• Torah (T): Shemot (Exodus) 30:1-10
• Prophets (P): Malachi 1:11 – 2:7
• Apostolic (A): Revelation 8:1-5
• Additional (ADD): Sirach 50:1-18

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Psalms 141:1-4 (T, A)
• Acts 3:1-11 (T, A)
• 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (T)
• 1 Chronicles 6:48-49 (T)
• Luke 1:5-23 (T)
• Exodus 30:34-38 (T)
• Leviticus 10:1-11 (T)
• Numbers 3:2-4; 1 Chronicles 24:1-2 (T)
• Leviticus 16:1-34 (T)
• Leviticus 23:23-32 (T)
• Numbers 16:1-50 (T)
• Hebrews 9:1-28 (T)
• Psalms 113:1-3 (P)
• Deuteronomy 17:1 (P)
• Deuteronomy 28:15-68 (P)
• Nehemiah 9:13-14 (P)
• Romans 8:26-35 (P)

RELATED ADDITIONAL READINGS

• Jubilees 3:26-31; Jubilees 4:16-26; Jubilees 16:24-29 (T)
• Jubilees 34:10-19 (T)
• Sirach 45:6-16 (T)
• 2 Maccabees 2:1-18 (T)
• Tobit 12:1-22 (A)
• Exodus 30:1-10 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 3.6.8; 3.8.6-7 (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)

17:1 All the congregation of the sons of Israel traveled from the wilderness of Sin, starting according to the commandment of YHWH, and encamped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test YHWH?” 3 The people were thirsty for water there; so the people murmured against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, our sons, and our livestock with thirst?” 4 Moses cried to YHWH, saying, “What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 YHWH said to Moses, “Walk on before the people, and take the elders of Israel with you, and take the rod in your hand with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the sons of Israel quarreled, and because they tested YHWH, saying, “Is YHWH among us, or not?” 8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us, and go out to fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of Elohim in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses had told him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed. When he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But the hands of Mosheh were heavy; so they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side. His hands were steady until sunset. 13 Joshua defeated Amalek and his people [and struck them]^(DSS) with the edge of the sword. 14 YHWH said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under the heavens.” 15 Moses built an altar, and called its name “YHWH Nissi” [my refuge].^(LXX) 16 He said, “Because [with a secret hand],^(LXX) Yah will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

Prophets Portion (P)

1:11 For from the rising of the sun even to its going down, my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations,” says YHWH of Armies. 12 “But you profane it when you say, ‘the table of YHWH is polluted, and its fruit, even its food, is contemptible.’ 13 You say also, ‘Behold, what a weariness it is!’ And you have sniffed at it”, says YHWH of Armies; “and you have brought that which was taken by violence, the lame, and the sick; thus you bring the offering. Should I accept this at your hand?” says YHWH. 14 “But the deceiver is cursed who has in his flock a male, and vows and slaughters to the Lord a defective thing; for I am a great King,” says YHWH of Armies, “and my name is awesome among the nations.”

2:1 “Now, you priests, this commandment is for you. 2 If you will not listen, and if you will not take it to heart, to give glory to my name,” says YHWH of Armies, “then I will send the curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you do not take it to heart. 3 Behold, I will rebuke your seed, and will spread dung on your faces, even the dung of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it. 4 You will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that my covenant may be with Levi,” says YHWH of Armies. 5 “My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him that he might be reverent toward me; and he was reverent toward me, and stood in awe of my name. 6 Torah of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many away from iniquity. 7 For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the Torah at his mouth; for he is the messenger of YHWH of Armies.

Apostolic Portion (A)

8:1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in the heavens for about half an hour. 2 I saw the seven angels who stand before Elohim, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the holy ones on the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the holy ones, went up before Elohim out of the angel’s hand. 5 The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, then threw it on the land. Thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake followed.

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).

50:1 It was Shimon, the son of Onias, the high priest, Who in his life repaired the house, And in his days strengthened the temple: 2 And by him was built from the foundation the height of the double wall, The lofty underworks of the enclosure of the temple: 3 In his days the cistern of waters was diminished, The brazen vessel in compass as the sea. 4 It was he that took thought for his people that they should not fall, And fortified the city against besieging: 5 How glorious was he when the people gathered round him At his coming forth out of the sanctuary! 6 As the morning star in the midst of a cloud, As the moon at the full: 7 As the sun shining forth upon the temple of the Most High, And as the rainbow giving light in clouds of glory: 8 As the flower of roses in the days of new fruits, As lilies at the water spring, As the shoot of the frankincense tree in the time of summer: 9 As fire and incense in the censer, As a vessel all of beaten gold Adorned with all manner of precious stones: 10 As an olive tree budding forth fruits, And as a cypress growing high among the clouds. 11 When he took up the robe of glory, And put on the perfection of exultation, In the ascent of the holy altar, He made glorious the precinct of the sanctuary. 12 And when he received the portions out of the priests’ hands, Himself also standing by the hearth of the altar, His kindred as a garland round about him, He was as a young cedar in Libanus; And as stems of palm trees compassed they him round about, 13 And all the sons of Aaron in their glory, And the Lord’s offering in their hands, before all the congregation of Israel. 14 And finishing the service at the altars, That he might adorn the offering of the Most High, the Almighty, 15 He stretched out his hand to the cup, And poured out the cup of the grape; He poured out at the foot of the altar A sweet smelling savor to the Most High, the King of all. 16 Then shouted the sons of Aaron, They sounded the trumpets of beaten work, They made a great noise to be heard, For a remembrance before the Most High.

