• Torah (T): Wayiqra (Leviticus) 22:1 – 23:44
• Prophets (P): Zechariah 14:1-19
• Apostolic (A): Colossians 2:6-22
• Additional (ADD): 1 Maccabees 1:29-64

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Deuteronomy 17:1 (T)
• Exodus 22:29-31; Exodus 34:26 (T)
• Genesis 1:31 – 2:3 (T)
• Luke 4:16 (T)
• Jeremiah 17:21-27 (T)
• Exodus 35:1-3 (T)
• Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15 (T)
• Exodus 23:12 (T)
• Hebrews 4:1-11 (T)
• Psalms 81:1-5 (T)
• Luke 22:1-20 (T)
• 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 (T)
• Acts 2:1-8 (T)
• Job 38:1-7 (T)
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (T)
• Acts 27:7-12 (T)
• John 7:1-4 (T)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• A Sectarian Manifesto 4QMMT B:52-54, 24-27 (T)
• The Temple Scroll 11QT Column 17 (T)
• Jubilees 17:15-18; Jubilees 18:1-19 (T)
• Jubilees 5:27-31 (T)
• Jubilees 6:1-23, 24-38 (T)
• Jubilees 12:16-27 (T)
• Jubilees 16:16-31 (T)
• Jubilees 34:10-19 (T)
• Leviticus 22:1 – 23:44 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 3.10.1-7 (T)

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

Torah Portion (T)

22:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Tell Aaron and his sons to dedicate themselves from the holy of the sons of Israel, and that they not profane my holy name, which they make holy to me. I am YHWH. 3 “Tell them, ‘Any man of all your seed throughout your generations that approaches the holy which the sons of Israel make holy to YHWH, having his uncleanness on him, that soul shall be cut off from before me. I am YHWH [your Elohim].^(LXX) 4 Any man of the seed of Aaron infected or has a discharge shall not eat of the holy until he is clean. Whoever touches anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed of copulation goes from him, 5 or any man that touches any [unclean]^(LXX)(SP) creeping thing by which he may be made unclean, or a man from whom he may become unclean, whatever uncleanness he has— 6 [and]^(DSS) the soul that touches any such shall be unclean until the evening, and shall not eat of the holy unless he bathes his body in water. 7 When the sun is down, he shall be clean; and afterward he shall eat of the holy, because it is his bread. 8 He shall not eat that which dies of itself or is torn by animals, defiling himself by it. I am YHWH. 9 They shall therefore follow my commandment, lest they bear sin for it and die in it, if they profane it. I am YHWH [Elohim]^(LXX) who sanctifies them. 10 No stranger shall eat of the holy: a foreigner living with the priests, or a hired-servant, shall not eat of the holy. 11 But if a priest buys a soul, purchased by his money, he shall eat of it; and those who are born in his house shall eat of his bread. 12 If a priest’s daughter is to be to a man, a stranger, she shall not eat of the heave offering of the holy. 13 But if a priest’s daughter is a widow, or cast out, and has no child, and has returned to her father’s house as in her youth, she may eat of her father’s bread; but no stranger shall eat any of it. 14 If a man eats something holy in error, then he shall add the fifth part of its value to it, and shall give the holy to the priest. 15 The priests shall not profane the holy of the sons of Israel, which they raise up to YHWH, 16 and so cause them to bear the iniquity that brings guilt when they eat their holy; for I am YHWH who sanctifies them.’ ” 17 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 18 “Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the sons of Israel, and say to them, ‘Whoever is of the house of Israel, or of the foreigners [who sojourn]^{(DSS)(SP)(mss)} in Israel, who brings his offering, whether it is any of their vows or their freewill offerings, which they bring to YHWH for a burnt offering: 19 that you may be accepted, you shall offer a male, a perfect one, of the bulls, of the sheep, or of the goats. 20 But you will not bring whatever has a blemish, for it shall not be acceptable for you. 21 When a man brings a slaughter of peace offerings to YHWH to accomplish a vow, or in the way of a freewill offering of the herd or of the flock, it shall be a perfect one to be accepted. It shall have no blemish. 22 You shall not bring what is blind, is cracked, is cut sharply, has an ulcer, an irritation, or has a skin sore to YHWH, nor give an offering by fire of them on the altar to YHWH. 23 Either a bull or a lamb that has any deformity or lacking in his parts, that you may offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted. 24 You must not offer to YHWH that which is pressed firmly, smashed, drawn away, or cut. You must not do this in your land. 25 You must not bring any of these as the bread of your Elohim from the hand of a foreigner, because they are corrupt. There is a blemish in them. They shall not be accepted for you.’ ” 26 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 27 “When a bull, a sheep, or a goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother. From the eighth day on it shall be accepted for the offering of an offering made by fire to YHWH. 28 Whether it is an ox or ram, you shall not kill him and his son in one day. 29 When you slaughter a slaughter of thanksgiving to YHWH, you shall slaughter it so that you may be accepted. 30 It shall be eaten on that day; you shall leave none of it until the morning. I am YHWH. 31 You will guard my commandments, and do them. 32 You shall not profane my holy name, but I will be holy among the sons of Israel. I am YHWH who makes you holy, 33 who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your Elohim. I am YHWH.”

23:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them, ‘The appointed times of YHWH, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my appointed times. 3 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no kind of work. It is a Sabbath to YHWH in all your dwellings. 4 These are the appointed times of YHWH, holy convocations, which you shall proclaim in their appointed times. 5 In the first month, on the fourteenth [day]^(LXX)(SP) of the month in the evening, is the Pesach of YHWH. 6 On the fifteenth day of the month is the festival of unleavened bread to YHWH. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. 7 In the first day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no work of service. 8 But you shall offer an offering made by fire to YHWH seven days. In the seventh day is a holy convocation. You shall do no work of service.’ ” 9 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you have come into the land which I give to you, and shall reap its harvest, then you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 He shall wave the sheaf before YHWH, to be accepted for you. On the next day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12 On the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb, a perfect one, a year old for a burnt offering to YHWH. 13 The grain offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to YHWH for a pleasant aroma; and the libation offering with it shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin. 14 You must not eat bread, roasted grain, or fresh grain, until the [bone of this day],^(MTT) until you have brought the offering of your Elohim. This is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 15 You shall count from the next day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. 16 The next day after the seventh Sabbath you shall count fifty days; and you shall offer a new grain offering to YHWH. 17 You shall bring out of your habitations two [loaves]^{(LXX)(SP)(mss)} of bread for a wave offering made of two tenths of an ephah of fine flour. They shall be baked with leaven, for first fruits to YHWH. 18 You shall present with the bread seven lambs, perfect ones, a year old, one young bull, and two rams [without blemish].^(LXX)(SP) They shall be a burnt offering to YHWH, with their grain offering and their libation offerings, even an offering made by fire, of a sweet aroma to YHWH. 19 You shall offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old for a slaughter of peace offerings [with the loaves of the first fruits].^(LXX) 20 The priest shall wave them with the bread of the first fruits for a wave offering before YHWH, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to YHWH for the priest. [They shall belong to the priest that brings them.]^(LXX) 21 You shall make proclamation on the [bone of that day]^(MTT) there shall be a holy convocation to you. You shall do no work of service. This is a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. 22 When you reap the harvest of your land, you must not finish the corner of your field. You must not gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must leave them for the afflicted and for the foreigner. I am YHWH your Elohim.’ ” 23 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, there shall be a rest for you, a remembrance of shouting, a holy convocation. 25 You shall do no work of service. You shall bring an offering made by fire to YHWH.’ ” 26 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 27 “Surely, on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonements. It shall be a holy convocation to you. You shall afflict your souls and you shall offer an offering made by fire to YHWH. 28 You shall do no kind of work in the [bone of this day],^(MTT) for it is a day of the atonements, to make atonement for you before YHWH your Elohim. 29 For any soul who is not afflicted himself in the [bone of this day]^(MTT) shall be cut off from his people. 30 Whoever does any work in the [bone of this day],^(MTT) I will destroy that person from among his people. 31 You shall do no work: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be a Sabbath of rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. In the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall [observe the Sabbath of your Sabbaths].”^(LXX) 33 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 34 “Speak to the sons of Israel, and say, ‘On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the festival of booths for seven days to YHWH. 35 On the first day shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no work of service. 36 Seven days you shall bring an offering made by fire to YHWH. On the eighth day shall be a holy convocation to you. You shall bring an offering made by fire to YHWH. It is a closing assembly; you shall do no work of service. 37 These are the appointed times of YHWH which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to bring an offering made by fire to YHWH, a burnt offering, a grain offering, a slaughter, and libation offerings, each on its own day— 38 besides the Sabbaths of YHWH, and besides your gifts, and besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to YHWH. 39 So on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you shall celebrate the festival of YHWH seven days. On the first day shall be a rest, and on the eighth day shall be a rest. 40 You shall take on the first day the fruit of majestic trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before YHWH your Elohim seven days. 41 You shall keep it as a festival to YHWH seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations. You shall keep it in the seventh month. 42 You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native in Israel shall dwell in booths, 43 that your generations may know that I made the sons of Israel to dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am YHWH your Elohim.’ ” 44 So Moses spoke to the sons of Israel the appointed times of YHWH.

Haftarah Portion (H)

44:1 Behold, a day of YHWH comes, when your plunder will be divided within you. 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city will be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go out into captivity, and the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. 3 Then YHWH will go out and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4 His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, making a very great valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5 You shall flee by the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azel. Yes, you shall flee, just like you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. YHWH my Elohim will come, and all the holy ones with [him]^(DSS)(LXX). 6 It will happen in that day that there will not be light, cold, or frost. 7 It will be a unique day which is known to YHWH—not day, and not night; but it will come to pass that at evening time there will be light. 8 It will happen in that day that living waters will go out from Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea. It will be so in summer and in winter. 9 YHWH will be King over all the land. In that day YHWH will be one, and his name one. 10 All the land will be made like the Arabah, from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; and she will be lifted up and will dwell in her place, from Benjamin’s gate to the place of the first gate, to the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel to the king’s wine presses. 11 Men will dwell therein, and there will be no more curse; but Jerusalem will dwell safely. 12 This will be the plague with which YHWH will strike all the peoples who have fought against Jerusalem: their flesh will consume away while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will consume away in their sockets, and their tongue will consume away in their mouth. 13 It will happen in that day that a great panic from YHWH will be among them; and they will each seize the hand of his neighbor, and his hand will rise up against the hand of his neighbor. 14 Judah also will fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered together: gold, silver, and clothing, in great abundance. 15 A plague like this will fall on the horse, on the mule, on the camel, on the donkey, and on all the animals that will be in those camps. 16 It will happen that everyone who is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, YHWH of Armies, and to keep the festival of booths. 17 It will be that whoever of all the families of the land doesn’t go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, YHWH of Armies, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt doesn’t go up and doesn’t come, neither will it rain on them. This will be the plague with which YHWH will strike the nations that don’t go up to the festival, the festival of booths. 19 This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that don’t go up to the festival, the festival of booths.

