• Torah (T): Wayiqra (Leviticus) 12:1 – 13:28
• Prophets (P): Isaiah 66:7-13
• Apostolic (A): Luke 2:21-24; Luke 5:12-16
• Additional (ADD): Jubilees 3:1-35

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Leviticus 15:19-33 (T)
• 1 Timothy 2:11-15 (T, ADD)
• Genesis 31:32-35 (T)
• Isaiah 64:5-7 (T)
• Matthew 9:19-22; Mark 5:24-34; Luke 8:40-48 (T)
• Exodus 38:8; 1 Samuel 2:22 (T)
• Genesis 17:9-12 (T)
• Luke 1:59-60 (T, A)
• John 7:21-24 (T)
• Deuteronomy 24:8-9 (T)
• Numbers 12:1-16 (T)
• Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45 (T, A)
• Luke 17:11-19 (T)
• Matthew 11:1-6 (T)
• Numbers 5:1-4 (T)
• Lamentations 4:14-15 (T)
• 2 Kings 5:1-27 (T)
• Luke 4:16-27 (T)
• 2 Chronicles 26:1-23 (T)
• Exodus 4:6-8 (T)
• Genesis 2:4 – 3:24 (ADD)
• 1 Corinthians 14:34-40 (ADD)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• Portions of Sectarian Law 4Q265 Fragment 7 Column 2 (T)
• 2 Baruch 1:1 – 5:5 (T)
• Damascus Document 4Q272 Fragment 1 Column 1; 4Q266 Fragment 9 Column 1 (T)
• Leviticus 12:1 – 13:28 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 3.11.1-6 (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)

12:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If a woman conceives seed, and bears a male child, then she will be unclean seven days; as in the days of her separation for her sickness she will be unclean. 3 In the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin will be circumcised. 4 She will continue in the blood of purification thirty-three days. She will not touch any holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. 5 But if she bears a female child, then she will be unclean two weeks, as in her separation; and she will continue in the blood of purification sixty-six days. 6 And in completing the days of her purification, for a son, or for a daughter, she will bring a lamb, the son of his year, for a burnt offering, and the son of a dove, or a turtledove, for the sin, to the door of the Appointed Tent, to the priest. 7 He will bring it before YHWH, and [the priest shall]^(LXX) make atonement for her; then she will be cleansed from the fountain of her blood. This is the Torah for her who bears, whether a male or a female. 8 If she does not find her hand sufficient with a lamb, then she will take two turtledoves or two sons of a dove: the one for a burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering. The priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’ ”

13:1 YHWH spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 “When a man will have a swelling in his body’s skin, or a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes in the skin of his body the plague of infection, then he will be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons, the priests. 3 The priest will see the plague in the skin of the body. If the hair in the plague has turned white, and the appearance of the plague is deeper than the body’s skin, it is the plague of infection; so the priest will see him and pronounce him unclean. 4 If the bright spot is white in the skin of his body, and its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, and its hair hasn’t turned white, then the priest will isolate the infected person for seven days. 5 The priest will see him on the seventh day. Behold, if in his eyes the plague is arrested and the plague hasn’t spread in the skin, then the priest will isolate him for seven more days. 6 The priest will see him again on the seventh day. Behold, if the plague has faded and the plague hasn’t spread in the skin, then the priest will pronounce him clean. It is a scab. He will wash his clothes, and be clean. 7 But if the scab spreads on the skin after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he will show himself to the priest again. 8 The priest will see him; and behold, if the scab has spread on the skin, then the priest will pronounce him unclean. It is infection. 9 When the plague of infection is in a man, then he will be brought to the priest; 10 and the priest will see him. Behold, if there is a white swelling in the skin, and it has turned the hair white, and there is raw flesh in the swelling, 11 it is a chronic infection in the skin of his body, and the priest will pronounce him unclean. He will not isolate him, for he is already unclean. 12 If the infection breaks out all over the skin, and the infection covers all the skin of the infected person from his head even to his feet, as far as it appears to the priest, 13 then the priest will see him. Behold, if the infection has covered all his flesh, he will pronounce him clean of the plague. It has all turned white: he is clean. 14 But whenever raw flesh appears in him, he will be unclean. 15 The priest will see the raw flesh, and pronounce him unclean: the raw flesh is unclean. It is infection. 16 Or if the raw flesh turns again, and is changed to white, then he will come to the priest. 17 The priest will see him. Behold, if the plague has turned white, then the priest will pronounce him clean of the plague. He is clean. 18 When the body has a boil on its skin, and it has healed, 19 and in the place of the boil there is a white swelling, or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it will be shown to the priest. 20 The priest will see it. Behold, if its appearance is deeper than the skin, and its hair has turned white, then the priest will pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of infection. It has broken out in the boil. 21 But if the priest sees it, and behold, there are no white hairs in it, and it isn’t deeper than the skin, but is dim, then the priest will isolate him seven days. 22 If it spreads in the skin, then the priest will pronounce him unclean. It is a plague. [It has broken out in the boil.]^(LXX) 23 But if the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn’t spread, it is the scar from the boil; and the priest will pronounce him clean. 24 Or when the body has a burn from fire on its skin, and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a bright spot, reddish-white, or white, 25 then the priest will see it; and behold, if the hair in the bright spot has turned white, and its appearance is deeper than the skin, it is infection. It has broken out in the burning, and the priest will pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of infection. 26 But if the priest sees it, and behold, there is no white hair in the bright spot, and it isn’t deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest will isolate him seven days. 27 The priest will see him on the seventh day. If it has spread in the skin, then the priest will pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of infection. 28 If the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn’t spread in the skin, but is faded, it is the swelling from the burn, and the priest will pronounce him clean, for it is the scar from the burn.

