• Torah (T): Wayiqra (Leviticus) 17:1-16
• Prophets (P): Isaiah 66:1-11
• Apostolic (A): 1 Corinthians 10:1-33
• Additional (ADD): Baruch 4:1-8

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Deuteronomy 32:15-22 (T)
• Psalms 106:32-42 (T)
• Leviticus 20:1-5 (T)
• Ezekiel  20:27-31 (T)
• Psalms 96:1-9 (T)
• Revelation 9:20-21 (T)
• 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 (T)
• 1 Timothy 4:1-8 (T)
• Genesis 9:1-6; Leviticus 7:22-27; Leviticus 17:10-14; Ezekiel 33:23-26 (T)
• Deuteronomy 12:13-16; Deuteronomy 15:19-23 (T)
• 1 Samuel 14:23-35 (T)
• Acts 15:19-21 (T)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• Enoch 15:1-11 (T)
• Jubilees 10:1-17 (T)
• Jubilees 30:5-23 (T)
• Jubilees 21:1-20 (T)
• Jubilees 6:1-38 (T)
• Jubilees 7:1-5 (T)
• Jubilees 4:2-5 (T)
• Jubilees 11:1-2 (T)
• Jubilees 14:9-11 (T)
• Leviticus 17:1-16 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (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 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to Aaron^(DSS) and to all the sons of Israel, and say to them, ‘This is the thing which YHWH has commanded: 3 Whatever man there is of the house of Israel [and the stranger who resides in Israel]^(DSS) who kills a bull, or lamb, or goat in the camp, or who kills it outside the camp, 4 and hasn’t brought it to the door of the Appointed Tent [so as to slaughter it as a burnt offering or a peace offering to YHWH to be acceptable as a pleasant aroma, and has slaughtered it without and doesn’t bring it to the door of the Appointed Tent]^(DSS) to bring it as an offering to YHWH before the tabernacle of YHWH: blood will be imputed to that man. He has shed blood. That man will be cut off from among his people. 5 This is to the end that the sons of Israel may bring their slaughters, which they slaughter in the open field, that they may bring them to YHWH, to the door of the Appointed Tent, to the priest, and slaughter them for slaughters of peace offerings to YHWH. 6 The priest will sprinkle the blood on the altar of YHWH at the door of the Appointed Tent, and burn the fat for a pleasant aroma to YHWH. 7 They will no more slaughter their slaughters [to the hairy goats]^(MTT) after whom they whore. This will be a statute forever to them throughout their generations.’ 8 “You will say to them, ‘Any man there is of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who causes a burnt offering to ascend or slaughter, 9 and doesn’t bring it to the door of the Appointed Tent to slaughter it to YHWH, that man will be cut off from his people. 10 Any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who eats any kind of blood, I will set my face against that soul who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11 For the life of [all]^(DSS) flesh is in [its]^(DSS) blood. I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life. 12 Therefore I have said to the sons of Israel, “No person among you may eat blood, nor may any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood.” 13 Whatever man there is of the sons of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who takes in hunting any animal or bird that may be eaten, he will pour out its blood, and cover it with dust. 14 For as to the life of all flesh, its blood is with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, “You will not eat the blood of any kind of flesh; for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it will be cut off.” 15 Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native or a foreigner, will wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. Then he will be clean. 16 But if he doesn’t wash them, or bathe his flesh, then he will bear his iniquity.’ ”

Prophets Portion (P)

66:1 YHWH says: “Heaven is my throne, and the land is my footstool. What kind of house will you build to me? Where will I rest? 2 For my hand has made all these things, and so all these things came to be,” says YHWH (cf. Acts 7:49-50): “but I will look to this man, even to he who is afflicted and of a crushed spirit, and who trembles at my word. 3 He who kills an ox is [like]^(DSS)(LXX) he who strikes a man; he who slaughters a lamb, as he who breaks a dog’s neck; he who causes an offering to ascend, as pig’s blood; he who burns frankincense, as he who blesses an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations. 4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears on them, because when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, they didn’t listen, but they did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I didn’t delight.” 5 Hear the word of YHWH, you who tremble at his word: “Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for my name’s sake, have said, ‘Let YHWH be glorified, that we may see your joy;’ but it is those who will be disappointed. 6 A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of YHWH that repays his enemies what they deserve. 7 “Before she travailed, she gave birth. Before her pain came, she delivered a son. 8 Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? 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.”

Apostolic Portion (A)

Additional Portion (ADD)

The Book of Baruch is named after Baruch ben Neriah, Jeremiah’s well-known scribe, who is mentioned at Baruch 1:1, and has been presumed to be the author of the whole work. Although not in the Hebrew Bible, it is found in the Septuagint, in the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible, and the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Russian Orthodox Churches. In some Bibles, Baruch chapter 6 is listed as a separate book called The Letter of Jeremiah, reflecting its separation from Baruch in some copies of the Greek Septuagint. Some scholars propose that it was written during or shortly after the period of the Maccabees. Although the earliest known manuscripts of Baruch are in Greek, linguistic features of the first parts of Baruch (1:1 – 3:8) have been proposed as indicating a translation from a Semitic language.

