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GENESIS — 1 MOSHEH
be,” and light came to be. of the heavens to give light on the earth.”
4 And Elohim saw the light, that it was And it came to be so.
good. And Elohim separated the light from 16 And Elohim made two great lights: the
the darkness. greater light to rule the day, and the lesser
5 And Elohim called the light ‘day’ and light to rule the night, and the stars.
the darkness He called ‘night.’ And there 17 And Elohim set them in the expanse of
came to be evening and there came to be the heavens to give light on the earth,
morning, the first day. 18 and to rule over the day and over the
6 And Elohim said, “Let an expanse night, and to separate the light from the
come to be in the midst of the waters, and darkness. And Elohim saw that it was
let it separate the waters from the waters.” good.
7 And Elohim made the expanse, and 19 And there came to be evening and there
separated the waters which were under the came to be morning, the fourth day.
expanse from the waters which were above 20 And Elohim said, “Let the waters teem
the expanse. And it came to be so. with shoals of living creatures, and let
8 And Elohim called the expanse ‘heav- birds fly above the earth on the face of the
ens.’ And there came to be evening and expanse of the heavens.”
there came to be morning, the second day. 21 And Elohim created great sea creatures
9 And Elohim said, “Let the waters under and every living creature that moves, with
the heavens be gathered together into one which the waters teemed, according to
place, and let the dry land appear.” And it their kind, and every winged bird accord-
came to be so. ing to its kind. And Elohim saw that it was
10 And Elohim called the dry land ‘earth,’ good.
and the collection of the waters He called 22 And Elohim blessed them, saying,
‘seas.’ And Elohim saw that it was good. “Bear fruit and increase, and fill the waters
11 And Elohim said, “Let the earth bring in the seas, and let the birds increase on the
forth grass, the plant that yields seed, and earth.”
the fruit tree that yields fruit according to 23 And there came to be evening and there
its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the came to be morning, the fifth day.
earth.” And it came to be so. 24 And Elohim said, “Let the earth bring
12 And the earth brought forth grass, the forth the living creature according to its
plant that yields seed according to its kind, kind: livestock and creeping creatures and
and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is beasts of the earth, according to its kind.”
in itself according to its kind. And Elohim And it came to be so.
saw that it was good. 25 And Elohim made the beast of the earth
13 And there came to be evening and there according to its kind, livestock according
to its kind, and all that creep on the earth rain on the earth, and there was no man to
according to its kind. And Elohim saw that till the ground,
it was good. 6 but a mist went up from the earth and
26 And Elohim said, “Let Us make man in watered the entire surface of the ground.
Our image, according to Our likeness, and 7 And HWHY Elohim formed the man out
let them rule over the fish of the sea, and of dust from the ground, and breathed into
over the birds of the heavens, and over the his nostrils breath of life. And the man
livestock, and over all the earth and over became a living being.
all the creeping creatures that creep on the 8 And HWHY Elohim planted a garden in
earth.” ÂÅen, to the east, and there He put the man
27 And Elohim created the man in His whom He had formed.
image, in the image of Elohim He created 9 And out of the ground HWHY Elohim
him – male and female He created them. made every tree grow that is pleasant to the
28 And Elohim blessed them, and Elohim sight and good for food, with the tree of
said to them, “Bear fruit and increase, and life in the midst of the garden and the tree
fill the earth and subdue it, and rule over of the knowledge of good and evil.
the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the 10 And a river went out of ÂÅen to water
heavens, and over all creatures moving on the garden, and from there it divided and
the earth.” became four riverheads.
29 And Elohim said, “See, I have given 11 The name of the first is Pishon, it is
you every plant that yields seed which is the one surrounding the entire land of
on the face of all the earth, and every tree Àawilah, where there is gold.
whose fruit yields seed, to you it is for 12 And the gold of that land is good.
food. Bdellium is there, and the shoham stone.
30 “And to every beast of the earth, and to 13 And the name of the second river is
every bird of the heavens, and to every GiÁon, it is the one surrounding the entire
creeping creature on the earth, in which land of Kush.
there is life, every green plant is for food.” 14 And the name of the third river is Àid-
And it came to be so. deqel, it is the one which goes toward the
31 And Elohim saw all that He had made, east of Ashshur. And the fourth river is the
and see, it was very good. And there came Euphrates.
to be evening and there came to be morn- 15 And HWHY Elohim took the man and put
ing, the sixth day. him in the garden of ÂÅen to work it and to
guard it.
2 Thus the heavens and the earth were
completed, and all their array.
2 And on the seventh day Elohim com-
16 And HWHY Elohim commanded the man,
the earth, and no plant of the field had yet and to the birds of the heavens, and to
sprung up, for HWHY Elohim had not sent every beast of the field. But for the man
3 BERÂSHITH 3
there was not found a helper for him, as his cool of the day, and AÅam and his wife hid
counterpart. themselves from the presence of HWHY
21 So HWHY Elohim caused a deep sleep to Elohim among the trees of the garden.
fall on the man, and he slept. And He took 9 And HWHY Elohim called unto AÅam
one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in and said to him, “Where are you?”
its place. 10 And he said, “I heard Your voice in the
22 And the rib which HWHY Elohim had garden, and I was afraid because I was
taken from the man He made into a naked, so I hid myself.”
woman, and He brought her to the man. 11 And He said, “Who made you know
23 And the man said, “This is now bone of that you were naked? Have you eaten of
my bones and flesh of my flesh. This one the tree of which I commanded you that
is called ‘woman,’ because she was taken you should not eat?”
out of man.” 12 And the man said, “The woman whom
24 For this cause a man shall leave his You gave to be with me, she gave me of
father and mother, and cleave to his wife, the tree and I ate.”
and they shall become one flesh. 13 And HWHY Elohim said to the woman,
25 And they were both naked, the man and “What is this you have done?” And the
his wife, yet they were not ashamed. woman said, “The serpent deceived me,
and I ate.”
3 And the serpent was more crafty than
any beast of the field which HWHY
14 And HWHY Elohim said to the serpent,
shall be like Elohim, knowing good and have listened to the voice of your wife, and
evil.” have eaten of the tree of which I com-
6 And the woman saw that the tree was manded you, saying, ‘Do not eat of it’:
good for food, that it was pleasant to the “Cursed is the ground because of you, in
eyes, and a tree desirable to make one toil you are to eat of it all the days of your
wise, and she took of its fruit and ate. And life,
she also gave to her husband with her, and 18 and the ground shall bring forth thorns
he ate. and thistles for you, and you shall eat the
7 Then the eyes of both of them were plants of the field.
opened, and they knew that they were 19 “By the sweat of your face you are to
naked. And they sewed fig leaves together eat bread until you return to the ground, for
and made loin coverings for themselves. out of it you were taken. For dust you are,
8 And they heard the sound of HWHY and to dust you return.”
Elohim walking about in the garden in the 20 And the man called his wife’s name
and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand yield its strength to you. You shall be a
and take also of the tree of life, and eat, fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
and live forever...” 13 And Qayin said to HWHY, “My punish-
23 so HWHY Elohim sent him out of the gar- ment is too great to bear!
den of ÂÅen to till the ground from which 14 “See, You have driven me from the
he was taken, face of the ground today, and I am hidden
24 and He drove the man out. And He from Your face. I shall be a fugitive and a
placed keruÄim at the east of the garden of wanderer on the earth, and it shall be that
ÂÅen, and a flaming sword which turned anyone who finds me kills me.”
every way, to guard the way to the tree of 15 And HWHY said to him, “Well, if anyone
life. kills Qayin, vengeance is taken on him
sevenfold.” And HWHY set up a sign for
4 And AÅam knew Àawwah his wife,
and she conceived and bore Qayin,
Qayin, lest anyone finding him kills him.
16 So Qayin went out from the presence of
and said, “I have gained a man from HWHY.” HWHY and dwelt in the land of NoÅ on the
2 And again, she gave birth to his brother east of ÂÅen.
HeÄel. And HeÄel became a keeper of 17 And Qayin knew his wife, and she con-
sheep, but Qayin became a tiller of the ceived and bore Àano¿. And he built a
ground. city, and called the name of the city after
3 And it came to be, in the course of time, the name of his son, Àano¿.
that Qayin brought an offering of the fruit 18 And to Àano¿ was born IraÅ. And IraÅ
of the ground to HWHY. brought forth MeÁuya’Ãl, and MeÁuya’Ãl
4 And HeÄel also brought of the first- brought forth Methusa’Ãl, and Methusa’Ãl
born of his flock and of their fat. And HWHY brought forth Leme¿.
looked to HeÄel and his offering, 19 And Leme¿ took for himself two
5 but He did not look to Qayin and his wives, the name of one was AÅah, and the
offering. And Qayin was very wroth, and name of the second was Tsillah.
his face fell. 20 And AÅah bore YaÄal. He was the
6 And HWHY said to Qayin, “Why are you father of those who dwell in tents, with
wroth? And why is your face fallen? livestock.
7 “If you do well, is there not accep- 21 And his brother’s name was YuÄal. He
tance? And if you do not do well, sin c is was the father of all those who play the
crouching at the door. And its desire is for lyre and flute.
you, but you should master it.” 22 As for Tsillah, she also bore TuÄal-
8 And Qayin told HeÄel his brother. And Qayin, a smith of all kinds of tools in
it came to be when they were in the field, bronze and iron. And the sister of TuÄal-
that Qayin rose up against HeÄel his broth- Qayin was NaÈamah.
er and killed him. 23 And Leme¿ said to his wives, “AÅah
9 And HWHY said to Qayin, “Where is and Tsillah, hear my voice! Wives of
HeÄel your brother?” And he said, “I do Leme¿, listen to my words! For I have
not know. Am I my brother’s guard?” killed a man for wounding me, even a
10 And He said, “What have you done? young man for hurting me.
The voice of your brother’s blood cries out 24 “For Qayin is avenged sevenfold, and
c Sin (transgression of a moral code or a moral law) was already then known, as we also read in 39:9.
5 BERÂSHITH 5
she bore a son and called his name ShÃth, Mahalal’Ãl lived eight hundred and thirty
“For Elohim has appointed me another years, and brought forth sons and daugh-
seed instead of HeÄel, because Qayin had ters.
slain him.” 17 So all the days of Mahalal’Ãl were eight
26 And to ShÃth, to him also a son was hundred and ninety-five years, and he died.
born. And he called his name Enosh. Then 18 And YereÅ lived one hundred and
it was begun to call on the Name of HWHY. d sixty-two years, and brought forth Àano¿.
19 And after he brought forth Àano¿,
And he brought forth sons and daughters. he was no more, for Elohim took him.
5 So all the days that AÅam lived were 25 And MethushelaÁ lived one hundred
nine hundred and thirty years, and he died. and eighty-seven years, and brought forth
6 And ShÃth lived one hundred and five Leme¿.
years, and brought forth Enosh. 26 And after he brought forth Leme¿,
7 And after he brought forth Enosh, MethushelaÁ lived seven hundred and
ShÃth lived eight hundred and seven years, eighty-two years, and brought forth sons
and brought forth sons and daughters. and daughters.
8 So all the days of ShÃth were nine hun- 27 So all the days of MethushelaÁ were
dred and twelve years, and he died. nine hundred and sixty-nine years, and he
9 And Enosh lived ninety years, and died.
brought forth QÃynan. 28 And Leme¿ lived one hundred and
10 And after he brought forth QÃynan, eighty-two years, and brought forth a son,
Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen 29 and called his name NoaÁ, saying,
years, and brought forth sons and daugh- “This one does comfort us concerning our
ters. work and the toil of our hands, because of
11 So all the days of Enosh were nine hun- the ground which HWHY has cursed.”
dred and five years, and he died. 30 And after he brought forth NoaÁ,
12 And QÃynan lived seventy years, and Leme¿ lived five hundred and ninety-five
brought forth Mahalal’Ãl. years, and brought forth sons and daugh-
13 After he brought forth Mahalal’Ãl, QÃy- ters.
nan lived eight hundred and forty years, 31 So all the days of Leme¿ were seven
and brought forth sons and daughters. hundred and seventy-seven years, and he
14 So all the days of QÃynan were nine died.
hundred and ten years, and he died. 32 And NoaÁ was five hundred years old,
15 And Mahalal’Ãl lived sixty-five years, and NoaÁ brought forth ShÃm, Àam, and
HWHY.
9 This is the genealogy of NoaÁ. NoaÁ 7 And HWHY said to NoaÁ, “Come into
the ark, you and all your household,
was a righteous man, perfect in his genera- because I have seen that you are righteous
tions. NoaÁ walked with Elohim. before Me in this generation.
10 And NoaÁ brought forth three sons: 2 “Of all the clean beasts take with you
ShÃm, Àam, and Yepheth. seven pairs, a male and his female; and of
11 And the earth was corrupt before the beasts that are unclean two, a male and
Elohim, and the earth was filled with vio- his female;
lence. 3 and of birds of the heavens seven pairs,
12 And Elohim looked upon the earth and male and female, to keep offspring alive on
saw that it was corrupt – for all flesh had the face of all the earth.
corrupted their way on the earth – 4 “For after seven more days I am send-
13 and Elohim said to NoaÁ, “The end of ing rain on the earth, forty days and forty
all flesh has come before Me, for the earth nights, and shall wipe from the face of the
is filled with violence through them. And earth all that stand that I created.”
see, I am going to destroy them from the 5 And NoaÁ did according to all that
Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside when the flood-waters were on the earth.
7 BERÂSHITH 8
7 And NoaÁ and his sons and his wife land, died.
and his sons’ wives went into the ark 23 So He wiped off all that stand, which
because of the waters of the flood. were on the face of the ground – both man
8 Of the clean beasts and of the beasts and beast, creeping creature and bird of the
that are unclean, and of birds, and of all heavens. And they were wiped off from the
that creep on the earth, earth. And only NoaÁ was left, and those
9 two by two they went into the ark to with him in the ark.
NoaÁ, male and female, as Elohim had 24 And the waters were mighty on the
Àam and Yepheth, the sons of NoaÁ, and the earth, and at the end of the hundred and
NoaÁ’s wife and the three wives of his fifty days the waters diminished.
sons with them, went into the ark, 4 And in the seventh month, the seven-
14 they and every living creature after its teenth day of the month, the ark rested on
kind, and every beast after its kind, and the mountains of Ararat.
every creeping creature that creeps on the 5 And the waters decreased steadily until
earth after its kind, and every bird after its the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the
kind, every bird of every sort. first day of the month, the tops of the
15 And they went into the ark to NoaÁ, mountains became visible.
two by two, of all flesh in which is the 6 And it came to be, at the end of forty
ed him, and HWHY shut him in. going out and turning back until the waters
17 And the flood was on the earth forty had dried up from the earth.
days, and the waters increased and lifted 8 Then he sent out a dove from him, to
up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. see if the waters had receded from the face
18 And the waters were mighty and great- of the ground.
ly increased on the earth, and the ark 9 But the dove found no resting place for
moved about on the surface of the waters. its feet and returned into the ark to him, for
19 And the waters were exceedingly the waters were on the face of all the earth.
mighty on the earth, and all the high moun- So he put out his hand and took it, and
tains under all the heavens were covered. pulled it into the ark to himself.
20 The waters became mighty, fifteen 10 And he waited yet another seven days,
cubits upward, and the mountains were and again he sent the dove out from the
covered. ark.
21 And all flesh died that moved on the 11 And the dove came to him in the
earth – birds and cattle and beasts and evening, and see, a freshly plucked olive
every creeping creature that creeps on the leaf was in its mouth. And NoaÁ knew that
earth, and all mankind. the waters had receded from the earth.
22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of 12 And he waited yet another seven days
the spirit of life, all that was on the dry and sent out the dove, which did not return
BERÂSHITH 8 8
removed the covering of the ark and require, from the hand of every beast I
looked, and saw the surface of the ground require it, and from the hand of man. From
was dry. the hand of every man’s brother I require
14 And in the second month, on the the life of man.
twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth 6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man
and your sons and your sons’ wives with bring forth teemingly in the earth and
you. increase in it.”
17 “Bring out with you every living crea- 8 And Elohim spoke to NoaÁ and to his
ture of all flesh that is with you: of birds, sons with him, saying,
of cattle and all creeping creatures that 9 “And I, see, I establish My covenant
creep on the earth. And let them teem on with you and with your seed after you,
the earth, and bear and increase on the 10 and with every living creature that is
earth, according to their kinds, went out of with you, and never again is all flesh cut
the ark. off by the waters of the flood, and never
20 And NoaÁ built an altar to HWHY, and again is there a flood to destroy the earth.”
took of every clean beast and of every 12 And Elohim said, “This is the sign of
clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the covenant which I make between Me
the altar. and you, and every living creature that is
21 And HWHY smelled a soothing fragrance, with you, for all generations to come:
and HWHY said in His heart, “Never again 13 “I shall set My rainbow in the cloud,
shall I curse the ground because of man, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant
although the inclination of man’s heart is between Me and the earth.
evil from his youth, and never again smite 14 “And it shall be, when I bring a cloud
all living creatures, as I have done, over the earth, that the rainbow shall be
22 as long as the earth remains, seedtime seen in the cloud,
and harvest, and cold and heat, and winter 15 and I shall remember My covenant
and summer, and day and night shall not which is between Me and you and every
cease.” living creature of all flesh, and never again
let the waters become a flood to destroy all
9 And Elohim blessed NoaÁ and his
sons, and said to them, “Bear fruit and
flesh.
16 “And the rainbow shall be in the cloud,
increase, and fill the earth. and I shall see it, to remember the everlast-
2 “And the fear of you and the dread of ing covenant between Elohim and every
you is on every beast of the earth, on every living creature of all flesh that is on the
bird of the heavens, on all that creeps on earth.”
the ground, and on all the fish of the sea – 17 And Elohim said to NoaÁ, “This is the
into your hand they have been given. sign of the covenant which I have estab-
3 “Every moving creature that lives is lished between Me and all flesh that is on
9 BERÂSHITH 10
And Àam was the father of KenaÈan. Àawilah, and SaÄtah, and RaÈmah, and
19 These three were the sons of NoaÁ, and SaÄte¿a. And the sons of RaÈmah: SheÄa
all the earth was overspread from them. and DeÅan.
20 And NoaÁ, a man of the soil, began and 8 And Kush brought forth NimroÅ, he
drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. therefore it is said, “Like NimroÅ the
22 And Àam, the father of KenaÈan, saw mighty hunter before HWHY.”
the nakedness of his father, and told his 10 And the beginning of his reign was
two brothers outside. BaÄel, and Ere¿, and AkkaÅ, and KalnÃh,
23 So ShÃm and Yepheth took a garment, in the land of ShinÈar.
laid it on both their shoulders, and went 11 From that land he went to Ashshur and
backward and covered the nakedness of built NinewÃh, and ReÁoÄoth Ir, and
their father, but their faces were turned KelaÁ,
away, and they did not see their father’s 12 and Resen between NinewÃh and
knew what his younger son had done to and Anamim, and LehaÄim, and
him, NaphtuÁim,
25 and he said, “Cursed is KenaÈan, let 14 and Pathrusim, and KasluÁim, from
him become a servant of servants to his whom came the Philistines and Kaphtorim.
brothers.” 15 And KenaÈan brought forth TsiÅon his
26 And he said, “Blessed be HWHY, the first-born, and ÀÃth,
Elohim of ShÃm, and let KenaÈan become 16 and the YeÄusite, and the Amorite, and
Tarshish, Kittim and DoÅanim. and Arpa¿shaÅ, and LuÅ, and Aram.
5 From these the coastland peoples of the 23 And the sons of Aram: Uts, and Àul,
nations were separated into their lands, and Gether, and Mash.
everyone according to his language, 24 And Arpa¿shaÅ brought forth ShelaÁ,
according to their clans, into their nations. and ShelaÁ brought forth ÂÄer.
BERÂSHITH 10 10
25 And to ÂÄer were born two sons, the over the face of all the earth, and they left
name of one was PeleÍ, for in his days the off building the city.
earth was divided, and his brother’s name 9 That is why its name was called BaÄel, g
All these were sons of Yoqtan. ShÃm lived five hundred years, and
30 And their dwelling place was from brought forth sons and daughters.
MÃysha as you go toward Sephar, a moun- 12 And Arpa¿shaÅ lived thirty-five years,
ing to their clans, according to their lan- Arpa¿shaÅ lived four hundred and three
guages, in their lands, according to their years, and brought forth sons and daugh-
nations. ters.
32 These were the clans of the sons of 14 And ShelaÁ lived thirty years, and
were divided on the earth after the flood. lived four hundred and three years, and
brought forth sons and daughters.
11 And all the earth had one language e
and one speech.
2 And it came to be, as they set out from
16 And ÂÄer lived thirty-four years, and
the east, that they found a plain in the land lived four hundred and thirty years, and
of ShinÈar, f and they dwelt there. brought forth sons and daughters.
3 And they said to each other, “Come, let 18 And PeleÍ lived thirty years, and
asphalt for mortar. lived two hundred and nine years, and
4 And they said, “Come, let us build brought forth sons and daughters.
ourselves a city, and a tower whose top 20 And ReÈu lived thirty-two years, and
face of the earth.” lived two hundred and seven years, and
5 Then HWHY came down to see the city brought forth sons and daughters.
and the tower which the sons of men had 22 And SeruÍ lived thirty years, and
people and they all have one language, and SeruÍ lived two hundred years, and
this is what they begin to do! And now, brought forth sons and daughters.
they are not going to be withheld from 24 And NaÁor lived twenty-nine years,
their language, so that they do not under- NaÁor lived one hundred and nineteen
stand one another’s speech.” years, and brought forth sons and
8 And HWHY scattered them from there, daughters.
e Heb. lip. f Earlier name for BaÄel. g BaÄel is derived from a verb which means “to confuse.”
