• Torah (T): Bemidbar (Numbers) 2:14 – 3:13
• Prophets (P): Ezekiel 47:13-23
• Apostolic (A): Revelation 7:1-17
• Additional (ADD): Sirach 45:6-26

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• 1 Chronicles 27:1-24 (T)
• Exodus 38:24-26 (T)
• Jeremiah 33:12-26 (T)
• Revelation 7:1-17 (T)
• Leviticus 10:1-7; Numbers 3:1-4; Numbers 26:60-61; 1 Chronicles 24:1-2 (T)
• 2 Chronicles 29:11-19 (T)
• Ezra 6:15-22 (T)
• 1 Samuel 6:1-21 (T)
• 2 Samuel 6:1-23 (T)
• 1 Kings 12:15-33 (T)
• Exodus 13:1-2, 11-16;  Numbers 8:14-18, 18:6-19; Deuteronomy 15:19-23; Nehemiah 10:34-39; Ezekiel 44:28-31; Luke 2:21-24 (T)
• Joshua 19:40-48 (A)
• Judges 19:1-31 (A)
• Jewish Interpolation of the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, Dan 2:27 (A)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• Sirach 44:1-23 (T)
• Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-19 (T)
• Numbers 2:14 – 3:13 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 3.12.4-5 (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)

2:1 YHWH spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 “The sons of Israel will encamp every man by his own banner, with the sign of their fathers’ houses. They will encamp around the Appointed Tent at a distance from it.” 3 Those who encamp on the east side toward the sunrise will be of the banner of the camp of Judah, according to their divisions. The lifted up of the sons of Judah will be Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 4 His division, and those who were registered of them, were seventy-four thousand six hundred. 5 Those who encamp next to him will be the tribe of Issachar. The lifted up of the sons of Issachar will be Nethanel the son of Zuar. 6 His division, and those who were registered of it, were fifty-four thousand four hundred. 7 [Those who camp next to him will be]^(LXX) The tribe of Zebulun: the lifted up of the sons of Zebulun will be Eliab the son of Helon. 8 His division, and those who were registered of it, were fifty-seven thousand four hundred. 9 All who were registered of the camp of Judah were one hundred eighty-six thousand four hundred, according to their divisions. They will set out first. 10 “On the south side will be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their divisions. The lifted up of the sons of Reuben will be Elizur the son of Shedeur. 11 His division, and those who were registered of it, were forty-six thousand five hundred. 12 “Those who encamp next to him will be the tribe of Shimon. The lifted up of the sons of Shimon will be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 13 His division, and those who were registered of them, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred. 14 The tribe of Gad: the lifted up of the sons of Gad will be Eliasaph the son of [Deuel].^(mss)(SP) 15 His division, and those who were registered of them, were forty-five thousand six hundred fifty. 16 All who were registered of the camp of Reuben were one hundred fifty-one thousand four hundred fifty, according to their armies. They will set out second. 17 Then the Appointed Tent will set out, with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the camps. As they encamp, so will they set out, every man in his place, by their banners. 18 On the west side will be the banner of the camp of Ephraim according to their divisions. The lifted up of the sons of Ephraim will be Elishama the son of Ammihud. 19 His division, and those who were registered of them, were forty thousand five hundred. 20 Next to him will be the tribe of Manasseh. The lifted up of the sons of Manasseh will be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 21 His division, and those who were registered of them, were thirty-two thousand two hundred. 22 The tribe of Benjamin: the lifted up of the sons of Benjamin will be Abidan the son of Gideoni. 23 His army, and those who were registered of them, were thirty-five thousand four hundred. 24 All who were registered of the camp of Ephraim were one hundred eight thousand one hundred, according to their divisions. They will set out third. 25 On the north side will be the banner of the camp of Dan according to their divisions. The lifted up of the sons of Dan will be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 His division, and those who were registered of them, were sixty-two thousand seven hundred. 27 Those who encamp next to him will be the tribe of Asher. The lifted up of the sons of Asher will be Pagiel the son of Ochran. 28 His division, and those who were registered of them, were forty-one thousand five hundred. 29 The tribe of Naphtali: the lifted up of the sons of Naphtali will be Ahira the son of Enan. 30 His division, and those who were registered of them, were fifty-three thousand four hundred. 31 All who were registered of the camp of Dan were one hundred fifty-seven thousand six hundred. They will set out last by their banners.” 32 These are those who were registered of the sons of Israel by their fathers’ houses. All who were registered of the camps according to their armies were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty. 33 But the Levites were not registered among the sons of Israel, as YHWH commanded Moses. 34 Thus the sons of Israel did. According to all that YHWH commanded Moses, so they encamped by their banners, and so they set out, everyone by their families, according to their fathers’ houses.