4:1 This is the book of the commandments of Elohim, and the law that endures forever: all those who hold it fast are appointed to life; but such as leave it will die. 2 Turn you, O Jacob, and take hold of it: walk toward her shining in the face of the light thereof. 3 Give not your glory to another, nor the things that are profitable to you to a strange nation. 4 O Israel, happy are we: for the things that are pleasing to Elohim are made known to us. 5 Be of good cheer, my people, the memorial of Israel. 6 You were sold to the nations, but not for destruction: because you moved Elohim to wrath, you were delivered to your adversaries. 7 For you provoked him that made you by slaughtering to demons, and not to Elohim. 8 You forgot the everlasting Elohim, that brought you up; you grieved also Jerusalem, that nursed you.

Related Scriptures

32:15 But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked. You have grown fat. You have grown thick. You have become sleek. Then he abandoned Elohim who made him, and rejected the Rock of his salvation. 16 They moved him to zeal with strange elohim. They provoked him to anger with abominations. 17 They slaughtered [to the breasts], not Elohim, to elohim that they didn’t know, to new elohim that came up recently, which your fathers didn’t dread. 18 Of the Rock who became your father, you are unmindful, and have forgotten Elohim who gave you birth. 19 YHWH saw and abhorred, because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters. 20 He said, “I will hide my face from them. I will see what their end will be; for they are a very perverse generation, sons in whom is no faithfulness. 21 They have moved me to zeal with that which is not Elohim. They have provoked me to anger with their vanities. I will move them to zeal with those who are not a people. I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. 22 For a fire is kindled in my anger, that burns to the lowest Sheol, devours the land with its increase, and sets the foundations of the mountains on fire…”

106:32 They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, so that Moses was troubled for their sakes; 33 because they were rebellious against his spirit, he spoke rashly with his lips. 34 They didn’t destroy the peoples, as YHWH commanded them, 35 but mixed themselves with the nations, and learned their works. 36 They served their idols, which became a snare to them. 37 Yes, they slaughtered their sons and their daughters [to the breasts]. 38 They shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they slaughtered to the idols of Canaan. The land was polluted with blood. 39 Thus they were defiled with their works, and whored themselves in their deeds. 40 Therefore YHWH burned with anger against his people. He abhorred his inheritance. 41 He gave them into the hand of the nations. Those who hated them ruled over them. 42 Their enemies also oppressed them. They were brought into subjection under their hand.

20:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Moreover, you will tell the sons of Israel, ‘Anyone of the sons of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners in Israel, who gives any of his seed to Molek will surely be put to death. The people of the land will stone that person with stones. 3 I also will set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given of his seed to Molek, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name. 4 If the people of the land all hide their eyes from that person when he gives of his seed to Molek, and don’t put him to death, 5 then I will set my face against that man and against his family, and will cut him off, and all who whore after him to whore after Molek, from among their people.

27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord YHWH says: “Moreover, in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me. 28 For when I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every thick tree, and they offered there their slaughters, and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There they also made their pleasant aroma, and there they poured out their libation offerings. 29 Then I said to them, ‘What does the high place where you go mean?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day. 30 Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord YHWH says: “Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers? Do you whore after their abominations? 31 When you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? Should I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord YHWH, I will not be inquired of by you!

96:1 Sing to YHWH a new song! Sing to YHWH, all the land. 2 Sing to YHWH! Bless his name! Proclaim his salvation from day to day! 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. 4 For YHWH is great, and greatly to be praised! He is to be feared above all elohim. 5 For all the elohim of the peoples are idols, but YHWH made the heavens. 6 Honor and majesty are before him. Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to YHWH, you families of nations, ascribe to YHWH glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to YHWH the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come into his courts. 9 Worship YHWH in holy array. Tremble before him, all the land.

9:20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, didn’t repent of the works of their hands, that they wouldn’t worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood, which can’t see, hear, or walk. 21 They didn’t repent of their murders, their sorceries, their whoring, or their thefts.

6:9 Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the reign of Elohim? Don’t be deceived. Neither those who whore, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit the reign of Elohim. 11 Some of you were such, but you were washed. You were sanctified. You were justified in the name of the Lord Yeshua, and in the Spirit of our Elohim. 11 Some of you were such, but you were washed. You were sanctified. You were justified in the name of the Lord Yeshua, and in the Spirit of our Elohim. 12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are expedient. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be brought under the power of anything. 13 “Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods,” but Elohim will bring to nothing both it and them. But the body is not for whoring, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 Now Elohim raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Don’t you know that your bodies are members of Messiah? Shall I then take the members of Messiah and make them members of a whore? May it never be! 16 Or don’t you know that he who is joined to a whore is one body? For, “The two”, he says, “will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee whoring! “Every sin that a man does is outside the body,” but he who commits whoring sins against his own body. 19 Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from Elohim? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify Elohim in your body and in your spirit, which are Elohim’s.

4:1 But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron, 3 forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which Elohim created to be received with thankfulness by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of Elohim is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thankfulness. 5 For it is sanctified through the word of Elohim and prayer. 6 If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Messiah Yeshua, nourished in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed. 7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now and of that which is to come. 9 This saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our trust in the living Elohim, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things.