Apostolic Portion (A)

2:6 As therefore you received Messiah Yeshua the Lord, walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thankfulness. 8 Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits of the world, and not after Messiah. 9 For in him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Messiah, 12 having been buried with him in immersion, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of Elohim, who raised him from the dead. 13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 wiping out the handwriting in the decrees which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. 15 Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with part of a festival, or a new moon or a Sabbath, 17 which are a shadow of the things to come, and the body of the Messiah. 18 Let no one rob you of your prize by self-abasement and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with Elohim’s growth. 20 If you died with Messiah from the elemental spirits of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to decrees, 21 “Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch,” 22 all of which perish with use, according to the precepts and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, humility, and severity to the body, but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Additional Portion (ADD)

1 and 2 Maccabees are set during the reign of the Seleucid Greek empire (the part of the Greek empire that found its roots in Syria). It tells the story of how the Greek ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes attested to suppress Temple worship and to destroy the practice of Jewish law. This caused the Maccabean revolt, led by Mattathias and his sons. As a part of the revolt, the Temple was freed from the control of the Greek empire and rededicated (an act that is still commemorated yearly in the festival of Hanukkah). The Maccabees then ruled over Israel, first as High Priests and then as High Priests and Princes of Israel. 1 Maccabees follows this story until the death of Shimon (the third son of Mattathias to rule over Israel) at the hands of the Egyptian Greeks (from about 175-134 B.C.).

1:29 And after two full years the king sent a chief collector of tribute to the cities of Judah, and he came to Jerusalem with a great multitude. 30 And he spoke words of peace to them in subtlety, and they gave him credence: and he fell upon the city suddenly, and struck it very sore, and destroyed much people out of Israel. 31 And he took the spoils of the city, and set it on fire, and pulled down the houses thereof and the walls thereof on every side. 32 And they led captive the women and the children, and the cattle they took in possession. 33 And they built the city of David with a great and strong wall, with strong towers, and it became to them a citadel. 34 And they put there a sinful nation, transgressors of the law, and they strengthened themselves therein. 35 And they stored up arms and food, and gathering together the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up there, and they became a sore snare: 36 and it became a place to lie in wait in against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel continually. 37 And they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled the sanctuary. 38 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them; and she became a habitation of strangers, and she became strange to those who were born in her, and her children forsook her. 39 Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her Sabbaths into reproach, her honor into contempt. 40 According to her glory, so was her dishonor multiplied, and her high estate was turned into mourning. 41 And king Antiochus wrote to his whole reign, that all should be one people, 42 and that each should forsake his own laws. And all the nations agreed according to the word of the king; 43 and many of Israel consented to his worship, and slaughtered to the idols, and profaned the Sabbath. 44 And the king sent letters by the hand of messengers to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, that they should follow laws strange to the land, 45 and should forbid whole burnt offerings and slaughter and libation offerings in the sanctuary; and should profane the Sabbaths and feasts, 46 and pollute the sanctuary and those who were holy; 47 that they should build altars, and temples, and shrines for idols, and should slaughter swine’s flesh and unclean beasts: 48 and that they should leave their sons uncircumcised, that they should make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation; 49 so that they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances. 50 And whoever shall not do according to the word of the king, he shall die. 51 According to all these words wrote he to his whole reign; and he appointed overseers over all the people, and he commanded the cities of Judah to slaughter, city by city. 52 And from the people were gathered together to them many, every one that had forsaken the law; and they did evil things in the land; 53 and they made Israel to hide themselves in every place of refuge which they had. 54 And on the fifteenth day of Kislev, in the hundred and forty and fifth year, they built an abomination of desolation upon the altar, and in the cities of Judah on every side they built idol altars. 55 And at the doors of the houses and in the streets they burned incense. 56 And they tore in pieces the books of the law which they found, and set them on fire. 57 And wherever was found with any a book of the covenant, and if any consented to the law, the king’s sentence delivered him to death. 58 Thus did they in their might to Israel, to those that were found new moon by new moon in the cities. 59 And on the five and twentieth day of the month they slaughtered upon the idol altar of Elohim. 60 And the women that had circumcised their children they put to death according to the commandment. 61 And they hanged their babes about their necks, and destroyed their houses, and those who had circumcised them. 62 And many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat unclean things. 63 And they chose to die, that they might not be defiled with the meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: and they died. 64 And there came exceedingly great wrath upon Israel.