11 BERÂSHITH 12
26 And TeraÁ lived seventy years, and 7 And HWHY appeared to AÄram and said,
brought forth AÄram, NaÁor, and Haran. “To your seed I give this land.” And he
27 And this is the genealogy of TeraÁ:
built there an altar to HWHY, who had
TeraÁ brought forth AÄram, NaÁor, and appeared to him.
Haran. And Haran brought forth Lot. 8 And from there he moved to the moun-
28 And Haran died before his father TeraÁ tain east of BÃyth Âl, and he pitched his
in the land of his birth, in Ur of the tent, with BÃyth Âl on the west and Ai on
Chaldeans. the east. And he built there an altar to HWHY,
29 And AÄram and NaÁor took wives: the and called on the Name of HWHY. i
name of AÄram’s wife was Sarai, and the 9 And AÄram set out, continuing toward
name of NaÁor’s wife, Milkah, the daugh- the South.
ter of Haran the father of Milkah and the 10 And a scarcity of food came to be in the
father of Yiskah. land, and AÄram went down to Mitsrayim
30 And Sarai was barren, she had no child. to dwell there, for the scarcity of food was
31 And TeraÁ took his son AÄram and his severe in the land.
grandson Lot, son of Haran, and his daugh- 11 And it came to be, when he was close
ter-in-law Sarai, his son AÄram’s wife, and to entering Mitsrayim, that he said to Sarai
they went out with them from Ur of the his wife, “See, I know that you are a fair
Chaldeans to go to the land of KenaÈan. woman to look at.
And they came to Àaran and dwelt there. 12 “And it shall be, when the Mitsrites see
32 And the days of TeraÁ came to be two you, that they shall say, ‘This is his wife.’
hundred and five years, and TeraÁ died in And they shall kill me, but let you live.
Àaran. 13 “Please say you are my sister, so that it
was seventy-five years old when he set out house with great plagues because of Sarai,
from Àaran. AÄram’s wife.
5 And AÄram took Sarai his wife and Lot 18 And Pharaoh called AÄram and said,
his brother’s son, and all their possessions “What is this you have done to me? Why
that they had gathered, and the beings did you not inform me that she was your
whom they had acquired in Àaran, and wife?
they set out for the land of KenaÈan. And 19 “Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?
they came to the land of KenaÈan. And so I was going to take her for my
6 And AÄram passed through the land to wife. Look, here is your wife, take her and
the place of She¿em, as far as the terebinth go.”
tree of Moreh. At that time the KenaÈanites 20 And Pharaoh commanded his men
were in the land. concerning him, and they sent him away,
h AÄram was called to “Come out” (out of BaÄel) in the same way as we are called out of it (Rev. 18:4).
i AÄram (AÄraham) also did so in 13:4, 21:33 and 22:14.
BERÂSHITH 12 12
with his wife and all that he had. are, northward and southward and east-
ward and westward,
13 And AÄram went up from
Mitsrayim into the South, he and
15 for all the land which you see I shall
between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, laÈomer, and in the thirteenth year they
for we are brothers. rebelled.
9 “Is not all the land before you? Please 5 And in the fourteenth year KeÅor-
separate from me. If you take the left, then laÈomer and the sovereigns that were with
I go to the right; or, if you go to the right, him came and smote the Repha’im in
then I go to the left.” Ashteroth Qarnayim, and the Zuzim in
10 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the Àam, and the Âmites in ShawÃh
plain of the YardÃn, that it was well Qiryathayim,
watered everywhere – before HWHY 6 and the Àorites in their mountain of
destroyed SeÅom and Amorah – like the SÃÈir, as far as Âl Paran, which is by the
garden of HWHY, like the land of Mitsrayim wilderness.
as you go toward TsoÈar. 7 And they turned back and came to Ân
11 So Lot chose for himself all the plain of Mishpat, that is QaÅÃsh, and smote all the
the YardÃn, and Lot moved east. Thus they country of the AmalÃqites, and also the
separated from each other, Amorites who dwelt in Àatsetson Tamar.
12 AÄram dwelling in the land of KenaÈan, 8 And the sovereign of SeÅom, and the
and Lot dwelling in the cities of the plain sovereign of Amorah, and the sovereign of
and pitched his tent as far as SeÅom. AÅmah, and the sovereign of TseÄoyim,
13 But the men of SeÅom were evil and and the sovereign of Bela, that is TsoÈar,
sinned before HWHY, exceedingly so. went out and joined together in battle in
14 And after Lot had separated from him, the Valley of Siddim,
HWHY said to AÄram, “Now lift up your 9 against KeÅorlaÈomer sovereign of
eyes and look from the place where you Âylam, and TiÅÈal sovereign of Goyim, and
13 BERÂSHITH 15
remainder fled to the mountains. whatever is yours, lest you should say,
11 And they took all the goods of SeÅom ‘I have made AÄram rich,’
and Amorah, and all their food, and went 24 except only what the young men have
informed AÄram the HeÄrew, for he dwelt 15 After these events the word of
HWHY came to AÄram in a vision,
by the terebinth trees of Mamrà the saying, “Do not be afraid, AÄram. I am
Amorite, brother of Eshkol and brother of your shield, your reward is exceedingly
AnÃr, and they had a covenant with great.”
AÄram. 2 And AÄram said, “Master HWHY, what
14 And when AÄram heard that his brother would You give me, seeing I go childless,
was taken captive, he armed his three hun- and the heir of my house is EliÈezer of
dred and eighteen trained servants who Damascus?”
were born in his own house, and went in 3 And AÄram said, “See, You have given
sued them as far as ÀoÄah, which is on the saying, “This one is not your heir, but he
left of Damascus. who comes from your own body is your
16 So he brought back all the goods, and heir.”
also brought back his brother Lot and his 5 And He brought him outside and said,
goods, as well as the women and the peo- “Look now toward the heavens, and count
ple. the stars if you are able to count them.”
17 And after his return from the defeat of And He said to him, “So are your seed.”
KeÅorlaÈomer and the sovereigns who 6 And he believed in HWHY, and He
were with him, the sovereign of SeÅom reckoned it to him for righteousness. j
came out to meet him at the Valley of 7 And He said to him, “I am HWHY, who
ShawÃh, that is, the Sovereign’s Valley. brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to
18 And MalkitseÅeq sovereign of ShalÃm give you this land to inherit it.”
brought out bread and wine. Now he was 8 And he said, “Master HWHY, whereby do
the priest of the Most High Âl. I know that I possess it?”
19 And he blessed him and said, “Blessed 9 And He said to him, “Bring Me a three-
be AÄram of the Most High Âl, Possessor year-old heifer, and a three-year-old
of the heavens and earth. female goat, and a three-year-old ram, and
20 “And blessed be the Most High Âl who a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
has delivered your enemies into your 10 And he took all these to Him and cut
hand.” And he gave him a tenth of all. them in the middle, and placed each half
21 And the sovereign of SeÅom said to opposite the other, but he did not cut the
AÄram, “Give me the people, and take the birds.
j This is how AÄram’s (AÄraham’s) walk with Elohim began, followed by what we read in 17:1. Then we read in
26:5 how HWHY bears witness of AÄraham.
BERÂSHITH 15 14
11 And the birds of prey came down on 4 And he went in to HaÍar, and she con-
the carcasses, and AÄram drove them ceived. And when she saw that she had
away. conceived, her mistress was despised in
12 And it came to be, when the sun was
her eyes.
going down, and a deep sleep fell upon 5 And Sarai said to AÄram, “My wrong
AÄram, that see, a frightening great dark- be upon you! I gave my female servant
ness fell upon him. into your bosom. And when she saw that
13 And He said to AÄram, “Know for cer-
she had conceived, I was despised in her
tain that your seed are to be sojourners in a eyes. Let HWHY judge between you and
land that is not theirs, and shall serve them, me.”
and they shall afflict them four hundred 6 And AÄram said to Sarai, “See, your
years. female servant is in your hand, do to her
14 “But the nation whom they serve I am
what is good in your eyes.” And Sarai
going to judge, and afterward let them
come out with great possessions. treated her harshly, and she fled from her
15 “Now as for you, you are to go to your presence.
7 And the Messenger of HWHY found her
fathers in peace, you are to be buried at a
good old age. by a spring of water in the wilderness, by
16 “Then, in the fourth generation they the spring on the way to Shur,
8 and He said, “HaÍar, Sarai’s female
shall return here, for the crookedness of
the Amorites is not yet complete.” servant, where have you come from, and
17 And it came to be, when the sun went where are you going?” And she said, “I am
down and it was dark, that see, a smoking fleeing from the presence of Sarai, my
oven and a burning torch passing between mistress.”
those pieces. 9 And the Messenger of HWHY said to her,
18 On the same day HWHY made a covenant “Return to your mistress, and humble
with AÄram, saying, “I have given this yourself under her hand.”
land to your seed, from the river of 10 And the Messenger of HWHY said to her,
Mitsrayim to the great river, the River “I am going to increase your seed greatly,
Euphrates, too numerous to be counted.”
19 with the QÃynite, and the Qenizzite, 11 And the Messenger of HWHY said to her,
and the QaÅmonite, “See, you are conceiving and bearing a
20 and the Àittite, and the Perizzite, and
son, and shall call his name YishmaÈÃl,
the Repha’im, because HWHY has heard your affliction.
21 and the Amorite, and the KenaÈanite,
12 “And he is to be a wild man, his hand
and the Girgashite, and the YeÄusite.” against every one and every one’s hand
against him, and dwell over against all his
16 And Sarai, AÄram’s wife, had
borne him no child. And she had a
brothers.”
13 And she called the Name of HWHY who
Mitsrite female servant whose name was
HaÍar. spoke to her, “You are the Âl who sees,”
2 And Sarai said to AÄram, “See, HWHY for she said, “Even here have I seen after
has kept me from bearing children. Please, Him who sees me?”
14 That is why the well was called Be’Ãr
go in to my female servant. It might be that
I am built up by her.” And AÄram listened LaÁai Ro’i, see, it is between QaÅÃsh and
to the voice of Sarai. BereÅ.
3 And Sarai, AÄram’s wife, took HaÍar 15 And HaÍar bore AÄram a son, and
her female servant, the Mitsrite, and gave AÄram called the name of his son, whom
her to her husband AÄram to be his wife, HaÍar bore, YishmaÈÃl.
after AÄram had dwelt ten years in the land 16 And AÄram was eighty-six years old
sovereigns shall come from you. is truly bearing a son to you, and you shall
7 “And I shall establish My covenant call his name YitsÁaq. And I shall establish
between Me and you and your seed after My covenant with him for an everlasting
you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
covenant, to be Elohim to you and your 20 “And as for YishmaÈÃl, I have heard
seed after you. you. See, I shall bless him, and shall make
8 “And I shall give to you and your seed him bear fruit, and greatly increase him.
after you the land of your sojournings, He is to bring forth twelve princes, and I
all the land of KenaÈan, as an everlasting shall make him a great nation.
possession. And I shall be their Elohim.” 21 “But My covenant I establish with
9 And Elohim said to AÄraham, “As for YitsÁaq, whom Sarah is to bear to you at
you, guard My covenant, you and your this set time next year.”
seed after you throughout their genera- 22 And when He had ended speaking with
between Me and you, and your seed after and all those born in his house and all
you: Every male child among you is to be those bought with his silver, every male
circumcised. among the men of AÄraham’s house, and
11 “And you shall circumcise the flesh of circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that
your foreskin, and it shall become a sign of same day, as Elohim told him.
the covenant between Me and you. 24 And AÄraham was ninety-nine years
12 “And a son of eight days is circumcised old when he was circumcised in the flesh
by you, every male child in your genera- of his foreskin.
tions, he who is born in your house or 25 And YishmaÈÃl his son was thirteen
bought with silver from any foreigner who years old when he was circumcised in the
is not of your seed. flesh of his foreskin.
13 “He who is born in your house, and he 26 AÄraham and his son YishmaÈÃl were
who is bought with your silver, has to be circumcised that same day.
circumcised. So shall My covenant be in 27 And all the men of his house, born in
your flesh, for an everlasting covenant. the house or bought with silver from a for-
14 “And an uncircumcised male child, eigner, were circumcised with him.
them, and he stood by them under the tree “Would You also destroy the righteous
as they ate. with the wrong?
9 And they said to him, “Where is Sarah 24 “Suppose there are fifty righteous with-
your wife?” And he said, “See, in the tent.” in the city, would You also destroy the
10 And He said, “I shall certainly return to place and not spare it for the fifty righteous
you according to the time of life, and see, that were in it?
Sarah your wife is to have a son!” And 25 “Far be it from You to act in this way,
Sarah was listening in the tent door which to slay the righteous with the wrong, so
was behind him. that the righteous should be as the wrong.
11 Now AÄraham and Sarah were old, Far be it from You! Does the Judge of all
well advanced in age, and Sarah was past the earth not do right?”
the way of women. 26 And HWHY said, “If I find in SeÅom fifty
12 And Sarah laughed within herself, say- righteous within the city, then I shall spare
ing, “After I have grown old, shall I have all the place for their sakes.”
pleasure, my master being old too?” 27 And AÄraham answered and said,
13 And HWHY said to AÄraham, “Why did “Look, please, I who am but dust and ashes
Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I truly have a have taken it upon myself to speak to HWHY,
child, since I am old?’ 28 “Suppose there are five less than the
14 “Is any matter too hard for HWHY? At the fifty righteous, would You destroy all of
appointed time I am going to return to you, the city for lack of five?” And He said, “If
according to the time of life, and Sarah is I find there forty-five, I do not destroy it.”
to have a son.” 29 And he spoke to Him yet again and
15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not said, “Suppose there are found forty?” And
17 BERÂSHITH 19
He said, “I would not do it for the sake of because they have come under the shadow
forty.” of my roof.”
30 And he said, “Let not HWHY be dis- 9 But they said, “Stand back!” And they
pleased, and let me speak: Suppose there said, “This one came in to sojourn, and
are found thirty?” And He said, “I would should he always judge? Now we are
not do it if I find thirty there.” going to treat you worse than them.” So
31 And he said, “Look, please, I have they pressed hard against the man Lot, and
taken it upon myself to speak to HWHY: came near to break down the door.
Suppose there are found twenty?” And He 10 But the men reached out their hands
said, “I would not destroy it for the sake of and pulled Lot into the house with them,
twenty.” and shut the door.
32 And he said, “Let not HWHY be dis- 11 Then they struck the men who were at
pleased, and let me speak only this time: the doorway of the house with blindness,
Suppose there are found ten?” And He said, both small and great, and they wearied
“I would not destroy it for the sake of ten.” themselves to find the door.
33 Then HWHY went away as soon as He 12 And the men said to Lot, “Have you
had ended speaking to AÄraham. And anyone else here? A son-in-law, and your
AÄraham returned to his place. sons, and your daughters, and whomever
you have in the city – bring them out of
19 And the two messengers came to
SeÅom in the evening, and Lot was
this place!
13 “For we are going to destroy this place,
sitting in the gate of SeÅom. And when Lot because the cry against them has grown
saw them, he rose up to meet them, and he great before the face of HWHY, and HWHY has
bowed himself with his face toward the sent us to destroy it.”
ground, 14 And Lot went out and spoke to his
2 and he said, “Look, please my masters, sons-in-law, who had married his daugh-
please turn in to your servant’s house and ters, and said, “Get up, get out of this
spend the night, and wash your feet, and place, for HWHY is going to destroy this
rise early and go your way.” And they said, city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to
“No, but let us spend the night in the open be as one joking.
square.” 15 And when morning dawned, the mes-
3 But he urged them strongly, and they sengers urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Get
turned in to him and came into his house. up, take your wife and your two daughters
And he made them a feast, and baked who are here, lest you be consumed in the
unleavened bread, and they ate. punishment of the city.”
4 Before they lay down, the men of the 16 And while he loitered, the men took
city, the men of SeÅom, both old and hold of his hand, and his wife’s hand, and
young, all the people from every part, the hands of his two daughters, HWHY hav-
surrounded the house. ing compassion on him, and they brought
5 And they called to Lot and said to him, him out and set him outside the city.
“Where are the men who came to you 17 And it came to be, when they had
tonight? Bring them out to us, and let us brought them outside, that he said, “Escape
‘know’ them.” for your life! Do not look behind you nor
6 So Lot went out to them through the stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the
doorway, and shut the door behind him, mountains, lest you be consumed.”
7 and said, “Please, my brothers, do not 18 And Lot said to them, “Oh no, HWHY!
calamity overtake me and I die. of it when she lay down or when she arose.
20 “Look, please, this city is near enough 34 And it came to be on the next day that
to flee to, and it is small. Please let me the first-born said to the younger, “See, I
escape there – is it not a small matter – and lay with my father last night. Let us make
let my life be saved?” him drink wine tonight as well, and you go
21 And He said to him, “Look, I have in and lie with him, so that we keep the
favoured you concerning this matter also, seed of our father.”
without overthrowing this city for which 35 So they made their father drink wine
you have spoken. that night as well. And the younger arose
22 “Hurry, escape there. For I am not able and lay with him, and he was not aware of
to do any deed until you arrive there.” it when she lay down or when she arose.
So the name of the city was called TsoÈar. 36 Thus both the daughters of Lot became
23 The sun had risen upon the earth when pregnant by their father.
Lot entered TsoÈar. 37 And the first-born bore a son and called
24 And HWHY rained sulphur and fire on his name Mo’aÄ, he is the father of the
SeÅom and Amorah, from HWHY out of the Mo’aÄites to this day.
heavens. 38 And the younger, she also bore a son
25 So He overthrew those cities, and all and called his name Ben-Ammi, he is the
the plain, and all the inhabitants of the father of the children of Ammon to this
cities, and what grew on the ground. day.
26 But his wife looked back from behind
Amorah, and toward all the land of the his wife, “She is my sister.” And AÄimele¿
plain. And he looked and saw the smoke of sovereign of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
the land which went up like the smoke of a 3 But Elohim came to AÄimele¿ in a
when He overthrew the cities in which Lot her, and he said, “HWHY, would You slay a
had dwelt. righteous nation also?
30 And Lot went up out of TsoÈar and 5 “Did he not say to me, ‘She is my
dwelt in the mountains, and his two daugh- sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He
ters were with him, for he was afraid to is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart
dwell in TsoÈar. And he and his two daugh- and in the innocence of my hands I have
ters dwelt in a cave. done this.”
31 And the first-born said to the younger, 6 And Elohim said to him in a dream,
“Our father is old, and there is no man on “Yea, I know that you did this in the
the earth to come in to us, as is the way of integrity of your heart, and so I kept you
all the earth. from sinning against Me. For this reason I
32 “Come, let us make our father drink did not let you touch her.
wine and lie with him, so that we preserve 7 “And now, return the man’s wife, for he
the seed of our father.” is a prophet, and let him pray for you and
33 So they made their father drink wine you live. But if you do not return her,
that night. And the first-born went in and know that you shall certainly die, you and
lay with her father, and he was not aware all that are yours.”
19 BERÂSHITH 21
8 So AÄimele¿ rose early in the morning, a son in his old age, at the appointed time
and called all his servants, and spoke all of which Elohim had spoken to him.
these words in their hearing. And the men 3 And AÄraham called the name of his
were greatly frightened. son who was born to him, whom Sarah
9 And AÄimele¿ called AÄraham and bore to him, YitsÁaq.
said to him, “What have you done to us? In 4 And AÄraham circumcised his son
what have I sinned against you, that you YitsÁaq when he was eight days old, as
have brought on me and on my reign a Elohim had commanded him.
great sin? You have done matters to me 5 And AÄraham was one hundred years
that should not be done.” old when his son YitsÁaq was born to him.
10 And AÄimele¿ said to AÄraham, “What 6 And Sarah said, “Elohim has made me
did you have in view, that you have done laugh, and everyone who hears of it laughs
this matter?” with me.”
11 And AÄraham said, “Only because I 7 And she said, “Who would have said to
said to myself, the fear of Elohim is not in AÄraham that Sarah would nurse children?
this place, and they shall kill me for the For I have borne him a son in his old age.”
sake of my wife. 8 And the child grew and was weaned,
12 “And yet, she is truly my sister. She is and AÄraham made a great feast on the day
the daughter of my father, but not the that YitsÁaq was weaned.
daughter of my mother, and she became 9 And Sarah saw the son of HaÍar the
house, that I said to her, ‘This is your kind- female servant and her son, for the son of
ness that you should do for me: in every this female servant shall not inherit with
place, wherever we go, say of me, “He is my son, with YitsÁaq.”
my brother.” ’ ” 11 And the matter was very evil in the
14 Then AÄimele¿ took sheep, and cattle, eyes of AÄraham because of his son.
and male and female servants, and gave 12 But Elohim said to AÄraham, “Let it
them to AÄraham. And he returned Sarah not be evil in your eyes because of the boy
his wife to him. and because of your female servant.
15 And AÄimele¿ said, “See, my land is Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to
before you, dwell wherever it is good in her voice, for in YitsÁaq your seed is
your eyes.” called.
16 And to Sarah he said, “See, I have 13 “And of the son of the female servant I
given your brother a thousand pieces of also make a nation, because he is your
silver. See, it is to you a covering of eyes seed.”
before all who are with you and before 14 And AÄraham rose early in the morn-
all others, and you are cleared before ing, and took bread and a skin of water,
everyone.” which he gave to HaÍar, putting it on her
17 And AÄraham prayed to Elohim, and shoulder, also the boy, and sent her away.
Elohim healed AÄimele¿, and his wife, and And she left and wandered in the
his female servants, so they bore children, Wilderness of Be’ÃrsheÄa.
18 for HWHY had closed up all the wombs of 15 And the water in the skin was used up,
the house of AÄimele¿ because of Sarah, and she placed the boy under one of the
AÄraham’s wife. shrubs.