3:1 These are the birthings of Aaron and Moses in the day that YHWH spoke with Moses in Mount Sinai. 2 These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, who filled [their]^(DSS)(LXX) hands to be adorned. 4 Nadab and Abihu died before YHWH when they offered strange fire to the face of YHWH in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons. Eleazar and Ithamar were adorned in the face of Aaron their father. 5 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him. 7 They will guard his charges, and the charges of the whole congregation to the face of the Appointed Tent, to do the service of the tabernacle. 8 They will guard all the furnishings of the Appointed Tent, and the charges of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. 9 You will give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons. They are wholly given to him on the behalf of the sons of Israel. 10 You will register Aaron and his sons, and they will guard their priesthood [and everything concerning the altar and inside the veil],^(LXX) but the stranger inside will be put to death.” 11 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of all the firstborn who open the womb [among]^(DSS) the sons of Israel [they will be their redemption];^(LXX)(SP) and the Levites will be mine, 13 for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I made holy to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal. They will be mine. I am YHWH.”

Prophets Portion (P)

47:13 The Lord YHWH says: “This will be the border by which you will divide the land for inheritance according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph will have two portions. 14 You will inherit it, one as well as another; for I swore to give it to your fathers. This land will fall to you for inheritance. 15 This will be the border of the land: On the north side, from the great sea, by the way of Hethlon, to the entrance of Zedad; 16 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim (which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), to Hazer Hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran. 17 The border from the sea will be Hazar Enon at the border of Damascus; and on the north northward is the border of Hamath. This is the north side. 18 The east side, between Hauran, Damascus, Gilead, and the land of Israel, will be the Jordan; from the north border to the east sea [as far as Tamar].^(Syr) This is the east side. 19 The south side southward will be from Tamar as far as the waters of Meriboth Kadesh, to the brook, to the great sea. This is the south side southward. 20 The west side will be the great sea, from the south border as far as opposite the entrance of Hamath. This is the west side. 21 So you will divide this land to yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22 You will divide it by lot for an inheritance to you and to the sojourners who live among you, who will father sons among you. Then they will be to you as the native among the sons of Israel. They will have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. 23 In whatever tribe the stranger lives, there you will give him his inheritance,” says the Lord YHWH.

Apostolic Portion (A)

7:1 [And]^(mss) after this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the land (cf. 2 Chronicles 28:24), holding the four winds of the land, so that no wind would blow on the land, or on the sea, or on any tree. 2 I saw another angel ascend from the sunrise, having the seal of the living Elohim. He cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to harm the land and the sea, 3 saying, “Don’t harm the land, the sea, or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our Elohim on their foreheads!” 4 I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: 5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed, of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, 6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, 7 of the tribe of Shimon twelve thousand, of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, 8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, and of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed. 9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could count, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation be to our Elohim, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels were standing around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before his throne, and did bow down to Elohim, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might, be to our Elohim to the ages of the ages! Amen.” 13 One of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are arrayed in the white robes, who are they, and where did they come from?” 14 I told him, “My lord, you know.” He said to me, “These are those who came out of the great affliction. They washed their robes and made them white in the Lamb’s blood. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of Elohim, and they serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tabernacle over them. 16 They will never be hungry or thirsty any more. The sun won’t beat on them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the middle of the throne shepherds them and leads them to springs of life-giving waters. And Elohim will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Additional Portion (ADD)

Sirach, or Wisdom of Sirach, and also known as the Book of Ecclesiasticus (abbreviated Ecclus.) or Ben Sira, is a work of ethical teachings, from approximately 200 to 175 B.C., written by the Jewish scribe Ben Sira of Jerusalem, on the inspiration of his father Joshua son of Sirach, sometimes called Jesus son of Sirach or Yeshua ben Eliezer ben Sira. The Sirach was almost completely uncovered in Hebrew in the Dead Sea Scrolls, at Masada, and the Cairo Geniza. The multiplicity of manuscript fragments uncovered in the Cairo Genizah evidence its authoritative status among Egyptian Jewry until the Middle Ages. Quotes from Sirach can be found in Rabbinic literature in multiple places  including the Talmud in Bava Kamma 92b:13 and Hagigah 13a:2. Additionally, the Gospels and other Apostolic Scriptures quote from the Book of Sirach including the Song of Miriam in Luke 1:52 (cf. Sirach 10:14); the description of the seed in Mark 4:5, 16–17 (cf. Sirach 40:15); the statement by Yeshua in Matthew 7:16,20 (cf. Sirach 27:6); and Ya’aqov (James) 1:19 (cf. Sirach 5:11).

