GENESIS 1

Chapters 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

The Creation

3 Then Elohim said, “There should be light,” and there was light. 4 Elohim saw that the light was good. And Elohim separated the light from the darkness. 5 Elohim called the light “day”, and the darkness He called “Night”. There was evening and there was morning, the first day.

6 “Elohim said, “There should be an expanse of atmosphere supporting water above it [3], and it should separate the water above from the water on the surface. 7 Elohim made the expanse and divided the water under the expanse from the water that was above the expanse. And it was so. 8 Elohim called the expanse “sky”. There was evening and there was morning, a second day.

9 Then Elohim said, “The water under the sky should be gathered together into one place, and dry land should appear.” And it was so. 10 Elohim called the dry land “earth”, and the water that was gathered together He called “seas”. And Elohim saw that it was good. 11 Elohim said, “The earth should produce vegetation, plants yielding seeds, and fruit trees bearing fruit with seeds in them, each within their 'species' on the earth,”. And it was so. 12 The earth produced vegetation, plants with seeds within their species, and trees bearing fruit, all of them containing seeds, within their 'species'. And Elohim saw that it was good. 13 There was evening and there was morning, a third day.

14 Then Elohim said, “There should be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They’ll signal 'Appointed Festivals', days and years. 15 They’ll serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light for the earth.” And it was so. 16 Elohim made the two great lights—the greater light to dominate the day, and the lesser light to dominate the night. He also made the stars. [4] 17 Elohim set them in the expanse of sky to provide light for the earth, 18 to regulate the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. Elohim (God) saw that it was good. 19 There was evening, then morning, a fourth day.

20 Elohim said, “The water should swarm with swarms of living creatures, and birds should fly above the earth in the open expanse of sky. 21 Elohim created the huge dragons * and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water 'self replicating' the same kind, and every winged bird after its kind. And Elohim saw that it was good. 22 Elohim blessed them, and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the water in the seas, and birds should multiply on the earth. 23 There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.

24 Then Elohim said, “The earth should produce living creatures 'self replicating' the same kind, livestock, creeping things and animals of the earth 'self replicating' the same kind,” And it was so. 25 Elohim made the animals of the earth 'self replicating' the same kind, and the livestock 'self replicating' the same kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. And Elohim saw that it was good. 26 Then Elohim said, “We should make mankind to resemble Us, similar to Us, and give them dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds in the sky, and the domestic animals all over the earth, and over every creature that walks and moves the earth. 27 So Elohim created mankind in His own image. In the image of Elohim He created them; He created them male and female. 28 Elohim blessed them. And Elohim told them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. Manage the fish of the sea, the birds in the sky, and every living thing that moves on the earth. 29 Then Elohim said, “I’ve given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth, and every tree with seeds in the fruit [angiosperms]. That will be your food. 30 To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky and everything that creeps on the earth—every living thing—I’ve given them all green herbs for food,” and it was so. 31 Elohim looked at everything He had made and saw that it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

[1] The Hebrew word usually rendered “God” is “Elohim.” After every use of Elohim (over 7000 times) the Hebrew has the two letters “Aleph Tav” (the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, sort of like Alpha and Omega) as a grammatical marker. The word “God” came from paganism, as even this “so what” link explains, as has many other theological terms such as theology, amen, church, glory, holy, sacred, saint, sanctuary, and even sacrifice. There is also an Enlarged Bet in verse 1.

[2] An amazing hidden surprise!

[3] There seems to have been a protective shield of water surrounding the planet, thought to be pre-flood.

[4] “The Literal Interpretation of the Genesis One Creation Account”. The literal case made for long days!

GENESIS 2

The Sabbath Rest

4 This is the historical account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, at the time when Yehovah Elohim made the earth and the heavens. [Small Hey] 5 before any plants appeared on the earth, no plants had even sprouted—before Yehovah Elohim caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no one to tend the land, 6 a mist went up from the earth, and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7 Yehovah Elohim formed man from the fine dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and he became a living being [soul]. 8 Yehovah Elohim planted a garden toward in Eden, the east, and there He put the man He had formed. 9 Out of the ground Yehovah Elohim caused every tree to grow that is pleasant to see, and good for food; the tree of life was also in the middle of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

10 A river flowed thru Eden and watered the garden, and from there it separated into the headwaters of four rivers. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon. It flowed thru the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 and the gold of that land is good. There is bdellium and onyx are also there. 13 The second river is named Gihon. It meanders thru the entire land of Cush. 14 The third river is named Tigris. It flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

15 Yehovah Elohim took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden [1] to guard it and to tend it. 16 Yehovah Elohim commanded him, “You can freely eat from any tree in the garden, 17 but you must not eat fruit from of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because in the day that you eat from it you are sure to die.”

18 Yehovah Elohim said, “It isn’t good for the man to be alone, so I’ll make him a companion suitable for him. 19 Out of the ground Yehovah Elohim formed all the ‘wild’ animals, and all the birds in the air, and brought them to the man to see what the man would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock, all the birds in the air, and to every 'wild' animal [2], but Adam didn’t find a helper suitable for him. 21 So Yehovah Elohim caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, He took part of [3] his side, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then Yehovah Elohim made a woman from the part taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh [not just bone]. She’ll be called ‘woman’, because she was taken from man. 24 This is why a man leaves his father and mother, and unites with his wife and they will become one flesh. 25 The man and his wife were both naked and were not embarrassed.

[1] Where was the Garden in Eden? Is there a place on earth that will return to an Edenic paradise? Yes: Ezekiel 36:35. And wasn’t the Tree of Life in Eden? Where will the Paradise be located where the unchanging Elohim will choose to return the Tree of Life to? See: Revelation 2:7 & 22:14 (Thanks B)

[2] “Of all the species of beasts and flying creatures that had already been created and had spread over the face of the earth and the firmament of the heavens, [Yehovah] now formed particular specimens for the purpose of presenting them all before man in the midst of the Garden.”—Cassuto

[3] This is the only place of 41 usages where translators chose to insert rib.

GENESIS 3

The Test

8 They heard the voice of Yehovah Elohim [the pre incarnate Yeshua] as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yehovah Elohim among the trees of the garden. 9 Yehovah Elohim called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 The man said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid. 11 Elohim asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man replied, “The woman who You gave me gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it. 13 Then Yehovah Elohim asked the woman, “What have you done?” The woman said, “The shining one deceived me, and I ate.

14 Yehovah Elohim told the shining one, “Because you’ve done this, you are cursed above all livestock, and above every 'wild' animal. You’ll crawl on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. 15 I’ll put hostility between you and the woman, and between your 'offspring' and her 'offspring'. He will 'crush' your head, and you will bite his heel. CHAPTER 3:16 To the woman He said, “The one who ambushed you [Satan] has multiplied your sorrow and in that same sorrow you will raise children. So if you turn to your husband [instead of Yehovah] he will rule over you!--> 16 Then he said to the woman, “I will sharply increase your pain during pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. Your desire will be for your husband [instead of Yehovah], and he will rule over you!” 17 Then He said to Adam, “Because you listened to your wife, and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed [commentary] because of you. In toil you’ll eat from it all the days of your life. 18 [Outside of the garden] it will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you’ll eat the herbs in the fields [1] 19 By the sweat of your brow you’ll eat your food until you return to the ground, because you were taken from dust, and you’ll return to dust.”

20 The man named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all the living. 21 Yehovah Elohim made coats from animal skins for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 Then Yehovah Elohim said, “The man has become like one of Us knowing good and evil, He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take from the tree of life and eat and continue to live forever”! 23 So Yehovah Elohim banished him from of the garden of Eden, to work the ground that he was taken from. 24 So He drove the man out, and He placed Cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden wielding flaming swords that flashed every direction, to guard the way to the tree of life.

[1] It appears that fruit tree culture and development after Eden was slow to catch on, with wild gathering and annual crops the norm. Tree gardens (advanced forest farming) is finally about to make a long overdue re-emergence!

GENESIS 4

Cain and Abel

9 Later, Yehovah asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s handler?” 10 Yehovah said, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood is crying out to Me from the ground! 11 Now you are cursed and ousted from the ground that has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 From now on, when you work the ground, it won’t yield its bounty for you. You’ll be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth. 13 Cain said to Yehovah, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 You’ve forced me off the land today. I’ll be hidden from Your 'presence', and I’ll be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth. Anyone who finds me will kill me. 15 Yehovah told him, “If anyone kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him seven times more. Yehovah put a mark on Cain so that no one finding him would strike him dead. 16 Cain left Yehovah’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

17 Cain had relations with his wife and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. 'Cain' built a city and named the city after his son Enoch. 18 Irad was born to Enoch. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech. 19 Lamech married two women, one was named Adah, and the other was Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the 'first nomad' to live in tents and raise livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal, who was the 'first musician' to play harps and pipes. 22 Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, who made all kinds of bronze and iron tools. Tubal Cain’s sister was Naamah. 23 Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, listen to 'me'; wives of Lamech, listen to what I say. I killed a man who attacked me, a young man who wounded me. 24 If Cain will be avenged seven times over, truly Lamech’s killer seventy-seven times.

25 Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, “because Elohim has given me another child in place of Abel, because Cain killed him.” 26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began calling on Yehovah by name.

GENESIS 5

Adam’s Family History

GENESIS 6

Elohim’s Sons and Daughters of Men

5 Yehovah saw that human wickedness had proliferated on earth, and that their every thought was invariably evil. 6 Yehovah was sorry that he had made mankind on the earth, and He was deeply grieved. 7 Yehovah said, “I’ll wipe humanity that I’ve created from the surface of the earth, people, animals, creeping things and birds from the air, because I regret that I made them. 8 But Noah found favor in Yehovah’s 'sight'.

9 This is Noah’s 'family history'. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah 'lived' with Elohim. 10 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. 11 The earth was corrupt in Elohim’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 Elohim saw that the earth was corrupt, because everyone on earth was corrupt.

13 Elohim said to Noah, “The end of all 'humanity' has come before Me, because the earth is filled with violence because of them. I’ll destroy them with the earth! 14 Make an ark of cypress wood. You must make rooms in the ark, and seal them inside and out with tar. 15 This is how you are to make it. The length of the ark will be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 Make a window around the top of the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top. Put a door in the side of the ark. Make it with lower, middle and upper decks. 17 I am going to bring a flood on the earth to destroy every living thing that breathes under the sky. Everything on earth will die. 18 But I’ll establish My covenant with you. You’ll go into the ark together with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives. 19 Bring a pair of every kind of animal—a male and a female—into the ark with you to keep them alive. 20 Of each kind of bird, each kind of livestock and each kind of every creature that crawls on the ground—a pair from each will go in with you to stay alive. 21 Gather some from every kind of edible food and store it as food for you and for them.” 22 So Noah did everything that Elohim commanded him to do.

[1] Very few individuals live to be 120 years of age, and the context does not really indicate a life span conversation, but 120 Jubilee years would cover exactly 6,000 years—as I see it ending in Jubilee 2028 when His “spirit will no longer tolerate striving with men”.

GENESIS 7

The Great Flood

10 Seven days later the flooding of the earth began. 11 During the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month, that was the day when all the springs of the great depths [subterranean waters] burst open, and the floodgates of the skies were opened.[1] 12 It continued to rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights. 13 On that commemorative day Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, along with his wife and the wives of his three sons entered the ark, 14 they, and every kind of animal, all kinds of livestock, every kind of terrestrial crawling creature, every kind of bird and anything else with wings. 15 They entered the ark with Noah by pairs—every kind of living 'creature' with the breath of life. 16 The males and females of each living 'creature' entered the ark as Elohim commanded them, and Yehovah shut them in. 17 The flood continued for forty days on the earth, and as the water rose it lifted the ark so that it floated high above the land surface. 18 The flood water 'surged' and deluged the earth, while the ark floated on the surface of the water. 19 The water surged even higher over the earth until all the high mountains everywhere under the whole sky were covered. 20 The mountains were covered as the water surged fifteen cubits above them.

21 Every 'living thing' on earth died including birds, livestock, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all the people! 22 Every 'breathing creature'—everything that had lived on dry land died. 23 Every living thing on the surface of the land was destroyed, from people to animals, crawling creatures to birds in the sky were wiped off the land. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark. 24 The flood water surged over the earth for one hundred and fifty days.

[1] How many years did it take Noah to build the ark?(Hints: Genesis 5:32; 6:13-21; 7:6) Could that be the number of years prior to the end that the die is cast and the end of the age is inevitable, and no amount of prayer can stop it? Luke 17:26-27

GENESIS 8

The Flood Recedes

15 Then Elohim said to Noah: 16 “Leave the the ark, you and your wife, your sons, and your sons’ wives with you. 17 Release all the animals—birds, livestock, and everything that scurries along the ground—so they can be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” 18 So Noah came out along with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. 19 Every animal, every scurrying thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth went out by their 'families' from the ark.

20 Noah built an altar to Yehovah, and took some of every clean animal and every clean bird and offered burned offerings on the altar. 21 Yehovah smelled the pleasing aroma. Yehovah told Himself, “I’ll never again curse the ground because of human beings since their thoughts are evil from their youth, and I will never again destroy every living thing as I’ve done. 22 As long as the earth exists, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.

GENESIS 9

The Rainbow Covenant

8 Elohim spoke to Noah and to his sons who were with him, 9 “I am now establishing My covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that accompanied you, the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals of the earth leaving the ark with you, every animal on earth. 11 I confirm My covenant with you: I will never again destroy all living things by a flood; never again will a flood destroy the earth.”

12 Elohim said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I’m making between Me and you and every living creature that’s with you for PERPETUAL GENERATIONS! [1] 13 I have placed my rainbow in the clouds; and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and a rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I’ll remember My covenant between Me and you and every living creature 'made of' flesh. Never again will the flood water destroy all life. 16 When a rainbow appears in the clouds, I’ll see it and remember the everlasting covenant between Elohim and every living creature of every 'kind' that is on the earth.” 17 Elohim said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I’ve established between Me and all the flesh on earth.

18 Noah’s sons who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan. 19 These three were Noah’s sons, and from them the whole earth was populated.

20 Noah began farming and planted a vineyard. 21 He drank some of the wine and got drunk and lay naked in his tent. 22 Ham, Canaan’s father, saw his naked father and told his two brothers outside. 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a robe and held it over their shoulders, and backed into the tent to cover their naked father. As they did this, they looked the other way so they would not see see their father’s nakedness 24 When Noah awoke from his wine, he discovered what his youngest son had done to him. 25 He said, “Canaan is cursed. He’ll be the lowest of servants to his relatives. 26 He also said, “Blessed be Yehovah, the Elohim of Shem. May Canaan be his servant. 27 May Elohim expand the territory of Japheth! May Japheth share the prosperity of Shem, and may Canaan be his servant.”

28 Noah lived another 350 years after the flood. 29 In all, Noah lived 950 years and then he died.

[1] The word for “Perpetual” in Hebrew is “olam”. In this context it means for ages into the future (but not the past): forever or in perpetuity. So “PERPETUAL GENERATIONS” apparemntly means that the human race could continue FOREVER! Yehovah could be reproducing sons and daughters FOREVER! Deuteronomy 7:9 seemingly limits perpetuity to only “a thousand generations” (50,000+ years), but generations could imply periods or ages.

GENESIS 10

The Table of Nations

2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech and Tiras. 3 The descendants of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah. 4 The descendants of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim. 5 From these the maritime nations separated into their lands, each clan and nation separated by distinct languages.

6 The descendants of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put and Canaan. 7 The descendants of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. 8 Cush was the father of Nimrod. He became a mighty one on earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter in Yehovah’s face. So it’s said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter in Yehovah’s face. 10 His kingdom started with Babel, Erech, Accad and Calneh in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went into Assyria, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah 12 and Resen (the great city between Nineveh and Calah). 13 Mizraim was the ancestor of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 14 Pathrusim, Casluhim (the Philistines came from them) and Caphtorim. 15 Canaan’s oldest son was Sidon, the ancestor of the Sidonians, the Hittites 16 the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, 17 the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, 18 the Arvadites, the Zemarites and the Hamathites. Afterward the clans of the Canaanites were spread abroad. 19 The territory of the Canaanites 'extended' from Sidon toward Gerar, to Gaza, then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 20 These were the descendants of Ham by their clans and languages, lands and nations.

21 Children were also born to Shem, whose older brother was Japheth. Shem was the ancestor of all the sons of Eber. 22 The descendants of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud and Aram. 23 The sons of Aram were Uz and Hul and Gether and Mash. 24 Arpachshad was the father of Shelah; and Shelah was the father of Eber. 25 Two sons were born to Eber. One was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided. His brother’s name was Joktan. 26 Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were Joktan’s sons. 30 Their settlements extended from Mesha toward Sephar, all the way to Sephar in the eastern hill country. 31 These are the descendants of Shem arranged by clans, languages, territories and nations.

32 These are the clans of Noah’s sons arranged by nations. From them the earth’s nations branched out after the flood.

GENESIS 11

The Tower of Babel

10 This is the 'family history' of Shem. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, his son Arphaxad was born.

Shem’s descendants

27 This is the genealogy of Terah. Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. Haran was the father of Lot. 28 Haran died during the lifetime of his father Terah in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans. 29 Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milkah. She was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of Milcah and Iscah. 30 Sarai was unable to become pregnant and have children. 31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran’s son), and his daughter-in-law Sarai (Abram’s wife) and moved out of Ur of the Chaldeans. He intended to go to the land of Canaan, but they stopped at Haran and settled there.

[1] Yehovah stopped the building project and He scattered humanity all over the globe, but they never forgot the notion of going to heaven. The ancient Greeks and Romans strongly perpetuated the old Babylonian goal in their detailed version: The Elysian Fields, while Valhalla, “the hall of the slain” is the version from Norse, German and Scandinavian mythology. It was said to be an enormous hall located in Asgard. Nirvana is from Buddhism. Their version is a place of perfect peace and happiness. The American Indians had their Happy Hunting Grounds. The Greek and Roman mythologies soon found a home in Christianity. The Biblical concept of New Jerusalem coming to us and the righteous inheriting the earth soon lost out to the pagan concept of souls wafting off to heaven. Another 180 degree turn!

GENESIS 12

Abram Travels to Egypt

10 When a famine struck the land, Abram went down to Egypt to live as a foreigner there since the famine was so severe in the land. 11 Just as they were approaching Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This woman is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but they will keep you alive. 13 Please say you’re my sister so that things will go well with me for your sake, and so that I can survive because of you. 14 When Abram got to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that 'Sarah' was very beautiful. 15 Pharaoh’s officials saw her and commended her to Pharaoh, and they took 'Sarai' into Pharaoh’s palace. 16 'Pharaoh' treated Abram well for her sake; and 'gave' him sheep and oxen and donkeys and male and female servants and female donkeys and camels. 17 But Yehovah plagued Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18 So Pharaoh sent for Abram and asked, “What’s this you’ve done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, “She is my sister’, so that I made her my wife? Now here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20 Pharaoh gave his men orders about Abram, and they sent him away with his wife and everything he owned.

GENESIS 13

Abram and Lot Separate

1 So Abram left Egypt and traveled into the Negev, he and his wife with everything he had, and Lot with him.

2 Abram was very rich in livestock, silver and in gold. 3 From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, and they pitched their tents between Bethel and Ai, where they had camped before, 4 and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on Yehovah by name. 5 Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks, herds and tents. 6 The land wasn’t able to sustain them while they lived together, because their 'flocks and herds were so numerous', that they weren’t able to remain together. 7 So disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at the time. 8 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or between my herdsmen and your herdsmen since we’re relatives. 9 The whole countryside is open to you. Let’s part company; if you go to the left, then I’ll go to the right; or if you go to the right, then I’ll go to the left.” 10 Lot 'looked up' and saw that the Jordan Valley was well-watered everywhere, like the garden of Yehovah, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar. (This was before Yehovah destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose the entire Jordan Valley for himself, and Lot traveled east, and they separated from each other. 12 Abram 'settled' in the land of Canaan, while Lot 'settled' in the cities in the Jordan Valley, and moved his tents near Sodom. 13 The men of Sodom were extremely wicked, constantly sinning against Yehovah.

14 Yehovah told Abram, after Lot had left him, “Look 'all around' from the location where you are—north, south, east and west. 15 because I’m giving all the land that you see to you and your descendants forever 16 I’ll make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can count the dust particles of the earth, then your descendants can also can be counted. 17 Get up, walk thru the length and breadth of the land, because I’ll give it to you. 18 So Abram moved his tent and went to live by the oaks of Mamre in Hebron, and built an altar to Yehovah there.

GENESIS 14

Abram Rescues Lot

8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim and the king of Bela (also called Zoar) went out and lined up for battle in the Valley of Siddim 9 against King Kedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Shinar, and King Arioch of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10 There were many tar pits in the Valley of Siddim, and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell 'into them', and the rest fled into the hill country. 11 They took everything from Sodom and Gomorrah, including their food, and left. 12 They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and everything he owned since he was living in Sodom.

13 When a survivor arrived, he told Abram the Hebrew, who lived near the oaks of the Amorite Mamre, the Amorites, brother of Eshcol and Aner, who were Abram’s allies. 14 When Abram heard that his 'nephew Lot' had been captured, he called out his 318 trained men who had been born in his household, and pursued them as far as Dan. 15 He divided 'his men' into groups one night and defeated them. Kedorlaomer’s army fled, but Abram chased them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his nephew Lot and his property with all the women and other captives.

17 After 'Abram' returned from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Shaveh Valley (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 King Melchizedek [1] of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of the Supreme Elohim. 19 He blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by the Supreme Elohim, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And praise the Supreme Elohim, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. Then 'Abram' gave 'Melchizedek' a tenth of everything. [2] 21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself. 22 Abram told the king of Sodom, “I’ve raised up my hand in an oath to Yehovah, Elohim Supreme, possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I won’t take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, otherwise you could say, ‘I’ve made Abram rich.’ 24 I’ll accept nothing from you other than what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. They can take their share.

[1] There is a fascinating matrix (acrostic) about the identity of Melchizedek here. I do take exception to “A lamb of Tishri” meaning that Yeshua was born in the month of Tishr, since I don’t believe that is the case. He was born on the first day of Aviv, New Year’s Day in the spring. Of far more relevance tho is His return on Tishri 1, the Feast of Trumpets. John is the only apostle to have called Him the “Lamb”, capital “L”, twice in John historically and twenty-eight times in Revelation, mostly in reference to the living Lamb who will be conquering the world—prophecy not history.

[2] The Hebrew says 'he' and 'Him'. Compare with Hebrews 7:2.

GENESIS 15

Abram Promised a Son

7 “He told him, “I am Yehovah who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to own. 8 'Abram' said, “Sovereign Yehovah, how can I know that I’ll own it?” 9 He told him, “Bring me a three year old heifer, a three year old female goat, a three year old ram, a turtledove and a young pigeon. 10 He brought him all of these and cut them down the middle, and laid each half opposite the other, but he didn’t cut the birds. 11 Some birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram chased them away. 12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly a great terror and darkness descended on him. 13 Then 'Yehovah' said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, and be oppressed as slaves for four hundred years. 14 I’ll also judge the nation that enslaves them, afterward 'your descendants' will come out with great wealth. 15 But you’ll go to your ancestors in peace; you’ll be buried at a good old age. 16 Then in the fourth generation they’ll return here, since the wickedness of the Amorites hasn’t fully developed.

17 After sunset and it was dark, a smoking firepot and a blazing torch passed between the pieces. 18 On that same day Yehovah made a COVENANT with Abram and said, “I have given this land to your descendants, from the river of Egypt to the great Euphrates River: 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”

GENESIS 16

Abram, Sarai and Hagar

7 “The Messenger of Yehovah found her near a spring in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. 8 He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where did you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai. 9 The Messenger of Yehovah said to her, “Go back to your mistress, and submit to her authority. 10 The Messenger of Yehovah told her, “I’ll greatly multiply your descendants, so that they will be beyond counting. 11 The Messenger of Yehovah told her, “You are pregnant, and will give birth to a son! You’ll name him Ishmael [he became Father of the Arabs], because Yehovah has heard your distress. 12 He’ll be like a wild ass of a man. His fist will be against everyone, and everyone’s fist will be against him. He’ll live in hostility toward all his brothers. 13 And she called Yehovah who spake to her by name, “You are the Elohim who revealed Himself,” for she said, “I have just stayed alive after seeing Him!” 14 So the well was called Beer Lahai Roi. It’s between Kadesh and Bered! 15 Hagar gave birth to Abram’s son. Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son who Hagar bore. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

GENESIS 17

The Covenant of Circumcision

9 “Elohim said to Abraham, “Your responsibility is to preserve My covenant, you and your descendants after you thruout their generations. 10 This is the covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, that you are to preserve: Every male among you is to be circumcised. 11 You must be circumcised. It will be a token of the covenant between Me and you. 12 Every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised thruout your generations, including servants, whether 'they’re' born in your house or purchased with silver from a foreigner who’s not 'related' to you. 13 A servant who is born in your house or purchased with your silver must be circumcised; so My covenant will be evident in your flesh as an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who isn’t circumcised must be removed from his people. He has broken My covenant.

15 Then Elohim said to Abraham, “As for your wife Sarai, you are no longer to call her Sarai, her name is to be Sarah [Princess]. 16 I’ll bless her, and furthermore I’ll give you a son by her. Yes, I’ll bless her, and she’ll be the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be descended from her. 17 Then Abraham fell facedown and laughed and thought to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Could Sarah bear a child at ninety years old?” 18 Abraham said to Elohim, “Why not have Ishmael live in Your sight!” 19 Elohim said, “No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac [laugher]. I’ll 'extend' My covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant. 20 As for Ishmael, I’ve heard you. I’ll blessed him, and make him fruitful, and greatly multiply his descendants. He’ll become the father of twelve tribal leaders, and I’ll make him into a great nation! 21 But I will confirm My covenant with Isaac. Sarah will give birth to him at this appointed time next year. 22 When he finished talking with him, Elohim ascended from Abraham.

23 Then Abraham took his son Ishmael, everyone born in his househouse, and everyone bought with his silver, every male among the men of Abraham’s household, and circumcised on that commemorative day, as Elohim had told him. 24 His son Ishmael was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised. 25 Ishmael, his son, was thirteen years old when he was circumcised. 26 On the very same commemorative day Abraham was circumcised, as well as his son Ishmael. 27 All the men of his household, whether born in his household or bought with silver from a foreigner, were circumcised along with him.

GENESIS 18

The Creation

9 “They asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He said, “She’s in the tent. 10 He said, “I’ll certainly return to you this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son! Sarah was listening by the tent door behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, “After I and my master have grown old, will I now have this pleasure?” 13 Yehovah asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and ask, ‘Will I really have a child when I’m so old?rsquo; 14 Is anything too difficult for Yehovah? At the appointed time next year I’ll return to you, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Sarah was afraid and denied that she had laughed. But He said, “No, you did laugh.”

16 “Then the 'men' got up from ‘the meal’, and looked out toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to send them off. 17 Yehovah asked, “Should I hide what I am about to do from Abraham? 18 since Abraham will certainly become an important and populous nation, and every nation on earth will be blessed thru him? 19 I [the Son] have selected him to command his children and their families after him, to obey the way of Yehovah [the Father], by doing what is right and just, so that Yehovah will bring about for Abraham what He has promised him. 20 Yehovah said, “Because the outcries against Sodom and Gomorrah are so numerous, and because their sin is so very serious, 21 I’m going down now to see if their actions are as bad as the outcries that have come up to Me. If not, I will know.” 23 Abraham approached Him and asked, “Would you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Would you still sweep them away without sparing the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who live there? 25 Be it far from You to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous like the wicked. Far be it from You. Shouldn’t the Judge of the entire world be just?” 26 Yehovah said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, then I’ll spare the entire region for their sake. 27 Abraham answered, “Consider now, since I’ve taken it on myself to speak to Yehovah*, tho I’m only dust and ashes. 28 What if there are only five short of the fifty righteous? Would you destroy the entire city for lack of five?” He said, “I won’t destroy it, if I find forty-five there. 29 Abraham spoke to Him again and proposed, “Suppose only forty are found there.” And He said, “I won’t do it for the sake of the forty.” 30 Then he said, “Yehovah, please don’t be angry, but I must ask further. What if only thirty can be found there?” He said, “I won’t do it if I find thirty there. 31 Then he said, “Since I have ventured to speak to Yehovah, suppose twenty are found there?” He replied, “I won’t destroy it for twenty’s sake. 32Then he said, 'Please' don’t be angry if I speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He replied, “I won’t destroy it for the sake of ten.” 33 As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham, Yehovah [1] left, and Abraham returned home.

[1] One of the two Messengers in chapters 18 and 19 was the pre incarnate Yeshua, who was also called Yehovah (Yehovah). See I and My Father are ONE, Part 2.

GENESIS 19

Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed

12 “The two ’men’ asked Lot “Do you have anyone else here-sons-in-law, sons, daughters, any other 'family' in the city. Get them out of here 13 because we’re about to destroy this place. The outcry to Yehovah against them has become so great that Yehovah has sent us to destroy it.” 14 Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters and said, “Get up! Hurry and leave this place, because Yehovah is about to destroy the city.” But his sons-in-law didn’t take it seriously. 15 When morning dawned, the Messengers became insistent with Lot, saying, &ldquoHurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here,, otherwise you will be destroyed in the 'punishment' of the city.” 16 But he hesitated, so the ’men’ grabbed his hand, and the hands of his wife and his two daughters, and they brought them safely outside the city, because Yehovah was merciful to him. 17 Once they had taken them out, one of them said, “Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you, and don’t stay anywhere on the plain. Escape to the mountain, otherwise you’ll be destroyed!” 18 Lot told them, “Oh no Yehovah [1]! [See Gill’s] 19 Your servant has found favor in Your sight, and You’ve shown magnificent faithful love. in saving my life! But I can’t escape to the mountain. Some disaster would overtake me there and I’d die. 20 There is a village near enough to flee to, it’s very small, isn’t it? Then my life will be spared. 21 He told him, “Very well, I will grant your request too, not to overthrow the city you speak of. 22 Hurry! Escape to it! I can’t do anything until you get there. (That’s why the town was named Zoar.)

23 The sun had risen over the 'horizon' when Lot arrived in Zoar. 24 Then Yehovah [the Son] rained burning sulfur stones on Sodom and on Gomorrah from Yehovah [His Father] out of the sky. 25 He overthrew those towns, the entire valley, all the inhabitants of the towns and every bit of vegetation. 26 But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 27 Abraham got up early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood in Yehovah’s presence. 28 He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and the entire Jordan Valley, and looked, and saw that the smoke from the land was rising like smoke from a furnace. 29 Then when Elohim destroyed the cities of the valley, Elohim remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the upheaval when He overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.

30 Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and moved to the mountains, because he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters stayed in a cave. 31 The older daughter told the younger, “Our father is old, and there isn’t a man on earth [commentary] to sleep with us was the custom of all the earth. 32 Let’s get our father drunk with wine, then we’ll have sex with him, and preserve our father’s 'lineage'.” 33 That night they got their father drunk wine, and the older daughter went in, and lay down with her father, without him noticing when she lay down or got up. 34 The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I lay down with our father. Let’s get him drunk with wine again tonight. Then you go in and lie with him so we can preserve our father’s 'lineage'.” 35 So they made their father drunk with wine again that night. The younger went and lay with him. He was unaware of her lying down or getting up. 36 So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. 37 The older daughter gave birth to a son and named him Moab. He became the ancestor of the Moabites of today. 38 The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi. He became the ancestor of Ammonites of today.

[1] As explained in the link above, this originally said Yehovah. So the pre-incarnate Yeshua has returned. In verses 19-21 Lot asked for the plan to be changed. Had this been a Messenger relenting it would have been insubordination.

GENESIS 20

Sarah Rescued from Abimelech

8 Abimelech got up early in the morning and called all his servants and explained what had happened, and his men were terrified. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham to him and asked him, “What have you done to us? What sin did I commit against you that you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You did things to me that should never be done.” 10 Abimelech asked Abraham, “What were your motives when you did this?” 11 Abraham said, “I thought to myself, ‘No one here reveres Elohim in this place. They’ll kill me to get my wife.’ 12 Besides, she actually is my sister, we both have the same father,but different mothers, and now she’s my wife. 13 Then when Elohim led me wandering from my father’s house, I told her, ‘This is how you can show your love for me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.’” 14 Abimelech took sheep and cattle, male sand female servants and gave them to Abraham, and returned his wife Sarah to him. 15 Abimelech said, “Look at my land before you. Live anywhere you want.” 16 He said to Sarah, “I’ve given your brother a thousand pieces of silver! This will settle any claim against me, and your reputation is cleared before all who are with you.” 17 Abraham prayed to Elohim, and Elohim healed Abimelech and his wife and his female servants, so they could have children. 18 For Yehovah had kept all the women in Abimelek’s household from conceiving because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.

GENESIS 21

Isaac Is Born

8 The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham prepared a huge banquet. 9 But Sarah saw that Hagar the Egyptian’s son who she had borne to Abraham was laughing. 10 So she turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that maid and her son! This maid’s son will never share the inheritance with my son Isaac.” 11 This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was also his son. 12 Elohim said to Abraham, “Don’t be so distressed about the boy and your slave. Whatever Sarah says to you, listen to her, because your descendants will be traced thru Isaac. 13 But I’ll also make 'Hagar’s' son Ishmael a great nation, because he is also your descendant.” 14 So Abraham got up early in the morning and took some bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. She left and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. 15 When the water in the skin was gone, she 'left' the boy under a shrub. 16 Then she went and sat down across from him, about a bow shot away and said, “I can’t bear to watch the boy die!” So she sat across from him and cried loudly. 17 Elohim heard the boy crying, and the Messenger of Elohim called to Hagar out of the sky and asked her, “What’s the matter, Hagar? Don’t be afraid. Elohim has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Get up and help the boy up, and hold him by your hand, because I’m going to make a great nation 'from his descendants'.” 19 Then Elohim opened her eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. 20 Elohim was with the boy, and he grew. He lived in the wilderness, and became an archer. 21 He lived in the Paran desert, and his mother and his mother found a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

22 At that time Abimelek and Phicol, the commander of his army said to Abraham “Elohim is with you in everything you do. 23 So swear to me here before Elohim that you won’t cheat me, my children or my descendants. I’ve been loyal to you, so now swear that you’ll be loyal to me and to this country where you’re an immigrant.” 24 Abraham said, “I swear to it. 25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelek’s servants had seized. 26 But Abimelech said, “I don’t know who did this. You never told me, and I hadn’t heard about it until today.” 27 Abraham took sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech and the two of them made an 'agreement'. 28 Abraham set aside seven ewe lambs from the flock by themselves. 29 Abimelech asked, “Why did you set aside these seven eues from the others?” 30 'Abraham' replied, “Please accept these seven ewes from 'me' as a witness to your agreement that I dug this well.” 31 So the name of that place is Beersheba, because they both swore there. 32 After making their agreement at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army left and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 'Abraham' planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and called on Yehovah by name, the Everlasting Elohim. 34 And Abraham lived as a foreigner in the land of the Philistines 'for a long time'.

GENESIS 22

Abraham Offers Isaac

15 “Then the Messenger of Yehovah called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I’ve sworn by Myself,’ says Yehovah, that because you’ve done this, and haven’t withheld your son, your only son, 17 that I’ll greatly bless you, and I’ll make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will own the gateways of their enemies. 18 All the nations on earth will be blessed by your descendants, because you obeyed 'what I said'.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they all traveled back to Beersheba, where Abraham continued to live.

20 Then afterward, Abraham was told, “Milcah has now given birth to children for your brother Nahor: 21 They are Uz his first son, Buz his brother, Kemuel (the ancestor of the Arameans), 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph and Bethuel.” 23 Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Milcah was the mother of these eight sons, and Nahor, Abraham’s brother, was the father. 24 His concubine’s name was Reumah, and she gave birth to Tebah, Gaham, Tahash and Maacah.

[1] Of the 22 Bible versions I checked (here), only the ISV includes the word “please”, which changes the entire narrative. Isaac was a young man who also had to voluntarily submit to the request of his father, a man well over 100 years of age. This equates to Yeshua voluntarily submitting to His Father’s will on eath.

GENESIS 23

The Death of Sarah

10 Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites at the city gate. Ephron the Hittite responded to Abraham publicly so that the Hittites and everyone at the city gate could hear: 11 “No, my master,” he said to Abraham. “Listen to me. I will give you the field and the cave. I give it to you in the presence of my people Bury your dead.” 12 Again Abraham bowed down before the citizens of the land 13 He spoke to Ephron in the presence of the citizens of the land, saying, “Please listen to me. I will buy it from you. Accept the full price for the field so I can bury my dead there.” 14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “My master, listen to me. What is four hundred shekels of silver between me and you for the land so that you can bury your dead?” 16 So Abraham agreed to Ephron’s price and paid the amount he had mentioned—400 sheckels of silver, in the presence of the Hittites, according to the commercial standard. 17 So Ephron’s field in Machpelah near Mamre—both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the boundaries of the field were deeded over 18 to Abraham as his property in the presence of the Hittites who had come to the city gate. 19 After this, Abraham buried his wife, Sarah, in the cave of the field of Machpelah near Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan. 20 So the field and the cave were deeded over to Abraham for a personal burial place by the Hittites.

GENESIS 24

A Bride for Isaac

10 The servant took ten of his master’s camels, and set out with a variety of his master’s expensive goods and traveled to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. 11 He made the camels kneel down outside the city at the well in the evening and the women were coming out to draw water. 12 He said, “Yehovah, Elohim of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 I’m standing beside this spring and the young women of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a young woman, “Please lower your water jug so that I can drink’, and who responds, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels as well’. May she be the one You’ve chosen for Your servant Isaac. By this I’ll know that You’ve shown kindness to my master.

15 Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor—coming with a jug on her shoulder. 16 The young lady was very beautiful, a virgin, who had never been intimate with any man. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up. 17 Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me have a little water from your jug.” 18 She said, “Drink, my master.” She quickly lowered her jug to her hand, and gave him a drink. 19 When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I’ll also draw water for your camels until they’ve finished drinking. 20 She quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran back to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels.

21 The man gazed at her in silence, to determine whether Yehovah had made his journey successful or not. 22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels in gold, 23 “Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to stay the night?” 24 She replied, “My father is Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor.” 25 She continued, “We have plenty of straw and feed, and room to spend the night” 26 Then the man bowed down and praised Yehovah. 27 He said, “Praise Yehovah, the Elohim of my master Abraham, who hasn’t forsaken His faithful love and His truth toward my master. As for me, Yehovah has led me straight to my master’s relatives.” 28 Then 'Rebekah' ran home to tell her family everything that had happened.

29 Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban who ran out to meet the man at the spring. 30 When he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and when he heard his sister Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels at the spring. 31 He said, “Come in, you blessed of Yehovah. Why are you standing outside since I’ve prepared the house and a place for the camels. 32 The man went into the house, and 'Laban' unloaded the camels. He gave straw and feed to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. 33 Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I won’t eat until I’ve delivered my message. Then 'Laban' said, “Tell us.”.

34 So he said, “I’m Abraham’s servant. 35 Yehovah has greatly blessed my master, He has become 'rich' and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, camels and donkeys. 36 When Sarah, my master’s wife was very old, she gave birth to a son for my master, and he has given him everything he owns. 37 My master made me swear. He said, ‘You must not choose a wife for my son from the Canaanite 'girls', in whose land I’m living. 38 Go instead to my father’s household, and to my relatives, and choose a wife for my son.’ 39 “Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman won’t come back with me?’ 40 He replied, ‘Yehovah, in whose presence I have lived, will send His Messenger with you and will make your journey successful. You must find a wife for my son from my relatives, from my father’s 'family', 41 then you’ll be free of my oath, when you come to my relatives. If they don’t allow her go with you, you’ll be free from my oath.’ 42 Today I came to the spring and said, “Yehovah, Elohim of my master Abraham, if You want to prosper the journey I’m on, 43 when, I’m standing by this spring, may it be that when a virgin comes out to draw water, and I ask her, “Please give me a little water to drink from your pitcher,” 44 and she responds to me, “Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too,” then have her be the woman who Yehovah has selected for my master’s son.’ 45 Before I had finished saying this to myself, I saw Rebekah come out with a jug on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ 46 She hurriedly lowered her jar from her shoulder, and said, “Drink, and I’ll also give your camels a drink too.’ So I drank, and she also gave water to the camels. 47 Then I asked her, “Whose daughter are you?’ She said, “The the daughter of Bethuel, and my 'grandparents' are Nahor and Milcah.’ Then I put a ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms, 48 “Then I bowed and worshiped Yehovah, and blessed Yehovah, the Elohim of my master Abraham, who had guided me directly to my master’s 'niece' to be his son’s wife. 49 Now if You will show kindness and faithfulness with my master, tell me. If not, tell me, so I can know 'which way to turn'.”

50 Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “Yehovah has obviously brought you here, so there is nothing we can say to you 'for or against'. 51 Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her become your master’s son’s wife, as Yehovah has directed! 52 Then when Abraham’s servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before Yehovah. 53 The servant brought silver and gold jewelry, and clothing and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and her mother. 54 He and the men with him ate and drank, and spent the night. When they got up the next morning, 'the servant' said, “Now send me back to my master.” 55 But her brother and her mother said, “Let the young lady stay with us a few days, maybe ten; after that she can go. 56 But he said, “Don’t delay me, since Yehovah has granted success to my journey. Send me away so that I can return to my master.” 57 So they said, “We’ll call 'Rebekah' and ask her what she wants.” 58 They called Rebekah and asked her, “Are you willing to go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” 59 So they sent their sister Rebekah away, along with her nurse with Abraham’s servant and his men. 60 They blessed Rebekah and said to her “Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and may your descendants take possession of the gates of their enemies. 61 Then Rebekah got up with her servant girls on the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah and left.

62 Now Isaac was returning from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. 63 Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening; He 'looked up' and saw that there were camels coming. 64 Rebekah 'looked up' and when she saw Isaac, she jumped down from her camel. 65 She asked the servant, “Who is the man walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master. So she took her veil and covered herself. 66 Then the servant told Isaac everything he had done. 67 Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

GENESIS 25

Abraham’s Death

7 Abraham lived to be 175 years old. 8 Abraham breathed his last and died at a ripe old age, an old man, and full of years, and joined his 'ancestors' in death. 9 Then his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave in Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, son of Zohar the Hittite, near Mamre, 10 the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. 11 After Abraham’s death, Elohim blessed his son Isaac. Isaac lived by Beer Lahai Roi.

12 Now this is the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, who Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maid, had borne to Abraham. 13 These are the names of Ishmael’s sons in their birth order: Nebaioth, the first son, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. 16 These are Ishmael’s sons, and these are their names, by their villages, and by their encampments, twelve leaders according to their tribes. 17 This is the 'length' of Ishmael’s life: 137 years. He breathed his last and died, and joined his ancestors in death. 18 They settled from Havilah to Shur which is 'east' of Egypt as you go toward Assyria. He lived in hostility toward all his 'relatives'.

The Birth of Jacob and Esau

19 This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham became the father of Isaac. 20 When Isaac was forty years old, he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean. 21 Isaac prayed to Yehovah for his wife, because she was sterile. Yehovah &answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The boys struggled together within her. She said, “Why is this happening to me?” She went to ask Yehovah. 23 Yehovah told her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two groups of people will be separated from your body. One nation will be stronger than the other nation, and the older will serve the younger. 24 When her time came to give birth, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first one came out entirely red, covered with hair like a fur coat, so they named him Esau [hairy]. 26 After that, his brother was born with his hand holding Esau’s heel. So they named him Jacob [heel grabber]. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born. 27 When the young men grew up, Esau became a skilled hunter, an outdoorsman, but Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating wild game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29 Once when Jacob was boiling stew, Esau came in from the wilderness famished. 30 Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have some of that same red stew, because I’m because I’m exhausted. (That’s why Esau was also called Edom.) 31 Jacob replied, “First, sell me your birthright.” 32 Esau said, “I’m dying of starvation! What good is my birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “First swear to me. So he swore to him, thereby selling his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. He ate and drank, then got up and left. This is how Esau scorned his birthright.

GENESIS 26

Isaac Lies to Abimelech

7 The men who lived there asked him about his wife. He said, “She’s my sister,” because he was afraid to say, “She’s my wife,” because he thought, “The men who live here might try to kill me to get Rebekah, since she is so beautiful. 8 When Isaac had been there a long time, King Abimelech of the Philistines looked out his window, he saw Isaac looked thru a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. 9 So Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Look, she’s obviously your wife. Why did you say, “She’s my sister?’ Isaac answered, “Because I thought someone might kill me to get her from me.” 10 Then Abimelech said, “What is this you’ve done to us? One of the men might have easily lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us!” 11 Abimelech warned all the people, “Whoever harms this man or his wife will assuredly be put to death.”

12 Isaac sowed in that land, and harvested in the same year one hundred times what he planted because Yehovah had blessed him. 13 The man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he was extremely wealthy. 14 He owned so many flocks, herds, and so many servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. 15 So the Philistines filled up all of his wells with dirt. These were the wells that had been dug by his father Abraham’s servants. 16 Abimelech said to Isaac, “Leave us, because you have become much more powerful than we are.” 17 So Isaac moved away from there and camped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there.

18 Isaac redug the wells that had been dug during his father Abraham’s lifetime since the Philistines had filled them in after Abraham’s death, and he gave them the same names his father had given them. 19 Isaac’s servants also dug in the valley, and discovered an artesian spring. 20 Isaac’s herdsmen argued with Gerar’s herdsmen, claiming, “This is our water”. So 'Isaac' named that well Argue because they argued with him. 21 They dug another well, and they argued over that one too, so he named it Sitnah [Hostility]. 22 He left that place and dug another well. They didn’t argue over that one. He called it Rehoboth. He said, “At last Yehovah has made room for us, and we’ll flourish in the land.

23 From there 'Isaac' moved to Beersheba, 24 Yehovah appeared to him that same night and said, “I’m the Elohim of Abraham your father. Don’t be afraid, because I’m with you, and will bless you, and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham’s sake. 25 He built an altar there, and called on Yehovah by name, and pitched his tent there, and his servants dug another well.

