 26 One keruv was ten cubits high, and so was the other keruv. 27 He set the keruvim within the inner house. The wings of the keruvim were stretched out, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall and the wing of the other keruv touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the middle of the house. 28 He overlaid the keruvim with gold. 29 He carved all the walls of the house around with carved figures of keruvim, palm trees, and open flowers, inside and outside. 30 He overlaid the floor of the house with gold, inside and outside. 31 For the entrance of the inner sanctuary, he made doors of olive wood. The lintel and door posts were a fifth part of the wall. 32 So he made two doors of olive wood; and he carved on them carvings of keruvim, palm trees, and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold. He spread the gold on the keruvim and on the palm trees. 33 He also made the entrance of the temple door posts of olive wood, out of a fourth part of the wall, 34 and two doors of cypress wood. The two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding. 35 He carved keruvim, palm trees, and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold fitted on the engraved work. 36 He built the inner court with three courses of cut stone and a course of cedar beams. 37 The foundation of the house of YHWH was laid in the fourth year, in the month Ziv. 38 In the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished throughout all its parts and according to all its specifications. So he spent seven years building it.

8:8 The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place before the inner sanctuary, but they were not seen outside. They are there to this day. 9 There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, when YHWH cut a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

Numbers 3:1 Now this is the history of the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that YHWH spoke with Moses in Mount Sinai. 2 These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office. 4 Nadab and Abihu died before YHWH when they offered strange fire before YHWH in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the face of Aaron their father. 5 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him. 7 They will guard his requirements, and the requirements of the whole congregation before the Appointed Tent, to do the service of the tabernacle. 8 They will keep all the furnishings of the Appointed Tent, and the obligations of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. 9 You will give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons. They are wholly given to him on the behalf of the sons of Israel. 10 You will appoint Aaron and his sons, and they will keep their priesthood, but the stranger who comes near will be put to death.” 11 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the sons of Israel; and the Levites will be mine, 13 for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I made holy to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal. They will be mine. I am YHWH.” 14 YHWH spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15 “Count the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families. You will count every male from a month old and upward.” 16 Moses counted them according to the word of YHWH, as he was commanded. 17 These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Qohath, and Merari. 18 These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei. 19 The sons of Qohath by their families: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 The sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers’ houses. 21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites. These are the families of the Gershonites. 22 The registered ones of them, according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward, even the registered ones of them were seven thousand five hundred. 23 The families of the Gershonites will encamp behind the tabernacle westward. 24 Eliasaph the son of Lael will be the prince of the fathers’ house of the Gershonites. 25 The duty of the sons of Gershon in the Appointed Tent will be the tabernacle, the tent, its covering, the screen for the door of the Appointed Tent, 26 the hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the court which is by the tabernacle and around the altar, and its cords for all of its service. 27 Of Qohath was the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites. These are the families of the Qohathites. 28 According to the number of all the males from a month old and upward, there were eight thousand six hundred keeping the requirements of the sanctuary. 29 The families of the sons of Qohath will encamp on the south side of the tabernacle. 30 The prince of the fathers’ house of the families of the Qohathites will be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31 Their duty will be the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, the screen, and all its service. 32 Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest will be prince of the princes of the Levites, with the oversight of those who keep the requirements of the sanctuary. 33 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites. These are the families of Merari. 34 The registered ones of them, according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward, were six thousand two hundred. 35 The prince of the fathers’ house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They will encamp on the north side of the tabernacle. 36 The appointed duty of the sons of Merari will be the tabernacle’s boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its instruments, all its service, 37 the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, and their cords. 38 Those who encamp before the tabernacle eastward, in front of the Appointed Tent toward the sunrise, will be Moses, with Aaron and his sons, keeping the requirements of the sanctuary for the duty of the sons of Israel. The outsider who comes near will be put to death. 39 All who were counted of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the commandment of YHWH, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand.