Related Scriptures

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

Exodus 22:29 Do not delay to offer from your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. You shall give the firstborn of your sons to me. 30 You shall do likewise with your cattle and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days, then on the eighth day you shall give it to me. 31 You shall be holy men to me, therefore do not eat any meat that is torn by animals in the field. You shall cast it to the dogs.

Exodus 34:26 You shall bring the first of the first fruits of your ground to the house of YHWH your Elohim. Do not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

1:31 Elohim saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day. 2:1 The heavens, the land, and all their vast array were finished. 2 On the seventh day Elohim finished his work which he had done; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. 3 Elohim blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work of creation which he had done.

4:16 He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.

17:21 YHWH says, “Be careful, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. 22 Don’t carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day. Don’t do any work, but make the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers. 23 But they didn’t listen. They didn’t turn their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, and might not receive instruction. 24 It will happen, if you diligently listen to me,” says YHWH, “to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but to make the Sabbath day holy, to do no work therein; 25 then there will enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on David’s throne, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city will remain forever. 26 They will come from the cities of Judah, and from the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the lowland, from the hill country, and from the South, bringing burnt offerings, slaughters, grain offerings, and frankincense, and bringing slaughters of thanksgiving to YHWH’s house. 27 But if you will not listen to me to make the Sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it will devour the palaces of Jerusalem. It will not be quenched.”

35:1 Moses assembled all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and said to them, “These are the words which YHWH has commanded, that you should do them. 2 ‘Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to YHWH: whoever does any work in it shall be put to death. 3 You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.’”

Exodus 20:8 Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart. 9 You shall labor six days, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your Elohim. Do not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your maid, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; 11 for in six days YHWH made the heavens and land, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.

Deuteronomy 5:12 Guard the Sabbath day, to set it apart, as YHWH your Elohim commanded you. 13 You shall labor six days, and do all your work; 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your Elohim, in which do not do any work— neither you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your maid, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; that your male servant and your maid may rest as well as you. 15 You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and YHWH your Elohim brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm. Therefore YHWH your Elohim commanded you to do the Sabbath day.

23:12 “Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant, and the sojourner may be refreshed.

4:1 Let’s fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn’t profit them, because it wasn’t mixed with faith by those who heard. 3 For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, “Elohim rested on the seventh day from all his works;” 5 and in this place again, “They will not enter into my rest.” 6 Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter into it, and they to whom the good news was preached before failed to enter in because of disobedience, 7 he again defines a certain day, “today”, saying through David so long a time afterward, just as has been said, “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day. 9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of Elohim. 10 For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as Elohim did from his. 11 Let’s therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.

To the Overseer, on the gittith, to Asaph. 81:1 Sing aloud to Elohim, our strength! Make the shout* to the Elohim of Jacob! 2 Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp. 3 Blow the shofar at the new moon, at the full moon, on our festival day. 4 For it is a statute for Israel, a judgment of the Elohim of Jacob. 5 He appointed it in Joseph for a witness, when he went out over the land of Egypt, I heard a language that I didn’t know.

22:1 Now the festival of unleavened bread, which is called the Pesach, was approaching. 2 The chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death, for they feared the people. 3 Satan entered into Judah, who was also called Iscariot, who was counted with the twelve. 4 He went away and talked with the chief priests and captains about how he might deliver him to them. 5 They were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented and sought an opportunity to deliver him to them in the absence of the multitude. 7 The day of unleavened bread came, on which the Pesach must be slaughtered. 8 Yeshua sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Pesach for us, that we may eat.” 9 They said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare?” 10 He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him into the house which he enters. 11 Tell the master of the house, ‘The Rabbi says to you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Pesach with my disciples?” ‘ 12 He will show you a large, furnished upper room. Make preparations there.” 13 They went, found things as Yeshua had told them, and they prepared the Pesach. 14 When the hour had come, he sat down with the twelve emissaries. 15 He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Pesach with you before I suffer, 16 for I tell you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in the reign of Elohim.” 17 He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves, 18 for I tell you, I will not drink at all again from the fruit of the vine, until the reign of Elohim comes.” 19 He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.” 20 Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the renewed covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

5:1 It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even named among the Nations, that one has his father’s wife. 2 You are arrogant, and didn’t mourn instead, that he who had done this deed might be removed from among you. 3 For I most certainly, as being absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as though I were present, judged him who has done this thing. 4 In the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, when you are gathered together with my spirit with the power of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, 5 you are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Yeshua. 6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Messiah, our Pesach, has been slaughtered in our place. 8 Therefore let’s keep the festival, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

2:1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 Suddenly there came from the heavens a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the heavens. 6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? 8 How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?

38:1 Then YHWH answered Job out of the whirlwind, 2 “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me! 4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the land? Declare, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it? 6 What were its foundations fastened on? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7 when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of Elohim will shout*?”