26 Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his advisor, and Phicol the commander of his army. 27 Isaac asked them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “We saw plainly that Yehovah has been with you. So we want to enter into a sworn treaty with you, 29 so that you won’t harm us, as we have not harmed you, since we’ve done nothing to you but good, and sent you away in peace. Now you are blessed by Yehovah.” 30 So he prepared a banquet for them, and they ate and drank. 31 They got up early in the morning and and exchanged their oaths. Isaac sent them on their way and they left him in peace. 32 That same day, Isaac’s servants came, and told him about the well that they had been digging, they said, “We’ve found water!”. 33 He called it Shibah, and the city is called Beersheba to this day.

34 When Esau was forty years old he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 They brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah.

GENESIS 27

Isaac Blesses Jacob

5 Now Rebekah was listening to what Isaac said to his son Esau. So Esau went into the fields to hunt for game to bring it home. 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father saying to your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me some wild game, and make a delicious meal for me to eat so that I can bless you before I die.’ 8 So my son, listen to me and do exactly what I tell you. 9 Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, and I’ll prepare a delicious meal your father, just the way he likes it. 10 Then take it to your father so he can eat it and bless you before he dies.” 11 Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, “But Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I’m a smooth skinned man. 12 If my father touches me? I’ll be seen as a deceiver, and bring a curse on myself rather than a blessing. 13 His mother told him, “May your curse fall on me, my son. Just do what I tell you; go get the young goats for me! 14 So he went and got them, and brought them to his mother. His mother prepared a delicious meal, just the way his father liked it. 15 Then Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son that she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. 16 She put the skins of the young goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 Then she gave her son Jacob the delicious food that she had made, including freshly baked bread.

18 He came to his father and said, “Father?” He said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob replied to his father, “I’m Esau your firstborn. I’ve done what you asked me to do. Sit up and eat some of the game so you can bless me.” 20 But Isaac said to his son, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?” He replied, “Because Yehovah your Elohim made it happen.” 21 Isaac told Jacob, “Please come closer so that I can feel you, son, to make sure that you are really my son Esau. 22 Jacob approached Isaac his father. He felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. 23 He didn’t recognize him, because his hands were hairy, like his brother, Esau’s hands, so he blessed him. 24 He asked, “Are you really my son Esau?” He said, “I am. 25 He said, “Bring it to me, and I’ll eat my your wild game, so that I can bless you. So he brought it to him, and he ate. He also brought him wine and he drank it. 26 His father Isaac said to him, “Please come close and kiss me son.” 27 So he came close and kissed him. When 'Isaac' smelled the scent of his clothes, he blessed him, and said, “Ah! The smell of my son is like the smell of the open country that Yehovah has blessed! 28 May Elohim give you dew from the sky and bountiful land, and an abundance of grain and new wine. 29 May the nations serve you, may 'they' bow down to you. May you be master over your brothers. May your mother’s sons bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed.”

30 “As soon as Isaac finished blessing Jacob, and just as Jacob left his father’s presence, his brother Esau returned from hunting. 31 He too had prepared some delicious food and brought it to his father. He said to his Father, “Sit up father and eat some of your son’s wild game so you can bless me.” 32 His father Isaac asked him, “Who are you?” He said, “I’m your son, your firstborn, Esau.” 33 Isaac began trembling 'uncontrollably' and asked, “Then who was it who hunted game and brought it to me before you came? I ate all of it before you came, and blessed him—and he’ll certainly be blessed.” 34 When Esau heard what his father said, he let out a loud and bitter cry. He said to his father, “Bless me too father!” 35 'Isaac' said, “Your brother came in and tricked me, and has taken away your blessing. 36 'Esau' said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? He has cheated me twice. He took away my birthright, and now he has taken away my blessing. He said, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?” 37 Isaac answered Esau, “I’ve already made him your master, and I’ve given him all his brothers as servants. I’ve provided him with grain and new wine. What can I do for you, my son?” 38 Esau said to his father, “Do you only have one blessing, father? Bless me too, father.” And Esau began to cry out loud. 39 His father Isaac replied, “You will live away from the fertile land, and away from the dew of the sky above. 40 You will live by your sword, and you’ll serve your brother. Then when you become restless, you’ll tear his yoke from your neck.

41 Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing that his father had given to him. Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near. Then I’ll kill my brother Jacob.” 42 when Rebekah heard about Esau’s plan to kill Jacob. She called for Jacob, her younger son, and told him, “Your brother Esau is consoling himself by planning to kill you! 43 So then, my son, do what I say: Get ready and flee to my brother, Laban, in Haran. 44 Stay with him for a while until your brother’s rage subsides, 45 until your brother is no longer angry with you and he forgets what you’ve done to him. Then I’ll send for you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?”

46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m tired of living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob marries one of these Hittite women, like the women of this land, my life will not be worth living.” [Small Koof]

GENESIS 28

Jacob Sent to Laban

6 Now Esau 'learned' that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram to find a wife there, and that as he blessed him he gave given him a command, “You must not marry a Canaanite 'woman'.” 7 He also knew that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and had gone to Paddan Aram. 8 Esau realized that his father Isaact was displeased with the Canaan women, 9 so Esau went to Ishmael and married Mahalath daughter of Abraham’s son Ishmael the sister of Nebaioth, in addition to the wives he already had.

10 Jacob left Beersheba and headed toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place, and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 As he dreamed he saw an elevated highway [1] stationed on the earth, and its top reached to heaven! Amazingly, the Messengers of Elohim were ascending and descending on it! 13 Yehovah [Yeshua / Jesus] stood above it and said, “I am Yehovah, the Elohim of Abraham your father, and the Elohim of Isaac. I’m going to give the land you are lying on to you and your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you’ll spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south. Thru you and your descendants, all the families of the earth will be blessed. 15I’m with you, and I’ll watch over you wherever you go, and bring you back to this land! I won’t leave you until I’ve done what I’ve promised you. 16 Jacob awakened from his sleep, and he said, “Surely Yehovah is in this place, but I didn’t realize it!” 17 But he was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! This is none other than Elohim’s house and the GATEWAY [1] [entrance] to heaven! 18 Jacob got up early in the morning and took the stone he had put by his head and set it up as a marker [pillar] and poured olive oil over it. 19 He renamed the place Bethel [Home of El, {Elohim}], tho previously the city had been called Luz.

20 Then Jacob made a vow, he said, ‘If Elohim will be with me, and protect me on this journey, and give me 'food' to eat and clothes to wear, 21 allowing me to return to my father’s house in safety, then Yehovah will be my Elohim. 22 This stone that I’ve set up for a marker will become Elohim’s house. And of everything You give me I will give a tenth back to You.

[1] The word usually translated as ladder only occurs once in the Tanak. A better clue to its meaning can be had by checking the root word that it is taken from, that is used a dozen times and literally means, “An elevated “highway” or “Way”. Yeshua will fulfill this (John 1:51).

GENESIS 29

Jacob Meets Rachel

9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s flock, because she was a shepherdess. 10 When Jacob saw his cousin Rachel, the daughter of his mother’s brother Laban, and Laban’s sheep, Jacob went over and rolled the stone from the well’s opening, and watered his uncle Laban’s flock. 11 Jacob kissed Rachel and cried aloud. 12 Jacob told Rachel that he was from her father’s family and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran to tell her father. 13 As soon as Laban heard that his nephew Jacob had arrive he ran out to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him home, where Jacob told him everything that had happened. 14 Laban told him, “You are certainly my flesh bone. He stayed with him for a month. 15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Just because you are a 'relative', should you serve me for nothing? Tell me, what would you like me to pay you?” 16 Now Laban had two daughters: the older was named Leah, and the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and was attractive. 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “I’d rather give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” 20 Jacob worked for Rachel for seven years, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. 21 After seven years Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days of service are finished. I want to have 'marital relations' with her. 22 Laban invited all the local men to a marriage banquet. 23 Then in the evening, 'Laban' took his daughter Leah, and brought her to 'Jacob', and he had marital relations with her. 24 Laban also gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah for a maid.

25 When morning came, there was Leah! He said to Laban, “What have you done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?” 26 Laban said, “It isn’t our custom here to marry off the younger daughter before the firstborn. 27 Complete the bridal week of this one, and we’ll give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years. 28 So Jacob did this. He finished the week with Leah, and then 'Laban' gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. 29 Laban also gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her servant. 30 Jacob had marital relations with Rachel as well. He loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban another seven years.

31 When Yehovah saw that Leah was being 'neglected', He enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben. She said, “Because Yehovah has noticed my misery. Surely my husband will love me.” 33 She became pregnant again, and gave birth to another son, and said, “Because Yehovah has heard that I am unloved, He gave me another son.” So she named him Simeon. 34 She she became pregnant 'a third time' and gave birth to another son and said, “Now this time will my husband will feel affection for me, because I’ve borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi. 35 She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son and said, “This time I will praise Yehovah.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.

GENESIS 30

The Sons of Jacob

9 When Leah realized that she had stopped having children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10 Leah’s servant Zilpah gave birth to a son for Jacob, 11 and Leah said, “By Gawd” [a false god]! So she named him Gawd. 12 Leah’s maid Zilpah gave Jacob a second son. 13 Leah said, “I’m Happy. Now women will call me happy.” So she named him Asher.

14 During the 'time' of the wheat harvest, Reuben found some mandrakes in a field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” 15 She said to her, “Isn’t it bad enough that you have taken my husband? Now you want to take my son’s mandrakes as well?” Rachel answered, “He can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.” 16 Jacob came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must have sexual relations with me tonight because I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night. 17 Elohim responded to Leah. She became pregnant and gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob. 18 Leah said, “Elohim gave me what I paid for, because I gave my maid to my husband. So she named him Issachar. [Sounds like “paid for” in Hebrew] 19 Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to a sixth son for Jacob. 20 Then Leah said, “Now my husband will honor me since I’ve given him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun. [Zebulun sounds like “honor”.] 21 Later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.

22 Then Elohim remembered Rachel’s plight responded to her, enabling her to have children. 23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “Elohim taken away my shame.” 24 She named him Joseph, and said, “May Yehovah give me another son.”

25 After Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, so that I can go to my own place, and my country. 26 Give me my wives and my children who I’ve served you for, and let me go. You know how much work I’ve done for you.” 27 But Laban said to him “If I’ve found favor in your eyes, stay here, because I’ve learned by divination that Yehovah has blessed me because of you.” 28 He said, “Name your price, and I will pay it.” 29 He told him, “You know how I’ve served you, and how your livestock has fared with me. 30 You had little before I came and it has increased dramatically. Yehovah has blessed you wherever I turned. Now, when will I be able to provide for my own household?” 31 So he said, “What should I give you?” Jacob said, “Don’t give me anything. Just do this one thing for me and I will continue to pasture and take care of your livestock:

Jacob’s Odd “Breeding Program”

37 Then Jacob 'cut' rods of fresh poplar, almond and plane trees, and peeled white stripes in them, exposing the white on the rods. 38 He placed the peeled branches in all the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, since they mated when they came to drink. 39 So the flocks mated by the rods, and they gave birth to striped, speckled and spotted young. 40 Jacob separated the lambs, turning the flock to face the striped and black ones in Laban’s flock, but kept his flock separate from Laban’s flock. 41 Then whenever the stronger of the flock were mating, Jacob would place the peeled branches in the watering troughs in front of them so that they mated near the branches. 42 But if the animals were weak, he would not place them there. So the weak animals went to Laban and the strong ones were Jacob’s. 43 The man became very wealthy, with large flocks of sheep and goats, female and male servants, and many camels and donkeys.

GENESIS 31

Jacob Leaves Secretly

17 So Jacob got up and put his wives and children on camels, 18 and he took all the livestock and property that he had accumulated, including the livestock that he had acquired in Paddan Aram, and he set out to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. 19 While Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s teraphim [household idols]. 20 Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was leaving. 21 So he fled with everything that he had. He got up, crossed over the Euphrates River, and headed toward the mountains of Gilead.

22 Three days later, Laban was told that Jacob had fled. 23 So he took his relatives with him, and chased him for seven days and caught up with him in the mountains of Gilead. 24 Elohim came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and told him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

25 Laban caught up with Jacob after Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountains. So Laban and his relatives set up camp on the mountains of Gilead. 26 Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You’ve deceived me, and you’ve carried off my daughters like prisoners of ‘war’. 27 Why did you leave secretly and deceive me, without telling me. I could have sent you away with celebration and songs and tambourines and harps? 28 You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. You’ve acted foolishly. 29 I have the ability to destroy you, but the Elohim of your father spoke to me last night and said, ‘Be careful that you don’t say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’ 30 Now, you want to be gone, because you greatly longed for your father’s house, but why did you steal my” 31 Jacob replied to Laban, “I was afraid because I wwas afraid thatn you could take your daughters away from me by force. 32 Anyone you find your gods with will be killed. In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours among my belongings and take it. (Jacob didn’t know that Rachel had stolen them.) 33 So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two servant wives and didn’t find them. After he came out of Leah’s tent, he went into Rachel’s tent. 34 But Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them in the camel’s saddlebag, and was sitting on them. Laban rummaged thru the tent, but didn’t find them. 35 She said to her father, “Don’t be angry with me master that I can’t get up for you, because I’m having my period. So he continued searching, but didn’t find the teraphim.

36 Then Jacob became very angry and accused Laban. Jacob answered Laban, “What did I do wrong? What law have I broken for you to have chased me down? 37 Now that you’ve rummaged thru all my stuff, what have you found that belongs to you? Put it here in front of your relatives and mine, and have them judge between us! 38 I’ve been with you for twenty years. Your ewes and your female goats have’t miscarried their young, and I haven’t eaten rams from your flocks. 39 When animals were killed by predators, I didn’t bring them to you but took the loss myself. I took the loss. You made me pay for any animal that was stolen day or night. 40 There I was scorched during the day in the heat, and the cold at night, and real sleep was 'fleeting'. 41 I’ve spent twenty years in your household. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you’ve changed my wages ten times. 42 If the Elohim of my father, the Elohim of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac hadn’t been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. Elohim has seen my oppression and the hard 'work' I did, and admonished you last night. 43 Then Laban replied to Jacob, “These women are my daughters, these children are my grandchildren, the flocks are my flocks, and everything that you see is mine. But what can I do today to my daughters, or to their children they’ve borne? 44 Come, let’s make a treaty, you and I, and, and have it serve as a witness between us.”

45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a memorial stone. 46 Jacob said to his relatives, “Gather stones.” So they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there beside the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. 48 Laban said, “This heap is witness between me and you today.” So he too called it Galeed 49 and Mizpah, because he said, “May Yehovah watch between me and you when we’re away from each other. 50 If you mistreat my daughters, or if you marry other wives besides my daughters, tho no one is with us, Elohim is witness between me and you! 51 Laban said to Jacob, “Note this heap, and note the pillar that I’ve set between me and you. 52 May this heap and the pillar serve as a witness that I won’t pass beyond this heap to you, and that you won’t pass beyond this heap and this pillar to me to cause harm. 53 May the Elohim of Abraham and the Elohim of Nahor, the Elohim of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the fear of his father, Isaac. 54 Then Jacob offered a zebak [sacrifice] on the mountain, and called his relatives to the 'meal'. They ate the meal and spent the night on the mountain.

55 Early in the morning, Laban got up and kissed his sons and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban returned home.

GENESIS 32

Jacob Meets Esau

3 Jacob sent messengers ahead to his brother Esau in the region of Seir in the land of Edom. 4 He instructed them: “Say this to my master Esau:‘This is what your servant Jacob says. “I’ve been living as a foreigner with Uncle Laban until now. 5 I have cattle, donkeys, flocks and male and female servants. I’ve sent this message to tell my master in order to find favor in your sight.’” 6 The messengers returned to Jacob and said, “We met your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men with him.” 7 Jacob was terrified and distressed, so he divided his household, along with the flocks and herds and camels into two groups. 8 He thought, “If Esau comes to one group and attacks it, then the group that is left will escape.”

9 Then Jacob said, &ldquoO Elohim of my father Abraham, and Elohim of my father Isaac, O Yehovah, who told me, ‘Return to your country and to your relatives, and I’ll do good for you.’ 10 I don’t deserve the kindness and faithfulness You’ve shown to Your servant. I crossed the Jordan River with just my staff, and now I’ve become two camps. 11 Please rescue me from the grasp of my brother. I’m afraid that he’s coming to attack me and my wives and children. 12 You said, “I’ll surely do good for you, and make your descendants like the sand of the sea, so many you couldn’t count them.’”

13 He spent the night there, and selected these gifts from what he had with him for his brother Esau: 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty nursing camels and their colts, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. 16 He placed them in the hands of his servants, separated every herd and said to his servants, “Go ahead of me and keep some distance between the herds.” 17 He ordered the first group, “When my brother Esau meets you, and asks, “Who do you serve, and where are you going, and who do these herds in front of you belong to?’ 18 Then you are to say, “They belong to your servant Jacob. They’re a gift sent to my master Esau. He’s coming right behind us.’” 19 He also ordered the second, and the third, and everyone following the herds: “You must say the same thing to Esau when you find him. 20 Say, ‘Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.’” 'Jacob' thought, ‘I’ll appease him with the gifts that go before me, and afterward I’ll see him 'in person'. Maybe he’ll accept me.” 21 So he sent the gifts on ahead, while he spent that night in the camp 22 He got up that night and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok River. 23 He took them, and sent them across the stream, and sent over everything he had.

24 Jacob was left alone, and a Man wrestled with him until dawn. 25 When He saw that He couldn’t defeat him, He struck Jacob’s hip socket while He wrestled with him. 26 The ‘Man’ said, “Let Me go, because it’s almost dawn. But Jacob said, “I won’t let You go unless You bless me.” 27 He asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Jacob.” 28 He said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you’ve struggled with Elohim and with men, and you won. 29 Then Jacob asked Him, “Please tell me Your name.” He replied, “Why do you want to know My name?” Then He blessed him there. 30 So Jacob named that place Peniel [Face of El], because he said, “I have seen Elohim face to face, and I’m still alive.” 31 The sun rose as he was leaving Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 So to this day the Israelites don’t eat the tendon near the hip socket because of what happened, because he grabbed Jacob’s thigh muscle at the tendon.

GENESIS 33

Jacob Meets Esau

12 Esau said, “Let’s get going, and I’ll lead the way. 13 Jacob told him, “My master knows that the children are frail, and that the flocks and herds with me are nursing their young, and if they’re driven too hard, even for one day, the entire flock will die. 14 Please master, go on before your servant, and I’ll follow behind slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are before me and at the pace of the children, until I meet up with my master in Seir.” 15 Esau said, “Let me leave some of my people with you. He said, “Why? Let me find favor in the sight of my master.” 16 So that day Esau started back to Seir.

17 Jacob traveled to Succoth, built himself a house, and made temporary shelters for his livestock. That’s why the place was named Succoth 18 Jacob arrived safely in the city of Shechem, in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram, and camped 'east' of the city. 19 He bought the parcel of ground where he had pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of silver. 20 He built an altar there, and called it El Elohe Israel.

GENESIS 34

Dinah Defiled

25 “Then on the third day, when they were sore, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came on the unsuspecting city and killed all the males. 26 They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the edge of a sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and left. 27 Jacob’s other sons came upon the dead bodies and looted the city because their sister had been defiled. 28 They took their flocks, their herds, their donkeys, and everything in the city and in the fields 29 and all their wealth. They took captive all their little ones and their wives, and took as plunder everything in the houses. 30 Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me, making me odious to the inhabitants of this land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites. I’m few in number. They’ll gather together against me and strike me, and I’ll be destroyed, I and my house.” 31 They said, “Should he have treated our sister as a whore?”

GENESIS 35

9 “Elohim appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him. 10 Elohim told him, “Your name is Jacob. Your name won’t be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel.” He named him Israel. 11 Elohim also told him, “I’m the Conqueror; be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a ‘commonwealth’ of nations will come from you. Kings will be among your 'descendants'! 12 The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I’ll give to you and to your descendants after you. I will give the land. 13 Elohim went up from him in the place where he spoke with him. 14 Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he spoke with him, a stone pillar. He poured out a wine offering on it, and poured olive oil on it. 15 Jacob called the place where Elohim spoke with him Bethel.

16 “They traveled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She began to give birth and had great difficulty. 17 And as she was having great difficulty, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, because now you’ll have another son.” 18 As she breathed her last—as she was dying—she named her son Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin. 19 Rachel died, and was buried along the way to Ephrath (the same is Bethlehem). 20 Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave to today.

21 “Israel traveled, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder. 22 Then, while Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.

23 “The sons of Leah, Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. 24 The sons of Rachel, Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s maid), Dan and Naphtali. 26 The sons of Zilpah (Leah’s maid), Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.

27 “Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (that is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as foreigners. 28 Isaac lived one hundred and eighty years. 29 Isaac gave up the spirit and died, and joined his ancestors in death, old and full of days; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

GENESIS 36

6 “Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, along with his cattle, all his animals and all his possessions, that he had gathered in the land of Canaan, and went into a land away from his brother Jacob. 7 Their substance was too great for them to live together, and the land of their travels couldn’t bear them because of their livestock. 8 Esau lived in the highlands of Seir. Esau is Edom.

9 “This is the genealogy of Esau the father of the Edomites in the highlands of Seir. 10 These are the names of Esau’s sons, Eliphaz son of Adah, the wife of Esau, and Reuel son of Basemath, the wife of Esau. 11 The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam and Kenaz. 12 Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau’s son, and she carried to Eliphaz Amalek. These are the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife. 13 These are the sons of Reuel, Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife. 14 These were the sons of Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife, she carried to Esau Jeush, Jalam and Korah.

15 “These are the leaders of the sons of Esau, the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau, clan leader Teman, clan leader Omar, clan leaders Zepho, clan leader Kenaz, 16 clan leader Korah, clan leader Gatam, clan leader Amalek, these are the leaders who came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom, these are the sons of Adah. 17 These are the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son, clan leader Nahath, clan leader Zerah, clan leader Shammah, clan leader Mizzah, these are the leaders who came of Reuel in the land of Edom, these are the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife. 18 These are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau’s wife, clan leader Jeush, clan leader Jalam, clan leader Korah, these are the leaders who came of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife. 19 These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their clan leaders.

20 “These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land, Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21 Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. These are the leaders who came of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom. 22 The children of Lotan were Hori and Heman. Lotan’s sister was Timna. 23 These are the children of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho and Onam. 24 These are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed the donkeys of Zibeon his father. 25 These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah. 26 These are the children of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran and Cheran. 27 These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan and Akan. 28 These are the children of Dishan, Uz and Aran. 29 These are the leaders who came of the Horites: clan leader Lotan, clan leader Shobal, clan leader Zibeon, clan leader Anah, 30 clan leader Dishon, clan leader Ezer, and clan leader Dishan, these are the leaders who came of the Horites, according to their leader in the land of Seir.

31 “These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites: 32 Bela son of Beor, reigned in Edom. His city was named Dinhabah. 33 Bela died, and Jobab son of Zerah of Bozrah succeeded him as king. 34 Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites succeeded him as king. 35 Husham died, and Hadad son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, and succeeded him as king. His city was named Avith. 36 Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah succeeded him as king. 37 Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the river, succeeded him as king. 38 Shaul died, and Baal Hanan son of Achbor succeeded him as king. 39 Baal Hanan son of Achbor died, and Hadar succeeded him as king. His city was named Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.

40 “These are the names of the leaders who came from Esau, according to their families, after their places, and by their names, clan leader Timna, clan leader Alvah, clan leader Jetheth, 41 clan leader Oholibamah, clan leader Elah, clan leader Pinon, 42 clan leader Kenaz, clan leader Teman, clan leader Mibzar, 43 clan leader Magdiel and clan leader Iram. These are the leaders of Edom, listed by the places they settled and the land they owned. Esau was the patriarch of the Edomites.

GENESIS 37

5 “Joseph had a dream. When he mentioned it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6 So he asked them to “Please listen carefully to the dream that I had. 7 We were binding sheaves together out in the field. Suddenly my sheaf stood up, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” 8 Then his brothers replied, “Do you actually intend to reign over us? Are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him all the more because of the dream he had told. 9 Then he had another dream. He told his brothers, “I’ve had another dream. I saw the sun, the moon and eleven stars bowing down to me!” 10 He related it to his father as well as to his brothers. His father reprimanded him and asked, “What 'sort' of dream did you have? Should your mother and I and your brothers really come and bow down to the ground in front of you?” 11 His brothers became more jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

12 “His brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. [Jots] 13 Israel said to Joseph, aren’t your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, and I’ll send you to them. He told him, “Here I am.” 14 He told him, “Go now, see if your brothers are well, as well as the flock, and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 A man found him, and I saw that he was wandering in the field. The man asked him, “What are you looking for?” 16 He said, “I’m looking for my brothers. Tell me, please, where they are feeding the flock.” 17 The man said, “They have left here, because I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’ Joseph went after his brothers, and found them in Dothan.

18 “They saw him in the distance, and before he got near them, they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said one to another, “The dreamer is coming! 20 Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of the pits, and we’ll say, ‘A wild animal has devoured him. We’ll see what becomes of his dreams.’ 21 Reuben heard it, and rescued him from their 'grasp' and said, “Let’s not take his life.” 22 Reuben told them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” He intended to save him from their 'grasp', and return him to his father. 23 Then when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colors that he was wearing, 24 and they took him, and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty. There was no water in it.

25 “They sat down to eat bread, and they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Judah said to his brothers, “What profit would we have if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come on, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not lay a hand on him, because he is our brother, our flesh. His brothers listened to him. 28 Then as some Midianite traders passed by, Joseph was pulled out of the pit, and Joseph was sold to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, and they took Joseph to Egypt.

29 “Reuben returned to the pit, and saw that Joseph wasn’t in the pit, and he tore his clothes. 30 He returned to his brothers and said, “The child is no more, and I, where will I go?” 31 They took Joseph’s coat, and killed a male goat, and dipped the coat in the blood. 32 They took the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it and see if it’s your son’s coat or not. 33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s coat. A wild animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.” 34 Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son for many days. 35 All his sons and all his daughters got up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. He said, “I’ll go down to sheol to my son mourning.” His father cried for him. 36 The Midianites sold him into Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard.

GENESIS 38

12 “After many days, Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died. Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheep shearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah, the Adullamite. 13 Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep! 14 She took off the clothing of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, along the way to Timnah, because she saw that Shelah had grown up, and she wasn’t given to him as a wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a whore, because she had covered her face. 16 He turned to her by the way and said, “Please come, let me 'have sex with' you,” since he didn’t know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me, so that you can 'have sex with' me?” 17 He said, “I’ll send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, “Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?” 18 He said, “What pledge should I give you?” She said, “Your signet and your cord and the staff in your hand.” He gave them to her, and 'had sex with' her, and she became pregnant by him.

19 “She got up and went away, and took off her veil, and put on the clothing of her widowhood. 20 Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend, the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, but he couldn’t find her. 21 Then he asked the men of her place, “Where is the prostitute who was at Enaim by the road?” They said, “There has been no prostitute here.” 22 He returned to Judah and said, “I haven’t found her, and also the men of the place said, ‘There has been no prostitute here.’” 23 Judah said, “Let her keep it, otherwise we’ll be shamed.” I sent this young goat, and you haven’t found her.

24 “Then about three months later, Judah was told, “Tamar, your daughter-in-law has practice prostitution, and furthermore, she is pregnant by prostitution. Judah said, “Bring her here so she can be burnt.” 25 When she was brought there, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “I’m pregnant by the man who owns these.” She also said, “Please check to see whose these are, the signet, the cords and the staff.” 26 Judah acknowledged them and said, “She is more righteous than I, because I didn’t give her to Shelah, my son. And he didn’t 'have sex with' again.”

27 “When the time came for her to give birth, there were twins in her womb. 28 When she travailed, one put out a hand, and the midwife tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 Then, as he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, “Why have you made a breach for yourself?” So he was named Perez. 30 Afterward his brother who had the scarlet thread on his hand came out, and he was named Zerah.

GENESIS 39

7 “In time, his master’s wife had her eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “My master doesn’t know what is with me in the house, and he has me handle everything. 9 He isn’t greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. So how could I do this great wickedness, and sin against Elohim?” 10 She spoke to Joseph daily, but he didn’t listen to her pleas to lie by her or to be with her. 11 About this time, he went into the house to do his work, and there were none of the men of the house inside. 12 She caught him by his garment and said, “Lie with me!” He left his garment in her hand ran outside. 13 When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had run outside, 14 she called to the men of her house, and told them,“He has brought in a Hebrew to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I screamed. 15 Then when he heard me scream, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.

16 “She laid up his garment by her, until his master came home. 17 She told him, “The Hebrew servant who you brought to us, came in to me to mock me, 18 and then, as I screamed, he left his garment by me, and ran outside. 19 Then when his master heard the account his wife told—“This is what your servant did to me,”— his anger burned. 20 Joseph’s master took him, and put him into prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in custody. 21 But Yehovah was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the warden of the prison. 22 The prison warden had Joseph handle all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever they did there, he was responsible for it. 23 The prison warden didn’t look after anything that was under his control, because Yehovah was with him, and whatever he did, Yehovah made it prosper.

GENESIS 40

9 “The chief cup bearer told his dream to Joseph, he said, “In my dream I saw a grapevine in front of me, 10 and in the grapevine were three branches. It was as tho it had budded, its blossoms shot out, and its clusters produced ripe grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I put the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 12 Joseph told him, “This is its interpretation, the three branches are three days. 13 Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head, and restore you to your office. You’ll put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, the way you did when you were his cup bearer. 14 But remember me when it is well with you, and show kindness, to me please, and mention me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this prison. 15 Indeed, I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon.

16 “When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was dreaming, and I saw three baskets of white bread on my head. 17 In the uppermost basket there were all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head. 18 Joseph answered, “This is its interpretation. The three baskets are three days. 19 Within three days, Pharaoh will cut off your head and hang you on a tree. Then the birds will eat away your flesh.”

20 “Three days later, it was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he threw a 'party' [1] for all his servants. He lifted up the heads of his chief cup bearer and his chief baker— 21 that is, he restored the chief cup bearer to his position, so he could resume placing the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22 Then he hanged the chief baker, just like Joseph had predicted in his interpretation. 23 Yet the chief cup bearer forgot all about Joseph.

[1] Birthday parties never end well in the Bible. See also Job 1:4; and Matthew 14:6-8.

GENESIS 41

8 “Then in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent for all of Egypt’s magicians and wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for the Pharaoh. 9 Then the chief cup bearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, “I remember my crimes today. 10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker. 11 We both had a dream one night, and both dreams ‘left us questioning’ an explanation. 12 There was a young Hebrew man with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he explained to each of us what they meant. 13 It turned out just the way he interpreted them to us. I was restored to my position, but the baker was hanged.”

14 “Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his clothing, and he came in to Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I’ve had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I’ve heard it said of you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it. 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It isn’t in me. Elohim will give Pharaoh the answer he wants.” 17 Pharaoh told Joseph, “In my dream, I stood on the brink of the river, 18 and I saw seven cattle coming up out of the river, fat and sleek. They fed in the marsh grass, 19 and I saw seven other cattle come up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, uglier than anything I’ve ever seen in all the land of Egypt. 20 The thin and ugly cattle ate the first seven fat cows, 21 Once they had eaten them up, it couldn’t be discerned that they had eaten them, but they were still as ugly as they had been. So I awoke. 22 I saw in my dream seven heads of grain coming from one stalk, full and good, 23 and I saw seven heads of grain, withered, thin, and blasted by the east wind, spring up after them. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven good heads of grain. I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.

25 “Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Both of Pharaoh’s dreams mean one thing. Elohim has shown Pharaoh what He’s about to do. 26 The seven good cows represent seven years, and the seven good heads of grain represent seven years. The dreams have one meaning. 27 The seven thin and ugly cows that came up after them represent seven years, as do the seven empty heads of grain blasted by the east wind, they represent seven years of famine. 28 That is what I explained to Pharaoh. What Elohim is about to do He has shown to Pharaoh. 29 Seven bountiful years are coming to the entire land of Egypt. 30 After them there will be seven years of famine, and all the bounty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will deplete the land, 31 and the bounty will be forgotten in the land because of the famine that follows, because it will be very severe. 32 The dream was repeated to Pharaoh, because the thing is established by Elohim, and Elohim will soon bring it to pass. 33 So Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man, and set him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Pharaoh should do this, and appoint overseers over the land, and collect a fifth of the land of Egypt’s produce in the seven plentiful years. 35 They should collect all the food produced in these coming good years, and store grain under the ‘authority’ of Pharaoh for food in the towns, and they should preserve it. 36 The food will serve as a reserve for the land in preparation for the seven years of famine that will come on the land of Egypt, so that the land won’t perish during the famine.

37 “Pharaoh saw this as a good thing, and all his servants saw it the same way. 38 Pharaoh said to his servants, “Could we find another man like this, someone imbued with the Spirit of Elohim?” 39 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because Elohim has shown all of this to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You will be over my house, and your word will be law for all of my people. Only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you. 41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I’m putting you in charge of the entire land of Egypt!” 42 Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand, and put it on Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in robes of fine linen, and put a gold chain abound his neck. 43 He had him ride in his second-in-command chariot. They shouted before him, “Kneel down!” This signified that he was in charge of the entire land of Egypt. 44 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I’m Pharaoh, and without your permission no one will lift up their hand or their foot in the entire land of Egypt.” 45 Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-Paneah, and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On as a wife. So Joseph traveled over the land of Egypt. 46 Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph traveled from the presence of Pharaoh, and went thruout all the land of Egypt. 47 In the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly. 48 He collected all the food of the seven years that were in the land of Egypt, and stored the food in the towns. Every city stored the food grown in the fields surrounding them. 49 Joseph stored grain like the sand of the sea, sso much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

50 “ Before the years of famine came, Joseph had two sons by Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. 51 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, “For,” he said, “Elohim has made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.” 52 He named the second Ephraim, “For Elohim has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

53 “The seven plentiful years in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine thruout the region, but there was bread thruout the land of Egypt. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread, and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you to do.” 56 The famine covered the face of the land. Joseph opened all the store houses, and sold to the Egyptians. The famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 And all the surrounding countries came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe thruout the region.

GENESIS 42

5 “Israel’s sons came to buy along with others who came, because of the famine in the land of Canaan. 6 Joseph was the governor over the land. It was he who sold to all the people of the land. Joseph’s brothers came, and bowed themselves down to him with their faces to the ground. 7 Joseph saw his brothers, and he recognized them, but acted like an immigrant to them, and spoke roughly with them. He told them, “Where did you come from?” They said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.” 8 Joseph recognized his brothers, but they didn’t recognize him. 9 Joseph remembered the dreams that he dreamed about them, and told them, “You are spies! You’ve come to see the nakedness of the land.” 10 They told him, “No, master, your servants have come to buy food. 11 We are all one man’s sons, we’re honest men. Your servants aren’t spies.” 12 He told them, “No, you’ve come to see the nakedness of the land!” 13 They said, “We, your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, see the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more.” 14 Joseph told them, “It is like I told you, you are spies! 15 By this you’ll be tested. By the life of Pharaoh, you won’t leave here, unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 One of you go and get your brother, and you’ll be bound, so that your words can be tested, whether there is truth in you, or else by the life of Pharaoh surely you are spies.” 17 He put them all together into custody for three days.

18 “Joseph told them on the third day, “Do this, and live, because I fear Elohim. 19 If you are honest men, then have one of your brothers be bound in your prison, but you go, carry grain for the famine of your houses. 20 Bring your youngest brother to me, so your words can be verified, and you won’t die.” They did so. 21 They said one to another, “We are certainly guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his life, when he begged us, and we wouldn’t listen. So this distress has come on us.” 22 Reuben answered them, saying, “Didn’t I tell you, “Don’t sin against the child’, and you wouldn’t listen? So now his blood is required.” 23 They didn’t know that Joseph understood them, because there was an interpreter between them. 24 He turned away from them, and cried. Then he returned to them, and spoke to them, and took Simeon from among them, and bound him within their sight.

25 “Then Joseph gave a command to fill their bags with grain, and to return every man’s silver into his sack, and to give them food for the way. So it was done for them. 26 They loaded their donkeys with their grain, and left from there. 27 As one of them opened his sack to give his donkey some food in the lodging place, he saw that his silver was in the mouth of his sack! 28 He said to his brothers, “My silver has been returned! It’s in my sack!” In their ‘shock’ they turned trembling to each other, asking, “What has Elohim done to us?”

29 “They returned to Jacob their father, in the land of Canaan, and told him everything that had happened to them, they said: 30 “The man, the master of the land, spoke roughly with us, and mistook us for spies in the country. 31 We told him, ‘We are honest men. We aren’t spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father, one is no more, and the youngest is with our father in the land of Canaan today.’ 33 The man, the master of the land, said to us, ‘By this I’ll know that you are honest men, leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your houses, and go. 34 Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I’ll know that you aren’t spies, but that you are honest men. So I’ll deliver your brother to you, and you’ll trade in the land.”

35 “Then as they emptied their sacks they saw that every man’s bundle of silver was in his sack. When they and their father saw their bundles of silver they were afraid. 36 Jacob, their father, told them, “You have bereaved me of my children! Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin away. Everything is against me. 37 Reuben told his father, “Kill my two sons, if I don’t bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I’ll bring him to you again.” 38 He said, “My son won’t go down with you, because his brother is dead, and he only is left. If any harm comes to him along the way on the journey, then you’ll bring my gray hairs down with sorrow to sheol.

GENESIS 43

15 “The men took that present, and they took twice as much silver in hand, and Benjamin, and got up and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he told the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and butcher an animal, and prepare a meal, because the men will dine with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men to Joseph’s house. 18 The men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, “Because of the silver that was returned in our sacks the first time, we’re brought in, so that he can find an opportunity to be against us, attack us, and seize us as slaves, along with our donkeys.” 19 They approached the steward of Joseph’s house, and they spoke to him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “Oh, my master, we certainly came down the first time just to buy food. 21 When we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks, and saw that every man’s silver was in the mouth of his sack, our silver in full weight. We have brought it back in our hand. 22 We have brought down other silver in our hand to buy food. We don’t know who put our silver in our sacks.” 23 He said, “Peace be to you. Don’t be afraid. Your Elohim, and the Elohim of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks. I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 The man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet, and he gave their donkeys fodder. 25 They got the present ready for Joseph’s coming at noon, because they heard that they should eat bread there.

26 When Joseph came home, they brought him the present they had in hand into the house, and bowed down to the ground to him. 27 He asked them of their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man you spoke of? Is he still alive?” 28 They said, “Your servant, our father, is well. He is still alive.” They bowed their heads, and did homage. 29 He ‘looked up’ and saw Benjamin, his brother, his mother’s son and said, “Is this your youngest brother that you told me about?” He said, “Elohim be merciful to you, my son.” 31 He washed his face, and came out. He controlled himself and said, “Serve the meal.” 32 They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him, by themselves, because the Egyptians don’t eat bread with Hebrews, because it’s an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth, and the men marveled one with another. 34 He sent shares to them from before him, but Benjamin’s share was five times as big as any of theirs. They drank, and were merry with him.

GENESIS 44

6 “He overtook them, and he repeated those words to them. 7 They asked him, “Why does my master speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing! 8 We brought the silver that we found in our sacks back to you from the land of Canaan. Why would we steal silver or gold out of your master’s house? 9 Any of your servants found with it should die, and we also will be my master’s bond servants.” 10 He said, “May it be according to your words, the one who it’s found with will be my bond servant, and the rest of you will be innocent.” 11 Then they hurried, and every man took his sack down to the ground, and every man opened his sack. 12 He searched, beginning with the eldest, and ending at the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and returned to the city.

14 “Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there. They fell on the ground before him. 15 Joseph told them, “What deed is this that you’ve done? Don’t you know that such a man as I can indeed divine?” 16 Judah said, “What will we tell my master? What will we say? How will we clear ourselves? Elohim has found out the wickedness of your servants. We’re my master’s bond servants, both we, and he also in whose hand the cup is found!” 17 He said, “Far be it from me that I should do so. The man in whose hand the cup is found, he’ll be my bond servant, but as for you, go up in peace to your father.” 18 Then Judah approached him and said, “Oh, my master, please let your servant speak a word in my master’s ears, and don’t let your anger burn against your servant, because you are equal to Pharaoh.

19 “My master asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’ 20 We told my master, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one, and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.’ 21 You said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, so that I can see him.’ 22 We said to my master, ‘The boy can’t leave his father, because if he were to leave his father, his father would die.’ 23 You said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you’ll see my face no more.’ 24 Then when we came up to your servant my father, we told him what our master said. 25 Our father said, ‘Go again, buy us a little food.’ 26 We said, ‘We can’t go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then we’ll go down, because we can’t see the man’s face, unless our youngest brother is with us.’ 27 Your servant, my father, said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons, 28 and the one went out from me, and I said, ‘Surely he is torn in pieces,’ and I haven’t seen him since. 29 If you also take this one from me, and harm happens to him, you’ll bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to sheol.’ 30 So when I come to your servant my father, and the boy isn’t with us, seeing that his life is bound up in the boy’s life, 31 then when he sees that the boy is no more, he’ll die. Your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant, our father, with sorrow to sheol. 32 because your servant became collateral for the boy to my father, I said, ‘If I don’t bring him to you, then I’ll bear the blame to my father forever.’ 33 So please let your servant stay instead of the boy, a bond servant to my master, and let the boy go back with his brothers. 34 How could I go back to my father, if the boy isn’t with me—because I could not stand to see the tragedy that would overtake my father?;”

GENESIS 45

16 “The report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” It pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this. Load your animals, and travel to the land of Canaan. 18 Take your father and your households, and return to me, and I’ll give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you’ll eat the fat of the land.’ 19 Now you are commanded, do this. Take wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Also, don’t concern yourselves with your belongings, because the best of all of the land of Egypt is yours.” 21 The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons, by the order of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the trip. 22 He gave each of them changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing. 23 To his father, he sent ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provision for his father along the way. 24 So he sent his brothers away, and they left. He told them, “See that you don’t quarrel on the way.”

25 “They left Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father. 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler of the entire land of Egypt.” He was stunned, and he didn’t believe them. 27 They told him everything that Joseph said. When he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, Jacob’s spirits were revived. 28 Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I’ll go and see him before I die.”

GENESIS 46

8 “These are the names of the Israelites who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons, Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn. 9 Reuben’s sons: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. 10 The sons of Simeon, Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul son of a Canaanite woman. 11 Levi’s sons: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. 12 Judah’s sons: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez and Zerah, but Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 Issachar’s sons: Tola, Puvah, Iob and Shimron. 14 Zebulun’s sons: Sered, Elon and Jahleel. 15 These are Leah’s sons who she gave to Jacob in Paddan Aram, with his daughter Dinah. All his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three. 16 Gawd’s sons, Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi and Areli. 17 Asher’s sons: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah and Serah their sister. The sons of Beriah, Heber and Malchiel. 18 These are Zilpah’s sons, who Laban gave to Leah, his daughter, and she gave birth to Jacob sixteen in all. 19 The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. 20 To Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, who Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, gave to him. 21 The sons of Benjamin were Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard. 22 These are Rachel’s sons, who were born to Jacob fourteen in all. 23 The son of Dan was Hushim. 24 The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem. 25 These are Bilhah’s sons, who Laban gave to Rachel, his daughter, and these she gave to Jacob; there were seven in all. 26 All the people who came with Jacob into Egypt, who were his direct descendants, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, all the people numbered sixty-six. 27 Joseph’s two sons who were born to him in Egypt. All the family members of the ‘descendants’ of Jacob who came into Egypt numbered seventy.

28 “He sent Judah before him to Joseph, to show the way before him to Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 Joseph got his chariot ready, and went up in Goshen to meet his father Israel. He presented himself to him, and ‘embraced’ him and cried. He ‘embraced’ him for a long while. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now I can die, since I’ve seen your face, and that you are still alive. 31 Joseph said to his brothers, and to his father’s house, “I’ll go up, and speak with Pharaoh, and tell him, “My brothers, and my father’s house, who were in the land of Canaan have come to me. 32 These men are shepherds, because they’ve tended livestock, and they’ve brought their flocks, and their herds, and everything that they have.” 33 Then, when Pharaoh summons you, and asks, “What is your occupation?” 34 you should answer, “Your servants have tended livestock from our youth until now, both we, and our ancestors,” so that you can settle in the land of Goshen, because all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.”

GENESIS 47

7 “Joseph brought in Jacob, his father, and set him before the Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed the Pharaoh. 8 The Pharaoh asked Jacob, “How many years have you lived?” 9 Jacob said to the Pharaoh, “The length of my pilgrimage has been one hundred and thirty years. The years of my life have been few and painful. But they don’t equal the lifespan of my ancestors, the duration of their pilgrimages.” 10 Jacob blessed the Pharaoh, and then left the presence of the Pharaoh. 11 Joseph placed his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as the Pharaoh had commanded. 12 Joseph provided his father and his brothers and his father’s entire household with food, according to the needs of their children.

13 “There was no bread in all the land, because the famine was very severe, the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan wasted away because of the famine. 14 Joseph gathered up all the silver that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan in exchange for the grain they were buying, and Joseph brought the silver into the Pharaoh’s house. 15 When the silver was all spent in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us bread, why should we die in your presence? Our silver is spent.” 16 Joseph said, “Give me your livestock, and I’ll give you food for your livestock, if your silver is gone.” 17 They brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds and for the donkeys, and he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year. 18 When that year was finished, they came to him a second year, and told him, “We won’t hide from my master how our silver is all spent, and the herds of livestock are my master’s. There is nothing left in the sight of my master, but our bodies, and our lands. 19 Why should we die before your very eyes, and our land go to waste? Buy us and our land for food, and we and our land will be in service to the Pharaoh. Give us seed so that we can live and not die, and so the land won’t be desolate. 20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for the Pharaoh, because every Egyptian man sold his field, since the famine was severe on them, and the land became the Pharaoh’s. 21 As for the people, he moved them to the towns from one end of the border of Egypt all he way to the other end of it. 22 But he didn’t buy the land of the priests, because the priests had a share from the Pharaoh, and ate their share that the Pharaoh gave them. That is why they didn’t sell their land.

23 “Then Joseph told the people, “I’ve bought you and your land today for the Pharaoh! Here is seed for you. You can sow the land. 24 At the harvest you must give a fifth to the Pharaoh, and four fifths will be for you, as seed for your field, for your households, and food for your little ones.” 25 They said, “You’ve saved our lives! May we find favor in our master’s sight, and we’ll be the Pharaoh’s servants.” 26 Joseph made it a permanent rule, still in effect today in the land of Egypt, that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh. Only the priests’ land did not become Pharaoh’s.