Genesis 9:1-6 Elohim blessed Noaḥ and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the land. 2 The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every beast of the land, and on every bird of the heavens. Everything that moves along the ground, and all the fish of the sea, are delivered into your hand. 3 Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. As I gave you the green herb, I have given everything to you. 4 But flesh with its life, that is, its blood, you will not eat. 5 I will surely require accounting for your life’s blood. At the hand of every animal I will require it. At the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, I will require the life of man. 6 Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for Elohim made man in his own image. 7 Be fruitful and multiply. Increase abundantly in the land, and multiply in it.”

Leviticus 7:22 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You will eat no fat, of bull, or sheep, or goat. 24 The fat of that which dies of itself, and the fat of that which is torn of animals, may be used for any other service, but you will in no way eat of it. 25 For whoever eats the fat of the animal which men bring as an offering made by fire to YHWH, even the soul who eats it will be cut off from his people. 26 You will not eat any blood, whether it is of bird or of animal, in any of your dwellings. 27 Whoever it is who eats any blood, that soul will be cut off from his people.’ ”

Leviticus 17:10 Any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who eats any kind of blood, I will set my face against that soul who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood. I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life. 12 Therefore I have said to the sons of Israel, “No person among you may eat blood, nor may any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood.” 13 Whatever man there is of the sons of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who takes in hunting any animal or bird that may be eaten, he will pour out its blood, and cover it with dust. 14 For as to the life of all flesh, its blood is with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, “You will not eat the blood of any kind of flesh; for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it will be cut off.”

Ezekiel 33:23 the word of YHWH came to me, saying, 24 “Son of man, those who inhabit the waste places in the land of Israel speak, saying, ‘Abraham was one, and he inherited the land; but we are many. The land is given us for inheritance.’ 25 Therefore tell them, ‘The Lord YHWH says: “You eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes to your idols, and shed blood. So should you possess the land? 26 You stand on your sword, you work abomination, and every one of you defiles his neighbor’s wife. So should you possess the land?” ‘

Deuteronomy 12:13-16; Deuteronomy 15:19-23 (T)

Deuteronomy 12:13 Be careful that you don’t cause your burnt offerings to ascend in every place that you see; 14 but in the place which YHWH chooses in one of your tribes, there you will cause your burnt offerings to ascend, and there you will do all that I command you. 15 Yet you may kill and eat flesh within all your gates, after all the desire of your soul, according to YHWH your Elohim’s blessing which he has given you. The unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and the deer. 16 Only you will not eat the blood. You will pour it out on the land like water.

Deuteronomy 15:19 You will dedicate all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock to YHWH your Elohim. You will do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock. 20 You will eat it before YHWH your Elohim year by year in the place which YHWH will choose, you and your household. 21 If it has any defect—is lame or blind, or has any defect whatever, you will not slaughter it to YHWH your Elohim. 22 You will eat it within your gates. The unclean and the clean will eat it alike, as the gazelle and as the deer. 23 Only you will not eat its blood. You will pour it out on the ground like water.

14:23 So YHWH saved Israel that day; and the battle passed over by Beth Aven. 24 The men of Israel were distressed that day; for Shaul had adjured the people, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until it is evening, and I am avenged of my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. 25 All the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground. 26 When the people had come to the forest, behold, honey was dripping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan didn’t hear when his father commanded the people with the oath. Therefore he put out the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened. 28 Then one of the people answered, and said, “Your father directly commanded the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’ ” So the people were faint. 29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the plunder of their enemies which they found? For now there has been no great slaughter among the Philistines.” 31 They struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint; 32 and the people pounced on the plunder, and took sheep, cattle, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, saying, “Behold, the people are sinning against YHWH, in that they eat meat with the blood.” He said, “You have dealt treacherously. Roll a large stone to me today!” 34 Shaul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them, ‘Every man bring me here his ox, and every man his sheep, and kill them here, and eat; and don’t sin against YHWH in eating meat with the blood.’ ” All the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and killed them there. 35 Shaul built an altar to YHWH. This was the first altar that he built to YHWH.

15:19 Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Nations who turn to Elohim, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from whoring, from what is strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who proclaim him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.

Related Additional Readings​

Enoch 15:1-11

The Book of Enoch (also known as 1 Enoch) was written during the second century B.C. The older sections (mainly in the Book of the Watchers) of the text are estimated to date from about 300–200 B.C., and the latest part (Book of Parables) probably to 100 B.C. Various Aramaic fragments found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as Koine Greek and Latin fragments, were proof that The Book of Enoch was known by early Jews and Christians.

You will note some abbreviations, brackets, and symbols specially used in the translation of 1 Enoch:

• • ⌈ ⌉. The use of these brackets means that the words so enclosed are found in the Greek Version preserved In Syncellus but not in the Ethiopic Version.
  • ⌈⌈ ⌉⌉. The use of these brackets means that the words so enclosed are found in E the Ethiopic Version but not in the Greek Version preserved In Syncellus or the Greek Version discovered at Akhmîm.
  • 〉. The use of these brackets means that the words so enclosed are restored.
  • [ ] The use of these brackets means that the words so enclosed are interpolations.
  • ( ). The use of these brackets means that the words so enclosed are supplied by the editor.
  • The use of thick type denotes that the words so printed are emended.
  • † † corruption in the text.
  • . . . = some words which have been lost.