4:13 But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Yeshua died and rose again, even so Elohim will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Yeshua. 15 For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from the heavens with a [call of command], with the voice of the archangel and with Elohim’s trumpet. The dead in Messiah will rise first, 17 then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

27:7 When we had sailed slowly many days, and had come with difficulty opposite Cnidus, the wind not allowing us further, we sailed under the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. 8 With difficulty sailing along it we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea. 9 When much time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because the Fast had now already gone by, Paul admonished them 10 and said to them, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ark than to those things which were spoken by Paul. 12 Because the haven was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised going to sea from there, if by any means they could reach Phoenix and winter there, which is a port of Crete, looking southwest and northwest.

7:1 After these things, Yeshua was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn’t walk in Judea, because the Judeans sought to kill him. 2 Now the Jewish festival, the festival of Sukkot, was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world.”*

*The most ancient Greek manuscripts do not include John 7:52 – 8:11

Related Additional Readings​

[Concerning pregnant animals,] we have deter[mined that one must not slaughter] the mother and the fetus on the same day […]

[Concerning] one who eats [of the fetus, w]e have determined that a person might eat the fetus [which is found in the womb of its mother after it has been slaughtered as well. You know that thi]s is correct, for the matter is written concerning the pregnant animal.

The Temple Scroll is the longest of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Among the discoveries at Qumran it is designated: 11QTemple Scroll. It describes a Jewish temple which was never built, along with extensive detailed regulations about slaughters and temple practices. There is no scholarly consensus regarding the date, origin, author or authors, or its relationship to the Qumran community.[4] Some scholars attribute the Temple Scroll to the isolated Qumran community, while others see no connection with the Qumran community; instead they see the work as a priestly (possible Zadokite) document that was hidden in a cave by Zealots during their flight from Jerusalem in 70 CE before the Roman destruction of the Temple.

XVII … They shall rejoice because expiation has been made for them … This day [shall] be a holy gathering for them, [an eternal rule for all their generations] wherever they dwell. They shall rejoice and … [Let] them [prepare on the fourtee]nth day of the first month [between dusk and dark the Pesach of YHWH]. They shall slaughter (it) before the evening offering and shall slaughter … men from twenty years of age and over shall prepare it. They shall eat it at night in the holy courts. They shall rise early and each shall go to his tent … On the fifteenth day of this month (there shall be) a ho[ly] gathering. You shall do no work of labour on it. (It shall be) a seven-day feast of unleavened bread for YHWH. You shall offer on each of the[se] seven days a holocaust to YHWH: two young bulls, a ram, and seven ram lambs without blemish and a he-goat for a sin-offering and the corresponding grain-offering and drink-offering [according to the sta]tute for the young bulls, rams, l[am]bs and the he-goat. On the seventh day [(there shall be) an assembly] for [YHWH]. You shall do no work on it.

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 17:15 And it came to pass in the seventh week, in the first year thereof, in the first month in this jubilee [2003 A.M.]*, on the twelfth of this month, there were voices in the heavens regarding Abraham, that he was faithful in all that He told him, and that he loved the Lord, and that in every affliction he was faithful. 16. And the prince Mastema came and said before Elohim, “Behold, Abraham loveth Isaac his son, and he delighteth in him above all things else; bid him offer him as a burnt offering on the altar, and Thou wilt see if he will do this command, and Thou wilt know if he is faithful in everything wherein Thou dost try him.” 17. And the Lord knew that Abraham was faithful in all his afflictions; for He had tried him through his country and with famine, and had tried him with the wealth of kings, and had tried him again through his wife, when she was torn (from him), and with circumcision, and had tried him through Ishmael and Hagar, his maid-servant, when he sent them away. 18. And in everything wherein He had tried him, he was found faithful, and his soul was not impatient, and he was not slow to act; for he was faithful and a lover of the Lord.

*According to the chronology of Jubilees (cf. Jubilees 16:13 with this passage) Isaac was twenty-three years old when he was offered up; born in 1980 A.M., offered in 2003 A.M.