27 “The Israelites settled in the region of Goshen in Egypt. They acquired property there, were ‘prolific’, and increased greatly in number. 28 Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were one hundred forty-seven years. 29 The time was approaching that Israel would die, so he called his son Joseph, and told him, “If I’ve found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh [Targums: the place of my circumcision], and deal kindly and truly with me. Please don’t bury me in Egypt, 30 but when I rest with my ancestors, you must carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place.” He said, “I’ll do as you’ve said.” 31 He said, “Swear to me,” and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed in prayer at the head of the bed.

GENESIS 48

8 “Israel saw Joseph’s sons and said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, who Elohim has given me here. He said, “Please bring them to me, and I’ll bless them.” 10 Now Israel’s eyes were dim due to age, so that he couldn’t see. He brought them close to him, and he kissed them, and embraced them. 11 Israel said to Joseph, “I didn’t think I would see your face, and now Elohim has allowed me see your descendants as well!” 12 Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed with his face to the ground. 13 Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them close to him. 14 Israel reached out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim’s head, the younger one, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, because Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 He blessed Joseph and said, “May the Elohim who my fathers Abraham and Isaac 'lived for', the Elohim who has fed me all my life to this very day, 16 may the Messenger who has rescued me from all evil bless the lads, and may my name 'live on' in them, and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and may they multiply greatly thruout the earth.

17 “When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him. He held up his father’s hand, to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to his father, “Not so father. This is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head. 19 His father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He will also become a people, and he will also be great. However, his younger brother will be greater than he is, and his descendants will become a ‘commonwealth’ of nations. 20 He blessed them that day, saying, “In you Israel will bless, saying, ‘Elohim make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh’” He set Ephraim before Manasseh.

21 “Israel said to Joseph, “I’m dying, but Elohim will be with you, and bring you back to the land of your ancestors! 22 I gave you one more mountain ridge than your brothers. I took it from the Amorites with my sword and bow.”

GENESIS 49

Israel Blesses His Sons

3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength, and the very first of my virility, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. 4 Unstable as water, you won’t remain preeminent, because you climbed into your father’s bed and defiled it. He climbed up to my couch!

5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers. Their swords are weapons of violence. 6 May I never be present in their meetings. May my honor never be tarnished in their assemblies, because in their anger they’ve killed men, and on a whim they’ve hamstrung oxen. 7 May their anger be cursed because it’s so fierce; and may their fury be cursed because it’s so cruel. I’ll scatter them thruout the descendants of Jacob and scatter them in Israel.

8 “Judah, your brothers will praise you. You’ll grab your enemies by the neck. Your father’s sons will bow down to you. 9 Judah, you are a lion’s cub. You have returned from the kill, my son. He crouches and lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who will bother 'them'? 10 The scepter won’t depart from Judah, or decrees of law from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, the One all nations will obey. 11 He tethered his foal to a grapevine, and his donkey’s colt to a choice vine. He washes his clothes in wine, and his robes in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth are whiter than milk.

13 “Zebulun will reside by the coast. He’ll be for a haven for ships, and his territory will extend to Sidon.

14 “Issachar is like a strong donkey, crouching down between the sheepfolds [as guardians?]. 15 When he sees that the resting place is good and that the land is pleasant, he will lean his shoulder into the burden and become a slave laborer.

16 Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan will be a serpent along the way, an adder on the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that his rider falls off backwards. 18 I wait for Your deliverance, Yehovah.

19 “Gawd’s will be attacked by a marauding band, but he’ll strike back at their heels.

20 “Asher’s food will be rich. He’ll create royal delicacies.

21 “Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns.

22 “Joseph is a fruitful 'bough', a fruitful 'bough' near a spring; whose 'branches' run over a wall. 23 “The archers savagely attacked him, shot at him and pursed him viciously, 24 But his bow remained steady and his strong arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, by the 'name of' the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, 25 by the Elohim of your father, who will help you, by the Conqueror, who will bless you, with blessings from the heavens above, blessings from the depths below, blessings of the breasts and the womb. 26 “The blessings of your father have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors up to the furthest bounds of the everlasting hills. May they be on the head of Joseph,and on the crown of the head of the 'most' distinguished among his brothers.

27 “Benjamin is a 'ravenous' wolf. In the morning he devours his prey, and in the evening he divides the spoil.”

28 These are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father told them as he blessed each of them with the blessing most appropriate for them.

29 Then he gave them these instructions: “I’m about to join my ancestors. Bury me with my ancestors in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave in the field of Machpelah, 'near' Mamre in the land of Canaan, that Abraham bought along with the field from Ephron the Hittite as a burial place. 31 Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried there. Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried there, and I buried Leah there. 32 The field and the cave in it were purchased from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and joined his ancestors in death.

GENESIS 50

12 “His sons did for him just as he commanded them. 13 His sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, that Abraham bought along with the field as a burial site from Ephron the Hittite. 14 Joseph returned to Egypt”, he and his brothers, and everyone who went up with him to bury his father, once he had buried his father.

15 “When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Maybe Joseph will hate us, and retaliate for all of the evil that we did to him.” 16 They sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father commanded before he died: 17 ‘You must tell Joseph, “Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to you. Now, please forgive the disobedience of the servants of the Elohim of your father. Joseph cried when they told him. 18 His brothers also went and fell down before 'him', and they said, “We’re your servants. 19 Joseph asked them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in Elohim’s place? 20 As far as you’re concerned, you intended to harm me, but Elohim intended it for good, the present outcome, so that many lives would be saved. 21 So don’t be afraid. I’ll take care of your little ones. He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.

22 “Joseph lived in Egypt, he, and his father’s house. Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. 23 Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children, as well as the children who had been born to Manasseh’s son Machir, who were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees. 24 Joseph said to his brothers, “I’m dying, but Elohim will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land that He swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 25 Then Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath: “Elohim will certainly take care you, and then you are to carry my bones away from here.” 26 So Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years, and he was embalmed and put in a coffin in Egypt.

EXODUS 1

Chapters 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

8 “A new king rose to power over Egypt, who had not known Joseph. 9 He said to his people, “The Israelite people are more numerous and stronger than we are! 10 Let’s deal shrewdly with them, or they’ll multiply, and then when a war breaks out, they’ll side with our enemies, and fight against us, and escape from the land. 11 So they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with their burdens. They built storage towns for Pharaoh, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they oppressed them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out. So they came to dread the Israelites. 13 The Egyptians forced the Israelites to work hard 14 and they made their lives bitter with hard labor, in brick and mortar, and in all kinds of fieldwork. They ruthlessly imposed all their harsh labor on them.

15 “The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one was named Shiphrah, and another was named Puah, 16 and he said, “When you perform the duty of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthing stools, if it’s a son, you must kill him, but if it’s a daughter, allow her to live. 17 But the midwives feared Elohim, and didn’t do what the king of Egypt commanded them. They saved the baby boys lives. 18 The king of Egypt called for the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this, and saved the boys lives?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women aren’t like the Egyptian women, they are more vigorous. They give birth before the midwife comes to them. 20 Elohim favored the midwives, and the people increased in number and 21 then, because the midwives feared Elohim, he gave them families of their own. 22 Pharaoh commanded all his people, “You must throw every son born to you into the river, but you can save every daughter.

EXODUS 2

11 “Then in those days, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his brothers, and looked at their burdens. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers. 12 He looked this way and that, and when he saw that there was no one around, he killed the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. 13 He went out the next day, and saw two Hebrew men fighting with each other. He said to the one who was in the wrong, “Why are you striking your fellow?” 14 He replied, “Who made you a leader and a judge over us? Do you plan to kill me like you killed that Egyptian?” Moses was afraid and said, “Surely this thing is known. 15 Now when Pharaoh heard about it, he tried to have Moses killed. But Moses fled from Pharaoh’s presence, and lived in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well.

16 “The priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. 18 When they came to Reuel, their father, he said, “How is it that you’ve returned so early today?” 19 They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the grasp of the shepherds, and then he drew water for us, and watered the flock. 20 He said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why is it that you’ve left the man? Call him, so that he can eat something. 21 Moses was content to live with the man. He gave Moses Zipporah, his daughter. 22 She had a son, and he named him Gershom, because he said, “I’ve lived as a foreigner in a foreign land.

23 “After a long period of time the king of Egypt died, and the Israelites groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help, and their cry rose up to Elohim because of the slavery. 24 Elohim heard their groaning, and Elohim remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and Jacob. 25 Elohim saw the Israelites, and Elohim was concerned about them.

EXODUS 3

The Burning Bush

7 “Yehovah said, “I’ve seen the oppression of My people in Egypt, and have heard them crying out because of their taskmasters. I know how much they’re suffering. 8 I’ve come down to rescue them out of the grasp of the Egyptians, and bring them from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, the home of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites. 9 I’ve heard the cry of the Israelites and I’ve seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 Now go! I’m sending you to Pharaoh, so that you can bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt. 11 Moses asked Elohim, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, or that I should lead the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 He replied, “Certainly I’ll be with you, and this is the 'proof' that I sent you: When you’ve brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will serve Elohim on this very mountain. 13 Then Moses said to Elohim, “I am going to the Israelites, and I will tell them, “The Elohim of your ancestors has sent me to you.’ And when they ask me, “What is His name?’ What should I tell them?” 14 Elohim said to Moses, “I will be who I will be,” [an explanation] and He said, “You will tell the Israelites this I am [eternal] has sent me to you.’

15 “Elohim also said to Moses, “This is what you must say to the Israelites: “Yehovah, the Elohim of your ancestors, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name, My memorial name for all generations.’ 16 “Now go and gather the elders of Israel together, and tell them, “Yehovah, the Elohim of your ancestors, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has appeared to me. He said, “I’ve been watching closely, and I’ve seen what is being done to you in Egypt, 17 So I said I will bring you up out of misery in Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land that flows with milk and honey. 18 They’ll heed to what you say. Then you and the elders of Israel must go to the king of Egypt and tell him, “Yehovah, the Elohim of the Hebrews has met with us. Now please allow us go three days’ journey into the wilderness to offer zebakim [sacrifices] to Yehovah, our Elohim.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt won’t allow you to go unless a powerful hand forces him. 20 I’ll reach out My hand strike Egypt with all My miracles that I’ll perform among them. After that he’ll let you go. 21 I’ll grant these people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and then when you leave, you won’t leave empty-handed. 22 But every woman will ask her neighbor and the woman living in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you’ll put them on your sons, and on your daughters. You must plunder the Egyptians [for backpay].

[1] It’s apparent that ‘ancestors’ should be plural: Acts 7:32

EXODUS 4

10 “Moses said to Yehovah, “Oh, Yehovah, I’ve never been eloquent, not in the past or since You have spoken to your servant. I speak slowly and get tongue tied. 11 Yehovah told him, “Who made man’s mouth? Or who makes one mute, or deaf, or seeing or blind? Isn’t it I, Yehovah? 12 So go, and I’ll help you speak, and teach you what you should say. 13 He said, “Oh, Yehovah, please send someone else. 14 The anger of Yehovah burned against Moses, and He said, “What about your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. He is already coming out to meet you. He’ll be glad to see you. 15 You’ll speak to him, and put the words in his mouth. I’ll help both of you speak, and instruct you what to do. 16 He’ll serve as the spokesman to the people. He’ll serve as your mouth, and you’ll be like Elohim to him. 17 You’ll take this rod in your hand, with it you’ll perform the signs.

18 “Moses returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and told him, “Please let me go and return to my brothers who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive. Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace. 19 Yehovah told Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, because everyone who wanted to kill you is dead. 20 Moses took his wife and sons, and put them on a donkey, and returned to the land of Egypt. Moses took Elohim’s staff in his hand. 21 Yehovah told Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform all the miracles before Pharaoh that I’ve put within your 'power', but I’ll strengthen his resolve and he won’t let the people go. 22 Then you can tell Pharaoh, ‘This is what Yehovah said: Israel is My firstborn son, 23 and I’ve told you, “Let My son go, so that he can serve me,” and you’ve refused to let him go. Look, I’ll kill your son, your firstborn.

24 “Then on the way at a lodging place, Yehovah met Moses and wanted to kill him. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and threw it at his feet, and she said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me. 26 So He let him alone. Then she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.

27 “Yehovah told Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. He went, and met him on Elohim’s mountain, and kissed him. 28 Moses told Aaron all the words of Yehovah that he had sent him, and all the signs that He had commanded him to do. 29 Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the Israelites. 30 Aaron repeated everything that Yehovah had said to Moses, and performed the signs in the sight of the people. 31 The people believed, and when they heard that Yehovah had visited the Israelites, and that He had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.

EXODUS 5

6 “The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers: 7 “You will no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 You will require them to make the same number of the bricks as before. You won’t diminish anything of it, because they are idle, that’s why they cry, “Let us go and make and offer zebakim to our Elohim.’ 9 Give heavier work to the men, so that they can labor there, and don’t let them pay any attention to lies. 10 So the taskmasters of the people and their officers went out and they told the people, “This is what Pharaoh says, “I won’t give you straw. 11 Go get straw where you can find it, because none of your work load will be reduced.’” 12 So the people scattered abroad thruout all the land of Egypt to gather chaff for straw. 13 The taskmasters were urgent saying, “Fulfill your work quota daily, as when there was straw!” 14 The officers of the Israelites, who Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, “Why haven’t you fulfilled your quota either yesterday and today, in making brick as before?” 15 Then the officers of the Israelites came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, “Why are you treating your servants this way? 16 No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, “Make brick!’ and your servants are being beaten, but the fault is in your own people. 17 But he said, “You are idle! You are idle! So you say, “Let us go and offerzebakim to Yehovah.’ 18 Go back to work, because you won’t be given any straw, but you must produce the same number of bricks!”

19 “The officers of the Israelites saw that they were in trouble, when they were told, “You must not lessen any of your daily quotas of bricks!” 20 They met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came from Pharaoh, 21 and they told them, “May Yehovah look at you, and judge, because you’ve made us a stench to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hands to kill us. 22 Moses returned to Yehovah and said, “Yehovah, why have You brought trouble on these people? Why did You send me? 23 Since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble on these people, and You have done nothing at all to rescue Your people.”

EXODUS 6

2 “Elohim spoke to Moses, and told him, “I am Yehovah. 3 I appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as the Conqueror, but I did not reveal My name Yehovah to them. 4 I also established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land they lived in as foreigners. 5 I’ve heard the groaning of the Israelites, who are now slaves to the Egyptians. and I’ve remembered My covenant. 6 So tell the Israelites:, “I am Yehovah, and I’ll bring you out from under the oppression of the Egyptians. I’ll free you from their slavery, and I’ll redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 Then I’ll claim you as My own people, and I’ll be your Elohim, and you’ll realize that I am Yehovah your Elohim, who brought out from under the forced labor of the Egyptians. 8 I’ll bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I’ll give it to you as a heritage. I am Yehovah. 9 Moses told this to the Israelites, but they refused to listen to Moses. They had become too discouraged by their cruel slavery.

10 “Yehovah told Moses: 11 Go in and speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, ask him to let the Israelites leave his land. 12 Moses spoke before Yehovah, “Look, the Israelites haven’t listened to me. So why would the Pharaoh listen to me, a man with uncircumcised lips?” 13 Yehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them a command to the Israelites, and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.

14 “These are the heads of their fathers’ houses. The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron/*8 and Carmi, these are the families of Reuben. 15 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, Jachin, Zohar and Shaul son of a Canaanite woman, these are the families of Simeon. 16 These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath and Merari, and the years of the life of Levi were one hundred thirty-seven years. 17 The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families. 18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel, and the years of the life of Kohath were one hundred thirty-three years. 19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations. 20 Amram took Jochebed his father’s sister to himself as his wife, and she gave birth to Aaron and Moses for him, and the years of the life of Amram were a hundred and thirty-seven years. 21 The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg and Zichri. 22 The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, and Elzaphan and Sithri. 23 Aaron took Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, as his wife, and she gave birth to Nadab and Abihu for him, Eleazar and Ithamar. 24 The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah and Abiasaph, these are the families of the Korahites. 25 Eleazar Aaron’s son took one of the daughters of Putiel for his wife, and she cgave birth to Phinehas for him. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites according to their families. 26 It was the same Aaron and Moses, who Yehovah said, “Bring out the Israelites from the land of Egypt by their family groups.” 27 They are the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the Israelites from Egypt. It was that Moses and Aaron.

28 “Then on the day when Yehovah spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 Yehovah told Moses, “I am Yehovah. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt everything that I tell you. 30 Moses said to Yehovah, “Since I am so unskilled in speech; why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

EXODUS 7

8 “Yehovah told Moses and Aaron: 9 “When Pharaoh tells to you, “Perform a miracle,” then you’ll tell Aaron, “Take your rod, and throw it down before Pharaoh, and it will become a dragon *. 10 Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did what Yehovah had commanded, and Aaron threw down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a dragon. 11 Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers. The magicians of Egypt did the same thing by their enchantments. 12 Every one of them threw down his rod, and they became dragons, but Aaron’s rod swallowed their rods. 13 Pharaoh’s mindset was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them, as Yehovah had foretold.

14 “Yehovah told Moses, “Pharaoh is very stubborn. He refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning. Then when he goes out to the water, you’ll stand by the river bank to meet him, and you’ll take in hand the rod that was turned into a dragon 16 You’ll tell him, “Yehovah, the Elohim of the Hebrews, has sent me to you to say, “Let My people go, so they can serve Me in the wilderness,” even tho you haven’t listened as yet. 17 This is what Yehovah says, “This is how you’ll realize that I am Yehovah. I’ll strike the water in the Nile with the rod in my hand, and it will turn into blood. 18 The fish in the river will die, and the river will become foul, and the Egyptians will be loathe to drink water from the river.” 19 Yehovah told Moses, “Tell Aaron, “Take your rod, and stretch out your hand over the water of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water, so that they will become blood, and there will be blood thruout all the land of Egypt, both in utensils of wood and in utensils of stone. 20 Moses and Aaron did as Yehovah commanded, and he lifted up the rod, and struck the water in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants, and all the water in the river was turned into blood. 21 The fish in the river died, and the river became foul, and the Egyptians couldn’t drink water from the river. The blood was thruout the entire land of Egypt. 22 The magicians of Egypt did the same thing with their enchantments, and Pharaoh’s mindset was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them, as Yehovah had said. 23 Pharaoh turned and went into his house. He didn’t even take this into consideration. 24 All the Egyptians dug around the river for water to drink, because they couldn’t drink of the water from the river. 25 Seven days had passed, after Yehovah had struck the river.

EXODUS 8

16 “Yehovah told Moses: Tell Aaron ’Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the earth, so that it becomes lice thruout all the land of Egypt.” 17 They did so. Aaron reached out his hand with his rod, and struck the dust of the earth, and there were lice on the people and the animals, all the dust of the earth became lice thruout all the land of Egypt. 18 The magicians tried with their enchantments to produce lice, but they couldn’t. There were lice on the people and the animals. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of Elohim,” but Pharaoh’s mindset was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them, as Yehovah had predicted.

20 “Yehovah told Moses: Get up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and as he comes out to the water, andtell him, “This is what Yehovah says: “Let My people go, so that they can serve Me. 21 Otherwise, if you won’t let My people go, I’ll send swarms of flies on you, and your servants, and your people, and into your houses, and the houses of the Egyptians will be full of swarms of flies, and also on the ground where they’re standing. 22 I’ll set apart the land of Goshen in that day, where My people are living, so that no swarms of flies will be there. This way you will realize that I, Yehovah, am here in the land. 23 I’ll distinguish between My people and yours. This sign takes place tomorrow.” 24 Yehovah did so, and there was a heavy mixture of flies in Pharaoh’s house, in his servants’ houses, and thruout the land of Egypt the land was ruined because of the swarms of stinging flies. 25 Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, present an offering to your Elohim in the land!” 26 Moses said, “It isn’t appropriate to do so, because we’d be offering the abomination of the Egyptians to Yehovah our Elohim. Should we be offering the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and wouldn’t they stone us? 27 We must go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and present an offering to Yehovah our Elohim, as He commanded us. 28 Pharaoh said, “I’ll let you go, so that you can present an offering to Yehovah your Elohim in the wilderness, but you must not go very far away. Pray for me. 29 Moses said, “I’ll leave you, and I’ll pray to Yehovah for the swarms of flies to leave Pharaoh, your servants, and your people tomorrow. But Pharaoh must not act deceptively again by refusing to allow the people to go and offer zebakim to Yehovah. 30 Moses left Pharaoh, and prayed to Yehovah. 31 Yehovah did what Moses had said, and He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, his servants, and his people. Not one remained. 32 But Pharaoh hardened his 'resolve' again, and he didn’t let the people go.

EXODUS 9

The Fifth Plague

8 “Yehovah told Moses and Aaron, “Take 'some' handfuls of ashes from a furnace, and have Moses toss it into the air where Pharaoh can watch. 9 It will become fine dust over the entire land of Egypt, causing festering boils on man and beast thruout the land of Egypt.” 10 So they took ashes from a kiln and stood in front of Pharaoh, and Moses tossed it up into the air and it produced boils on man and beast. 11 The magicians couldn’t stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians. 12 Yehovah hardened Pharaoh’s 'resolve', and he didn’t listen to them, just as Yehovah had predicted to Moses.

13 Then Yehovah told Moses, “Get up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what Yehovah, the Elohim of the Hebrews, says: Let My people go, so that they can worship Me. 14 This time I’ll send all My plagues against you and your officials andt your people. Then you’ll know that there is no one like Me on earth. 15 By now I could have reached out My hand struck you and your people with a plague, and you would have been eradicated from the earth. 16 But the reason I’ve 'spared' you, is to show you My power, and make My name known thruout the earth. 17 You are still interfering with My people by not letting them go. 18 So tomorrow about this time I’ll 'send down' the worst hailstorm that has ever been seen in Egypt from the day it was founded until now! [Today we use exclamation points instead of “Beholds”.] 19 So send a warning that all of your livestock and everything you have in the fields needs to be brought into the houses. Every man and beast still outside in the fields and not brought in will die when the hail falls on them.” 20 The servants of Pharaoh who believed the Word of Yehovah quickly had their servants and their livestock brought into the houses. 21 Anyone who didn’t believe the Word of Yehovah left their servants and livestock in the fields. 22 Then Yehovah told Moses, “Reach out your hand toward the sky so that hail will fall all over the land of Egypt on man and beast, and on all the vegetation in the fields thruout the land of Egypt. 23 Moses reachhed out his rod toward the heavens, and Yehovah sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed struck the earth. Yehovah rained hail on the land of Egypt. 24 So there was hail, and lightning flashing continually with the extremely heavy hail, such as had never occurred anywhere in the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 The hail struck every part of the land of Egypt, everything in the fields, both man and beast, and the hail beat down all the vegetation in the fields and devastated every tree. 26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, there was no hail.

27 Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and told them, “I’ve sinned this time. Yehovah is the Righteous One, and I and my people are the guilty ones. 28 Appeal to Yehovah. We’ve had enough of Elohim’s thunder and hail. I’ll let you go; you don’t need to stay any longer.” 29 Moses told him, “As soon as I leave the city, I’ll reach out my hands to Yehovah. The thunders will cease, and there won’t be any more hail. Then you’ll know that the earth is Yehovah’s. 30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you still don’t fear Yehovah Elohim. 31 (The flax and the barley were destroyed, since the barley was aviv, and the flax was budding. 32 But the wheat and the spelt were not destroyed, since they ripen later.) 33 Then Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city. He spread out his hands to Yehovah, and the thunder and hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured down on the earth. 34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder was over, he sinned again, he and his officials hardened their 'resolve'. 35 The mindset of Pharaoh was hardened, and he didn’t let the Israelites go, just as Yehovah had predicted thru Moses.

EXODUS 10

21 “Yehovah told Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, so that there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness that can be felt”! 22 Moses reached out his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. 23 They couldn’t see each other, and no one moved around for three days, but all the Israelites had light in their homes. 24 Pharaoh called to Moses and said, “Go, serve Yehovah. Only leave your flocks and your herds behind. Even your little ones can go with you. 25 But Moses said, “You must also allow us to take our animals for zebakim [sacrifices] and burnt offerings, to 'present' to Yehovah our Elohim. 26 Our livestock must also go with us. Not one hoof will be left behind, because we must take them to serve Yehovah our Elohim, and we won’t know what we will need to serve Yehovah until we get there. 27 But Yehovah hardened Pharaoh’s mindset, and he wouldn’t let them go. 28 Pharaoh told him, “Don’t ever let me see your face again, because on the day you see my face, you’ll die!” 29 Moses said, “You have spoken well. I’ll never see your face again.

EXODUS 11

[1] Literally “people at your feet”

EXODUS 12

The Month of Passover

[1] execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt. I am Yehovah. 13 The blood will serve as a sign on the houses where you are. When I [not some “death angel”] see the blood, I’ll skip [compare to Tyndale] over you, so that no devastation will destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

14 “This day will serve as a memorial. You must celebrate [chagag] it as a Pilgrimage Feast [chag] to Yehovah, a perpetual regulation. 15 ‘You must eat unleavened bread for seven days. On the first day [Preparation day] you must remove the leaven from your houses, because anyone who eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh day will be ‘banished’ from Israel. 16 On the first day you must have a kadosh congregation, and on the seventh day another kadosh congregation. No work will be done on those days, other than making your meals. That’s all you can do. 17 You must celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because on this commemorative day I brought you out of the land of Egypt like an army. So you’ll celebrate this day thruout your generations, by an regulation forever. 18 In the first month, from the evening of the fourteenth day of the month until the evening of the twenty-first day of the month, you must eat unleavened bread. 19 For seven days there is to be no leavening found in your houses. Whoever eats anything leavened will be excluded from the congregation of Israel, whether a foreigner, or native-born. 20 You are not to eat anything leavened; in all your dwellings you are to eat unleavened bread.

21 “Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and told them, “Go, select lambs from your flocks for your families, and kill the Passover. 22 Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood in a basin, and brush the lintel and both sides of the door frame with the blood from the basin. None of you are to go thru the doorway of your house until morning, 23 because Yehovah [1] will go thruout Egypt to kill the Egyptians, and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on both sides of the door frame, Yehovah will pass over the doorway, and won’t allow the destruction to enter your houses and destroy you. 24 You must observe this event as a perpetual regulation for you and to your descendants. 25 Once you’ve entered the land that Yehovah will give you, as He has promised, you’ll commemorate this ceremony. 26 And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 27 Tell them, ‘It’s the Passover zebak [sacrifice] to Yehovah, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt, when He struck the Egyptians, and spared our houses.’” Then the people knelt down and worshiped. 28 Then the Israelites went and did this; they did exactly what Yehovah had commanded Moses and Aaron.

29 At midnight, Yehovah 'killed' every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner in a dungeon, and every firstborn of the livestock. 30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud crying thruout Egypt, because there wasn’t a house without someone dead. 31 During the night he called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Get up, get away from my people, both you and the Israelites, and go, worship Yehovah, as you asked! 32 Take your flocks and your herds, as you asked, and leave, and also bless me!” 33 The Egyptians urged the people, to leave the land in a hurry, because they said, “We’re all going to die!” 34 So the people picked up their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls wrapped in clothing carried on their shoulders. 35 The Israelites had done [not “did”] as Moses had instructed. They had asked the Egyptians for their silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. 36 Yehovah had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, and they handed over whatever they asked for, and they stripped Egypt of its wealth.

37 “The Israelites traveled from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, plus all the women and children. 38 Many other people went with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock. 39 They baked unleavened cakes with the dough they brought from Egypt. It wasn’t leavened, because they were quickly forced out of Egypt, and didn’t have time to prepare food for themselves. 40 Now the length of time that the Israelites lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 Then at the end of the 430 years, that commemorative day [2], all of Yehovah’s people marched out of the land of Egypt like an army. 42 It is a night of vigil toward Yehovah, enabling them to leave the land of Egypt. So this same night is a night of vigilance to be celebrated by all of Israel to honor Yehovah; an annual vigil by all of Israel for the generations to come.

43 “Yehovah told Moses and Aaron, “These are the regulations for the Passover. No foreigner is allowed to eat it, 44 any man’s slave you have purchased with silver can eat it after you have circumcised him. 45 No temporary resident or hired worker can eat it. 46 It is to be eaten in a single house. Never take any of the meat outside the house or break any of the bones. 47 The entire congregation of Israel must celebrate it. 48 If a foreigner temporarily residing among you wants to celebrate the Passover to Yehovah, then all of his males must be circumcised, then he can participate and celebrate it, and he’ll be just like someone who was born in the land, but no uncircumcised person can eat it. 49 The same instructions apply to the native-born and the foreigner who resides among you.”

50 All the Israelites did just what Yehovah had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 On that commemorative day, Yehovah brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by their divisions. [3]

[1] Pulpit Commentary: “Compare verses 12, 13 [to verse 23] which are closely followed. The only important difference is, the new expression, "[Yehovah] will not suffer the destroyer to come in," which has generally been regarded as implying, that the actual agent in the killing of the first-born was a "destroying angel." But it is to be noted that elsewhere Yehovah himself is everywhere spoken of as the sole agent; and that in the present passage the word used has the meaning of "destruction" no less than that of "destroyer."

[2] This “reveals that the Exodus from Egypt began on the very anniversary of when [Yehovah] formally and irrevocably confirmed the Covenant by oath with Abram, the same occasion in which a prophecy of the Exodus was given, four centuries earlier! Many have assumed this reference in Exodus 12:41 suggests the Children of Israel left Egypt ON the same day they ate the Passover. Though these two things were in close proximity, that wasn’t the point at all!”

[3] This 2 hour Youtube presentation on the physical evidence of the Exodus is almost convincing enough for me to buy the book, but then, I don’t even own most of the books I’ve written.

EXODUS 13

3 “Moses told the people, “Remember this day-the day you marched out of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, because by a powerful hand Yehovah brought you out of there. (Remember, don’t eat any leavened bread.) 4 Today, in the month Aviv, you’re leaving. 5 Then when Yehovah brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites and the Jebusite, that He swore to your ancestors to give you, a land that flows with milk and honey, you are to observe this ceremony in this month: 6 You’ll eat unleavened bread for seven days, and on the seventh day there will be a Feast to Yehovah. 7 Unleavened bread will be eaten thruout the seven days, and no leavened bread should be seen with you. No leavening should be seen anywhere in your territory. 8 You’ll tell your son on that day, “It’s because of what Yehovah did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 9 This annual commemoration will serve as a sign on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, so that the Torah of Yehovah must remain on your ‘lips’, because Yehovah brought you out of Egypt with a strong hand. 10 You’ll celebrate this regulation at the appointed time from year to year. 11 Then when Yehovah brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and to your ancestors, and gives it to you, 12 then you’ll dedicate the first offspring of every womb to Yehovah. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to Yehovah’s. 13 Every firstborn of a donkey you’ll redeem with a lamb, and if you don’t redeem it, then you must break its neck, and you must redeem every firstborn among your sons. 14 “Then when your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is this?’ You’ll tell him, ‘ With a powerful hand Yehovah brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. 15 When Pharaoh too stubborn to let us go, Yehovah killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, the firstborn of man and beast alike. So we offer zebakim [sacrifices] to Yehovah all the firstborn males, but all the firstborn of our sons we redeem.’ 16 So this commemoration will be like a sign on your hand, and like a symbol on your forehead, because by a powerful hand Yehovah brought us out of Egypt.

17 “Then once Pharaoh had let the people go, Elohim didn’t lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, altho that was close, because Elohim said, “Perhaps the people will change their minds when they see war, and they will return to Egypt,” 18 but Elohim led the people around by way of the wilderness by the Red Sea, and the Israelites went up armed out of the land of Egypt. 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, because he had made the Israelites swear, “Elohim will surely visit you, and you’ll carry my bones away from here with you. 20 They took their journey from Succoth, and camped in Etham, at the edge of the wilderness. 21 Yehovah went before them during the day in a columnar cloud, to lead them on their way, and at night in a column of fire, to give them light, so that they could travel by day and by night. 22 The columnar cloud was always with the people during the day, as was the column of fire at night .

EXODUS 14

5 “When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants changed their 'minds' about them, and they said, “What have we done by releasing our Israelite slaves?” 6 He made ready his chariot, and took his army with him, 7 and he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over all of them. 8 Yehovah hardened the 'resolve' of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he chased after the Israelites as the Israelites were leaving triumphantly. 9 The Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his cavalry, and his army, and overtook them as they camped by the sea at Pihahiroth next to Baal Zephon. 10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching toward them, and they were very afraid. The Israelites cried out to Yehovah. 11 They told Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this way, by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we tell you in Egypt, “Leave us alone so that we can serve the Egyptians?’ It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness. 13 Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand there and watch Yehovah save you today, because the Egyptians you have seen today, you will never see again. 14 Yehovah will fight for you; just remain silent.

14 “Yehovah said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it, and the Israelites will advance into the sea on dry ground. 17 I’ll harden the 'resolve' of the Egyptians, and they’ll go in after them, and I’ll gain honor over Pharaoh, and over all his armies, over his chariots and over his cavalry. 18 The Egyptians will realize that I am Yehovah, when I’ve gained honor over Pharaoh, over his chariots and over his cavalry.

19 “The Messenger of Elohim, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them, and the columnar cloud moved from before them, and stood behind them. 20 It came between the Egyptian camp and the Israelite camp. There was the cloud and there was darkness, yet 'the cloud' lit up the night [for Israel][for Israel], and they remained separated all night.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and Yehovah swept the sea back by the power of his spirit[1] all night, turning the seabed into dry ground, and the water was divided. 22 The Israelites advanced into the sea on the dry ground, and the water formed walls to them on their right and their left. 23 The Egyptians set out in pursuit, and all of Pharaoh’s horses, his war-chariots and his charioteers followed them into the sea. 24 Then during the morning watch, Yehovah looked down on the Egyptian army thru the column of fire and cloud, and threw the Egyptian camp into confusion. 25 He made their chariot wheels fall off so that they could barely move, so the Egyptians shouted, “Let’s get away from the Israelites, because Yehovah fighting for them against the Egyptians!”

26 Yehovah told Moses, “Reach out your hand over the sea, so that the water overwhelmed the Egyptians, their chariots and their charioteers.” 27 Moses reached out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its previous state at daybreak. As the Egyptians were trying to escape, Yehovah tossed the Egyptians into the sea. 28 The water returned, and covered the chariots and the cavalry,including Pharaoh’s entire army that pursued them into the sea. Not even one of them remained. 29 But the Israelites walked on dry ground thru the sea, and the water was like walls to them on their right and their left. 30 So Yehovah saved Israel that day from the grip of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the impressive handiwork of Yehovah toward the Egyptians, and the people feared Yehovah, and they believed in Yehovah and His servant Moses.

[1] His spirit, not the wind. A wind strong enough to blow out the sea would have blasted Israel from the banks first! A wind strong enough to dry the mud alone, not to mention the sea, would have been far stronger than any hurricane.

EXODUS 15

5 “He has throw Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea. His elite officers sank in the Red Sea. 5 The deep water covered them. They sank to the depths like a stone. 6 Yehovah, Your right hand is majestic in power. Yehovah, Your right hand smashes the enemy. 7 In the greatness of Your excellency, You overthrew those who rose up against You. You sent out Your wrath. It consumed them like chaff. 8 With a blast of Your nostrils, the flowing water piled up. The floods stood up like a dam. The deep water congealed in the middle of the sea. 9 The enemy said, “I’ll pursue. I’ll overtake. I’ll divide the spoil. My desire will be satisfied on them. I’ll draw my sword, my hand will destroy them.’ 10 You blew with Your breath, and the sea covered them. [Fitted with armor] they sank like lead in the 'raging' water.

11 “Who among the elohim is like You, Yehovah? Who is like You, splendidly kadosh, fearful in praises and performing miracles? 12 You reached out Your right hand. The earth swallowed them. 13 In Your faithful love. You led the people that You’ve redeemed. You’ve guided them in Your strength to Your kadosh habitation. 14 The people have heard. They tremble. Pangs have taken hold of the inhabitants of Philistia. 15 Then the leaders of Edom were dismayed. Trembling took hold of the warriors of Moab. All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. 16 Terror and dread falls on them. By the greatness of Your arm they are as still as a stone” until Your people pass over, Yehovah, until the people You bought pass by. 17 You’ll bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, the place, Yehovah, that You’ve made for Yourself to live in, the Temple, Yehovah, that Your hands have established. 18 Yehovah will reign forever and ever.

19 “The horses of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his cavalry into the sea, and Yehovah brought back the water of the sea on them, but the Israelites walked on dry land amid the sea.

20 “Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. 21 Miriam answered, “Sing to Yehovah, because He is highly exalted. He hurled horses and their riders into the sea.”

22 “Moses led Israel away from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur. They traveled three days in the wilderness without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they couldn’t drink from the water of Marah, because it was bitter. So they named it Marah. 24 The people murmured against Moses, saying, “What will we drink?” 25 Then he cried to Yehovah. Yehovah showed him a tree, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There he made a permanent rule and an regulation for them, and there he tested them. 26 He said, “If you’ll carefully obey the voice of Yehovah your Elohim, and do what is right in His sight, and pay attention to His Commandments, and obey all His unchanging tenets, I’ll never make you suffer any of the diseases I made the Egyptians suffer, because I, Yehovah, am your healer.”

27 “They came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water, and seventy palm trees, and they camped there by the water.

EXODUS 16

4 “Then Yehovah said to Moses, “I’ll rain bread from the sky for you, and the people will go out and gather a day’s share every day, so that I can test them, to see if they’ll walk in My Torah, or not! 5 Then on the sixth day, they’ll prepare what they bring in, and it will be twice as much as they gather daily. 6 Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “This evening you’ll know that Yehovah has brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning, you’ll see the splendor of Yehovah, because He hears your murmuring against Yehovah. Who are we, that you grumble against us?” 8 Moses said, “Now Yehovah will give you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to satisfy you, because Yehovah hears you murmuring against Him. And who are we? Your murmuring isn’t against us, but against Yehovah.

9 “Moses said to Aaron, “Tell the entire congregation of Israelites, “Come before Yehovah, because He has heard your murmuring.’ 10 Then, as Aaron spoke to the entire congregation of Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness, and saw the splendor of Yehovah appearing in the cloud. 11 Yehovah told Moses, 12 I’ve heard the murmuring of the Israelites. Tell them, “At evening you’ll eat meat, and in the morning you’ll be filled with bread, and you’ll realize that I am Yehovah your Elohim. 13 Then that evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a blanket of dew surrounding the camp. 14 When the dew lying there had had vanished, they saw on the surface of the wilderness small round things, as small as frost on the ground.

15 “When the Israelites saw it, they said one to another, “What is it?” They didn’t know what it was. Moses told them, “It is the bread that Yehovah has given you to eat. 16 This is what Yehovah has commanded, “Everyone gather as much as you need to eat, an omer a head, according to the number of your persons, you’ll take it, every man for those who are in his tent. 17 The Israelites did as they were told. Some gathered more, some less. 18 When they measured it with an omer, the one who gathered much had nothing left over, and the one who gathered little didn’t run out. Everyone gathered exactly what they needed to eat. 19 Moses told them, “No one should leave any of it until morning. 20 But they didn’t listen to Moses. Some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms, and began to stink, and Moses was angry with them. 21 So they gathered as much as they needed every morning, and when the sun got hot, it melted.

22 “On the sixth day they gathered twice as much 'food'—two omers apiece, and all the leaders of the congregation reported it to Moses. 23 He told them, “This is what Yehovah said, “Tomorrow is a Sabbath congregation, a Sabbath kadosh to Yehovah. Bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil, and anything that is left over you can set aside until morning.’ 24 They laid it aside until morning, as Moses asked, and it didn’t become foul, and there were no worms in it. 25 Moses said, “Eat that today, because today is a Sabbath to Yehovah. You won’t find any on the ground today. 26 Six days you’ll gather it, but the seventh day is the Sabbath. There won’t be any then. 27 Then on the seventh day, some of the people went out to gather, and they found none. 28 Yehovah told Moses, “How long will you refuse to obey My Commandments and My instructions?? 29 Yehovah has given you the Sabbath, so He gives you enough bread for two days on the sixth day! Everyone is to remain where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 “The House* of Israel called it Manna. It was like coriander seeds, white, and it tasted like wafers with honey. 32 Moses said, “This is what Yehovah has commanded, “Keep an omer-full of it thruout your generations, so that they can see the bread that I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’ 33 Moses said to Aaron, “Take a pot, and put an omer-full of manna in it, and lay it aside before Yehovah, to be kept thruout your generations 34 as Yehovah had commanded Moses, so Aaron placed 'the manna' before the Testimony [1], to be preserved. 35 The Israelites ate the manna for forty years, until they came to an inhabited land. They ate manna until they reached the border of the land of Canaan. 36 Now an omer is a tenth of an ephah.

[1] The two stone tablets that the Ten Commandments were written on: Exodus 34:28

EXODUS 17

8 “Then Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Yehoshua, “Choose men for us, and go out, and with Elohim’s rod in my hand. 10 So Yehoshua did as Moses had told him, and fought with Amalek, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 Then when Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands were heavy, and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on the one side, and the other on the other side. His hands were steady until sunset. 13 So Yehoshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

14 “Yehovah told Moses, “Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Yehoshua, that I’ll completely blot out any memory of Amalek from under the sky. 15 Moses built an altar, and named it, “Yehovah Is My Banner.” 16 He said, “Yah has sworn, “Yehovah will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

EXODUS 18

13 “Then the next day Moses settling the people’s disputes, and the people surrounded Moses from morning until evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw how he dealt with the people, he asked, “What is this you do for the people? Why are you sitting here alone to judge, and all the people standing around you from morning until evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “The people come to me to inquire of Elohim. 16 When they have an issue, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I explain the unchanging tenets of Elohim, and His laws. 17 Moses’ father-in-law told him, “What you are doing isn’t good. 18 You’ll surely wear away, both you, and the people with you, because this is too heavy a burdenfor you. You aren’t able to perform it yourself alone. 19 So listen to me. I’ll give you counsel, and Elohim be with you. You represent the people before Elohim, and bring the issues to Elohim. 20 You must teach them the unchanging tenets and the laws, and show them the way that they must ‘live’, and the work that they must do. 21 You should select from all the people able men fear Elohim, men of truth, hating unjust gain, and place them over them to be leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties and leaders of tens. 22 They should judge the people virtually every time. But the more difficult matters they should bring to you, but every small matter they must judge themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they’ll share the load with you. 23 If you do this, and Elohim commands you so, then you’ll be able to endure, and all of these people also will go to their place in peace.

24 “So Moses listened to what his father-in-law said, and did everything that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men all over Israel, and made them leaders over the people, leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, and leaders of tens. 26 They judged the people virtually every time, and they brought the difficult issues to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. 27 Moses let his father-in-law leave, and he went back to his own land.

EXODUS 19

Israel at Mount Sinai

9 “Yehovah told Moses, “I will come to you in a thick cloud, so the people can hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever! Then Moses told the words of the people to Yehovah. 10 Yehovah said to Moses, “Go to the people, and dedicate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing, 11 and be ready for the third day, because on the third day Yehovah will come down on Mount Sinai in view of all the people. 12 Put boundaries for the people all around and say: “Be careful not to go up onto the mountain or touch the border of it. Anyone who touches the mountain must be put to death. 13 No one should lay a hand on them [intervene]. They must be stoned or shot thru with arrows, whether man or animal they must not live.’ When the Jubilee shofar sounds a long blast, they must come up to the mountain. 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and set the people apart, and they washed their clothes. 15 He said to the people, “Be ready by the third day. Don’t have sexual relations with a woman.

16 “On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning with a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud shofar sounded. Everyone in the camp was trembling with fear. 17 Moses led the people out of the camp to meet Elohim, and they stood at the base of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was entirely covered in smoke, because Yehovah descended on it in fire and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. 19 As the sound of the shofar escalated more intensely, Moses spoke, and Elohim replied to him. 20 Yehovah came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. Then Yehovah summoned Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up. 21 Then Yehovah told Moses, “Go down and warn the people not to break thru to see Yehovah to gaze, or many of them will die. 22 The priests who approach Yehovah should also dedicate themselves, or Yehovah will break out in judgment against them.” 23 Moses said to Yehovah, “The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai, because You warned us, ‘Set barriers around the mountain, and consider it kadosh.’” 24 Then Yehovah told him, “Go down and bring Aaron back with you. But don’t allow the priests and the people to break thru to come up to Yehovah, or He will break out in judgment against them. 25 So Moses went down to the people and reminded them.

EXODUS 20

The Ten Commandments

18 “Everyone heard thunder and saw the lightning, and heard the sounding of a shofar, and saw the mountain smoking. When they saw all this, they trembled, and stood off in the distance. 19 They told Moses, “Speak to us yourself, and we’ll listen, but don’t have Elohim speak with us or we’ll die. 20 Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid, because Elohim has come to test you, so that the fear of Him will 'remain' with you to keep you from sinning.” 21 The people stood at a distance while Moses approached the thick darkness where Elohim was.

22 “Yehovah told Moses, “This is what you are to tell the Israelites, “’You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from the sky. 23 Don’t ever make any gods to rival Me. Don’t make gods of silver or gods of gold for yourselves.

24 “You must build an earthen altar for Me, and offer on it your zebakim [sacrifices] and your fellowship offerings, your sheep and your cattle. I’ll come to you and bless you anywhere I cause My name to be remembered. 25 If you build an altar for Me, you must not build it with cut stones. If you use any tools on it, you will make it profane. 26 You must never go up to My altar on steps, or your nakedness would be exposed on it.’

[1] Pictures of the Messiah? Disclaimer

[2] The Ten Commandments are not suggestions, mere “words”. Yeshua made an offer you can’t refuse: If you want to live, keep the Commandments! Matthew 19:16-19; Mark 10:17-22; Luke 18:18-23; Revelation 22:14. This will “get your foot in the door”, but you can do even better.

EXODUS 21

12 “Anyone who strikes a man so that he dies will surely be put to death, 13 but not if it’s unintentional, but if Elohim allows it to happen, then I’ll appoint you a place where he’ll flee. 14 If someone plans and carries out the murder of his neighbor, you must take him even from My altar and put them to death. 15 Anyone who attacks his father or his mother must certainly be put to death. 16 “Whoever kidnaps someone, whether he has sold them or they are found in his possession, must certainly be put to death. 17 Anyone who curses his father or mother must certainly be put to death.