16 And she went and sat down about a
17 And Elohim heard the voice of the boy, Pi¿ol, the commander of his army, and
and the messenger of Elohim called to they returned to the land of the Philistines.
HaÍar from the heavens, and said to her, 33 And he planted a tamarisk tree in
“What is the matter with you, HaÍar? Do Be’ÃrsheÄa, and there called on the Name
not fear, for Elohim has heard the voice of of HWHY, the Everlasting Âl.
the boy where he is. 34 And AÄraham sojourned in the land of
18 “Arise, lift up the boy and hold him the Philistines many days.
with your hand, for I make a great nation
of him.”
19 And Elohim opened her eyes, and she 22 And it came to be after these
events that Elohim tried AÄraham,
saw a well of water. And she went and and said to him, “AÄraham!” And he said,
filled the skin with water, and gave the boy “Here I am.”
a drink. 2 And He said, “Take your son, now,
20 And Elohim was with the boy, and he your only son YitsÁaq, whom you love,
grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and and go to the land of Moriyah, and offer
became an archer. him there as a burnt offering on one of the
21 And he dwelt in the Wilderness of mountains which I command you.”
Paran, and his mother took a wife for him 3 And AÄraham rose early in the morning
from the land of Mitsrayim. and saddled his donkey, and took two of
22 And it came to be at that time that his young men with him, and YitsÁaq his
AÄimele¿ and Pi¿ol, the commander of his son. And he split the wood for the burnt
army, spoke to AÄraham, saying, “Elohim offering, and arose and went to the place
is with you in all that you do. which Elohim had commanded him.
23 “And now, swear to me by Elohim, not 4 And on the third day AÄraham lifted his
to be untrue to me, to my offspring, or to eyes and saw the place from a distance.
my descendants. Do to me according to the 5 So AÄraham said to his young men,
kindness that I have done to you and to the “Stay here with the donkey while the boy
land in which you have dwelt.” and I go over there and worship, and come
24 And AÄraham said, “I swear.” back to you.”
25 And AÄraham reproved AÄimele¿ 6 And AÄraham took the wood of the
because of a well of water which AÄi- burnt offering and laid it on YitsÁaq his
mele¿’s servants had seized. son. And he took the fire in his hand, and a
26 And AÄimele¿ said, “I do not know knife, and the two of them went together.
who has done this deed. Neither did you 7 And YitsÁaq spoke to AÄraham his
inform me, nor did I hear until today.” father and said, “My father!” And he said,
27 So AÄraham took sheep and cattle and “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “See,
gave them to AÄimele¿, and the two of the fire and the wood! But where is the
them made a covenant. lamb for a burnt offering?”
28 And AÄraham set seven ewe lambs of 8 And AÄraham said, “My son, Elohim
the flock by themselves. does provide for Himself the lamb for a
29 And AÄimele¿ asked AÄraham, “What burnt offering.” And the two of them went
are these seven ewe lambs which you have together.
set by themselves?” 9 And they came to the place which
30 And he said, “Take these seven ewe Elohim had commanded him, and AÄra-
lambs from my hand, to be my witness that ham built an altar there and placed the
I have dug this well.” wood in order. And he bound YitsÁaq his
31 So he called that place Be’ÃrsheÄa, son and laid him on the altar, upon the
because the two of them swore an oath wood.
there. 10 And AÄraham stretched out his hand
32 Thus they made a covenant at and took the knife to slay his son,
Be’ÃrsheÄa. And AÄimele¿ rose with 11 but the Messenger of HWHY called to
21 BERÂSHITH 23
him from the heavens and said, “AÄraham, 2 And Sarah died in Qiryath Arba, that is
AÄraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” ÀeÄron, in the land of KenaÈan, and
12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on AÄraham came to mourn for Sarah and to
the boy, nor touch him. For now I know weep for her.
that you fear Elohim, seeing you have not 3 Then AÄraham rose up from beside his
withheld your son, your only son, from dead, and spoke to the sons of ÀÃth,
Me.” saying,
13 And AÄraham lifted his eyes and 4 “I am a foreigner and a sojourner
looked and saw behind him a ram caught among you. Give me property for a burial
in a bush by its horns, and AÄraham went site among you, so that I bury my dead
and took the ram and offered it up for a from my presence.”
burnt offering instead of his son. 5 And the sons of ÀÃth answered
14 And AÄraham called the name of the AÄraham, saying to him,
place, ‘HWHY Yireh,’ as it is said to this day, 6 “Hear us, my master: You are a prince
“On the mountain HWHY provides.” of Elohim among us. Bury your dead in the
15 And the Messenger of HWHY called to choicest of our burial places. None of us
AÄraham a second time from the heavens, withholds from you his burial site, from
16 and said, “By Myself I have sworn, burying your dead.”
declares HWHY, because you have done this, 7 So AÄraham rose and bowed himself to
and have not withheld your son, your only the people of the land, the sons of ÀÃth.
son, 8 And he spoke with them, saying, “If it
17 that I shall certainly bless you, and I is your desire that I bury my dead from my
shall certainly increase your seed as the presence, hear me, and approach Ephron
stars of the heavens and as the sand which son of TsoÁar for me,
is on the seashore, and let your seed pos- 9 and let me have the cave of Ma¿pÃlah
sess the gate of their enemies. which he has, which is at the end of his
18 “And in your seed all the nations of the field. Let him give it to me for the com-
earth shall be blessed, because you have plete amount of silver, as property for a
obeyed My voice.” burial site among you.”
19 Then AÄraham returned to his young 10 And Ephron dwelt among the sons of
men, and they rose up and went together ÀÃth. And Ephron the Àittite answered
to Be’ÃrsheÄa. And AÄraham dwelt at AÄraham in the hearing of the sons of
Be’ÃrsheÄa. ÀÃth, all who entered at the gate of his city,
20 And it came to be after these events that saying,
it was reported to AÄraham, saying, “See, 11 “No, my master, listen to me! I shall
Milkah too has borne children to your give you the field and the cave that is in it.
brother NaÁor: I shall give it to you in the presence of the
21 “Uts his first-born, and Buz his brother, sons of my people. I shall give it to you.
and Qemu’Ãl the father of Aram, Bury your dead!”
22 and KeseÅ, and Àazo, and Pildash, and 12 And AÄraham bowed himself down
These eight Milkah bore to NaÁor, of the people of the land, saying, “If only
AÄraham’s brother. you would hear me. I shall give the amount
24 And his concubine, whose name was of silver for the field, take it from me, and
Re’uwmah, also bore TeÄaÁ, and GaÁam, let me bury my dead there.”
and TaÁash, and MaÈa¿ah. 14 And Ephron answered AÄraham, say-
ing to him,
23 And Sarah lived one hundred and
twenty-seven years, the years of
15 “My master, listen to me! The land is
Ephron which he had named in the hearing thigh of AÄraham his master, and swore to
of the sons of ÀÃth, four hundred sheqels him concerning this matter.
of silver, currency of the merchants. 10 And the servant took ten of his master’s
17 Thus the field of Ephron which was in camels and left, for all his master’s good
Ma¿pÃlah, which was before MamrÃ, the gifts were in his hand. And he arose and
field and the cave which was in it, and all went to Aram Naharayim, to the city of
the trees that were in the field, which were NaÁor.
within all the surrounding borders, were 11 And he made his camels kneel down
the woman refuses to follow me to this said, “Please let me drink a little water
land? Do I then take your son back to the from your jar.”
land from which you came?” 18 And she said, “Drink, my master.” And
6 And AÄraham said to him, “Beware she hurried and let her jar down to her
lest you take my son back there! hand, and gave him a drink.
7 “HWHY, Elohim of the heavens, who 19 And when she had finished giving him
took me from my father’s house and from a drink, she said, “Let me draw water for
the land of my relatives, and who spoke to your camels too, until they have finished
me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your seed drinking.”
I give this land,’ He sends His messenger 20 And she hurried and emptied her jar
before you, and you shall take a wife for into the trough, ran back to the fountain to
my son from there. draw water, and drew for all his camels.
8 “And if the woman refuses to follow 21 And watching her, the man remained
23 BERÂSHITH 24
silent in order to know whether HWHY had He has given him flocks and herds, and
prospered his way or not. silver and gold, and male and female
22 And it came to be, when the camels had servants, and camels and donkeys.
36 “And Sarah my master’s wife bore a
finished drinking, that the man took a
golden nose ring weighing half a sheqel, son to my master when she was old. And
and two bracelets for her wrists weighing he has given to him all that he has.
37 “And my master made me swear, say-
ten sheqels of gold,
23 and said, “Whose daughter are you? ing, ‘Do not take a wife for my son from
Please inform me, is there room in your the daughters of the KenaÈanites, in whose
father’s house for us to spend the night?” land I dwell,
24 And she said to him, “I am the daughter 38 but go to my father’s house and to my
of Bethu’Ãl, Milkah’s son, whom she bore relatives, and take a wife for my son.’
39 “And I said to my master, ‘What if the
to NaÁor.”
25 And she said to him, “We have both woman does not follow me?’
40 “But he said to me, ‘HWHY, before whom
straw and fodder enough, and room to
spend the night.” I walk, sends His messenger with you and
26 And the man bowed down his head and shall prosper your way. And you shall take
worshipped HWHY. a wife for my son from my relatives and
27 And he said, “Blessed be HWHY Elohim from my father’s house.
41 ‘Then, when you go to my relatives,
of my master AÄraham, who has not for-
saken His kindness and His truth toward you are to be released from this oath. And
my master. As for me, being on the way, if they do not give her to you, then you are
HWHY led me to the house of my master’s released from my oath.’
42 “And this day I came to the fountain
brothers.”
28 Then the young woman ran and and said, ‘HWHY, Elohim of my master
informed those of her mother’s house these AÄraham, please, if You are prospering the
matters. way in which I am going,
29 And RiÄqah had a brother whose name 43 see, I am standing by the fountain of
was LaÄan, and LaÄan ran out to the man, water, and when the maiden comes out to
to the fountain. draw water, and I say to her, “Please give
30 And it came to be, when he saw the me a little water from your jar to drink,”
nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s 44 and she says to me, “Drink, and let me
wrists, and when he heard the words of his draw for your camels too,” let her be the
sister RiÄqah, saying, “Thus the man spoke woman whom HWHY has appointed for my
to me,” that he went to the man and saw master’s son.’
him standing by the camels at the fountain. 45 “I had not yet ended speaking in my
31 And he said, “Come in, O blessed of heart, then see, RiÄqah was coming out
HWHY! Why do you stand outside? I myself with her jar on her shoulder. And she went
have prepared the house, and a place for down to the fountain and drew water. And
the camels.” I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’
32 So the man came into the house, while 46 “And she hurried and let her jar down
he unloaded the camels and provided straw from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and let
and fodder for the camels and water to me water your camels too.’ So I drank, and
wash his feet and the feet of the men who she watered the camels too.
were with him, 47 “And I asked her, and said, ‘Whose
33 and set food before him to eat. But he daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The
said, “Let me not eat until I have spoken daughter of Bethu’Ãl, NaÁor’s son, whom
my word.” And he said, “Speak on.” Milkah bore to him.’ Then I put the nose
34 And he said, “I am AÄraham’s servant. ring on her nose and the bracelets on her
35 “And HWHY has blessed my master wrists.
exceedingly, and he has become great. And 48 “And I bowed my head and worshipped
BERÂSHITH 24 24
HWHY, and blessed HWHY, Elohim of my Be’Ãr LaÁai Ro’i, for he dwelt in the
master AÄraham, who had led me in South.
63 And YitsÁaq went out to meditate in the
the true way to take the daughter of my
master’s brother for his son. field in the evening. And he lifted his eyes
49 “And now, if you are going to show and looked and saw the camels coming.
64 And RiÄqah lifted her eyes, and when
kindness and truth to my master, let me
know, and if not, let me know, so that I turn she saw YitsÁaq she dismounted from her
to the right or to the left.” camel,
50 And LaÄan answered – Bethu’Ãl too – 65 and she had said to the servant, “Who is
and said, “The matter comes from HWHY, this man walking in the field to meet us?”
we are not able to speak to you either evil And the servant said, “It is my master.”
or good. So she took a veil and covered herself.
51 “See, RiÄqah is before you. Take her 66 And the servant told YitsÁaq all the
and go, and let her be your master’s son’s matters he had done.
67 And YitsÁaq brought her into his
wife, as HWHY has spoken.”
52 And it came to be, when AÄraham’s mother Sarah’s tent. And he took RiÄqah
servant heard their words, that he bowed and she became his wife, and he loved her.
himself towards the earth before HWHY. Thus YitsÁaq was comforted after his
53 And the servant brought out ornaments mother’s death.
of silver, and ornaments of gold, and gar-
ments, and gave them to RiÄqah. He also
gave costly gifts to her brother and to her 25 And AÄraham took another wife,
whose name was Qeturah.
2 And she bore him Zimran, and Yoq-
mother.
54 And he and the men who were with him shan, and MeÅan, and MiÅyan, and
ate and drank and spent the night. When Yishbaq, and ShuwaÁ.
3 And Yoqshan brought forth SheÄa and
they arose in the morning he said, “Let me
go to my master.” DeÅan. And the sons of DeÅan were
55 But her brother and her mother said, Asshurim, and Letushim, and Le’ummim.
4 And the sons of MiÅyan were Âphah,
“Let the young woman stay with us a few
days, at least ten, then you go.” and Âpher, and Àano¿, and AÄiÅa, and
56 And he said to them, “Do not delay me, EldaÈah. All these were the children of
since HWHY has prospered my way. Let me Qeturah.
go so that I go to my master.” 5 Now AÄraham gave all that he had to
57 And they said, “Let us call the young YitsÁaq,
woman and ask her.” 6 but to the sons of the concubines whom
58 So they called RiÄqah and said to her, AÄraham had, AÄraham gave gifts while
“Are you going with this man?” And she he was still living, and sent them away
said, “I shall go.” from his son YitsÁaq, eastward, to the land
59 So they let go RiÄqah their sister and of the east.
her nurse, and AÄraham’s servant and his 7 And these are all the years of
thousands of ten thousands, and let your died in a good old age, aged and satisfied,
seed possess the gates of those who hate and was gathered to his people.
them.” 9 And his sons YitsÁaq and YishmaÈÃl
61 And RiÄqah and her young women buried him in the cave of Ma¿pÃlah, which
arose, and they rode on the camels and is before MamrÃ, in the field of Ephron son
followed the man. So the servant took of TsoÁar the Àittite,
RiÄqah and left. 10 the field which AÄraham purchased
62 And YitsÁaq came from the way of from the sons of ÀÃth. There AÄraham was
25 BERÂSHITH 26
buried with Sarah his wife. a hairy garment, so they called his name
11 And it came to be, after the death of Âsaw.
AÄraham, that Elohim blessed his son 26 And afterward his brother came out,
YitsÁaq. And YitsÁaq dwelt at Be’Ãr LaÁai with his hand holding on to Âsaw’s heel,
Ro’i. so his name was called YaÈaqoÄ. And
12 And this is the genealogy of YishmaÈÃl, YitsÁaq was sixty years old when she bore
AÄraham’s son, whom HaÍar the Mitsrite, them.
Sarah’s female servant, bore to AÄraham. 27 And the boys grew up. And Âsaw
13 And these were the names of the sons became a man knowing how to hunt,
of YishmaÈÃl, by their names, according to a man of the field, while YaÈaqoÄ was a
their generations: The first-born of complete man, dwelling in tents.
YishmaÈÃl, NeÄayoth; then QÃÅar, and 28 And YitsÁaq loved Âsaw because he ate
these were their names, by their towns and me with that same red stew, for I am
their settlements, twelve chiefs according weary.” That is why his name was called
to their tribes. EÅom.
17 And these were the years of the life of 31 But YaÈaqoÄ said, “Sell me your birth-
and was gathered to his people. die, so why should I have birthright?”
18 And they dwelt from Àawilah as far as 33 Then YaÈaqoÄ said, “Swear to me
Shur, which is east of Mitsrayim as you go today.” And he swore to him, and sold his
toward Ashshur. He settled before all his birthright to YaÈaqoÄ.
brothers. 34 YaÈaqoÄ then gave Âsaw bread and
19 And this is the genealogy of YitsÁaq, stew of lentils. And he ate and drank, and
AÄraham’s son. AÄraham brought forth rose up and left. Thus Âsaw despised his
YitsÁaq. birthright.
20 And YitsÁaq was forty years old when
am I this way?” So she went to ask HWHY. with you and bless you, for I give all these
23 And HWHY said to her, “Two nations are lands to you and your seed. And I shall
in your womb, and two peoples shall be establish the oath which I swore to
separated from your body. And one people AÄraham your father.
shall be stronger than the other, and the 4 “And I shall increase your seed like the
older serve the younger.” stars of the heavens, and I shall give all
24 And when the days were filled for her these lands to your seed. And in your seed
to give birth, and see, twins were in her all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,
womb! 5 because AÄraham obeyed My voice
25 And the first came out red all over, like and guarded My Charge: My commands,
BERÂSHITH 26 26
For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” YitsÁaq’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is
thinking, “lest the men of the place should ours.” And he called the name of the well
kill me for RiÄqah, because she is good- Âseq, because they strove with him.
looking.” 21 And they dug another well, and they
8 And it came to be, when he had been strove over that one too, and he called its
there a long time, that AÄimele¿ sovereign name Sitnah.
of the Philistines looked through a win- 22 And he moved from there and dug
dow, and he watched and saw YitsÁaq another well, and they did not strive over
playing with RiÄqah his wife. it. And he called its name ReÁoÄoth, and
9 So AÄimele¿ called YitsÁaq and said, said, “For now HWHY has made room for us,
“See, truly she is your wife! So how could and we shall bear fruit in the land.”
you say, ‘She is my sister’?” And YitsÁaq 23 And from there he went up to
ple, saying, “He who touches this man or on the Name of HWHY, and he pitched his
his wife shall certainly be put to death.” tent there, and the servants of YitsÁaq dug
12 And YitsÁaq sowed in that land, and a well there.
reaped in the same year a hundredfold, and 26 And AÄimele¿ came to him from
his tent in the wadi Gerar, and dwelt there. and drank.
18 And YitsÁaq dug again the wells of 31 And they rose early in the morning and
water which they had dug in the days of swore an oath with one another. And
AÄraham his father, for the Philistines had YitsÁaq let them go, and they departed
stopped them up after the death of from him in peace.
AÄraham. And he called them by the 32 And on the same day it came to be that
names which his father had called them. the servants of YitsÁaq came and informed
1 Torot - plural of Torah, teaching
27 BERÂSHITH 27
him about the well which they had dug, voice, and go, get them for me.”
and said to him, “We have found water.” 14 And he went and fetched them and
33 So he called it ShiÄah. Therefore the brought them to his mother, and his mother
name of the city is Be’ÃrsheÄa to this day. made a tasty dish, such as his father loved.
34 And when Âsaw was forty years old, he 15 And RiÄqah took the best garments of
took as wives YehuÅith the daughter of her elder son Âsaw, which were with her in
Be’Ãri the Àittite, and Basemath the the house, and put them on YaÈaqoÄ her
daughter of Âlon the Àittite. younger son.
35 And they were a bitterness of spirit to 16 And she put the skins of the young
YitsÁaq and RiÄqah. goats on his hands and on the smooth part
of his neck.
27 And it came to be, when YitsÁaq
was old and his eyes were too dim
17 Then she gave the tasty dish and the
answered him, “Here I am.” father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are
2 And he said, “See now, I am old, I do you, my son?”
not know the day of my death. 19 And YaÈaqoÄ said to his father, “I am
3 “Now then, please take your weapons, Âsaw your first-born, I have done as you
your quiver and your bow, and go out to said to me. Please rise, sit and eat of my
the field and hunt wild game for me. wild game, so that your being might bless
4 “And make me a tasty dish, such as I me.”
love, and bring it to me to eat, in order that 20 But YitsÁaq said to his son, “How is it
my being does bless you before I die.” that you have found it so quickly, my
5 And RiÄqah heard when YitsÁaq spoke son?” And he said, “Because HWHY your
to Âsaw his son. And Âsaw went to the Elohim brought it to me.”
field to hunt wild game and to bring it. 21 Then YitsÁaq said to YaÈaqoÄ, “Please
6 And RiÄqah spoke to YaÈaqoÄ her son, come near, so that I feel you, my son,
saying, “See, I heard your father speak to whether you truly are my son Âsaw or
Âsaw your brother, saying, not.”
7 ‘Bring me wild game and make me 22 And YaÈaqoÄ went near to YitsÁaq his
a tasty dish to eat, and bless you in the father, and he felt him and said, “The voice
presence of HWHY before my death.’ is the voice of YaÈaqoÄ, but the hands are
8 “And now my son, listen to my voice the hands of Âsaw.”
according to what I command you. 23 And he did not recognise him, for his
9 “Please go to the flock and bring me hands were hairy like his brother Âsaw’s
two choice young goats, and I make a tasty hands, and he blessed him.
dish from them for your father, such as he 24 And he said, “Are you truly my son
and he shall eat it, so that he might bless let me eat of my son’s wild game, so that
you before his death.” my being might bless you.” So he brought
11 And YaÈaqoÄ said to RiÄqah his mother, it near to him, and he ate. And he brought
“See, Âsaw my brother is a hairy man, and him wine, and he drank.
I am a smooth-skinned man. 26 And his father YitsÁaq said to him,
12 “What if my father touches me? Then I “Please come near and kiss me, my son.”
shall be like a deceiver in his eyes, and 27 And he came near and kissed him. And
shall bring a curse on myself and not a he smelled the smell of his garments, and
blessing.” blessed him and said, “See, the smell of
13 But his mother said to him, “Let your my son is like the smell of a field which
curse be on me, my son. Only obey my HWHY has blessed.