Jubilees 18:1 And Elohim said to him, “Abraham, Abraham”; and he said, “Behold, (here) am I.” 2. And He said, “Take thy beloved son whom thou lovest, (even) Isaac, and go unto the high country, and offer him on one of the mountains which I will point out unto thee.” 3. And he rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took his two young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood of the burnt offering, and he went to the place on the third day, and he saw the place afar off. 4. And he came to a well of water, and he said to his young men, “Abide ye here with the donkey, and I and the lad shall go (yonder), and when we have worshipped we shall come again to you.” 5. And he took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife, and they went both of them together to that place. 6. And Isaac said to his father, “Father”; and he said, “Here am I, my son.” And he said unto him, “Behold the fire, and the knife, and the wood; but where is the sheep for the burnt offering, father?” 7. And he said, “Elohim will provide for himself a sheep for a burnt offering, my son.” And he drew near to the place of the mount of Elohim. 8. And he built an altar, and he placed the wood on the altar, and bound Isaac his son, and placed him on the wood which was upon the altar, and stretched forth his hand to take the knife to slay Isaac his son. 9. And I stood before him, and before the prince of the Mastema, and the Lord said, “Bid him not to lay his hand on the lad, nor to do anything to him, for I have shown that he feareth the Lord.” 10. And I called to him from the heavens, and said unto him: “Abraham, Abraham”; and he was terrified and said: “Behold, (here) am I.” 11. And I said unto him: “Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything to him; for now I have shown that thou fearest the Lord, and hast not withheld thy son, thy first-born son, from me.” 12. And the prince of the Mastema was put to shame; and Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, a single ram caught … by his horns, and Abraham went and took the ram and offered it for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 13. And Abraham called that place “The Lord hath seen,” so that it is said “(in the mount) the Lord hath seen”: that is Mount Zion. 14. And the Lord called Abraham by his name a second time from the heavens, as he caused us to appear to speak to him in the name of the Lord. 15. And He said: “By Myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, Because thou hast done this thing, And hast not withheld thy son, thy beloved son, from Me, That in blessing I shall bless thee And in multiplying I shall multiply thy seed As the stars of the heavens, And as the sand which is on the seashore. And thy seed will inherit the cities of its enemies, 16. And in thy seed will all nations of the land be blessed; Because thou hast obeyed My voice, And I have shown to all that thou art faithful unto Me in all that I have said unto thee: Go in peace.” 17. And Abraham went to his young men, and they arose and went together to Be’ersheba, and Abraham dwelt by the Well of the Oath. 18. And he celebrated this festival every year, seven days with joy, and he called it the festival of the Lord according to the seven days during which he went and returned in peace. 19. And accordingly hath it been ordained and written on the heavenly tables regarding Israel and its seed that they should observe this festival seven days with the joy of festival.

5:27 And the water prevailed on the face of the land five months-one hundred and fifty days. 28. And the ark went and rested on the top of Lûbâr, one of the mountains of Ararat. 29. And (on the new moon) in the fourth month the fountains of the great deep were closed and the flood-gates of the heavens were restrained; and on the new moon of the seventh month all the mouths of the abysses of the land were opened, and the water began to descend into the deep below. 30. And on the new moon of the tenth new moon [1309 A.M.] the tops of the mountains were seen, and on the new moon of the first month the land became visible. 31. And the waters disappeared from above the land in the fifth week in the seventh year thereof, and on the seventeenth day in the second month the land was dry.

Jubilees 6:1 And on the new moon of the third month 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 shall 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 shall 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), shall I require the blood of man. 8. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood by man shall 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 month. 11. On this account He spake to thee that thou shouldst make a covenant with the sons of Israel in this month 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 shall 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 shall 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 shall 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 month 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 month they shall 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 month, one day in every year.

Jubilees 6:23 And on the new moon of the first month, and on the new moon of the fourth month, and on the new moon of the seventh month, and on the new moon of the tenth month 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 month 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 month the mouths of the depths of the abysses beneath were closed. And on the new moon of the seventh month 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 month 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 shall 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 months 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.

12:16 And in the sixth week, in the fifth year thereof, Abram sat up throughout the night on the new moon of the seventh month to observe the stars from the evening to the morning, in order to see what would be the character of the year with regard to the rains, and he was alone as he sat and observed. 17. And a word came into his heart and he said: “All the signs of the stars, and the signs of the moon and of the sun are all in the hand of the Lord. Why do I search (them) out? If He desireth, He causeth it to rain, morning and evening; And if He desireth, He withholdeth it, And all things are in His hand.” And he prayed that night and said “My Elohim, Elohim Most High, Thou alone art my Elohim, And Thee and Thy dominion have I chosen. And Thou hast created all things, And all things that are the work of Thy hands. Deliver me from the hands of evil spirits who have sway over the thoughts of men’s hearts, And let them not lead me astray from Thee, my Elohim. And stablish Thou me and my seed for ever That we go not astray from henceforth and for evermore.” 21. And he said Shall I return unto Ur of the Chaldees who seek my face that I may return to them, or am I to remain here in this place? The right path before Thee prosper it in the hands of Thy servant that he may fulfil (it) and that I may not walk in the deceitfulness of my heart, O my Elohim.” 22. And he made an end of speaking and praying, and behold the word of the Lord was sent to him through me, saying: “Get thee up from thy country, and from thy kindred and from the house of thy father unto a land which I shall show thee, and I shall make thee a great and numerous nation. And I shall bless thee And I shall make thy name great, And thou wilt be blessed in the land, And in thee will all families of the land be blessed, And I shall bless them that bless thee, And curse them that curse thee. 24. And I shall be an Elohim to thee and thy son, and to thy son’s son, and to all thy seed: fear not, from henceforth and unto all generations of the land I am thy Elohim.” 25. And the Lord Elohim said: “Open his mouth and his ears, that he may hear and speak with his mouth, with the language which hath been revealed”; for it had ceased from the mouths of all the children of men from the day of the overthrow (of Babel). 26. And I opened his mouth, and his ears and his lips, and I began to speak with him in Hebrew in the tongue of the creation. 27. And he took the books of his fathers, and these were written in Hebrew and he transcribed them, and he began from henceforth to study them, and I made known to him that which he could not (understand), and he studied them during the six rainy new moons [the winter].*