18 “If men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone, or with his fist, and he doesn’t die, but is confined to bed, 19 if he rises again and walks around with his staff, then he who struck him will be cleared, only he must pay for the loss of his time, and provide for his healing until he is completely healed. 20 If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and they dies under his hand, he must certainly be punished. 21 But, if he gets up after a day or two, he won’t be punished, because he is his property. 22 “If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows, the 'offender' must pay whatever fine the woman’s husband demands and the judges allow. 23 But if there is any further injury, the penalty is a life for a life, 24 an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, 25 a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound and a bruise for a bruise. 26 If a man strikes his male or female slave in the eye, and the eye is blinded, he must let the slave go free in compensation for the eye. 27 And if he knocks out the tooth of his male or female slave, he must let the slave go free in compensation for the tooth.

28 “If a bull gores a man or a woman to death, the bull must certainly be stoned, and its flesh must not be eaten, but the owner of the bull won’t be held responsible. 29 But if the bull had a habit of goring in the past, and it has been testified to its owner, and he hasn’t kept it in, but it has killed a man or a woman, the bull will be stoned, and its owner will also be put to death. 30 But if payment is demanded, he can save his life by paying the full amount demanded of him. 31 Even if it gores a son or gored a daughter, he will be dealt with by this same ruling. 32 If the bull gores a male servant or a female servant, thirty shekels of silver will be given to their master, and the ox will be stoned.

33 “If a man opens a pit, or if a man digs a pit and doesn’t cover it, and a bull or a donkey falls into it, 34 the owner of the pit must make restitution; he must give silver to its owner, and the dead animal will be his. 35 If one man’s bull injures another’s, and it dies, then they’ll sell the live bull, and divide its price, and they’ll also divide the dead animal. 36 Or if it’s known that the bull was in the habit of goring in the past, and its owner hasn’t kept it in, he must certainly pay bull for bull, and the dead animal will be his own.

EXODUS 22

5 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be eaten, and lets his animal loose, and it grazes in another man’s field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field, and from the best of his own vineyard. 6 If fire breaks out, and catches in thorns so that shocks of grain or standing grain or a field is incinerated, the one who kindled the fire must certainly make restitution.

7 “If a man delivers to his neighbor silver or stuff to keep, and it’s stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief is found, he’ll pay double. 8 If the thief isn’t found, then the master of the house will come near to Elohim, to find out if he hasn’t put his hand to his neighbor’s goods. 9 For every offense involving property, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing or for any kind of lost property, and someone claims, ’That’s mine,’ the case between the two parties is to come before the judges [elohim]. He who the judges pronounce guilty must pay double to his neighbor. 10 If a man delivers a donkey to his neighbor, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies or is injured, or driven away, and there are no witnesses, 11 the oath of Yehovah will be between them both, whether he hasn’t put his hand to his neighbor’s goods, and its owner will accept it, and he won’t make restitution. 12 But if it’s stolen from him, he’ll make restitution to its owner. 13 If it’s torn in pieces, he should bring it as evidence. He won’t make good what was torn. 14 If a man borrows anything from a neighbor and it is damaged, or dies, its owner not being with it, he’ll surely make restitution. 15 If its owner is with it, he won’t make it good. If it was rented, the loss 'is covered by' the rental price.

16 “If a man entices a virgin who isn’t pledged to be married, and lies with her, he’ll surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife. 17 If her father completely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay in silver the equivalent of the dowry of virgins.

18 “You must not allow a sorceress to live. 19 Whoever has sex with an animal must certainly be put to death. 20 Anyone who offers an offering to any god, other than Yehovah, will be completely destroyed. 21 You must never mistreat or oppress a foreigner. 'Remember', you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. 22 Never take advantage of a widow or orphaned child. 23 If you take advantage of them in any way, and they cry out to Me, I’ll surely hear their cry, 24 and My wrath will grow hot, and I’ll kill you with a sword, and your wives will be widows, and your children orphans. 25 If you lend silver to any of My people with you who is poor, you must not treat him as a creditor, or charge him interest. 26 If you take your neighbor’s garment as collateral, you must return it to him before the sun goes down, 27 because that is his only covering, it’s his garment for his skin. What would he sleep in? Then, when he cries to Me, I’ll hear, because I’m merciful. 28 You won’t blaspheme Elohim, or curse a ruler of your people.

29 “You must not postpone an offering from your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. You must give the firstborn of your sons to Me. 30 You must do the same with your cattle and your sheep. Seven days it will be with its mother, then on the eighth day you’ll give it to Me. 31 You will be kadosh men to Me, so you must not eat any flesh that is torn by animals in the countryside. You must throw it to the dogs.

EXODUS 23

Land Sabbaths

10 “You can sow your fields for six years and harvest the crops, 11 but during the seventh year you are to let it rest and lie fallow, so the poor of your people can eat whatever grows there, and what they leave the wild animals can eat. You must do the same with your vineyards and olive groves. 12 Six days you can do your work, and on the seventh day you must stop [working], so that your oxen and your donkeys can rest. The slaves born in your household and foreigners can also rest. 13 Be careful to do everything that I’ve told you, and never memorialize the names of other gods [demons] or let them be heard from your ‘lips’. 14 Three times a year you must celebrate a Feast to honor Me. 15 You must celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, during the appointed time in the New Moon of Aviv [green ears of barley], because that’s when you came out from Egypt. No one should appear before Me empty handed. 16 Also celebrate the Harvest Feast of Firstfruits [Pentecost] of your labor from what you sow in the fields, and the Harvest Feast at the end of the agrarian [Barnes] year, once you’ve harvested your crops from the fields. 17 Three times each year all the men must appear before the Sovereign Yehovah. 18 You must never offer the blood of My zebak with leavened bread, and the fat from My Feast should never remain all night until morning. 19 Bring the first of the firstfruits of your land into the 'Temple' of Yehovah your Elohim. You must never boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.

20 “I’m going to send a Messenger ahead of you to protect you along the way, and to bring you to the place that I’ve prepared! 21 Pay close attention to Him and do what He says. Don’t defy Him, because He won’t pardon your disobedience, since My name resides in Him. 22 But if you pay close attention to Him and do everything I say, then I’ll be an enemy of your enemies, and an adversary of your adversaries. 23 My Messenger will go ahead of you, and bring you into the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, and I’ll wipe them out. 24 You must never bow down to their gods, or serve them, or imitate their behavior. Instead, you must completely defeat them and smash their sacred pillars. 25 You must serve Yehovah your Elohim, and He’ll bless your food and your water, and I’ll remove sickness from among you. 26 No one will miscarry or be barren in your land; I’ll ensure that you live your full number of days. 27 I’ll send My terror ahead of you, and throw into confusion every nation you confront. I’ll make all your enemies turn their backs to you and flee. 28 I’ll send hornets ahead of you that will drive the Hivites, the Canaanites and the Hittites 'away from' you. 29 I won’t drive them out ahead of you in a single year, otherwise the land would become desolate, and the wild animals would 'overwhelm' you. 30 Little by little I’ll drive them out ahead of you until you’re numerous enough to take possession of the land. 31 I’ll establish your borders from the Red Sea all the way to the ‘Mediterranean’ sea, and from the ‘Sinai Desert’ to the Euphrates River, because I’ll hand the inhabitants of the land over to you, and you’ll drive them out of your 'way'. 32 You must never make any treaties with them or their gods. 33 They must not live in your land, or they’ll cause you to sin against Me. If you serve their gods you’ll be trapped in a snare.

EXODUS 24

Israel Accepts the Yehovah’s Covenant

9 “Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 and THEY SAW the Elohim of Israel. Under His feet was something like a 'floor' made of lapis lazuli [“sapphire”], as clear as the sky itself. 11 He didn’t raise His hand against the leaders of the Israelites. They saw Elohim, and they actually ate and drank!

12 “Yehovah told Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain, and stay here, and I’ll give you the stone tablets with the Torah and the commandments that I’ve written for their instruction.” 13 Moses set out with his assistant Yehoshua, and Moses climbed up Elohim’s Mountain. 14 He told the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. Aaron and Hur are with you! Whoever is involved in a legal dispute should 'consult' them. 15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The splendor of Yehovah settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day He called to Moses from inside the cloud. 17 To the Israelites, the appearance of the splendor of Yehovah looked like a blazing fire on the summit of the mountain. 18 Moses entered the cloud, and climbed the mountain, and Moses stayed on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

EXODUS 25

10 “Make an Ark of acacia wood. Its length is to be two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half in height. 11 Overlay it with pure gold. Overlay it inside and outside, and make a gold molding around it. 12 Cast four gold rings for it, and put them in its four feet. Two rings on one side of it, and two rings on the other side. 13 Make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 14 Put the poles into the rings on the sides of the Ark to carry the ark. 15 The poles must stay in the rings of the ark. They aren’t be removed from it. 16 Put the Tablets of the Testimony [1] that I will give you into the ark. 17 Make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two and a half cubits in length, and a cubit and a half wide. 18 Make two cherubim of hammered gold. Make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 Make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end. Make the cherubim on its two ends of a single piece with the mercy seat. 20 The cherubim will spread out their wings upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, facing one another. The faces of the cherubim will be toward the mercy seat. 21 Put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and put the Testimony that I give you in the ark. 22 There I’ll meet with you, and I’ll tell you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the Ark of the Testimony, everything that I command you for the Israelites.

23 “You are to make a table of acacia wood. It will be two cubits long, and a cubit wide and one and a half cubits high. 24 Overlay it with pure gold, and put a gold molding around it. 25 Make a rim of a handwidth around it. You’ll make a gold molding on the rim around it. 26 Make four gold rings for it, and put the rings in the four corners that are on its four feet. 27 The rings will be close to the rim, as places for the poles to carry the table. 28 Make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, so the table can be carried with them. 29 Make its dishes, its spoons, its ladles, and its bowls to pour out offerings with. You’ll make them of pure gold. 30 Continuously set the bread of the Presence on the table before Me.

31 “Make a menorah of pure gold. Its base, its stem, its cups, its buds and its petals must be hammered from the same piece. 32 Six branches are to extend from the sides; three branches of the menorah from one side and three branches of the menorah from the other side. 33 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and petals are to be on the first branch, and three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and petals on the next, and so on for all six branches extending from the menorah, 34 and in the menorah four cups shaped like almond blossoms, with buds and petals, 35 with a bud under the first pair of branches extending from it, and a bud under the next pair of branches coming from it, and so on for all six branches extending from the menorah. 36 The buds and branches must be hammered from the same piece of pure gold. 37 Then make seven lamps, and elevate the lamps so they illuminate the space in front of it. 38 Its snuffers and trays must also be made of pure gold. 39 ‘The menorah’ and all these accessories will be made from a talent of pure gold. 40 Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain.

[1] The two stone tablets that the Ten Commandments were written on: Exodus 34:28

EXODUS 26

The Tabernacle Drapery

7 “You are to make drapes of goat’s hair for a canopy over the Tabernacle. You are to make eleven drapes in all. 8 Each drape is to be thirty cubits long and four cubits wide. The eleven drapes will all have the same measurements. 9 Join five of the drapes together into one set and the other six into another set. Then fold the sixth drape double at the front of the tabernacle. 10 Make fifty loops on the edge of the one drape that is outermost in the set, and fifty loops on the edge of the drape that is outermost in the second set. 11 Then make fifty bronze clasps, and put them in the loops of the drapes with the clasps so that it is one continuous unit. 12 The overlapping part that is left over from the drapes of the tabernacle, the half drape that is left over is to hang down the back of the Tabernacle. 13 The cubit on one side, and the cubit on the other of what is left over in the length of the drapes of the tabernacle is to hang over the sides of the tabernacle on either side to cover it. 14 You are to make a covering for the tabernacle of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of fine leather [?] above.

15 “Then you are to make the vertical planks for the Tabernacle of acacia wood. 16 The length of each plank is to be ten cubits, and the width of each plank is to be one and a half cubits, 17 with two dovetails in each plank fitting them together. Cut all the planks of the Tabernacle the same way. 18 Cut twenty planks for the south side of the Tabernacle 19 and make forty silver bases to go under the twenty planks—two bases for each plank, one under 'each' dovetail. 20 and for the second side of the Tabernacle, the north side, cut twenty planks, 21 and along with their forty bases of silver, two bases 'under each plank'. 22 For the back side of the Tabernacle, to the west, cut six planks. 23 Cut two planks for the corners of the Tabernacle at the far end. 24 They are to be joined together beneath, and joined together at the top by a single ring. So it should be for both of them; they will form the two [rear] corners. 25 There are to be eight planks with their sixteen silver bases—two bases under 'each plank'. 26 Then you are to cut five crossbars of acacia wood for the planks on one side of the Tabernacle, 27 and five crossbars for the planks on the other side of the Tabernacle, and five crossbars for the planks on the far side of the Tabernacle to the west. 28 The center crossbar is to run from one end to the other down the middle of the planks. 29 Then overlay the planks with gold, and make gold rings to brace the crossbars, and overlay the crossbars with gold. 30 “Set up the Tabernacle according to the plan that you were shown on the mountain.

31 “Make a canopy of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen with cherubim woven into it by a skilled craftsman. 32 Use gold hooks to hang it on four acacia wood posts overlaid it with pure gold, standing on four silver bases. 33 Hang the canopy under the clasps, and bring the Ark of the Testimony in there within the canopy, and the canopy will separate the Kadosh Place from the Most Kadosh Place. 34 Put the mercy seat on the Ark of the Testimony in the Most Kadosh Place. 35 Then set the table outside the canopy, and the menorah on the south side of the Tabernacle, opposite the table; put the table on the north side.

36 “For the doorway to the Tabernacle make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and spun linen—the work of an embroiderer. 37 Make five posts of acacia wood for the screen and overlay them with with gold, also make their hooks of gold, and cast five bronze bases for them.

EXODUS 27

The Bronze Altar

9 “Make a courtyard for the Tabernacle. The south side of the courtyard is to have curtains of finely spun linen, a hundred cubits long for one side; 10 with twenty posts set in twenty bronze bases. The hooks and bands on the posts must be made of silver. 11 Likewise for the north side in length there will be curtains one hundred cubits long, with twenty posts set in twenty bronze bases. The hooks and bands on the posts must be made of silver. 12 “The west end of the courtyard will be fifty cubits wide and have curtains hung from ten posts 'set in' ten bases. 13 The width of the court on the east side eastward will be fifty cubits. 14 The curtains for one side will be fifteen cubits with three posts 'set in' three bases. 15 And make the curtains on the other side fifteen cubits long hung from three posts 'set in' three bases. 16 For the gate of the courtyard there will be a screen twenty cubits long, made of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely woven linen, the work of an embroiderer—with four posts and four bases. 17 All the pillars around the court should be banded together with silver, their hooks made of silver, and their bases made of bronze. 18 The length of the court is to be one hundred cubits, and the width fifty cubits thruout, and the height five cubits, made of finely spun linen and bases of bronze. 19 All of the equipment used in the service of the Tabernacle, including all the tent pegs for the courtyard, must be made of bronze.

20 “Command the Israelites provide you with virgin oil from crushed olives for the light, in order to keep the lamp burning continually. 21 In the Tabernacle of the Congregation, outside the veil in front of the Ark of the Testimony, Aaron and his descendantst are to tend the lamps from evening until morning before Yehovah. This is to be a perpetual permanent rule for the Israelites thruhout their generations.

EXODUS 28

The Priestly Array

15 “Make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skilled craftsman, with the same workmanship as the ephod. Make it of gold, blue, purple and scarlet yarnyarn, and of finely spun linen. 16 It must be square and folded double, a span long and a span wide. 17 You are to mount four rows of precious stones on it. The first row will be ruby, topaz and emerald. 18 and in the second row a turquoise, lapis lazuli [“sapphire”] and a diamond [?]; 19 and in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; 20 and in the fourth row a beryl, an onyx and a jasper mounted in gold filigree. 21 The stones will correspond to the names of the sons of Israel, each must be engraved like a signet ring with the name of one of the twelve tribes. 22 Make on the breastplate of pure gold braided chains, resembling ropes. 23 Make two gold rings for the breastplate, and attach the two rings to the two corners of the breastplate. 24 Then attach the two gold cords to the two rings on the corners of the breastplate. 25 You must put the other two ends of the two cords on the two filigree settings, attaching them to the shoulder 'straps' of the ephod in the front. 26 Make two gold rings, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its inside edge next to the ephod. 27 Make two gold rings, and fasten them to the bottom of the shoulder straps on the front of the ephod, close to the seam, above the exquisitely woven waistband of the ephod. 28 Bind the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord, so it can be on the exquisitely woven waistband of the ephod, so that the breastplate won’t swing out from the ephod. 29 Aaron will carry the names of the Israelites in the breastplate of judgment over his heart when he enters the Kadosh Place as a continuing reminder before Yehovah. 30 Place the Urim and Thummim into the breastplate of judgment, so it will remain on Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before Yehovah, and Aaron will carry the [means of] judgment of the Israelites over his heart before Yehovah continually.

31 “You are to make the robe of the ephod entirely blue. 32 Make an opening at the top in the center. It must have a woven collar around the opening, like the opening on a coat of armor, so that it doesn’t tear. 33 'Sew' pomegranates made of blue, purple and scarlet yarn all around the hem with gold bells between them, 34 so that golden bells and pomegranates 'alternate' around the hem of the robe. 35 It must be worn by Aaron whenever he serves as priest. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters and leaves the Kadosh Place before Yehovah, so that he doesn’t die.

36 “Make a plate of pure gold and engrave it as you would a signet ring: “KADOSH TO YEHOVAH.’ 37 Fasten it on the front of the turban with a blue chord. 38 It must remain on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron will remove the guilt of the kadosh things, that the Israelites are making kadosh with all their kadosh offerings. It must always be on his forehead, so that they will be acceptable to Yehovah.

39 “Weave the checkered tunic of fine linen and make a turban of fine linen. Have an embroiderer make the sash.

40 “You must make tunics, sashes, and headbands for Aaron’s sons for splendor and refinement. 41 Put them on your brother Aaron, and on his sons; then anoint them, commission them and have them dedicated to serving Me as priests. 42 “Make them linen undergarments to cover their 'skin', reaching from the waist to the thigh. 43 Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tabernacle of the Congregation, or when they approach the altar to serve as priests in the Kadosh Place, so they don’t incur guilt and die. It will be a perpetual permanent rule for him and for his future descendants.

EXODUS 29

Dedication of the Priests

10 “Then bring the bull before the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and Aaron and his sons will lay their hands on the bull’s head. 11 Then slaughter the bull in Yehovah’s presence at the entrance to the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 12 Then take some of the bull’s blood and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 13 Take all the fat that covers the inner organs, the long lobe of the liver, both kidneys and the fat on them, and burn it all on the altar. 14 But burn the bull’s flesh and its hide and its refuse outside the camp; it’s a sin offering.

15 “Next Aaron and his sons must lay their hands on the head of a ram, 16 then slaughter the ram and take its blood and sprinkle it around on the altar. 17 Then cut the ram into pieces and wash its inner organs and its legs, and put them with its pieces and its head. 18 Burn the whole ram on the altar as a burnt offering to Yehovah, a pleasing aroma, an offering by fire to Yehovah.

19 “Then take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons will lay their hands on the ram’s head. 20 Slaughter the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear and on the lobes of his sons’ right ears and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet, and sprinkle the rest of the blood against the sides of the altar. 21 Then take some of the blood on the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle them on Aaron and on his clothes and on his sons and on his sons’ clothes; so that he’ll be kadosh, as well his clothing, and his sons, and his sons’ clothing. 22 Also take some of the ram’s fat, the fat tail, the fat that covers the inner organs, the long lobe of the liver, both kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh (because it’s a ram of 'dedication'), 23 and one loaf of bread, one cake bread made with oil, and one wafer from the basket of unleavened bread that is set before Yehovah. 24 Place all of these in Aaron’s hands, and in the hands of his sons’s hands and wave them as a wave offering before Yehovah. 25 Then you must take them from their hands, and offer them up in smoke on the altar as a sweet and soothing incense before Yehovah. It’s an offering by fire to Yehovah. 26 Then take the breast of Aaron’s ram of dedication, and wave it as a wave offering before Yehovah, and it will be your share. 27 Dedicate the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering that was presented from the ram contrabuttion, from the one that was for Aaron and from the one thet was for his sons. 28 It will be for Aaron and his sons as their share forever from the Israelites, because it’s a wave offering. It is the contribution the Israelites are to make to Yehovah from their fellowship zebakim.

29 “Aaron’s kadosh clothing will belong to his descendants so that they can be anointed and dedicated. 30 The son who is priest in his place should wear them for seven days when he enters the the Tabernacle of the Congregation to minister in a kadosh place. 31 Then take the ram of dedication, and boil its flesh in a Kadosh Place. 32 Aaron and his sons will eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread in the basket, at the doorway of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 33 They are to eat the things that atonement was made for to announce and dedicate them. No one else should eat them because they are kadosh. 34 If any of the dedicated flesh or bread remains in the morning you must burn it 'up'. It shouldn’t be eaten because it’s kadosh.

35 “This is what you are to do for Aaron and his sons, based on everything I’ve commanded you. Take seven days to 'commission' them. 36 Every day you must offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement, and purify the altar when you make atonement for it and anoint it to dedicate it. 37 For seven days you must make atonement for the altar and dedicate it. The altar will be most kadosh, and whatever touches the altar will be kadosh.

38 “Now this is what you are to offer on the altar: two year old lambs, each day continuously. 39 Offer one lamb in the morning and a second lamb between the two evenings. 40 With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of pressed olive oil, and a quarter of a hin of wine for a wine offerings with the 'other' lamb. 41 Offer the other lamb between the evenings, along with the same offerings of flour and wine as in the morning, as a soothing aroma, an offering by fire presented to Yehovah. 42 It is to be a continual burnt offering thruout your generations at the doorway of the Tabernacle of the Congregation before Yehovah, where I’ll meet with you and speak to you. 43 I’ll meet with the 'people' of Israel there, and the place will be made kadosh by My splendor. 44 I’ll dedicate the Tabernacle of the Congregation and the altar. I’ll also dedicate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests. 45 I’ll live among the 'people' of Israel and be their Elohim. 46 They’ll realize that I am Yehovah their Elohim who brought them out of the land of Egypt, so that I could live among them. I am Yehovah their Elohim.

EXODUS 30

11 “Yehovah told Moses: 12 “When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, then each man must pay a ransom for his life to Yehovah as he is counted, to prevent any plague among them when you count them. 13 They’ll give this: everyone who passes over to those who are counted, half a shekel after the shekel of the Temple, (the shekel is twenty gerahs,) half a shekel for an offering to Yehovah. 14 Everyone counted from twenty years old and over, must give this contribution to Yehovah. 15 The rich won’t give more, and the poor won’t give less than half a shekel, when you give your offering to Yehovah, to make atonement for yourselves. 16 You must take the atonement silver from the Israelites, and use it for the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, so that it will serve as a memorial for the Israelites before Yehovah, to make atonement for yourselves.

17 “Yehovah told Moses: 18 “You must also make a bronze basin, and its base of bronze to wash with. Put it between the Tabernacle of the Congregation and the altar, and put water in it. 19 Aaron and his sons will wash their hands and their feet in it. 20 When they go into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, they must wash with water, so they don’t die, or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn an offering by fire to Yehovah. 21 So they’ll wash their hands and their feet so they don’t die, and it will be a perpetual permanent rule to them, to him and to his descendants thruout their generations.

22 “Yehovah told Moses: 23 “Also take fine spices, of liquid myrrh, five hundred shekels, and Ceylon cinnamon half as much—two hundred and fifty, and kaneh bosem—two hundred and fifty, 24 and cassia five hundred, like the shekel of the Temple, and a hin of olive oil. 25 Make it a kadosh anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be a kadosh anointing oil. 26 Use it to anoint the Tabernacle of the Congregation, the Ark of the Testimony, 27 the table and all its articles, the menorah and its accessories, the incense altar, 28 the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils and the basin with its base. 29 Dedicate them, so that they’ll be most kadosh. Whatever touches them will be kadosh. 30 Anoint Aaron and his sons, and dedicate them, so that they can serve Me in the priest’s office. 31 Tell the Israelites, “This will be a kadosh anointing oil to Me thruout your generations. 32 It must not be poured on anyone’s body, and you are not to make any like it using the same formula. It’s kadosh, and you must consider it kadosh. 33 Whoever blends any like it, or whoever puts any of it on an immigrant must be cut off from their people.’”

34 “Yehovah told Moses, “Take fragrant spices, gum resin, onycha, galbanum; the fragrant spices with pure frankincense, each of equal weight, 35 and make incense from it, the work of a perfumer, seasoned with salt, very kadosh. 36 Grind some of it into very finely, and put some of it before the Testimony in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, where I’ll meet with you. It will be most kadosh to you. 37 Never make any incense for yourselves in the same proportions. It is to be regarded by you as kadosh to Yehovah. 38 Anyone who makes any like it to enjoy the fragrance must be cut off from their people.”

EXODUS 31

12 “Yehovah told Moses: 13 “Tell the Israelites: “Most certainly you must keep My Sabbaths, because it’s a sign between Me and you thruout your generations, so you’ll realize that I am Yehovah who makes you kadosh. 14 You’ll keep the Sabbath, because it’s kadosh to you. Everyone who profanes it will surely be put to death, because whoever does any work there, that person will be removed from the people. 15 Work can be done for six days, but on the seventh day there must be a Sabbath of complete rest, kadosh to Yehovah. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death. 16 The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath day—'celebrate' the Sabbath—thruout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It’s a sign between Me and the Israelites forever, because Yehovah made heaven and earth in six days, and on the seventh day He stopped working and was refreshed.”

18 “When he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two Tablets of the Testimony, stone tablets inscribed by the finger of Elohim.

EXODUS 32

7 “Yehovah told Moses, “Get down, because your people, who you brought out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves! 8 They’ve turned aside quickly from the way that I commanded them. They’ve made themselves a molten calf and have worshiped it, and have made offerings to it and said, “This is your god, Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 9 Yehovah told Moses, “I’ve seen these people, they are a 'headstrong' people! 10 So leave Me alone, so that My wrath can burn hot against them, and so I can incinerate them, and I’ll make you [your descendants into] a great nation. 11 Moses begged Yehovah his Elohim and said, “Yehovah, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people who you’ve brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, “He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains, and to wipe them off the face of the earth?’ Turn from your fierce fury, and reconsider harming Your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac and Israel, your servants. You swore by Yourself, and told them, “I’ll multiply your descendants like the stars of the sky, and all this land that I’ve spoken of I’ll give to your descendants, and they’ll inherit it forever. 14 So Yehovah reconsidered the disaster He said He would bring on His people.

15 “Moses turned, and went down from the mountain with the two Tablets of the Testimony in his hand. They were inscribed on 'both sides, front and back'. 16 The tablets were the work of Elohim, and the writing was the writing of Elohim engraved on the tablets. 17 When Yehoshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is the noise of war in the camp. 18 He said, “It isn’t the sound of people shouting for victory, or the sound of those crying for being overcome, but the sound of people singing that I hear. 19 Then as soon as he came near the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing, and Moses’ anger grew hot, and he threw the tablets from his hands, and broke them beneath the mountain. 20 He took the calf that they had made, and burnt it with fire, ground it to powder and scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink it. 21 Moses said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you’ve brought such a great sin against them?” 22 Aaron said, “Master don’t allow your anger to get hot. You know the people, how they are set on being bad. 23 They told me, “Make us gods to go before us, because as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.’ 24 I told them, “Whoever has any gold should take it off,’ so they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.

25 “When Moses saw that the people were 'out of control', (because Aaron had let them get 'out of control' to their shame among their enemies), 26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Whoever is on Yehovah’s side, come to me! ” All the sons of Levi gathered together to him. 27 He told them, “This is what Yehovah, the Elohim of Israel says: “Every man put his sword on his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate thruout the camp, and every man kill his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’ 28 The sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses, and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. 29 Moses said, “Announce yourselves today to Yehovah, yes, every man against his son, and against his brother, so that he can bestow on you a blessing today.

30 “Then the next day, Moses told the people, “You have sinned a great sin. Now I’ll go up to Yehovah. Perhaps I’ll make atonement for your sin. 31 So Moses returned to Yehovah and said, “Oh, these people have committed a serious sin. They have made themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, if you will, remove their sin” and if not, then blot me out of the book that You’ve written. 33 Yehovah told Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me will be blotted out of My book. 34 Now go, lead the people to the place that I told you about. My Messenger will lead you! But on the day when I visit for punishment, I’ll punish them for their sin. 35 Yehovah struck the people, because of what they did with the calf that Aaron had made.

EXODUS 33

Moses Sees Yehovah’s Back

7 “Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far away from the camp, and he called it “The Tabernacle of the Congregation”. Everyone who wanted to consult Yehovah went outside the camp to the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 8 Then when Moses went out to the Tabernacle, all the people got up and stood by at the entrances of their tents and watched Moses until he had gone into the Tabernacle. 9 Then when Moses entered the Tabernacle, the columnar cloud descended, and stationed at the door of the Tabernacle, and Yehovah would speak with Moses. 10 When all the people saw the columnar cloud stationed at the entrance of the Tabernacle, all the people would get up and worship, each at the entrance to their own tents. 11 Yehovah would speak to Moses face to face, the way a person speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his assistant, the young man Yehoshua, son of Nun, stayed inside the tent.

12 Moses said to Yehovah, “You’ve been telling me to lead these people, but you haven’t let me know who You’ll send with me. You also said, ‘I know you by name, and you’ve found favor in My sight. 13 So if I’ve been pleasing in Your sight, please teach me Your ways, so I can know You better, and continue to find favor in Your sight. Consider that this nation is Your people.” 14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I’ll give you rest.” 15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence doesn’t go with us, don’t make us leave this place. 16 How will anyone ever know You’re pleased with Your people and me? Isn’t it Your Presence among that us sets Your people and me apart from all other people on the face of the 'earth'?” 17 Yehovah told Moses, “I’ll do what you’ve asked, because I’m pleased with you, and I know you by name.

18 “He said, ‘Please let me see Your splendor.” 19 He said, “I’ll cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and proclaim before you My name, Yehovah. I’ll show favor to anyone I want to, and I’ll be compassionate with anyone I want to. 20 But” He said, “You can’t see My face, because no one can see Me and live.”[1] 21 Then Yehovah said, “Look, there’s a place next to Me where you can stand on the rock. 22 Then, while My splendor passes by, I’ll put you in a crevice in the rock, and cover you with My hand until I’ve passed by, 23 then I’ll take away My hand, and you’ll see My back, but you won’t see My face.”

[1] Every single reference in the Torah, the Writings and the Prophets about “the Messenger of Yehovah” is a reference to the pre-incarnate Yeshua, and it is still largely a wonderful “secret”. This was a very unusual “face to face” of Moses and the 70 with the pre-incarnate Yeshua. It shouldn’t be all that surprising that the ancients thought that a personal visit from Yehovah, or the Messenger of Yehovah, was a death sentense. Here are some of the reasons for the fear: In 2 Kings 19:35 the Messenger of Yehovah killed 185,000 Assyrians. In Judges 5:23 we read: “Curse Meroz,’ said the Messenger of Yehovah. ‘Severely curse its inhabitants, because they didn’t come to the aid of Yehovah, to aid Yehovah against the valiant warriors!” Isaiah said (6:1,5): “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw Yehovah sitting on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of His robe filled the 'Temple'...5 Then I said, “How dreadful for me, I’m ruined! I’m a man with unclean lips, and I live among people with unclean lips, and I’ve seen Commander Yehovah with my own eyes!” In Judges 17 there is a lengthy account: 17 “Then Manoah asked the Messenger of Yehovah, “What is Your name, so that we can honor You when Your 'announcement' comes true?” 18 The Messenger of Yehovah replied, “Why are you asking for My name? It’s a secret.”... 20 As the flames from the altar ascended skyward from the altar, the Messenger of Yehovah ascended in the flame. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell face down on the ground. 21 When the Messenger of Yehovah was no longer visible to Manoah or his wife, Manoah realized that He was the Messenger of Yehovah. 22 So Manoah said to his wife, “We’re going to die, because we have seen Elohim.” The future won’t be all that different: In Zechariah 14:3-4, 12 Then Yehovah [the Son] will go out and wage war against those nations, as He previously fought in battle! And when this day arrives, His [Yeshua’s (Jesus’s)] feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will be split in two, from east to west, forming a very large valley, [Elohim is on Mt. Zion, Isaiah 10:12] so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south...12 This is the plague that Yehovah will strike all the nations that have fought against Jerusalem with: Their flesh will rot away while they are still standing on their feet, and their eyes will rot away in their sockets, and their tongues will rot away in their mouths. And Malachi added (3:1-2): I’ll send My messenger, and He’ll prepare the way before Me, and the Sovereign who you’re looking for will suddenly come to His 'Temple', the Messenger of the covenant, who you desire. He’s coming, says Commander Yehovah. 2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can 'survive' when He appears? He is like a refiner’s fire, and like launderer’s soap.” Then here things start to change: Revelation 21:3 “I heard a loud voice from the sky say, “Look, Yehovah’s tabernacle [dwelling place] is among humanity [Gr. anthropos]. He will live with them and they’ll be His people, and Yehovah will be with them, yes Yehovah Himself will be with them.” In the end: Revelation 22:4 They’ll see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.”

EXODUS 34

The Covenant Re-established

10 “He said, “I’ll make a covenant, before all your people I’ll do 'miracles', such as have never been done anywhere on earth or in any nation, and all the people where you are will see the work of Yehovah, because it’s an awesome thing that I’ll do with you!

11 “Observe what I command you today. I’ll drive out before you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites! 12 Be careful that you don’t make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, or it will be a snare among you. 13 But break down their altars, and smash their pillars to pieces, and you must cut down their Asherah poles, 14 because you’ll worship no other god, for Yehovah, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous Elohim. [Large Resh] 15 Don’t make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, otherwise they will practice prostitution after their gods, and ze’bak [sacrifice] to their gods, and someone might invite you eat some of his zebak, 16 and you might take some of his daughters for your son, and their daughters might practice prostitution after their gods, and make your sons practice prostitution after their gods. 17 Never make molten idols for yourselves. 18 You must celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread.For seven days you must eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of the Aviv, because in the month of the Aviv you came out of Egypt. 19 The firstborn from every womb is Mine, and all your male livestock, the firstborn of cattle and sheep. 20 You must redeem with a lamb the firstborn of your donkeys; and if you don’t redeem it, then you must break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one will appear before Me empty-handed. 21 You will work six days, but on the seventh day you must rest, even at plowing time and in harvest you’ll rest. 22 You must celebrate the Feast of Weeks with the of the wheat harvest, and the Harvest Feast annually at the end of the agricultural cycle. 23 Three times in the year all your males are to appear before the Sovereign Yehovah, the Elohim of Israel. 24 I’ll drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no one will covet your land when you go up to appear before Yehovah, your Elohim, three times a year. 25 You must not offer the blood of My zebak with leavened bread, and none of the ‘meat’ of the Feast of the Passover can be kept until morning. 26 “You will bring the very first of the firstfruits of your ground to Yehovah your Elohim’s 'Temple'. “You must never boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

27 Yehovah told Moses, “Write down these words, because in accordance with these words I’ve made a covenant with you and with Israel. 28 He was there with Yehovah forty days and forty nights; he ate no bread and drank no water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

29 “Then Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in Moses’ hand. When he came down from the mountain, Moses didn’t realize that the skin on his face shone because he had spoken with Him. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, with the skin on his face shining, they were afraid to come near him. 31 Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them all of the Commandments that Yehovah had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses was finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But when Moses went in before Yehovah to speak with him, he would take off the veil until he came out. Whenever he came out, he would tell the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 the Israelites would see that Moses’ face was shining, and Moses put the veil back on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him.

[1] See Gill’s. The Sopherim (Jews) deleted Yehovah’s name here and 133 other places, and replaced it with Adonai. Acknowledging Two Yehovah’s was too much for them.

EXODUS 35

4 “Moses spoke to the entire congregation of the Israelites and said, “This is what Yehovah commanded: 5 ‘Take from among you an offering to Yehovah. Whoever is willing should bring it as Yehovah’s contribution: gold, silver, bronze, 6 blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, 7 rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, 8 olive oil for lighting, and spices for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense, 9 and onyx stones and other stones to be mounted on the ephod and the breastplate. 10 ‘Any skilled craftsmen among you should come and make everything Yehovah has commanded: 11 the Tabernacle, its outer covering, its roof, its clasps, its planks , its bars, its pillars, and its bases, 12 the ark, and its poles, the mercy seat, the veil of the screen, 13 the table with its poles and all its utensils, and the showbread, 14 the menorah with its utensils, its lamps and the olive oil for the light; 15 and the incense altar with its poles, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the doorway at the entrance of the Tabernacle; 16 the altar of burnt offering, with its bronze grating, it poles, and all its utensils, the basin with its stand, 17 the curtains of the courtyard with its pillars and their bases, and the screen for the gateway to the courtyard; 18 the pegs of the Tabernacle and the pegs of the court, and their ropes; 19 the finely woven garments for ministering in the Kadosh Place, the kadosh clothing for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.”

20 “Then the whole Israelite congregation left Moses’ presence. 21 Everyone who was willing came and whose spirit prompted him brought Yehovah a contribution, for the work of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and for all of its service and for the kadosh clothing. 22 All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings and signet rings and bracelets. They all presented their gold as an offering to Yehovah. 23 Everyone who had blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red or fine leather [?] brought them. 24 Everyone who could make an offering of silver or bronze brought it as Yehovah’s offering, and everyone who owned acacia wood for any aspect of the service brought it. 25 Every 'skilled' woman spun yarn by hand, and brought what they had spun, blue and purple and scarlet fabric or fine linen. 26 All the women who were moved and had the skill spun the goats’ hair. 27 The leaders brought the onyx stones, and the gemstones to be mounted on the ephod and on the breastplate, 28 as well as the spice and olive oil for the lights, for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. 29 All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought material for the entire 'project' that Yehovah had commanded thru Moses to be done, as a voluntary offering to Yehovah.

30 “Moses told the Israelites, “Yehovah has called Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the house of Judah by name! 31 He has filled him with Elohim’s spirit [feminine], with wisdom and skill, and understanding of every kind of craftsmanship, 32 in making exquisite works of gold, silver and bronze 33 and in cutting and setting gemstones, and in wood carving—enabling every imaginable skill. 34 He has given both he and Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, from the tribe of Dan the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with the skill to perform every kind of engraving, and designing and embroidering in blue, purple and scarlet material, and in fine linen, and weaving—they can perform any task and design anything.

EXODUS 36

2 “Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every other craftsman that Yehovah had given skills, and who was stirred to come and do the work. 3 and Moses gave them all the offerings that the Israelites had contributed for the task of the construction of the Kadosh Place. And they continued to bring him voluntary offerings every morning. 4 And all the craftsman who were working on the Kadosh Place, left whatever work they had been doing, 5 and they said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than we need for the construction work that Yehovah commanded to be done. 6 So Moses issued a command, and it was proclaimed thruout the camp, saying, “No man or woman needs to make anything else as an offering for the Kadosh Place.” So the people were not allowed to contribute any more. 7 The stuff they had was more than sufficient for all the work they had to do.

8 “All the skilled craftsmen among those who did the work made the Tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen. Bezalel embroidered them with blue, purple and scarlet fabric, with a design of cherubim worked into them. 9 The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain was four cubits. All the curtains were the same size. 10 He coupled five curtains together, and the other five curtains he coupled together. 11 He made loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling. Likewise he made in the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second coupling. 12 He made fifty loops in the one curtain, and he made fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that was in the second coupling. The loops were opposite each other. 13 He made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains together with the clasps, so the Tabernacle was a unit.

14 “He made curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the Tabernacle. He made them eleven curtains. 15 The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain was four cubits. All eleven curtains had the same measurements. 16 He coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves. 17 He made fifty loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the coupling, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second coupling. 18 He made fifty bronze clasps to couple the tent together, so it would be a single unit. 19 He made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of tachash hides above.

20 “He made the vertical planks for the Tabernacle of acacia wood. 21 Each plank was ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 22 Each plank had two tenons, joined together. He made all the planks of the Tabernacle this way. 23 He made the planks for the Tabernacle, twenty planks for the south side southward. 24 He made forty bases of silver under the twenty planks, two bases under one plank for its two tenons, and two bases under another plank for its two tenons. 25 The second side of the Tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty planks, 26 and their forty bases of silver, two bases under one plank, and two bases under another plank. 27 They made six planks for the far end, the west end of the tabernacle, 28 He made two planks for the corners of the Tabernacle at far end. 29 They were double beneath, and they were the same all the way to its top to one ring. He did this to both of them in the two corners. 30 There were eight planks, and their bases of silver, sixteen bases, under every plank two bases. 31 He made bars of acacia wood, five for the planks of the one side of the Tabernacle, 32 and five bars for the planks of the other side of the Tabernacle, and five bars for the planks of the Tabernacle at the rear side to the west. 33 He made the middle bar pass thru in the center of the planks from the one end to the other. 34 He overlaid the planks with pure gold, and made their gold rings for places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with pure gold.

35 “He made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twisted linen, with cherubim. He made it with the work of an embroiderer. 36 He made four pillars of acacia for it, and overlaid them with pure gold. They made gold hooks for them and they cast their four silver bases. 37 He made a screen for the door of the tent of blue, purple, scarlet and fine twisted linen made by an embroiderer, 38 and made the five pillars with their hooks. He overlaid their tops and their bands with pure gold, and their five bases were made of bronze.

EXODUS 37

10 “He made the table out of acacia wood. It was two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high. 11 He overlaid it with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. 12 He made a border of a handwidth around it, and made a gold molding on its border around it. 13 He cast four gold rings for it, and put the rings in the four corners that were on its four feet. 14 The rings were next to the frame to hold the poles used in carrying the table. 15 He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with pure gold, to carry the table. 16 He made the utensils that were on the table of pure gold, its dishes, its spoons, and its bowls and pitchers for pouring wine offerings.

17 “He made the menorah out of pure hammered gold. He made it all from one piece: its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers were all from the same piece. 18 There were six branches coming out of its sides, three branches of the menorah out of one side, and three branches of the menorah out of the other side, 19 three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower, and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud and a flower, as were the six branches coming out of the menorah. 20 In the menorah were four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers, 21 and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches coming out of it, and a bud under two branches coming out of it, as were the six branches coming out of the menorah. 22 Their buds and their branches were made from the same piece. All of it was hammered from the same 'piece' of pure gold. 23 He made its seven lamps, and its snuffers, and its trays of pure gold. 24 He made the 'menorah' and all its utensils from a talent of pure gold.

25 “He made the incense altar from acacia wood. It was square, its length was a cubit, and its width a cubit. Its height was two cubits. Its horns were made from the same piece. 26 He overlaid it with pure gold, its top, its sides around it, and its horns. He made a gold molding around it. 27 He made two gold rings for it under its molding crown, on its two ribs, on its two sides, for places for poles to carry it. 28 He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. 29 He had a perfumer make the kadosh anointing oil and the kadosh incense of fragrant incense

EXODUS 38

8 “He made the laver of bronze with its base of bronze, from the mirrors of the attending women who served at the doorway of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.

9 “He made the court, for the south side southward the curtains of the court were of fine twisted linen, one hundred cubits, 10 their pillars were twenty, and their bases twenty, of bronze, the hooks of the pillars and their bands were of silver. 11 The north side one hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their bases twenty, of bronze, the hooks of the pillars, and their bands of silver. 12 The west side were curtains of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their bases ten, the hooks of the pillars, and their bands of silver. 13 The east side eastward fifty cubits. 14 The curtains for the one side were fifteen cubits, their pillars three, and their bases three, 15 and the same for the other side. On both sides of the gate of the courtyard were curtains fifteen cubits long, with their three pillars and their three bases. 16 All the curtains around the courtyard were made of finely spun linen. 17 The bases for the pillars were made of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their bands were made of silver, and the overlaying of their tops, of silver, and all the pillars of the court were banded with silver. 18 The screen for the gate of the court was made by an embroiderer from blue, purple, scarlet, and finely spun linen. it was twenty cubits long and five cubits high, just like the curtains of the courtyard. 19 Their four pillars and their four bases were made of bronze. Their hooks and bands were silver, and their tops were covered with silver. 20 All the pins of the Tabernacle, and around the court were made of bronze.

21 “ This is the amount of material that was used for the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of the Testimony, that was recorded at Moses’ command, for the service of the Levites, under the 'direction' of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. 22 Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur from the house of Judah made everything that Yehovah had commanded Moses. 23 With him was Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a skilled craftsman and an embroiderer in blue, purple, scarlet, and in fine linen. 24 All the gold that was used for the work in all the work of the Kadosh Place, inluding the gold of the offering was twenty-nine talents, and seven hundred thirty shekels, after the shekel of the Kadosh Place. 25 The silver of those who were counted of the congregation was one hundred talents, and one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels, 'using the standard' shekel of the Kadosh Place, 26 a beka a head, (that is, half a shekel, 'using the standard' shekel of the Kadosh Place) for everyone who passed over to those who were counted, from twenty years old or more: 603,550 men. 27 The one hundred talents of silver were for casting the bases of the Kadosh Place, and the bases of the veil, one hundred bases for the one hundred talents, a talent for each base. 28 Of the one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, overlaid their tops, and made bands for them. 29 The bronze of the offering was seventy talents, and two thousand four hundred shekels. 30 With this he made the bases to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, the bronze altar and its bronze grating, and all the utensils of the altar, 31 the bases all around the court, the bases for the entrance to the courtyard, all the pegs of the Tabernacle and all the pegs around the court.

EXODUS 39

2 “He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet and finely spun linen. 3 They hammered the gold into thin sheets, and cut them into threads, to work it into the blue, the purple, the scarlet and the fine linen, the work of the skilled craftsman. 4 They made shoulder straps for the ephod; it was attached at two edges. 5 The decorative belt on it was of like workmanship and material: gold, blue, purple and scarlet material, and finely woven linen, just as Yehovah had commanded Moses. 6 They worked the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, engraved with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the Israelites. 7 He put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the Israelites, as Yehovah had commanded Moses.