45:6 He exalted Aaron, a holy man like to him, Even his brother, of the tribe of Levi. 7 He established for him an everlasting covenant, And gave him the priesthood of the people; He blessed him with comely ornaments, And girded him about with a robe of glory. 8 He clothed him with the perfection of exultation; And strengthened him with apparel of strength, The linen trousers, the tunic, and the ephod. 9 And he compassed him with pomegranates of gold, And with many bells round about, To send forth a sound as he went, To make a sound that might be heard in the temple, For a memorial to the children of his people; 10 With a holy garment, with gold and blue and purple, the work of the embroiderer, With an oracle of judgment, even with the Urim and Tummim; 11 With twisted scarlet, the work of the craftsman; With precious stones graven like a signet, in a setting of gold, the work of the jeweller, For a memorial engraved in writing, after the number of the tribes of Israel; 12 With a crown of gold upon the mitre, having graven on it, as on a signet, HOLINESS, An ornament of honor, a work of might, The desires of the eyes, goodly and beautiful. 13 Before him there never have been any such; No stranger put them on, but his sons only, and his seed perpertually. 14 His slaughters will be wholly consumed Every day twice continually. 15 Moses filled his hands, And anointed him with holy oil: It was to him for an everlasting covenant, And to his seed, all the days of the heavens, To minister to him, and to execute also the priest’s office, And bless his people in his name. 16 He chose him out of all living To offer slaughter to the Lord, Incense, and a sweet savor, for a memorial, To make reconciliation for your people. 17 He gave to him in his commandments, Yes, authority in the covenants of judgments, To teach Jacob the testimonies, And to enlighten Israel in his law. 18 Strangers gathered themselves together against him, And envied him in the wilderness, Even Dathan and Abiram with their company, And the congregation of Qorach, with wrath and anger. 19 The Lord saw it, and it displeased him; And in the wrath of his anger they were destroyed: He did wonders upon them, To consume them with flaming fire. 20 And he added glory to Aaron, And gave him a heritage: He divided to him the first fruits of the increase; And first did he prepare bread in abundance: 21 For they will eat the slaughters of the Lord, Which he gave to him and to his seed. 22 However in the land of the people he will have no inheritance, And he has no portion among the people: For he himself is your portion and inheritance. 23 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar is the third in glory, In that he was zealous in the fear of the Lord, And stood fast in the good forwardness of his soul when the people turned away, And he made reconciliation for Israel. 24 Therefore was there a covenant of peace established for him, That he should be leader of the sanctuary and of his people; That he and his seed Should have the dignity of the priesthood forever. 25 Also he cut a covenant with David the son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah; The inheritance of the king is his alone from son to son; So the inheritance of Aaron is also to his seed. 26 Elohim give you wisdom in your heart To judge his people in righteousness, That their good things be not abolished, And that their glory endure for all their generations.

Related Scriptures

Now the sons of Israel after their number, the heads of fathers’ households and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in any matter of the divisions which came in and went out new moon by new moon throughout all the new moons of the year—of every division were twenty-four thousand. 2 Over the first division for the first new moon was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel. In his division were twenty-four thousand. 3 He was of the sons of Perez, the chief of all the captains of the army for the first new moon. 4 Over the division of the second new moon was Dodai the Ahohite and his division, and Mikloth the ruler; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 5 The third captain of the army for the third new moon was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the chief priest. In his division were twenty-four thousand. 6 This is that Benaiah who was the mighty man of the thirty and over the thirty. Of his division was Ammizabad his son. 7 The fourth captain for the fourth new moon was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him. In his division were twenty-four thousand. 8 The fifth captain for the fifth new moon was Shamhuth the Izrahite. In his division were twenty-four thousand. 9 The sixth captain for the sixth new moon was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. In his division were twenty-four thousand. 10 The seventh captain for the seventh new moon was Helez the Pelonite, of the sons of Ephraim. In his division were twenty-four thousand. 11 The eighth captain for the eighth new moon was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites. In his division were twenty-four thousand. 12 The ninth captain for the ninth new moon was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites. In his division were twenty-four thousand. 13 The tenth captain for the tenth new moon was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zerahites. In his division were twenty-four thousand. 14 The eleventh captain for the eleventh new moon was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the sons of Ephraim. In his division were twenty-four thousand. 15 The twelfth captain for the twelfth new moon was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel. In his division were twenty-four thousand. 16 Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: of the ones of Reuben, Eliezer the son of Zichri was the ruler; of the Shimonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah; 17 of Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; of Aaron, Zadok; 18 of Judah, Elihu, one of the brothers of David; of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19 of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel; 20 of the sons of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21 of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; 22 of Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the captains of the tribes of Israel. 23 But David didn’t take the number of them from twenty years old and under, because YHWH had said he would increase Israel like the stars of the heavens. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to reckon, but didn’t finish; and wrath came on Israel for this. The number wasn’t put into the account in the words of the days to king David.

38:24 All the gold that was used for the work in all the work of the sanctuary, the gold of the offering, was twenty-nine talents and seven hundred thirty shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 25 The silver of the registered ones of the congregation was one hundred talents and one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary: 26 a beka a head, that is, half a shekel, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for everyone who passed over to the registered ones, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty men.