Related Scriptures

141:1 YHWH, I have called on you. Come to me quickly! Listen to my voice when I call to you. 2 Let my prayer be set before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like the evening slaughter. 3 Set a watch, YHWH, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips. 4 Don’t incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity. Don’t let me eat of their delicacies.

Acts 3:1-11 (T, A)

3:1 Peter and Yochanan were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 A certain man who was lame from his mother’s womb was being carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Yafeh, to ask gifts for the needy of those who entered into the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and Yochanan about to go into the temple, he asked to receive gifts for the needy. 4 Peter, fastening his eyes on him, with Yochanan, said, “Look at us.” 5 He listened to them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Yeshua the Messiah of Nazareth, get up and walk!” 7 He took him by the right hand and raised him up. Immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength. 8 Leaping up, he stood and began to walk. He entered with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 They recognized him, that it was he who used to sit begging for gifts for the needy at the Yafeh Gate of the temple. They were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 As the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and Yochanan, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.

3:1 The child Samuel served YHWH before Eli. the word of YHWH was rare in those days. There were not many visions, then. 2 At that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see, 3 and Elohim’s lamp hadn’t yet gone out, and Samuel had laid down in the temple of YHWH where Elohim’s ark was, 4 YHWH called Samuel. He said, “Here I am.” 5 He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He said, “I didn’t call. Lie down again.” He went and lay down. 6 YHWH called yet again, “Samuel!” Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He answered, “I didn’t call, my son. Lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel didn’t yet know YHWH, neither was the word of YHWH yet revealed to him. 8 YHWH called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” Eli perceived that YHWH had called the child. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down. It will be, if he calls you, that you will say, ‘Speak, YHWH; for your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 YHWH came, and stood, and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak; for your servant hears.”

6:48 Their brothers the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of Elohim’s house. 49 But Aaron and his sons offered on the altar of burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, for all the work of the holy of holies, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of Elohim had commanded.

1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the priestly division of Abijah (cf. 1 Chronicles 24:7-19). He had a woman of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisheva. 6 They were both righteous before Elohim, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elisheva was barren, and they both were well advanced in years. 8 Now while he executed the priest’s office before Elohim in the order of his division 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah, because your request has been heard. your wife, Elisheva, will bear you a son, and you will call his name John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their Elohim. 17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.” 18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am a bearded man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” 19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the face of Elohim. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” 21 The people were waiting for Zechariah, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute. 23 When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

30:34 YHWH said to Moses, “Take to yourself sweet spices, gum resin, onycha, and galbanum: sweet spices with pure frankincense. There will be an equal weight of each. 35 You will make incense of it, a perfume after the art of the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. 36 You will beat some of it very small, and put some of it before the covenant in the Appointed Tent, where I will meet with you. It will be to you holy of holies. 37 You will not make this incense, according to its composition, for yourselves: it will be to you holy for YHWH. 38 Whoever will make any like that, to smell of it, he will be cut off from his people.”

10:1 Nadab and Abihu, the [two]^(DSS) sons of Aaron, each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered [foreign]^(LXX) fire before YHWH, which [YHWH]^(LXX) had not commanded them. 2 Fire came out from before YHWH, and devoured them, and they died before YHWH. 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what YHWH spoke of, saying, ‘I will show myself holy to those who come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified.’ ” Aaron held his peace. 4 Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Draw near, carry your brothers from before the sanctuary out of the camp.” 5 So they came near, and carried them in their tunics out of the camp, as Moses had said. 6 Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, “Don’t let the hair of your heads go loose, and don’t tear your clothes, so that you don’t die, and so that he will not be angry with all the congregation; but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which YHWH has kindled. 7 You will not go out the door of the Appointed Tent, lest you die; for the anointing oil of YHWH is on you.” They did according to the word of Moses. 8 Then YHWH said to Aaron, 9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink whenever you go into the Appointed Tent, or you will die. This will be a statute forever throughout your generations. 10 You are to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean. 11 You are to teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which YHWH has spoken to them by Moses.”