Enoch 15:1-11 And He answered and said to me, and I heard His voice: ‘Fear not, Enoch, thou righteous man and scribe of righteousness: approach hither and hear my voice. 2. And go, say to ⌈⌈the Watchers of the heavens⌉⌉, who have sent thee to intercede ⌈⌈for them: “You should intercede”⌉⌉ for men, and not men for you: 3. Wherefore have ye left the high, holy, and eternal the heavens, and lain with women, and defiled yourselves with the daughters of men and taken to yourselves wives, and done like the children of land, and begotten giants (as your) sons? 4. And though ye were holy, spiritual, living the eternal life, you have defiled yourselves with the blood of women, and have begotten (children) with the blood of flesh, and, as the children of men, have coveted after flesh and blood as those ⌈also⌉ do who die and perish. 5. Therefore have I given them wives also that they might impregnate them, and beget children by them, that thus nothing might be wanting to them on land. 6. But you were ⌈formerly⌉ spiritual, living the eternal life, and immortal for all generations of the world. 7. And therefore I have not appointed wives for you; for as for the spiritual ones of the heavens, in the heavens is their dwelling. 8. And now, the giants, who are produced from the spirits and flesh, will be called evil spirits upon the land, and on the land will be their dwelling. 9. Evil spirits have proceeded from their bodies; because they are born from men, ⌈⌈and⌉⌉ from the holy Watchers is their beginning and primal origin; ⌈they will be evil spirits on land, and⌉ evil spirits will they be called. [10. As for the spirits of the heavens, in the heavens will be their dwelling, but as for the spirits of the land which were born upon the land, on the land will be their dwelling.] 11. And the spirits of the giants afflict, oppress, destroy, attack, do battle, and work destruction on the land, and cause trouble: they take no food, ⌈but nevertheless hunger⌉ and thirst, and cause offences. And these spirits will rise up against the children of men and against the women, because they have proceeded ⌈from them⌉ [during the days of slaughter and destruction].

Jubilees 10:1-17; Jubilees 30:5-23; Jubilees 21:1-20; Jubilees 6:1-38; Jubilees 7:1-5; Jubilees 4:2-5; Jubilees 11:1-2; Jubilees 14:9-11 (T)

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 10:1-17 (T)

10:1 And in the third week of this jubilee the unclean demons began to lead astray the children of the sons of Noaḥ̣; and to make to err and destroy them. 2. And the sons of Noaḥ̣ came to Noaḥ̣ their father, and they told him concerning the demons which were, leading astray and blinding and slaying his sons’ sons. 3. And he prayed before the Lord his Elohim, and said: Elohim of the spirits of all flesh, who hast shown mercy unto me, And hast saved me and my sons from the waters of the flood, And hast not caused me to perish as Thou didst the sons of perdition; For Thy grace hath been great towards me, And great hath been Thy mercy to my soul; Let Thy grace be lift up upon my sons, And let not wicked spirits rule over them Lest they should destroy them from the land. 4. But do Thou bless me and my sons, that we may increase and multiply and replenish the land. 5. And Thou knowest how Thy Watchers, the fathers of these spirits, acted in my day: and as for these spirits which are living, imprison them and hold them fast in the place of condemnation, and let them not bring destruction on the sons of thy servant, my Elohim; for these are malignant, and created in order to destroy. 6. And let them not rule over the spirits of the living; for Thou alone canst exercise dominion over them. And let them not have power over the sons of the righteous from henceforth and for evermore.” 7. And the Lord our Elohim bade us to bind all. 8. And the chief of the spirits, Mastema, came and said: “Lord, Creator, let some of them remain before me, and let them hearken to my voice, and do all that I will say unto them; for if some of them are not left to me, I will not be able to execute the power of my will on the sons of men; for these are for corruption and leading astray before my judgment, for great is the wickedness of the sons of men.” 9. And He said: “Let the tenth part of them remain before him, and let nine parts descend into the place of condemnation.” (cf. Matthew 25:41) 10. And one of us He commanded that we should teach Noaḥ̣ all their medicines; for He knew that they would not walk in uprightness, nor strive in righteousness. 11. And we did according to all His words: all the malignant evil ones we bound in the place of condemnation, and a tenth part of them we left that they might be subject before Satan on the land. 12. And we explained to Noaḥ̣ all the medicines of their diseases, together with their seductions, how he might heal them with herbs of the land. 13. And Noaḥ̣ wrote down all things in a book as we instructed him concerning every kind of medicine. Thus the evil spirits were precluded from (hurting) the sons of Noaḥ̣. 14. And he gave all that he had written to Shem, his eldest son; for he loved him exceedingly above all his sons. 15. And Noaḥ̣ slept with his fathers, and was buried on Mount Lûbâr in the land of Ararat. 16. Nine hundred and fifty years he completed in his life, nineteen jubilees and two weeks and five years. 17. And in his life on land he excelled the children of men save Enoch because of the righteousness, wherein he was perfect. For Enoch’s office was ordained for a witness to the generations of the world, so that he should recount all the deeds of generation unto generation, till the day of judgment.