33:12 YHWH of Armies says: “Yet again there will be in this place, which is waste, without man and without animal, and in all its cities, a habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down. 13 In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, in the cities of the South, in the land of Benjamin, in the places around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again pass under the hands of him who counts them,” says YHWH. 14 “Behold, the days come,” says YHWH, “that I will perform that good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and concerning the house of Judah. 15 “In those days and at that time, I will cause a Branch of righteousness to grow up to David. He will execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell safely. This is the name by which she will be called: YHWH Tsidqenu.” 17 For YHWH says: “David will never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel. 18 The priests, the Levites, won’t lack a man before me to cause burnt offerings to ascend, to burn grain offerings, and to do slaughter continually.” 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 priests, the Levites, 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 land, 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.”

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

Numbers 3:1 Now this is the history of the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that YHWH spoke with Moses in Mount Sinai. 2 These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office. 4 Nadab and Abihu died before YHWH when they offered [foreign] fire before YHWH in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons. Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the face of Aaron their father.

Numbers 26:60 To Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 61 Nadab and Abihu died when they brought strange fire before YHWH.

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

29:11 My sons, don’t be negligent now; for YHWH has chosen you to stand before him, to minister to him, and that you should be his ministers and burn incense.” 12 Then the Levites arose: Mahath, the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Qohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah; 13 and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14 and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemayah and Uzziel. 15 They gathered their brothers, sanctified themselves, and went in, according to the commandment of the king by the word of YHWHs, to cleanse YHWH’s house. 16 The priests went into the inner part of YHWH’s house to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of YHWH into the court of YHWH’s house. The Levites took it from there to carry it out to the brook Kidron. 17 Now they began on the first day of the first new moon to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the new moon they came to YHWH’s porch. They sanctified YHWH’s house in eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first new moon they finished. 18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king within the palace and said, “We have cleansed all YHWH’s house, including the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, and the table of bread of the presence with all its vessels. 19 Moreover, we have prepared and sanctified all the vessels which king Ahaz threw away in his reign when he was unfaithful. Behold, they are before the altar of YHWH.”

6:15 This house was finished on the third day of the new moon Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 16 The sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the sons of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of Elohim with joy. 17 They offered at the dedication of this house of Elohim one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 They set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses, for the service of Elohim which is at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses. 19 The sons of the captivity kept the Pesach on the fourteenth day of the first new moon. 20 Because the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together, all of them were pure. They killed the Pesach for all the sons of the captivity, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves. 21 The sons of Israel who had returned out of the captivity, and all who had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land to seek YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, ate, 22 and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; because YHWH had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of Elohim, the Elohim of Israel’s house.

6:1 the ark of YHWH was in the country of the Philistines seven new moons. 2 The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, “What will we do with the ark of YHWH? Show us how we should send it to its place.” 3 They said, “If you send away the ark of the Elohim of Israel, don’t send it empty; but by all means return a trespass offering to him. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.” 4 Then they said, “What should the trespass offering be which we will return to him?” They said, “Five golden tumors and five golden mice, for the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords. 5 Therefore you will make images of your tumors and images of your mice that mar the land; and you will give glory to the Elohim of Israel. Perhaps he will release his hand from you, from your elohim, and from your land. 6 Why then do you make your hearts heavy as the Egyptians and Pharaoh made their hearts heavy? When he had worked wonderfully among them, didn’t they let the people go, and they departed? 7 “Now therefore take and prepare yourselves a new cart and two milk cows on which there has come no yoke; and tie the cows to the cart, and bring their calves home from them; 8 and take the ark of YHWH and lay it on the cart. Put the jewels of gold, which you return him for a trespass offering, in a box by its side; and send it away, that it may go. 9 Behold, if it goes up by the way of its own border to Beth Shemesh, then he has done us this great evil; but if not, then we will know that it is not his hand that struck us. It was a chance that happened to us.” 10 The men did so, and took two milk cows and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home. 11 They put the ark of YHWH on the cart, and the box with the golden mice and the images of their tumors. 12 The cows took the straight way by the way to Beth Shemesh. They went along the highway, lowing as they went, and didn’t turn away to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh. 13 The people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. 14 The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stood there, where there was a great stone. Then they split the wood of the cart and offered up the cows for a burnt offering to YHWH. 15 The Levites took down the ark of YHWH and the box that was with it, in which the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone; and the men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and slaughtered slaughters the same day to YHWH. 16 When the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day. 17 These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering to YHWH: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one; 18 and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages, to the great stone on which they set down the ark of YHWH. That stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh. 19 He struck of the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of YHWH, he struck fifty thousand seventy of the men. Then the people mourned, because YHWH had struck the people with a great slaughter. 20 The men of Beth Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before YHWH, this holy Elohim? To whom will he go up from us?” 21 They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of YHWH. Come down and bring it up to yourselves.”

