• Torah (T): Bereshiyt (Genesis) 9:1-29
• Prophets (P): Ezekiel 1:22-28
• Apostolic (A): 1 Timothy 4:1-16
• Additional (ADD): Jubilees 6:5 – 7:13

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Genesis 1:21-31 (T)
• 1 Peter 3:18-20 (T)
• Jeremiah 33:19-26 (T)
• 1 Timothy 4:1-5 (T)
• Leviticus 3:17; 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)
• Exodus 21:12-29 (T)
• Isaiah 54:9-10 (T)
• Ephesians 2:1-9 (T)
• Genesis 17:7-14; Exodus 3:1-12; Exodus 12:13; Numbers 17:8-11; Luke 2:8-20, 24-35; Luke 11:29 (T)
• Matthew 15:21-28 (T)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• Jubilees 4:2-5 (T)
• Jubilees 11:1-2 (T)
• Jubilees 21:5-7; Jubilees 21:16-20 (T)
• Enoch 22:6-8 (T)
• Genesis 9:1-29 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 1.3.5-8 (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)

9:1 Elohim blessed Noaḥ̣ 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 [wild]^(LXX) beast of the land, [and on all livestock of the land,]^(LXX) and on every bird of the heavens. All that creep along the ground, and all the fish of the sea, are delivered into your hand. 3 Every creeping that lives will be food for you. As I gave you the green plants (cf. Genesis 1:29-30), I have given all to you. 4 But flesh with its life, that is, its blood, you shall not eat. 5 I will surely seek accounting for your life's blood. At the hand of every animal I will seek it. At the hand of man, even at the hand of every man's brother, I will seek the soul 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 [and have dominion over it]”^(LXX)(mss) 8 Elohim spoke to Noaḥ and to his sons with him, saying, 9 “As for me, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you, 10 and with every living soul that is with you: the birds, [and]^(LXX) the livestock, and every beast of the land with you, [of all that go out of the ark].^(LXX) 11 I will establish my covenant with you: All flesh will not be cut off any more by the waters of the flood. There will never again be a flood to destroy the land.” 12 Elohim said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living soul that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I set my bow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the land. 14 When I bring a cloud over the land, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, 15 I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living soul of all flesh, and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The bow will be in the cloud. I will look at it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between [me]^(LXX) and every living soul of all flesh that is on the land.” 17 Elohim said to Noaḥ, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the land.” 18 The sons of Noaḥ who went out from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham is the father of Canaan. 19 These three were the sons of Noaḥ, and from these the whole land was populated. 20 Noaḥ began to be a farmer, and planted a vineyard. 21 He drank of the wine and got drunk. He was uncovered within his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the indecency of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23 Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the indecency of their father. Their faces were backwards, and they didn't see their father's indecency. 24 Noaḥ awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done to him. 25 He said, “Canaan is cursed. He will be a servant of servants to his brothers.” 26 He said, “[Blessed be the Elohim]^(LXX) of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant. 27 May Elohim enlarge Japheth. Let him dwell in the tents of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant.” 28 Noaḥ lived three hundred fifty years after the flood. 29 All the days of Noaḥ were nine hundred fifty years, and then he died.

Prophets Portion (P)

1:22 Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of a firmament, like an awesome crystal to look at, stretched out over their heads above. 23 [Under the firmament, their wings were straight, one toward the other. And each one had two which covered its body].^(LXX) 24 When they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of Shaddai, a noise of tumult like the noise of an army. When they stood, they let down their wings. 25 [There was a voice above the firmament that was over their heads.]^(LXX) When they stood, they let down their wings.^(LXX) 26 Above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone. On the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above. 27 I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it all around, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. 28 As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.

Apostolic Portion (A)

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 thanksgiving 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 thanksgiving. 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 [strive],^(mss) 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. 12 Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit,^(mss) in faith, and in purity. 13 Until I come, pay attention to reading, to exhortation, and to teaching. 14 Don’t neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the elders. 15 Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may be revealed to all. 16 Pay attention to yourself and to your teaching. Continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

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.