8 “He made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod, of gold, blue, purple, scarlet and fine spun linen. 9 It was square. They made the breastplate double. Its length was a span, and its width a span, being double. 10 They set in it four rows of stones. The first row was a row of ruby, topaz and emerald; 11 and the second row, a turquoise, lapis lazuli [“sapphire”], and a diamond; 12 and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 13 and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in gold filigree. 14 The stones corresponded to the names of the sons of Israel; each engraved like a signet ring with the name of one of the twelve tribes. 15 They made on the breastplate braided chains of pure gold resembling rope. 16 They made two settings of gold, and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. 17 They put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate. 18 The other two ends of the two braided chains they put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in the front. 19 They made two gold rings, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, that was toward the side of the ephod inward. 20 They made two gold rings, and put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its front, close by its coupling, above the decorative band of the ephod. 21 They bound the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue lace so that it could be on the decorative band of the ephod, and so the breastplate would not come loose from the ephod, as Yehovah had commanded Moses.

22 They made the woven robe of the ephod completely blue. 23 The opening of the robe in its middle was like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around its opening, so it couldn’t be torn. 24 They made on the hem of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, scarlet and twined linen. 25 They also made pure gold bells, and fastened the bells between the pomegranates around the hem of the robe; 26 a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe, to minister in, as Yehovah had commanded Moses.

27 “They made the coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons, 28 and the turban of fine linen, and the linen headbands of fine linen, and the linen undergarments of fine twisted linen, 29 and the sash of finely spun linen, and blue, purple and scarlet fabric, the work of the embroiderer, as Yehovah had commanded Moses.

30 “They made the plate of the kadosh crown of pure gold, and engraved as you would a signet ring, “DEDICATED TO YEHOVAH”. 31 They fastened a blue cord to it, to fasten it on the turban above, just as Yehovah had commanded Moses.

32 “So all the work of the Tabernacle of the Congregational Tabernacle was finished. The Israelites did everything just as Yehovah had commanded Moses.

33 “They brought the Tabernacle to Moses, the Tabernacle, with all its furniture, its clasps, its planks, its bars, its pillars, its bases, 34 the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, the cover made of tachash, the veil of the screen, 35 the Ark of the Testimony with its poles, the mercy seat, 36 the table, all its utensils, the showbread, 37 the kadosh menorah, its lamps, with the lamps placed in order, all its utensils, the olive oil for the lights, 38 the gold altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, the screen for the doorway of the Tabernacle, 39 the bronze altar, its bronze grating, its poles, all of its utensils, the basin and its base, 40 the curtains of the court, its pillars, its bases, the screen for the gate of the court, its , its pins, all the instruments of the service of the Tabernacle, for the Tabercordsnacle of the Congregation, 41 the finely woven clothing for ministering in the Kadosh Place, the kadosh clothing for Aaron the priest, and the clothing of his sons to minister in the priest’s office. 42 So the Israelites did all the work the way Yehovah had commanded Moses. 43 Moses inspected all the work they had done, and they had done exactly as Yehovah had commanded. Then Moses blessed them.

EXODUS 40

16 “Moses did everything just as Yehovah commanded him. 17 The Tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year. 18 Moses raised up the Tabernacle, and laid its bases, and set up its planks, and put in its bars and raised up its columns. 19 He spread the covering over the tent, and put the covering of the Tabernacle on top of it, just as Yehovah had commanded Moses. 20 He put the Testimony into the Ark, and set the poles on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark. 21 He brought the Ark into the Tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the Ark of the Testimony, as Yehovah had commanded Moses. 22 He put the table in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, on the side of the Tabernacle northward, outside of the veil. 23 He set the bread in order on it before Yehovah, as Yehovah had commanded Moses. 24 He put the menorah in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, opposite the table, on the side of the Tabernacle southward. 25 He lit the lamps before Yehovah, as Yehovah had commanded Moses. 26 He put the gold altar in the Tabernacle of the Congregation before the veil, 27 and he burned incense of fragrant incense on it, as Yehovah had commanded Moses. 28 He set up the curtain at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 29 He also put the altar for burnt offering at the entrance to the Tabernacle, of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and offered the burnt offering and the grain offering on it as Yehovah had commanded Moses. 30 He set the large basin between the Tabernacle of the Congregation and the altar, and put water in it for washing. 31 Moses, Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet there. 32 Whenever they entered the Tabernacle of the Congregation and approached the altar, they washed, just as Yehovah had commanded Moses. 33 He set up the courtyard around the Tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the curtain for the gate of the courtyard. So Moses finished the work.

34 Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and the splendor of Yehovah filled the Tabernacle. 35 Moses wasn’t able to enter the Tabernacle of the Congregation, because the cloud had settled down on it, and Yehovah’s splendor filled the Tabernacle. 36 Whenever the cloud would rise from the Tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on their journey. 37 But if the cloud didn’t rise, then they didn’t set out until the day it rose. 38 So Yehovah’s cloud hovered over the Tabernacle during the day, and there was fire in the cloud at night within view of the entire House* of Israel, thruout all their journeys.

LEVITICUS 1

Chapters 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

3 ‘If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, heis to offer a male without defects. He must offer it at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation in order to be accepted before Yehovah. 4 He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted for him to make atonement for him. 5 He must kill the bull before Yehovah. Aaron’s sons, the priests, will present the blood and sprinkle the blood around on the altar at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 6 He will then flay the burnt offering, and cut it into pieces. 7 The sons of Aaron the priest will start a fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. 8 Aaron’s sons the priests, will arrange the pieces, the head and the fat in order on the wood that is on the fire on the altar. 9 But he must wash the entrails and its legs with water. The priest will burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing aroma to Yehovah.

10 “‘But if the offering is a burnt offering from the flock of either the sheep or the goats, you must offer a male without defect. 11 He’ll kill it on the north side of the altar before Yehovah. Aaron’s sons the priests will sprinkle its blood around on the altar. 12 He’ll cut it into its pieces, with its head and its fat. The priest will lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire on the altar, 13 but the entrails and the legs he is to wash with water. The priest will offer it all, and burn it on the altar. It’s a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing aroma to Yehovah.

14 ‘If his offering to Yehovah is a burnt offering of birds, then he must offer his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons. 15 The priest will bring it to the altar, and wring off its head, and burn it on the altar, and its blood will be drained out on the side of the altar, 16 and he’ll take away its crop with its filth and toss it on the east side of the altar on the place for the ashes. 17 He’ll tear it open by the wings without dividing it. The priest will burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It’s a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing aroma to Yehovah.

[1] The word “And” here establishes continuity with Exodus.

LEVITICUS 2

4 “When you present a grain offering baked in an oven, it is to be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with olive oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with olive oil. 5 If your offering is grain baked on a griddle, it too will be made of unleavened fine flour, mixed with olive oil. 6 You’ll tear it in pieces, and pour olive oil on it. It’s a grain offering. 7 If your offering is a grain offering in a pan with a lid, it will be made of fine flour with olive oil. 8 You must bring the grain offering that is made of these things to Yehovah, present it to the priest, and he’ll take it to the altar. 9 The priest will remove part of the grain offering and burn it as a memorial, burning it on the altar, an offering by fire, a pleasing aroma to Yehovah. 10 What is left of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons. It’s a very special part of the offerings to Yehovah made by fire.

11 ‘No grain offering that you offer to Yehovah will be made with leaven, because you must not burn any leaven or honey as an offering by fire to Yehovah. 12 As an offering of firstfruits you may offer them to Yehovah, but they must never ascend from the altar as a pleasing aroma. 13 You are to season every grain offerings with salt. Don’t allow the salt of the covenant with your Elohim to be missing from your grain offering. You must offer salt with all your offerings.

14 ‘If you present a firstfruit offering to Yehovah, you must bring your first-fruit offering as aviv [1] roasted in fire—grits. 15 You must put olive oil on it, and lay frankincense on it; it’s a grain offering. 16 The priest will then burn some of the grits and some of the olive oil, along with all the frankincense as its memorial; it’s an offering burnt for Yehovah.

[1] “...green ears of corn dried by the fire; these were ears of barley, which began to be ripe in the month Abib, which month had its name from hence, and is the word here used; these were dried by the fire, being green and moist, or otherwise they could not have been ground...”—Gills

LEVITICUS 3

6 ‘If his offering for an atoning offering of fellowship offerings to Yehovah is from the flock, male or female, he must offer it without defects. 7 If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he must offer it before Yehovah, 8 he must lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it before the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and Aaron’s sons will sprinkle its blood around on the altar. 9 From the zebak of the fellowship offerings he must bring as an offering by fire to Yehovah, the entire fat tail that he must remove close to the backbone, and the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, 10 and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, that is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he’ll take away. 11 The priest will burn it on the altar, it’s the food of the offering made by fire to Yehovah.

12 ‘If his offering is a goat, then he must offer it before Yehovah, 13 and he’ll lay his hand on its head, and kill it before the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and Aaron’s sons will sprinkle its blood around on the altar. 14 He must present part of his offering as an offering by fire to Yehovah, the fat that covers the entrails, and all the fat that is on the entrails, 15 the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, that is by the loins, and the cover on the liver that he will remove with the kidneys. 16 The priest will burn them on the altar. It is food, an offering by fire to Yehovah as a pleasing aroma. All the fat belongs to Yehovah. 17 ‘It will be a perpetual permanent rule thruout your generations wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.’”

LEVITICUS 4

3 “If the anointed priest sins so as to bring guilt on the people, then he should offer for his sin a young bull without defects to Yehovah as a sin offering. 4 He must bring the bull to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation before Yehovah, and lay his hand on the head of the bull, and kill the bull before Yehovah. 5 The anointed priest will take some of the blood from the bull, and bring it to the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 6 The priest will dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before Yehovah, before the veil of the Temple. 7 The priest will put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense before Yehovah in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and pour out all of rest of the blood of the bull at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 8 He must take all the fat of the bull of the sin offering off of it, the fat that covers the entrails, and all the fat that is on the entrails, 9 and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, that is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys and take it away, 10 as it’s being taken off of the bull of fellowship offerings. The priest will burn them on the altar of burnt offering. 11 He will carry he bull’s skin, all its flesh, its head, its legs, its entrails and its dung, 12 the entire bull, outside the camp to a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire. Where the ashes are poured out it will be burned.

13 ‘If the entire congregation of Israel sins, and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the congregation, and they’ve done any of the things that Yehovah has commanded not to be done, and are guilty, 14 when the sin they’ve committed becomes known, then the congregation will offer a young bull as a sin offering, and bring it before the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 15 The elders of the congregation will lay their hands on the head of the bull before Yehovah, and the bull will be killed before Yehovah. 16 The anointed priest will bring some of the blood of the bull to the Tabernacle of the Congregation, 17 and the priest will dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before Yehovah, before the veil. 18 He will then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar before Yehovah in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and the rest of the blood he must pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 19 He must take all of its fat away and burn it on the altar. 20 He must also do with the bull the same thing he did with the bull of the sin offering; he must offer it the same way. So the priest will make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven. 21 He’ll carry the bull outside the camp, and burn it as he burned the first bull. It’s the sin offering for the congregation.

22 ‘When a ruler sins, and unwittingly does any of the things that Yehovah his Elohim has commanded not to do, and is guilty, 23 if the sin he committed is revealed to him, he must bring as his offering a goat, a male without defects. 24 He’ll lay his hand on the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before Yehovah. It’s a sin offering. 25 The priest will take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering. He’ll pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering. 26 He must burn all of its fat on the altar, like the fat of a fellowship offering, and the priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin, and he’ll be forgiven.

27 ‘If anyone of the common people sins unwittingly, in doing any of the things that Yehovah has commanded not to be done, and is guilty, 28 if the sin he committed is revealed to him, then he must bring for his offering a goat, a female without defects, for his sin that he has committed. 29 He must lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill the sin offering in the place of burnt offering. 30 The priest will take some of its blood with his finger, and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and the rest of its blood he must pour out at the base of the altar. 31 He must remove all of its fat, like the fat removed from a fellowship offering, and the priest will burn it on the altar for a pleasing aroma to Yehovah, and the priest will make atonement for him, and he’ll be forgiven. 32 ‘If he brings a lamb as his offering as a sin offering, he must bring a female without defects. 33 He must lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill it as a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering. 34 The priest will take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and all the rest of its blood he is to pour out at the base of the altar. 35 He must remove all of its fat, like the fat of a lamb taken away from a fellowship offering, and the priest will burn them on the altar, on the offerings of Yehovah made by fire, and the priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin that he has committed, and he’ll be forgiven.

LEVITICUS 5

7 ‘If they can’t afford a lamb, then they must bring a guilt offering for their sin of two turtledoves or two young pigeons to Yehovah, one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. 8 They must bring them to the priest who will first offer the one for the sin offering. They must wring off its head from its neck, but not sever it completely. 9 He’ll sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, and the rest of the blood will be drained out at the base of the altar. It’s a sin offering. 10 He must offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the regulation, and the priest will make atonement for them concerning the sin they have committed, and they’ll be forgiven.

11 ‘But if they can’t afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, they are to bring as an offering for their sin a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering. They must not put olive oil or frankincense on it, because it’s a sin offering. 12 They must bring it to the priest, and the priest will take a handful of it as a memorial portion, and offer it up in smoke on the altar, with the offerings of Yehovah by fire. It’s a sin offering. 13 The priest will make atonement for them concerning his sin that they have committed in any of these things, and they’ll be forgiven, and the rest will be the priest’s, as the grain offering.

14 “Yehovah told Moses: 15 “If anyone acts unfaithfully, and sins unintentionally against the kadosh things of Yehovah, then they must bring their guilt offering to Yehovah, a ram without defects from the flock, according to their own valuation in silver by shekels, specifically the shekel of the Kadosh Place for a guilt offering. 16 They must make restitution for what they have done wrong against the kadosh thing, and add a fifth to it, and give it to the priest, and the priest will make atonement for them with the ram of the guilt offering, and they’ll be forgiven. 17 If anyone sins, and does any of the things that Yehovah has commanded not to be done, tho they didn’t realize it, they are still guilty, and must bear their punishment. 18 They must bring a ram without defects from of the flock, according to their own valuation for a guilt offering, to the priest, and the priest will make atonement for them concerning the wrong that they committed unintentionally, and they’ll be forgiven. 19 It’s a guilt offering. They are certainly guilty before Yehovah.

LEVITICUS 6

8 “Yehovah told Moses: 9 “Command Aaron and his sons: “These are the instructions for the burnt offering; the burnt offering itself must remain on the hearth of the altar overnight as the fire is kept burning. [Small Mem] 10 The priest is to put on his linen clothes, including his linen undergarments next to his body. Then he’ll remove the ashes from where the fire has incinerated the burnt offering on the altar, and he’ll put them beside the altar. 11 Then he is to take off these clothes and put on others, and carry the ashes outside of the camp to a ceremonially clean place. 12 The fire on the altar must be kept burning on it, it must never go out, and the priest will burn wood on it every morning, and he is to lay the burnt offering in order on it, and burn on it the fat of the fellowship offerings. 13 Fire must be kept burning on the altar continually, it must not go out.

14 ‘This is the instruction of the grain offering, Aaron’s sons will offer it before Yehovah, before the altar. 15 He’ll take from there his handful of the fine flour of the grain offering with the olive oil, and all the frankincense that is on the grain offering, and burn it on the altar for a pleasing aroma, as a memorial offering, to Yehovah. 16 What is left of it Aaron and his sons will eat. It will be eaten without leavening in a Kadosh Place. They must eat it in the court of the Tabernacle of the Congregation 17 It must not be baked with leaven. I’ve given it as their share of My offerings made by fire. It’s most kadosh, like the sin offering and as the guilt offering. 18 Every male among the descendants of Aaron will eat it as their share forever thruout your generations, from the offerings of Yehovah made by fire. Whoever touches them will be kadosh.

19 “Yehovah told Moses: 20 “This is the offering that Aaron and his sons are to present to Yehovah on the day he is anointed: a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering every day, half of it in the morning, and half of it in the evening. 21 It will be made with olive oil in a griddle. When it’s soaked, you’ll bring it in. You’ll offer the grain offering in baked pieces for a pleasing aroma to Yehovah. 22 The anointed priest that will be in his place from among his sons will offer it. It is Yehovah’s perpetual share and is to be entirely burned. 23 Every grain offering of a priest will be entirely burned. It must not be eaten.

24 “Yehovah told Moses: 25 “Tell Aaron and to his sons: “These are the instructions for sin offering, in the place where the burnt offering is killed, the sin offering will be killed before Yehovah. It’s most kadosh. 26 The priest who offers it for sin will eat it. It will be eaten in a Kadosh Place, in the court of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 27 Anything that touches its flesh will become kadosh. When there is any of its blood sprinkled on a garment, you’ll wash whatever was sprinkled in a Kadosh Place. 28 But the clay pot that it’s boiled will be broken, and if it’s boiled in a bronze vessel, it will be scoured, and rinsed in water. 29 Every male among the priests will eat it, it’s most kadosh. 30 But no sin offering is to be eaten if its blood has been brought into the Tabernacle of the Congregation to make atonement in the Kadosh Place is to be eaten; it must be burned.

LEVITICUS 7

11 ‘These are the instructions for the fellowship offerings that anyone will present to Yehovah. 12 If he offers it as a way of giving thanks, then along with the zebak [sacrifice] of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mixed with olive oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with olive oil, and cakes mixed with olive oil. 13 With cakes of leavened bread he’ll offer his offering with the offering of his fellowship offerings for thanksgiving. 14 Of it he is to offer one out of each offering for a heave offering to Yehovah. It will be the priest’s who sprinkles the blood of the fellowship offerings. 15 The flesh of the offering of his fellowship offerings for thanksgiving will be eaten on the day of his offering. He won’t leave any of it until morning. 16 ‘But if the offering of his offering is a vow, or a voluntary offering, it will be eaten on the day that he offers his offering, and on the next day what remains of it will be eaten, 17 but what remains of the flesh of the offering on the third day must be set on fire. 18 If any of the meat of his fellowship zebak is eaten on the third day, it won’t be accepted. You will not receive credit for it. It is an abomination. The person who eats any of it will bear the guilt. 19 ‘The flesh that touches any unclean thing won’t be eaten. It will be set on fire. As for the flesh, everyone who is clean can eat it, 20 but anyone who eats meat from the fellowship offerings that belongs to Yehovah, while they are unclean, must be cut off from the people. 21 When anyone touches any unclean thing, the impurities of man, or an unclean animal, or any unclean abomination, and eats some of the flesh of fellowship offerings that belong to Yehovah, that person must be removed from the people.”

22 “Yehovah told Moses: 23 “Tell the Israelites, “You must eat no fat of bulls, sheep or goats. 24 The fat of what dies by itself, and the fat of what is torn of animals, can be used for any other purpose, but you will in no way eat it. 25 Anyone who eats animal fat from an offering by fire presented to Yehovah, is a person who must be removed from his people. 26 You must not eat any blood, whether it’s of a bird or an animal in any of your dwellings. 27 Anyone who eats any blood is a person who must be removed from the people.

28 “Yehovah told Moses: 29 “Tell the Israelites, “He who offers the offering of his fellowship offerings to Yehovah must bring his offering to Yehovah from of the offering of his fellowship offerings. 30 With his own hands h is to bring the offerings of Yehovah made by fire. He must bring the fat with the breast, so the breast can be waved for a wave offering before Yehovah. 31 The priest will burn the fat on the altar, but the breast will be Aaron’s and his sons.’ 32 You must give the right thigh to the priest as a contribution from the zebakim of your fellowship offerings. 33 When any of Aaron’s sons offers the blood of the fellowship offerings and the fat, the right thigh will be his share. 34 I have taken the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution from the Israelites, from the zebakim of their fellowship offerings, and I have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as a permannt share from the Israelites. 35 This is the anointing share of Aaron, and the anointing share of his sons, out of the offerings of Yehovah made by fire in the day when he presented them to serve Yehovah in the priest’s office 36 that Yehovah commanded to be given them of the Israelites on the day He anointed them. It’s their share forever thruout their generations.

37 “This is the instruction of the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the dedication and of fellowship offerings, 38 that Yehovah commanded Moses in Mount Sinai on the day he commanded the Israelites to offer their offerings to Yehovah in the Sinai Desert.

LEVITICUS 8

14 “He brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. 15 He killed it, and Moses took the blood and put it around on the horns of the altar with his finger, purified the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar to make it kadosh, to make atonement for it. 16 He took all the fat that was on the entrails, and the cover of the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and Moses burned it on the altar. 17 But the bull, its skin, its flesh and its dung, he set on fire outside the camp, as Yehovah had commanded Moses.

18 “He presented the ram of the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 19 And Moses killed it and sprinkled the blood around on the altar. 20 He cut the ram into its pieces, and Moses burned the head, the pieces and the fat. 21 He washed the entrails and the legs with water, and Moses burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering for a pleasing aroma. It was an offering by fire to Yehovah, as Yehovah had commanded Moses.

22 “He presented the other ram, the ram of dedication, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 23 He killed it, and Moses took some of its blood, and put it on the tip of Aaron’s right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot. 24 He brought Aaron’s sons, and Moses put some of the blood on the tip of their right ear, and on the thumb of their right hand, and on the great toe of their right foot, and Moses sprinkled the blood around on the altar. 25 He took the fat, and the fat tail, and all the fat on the entrails, and the cover of the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right thigh, 26 and out of the basket of unleavened bread that was before Yehovah, he took one unleavened cake, and one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and placed them on the fat, and on the right thigh. 27 He put all these in Aaron’s hands and in his sons’ hands, and waved them for a wave offering before Yehovah. 28 Then Moses took them from their hands, and burned them on the altar on the burnt offering. They were a dedication for a pleasing aroma. It was an offering by fire to Yehovah. 29 Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before Yehovah. It was Moses’ part of the ram of dedication, as Yehovah had commanded Moses. 30 Moses took some of the anointing oil, and some of the blood that was on the altar, and sprinkled it on Aaron, on his clothing, on his sons, on his sons’ clothing with him, and set Aaron apart, his clothing, and his sons, and his sons’ clothing with him.

31 “Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, “Boil the flesh at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and eat it there and the bread that is in the basket of dedication as I commanded, saying, “Aaron and his sons will eat it.’ 32 What remains of the flesh and of the bread you must burn with fire. 33 You will not leave the entrance of the Tabernacle of the Congregation for seven days, until the days of your dedication are fulfilled, because it will take seven days to dedicate you. 34 What has been done today, Yehovah has commanded to be done, to make atonement for you. 35 You must remain at the entrance of the Tabernacle of the Congregation day and night for seven days, and keep Yehovah’s command, so that you won’t die. This is what I was commanded.” 36 Aaron and his sons did everything that Yehovah commanded thru Moses.

LEVITICUS 9

7 “Moses said to Aaron, “Approach the altar, and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself and the people, and offer the offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as Yehovah commanded. 8 So Aaron approached the altar, and killed the calf of the sin offering that was for himself. 9 Aaron’s sons brought him the blood, and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it on the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar, 10 but the fat, and the kidneys, and the cover from the liver of the sin offering, he burned on the altar, as Yehovah had commanded Moses. 11 The flesh and the skin he set on fire outside the camp. 12 He killed the burnt offering, and Aaron’s sons delivered the blood to him, and he sprinkled it around on the altar. 13 They delivered the burnt offering to him, piece by piece, and the head, and he burned them on the altar. 14 He also washed the internal organs and the legs, and offered them up in smoke with the burnt offering on the altar.

15 “He presented the people’s offering, and took the goat of the sin offering that was for the people, and killed it, and offered it for sin, like the first. 16 He presented the burnt offering, and offered it as prescribed by the regulation. 17 He presented the grain offering, and filled his hand from there, and burned it on the altar, besides the burnt offering of the morning. 18 He also killed the bull and the ram as the people’s fellowship zebak and Aaron’s sons handed him the blood and he sprinkled it around on the altar, 19 and the fat of the bull and of the ram, the fat tail, and what covers the entrails, and the kidneys, and the cover of the liver, 20 and they put the fat on the breasts, and he burned the fat on the altar, 21 and the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved for a wave offering before Yehovah, as Moses commanded.

22 “Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them, and he came down from offering the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and the fellowship offerings. 23 Moses and Aaron went into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and came out, and blessed the people, and the splendor of Yehovah appeared to all the people. 24 Fire came out from the presence of Yehovah, and incinerated the burnt offering and the fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted, and fell face down.

LEVITICUS 10

8 “Yehovah told Aaron: 9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or liquor when you go into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, or you will die, it will be a perpetual permanent rule thruout your generations. 10 You must distinguish between the kadosh and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean, 11 and you are to teach the Israelites all the unchanging tenets that Yehovah has spoken to them by Moses.

12 “Moses spoke to Aaron, and Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons who were left, “Take the grain offering that remains of the offerings of Yehovah made by fire, and eat it without leavening beside the altar, because it’s most kadosh, 13 and you’ll eat it in a Kadosh Place, because it’s your share, and your sons’ share, of the offerings of Yehovah made by fire, because this is what I’m commanded. 14 But you can eat he breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the offering in a clean place, you, and your sons, and your daughters with you, because they are given as your share, and your children’s share of the Israelites’ fellowship offerings. 15 They are to bring the thigh offered by lifting up and the breast offered by waving, along with the offerings by fire of the fat, to present as a wave offering before Yehovah. These will belong to you and your children as your perpetual share, just as Yehovah has commanded.

16 Later, Moses tried to find the goat of the sin offering and found that it had been burned up! So he was angry with Aaron’s surviving sons Eleazar and Ithamar and asked, 17 “Why haven’t you eaten the sin offering in the Kadosh Place, since it’s most kadosh, and He has given it you to remove theguilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before Yehovah? 18 Since its blood was not brought inside the inner part of the Kadosh Place, you certainly should have eaten it in the Kadosh Place, as I commanded. 19 Aaron answered Moses “Today they’ve offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before Yehovah, and such things as these have happened to me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been pleasing in the sight of Yehovah?” 20 When Moses heard that, it seemed 'reasonable'.

LEVITICUS 11

9 ‘These you can eat of all that are in the water, whatever has fins and scales in the water, in the seas and in the rivers, that you can eat. 10 But anything in the seas or streams that does not have fins and scales of all the swarming things and other living creatures in the water is to be considered abominable to you, 11 you are to detest them. You must not eat of their flesh, and you’ll detest their carcasses. 12 Anything that lacks fins and scales in the water is abominable to you.

13 ‘These you’ll detest among the birds, they must not be eaten, they are an abomination, eagles, and vultures, black vultures, 14 red kites, any kind of black kites, 15 any kind of ravens, 16 horned owls, screech owls, gulls, any kind of hawk, 17 little owls, cormorants, great owls, 18 white owls, desert owls, ospreys, 19 storks, any kind of heron, hoopoes and bats.

20 ‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination for you. 21 Yet you can eat these, of all winged creeping things that go on all fours, that have legs above their feet, that hop on the ground. 22 You can even eat any kind of locust, any kind of katydid, any kind of cricket, and any kind of grasshopper. 23 But all winged creeping things that have four feet are an abomination for you.

24 ‘By these you’ll become unclean, whoever touches the carcass of one will be unclean until the evening. 25 Whoever carries any part of their carcass must wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. 26 ‘Every animal that parts its hoof but lacks split hooves, or chews cud is unclean for you. Everyone who touches them will be unclean. 27 Whatever goes on its paws among all animals that go on all fours, they are unclean for you. Whoever touches their carcass will be unclean until the evening. 28 Anyone who carries their carcass must wash their clothes, and be unclean until the evening. They are unclean for you.

29 ‘These are 'creatures' that are unclean for you among the creeping things that creep on the earth, weasels, rats, any kind of great lizard, 30 geckos, and monitor lizards, wall lizards, sand lizards and chameleons. 31 These are unclean for you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead will be unclean until the evening. 32 When any one of them dies and falls on anything it becomes unclean, whether it’s a wooden item, or clothing, or hide, or sack, whatever tool it is that you work with, it must be put into water, and it will be unclean until the evening, then it will be clean. 33 Every clay pot that any of them falls into, everything in it will be unclean, and you must break it. 34 All food that can be eaten that comes into contact with the contaminated water will be unclean, and any liquid that can be drunk in any such vessel will be unclean. 35 Anything that part of their carcass falls on will be unclean, whether an oven, or range for pots, it must be broken in pieces, they are unclean, and will be unclean for you. 36 But a spring or a cistern that water is gathered from will be clean, but anything that touches their carcass will be unclean. 37 If part of their carcass falls on any seed that is to be sown, it’s clean. 38 But if water is poured on the seed, and part of their carcass falls on it, it’s unclean for you.

39 ‘If any animal that you can eat dies, whoever touches its carcass will be unclean until the evening. 40 Anyone who eats some of its carcass must wash their clothes, and be unclean until the evening. Also anyone who carries its carcass must wash their clothes, and be unclean until the evening.

41 ‘Every swarming creature creeps on the earth is an abomination. It must not be eaten. 42 Whatever moves on its belly, and whatever moves on all fours, or anything with many feet, including all creeping things that creep on the earth, those you must not eat because they are an abomination. [Long Vav] 43 You must not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps, never make yourselves unclean with them, so as to be defiled by them, 44 because I am Yehovah your Elohim. Set yourselves apart and be kadosh, because I’m kadosh, never defile yourselves with any kind of creeping thing that moves on the earth, 45 because I am Yehovah who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your Elohim. You must be kadosh, because I’m kadosh.

46 ‘These are the instructions concerning the animals, birds, and of every living creature that swims in the water, and of every creature that scurry along the ground, 47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living things that can be eaten and the living thing that can’t be eaten.

LEVITICUS 12

LEVITICUS 13

9 “When someone has a skin disease, then they must be brought to the priest. 10 The priest will examine them. If there is a white rising in the skin, and it has turned the hair white, and there is raw flesh in the rising, 11 it’s a skin disease on the skin of his body, and the priest will pronounce them unclean. He won’t isolate them, because he is unclean. 12 If the skin disease breaks out all over the skin, and the skin disease covers all the skin of the infected person from his head to foot, as far as it appears to the priest, 13 then the priest will examine them, and see if the skin disease has covered all their flesh, he’ll pronounce them clean of the disease. It has all turned white, they are clean. 14 But whenever raw flesh appears in them, they’ll be unclean. 15 The priest will examine the raw flesh, and pronounce them unclean, the raw flesh is unclean. It’s a skin disease. 16 Or if the raw flesh turns again, and is changed to white, then they must return to the priest, 17 and the priest will examine them, and if the disease has turned white, then the priest will pronounce them clean of the disease. They are clean.

18 “When the body has a boil on its skin, and it has healed, 19 and in the place of the boil there is a white rising, or a shiny spot, reddish-white, then it must be shown to the priest, 20 and the priest will examine it, and if its appearance is deeper than the skin, and its hair has turned white, then the priest will pronounce them unclean. It’s a skin disease that has broken out in a boil. 21 But if the priest examines it and sees that there are is white hair in it, and it isn’t deeper than the skin, but is dim, then the priest will quarantine them seven days. 22 If it spreads in the skin, then the priest will pronounce them unclean. It’s a disease. 23 But if the shiny spot remains in one place, and hasn’t spread, it’s the scar from the boil, and the priest will pronounce them clean.

24 “Or when the body has a burn from fire on its skin, and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a shiny spot, reddish-white, or white, 25 then the priest will examine it, and if the hair in the shiny spot has turned white, and its appearance is deeper than the skin, it’s a skin disease. It has broken out in the burn, and the priest will pronounce them unclean. It’s a skin disease. 26 But if the priest examines it, and there is no white hair in the shiny spot, and it isn’t lower than the skin, but is faded, then the priest will isolate them for seven days. 27 The priest will examine them on the seventh day. If it has spread in the skin, then the priest will pronounce them unclean. It’s a skin disease. 28 But if the shiny spot stays in its place, and hasn’t spread in the skin, but is faded, it’s the swelling from the burn, and the priest will pronounce them clean, because it’s the scar from the burn.

29 “When a man or woman has a disease on their head or on 'his' beard, 30 then the priest will examine the disease, and if it appears to be deeper than the skin, with yellow, thin hair in it, then the priest will pronounce them unclean, it’s a scale, it’s a skin disease of the head or of the beard. 31 If the priest examines the disease of itching, and its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, and there is no dark hair in it, then the priest will isolate the person infected with itching for seven days. 32 On the seventh day the priest will examine the disease, and if the scale hasn’t spread, and there is no yellow hair in it, and the appearance of the scale isn’t deeper than the skin, 33 the person will shave everything except the scab, and the priest will quarantine the person with the scale for seven more days. 34 On the seventh day, the priest will examine the scale to see if the scale hasn’t spread in the skin, and does not appear to be deeper than the skin, then the priest will pronounce them clean. They’ll wash their clothes, and be clean. 35 But if the scale spreads in the skin after their cleansing, 36 then the priest will examine them, if the scale has spread in the skin, the priest need not look for yellow hair, they are unclean! 37 But if in his eyes the scale is arrested, and black hair has grown in it, the scale is healed, they are clean. The priest will pronounce them clean.

38 “When a man or a woman has bright spots in the skin of the body, including white bright spots, 39 then the priest must examine them to see if the bright spots on the skin of their body are a dull white, it’s a harmless rash, it has broken out in the skin, they are clean.

40 “If a man’s hair has fallen from his head, he is bald. He is clean. 41 If his hair has fallen off from the front part of his head, he is forehead bald. He is clean. 42 But if there is in the bald head, or the bald forehead, a reddish-white disease, it’s a skin disease breaking out in his bald head, or his bald forehead. 43 Then the priest will examine them to see if the rising of the disease is reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, like the appearance of a skin disease, 44 he is a leprous man. He is unclean. The priest will surely pronounce them unclean. His disease is on his head. 45 Anyone with a skin disease must wear torn clothes, the hair on their head must be unkempt. They must cover their upper lip, and cry, “Unclean! Unclean!’ 46 All the days that the disease inflicts them they’ll be unclean. They are unclean. They must live in quarantine outside of the camp.

47 “The garment also that a skin disease is in, whether it’s a wool garment, or a linen garment, 48 whether it’s in warp, or woof, of linen, or of wool, whether in a skin, or in anything made of skin, 49 if the disease is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything made of skin, it’s a skin disease, and must be shown to the priest. 50 The priest will examine the disease, and quarantine the disease seven days. 51 He’ll examine the disease on the seventh day. If the disease has spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in the skin, whatever use the skin is used for, the disease is a destructive mildew. It’s unclean. 52 He’ll burn the garment, whether the warp or the woof, in wool or in linen, or anything of skin, that disease is, because it’s a destructive mildew. It will be burned in the fire. 53 If the priest examines it, and the disease hasn’t spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin, 54 the priest is to order whatever is contaminated to be washed and in quarantine for seven more days. 55 Then the priest will examine it, after the disease is washed to see if the disease hasn’t changed in color, and the disease hasn’t spread, it’s unclean, you must burn it in the fire. It’s a mildewed spot, whether the bareness is inside or outside. 56 If the priest looks and notices that the disease has faded after it’s washed, then he’ll tear it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof, 57 and if it appears again in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin, it’s spreading. You must burn up anything that’s contaminated. 58 The garment, whether the warp or the woof, or any article made of leather from which the mildue has departed when you washed it, it must then be washed a second time and it will be clean.” 59 These are the instructions concerning mildew contamination in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp, or the woof, or in anything made of leather, in order to pronounce it clean or unclean.

LEVITICUS 14

21 “But anyone who is poor, and can’t afford so much can bring one male lamb for a guilt offering to be waved, to bring about their atonement, and one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, and a log of olive oil, 22 and two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, whatever they are able to afford. One of them will be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering. 23 On the eighth day he must bring them for his cleansing to the priest, to the doorway of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, before Yehovah. 24 The priest will take the lamb for a guilt offering, and the log of olive oil, and the priest will wave them before Yehovah as a wave offering. 25 He’ll slaughter the lamb of the guilt offering. The priest will take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the right ear lobe of one who is to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. 26 The priest will pour some of the olive oil into the palm of his own left hand, 27 and sprinkle with his right finger some of the olive oil that is in his left palm seven times before Yehovah. 28 Then the priest will put some of the olive oil that’s in his palm on the right ear lobe of the person to be cleansed, and on the thumb of their right hand, and on the big toe of their right foot, in the same place where the blood of the guilt offering was put. 29 And the rest of the olive oil that’s in the priest’s palm will be put on the head of the person who is to be cleansed, to make atonement for them before Yehovah. 30 Then ‘the priest’ will offer one of the turtledoves or the pigeons, whichever the person can afford, 31 the ‘most affordable’ one as a sin offering, the other for a burnt offering, along with the grain offering. The priest will make atonement for the person who is to be cleansed before Yehovah. 32 These are the instructions for someone who has an infectious skin disease and cannot afford the offering for their cleansing.

33 “Yehovah told Moses and Aaron: 34 “When you’ve come into the land of Canaan that I’m giving to you for a possession, and I put a spreading mildew in a house in the land of your possession, 35 then the person who owns the house must come and tell the priest, ’I have seen something that looks like a sign of mildew in my house.’ 36 The priest will order them to empty the house, before the priest goes in to examine the disease, so that everything in the house doesn’t become unclean, and afterward the priest will go in to inspect the house. 37 He’ll examine the disease to see if the disease is in the walls of the house, with hollow streaks, greenish or reddish, and to see if it appears to be deeper than the wall, 38 the priest will go outside the house to the doorway and quarantine the house for seven days. 39 The priest will return on the seventh day to examine it. If the disease has spread in the walls of the house, 40 then the priest must order them to tear out the stones with the contamination, and throw them into an unclean place outside the city. 41 and he’ll have the inside of the house to be scraped everywhere, and they’ll pour out the mortar, that they scraped off, outside of the city into an unclean place. 42 They must take other stones, and replace those stones, and use new mortar, and plaster the house. 43 If the disease returns, and spreads in the house, after he has removed the stones, and after he has scraped the house, and after it was plastered, 44 then the priest will come in and examine it again, if the disease has spread in the house, it’s a destructive mildew in the house. It’s unclean. 45 He must tear down the house, its stones, and its timber, and all the house’s mortar, and carry them out of the city into an unclean place. 46 Anyone who goes into the house while it’s shut up will be unclean until the evening. 47 Anyone who lies down in the house must wash their clothes, and anyone who eats in the house must wash their clothes. 48 If the priest comes in, and examines it, and sees that the mildue hasn’t spread in the house, after the house has been plastered, then the priest will pronounce the house clean, because the contamination has not reappeared.

49 “To purify the house he must take two birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop. 50 He’ll kill one of the birds in a clay pot over living water. 51 Then he’ll take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet yarn, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the bird that was killed as well as in the living water, and sprinkle the house seven times. 52 He’ll cleanse the house with the bird’s blood, the living water, the living bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop, and with the scarlet yarn, 53 but he’ll release the living bird outside of the city into the open fields. This is how he’ll make atonement for the house, and it will be clean. 54 This is the instruction for any disease of a skin disease, and for an scale, 55 and for the destructive mildew on a garment, and for a house, 56 and for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot, 57 to teach when it’s unclean, and when it’s clean. This is the instruction about skin disease.

[1] I take this living water to be the pure vibrant flowing water from an artesian spring.

LEVITICUS 15

16 ‘If any man has an emission of semen, then he’ll bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening. 17 Every garment, and every skin, where the semen was, will be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening. 18 When a man has sexual relations with a woman and there is an emission of semen, they must both wash themselves in water, and they will remain unclean until evening.

19 ‘When a woman has her monthly discharge, she will be unclean for seven days. Anyone who touch her will be unclean until evening. 20 ‘Everything that she lies on in her impurity will be unclean. And anything that she sits on will be unclean. 21 Whoever touches her bed must wash their clothes, and bathe in water, and be unclean until the evening. 22 Whoever touches anything that she sits on will wash their clothes, and bathe themseves in water, and be unclean until the evening. 23 If 'blood' is on the bed or the furniture she was sitting on, when anyone touches it they will be unclean until evening. 24 If a man has sexual relations with her and blood from her menstruation gets on him, he will be unclean for seven days, and any bed he lies on will become unclean.

25 ‘If a woman has a discharge of blood many days not in the time of her period, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her period, all the days of the discharge of her impurities will be as in the days of her period, she is unclean. 26 Every bed that she lies on all the days of her discharge will be to her as the bed of her menstruation, and everything she sits will be unclean. 27 Whoever touches these things will be unclean, and must wash their clothes, and bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening. 28 ‘But if she is cleansed of her discharge, then she’ll count to herself seven days, and after that she’ll be clean. 29 On the eighth day she’ll take two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 30 The priest will offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, and the priest will make atonement for her before Yehovah for the impurities of her discharge.

31 ‘This is how you’ll separate the Israelites from their impurities, so they don’t die in their impurities, when they defile My tabernacle that is among them.”

32 “These are the instructions for any man made unclean by an emission of semen, 33 and for the woman who is ill because of menstrual impurity, and for anyone who has a discharge, whether a male or a female, or a man who lies with a woman when she is unclean.”

LEVITICUS 16

11 “Aaron is to bring the bull for his own sin offering, (making atonement for himself and his household), and he is to slaughter the bull as the sin offering for himself. 12 He must take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before Yehovah, and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and bring them inside the veil. 13 He must put the incense on the fire before Yehovah, so that a cloud of incense covers the mercy seat that is on the Ark of the Testimony [aka Ark of the Covenant], or else he will die. 14 He’s to take some of the bull’s blood, and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side. Also in front of the mercy seat he is to sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. 15 Then he will slaughter the goat as a sin offering for the people, and bring his blood inside the veil, and do with his blood what he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle [2] it on the mercy seat, and in front of the mercy seat. 16 He must make atonement for the Kadosh Place, because of the impurities of the Israelites, and because of their rebellion, all their sins. He’ll do for the Tabernacle of the Congregation, that is among them amid their impurities. 17 No one should be in the Tabernacle of the Congregation when he enters to make atonement in the Kadosh Place until he leaves after he has made atonement for himself, his household, and for the entire congregation of Israel. 18 Then he will go out to the altar that’s before Yehovah and make atonement for it, and take some of the bull’s blood, and some of the goat’s blood, and spread it around on the horns of the altar. 19 He’ll sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to 'separate' it from the uncleanness of the Israelites. 20 When he’s finished atoning for the Kadosh Place and the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and the altar, he’ll offer the live goat. 21 Aaron will lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the sins of the descendant’s of Israel, and all their rebellious behavior—everything they did wrong; and he’ll put them on the head of the goat, and lead him away into the wilderness, handled by a man who’s waiting. 22 The goat will carry all their sins on himself to a remote place, and the ‘man’ will release the goat in the wilderness.

23 “Then Aaron will come into the Tabernacle of the Congregation and take off the linen clothing that he put on when he went into the Kadosh Place, and leave them there. 24 Then he’ll bathe himself in water in a 'designated' place, and put on his clothes, and come out and offer his burnt offering and the people’s burnt offering to make atonement for himself and for the people. 25 He will burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar. 26 The man who lets the goat go for the Azazel goat must wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and afterward he can return to the camp. 27 The bull for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Kadosh Place will be carried outside the camp, and they’ll burn their skins, their flesh and their waste are to be burned 'up'. 28 The man who burns them must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and afterward he can return to the camp. 29 This is to be a perpetual permanent rule for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month, you must humble yourselves by fasting and do no work of any kind, whether native-born, or foreigners living among you. 30 It is on this day that atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you from all your sins. You’ll be clean in Yehovah’s presence. 31 It’s to be a Sabbath congregation to you. You’ll humble and deny yourselves, it’s a permanent permanent rule. 32 The priest who is anointed and dedicated to serving as priest in his father’s place will make the atonement. He will put on the linen clothing, the kadosh garments, 33 Then he’ll make atonement for the Kadosh Place and the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and for the altar, and he’ll make atonement for the priests and for all the people in the congregation. 34 This is to be an everlasting permanent rule for you, to make atonement for the Israelites once a year for of all their sins. It was done as Yehovah commanded Moses.

[1] The goat was not to be thrown over a cliff as the custom (borrowed from pagans) became, and as they tried to Yeshua on the day of Atonements when He commented on the Jubilee.

[2] Each of us is responsible for a sprinkling of Yeshua’s (Jesus’) shed blood.

LEVITICUS 17

8 “Tell them: ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who offers a burnt offering or or a zebak, 9 and doesn’t bring it to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation as an offering to Yehovah will be removed from the people.

10 “If anyone from the House of Israel or from the foreigners who live among them eats any kind of blood, I’ll 'turn and' face the person who eats blood, and cut them off from among the people, 11 because the life in a body is in the blood, and I’ve given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your lives, since it is the 'lifeblood' that makes atonement. 12 So I’ve told the Israelites, “None of you are to eat blood, and no stranger who lives as a foreigner among you is to eat blood. 13 ‘Anyone from House of Israel or any foreigner living among them who hunts any animal or bird that can be eaten must pour out its blood, and cover it with dirt. 14 Since the life of every 'creature' is in its blood, I told the Israelites, “You must not eat the blood of any 'creature', because the life of every 'creature' is in its blood; anyone who eats it must be excluded.”

15 “Anyone who eats an animal that died a natural death, or was torn by predators, whether they are native-born or aliens must wash their clothes, and bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until evening; then they’ll be clean. 16 But if they don’t wash their clothes and their bodies, they’ll be guilty of sin.’”

LEVITICUS 18

6 ‘None of you should approach anyone who is a close relative, to have sexual relations, I am Yehovah. 7 ‘You must not have sexual relations with your father, or have relations with your mother, she is your mother. You must not have relations with her. 8 ‘You must not have sexual relations with your father’s wife, it’s your father’s nakedness. 9 ‘You must not have sexual relations with your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home, or born abroad. 10 ‘You must not have sexual relations with your granddaughter, or of your daughter-in-law, you must not see their nakedness, because their nakedness is yours. 11 ‘You must not have sexual relations with your father’s wife’s daughter, conceived by your father, since she is your sister. 12 ‘You must not have sexual relations with your father’s sister, she is your father’s near kinswoman. 13 ‘You must not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, because she is your mother’s near kinswoman. 14 ‘You must not have sexual relations with your father’s brother, you must not approach his wife, she is your aunt. 15 ‘You must not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law, she is your son’s wife. You must not have sexual relations with her. 16 ‘You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife, it’s your brother’s nakedness. 17 ‘You must not have sexual relations with a woman and her daughter. You must not take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to have sexual relations with them, they are near kinswomen, it’s wickedness. 18 ‘You must not take a wife to her sister, to be a rival, to have sexual relations with her, while her sister is still alive.