Numbers 3:2-4; 1 Chronicles 24:1-2 (T)

Numbers 3:2 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, who filled his hand to be adorned. 4 Nadab and Abihu died before YHWH when they offered [foreign]^(LXX) fire to the face of YHWH in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons. Eleazar and Ithamar were adorned in the face of Aaron their father.

1 Chronicles 24:1 These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.

16:1 YHWH spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they came near before YHWH, and died; 2 and YHWH said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the holy within the veil, before the lid which is on the ark; lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud on the lid. 3 Aaron will come into the holy with a young bull for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He will put on the holy linen tunic. He will have the linen trousers on his body, and will put on the linen sash, and he will be clothed with the linen turban. They are the holy garments. He will bathe his body in water, and put them on. 5 He will take from the congregation of the sons of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. 6 Aaron will offer the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house. 7 He will take the two goats, and set them before YHWH at the door of the Appointed Tent. 8 Aaron will cast lots for the two goats: one lot for YHWH, and the other lot for Azazel. 9 Aaron will present the goat on which the lot fell for YHWH, and offer him for a sin offering. 10 But the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel will be presented alive before YHWH, to make atonement for him, to send him away to Azazel into the wilderness. 11 Aaron will present the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and will make atonement for himself and for his house, and will kill the bull of the sin offering which is for himself. 12 He will take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before YHWH, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil. 13 He will put the incense on the fire before YHWH, that the cloud of the incense may cover the lid that is on the witness, so that he will not die. 14 He will take some of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger on the lid on the east; and before the lid he will sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. 15 Then he will kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the lid and before the lid. 16 He will make atonement for the holy, because of the uncleanness of the sons of Israel, and because of their trespasses, even all their sins; and so he will do for the Appointed Tent that dwells with them in the middle of their uncleanness. 17 No one will be in the Appointed Tent when he enters to make atonement in the holy, until he comes out, and has made atonement for himself and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel. 18 He will go out to the altar that is before YHWH and make atonement for it, and will take some of the bull’s blood, and some of the goat’s blood, and put it around on the horns of the altar. 19 He will sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and make it holy from the uncleanness of the sons of Israel. 20 When he has finished atoning for the holy, the Appointed Tent, and the altar, he will present the live goat. 21 Aaron will lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the sons of Israel, and all their trespasses, even all their sins; and he will put them on the head of the goat, and will send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is ready. 22 The goat will carry all their iniquities on himself to a land cut off, and he will release the goat in the wilderness. 23 Aaron will come into the Appointed Tent, and will take off the linen garments which he put on [and he will go]^(DSS) into the holy, and will leave them there. 24 Then he will bathe himself in water in a holy place, put on his garments, and come out and do his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the people. 25 The fat of the sin offering he will burn on the altar. 26 He who lets the goat go to Azazel will wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he will come into the camp. 27 The bull for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy, will be carried outside the camp; and they will burn their skins, their flesh, and their dung with fire. 28 He who burns them will wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he will come into the camp. 29 It will be a statute to you forever: in the seventh new moon, on the tenth day of the new moon, you will afflict your souls, and will do no kind of work, whether native or a stranger who sojourns among you; 30 for on this day will atonement be made for you, to cleanse you. You will be clean from all your sins before YHWH. 31 It is a Sabbath of rest to you, and you will afflict your souls. It is a statute forever. 32 The priest, who is anointed and filled his hand to be adorned in his father’s place, will make the atonement, and will put on the linen garments, even the holy garments. 33 Then he will make atonement for the holy sanctuary; and he will make atonement for the Appointed Tent and for the altar; and he will make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. 34 This will be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the sons of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.” It was done as YHWH commanded Moses.

23:23 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh new moon, on the first day of the new moon, there will be a rest for you, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy gathering. 25 You will do no work of service. You will offer an offering made by fire to YHWH.’ ” 26 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 27 “However on the tenth day of this seventh new moon is the day of atonements. It will be a holy convocation to you. You will afflict yourselves and you will offer an offering made by fire to YHWH. 28 You will do no kind of work in that same day, for it is a day of atonements, to make atonement for you before YHWH your Elohim. 29 For whoever it is who will not deny himself in that same day will be cut off from his people. 30 Whoever does any kind of work in that same day, I will destroy that person from among his people. 31 You will do no kind of work: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It will be a Sabbath of rest for you, and you will afflict yourselves. In the ninth day of the new moon at evening, from evening to evening, you will [observe the Sabbath of your Sabbaths.]*”

*As translated in the Apostolic Bible Polyglot (ABP) for possible clarity. The Hebrew phrase “תִּשְׁבְּתוּ שַׁבַּתְּכֶם” (tishbetu shabatkhem) is literally translated as “you will Sabbath your Sabbaths (or cease your ceasings).” This phrase is only found here in Leviticus 23:32 and most frequently translated as, “you will keep your Sabbath.”