6:1 David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah, to bring up from there Elohim’s ark, which is called by the Name, the name of YHWH of Armies who sits above the keruvim. 3 They set Elohim’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house that was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 4 They brought it out of Abinadab’s house which was in the hill, with Elohim’s ark; and Ahio went before the ark. 5 David and all the house of Israel played before YHWH with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with castanets, and with cymbals. 6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached for Elohim’s ark and took hold of it, for the cattle stumbled. 7 the anger of YHWH burned against Uzzah, and Elohim struck him there for his error; and he died there by Elohim’s ark. 8 David was displeased because YHWH had broken out against Uzzah; and he called that place Perez Uzzah to this day. 9 David was afraid of YHWH that day; and he said, “How could the ark of YHWH come to me?” 10 So David would not move the ark of YHWH to be with him in David’s city; but David carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house. 11 the ark of YHWH remained in Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house three new moons; and YHWH blessed Obed-Edom and all his house. 12 King David was told, “YHWH has blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that belongs to him, because of Elohim’s ark.” So David went and brought up Elohim’s ark from the house of Obed-Edom into David’s city with joy. 13 When those who bore the ark of YHWH had gone six paces, he slaughtered an ox and a fattened calf. 14 David danced before YHWH with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of YHWH with shouting and with the voice of the shofar. 16 As the ark of YHWH came into David’s city, Michal the daughter of Shaul looked out through the window and saw king David leaping and dancing before YHWH; and she despised him in her heart. 17 They brought in the ark of YHWH, and set it in its place in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before YHWH. 18 When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of YHWH of Armies. 19 He gave to all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to everyone a portion of bread, dates, and raisins. So all the people departed, each to his own house. 20 Then David returned to bless his household. Michal the daughter of Shaul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious the king of Israel was today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” 21 David said to Michal, “It was before YHWH, who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of YHWH, over Israel. Therefore I will celebrate before YHWH. 22 I will be yet more undignified than this, and will be worthless in my own sight. But the maids of whom you have spoken will honor me.” 23 Michal the daughter of Shaul had no child to the day of her death.

12:15 So the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was a thing brought about from YHWH, that he might establish his word, which YHWH spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 16 When all Israel saw that the king didn’t listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, “What portion have we in David? We don’t have an inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, Israel! Now see to your own house, David.” So Israel departed to their tents. 17 But as for the sons of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam hurried to get himself up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel rebelled against David’s house to this day. 20 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel. There was no one who followed David’s house, except for the tribe of Judah only. 21 When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the reign again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 22 But the word of Elohim came to Shemayah the man of Elohim, saying, 23 “Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying, 24 ‘YHWH says, “You will not go up or fight against your brothers, the sons of Israel. Everyone return to his house; for this thing is from me.” ‘ ” So they listened to the word of YHWH, and returned and went their way, according to the word of YHWH. 25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived in it; and he went out from there and built Penuel. 26 Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the reign will return to David’s house. 27 If this people goes up to do slaughters in YHWH’s house at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me, and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” 28 So the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look and behold your elohim, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” 29 He set the one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. 30 This thing became a sin, for the people went even as far as Dan to worship before the one there. 31 He made houses of high places, and made priests from among all the people, who were not of the sons of Levi. 32 Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth new moon, on the fifteenth day of the new moon, like the feast that is in Judah, and he went up to the altar. He did so in Bethel, slaughtering to the calves that he had made, and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made. 33 He went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth new moon, even in the new moon which he had devised of his own heart; and he ordained a feast for the sons of Israel, and went up to the altar to burn incense.

Exodus 13:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Set apart to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and of animal. It is mine…11 “It will be, when YHWH brings you into the land of the Canaanite, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and will give it you, 12 that you will cross over to YHWH all that opens the womb, and every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have. The males will be YHWH’s. 13 Every firstborn of a donkey you will redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you will break its neck; and you will redeem all the firstborn of man among your sons. 14 It will be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you will tell him, ‘By strength of hand YHWH brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, YHWH killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of livestock. Therefore I slaughter to YHWH all that opens the womb, being males; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ 16 It will be for a sign on your hand, and for symbols between your eyes; for by strength of hand YHWH brought us out of Egypt.”

Numbers 8:14 Thus you will separate the Levites from among the sons of Israel, and the Levites will be mine. 15 “After that, the Levites will go in to do the service of the Appointed Tent. You will cleanse them, and make them wave a wave offering. 16 For they are wholly given to me from among the sons of Israel; instead of all who open the womb, even the firstborn of all the sons of Israel, I have taken them to me. 17 For all the firstborn among the sons of Israel are mine, both man and animal. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified them for myself. 18 I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel.