6:5 “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. 6. And he rejoiced and drank of this wine, he and his children with joy. 7. And it was evening, and he went into his tent, and being drunken he lay down and slept, and was uncovered in his tent as he slept. 8. And Ham saw Noaḥ his father naked, and went forth and told his two brethren without. 9. And Shem took his garment and arose, he and Japheth, and they placed the garment on their shoulders and went backward and covered the shame of their father, and their faces were backward. 10. And Noaḥ awoke from his sleep and knew all that his younger son had done unto him, and he cursed his son and said: “Cursed be Canaan; an enslaved servant will he be unto his brethren.” 11. And he blessed Shem, and said: “Blessed be the Lord Elohim of Shem, and Canaan will be his servant. 12. Elohim will enlarge Japheth, and Elohim will dwell in the dwelling of Shem, and Canaan will be his servant.” 13. And Ham knew that his father had cursed his younger son, and he was displeased that he had cursed his son, and he parted from his father, he and his sons with him, Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan.

Related Scriptures

Genesis 1:21-31 (T)

1:21 Elohim created the large sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. Elohim saw that it was good. 22 Elohim blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the land.” 23 There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day. 24 Elohim said, “Let the land produce living creatures after their kind, livestock, creeping things, and animals of the land after their kind;” and it was so. 25 Elohim made the animals of the land after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. Elohim saw that it was good. 26 Elohim said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock, [and over all the wild animals of the land],^(syr) and over every creeping thing that creeps on the land.” 27 Elohim created man in his own image. In Elohim’s image he created him; male and female he created them. 28 Elohim blessed them, [saying],^(LXX) “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the land, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock, [and over all the wild animals of the land],^(syr) [and over all the creatures that crawl]^(LXX) on the land.” 29 Elohim said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed, which is on the face of all the land, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food. 30 To every wild beast of the land, [and to every livestock of the land],^(mss) and to every bird of the heavens, and to every creature that creeps on the land, in which there is life, I have given every green plant for food.” 31 Elohim saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

Leviticus 3:17; Leviticus 7:22-27; Leviticus 17:10-14; Ezekiel 33:23-26 (T)

Leviticus 3:17 It will be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings, that you will eat neither fat nor blood.

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 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 meat 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.

Exodus 21:12-29 (T)

21:2 One who strikes a man so that he dies will surely be put to death, 13 if he did not lay in wait and [the elohim]^(MTT) deliver him to his hand; then I will appoint you a place where he will flee. 14 If a man boils against his neighbor to kill him, you will take him from my altar, that he may die. 15 Anyone who attacks his father or his mother will be surely put to death. 16 Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he will surely be put to death. 17 Anyone who curses his father or his mother will surely be put to death. 18 If men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone, or with his fist, and he doesn’t die, but is confined to bed; 19 if he rises again and walks around with his staff, then he who struck him will be cleared; only he will pay for the loss of his time, and will provide for his healing until he is thoroughly healed. 20 If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies under his hand, the man will surely be punished. 21 Notwithstanding, if his servant gets up after a day or two, he will not be punished, for the servant is his property. 22 If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he will be surely fined as much as the woman’s husband demands and he will give through the judges. 23 But if any harm follows, then you must take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burning for burning, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise. 26 If a man strikes his servant’s eye, or his maid’s eye, and destroys it, he will let him go free for his eye’s sake. 27 If he strikes out his male servant’s tooth, or his maid’s tooth, he will let the servant go free for his tooth’s sake. 28 “If a bull gores a man or a woman to death, the bull will surely be stoned, and its meat will not be eaten; but the owner of the bull will not be held responsible. 29 But if the bull had a habit of goring in the past, and this has been witnessed to its owner, and he has not kept it in, but it has killed a man or a woman, the bull will be stoned, and its owner will also be put to death.