16:1 Now Qorach, the son of Izhar, the son of Qohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took some men. 2 They rose up before Moses, with some of the sons of Israel, two hundred fifty princes of the congregation, called to the assembly, men of renown. 3 They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much on yourself, since all the congregation are holy, everyone of them, and YHWH is among them! Why do you lift yourselves up above the assembly of YHWH?” 4 When Moses heard it, he fell on his face. 5 He said to Qorach and to all his company, “In the morning, YHWH will show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to him. Even him whom he will choose, he will cause to come near to him. 6 Do this: have Qorach and all his company take censers, 7 put fire in them, and put incense on them before YHWH tomorrow. It will be that the man whom YHWH chooses, he will be holy. You have gone too far, you sons of Levi!” 8 Moses said to Qorach, “Hear now, you sons of Levi! 9 Is it a small thing to you that the Elohim of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of YHWH, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them; 10 and that he has brought you near, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? Do you seek the priesthood also? 11 Therefore you and all your company have gathered together against YHWH! What is Aaron that you complain against him?” 12 Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; and they said, “We won’t come up! 13 Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, but you must also make yourself a prince over us? 14 Moreover you haven’t brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We won’t come up.” 15 Moses was very angry, and said to YHWH, “Don’t respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, neither have I hurt one of them.” 16 Moses said to Qorach, “You and all your company go before YHWH, you, and they, and Aaron, tomorrow. 17 Each man take his censer and put incense on it, and each man bring before YHWH his censer, two hundred fifty censers; you also, and Aaron, each with his censer.” 18 They each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the Appointed Tent with Moses and Aaron. 19 Qorach assembled all the congregation opposite them to the door of the Appointed Tent. the glory of YHWH appeared to all the congregation. 20 YHWH spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 21 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!” 22 They fell on their faces, and said, “Elohim, the Elohim of the spirits of all flesh, will one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?” 23 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from around the tent of Qorach, Dathan, and Abiram!’ ” 25 Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 He spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins!” 27 So they went away from the tent of Qorach, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side. Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents with their wives, their sons, and their little ones. 28 Moses said, “Hereby you will know that YHWH has sent me to do all these works; for they are not from my own mind. 29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they experience what all men experience, then YHWH hasn’t sent me. 30 But if YHWH makes a new thing, and the ground opens its mouth, and swallows them up with all that belong to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you will understand that these men have despised YHWH.” 31 As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split apart. 32 The land opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households, all of Qorach’s men, and all their goods. 33 So they, and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol. The land closed on them, and they perished from among the assembly. 34 All Israel that were around them fled at their cry; for they said, “Lest the land swallow us up!” 35 Fire came out from YHWH, and devoured the two hundred fifty men who offered the incense. 36 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 37 “Speak to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter the fire away from the camp; for they are holy, 38 even the censers of those who sinned against their own lives. Let them be beaten into plates for a covering of the altar, for they offered them before YHWH. Therefore they are holy. They will be a sign to the sons of Israel.” 39 Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers which those who were burned had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar, 40 to be a memorial to the sons of Israel, to the end that no stranger who isn’t of the seed of Aaron, would come near to burn incense before YHWH, that he not be as Qorach and as his company; as YHWH spoke to him by Moses. 41 But on the next day all the congregation of the sons of Israel complained against Moses and against Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of YHWH!” 42 When the congregation was assembled against Moses and against Aaron, they looked toward the Appointed Tent. Behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of YHWH appeared. 43 Moses and Aaron came to the front of the Appointed Tent. 44 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!” They fell on their faces. 46 Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, put fire from the altar in it, lay incense on it, carry it quickly to the congregation, and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from YHWH! The plague has begun.” 47 Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the middle of the assembly. The plague had already begun among the people. He put on the incense, and made atonement for the people. 48 He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. 49 Now those who died by the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, in addition to those who died about the word of Qorach. 50 Aaron returned to Moses to the door of the Appointed Tent, and the plague was stopped.

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 bread of the presence, 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, 7 but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people. 8 The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn’t yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 This is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and slaughters are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshiper perfect, 10 being only (with foods and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation. 11 But Messiah having come as a high priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to Elohim, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living Elohim? 15 For this reason he is the mediator of a renewed covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it. 17 For a covenant is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives. 18 Therefore even the first has not been dedicated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Torah, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which Elohim has commanded you.” 21 He sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the service in the same way with the blood. 22 According to the Torah, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 23 It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better slaughters than these. 24 For Messiah hasn’t entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into the heavens itself, now to appear in the face of Elohim for us; 25 nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with blood not his own, 26 or else he must have suffered often since the foundation of the world. But now once at the end of the ages, he has been revealed to put away sin by the slaughter of himself. 27 Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment, 28 so Messiah also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

113:1 Halleluyah! Praise, you servants of YHWH, praise the name of YHWH. 2 Blessed be the name of YHWH, from this time forward and forever more. 3 From the rising of the sun to its going down, the name of YHWH is to be praised.