*Israel’s winter season is from late October to mid-March

16:16 And we returned in the seventh month, and found Sarah with child before us] and we blessed him, and we announced to him all the things which had been decreed concerning him, that he should not die till he should beget six sons more, and should see (them) before he died; but (that) in Isaac should his name and seed be called: 17. And (that) all the seed of his sons should be Nations, and be reckoned with the Nations; but from the sons of Isaac one should become a holy seed, and should not be reckoned among the Nations. 18. For he should become the portion of the Most High, and all his seed had fallen into the possession of Elohim, that it should be unto the Lord a people for (His) possession above all nations and that it should become a reign and priests and a holy nation. 19. And we went our way, and we announced to Sarah all that we had told him, and they both rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 20. And he built there an altar to the Lord who had delivered him, and who was making him rejoice in the land of his sojourning, and he celebrated a festival of joy in this new moon seven days, near the altar which he had built at the Well of the Oath. 21. And he built booths for himself and for his servants on this festival, and he was the first to celebrate the feast of tabernacles on the land. 22. And during these seven days he brought each day to the altar a burnt-offering to the Lord, two oxen, two rams, seven sheep, one he-goat, for a sin-offering, that he might atone thereby for himself and for his seed. 23. And, as a thank-offering, seven rams, seven kids, seven sheep, and seven he-goats, and their fruit-offerings and their drink-offerings; and he burnt all the fat thereof on the altar, a chosen offering unto the Lord for a sweet smelling savour. 24. And morning and evening he burnt fragrant substances, frankincense and galbanum, and stacte, and nard, and myrrh, and spice, and costum; all these seven he offered, crushed, mixed together in equal parts (and) pure. 25. And he celebrated this feast during seven days, rejoicing with all his heart and with all his soul, he and all those who were in his house; and there was no stranger with him, nor any that was uncircumcised. 26. And he blessed his Creator who had created him in his generation, for He had created him according to His good pleasure; for He knew and perceived that from him would arise the plant of righteousness for the eternal generations, and from him a holy seed, so that it should become like Him who had made all things. 27. And he blessed and rejoiced, and he called the name of this festival the festival of the Lord, a joy acceptable to the Most High Elohim. 28. And we blessed him for ever, and all his seed after him throughout all the generations of the land, because he celebrated this festival in its season, according to the witness of the heavenly tables. 29. For this reason it is ordained on the heavenly tables concerning Israel, that they shall celebrate the feast of tabernacles seven days with joy, in the seventh month, acceptable before the Lord–a statute for ever throughout their generations every year. 30. And to this there is no limit of days; for it is ordained for ever regarding Israel that they should celebrate it and dwell in booths, and set wreaths upon their heads, and take leafy boughs, and willows from the brook. 31. And Abraham took branches of palm trees, and the fruit of goodly trees, and every day going round the altar with the branches seven times [a day] in the morning, he praised and gave thanks to his Elohim for all things in joy.

34:10 And in the seventh year of this week [2149 A.M.] he sent Joseph to learn about the welfare of his brothers from his house to the land of Shechem, and he found them in the land of Dothan. 11. And they dealt treacherously with him, and formed a plot against him to slay him, but changing their minds, they sold him to Ishmaelite merchants, and they brought him down into Egypt, and they sold him to Potiphar, the eunuch of Pharaoh, the chief of the cooks, priest of the city of ‘Êlêw. 12. And the sons of Jacob slaughtered a kid, and dipped the coat of Joseph in the blood, and sent (it) to Jacob their father on the tenth of the seventh month. 13. And he mourned all that night, for they had brought it to him in the evening, and he became feverish with mourning for his death, and he said: “An evil beast hath devoured Joseph”; and all the members of his house [mourned with him that day, and they] were grieving and mourning with him all that day. 14. And his sons and his daughter rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted for his son. 15. And on that day Bilhah heard that Joseph had perished, and she died mourning him, and she was living in †Qafrâtêf† and Dinah also, his daughter, died after Joseph had perished. And there came these three mournings upon Israel in one new moon. 16. And they buried Bilhah over against the tomb of Rachel, and Dinah also, his daughter, they buried there. 17. And he mourned for Joseph one year, and did not cease, for he said “Let me go down to the grave mourning for my son.” 18. For this reason it is ordained for the sons of Israel that they should afflict themselves on the tenth of the seventh month–on the day that the news which made him weep for Joseph came to Jacob his father–that they should make atonement for themselves thereon with a young goat on the tenth of the seventh month, once a year, for their sins; for they had grieved the affection of their father regarding Joseph his son. 19. And this day hath been ordained that they should grieve thereon for their sins, and for all their transgressions and for all their errors, so that they might cleanse themselves on that day once a year.

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

3.10.1. The law requires, that out of the public expenses a lamb of the first year be killed every day, at the beginning and at the ending of the day; but on the seventh day, which is called the Sabbath, they kill two, and slaughter them in the same manner. At the new moon, they both perform the daily slaughters, and slay two bulls, with seven lambs of the first year, and a kid of the goats also, for the expiation of sins; that is, if they have sinned through ignorance.

3.10.2. But on the seventh month, which the Macedonians call Hyperberetaeus, they make an addition to those already mentioned, and slaughter a bull, a ram, and seven lambs, and a kid of the goats, for sins.