19 ‘You must not approach a woman to have sexual relations with her as long as she has her monthly period. 20 ‘You must not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife, and defile yourself with her. 21 ‘You must not give any of your children as an offering to Molech, and you must not profane the name of your Elohim, I am Yehovah. 22 ‘You must not lie with a man, as with a woman. That is an abomination. 23 ‘You must not lie with any animal to defile yourself with it, and no woman should give herself to an animal, to lie down with it, it’s a perversion.

24 ‘Don’t defile yourselves in any of these things, because in all these ways the nations that I’m casting out before you were defiled. 25 The land was defiled, so I punished its wickedness, and the land vomited out her inhabitants. 26 You must obey My unchanging tenets and My regulations, and not commit any of these abominations, whether native-born or foreigners living among you. 27 The people of the land who were there before committed all these detestable activities, and the land has become defiled. 28 The land will vomit you out the way it vomited out the nations that were here before you if you defile it. 29 ‘Whoever does any of these abominations will be excluded from the people. 30 You must obey My instructions. Don’t practice any of these abominable customs that were practiced before you, so as not to defile yourselves with them; I am Yehovah your Elohim.

LEVITICUS 19

5 ‘When you offer a fellowship zebak to Yehovah, you must offer it properly so that you will be accepted. 6 It will be eaten the same day you offer it and the next day, and if anything remains until the third day it must be set on fire. 7 If any of it is eaten on the third day, it’s an abomination. It won’t be accepted. 8 Anyone who eats it will bear their wickedness, because they have profaned something kadosh to Yehovah, and that person will be removed from the people.

9 ‘When you harvest your land, you must not entirely harvest the corners of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 You must not glean your vineyard, and you must not gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard, you must leave them for the poor and for the foreigners. I am Yehovah your Elohim.

11 ‘You must not steal. ‘You must not lie [1]. ‘You must not deceive one another. 12 ‘You must not swear by My name falsely, and profane the name of your Elohim. I am Yehovah. 13 ‘You must not oppress your neighbors or rob them. ‘The wages of a hired servant must not remain in your possession all night until morning. 14 ‘You must not curse the deaf, or trip the blind, but you must fear your Elohim. I am Yehovah. 15 ‘You must never be unjust, you must not be partial to the poor or show favoritism to the great, you are to judge your neighbors in righteousness. 16 ‘You must never go 'around' spreading slander among your people. ‘You must never endanger your neighbor’s life. I am Yehovah. 17 ‘You must not harbor hateful thoughts toward your brother. Rather reprimand your neighbor, but don’t incur sin because of them. 18 ‘You must not take vengeance or bear any grudge against your neighbor, but you’ll love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yehovah.

19 ‘You must obey My unchanging tenets. ‘You must not crossbreed two different breeds of animals. ‘You must not sow your fields with hybrid crops or wear clothing made of linen and wool woven together.

20 ‘If a man lies carnally with a woman who is a slave girl, engaged to another man, but who has not been redeemed or given her freedom, there must certainly be punishment. Yet they are not to be put to death, because she was not free. 21 He’ll bring his guilt offering to Yehovah, to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, a ram for a guilt offering. 22 The priest will make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering before Yehovah for the sin he has committed, and the sin that he has committed will be forgiven.

23 ‘When you come into the land plant all kinds of fruit trees, you must not eat the fruit for the first three years.[2] 24 But in the fourth year all its fruit will be kadosh, for giving praise to Yehovah. 25 In the fifth year you can eat its fruit, (you do this to increase your yield). I am Yehovah your Elohim.

26 ‘You must not eat any meat with the blood still in it, you must never divine, or practice sorcery. 27 ‘You must not cut the hair on the sides of your heads, or clip off the edge of your beard. 28 ‘You must not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, or put any tattoo marks on yourselves. I am Yehovah. 29 ‘Don’t profane your daughter by making her a whore, otherwise the land will fall to prostitution, and the land will become full of wickedness. 30 ‘You will preserve My Sabbaths, and reverence My Temple, I am Yehovah. 31 ‘Don’t turn to those who are mediums, or to the wizards. Don’t seek them out and be defiled by them. I am Yehovah your Elohim.

32 ‘You will rise up before the gray head, and honor the face of an old man, and you’ll fear your Elohim. I am Yehovah. 33 ‘If an immigrant lives as a foreigner with you in your land, you must not mistreat them. 34 The stranger who lives as a foreigner with you should be treated as the native-born among you, and you’ll love them as yourself, because you lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am Yehovah your Elohim. 35 ‘You must never be unfair in measuring length, weight or volume. 36 You must have just balances, just weights, a just ephah and a just hin. I am Yehovah your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 37 ‘You must obey My unchanging tenets and My regulations by doing them. I am Yehovah.

[1] “Neither lie one to another; in common speech and conversation, in trade and business, and particularly by demanding money of a man who never had anything of him, as Aben Ezra; and who owes him nothing, and yet affirms, with a lie, that he is indebted to him, and insists on payment.”—Gills

[2] Fruit sugar in the soil is a powerful biological stimulant for soil life and a fledgling tree, sort of like black strap molasses.

LEVITICUS 20

6 ‘When anyone turns to mediums and spiritists in prostituting themselves to them, I’ll be 'dead set' against them and cut them off from among the people.

7 ‘Dedicate yourselves and be kadosh, because I am Yehovah your Elohim. 8 You must obey My unchanging tenets, and 'live' by them. I am Yehovah who sets you apart.

9 ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother will surely be put to death, since they cursed their father or mother, their blood guilt will be on them.

10 ‘If a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, such as his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress must certainly be put to death. 11 ‘The man who lies with his father’s wife has uncovered his father’s nakedness, both of them must certainly be put to death, their blood guilt will be on them. 12 ‘If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them must certainly be put to death, they’ve committed a perversion, their blood guilt will be on them. 13 ‘If a man lies with a male, as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination, they must certainly be put to death, their blood guilt will be on them. 14 ‘If a man takes a wife and her mother, it is wickedness. The man and the two women must be burned, so that there will be no immorality among you. 15 ‘If a man lies with an animal, he’ll surely be put to death, and you’ll kill the animal. 16 ‘If a woman approaches any animal, and lies down with it, you’ll kill the woman and the animal, they’ll surely be put to death, their blood will be on them. 17 ‘If a man takes his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and they have 'sexual relations', it’s a shameful thing, and they’ll be publicly removed from the people, he has uncovered his sister’s nakedness, he’ll bear his wickedness. 18 ‘If a man lies with a woman having her monthly period, and uncovers her nakedness, he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood, and both of them will be removed from among their people. 19 ‘You must not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, or of your father’s sister, because he has made naked his close relative, they’ll bear their wickedness. 20 If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness, they’ll bear their sin, they’ll die childless. 21 ‘If a man takes his brother’s wife, it’s an impurity, he has uncovered his brother’s nakedness, they’ll be childless.

22 ‘You will keep all My unchanging tenets, and all My regulations, and do them, so that the land where I’m bringing you to dwell won’t vomit you out. 23 You must not practice the customs of the heathens that I am driving out before you. They did all of these things, and I abhorred them. 24 I told you, “You will take possession of their land, and I will give it to you to occupy, a land that flows with milk and honey”. I am Yehovah your Elohim who separated you from the heathens.

25 ‘You must distinguish between clean animals and unclean, and between unclean fowl and clean, and you must not make yourselves abominable by animals or birds, or by anything that 'crawls' on the ground; I have set them apart as unclean for you. 26 You are to be kadosh to Me, because I, Yehovah, am kadosh, and have set you apart from other people to be Mine.

27 ‘A man or a woman who is a medium or a spiritist must certainly be put to death. They are to be stoned; their blood guilt will be on them.

LEVITICUS 21

10 ‘The priest who is highest among his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil has been poured, and who has been dedicated to put on the clothing, must not dishevel his hair [?] or tear his clothes. 11 He must not go near a dead body, or defile himself for his father or mother, 12 and he must not leave the Kadosh Place or profane the Kadosh Place of his Elohim, because he is dedicated with the anointing oil of his Elohim. I am Yehovah. 13 ‘He must choose a virgin wife. 14 He must never marry a widow, a divorced woman, or someone defiled by prostitution, but only a virgin from his own people, 15 He must not profane his descendants among his people, because I am Yehovah who makes him kadosh.

16 “Yehovah told Moses: 17 “Say to Aaron, “None of your descendants thruout their generations who has a defect, can approach to offer the bread of his Elohim. 18 Any man who has a defect must not come near the altar, a blind man, or a lame man, or someone who has a 'disfigured' face, or any other deformity, 19 or a man who has an injured foot, or an injured hand, 20 or hunchbacked, or a dwarf, or someone who has a defect in his eye, or an itching disease, or scabs, or who has damaged testicles. 21 None of the descendants of Aaron the priest with a defect can approach to offer the offerings of Yehovah made by fire. Since has a defect, he must not approach to offer the bread of his Elohim. 22 He can eat the bread of his Elohim, both the most kadosh, and the kadosh, 23 but he must never approach the veil, or approach to the altar, because he has a defect. He must not profane my Kadosh Place, because I am Yehovah who makes them kadosh. 24 So Moses spoke to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the Israelites.

LEVITICUS 22

10 ‘No one outside a priest’s family is to eat the kadosh offering. A foreign visitor staying with the priests, or a hired servant must never eat of the kadosh things. 11 But if a priest buys a slave, purchased by his silver, he can eat it, and those who are born in his house can eat his bread. 12 If a priest’s daughter is married to an outsider, she must not eat the offering of the kadosh things. 13 But if a priest’s daughter is a widow, or divorced, and has no children, and has returned to her father’s house, as in her youth, she can eat her father’s bread, but no stranger can eat any of it. 14 ‘If a man eats something kadosh unwittingly, then he’ll add a fifth of its value to it, and give the kadosh thing to the priest. 15 The priests must not profane the kadosh things of the Israelites that they offer to Yehovah, 16 and cause them to bear the wickedness that brings guilt when they eat their kadosh things, because I am Yehovah who makes them kadosh.

17 “Yehovah told Moses: 18 “Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the Israelites, and say to them, “Whoever is of the House* of Israel, or a foreigner in Israel who offers his offering, whether it is any of their vows, or any of their voluntary offerings that they offer to Yehovah for a burnt offering, 19 must offer a male from the cattle, sheep or goats without any defects in order for you to be accepted. 20 But anything that has a defect you must not offer, because it won’t be acceptable for you. 21 Whoever offers an atoning offering of fellowship offerings to Yehovah to accomplish a vow, or for a voluntary offering, of the herd or of the flock, it must be perfect to be accepted, there will be no defect there. 22 Those that are blind, injured, maimed, having a wart, festering, or having a running sore must not be offered to Yehovah, or have an offering by fire made of them on the altar to Yehovah. 23 With regard to an ox or a lamb that has an overgrown or stunted member, you can present it as a voluntary offering, but it won’t be accepted for a vow. 24 You must not offer an 'animal' that has its testicles bruised, crushed, broken, or cut, you must not offer such to Yehovah. You must not do this in your land. 25 You must not accept such animals from a foreigner and offer them as the food of your Elohim. They will not be accepted on your behalf, because they are corrupted by defects.’”

26 Yehovah told Moses: 27 “When a bull, a sheep or a goat is born it will remain seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it will be acceptable as an offering by fire presented to Yehovah. 28 Whether it’s a cow or a ewe, you must not kill it and its young both in one day. 29 When you offer an atoning offering of thanksgiving to Yehovah, you must offer it in such a way that you will be accepted. 30 It must be eaten on the same day; leave none of it until the morning. I am Yehovah. 31 You must preserve My Commandments by doing them. I am Yehovah. 32 You must not profane My kadosh name. I will be recognized as kadosh among the Israelites. I am Yehovah who makes you kadosh. 33 I brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your Elohim. I am Yehovah.

LEVITICUS 23

4 ‘These are Yehovah’s appointed times, the kadosh public assemblies you are to declare at their appointed times. 5 Yehovah’s Passover begins at sunset on the fourteenth day of the first month. 6 On the fifteenth day of the same month [lunation] is Yehovah’s Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. 7 On the first day you must hold a kadosh public assembly. You must not do any regular work. 8 For seven days you must present offerings to Yehovah made by fire. On the seventh day hold a kadosh public assembly. Don’t do any regular work.

Wave Sheaf Day (Part of the Feast of Unleavened Bread)

Pentecost (aka Feast of Weeks, Shavuot, firstfruits)

The Feast of Trumpets

The Day of Atonements

The Feast of Tabernacles

The Eighth Day

[1] At the end of the age, “You’ll be banished from their synagogues (assemblies)... John 16:2.” But since the time of Constantine, dialog has been banished and a weekly monologue is considered normal! but The Bible Never Mentions Sermons!.

LEVITICUS 24

5 Then take fine flour, and bake twelve loaves from it, with two tenths of an ephah in each loaf. 6 Arrange them in two rows, six in each row, on the pure gold table before Yehovah. 7 You must put 'pure' frankincense near each row to serve as a memorial portion for the bread, a fire offering to Yehovah. 8 Every Sabbath day he must arrange the 'bread' before Yehovah continually. It’s an everlasting covenant for the Israelites. 9 It will be for Aaron and his sons, and they’ll eat it in a Kadosh Place, because it’s the most kadosh portion of Yehovah’s offerings by fire; a perpetual permanent rule.

10 “The son of an Israelite woman whose father was an Egyptian went out among the Israelites; and the Israelite woman’s son and an Israelite man fought with each other in the camp. 11 The Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the Name, and cursed. So they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith, a daughter of Dibri of the tribe of Dan.) 12 They put him in custody until Yehovah’s will could be made clear to them. 13 Then Yehovah said to Moses: 14 “Take the man who cursed outside the camp, and have everyone who heard him lay their hands on his head, and have the entire congregation stone him to death. 15 You must tell the Israelites, “Whoever curses his Elohim will be punished for their sin. 16 Anyone who blasphemes Yehovah’s name must certainly be put to death, the entire congregation is to stone them, whether a foreigner or someone native-born, when they blaspheme the Name they are to be put to death.

17 ‘Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death. 18 Anyone who takes the life of someone’s animal must compensate for it, animal for animal. 19 Whoever injures a neighbor is to be injured the same way: 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, anyone who inflicts an injury on another must receive the same injury. 21 Whoever kills an animal compensate for it, but whoever kills a human being must be put to death. 22 You are to apply the same standard to foreigners as you do the natives, because I am Yehovah your Elohim.

23 “Then Moses spoke to the Israelites, and they took the guy who had cursed outside the camp and stoned him. The Israelites did as Yehovah had commanded Moses.

LEVITICUS 25

Announcing the upcoming Year of Jubilee

8 ‘You must count off seven Sabbaths of years—seven times seven years, so that the seven Sabbaths of years amounts to a period of forty-nine years. 9 THEN you must sound shofars loudly [1] on the tenth day of the seventh month, on the Day of Atonements you must sound shofars loudly thruout your entire land. 10 You must dedicate the fiftieth year, and proclaim [or read] liberty thruout the land to everyone who lives there. It will be your Jubilee. Each of you can return to your own property, and each of you can return to your own clan. 11 The fiftieth year will be your Jubilee year. During ‘that year’ you must not plant or preserve the ‘after crop’* from what grows by itself, or make wine* from any leftover* grapes. 12 It’s a Jubilee, it will be a ‘time of dedication’ [kadosh] for you. You can eat the fresh voluntary produce from your fields.

13 “In this Year of Jubilee each of you can return to your ancestral property. 14 If you sell anything to your neighbor, or buy anything from them, don’t take advantage of them. 15 When you buy property from your neighbor, base the price on the number of years since the last Jubilee. Your neighbor must sell it to you based on the number of crops until the next jubilee. 16 If there are many years [until the next Jubilee], you should increase the price, but if there are only a few years left, you should reduce the price, because they are only 'leasing' from you a number of crops. 17 You must never take advantage of each other, but you must fear your Elohim because I am Yehovah your Elohim.

18 “You must preserve and obey My unchanging tenets and My regulations. When you obey them you will live securely in the land. 19 Then the land will yield its crops, and you’ll have plenty of food, and live there in security. 20 If you ask, “What are we going to eat in the seventh year if we don’t sow or gather crops?’” 21 I’ll send such a blessing to you in the sixth year that it will produce a crop sufficient for three years. 22 When you are sowing the eighth year, you’ll still be eating some of the old harvest, and continue eating from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in.

23 ‘The land must not be permanently sold, because the land is Mine. You are foreigners living as temporary residents with Me. 24 So for every piece of property you hold you must provide the option to redeem [reclaim] the land during the Jubilee. 25 “’If one of your 'fellow countrymen' becomes so poor that they 'lease' some of their property, then his nearest relative can come and redeem what his 'fellow countryman' has 'leased'. 26 If a man has no one to redeem it, and he becomes more prosperous and finds sufficient means to redeem it, 27 then he can calculate the years since the 'lease', and refund the balance to the man he sold [leased] it to, and return to his ancestral property. 28 But if he isn’t able to 'buy' it back for himself, then what he has 'leased' will remain in the hands of the one who purchased [leased] it until the Year of Jubilee, and in the Jubilee it will be released, and he canl return to his property. 29 “’If a man sells a home in a walled city, then his right of redemption remains valid for a full year after the sale; his right of redemption lasts a full year. 30 If it isn’t redeemed by the end of a full year, then the house in the walled city becomes the permanent property of the buyer and the buyer’s descendants. It isn’t subject to release during the Jubilee Year. 31 But houses in unwalled villages are regarded as part of the open fields. They can be redeemed, and must be returned at the Jubilee. 32 “As for the Levitical cities, the Levites have a permanent right of redemption for the homes in the cities they own. 33 So any property purchased from a Levite is redeemable—any house in a Levitical city must be released in the Jubilee, because the houses in their cities are their [only] property within Israel. 34 But the open pastureland surrounding their cities can’t be sold, because it’s their permanent property. 35 If a countryman of yours becomes poor, and can’t support himself, you are to support him as a foreigner or temporary resident, and allow him to live beside you. 36 Take no interest or profit from him, but fear your Elohim, so that your countryman can live among you. 37 You must not lend him your silver at interest, or sell your food at a profit. 38 I am Yehovah your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your Elohim.

39 “’And if your fellow countryman becomes destitute and sells himself to you, don’t subject him to slave labor. 40 Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident. He is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. 41 Then you will release him and his children, and they can return to their ancestral property. 42 They are My servants who I brought out of the land of Egypt. They must not be sold as slaves. 43 You must not rule over them harshly, but fear your Elohim. 44 As for the male and female slaves you may acquire—you can buy male and female slaves from the pagan nations around you. 45 You can also buy some of the foreigners living among, and members of their families born in your countryy. They will be your property. 46 You can acquire them for yourselves and can make them slaves for life. You can work them as slaves. But don’t treat the Israelites harshly. They are your fellow Israelites.

47 ‘If an immigrant or temporary resident among you prospers, and your fellow countryman becomes poor, and sells himself to foreigners living among you, or to a member of the foreigner’s clan, 48 then after he has been sold he has the right of redemption. One of his relatives can redeem him. 49 His uncle or cousin can redeem him, or one of his close relatives from his clan can redeem him, or if he prospers, he can redeem himself. 50 Then he and his buyer are to calculate the time from the year he sold himself to him until the Year of Jubilee. The price for their release is to be based on the number of years he was with his buyer, like the wages of a hired worker. 51 If many years are still left, he must make the refund relative to 'the years' of the sale price; 52 If only a few years are left until the Year of Jubilee, he must calculate it with him and refund the price of his redemption in proportion to his remaining years. 53 Like a man hired on an annual basis he will stay with him. The buyer should not treat them harshly in your sight. 54 If he isn’t redeemed by these means, then he’ll be released in the Year of Jubilee, he, and his children with him. 55 The Israelites are My servants, My servants that I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am Yehovah your Elohim.

[1] KJV wrongly says “trumpet of the jubile”, in agreement with the Jewish custom of beginning years in the seventh month—a practice begun in Babylonian captivity. An upcoming Jubilee was only to be announced on the Day of Atonements.

LEVITICUS 26

3 ‘If you ‘live’ by My unchanging tenets, and obey My Commandments, and actually do them, 4 then I’ll send you your rain in the right season, and the land will yield produce, and the trees in the fields will produce their fruit. 5 Your threshing will ‘continue’ until the grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting time [Clarke’s]! You’ll eat your fill of food, and live securely in your own land. 6 ‘I’ll give peace in the land, and you’ll lie down, and no one will frighten you, and I’ll remove wild animals from the land, and 'warfare' will never traverse your land. 7 You’ll chase your enemies, and they’ll 'die' before you 'in conflict'. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall before you by the sword. 9 ‘I’ll have respect for you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish My covenant with you. 10 You’ll eat the old supply and clear out the old to make room for the new. 11 I’ll move My tabernacle among you, and 'I' won’t abhor you. 12 I’ll walk among you, and be your Elohim, and you’ll be My people. 13 I am Yehovah your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, so that you wouldn’t be their slaves, and I’ve broken the bars of your yoke, and made you 'stand tall'.

14 ‘But if you won’t listen to Me, and won’t abey all these Commandments, 15 and if you reject My unchanging tenets and abhor My regulations, and won’t do all My Commandments, but break My covenant, 16 I also will do this to you, I’ll appoint terror over you, consumption and fever that will destroy your sight, and your strength will ebb away. You’ll sow your seeds in vain because your enemies will eat 'what you plant'. 17 I’ll be 'dead set' against you, and you’ll be struck before your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you’ll flee when no one pursues you.

18 ‘If you, in spite of these things, won’t obey Me, then I’ll punish you seven years [or times] more for your sins. 19 I’ll break the pride of your power, and I’ll make your sky like iron, and your soil like bronze. 20 Your strength will be spent in vain, because your land won’t yield its increase, and the trees of the land won’t yield their fruit.

21 ‘If you walk contrary to Me, and won’t listen to Me, then I’ll bring seven times more plagues on you relative to your sins. 22 I’ll send the wild animals among you that will rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few in number. Your roads will be deserted.

23 ‘If under these conditions you still won’t be corrected by Me, but go about contrary to Me, 24 then I’ll also go about contrary to you, and I’ll strike you seven more times for your sins. 25 I’ll bring a sword on you that will avenge your vengeance against My covenant, and when you’ve been gathered together into your towns, I’ll send a plague among you, and you’ll be handed over to the enemy. 26 When I have broken your staff of life, your bread, ten women will bake your bread in one oven, and they’ll deliver your bread rationed out by weight, and you’ll eat it, but still be hungry.

27 ‘If in spite of this you won’t listen to Me, and walk contrary to Me, 28 then I’ll walk contrary to you in wrath, and I’ll chastise you seven times for your sins. 29 You’ll eat the flesh of your sons, and you’ll eat the flesh of your daughters. 30 I’ll destroy your high places, and cut down your incense altars, and throw your dead bodies on the bodies of your idols, and 'I' will abhor you. 31 I’ll devastate your towns, and destroy your “holy places”, and I’ll refuse to smell the sweet fragrances 'of your burnt offerings’ [Targum of Jonathan]. 32 I’ll devastate your land so much that your enemies will be shocked when they come to settle it. 33 I’ll scatter you among the nations, and I’ll and unsheat a sword against you, as your country becomes desolate and your towns become ruins.

34 Then the land will make up for its Sabbath years as it lies deserted while you are in exile in your enemies’ land. Then the land will rest and make up for its missed Sabbaths. 35 As long as it lies deserted, it will celebrate the rest that it didn’t have on your Sabbaths when you lived there. 36 ‘As for those of you who are left, I’ll send a faintness into their minds in the lands of their enemies, and the sound of a driven leaf will put them to flight, and they’ll flee as someone fleeing from a sword, and they’ll fall when no one pursues. 37 They must stumble over one another as if it were before a sword when no one pursues, and you’ll have no ability to stand before your enemies. 38 You’ll perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies will eat you up. 39 Those of you who are left will rot away in your enemies’ lands because of their sins; and because of the sins of their ancestors they will rot away with them.

40 ‘But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors—the unfaithfulness they committed against Me, and their acting with hostility against Me— 41 that made Me act with hostility against them, and bring them into the land of their enemies—then if they humble their uncircumcised mindset and they make amends for their wickedness, 42 then I’ll remember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac, and My covenant with Abraham, and I’ll remember the land. 43 The land also will be left by them, and celebrate its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them [1], and they’ll accept the punishment of their wickedness, because they rejected My regulations, and they abhorred My unchanging tenets. 44 Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I won’t reject them or abhor them, and destroy them completely and break My covenant with them, because I am Yehovah their Elohim, 45 but I’ll for their sake remember the covenant of their ancestors, who I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, so that I could be their Elohim. I am Yehovah.

46 “These are the unchanging tenets, regulations and laws that Yehovah made between him and the Israelites in Mount Sinai by Moses.

[1] “Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, &c.—A long arrear of sabbatic years had accumulated thru the avarice and apostasy of the Israelites, who had deprived their land of its appointed season of rest. The number of those sabbatic years seems to have been seventy, as determined by the duration of the captivity. This early prediction is very remarkable, considering that the usual policy of the Assyrian conquerors was to send colonies to cultivate and inhabit their newly acquired provinces.”—JFB But that prototypical return to Zion doesn’t even come close to comparing to the coming Second Exodus from captivity of all 12 tribes back to the land of Israel!

LEVITICUS 27

9 “If the vow involves one of the animals that can be used as an offering to Yehovah, any of them that someone gives to Yehovah will be considered kadosh. 10 They must not replace or exchange a good one for a bad one, or a bad one for a good one; if they do substitute animals, then both it and its substitute will be kadosh. 11 If it’s any unclean animal that can’t be offered as an offering to Yehovah, then the animal must be presented to a priest, 12 and the priest will value it, whether 'high' or 'low'. The value will be whatever the priest determines. 13 But if the owner decides to redeem it, one-fifth more must be added to its valuation.

14 “If anyone dedicates their house as something kadosh to Yehovah, then a priest must appraise it, whether it’s 'high' or 'low'. The value will be whatever the priest determines. 15 If someone [1] dedicates their house and decides to redeem it, they must add a fifth to its value in silver, and the house will again become theirs.

16 “If someone dedicates part their field to Yehovah, then your valuation will be proportionate to the seed required for it—fifty shekels of silver to a omer of barley seed. 17 If you dedicate a field during the Year of Jubilee, your set valuation stands. 18 But if you dedicate your field after the Jubilee, then a priest will calculate the silver for you in proportion to the years left until the next Year of Jubilee, and deduct from your valuation. 19 If the person who dedicated the field ever wants to redeem it, then they must add a fifth more silver to it, and it will become theirs again. 20 But if they don’t redeem the field, or if they have sold it to someone else, it is no longer redeemable. 21 When the field reverts in the Jubilee, it will be kadosh to Yehovah, a devoted field, it becomes the priest’s property. 22 “If they dedicate a field to Yehovah that they 'leased', (that isn’t part of a field of their ancestral property), 23 then a priest will determine its value up to the Year of Jubilee, and the person will pay that price on that day as a kadosh thing to Yehovah. 24 In the Year of Jubilee the field will return to the person who 'leased' it out, the actual owner. 25 All of your valuations will be set using the standard shekel of the Kadosh Place, twenty gerahs to the shekel.

26 “No one can dedicate the firstborn of an animal to Yehovah, whether an ox or sheep, it’s already Yehovah’s. 27 If it’s an unclean animal, then they can buy it back according to your valuation, adding a fifth to it. If it isn’t redeemed, it must be sold at the assigned value.

28 “But nothing that a person owns and devotes to Yehovah from anything he owns, whether a person, an animal, or his inherited landholding, can be sold or redeemed. Every devoted thing is most kadosh to Yehovah. 29 “No one devoted to destruction can be ransomed; they must be put to death.

30 “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees belongs to Yehovah. It’s kadosh to Yehovah. 31 If anyone redeems any part of his tithe, they must add a fifth more to it. 32 Every tenth head of cattle or sheep that passes under the shepherd’s staff will be kadosh to Yehovah. 33 You must not look to see if it is good or bad or make any exchanges. But if you do exchange it, both the first animal and its substitute will be kadosh. They cannot be redeemed.”

34 “These are the Commandments that Yehovah gave Moses at Mount Sinai for the Israelites.

[1] While Hebrew always defaults to the male gender, as in “a man”, women too could own property, as in Proverbs 31.

NUMBERS 1

Chapters 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

17 “Moses and Aaron took these men who had been mentioned by name. 18 They assembled the entire congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they registered their ancestry according to their family records by their families and their ancestral households, according to the number of names, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years old or more. 19 just as Yehovah had commanded Moses. So he counted them in the Sinai Desert.

20 “The descendants of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, according to the number of names, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years old or more, whoever was able to go out to war. 21 The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500. 22 Of the descendants of Simeon: All the men twenty years of age or more who were able to go out to war were counted and listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their tribes and families. 23 The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300. 24 Of the descendants of Gad, according to their family records by their tribes and families, according to the number of names, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years old or more, whoever was able to go out to war, 25 the number from the tribe of Gawd was 45,650. 26 Of the descendants of Judah, according to their family records by their tribes and families, according to the number of names, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years old or more, whoever was able to go out to war, 27 the number from the house of Judah was 74,600. 28 Of the descendants of Issachar, according to their family records by their tribes and families, according to the number of names, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years old or more, whoever was able to go out to war, 29 the number from the tribe of Issachar was 54,400. 30 Of the descendants of Zebulun, according to their family records by their tribes and families, according to the number of names, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years old or more, whoever was able to go out to war, 31 the number from the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400. 32 Of the descendants of Joseph, according to their family records by their tribes and families, according to the number of names, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years old or more, whoever was able to go out to war, 33 the number from the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500. 34 Of the descendants of Manasseh, according to their family records by their tribes and families, according to the number of names, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years old or more, whoever was able to go out to war, 35 the number from the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200. 36 Of the descendants of Benjamin, according to their family records by their tribes and families, according to the number of names, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years old or more, whoever was able to go out to war, 37 the number from the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400. 38 Of the descendants of Dan, according to their family records by their tribes and families, according to the number of names, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years old or more, whoever was able to go out to war, 39 the number from the tribe of Dan was 62,700. 40 Of the descendants of Asher, according to their family records by their tribes and families, according to the number of names, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years old or more, whoever was able to go out to war, 41 the number from the tribe of Asher was 41,500. 42 Of the descendants of Naphtali, according to their family records by their tribes and families, according to the number of names, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years old or more, whoever was able to go out to war, 43 the number from the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400.

44 “These are the ones who Moses and Aaron counted, along with the twelve leading men of Israel, each representing his fathers’ household. 45 So the Israelites were registered by households, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war in Israel. 46 The entire registry was 603,550 men. 47 But the Levites were not registered with them by their fathers’ tribe.

48 “Yehovah had told Moses: 49 “Don’t register the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. 50 Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, and over all its furnishings, and everything in it. They must carry the Tabernacle, and all its furnishings, and they’ll take care of it, and camp around it. 51 When the Tabernacle is to move, the Levites will take it down, and when the Tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites will set it up. Anyone else who approaches it must be put to death. 52 The Israelites are to camp by divisions, each of them in their own camp under their own 'banner'. 53 But the Levites will camp around the Tabernacle of the Testimony, so that there won’t be wrath on the Israelite congregation. So the Levites will be in charge of the Tabernacle of the Testimony. 54 So the Israelites did everything just as Yehovah had commanded Moses.

NUMBERS 2

3 “Those on the east side toward the sunrise are to camp under the standard of Judah, by their divisions, and the leader of the House of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab. 4 His division 'numberes' 74,600 men. 5 The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them, and the leader of the descendants of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar. 6 His division numbers 54,400 men. 7 Also on the east is the tribe of Zebulun. The leader of the descendants of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon. 8 His division 'numbers' 57,400 men. 9 The total number in their military divisions in Judah’s camp is 186,400; They will set out first.

10 “On the south side will be the standard of the camp of Reuben by their divisions. The leader of the descendants of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur. 11 His division numbers 46,500 men. 12 Those camped next to him will be the tribe of Simeon. The leader of the descendants of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. 13 His division numbers 59,300 men. 14 Then comes the tribe of Gawd. The leader of the descendants of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel. 15 His division numbers 45,650 men. 16 The total number of men assigned to the camp of Reuben, by their divisions numbers 151,450 men. They will set out second.

17 “Then the Tabernacle of the Congregation will set out with the Levites staying in the middle of the camps. The tribes will move out in the same order as they are in the camp, everyone in place by their standards.

18 “On the west side will be the standard of the camp of Ephraim by their divisions, and the leader of the descendants of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud. 19 His division numbers 40,500 men. 20 Next to him will be the tribe of Manasseh. The leader of the descendants of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. 21 His division numbers 32,200 men. 22 Then comes the tribe of Benjamin, and the leader of the descendants of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni. 23 His division numbers 35,400 men. 24 The total in their military divisions who belong to Ephraim’s camp is 108,100. They must set out third.

25 “On the north side will be the standard of the camp of Dan according to their divisions, and the leader of the descendants of Dan will be Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. 26 His division numbers 62,700. 27 Encamped next to him will be the tribe of Asher. The leader of the descendants of Asher is Pagiel son of Okran. 28 His division numbers 41,500 men. 29 Then comes the tribe of Naphtali. The leader of the descendants of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan. 30 His division numbers 53,400 men. 31 All the men who belong to Dan’s camp number 157,600. They must set out last by their standards.

32 “This is the entire number of Israelites counted by households. All the men in the camps, by their divisions, number 603,550. 33 But the Levites were not numbered with the other Israelites, just as Yehovah had commanded Moses. 34 So the Israelites did everything that Yehovah commanded Moses; they camped by their standards in this way and moved out the same way, each of them with their clan and 'ancestral' family.

NUMBERS 3

5 “Yehovah told Moses: 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest so that they can assist him. 7 They must carry out the duties for him and for the entire congregation by doing the work of the Tabernacle. 8 They are to take care of all the furnishings of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, along with the duties of the Israelites, by doing the work of the Tabernacle. 9 Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the only Israelites to be given to him on the behalf of the Israelites. 10 You are to appoint Aaron and his sons, and they’ll serve as priests; 'anyone' else who approaches the kadosh things must be put to death.

11 “Yehovah told Moses: 12 “Look, I’ve taken the Levites from among the Israelites instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the Israelites, and the Levites will be Mine, 13 since all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I made kadosh to Me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They’ll be Mine. I am Yehovah.

14 “Yehovah spoke to Moses in the Sinai Desert: 15 “Count the descendants of Levi by their fathers’ households, by their families. You must count every male from a month old and upward. 16 Moses counted them according to the Word of Yehovah, as he was commanded.

17 “These were the sons of Levi by their names, Gershon, Kohath and Merari. 18 These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families, Libni and Shimei. 19 The sons of Kohath by their families, Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. 20 The sons of Merari by their families, Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers’ houses.

21 “Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites, these are the families of the Gershonites. 22 The number of all the males who were counted a month old or more totaled 7,500. 23 The families of the Gershonites are to camp on the west side behind the Tabernacle. 24 The leader of the fathers’ 'family' of the Gershonites will be Eliasaph son of Lael. 25 The duty of the sons of Gershon in the Tabernacle of the Congregation will be the Tabernacle, the tent, its covering, the screen for the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, 26 the curtains of the court, the screen for the door of the court by the Tabernacle, around the altar, and its cords for all of its service.

27 “Of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites, these are the families of the Kohathites. 28 According to the number of all the males, from a month old or more, there were 8,600, keeping the requirements of the Temple. 29 The families of the sons of Kohath will camp on the south side of the Tabernacle. 30 The leader of the fathers’ 'family' of the families of the Kohathites will be Elizaphan son of Uzziel. 31 Their duty will be the ark, the table, the menorah, the altars, the utensils of the 'Temple' that they minister with, the screen and all its service. 32 Eleazar son of Aaron the priest will be the principal leader of the Levites, with the oversight of those who keep the requirements of the Temple.

33 “The clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites belonged too Merari; these were the Merarite clans. 34 The number of all the males a month old or more was 6,200. 35 The leader of the fathers’ 'family' of the families of Merari was Zuriel son of Abihail. They must camp on the north side of the Tabernacle. 36 The appointed duty of the sons of Merari will be the Tabernacle’s planks, its bars, its pillars, its bases, all its instruments, all its service, 37 the pillars of the court around it, their bases, their pins, and their cords.

38 “Those who camp before the Tabernacle eastward, in front of the Tabernacle of the Congregation toward the sunrise, will be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the requirements of the 'Temple' for the duty of the Israelites. Anyone else who comes near will be put to death. 39 All who were counted of the Levites, who Moses and Aaron counted at the commandment of Yehovah, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand. [Jots]

40 “Yehovah told Moses, “Number all the firstborn males of the Israelites from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. 41 You’ll take the Levites for me (I am Yehovah) instead of all the firstborn among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the Israelites. 42 Moses counted, as Yehovah commanded him, all the firstborn among the Israelites. 43 All the firstborn males according to the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those who were counted of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred seventy-three. 44 Yehovah told Moses: 45 “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock, and the Levites will be Mine. I am Yehovah. 46 The redemption price of the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites, 47 will cost five shekels apiece for each one, that is a 'Temple' shekel, (a shekel being twenty gerahs), 48 and give the silver, the redemption price of those who outnumber the Levites, to Aaron and his sons. 49 Moses took the redemption silver from those who exceeded the number of those who were redeemed by the Levites, 50 from the firstborn of the Israelites he took the silver, one thousand three hundred sixty-five 'Temple' shekels. 51 Then Moses gave the redemption silver to Aaron and his sons, at the command of Yehovah, as Yehovah had commanded Moses.

NUMBERS 4

17 “Yehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron: 18 “Don’t destroy the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites. 19 Do this for them so that they may live and not die when they approach the most kadosh things: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry. 20 but they must not go in to see the kadosh things even for a moment, or they’ll die.

21 Yehovah told Moses: 22 “Also take a census of the Gershonites by their fathers’ households, by their families. 23 Register men between thirty years and fifty years of age; anyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 24 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in bearing burdens: 25 They must carry the curtains of the Tabernacle, and the Tabernacle of the Congregation, its covering, and the covering of fine leather that is above on it, and the screen for the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, 26 and the curtains of the court, and the screen for the door of the gate of the court that’s by the Tabernacle and around the altar, and their cords, and all the equipment for their service. They must do everything that needs to be done with these things. 27 The entire service of the sons of the Gershonites, all their transportation duties and all their other work is to be done at the command of Aaron and his sons. You are to assign to them everything they’re supposed to carry. 28 This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the Tabernacle of the Congregation. Their duty will be under the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

29 “As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their families, by their fathers’ houses. 30 Register men from thirty to fifty years of age who enter the service to do the work of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 31 These are all their duties relative to their service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation: the Tabernacle’s planks, the crossbars, posts and bases, 32 and the posts surrounding the court and their bases, pegs and cords, with all the instruments required for their service. You are to assign by name the items that each man is responsible to carry. 33 These are all of the responsibilities of the Merarite clans at the Tabernacle of the Congregation under the 'direction' of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest.”

34 Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the congregation counted the Kohathites by their clans and by their families. 35 From thirty years old and all the way to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service, for work in the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 36 Those who were counted by their families were two thousand seven hundred fifty. 37 These are those who were counted of the families of the Kohathites, all who served in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, who Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of Yehovah by Moses.

38 Those who were counted of the sons of Gershon, their families, and by their ancestral houses, 39 from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service for work in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, 40 The total of those who were counted was 2,630. They were listed by families and households. 41 This was the total of all those who were counted of the families of the sons of Gershon, everyone who served in the Tabernacle of the Congregation. Moses and Aaron counted them according to Yehovah’s command.

42 Those who were counted of the families of the sons of Merari, by families and households 43 from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service for work in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, 44 those who were counted by their families numbered 3,200. 45 These are those who were counted of the families of the sons of Merari. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the commandment of Yehovah by Moses.

46 All those who were counted by the Levites, who Moses and Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted by families and households 47 from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone who qualified to do the work of serving and carrying the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 48 They counted 8,589 men. 49 At the commandment of Yehovah they were counted by Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry. So were they counted by him, as Yehovah had commanded Moses.

NUMBERS 5

5 Yehovah told Moses: 6 “Tell the Israelites: ‘When a man or woman commits any of the sins of mankind, and becomes unfaithful toward Yehovah, and that person is guilty, 7 then they must confess the sin they’ve done, and make restitution for their wrong in full, and add one-fifth to it, and give it to the person who was wronged. 8 But if that person has no close relative to accept the compensation for the wrong, the compensation for wrong is to be made to Yehovah for the priest, in addition to the ram to make atonement for him. 9 Every 'contribution' 'besides' the kadosh things that the Israelites present to the priest will be his. 10 Everyones kadosh gift is theirs to give, but what anyone gives to the priest will be his.’”

11 “Yehovah told Moses: 12 “Speak to the Israelites, and tell them, ‘If any man’s wife goes astray, and is unfaithful to him, 13 and another man has had sexual relations with her without her husband’s knowledge, and it is 'kept secret', while she may have been defiled herself, there is no witness to accuse her and she has not been caught in the act, 14 and a 'sense' of jealousy comes over him, and he suspects that his wife has defiled herself, or if a 'sense' of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife, tho she has not defiled herself, 15 then the man is to bring his wife to the priest, and bring her offering for her, a tenth of an ephah of barley meal. He’ll pour no olive oil on it, and put no frankincense on it, it’s a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering of memorial, a reminder of wickedness. 16 “The priest is to bring her forward and have her stand before Yehovah, 17 and the priest will take kadosh water in a clay pot, and the priest will take dust that is on the floor of the Tabernacle and put it into the water. 18 The priest will set the woman before Yehovah and let the hair of the woman’s head go loose, and put the grain offering of memorial in her hands, that is the grain offering of jealousy. The priest will have in his hand the water of bitterness that brings a curse. 19 The priest will have her take an oath and tell her, ‘If no other man has had sexual relations with you and you have not gone astray and been 'unfaithful to' your husband, then be 'immune' to this water of bitterness that brings a curse. 20 But if you have gone astray and been 'unfaithful to' your husband, and if you are defiled by having sexual relations with a man other than your husband.” 21 Then the priest will have the woman swear the oath of the curse, and the priest will tell the woman, “May Yehovah cause others see that you are cursed among your people when He makes your womb waste away and your abdomen swell; 22 and this water that brings a curse will go into your bowels, and make your body swell, and your womb waste away. The woman will say, “Aw-main', Aw-main'. 23 And the priest will write these curses in a book, and he’ll blot them out into the water of bitterness. 24 He’ll make the woman drink the water of bitterness that causes the curse, and the water that causes the curse will enter her and become bitter. 25 The priest will take the grain offering of jealousy out of the woman’s hand, and wave the grain offering before Yehovah, and bring it to the altar. 26 The priest will take a handful of the grain offering, as its memorial, and burn it on the altar, and afterward have the woman drink the water. 27 After he has made her drink the water, if she has defiled herself and been unfaithful to her husband, then the water that causes the curse will enter her and become bitter, and her body will swell, and her womb waste away, and the woman will become a curse among her people. 28 If the woman isn’t defiled, but is clean, then she’ll be free, and conceive descendants.

29 “This is the law of jealousy when a woman goes astray and defiles herself while married to her husband, 30 or when the sense of jealousy comes on a man, and he is suspicious of his wife, then he is to set the woman before Yehovah, and the priest will apply this entire law to her. 31 The husband will be free of blame, but the [guilty] woman will bear the consequences of her wickedness.”

NUMBERS 6

13 “This is the law of the Nazarite, when the duration of their separation is finished, they must come to the entrance of the Tabernacle of the Congregation 14 and present their offering to Yehovah: a one year old male lamb without defects for a burnt offering, a one ewe lamb a year old without defects as a sin offering, one ram without defects for a fellowship offering, 15 a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mixed with olive oil, unleavened wafers anointed with olive oil, their grain offering and their wine offerings. 16 The priest will present them before Yehovah, and offer their sin offering and their burnt offering. 17 They must ze’bak [sacrifice] the ram as a fellowship offering to Yehovah, along with the basket of unleavened bread. Then the priest will offer the accompanying grain offering and drink offering. 18 The Nazarite will shave the head of their separation at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and take the hair of the head of their separation, and put it on the fire under the fellowship offerings. 19 The priest will take the boiled shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and put them on the hands of the Nazarite, after they have shaved the head of their separation, 20 and the priest will wave them for a wave offering before Yehovah. This is kadosh for the priest, together with the breast that is waved and the thigh that is offered. After that the Nazarite can drink wine. 21 “These are the instructions for those who have made the Nazarite vow, and concerning their offering to Yehovah for their separation, in addition to what else they can afford. They must fulfill the vows they have made according to the law of separation.” 22 Yehovah told Moses: 23 “Tell Aaron and to his sons, ‘This is how you’ll bless the Israelites. Tell them, 24 ‘Yehovah bless you and keep you. 25 Yehovah will make His face shine on you and be merciful to you.

26 Yehovah will 'look' toward you with favor and give you peace.’ 27 So they will pronounce My name to bless the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

[1] Souls die! (Ezekiel 18:4 & 20) They are all mortal! Any sect that defends that particular simple truth is considered a cult (actually a very interesting word) by the establishment churches. There are safe havens for at least that particular truth. Most or all of them probably have well designed exposes on the topic. It just so happens that this is the best one I’ve found so far, so much so that anyone not pre-programed should see it right away. As for some of the other teachings from those sources, well it’s much more challenging to validate errors.