BERÂSHITH 27 28
28 And Elohim give you of the dew of the heavens from above.
heavens, of the fatness of the earth, and 40 And by your sword you are to live, and
plenty of grain and wine. serve your brother. And it shall be, when
29 Let peoples serve you, and nations bow you grow restless, that you shall break his
down to you. Be master over your broth- yoke from your neck.”
ers, and let your mother’s sons bow down 41 And Âsaw hated YaÈaqoÄ because of
to you. Cursed be those cursing you, and the blessing with which his father blessed
blessed be those blessing you!” him, and Âsaw said in his heart, “The days
30 And it came to be, as soon as YitsÁaq of mourning for my father draw near, then
had finished blessing YaÈaqoÄ, and I am going to kill my brother YaÈaqoÄ.”
YaÈaqoÄ had hardly left the presence of 42 And the words of Âsaw her older son
YitsÁaq his father, that Âsaw his brother were reported to RiÄqah, and she sent and
came in from his hunting. called YaÈaqoÄ her younger son, and said
31 And he too had made a tasty dish and to him, “See, your brother Âsaw comforts
brought it to his father, and said to his himself concerning you, to kill you.
father, “Let my father rise and eat of his 43 “And now, my son, listen to my voice,
son’s wild game, so that your being might and rise, flee to my brother LaÄan in
bless me.” Àaran.
32 And his father YitsÁaq said to him, 44 “And stay with him a few days, until
“Who are you?” And he said, “I am your your brother’s wrath turns away,
son, your first-born, Âsaw.” 45 until your brother’s displeasure turns
33 Then YitsÁaq trembled exceedingly, away from you, and he forgets what you
and said, “Who was it then who hunted have done to him. And I shall send and
wild game and brought it to me? And I ate bring you from there. Why should I be
all of it before you came, and I have bereaved of you both in one day?”
blessed him. Yea, he is blessed.” 46 And RiÄqah said to YitsÁaq, “I am
34 When Âsaw heard the words of his disgusted with my life because of the
father, he cried with an exceedingly great daughters of ÀÃth. If YaÈaqoÄ takes a wife
and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless from the daughters of ÀÃth, like these who
me, me too, O my father!” are the daughters of the land, what is
35 And he said, “Your brother came with my life to me?”
deceit and took your blessing.”
36 And Âsaw said, “Was his name, then,
called YaÈaqoÄ? For he has caught me by 28 And YitsÁaq called YaÈaqoÄ and
blessed him, and commanded him,
the heel these two times. He took my and said to him, “Do not take a wife from
birthright, and see, now he has taken my the daughters of KenaÈan.
blessing!” And he said, “Have you not 2 “Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to the
grain and wine. And what, then, shall I do you bear fruit and increase you, and you
for you, my son?” shall become an assembly of peoples,
38 And Âsaw said to his father, “Have you 4 and give you the blessing of AÄraham,
only one blessing, my father? Bless me, to you and your seed with you, so that you
me too, O my father!” And Âsaw lifted up inherit the land of your sojournings, which
his voice and wept. Elohim gave to AÄraham.”
39 And YitsÁaq his father answered and 5 So YitsÁaq sent YaÈaqoÄ away, and he
said to him, “See, your dwelling is of the went to Paddan Aram, to LaÄan son of
fatness of the earth, and of the dew of the Bethu’Ãl the Aramean, the brother of
29 BERÂSHITH 29
RiÄqah, the mother of YaÈaqoÄ and Âsaw. head, set it up as a standing column, and
6 And Âsaw saw that YitsÁaq had blessed poured oil on top of it.
YaÈaqoÄ and sent him away to Paddan 19 And he called the name of that place
Aram to take himself a wife from there, BÃyth Âl, however, the name of that city
and that as he blessed him he gave him a had been Luz previously.
command, saying, “Do not take a wife 20 And YaÈaqoÄ made a vow, saying,
from the daughters of KenaÈan,” “Seeing Elohim is with me, and has kept
7 and that YaÈaqoÄ had obeyed his father me in this way that I am going, and has
and his mother and had gone to Paddan given me bread to eat and a garment to put
Aram. on –
8 So Âsaw saw that the daughters of 21 when I have returned to my father’s
KenaÈan did not please his father YitsÁaq, house in peace, and HWHY has been my
9 and Âsaw went to YishmaÈÃl and took Elohim,
MaÁalath the daughter of YishmaÈÃl, 22 then this stone which I have set as a
AÄraham’s son, the sister of NeÄayoth, to standing column shall be Elohim’s house,
be his wife, besides the wives he had. and of all that You give me, I shall certain-
10 And YaÈaqoÄ went out from Be’ÃrsheÄa ly give a tenth to You.”
and went toward Àaran.
11 And he came upon a place and stopped
over for the night, for the sun had set. And 29 And YaÈaqoÄ moved on and came
to the land of the people of the
he took one of the stones of that place and East.
put it at his head, and he lay down in that 2 And he looked and saw a well in the
south. And all the clans of the earth shall LaÄan son of NaÁor?” And they said, “We
be blessed in you and in your seed. know him.”
15 “And see, I am with you and shall 6 So he said to them, “Is he well?” And
guard you wherever you go, and shall they said, “Well. And see, his daughter
bring you back to this land. For I am not RaÁÃl is coming with the sheep.”
going to leave you until I have done what I 7 And he said, “See, it is still high day,
have spoken to you.” not the time for the livestock to be gath-
16 And YaÈaqoÄ awoke from his sleep and ered together. Water the sheep, and go and
said, “Truly, HWHY is in this place, and I did feed them.”
not know it.” 8 But they said, “We are not allowed until
17 And he was afraid and said, “How awe- all the flocks are gathered together, and
some is this place! This is none other than they have rolled the stone from the well’s
the house of Elohim, and this is the gate of mouth, then we shall water the sheep.”
the heavens!” 9 While he was still speaking with them,
18 And YaÈaqoÄ rose early in the morning, RaÁÃl came with her father’s sheep, for she
and took the stone that he had put at his was a shepherdess.
BERÂSHITH 29 30
10 And it came to be, when YaÈaqoÄ saw see, it was LÃ’ah. So he said to LaÄan,
RaÁÃl the daughter of LaÄan his mother’s “What is this you have done to me? Was it
brother, and the sheep of LaÄan his moth- not for RaÁÃl that I served you? Why then
er’s brother, that YaÈaqoÄ went near and have you deceived me?”
rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and 26 And LaÄan said, “It is not done this
watered the flock of LaÄan his mother’s way in our place, to give the younger
brother. before the first-born.
11 And YaÈaqoÄ kissed RaÁÃl, and lifted 27 “Complete the week of this one, then
up his voice and wept. we give you this one too, for the service
12 And when YaÈaqoÄ told RaÁÃl that he which you shall serve with me still another
was her father’s relative and that he was seven years.”
RiÄqah’s son, she ran and told her father. 28 And YaÈaqoÄ did so and completed her
13 And it came to be, when LaÄan heard week. Then he gave him his daughter
the report about YaÈaqoÄ his sister’s son, RaÁÃl too, as wife.
that he ran to meet him, and embraced 29 And LaÄan gave his female servant
him and kissed him, and brought him to Bilhah to his daughter RaÁÃl as a female
his house. Then he told LaÄan all these servant.
matters. 30 And he also went in to RaÁÃl, and he
14 And LaÄan said to him, “You are also loved RaÁÃl more than LÃ’ah. And he
indeed my bone and my flesh.” And he served with LaÄan still another seven
stayed with him for a month. years.
15 Then LaÄan said to YaÈaqoÄ, “Because 31 And HWHY saw that LÃ’ah was unloved,
you are my relative, should you therefore and He opened her womb, but RaÁÃl was
serve me for naught? Let me know, what barren.
should your wages be?” 32 And LÃ’ah conceived and bore a son,
16 And LaÄan had two daughters, the and she called his name Re’uÄÃn, for she
name of the elder was LÃ’ah, and the name said, “For HWHY has looked on my afflic-
of the younger was RaÁÃl. tion, because now my husband is going to
17 And LÃ’ah’s eyes were weak, but RaÁÃl love me.”
was lovely of form and appearance. 33 And she conceived again and bore a
18 And YaÈaqoÄ loved RaÁÃl, so he said, son, and said, “Because HWHY has heard
“Let me serve you seven years for RaÁÃl that I am unloved, He gave me this son
your younger daughter.” too.” And she called his name ShimÈon.
19 And LaÄan said, “It is better that I give 34 And she conceived again and bore a
her to you than that I should give her to son, and said, “Now this time my husband
another man. Stay with me.” is joined to me, because I have borne him
20 So YaÈaqoÄ served seven years for three sons.” So his name was called LÃwi.
RaÁÃl, and they seemed to him but a few 35 And she conceived again and bore a
days because of the love he had for her. son, and said, “Now I praise HWHY.” So she
21 Then YaÈaqoÄ said to LaÄan, “Give me called his name YehuÅah. And she ceased
my wife, for my days are completed, and bearing.
let me go in to her.”
22 And LaÄan gathered all the men of the
place and made a feast. 30 And when RaÁÃl saw that she bore
YaÈaqoÄ no children, RaÁÃl envied
23 And it came to be in the evening, that her sister, and said to YaÈaqoÄ, “Give me
he took LÃ’ah his daughter and brought her children, or else I am going to die!”
to YaÈaqoÄ. And he went in to her. 2 And YaÈaqoÄ’s displeasure burned
24 And LaÄan gave his female servant against RaÁÃl, and he said, “Am I in the
Zilpah to his daughter LÃ’ah as a female place of Elohim, who has withheld from
servant. you the fruit of the womb?”
25 And in the morning it came to be, that 3 And she said, “See, my female servant
31 BERÂSHITH 30
Bilhah; go in to her, and let her bear for servant to my husband.” So she called his
me, and let me be built up from her as name Yissas¿ar.
well.” 19 And LÃ’ah conceived again and bore
4 So she gave him Bilhah her female ser- YaÈaqoÄ a sixth son.
vant as wife, and YaÈaqoÄ went in to her. 20 And LÃ’ah said, “Elohim has presented
5 And Bilhah conceived and bore me with a good present. Now my husband
YaÈaqoÄ a son. is going to dwell with me, because I have
6 And RaÁÃl said, “Elohim has rightly borne him six sons.” So she called his
ruled my case, and has also heard my voice name ZeÄulun.
and given me a son.” So she called his 21 And afterward she bore a daughter, and
conceived again and bore YaÈaqoÄ a Elohim listened to her and opened her
second son. womb.
8 And RaÁÃl said, “With great wrestlings 23 And she conceived, and bore a son,
I have wrestled with my sister, and I have and said, “Elohim has taken away my
overcome.” So she called his name reproach.”
Naphtali. 24 So she called his name YosÃph, and
9 And LÃ’ah saw that she had ceased said, “HWHY has added to me another son.”
bearing, and she took Zilpah her female 25 And it came to be, when RaÁÃl had
servant and gave her to YaÈaqoÄ as wife. borne YosÃph, that YaÈaqoÄ said to LaÄan,
10 And LÃ’ah’s female servant Zilpah “Send me on my way, to go to my own
bore YaÈaqoÄ a son. place and to my land.
11 And LÃ’ah said, “With GaÅ!” So she 26 “Give my wives and my children for
called his name GaÅ. whom I have served you, and let me go, for
12 And LÃ’ah’s female servant Zilpah you yourself know my service which I
bore YaÈaqoÄ a second son. have done for you.”
13 And LÃ’ah said, “I am blessed, for the 27 And LaÄan said to him, “If I have
daughters shall call me blessed.” So she found favour in your eyes, please stay, for I
called his name AshÃr. have diligently watched that HWHY has
14 And Re’uÄÃn went in the days of wheat blessed me for your sake.”
harvest and found love-apples in the field, 28 And he said, “Name me your wages,
and brought them to his mother LÃ’ah. And and I give it.”
RaÁÃl said to LÃ’ah, “Please give me some 29 So he said to him, “You know how I
of your son’s love-apples.” have served you and how your livestock
15 But she said to her, “Is it a small matter has been with me.
that you have taken away my husband? 30 “For the little you had before I came
Would you take away my son’s love- has increased greatly, and HWHY has blessed
apples too?” And RaÁÃl said, “Therefore you since my coming. But now, when am I
let him lie with you tonight for your son’s to provide for my own house too?”
love-apples.” 31 And he said, “What do I give you?”
16 And when YaÈaqoÄ came out of the And YaÈaqoÄ said, “Give me naught! If
field in the evening, LÃ’ah went out to you do this for me, I shall again feed and
meet him and said, “Do come in to me, for guard your flocks:
indeed, I have hired you with my son’s 32 “Let me pass through all your flock
love-apples.” And he lay with her that today, removing from there all the speck-
night. led and spotted sheep, and all the black
17 And Elohim listened to LÃ’ah, and she ones among the lambs, and the spotted and
conceived and bore YaÈaqoÄ a fifth son. speckled among the goats. And these shall
18 And LÃ’ah said, “Elohim has given me be my wages.
my hire, because I have given my female 33 “And my righteousness shall answer
BERÂSHITH 30 32
for me in time to come, when you come LaÄan and see that it was not toward him
concerning my wages: every one that is not as before.
speckled and spotted among the goats, and 3 And HWHY said to YaÈaqoÄ, “Return
black among the lambs, it is stolen if it is to the land of your fathers and to your
with me.” relatives. And I am with you.”
34 And LaÄan said, “See, let it be accord- 4 And YaÈaqoÄ sent and called RaÁÃl and
goats that were speckled and spotted, and face, that it is not toward me as before, but
all the female goats that were speckled and the Elohim of my father has been with me.
spotted, every one that had some white in 6 “And you know that I have served your
it, and all the black ones among the lambs, father with all my strength.
and gave them into the hand of his sons. 7 “Yet your father has deceived me and
36 And he put three days’ journey between changed my wages ten times, but Elohim
himself and YaÈaqoÄ, and YaÈaqoÄ fed the did not allow him to do evil to me.
rest of LaÄan’s flocks. 8 “When he said this, ‘The speckled are
37 And YaÈaqoÄ took for himself rods of your wages,’ then all the flocks bore
green poplar and of the almond and chest- speckled. And when he said this, ‘The
nut trees, peeled white strips in them, and streaked are your wages,’ then all the
exposed the white which was in the rods. flocks bore streaked.
38 And he set the rods which he had 9 “So Elohim has taken away the live-
peeled before the flocks in the gutters, in stock of your father and given them to me.
the watering troughs where the flocks 10 “And it came to be, at the time when
came to drink, and they conceived when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes
they came to drink. and looked in a dream and saw the rams
39 So the flocks conceived before the which leaped upon the flocks were
rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, streaked, speckled, and mottled.
speckled, and spotted. 11 “And the Messenger of Elohim spoke
40 And YaÈaqoÄ separated the lambs, and to me in a dream, saying, ‘YaÈaqoÄ.’ And I
made the flocks face toward the streaked said, ‘Here I am.’
and all the black in the flock of LaÄan, but 12 “And He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and
he put his own flocks by themselves and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks
did not put them with LaÄan’s flock. are streaked, speckled, and mottled, for I
41 And it came to be, whenever the strong have seen all that LaÄan is doing to you.
ones of the flock conceived, that YaÈaqoÄ 13 ‘I am the Âl of BÃyth Âl, where you
placed the rods before the eyes of the flock anointed the standing column and where
in the gutters, so they would conceive you made a vow to Me. Now rise up, get
among the rods. out of this land, and return to the land of
42 But when the flocks were weak, he did your relatives.’ ”
not put them in, so the weak ones were 14 And RaÁÃl and LÃ’ah answered and
LaÄan’s and the strong ones YaÈaqoÄ’s. said to him, “Do we still have any portion
43 Thus the man increased very much, and or inheritance in our father’s house?
had many flocks, and female and male 15 “Are we not reckoned by him as
servants, and camels and donkeys. strangers? For he has sold us, and also
entirely consumed our silver.
31 And he heard the words of LaÄan’s
sons, saying, “YaÈaqoÄ has taken
16 “For all the wealth which Elohim has
18 and he drove off all his livestock and all 32 “With whomever you find your mighty
his possessions which he had acquired, his ones, do not let him live. In the presence of
property of the livestock which he had our brothers, see for yourself what is with
acquired in Paddan Aram, to go to his me and take it with you.” For YaÈaqoÄ did
father YitsÁaq in the land of KenaÈan. not know that RaÁÃl had stolen them.
19 And when LaÄan had gone to shear his 33 And LaÄan went into YaÈaqoÄ’s tent,
sheep, RaÁÃl stole the house idols that and into LÃ’ah’s tent, and into the tents of
were her father’s. the two female servants, but he did not find
20 And YaÈaqoÄ deceived LaÄan the them. And he came out of LÃ’ah’s tent and
Aramean, because he did not inform him entered RaÁÃl’s tent.
that he was about to flee. 34 Now RaÁÃl had taken the house idols
21 And he fled with all that he had. And he and put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat
rose up and passed over the river, and on them. And LaÄan searched all about the
headed toward the mountains of GilÈaÅ. tent but did not find them.
22 And on the third day LaÄan was told 35 And she said to her father, “Let it not
YaÈaqoÄ had pitched his tent in the moun- goods what have you found of all your
tains, and LaÄan with his brothers pitched household goods? Set it here before my
in the mountains of GilÈaÅ. brothers and your brothers, and let them
26 And LaÄan said to YaÈaqoÄ, “What decide between the two of us!
have you done, that you have deceived me, 38 “These twenty years I have been with
and driven my daughters off like captives you. Your ewes and your female goats
taken with the sword? have not miscarried their young, and I
27 “Why did you flee secretly and deceive have not eaten the rams of your sheep.
me, and not inform me, and I would have 39 “That which was torn by beasts I did
sent you away with joy and songs, with not bring to you, I myself bore the loss of
tambourine and lyre? it. You required it from my hand, whether
28 “And you did not allow me to kiss my stolen by day or stolen by night.
sons and my daughters. Now you have 40 “Thus I was! By day the heat consumed
been foolish to do this. me, and the frost by night, and my sleep
29 “It is in the power of my hand to do evil fled from my eyes.
to you, but the Elohim of your father spoke 41 “These twenty years I have been in
to me last night, saying, ‘Guard yourself, your house. I served you fourteen years for
that you do not speak to YaÈaqoÄ either your two daughters, and six years for your
good or evil.’ flock, and you have changed my wages ten
30 “And now you have gone because you times.
greatly long for your father’s house, but 42 “Unless the Elohim of my father, the
why did you steal my mighty ones?” Elohim of AÄraham and the Fear of
31 And YaÈaqoÄ answered and said to YitsÁaq, had been with me, you would
LaÄan, “Because I was afraid, for I said, now have sent me away empty-handed.
‘Lest you tear your daughters away from Elohim has seen my affliction and the
me.’ labour of my hands, and rendered judg-
BERÂSHITH 31 34
covenant, you and I, and it shall be a wit- this to my master Âsaw, ‘Your servant
ness between you and me.” YaÈaqoÄ said this, “I have sojourned with
45 So YaÈaqoÄ took a stone and set it up as LaÄan and stayed there until now.
5 “And I have bulls, and donkeys, flocks,
a standing column.
46 And YaÈaqoÄ said to his brothers,
and male and female servants. And I have
sent to inform my master, to find favour in
“Gather stones.” And they took stones and your eyes.” ’ ”
made a heap, and they ate there on the 6 So the messengers returned to YaÈaqoÄ,
heap. saying, “We came to your brother Âsaw,
47 And LaÄan called it YeÍar SahaÅutha,
and he also is coming to meet you, and
but YaÈaqoÄ called it GalÈÃÅ. four hundred men with him.”
48 And LaÄan said, “This heap is a wit- 7 And YaÈaqoÄ was greatly afraid and
ness between you and me today.” That is distressed. So he divided the people that
why its name was called GalÈÃÅ, were with him, and the flocks and herds
49 also Mitspah, because he said, “Let
and camels, into two groups,
HWHY watch between you and me when we 8 and he said, “If Âsaw comes to the one
are out of each other’s sight. group and attacks it, then the other group
50 “If you afflict my daughters, or if you which is left shall escape.”
9 And YaÈaqoÄ said, “O Elohim of my
take other wives besides my daughters,
although no man is with us; see, Elohim is father AÄraham and Elohim of my father
witness between you and me!” YitsÁaq, HWHY who said to me, ‘Return to
51 And LaÄan said to YaÈaqoÄ, “See this your land and to your relatives, and I do
heap and see this standing column, which I good to you,’
10 “I do not deserve the least of all the
have placed between you and me.
52 “This heap is a witness, and this stand- kind acts and all the truth which You have
ing column is a witness, that I do not pass shown Your servant, for I passed over this
beyond this heap to you, and you do not YardÃn with my staff, and now I have
pass beyond this heap and this standing become two groups.
11 “Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of
column to me, for evil.