Numbers 4:1 YHWH spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 “Take a census of the sons of Qohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, 3 from thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all who enter into the service to do the work in the Appointed Tent. 4 “This is the service of the sons of Qohath in the Appointed Tent, regarding the holy of holies. 5 When the camp moves forward, Aaron will go in with his sons; and they will take down the veil of the screen, cover the ark of the Testimony with it, 6 put a covering of skin of the deer on it, spread a blue cloth over it, and put in its poles. 7 “On the table of show bread they will spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and the cups with which to pour out; and the continual bread will be on it. 8 They will spread on them a scarlet cloth, and cover it with a covering of skin of the deer, and will put in its poles. 9 “They will take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand of the light, its lamps, its snuffers, its snuff dishes, and all its oil vessels, with which they minister to it. 10 They will put it and all its vessels within a covering of skin of the deer, and will put it on the frame. 11 “On the golden altar they will spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of skin of the deer, and will put in its poles. 12 “They will take all the vessels of service with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering of skin of the deer, and will put them on the frame. 13 “They will take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth on it. 14 They will put on it all its vessels with which they minister about it, the fire pans, the meat hooks, the shovels, and the basins—all the vessels of the altar; and they will spread on it a covering of skin of the deer, and put in its poles. 15 “When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp moves forward; after that, the sons of Qohath will come to carry it; but they will not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. The sons of Qohath will carry these things belonging to the Appointed Tent. 16 “The duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest will be the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the continual grain offering, and the anointing oil, the requirements of all the tabernacle, and of all that is in it, the sanctuary, and its furnishings.” 17 YHWH spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 18 “Don’t cut off the tribe of the families of the Qohathites from among the Levites; 19 but do this to them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach the holy of holies: Aaron and his sons will go in and appoint everyone to his service and to his burden; 20 but they will not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment, lest they die.” 21 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 22 “Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ houses, by their families; 23 you will count them from thirty years old and upward until fifty years old: all who enter in to wait on the service, to do the work in the Appointed Tent. 24 “This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in bearing burdens: 25 they will carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the Appointed Tent, its covering, the covering of skin of the deer that is on it, the screen for the door of the Appointed Tent, 26 the hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the gate of the court which is by the tabernacle and around the altar, their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and whatever will be done with them. They will serve in there. 27 At the commandment of Aaron and his sons will be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burden and in all their service; and you will appoint their duty to them in all their responsibilities. 28 This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the Appointed Tent. Their duty will be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 29 “As for the sons of Merari, you will count them by their families, by their fathers’ houses; 30 you will count them from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old—everyone who enters on the service, to do the work of the Appointed Tent. 31 This is the duty of their burden, according to all their service in the Appointed Tent: the tabernacle’s boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, 32 the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service. You will appoint the instruments of the duty of their burden to them by name. 33 This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service in the Appointed Tent, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.” 34 Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation counted the sons of the Qohathites by their families, and by their fathers’ houses, 35 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service for work in the Appointed Tent. 36 The registered ones of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred fifty. 37 These are the registered ones of the families of the Qohathites, all who served in the Appointed Tent, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of YHWH by Moses. 38 The registered ones of the sons of Gershon, by their families, and by their fathers’ houses, 39 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old—everyone who entered into the service for work in the Appointed Tent, 40 even the registered ones of them, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, were two thousand six hundred thirty. 41 These are the registered ones of the families of the sons of Gershon, all who served in the Appointed Tent, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of YHWH. 42 The registered ones of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, 43 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old—everyone who entered into the service for work in the Appointed Tent, 44 even the registered ones of them by their families, were three thousand two hundred. 45 These are the registered ones of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of YHWH by Moses. 46 All the registered ones of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel counted, by their families and by their fathers’ houses, 47 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered in to do the work of service and the work of bearing burdens in the Appointed Tent, 48 even the registered ones of them, were eight thousand five hundred eighty. 49 According to the commandment of YHWH they were counted by Moses, everyone according to his service and according to his burden. Thus they were counted by him, as YHWH commanded Moses.

9:1 Now indeed even the first [tabernacle] had ordinances of divine service and an earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared. In the first was the lampstand, the table, and the show bread, which is called the Holy Place. 3 After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, 4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the witness overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it keruvim of glory overshadowing the lid, of which things we can’t speak now in detail. 6 Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services

8:1 Now in the things which we are saying, the main point is this: we have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a servant of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and slaughters. Therefore it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. 4 For if he were on land, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the Torah, 5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses was warned by Elohim when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he said, “See, you will make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.”

7:44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of the witness in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern that he had seen; 45 which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered into the possession of the nations whom Elohim drove out before the face of our fathers to the days of David, 46 who found favor in the sight of Elohim, and asked to find a habitation for the Elohim of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built him a house. 48 However, the Most High doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says, 49 ‘the heavens is my throne, and the land a footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build me?’ says YHWH. ‘Or what is the place of my rest? 50 Didn’t my hand make all these things?’