54:9 “For this is like the waters of Noaḥ to me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noaḥ will no more go over the land, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. 10 For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; but my loving kindness will not depart from you, and my covenant of peace will not be removed,” says YHWH who has mercy on you.

1 Peter 3:18-20 (T)

3:18 Because Messiah also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to Elohim, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit, 19 in whom he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who before were disobedient when Elohim waited patiently in the days of Noaḥ while the ark was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

Jeremiah 33:19-26 (T)

33:19 the word of YHWH came to Jeremiah, saying, 20 “YHWH says: ‘If you can break my covenant of the day and my covenant of the night, so that there will not be day and night in their time, 21 then my covenant could also be broken with David my servant, that he won’t have a son to reign on his throne; and with the Levitical priests, my ministers. 22 As the army of the heavens can’t be counted, and the sand of the sea can’t be measured, so I will multiply the seed of David my servant and the Levites who minister to me.’ ” 23 the word of YHWH came to Jeremiah, saying, 24 “Don’t consider what this people has spoken, saying, ‘Has YHWH cast off the two families which he chose?’ Thus they despise my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.” 25 YHWH says: “If my covenant of day and night fails, if I have not appointed the ordinances of the heavens and earth, 26 then I will also cast away the seed of Jacob, and of David my servant, so that I will not take of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; for I will cause their captivity to be reversed and will have mercy on them.”

1 Timothy 4:1-5 (T)

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 thanksgiving 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 thanksgiving. 5 For it is sanctified through the word of Elohim and prayer.

2:1 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience. 3 We also all once lived among them in the coveting of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But Elohim, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Messiah—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua, 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Messiah Yeshua; 8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of Elohim, 9 not of works, that no one would boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua for good works, which Elohim prepared before that we would walk in them.

Genesis 17:7-14; Exodus 3:1-12; Exodus 12:13; Numbers 17:8-11; Luke 2:8-20, 24-35; Luke 11:29 (T)

Genesis 17:7 I will establish my covenant between me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be an Elohim to you and to your seed after you. 8 I will give to you, and to your seed after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their Elohim.” 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 stranger who is not of your seed. 13 He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant will be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul will be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.”

Exodus 3:1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to Elohim’s mountain, to Horeb. 2 the angel of YHWH appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the middle of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 Moses said, “I will go now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When YHWH saw that he came over to see, Elohim called to him out of the middle of the bush, and said, “Moses! Moses!” He said, “Here I am.” 5 He said, “Don’t come close. Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.” 6 Moreover he said, “I am the Elohim of your father, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at Elohim. 7 YHWH said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8 I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 9 Now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to me. Moreover I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 Moses said to Elohim, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “Certainly I will be with you. This will be the sign to you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will serve Elohim on this mountain.”

Exodus 12:13 The blood will be to you for a sign on the houses where you are. When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Numbers 17:8 On the next day, Moses went into the Tent of the Witness; and behold, Aaron’s branch for the house of Levi had burst into bloom! It sprouted buds, and the blossom bloomed, and yielded almonds. 9 Moses brought out all the branches from before YHWH to all the sons of Israel. They looked, and each man took his branch. 10 YHWH said to Moses, “Put back the branch of Aaron before the covenant, to be kept for a sign against the sons of rebellion; that you may make an end of their complaining against me, that they not die.” 11 Moses did so. As YHWH commanded him, so he did.

Luke 2:8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. 11 For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord. 12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.” 13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising Elohim and saying, 14 “Glory to Elohim in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.” 15 When the angels went away from them into the heavens, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 They came with haste and found both Miriam and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. 17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. 19 But Miriam kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising Elohim for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them…25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Shimon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Yeshua, that they might do concerning him according to the requirement of the Torah, 28 then he received him into his arms and blessed God, and said, 29 “Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared before the face of all peoples; 32 a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.” 33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him. 34 Shimon blessed them, and said to Miriam, his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. 35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Luke 11:29 When the multitudes were gathering together to him, he began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks after a sign. No sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.