NUMBERS 7

12 “The one who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab, of the house of Judah. 13 His offering was one silver platter that weighed one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels by the standard 'Temple' shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, 14 one gold ladle of ten shekels, filled with incense, 15 one young bull, one ram, one year old male lamb for a burnt offering, 16 one male goat as a sin offering, 17 and for fellowship offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

18 “On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, leader of Issachar gave his offering. 19 The offering he brought was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard 'Temple' shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, 20 one gold ladle weighing ten shekels, filled with incense, 21 one young bull, one ram, one year old male lamb for a burnt offering, 22 one male goat as a sin offering, 23 and for fellowship offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

24 “On the third day Eliab son of Helon, leader of the descendants of Zebulun 25 presented his offering, one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard 'Temple' shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, 26 one gold ladle of ten shekels, filled with incense, 27 one young bull, one ram, one year old male lamb for a burnt offering, 28 one male goat as a sin offering, 29 and for the fellowship offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon. 30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, leader of the descendants of Reuben 31 presented his offering, one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard 'Temple' shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, 32 one gold ladle of ten shekels, filled with incense, 33 one young bull, one ram, one year old male lamb for a burnt offering, 34 one male goat as a sin offering, 35 and for fellowship offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, leader of the descendants of Simeon 37 presented his offering, one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by the standard 'Temple' shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, 38 one gold ladle of ten shekels, filled with incense, 39 one young bull, one ram, one year old male lamb for a burnt offering, 40 one male goat as a sin offering 41 for the fellowship offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats and five year old male lambs, this was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

42 On the sixth day, Eliasaph son of Deuel, leader of the descendants of Gad 43 presented his offering, one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by the standard 'Temple' shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, 44 one gold ladle of ten shekels, filled with incense, 45 one young bull, one ram, one year old male lamb for a burnt offering, 46 one male goat as a sin offering, 47 and for fellowship offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

48 “On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, leader of the descendants of Ephraim 49 presented his offering, one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by the standard 'Temple' shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, 50 one gold ladle of ten shekels, filled with incense, 51 one young bull, one ram, one year old male lamb for a burnt offering, 52 one male goat as a sin offering, 53 and for the fellowship offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.

54 “On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, leader of the descendants of Manasseh 55 presented his offering, one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by the standard 'Temple' shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, 56 one gold ladle of ten shekels, filled with incense, 57 one young bull, one ram, one year old male lamb for a burnt offering, 58 one male goat as a sin offering, 59 and for fellowship offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. 60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, leader of the descendants of Benjamin 61 presented his offering, one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by the standard 'Temple' shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, 62 one gold ladle of ten shekels, filled with incense, 63 one young bull, one ram, one year old male lamb for a burnt offering, 64 one male goat as a sin offering, 65 and for fellowship offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

66 “On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, leader of the descendants of Dan 67 presented his offering, one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by the standard 'Temple' shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, 68 one gold ladle of ten shekels, filled with incense, 69 one young bull,one ram, one year old male lamb for a burnt offering, 70 one male goat as a sin offering, 71 and for fellowship offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ochran, leader of the descendants of Asher 73 presented his offering, one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by the standard 'Temple' shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, 74 one gold ladle of ten shekels, filled with incense, 75 one young bull, one ram, one year old male lamb for a burnt offering, 76 one male goat as a sin offering, 77 and for fellowship offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ochran.

78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, leader of the descendants of Naphtali 79 presented his offering, one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels by the standard 'Temple' shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, 80 one gold spoon of ten shekels, filled with incense, 81 one young bull, one ram, one year old male lamb for a burnt offering, 82 one male goat as a sin offering, 83 and for fellowship offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

84 This was the dedication of the altar on the day when it was anointed by the leaders of Israel, twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, twelve gold ladles, 85 each silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and each bowl seventy, all the silver of the utensils weighed two thousand four hundred shekels by the standard 'Temple' shekel, 86 the twelve gold ladles, filled with incense, weighing ten shekels apiece by the standard 'Temple' shekel, all the gold of the ladles weighed one hundred twenty shekels, 87 all the livestock for the burnt offering twelve bulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs a year old twelve, and their grain offering, and the male goats as a sin offering twelve, 88 and all the livestock for fellowship offerings twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the male lambs a year old sixty. This was the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.

89 When Moses went into the Tabernacle of the Congregation to speak with Yehovah, he heard His voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the Ark of the Testimony from between the two cherubim, and He spoke to him.

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5 “Yehovah told Moses: 6 “Take the Levites from among the Israelites, and cleanse them. 7 You must do this to them, to cleanse them, sprinkle the water of cleansing on them, have them shave their whole bodies with a razor, and have them wash their clothes, and cleanse themselves. 8 Then have them take a young bull, and its grain offering, fine flour mixed with olive oil, and you are to take another young bull as a sin offering. 9 You must present the Levites before the Tabernacle of the Congregation. Assemble the entire congregation of the Israelites. 10 You must present the Levites before Yehovah. The Israelites will lay their hands on the Levites, 11 and Aaron will 'present' the Levites before Yehovah for a wave offering, on the behalf of the Israelites, to enable them to do Yehovah’s service. 12 The Levites will lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, then you are to offer one as a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering to Yehovah, to make atonement for the Levites. 13 Have the Levites stand before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them as a wave offering to Yehovah. 14 In this way you are to separate the Levites from among the Israelites, and the Levites will belong to Me. 15 Then after that the Levites can go in to do their work in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and you are to cleanse them, and offer them as a wave offering. 16 They are entirely assigned to Me from among the Israelites. I have taken them for Myself as substitutes for all who are born first, the firstborn of all the Israelites. 17 Every firstborn among the Israelites is Mine, both man and beast. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I made them kadosh for Myself. 18 I’ve taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the Israelites. 19 I’ve given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the Israelites, to work for the Israelites in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and to make atonement for the Israelites, so that there will be no plague among the Israelites when the Israelites approach the Kadosh Place.

20 “Moses and Aaron and the entire congregation of Israel did all of these things to the Levites—everything that Yehovah commanded Moses concerning the Levites was done to them. 21 The Levites purified themselves from sin, and they washed their clothes, and Aaron offered them as a wave offering before Yehovah, and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them. 22 After that, the Levites went in to do their service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation before Aaron and his sons, as Yehovah had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.

23 “Yehovah told Moses: 24 “This applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old or more they are to go and serve in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, 25 but at the age of fifty years they are to 'end' their service and not work any more. 26 They can assist their brothers in the Tabernacle of the Congregation to keep an obligation, but they must not do the difficult work. This is how you are to assign the obligations of the Levites.”

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6 But some of the men were unclean by touching a dead body, so that they couldn’t keep the Passover that day. So they came to Moses and Aaron that same day 7 and the men said, “We are unclean due to touching the body of a dead person. Why are we prevented from presenting Yehovah’s offering at the appointed time 'with the rest of' Israel?” 8 Moses said to them, “Wait here, so that I can listen to what Yehovah commands concerning you.”

9 Then Yehovah said to Moses: 10 “Tell the Israelites: If any of you or of your descendants becomes unclean by touching a dead body, or are on a long journey, they can still keep Yehovah’s Passover. 11 In the second month, on the fourteenth day in the 'afternoon' they can keep it. They must eat 'the lamb' with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 They must not leave any of it until morning, or break any of its bones. When they keep the Passover they must follow all the pertinent unchanging tenets. 13 But anyone who is ceremonially clean, and not on a journey who fails to keep the Passover, that person must be removed from the people, because they didn’t bring Yehovah’s offering at the appointed time, they’ll suffer the consequences of their sin. 14 And if foreigners living among you want to keep the Passover to Yehovah according to the permanent rule of the Passover, and according to its regulation, then they will do it. You must have the same permanent rule for both the foreigners and the native-born.

15 On the day that the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the Tabernacle, that is, the Tabernacle of the Testimony. From evening until morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like a pillar of fire. 16 So it was continuously; the cloud covered it during the day, and at night it looked like fire. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tabernacle, the Israelites traveled, and wherever the cloud remained, the Israelites camped. 18 At the command of Yehovah, the Israelites traveled, and at the command of Yehovah they camped, and as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle they remained camped. 19 Even when the cloud remained over the Tabernacle many days, the Israelites kept Yehovah’s command, and didn’t travel. 20 Sometimes the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for just a few days, then according to the command of Yehovah they remained camped, and then at Yehovah’s command they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud only remained from evening until morning; when the cloud lifted in the morning, they would set out; whether during the daytime or at night, whenever the cloud lifted, they would set out. 2222 Whether it was two days, a month, or a year, as long as the cloud was above the Tabernacle, the Israelites remained camped, and didn’t travel, but when it lifted they moved. 23 At the command of Yehovah they camped, and at the command of Yehovah they moved. They obeyed Yehovah’s command, as Yehovah had commanded thru Moses.

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11 “Then in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud was taken up from over the Tabernacle of the Testimony [1]. 12 The Israelites set out on their journey from the Sinai Desert, and the cloud came to rest in the Wilderness of Paran. 13 They first went forward according to the command of Yehovah by Moses. 14 First, the standard of the camp of the House of Judah went forward according to their armies. Nahshon son of Amminadab was over his army. 15 Nethanel son of Zuar was over the army of the tribe of the descendants of Issachar. 16 Eliab son of Helon was over the army of the tribe of the descendants of Zebulun. 17 The Tabernacle was taken down, and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari who carried the Tabernacle went forward. 18 The standard of the camp of Reuben went forward according to their armies. Elizur son of Shedeur was over his army. 19 Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the army of the tribe of the descendants of Simeon. 20 Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the army of the tribe of the descendants of Gawd. 21 The Kohathites set out, carrying the kadosh things. The others set up the Tabernacle before they arrived. 23 Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the army of the tribe of the descendants of Manasseh. 24 Abidan son of Gideoni was over the army of the tribe of the descendants of Benjamin. 25 'Finally' the standard of the camp of the descendants of Dan, that was the rear guard of all the army, set out. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was in command of that 'division'. 26 Pagiel son of Ochran was over the army of the tribe of the descendants of Asher. 27 Ahira son of Enan was over the army of the tribe of the descendants of Naphtali. 28 So were the travels of the Israelites according to their armies, and they went forward. 29 Moses said to Hobab, son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are journeying to the place that Yehovah said, “I’ll give it to you.’ Come with us, and we’ll treat you well, because Yehovah has spoken good concerning Israel. 30 He told him, “I won’t go, but I’ll return to my own land, and to my relatives. 31 He said, “Don’t leave us, please, because you know how we’re to camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. 32 It will be, if you go with us, yes, it will be that whatever good Yehovah does to us, we’ll do the same to you.

33 “So they set out from the Mount of Yehovah on a three day journey. The Ark of the Covenant of Yehovah went before them three days’ journey, to find them a resting place. 34 The cloud of Yehovah was over them by day, when they set out from the camp. 35 Then may those who hate you flee before you!” [Inverted Nun] 36 When it rested, he said, “Return, Yehovah, to the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel. [Inverted Nun]

[1] The Tabernacle of the Testimony was the portable tent that contained the Ten Commandments (Exodus 38:21) It was also called “the Tabernacle of Meeting” (Exodus 30:26), where Yehovah met with the descendants of Israel. It contained “the Ark of the Testimony” (Exodus 30:26 & 21:7). The Levites were responsible for transporting it and attending to it (Numbers 1:50). Eventually it (or a better one) will be in heaven (Revelation 15:5).

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4 “The foreigners [unique word] among them had a strong craving for other food and the Israelites started wailing again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? 5 We remember the fish that we ate in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions and the garlic, 6 but now we have lost our appetite. There is nothing at all except this manna to look at. 7 The manna was like coriander seeds, and it looked like bdellium. 8 The people went around, gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes from it. Its taste resembled fresh olive oil. 9 When the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.

10 “Moses heard the people crying thruout their families, every man at the door of his tent, and the anger of Yehovah was kindled greatly, and Moses was displeased. 11 Moses said to Yehovah, “Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why haven’t I found favor in your sight for You to have you laid the burden of all these people on me? 12 Have I conceived all these people? Have I brought them out, so You should tell me, “Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land that You swore to their ancestors?’ 13 Where could I get meat to give to all these people? They cry to me, saying, “Give us meat so that we can eat.’ 14 I’m not able to bear all these people alone, because it’s too heavy for me. 15 If you treat me this way, please kill me right now, if I’ve found favor in your sight, and don’t let me see my wretchedness.

16 “Yehovah told Moses, “Gather for Me seventy men from the elders of Israel who you know to be the elders of the people and officers and bring them to the Tabernacle of the Congregation and have them stand with you. 17 I’ll come down and talk with you there. I’ll take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they’ll bear the burden of the people with you, so that you don’t have to bear it by yourself. 1819 You won’t eat one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, 20 but a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it’s loathsome to you, because you’ve rejected Yehovah who is among you, and have cried before Him by saying, “Why did we leave Egypt?” 21 Moses said, “The people such as me number six hundred thousand men on foot, and you’ve said, “I’ll give them flesh, so they can eat a whole month.’ 22 Will flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to be sufficient for them? Will all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to be sufficient for them?” 23 Yehovah told Moses, “Is there a limit to Yehovah’s 'power'? Now you’ll see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”

24 “Moses went out, and told the people the words of Yehovah, and he gathered seventy of the elders of the people, and set them around the Tabernacle. 25 Yehovah came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him, and put it on the seventy elders, then when the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they never did it again. 26 But two men remained in the camp. One was named Eldad, the other was named Medad, and the spirit, she [1] rested on them, and they were of those who were written, but hadn’t gone out to the Tabernacle, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!” 28 Yehoshua son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his chosen men, answered, “My master Moses, forbid them!” 29 Moses told him, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all Yehovah’s people were prophets and that Yehovah would put His spirit on them!” 30 Moses went into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.

31 “A wind from Yehovah went out and brought quail from the sea, and had them fall by the camp, about a day’s journey on this side, and a day’s journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the earth. 32 The people 'spent' all day and all night and all the next day gathering the quail. No one gathered less ten homers, and they spread the quail out all around the camp to dry. 33 While the flesh was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of Yehovah was kindled against the people, and Yehovah struck the people with a very great plague. 34 So that place was named The Graves of the Greedy, because that’s where they buried the people who had been greedy. 35 From The Graves of the Greedy the people traveled to Hazeroth, and they remained at Hazeroth.

[1] This video shows the many places in the Tanak (Hebrew Bible) where the kadosh [holy] spirit is feminine. I take this to mean that Yehovah, creator of the original languages in Babel, chose to designate that the power emanating from Him be earmarked in the same way as a hen guarding her chicks—a feminine force, but not a person at all.

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4 “Suddenly Yehovah spoke to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “You three come out to the Tabernacle of the Congregation!” So the three of them came out. 5 Yehovah came down in a columnar cloud and stood at the doorway of the tabernacle, and He called Aaron and Miriam, and when they both came forward, 6 He said, “Listen to My words. If there is a prophet among you, I, Yehovah, will reveal Myself to him in visions. I’ll speak to him in a dream. 7 But this is not the way it is with My servant Moses; He is the most trustworthy person in My household. 8 With him I’ll speak plainly 'face' to 'face', not in riddles, and he’ll see Yehovah’s form. So why were you not afraid to speak against My servant, against Moses?” 9 Yehovah’s anger was kindled against them, and He left. 10 As the cloud moved away from the Tabernacle, Miriam was covered with an infectious skin disease, as white as snow! As Aaron turned toward Miriam, he saw that she was diseased! 11 Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my master, please don’t hold this sin against us, that we have so foolishly 'committed'. 12 Don’t allow her be like a dead 'baby' coming from its mother’s womb with its flesh half decomposed.” 13 Moses cried to Yehovah, saying, “Please Elohim, heal her!” 14 Yehovah told Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, Shouldn’t she be ashamed seven days? Have her to be confined outside the camp for seven days; and after that she can be allowed in again. 15 So Miriam was isolated outside the camp for seven days, and the people didn’t break camp until Miriam was allowed in again. 16 Afterward the people moved on from Hazeroth and camped in the Wilderness of Paran.

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17 “Moses sent them to scout out the land of Canaan, and told them, “Go up this way from the South, and go up into the highlands, 18 and explore the land, see what it is, and the people who live there, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many, 19 and what kindthe land is that they live in, whether it’s good or bad, and what towns they live in, whether in camps or in strongholds, 20 and what the land is, whether it’s fat or lean, whether there is wood there, or not. Be of good courage and bring back some of the fruit of the land. It was the season for the first ripe grapes.

21 “So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob to the entrance of Hamath. 22 They went up by the South and came to Hebron, Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 They came to the valley of Eshcol, and cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a staff between two, they also brought some pomegranates and some figs. 24 That place was called the valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster that the Israelites cut down from there.

25 They returned from scouting out the land at the end of forty days. 26 They returned to Moses and Aaron, and to the entire congregation of the Israelites in the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh, and brought back word to them, and to the entire congregation, and showed them the fruit from the land. 27 They told him, “We came to the land where you sent us, and surely it flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 However the people who live in the land are strong, and the towns are fortified, and very large, and furthermore we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 Amalek dwells in the land of the South, and the Hittites, the Jebusites and the Amorites, live in the highlands, and the Canaanites live by the sea, and along the Jordan River. 30 Caleb stilled the people before Moses and said, “Let’s go up immediately and take it, because we’re well able to overcome it.” 31 But the men who went up with him said, “We aren’t able to go up against the people, because they are stronger than we are. 32 So they gave a dreadful report to the Israelites about the land that they had spied out. [1] They said, “The land that we went into to scout out is a land that eats up its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of large stature. 33 There we saw the Nephilim. (The descendants of Anak are Nephilim.) We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and so we were in their sight.”

[1] What Happened on the Ninth of Av?

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11 Yehovah told Moses, “How long will these people despise Me? And how long will they not believe in Me despite all the signs that I’ve done among them? 12 I’ll strike them with a disease and disinherit them, and make of you a nation greater and mightier than they. 13 Moses said to Yehovah, “Then the Egyptians will hear about it. By Your power You brought these people away from them. 14 They must tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They’ve heard that You Yehovah are among these people, because You Yehovah are seen face to face, and Your cloud stands over them and You go before them, in a columnar cloud during the day, and in a column of fire at night. 15 Now if You killed all of these people 'at once', then the nations that have heard of Your fame will say: 16 ‘Yehovah wasn’t able to bring these people into the land that He swore to give them, so He killed them all in the wilderness.’ 17 So may the power of Yehovah be magnified just as You’ve declared: 18 ‘Yehovah is slow to anger, and abundant in faithful love., forgiving wickedness and disobedience; but He will by no means let the guilty go unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ sins to the children to the third and fourth generation. [Enlarged Yod] 19 Please pardon the wickedness of these people according to the greatness of Your faithful love., just as You have been forgiving them from the time they left Egypt until now.”

20 Yehovah said, “I’ve pardoned them as you have asked. 21 Yet as surely as I live, the whole earth will be filled with the splendor of Yehovah, 22 none of the peaple who have seen My splendor and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tested Me these ten times and refused to obey Me 23 will ever see the land that I swore to their ancestors, and none of those who have despised Me will see it. 24 But since My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me completely, I will bring him into the land where he went, and his descendants will inherit it. 25 Since the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and head toward the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea.

26 Yehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron: 27 “How long must I put up with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? I hear all the complaints of the Israelites that they’re making against Me. 28 Tell them, “As I live,’ says Yehovah, I will do everything to you that I heard you say I would do. 29 Your bodies will drop dead in this wilderness. Every one of you who are twenty years old or more, who were registered in the census and have complained about Me will die, 30 You absolutely won’t enter the land that I swore to settle you into, except for Caleb (son of Jephunneh) and Yehoshua (son of Nun). 31 Now concerning your children who you said would be carried off as plunder—I’ll bring them in and they’ll enjoy the land that you rejected. 32 But as for you, your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness. 33 Your children will be wanderers in the wilderness for forty years, suffering for your prostitution until your dead bodies are 'scattered' in the wilderness. 34 For forty years—a year for each of the forty days you scouted the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it means for Me to be against you. 35 I, Yehovah, have spoken. I will certainly do these things to this whole wicked congregation that has gathered against Me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die.”

36 So the men Moses sent to scout out the land who returned, and incited the entire congregation to complain against him by spreading a 'fatalistic' report about the land, 37 those very men who brought back the 'fatalistic' report about the land died by the plague before Yehovah. 38 Of all the men who scouted the land, only Yehoshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.

39 Moses reported all this to the Israelites, and the people mourned bitterly. 40 They got up early in the morning, and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, “Look, we’re here, and will go up to the place that Yehovah has promised, because we have sinned. 41 But Moses asked, “Why are you disobeying the command of Yehovah, because it won’t work? 42 Don’t go up, because Yehovah isn’t with you. You will be struck down before your enemies. 43 The Amalekites and Canaanites are right in front of you, and you’ll fall by the sword. Since you ceased to follow Yehovah, Yehovah won’t be with you.” 44 But they presumed to go up to the top of the mountain, even tho the Ark of the Covenant of Yehovah and Moses, didn’t leave the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in the highlands came down and attacked them and pummeled them all the way to Hormah.

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11 “This is how it is to be done for each bull, or for each ram, or for each of the male lambs, or a young goat. 12 Do it for each animal, however many you prepare. 13 Everyone who is native-born must do these things in this manner, an offering by fire as a pleasing aroma to Yehovah. 14 If a foreigner is living among you, or someone else who is among you wants to present an offering by fire, as a soothing aroma to Yehovah, they must do what you do. 15 The congregation is to have the same permanent rules for both you and the foreigners who are living with you, perpetual permanent rules thruout your generations. You and the foreigners will be the same before Yehovah. 16 The same Torah and the same regulations will apply to you and to the foreigners living beside you.”

17 Yehovah told Moses: 18 “Speak to the Israelites, and tell them: When you arrive in the land where I’m bringing you, 19 once you’ve eaten bread from the land, you must offer up a wave offering to Yehovah. 20 Of the first of your dough you must offer up a cake for a wave offering, as the wave offering of the threshing floor, then you must lift it up. 21 Of the first of your dough you are to give to Yehovah a wave offering thruout your generations.

22 “When you sin unintentionally, and don’t observe all these Commandments that Yehovah has spoken to Moses, 23 anything that Yehovah has commanded you by Moses from the day that Yehovah gave the command onward thruout your generations, 24 then it will be, if it is done unintentionally, without the knowledge of the congregation, that the entire congregation will offer one young bull for a burnt offering for a pleasing aroma to Yehovah, with its grain offering, and its wine offering, according to the regulation, and one male goat as a sin offering. 25 The priest must make atonement for the entire congregation of the Israelites, and they’ll be forgiven, because it was an error, and they’ve brought their offering, an offering by fire to Yehovah, and their sin offering before Yehovah for their error, 26 and the entire congregation of the Israelites will be forgiven, as well as the strangers who live as foreigners among them, because in respect of all the people it was done unintentionally.

27 “If one person sins unwittingly, then he’ll offer a one year old female goat as a sin offering. 28 The priest will make atonement for the 'person' who errs, when they sin unintentionally, before Yehovah, to make atonement for them, and they’ll be forgiven. 29 You are to have the same 'regulations' [Torah] for the person who does something unintentionally, as well as the person who is native-born among the Israelites, and for the strangers who live as foreigners among them.

30 ‘But the person who does anything 'defiantly', whether they are native-born or foreigners blasphemes Yehovah, and that 'person' will be removed from the people, 31 because they have despised the Word of Yehovah, and have broken His commandment. That 'person' will completely be removed, their wickedness will be on them.

32 “While the Israelites were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33 Those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron and the entire congregation. 34 They put him in custody, because it hadn’t been announced what should be done to him. 35 Yehovah told Moses, “The man must certainly be put to death, the entire congregation will stone him with stones outside of the camp. 36 So the entire congregation brought him outside of the camp and stoned him to death, as Yehovah had commanded Moses. 37 Yehovah told Moses: 38 “Speak to the Israelites, and tell them that they should make tzitzits for themselves on the borders of their clothing, thruout their generations, and put a blue cord on the tzitzits of each corner. 39 You’ll have tzitzits that you can look at to remind you of all the Commandments of Yehovah, and obey them, instead of following whatever you want and to and going after whatever you see, and prostituting yourselves. 40You’ll remember to obey all My commandments, and you’ll be kadosh to your Elohim. 41 I am Yehovah your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your Elohim, I am Yehovah your Elohim.

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12 “Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and they said, “We won’t come up.” 13 Isn’t it enough that you brought us out of a land that flows with milk and honey to have us die in the wilderness, but now you want to lord it over us? 14 Furthermore, you haven’t brought us into a land that flows with milk and honey, or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards, will you put out the eyes of these men? We won’t come up. 15 Moses was very angry and said to Yehovah, “Don’t respect their offering, I haven’t taken one donkey from them or hurt one of them.

16 “Moses said to Korah, “You and all your company go before Yehovah, you, and they, and Aaron, tomorrow, 17 and each man take his censer, and put incense on them, and each man bring before Yehovah his censer, two hundred fifty censers, you also, and Aaron, each his censer. 18 They each took their censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense on it, and took their stand at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation with Moses and Aaron. 19 Then when Korah had gathered the entire congregation against them at the doorway of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, the splendor of Yehovah appeared to everyone in the congregation. 20 Yehovah told Moses and Aaron: 21 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation so that I can incinerate them in a moment!” 22 They fell face down and said, “Elohim, the Elohim of the spirits of all 'humanity', will one man sin, and will You be angry with the entire congregation?” 23 Yehovah told Moses: 24 “Tell the congregation, “Get away from the vicinity of the tent of Korah, Dathan and Abiram!’”

25 “Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 He said to the congregation, “Please get away from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, or you’ll be consumed in all their sins!” 27 So they got away from the tent of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, on every side, and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little ones. 28 Moses said, “This is how you’ll know that Yehovah sent me to do all these things and that it wasn’t my own doing. 29 If these men die like all other people, suffering the fate of all mankind, then Yehovah hasn’t sent me. 30 But if Yehovah makes a new thing [a new kind of death!], and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them, with all of their things, and they go down alive into the grave [sheol], then you’ll understand that these men have despised Yehovah. 31 As he finished saying all this, the ground beneath them split apart 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their families, and all of the men who had sided with Korah and everything they owned. 33 So they, and everyone with them, went down alive into sheol. The earth closed in on them, and they perished from among the congregation. 34 Everyone in Israel around them ran away when they heard their shouts, because they thought that the earth might swallow them too! 35 Fire came from Yehovah, and devoured all two hundred fifty men who were offering incense.

36 “Yehovah said to Moses, 37 Speak to Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, and tell him to take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter the fire out there, because they are kadosh, 38 including the censers of these sinners against their own lives, and have them be made into hammered plates for a covering of the altar, because they offered them before Yehovah, so they are kadosh, and they’ll be a sign to the Israelites. 39 Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers that those who were burnt had offered, and they hammered them out for a covering of the altar, 40 to be a memorial to the Israelites, so that no stranger who isn’t a descendant of Aaron comes near to burn incense before Yehovah, that he not be like Korah, and as his followers, as Yehovah spoke to him by Moses.

41 “But the next day the entire congregation of the Israelites muttered against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed Yehovah’s people!” 42 Then when the congregation had gathered against Moses and against Aaron, they looked toward the Tabernacle of the Congregation and saw that the cloud covered it, and the splendor of Yehovah appeared, 43 Moses and Aaron came to the front of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 44 and Yehovah said to Moses: 45 “Get away from among this congregation so that I can consume them instantly!” But they fell facedown. 46 Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, and put fire from off the altar in it, and lay incense on it, and carry it quickly to the congregation, and make atonement for them, because wrath has gone out from Yehovah! The plague has begun. 47 Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the middle of the congregation and saw that the plague had begun among the people, and he put on the incense, and made atonement for the people. 48 He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped. 49 Now those who died by the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died about the matter of Korah. 50 Aaron returned to Moses to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and the plague stopped.

NUMBERS 17

8 “When Moses went into the Tabernacle of the Testimony the next day, he saw that Aaron’s staff for the house of Levi had sprouted, formed buds, blossomed, and produced almonds! 9 Moses brought out all the staffs from before Yehovah to all the Israelites, and they looked, and every man took his staff. 10 Yehovah told Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back before the Testimony, to be kept as a sign against the 'rebels' in order to put an end of their grumbling against Me, so that they don’t die. 11 Moses did just as Yehovah had commanded him.

12 “The Israelites said to Moses, “Now we’re going to die! We are dying, we are all dying! 13 Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the Tabernacle of Yehovah, dies! Are we all going to die?”

NUMBERS 18

8 “Yehovah spoke to Aaron, “I’ve indeed given you the command of My wave offerings, including all the kadosh things of the Israelites. I’ve put you and your sons in charge of the anointing as a share forever. 9 This will be yours of the most kadosh things, kept from the fire, all of their offering, including all of theirs grain offering, and all of their sin offering, and all of the guilt offering that they render to Me will be very kadosh for you and for your sons. 10 You must eat it like the most kadosh things. Every male must eat it. You must consider it kadosh. 11 This is yours, too, the wave offering of their gift, including all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I’ve given them to you and your sons and daughters as a share forever. Everyone who is clean in your house must eat it. 12 All the best of the olive oil, and all the best of the vintage, and the grain, the firstfruits of what they give to Yehovah, I’m giving to you. 13 The first ripe fruits of everything in their land, that they bring to Yehovah, will be yours, everyone who is clean in your house must eat it. 14 Everything dedicated to Israel will be yours. 15 Everything that opens the womb, of all 'humanity' that they offer to Yehovah, both of man and animal will be yours, but you’ll surely redeem the firstborn of man, and you’ll redeem the firstborn of unclean animals. 16 When they are a month old, you must redeem them at the redemption price set at five shekels of silver, using the standard shekel of the Kadosh Place, that weighs twenty gerahs. 17 But you must not redeem the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat. They are kadosh. You’ll sprinkle their blood on the altar, and burn their fat as an offering by fire, as a pleasing aroma to Yehovah. 18 Their flesh will be yours, as is the wave offering, breast and the right thigh, it will be yours. 19 I have I given you all the wave offerings of the kadosh things that the Israelites offer to Yehovah, and your sons and your daughters with you, as a share forever, it’s a covenant of salt forever before Yehovah to you and to your descendants with you.

20 “Then Yehovah told Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, no portion of land among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.

21 “To the descendants of Levi, I’ve given all the tithe in Israel as an inheritance, in return for the work they do, working at the Tabernacle of the Congregation! 22 From now on the Israelites must not come near the Tabernacle of the Congregation, or they will incur sin and die. 23 But the Levites will do the work at the Tabernacle of the Congregation. They will be responsible for their own sins. It will be a perpetual permanent rule thruout your generations, that among the Israelites they will own no property. 24 The tithe of the Israelites that they offer as a wave offering to Yehovah, I’ve given to the Levites as an inheritance, that’s why I’ve told them, “Among the Israelites they will own no property.

25 “Yehovah told Moses: 26 “You must speak to the Levites, and tell them, “When you take from the Israelites the tithe that I’ve given you from them for your inheritance, then you must contribute an offering of it for Yehovah, a tithe of the tithe. 27 Your wave offering will be credited to you, as tho it were the grain from the threshing floor, or the full harvest from the winepress. 28 So you also will offer a wave offering to Yehovah of all your tithes that you receive of the Israelites, and of it you’ll give Yehovah’s wave offering to Aaron the priest. 29 Out of all the gifts you receive, you must contribute the best, the most kadosh part to Yehovah. 30 “So tell them, ‘Once you’ve presented the best part, then the rest will be credited to the Levites as the produce of the threshing floor and the product of the wine vat. 31 You’ll eat it in every place, you and your households, because it’s your compensation in return for your service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 32 You won’t incur sin because of it once you have offered the best part of it, but you must never defile the Israelites’ kadosh offerings, or you will die.

NUMBERS 19

1 Yehovah spoke to Moses and to Aaron: 2 “This is the permanent rule of the Torah that Yehovah has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you bring you an unblemished red heifer that has never been yoked. 3 You must give her to Eleazar the priest, and he’ll bring her outside the camp, and slaughtered it in His 'presence'. 4 Eleazar the priest will take some of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle her blood toward the front of the Tabernacle of the Congregation seven times. 5 Someone will burn the heifer in His sight, her skin, her flesh, her blood and her dung will be burned. 6 The priest will take cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet and throw them onto the fire where the heifer is burning. 7 Then the priest will wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he’ll come into the camp, and the priest will be unclean until evening. 8 He who burns her will wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening. 9 A man who is clean will gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up outside of the camp in a clean place, and it will be kept for the Israelite congregation for a water for impurity, it’s a sin offering. 10 He who gathers the ashes of the heifer will wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even, and it will be a perpetual permanent rule for the Israelites, and to the stranger who lives as a foreigner among them. 11 He who touches the dead body of any man will be unclean seven days, 12 the same will purify himself with water on the third day, and on the seventh day he’ll be clean, but if he doesn’t purify himself on the third day, then on the seventh day he won’t be clean. 13 Whoever touches a dead person, the body of a man who has died, and doesn’t purify himself, defiles the Tabernacle of Yehovah, and that 'person' will be excluded from Israel, because the water of impurity wasn’t sprinkled on him, he’ll be unclean, his impurities are still on him.

14 “This is the instruction for when a person dies in a tent, everyone who comes into the tent, and everyone who is in the tent will be unclean for seven days. 15 Every open container without a lid fastened on it is unclean. 16 Whoever in an open field who touches someone who was slain with a sword, or a dead body, or a human bone or a grave will be unclean for seven days. 17 “This is what you must do for people who become unclean from touching a dead body. Put some of the ashes from the red heifer that was burned as an offering for sin into a container. Then pour fresh water over them. 18 Then a clean person is to take some hyssop, and dip it in the water and sprinkle it on the tent, on all the containers, and on the people who were there, and on the person who touched the bone or the slain or the dead or the grave, 19 and the clean person will sprinkle it on the unclean person on the third day, and on the seventh day he is to purify them. Those who are being purified must wash their clothes and bathe in water, and in the evening they will be clean. 20 But if the person who becomes unclean doesn’t purify themself, that person will be excluded from among the congregation, because they have defiled the 'Temple' of Yehovah, the water for purification hasn’t been sprinkled on them, they are unclean. 21 This is a perpetual permanent rule to them, and he who sprinkles the water for purification will wash his clothes, and the person who touches the water for impurity will be unclean until even. 22 Anything that the unclean person touches will be unclean, and the person who touches it will be unclean until evening.”

NUMBERS 20

14 “Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, “Your brother Israel says, ‘You know all the travail that has happened to us, 15 how our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt for a long time, and the Egyptians treated us poorly, and our ancestors, 16 and when we cried to Yehovah, He heard our voices, and sent a ger, and brought us out of Egypt, and look, we’re in Kadesh, a city in the remotest part of your border. 17 Please let us pass thru your land. We won’t pass thru fields or thru vineyards, and we won’t drink water from the wells, we’ll go along the king’s highway, we won’t turn aside to the right or to the left until we have crossed your border.’” 18 Edom told him, “You won’t pass thru me, or I’ll come out with swords against you. 19 The Israelites told him, “We will go up by the highway, and if we or our livestock drink your water, we will pay for it. Just let us pass thru on foot without doing anything else. 20 He said, “You won’t pass thru. Edom came out against him with many people, and with a strong hand. 21 So Edom refused to give Israel passage thru his territory, so Israel turned away from him.

22 “They traveled from Kadesh, and the Israelites, the entire congregation came to Mount Hor. 23 Yehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom: 24 “Aaron will join his ancestors, because he won’t enter the land that I’ve given to the Israelites, because you rebelled against My command at the water of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor, 26 and strip Aaron of his clothing, and put them on Eleazar his son, and Aaron will join his ancestors, and die there. 27 Moses did what Yehovah commanded, and they went up into Mount Hor in the sight of the entire congregation. 28 Moses stripped Aaron of his clothing, and put them on Eleazar his son, and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 When the entire congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they cried for Aaron thirty days, the entire House* of Israel.

Numbers 21

4 “They traveled from Mount Hor by way of the Red Sea, to bypass the land of Edom, but the people became impatient along the way. 5 The people spoke against Elohim, and against Moses, “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread, and there is no water, and ‘we’ loath this light bread. 6 Yehovah sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, and many of ‘nation’ of Israel died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against Yehovah, and against you. Pray to Yehovah, that He will take the serpents away from us. So Moses prayed for the people. 8 Yehovah told Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 Moses made a bronze serpent, and set it on the standard, and it happened, that if a serpent had bitten anyone, when they looked at the bronze serpent, they lived.

10 “The Israelites traveled, and camped in Oboth. 11 They traveled from Oboth, and camped at the ruins of Abarim, in the wilderness that faces Moab, toward the sunrise. 12 From there they traveled, and camped in the valley of Zered. 13 From there they traveled, and camped on the other side of the Arnon in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites, because the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14 So it’s said in the book of the Wars of Yehovah, “Vaheb in Suphah, the valleys of the Arnon, 15 the slope of the valleys that incline toward the dwelling of Ar, lies on the border of Moab. 16 From there they traveled to Beer, that is the well that Yehovah told Moses, “Gather the people together, and I’ll give them water.” 17 Then Israel sang this song, “Spring up, well, sing to it, 18 the well that the leaders dug, that the nobles of the people dug, with the scepter, and with their poles.” From the wilderness they traveled to Mattanah, 19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth to the valley in the territory of Moab where the summit of Pisgah overlooks Yeshimon.

21 “Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites: 22 “Let me pass thru your land, we won’t turn aside into a field or a vineyard, we won’t drink water from the wells, we’ll go by the king’s highway until we have crossed your territory.” 23 Sihon wouldn’t allow Israel to pass thru his territory, but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz, and he fought against Israel. 24 Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok. They stopped at the border of the Ammonites because it was fortified. 25 Israel took all these towns, and Israel lived in all the towns of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its towns. 26 Heshbon was the city of King Sihon of the Amorites. He had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken all his land up to the Arnon Valley. 27 So those who speak in proverbs say, “Come to Heshbon. May the city of Sihon be built and established, 28 for a fire has gone out of Heshbon, a blaze from the city of Sihon. It has devoured Ar of Moab, “The masters of the high places of the Arnon. 29 How horrible it is for you, Moab! You are ruined, O people of Chemosh! He has given his sons as fugitives, and his daughters into captivity, to King Sihon of the Amorites 30 We shot at them. Heshbon has perished as far as Dibon. We destroyed everything between Nophah and Medeba.” 31 So Israel lived in the land of the Amorites. 32 After Moses sent scouts to Jazer, they took its towns, and drove out the Amorites who were there.

33 “They turned and went up the road to Bashan, and King Og of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people to do battle at Edrei. 34 Yehovah told Moses, “Don’t be afraid of him, because I’ve handed him and all his people over to you, along with his land, and you’ll do to him what you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon. 35 So they struck him and his sons and all his people, leaving them no survivors. And they took possession of his land.

NUMBERS 22

2 “Balak son of Zippor saw everything that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 Moab was very afraid of the people, because there were so many, and Moab was distressed because of the Israelites. 4 Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This multitude will lick up everything around us, like an ox licking up grass in a field. Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 5 He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor, to Pethor, by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, “Look, a horde of people came out of Egypt. They cover the surface of the earth, and are living right across from me! 6 Please come and curse these people with me now, because they are too strong for me. Maybe I’ll prevail, so we can strike them, and I can drive them out of the land, because I know that he who you bless is blessed, and he who you curse is cursed. 7 The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian left with the fee for divination in their hand, and they came to Balaam, and told him what Balak had said. 8 He told them, “Stay here tonight, and I’ll bring you word again, whatever Yehovah tells me. The leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 Elohim came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10 Balaam said to Elohim, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me: 11 ‘Look, the people who have come out of Egypt, cover the surface of the earth, now, come curse them for me, maybe I’ll be able to fight against them, and drive them out. 12 Elohim said to Balaam, “You won’t go with them. You won’t curse the people, because they are blessed. 13 Balaam got up in the morning, and told the leaders of Balak, “Return to your land, because Yehovah refuses to permit me to go with you. 14 The leaders of Moab got up, and returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

15 “So Balak sent more princes, more honorable than they. 16 They came to Balaam, and told him, “Balak son of Zippor says, ‘Please allow nothing to keep you from coming to me, 17 for I’ll make sure you are richly rewarded, and whatever you ask of me I’ll do. Please come and curse these people for me.’” 18 Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, ‘Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond what Yehovah my Elohim says, no less, no more. 19 So please wait here tonight, so I can see if Yehovah has anything else to say to me. 20 Elohim came to Balaam at night, and told him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them, but only say what I tell you to say. 21 Balaam got up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the leaders of Moab.

22 “Elohim’s anger was kindled because he went, and the Messenger of Yehovah placed himself in the way as a deterrent against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 The donkey saw the Messenger of Yehovah standing in the way, with His sword drawn in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field, and Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road. 24 Then the Messenger of Yehovah stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25 The donkey saw the Messenger of Yehovah, she pressed herself to the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall, so he struck her again. 26 The Messenger of Yehovah went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 The donkey saw the Messenger of Yehovah, and she lay down under Balaam, sparking Balaam’s rage, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 Yehovah gave the donkey the ability to speak, and she asked Balaam, “What have I done to you for you to have struck me three times?” 29 Then Balaam said to the donkey, “You’ve made me look stupid. If I had a sword in my hand, I’d kill you right now.” 30 The donkey said to Balaam, “I’m your own donkey, the one you’ve ridden all your life until today. Have I ever done anything like this before?” And he said, “No.” 31 Then Yehovah opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Messenger of Yehovah standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in His hand; so Balaam bowed face down to the ground. 32 The Messenger of Yehovah asked him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you because you are wrecklessly resisting Me. 33 The donkey saw me, and turned aside before me these three times. Unless she had turned aside from me, surely I would have killed you by now, and saved her alive.” 34 Balaam told the Messenger of Yehovah, “I’ve sinned because I didn’t know that You stood in the way against me. So if it displeases you, I’ll go back again.” 35 The Messenger of Yehovah told Balaam, “Go with the men, but only say what I tell you to say.” So Balaam went with the leaders of Balak.

36 “When Balak heard that Balaam came, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, on the far end of the border of the Arnon. 37 Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I earnestly send to you to call you? Why didn’t you come to me? Aren’t I completely capable of promoting you to honor?” 38 Balaam said to Balak “Look, I’ve come to you, but I can’t say anything I want to. The words that Elohim puts in my mouth are what I speak. 39 Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth. 40 Balak made offerings of cattle and sheep, and sent them to Balaam, and to the leaders who were with him. 41 Then in the morning Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, and he saw some of the people.

NUMBERS 23

11 “Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and you’ve pronounced blessings on them!” 12 He replied, “shouldn’t I be careful to only say what Yehovah ‘tells me to say?’” 13 Balak told him, “Please come with me to another place, you can see them from a different location, you’ll only see a few of them, you won’t see them all, and curse them for me from there. 14 He took him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar. 15 He said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet Yehovah over there”. 16 Yehovah met Balaam, and 'told him what to say'. Then He said, “Return to Balak, and repeat this.” 17 He came to him, and saw that he was standing by his burnt offering, and the leaders of Moab were with him. Balak asked him, “What has Yehovah said?” 18 He repeated the message, “Rise up, Balak, and hear! Listen to me, you son of Zippor. 19 Elohim isn’t like a man who lies, or a human son who changes His mind. He says what He will do, and then He does it. When He makes a promise, He makes good on it. 20 Look, I’ve received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can’t reverse it. 21 He hasn’t seen wickedness in Jacob. He sees no trouble for Israel. Yehovah his Elohim is with him. The shout of a king is among them. 22 Elohim brought them out of Egypt. He has, as it were, the strength of a Monoclonius [?]. 23 Surely there is no spell against Jacob; there isn’t any divination against Israel. Now it will be said of Jacob and of Israel, “See what Elohim has done!” 24 The people rise up like a lioness, as a lion he lifts himself up! He won’t lie down until he eat his plunder, and drinks the blood of the slain.

25 “Balak said to Balaam, “Then don’t curse them at all, nor bless them at all. 26 But Balaam answered Balak, “Didn’t I tell you, “Whatever Yehovah says, that I must do?’ 27 Balak said to Balaam, “Come now, I’ll take you to another place, perhaps it will please Elohim that you can curse them from there for me. 28 Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that overlooks the desert. 29 Balaam said to Bala, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here. 30 Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.

NUMBERS 24

10 “Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together, and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and, look, you’ve blessed them three times now. 11 So now flee to your place! I wanted to promote you to great honor, but, look, Yehovah has prevented your being honored. 12 Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers who you sent to me: 13 ‘Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond what Yehovah my Elohim says, to do either good or bad of my own volition. I’ll say what Yehovah says?’ 14 Now, look, I must go to my people, come, and I’ll inform you what these people will do to your people at the end of days”. 15 He took up his parable and said, “Balaam son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says, 16 Who hears the words of Elohim, knows the knowledge of the Supreme, and who sees the vision of the Conqueror, falling down, and having his eyes open. 17 I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will emerge from Israel [Yeshua], and crush thru the forehead of Moab, and destroy all the sons of buttocks. 18 Edom will become your possession. Seir, his enemy, will also be a possession, while Israel is valiant. 19 Someone from Jacob will gain dominion, and destroy the survivors of the city.

20 “He looked at Amalek, and stated a parable, “Amalek was the first of the nations, but in the end he will be destroyed forever. 21 He looked at the Kenite, and stated another proverb, “Your dwelling place is strong. Your nest is built into a cliff. 22 But Kain will be wasted, when Asshur carries you away captive.” 23 He told another parable: “Oh, who will live when Elohim does this? 24 But ships will come from the coast of Kittim. They’ll oppress Asshur, and oppress Eber. He will also come to destruction.” 25 Balaam got up and returned to his place, and Balak also went his way.

[1] A number of earlier texts read Gog, in reference to Yeshua’s victory as in Ezekiel 38:3—footnotes.

NUMBERS 25

6 “Look, one of the Israelites came and brought to his brothers a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of the entire congregation of the Israelites, while they were crying at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 7 When Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he got up from among the congregation, and took a spear in his hand, 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the pavilion, and thrust both of them thru, the man of Israel, and the woman thru her body. So the plague was stayed from the Israelites. 9 Those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.

10 “Yehovah told Moses: 11 “Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest has turned My wrath away from the Israelites, in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so I didn’t consume the Israelites in My jealousy. [Small Yod] 12 So tell him I’m giving him My covenant of peace. 13 and it will be to him, and to his descendants after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was jealous for his Elohim, and made atonement for the Israelites.

14 “Now the man of Israel who was slain with the Midianite woman, was Zimri son of Salu, (a leader of a ‘family’ from Simeon.) 15 The name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family.

16 “Yehovah told Moses: 17 “Harass the Midianites, and strike them, 18 because they harassed you with their wiles, in that they’ve deceived you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi daughter of the leader of Midian, their sister, who was killed on the day of the plague in the matter of Peor.

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5 “Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, the sons of Reuben, of Hanoch, the clan of the Hanochites, of Pallu, the clan of the Palluites, 6 of Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites, of Carmi, the clan of the Carmites. 7 These are the families of the Reubenites, and those counted were 43,730. 8 The sons of Pallu, Eliab. 9 The sons of Eliab, Nemuel, and Dathan and Abiram. The same Dathan and Abiram who were chosen from the congregation, who strove against Moses and Aaron in the crowd that followed Korah, when they rebelled against Yehovah, 10 and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up along with Korah, when that crowd died, when the fire devoured two hundred fifty men, and they became a warning sign. 11 But the sons of Korah didn’t die.