8:27 But will Elohim in very deed dwell on the land? Behold, the heavens and the heavens of the heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house that I have built! 28 Yet have respect for the prayer of your servant and for his supplication, YHWH my Elohim, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you today; 29 that your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which you have said, ‘My name will be there;’ to listen to the prayer which your servant prays toward this place. 30 Listen to the supplication of your servant, and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Yes, hear in the heavens, your dwelling place; and when you hear, forgive. 31 “If a man sins against his neighbor, and an oath is laid on him to cause him to swear, and he comes and swears before your altar in this house, 32 then hear in the heavens, and act, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness. 33 “When your people Israel are struck down before the enemy because they have sinned against you, if they turn again to you and confess your name, and pray and make supplication to you in this house, 34 then hear in the heavens, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land which you gave to their fathers. 35 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and confess your name, and turn from their sin when you afflict them, 36 then hear in the heavens, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on your land which you have given to your people for an inheritance. 37 “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight, mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 38 whatever prayer and supplication is made by any man, or by all your people Israel, who will each know the plague of his own heart, and spread out his hands toward this house, 39 then hear in the heavens, your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to every man according to all his ways, whose heart you know, for you, even you only, know the hearts of all the children of men; 40 that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land which you gave to our fathers. 41 “Moreover, concerning the foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, when he comes out of a far country for your name’s sake, 42 for they will hear of your great name and of your mighty hand and of your outstretched arm, when he comes and prays toward this house, 43 hear in the heavens, your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you for; that all the peoples of the land may know your name, to fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by your name. 44 “If your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way you will send them, and they pray to YHWH toward the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for your name, 45 then hear in the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause. 46 If they sin against you, for there is no man who doesn’t sin, and you are angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near; 47 yet if they repent in the land where they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication to you in the land of those who carried them captive, saying, ‘We have sinned and have done perversely; we have dealt wickedly,’ 48 if they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land which you gave to their fathers, the city which you have chosen and the house which I have built for your name, 49 then hear their prayer and their supplication in the heavens, your dwelling place, and maintain their cause; 50 and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions in which they have transgressed against you; and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them 51 for they are your people and your inheritance, which you brought out of Egypt, from the middle of the iron furnace; 52 that your eyes may be open to the supplication of your servant and to the supplication of your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they cry to you. 53 For you separated them from among all the peoples of the land to be your inheritance, as you spoke by Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, Lord YHWH.”

Ezekiel 44:1-16 (H, T)

44:1 Then he brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which looks toward the east; and it was shut. 2 YHWH said to me, “This gate will be shut. It will not be opened, no man will enter in by it; for YHWH, the God of Israel, has entered in by it. Therefore it will be shut. 3 As for the prince, he will sit in it as prince to eat bread before YHWH. He will enter by the way of the porch of the gate, and will go out the same way.” 4 Then he brought me by the way of the north gate before the house; and I looked, and behold, YHWH’s glory filled YHWH’s house; so I fell on my face. 5 YHWH said to me, “Son of man, mark well, and see with your eyes, and hear with your ears all that I tell you concerning all the ordinances of YHWH’s house and all its laws; and mark well the entrance of the house, with every exit of the sanctuary. 6 You will tell the rebellious, even the house of Israel, ‘The Lord YHWH says: “You house of Israel, let that be enough of all your abominations, 7 in that you have brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to profane it, even my house, when you offer my bread, the fat and the blood; and they have broken my covenant, to add to all your abominations. 8 You have not performed the duty of my holy; but you have set performers of my duty in my sanctuary for yourselves.” 9 The Lord YHWH says, “No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, will enter into my sanctuary, of any foreigners who are among the sons of Israel. 10 “ ‘ “But the Levites who went far from me when Israel went astray, who went astray from me after their idols, they will bear their iniquity. 11 Yet they will be ministers in my sanctuary, having oversight at the gates of the house, and ministering in the house. They will kill the burnt offering and the slaughter for the people, and they will stand before them to minister to them. 12 Because they ministered to them before their idols, and became a stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel, therefore I have lifted up my hand against them,” says the Lord YHWH, “and they will bear their iniquity. 13 They will not come near to me, to execute the office of priest to me, nor to come near to any of my holy, to the things that are most holy; but they will bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed. 14 Yet I will make them performers of the duty of the house, for all its service and for all that will be done therein. 15 “ ‘ “But the Levitical priests, 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.