Matthew 15:21-28

15:21 Yeshua went out from there and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!” 23 But he answered her not a word. His disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away; for she cries after us.” 24 But he answered, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 But she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Yeshua answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

Related Additional Readings

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.

Jubilees 21:5-7; Jubilees 21:16-20 (T)

Jubilees 21:5 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 meat 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).

Jubilees 21:16 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…

Enoch 76:1 And at the ends of the land I saw twelve portals open to all the quarters (of the heavens), from which the winds go forth and blow over the land. 2. Three of them are open on the face (i.e. the east) of the heavens, and three in the west, and three on the right (i.e. the south) of the heavens, and three on the left (i.e. the north). 3. And the three first are those of the east, and three are of †the north, and three [after those on the left] of the south†, and three of the west. 4. Through four of these come winds of blessing and prosperity, and from those eight come hurtful winds: when they are sent, they bring destruction on all the land and on the water upon it, and on all who dwell thereon, and on everything which is in the water and on the land. 5. And the first wind from those portals, called the east wind, comes forth through the first portal which is in the east, inclining towards the south: from it come forth desolation, drought, heat, and destruction. 6. And through the second portal in the middle comes what is fitting, and from it there come rain and fruitfulness and prosperity and dew; and through the third portal which lies toward the north come cold and drought. 7. And after these come forth the south winds through three portals: through the first portal of them inclining to the east comes forth a hot wind. 8. And through the middle portal next to it there come forth fragrant smells, and dew and rain, and prosperity and health. 9. And through the third portal lying to the west come forth dew and rain, locusts and desolation. 10. And after these the north winds: from the seventh portal in the east come dew and rain, locusts and desolation. 11. And from the middle portal come in a direct direction health and rain and dew and prosperity; and through the third portal in the west come cloud and hoar-frost, and snow and rain, and dew and locusts. 12. And after these [four] are the west winds: through the first portal adjoining the north come forth dew and hoar-frost, and cold and snow and frost. And from the middle portal come forth dew and rain, and prosperity and blessing; and through the last portal which adjoins the south come forth drought and desolation, and burning and destruction. 14. And the twelve portals of the four quarters of the heavens are therewith completed, and all their laws and all their plagues and all their benefactions have I shown to thee, my son Methuselah.

Enoch 77:1 And the first quarter is called the east, because it is the first: and the second, the south, because the Most High will descend there, yea, there in quite a special sense will He who is blessed for ever descend. 2. And the west quarter is named the diminished, because there all the luminaries of the heavens wane and go down. 3. And the fourth quarter, named the north, is divided into three parts: the first of them is for the dwelling of men: and the second contains seas of water, and the abysses and forests and rivers, and darkness and clouds; and the third part contains the garden of righteousness.

Enoch 18:1 I saw the treasuries of all the winds: I saw how He had furnished with them the whole creation and the firm foundations of the land. 2. And I saw the corner-stone of the land: I saw the four winds which bear [the land and] the firmament of the heavens. 3. ⌈⌈And I saw how the winds stretch out the vaults of the heavens⌉⌉, and have their station between the heavens and land: ⌈⌈these are the pillars of the heavens⌉⌉. 4. I saw the winds of the heavens which turn and bring the circumference of the sun and all the stars to their setting. 5. I saw the winds on the land carrying the clouds: I saw ⌈⌈the paths of the angels. I saw⌉⌉ at the end of the land the firmament of the heavens above. And I proceeded and saw a place which burns day and night, where there are seven mountains of magnificent stones, three towards the east, and three towards the south.

Enoch 18:12 And beyond that abyss I saw a place which had no firmament of the heavens above, and no firmly founded land beneath it: there was no water upon it, and no birds, but it was a waste and horrible place. 13. I saw there seven stars like great burning mountains, and to me, when I inquired regarding them, 14. The angel said: ‘This place is the end of the heavens and land: this has become a prison for the stars and the host of the heavens. 15. And the stars which roll over the fire are they which have transgressed the commandment of the Lord in the beginning of their rising, because they did not come forth at their appointed times. 16. And He was wroth with them, and bound them till the time when their guilt should be consummated (even) ⌈for ten thousand years⌉.’