Numbers 18:6 Behold, I myself have taken your brothers the Levites from among the sons of Israel. They are a gift to you, dedicated to YHWH, to do the service of the Appointed Tent. 7 You and your sons with you will guard your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil. You will serve. I give you the service of the priesthood as a gift. The stranger who comes near will be put to death.” 8 YHWH spoke to Aaron, “Behold, I myself have given you the command of my wave offerings, even all the holy of the sons of Israel. I have given them to you by reason of the anointing, and to your sons, as a portion forever. 9 This will be yours of the holy of holies from the fire: every offering of theirs, even every grain offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they will render to me, will be most holy for you and for your sons. 10 You will eat of it like the holy of holies. Every male will eat of it. It will be holy to you. 11 “This is yours, too: the wave offering of their gift, even all the wave offerings of the sons of Israel. I have given them to you, and to your sons and to your daughters with you, as a portion forever. Everyone who is clean in your house will eat of it. 12 “I have given to you all the best of the oil, all the best of the vintage, and of the grain, the first fruits of them which they give to YHWH. 13 The first-ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to YHWH, will be yours. Everyone who is clean in your house will eat of it. 14 “Everything devoted in Israel will be yours. 15 Everything that opens the womb, of all flesh which they bring to YHWH, both of man and animal, will be yours. Nevertheless, you will surely redeem the firstborn of man, and you will redeem the firstborn of unclean animals. 16 You will redeem those who are to be redeemed of them from a new moon old, according to your estimation, for five shekels of money, according to the shekel* of the sanctuary, which weighs twenty gerahs. 17 “But do not redeem the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat. They are holy. You will sprinkle their blood on the altar, and will burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma to YHWH. 18 Their meat will be yours, as the wave offering breast and as the right thigh, it will be yours. 19 All the wave offerings of the holy which the sons of Israel raise to YHWH, I have given you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a portion forever. It is a covenant of salt forever before YHWH to you and to your seed with you.”

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 blemish—is lame or blind, or has any blemish whatever, do 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 do not eat its blood. You will pour it out on the ground like water.

Nehemiah 10:34 We, the priests, the Levites, and the people, cast lots for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our Elohim, according to our fathers’ houses, at times appointed year by year, to burn on YHWH our Elohim’s altar, as it is written in the Torah; 35 and to bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all fruit of all kinds of trees, year by year, to YHWH’s house; 36 also the firstborn of our sons and of our livestock, as it is written in the Torah, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our Elohim, to the priests who minister in the house of our Elohim; 37 and that we should bring the first fruits of our dough, our wave offerings, the fruit of all kinds of trees, and the new wine and the oil, to the priests, to the rooms of the house of our Elohim; and the tithes of our ground to the Levites; for they, the Levites, take the tithes in all our farming villages. 38 The priest, the descendent of Aaron, will be with the Levites when the Levites take tithes. The Levites will bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our Elohim, to the rooms, into the treasure house. 39 For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi will bring the wave offering of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil, to the rooms where the vessels of the sanctuary are, and the priests who minister, with the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not forsake the house of our Elohim.

Ezekiel 44:28 They will have an inheritance: I am their inheritance; and you will give them no possession in Israel. I am their possession. 29 They will eat the grain offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; and every devoted thing in Israel will be theirs. 30 The first of all the first fruits of every thing, and every offering of everything, of all your offerings, will be for the priest. You will also give to the priests the first of your dough, to cause a blessing to rest on your house. 31 The priests will not eat of anything that dies of itself or is torn, whether it is bird or animal.

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

Joshua 19:40-48 (A)

40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families. 41 The border of their inheritance was Zorah, Eshtaol, Irshemesh, 42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, 43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon, 46 Me Jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border opposite Joppa. 47 The border of the children of Dan went out from them; for the children of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and lived therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their forefather. 48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.

Judges 18:1-31 (A)

18:1 In those days there was no king in Israel. In those days the tribe of the Danites sought an inheritance to dwell in; for to that day, their inheritance had not fallen to them among the tribes of Israel. 2 The children of Dan sent five men of their family from their whole number, men of valor, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to search it. They said to them, “Go, explore the land!” They came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there. 3 When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite; so they went over there and said to him, “Who brought you here? What do you do in this place? What do you have here?” 4 He said to them, “Thus and thus has Micah dealt with me, and he has hired me, and I have become his priest.” 5 They said to him, “Please ask counsel of God, that we may know whether our way which we go will be prosperous.” 6 The priest said to them, “Go in peace. Your way in which you go is before YHWH.” 7 Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, how they lived in safety, in the way of the Sidonians, quiet and secure; for there was no one in the land possessing authority, that might put them to shame in anything, and they were far from the Sidonians, and had no dealings with [Aram].^(LXX) 8 They came to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol; and their brothers asked them, “What do you say?” 9 They said, “Arise, and let’s go up against them, [for we have entered and journeyed in the land as far as Laish, and we saw the people how they lived in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, and they were far from the Sidonians, and they had no dealings with Aram. But arise, and let us go up against them;]^(LXX) for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. Do you stand still? Don’t be slothful to go and to enter in to possess the land. 10 When you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people, and the land is large; for Elohim has given it into your hand, a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth.” 11 The family of the Danites set out from Zorah and Eshtaol with six hundred men armed with weapons of war. 12 They went up and encamped in Kiriath Jearim in Judah. Therefore they call that place Mahaneh Dan to this day. Behold, it is behind Kiriath Jearim. 13 They passed from there to the hill country of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah. 14 Then the five men who went to spy out the country of Laish^(LXX)(mss) answered and said to their brothers, “Do you know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a carved image, and a molten image? Now therefore consider what you have to do.” 15 They went over there and came to the house of the young Levite man, even to the house of Micah, and asked him how he was doing. 16 The six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who were of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate. 17 The five men who went to spy out the land went up, and came in there, and took the engraved image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image; and the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war. 18 And these went into Micah’s house [and the priest was standing],^(LXX) and took the engraved image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?” 19 They said to him, “Hold your peace, put your hand on your mouth, and go with us. Be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?” 20 The priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, the teraphim, and the engraved image, [and the molten image,]^(LXX) and went with the people. 21 So they turned and departed, and put the little ones, the livestock, and the goods before them. 22 And they were a good way from the house of Micah, [and look, Micah]^(LXX) and the men who were in the houses near Micah’s house gathered together and overtook the children of Dan. 23 As they called to the children of Dan, they turned their faces, and said to Micah, “What ails you, that you come with such a company?” 24 He said, “You have taken away my elohim which I made [for myself],^(LXX) and the priest, and have gone away! What more do I have? How can you ask me, ‘What ails you?’ ” 25 The children of Dan said to him, “Don’t let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall on you, and you lose your life, with the lives of your household.” 26 The children of Dan went their way; and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house. 27 They took that which Micah had made, and the priest whom he had, and came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword; then they burned the city with fire. 28 There was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone else; and it was in the valley that lies by Beth Rehob. They built the city and lived in it. 29 They called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel; however the name of the city used to be Laish. 30 The children of Dan set up for themselves the engraved image; and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of [Moses],^{(DSS)(mss)(LXX)} and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land. 31 So they set up for themselves Micah’s engraved image which he made, and it remained all the time that God’s house was in Shiloh.