17:24 The Elohim who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of the heavens and land, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands. 25 He isn’t served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath and all things.

6:21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

2:22 YHWH Elohim made a woman from the rib which he had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from Man.” 24 Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh. 25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.

2:19 Yeshua answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Judeans therefore said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple! Will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he spoke of the temple of his body.

1 Corinthians 3:16 Don’t you know that you are Elohim’s temple and that Elohim’s Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys Elohim’s temple, Elohim will destroy him; for Elohim’s temple is holy, which you are.

Ephesians 2:18 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.

Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Emissary and High Priest of our confession: Yeshua, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, as also Moses was in all his house. 3 For he has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, because he who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone; but he who built all things is Elohim. 5 Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a witness of those things which were afterward to be spoken, 6 but Messiah is faithful as a Son over his house. We are his house, if we hold fast our confidence and the glorying of our hope firm to the end.

1 Peter 2:1 Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babies, long for the reasonable unadulterated milk, that with it you may grow, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 Come to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by Elohim, precious. 5 You also as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual slaughters, acceptable to Elohim through Yeshua the Messiah. 6 Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious. He who believes in him will not be put to shame.” (cf. Isaiah 28:16) 7 For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,” (cf. Psalm 118:22) 8 and, “a stumbling stone and a rock of offense.” (cf. Isaiah 8:14) For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen seed, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for Elohim’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 In the past, you were not a people, but now are Elohim’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (cf. Hosea 1:10; Hosea 2:23)

7:20 Let each man stay in that calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called being a bondservant? Don’t let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it. 22 For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord’s free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Messiah’s bondservant. 23 You were bought with a price. Don’t become bondservants of men. 24 Brothers, let each man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition with Elohim.

Related Additional Readings​

9:1 “O Elohim of the fathers, and Lord of mercy, who made all things by your word; 2 and by your wisdom you formed man, that he should have dominion over the creatures that were made by you, 3 and rule the world in holiness and righteousness, and execute judgment in uprightness of soul, 4 give me wisdom, her who sits by you on your thrones. Don’t reject me from among your servants, 5 because I am your servant and the son of your handmaid, a weak and short-lived man, with little power to understand judgment and laws. 6 For even if a man is perfect among the sons of men, if the wisdom that comes from you is not with him, he will count for nothing. 7 You chose me to be king of your people, and a judge for your sons and daughters. 8 You gave a command to build a sanctuary on your holy mountain, and an altar in the city where you pitch your tent, a copy of the holy tent which you prepared from the beginning. 9 Wisdom is with you and knows your works, and was present when you were making the world, and understands what is pleasing in your eyes, and what is right according to your commandments. 10 Send her from the holy the heavens, and ask her to come from the throne of your glory, that being present with me she may work, and I may learn what pleases you well. 11 For she knows all things and understands, and she will guide me soberly in my actions. She will guard me in her glory. 12 So my works will be acceptable. I will judge your people righteously, and I will be worthy of my father’s throne. 13 For what man will know the counsel of Elohim? Or who will conceive what the Lord wills? 14 For the thoughts of mortals are unstable, and our plans are prone to fail. 15 For a corruptible body weighs down the soul. The earthy frame lies heavy on a mind that is full of cares. 16 We can hardly guess the things that are on land, and we find the things that are close at hand with labor; but who has traced out the things that are in the heavens? 17 Who gained knowledge of your counsel, unless you gave wisdom, and sent your holy spirit from the highest? 18 It was thus that the ways of those who are on land were corrected, and men were taught the things that are pleasing to you. They were saved through wisdom.”