53 “The Elohim of AÄraham, the Elohim
my brother, from the hand of Âsaw, for I
fear him, lest he come and shall smite me
of NaÁor, and the Elohim of their father and the mother with the children.
rightly rule between us!” And YaÈaqoÄ 12 “For You said, ‘I shall certainly do
swore by the Fear of his father YitsÁaq. good to you, and shall make your seed as
54 And YaÈaqoÄ brought an offering on the
the sand of the sea, which are too numer-
mountain, and called his brothers to eat ous to count.’ ”
bread. And they ate bread and spent the 13 And he spent the night there, and took
night on the mountain. what came to his hand as a present for
55 And LaÄan rose up early in the morn-
Âsaw his brother –
ing, and kissed his sons and daughters and 14 two hundred female goats and twenty
blessed them. And LaÄan left and returned male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty
to his place. rams,
35 BERÂSHITH 33
15 thirty milk camels with their colts, forty and have overcome.”
cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys 29 And YaÈaqoÄ asked Him, saying,
some distance between drove and drove.” place Peni’Ãl, “For I have seen Elohim face
17 And he commanded the first one, to face, and my life is preserved.”
saying, “When Âsaw my brother meets 31 And the sun rose on him as he passed
you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do over Penu’Ãl, and he limped on his hip.
you belong, and where are you going? 32 That is why the children of Yisra’Ãl to
And whose are these in front of you?’ this day do not eat the sinew of the hip,
18 then you shall say, ‘They are your ser- which is on the socket of the thigh,
vant YaÈaqoÄ’s. It is a present sent to my because He touched the socket of the thigh
master Âsaw. And see, he also is behind of YaÈaqoÄ, in the sinew of the hip.
us.’ ”
19 So he commanded the second, and the
third, and all who followed the droves, 33 And YaÈaqoÄ lifted his eyes and
looked and saw Âsaw coming, and
saying, “Speak to Âsaw this same word with him four hundred men. And he divid-
when you find him, ed the children among LÃ’ah, and RaÁÃl,
20 and you shall say, ‘Also look, your ser- and the two female servants.
vant YaÈaqoÄ is behind us.’ ” For he said, 2 And he put the female servants and
“Let me appease him with the present that their children in front, and LÃ’ah and her
goes before me, and after that see his face. children behind, and RaÁÃl and YosÃph
He might accept me.” last.
21 And the present passed over before 3 And he himself passed over before
him, but he himself spent the night in the them and bowed himself to the ground
camp. seven times, until he came near to his
22 And he rose up that night and took his brother.
two wives, and his two female servants, 4 And Âsaw ran to meet him, and
and his eleven sons, and passed over the embraced him, and fell on his neck and
ford of Yabboq. kissed him, and they wept.
23 And he took them and sent them over 5 And he lifted his eyes and saw the
the stream, and sent over what he had. women and children, and said, “Who are
24 And YaÈaqoÄ was left alone. And a Man these with you?” And he said, “The
wrestled with him until the breaking of children with whom Elohim has favoured
day. your servant.”
25 And when He saw that He did not over- 6 Then the female servants came near,
come him, He touched the socket of his they and their children, and bowed them-
hip. And the socket of YaÈaqoÄ’s hip was selves.
dislocated as He wrestled with him. 7 And LÃ’ah also came near with her
26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day children, and they bowed themselves. And
breaks.” But he said, “I am not letting You YosÃph and RaÁÃl came near, and they
go until You have blessed me!” bowed themselves.
27 So He asked him, “What is your 8 Then Âsaw said, “What do you mean
name?” And he said, “YaÈaqoÄ.” by all this company which I met?” And he
28 And He said, “Your name is no longer said, “To find favour in the eyes of my
called YaÈaqoÄ, but Yisra’Ãl, 1 because you master.”
have striven with Elohim and with men, 9 But Âsaw said, “I have enough, my
l Yisra’Ãl means “to strive with Âl, to overcome with Âl, (then) to rule with Âl”
BERÂSHITH 33 36
brother, let what you have remain yours.” and spoke kindly to the girl.
10 And YaÈaqoÄ said, “No, please, if I 4 And She¿em spoke to his father
have now found favour in your eyes, then Àamor, saying, “Take this girl for me for a
receive my present from my hand, because wife.”
I have seen your face like seeing the face 5 And YaÈaqoÄ heard that he had defiled
of Elohim, and you were pleased with me. Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were
11 “Please, take my blessing that is with his livestock in the field, so YaÈaqoÄ
brought to you, because Elohim has kept silent until they came.
favoured me, and because I have all I 6 And Àamor, the father of She¿em,
need.” And he urged him, and he took it. went out to YaÈaqoÄ to speak with him.
12 And he said, “Let us depart and go, and 7 And the sons of YaÈaqoÄ came in from
let me go before you.” the field when they heard it. And the men
13 But he said to him, “My master knows were grieved and very wroth, because he
that the children are weak, and the flocks had done a senseless deed in Yisra’Ãl by
and herds which are nursing are with me. lying with YaÈaqoÄ’s daughter, which
And if the men should drive them hard one should not be done.
day, all the flocks shall die. 8 But Àamor spoke with them, saying,
14 “Please let my master go before his ser- “My son She¿em’s being longs for your
vant, and let me lead on slowly according daughter. Please give her to him for a wife.
to the pace of the livestock that go before 9 “And intermarry with us, give us your
me, and according to the pace of the chil- daughters and take our daughters for your-
dren, until I come to my master in SÃÈir.” selves,
15 And Âsaw said, “Please let me leave 10 and dwell with us, and let the land be
with you some of the people who are with before you. Dwell and move about in it,
me.” But he said, “Why this? Let me find and have possessions in it.”
favour in the eyes of my master.” 11 And She¿em said to her father and her
16 And Âsaw returned that day on his way brothers, “Let me find favour in your eyes,
to SÃÈir. and whatever you say to me I give.
17 And YaÈaqoÄ set out to Sukkoth, and 12 “Ask of me a bride price and gift ever
built himself a house, and made booths for so high, and I give according to what you
his livestock. That is why the name of the say to me, but give me the girl for a wife.”
place is called Sukkoth. 13 But the sons of YaÈaqoÄ answered
18 And YaÈaqoÄ came safely to the city of She¿em and Àamor his father, and spoke
She¿em, which is in the land of KenaÈan, with deceit, because he had defiled Dinah
when he came from Paddan Aram. And he their sister.
pitched his tent before the city. 14 And they said to them, “We are not able
19 And he bought the portion of the field to do this matter, to give our sister to one
where he had pitched his tent, from the who is uncircumcised, for that would be a
children of Àamor, She¿em’s father, for reproach to us.
one hundred qesitah. 15 “Only on this condition would we agree
20 And he set up an altar there and called to you: If you become as we are, to have
it Âl Elohà Yisra’Ãl. every male of you circumcised,
16 then we shall give our daughters to you,
Àiwwite, prince of the land, saw her and circumcised, we shall take our daughter
took her and lay with her, and humbled her. and go.”
3 And his being clung to Dinah the 18 And their words pleased Àamor and
19 And the young man did not delay to do 31 But they said, “Should he treat our
it. And see, the land is large enough for to all who were with him, “Put away the
them. Let us take their daughters for us for foreign mighty ones that are among you,
wives, and let us give them our daughters. and cleanse yourselves, and change your
22 “Only on this condition would the men garments.
agree to dwell with us, to be one people: if 3 “And let us arise and go up to BÃyth Âl,
every male among us is circumcised as and let me make there an altar to Âl, who
they are circumcised. answered me in the day of my distress, and
23 “Their herds and their possessions, and has been with me in the way which I have
all their beasts, should they not be ours? gone.”
Only let us agree with them, and let them 4 So they gave YaÈaqoÄ all the foreign
came boldly upon the city and killed all the Âl, which is in the land of KenaÈan, he and
males. all the people who were with him.
26 And they killed Àamor and She¿em his 7 And he built there an altar and called
son with the edge of the sword, and took the place El BÃyth Âl, because there
Dinah from She¿em’s house, and went Elohim appeared to him when he fled from
out. the face of his brother.
27 The sons of YaÈaqoÄ came upon the 8 And DeÄorah, RiÄqah’s nurse, died,
slain, and plundered the city, because they and she was buried below BÃyth Âl under
had defiled their sister. the terebinth tree. So the name of it was
28 They took their flocks and their herds, called Allon Ba¿uth.
and their donkeys, and that which was in 9 And Elohim appeared to YaÈaqoÄ again,
the city and that which was in the field, when he came from Paddan Aram, and
29 and all their wealth. And all their little blessed him.
ones and their wives they took captive, and 10 And Elohim said to him, “Your name is
they plundered all that was in the houses. YaÈaqoÄ, your name is no longer called
30 And YaÈaqoÄ said to ShimÈon and LÃwi, YaÈaqoÄ, but Yisra’Ãl is your name.” So He
“You have troubled me by making me a called his name Yisra’Ãl.
stench among the inhabitants of the land, 11 And Elohim said to him, “I am Âl
among the KenaÈanites and the Perizzites. Shaddai. Bear fruit and increase, a nation
And I am few in number, they shall gather and a company of nations shall be from
themselves against me and shall smite me, you, and sovereigns come from your body.
and I shall be destroyed, my household 12 “And the land which I gave AÄraham
seed after you I give this land.” 28 And the days of YitsÁaq were one hun-
13 And Elohim went up from him in the dred and eighty years.
place where He had spoken with him. 29 So YitsÁaq breathed his last and died,
14 And YaÈaqoÄ set up a standing column and was gathered to his people, aged and
in the place where He had spoken with satisfied of days. And his sons Âsaw and
him, a monument of stone. And he poured YaÈaqoÄ buried him.
a drink offering on it, and he poured oil
on it.
15 And YaÈaqoÄ called the name of the 36 And this is the genealogy of Âsaw,
who is EÅom.
2 Âsaw took his wives from the daughters
place where Elohim spoke with him, BÃyth
Âl. of KenaÈan: AÅah the daughter of Âlon
16 Then they set out from BÃyth Âl. And it the Àittite, and OholiÄamah the daughter
came to be, when there was but a little dis- of Anah, the daughter of TsiÄÈon the
tance to go to Ephrath, that RaÁÃl began to Àiwwite;
give birth, and had great difficulty giving 3 and Basemath, YishmaÈÃl’s daughter,
great difficulty giving birth, that the mid- Basemath bore ReÈuw’Ãl.
wife said to her, “Do not fear, for it is 5 And OholiÄamah bore YeÈush, and
another son for you.” YaÈlam, and QoraÁ. These were the sons of
18 And it came to be, as her life was going Âsaw who were born to him in the land of
out – for she died – that she called his KenaÈan.
name Ben-Oni. But his father called him 6 And Âsaw took his wives, and his sons,
tent beyond the tower of ÂÅer. them to dwell together, and the land of
22 And it came to be, when Yisra’Ãl dwelt their sojournings could not support them
in that land, that Re’uÄÃn went and lay because of their herds.
with Bilhah his father’s concubine. And 8 So Âsaw dwelt in Mount SÃÈir. Âsaw is
LÃwi, and YehuÅah, and Yissas¿ar, and Eliphaz son of AÅah, wife of Âsaw, and
ZeÄulun; ReÈuw’Ãl son of Basemath, wife of Âsaw.
24 the sons of RaÁÃl were YosÃph and 11 And the sons of Eliphaz were TÃman,
servant, were Dan and Naphtali; Eliphaz, Âsaw’s son, and she bore AmalÃq
26 and the sons of Zilpah, LÃ’ah’s female to Eliphaz. These were the sons of AÅah,
servant, were GaÅ and AshÃr. These were Âsaw’s wife.
the sons of YaÈaqoÄ who were born to him 13 These were the sons of ReÈuw’Ãl:
Âsaw’s wife, the daughter of Anah, the Chief Lotan, Chief ShoÄal, Chief TsiÄÈon,
daughter of TsiÄÈon. And she bore to Âsaw: Chief Anah,
YeÈush, and YaÈlam, and QoraÁ. 30 Chief Dishon, Chief Âtser, and Chief
15 These were the chiefs of the sons of Dishan. These were the chiefs of the
Âsaw. The sons of Eliphaz, the first-born Àorites, according to their chiefs in the
son of Âsaw, were Chief TÃman, Chief land of SÃÈir.
Omar, Chief Tsepho, Chief Qenaz, 31 And these were the sovereigns who
16 Chief QoraÁ, Chief Gatam, Chief reigned in the land of EÅom before any
AmalÃq. These were the chiefs of Eliphaz sovereign reigned over the children of
in the land of EÅom. They were the sons of Yisra’Ãl.
AÅah. 32 And Bela the son of BeÈor reigned in
17 And these were the sons of ReÈuw’Ãl, EÅom, and the name of his city was
Âsaw’s son: Chief NaÁath, Chief ZeraÁ, DinhaÄah.
Chief Shammah, and Chief Mizzah. These 33 And Bela died, and YoÄaÄ son of ZeraÁ
were the chiefs of ReÈuw’Ãl in the land of of Botsrah reigned in his place.
EÅom. These were the sons of Basemath, 34 And YoÄaÄ died, and Àusham of the
OholiÄamah, Âsaw’s wife: Chief YeÈush, BeÅaÅ, who smote MiÅyan in the field of
Chief YaÈlam, and Chief QoraÁ. These Mo’aÄ, reigned in his place. And the name
were the chiefs descending from of his city was Awith.
OholiÄamah, Âsaw’s wife, the daughter of 36 And HaÅaÅ died, and Samlah of
EÅom, and these were their chiefs. ReÁoÄoth by the River reigned in his
20 These were the sons of SÃÈir the Àorite place.
who inhabited the land: Lotan, and ShoÄal, 38 And Sha’ul died, and BaÈal-Àanan son
These were the chiefs of the Àorites, the and HaÅar reigned in his place. And the
sons of SÃÈir, in the land of EÅom. name of his city was PaÈu. And his wife’s
22 And the sons of Lotan were Àori and name was MehÃtab’Ãl, the daughter of
HÃmam. Lotan’s sister was Timna. MatrÃÅ, the daughter of MÃyzahaÄ.
23 And these were the sons of ShoÄal: 40 And these were the names of the chiefs
Alwan, and ManaÁath, and ÂyÄal, Shepho, of Âsaw, according to their clans and their
and Onam. places, by their names: Chief Timnah,
24 And these were the sons of TsiÄÈon: Chief Alwah, Chief YethÃth,
both Ayah and Anah. This was the Anah 41 Chief OholiÄamah, Chief Âlah, Chief
feeding the flock with his brothers. And he was wandering in the field. And the
the young man was with the sons of Bilhah man asked him, saying, “What do you
and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. seek?”
And YosÃph brought an evil report of them 16 And he said, “I am seeking my broth-
his old age. And he made him a long robe. for I heard them say, ‘Let us go towards
4 But when his brothers saw that their Dothan.’ ” So YosÃph went after his broth-
father loved him more than all his brothers, ers and found them in Dothan.
they hated him and were not able to speak 18 And they saw him from a distance, and
this dream which I have dreamed: him and throw him into some pit, and shall
7 “See, we were binding sheaves in the say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’
midst of the field, and see, my sheaf rose Let us then see what comes of his dreams!”
up and also stood up. And see, your 21 But Re’uÄÃn heard and rescued him
sheaves stood all around and bowed down from their hands, and said, “Let us not take
to my sheaf.” his life.”
8 And his brothers said to him, “Shall 22 And Re’uÄÃn said to them, “Shed no
you indeed reign over us? Shall you indeed blood. Throw him into this pit which is in
rule over us?” So they hated him even the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on
more for his dreams and for his words. him” – in order to rescue him out of their
9 And he dreamed still another dream hands, and bring him back to his father.
and related it to his brothers, and said, 23 So it came to be, when YosÃph had
“See, I have dreamed another dream, and come to his brothers, that they stripped
see, the sun and the moon and the eleven YosÃph of his robe, the long robe which
stars bowed down to me.” was on him.
10 And he related it to his father and his 24 And they took him and threw him into a
brothers. And his father rebuked him and pit. And the pit was empty, there was no
said to him, “What is this dream that you water in it.
have dreamed? Shall we, your mother and 25 And they sat down to eat a meal. And
I and your brothers, indeed come to bow they lifted their eyes and looked and saw a
down to the earth before you?” company of YishmaÈÃlites, coming from
11 And his brothers envied him, but his GilÈaÅ with their camels, bearing spices,
father guarded the word. and balm, and myrrh, going to take them
12 And his brothers went to feed their down to Mitsrayim.
father’s flock in She¿em. 26 And YehuÅah said to his brothers,
13 And Yisra’Ãl said to YosÃph, “Are not “What would we gain if we kill our brother
your brothers feeding the flock in She¿em? and conceal his blood?
Come, I send you to them.” So he said to 27 “Come and let us sell him to the
him, “Here I am.” YishmaÈÃlites, and let not our hand be upon
14 And he said to him, “Please go and see him, for he is our brother, our flesh.” And
if it is well with your brothers and well his brothers listened.
with the sheep, and bring back word to 28 And men, MiÅyanite traders passed by,
me.” So he sent him out of the Valley of so they pulled YosÃph up and lifted him
ÀeÄron, and he went to She¿em. out of the pit, and sold him to the
15 And a certain man found him, and see, YishmaÈÃlites for twenty pieces of silver.
41 BERÂSHITH 38
And they took YosÃph to Mitsrayim. would not be his. And it came to be, when
29 And Re’uÄÃn returned to the pit, and he went in to his brother’s wife, that he
see, YosÃph was not in the pit. And he tore spilled on the ground, lest he should give
his garments. an offspring to his brother.
30 And he returned to his brothers and 10 But what he did displeased HWHY, so He
said, “The boy is gone! And I, where am I took his life too.
to go?” 11 Then YehuÅah said to Tamar his daugh-
31 So they took YosÃph’s robe, killed a ter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your
male goat, and dipped the robe in the father’s house until my son ShÃlah is
blood, grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die as
32 and sent the long robe and brought it to his brothers did.” And Tamar went and
their father and said, “We have found this. dwelt in her father’s house.
Please look, is it the robe of your son or 12 And after a long time the daughter of
sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for “See, your father-in-law is going up to
his son many days. Timnah to shear his sheep.”
35 And all his sons and all his daughters 14 And she took off her widow’s gar-
arose to comfort him, but he refused to be ments, and covered herself with a veil and
comforted, and he said, “Now let me go wrapped herself, and sat at the entrance to
down into the grave to my son in mourn- Ânayim which was on the way to Timnah.
ing.” So his father wept for him. For she saw that ShÃlah was grown, and
36 And the MiÅanites had sold him in she was not given to him as a wife.
Mitsrayim to Potiphar, an officer of 15 And YehuÅah saw her, and reckoned
Pharaoh and captain of the guard. her for a whore, for she had covered her
face.
38 And at that time it came to be that
YehuÅah left his brothers, and
16 And he turned aside to her by the way,
Shuwa. And he took her and went in to her. goat from the flock.” And she said, “Do
3 So she conceived and bore a son, and you give me a pledge until you send it?”
he called his name Âr. 18 So he said, “What pledge should I give
4 And she conceived again and bore a you?” And she said, “Your seal and your
son, and she called his name Onan. cord and your staff that is in your hand.”
5 And she conceived yet again and bore a And he gave them to her, and went in to
son, and called his name ShÃlah. And he her, and she conceived by him.
was at KeziÄ when she bore him. 19 And she arose and went away, and
6 And YehuÅah took a wife for Âr his removed her veil and put on the garments
first-born, and her name was Tamar. of her widowhood.
7 But Âr, YehuÅah’s first-born, was evil 20 And YehuÅah sent the young goat by
in the eyes of HWHY, and HWHY took his life. the hand of his friend the AÅullamite, to
8 And YehuÅah said to Onan, “Go in to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand,
your brother’s wife and marry her, and but he did not find her.
raise up an heir to your brother.” 21 And he asked the men of that place,
9 And Onan knew that the offspring saying, “Where is the cult prostitute who
BERÂSHITH 38 42
was beside the way to Ânayim?” And they YosÃph, and he became a prosperous man,
said, “There was no cult prostitute in this and was in the house of his master the
place.” Mitsrite.
22 And he returned to YehuÅah and said, 3 And his master saw that HWHY was with
“I have not found her. And the men of the him and that HWHY made all he did to pros-
place also said there was no cult prostitute per in his hand.
in this place.” 4 So YosÃph found favour in his eyes,
23 And YehuÅah said, “Let her take them and served him, and he appointed him over
for herself, lest we become despised, for I his house, and gave into his hand all that
sent this young goat and you have not he had.
found her.” 5 And it came to be, from the time that he
24 And it came to be, about three months appointed him over his house and all that
after, that YehuÅah was informed, saying, he had, that HWHY blessed the Mitsrite’s
“Tamar your daughter-in-law has whored, house for YosÃph’s sake. And the blessing
and see, she has conceived by whoring.” of HWHY was on all that he had in the house
And YehuÅah said, “Bring her out and let and in the field.
her be burned!” 6 And he left in YosÃph’s hand all that he
25 When she was brought out, she sent to had, and he did not know what he had
her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to except for the bread which he ate. And
whom these belong, I am pregnant.” And YosÃph was handsome in form and appear-
she said, “Please examine whose these are: ance.
the seal and the cord and the staff.” 7 And after these events it came to be that
26 And YehuÅah examined and said, “She his master’s wife lifted up her eyes to
has been more righteous than I, because I YosÃph and said, “Lie with me.”
did not give her to ShÃlah my son.” And he 8 But he refused and said to his master’s
never knew her again. wife, “Look, my master does not know
27 And it came to be, at the time for giving what is with me in the house, and he has
birth, that see, twins were in her womb. given into my hand all that he has.
28 And it came to be, when she was giving 9 “No one is greater in this house than I,
birth, that the one put out his hand. And the and he has not withheld whatever from me
midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it but you, because you are his wife. And
on his hand, saying, “This one came out how shall I do this great evil and sin m
first.” against Elohim?”
29 And it came to be, as he drew back his 10 And it came to be, as she spoke to
hand, that see, his brother came out! And YosÃph day by day, that he did not listen to
she said, “How did you break through? her, to lie with her, to be with her.
This breach be upon you!” So his name 11 And it came to be on a certain day,
was called Perets. when YosÃph went into the house to do his
30 And afterward his brother came out work, and none of the men of the house
who had the scarlet thread on his hand. So was inside,
his name was called ZeraÁ. 12 that she caught him by his garment,
officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, a he had left his garment in her hand and fled
Mitsrite, bought him from the outside,
YishmaÈÃlites who had taken him down 14 that she called to the men of her house
m YosÃph loves Elohim so much that he refuses to sin – transgress against Him, or commit offence against Him!