12 “The sons of Simeon after their families, of Nemuel, the clan of the Nemuelites, of Jamin, the clan of the Jaminites, of Jachin, the clan of the Jachinites, 13 of Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites, of Shaul, the clan of the Shaulites. 14 These were the Simeonite clans, numbering 22,200 men. 15 The sons of Gawd after their families, of Zephon, the clan of the Zephonites, of Haggi, the clan of the Haggites, of Shuni, the clan of the Shunites, 16 of Ozni, the clan of the Oznites, of Eri, the clan of the Erites, 17 of Arod, the clan of the Arodites, of Areli, the clan of the Arelites. 18 These are the families of the sons of Gad, according to the count was 40,500.

19 “The sons of Judah, Er and Onan, and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. 20 The sons of Judah after their families were, of Shelah, the clan of the Shelanites, of Perez, the clan of the Perezites, of Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites. 21 The sons of Perez were, of Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites, of Hamul, the clan of the Hamulites. 22 These were the clans of Judah; they numbered seventy-six thousand five hundred.

23 “The sons of Issachar after their families, of Tola, the clan of the Tolaites, of Puvah, the clan of the Punites, 24 of Jashub, the clan of the Jashubites, of Shimron, the clan of the Shimronites. 25 These were the clans of Issachar; they numbered sixty-four thousand three hundred.

26 The sons of Zebulun after their families, of Sered, the clan of the Seredites, of Elon, the clan of the Elonites, of Jahleel, the clan of the Jahleelites. 27 These are the families of the Zebulunites they numbered sixty thousand five hundred.

28 “The sons of Joseph after their families, Manasseh and Ephraim. 29 The sons of Manasseh, of Machir, the clan of the Machirites, and Machir was the father of Gilead, of Gilead, the clan of the Gileadites. 30 These are the sons of Gilead, of Iezer, the clan of the Iezerites, of Helek, the clan of the Helekites, 31 and of Asriel, the clan of the Asrielites, and of Shechem, the clan of the Shechemites, 32 and of Shemida, the clan of the Shemidaites, and of Hepher, the clan of the Hepherites. 33 Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters, and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 34 These are the families of Manasseh, and those who were numbered of them were 52,700.

35 “These were Ephraim’s descendants by their clans: thru Shuthelah, the clan of the Shuthelahites, of Becher, the clan of the Becherites, of Tahan, the clan of the Tahanites. 36 These are the sons of Shuthelah, of Eran, the clan of the Eranites. 37 These were the Ephraimite clans; the number of men were 32,500. These were Joseph’s descendants by their clans.

38 “The sons of Benjamin after their families, of Bela, the clan of the Belaites, of Ashbel, the clan of the Ashbelites, of Ahiram, the clan of the Ahiramites, 39 of Shephupham, the clan of the Shuphamites, of Hupham, the clan of the Huphamites. 40 The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman, of Ard, the clan of the Ardites, of Naaman, the clan of the Naamites. 41 These were the clans of Benjamin: The total number of men was 45,600.

42 “These were Dan’s descendants by their clans: the Shuhamite clan from Shuham. These were the clans descended from Dan. 43 All the families of the Shuhamites, according to the count was 64,400.

44 “The sons of Asher after their families, of Imnah, the clan of the Imnites, of Ishvi, the clan of the Ishvites, of Beriah, the clan of the Berites. 45 Of the sons of Beriah, of Heber, the clan of the Heberites, of Malchiel, the clan of the Malchielites. 46 Asher’s daughter was named Serah. 47 These are the families of the sons of Asher, according to the count was 53,400.

48 “The sons of Naphtali after their families, of Jahzeel, the clan of the Jahzeelites, of Guni, the clan of the Gunites, 49 of Jezer, the clan of the Jezerites, of Shillem, the clan of the Shillemites. 50 These are the families of Naphtali, according to the count was 45,400.

51 “These are those who were numbered of the Israelites, 601,730.

52 “Yehovah told Moses: 53 “To these the land will be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names. 54 To the more you’ll give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you’ll give the less inheritance, to everyone according to those who were numbered of him will his inheritance be given. 55 But the land will be divided by lot, according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they’ll inherit. 56 According to the lot their inheritance will be divided between the more and the fewer.

57 “These are those who were counted of the Levites after their families, of Gershon, the clan of the Gershonites, of Kohath, the clan of the Kohathites, of Merari, the clan of the Merarites. 58 These are the families of Levi, the clan of the Libnites, the clan of the Hebronites, the clan of the Mahlites, the clan of the Mushites, the clan of the Korahites. Kohath was the father of Amram. 59 The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt, and she bore to Amram Aaron and Moses and Miriam their sister. 60 To Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 61 Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before Yehovah. 62 Those who were numbered of them were 23,000 every male from a month old and upward, because they were not numbered among the Israelites, because there was no inheritance given them among the Israelites.

63 “These are the ones who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the Israelites in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River at Jericho. 64 But among these there wasn’t a single man who had been numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest, who counted the Israelites in the Sinai Desert. 65 For Yehovah had said of them, “They’ll surely die in the wilderness. There wasn’t a single man left, except for Caleb son of Jephunneh, and Yehoshua son of Nun.

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6 “Yehovah told Moses: 7 “The daughters of Zelophehad ‘are’ right, you must surely give them property as an inheritance among their father’s brothers, and you’ll cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them. 8 You’ll announce to the Israelites, “If a man dies, and has no son, then his inheritance will pass to his daughter. 9 If he has no daughter, then you’ll give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, then you’ll give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 If his father has no brothers, then you’ll give his inheritance to the nearest kinsman of his clan, and he’ll own it, and it will be to the Israelites a permanent rule and regulation, as Yehovah had commanded Moses.

12 “Yehovah told Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim, and see the land that I’ve given to the Israelites. 13 When you’ve seen it, you will join your ancestors [in death], as your brother Aaron did, 14 because you disobeyed My command in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to honor Me at the water in their eyes (that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin).

15 “Moses spoke to Yehovah: 16 “May Yehovah, the Elohim of the spirits of all 'humanity', appoint a man over the congregation, 17 who can go out before them, and who can come in before them, and who can lead them out, and who can bring them in, so that the congregation of Yehovah won’t be like sheep without a shepherd. 18 Yehovah told Moses, “Take Yehoshua son of Nun, who has the spirit in him, and lay your hand on him, 19 and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before the entire congregation, and commission him in their sight. 20 Give him some of your authority so that the entire congregation of the Israelites will obey him. 21 He’ll stand before Eleazar the priest, who will inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Yehovah, at his word they will go out, and at his word they’ll come in, both he, and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation. 22 Moses did as Yehovah commanded him, and he took Yehoshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before the entire congregation, 23 and he laid his hands on him, and commissioned him, as Yehovah spoke by Moses.

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11 ‘On the first of every month you must offer a burnt offering to Yehovah, two young bulls, and one ram, seven male lambs a year old without defects, 12 and three tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with olive oil, for each bull, and two tenths of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with olive oil, for the one ram, 13 and one tenth of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering to every lamb, for a burnt offering with a pleasing aroma, an offering by fire to Yehovah. 14 Their wine offerings will be half a hin of wine for a bull, and the third of a hin for the ram, and a fourth of a hin for a lamb, this is the burnt offering of every month thruout the months of the year. 15 One male goat as a sin offering to Yehovah, it will be offered in addition to the continual burnt offering, and its wine offerings.

16 ‘Yehovah’s Passover falls on the fourteenth day of the first month. 17 There is a Feast on the fifteenth day of this month. For seven days the bread you eat must be unleavened. 18 On the first day there is to be a kadosh public assembly. You must not do any occupational work then. 19 You must present an offering by fire, a burnt offering to Yehovah: two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defects. 20 and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with olive oil, you must offer three tenths for a bull, and two tenths for the ram. 21 You must offer a tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs, 22 and one male goat as a sin offering, to make atonement for you. 23 You must offer these in addition to the burnt offering in the morning, that’s for a continual burnt offering. 24 This is how you must prepare the daily offering for seven days, the food of the offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to Yehovah, it will be offered in addition to the continual burnt offering, and its wine offerings. 25 On the seventh day you’ll have a kadosh public assembly, you’ll do no ordinary work.

26 ‘Also during the Day of Firstfruits, when you present a new grain offering to Yehovah at your Feast of Weeks [Pentecost], you are to have a kadosh public assembly. Never do any occupational work, 27 but you must offer a burnt offering for a pleasing aroma to Yehovah, two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs a year old, 28 and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with olive oil, three tenths of an ephah for each bull, two tenths for the one ram, 29 a tenth for each of the seven lambs, 30 one male goat, to make atonement for you. 31 Besides the continual burnt offering, and its grain offering, you are to offer them (be sure they don’t have defects), and their wine offerings.

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7 ‘Then on the tenth day of this seventh month you must have a kadosh public assembly, and humble yourselves, and you must not do any work, 8 but you must offer a burnt offering to Yehovah as a pleasing aroma: one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old, see that they have no defects, 9 and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with olive oil, three tenths for the bull, two tenths for the one ram, 10 one tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs, 11 one male goat as a sin offering, besides the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and their wine offerings.

12 ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you’re to have a kadosh public assembly, you must never do any routine work then, and you must celebrate another Feast with Yehovah for seven days. 13 You must offer a burnt offering, an offering by fire, of a pleasing aroma to Yehovah, thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old, they must be defect free. 14 Their grain offering is to be of fine flour mixed with olive oil, three tenths on an ephah for every bull of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each of the two rams, 15 and one tenth for each of the fourteen lambs; 16 and one male goat as a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its liquid offering.

17 ‘On the second day you are to offer twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defects, 18 and their grain offering and their wine offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and the lambs, by their number, according to the regulation, 19 and one male goat as a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and their wine offerings.

20 ‘On the third day eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defects, 21 and their grain offering and their wine offerings for the bulls, from the rams, and from the lambs, by their number, according to the regulation, 22 and one male goat as a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its liquid offering.

23 ‘On the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defects, 24 their grain offering and their wine offerings for the bulls, from the rams, and from the lambs, by their number, according to the regulation, 25 and one male goat as a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its wine offerings.

26 ‘On the fifth day nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defects, 27 and their grain offering and their wine offerings for the bulls, from the rams, and from the lambs, by their number, according to the regulation, 28 and one male goat as a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its wine offerings.

29 ‘On the sixth day eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defects, 30 and their grain offerings and their wine offerings for the bulls, from the rams, and from the lambs, by their number according to the regulation; 31 and one male goat as a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its wine offerings.

32 ‘On the seventh day seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defects, 33 and their grain offering and their wine offerings for the bulls, from the rams, and from the lambs, by their number, according to the regulation, 34 and one male goat as a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its wine offerings.

35 ‘On the eighth day you must have a solemn assembly, you must never do any servile work, 36 but you’ll offer a burnt offering, an offering by fire, for a pleasing aroma to Yehovah, one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without defects, 37 their grain offerings and their wine offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, will be by their number, according to the regulation, 38 and one male goat as a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its wine offerings.

39 ‘You will offer these to Yehovah at your appointed feasts, besides your vows, and your voluntary offerings, for your zebakim [sacrifices], and for your grain offerings, and for your wine offerings, and for your fellowship offerings. 40 Moses told the Israelites in detail everything that Yehovah had commanded Moses.

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3 “Also if a woman makes a vow to Yehovah, and binds herself with an obligation, while living in her father’s house in her youth, 4 and her father hears her vow or obligation but says nothing to her, then all of her vows will stand, and every obligation that she made for herself will stand. 5 But if her father forbids her on the day that he hears about it, then none of the vows, or obligations that she has bound herself to will stand, and Yehovah will forgive her, because her father forbade her.

6 “But if she is married to a husband, while her vows are on her, or the rash utterance of her lips, that she obligated herself to, 7 and her husband hears about it, but says nothing to her on the day that he hears about it, then her vows will stand, the obligations that she bound herself under will stand. 8 But if her husband forbids her on the day that he hears about it, then he voids the vow that she made and the rash statement she 'uttered' and bound herself to, and Yehovah will forgive her. 9 “But the vow of a widow or of a divorced woman, anything that she bound herself to will stand against her. 10 If she vowed in her husband’s house, or bound herself with an oath, 11 and her husband heard it and said nothing to her, and didn’t disallow her, then all her vows will stand, and every commitment that she made will stand. 12 But if her husband nullified them on the day that he heard them, then whatever proceeded from her lips concerning her vows, or concerning her obligations, won’t stand, her husband has made them void, and Yehovah will forgive her. 13 Her husband can confirm or he can void any vow that she makes to humble herself, or any binding oath. 14 But if her husband says absolutely nothing to her, from day to day, then he confirms all the vows, or all the bonds that she made, he has confirmeded them, because he said nothing to her on the day when he heard them. 15 But if he makes them null and void after he has heard them, then he’ll bear her wickedness.

16 “These are the unchanging tenets that Yehovah commanded Moses between a man and his wife, between a father and his daughter, being in her youth, in her father’s house.

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7 “They warred against Midian, as Yehovah had commanded Moses, and they killed every male. 8 They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. 9 The Israelites took the women of Midian and their little ones captive, and all their livestock, and all their flocks, and they took all their goods as plunder. 10 They burned down all the towns where they lived and all their encampments. 11 They took all the plunder and spoils, people and animals. 12 They brought the captives, and the plunder, and the spoil to Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and to the Israelite congregation, to the camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan River in Jericho.

13 “Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the congregation went out to meet them outside of the camp. 14 Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war. 15 Moses told them, “Have you spared all the women? 16 Look, these caused the Israelites, thru the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Yehovah in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Yehovah. 17 So kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him. 18 But all the young girls and virgins can live, keep them for yourselves. 19 Camp outside of the camp seven days, whoever has killed anyone, and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves on the third day and on the seventh day, you and your captives. 20 As to every garment, and anything made of skin, and all work of goats’ hair, and everything made of wood, you must purify for yourselves.

21 “Eleazar the priest told the soldiers who went to the battle, “This is the permanent rule of the Torah that Yehovah has commanded Moses, 22 however the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin and the lead, 23 everything that will survive a fire, you must pass thru the fire, and it will be clean, but it will be purified with the water for impurity, and anything can’t withstand fire you’ll pass thru water. 24 You must wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you’ll be clean, and after that you can return to the camp.

25 “Yehovah told Moses: 26 “Take the sum of the plunder that was taken, both of man and of animal, you, and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the congregation, 27 and divide the plunder into two parts, between the men skilled in war, who went out to battle, and the entire congregation. 28 Collect tribute for Yehovah from the soldiers who fought in the battle, one out of every five hundred people, cattle, donkeys, sheep and goats. 29 Take it from their half, and give it to Eleazar the priest, for Yehovah’s wave offering. 30 From the Israelites’ half, select one out of every fifty people, cattle, donkeys, sheep and goats, all the livestock, and give them to the Levites who are responsible for the care of Tabernacle of Yehovah.

31 “Moses and Eleazar the priest did as Yehovah had commanded Moses. 32 Now the plunder, over and above the booty that the soldiers took, was 675,000 sheep, 33 72,000 head of cattle, 34 61,000 donkeys, 35 and a total of 32,000 virgins. 36 The half from the share of those went to war was 337,500 sheep, 37 and Yehovah’s tribute of the sheep was 675. 38 Of the 36,000 cattle, the tribute to Yehovah was 72. 39 Of the 30,500 donkeys, the tribute to Yehovah was 61. 40 There were 16,000 people, of whom Yehovah’s tribute was 32 people. 41 Moses gave the tribute, that was Yehovah’s wave offering, to Eleazar the priest, as Yehovah had commanded Moses. 42 As for the Israelites’ half, that Moses separated from the soldiers— 43 the congregation’s half was 337,500 sheep, 44 36,000 head of cattle, 45 30,500 donkeys 46 and 16,000 people), 47 even of the Israelites’s half, Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of men and of animals, and gave them to the Levites who were responsible for the care of Tabernacle of Yehovah, as Yehovah had commanded Moses.

48 “The officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds went to Moses 49 and they said to Moses, “Your servants have taken the sum of the soldiers who are under our command, and not one of us is missing. 50 We have brought Yehovah’s offering, what every man has gotten, of jewels of gold, armlets, and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make atonement for ourselves before Yehovah. 51 Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, including all the handmade jewels. 52 All the gold of the wave offering that they offered up to Yehovah, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was 16,750 shekels. 53 Each of the soldiers had taken spoils for himself. 54 Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the Tabernacle of the Congregation as a memorial for the Israelites before Yehovah.

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6 “Moses asked the tribes of Gad and Reuben, “Will your brothers go to war while you sit here? 7 Why are you discouraging the Israelites from crossing into the land that Yehovah has given them? 8 That’s what your ancestors did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look over the land. 9 When they went up to the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land that Yehovah had given them. 10 Yehovah’s anger was kindled in that day, and He swore: 11 ‘Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, will see the land that I swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, because they haven’t wholly followed Me, 12 except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Yehoshua the son of Nun, because they’ve followed Yehovah completely.’ 13 Yehovah’s anger was kindled against Israel, and He made them wander back and forth in the wilderness for forty years until the entire generation that had done evil in the sight of Yehovah was consumed. 14 “You’re just like your parents! You’re a brood of sinners trying to make Yehovah’s anger toward Israel more intense. 15 If you turn back from following Him, He’ll once again abandon them in the wilderness, and you’ll destroy all these people.

16 “They approached him and said, “We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and towns for our little ones, 17 but we ourselves will be ready armed to go before the Israelites, until we have brought them to their own place, and our little ones will live in the fortified towns for of the inhabitants of the land. 18 We won’t return to our houses until each of the Israelites has inherited their inheritance. 19 We won’t inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan River, and forward, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of the Jordan River eastward. 20 Moses told them, “If you’ll do this, if you’ll arm yourselves to go before Yehovah to war, 21 and all of your armed men cross over the Jordan River before Yehovah, until He has driven out His enemies from before Him, 22 and the land is conquered before Yehovah, then afterward you’ll return and be blameless towards Yehovah, and towards Israel, and this land will be your own property before Yehovah. 23 But if you won’t do that, you’ve sinned against Yehovah, and be sure your sin will 'come back on' you! 24 Build towns for your little ones, and folds for your sheep, but do what you have 'promised'.” 25 The tribes of Reuben and Gad told Moses, “Your servants will do what my master commands. 26 Our little ones, our wives, our flocks and all our livestock will be there in the towns of Gilead, 27 while your servants, everyone who is armed for war, will cross over to fight in the presence of Yehovah, as my master says.

28 “So Moses commanded concerning them to Eleazar the priest, and to Yehoshua son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the Israelites. 29 Moses told them, “If the tribes of Gad and Reuben cross the Jordan River with every man armed for battle in the Yehovah’s presence and you conquer the land, you are to give them Gilead as their own property. 30 but if they don’t cross over with you armed, they must accept land in Canaan with you.” 31 The tribes of Gad and Reuben replied, “As Yehovah has said to your servants, so will we do. 32 We will cross over armed before Yehovah into the land of Canaan, but the property we inherit will be on the 'east' side of the Jordan River.”

33 “Moses gave the tribes of Gad and Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan—the whole land with its towns and the territory around them. 34 The tribe of Gawd built Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35 Atrothshophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 36 Beth Nimrah and Beth Haran, fortified towns, and sheepfolds for sheep. 37 The tribe of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, 38 Nebo, Baal Meon, (their names being changed) and Sibmah, and they gave new names to the towns that they rebuilt. 39 The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it, and drove out the Amorites who 'lived' there. 40 Moses gave Gilead to Machir son of Manasseh, and he lived there. 41 Jair son of Manasseh went and took its towns, and called them Havvoth Jair. 42 Nobah went and took Kenath, and its villages, and called it Nobah, after his own name.

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3 “They left Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month [the First Day of Unleavened Bread]. On the very day after the Passover the Israelite people went out defiantly/triumphantly in plain sight of all the Egyptians. sight of all the Egyptians [not groping in the dark] 4 while the Egyptians were burying all the firstborn that Yehovah had struck down among them. Yehovah had executed judgment against their gods. 5 The Israelites traveled from Rameses, and camped in Succoth. 6 They traveled from Succoth, and camped in Etham by the edge of the wilderness. 7 They traveled from Etham, and turned back to Pihahirothh, east of Baal Zephon, and they camped before Migdol. 8 They traveled from before Hahiroth, and crossed thru the middle of the sea into the wilderness, and they went three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham, and camped in Marah. 9 They traveled from Marah, and came to Elim, and in Elim there were twelve springs, and seventy palm trees, and they camped there. 10 They traveled from Elim and camped by the Red Sea. 11 They traveled from the Red Sea and camped in the wilderness of Sin. 12 They traveled from the wilderness of Sin and camped in Dophkah. 13 They traveled from Dophkah and camped in Alush. 14 They traveled from Alush and camped in Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink. 15 They traveled from Rephidim and camped in the Sinai Desert. 16 They traveled from the Sinai Desert and camped in Kibroth Hattaavah. 17 They traveled from Kibroth Hattaavah and camped in Hazeroth. 18 They traveled from Hazeroth and camped in Rithmah. 19 They traveled from Rithmah and camped in Rimmon Perez. 20 They traveled from Rimmon Perez and camped in Libnah. 21 They traveled from Libnah and camped in Rissah. 22 They traveled from Rissah and camped in Kehelathah. 23 They traveled from Kehelathah and camped in Mount Shepher. 24 They traveled from Mount Shepher and camped in Haradah. 25 They traveled from Haradah and camped in Makheloth. 26 They traveled from Makheloth and camped in Tahath. 27 They traveled from Tahath and camped in Terah. 28 They traveled from Terah and camped in Mithkah. 29 They traveled from Mithkah and camped in Hashmonah. 30 They traveled from Hashmonah and camped in Moseroth. 31 They traveled from Moseroth and camped in Bene Jaakan. 32 They traveled from Bene Jaakan and camped in Hor Haggidgad. 33 They traveled from Hor Haggidgad and camped in Jotbathah. 34 They traveled from Jotbathah and camped in Abronah. 35 They traveled from Abronah and camped in Ezion Geber. 36 They traveled from Ezion Geber and camped in the wilderness of Zin (the same is Kadesh). 37 They traveled from Kadesh, and camped in Mount Hor, by the edge of the land of Edom.

38 “Aaron the priest went up onto Mount Hor at the command of Yehovah and died there, in the fortieth year after the Israelites had departed the land of Egypt, on the fifth month, on the first day of the month. 39 Aaron was one hundred twenty-three years old when he died in Mount Hor. 40 The Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the South in the land of Canaan, heard that the Israelites were coming.

41 “They traveled from Mount Hor and camped in Zalmonah. 42 They traveled from Zalmonah and camped in Punon. 43 They traveled from Punon and camped in Oboth. 44 They traveled from Oboth and camped in Iye Abarim, on the border of Moab. 45 They traveled from Iyim and camped at Dibon Gad. 46 They traveled from Dibon Gad and camped at Almon Diblathaim. 47 They traveled from Almon Diblathaim and camped on the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo. 48 They traveled from the mountains of Abarim, and camped on the plains of Moab by the Jordan River at Jericho. 49 They camped by the Jordan River, from Beth Jeshimoth all the way to Abel Acacia Grove in the plains of Moab.

50 “Yehovah spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River at Jericho: 51 “Speak to the Israelites, and tell them, “When you pass over the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, 52 then you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured stones, and destroy all their molten images, and demolish all their high places, 53 and you are to take possession of the land, and live there, because I’ve given given the land to you to possess. 54 You’ll inherit the land by lot according to your families, to the more you’ll give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you’ll give the less inheritance, wherever the lot falls to any man, that will be his. You are to inherit according to the tribes of your ancestors. 54 You are to inherit the land by lot according to your families, to the more you’ll give a greater inheritance, and to the fewer you’ll give a lesser inheritance, wherever the lot falls to any man, that will be his. You are to inherit according to the tribes of your ancestors. 55 But if you don’t drive out the inhabitants of the land ahead of you, then those you let remain will become like thorns in your eyes and in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you live. 56 Then I’ll do to you what I plan to do to them.’”

NUMBERS 34

13 “Moses commanded the Israelites, “This is the land that you are to inherit by lot. Yehovah has commanded that this land be given to the nine and a half tribes, 14 because the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gawd and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance according to their ancestral households. 15 The two and a half tribes have received their 'land' east of the Jordan River from Jericho, eastward toward the sunrise.”

16 “Yehovah said to Moses, 17 “These are the names of the men who will distribute the land for you as your inheritance, Eleazar the priest, and Yehoshua son of Nun. 18 You must select one leader of every tribe to distribute the inheritance land. 19 These are the men’s names: From the house of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh. 20 Shemuel son of Ammihud, from the tribe of Simeon; 21 Elidad son of Chislon from the tribe of Benjamin; 22 Bukki son of Jogli, a leader from the tribe of Dan; 23 Hanniel son of Ephod, a leader from the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph; 24 Kemuel son of Shiphtan, a leader from the tribe of Ephraim; 25 Elizaphan son of Parnach, a leader from the tribe of Zebulun; 26 Paltiel son of Azzan, a leader from the tribe of Issachar; 27 Ahihud son of Shelomi, a leader from the tribe of Asher; 28 Pedahel son of Ammihud, a leader from the tribe of Naphtali.” 29 These are the ones Yehovah commanded to distribute the inheritance to the Israelites in the land of Canaan.

NUMBERS 35

9 “Yehovah said to Moses, 10 “Tell the Israelites: “When you cross over the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, 11 then you are to designate towns of refuge that a person who has killed someone unintentionally can flee to. 12 These towns will be places of refuge from vigilantes, so that a person who kills someone will not die until they stand trial before the congregation. 13 Th six towns you select will be your towns of refuge. 14 Assign three on this side of the Jordan River and three in Canaan as towns of refuge. 15 These six towns will serve as places of refuge for Israelites, foreigners and strangers among you. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person can escape to these towns.

16 “If anyone strikes someone with an iron tool, and they die, that person is a murderer; the murderer must certainly be put to death. 17 Or if someone wielding a stone strikes someone dead, that person is a murderer; the murderer must certainly be put to death. 18 Or if someone wielding a wooden weapon strikes someone dead, that person is a murderer; the murderer must certainly be put to death. 19 An avenger of blood must make sure the murderer is put to death. When the 'avenger' catches up with the murderer, the 'avenger' must kill him. 20 If anyone deliberately shoves someone or throws something at them and as a result they die 21 or if out of hostility someone hits another with their fist and they die, that person must be put to death; they are a murderer. The avenger of blood must put the murderer to death when they meet.

22 “‘But if someone unintentionally pushes someone suddenly or throws something at them 23 or, without seeing them, drops a stone on them heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and did not intentionally harm them, 24 then the congregation must judge between the offender and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. 25 The congregation must rescue the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood, and the congregation will return them to their city of refuge, where they had fled, and they must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the kadosh olive oil. 26 But if the one guilty of manslaughter ever goes outside the border of their city of refuge where they fled, 27 and the avenger of blood finds them outside the border of their city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, they won’t be guilty of bloodshed, 28 because they should have stayed in their city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the manslayer can go back to their own property. 29 “These statutory regulation will remain thruout your generations wherever you live.

30 ‘Whoever kills another person will be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses; but no one can be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. 31 ‘You are never to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who has been given the death penalty. They must be put to death. 32 ‘Never accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a city of refuge and allow them to go back and live on their own land before the death of the high priest. 33 ‘Don’t defile the land where you live, because bloodshed defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for blood that is shed on it, other than the blood of the person who shed it. 34 You must never defile the land where you live, and where I live, because I, Yehovah, live among the Israelites.

NUMBERS 36

5 “Moses commanded the Israelites in accordance with the Word of Yehovah, “What the tribe of Joseph’s descendants is saying is right. 6 This is what Yehovah commands concerning Zelophehad’s daughters: They can marry anyone they wantso long as they marry within a family of their ancestor’s tribe. 7 So no Israelite land will transfer from tribe to tribe. In this way every Israelite keeps the land inherited from their ancestors. 8 Any woman who possesses an inheritance in any Israelite tribe must marry someone from the clan of her ancestral tribe, so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of their ancestors. 9 So no inheritance is to transfer from one tribe to another, since each of the Israelite tribes is to keep the land it inherits.”

1011 Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah and Noah, Zelophehad’s daughters, married cousins on their father’s side. 12 They married within the families of the descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, and their inheritance stayed in the tribe of their father’s family.

13 “These are the Commandments and the regulations that Yehovah commanded thru Moses to the Israelites in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River across from Jericho.

DEUTERONOMY 1

Chapters 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

Israel’s History 40 Years after the Exodus

6 “Yehovah our Elohim told us in Horeb, ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough. 7 Break camp and resume your journey, and go to the highlands of the Amorites, and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, in the highlands, and in the lowland, and in the Negev , on the whole Mediterranean coast, (the land of the Canaanites), and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates. 8 Look,I have placed the land before you; go in and take possession of the land that Yehovah swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give to them and their descendants after them.

9 “I told you at that time that I wasn’t able to bear the burden of alone, 10 Yehovah your Elohim has increased your numbers, and now you are as numerous as the stars in the sky! 11 May Yehovah, the Elohim of your ancestors, make you a thousand times as many as you are, and bless you as He promised you! 12 But how can I bear the weight of your troubles and disputes by myself? 13 Select wise and discerning and experienced men from your tribes, and I’ll make them your leaders.” 14 You replied that this was a good proposal. 15 So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and made them your leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and tens, and officers for your tribes. 16 I commanded your judges at that time, “Hear the cases between your 'fellow fellow Israelites', and judge righteously between a man and his fellow countryman, and a foreigner residing among you. 17 Never show partiality in judgment; you must listen to the small and the great alike, and don’t be afraid of 'anyone', since judgment belongs to ElohimAny case that is too difficult for you, you must bring to me, and I’ll hear it. 18 At that time I told you everything that you absolutely had to do.

19 “Then we set out from Horeb, and went thru that vast and dangerous wilderness that you saw on the way to the highlands of the Amorites, as Yehovah our Elohim commanded us, and we came to Kadesh Barnea. 20 Then I said to you, “You have come to the highlands of the Amorites that Yehovah our Elohim is about to give us. 21 Yehovah your Elohim has placed the land before you; go up and take possession of it, as Yehovah, the Elohim of your ancestors, has told you, don’t be afraid or discouraged. 22 All of you approached me and said, “Let’s send men ahead us to explore the land for us. Have them inform us as to the route we should take and the towns we should enter.” 23 The plan seemed good to me, so I selected twelve of your men, one man from each tribe. 24 They turned and went up into the highlands, and then to the valley of Eshcol and surveilled it. 25 They took some of the fruit of the land in hand, and brought it down to us, and reported, “It is a good land that Yehovah our Elohim is giving us.” 26

Yet you refused to go; you rebelled against the command of Yehovah your Elohim, 27 You complained in your tents and said, “Because Yehovah hated us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to hand us over to the Amorites so that they could destroy us! 28 Where can we go? Our own men have put our 'morale' into meltdown, saying, “The people are bigger and taller than we are, the towns are the towns are large and fortified up to the sky. We even saw the Anakim there.’” 29 Then I said to you, “Don’t tremble and don’t be afraid of them. 30 Yehovah your Elohim who goes before you, He’ll fight for you the same way that He did for you in Egypt before your very eyes, 31 and in the wilderness, where you’ve seen how Yehovah your Elohim carried you, as a father carries his son, all along the way which you traveled until you arrived at this place.’ 32 Yet in spite of this you didn’t trust Yehovah your Elohim, 33 who went ahead of you to guide you to places to camp. He appeared in a column of fire at night and a column of smoke during the day to show you which way to go.

34 “When Yehovah heard what you said, He was angry and solemnly swore: 35 “ “None of the people from this evil generation will see the good land that I swore to give your ancestors, 36 except Caleb son of Jephunneh; he will see it, and I will give him and his sons the land that he set foot on, because he followed Yehovah without reservations. 37 Yehovah was also angry with me because of you. He said, “You won’t enter either. 38 Yehoshua son of Nun, who stands before you will enter it. Encourage him, because he will enable Israel to inherit it. 39 And the little ones that you said would be taken captive, your children who don’t yet know good from evil will enter 'the land'. I will give it to them and theyŠll take possession of it. 40 But as for you, turn around and take a hike toward the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea.”

41 “Then you told me, “We have sinned against Yehovah, we’ll go up and fight just as Yehovah our Elohim commanded us. Each of you armed yourself for war and thought it would be easy to 'invade' the highlands. 42 Yehovah told me, “Tell them, ‘Don’t go up or fight, because I’m not with you to keep you from being defeated by your enemies.’ 43 So I spoke to you, but you would’t listen. Instead you rebelled against Yehovah’s command defiantly went up into the highlands. 44 Then the Amorites who lived in that highlands came out against you and chased you like a swarm of bees, and struck you down from Seir all the way to Hormah. 45 When you came back, you cried to Yehovah, but Yehovah didn’t listen to your requests or 'pay attention' to you. 46 That’s the reason you stayed in Kadesh as long as you did.

DEUTERONOMY 2

Wandering in the Wilderness

9 “Yehovah told me, “Don’t harass Moab, or start a war with them. I won’t give you any part of their land as a possession, because I’ve given Ar as a possession to the descendants of Lot.” 10 (The Emim used to live there, a people as strong and numerous and tall as the Anakim. 11 They were thought to be Rephaim, like the Anakim, but the Moabites call them Emim. 12 The Horites used to live in Seir, but the descendants of Esau drove them out, and completely destroyed them, and took their place, just as Israel did in the land that Yehovah gave to them to own.) 13 Now get up and cross the Zered River.’ So we crossed over the Zered River. 14 The time that it took for us to come from Kadesh Barnea until we crossed over the Zered River was thirty-eight years, until that entire generation of the soldiers in the camp had died, as Yehovah had sworn to them. 15 Yehovah’s hand was against them until they were completely eliminated them from the camp.

16 “So when all the soldiers among the people had finally died, 17 Yehovah said to me: 18 “Today you are going to cross into the region of Moab at Ar, 19 and when you get close to the Ammonites, don’t bother them or provoke them, since I don’t intend to give you any of the land that I have already given to the descendants of Lot as their property.” 20 This also used too to be thought of as the land of the Rephaim who used to live there, but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim, 21 a strong and numerous people, and as tall as the Anakim, but Yehovah destroyed them before the Ammonites came, and they succeeded them, took their place. 22 as He did for the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir, when He destroyed the Horites before them. They drove them out and they are still there today. 23 and the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim, who came from Caphtor, destroyed them, and lived in their place.) 24 Get up and cross thru the valley of the Arnon. I’ve handed you Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle! 25 This very day I will begin to put the fear and dread of you on all the people under heaven, who when they hear reports about you, will tremble and be in anguish because of you.”

26 So I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth King Sihon of Heshbon with 'an offer' of peace: 27 “Let us travel thru your land, I will only travel on the highway; we will not turn off to the right or to the left. 28 We’ll pay you in silver for the food we eat and the water we drink. Just allow us to travel thru on foot, 29 a just as the descendants of Esau who live in Seir and the Moabites who live in Ar did for us, until I cross over the Jordan River into the land that Yehovah our Elohim gives us. 30 But King Sihon of Heshbon wouldn’t allow us to pass thru because Yehovah your Elohim hardened his spirit, and made him inflexible, in order to hand him over to you, as he has now done. 31 Yehovah told me, “I have begun to give you Sihon and his country. Now begin to take possession of his land.” 32 Then at Jahaz, Sihon and all his 'army' came out to meet us in battle. 33 Yehovah our Elohim handed him over to us, and we defeated him, his sons and all his entire 'army'. 34 At the same time we captured all his towns and completely destroyed the people of every city, including the women and children. We left no survivors. 35 But we carried off the animals and the plunder from the towns we had captured for ourselves. 36 From Aroer on the bank of the Arnon Valley, and the city in that valley as far as Gilead, there was no city whose wall was too high and too strong for us; Yehovah our Elohim gave everything to us. 37 But you didn’t go near to the Ammonites’ land, anywhere along the bank of the Jabbok River, the towns of the highlands or anywhere Yehovah our Elohim had forbidden.

DEUTERONOMY 3

Defeat of King Og

12 So we took possession of this land at that time. I gave the tribes of Reuben and Gad the territory north of Aroer near the Arnon Valley, and half of the highlands of Gilead and its towns. 13 I gave the rest of Gilead and all of Bashan, the kingdom of Og to the half-tribe of Manasseh, (The entire territory of Argob in Bashan used to be called the land of the Rephaim. 14 Jair, a 'descendant' of Manasseh, took the entire territory of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites. He renamed Bashan after himself. Jair’s Villages,as it is today. 15 I gave Gilead to Machir [of Manasseh]. 16 To the Reubenites and Gadites I gave the territory from Gilead as far as the Arnon Valley (the middle of the valley is the border) and as far as the Jabbok River, the border of the Ammonites, 17 as well as the Arabah, and the Jordan River as a border, from Chinnereth [the Sea of Galilee] as far as the sea of the Arabah, the Salt [Dead] Sea, at the foot of the slopes of Pisgah on the east.

18 “I commanded you [Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh] at that time: “Yehovah your Elohim has given you this land to possess. All your soldiers will cross over ready for battle ahead of your brothers the Israelites. 19 I know that you have a lot of livestock. Your wives, young children and livestock must remain in the towns that I gave you, 20 until Yehovah gives rest to your fellow Israelites, as He has to you, and they also take possession of the land Yehovah your Elohim is giving them on the other side of the Jordan River. Then they will have a place to rest as you have. After that each of you can go back to the land I gave you.”

21 I also gave Joshua this command: “You have seen with your own eyes everything that Yehovah your Elohim has done to these two kings. Yehovah will do the same to all the kingdoms you are about to enter. 22 Don’t be afraid of them, because Yehovah your Elohim is the one fighting for you.”

23 Then I pleaded with Yehovah: 24 “Sovereign Yehovah, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand. What god is there in heaven or on earth who can perform deeds and mighty acts like Yours? 25 Please let me cross over and see the beautiful land on the other side of the JordanRiver—that good highlands and Lebanon.’ 26 But because of you Yehovah was angry with me, and didn’t listen to me, and Yehovah told me, ‘That’s enough! Don’t talk to Me again about this. 27 Go up to the top of Mount Pisgah, and 'look' toward the west and north and south and the east, and see it with your own eyes, but you will not cross the Jordan River. 28 But commission Yehoshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him, because he’ll go over ahead of the people, and he’ll help them take possession of the land you see.” 29 So we stayed in the valley facing Beth-peor.

DEUTERONOMY 4

Israel Urged to Obey the Torah

9 “But you should be careful, and watch yourselves closely, so that you don’t forget the things that you saw with your own eyes. Don’t allow these memories escape from your mind as long as you live, but pass them on to your children and grandchildren. 10 Remember the day you stood before Yehovah your Elohim in Horeb, when Yehovah told me, “Gather My people so that I can allow them to listen to My words, so that they learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and so they can teach their children.” 11 You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while it blazed with fire clear into the sky, amid thick clouds and intense darkness. 12 Then Yehovah spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words, but you didn’t see His form; just a voice. 13 He proclaimed His covenant to you, that He commanded you to obey—the Ten Commandments, and He wrote them on two stone tablets. 14 It was at that time that Yehovah commanded me to teach you the unchanging tenets and regulations that you’re to follow in the land you’re about to cross over into and take possession of.

15 “You should be cautious, since you didn’t see any kind of form the day that Yehovah spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb, 16 otherwise you could act corruptly and make a carved image for yourselves in the shape of any figure: a male or female form, 17 or the form of any animal on earth, any winged creature that flies in the sky, 18 or like anything that moves along the ground or any fish in the water beneath 'the shore'. 19 And be careful not to 'look' to the heavens and see the sun and the moon and the stars, the entire heavenly array, and be drawn away and worship them and serve them, the things that Yehovah your Elohim has given to all people everywhere under heaven. 20 But Yehovah has taken you, and brought you out of Egypt’s iron furnace, in order to make you His own people as you are today. 21 Now Yehovah was angry with me because of you, and He swore that I wouldn’t cross the Jordan River and enter the good land that Yehovah your Elohim is giving you as an inheritance. 22 I’m going to die in this land. I’m not going to cross the Jordan River, but you’re going about to cross and take possession of that good land. 23 Be careful not to forget the covenant of Yehovah your Elohim that He made with you. Don’t make for yourselves any carved images to represent anything that Yehovah your Elohim has forbidden. 24 Yehovah your Elohim is a consuming fire, a jealous Elohim.

25 “After you have children and grandchildren and have been in the land for a long time, and corrupt yourselves, and then make an ]idol in the form of anything, and do what is evil in the sight of Yehovah your Elohim, and provoke Him to anger, 26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will surely perish quickly from the land that you are going over the Jordan River to possess. You won’t live there very long. You’ll be completely destroyed. 27 Yehovah will scatter you among the nations, and only a few of you will survive being in those nations, where Yehovah will lamentably exile you. 28 There you’ll worship hand made gods that someone just made of wood and stone. They can’t see, hear, eat or smell. 29 But from there you’ll seek Yehovah your Elohim, and you’ll find Him, when you search for Him with complete 'sincerity' and with all your being. 30 When you’re in tribulation, and all these things have happened to you, at the end of the ‘age’, you’ll return to Yehovah your Elohim, and listen to what He says. 31 Yehovah your Elohim is a compassionate Elohim, He won’t abandon you, or destroy you, or forget the covenant with your ancestors that He swore to them.

32 “'Diligently' inquire about the distant past, long before your time, from the day Elohim created 'people' on the earth. Search the heavens from one 'horizon' to the other. Has anything this great ever happened before, or has anything like it been heard of? 33 Has any other people heard the voice of Elohim speaking from amid a fire, as you heard, and lived? 34 Or has an elohim attempted to go and take a nation as his own from another nation, by trials, signs, wonders and war, by a mighty hand an outstretched arm, and by awesome terrors, as Yehovah your Elohim did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? 35 It was 'proven' to you so that you could know that Yehovah is Elohim; there is no other besides Him. 36 Out of the heavens He let you hear His voice to discipline you. He showed you His great fire on earth, and you heard Him speak from within a fire. 37 Because he loved your ancestors, He chose their descendants who followed them, and Personally brought you out of Egypt by His great power, 38 driving out from before you nations greater and stronger than you, to bring you in and give you their land. This land is your own property today. 39 So realize today, and never 'forget' that Yehovah is Elohim in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other. 40 You must keep His unchanging tenets and His Commandments that I’m 'giving' you today, so it will go well with you and your descendants, so as to live 'long' in the land that Yehovah your Elohim is giving you for all time.”

41 Then Moses set aside three towns across the Jordan River toward the 'east' 42 that anyone who had killed someone accidentally, without previously hating could flee to; and by fleeing to one of these towns they could save their life. 43 The towns were Bezer in the wilderness plateau for the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.

44 “This is the Torah that Moses placed before the Israelites. 45 These are the decrees, unchanging tenets and regulations that Moses gave them after they left Egypt, 46 across the Jordan River in the valley facing Beth-peor in the land of King Sihon of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon. Moses and the Israelites defeated him after they left Egypt. 47 They took possession of his land the land of King Og of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites who were across the Jordan River to the east. 48 from Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Valley as far as Mount Sion (that is, Mount Hermon) 49 and all the Arabah beyond the Jordan River to the east, as far as the 'Dead' Sea, 'at the foot of' the slopes of Pisgah.

DEUTERONOMY 5

The Ten Commandments Repeated

6 “I am Yehovah your Elohim who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the 'land' of slavery. 7 You must never have any other Elohim other than Me. 8 You must never make an idol for yourself resembling anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the water under the earth. 9 You must never bow down to them or serve them, because I, Yehovah, your Elohim, am a jealous Elohim, punishing the children for the fathers’ sin to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, 10 but showing true love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and obey My Commandments. [1] 11 You must never misuse the name of Yehovah your Elohim, because Yehovah won’t let anyone go unpunished who misuses His name. 12 Remember to keep the Sabbath day kadosh, as Yehovah your Elohim commanded you. 13 You are to labor and do all your work within six days, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath dedicated to Yehovah your Elohim; on that day you must not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female servant, your ox or donkey, any of your livestock—even the foreigners living in your 'city' must never do any work on that day, so that your male and female servants can rest, as you do 15 You must remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt, and Yehovah your Elohim brought you out of there with a mighty hand by an outstretched arm; so Yehovah your Elohim commanded you to do the Sabbath day. 16 Honor your father and your mother, as Yehovah your Elohim commanded you, so that you can live long and prosper in the land that Yehovah your Elohim is giving you. 17 You must never murder. 18 You must never commit adultery. 19 You must never steal. 20 You must never be a false witness against your neighbor. 21 You must never covet your neighbor’s wife or desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

22 “These are the commandments that Yehovah proclaimed in a loud voice to your entire congregation there on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness; with an astonishing voice, and He added nothing more. He wrote them on two stone tablets, and gave them to me. 23 And when you heard the voice coming from the darkness and saw the mountain ablaze with fire, all the leaders and heads of your tribes came to me. 24 And you said, “Yehovah our Elohim has shown us His splendor and His greatness, and we have heard His voice come from the fire. Today we’ve seen that people can live even when Elohim speaks with them! 25 Now then why should we die? This great fire will still consume us; if we hear the voice of Yehovah our Elohim any more, then we’ll die. 26 Who has ever heard the voice of the living Elohim speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived? 27 Go near and listen to everything that Yehovah our Elohim has to say, and tell useverything that Yehovah our Elohim tells you, and we’ll listen and do it. 28 Yehovah heard the words that you spoke to me, and He told me, “I’ve heard the words that these people have spoken to you. Everything they said is right. 29 If only they would fear Me and obey all My commandments as long as they live, so that they and their children would prosper forever! 30 “Tell the people to return to their tents. 31 But you stand here with Me, and I will give you all the commandments, unchanging tenets and regulations that you are to teach them, so that they can follow them in the land I am giving them to possess.’ 32 So be careful to do what Yehovah your Elohim has commanded you, you don’t veer off to the right or to the left. 33 You must 'live' the way that Yehovah your Elohim has commanded you, so that you can live, and that it can go well with you, so that you can live, prosper and live long in the land you are about to enter and occupy.