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? 10 But they were miserable, and their hopes were in dead things, who called them elohim which are works of men’s hands, gold and silver, skillfully made, and likenesses of animals, or a useless stone, the work of an ancient hand. 11 Yes and some woodcutter might saw down a tree that is easily moved, skillfully strip away all its bark, and fashion it in attractive form, make a useful vessel to serve his life’s needs. 12 Burning the scraps from his handiwork to cook his food, he eats his fill. 13 Taking a discarded scrap which served no purpose, a crooked piece of wood and full of knots, he carves it with the diligence of his idleness, and shapes it by the skill of his idleness. He shapes it in the image of a man, 14 or makes it like some paltry animal, smearing it with something red, painting it red, and smearing over every stain in it. 15 Having made a worthy chamber for it, he sets it in a wall, securing it with iron. 16 He plans for it that it may not fall down, knowing that it is unable to help itself (for truly it is an image, and needs help). 17 When he makes his prayer concerning goods and his marriage and children, he is not ashamed to speak to that which has no life. 18 Yes, for health, he calls upon that which is weak. For life, he implores that which is dead. For aid, he supplicates that which has no experience. For a good journey, he asks that which can’t so much as move a step. 19 And for profit in business and good success of his hands, he asks ability from that which has hands with no ability. 14:1 Again, one preparing to sail, and about to journey over raging waves, calls upon a piece of wood more rotten than the vessel that carries him. 2 For the hunger for profit planned it, and wisdom was the craftsman who built it. 3 Your providence, O Father, guides it along, because even in the sea you gave a way, and in the waves a sure path, 4 showing that you can save out of every danger, that even a man without skill may put to sea. 5 It is your will that the works of your wisdom should be not idle. Therefore men also entrust their lives to a little piece of wood, and passing through the surge on a raft come safely to land. 6 For in the old time also, when proud giants were perishing, the hope of the world, taking refuge on a raft, your hand guided the seed of generations of the race of men. 7 For blessed is wood through which comes righteousness; 8 but the idol made with hands is accursed, itself and he that made it; because his was the working, and the corruptible thing was called a god: 9 For both the impious and his ungodliness are alike hateful to Elohim; 10 for truly the deed will be punished together with him who committed it. 11 Therefore also there will be a visitation among the idols of the nation, because, though formed of things which Elohim created, they were made an abomination, stumbling blocks to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the foolish. 12 For the devising of idols was the beginning of fornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life. 13 For they didn’t exist from the beginning, and they won’t exist forever. 14 For by the vaingloriousness of men they entered into the world, and therefore a speedy end was planned for them. 15 For a father worn with untimely grief, making an image of the child quickly taken away, now honored him as an elohim which was then a dead man, and delivered to those that were under him mysteries and solemn rites. 16 Afterward the impious custom, in process of time grown strong, was kept as a law, and the engraved images received worship by the commandments of princes. 17 And when men could not honor them in face because they lived far off, imagining the likeness from afar, they made a visible image of the king whom they honored, that by their zeal they might flatter the absent as if present. 18 But worship was raised to a yet higher pitch, even by those who didn’t know him, urged forward by the ambition of the architect; 19 for he, wishing perhaps to please one in authority, used his art to force the likeness toward a greater beauty. 20 So the multitude, allured by reason of the grace of his handiwork, now consider an object of devotion him that a little before was honored as a man. 21 And this became an ambush, because men, in bondage either to calamity or to tyranny, invested stones and stocks with the incommunicable Name. 22 Afterward it was not enough for them to go astray concerning the knowledge of Elohim, but also, while they live in a great war of ignorance, they call a multitude of evils peace. 23 For either slaughtering children in solemn rites, or celebrating secret mysteries, or holding frantic revels of strange ordinances, 24 no longer do they guard either life or purity of marriage, but one brings upon another either death by treachery, or anguish by adultery. 25 And all things confusedly are filled with blood and murder, theft and deceit, corruption, faithlessness, tumult, perjury, 26 confusion about what is good, forgetfulness of favors, ingratitude for benefits, defiling of souls, confusion of sex, disorder in marriage, adultery and wantonness. 27 For the worship of idols that may not be named is a beginning and cause and end of every evil. 28 For their worshipers either make merry to madness, or prophesy lies, or live unrighteously, or lightly commit perjury. 29 For putting their trust in lifeless idols, when they have sworn a wicked oath, they expect not to suffer harm. 30 But for both, the just doom will pursue them, because they had evil thoughts of Elohim by giving heed to idols, and swore unrighteously in deceit through contempt for holiness. 31 For it is not the power of them by whom men swear, but it is the just penalty for those who sin that always visits the transgression of the unrighteous.

The Book of Judith relates the story of God’s deliverance of the Jewish people. This was accomplished “by the hand of a female”—a constant motif meant to recall the “hand” of God in the Exodus narrative. The work may have been written around 100 B.C., but its historical range is extraordinary.