43 BERÂSHITH 40
he did, HWHY made it prosper. going to lift up your head and restore you
to your place, and you shall put Pharaoh’s
40 And after these events it came to
be that the cupbearer and the baker
cup in his hand according to the former
ruling, when you were his cupbearer.
of the sovereign of Mitsrayim sinned 14 “But remember me when it is well with
against their master, the sovereign of you, and please show kindness to me. And
Mitsrayim. mention me to Pharaoh, and get me out of
2 And Pharaoh was wroth with his two this house.
officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief 15 “For truly I was stolen away from the
baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate this day.
them out of the basket on my head.” 10 “When Pharaoh was wroth with his
18 And YosÃph answered and said, “This servants, and put me in confinement in the
is the interpretation of it: The three baskets house of the captain of the guard, both me
are three days. and the chief baker,
19 “Yet, within three days Pharaoh is 11 each one of us dreamed a dream in one
going to lift off your head from you and night, he and I. Each of us dreamed
hang you on a tree. And the birds shall eat according to the interpretation of his own
your flesh from you.” dream.
20 And on the third day, Pharaoh’s birth- 12 “And there was with us a HeÄrew
day, it came to be that he made a feast for youth, a servant of the captain of the guard.
all his servants. And he lifted up the head And we related to him, and he interpreted
of the chief cupbearer and of the chief our dreams for us. To each man he inter-
baker among his servants, preted according to his own dream.
21 and he restored the chief cupbearer to 13 “And it came to be, as he interpreted
his post of cupbearer again, and he placed for us, so it came to be. He restored me to
the cup in Pharaoh’s hand, my office, and he hanged him.”
22 but he hanged the chief baker, as 14 Then Pharaoh sent and called YosÃph,
YosÃph had interpreted to them. and they hurriedly brought him out of the
23 And the chief cupbearer did not dungeon. And he shaved and changed his
remember YosÃph, but forgot him. garments, and came to Pharaoh.
15 And Pharaoh said to YosÃph, “I have
amongst the reeds, “It is not in me, let Elohim answer Pharaoh
3 then saw seven other cows coming up with peace.”
after them out of the river, ugly and lean of 17 And Pharaoh said to YosÃph, “See, in
flesh, and stood by the other cows on the my dream I stood on the bank of the river
bank of the river. 18 and saw seven cows coming up out of
4 And the ugly and lean of flesh cows ate the river, fine looking and fat, and they fed
up the seven fine looking and fat cows. amongst the reeds,
Then Pharaoh awoke. 19 then saw seven other cows coming up
5 And he slept and dreamed a second after them, poor and very ugly and lean of
time and saw seven heads of grain coming flesh, such ugliness as I have never seen in
up on one stalk, plump and good, all the land of Mitsrayim.
6 and saw seven lean heads, scorched by 20 “And the lean of flesh and ugly cows
the east wind, coming up after them. ate up the first seven, the fat cows.
7 And the seven lean heads swallowed 21 “Yet when they had eaten them up, no
the seven plump and complete heads. Then one would have known that they had eaten
Pharaoh awoke and saw it was a dream. them, for they were as ugly as at the begin-
8 And it came to be in the morning that ning. Then I awoke.
his spirit was moved, and he sent and 22 “Also, I looked in my dream and saw
called for all the magicians of Mitsrayim seven heads coming up on one stalk, com-
and all its wise men. And Pharaoh related plete and good,
to them his dreams, but there was no one 23 then saw seven heads, withered, lean,
who could interpret them for Pharaoh. scorched by the east wind, coming up after
9 Then the chief cupbearer spoke to them.
Pharaoh, saying, “I remember my crimes 24 “And the lean heads swallowed the
45 BERÂSHITH 41
seven good heads. And I spoke to the 39 Then Pharaoh said to YosÃph, “Since
magicians, but there was no one who could Elohim has shown you all this, there is no
explain it to me.” one as discerning and wise as you.
25 And YosÃph said to Pharaoh, “The 40 “Be over my house, you yourself, and
dream of Pharaoh is one. Elohim has at your mouth all my people shall kiss –
shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: only in the throne I am greater than you.”
26 “The seven good cows are seven years, 41 And Pharaoh said to YosÃph, “See, I
and the seven good heads are seven years – have set you over all the land of Mits-
it is one dream. rayim.”
27 “And the seven lean and ugly cows 42 And Pharaoh took his seal-ring off his
which came up after them are seven years, hand and put it on YosÃph’s hand. And he
and the seven empty heads scorched by the dressed him in garments of fine linen and
east wind are seven years of scarcity of put a gold chain around his neck.
food. 43 And he had him ride in the second char-
28 “This is the word which I spoke to iot which he had. And they cried out
Pharaoh: Elohim has shown Pharaoh what before him, “Bow the knee!” And he set
He is about to do. him over all the land of Mitsrayim.
29 “See, seven years of great plenty are 44 And Pharaoh said to YosÃph, “I am
coming in all the land of Mitsrayim, Pharaoh, and without a word from you let
30 but after them seven years of scarcity of no man lift his hand or foot in all the land
food shall arise and all the plenty be for- of Mitsrayim.”
gotten in the land of Mitsrayim. And the 45 And Pharaoh called YosÃph’s name
scarcity of food shall destroy the land, Zaphnath-PaÈnÃaÁ. And he gave him as a
31 and the plenty shall not be remembered wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah
in the land, because of the scarcity of food priest of On. And YosÃph went out over all
following, for it is very severe. the land of Mitsrayim.
32 “And the dream was repeated to 46 Now YosÃph was thirty years old when
Pharaoh twice because the word is estab- he stood before Pharaoh sovereign of
lished by Elohim, and Elohim is hastening Mitsrayim. And YosÃph went out from the
to do it. presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout
33 “And now, let Pharaoh look for a dis- all the land of Mitsrayim.
cerning and wise man, and set him over the 47 And in the seven years of plenty the
appoint overseers over the land, to take up seven years which were in the land of
one-fifth of the land of Mitsrayim in the Mitsrayim, and laid up the food in the
seven years of plenty. cities. He laid up in every city the food of
35 “And let them gather all the food of the fields which surrounded them.
those good years that are coming, and store 49 Thus YosÃph gathered very much grain,
up grain under the hand of Pharaoh, and let as the sand of the sea, until he ceased
them keep food in the cities. counting, for it was without number.
36 “And the food shall be for a store for 50 And to YosÃph were born two sons
the land for the seven years of scarcity of before the years of scarcity of food came,
food which shall be in the land of whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-
Mitsrayim, and do not let the land be cut Pherah priest of On, bore to him.
off by the scarcity of food.” 51 And YosÃph called the name of the
37 And the word was good in the eyes of first-born Menashsheh, “For Elohim has
Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. made me forget all my toil and all my
38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, father’s house.”
“Could we find another like him, a man in 52 And the name of the second he called
bear fruit in the land of my affliction.” they did not recognise him.
53 And the seven years of plenty which 9 And YosÃph remembered the dreams
were in the land of Mitsrayim came to an which he had dreamed about them, and
end, said to them, “You are spies! You have
54 and the seven years of scarcity of food come to see the nakedness of the land!”
began to come, as YosÃph had said. And 10 And they said to him, “No, my master,
the scarcity of food was in all lands, but in but your servants have come to buy food.
all the land of Mitsrayim there was bread. 11 “We are all one man’s sons, we are
55 But when all the land of Mitsrayim trustworthy, your servants are not spies.”
hungered, and the people cried to Pharaoh 12 But he said to them, “No, but you have
for bread, Pharaoh said to all the Mitsrites, come to see the nakedness of the land.”
“Go to YosÃph, do whatever he says to 13 And they said, “Your servants are
severe in the land of Mitsrayim. spoke to you, saying, ‘You are spies!’
57 And all the earth came to YosÃph in 15 “By this you shall be proven: By the
Mitsrayim to buy grain, because the scarci- life of Pharaoh, you do not leave this place
ty of food was severe in all the earth. unless your youngest brother comes here.
16 “Send one of you, and let him bring
live and not die.” “Do this and live, for I fear Elohim:
3 And YosÃph’s ten brothers went down 19 “If you are trustworthy, let one of your
their faces to the earth. “Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not
7 And YosÃph saw his brothers and sin against the boy,’ and you would not
recognised them, but he acted as a stranger listen? And see, his blood is now required
to them and spoke to them harshly, and of us.”
said to them, “Where do you come from?” 23 And they did not know that YosÃph
And they said, “From the land of KenaÈan understood them, for he spoke to them
to buy food.” through an interpreter.
8 So YosÃph recognised his brothers, but 24 And he turned himself away from them
47 BERÂSHITH 43
and wept, but came back to them and 37 So Re’uÄÃn spoke to his father, saying,
spoke to them. And he took ShimÈon from “Take the lives of my two sons if I do not
them and bound him before their eyes. bring him back to you. Put him in my
25 And YosÃph commanded and they hands, and I myself bring him back to
filled their sacks with grain, also to put you.”
back every man’s silver to his sack, and to 38 But he said, “My son is not going down
give them food for the journey. And thus it with you, for his brother is dead, and he is
was done for them. left alone. If any harm should come to him
26 So they loaded their donkeys with the along the way in which you go, then you
grain and went from there. would bring down my grey hair with
27 And as one of them opened his sack to sorrow to the grave.”
give his donkey fodder at the lodging
place, he saw his silver, for there it was in
the mouth of his sack!
28 And he said to his brothers, “My silver
43 But the scarcity of food was severe
in the land.
2 And it came to be, when they had eaten
has been returned, and there it is, in my up the grain which they had brought from
sack!” And their hearts sank and they were Mitsrayim, that their father said to them,
afraid, saying to each other, “What is this “Go back, buy us a little food.”
that Elohim has done to us?” 3 But YehuÅah spoke to him, saying,
29 So they came to YaÈaqoÄ their father in “The man vehemently warned us, saying,
the land of KenaÈan and reported to him all ‘You do not see my face unless your
that befell them, saying, brother is with you.’ ”
30 “The man, the master of the land, spoke 4 “If you let our brother go with us, we
to us harshly, and took us for spies of the go down and buy you food.
land. 5 “But if you do not let him go, we do not
31 “But we said to him, ‘We are trustwor- go down, because the man said to us, ‘You
thy, we are not spies. do not see my face unless your brother is
32 ‘We are twelve brothers, sons of our with you.’ ”
father. One is no more, and the youngest is 6 And Yisra’Ãl said, “Why did you do
today with our father in the land of evil to me to inform the man that you still
KenaÈan.’ had another brother?”
33 “And the man, the master of the land, 7 And they said, “The man kept asking
said to us, ‘By this I know that you are about us and our relatives, saying, ‘Is your
trustworthy: Leave one of your brothers father still alive? Have you another broth-
here with me, and take food for the scarci- er?’ And we informed him according
ty of food of your households, and go. to these words. How could we know that
34 ‘And bring your youngest brother to he would say, ‘Bring your brother
me, then I know that you are not spies, but down’?”
that you are trustworthy – I give your 8 And YehuÅah said to Yisra’Ãl his father,
brother to you, and you move about in the “Send the boy with me, and let us arise and
land.’ ” go, and live and not die, both we and you
35 And it came to be as they emptied their and also our little ones.
sacks, that look, the bundle of each man’s 9 “I myself shall stand guaranty for him –
silver was in his sack! And when they and from my hand you are to require him. If I
their father saw the bundles of silver, they do not bring him back to you and set him
were afraid. before you, then let me bear the blame for-
36 And YaÈaqoÄ their father said to them, ever.
“You have bereaved me – YosÃph is no 10 “For if we had not delayed, truly by
more, and ShimÈon is no more, and you now we could have returned this second
would take Binyamin! All this is against time.”
me.” 11 And their father Yisra’Ãl said to them,
BERÂSHITH 43 48
“If so, then do this: Take some of the best sacks – your silver had come to me!” And
fruit of the land in your vessels and bring a he brought ShimÈon out to them.
present down for the man, a little balm and 24 And the man brought the men into
a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and YosÃph’s house and gave them water, and
almonds. they washed their feet. And he gave their
12 “And take double silver in your hand, donkeys fodder.
and take back in your hand the silver that 25 And they made the present ready for
was returned in the mouth of your sacks. It YosÃph’s coming at noon, for they heard
could have been a mistake. that they were to eat there.
13 “And take your brother, and arise, go 26 And when YosÃph came home, they
back to the man. brought him the present which was in their
14 “And Âl Shaddai give to you compas- hand, into the house, and bowed down
sion before the man, so that he shall before him to the earth.
release your other brother and Binyamin. 27 And he asked them about their welfare,
And I, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved!” and said, “Is your father well, the old man
15 And the men took that present and of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”
Binyamin, and they took double the 28 And they said, “Your servant our father
amount of silver in their hand, and arose is in good health, he is still alive.” And
and went down to Mitsrayim, and stood they bowed their heads down and did
before YosÃph. obeisance.
16 And YosÃph saw Binyamin with them, 29 And he lifted his eyes and saw his
and said to the one over his house, “Bring brother Binyamin, his mother’s son, and
the men home, and make a great slaughter, said, “Is this your younger brother of
and prepare, for these men are to eat with whom you spoke to me?” And he said,
me at noon.” “Elohim show favour to you, my son.”
17 And the man did as YosÃph said, and 30 And YosÃph hurried, for his emotions
the man brought the men into YosÃph’s were deeply moved towards his brother,
house. and he looked for a place to weep, and
18 And the men were afraid because they went into his room and wept there.
were brought into YosÃph’s house. And 31 Then he washed his face and came out,
they said, “It is because of the silver, which and controlled himself, and said, “Serve
was put back into our sacks the first time, the food.”
that we are brought in, to throw himself 32 And they set him a place by himself,
upon us and fall upon us, to take us as and them by themselves, and the Mitsrites
slaves, our donkeys too.” who ate with him by themselves, for the
19 So they came near to the man over the Mitsrites could not eat food with the
house of YosÃph, and spoke to him at the HeÄrews, for that is an abomination to the
door of the house, Mitsrites.
20 and said, “O my master, we indeed 33 And they sat before him, the first-born
came down the first time to buy food, according to his birthright and the
21 but it came to be, when we came to the youngest according to his youth, and the
lodging place, that we opened our sacks men looked at each other in astonishment.
and saw each man’s silver in the mouth of 34 And he took portions to them from
his sack, our silver in its weight. And we before him, but Binyamin’s portion was
have brought it back in our hand. five times as much as any of theirs. And
22 “And we have brought down other they feasted and they drank with him.
silver in our hands to buy food. We do not
know who put our silver in our sacks.”
23 But he said, “Peace be with you, do not 44 And he commanded the one over
his house, saying, “Fill the men’s
be afraid. Your Elohim and the Elohim of sacks with food, as they are able to bear,
your father has given you treasure in your and put each man’s silver in the mouth of
49 BERÂSHITH 44
the men were sent away, they and their this. The man in whose hand the cup was
donkeys. found, he becomes my slave. And you, go
4 And when they had gone out of the city, up in peace to your father.”
not having gone far, YosÃph said to the one 18 And YehuÅah came near to him and
over his house, “Rise up, follow the men, said, “O my master, please let your servant
and when you overtake them, say to them, speak a word in my master’s hearing, and
‘Why have you repaid evil for good? do not let your displeasure burn against
5 ‘Is this not the one from which my your servant, for you are like Pharaoh.
master drinks, and with which he indeed 19 “My master asked his servants, saying,
divines? You have done evil in what you ‘Have you a father or a brother?’
have done.’ ” 20 “And we said to my master, ‘We have a
6 So he overtook them and spoke these father, an old man, and a young child of his
words to them. old age, and his brother is dead, and he
7 And they said to him, “Why does my alone is left of his mother’s children, and
master say these words? Far be it from us his father loves him.’
that your servants should do according to 21 “And you said to your servants, ‘Bring
in the mouth of our sacks. How then not able to leave his father, for if he leaves
should we steal silver or gold from your his father, his father shall die.’
master’s house? 23 “But you said to your servants, ‘Unless
9 “With whomever of your servants it is your youngest brother comes down with
found – he shall die and we shall become you, you do not see my face again.’
my master’s slaves as well.” 24 “And it came to be, when we went up
10 And he said, “Now also let it be accord- to your servant my father, that we told him
ing to your words: he with whom it is the words of my master.
found becomes my slave, and you are 25 “And our father said, ‘Go back and buy
his sack to the ground, and each opened his down. If our youngest brother is with us,
sack. then we shall go down, for we are not able
12 And he searched, with the oldest first to see the man’s face unless our youngest
and with the youngest last, and the cup was brother is with us.’
found in Binyamin’s sack. 27 “Then your servant my father said to
13 And they tore their garments, and each us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two
man loaded his donkey and went back to sons,
the city. 28 and the one went out from me, and I
14 And YehuÅah and his brothers came to said, “Truly, he is torn, torn to pieces!”
YosÃph’s house, and he was still there. And I have not seen him since.
And they fell before him on the ground. 29 ‘And if you take this one from me too,
15 And YosÃph said to them, “What deed and harm comes to him, you shall bring
is this you have done? Did you not know down my grey hair with evil to the grave.’
that a man like me indeed divines?” 30 “And now, if I come to your servant my
16 And YehuÅah said, “What do we say to father and the boy is not with us – since his
BERÂSHITH 44 50
own life is bound up in his life – to him, ‘Thus says your son YosÃph,
31 then it shall be, when he sees that the “Elohim has made me master of all
boy is not with us, that he shall die. So Mitsrayim. Come down to me, do not
your servants shall bring down the grey delay.
hair of your servant our father with evil to 10 “And you shall dwell in the land of
go out from me!” So no one stood with neck and wept, and Binyamin wept on his
him while YosÃph made himself known to neck.
his brothers. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept
2 And he wept aloud, and the Mitsrites over them, and after that his brothers spoke
and the house of Pharaoh heard it. with him.
3 And YosÃph said to his brothers, “I am 16 And the report of it was heard by the
YosÃph, is my father still alive?” But his house of Pharaoh, saying, “The brothers of
brothers were unable to answer him, for YosÃph have come.” And it was good in
they trembled before him. the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his
4 Then YosÃph said to his brothers, servants.
“Please come near to me.” And when they 17 And Pharaoh said to YosÃph, “Say to
came near, he said, “I am YosÃph your your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your beasts
brother, whom you sold into Mitsrayim. and go, enter the land of KenaÈan,
5 “And now, do not be grieved nor 18 and take your father and your house-
displeased with yourselves because you holds and come to me, and I give you the
sold me here, for Elohim sent me before best of the land of Mitsrayim, and you eat
you to preserve life. the fat of the land.
6 “For two years now the scarcity of food 19 ‘And you, you have been commanded,
has been in the land, and there are still five do this: Take wagons out of the land of
years in which there is neither ploughing Mitsrayim for your little ones and your
nor harvesting. wives. And you shall bring your father, and
7 “And Elohim sent me before you to come.
preserve for you a remnant in the earth, 20 ‘And do not be concerned about your
and to give life to you by a great escape. goods, for the best of all the land of
8 “So then, you did not send me here, Mitsrayim is yours.’ ”
but Elohim. And He has set me for a father 21 And the sons of Yisra’Ãl did so. And
to Pharaoh, and master of all his house, YosÃph gave them wagons, according to
and a ruler throughout all the land of the command of Pharaoh, and he gave
Mitsrayim. them food for the journey.
9 “Hurry and go up to my father, and say 22 He gave to all of them, to each man,
51 BERÂSHITH 46
changes of garments, but to Binyamin he 7 His sons and his sons’ sons, his daugh-
gave three hundred pieces of silver and ters and his sons’ daughters, and all his
five changes of garments. seed he brought with him to Mitsrayim.
23 And he sent to his father this: ten 8 And these were the names of the
donkeys loaded with the best of children of Yisra’Ãl, YaÈaqoÄ and his sons,
Mitsrayim, and ten female donkeys loaded who came into Mitsrayim: Re’uÄÃn was
with grain, and bread, and food for his YaÈaqoÄ’s first-born.
father for the journey. 9 And the sons of Re’uÄÃn: Àano¿, and
24 So he sent his brothers away, and they Pallu, and Àetsron, and Karmi.
left. And he said to them, “Do not quarrel 10 And the sons of ShimÈon: Yemu’Ãl, and
along the way.” Yamin, and OhaÅ, and Ya¿in, and TsoÁar,
25 And they went up out of Mitsrayim, and Sha’ul, son of a KenaÈanite woman.
and came to the land of KenaÈan to 11 And the sons of LÃwi: GÃreshon,
still alive, and he is governor over all the Onan, and ShÃlah, and Perets, and ZeraÁ –
land of Mitsrayim.” And YaÈaqoÄ’s heart but Âr and Onan died in the land of
ceased, for he did not believe them. KenaÈan. And the sons of Perets were
27 But when they spoke to him all the Àetsron and Àamul.
words which YosÃph had spoken to them, 13 And the sons of Yissas¿ar: Tola, and
and when he saw the wagons which PuwÈah, and YoÄ, and Shimron.
YosÃph had sent to transport him, the spirit 14 And the sons of ZeÄulun: SereÅ, and
YosÃph is still alive. Let me go and see him she bore to YaÈaqoÄ in Paddan Aram, with
before I die.” his daughter Dinah. All the beings, his
sons and his daughters, were thirty-three.
46 And Yisra’Ãl set out with all that he
had, and came to Be’ÃrsheÄa, and
16 And the sons of GaÅ: Tsiphyon and
your father. Do not be afraid to go down LaÄan gave to LÃ’ah his daughter. And
to Mitsrayim, for I shall make you there these she bore to YaÈaqoÄ: sixteen beings.
into a great nation. 19 The sons of RaÁÃl, YaÈaqoÄ’s wife:
4 “I Myself am going down with you to YosÃph and Binyamin.