Prophets Portion (P)

66:7 “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? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she gave birth to her sons. 9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to be delivered?” says YHWH. “Shall 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)

Luke 2:21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Yeshua, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 When the days of their purification according to the Torah of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 as it is written in the Torah of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb will be called holy to the Lord” (cf. Exodus 13:2, Exodus 13:11-12), 24 and to offer a slaughter according to that which is said in the Torah of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two sons of a dove.” (cf. Leviticus 12:6-8)

Luke 5:12 While he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of infection. When he saw Yeshua, he fell on his face and begged him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.” 13 He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately the infection left him. 14 He commanded him to tell no one, “But go your way and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, for a witness to them.” 15 But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16 But he withdrew himself into the desert and prayed.

Additional Portion (ADD)

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

3:1 And on the six days of the second week we brought, according to the word of Elohim, unto Adam all the beasts, and all the cattle, and all the birds, and everything that moves on the land, and everything that moves in the water, according to their kinds, and according to their types: the beasts on the first day; the cattle on the second day; the birds on the third day; and all that which moves on the land on the fourth day; and that which moves in the water on the fifth day. 2. And Adam named them all by their respective names, and as he called them, so was their name. 3. And on these five days Adam saw all these, male and female, according to every kind that was on the land, but he was alone and found no helpmeet for him. 4. And the Lord said unto us: ‘It is not good that the man should be alone: let us make a helpmeet for him.’ 5. And the Lord our Elohim caused a deep sleep to fall upon him, and he slept, and He took for the woman one rib from amongst his ribs, and this rib was the origin of the woman from amongst his ribs, and He built up the flesh in its stead, and built the woman. 6. And He woke Adam out of his sleep and on awaking he rose on the sixth day, and He brought her to him, and he knew her, and said unto her: ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she will be called [my] woman; because she was taken from her husband.’ 7. Therefore will man and woman be one and therefore will a man leave his father and his mother, and cleave unto his wife, and they will be one flesh. 8. In the first week was Adam created, and the rib – his wife: in the second week He showed her unto him: and for this reason the commandment was given to keep in their defilement, for a male seven days, and for a female twice seven days. 9. And after Adam had completed forty days in the land where he had been created, we brought him into the garden of Eden to till and keep it, but his wife they brought in on the eightieth day, and after this she entered into the garden of Eden. 10. And for this reason the commandment is written on the heavenly tablets in regard to her that gives birth: ‘if she bears a male, she will remain in her uncleanness seven days according to the first week of days, and thirty and three days will she remain in the blood of her purifying, and she will not touch any hallowed thing, nor enter into the sanctuary, until she accomplishes these days which (are enjoined) in the case of a male child. 11. But in the case of a female child she will remain in her uncleanness two weeks of days, according to the first two weeks, and sixty-six days in the blood of her purification, and they will be in all eighty days.’ 12. And when she had completed these eighty days we brought her into the garden of Eden, for it is holier than all the land besides and every tree that is planted in it is holy. 13. Therefore, there was ordained regarding her who bears a male or a female child the statute of those days that she should touch no hallowed thing, nor enter into the sanctuary until these days for the male or female child are accomplished. 14. This is the law and witness which was written down for Israel, in order that they should observe (it) all the days. 15. And in the first week of the first jubilee, [1-7 A.M.] Adam and his wife were in the garden of Eden for seven years tilling and keeping it, and we gave him work and we instructed him to do everything that is suitable for tillage. 16. And he tilled (the garden), and was naked and knew it not, and was not ashamed, and he protected the garden from the birds and beasts and cattle, and gathered its fruit, and ate, and put aside the residue for himself and for his wife [and put aside that which was being kept]. 17. And after the completion of the seven years, which he had completed there, seven years exactly, [8 A.M.] and in the second new moon, on the seventeenth day (of the new moon), the nachash came and approached the woman, and the nachash said to the woman, ‘Hath Elohim commanded you, saying, Ye will not eat of every tree of the garden?’ 18. And she said to it, ‘Of all the fruit of the trees of the garden Elohim hath said unto us, Eat; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden Elohim hath said unto us, Ye will not eat thereof, neither will ye touch it, lest ye die.’ 19. And the nachash said unto the woman, ‘Ye will not surely die: for Elohim doth know that on the day ye will eat thereof, your eyes will be opened, and ye will be as elohim, and ye will know good and evil. 20. And the woman saw the tree that it was agreeable and pleasant to the eye, and that its fruit was good for food, and she took thereof and ate. 21. And when she had first covered her shame with fig leaves, she gave thereof to Adam and he ate, and his eyes were opened, and he saw that he was naked. 22. And he took fig leaves and sewed (them) together, and made an apron for himself, and, covered his shame. 23. And Elohim cursed the nachash, and was wroth with it for ever . . . 24. And He was wroth with the woman, because she harkened to the voice of the nachash, and did eat; and He said unto her: ‘I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy pains: in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children, and thy return will be unto thy husband, and he will rule over thee.’ 25. And to Adam also he said, ‘ Because thou hast harkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat thereof, cursed be the ground for thy sake: thorns and thistles will it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt eat thy bread in the sweat of thy face, till thou returnest to the ground from whence thou wast taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.’ 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.