17:1 You will not slaughter to YHWH your Elohim an ox or a sheep in which is a defect or anything evil; for that is an abomination to YHWH your Elohim.

28:15 But it will come to pass, if you will not listen to YHWH your Elohim’s voice, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come on you and overtake you. 16 You will be cursed in the city, and you will be cursed in the field. 17 Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed. 18 The fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground, the increase of your livestock, and the young of your flock will be cursed. 19 You will be cursed when you come in, and you will be cursed when you go out. 20 YHWH will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you put your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the evil of your doings, by which you have forsaken me. 21 YHWH will make the pestilence cling to you, until he has consumed you from off the land where you go in to possess it. 22 YHWH will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with fiery heat, with the sword, with blight, and with mildew. They will pursue you until you perish. 23 Your heavens that is over your head will be bronze, and the land that is under you will be iron. 24 YHWH will make the rain of your land powder and dust. It will come down on you from the heavens, until you are destroyed. 25 YHWH will cause you to be struck before your enemies. You will go out one way against them, and will flee seven ways before them. You will be tossed back and forth among all the reigns of the land. 26 Your dead bodies will be food to all birds of the heavens, and to the animals of the land; and there will be no one to frighten them away. 27 YHWH will strike you with the boils of Egypt, with the tumors, with the scurvy, and with the itch, of which you can not be healed. 28 YHWH will strike you with madness, with blindness, and with astonishment of heart. 29 You will grope at noonday, as the blind gropes in darkness, and you will not prosper in your ways. You will only be oppressed and robbed always, and there will be no one to save you. 30 You will betroth a woman, and another man will lie with her. You will build a house, and you won’t dwell in it. You will plant a vineyard, and not use its fruit. 31 Your ox will be slain before your eyes, and you will not eat any of it. Your donkey will be violently taken away from before your face, and will not be restored to you. Your sheep will be given to your enemies, and you will have no one to save you. 32 Your sons and your daughters will be given to another people. Your eyes will look and fail with longing for them all day long. There will be no power in your hand. 33 A nation which you don’t know will eat the fruit of your ground and all of your work. You will only be oppressed and crushed always, 34 so that the sights that you see with your eyes will drive you mad. 35 YHWH will strike you in the knees and in the legs with a sore boil, of which you cannot be healed, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head. 36 YHWH will bring you, and your king whom you will set over yourselves, to a nation that you have not known, you nor your fathers. There you will serve other elohim of wood and stone. 37 You will become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples where YHWH will lead you away. 38 You will carry much seed out into the field, and will gather little in, for the locust will consume it. 39 You will plant vineyards and dress them, but you will neither drink of the wine, nor harvest, because worms will eat them. 40 You will have olive trees throughout all your borders, but you won’t anoint yourself with the oil, for your olives will drop off. 41 You will father sons and daughters, but they will not be yours, for they will go into captivity. 42 Locusts will consume all of your trees and the fruit of your ground. 43 The foreigner who is among you will mount up above you higher and higher, and you will come down lower and lower. 44 He will lend to you, and you won’t lend to him. He will be the head, and you will be the tail. 45 All these curses will come on you, and will pursue you and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you didn’t listen to YHWH your Elohim’s voice, to guard his commandments and his statutes which he commanded you. 46 They will be for a sign and for a wonder to you and to your seed forever. 47 Because you didn’t serve YHWH your Elohim with joyfulness and with gladness of heart, by reason of the abundance of all things; 48 therefore you will serve your enemies whom YHWH sends against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in lack of all things. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you. 49 YHWH will bring a nation against you from far, from the end of the land, as the eagle flies: a nation whose language you will not understand, 50 a nation of fierce facial expressions, that doesn’t respect the elderly, nor show favor to the young. 51 They will eat the fruit of your livestock and the fruit of your ground, until you are destroyed. They also won’t leave you grain, new wine, oil, the increase of your livestock, or the young of your flock, until they have caused you to perish. 52 They will besiege you in all your gates until your high and fortified walls in which you trusted come down throughout all your land. They will besiege you in all your gates throughout all your land which YHWH your Elohim has given you. 53 You will eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and of your daughters, whom YHWH your Elohim has given you, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies will distress you. 54 The man who is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye will be evil toward his brother, toward the woman whom he loves, and toward the remnant of his children whom he has remaining, 55 so that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he will eat, because he has nothing left to him, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy will distress you in all your gates. 56 The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye will be evil toward the husband that she loves, toward her son, toward her daughter, 57 toward her young one who comes out from between her feet, and toward her children whom she bears; for she will eat them secretly for lack of all things in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy will distress you in your gates. 58 If you will not observe to do all the words of this Torah that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and fearful name, YHWH your Elohim, 59 then YHWH will make your plagues and the plagues of your seed fearful, even great plagues, and of long duration, and severe sicknesses, and of long duration. 60 He will bring on you again all the diseases of Egypt, which you were afraid of; and they will cling to you. 61 Also every sickness and every plague which is not written in the book of this Torah, YHWH will bring them on you until you are destroyed. 62 You will be left few in number, even though you were as the stars of the heavens for multitude, because you didn’t listen to YHWH your Elohim’s voice. 63 It will happen that as YHWH rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you, so YHWH will rejoice over you to cause you to perish and to destroy you. You will be plucked from the land that you are going in to possess. 64 YHWH will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the land to the other end of the land. There you will serve other elohim which you have not known, you nor your fathers, even wood and stone. 65 Among these nations you will find no ease, and there will be no rest for the sole of your foot; but YHWH will give you there a trembling heart, failing of eyes, and pining of soul. 66 Your life will hang in doubt before you. You will be afraid night and day, and will have no assurance of your life. 67 In the morning you will say, “I wish it were evening!” and at evening you will say, “I wish it were morning!” for the fear of your heart which you will fear, and for the sights which your eyes will see. 68 YHWH will bring you into Egypt again with ships, by the way of which I told to you that you would never see it again. There you will offer yourselves to your enemies for male and female slaves, and nobody will buy you.