Mitsrayim and I Myself shall certainly 20 And to YosÃph in the land of Mitsrayim
bring you up again. And let YosÃph put his were born Menashsheh and Ephrayim,
hand on your eyes.” whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-
5 And YaÈaqoÄ rose up from Be’ÃrsheÄa. Pherah priest of On, bore to him.
And the sons of Yisra’Ãl brought their 21 And the sons of Binyamin: Belah, and
father YaÈaqoÄ, and their little ones, and Be¿er, and AshbÃl, GÃra and NaÈaman,
their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh ÂÁi and Rosh, Muppim and Àuppim, and
had sent to transport him. Ard.
6 And they took their livestock and their 22 These were the sons of RaÁÃl who were
property which they had acquired in the born to YaÈaqoÄ: fourteen beings in all.
land of KenaÈan, and came into Mitsrayim, 23 And the son of Dan: Àushim.
YaÈaqoÄ and all his seed with him. 24 And the sons of Naphtali: YaÁtse’Ãl,
BERÂSHITH 46 52
and Guni, and YÃtser, and ShillÃm. 3 And Pharaoh said to his brothers,
25 These were the sons of Bilhah, whom “What is your occupation?” And they said
LaÄan gave to RaÁÃl his daughter, and she to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds,
bore these to YaÈaqoÄ: seven beings in all. both we and also our fathers.”
26 All the beings who went with YaÈaqoÄ 4 And they said to Pharaoh, “We have
to Mitsrayim, who came from his body, come to dwell in the land, because there is
besides YaÈaqoÄ’s sons’ wives, were sixty- no pasture for your servant’s flocks, for the
six beings in all. scarcity of food is severe in the land of
27 And the sons of YosÃph who were born KenaÈan. And now, please let your servants
to him in Mitsrayim were two beings. All dwell in the land of Goshen.”
the beings of the house of YaÈaqoÄ who 5 And Pharaoh spoke to YosÃph, saying,
went to Mitsrayim were seventy. “Your father and your brothers have come
28 And he sent YehuÅah before him to to you.
YosÃph, to point out before him the way to 6 “The land of Mitsrayim is before you.
Goshen. And they came to the land of Settle your father and brothers in the best
Goshen. of the land, let them dwell in the land of
29 And YosÃph made ready his chariot and Goshen. And if you know of capable men
went up to Goshen to meet his father among them, then make them chief herds-
Yisra’Ãl. And he appeared to him, and fell men over my livestock.”
on his neck and wept on his neck a long 7 And YosÃph brought in his father
brought their flocks and their herds, and all went out from before Pharaoh.
that they have.’ 11 So YosÃph settled his father and his
33 “And it shall be, when Pharaoh calls brothers, and gave them a possession in the
you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ land of Mitsrayim, in the best of the land,
34 that you shall say, ‘Your servants have in the land of RaÈmeses, as Pharaoh had
been men of livestock from our youth even commanded.
till now, both we and also our fathers,’ so 12 And YosÃph provided his father, and
that you dwell in the land of Goshen, for his brothers, and all his father’s house-
every shepherd is an abomination to the hold with bread for the mouth of the little
Mitsrites.” ones.
13 Now there was no bread in all the land,
the silver into Pharaoh’s house. and as food for your little ones.”
15 And when the silver was all spent in the 25 And they said, “You have saved our
land of Mitsrayim and in the land of lives. Let us find favour in the eyes of my
KenaÈan, all the Mitsrites came to YosÃph master, and we shall become Pharaoh’s
and said, “Give us bread, for why should servants.”
we die in your presence? For the silver is 26 And YosÃph made it a law over the land
YosÃph, and YosÃph gave them bread in Mitsrayim, in the land of Goshen. And
exchange for the horses, and for the flocks they had possessions there and bore fruit
they owned, and for the herds they owned, and increased exceedingly.
and for the donkeys. Thus he fed them 28 And YaÈaqoÄ lived in the land of
with bread in exchange for all their live- Mitsrayim seventeen years. So the length
stock that year. of YaÈaqoÄ’s life was one hundred and
18 And when that year had ended, they forty-seven years.
came to him the next year and said to him, 29 And the time for Yisra’Ãl to die drew
“We do not hide from my master that our near, and he called his son YosÃph and said
silver is all spent, and my master also has to him, “Now if I have found favour in
the livestock we owned. There has not any your eyes, please put your hand under my
been left before my master but our bodies thigh, and show kindness and truth to me.
and our lands. Please do not bury me in Mitsrayim,
19 “Why should we die before your eyes, 30 but I shall lie with my fathers, and you
both we and our land? Buy us and our land shall take me up out of Mitsrayim and bury
for bread, and let us and our land be ser- me in their burial place.” And he said, “I
vants of Pharaoh. And give us seed, and let do as you have said.”
us live and not die, and let the land not lie 31 And he said, “Swear to me.” And he
ted to them by Pharaoh, and they ate their Shaddai appeared to me at Luz in the land
portions which Pharaoh gave them. of KenaÈan and blessed me,
Therefore they did not sell their ground. 4 and said to me, ‘See, I am making you
23 And YosÃph said to the people, “Look, bear fruit and shall increase you and make
I have bought you and your land today for of you an assembly of peoples, and give
Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and this land to your seed after you as an ever-
you shall sow the land. lasting possession.’
24 “And it shall be that in the harvest you 5 “And now, your two sons, Ephrayim
shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. And four- and Menashsheh, who were born to you in
fifths is your own, as seed for the field and the land of Mitsrayim before I came to you
for your food, for those of your households in Mitsrayim, are mine – as Re’uÄÃn and
BERÂSHITH 48 54
called by the name of their brothers in their my father, for this one is the first-born, put
inheritance. your right hand on his head.”
7 “And I, when I came from Paddan, 19 But his father refused and said, “I
RaÁÃl died beside me in the land of know, my son, I know. He also becomes a
KenaÈan on the way, when there was but a people, and he also is great. And yet, his
little distance to go to Ephrath. And I younger brother is greater than he, and his
buried her there on the way to Ephrath, seed is to become the completeness of the
that is BÃyth LeÁem.” nations.”
8 And Yisra’Ãl saw YosÃph’s sons, and 20 And he blessed them on that day, say-
said, “Who are these?” ing, “In you Yisra’Ãl shall bless, saying,
9 And YosÃph said to his father, “They ‘Elohim make you as Ephrayim and as
are my sons, whom Elohim has given me Menashsheh!’ ” Thus he put Ephrayim
in this place.” And he said, “Please bring before Menashsheh.
them to me, and let me bless them.” 21 And Yisra’Ãl said to YosÃph, “See, I
10 And the eyes of Yisra’Ãl were dim with am dying, but Elohim shall be with you
age, and he was unable to see. And he and bring you back to the land of your
drew them near him, and he kissed them fathers.
and embraced them. 22 “And I, I have given to you one portion
11 And Yisra’Ãl said to YosÃph, “I had not above your brothers, which I took from the
thought to see your face. But see, Elohim hand of the Amorite with my sword and
has also shown me your seed!” with my bow.”
12 So YosÃph brought them from between
toward Yisra’Ãl’s right hand, and brought YaÈaqoÄ, and listen to Yisra’Ãl your father.
them near him. 3 “Re’uÄÃn, you are my first-born, my
14 And Yisra’Ãl stretched out his right hand power and the beginning of my strength,
and laid it on Ephrayim’s head, who was the the excellency of exaltation and the excel-
younger, and his left hand on Menashsheh’s lency of power.
head, consciously directing his hands, for 4 “Boiling like water, you do not excel,
Menashsheh was the first-born. because you went up to your father’s bed,
15 And he blessed YosÃph, and said, “The then you defiled it – he went up to my
Elohim before whom my fathers AÄraham couch.
and YitsÁaq walked, the Elohim who has 5 “ShimÈon and LÃwi are brothers, their
fed me all my life long to this day, weapons are implements of violence.
16 the Messenger who has redeemed me 6 “Let my being not enter their council,
from all evil – bless the youths! And let my let my esteem not be united to their
name be called upon them, and the name assembly; because they slew a man in
of my fathers AÄraham and YitsÁaq. And their displeasure, and they lamed an ox in
let them increase to a multitude in the pleasure.
midst of the earth.” 7 “Cursed be their displeasure for it is
17 And when YosÃph saw that his father fierce, and their wrath for it is cruel! I
laid his right hand on the head of Ephrayim, divide them in YaÈaqoÄ and scatter them in
it was evil in his eyes; and he took hold Yisra’Ãl.
of his father’s hand to remove it from the 8 “You, YehuÅah, your brothers praise
55 BERÂSHITH 50
washed his garments in wine, and his robes morning he eats prey, and at night he
in the blood of grapes. divides the spoil.”
12 “His eyes are darker than wine, and his 28 All these are the twelve tribes of
teeth whiter than milk. Yisra’Ãl, and this is what their father spoke
13 “ZeÄulun dwells at the seashore, he is to them. And he blessed them, he blessed
for a haven for ships, and his border is unto each one according to his own blessing.
TsiÅon. 29 And he commanded them, and said to
14 “Yissas¿ar is a strong donkey lying them, “I am to be gathered to my people,
down between two burdens, bury me with my fathers in the cave that is
15 and he saw that a resting place was in the field of Ephron the Àittite,
good, and that the land was pleasant, and 30 in the cave that is in the field of
he inclined his shoulder to bear a burden, Ma¿pÃlah, which is before Mamrà in the
and became a subject to slave labour. land of KenaÈan, which AÄraham bought
16 “Dan rightly rules his people as one of with the field of Ephron the Àittite as a
the tribes of Yisra’Ãl. possession for a burial site.
17 “Dan is a serpent by the way, an adder 31 There they buried AÄraham and Sarah
by the path, that bites the horse’s heels so his wife, there they buried YitsÁaq and
that its rider falls backward. RiÄqah his wife, and there I buried LÃ’ah –
18 “I have waited for your deliverance, O 32 the field purchased, and the cave which
raids its heel. his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed
20 “Bread from AshÃr is rich, and he gives and breathed his last, and was gathered to
delicacies of a sovereign. his people.
21 “Naphtali is a deer let loose, he gives
words of elegance.
22 “YosÃph is an offshoot of a fruit-bear- 50 And YosÃph fell on his father’s
face, and wept over him, and
ing tree, an offshoot of a fruit-bearing tree kissed him.
by a fountain, his branches run over a wall. 2 And YosÃph commanded his servants
23 “And the archers have bitterly grieved the physicians to embalm his father. So the
him, shot at him and hated him. physicians embalmed Yisra’Ãl.
24 “But his bow remained in strength, and 3 And forty days were completed for
the arms of his hands were made strong by him, for so are completed the days of
the hands of the Mighty One of YaÈaqoÄ – embalming. And the Mitsrites wept for
from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of him seventy days.
n In the five Books of Mosheh we find six titles for Messiah: Shiloh, Sceptre, Shepherd, Stone, Seed, Star, and a
seventh one: Lawgiver.
BERÂSHITH 50 56
4 And when the days of weeping for him 15 And when YosÃph’s brothers saw that
were past, YosÃph spoke to the household their father was dead, they said, “What if
of Pharaoh, saying, “If, now, I have found YosÃph hates us, and pays us back all the
favour in your eyes, please speak in the evil which we did to him?”
hearing of Pharaoh, saying, 16 And they sent word to YosÃph, saying,
5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “Before your father died he commanded,
“See, I am dying, bury me in my grave saying,
which I dug for myself in the land of 17 ‘This is what you are to say to YosÃph,
KenaÈan.” And now, please let me go up “I beg you, please forgive the transgression
and bury my father, and return.’ ” of your brothers and their sin, for they did
6 And Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury evil to you.” ’ And now, please forgive the
your father, as he made you swear.” transgression of the servants of the Elohim
7 And YosÃph went up to bury his father. of your father.” And YosÃph wept when
And with him went up all the servants of they spoke to him.
Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the 18 And his brothers also went and fell
elders of the land of Mitsrayim, down before his face, and they said, “See,
8 and all the house of YosÃph, and his we are your servants.”
brothers, and his father’s house. Only their 19 And YosÃph said to them, “Do not fear,
little ones, and their flocks, and their herds for am I in the place of Elohim?
they left in the land of Goshen. 20 “And you, you intended evil against
9 And there went up with him both me, but Elohim intended it for good, in
chariots and horsemen, and it was a very order to do it as it is this day, to keep a
great company. great many people alive.
10 And they came to the threshing-floor of 21 “And now, do not fear, I provide for
AtaÅ, which is beyond the YardÃn, and you and your little ones.” So he comforted
they lamented there with a great and very them and spoke kindly to them.
heavy lamentation. And he observed seven 22 And YosÃph dwelt in Mitsrayim, he and
days of mourning for his father. his father’s household. And YosÃph lived
11 And when the inhabitants of the land, one hundred and ten years.
the KenaÈanites, saw the mourning at the 23 And YosÃph saw Ephrayim’s children
threshing-floor of AtaÅ, they said, “This is to the third generation. The children of
a grievous mourning for the Mitsrites.” Ma¿ir, son of Menashsheh, were also
That is why its name was called AÄÃl brought up on YosÃph’s knees.
Mitsrayim, which is beyond the YardÃn. 24 And YosÃph said to his brothers, “I am
12 And his sons did to him as he had com- dying, but Elohim shall certainly visit you
manded them, and bring you out of this land to the land of
13 for his sons brought him to the land of which He swore to AÄraham, to YitsÁaq,
KenaÈan, and buried him in the cave of the and to YaÈaqoÄ.”
field of Ma¿pÃlah, before MamrÃ, which 25 And YosÃph made the children of
AÄraham bought with the field from Yisra’Ãl swear, saying, “Elohim shall
Ephron the Àittite as property for a burial certainly visit you, and you shall bring up
site. my bones from here.”
14 And after he had buried his father, 26 And YosÃph died, being one hundred
YosÃph returned to Mitsrayim, he and his and ten years old. And they embalmed
brothers and all who went up with him to him, and he was placed in a coffin in
bury his father. Mitsrayim.
SHEMOTH
EXODUS — 2 MOSHEH
was already in Mitsrayim. for the midwives and said to them, “Why
6 And YosÃph died, and all his brothers, have you done this, and kept the male
and all that generation. children alive?”
7 And the children of Yisra’Ãl bore fruit 19 And the midwives said to Pharaoh,
and increased very much, multiplied and “Because the HeÄrew women are not like
became very strong, and the land was the Mitsrite women. For they are lively
filled with them. and give birth before the midwives come
8 Then a new sovereign arose over Mits- to them.”
rayim, who did not know YosÃph, 20 So Elohim was good to the midwives,
9 and he said to his people, “See, the and the people increased and became very
people of the children of Yisra’Ãl are more numerous.
and stronger than we, 21 And it came to be, because the mid-
10 come, let us act wisely towards them, wives feared Elohim, that He provided
lest they increase, and it shall be when households for them.
fighting befalls us, that they shall join our 22 And Pharaoh commanded all his
enemies and fight against us, and shall go people, saying, “Throw every son who is
up out of the land.” born into the river, and keep alive every
11 So they set slave-masters over them to daughter.”
afflict them with their burdens, and they
built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and
RaÈamses.
12 But the more they afflicted them, the
2 And a man of the house of LÃwi went
and married a daughter of LÃwi.
2 And the woman conceived and bore
more they increased and grew, and they a son. And she saw that he was a lovely
were in dread of the children of Yisra’Ãl. child, and she hid him three months.
13 And the Mitsrites made the children of 3 And when she could hide him no
Yisra’Ãl serve with harshness, longer, she took an ark of wicker for him,
14 and they made their lives bitter with and coated it with tar and pitch, and put the
hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the
in all kinds of work in the field, all their edge of the river.
work which they made them do was with 4 And his sister stood at a distance, to
on him, and said, “This is one of the chil- from the hand of the shepherds, and he
dren of the HeÄrews.” also drew enough water for us and watered
7 And his sister said to Pharaoh’s daugh- the flock.”
ter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you 20 And he said to his daughters, “And
from the HeÄrew women to nurse the child where is he? Why did you leave the man?
for you?” Call him and let him eat bread.”
8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, 21 And Mosheh agreed to dwell with the
“Go.” And the girl went and called the man, and he gave Tsipporah his daughter
child’s mother. to Mosheh.
9 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, 22 And she bore him a son, and he called
“Take this child away and nurse him for his name GÃreshom, for he said, “I have
me, then I shall pay your wages.” So the become a sojourner in a foreign land.”
woman took the child and nursed him. 23 And it came to be after these many days
10 And the child grew, and she brought that the sovereign of Mitsrayim died. And
him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became the children of Yisra’Ãl groaned because
her son. And she called his name Mosheh, of the slavery, and they cried out. And their
saying, “Because I have drawn him out of cry came up to Elohim because of the
the water.” slavery.
11 And in those days it came to be, when 24 And Elohim heard their groaning, and
Mosheh was grown, that he went out to his Elohim remembered His covenant with
brothers and looked at their burdens. And AÄraham, with YitsÁaq, and with YaÈaqoÄ.
he saw a Mitsrite beating a HeÄrew, one of 25 And Elohim looked on the children of
land of MiÅyan. And he sat down by a see, and Elohim called to him from the
well. midst of the bush and said, “Mosheh!
16 And the priest of MiÅyan had seven Mosheh!” And he said, “Here I am.”
daughters. And they came and drew water, 5 And He said, “Do not come near here.
and they filled the troughs to water their Take your sandals off your feet, for the
father’s flock, place on which you are standing is set-
17 but the shepherds came and drove them apart ground.”
away. Then Mosheh stood up and came to 6 And He said, “I am the Elohim of your
their rescue, and watered their flock. father, the Elohim of AÄraham, the Elohim
18 And they came to ReÈuw’Ãl their father, of YitsÁaq, and the Elohim of YaÈaqoÄ.”
and he said, “How is it that you have come And Mosheh hid his face, for he was afraid
59 SHEMOTH 4
oppression of My people who are in Yisra’Ãl together, and say to them, ‘HWHY
Mitsrayim, and have heard their cry Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of
because of their slave-drivers, for I know AÄraham, of YitsÁaq, and of YaÈaqoÄ,
their sorrows. appeared to me, saying, “I have indeed
8 “And I have come down to deliver visited you and seen what is done to you
them from the hand of the Mitsrites, and to in Mitsrayim;
bring them up from that land to a good and 17 and I say: I am bringing you up out of
spacious land, to a land flowing with milk the affliction of Mitsrayim to the land of
and honey, to the place of the KenaÈanites the KenaÈanite and the Àittite and the
and the Àittites and the Amorites and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Àiwwite
Perizzites and the Àiwwites and the and the YeÄusite, to a land flowing with
YeÄusites. milk and honey.” ’
9 “And now, see, the cry of the children 18 “And they shall listen to your voice.
of Yisra’Ãl has come to Me, and I have also And you shall come, you and the elders of
seen the oppression with which the Yisra’Ãl, to the sovereign of Mitsrayim,
Mitsrites oppress them. and you shall say to him, ‘HWHY Elohim of
10 “And now, come, I am sending you to the HeÄrews has met with us. And now,
Pharaoh, to bring My people, the children please, let us go three days’ journey into
of Yisra’Ãl, out of Mitsrayim.” the wilderness to slaughter to HWHY our
11 And Mosheh said to Elohim, “Who am Elohim.’
I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I 19 “But I know that the sovereign of Mits-
should bring the children of Yisra’Ãl out of rayim is not going to let you go, not even
Mitsrayim?” by a strong hand.
12 And He said, “Because I am with you. 20 “And I shall stretch out My hand and
And this is to you the sign that I have sent smite Mitsrayim with all My wonders
you: When you have brought the people which I shall do in its midst. And after that
out of Mitsrayim, you are to serve Elohim he shall let you go.
on this mountain.” 21 “And I shall give this people favour
13 And Mosheh said to Elohim, “See, in the eyes of the Mitsrites. And it shall
when I come to the children of Yisra’Ãl and be, that when you go, you shall not go
say to them, ‘The Elohim of your fathers empty-handed.
has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, 22 “But every woman shall ask from her
‘What is His Name?’ what shall I say to neighbour and from the stranger in her
them?” house, objects of silver, and objects of
14 And Elohim said to Mosheh, “I am that gold, and garments. And you shall put
which I am.” a And He said, “Thus you them on your sons and on your daughters,
shall say to the children of Yisra’Ãl, ‘I am and shall plunder the Mitsrites.”
has sent me to you.’ ”
15 And Elohim said further to Mosheh,
“Thus you are to say to the children of 4 And Mosheh answered and said, “And
if they do not believe me, nor listen to
Yisra’Ãl, ‘HWHY Elohim of your fathers, the my voice, and say, ‘HWHY has not appeared
Elohim of AÄraham, the Elohim of to you?’ ”
YitsÁaq, and the Elohim of YaÈaqoÄ, 2 And HWHY said to him, “What is that in
has sent me to you. This is My Name your hand?” And he said, “A rod.”
forever, and this is My remembrance to all 3 And He said, “Throw it on the ground.”
a The HeÄrew text reads: ’eyeh ’asher ’eyeh, the word ’eyeh being derived from hayah which means to be, to
exist, but the Aramaic text here in v. 14 reads: ayah ashar ayah. This is not His Name, but it is an explanation that
leads up to the revelation of His Name in v. 15, namely: HWHY.