Related Scriptures

15:19 If a woman has a discharge, and her discharge in her flesh is blood, she will be in her impurity seven days. Whoever touches her will be unclean until the evening. 20 Everything that she lies on in her separation will be unclean. Everything also that she sits on will be unclean. 21 Whoever touches her bed will wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 22 Whoever touches anything that she sits on will wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 23 If it is on the bed, or on anything she sits on, when he touches it, he will be unclean until the evening. 24 If any man lies with her, and her separation is on him, he will be unclean seven days; and every bed he lies on will be unclean. 25 If a woman has a discharge of her blood many days not in the time of her separation, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her separation, all the days of the discharge of her uncleanness will be as in the days of her separation. She is unclean. 26 Every bed she lies on all the days of her discharge will be to her as the bed of her separation. Everything she sits on will be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation. 27 Whoever touches these things will be unclean, and will wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 28 But if she is cleansed of her discharge, then she will count to herself seven days, and after that she will be clean. 29 On the eighth day she will take two turtledoves, or two sons of a dove, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the Appointed Tent and the priest will do the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest will make atonement for her before YHWH for the uncleanness of her discharge. 31 Thus you will separate the sons of Israel from their uncleanness, so they will not die in their uncleanness when they defile my tabernacle that is among them. 32 This is the Torah of him who has a discharge, and of him who has an emission of semen, so that he is unclean by it; 33 and of her who is sick [hemorrhaging]^(LXX) in her separation, and of a man or woman who has a discharge, and of him who lies with her who is unclean.

2:11 Let a woman learn in quietness with full submission. 12 But I don’t permit a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Chavah. 14 Adam wasn’t deceived, but the woman, being deceived, has fallen into disobedience; 15 but she will be saved through her childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and sanctification with sobriety.

31:32 Anyone you find your elohim with will not live. Before our relatives, discern what is yours with me, and take it.” For Jacob didn’t know that Rachel had stolen them. 33 Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the tent of the two maids; but he didn’t find them. He went out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. Laban felt around all the tent, but didn’t find them. 35 She said to her father, “Don’t let my lord be angry that I can’t rise up before you; for the way of women is to me.” He searched, but didn’t find the teraphim.

64:5 You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned. We have been in sin for a long time. Shall we be saved? 6 For we have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is like [the garment of monthly courses]. We all fade like a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7 There is no one who calls on your name, who stirs himself up to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have consumed us by means of our iniquities.

Matthew 9:19 Yeshua got up and followed him, as did his disciples. 20 Behold, a woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years came behind, and touched the tassel of his garment; 21 for she said within herself, “If I just touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22 But Yeshua, turning around and seeing her, said, “Daughter, cheer up! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.

Mark 5:24 He went with him, and a great multitude followed him, and they pressed upon him on all sides. 25 A certain woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse, 27 having heard the things concerning Yeshua, came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes. 28 For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be made well.” 29 Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30 Immediately Yeshua, perceiving in himself that the power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 His disciples said to him, “You see the multitude pressing against you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be cured of your disease.”