9:13 “You also came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from the heavens, and gave them right ordinances 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”

Romans 8:26-35 (P)

8:26 In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered. 27 He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the holy ones according to God. 28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.‡ 30 Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified. 31 What then will we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things? 33 Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Messiah who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Related Additional Readings​

Between 1947 and 1956 approximately 15 Jubilees scrolls were found in five caves at Qumran, all written in Hebrew. The large number of manuscripts (more than for any biblical books except for Psalms, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Exodus, and Genesis, in descending order) indicates that Jubilees was widely used at Qumran. A comparison of the Qumran texts with the Ethiopic version, performed by James VanderKam, found that the Ethiopic was in most respects an accurate and literalistic translation. Scholars have dated Jubilees to have been written sometime around 160-150 B.C.

Jubilees 3:26 And He made for them coats of skin, and clothed them, and sent them forth from the Garden of Eden. 27. And on that day on which Adam went forth from the Garden, he offered as a sweet savour an offering, frankincense, galbanum, and stacte, and spices in the morning with the rising of the sun from the day when he covered his shame. 28. And on that day was closed the mouth of all beasts, and of cattle, and of birds, and of whatever walks, and of whatever moves, so that they could no longer speak: for they had all spoken one with another with one lip and with one tongue. 29. And He sent out of the Garden of Eden all flesh that was in the Garden of Eden, and all flesh was scattered according to its kinds, and according to its types unto the places which had been created for them. 30. And to Adam alone did He give (the wherewithal) to cover his shame, of all the beasts and cattle. 31. On this account, it is prescribed on the heavenly tablets as touching all those who know the judgment of the law, that they should cover their shame, and should not uncover themselves as the Nations uncover themselves.

Jubilees 4:16 And in the eleventh jubilee [512-18 A.M.] Jared took to himself a woman, and her name was Baraka, the daughter of Râsûjâl, a daughter of his father’s brother, in the fourth week of this jubilee, [522 A.M.] and she bare him a son in the fifth week, in the fourth year of the jubilee, and he called his name Enoch. 17. And he was the first among men that are born on land who learnt writing and knowledge and wisdom and who wrote down the signs of the heavens according to the order of their new moons in a book, that men might know the seasons of the years according to the order of their separate new moons. 18. And he was the first to write a witness and he witnessed to the sons of men among the generations of the land, and recounted the weeks of the jubilees, and made known to them the days of the years, and set in order the new moons and recounted the Sabbaths of the years as we made (them), known to him. 19. And what was and what will be he saw in a vision of his sleep, as it will happen to the children of men throughout their generations until the day of judgment; he saw and understood everything, and wrote his witness, and placed the witness on land for all the children of men and for their generations. 20. And in the twelfth jubilee, [582-88] in the seventh week thereof, he took to himself a woman, and her name was Edna, the daughter of Danel, the daughter of his father’s brother, and in the sixth year in this week [587 A.M.] she bare him a son and he called his name Methuselah. 21. And he was moreover with the angels of Elohim these six jubilees of years, and they showed him everything which is on land and in the heavens, the rule of the sun, and he wrote down everything. 22. And he witnessed to the Watchers, who had sinned with the daughters of men; for these had begun to unite themselves, so as to be defiled, with the daughters of men, and Enoch witnessed against (them) all. 23. And he was taken from amongst the children of men, and we conducted him into the Garden of Eden in majesty and honour, and behold there he writes down the condemnation and judgment of the world, and all the wickedness of the children of men. 24. And on account of it the waters of the flood [did not come upon] all the land of Eden; for there he was set as a sign and that he should testify against all the children of men, that he should recount all the deeds of the generations until the day of condemnation. 25. And he burnt the incense of the sanctuary, (even) sweet spices acceptable before the Lord on the Mount. 26. For the Lord has four places on the land, the Garden of Eden, and the Mount of the East, and this mountain on which thou art this day, Mount Sinai, and Mount Zion (which) will be sanctified in the new creation for a sanctification of the land; through it will the land be sanctified from all (its) guilt and its uncleanness throughout the generations of the world.