Enoch 19:1-3 (T)

19:1 And Uriel said to me: ‘Here will stand the angels who have connected themselves with women, and their spirits assuming many different forms are defiling mankind and will lead them astray into slaughtering to demons ⌈⌈as elohim⌉⌉, (here will they stand,) till ⌈⌈the day of⌉⌉ the great judgement in which they will be judged till they are made an end of. 2. And the women also of the angels who went astray will become sirens.’ 3. And I, Enoch, alone saw the vision, the ends of all things: and no man will see as I have seen.

Enoch 67:1-5 (T)

67:1. And in those days the word of Elohim came unto me, and He said unto me: ‘Noaḥ, thy lot has come up before Me, a lot without blame, a lot of love and uprightness. 2. And now the angels are making a wooden (building), and when they have completed that task I will place My hand upon it and preserve it, and there will come forth from it the seed of life, and a change will set in so that the land will not remain without inhabitant. 3. And I will make fast thy seed before me for ever and ever, and I will spread abroad those who dwell with thee: it will not be unfruitful on the face of the land, but it will be blessed and multiply on the land in the name of the Lord.’ 4. And He will imprison those angels, who have shown unrighteousness, in that burning valley which my grandfather Enoch had formerly shown to me in the west among the mountains of gold and silver and iron and soft metal and tin. 5. And I saw that valley in which there was a great convulsion and a convulsion of the waters.

46:1 And there I saw One who had a head of days, And His head was white like wool, And with Him was another being whose countenance had the appearance of a man, And his face was full of graciousness, like one of the holy angels. 2. And I asked the angel who went with me and showed me all the hidden things, concerning that Son of Man, who he was, and whence he was, (and) why he went with the Head of Days? And he answered and said unto me: This is the Son of Man who hath righteousness, With whom dwelleth righteousness, And who revealeth all the treasures of that which is hidden, Because the Lord of Spirits hath chosen him, And whose lot hath the pre-eminence before the Lord of Spirits in uprightness for ever.

71:1 And it came to pass after this that my spirit was translated And it ascended into the heavens: And I saw the holy sons of Elohim. They were stepping on flames of fire: Their garments were white [and their raiment], And their faces shone like snow. 2. And I saw two streams of fire, And the light of that fire shone like hyacinth, And I fell on my face before the Lord of Spirits. 3. And the angel Michael [one of the archangels] seized me by my right hand, And lifted me up and led me forth into all the secrets, And he showed me all the secrets of righteousness. 4. And he showed me all the secrets of the ends of the heavens, And all the chambers of all the stars, and all the luminaries, Whence they proceed before the face of the holy ones. 5. And he translated my spirit into the heavens of the heavens, And I saw there as it were a structure built of crystals, And between those crystals tongues of living fire. 6. And my spirit saw the girdle which girt that house of fire, And on its four sides were streams full of living fire, And they girt that house. 7. And round about were Seraphin, Cherubic, and Ophannin: And these are they who sleep not And guard the throne of His glory. 8. And I saw angels who could not be counted, A thousand thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand, Encircling that house. And Michael, and Raphael, and Gabriel, and Phanuel, And the holy angels who are above the heavens, Go in and out of that house. 9. And they came forth from that house, And Michael and Gabriel, Raphael and Phanuel, And many holy angels without number. 10. And with them the Head of Days, His head white and pure as wool, And His raiment indescribable. 11. And I fell on my face, And my whole body became relaxed, And my spirit was transfigured; And I cried with a loud voice, . . .with the spirit of power, And blessed and glorified and extolled. 12. And these blessings which went forth out of my mouth were well pleasing before that Head of Days. 13. And that Head of Days came with Michael and Gabriel, Raphael and Phanuel, thousands and ten thousands of angels without number. 14. And he (i.e. the angel) came to me and greeted me with His voice, and said unto me: ‘This is the Son of Man who is born unto righteousness; And righteousness abides over him, And the righteousness of the Head of Days forsakes him not.’ 15. And he said unto me: ‘He proclaims unto thee peace in the name of the world to come; For from hence has proceeded peace since the creation of the world, And so will it be unto thee for ever and for ever and ever. 16. And all will walk in his ways since righteousness never forsaketh him: With him will be their dwelling-places, and with him their heritage, And they will not be separated from him for ever and ever and ever. 17. And so there will be length of days with that Son of Man, And the righteous will have peace and an upright way In the name of the Lord of Spirits for ever and ever.’