Luke 8:40 When Yeshua returned, the multitude welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 Behold, a man named Jairus came. He was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Yeshua’s feet and begged him to come into his house, 42 for he had an only born daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went, the multitudes pressed against him. 43 A woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her living on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came behind him and touched the tassel of his cloak. Immediately the flow of her blood stopped. 45 Yeshua said, “Who touched me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes press and jostle you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 46 But Yeshua said, “Someone did touch me, for I perceived that power has gone out of me.” 47 When the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him declared to him in the face of all the people the reason why she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48 He said to her, “Daughter, cheer up. Your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

Exodus 38:8 He made the basin of bronze, and its base of bronze, out of the mirrors of the [women] assembling who assembled at the door of the Appointed Tent.

Exodus 38:8 as translated from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan And he made the brasen Laver, and its foundation of brass, from the brasen mirrors of the pious women, who, at the season, came to pray at the door of the tabernacle of appointment, standing with their oblations, giving thanks and confession, and returning to their husbands, the mothers of righteous children, who had been purified from the uncleanness of their blood. [JERUSALEM. And he made the laver of brass, and the base thereof of brass, with, the mirrors of the pious women who were devout at the gate of the tabernacle of appointment.]

Exodus 38:8 (38:26) as translated from the Greek Old Testament (LXX or Septuagint) He made the brazen laver, and the brazen base of it of the mirrors of the women that fasted, who fasted by the doors of the tabernacle of witness, in the day in which he set it up.

1 Samuel 2:22 Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how that they slept with the women who assembled at the door of the Appointed Tent

17:9 Elohim said to Abraham, “As for you, you will guard my covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you will guard, between me and you and your seed after you. Every male among you will be circumcised. 11 You will be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old will be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your seed.

7:21 Yeshua answered them, “I did one work and you all marvel because of it. 22 Moses has given you circumcision, not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers, and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy. 23 If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the Torah of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath? 24 Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

24:8 Be careful in the plague of infection, that you observe diligently and do according to all that the priests, the Levites, teach you. As I commanded them, so you will observe to do. 9 Remember what YHWH your Elohim did to Miriam, by the way as you came out of Egypt.

12:1 Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Cushite woman. 2 They said, “Has YHWH indeed spoken only with Moses? Hasn’t he spoken also with us?” And YHWH heard it. 3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all the men who were on the surface of the land. 4 YHWH spoke suddenly to Moses, to Aaron, and to Miriam, “You three come out to the Appointed Tent!” The three of them came out. 5 YHWH came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the Tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward. 6 [And YHWH] said [to them], “Now hear my words. If there is a prophet among you, I, YHWH, will make myself known to him in a vision. I will speak with him in a dream. 7 My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him, I will speak mouth to mouth, [openly], and not in riddles; and he will see YHWH’s form. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?” 9 the anger of YHWH burned against them; and he departed. 10 The cloud departed from over the Tent; and behold, Miriam was infected, as white as snow. Aaron looked at Miriam, and behold, she was infected. 11 Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, please don’t count this sin against us, in which we have done foolishly, and in which we have sinned. 12 Let her not, I pray, be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb.” 13 Moses cried to YHWH, saying, “Heal her, Elohim, I beg you!” 14 YHWH said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, shouldn’t she be ashamed seven days? Let her be shut up outside of the camp seven days, and after that she will be brought in again.” 15 Miriam was shut up outside of the camp seven days, and the people didn’t travel until Miriam was brought in again. 16 Afterward the people traveled from Hazeroth, and encamped in the wilderness of Paran.

Matthew 8:1 When he came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2 Behold, an infected one came to him and did bow down to him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.” 3 Yeshua stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately his infection was cleansed. 4 Yeshua said to him, “See that you tell nobody; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a witness to them.”

Mark 1:40 An infected one came to him, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, “If you want to, you can make me clean.” 41 Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I want to. Be made clean.” 42 When he had said this, immediately the infection departed from him and he was made clean. 43 He strictly warned him and immediately sent him out, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a witness to them.” 45 But he went out, and began to proclaim it much, and to spread about the matter, so that Yeshua could no more openly enter into a city, but was outside in desert places. People came to him from everywhere.

17:11 As he was on his way to Jerusalem, he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were infected met him, who stood at a distance. 13 They lifted up their voices, saying, “Yeshua, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying Elohim with a loud voice. 16 He fell on his face at Yeshua’s feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan. 17 Yeshua answered, “Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there none found who returned to give glory to Elohim, except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you.”

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

5:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the sons of Israel that they put out of the camp every infected, everyone who has a discharge, and whoever is unclean by a corpse. 3 You will put both male and female outside of the camp so that they don’t defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell.” 4 The sons of Israel did so, and put them outside of the camp; as YHWH spoke to Moses, so the sons of Israel did.

4:14 They wander as blind men in the streets. They are polluted with blood, So that men can’t touch their garments. 15 “Go away!” they cried to them. “Unclean! Go away! Go away! Don’t touch! When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, “They can’t live here any more.”