9:7 For, behold, the Assyrians are multiplied in their power. They are exalted with horse and rider. They were proud of the strength of their footmen. They have trusted in shield, spear, bow, and sling. They don’t know that you are the Lord who breaks the battles. ‘The Lord’ is your name. 8 Break their strength in your power, and bring down their force in your wrath; for they intend to profane your sanctuary, and to defile the tabernacle where your glorious name rests, and to destroy the horn of your altar with the sword.

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).

1:1 All wisdom comes from the Lord, and is with him forever. 2 Who can count the sand of the seas, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity? 3 Who will search out the height of the heavens, the breadth of the land, the deep, and wisdom? 4 Wisdom has been created before all things, and the understanding of prudence from everlasting. […] 6 To whom has the root of wisdom been revealed? Who has known her shrewd counsels? […] 8 There is one wise, greatly to be feared, sitting upon his throne: the Lord.

Exodus 25:1 – 26:30 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)

Composed in Talmudic Israel (c.150 – c.250 A.D.). 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 woman Fatimah, but might have been initially composed in the 4th Century A.D. However, some scholars date it in the 14th Century.

Chapter 25 And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying, Speak unto the sons of Israel, that they will set apart (take) before me a Separation: of every one whose heart is willing, but not by constraint, ye will take my separation. And this is the separation which you will take of them: gold, and silver, and brass; and hyacinth, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen; and goats’ skins, and skins of rams dyed red, and purpled skins, and woods of sittin, and olive oil for the light, and aromatics for the confection of the pure anointing oil, and of the fragrant incense; gems of beryl that are gems of perfection, for engraving and insertion in the ephoda and in the breastplate.

And they will make a Sanctuary to My Name, that My Shekinah may dwell among them. According to all that I show thee, the likeness of the tabernacle and the likeness of all its vessels, so shalt thou make. And they will make an ark of sitta wood; two cubits and a half its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. And thou shalt cover it with pure gold within and without, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. [JERUSALEM. A coronal of gold will surround it.] And thou shalt cast for it four rings of gold, and set them upon its four corners; two rings for one side, and two rings for the second side. And thou shalt make staves of sitta wood, and cover them with gold; and thou shalt introduce the staves into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried upon them. The staves will be inlaid in the rings of the ark, and not be removed from it. And thou shalt put within the ark the Testament that I will give thee.

And thou shalt make a (kaphortha) mercy‑seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half the length, and a cubit and a half the breadth, and its depth will be a handbreadth (pusheka). And thou shalt make two kerubin, of pure beaten gold shalt thou make them on the two sides of the mercy‑seat. Thou shalt make one keruba on this side, and one keruba on that side of the mercy‑seat; you will make the kerubaia on its two sides. And the kerubaia will stretch forth their wings above, their heads over against each other, their wings overshadowing the mercy‑seat, and their faces over against each other; towards the mercy‑seat will be the faces of the kerubaia. And thou shalt put the mercy‑seat above upon the ark, and within the ark thou shalt lay the Tables of the Testament that I will give thee. And I will appoint My Word with thee there, and will speak with thee from above the mercy‑seat, between the two kerubaia that are over the ark of the testament, concerning all that I may command thee for the sons of Israel.

And thou shalt make a table of sitta wood; two cubits its length, and a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make for it a rim of gold round about. And thou shalt make to it a border, a handbreadth high round about, and make a golden wreath for its border round about. [JERUSALEM. A border of a span surrounding.] And thou shalt make for it four golden rings, and set the rings in its four corners which are at its four feet. Over against the border will the rings be, for the place of the staves, to carry the table. And thou shalt make its dishes and its spoons, its tankards and its measures, which are for the service of libation; of pure gold shalt thou make them. And upon the table thou shalt set in order the interior bread before Me continually.

And thou shalt make a Candelabrum; of pure beaten gold shalt thou make the candelabrum; its base and shaft, its cups and apples and lilies, will be of the same. Six branches will spread out from its sides; three branches of the candelabrum from one side, and three branches of the candelabrum on the second side. Three calyxes adorned with their figurations on one branch, with apple and lily; and three calyxes adorned with their figurations on the other branch, with apple and lily: so for the six branches that spread out from the candelabrum. And upon the candelabrum there will be four calyxes adorned with their figurations, their apples and lilies. And there will be an apple under two branches of it, and an apple under two branches of it, and an apple under two branches of it, for the six branches which extend from the candelabrum. Their apples and their branches will be of the same; all of it one beaten work of pure gold. And thou shalt make its seven lights, and the priest who ministers will kindle the lights, that they may shine over upon its face. And its snuffers and its shovels of pure gold. Of a talent of pure gold will he make it and all these its vessels. And look thou, and make according to their forms which thou hast seen in the mount.