21:1 And I proceeded to where things were chaotic. 2. And I saw there something horrible: I saw neither the heavens above nor a firmly founded land, but a place chaotic and horrible. 3. And there I saw seven stars of the heavens bound together in it, like great mountains and burning with fire. 4. Then I said: ‘For what sin are they bound, and on what account have they been cast in hither?’ 5. Then said Uriel, one of the holy angels, who was with me, and was chief over them, and said: ‘Enoch, why dost thou ask, and why art thou eager for the truth? 6. These are of the number of the stars ⌈of the heavens⌉, which have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and are bound here till ten thousand years, the time entailed by their sins, are consummated.’ 7. And from thence I went to another place, which was still more horrible than the former, and I saw a horrible thing: a great fire there which burnt and blazed, and the place was cleft as far as the abyss, being full of great descending columns of fire: neither its extent or magnitude could I see, nor could I conjecture. 8. Then I said: ‘How fearful is the place and how terrible to look upon!’ 9. Then Uriel answered me, one of the holy angels who was with me, and said unto me: ‘Enoch, why hast thou such fear and affright?’ And I answered: ‘Because of this fearful place, and because of the spectacle of the pain.’ 10. And he said ⌈⌈unto me⌉⌉: ‘This place is the prison of the angels, and here they will be imprisoned for ever.’

22:1 And thence I went to another place, and he showed me in the west ⌈another⌉ great and high mountain [and] of hard rock. 2 And there was in it †four† hollow places, deep and wide and very smooth. †How† smooth are the hollow places and deep and dark to look at. 3. Then Raphael answered, one of the holy angels who was with me, and said unto me: ‘These hollow places have been created for this very purpose, that the spirits of the souls of the dead should assemble therein, yea that all the souls of the children of men should assemble here. And these places have been made to receive them till the day of their judgement and till their appointed period ⌈till the period appointed⌉, till the great judgement (comes) upon them.’ 5. I saw the spirits of the children of men who were dead, and their voice went forth to the heavens and made suit. 6. Then I asked Raphael the angel who was with me, and I said unto him: ‘This spirit–whose is it whose voice goeth forth and maketh suit?’ 7. And he answered me saying: ‘This is the spirit which went forth from Abel, whom his brother Cain slew, and he makes his suit against him till his seed is destroyed from the face of the land, and his seed is annihilated from amongst the seed of men.’ 8. Then I asked regarding it, and regarding all the hollow places: ‘Why as one separated from the other?’ 9. And he answered me and said unto me: ‘These three have been made that the spirits of the dead might be separated. And such a division has been made 〈for〉 the spirits of the righteous, in which there as the bright spring of water. 10. And such has been made for sinners when they die and are buried in the land and judgement has not been executed on them in their lifetime. 11. Here their spirits will be set apart in this great pain till the great day of judgement and punishment and torment of those who †curse† for ever, and retribution for their spirits. There He will bind them for ever. 12. And such a division has been made for the spirits of those who make their suit, who make disclosures concerning their destruction, when they were slain in the days of the sinners. 13. Such has been made for the spirits of men who were not righteous but sinners, who were complete in transgression, and of the transgressors. they will be companions: but their spirits will not be slain in the day of judgement nor will they be raised from thence. 14. Then I blessed the Lord of glory and said: ‘Blessed be my Lord, the Lord of righteousness, who ruleth for ever.’