5:1 Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him YHWH had given victory to Syria; he was also a mighty man of valor, an infected one. 2 The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little girl, and she waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “I wish that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal him of his infection.” 4 Someone went in and told his lord, saying, “The girl who is from the land of Israel said this.” 5 The king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” He departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, “Now when this letter has come to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his infection.” 7 When the king of Israel had read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I Elohim, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me to heal a man of his infection? But please consider and see how he seeks a quarrel against me.” 8 It was so, when Elisha the man of Elohim heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will come again to you, and you will be clean.” 11 But Naaman was angry, and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of YHWH his Elohim, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the infected one.’ 12 Aren’t Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 His servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had asked you do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean?’ ” 14 Then went he down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of Elohim; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 15 He returned to the man of Elohim, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said, “See now, I know that there is no Elohim in all the land, but in Israel. Now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.” 16 But he said, “As YHWH lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” He urged him to take it; but he refused. 17 Naaman said, “If not, then, please let two mules’ load of land be given to your servant; for your servant will from now on do neither burnt offering nor slaughter to other elohim, but to YHWH. 18 In this thing may YHWH pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon. When I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, may YHWH pardon your servant in this thing.” 19 He said to him, “Go in peace.” So he departed from him a little way. 20 But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of Elohim, said, “Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As YHWH lives, I will run after him, and take something from him.” 21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him, and said, “Is all well?” 22 He said, “All is well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Behold, even now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent† of silver and two changes of clothing.’ ” 23 Naaman said, “Be pleased to take two talents.” He urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants; and they carried them before him. 24 When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand, and stored them in the house. Then he let the men go, and they departed. 25 But he went in, and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you come from, Gehazi?” He said, “Your servant went nowhere.” 26 He said to him, “Didn’t my heart go with you when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive groves and vineyards, and sheep and cattle, and male servants and maids? 27 Therefore the infection of Naaman will cling to you and to your seed forever.” He went out from his face infected, as white as snow.

4:16 He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the scroll, and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the afflicted. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, 19 and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (cf. Isaiah 61:1-2) 20 He closed the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 All witnessed about him and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth; and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” 23 He said to them, “Doubtless you will tell me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in your hometown.’ ” 24 He said, “Amen, amen, I tell you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six new moons, when a great famine came over all the land. 26 Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 There were many infected ones in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian.”

26:1 All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah. 2 He built Eloth and restored it to Judah. After that the king slept with his fathers. 3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jechiliah, of Jerusalem. 4 He did that which was right in the eyes of YHWH, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 5 He set himself to seek Elohim in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the vision of Elohim; and as long as he sought YHWH, Elohim made him prosper. 6 He went out and fought against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the country of Ashdod, and among the Philistines. 7 Elohim helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and the Meunim. 8 The Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah. His name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt, for he grew exceedingly strong. 9 Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. 10 He built towers in the wilderness, and dug out many cisterns, for he had much livestock, both in the lowlands and in the plains. He had farmers and vineyard keepers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields, for he loved farming. 11 Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men who went out to war by bands, according to the number of their reckoning made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s captains. 12 The whole number of the heads of fathers’ households, even the mighty men of valor, was two thousand six hundred. 13 Under their hand was an army, three hundred seven thousand five hundred, who made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 Uzziah prepared for them, even for all the army, shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging. 15 In Jerusalem, he made devices, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and on the battlements, with which to shoot arrows and great stones. His name spread far abroad, because he was marvelously helped until he was strong. 16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly and he trespassed against YHWH his Elohim, for he went into the temple of YHWH to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him eighty priests of YHWH, who were valiant men. 18 They resisted Uzziah the king, and said to him, “It isn’t for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to YHWH, but for the priests the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed. It will not be for your honor from YHWH Elohim.” 19 Then Uzziah was angry. He had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and while he was angry with the priests, the infection broke out on his forehead before the priests in YHWH’s house, beside the altar of incense. 20 Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was infected in his forehead; and they thrust him out quickly from there. Indeed, he himself also hurried to go out, because YHWH had struck him. 21 Uzziah the king was infected to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house, being infected; for he was cut off from YHWH’s house. Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land. 22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, wrote. 23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is infected.” Jotham his son reigned in his place.