Jubilees 16:24 And morning and evening he burnt fragrant substances, frankincense and galbanum, and stackte, and nard, and myrrh, and spice, and costum; all these seven he offered, crushed, mixed together in equal parts (and) pure. 25. And he celebrated this feast during seven days, rejoicing with all his heart and with all his soul, he and all those who were in his house, and there was no stranger with him, nor any that was uncircumcised. 26. And he blessed his Creator who had created him in his generation, for He had created him according to His good pleasure; for He knew and perceived that from him would arise the plant of righteousness for the eternal generations, and from him a holy seed, so that it should become like Him who had made all things. 27. And he blessed and rejoiced, and he called the name of this festival the festival of the Lord, a joy acceptable to the Most High Elohim. 28. And we blessed him for ever, and all his seed after him throughout all the generations of the land, because he celebrated this festival in its season, according to the witness of the heavenly tablets. 29. For this reason it is ordained on the heavenly tablets concerning Israel, that they will celebrate the feast of tabernacles seven days with joy, in the seventh new moon, acceptable before the Lord -a statute for ever throughout their generations every year.

And in the seventh year of this week [2149 A.M.] he sent Joseph to learn about the welfare of his brothers from his house to the land of Shechem, and he found them in the land of Dothan. 11. And they dealt treacherously with him, and formed a plot against him to slay him, but changing their minds, they sold him to Ishmaelite merchants, and they brought him down into Egypt, and they sold him to Potiphar, the eunuch of Pharaoh, the chief of the cooks, priest of the city of ‘Êlêw. 12. And the sons of Jacob slaughtered a kid, and dipped the coat of Joseph in the blood, and sent (it) to Jacob their father on the tenth of the seventh new moon. 13. And he mourned all that night, for they had brought it to him in the evening, and he became feverish with mourning for his death, and he said: “An evil beast hath devoured Joseph”; and all the members of his house [mourned with him that day, and they] were grieving and mourning with him all that day. 14. And his sons and his daughter rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted for his son. 15. And on that day Bilhah heard that Joseph had perished, and she died mourning him, and she was living in †Qafrâtêf†  and Dinah also, his daughter, died after Joseph had perished. And there came these three mournings upon Israel in one new moon. 16. And they buried Bilhah over against the tomb of Rachel, and Dinah also, his daughter, they buried there. 17. And he mourned for Joseph one year, and did not cease, for he said “Let me go down to the grave mourning for my son.” 18. For this reason it is ordained for the sons of Israel that they should afflict themselves on the tenth of the seventh new moon–on the day that the news which made him weep for Joseph came to Jacob his father–that they should make atonement for themselves thereon with a young goat on the tenth of the seventh new moon, once a year, for their sins; for they had grieved the affection of their father regarding Joseph his son. 19. And this day hath been ordained that they should grieve thereon for their sins, and for all their transgressions and for all their errors, so that they might cleanse themselves on that day once a year.

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).

45:6 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 beautified 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 honor, The linen trousers, the tunic, and the ephod. 9 And he compassed him with pomegranates of gold, And with many bells round about, 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 jeweller, 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.

Unlike 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees was written in Koine Greek, probably in Alexandria, Egypt, c. 124 B.C. It presents a revised version of the historical events recounted in the first seven chapters of 1 Maccabees, adding material from the Pharisaic tradition, including prayer for the dead and a resurrection on Judgment Day.