3.10.3. On the tenth day of the same lunar new moon, they fast till the evening; and this day they slaughter a bull, and two rams, and seven lambs, and a kid of the goats, for sins. And, besides these, they bring two kids of the goats; the one of which is sent alive out of the limits of the camp into the wilderness for the scapegoat, and to be an expiation for the sins of the whole multitude; but the other is brought into a place of great cleanness, within the limits of the camp, and is there burnt, with its skin, without any sort of cleansing. With this goat was burnt a bull, not brought by the people, but by the high priest, at his own charges; which, when it was slain, he brought of the blood into the holy place, together with the blood of the kid of the goats, and sprinkled the ceiling with his finger seven times, as also its pavement, and again as often toward the holy of holies, and about the golden altar: he also at last brings it into the open court, and sprinkles it about the great altar. Besides this, they set the extremities, and the kidneys, and the fat, with the lobe of the liver, upon the altar. The high priest likewise presents a ram to Elohim as a burnt-offering.

3.10.4. Upon the fifteenth day of the same new moon, when the season of the year is changing for winter, the law enjoins us to pitch tabernacles in every one of our houses, so that we preserve ourselves from the cold of that time of the year; as also that when we should arrive at our own country, and come to that city which we should have then for our metropolis, because of the temple therein to be built, and keep a festival for eight days, and offer burnt-offerings, and slaughter thank-offerings, that we should then carry in our hands a branch of myrtle, and willow, and a bough of the palm-tree, with the addition of the pome citron: That the burnt-offering on the first of those days was to be a slaughter of thirteen bulls, and fourteen lambs, and fifteen rams, with the addition of a kid of the goats, as an expiation for sins; and on the following days the same number of lambs, and of rams, with the kids of the goats; but abating one of the bulls every day till they amounted to seven only. On the eighth day all work was laid aside, and then, as we said before, they slaughtered to Elohim a bullock, a ram, and seven lambs, with a kid of the goats, for an expiation of sins. And this is the accustomed solemnity of the Hebrews, when they pitch their tabernacles.

3.10.5. In the month of Xanthicus, which is by us called Nisan, and is the beginning of our year, on the fourteenth day of the lunar new moon, when the sun is in Aries, [for in this new moon it was that we were delivered from bondage under the Egyptians,] the law ordained that we should every year slay that slaughter which I before told you we slew when we came out of Egypt, and which was called the Pesach; and so we do celebrate this passover in companies, leaving nothing of what we slaughter till the day following. The feast of unleavened bread succeeds that of the passover, and falls on the fifteenth day of the month, and continues seven days, wherein they feed on unleavened bread; on every one of which days two bulls are killed, and one ram, and seven lambs. Now these lambs are entirely burnt, besides the kid of the goats which is added to all the rest, for sins; for it is intended as a feast for the priest on every one of those days. But on the second day of unleavened bread, which is the sixteenth day of the month, they first partake of the fruits of the land, for before that day they do not touch them. And while they suppose it proper to honor Elohim, from whom they obtain this plentiful provision, in the first place, they offer the first fruits of their barley, and that in the manner following: They take a handful of the ears, and dry them, then beat them small, and purge the barley from the bran; they then bring one tenth deal to the altar, to Elohim; and, casting one handful of it upon the fire, they leave the rest for the use of the priest. And after this it is that they may publicly or privately reap their harvest. They also at this participation of the first fruits of the land, slaughter a lamb, as a burnt-offering to Elohim.

3.10.6. When a week of weeks has passed over after this slaughter, [which weeks contain forty and nine days,] on the fiftieth day, which is Pentecost, but is called by the Hebrews Asartha, which signifies Pentecost, they bring to Elohim a loaf, made of wheat flour, of two tenth deals, with leaven; and for slaughters they bring two lambs; and when they have only presented them to Elohim, they are made ready for supper for the priests; nor is it permitted to leave any thing of them till the day following. They also slay three bullocks for a burnt-offering, and two rams; and fourteen lambs, with two kids of the goats, for sins; nor is there anyone of the festivals but in it they offer burnt-offerings; they also allow themselves to rest on every one of them. Accordingly, the law prescribes in them all what kinds they are to slaughter, and how they are to rest entirely, and must slay slaughters, in order to feast upon them.

3.10.7. However, out of the common charges, baked bread [was set on the table of shew-bread], without leaven, of twenty-four tenth deals of flour, for so much is spent upon this bread; two heaps of these were baked, they were baked the day before the sabbath, but were brought into the holy place on the morning of the sabbath, and set upon the holy table, six on a heap, one loaf still standing over against another; where two golden cups full of frankincense were also set upon them, and there they remained till another sabbath, and then other loaves were brought in their stead, while the loaves were given to the priests for their food, and the frankincense was burnt in that sacred fire wherein all their offerings were burnt also; and so other frankincense was set upon the loaves instead of what was there before. The high priest also, of his own charges, offered a slaughter, and that twice every day. It was made of flour mingled with oil, and gently baked by the fire; the quantity was one tenth deal of flour; he brought the half of it to the fire in the morning, and the other half at night. The account of these slaughters I shall give more accurately hereafter; but I think I have premised what for the present may be sufficient concerning them.