30:5 And thus let it not again be done from henceforth that a daughter of Israel be defiled; for judgment is ordained in the heavens against them that they should destroy with the sword all the men of the Shechemites because they had wrought shame in Israel. 6. And the Lord delivered them into the hands of the sons of Jacob that they might exterminate them with the sword and execute judgment upon them, and that it might not thus again be done in Israel that a virgin of Israel should be defiled. 7. And if there is any man who wisheth in Israel to give his daughter or his sister to any man who is of the seed of the Nations he will surely die, and they will stone him with stones; for he hath wrought shame in Israel; and they will burn the woman with fire, because she hath dishonoured the name of the house of her father, and she will be rooted out of Israel. 8. And let not an adulteress and no uncleanness be found in Israel throughout all the days of the generations of the land; for Israel is holy unto the Lord, and every man who hath defiled (it) will surely die: they will stone him with stones. 9. For thus hath it been ordained and written in the heavenly tables regarding all the seed of Israel: he who defileth (it) will surely die, and he will be stoned with stones. 10. And to this law there is no limit of days, and no forgiveness, nor any atonement: but the man who hath defiled his daughter will be rooted out in the midst of all Israel, because he hath given of his seed to Moloch, and wrought impiously so as to defile it. 11. And do thou, Moses, command the sons of Israel and exhort them not to give their daughters to the Nations, and not to take for their sons any of the daughters of the Nations, for this is abominable before the Lord. 12. For this reason I have written for thee in the words of the Law all the deeds of the Shechemites, which they wrought against Dinah, and how the sons of Jacob spake, saying: “We will not give our daughter to a man who is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us.” 13. And it is a reproach to Israel, to those who give, and to those who take the daughters of the Nations; for this is unclean and abominable to Israel. 14. And Israel will not be free from this uncleanness if it hath a woman of the daughters of the Nations, or hath given any of its daughters to a man who is of any of the Nations. 15. For there will be plague upon plague, and curse upon curse, and every judgment and plague and curse will come (upon him): if he do this thing, or hide his eyes from those who commit uncleanness, or those who defile the sanctuary of the Lord, or those who profane His holy name, (then) will the whole nation together be judged for all the uncleanness and profanation of this (man). 16. And there will be no respect of persons [and no consideration of persons], and no receiving at his hands of fruits and offerings and burnt offerings and fat, nor the fragrance of sweet savour, so as to accept it: and so fare every man or woman in Israel who defileth the sanctuary. 17. For this reason I have commanded thee, saying: “Testify this witness to Israel: see how the Shechemites fared and their sons: how they were delivered into the hands of two sons of Jacob, and they slew them under tortures, and it was (reckoned) unto them for righteousness, and it is written down to them for righteousness. 18. And the seed of Levi was chosen for the priesthood, and to be Levites, that they might minister before the Lord, as we, continually, and that Levi and his sons may be blessed for ever; for he was zealous to execute righteousness and judgment and vengeance on all those who arose against Israel. 19. And so they inscribe as a witness in his favour on the heavenly tables blessing and righteousness before the Elohim of all: 20. And we remember the righteousness which the man fulfilled during his life, at all periods of the year; until a thousand generations they will record it, and it will come to him and to his descendants after him, and he hath been recorded on the heavenly tables as a friend and a righteous man. 21. All this account I have written for thee, and have commanded thee to say to the sons of Israel, that they should not commit sin nor transgress the ordinances nor break the covenant which hath been ordained for them, (but) that they should fulfill it and be recorded as friends. 22. But if they transgress and work uncleanness in every way, they will be recorded on the heavenly tables as adversaries, and they will be destroyed out of the book of life, and they will be recorded in the book of those who will be destroyed and with those who will be rooted out of the land. 23. And on the day when the sons of Jacob slew Shechem a writing was recorded in their favour in the heavens that they had executed righteousness and uprightness and vengeance on the sinners, and it was written for a blessing.