Jewish Interpolation of the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, Dan 2:27 (A)

At the time of Moses, Dan is represented as one of the larger tribes of the sons of Israel, and as numbering 62,700 men of twenty years of age and upward (cf. Numbers 1:39; Numbers 2:25-26). Somewhat later, the number in the tribe of Dan is given as 64,400 (cf. Numbers 26:42-43). – https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/4866-dan

2:27 [Nevertheless, Dan prophesied unto them that they should forget their God, and should be alienated from the land of their inheritance and from the race of Israel, and from the family of their seed.]

Apart from Christian interpolations, these Testaments [of the Twelve Patriarchs] are Jewish documents, originally written in Aramaic or Hebrew; and in the genizah of old Cairo, fragments of the original Semitic text have been discovered by M. Gaster, H. L. Pass, and A. Cowley. Dr. Gaster’s Hebrew fragment (“Proc. Soc. Bibl. Arch.” vol. xii.) answers to a part of Naphtali; but it is probably a late Jewish paraphrase of an older Aramaic text. The other fragments are Aramaic, and closer to the Greek text. They belong together and answer to parts of Levi. Pass, assisted by J. Arendzen, published his fragment in “J. Q. R.” (iii. 651-661). Cowley’s awaits publication. An old Syriac fragment (noticed by Sinker) in Brit. Mus. Codex Add. 17,193 (of the year 874) is nearly identical verbally with the Aramaic fragment. These discoveries confirm the previous conjectures of such scholars as Grabe, Kayser, Schürer, and Schnapp, and explain the many Semitisms of the Greek text. They prove that the latter is a paraphrase of an old Aramaic midrash, interpolated by generations of Christians.

Related Additional Readings​

Sirach, or Wisdom of Sirach, and also known as the Book of Ecclesiasticus (abbreviated Ecclus.) or Ben Sira, is a work of ethical teachings, from approximately 200 to 175 B.C., written by the Jewish scribe Ben Sira of Jerusalem, on the inspiration of his father Joshua son of Sirach, sometimes called Jesus son of Sirach or Yeshua ben Eliezer ben Sira. The Sirach was almost completely uncovered in Hebrew in the Dead Sea Scrolls, at Masada, and the Cairo Geniza. The multiplicity of manuscript fragments uncovered in the Cairo Genizah evidence its authoritative status among Egyptian Jewry until the Middle Ages. Quotes from Sirach can be found in Rabbinic literature in multiple places  including the Talmud in Bava Kamma 92b:13 and Hagigah 13a:2. Additionally, the Gospels and other Apostolic Scriptures quote from the Book of Sirach including the Song of Miriam in Luke 1:52 (cf. Sirach 10:14); the description of the seed in Mark 4:5, 16–17 (cf. Sirach 40:15); the statement by Yeshua in Matthew 7:16,20 (cf. Sirach 27:6); and Ya’aqov (James) 1:19 (cf. Sirach 5:11).