Genesis 9:1-29 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 9 And the Lord blessed Noaḥ, and his sons, and said to them, Spread forth and multiply, and replenish the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you will be upon every beast of the earth, and on every fowl of the heavens; of all that the earth swarmeth forth, and all the fishes of the sea, into your hand are they delivered. Every moving thing which liveth to you will be for food: as the green herb have I given to you the whole. But flesh which is torn of the living beast, what time the life is in it, or that torn from a slaughtered animal before all the breath has gone forth, you will not eat. But the blood of your lives I will I require of every animal which hath killed a man, I will require that it be put to death on his account. And from the hand of the human being, from the hand of the man who hath shed the blood of his brother, will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth the blood of man, the judges, by witnesses, will condemn him unto death; but he who sheddeth it without witnesses, the Lord of the world will bring punishment on him in the day of the great judgment; because in the image of the Lord He made man. And you, spread yourselves abroad and multiply; bring forth in the earth, and increase in it.

And the Lord spake to Noaḥ, and to his sons with him, saying, I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your children after you; and with every living soul that is with you, of birds, and of cattle, and of every beast of the earth that is with you, of all that go forth from the ark, of every beast of the earth. And I will establish my covenant with you, and will not again cause all flesh to perish by the waters of a flood; and there will not again be a flood to destroy the earth.

And the Lord said, This is the sign of the covenant which I establish between My Word and between you and every living soul that is with you, unto the generations of the world. I have set My Bow in the cloud, and it will be for a token of the covenant between My Word and the earth. And it will be that when I spread forth My glorious cloud over the earth, the bow will be seen in the day (time), while the sun is not sunk (or hidden) in a cloud. And I will remember My covenant which is between My Word and between you and every living soul of all flesh, that there will not be the waters of a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow will be in the cloud, and I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between the Word of the Lord and every living soul of all flesh that is upon the earth. And the Lord said to Noaḥ, This is the sign of the covenant that I have covenanted between My Word and between the word for all flesh that is upon the earth.

And the sons of Noaḥ who went forth from the ark were Shem, Cham, and Japhet; and Cham is the father of Kenaan. These are the three sons of Noaḥ, and from them they were spread abroad to dwell in all the earth.

And Noaḥ began to be a man working in the earth. [JERUSALEM. And Noaḥ began to be a righteous man, and he planted a vineyard.] And he found a vine which the river had brought away from the garden of Eden; and he planted it in a vineyard, and it flouished in a day; and its grapes became ripe, and he pressed them out. And he drank of the wine and was drunken; and he made himself naked in the midst of his tent. And Cham, the father of Kenaan, beheld the nakedness of his father, and showed to his brethren without. And Shem and Japhet took a mantle, and bare it upon the shoulders of each, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were turned back, and the nakedness of their father they did not behold. And Noach awoke from his wine, and knew, by the relation of a dream, what had been done to him by Cham his son, who was inferior in worth, on the account that he had not begotten a fourth son. And he said, Accursed is Kenaan who is his fourth son, a serving servant shall he be to his brethren. And he said, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem, whose work is righteous; and therefore shall Kenaan be servant unto him. The Lord shall beautify the borders of Japhet, and his sons shall be proselyted and dwell in the schools of Shem, and Kenaan shall be a servant to them. And Noach lived after the deluge three hundred and fifty years. And all the days of Noach were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died.

Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 1.3.5-8 (T)

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.).