21:1 And in the sixth year of the †seventh† week of this jubilee [2057 A.M. or 2050 A.M.] Abraham called Isaac his son, and commanded him, saying: “I am become old, and know not the day of my death, and am full of my days. 2. And behold, I am one hundred and seventy-five years old, and throughout all the days of my life I have remembered the Lord, and sought with all my heart to do His will, and to walk uprightly in all His ways. 3. My soul hath hated idols, (and I have despised those that served them, and I have given my heart and spirit) that I might observe to do the will of Him who created me. 4. For He is the living Elohim, and He is holy and faithful, and He is righteous beyond all, and there is with Him no accepting of (men’s) persons and no accepting of gifts (cf. Deuteronomy 10:7); for Elohim is righteous, and executeth judgment on all those who transgress His commandments and despise His covenant. 5. And do thou, my son, observe His commandments and His ordinances and His judgments, and walk not after the abominations and after the graven images and after the molten images. 6. And eat no blood at all of animals or cattle, or of any bird which flieth in the heavens. 7. And if thou dost slay a victim as an acceptable peace offering, slay ye it, and pour out its blood upon the altar, and all the fat of the offering offer on the altar with fine flour (and the grain offering) mingled with oil (cf. Leviticus 2:4), with its libation offering–offer them all together on the altar of burnt offering; it is a sweet savour before the Lord (cf. Leviticus 3:7-10). 8. And thou wilt offer the fat of the slaughter of thank offerings on the fire which is upon the altar, and the fat which is on the belly, and all the fat on the inwards and the two kidneys, and all the fat that is upon them, and upon the hips and liver thou shalt remove together with the kidneys (cf. Leviticus 3:9-10). 9. And offer all these for a sweet savour acceptable before the Lord, with its grain offering and with its libation offering, for a sweet savour, the bread (or food cf. Leviticus 3:11) of the offering unto the Lord, 10. And eat its meat on that day and on the second day, and let not the sun on the second day go down upon it till it is eaten, and let nothing be left over for the third day; for it is not acceptable and let it no longer be eaten, and all who eat thereof will bring sin upon themselves; for thus I have found it written in the books of my forefathers, and in the words of Enoch, and in the words of Noaḥ. 11. And on all thy oblations thou shalt strew salt, and let not the salt of the covenant be lacking in all thy oblations before the Lord (cf. Leviticus 2:13). 12. And as regards the wood of the slaughters, beware lest thou bring (other) wood for the altar in addition to these: cypress, dêfrân, sagâd, pine, fir, cedar, savin, palm, olive, myrrh, laurel, and citron, juniper, and balsam. (cf. Enoch 3:1) 13. And of these kinds of wood lay upon the altar under the slaughter, such as have been tested as to their appearance, and do not lay (thereon) any split or dark wood, (but) hard and clean, without fault, a sound and new growth; and do not lay (thereon) old wood, for there is no longer fragrance in it as before. 14. Besides these kinds of wood there is none other that thou shalt place (on the altar), for the fragrance is dispersed, and the smell of its fragrance goeth not up to the heavens. 15. Observe this commandment and do it, my son, that thou mayst be upright in all thy deeds. 16. And at all times be clean in thy body, and wash thyself with water before thou approachest to offer on the altar, and wash thy hands and thy feet before thou drawest near to the altar; and when thou art done slaughtering, wash again thy hands and thy feet (cf. Exodus 30:19-21). 17. And let no blood appear upon you nor upon your clothes; be on thy guard, my son, against blood, be on thy guard exceedingly; cover it with dust (cf. Leviticus 17:13). 18. And do not eat any blood, for it is the soul; eat no blood whatever (cf. Leviticus 17:13-14, Deuteronomy 12:23-25). 19. And take no gifts for the blood of man, lest it be shed with impunity, without judgment; for it is the blood that is shed that causeth the land to sin, and the land cannot be cleansed from the blood of man save by the blood of him who shed it (cf. Numbers 35:33). 20. And take no present or gift for the blood of man: blood for blood, that thou mayest be accepted before the Lord, the Most High Elohim; for He is the defence of the good: and that thou mayest be preserved from all evil, and that He may save thee from every kind of death…