4:6 YHWH said furthermore to him, “Now put your hand inside your cloak.” He put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand infected, as white as snow. 7 He said, “Put your hand inside your cloak again.” He put his hand inside his cloak again, and when he took it out of his cloak, behold, it had turned again as his other flesh. 8 “It will happen, if they will not believe you or listen to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

Genesis 2:4 – 3:24 (ADD)

2:4 These are the births of the heavens and of the land when they were created, in the day that [Elohim]^(LXX) made the land and the heavens. 5 No shrub of the field was yet in the land, and no plant of the field had yet sprung up; for [Elohim]^(LXX) had not caused it to rain on the land. There was not a man to till the ground, 6 but a [spring]^(LXX) went up from the land, and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7 [Elohim]^(LXX) formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 8 [Elohim]^(LXX) planted a garden eastward, in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 Out of the ground [Elohim]^(LXX) made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 A river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it was parted, and became the source of four rivers. 11 The name of the first is Pishon: it flows through the whole land of [Havilah],^(mss) where there is gold; 12 and the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and onyx stone are also there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon. It is the same river that flows through the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Hiddekel. This is the one which flows in front of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. 15 [Elohim]^(LXX) took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to work and guard it. 16 [Elohim]^(LXX) commanded the man, saying, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but you will not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.” 18 [Elohim]^(LXX) said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper [as his opposite].”^(MTT) 19 Out of the ground [Elohim]^(LXX) formed [every livestock, and]^(mss) every [wild]^(LXX) beast of the field, and every bird of the heavens, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called every living creature became its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock, and to [all]^(LXX) the birds of the heavens, and to every beast of the field; but for man there was not found a helper [as his opposite].^(MTT) 21 [Elohim]^(LXX) caused the man to fall into a trance. As the man slept, he took one from his side, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 [Elohim]^(LXX) made a woman from the side 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 out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will cling with his wife, and [the two]^(LXX)(mss) will be one flesh. 25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.

3:1 Now the nachash 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 nachash, “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 nachash 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?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 [Elohim]^(LXX) said to the woman, “What have you done?” The woman said, “The nachash deceived me, and I ate.” 14 [Elohim]^(LXX) said to the nachash, “Because you have done this, you are cursed above all livestock, and above every beast of the field. You will go on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.” 16 To the woman he said, “I will make a great increase of your hardship and your pregnancy, in distressing pain you will bring forth sons. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” 17 To Adam he said, “Because you have listened to your wife’s voice, and have eaten from the tree, about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You will not eat of it,’ the ground is cursed for your sake. You will eat from it with much labor all the days of your life. 18 It will yield thorns and thistles to you; and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your face until you return to the ground, for you were taken out of it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust.” 20 The man called his wife Havah because she would be the mother of all the living. 21 [Elohim]^(LXX) made coats of skin for Adam and for his wife, 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.

1 Corinthians 14:34-40 (ADD)

14:34 Let the wives be quiet in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to be talking except in submission, as the law also says (cf. Genesis 3:16), 35 if they desire to learn anything. “Let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to be talking in the assembly.” 36 What!? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone? 37 If any man thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord. 38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39 Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Related Additional Readings​

Portions of Sectarian Law is a medley composed from other legal texts found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. The work may be an ekloge, the technical term used to refer to a writing that gathers extracts from various works. Often such selections were made by ancient scholars for private study. Portions of Sectarian Law bears a particularly close relationship to the Damascus Document (text 1) and the Charter of a Jewish Sectarian Association (text 5). The present author has sometimes changed the penalty clauses of the laws his work has in common with those others, however, indicating a certain process of development among those who consulted these writings.

In the first week […] because he was not brought to the Garden of Eden and this very [man…] It was her witness that she was not brought with him […] …] the Garden of Eden is holy, and every growing thing in its midst is holy. Therefore, if she conceives and bears a male child, she will be ceremonially unclean seven days; as at the time of her menstruation she will be unclean. And she will remain for thirty-three days in the blood] of her purification. And if she bears a female child, then she will be unclean [for two weeks, as in her menstruation; and for sixty-six days] “[she will remain in the blood of her purification. No holy [will she touch, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purification are completed.]

2 Baruch 1:1 – 5:5 (T)

2 Baruch is also known as the Apocalypse of Baruch or the Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch (used to distinguish it from the Greek Apocalypse of Baruch). The Apocalypse proper occupies the first 77 chapters of the book. Chapters 78–87 are usually referred to as the Letter of Baruch to the Nine and a Half Tribes. 2 Baruch is thought to have been written in the late 1st century A.D. or early 2nd century A.D., after the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70. It is attributed to the biblical Baruch and so is associated with the Old Testament. It is included in some editions of the Peshitta, and is part of the Bible in the Syriac Orthodox tradition.