Chapter 26 And the Tabernacle thou shalt make with ten curtains of fine linen twined, and hyacinth, and purple, and crimson, with figures of kerubin; with the work of the artificer shalt thou make them. The length of one curtain twenty and eight cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits; the measure of one will be that of all the curtains. Five curtains will be coupled one with another, and five other curtains coupled one with another. And thou shalt make loops of hyacinth upon the edge of one curtain at the side in the place of coupling, and so shalt thou do in the edge of the second curtain in the place of conjoinment. Fifty loops shalt thou make in one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the side of the second curtain in the place of conjoinment, so that the loops may answer one to the other. And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains one with another with the taches, and the Tabernacle will be conjoined to be one.

And thou shalt make curtains of goats’ hair to extend over the tabernacle: twelve curtains thou shalt make them. The length of one curtain thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits; and the measure of one (will be that of each) of the eleven (other) curtains. And thou shalt conjoin five curtains together, corresponding with the five books of the Law; and six curtains together, corresponding with the six orders of the Mishna; and shalt fold the sixth curtain over the front of the tabernacle. And thou shalt make fifty loops upon the edge of one curtain at the side of the place of coupling; and fifty loops in the edge of the second curtain at the place of coupling. And thou shalt make taches of brass, fifty, and put the taches into the loops, and conjoin the tabernacle, that it may be one.

And the surplus which remaineth of the curtains of the Tabernacle, the half curtain which remaineth, thou shalt spread over the hinder part of the Tabernacle. [JERUSALEM. And the surplus.] And the cubit here and the cubit there, of that which remaineth in the curtains of the tabernacle, will hang over the sides of the tabernacle here and there, to cover it. And thou shalt make a covering for the tabernacle of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of purple skins above. And thou shalt make the boards of the tabernacle of sittin woods; they will stand up, after the manner of their plantation. [JERUSALEM. Slabs.] Ten cubits the length of the board, and a cubit and a half the breadth of one board. Two tenons to one board, each in its side answering to the other: so shalt thou do for all the boards of the tabernacle. And thou shalt make the boards of the tabernacle, twenty boards towards the wind on the south side. And thou shalt make forty bases of silver [JERUSALEM. Bases of silver.] beneath the twenty boards; two bases beneath one board with its two tenons, and two bases under the other board with its two tenons. And for the second side of the tabernacle towards the north wind twenty boards, and their forty bases of silver; two bases under one, and two bases under the other board. And for the side of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards. And two boards shalt thou make at the corners of the tabernacle at their ends. And they will be conjoined beneath, and in one manner will be conjoined at their heads, with one ring; so will it be with them both; for the two corners will all they be. And there will be eight boards and their silver bases; sixteen bases; two bases under one board, and two bases under another board. And thou shalt make bars of sittin woods, five for the boards of one side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the second side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the side of the tabernacle at their extremity towards the west, [JERUSALEM. And five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle stretching to the west.] And the middle bar in the midst of the boards passing from end to end will be from the tree which Abraham planted in Beara of Sheba: for when Israel had crossed the sea, the angels cut down the tree and cast it into the sea, and it floated on the face of the waters. And an angel proclaimed, and said, This is the tree which Abraham planted in Beara of Sheba, and prayed there in the name of the Word of the Lord. And the sons of Israel will take and make thereof the middle bar, seventy cubits in length, and with it will wondrous things be done: for when they have reared up the tabernacle, it will go round it like a serpent among the boards of the tabernacle and when they take it down, it will become straight as a rod. And the boards thou shalt overlay with gold, and make of gold their rings for the place of the bars, and shalt overlay the bars with gold. And thou shalt rear the tabernacle according to the manner showed thee in the mountain.

And thou shalt make a veil of hyacinth, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen entwined; the work of the artificer shalt thou make it, with figures of kerubin. And thou shalt range it upon four pillars of sitta, covered with gold, their hooks of gold, upon four bases of silver. [JERUSALEM. And their hooks of gold.] And thou shalt place the veil under the taches, and bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testament: and thou shalt spread the veil for you between the Holy and the Holy of Holies. And thou shalt place the mercy-seat with the kerubaia produced of beaten work for it in the Holy of Holies.