6:1 And on the new moon of the third new moon he went forth from the ark, and built an altar on that mountain. 2. And he made atonement for the land, and took a kid and made atonement by its blood for all the guilt of the land; for everything that had been on it had been destroyed, save those that were in the ark with Noaḥ. 3. And he placed the fat thereof on the altar, and he took an ox, and a goat, and a sheep and kids, and salt, and a turtle-dove, and the young of a dove, and placed a burnt slaughter on the altar, and poured thereon an offering mingled with oil, and sprinkled wine and strewed frankincense over everything, and caused a goodly savour to arise, acceptable before the Lord. 4. And the Lord smelt the goodly savour, and He cut a covenant with him that there should not be any more a flood to destroy the land; that all the days of the land seed-time and harvest should never cease; cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night should not change their order, nor cease for ever. 5. “And you, increase ye and multiply upon the land, and become many upon it, and be a blessing upon it. The fear of you and the dread of you I will inspire in everything that is on land and in the sea. 6. And behold I have given unto you all beasts, and all winged things, and everything that moveth on the land, and the fish in the waters, and all things for food; as the green herbs, I have given you all things to eat. 7. But flesh, with the life thereof, with the blood, ye will not eat; for the life of all flesh is in the blood, lest your blood of your lives be required. At the hand of every man, at the hand of every (beast), will I require the blood of man. 8. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood by man will his blood be shed; for in the image of Elohim made He man. 9. And you, increase ye, and multiply on the land.” 10. And Noaḥ and his sons swore that they would not eat any blood that was in any flesh, and he cut a covenant before the Lord Elohim for ever throughout all the generations of the land in this new moon. 11. On this account He spake to thee that thou shouldst cut a covenant with the sons of Israel in this new moon upon the mountain with an oath, and that thou shouldst sprinkle blood upon them because of all the words of the covenant, which the Lord made with them for ever. 12. And this witness is written concerning you that you should observe it continually, so that you should not eat on any day any blood of beasts or birds or cattle during all the days of the land, and the man who eateth the blood of beast or of cattle or of birds during all the days of the land, he and his seed will be rooted out of the land. 13. And do thou command the sons of Israel to eat no blood, so that their names and their seed may be before the Lord our Elohim continually. 14. And for this law there is no limit of days, for it is for ever. They will observe it throughout their generations, so that they may continue supplicating on your behalf with blood before the altar; every day and at the time of morning and evening they will seek forgiveness on your behalf perpetually before the Lord that they may keep it and not be rooted out. 15. And He gave to Noaḥ and his sons a sign that there should not again be a flood on the land. 16. He set His bow in the cloud for a sign of the eternal covenant that there should not again be a flood on the land to destroy it all the days of the land. 17. For this reason it is ordained and written on the heavenly tables, that they should celebrate the feast of weeks in this new moon once a year, to renew the covenant every year. 18. And this whole festival was celebrated in the heavens from the day of creation till the days of Noaḥ-twenty-six jubilees and five weeks of years [1309-1659 A.M.]: and Noaḥ and his sons observed it for seven jubilees and one week of years, till the day of Noaḥ’s death, and from the day of Noaḥ’s death his sons did away with (it) until the days of Abraham, and they ate blood. 19. But Abraham observed it, and Isaac and Jacob and his children observed it up to thy days, and in thy days the sons of Israel forgot it until ye celebrated it anew on this mountain. 20. And do thou command the sons of Israel to observe this festival in all their generations for a commandment unto them: one day in the year in this new moon they will celebrate the festival. 21. For it is the feast of weeks and the feast of first fruits: this feast is twofold and of a double nature: according to what is written and engraven concerning it celebrate it. 22. For I have written in the book of the first law, in that which I have written for thee, that thou shouldst celebrate it in its season, one day in the year, and I explained to thee its slaughters that the sons of Israel should remember and should celebrate it throughout their generations in this new moon, one day in every year. 23. And on the new moon of the first new moon, and on the new moon of the fourth new moon, and on the new moon of the seventh new moon, and on the new moon of the tenth new moon are the days of remembrance, and the days of the seasons in the four divisions of the year. These are written and ordained as a witness for ever. 24. And Noaḥ ordained them for himself as feasts for the generations for ever, so that they have become thereby a memorial unto him. 25. And on the new moon of the first new moon he was bidden to make for himself an ark, and on that (day) the land became dry and he opened (the ark) and saw the land. 26. And on the new moon of the fourth new moon the mouths of the depths of the abysses beneath were closed. And on the new moon of the seventh new moon all the mouths of the abysses of the land were opened, and the waters began to descend into them. 27. And on the new moon of the tenth new moon the tops of the mountains were seen, and Noaḥ was glad. 28. And on this account he ordained them for himself as feasts for a memorial for ever, and thus are they ordained. 29. And they placed them on the heavenly tables, each had thirteen weeks; from one to another (passed) their memorial, from the first to the second, and from the second to the third, and from the third to the fourth. 30. And all the days of the commandment will be two and fifty weeks of days, and (these will make) the entire year complete. 31. Thus it is engraven and ordained on the heavenly tables. And there is no neglecting (this commandment) for a single -year or from year to year. 32. And command thou the sons of Israel that they observe the years according to this reckoning-three hundred and sixty-four days, and (these) will constitute a complete year, and they will not disturb its time from its days and from its feasts; for everything will fall out in them according to their witness, and they will not leave out any day nor disturb any feasts. 33. But if they do neglect and do not observe them according to His commandment, then they will disturb all their seasons, and the years will be dislodged from this (order), [and they will disturb the seasons and the years will be dislodged] and they will neglect their ordinances. 34. And all the sons of Israel will forget, and will not find the path of the years, and will forget the new moons, and seasons, and sabbaths, and they will go wrong as to all the order of the years. 35. For I know and from henceforth will I declare it unto thee, and it is not of my own devising; for the book (lieth) written before me, and on the heavenly tables the division of days is ordained, lest they forget the feasts of the covenant and walk according to the feasts of the Nations after their error and after their ignorance. 36. For there will be those who will assuredly make observations of the moon–now (it) disturbeth the seasons and cometh in from year to year ten days too soon. 37. For this reason the years will come upon them when they will disturb (the order), and make an abominable (day) the day of witness, and an unclean day a feast day, and they will confound all the days, the holy with the unclean, and the unclean day with the holy; for they will go wrong as to the new moons and sabbaths and feasts and jubilees. 38. For this reason I command and testify to thee that thou mayest testify to them; for after thy death thy children will disturb (them), so that they will not make the year three hundred and sixty-four days only, and for this reason they will go wrong as to the new moons and seasons and sabbaths and festivals, and they will eat all kinds of blood with all kinds of flesh.