2:1 It is also found in the records, that Jeremiah the prophet commanded those who were carried away to take of the fire, as has been signified above: 2 and how that the prophet charged those who were carried away, having given them the law, that they should not forget the statutes of the Lord, neither be led astray in their minds, when they saw images of gold and silver, and the adornment thereof. 3 And with other such words exhorted he them, that the law should not depart from their heart. 4 And it was contained in the writing, that the prophet, being warned of Elohim, commanded that the tabernacle and the ark should follow with him, when he went forth into the mountain where Moses went up and saw the heritage of Elohim. 5 And Jeremiah came and found a chamber in the rock, and there he brought in the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense; and he made fast the door. 6 And some of those that followed with him came there that they might mark the way, and could not find it. 7 But when Jeremiah perceived it, he blamed them, saying, Yes and the place will be unknown until Elohim gather the people again together, and mercy come: 8 and then will the Lord disclose these things, and the glory of the Lord will be seen, and the cloud. As also it was showed with Moses; as also Solomon implored that the place might be consecrated greatly, 9 and it was also declared that he, having wisdom, offered a slaughter of dedication, and of the finishing of the temple; so we would have it now. 10 As Moses prayed to the Lord, and fire came down out of the heavens and consumed the slaughter, even so prayed Solomon also, and the fire came down and consumed the burnt offerings; 11 (and Moses said, Because the sin offering had not been eaten, it was consumed in like manner with the rest;) 12 and Solomon kept the eight days. 13 And the same things were related both in the public archives and in the records that concern Nehemiah; and how he, founding a library, gathered together the books about the kings and prophets, and the books of David, and letters of kings about sacred gifts. 14 And in like manner Judas also gathered together for us all those writings that had been scattered by reason of the war that befell, and they are still with us. 15 If therefore you have need thereof, send some to fetch them to you. 16 Seeing then that we are about to keep the purification, we write to you; you will therefore do well if you keep the days. 17 Now Elohim, who saved all his people, and restored the heritage to all, and the reign, and the priesthood, and the hallowing, 18 even as he promised through the law,— in Elohim have we hope, that he will quickly have mercy upon us, and gather us together out of all the land to the holy place: for he delivered us out of great evils, and purified the place.

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.

12:1 And Tobit called his son Tobias, and said to him, “See, my child, that the man which went with you have his wages, and you must give him more.” 2 And he said to him, “Father, it is no harm to me to give him the half of those things which I have brought; 3 for he has led me for you in safety, and he cured my wife, and brought my money, and likewise cured you.” 4 The bearded man said, “It is due to him.” 5 And he called the angel, and said to him, “Take half of all that you all have brought.” 6 Then he called them both privately, and said to them, “Bless Elohim, and give him thanks, and magnify him, and give him thanks in the sight of all that live, for the things which he has done with you. It is good to bless Elohim and exalt his name, showing forth with honor the works of Elohim. Don’t be slack to give him thanks. 7 It is good to keep close the secret of a king, but to reveal gloriously the works of Elohim. Do good, and evil won’t find you. 8 Good is prayer with fasting, alms, and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with unrighteousness. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold. 9 Alms delivers from death, and it purges away all sin. Those who give alms and do righteousness will be filled with life; 10 but those who sin are enemies to their own life. 11 Surely I will keep nothing closed from you. I have said, ‘It is good to keep close the secret of a king, but to reveal gloriously the works of Elohim.’ 12 And now, when you prayed, and Sarah your daughter-in-law, I brought the memorial of your prayer before the Holy One. When you buried the dead, I was with you likewise. 13 And when you didn’t delay to rise up, and leave your dinner, that you might go and cover the dead, your good deed was not hidden from me. I was with you. 14 And now Elohim sent me to heal you and Sarah your daughter-in-law. 15 I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels which present the prayers of the saints and go in before the glory of the Holy One.” 16 And they were both troubled, and fell upon their faces; for they were afraid. 17 And he said to them, “Don’t be afraid. You will all have peace; but bless Elohim forever. 18 For I came not of any favor of my own, but by the will of your Elohim. Therefore bless him forever. 19 All these days I appeared to you. I didn’t eat or drink, but you all saw a vision. 20 Now give Elohim thanks, because I ascend to him who sent me. Write in a book all the things which have been done.” 21 Then they rose up, and saw him no more. 22 They confessed the great and wonderful works of Elohim, and how the angel of the Lord had appeared to them.

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

3.6.8. Now between this candlestick and the table, which, as we said, were within the sanctuary, was the altar of incense, made of wood indeed, but of the same wood of which the foregoing vessels were made, such as was not liable to corruption; it was entirely crusted over with a golden plate. Its breadth on each side was a cubit, but the altitude double. Upon it was a grate of gold, that was extant above the altar, which had a golden crown encompassing it round about, whereto belonged rings and bars, by which the priests carried it when they journeyed. Before this tabernacle there was reared a brazen altar, but it was within made of wood, five cubits by measure on each side, but its height was but three, in like manner adorned with brass plates as bright as gold. It had also a brazen hearth of network; for the ground underneath received the fire from the hearth, because it had no basis to receive it. Hard by this altar lay the basins, and the vials, and the censers, and the caldrons, made of gold; but the other vessels, made for the use of the slaughters, were all of brass. And such was the construction of the tabernacle; and these were the vessels thereto belonging.

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.