1.3.5. When Elohim gave the signal, and it began to rain, the water poured down forty entire days, till it became fifteen cubits higher than the land; which was the reason why there was no greater number preserved, since they had no place to fly to. When the rain ceased, the water did but just begin to abate after one hundred and fifty days, (that is, on the seventeenth day of the seventh new moon,) it then ceasing to subside for a little while. After this, the ark rested on the top of a certain mountain in Armenia; which, when Noaḥ understood, he opened it; and seeing a small piece of land about it, he continued quiet, and conceived some cheerful hopes of deliverance. But a few days afterward, when the water was decreased to a greater degree, he sent out a raven, as desirous to learn whether any other part of the land were left dry by the water, and whether he might go out of the ark with safety; but the raven, finding all the land still overflowed, returned to Noaḥ again. And after seven days he sent out a dove, to know the state of the ground; which came back to him covered with mud, and bringing an olive branch: hereby Noaḥ learned that the land was become clear of the flood. So after he had staid seven more days, he sent the living creatures out of the ark; and both he and his family went out, when he also slaughtered to Elohim, and feasted with his companions. However, the Armenians call this place, (GREEK) The Place of Descent; for the ark being saved in that place, its remains are shown there by the inhabitants to this day

1.3.6. Now all the writers of barbarian histories make mention of this flood, and of this ark; among whom is Berosus the Chaldean. For when he is describing the circumstances of the flood, he goes on thus: “It is said there is still some part of this ship in Armenia, at the mountain of the Cordyaeans; and that some people carry off pieces of the bitumen, which they take away, and use chiefly as amulets for the averting of mischiefs.” Hieronymus the Egyptian also, who wrote the Phoenician Antiquities, and Mnaseas, and a great many more, make mention of the same. Nay, Nicolaus of Damascus, in his ninety-sixth book, hath a particular relation about them; where he speaks thus: “There is a great mountain in Armenia, over Minyas, called Baris, upon which it is reported that many who fled at the time of the Deluge were saved; and that one who was carried in an ark came on shore upon the top of it; and that the remains of the timber were a great while preserved. This might be the man about whom Moses the legislator of the Jews wrote.”

1.3.7. But as for Noaḥ, he was afraid, since Elohim had determined to destroy mankind, lest he should drown the earth every year; so he offered burnt-offerings, and besought Elohim that nature might hereafter go on in its former orderly course, and that he would not bring on so great a judgment any more, by which the whole race of creatures might be in danger of destruction: but that, having now punished the wicked, he would of his goodness spare the remainder, and such as he had hitherto judged fit to be delivered from so severe a calamity; for that otherwise these last must be more miserable than the first, and that they must be condemned to a worse condition than the others, unless they be suffered to escape entirely; that is, if they be reserved for another deluge; while they must be afflicted with the terror and sight of the first deluge, and must also be destroyed by a second. He also entreated Elohim to accept of his slaughter, and to grant that the earth might never again undergo the like effects of ‘his wrath; that men might be permitted to go on cheerfully in cultivating the same; to build cities, and live happily in them; and that they might not be deprived of any of those good things which they enjoyed before the Flood; but might attain to the like length of days, and old age, which the ancient people had arrived at before.

1.3.8. When Noaḥ had made these supplications, Elohim, who loved the man for his righteousness, granted entire success to his prayers, and said, that it was not he who brought the destruction on a polluted world, but that they underwent that vengeance on account of their own wickedness; and that he had not brought men into the world if he had himself determined to destroy them, it being an instance of greater wisdom not to have granted them life at all, than, after it was granted, to procure their destruction; “But the injuries,” said he, “they offered to my holiness and virtue, forced me to bring this punishment upon them. But I will leave off for the time to come to require such punishments, the effects of so great wrath, for their future wicked actions, and especially on account of thy prayers. But if I will at any time send tempests of rain, in an extraordinary manner, be not affrighted at the largeness of the showers; for the water will no more overspread the earth. However, I require you to abstain from shedding the blood of men, and to keep yourselves pure from murder; and to punish those that commit any such thing. I permit you to make use of all the other living creatures at your pleasure, and as your appetites lead you; for I have made you lords of them all, both of those that walk on the land, and those that swim in the waters, and of those that fly in the regions of the air on high, excepting their blood, for therein is the life. But I will give you a sign that I have left off my anger by my bow [whereby is meant the rainbow, for they determined that the rainbow was the bow of Elohim]. And when Elohim had said and promised thus, he went away.