1:1 And it came to pass in the twenty-fifth year of Jeconiah, king of Judah, that the word of the Lord came to Baruch, the son of Neriah, and said to him: 2 ‘Have you seen all that this people are doing to Me, that the evils which these two tribes which remained have done are greater than (those of) the ten tribes which were carried away captive? 3 For the former tribes were forced by their kings to commit sin, but these two of themselves have been forcing and compelling their kings to commit sin. 4 For this reason, behold I bring evil upon this city, and upon its inhabitants, and it will be removed from before Me for a time, and I will scatter this people among the Gentiles that they may do good to the Gentiles. And My people will be chastened, and the time will come when they will seek for the prosperity of their times. 2:1 For I have said these things to you that you may bid Jeremiah, and all those that are like you, to retire from this city. 2 For your works are to this city as a firm pillar, And your prayers as a strong wall.’ 3:1 And I said: ‘O LORD, my Lord, have I come into the world for this purpose that I might see the evils of my mother? Not (so) my Lord. 2 If I have found grace in Your sight, first take my spirit that I may go to my fathers and not behold the destruction of my mother. For two things vehemently constrain me: for I cannot resist you, and my soul, moreover, cannot behold the evils of my mother. 4 But one thing I will say in Your presence, O Lord. 5 What, therefore, will there be after these things? for if you destroy Your city, and deliver up Your land to those that hate us, how will the name of Israel be again remembered? 6 Or how will one speak of Your praises? or to whom will that which is in Your law be explained? Or will the world return to its nature of aforetime), and the age revert to primeval silence? And will the multitude of souls be taken away, and the nature of man not again be named? And where is all that which you did say regarding us?’ 4:1 And the Lord said unto me: ‘This city will be delivered up for a time, And the people will be chastened during a time, And the world will not be given over to oblivion. 2 [Dost you think that this is that city of which I said: “On the palms of My hands have I graven you”? 3 This building now built in your midst is not that which is revealed with Me, that which prepared beforehand here from the time when I took counsel to make Paradise, and showed Adam before he sinned, but when he transgressed the commandment it was removed from him, as also Paradise. 4 And after these things I showed it to My servant Abraham by night among the portions of the victims. 5 And again also I showed it to Moses on Mount Sinai when I showed to the likeness of the tabernacle and all its vessels. 6 And now, behold, it is preserved with Me, as Paradise. 7 Go, therefore, and do as I command you.’] 5. Baruch’s Complaint and God’s Reassurance 5:1 And I answered and said: ‘So then I am destined to grieve for Zion, For your enemies will come to this place and pollute Your sanctuary, And lead your inheritance into captivity, And make themselves masters of those whom you have loved, And they will depart again to the place of their idols, And will boast before them: And what will you do for Your great name?’ 2 And the Lord said unto me: ‘My name and My glory are unto all eternity; And My judgment will maintain its right in its own time. 3 And you will see with your eyes That the enemy will not overthrow Zion, Nor will they burn Jerusalem, But be the ministers of the Judge for the time. 4 But do you go and do whatsoever I have said unto you. 5 And I went and took Jeremiah, and Adu, and Seriah, and Jabish, and Gedaliah, and all the honorable men of the people, and I led them to the valley of Kidron, and I narrated to them all that had been said to me. 6 And they lifted up their voice, and they all wept. 7 And we sat there and fasted until the evening.

The Damascus Document, also called the Damascus Covenant or the Book of the Covenant of Damascus, Cairo Damascus document (CD) or Damascus Rule, is an ancient Jewish document that some scholars suggest serves as a “bridge” document, connecting Judaism’s post-exilic ‘Enochian’-Essene majority to the asserted leadership of its radical minority Qumran-Essene community that was established in isolation near the shores of the Dead Sea. It forms part of the Dead Sea Scrolls, found after 1947 near Qumran, but two fragments had already been discovered in 1897 in the Cairo Geniza.

4Q272 Frag. 1 Col. 1 […a sore or] scab or inflammation… … a sore of any kind and a scab due to a wound from a piece of wood or] stone. In the case of a wound, when the spirit comes [and possesses the artery, blood stops flowing] above and below the wound, and the artery [… The priest will examine the] healthy skin and the diseased [skin… If the diseased skin is not recessed below the healthy skin, he will isolate him] until the tissue grows back and until the blood returns to the artery. [Then on the seventh day the priest will examine him. If] the spirit of life rises and falls unimpeded and the tissue has grown back, [he is healed… ] the scab, the priest will not examine the skin of the body [… If the] sore or the scab [is lower than the skin … and the priest sees] that it looks like an open sore [… … a skin disease has taken hold] in the healthy skin, and according to [this] regulation [… … The priest will examine on the seventh] day. If the healthy [tissue has given way to diseased tissue, it is an infectious] skin disease.

4Q266 Frag. 9 Col. 1 The regulation pertaining to scalp of the head and beard [ … ] [… The priest will examine it;] if the spirit has entered into the head or the beard to possess [… underneath the] hair and begins to resemble thin yellow growth; for it is like grass with a worm under it, which then cuts its root and the blossom dries up. As for the verse which says, “The priest will order the head to be shaven without shaving the scale” (Lev. 13:33) this is so that the priest can count the diseased and healthy hairs. He will examine the skin, and if the diseased tissue has encroached on the healthy tissue after seven days, the man is unclean. But if the diseased parts have not encroached on the healthy, and the artery is full of blood and the spirit of life rises and falls unimpeded [ … ] the disease. Such is the regulation of the law pertaining to infectious skin disease so that the Aaronites can separate [ … ]

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.).