44:1 Let us now praise famous men, And our fathers that became the father of us. 2 The Lord created in them great glory, Even his mighty power from the beginning. 3 Such as did bear rule in their reigns, And were men renowned for their power, They will take counsel by their understanding, Such as have brought tidings in prophecies: 4 Leaders of the people by their counsels, And by their understanding men of learning for the people; Wise were their words in their instruction: 5 Such as sought out musical tunes, And set forth verses in writing: 6 Rich men furnished with ability, Living peaceably in their habitations: 7 All these were honored in their generations, And were a glory in their days. 8 There be of them, that have left a name behind them, To declare their praises. 9 And some there be, which have no memorial; Who are perished as though they had not been, And are become as though they had not been born; And their children after them. 10 But these were men of mercy, Whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten. 11 With their seed will remain continually a good inheritance; Their children are within their covenants. 12 Their seed stands fast, And their children for their sakes. 13 Their seed will remain forever, And their glory will not be blotted out. 14 Their bodies were buried in peace, And their name lives to all generations. 15 Peoples will declare their wisdom, And the congregation tells out their praise. 16 Enoch pleased the Lord, and was translated, Being an example of repentance to all generations. 17 Noaḥ was found perfect and righteous; In the season of wrath he was taken in exchange for the world; Therefore was there left a remnant to the land, When the flood came. 18 Everlasting covenants were made with him, That all flesh should no more be blotted out by a flood. 19 Abraham was a great father of a multitude of nations; And there was none found like him in glory; 20 Who kept the Torah of the Most High, And was taken into covenant with him: In his flesh he established the covenant; And when he was proved, he was found faithful. 21 Therefore he assured him by an oath, That the nations should be blessed in his seed; That he would multiply him as the dust of the land, And exalt his seed as the stars, And cause them to inherit from sea to sea, And from the River to the utmost part of the land. 22 In Isaac also did he establish likewise, for Abraham his father’s sake, The blessing of all men, and the covenant: 23 And he made it rest upon the head of Jacob; He acknowledged him in his blessings, And gave to him by inheritance, And divided his portions; Among twelve tribes did he part them.

The Wisdom of Solomon or Book of Wisdom is a Jewish work, written in Greek, and most likely composed in Alexandria, Egypt. Generally dated to the mid first century B.C. It is uncertain whether the book has a single author or comes from a school of writers, but recent scholarship has favored regarding it as a unified work. Fragments of the Wisdom of Solomon were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls in the first discovered and excavated cave at Qumran in 1949.

3:1 But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of Elohim, and no torment will touch them. 2 In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died. Their departure was considered affliction, 3 and their travel away from us ruin, but they are in peace. 4 For even if in the sight of men they are punished, their hope is full of immortality. 5 Having borne a little chastening, they will receive great good; because Elohim tested them, and found them worthy of himself. 6 He tested them like gold in the furnace, and he accepted them as a whole burnt offering. 7 In the time of their inspection they will shine. They will run back and forth like sparks among stubble. 8 They will judge nations and have dominion over peoples. The Lord will reign over them forever. 9 Those who trust him will understand truth. The faithful will live with him in love, because grace and mercy are with his chosen ones. 10 But the impious will be punished even as they reasoned, those who neglected righteousness and revolted from the Lord; 11 for he who despises wisdom and discipline is miserable. Their hope is void and their toils unprofitable. Their works are useless. 12 Their wives are foolish and their children are wicked. 13 Their descendants are cursed, because the barren woman who is undefiled is happy, she who has not conceived in transgression. She will have fruit in the inspection of souls. 14 So is the eunuch which has done no lawless deed with his hands, nor imagined wicked things against the Lord; for a precious gift will be given to him for his faithfulness, a special favor, and a delightful inheritance in the Lord’s sanctuary. 15 For good labors have fruit of great renown. The root of understanding can’t fail. 16 But children of adulterers will not come to maturity. The seed of an unlawful bed will vanish away. 17 For if they live long, they will not be esteemed, and in the end, their old age will be without honor. 18 If they die quickly, they will have no hope, nor consolation in the day of decision. 19 For the end of an unrighteous generation is always grievous.

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.).

3.12.4. Now when this settlement of laws seemed to be well over, Moses thought fit at length to take a review of the host, as thinking it proper to settle the affairs of war. So he charged the heads of the tribes, excepting the tribe of Levi, to take an exact account of the number of those that were able to go to war; for as to the Levites, they were holy, and free from all such burdens. Now when the people had been numbered, there were found six hundred thousand that were able to go to war, from twenty to fifty years of age, besides three thousand six hundred and fifty. Instead of Levi, Moses took Manasseh, the son of Joseph, among the heads of tribes; and Ephraim instead of Joseph. It was indeed the desire of Jacob himself to Joseph, that he would give him his sons to be his own by adoption, as I have before related.

3.12.5. When they set up the tabernacle, they received it into the midst of their camp, three of the tribes pitching their tents on each side of it; and roads were cut through the midst of these tents. It was like a well-appointed market; and every thing was there ready for sale in due order; and all sorts of artificers were in the shops; and it resembled nothing so much as a city that sometimes was movable, and sometimes fixed. The priests had the first places about the tabernacle; then the Levites, who, because their whole multitude was reckoned from thirty days old, were twenty-three thousand eight hundred and eighty males; and during the time that the cloud stood over the tabernacle, they thought proper to stay in the same place, as supposing that Elohim there inhabited among them; but when that removed, they journeyed also.