7:1 And in the seventh week in the first year [1317 A.M.] thereof, in this jubilee, Noaḥ planted vines on the mountain on which the ark had rested, named Lubar, one of the Ararat Mountains, and they produced fruit in the fourth year, [1320 A.M.] and he guarded their fruit, and gathered it in this year in the seventh new moon. 2. And he made wine therefrom and put it into a vessel, and kept it until the fifth year, [1321 A.M.] until the first day, on the new moon of the first new moon. 3. And he celebrated with joy the day of this feast, and he made a burnt slaughter unto the Lord, one young ox and one ram, and seven sheep, each a year old, and a kid of the goats, that he might make atonement thereby for himself and his sons. 4. And he prepared the kid first, and placed some of its blood on the flesh that was on the altar which he had made, and all the fat he laid on the altar where he made the burnt slaughter, and the ox and the ram and the sheep, and he laid all their flesh upon the altar. 5. And he placed all their offerings mingled with oil upon it, and afterwards he sprinkled wine on the fire which he had previously made on the altar, and he placed incense on the altar and caused a sweet savour to ascend acceptable before the Lord his Elohim.

4:2 And in the first (year) of the third jubilee, Cain slew Abel because (Elohim) accepted the slaughter of Abel, and did not accept the offering of Cain. 3. And he slew him in the field: and his blood cried from the ground to the heavens, complaining because he had slain him. 4. And the Lord reproved Cain because of Abel, because he had slain him, and he made him a fugitive on the land because of the blood of his brother, and he cursed him upon the land. 5. And on this account it is written on the heavenly tables, “Cursed is he who smiteth his neighbour treacherously, and let all who have seen and heard say, So be it; and the man who hath seen and not declared (it), let him be accursed as the other.”

11:1 And in the thirty-fifth jubilee, in the third week, in the first year thereof, [1681 A.M.] Reu took to himself a woman, and her name was ‘Ôrâ, the daughter of ‘Ûr, the son of Kêsêd, and she bare him a son, and he called his name Sêrôḫ, in the seventh year of this week in this jubilee. [1687 A.M.] 2. And the sons of Noaḥ began to war on each other, to take captive and to slay each other, and to shed the blood of men on the land, and to eat blood, and to build strong cities, and walls, and towers, and individuals (began) to exalt themselves above the nation, and to found the beginnings of reigns, and to go to war people against people, and nation against nation, and city against city, and all (began) to do evil, and to acquire arms, and to teach their sons war, and they began to capture cities, and to sell male and female slaves.

14:9 And he said unto him: “Take Me an heifer of three years, and a goat of three years, and a sheep of three years, and a turtle-dove, and a dove.” 10. And he took all these in the middle of the new moon; and he dwelt at the oak of Mamre, which is near Hebron. 11. And he built there an altar, and slaughtered all these; and he poured their blood upon the altar, and divided them in the midst, and laid them over against each other; but the birds divided he not.

Leviticus 17:1-16 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)

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

Chapter 17 And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying: Speak with Aharon and with his sons, and with the sons of Israel, and tell them: This is the word which the Lord hath commanded, saying: A man of the house of Israel, young or old, who will kill as a slaughter a bullock, or lamb, or goat in the camp, or who killeth it without the camp, and bringeth it not to the door of the tabernacle of ordinance to offer it an oblation before the Lord, before the tabernacle of the Lord, the blood of slaughter will be reckoned to that man, and it will be to him as if he had shed innocent blood, and that man will be destroyed from his people. In order that the sons of Israel may bring their slaughters which they have [heretofore] killed on the face of the field, they may [henceforth] bring them before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of ordinance, unto the priest, and slaughter their consecrated victims before the Lord. And the priest will sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of ordinance, and burn the fat, to be received with acceptance before the Lord. Neither will they offer any more their slaughters unto idols which are like unto demons, after which they have wandered. This will be an everlasting statute to them, unto their generations.

And thou shalt tell them: A man, whether young or old, of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among you, who will slaughter a burnt offering, or consecrated oblation, and bring it not to the door of the tabernacle of ordinance, to be made an oblation before the Lord, that man will be destroyed from his people.

A man also, whether young or old, of the house of the family of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn, in dwelling among them, who will eat any blood, I will cause employment to turn away (or cease) from that man who eateth any blood, and will destroy him from among his people. Because the subsistence of the life of all flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you for a decree, that you will bring the blood of the victim unto the altar to make atonement for the blood of your lives, because the blood of the victim is to atone for the guilt of the soul. Therefore have I said to the sons of Israel, Beware lest any man among you eat the blood. Neither will the strangers who sojourn by dwelling among you eat the blood. And any man, whether young or old, of the house of the stock of Israel, or of the sojourners who sojourn by dwelling among you, who hunteth venison of beast or fowl proper to be eaten, will pour out its blood when it is killed; and if what he hath killed be not destroyed (or strangled?), let [the blood] be covered with dust. Because the subsistence of the life of all flesh is its blood; it is its life; and I have told the sons of Israel, You will not eat the blood of any flesh; for the sub­sistence of the life of all flesh is its blood: whosoever among you eateth it will be destroyed. And any man who will eat flesh which hath been thrown away on account of having been strangled (or corrupted), or the flesh of that which hath been torn, (any man,) whether native or sojourner, will wash his clothes, and bathe in forty seahs of water, and be unclean until evening when he will be clean; but if he be perverse and will not wash, nor bathe his flesh, he will bear his transgression. [JERUSALEM. And if he will not cleanse nor purify his flesh, he will bear his transgression.]