3.11.1. Moses took out the tribe of Levi from communicating with the rest of the people, and set them apart to be a holy tribe; and purified them by water taken from perpetual springs, and with such slaughters as were usually offered to Elohim on the like occasions. He delivered to them also the tabernacle, and the sacred vessels, and the other curtains, which were made for covering the tabernacle, that they might minister under the conduct of the priests, who had been already consecrated to Elohim.

3.11.2. He also determined concerning animals; which of them might be used for food, and which they were obliged to abstain from; which matters, when this work will give me occasion, will be further explained; and the causes will be added by which he was moved to allot some of them to be our food, and enjoined us to abstain from others. However, he entirely forbade us the use of blood for food, and esteemed it to contain the soul and spirit. He also forbade us to eat the flesh of an animal that died of itself, as also the caul, and the fat of goats, and sheep, and bulls.

3.11.3. He also ordered that those whose bodies were afflicted with infection, and that had a gonorrhea, should not come into the city; nay, he removed the women, when they had their natural purgations, till the seventh day; after which he looked on them as pure, and permitted them to come in again. The law permits those also who have taken care of funerals to come in after the same manner, when this number of days is over; but if any continued longer than that number of days in a state of pollution, the law appointed the offering two lambs for a slaughter; the one of which they are to purge by fire, and for the other, the priests take it for themselves. In the same manner do those slaughter who have had the gonorrhea. But he that sheds his seed in his sleep, if he go down into cold water, has the same privilege with those that have lawfully accompanied with their wives. And for the lepers, he suffered them not to come into the city at all, nor to live with any others, as if they were in effect dead persons; but if any one had obtained by prayer to Elohim, the recovery from that distemper, and had gained a healthful complexion again, such a one returned thanks to Elohim, with several sorts of slaughters; concerning which we will speak hereafter.

3.11.4. Whence one cannot but smile at those who say that Moses was himself afflicted with the infection when he fled out of Egypt, and that he became the conductor of those who on that account left that country, and led them into the land of Canaan; for had this been true, Moses would not have made these laws to his own dishonor, which indeed it was more likely he would have opposed, if others had endeavored to introduce them; and this the rather, because there are lepers in many nations, who yet are in honor, and not only free from reproach and avoidance, but who have been great captains of armies, and been entrusted with high offices in the commonwealth, and have had the privilege of entering into holy places and temples; so that nothing hindered, but if either Moses himself, or the multitude that was with him, had been liable to such a misfortune in the color of his skin, he might have made laws about them for their credit and advantage, and have laid no manner of difficulty upon them. Accordingly, it is a plain case, that it is out of violent prejudice only that they report these things about us. But Moses was pure from any such distemper, and lived with countrymen who were pure of it also, and thence made the laws which concerned others that had the distemper. He did this for the honor of Elohim. But as to these matters, let every one consider them after what manner he pleases.

3.11.5. As to the women, when they have born a child, Moses forbade them to come into the temple, or touch the slaughters, before forty days were over, supposing it to be a boy; but if she hath born a girl, the law is that she cannot be admitted before twice that number of days be over. And when after the before-mentioned time appointed for them, they perform their slaughters, the priests distribute them before Elohim.

3.11.6. But if any one suspect that his wife has been guilty of adultery, he was to bring a tenth deal of barley flour; they then cast one handful to Elohim and gave the rest of it to the priests for food. One of the priests set the woman at the gates that are turned towards the temple, and took the veil from her head, and wrote the name of Elohim on parchment, and enjoined her to swear that she had not at all injured her husband; and to wish that, if she had violated her chastity, her right thigh might be put out of joint; that her belly might swell; and that she might die thus: but that if her husband, by the violence of his affection, and of the zeal which arose from it, had been rashly moved to this suspicion, that she might bear a male child in the tenth new moon. Now when these oaths were over, the priest wiped the name of Elohim out of the parchment, and wrung the water into a vial. He also took some dust out of the temple, if any happened to be there, and put a little of it into the vial, and gave it her to drink; whereupon the woman, if she were unjustly accused, conceived with child, and brought it to perfection in her womb: but if she had broken her faith of wedlock to her husband, and had sworn falsely before Elohim, she died in a reproachful manner; her thigh fell off from her, and her belly swelled with a dropsy. And these are the ceremonies about slaughters, and about the purifications thereto belonging, which Moses provided for his countrymen. He also prescribed the following laws to them…