And thou shalt set the Table outside of the veil, and the Candelabrum over against the table on the southern side of the tabernacle; but the table thou shalt arrange on the northern side. And thou shalt make a curtain for the door of the tabernacle, of hyacinth, purple, and crimson, and fine linen twined, the work of the embroiderer. And thou shalt make for the curtain five pillars of sitta, and cover them with gold, and their nails will be of gold; and thou shalt cast for them five bases of brass.

Josephus was born Joseph ben Mattathias in 37 A.D. 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 A.D. 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 A.D. 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 A.D. 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 A.D., the Jewish War. His second major work, the Antiquities of the Jews, was completed in 93 A.D.

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

3.6.2. Now when all things were prepared, the gold, and the silver, and the brass, and what was woven, Moses, when he had appointed beforehand that there should be a festival, and that slaughters should be offered according to every one’s ability, reared up the tabernacle 12 and when he had measured the open court, fifty cubits broad and a hundred long, he set up brazen pillars, five cubits high, twenty on each of the longer sides, and ten pillars for the breadth behind; every one of the pillars also had a ring. Their chapiters were of silver, but their bases were of brass: they resembled the sharp ends of spears, and were of brass, fixed into the ground. Cords were also put through the rings, and were tied at their farther ends to brass nails of a cubit long, which, at every pillar, were driven into the floor, and would keep the tabernacle from being shaken by the violence of winds; but a curtain of fine soft linen went round all the pillars, and hung down in a flowing and loose manner from their chapiters, and enclosed the whole space, and seemed not at all unlike to a wall about it. And this was the structure of three of the sides of this enclosure; but as for the fourth side, which was fifty cubits in extent, and was the front of the whole, twenty cubits of it were for the opening of the gates, wherein stood two pillars on each side, after the resemblance of open gates. These were made wholly of silver, and polished, and that all over, excepting the bases, which were of brass. Now on each side of the gates there stood three pillars, which were inserted into the concave bases of the gates, and were suited to them; and round them was drawn a curtain of fine linen; but to the gates themselves, which were twenty cubits in extent, and five in height, the curtain was composed of purple, and scarlet, and blue, and fine linen, and embroidered with many and divers sorts of figures, excepting the figures of animals. Within these gates was the brazen laver for purification, having a basin beneath of the like matter, whence the priests might wash their hands and sprinkle their feet; and this was the ornamental construction of the enclosure about the court of the tabernacle, which was exposed to the open air.

3.6.3. As to the tabernacle itself, Moses placed it in the middle of that court, with its front to the east, that, when the sun arose, it might send its first rays upon it. Its length, when it was set up, was thirty cubits, and its breadth was twelve [ten] cubits. The one of its walls was on the south, and the other was exposed to the north, and on the back part of it remained the west. It was necessary that its height should be equal to its breadth [ten cubits]. There were also pillars made of wood, twenty on each side; they were wrought into a quadrangular figure, in breadth a cubit and a half, but the thickness was four fingers: they had thin plates of gold affixed to them on both sides, inwardly and outwardly: they had each of them two tenons belonging to them, inserted into their bases, and these were of silver, in each of which bases there was a socket to receive the tenon; but the pillars on the west wall were six. Now all these tenons and sockets accurately fitted one another, insomuch that the joints were invisible, and both seemed to be one entire and united wall. It was also covered with gold, both within and without. The number of pillars was equal on the opposite sides, and there were on each part twenty, and every one of them had the third part of a span in thickness; so that the number of thirty cubits were fully made up between them; but as to the wall behind, where the six pillars made up together only nine cubits, they made two other pillars, and cut them out of one cubit, which they placed in the corners, and made them equally fine with the other. Now every one of the pillars had rings of gold affixed to their fronts outward, as if they had taken root in the pillars, and stood one row over against another round about, through which were inserted bars gilt over with gold, each of them five cubits long, and these bound together the pillars, the head of one bar running into another, after the nature of one tenon inserted into another; but for the wall behind, there was but one row of bars that went through all the pillars, into which row ran the ends of the bars on each side of the longer walls; the male with its female being so fastened in their joints, that they held the whole firmly together; and for this reason was all this joined so fast together, that the tabernacle might not be shaken, either by the winds, or by any other means, but that it might preserve itself quiet and immovable continually.