SHEMOTH 4 60
So he threw it on the ground, and it be- 16 “And he shall speak for you to the peo-
came a serpent. And Mosheh fled from it. ple. And it shall be that he shall be a mouth
4 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Reach out for you, and you shall be an elohim b for
your hand and take it by the tail” – so he him.
reached out his hand and caught it, and it 17 “And take this rod in your hand, with
their fathers, the Elohim of AÄraham, the Yithro his father-in-law, and said to him,
Elohim of YitsÁaq, and the Elohim of “Please let me go and return to my brothers
YaÈaqoÄ, has appeared to you.” who are in Mitsrayim to see whether they
6 And HWHY said to him again, “Now put are still alive.” And Yithro said to Mosheh,
your hand in your bosom.” And he put his “Go in peace.”
hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, 19 And HWHY said to Mosheh in MiÅyan,
and see, his hand was leprous, like snow. “Go, return to Mitsrayim, for all the men
7 And He said, “Put your hand in your are dead who sought your life.”
bosom again.” So he put his hand in his 20 So Mosheh took his wife and his sons
bosom again, and drew it out of his bosom, and set them on a donkey, and he returned
and see, it was restored like his other flesh. to the land of Mitsrayim. And Mosheh
8 “And it shall be, if they do not believe took the rod of Elohim in his hand.
you, nor listen to the voice of the first sign, 21 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “As you go
they shall believe the voice of the latter back to Mitsrayim, see that you do all
sign. those wonders before Pharaoh which I
9 “And it shall be, if they do not believe have put in your hand. But I am going to
even these two signs, or listen to your harden his heart, so that he does not let the
voice, that you shall take water from the people go.
river and pour it on the dry land. And the 22 “And you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus
water which you take from the river shall said HWHY, “Yisra’Ãl is My son, My first-
become blood on the dry land.” born,
10 And Mosheh said to HWHY, “O HWHY, I 23 so I say to you, let My son go to serve
am not a man of words, neither before nor Me. But if you refuse to let him go, see,
since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am killing your son, your first-born.” ’ ”
I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” 24 And it came to be on the way, in the
11 And HWHY said to him, “Who has made lodging place, that HWHY met him and
man’s mouth? Or who makes dumb, or sought to kill him.
deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, HWHY? 25 And Tsipporah took a sharp stone and
12 “And now, go, and I shall be with your cut off the foreskin of her son and threw it
mouth and teach you what to say.” at Mosheh’s feet, and said, “You are
13 But he said, “O HWHY, please send by indeed a bridegroom of blood to me!”
the hand of him whom You would send.” 26 So He let him go. Then she said, “You
14 And the displeasure of HWHY burned are a bridegroom of blood,” because of the
against Mosheh, and He said, “Is not circumcision.
Aharon the LÃwite your brother? I know 27 And HWHY said to Aharon, “Go to meet
that he speaks well. And see, he is also Mosheh in the wilderness.” And he went
coming out to meet you. And when he sees and met him on the mountain of Elohim,
you, he shall be glad in his heart. and kissed him.
15 “And you shall speak to him and put 28 Mosheh then told Aharon all the words
the words in his mouth. And I am with of HWHY who had sent him, and all the signs
your mouth and with his mouth, and I shall which He had commanded him.
teach you what to do. 29 And Mosheh went with Aharon and
b Or mighty one, which is proof that elohim is but a title, indicating order or authority – it is not a proper name.
61 SHEMOTH 5
gathered together all the elders of the chil- 11 ‘Go, take straw for yourselves, wherev-
dren of Yisra’Ãl. er you find it, for your work shall not be
30 And Aharon spoke all the words which
diminished.’ ”
HWHY had spoken to Mosheh. Then he did 12 And the people were scattered in all the
the signs before the eyes of the people. land of Mitsrayim – to gather stubble for
31 And the people believed. And they
straw.
heard that HWHY had visited the children of 13 And the slave-drivers were hurrying
Yisra’Ãl and that He had looked on their them on, saying, “Complete your work,
affliction, and they bowed their heads and your daily amount, as when there was
did obeisance. straw.”
14 Also the foremen of the children of
of bricks which they made before, do not on you and judge, because you have made
diminish it. For they are idle, that is why us loathsome in the eyes of Pharaoh and in
they cry out, saying, ‘Let us go and slaugh- the eyes of his servants, to give a sword in
ter to our Elohim.’ their hand to kill us.”
9 “Let more work be laid on the men, so 22 And Mosheh returned to HWHY and said,
that they labour in it, and not pay attention “HWHY, why have You done evil to this
to words of falsehood.” people? Why did You send me?
10 And the slave-drivers of the people and 23 “For ever since I came to Pharaoh to
their foremen went out and spoke to the speak in Your Name, he has done evil to
people, saying, “Thus said Pharaoh, ‘I do this people. And You have not delivered
not give you straw. Your people at all.”
SHEMOTH 6 62
ing you out from under the burdens of the NepheÍ, and Zi¿ri.
Mitsrites. 22 And the sons of Uzzi’Ãl: Misha’Ãl, and
8 ‘And I shall bring you into the land Eltsaphan, and Sithri.
which I swore to give to AÄraham, to 23 Aharon took to himself ElisheÄa,
Mosheh, because of shortness of spirit, and and AÄiyasaph. These are the clans of the
from hard slavery. QorÁites.
10 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying, 25 And ElÈazar, Aharon’s son, took for
11 “Go in, speak to Pharaoh sovereign of himself one of the daughters of Puti’Ãl as
Mitsrayim, to let the children of Yisra’Ãl wife. And she bore him PineÁas. These are
go out of his land.” the heads of the fathers of the LÃwites
12 And Mosheh spoke before HWHY, according to their clans.
saying, “The children of Yisra’Ãl have not 26 This is Aharon, and Mosheh, to whom
listened to me, and why would Pharaoh lis- HWHY said, “Bring out the children of
ten to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” Yisra’Ãl from the land of Mitsrayim
13 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh and to according to their divisions.”
Aharon, and gave them a command for the 27 They were the ones who spoke to
children of Yisra’Ãl and for Pharaoh, sov- Pharaoh sovereign of Mitsrayim, to bring
ereign of Mitsrayim, to bring the children out the children of Yisra’Ãl from Mits-
63 SHEMOTH 7
rayim. This is Mosheh, and Aharon. the magicians of Mitsrayim, also did so
28 And it came to be, on the day when with their magic.
HWHY spoke to Mosheh in the land of 12 And they, each one, threw down his
of Mitsrayim all that I say to you.” he did not listen to them, as HWHY had said.
30 And Mosheh said before HWHY, “See, I 14 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “The heart
am of uncircumcised lips, and why would of Pharaoh is hard, he refuses to let the
Pharaoh listen to me?” people go.
15 “Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he
to Pharaoh, to let the children of Yisra’Ãl Elohim of the HeÄrews has sent me to you,
go out of his land. saying, “Let My people go, so that they
3 “But I am going to harden the heart of serve Me in the wilderness,” but see, until
Pharaoh, and shall increase My signs and now you have not listened!
My wonders in the land of Mitsrayim. 17 ‘Thus said HWHY, “By this you know
4 “And Pharaoh is not going to listen to that I am HWHY. See, I am striking the
you, and I shall lay My hand on Mitsrayim, waters which are in the river with the rod
and bring My divisions and My people, the that is in my hand, and they shall be turned
children of Yisra’Ãl, out of the land of to blood,
Mitsrayim by great judgments. 18 and the fish in the river shall die. And
5 “And the Mitsrites shall know that I am the river shall stink, and the Mitsrites shall
HWHY, when I stretch out My hand on find it impossible to drink the water of the
Mitsrayim. And I shall bring the children river.” ’ ”
of Yisra’Ãl out from among them.” 19 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, “Say to
6 And Mosheh and Aharon did as HWHY Aharon, ‘Take your rod and stretch out
commanded them, so they did. your hand over the waters of Mitsrayim,
7 Now Mosheh was eighty years old and over their streams, over their rivers, over
Aharon eighty-three years old when they their ponds, and over all their pools of
spoke to Pharaoh. water, that they become blood. And there
8 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh and to shall be blood in all the land of Mitsrayim,
Aharon, saying, both in wooden and in stone containers.’ ”
9 “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, 20 And Mosheh and Aharon did so, as
‘Show a miracle for yourselves,’ then you HWHY commanded. And he lifted up the rod
shall say to Aharon, ‘Take your rod and and struck the waters that were in the river,
throw it before Pharaoh, and let it become in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of
a serpent.’ ” his servants. And all the waters that were
10 So Mosheh and Aharon went in to in the river were turned to blood.
Pharaoh, and they did so, as HWHY com- 21 And the fish that were in the river died,
manded. And Aharon threw his rod before and the river stank, and the Mitsrites were
Pharaoh and before his servants, and it unable to drink the water of the river. And
became a serpent. the blood was in all the land of Mitsrayim.
11 But Pharaoh also called the wise men 22 And the magicians of Mitsrayim did the
and the practisers of witchcraft. And they, same with their magic. And the heart of
Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not lis- 11 “And the frogs shall turn aside from
ten to them, as HWHY had said. you, and from your houses, and from your
23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his servants, and from your people – they shall
house, and his heart was not moved by this remain in the river only.”
either. 12 And Mosheh and Aharon went out
24 And all the Mitsrites dug all around the from Pharaoh. And Mosheh cried out to
river for water to drink, for they were HWHY concerning the frogs which He had
unable to drink the water of the river. brought against Pharaoh.
25 And seven days were completed after 13 And HWHY did according to the word of
HWHY had struck the river. Mosheh. And the frogs died out of the
houses, out of the courtyards, and out of
8 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, “Go to
Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus said
the fields.
14 And they gathered them together in
HWHY, “Let My people go, so that they heaps, and the land stank.
serve Me. 15 And when Pharaoh saw that there was
2 “But if you refuse to let them go, see, relief, he hardened his heart and did not
I am smiting all your border with frogs. listen to them, as HWHY had said.
3 “And the river shall swarm with frogs, 16 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Say to
which shall go up and shall come into your Aharon, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike
house, and into your bedroom, and on your the dust of the land, so that it becomes
bed, and into the houses of your servants, gnats in all the land of Mitsrayim.’ ”
and on your people, and into your ovens, 17 And they did so, and Aharon stretched
and into your kneading bowls, out his hand with his rod and struck the
4 and the frogs shall come up on you and dust of the earth, and it became gnats on
on your people and on all your servants.” ’ ” man and beast. All the dust of the land
5 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Say to became gnats in all the land of Mitsrayim.
Aharon, ‘Stretch out your hand with your 18 And the magicians did similarly with
rod over the streams, over the rivers, and their magic to bring forth gnats, but they
over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up were unable. And there were gnats on man
on the land of Mitsrayim.’ ” and beast.
6 So Aharon stretched out his hand over 19 The magicians then said to Pharaoh,
the waters of Mitsrayim, and the frogs “This is the finger of Elohim!” But the
came up, and covered the land of Mits- heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did
rayim. not listen to them, as HWHY had said.
7 And the magicians did so with their 20 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Rise early
magic, and brought up frogs on the land of in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as
Mitsrayim. he comes out to the water, and say to him,
8 Pharaoh then called for Mosheh and ‘Thus said HWHY, “Let My people go, so
Aharon, and said, “Pray to HWHY to take that they serve Me.
away the frogs from me and from my 21 “Or else, if you do not let My people
people, and I shall let the people go to go, see, I am sending swarms of flies on
slaughter to HWHY.” you and your servants, and on your people
9 And Mosheh said to Pharaoh, “Explain and into your houses. And the houses of
yourself to me: When am I to pray for you, the Mitsrites shall be filled with swarms of
and for your servants, and for your people, flies, and also the ground on which they
to destroy the frogs from you and your stand.
houses, and remain only in the river?” 22 “And in that day I shall separate the
10 So he said, “Tomorrow.” And he said, land of Goshen, in which My people dwell,
“Let it be according to your word, so that that no swarms of flies shall be there, so
you know that there is no one like HWHY our that you know that I am HWHY in the midst
Elohim. of the land.
65 SHEMOTH 9
23 “And I shall put a distinction between 4 “And HWHY shall separate between the
My people and your people. Tomorrow livestock of Yisra’Ãl and the livestock of
this sign shall be.” ’ ” Mitsrayim, and let no matter die of all that
24 And HWHY did so, and thick swarms of
belongs to the children of Yisra’Ãl.” ’ ”
flies came into the house of Pharaoh, and 5 And HWHY set an appointed time, say-
into his servants’ houses, and into all the ing, “Tomorrow HWHY is going to do this
land of Mitsrayim, and the land was ruined word in the land.”
because of the swarms of flies. 6 And HWHY did this word on the next day,
25 Pharaoh then called for Mosheh and
and all the livestock of Mitsrayim died, but
Aharon, and said, “Go, slaughter to your of the livestock of the children of Yisra’Ãl,
Elohim in the land.” not one died.
26 And Mosheh said, “It is not right to do 7 Then Pharaoh sent, and see, not even
so, for we would be slaughtering the one of the livestock of the Yisra’Ãlites was
abomination of the Mitsrites to HWHY our dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hard-
Elohim. See, if we slaughter the abomina- ened, and he did not let the people go.
tion of the Mitsrites before their eyes, 8 And HWHY said to Mosheh and Aharon,
would they not stone us? “Fill your hands with ashes from a furnace
27 “Let us go three days’ journey into the
and let Mosheh scatter it toward the heav-
wilderness, then we shall slaughter to HWHY ens before the eyes of Pharaoh.
our Elohim, as He commands us.” 9 “And it shall become fine dust in all the
28 And Pharaoh said, “I am letting you go,
land of Mitsrayim, and it shall cause boils
then you shall slaughter to HWHY your that break out in sores on man and beast in
Elohim in the wilderness. Only, do not go all the land of Mitsrayim.”
very far away! d Pray for me.” 10 So they took ashes from the furnace
29 And Mosheh said, “See, when I leave and stood before Pharaoh, and Mosheh
you I shall pray to HWHY, and tomorrow the scattered them toward the heavens. And
swarms of flies shall depart from Pharaoh, they caused boils, breaking out in sores on
from his servants, and from his people. But man and beast.
do not let Pharaoh again deceive, not to let 11 And the magicians were unable to stand
the people go to slaughter to HWHY.” before Mosheh because of the boils, for the
30 And Mosheh went out from Pharaoh boils were on the magicians and on all the
and prayed to HWHY. Mitsrites.
31 And HWHY did according to the word of 12 But HWHY hardened the heart of
Mosheh and removed the swarms of flies Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as
from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from HWHY had said to Mosheh.
his people. Not one remained. 13 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Rise early
32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this in the morning and stand before Pharaoh,
time too, and did not let the people go. and say to him, ‘Thus said HWHY Elohim of
the HeÄrews, “Let My people go, so that
9 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Go in to
Pharaoh and speak to him, ‘Thus said
they serve Me,
14 for at this time I am sending all My
HWHY Elohim of the HeÄrews, “Let My plagues unto your heart, and on your
people go, so that they serve Me. servants and on your people, so that you
2 “For if you refuse to let them go, and know that there is no one like Me in all the
still hold them, earth.
3 see, the hand of HWHY is on your live- 15 “Now if I had stretched out My hand
stock in the field, on the horses, on the and struck you and your people with pesti-
donkeys, on the camels, on the cattle, and lence, then you would have been cut off
on the sheep – a very grievous pestilence. from the earth.
d Satan has always done the same, trying his best not to let new converts go too far away from him!
SHEMOTH 9 66
16 “And for this reason I have raised you And I am letting you go, so that you stay
up, in order to show you My power, and in no longer.”
order to declare My Name in all the earth. 29 And Mosheh said to him, “As soon as I
17 “You still exalt yourself against My go out of the city, let me spread out my
people in that you do not let them go! hands to HWHY, let the thunder cease and the
18 “See, tomorrow about this time I am hail be no more, so that you know that the
causing very heavy hail to rain down, such earth belongs to HWHY.
as has not been in Mitsrayim, from the day 30 “But as for you and your servants,
of its founding until now. I know that you do not yet fear before HWHY
19 “And now send, bring your livestock Elohim.”
to safety, and all that you have in the field, 31 And the flax and the barley were smit-
for the hail shall come down on every man ten, for the barley was in the head and the
and every beast which is found in the field flax was in bud.
and is not brought home, and they shall 32 But the wheat and the spelt were not
who feared the word of HWHY made their Pharaoh and spread out his hands to HWHY,
servants and livestock flee to the houses. and the thunder and the hail ceased, and
21 But those who did not set their heart on the rain was not poured on the earth.
the word of HWHY left their servants and 34 And Pharaoh saw that the rain, and the
livestock in the field. hail, and the thunder had ceased, yet he
22 Then HWHY said to Mosheh, “Stretch out sinned again and he hardened his heart, he
your hand toward the heavens, and let and his servants.
there be hail in all the land of Mitsrayim – 35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hard-
on man, and on beast, and on every plant ened, and he did not let the children of
of the field, throughout the land of Yisra’Ãl go, as HWHY had said through
Mitsrayim.” Mosheh.
23 Then Mosheh stretched out his rod
flashing continually in the midst of the your son and your son’s son what I have
hail, very heavy, such as had not been in all done in Mitsrayim, and My signs which I
the land of Mitsrayim since it became a have done among them. And you shall
nation. know that I am HWHY.”
25 And the hail smote in all the land of 3 And Mosheh and Aharon came in to
Mitsrayim all that was in the field, both Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus said HWHY
man and beast. And the hail smote every Elohim of the HeÄrews, ‘Till when shall
plant of the field and broke every tree of you refuse to humble yourself before Me?
the field. Let My people go, so that they serve Me.
26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the 4 ‘Or else, if you refuse to let My people
children of Yisra’Ãl were, there was no go, see, tomorrow I am bringing locusts
hail. within your borders.
27 Pharaoh then sent and called for 5 ‘And they shall cover the surface of the
Mosheh and for Aharon, and said to them, land, so that no one is able to see the land.
“I have sinned this time. HWHY is righteous, And they shall eat the rest of what has
and my people and I are wrong. escaped, which remains to you from the
28 “Pray to HWHY, for there has been hail, and they shall eat every tree which
enough of the thunder and hail of Elohim. grows up for you out of the field.
67 SHEMOTH 10
6 ‘And they shall fill your houses, and Aharon in haste, and said, “I have sinned
the houses of all your servants, and the against HWHY your Elohim and against you.
houses of all the Mitsrites, which neither 17 “And now, please forgive my sin only
your fathers nor your fathers’ fathers have this once, and pray to HWHY your Elohim,
seen, since the day that they were on the that He would only turn away this death
earth to this day.’ ” Then he turned and from me.”
went out from Pharaoh. 18 And he went out from Pharaoh and
7 And Pharaoh’s servants said to him,
prayed to HWHY.
“Till when would this one be a snare to us? 19 And HWHY turned a very strong west
Let the men go, so that they serve HWHY wind, which took the locusts away and
their Elohim. Do you not yet know that blew them into the Sea of Reeds. Not
Mitsrayim is destroyed?” one locust was left within all the border of
8 And Mosheh and Aharon were brought
Mitsrayim.
back to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, 20 However, HWHY hardened the heart of
serve HWHY your Elohim. Who are the ones
that are going?” Pharaoh, and he did not let the children of
9 And Mosheh said, “We are going with Yisra’Ãl go.
21 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Stretch out
our young and our old, with our sons and
our daughters, with our flocks and our your hand toward the heavens, and let
herds we are going, for we have a festival there be darkness over the land of Mits-
to HWHY.” rayim, even a darkness which is felt.”
10 And he said to them, “Let HWHY be with 22 And Mosheh stretched out his hand
you as I let you and your little ones go! toward the heavens, and there was thick
Watch, for evil is before your face! darkness in all the land of Mitsrayim for
11 “Not so! You men go now, and serve three days.
HWHY, for that is what you desired.” And 23 They did not see one another, nor did
they were driven out from the presence of anyone rise from his place for three days,
Pharaoh. while all the children of Yisra’Ãl had light
12 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Stretch out
in their dwellings.
your hand over the land of Mitsrayim for 24 And Pharaoh called to Mosheh and
the locusts to come upon the land of Mits- said, “Go, serve HWHY, only leave your
rayim, and eat every plant of the land – all flocks and your herds behind. Let your lit-
that the hail has left.” tle ones go with you too.”
13 And Mosheh stretched out his rod over
25 But Mosheh said, “You yourself are to
the land of Mitsrayim, and HWHY brought an provide us with slaughterings and burnt
east wind on the land all that day and all offerings, to prepare for HWHY our Elohim.
that night. Morning came, and the east 26 “And our livestock are to go with us
wind brought the locusts.
14 And the locusts went up over all the too, not a hoof is to be left behind, for we
land of Mitsrayim and settled within all the have to take some of them to serve HWHY
borders of Mitsrayim, very grievous. There our Elohim, and we ourselves do not know
had never been locusts like them before, with what we are to serve HWHY until we
nor would there again be like them. come there.”
15 And they covered the surface of all the 27 However, HWHY hardened the heart of
land, so that the land was darkened. And Pharaoh, and he would not let them go.
28 And Pharaoh said to him, “Get away
they ate every plant of the land and all the
fruit of the trees which the hail had left, from me! Watch yourself and see my face
and no greenness was left on the trees or no more, for in the day you see my face
on the plants of the field, in all the land of you die!”
Mitsrayim. 29 And Mosheh said, “You have spoken
16 Pharaoh then called for Mosheh and rightly – never again do I see your face!”
SHEMOTH 11 68
‘About midnight I am going out into the teenth day of the same month. Then all the
midst of Mitsrayim, assembly of the congregation of Yisra’Ãl
5 and all the first-born in the land of shall kill it between the evenings.
7 ‘And they shall take some of the blood
Mitsrayim shall die, from the first-born of
Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the and put it on the two doorposts and on the
first-born of the female servant who is lintel of the houses where they eat it.
8 ‘And they shall eat the flesh on that
behind the handmill, and all the first-born
of cattle. night, roasted in fire – with unleavened
6 ‘And there shall be a great cry through- bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
9 ‘Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with
out all the land of Mitsrayim, such as has
never been or ever be again. water, but roasted in fire, its head with its
7 ‘But against any of the children of legs and its inward parts.
Yisra’Ãl no dog shall move its tongue, 10 ‘And do not leave of it until morning,
against man or against beast, so that you and what remains of it until morning you
know that HWHY makes distinction between are to burn with fire.
Mitsrayim and Yisra’Ãl.’ 11 ‘And this is how you eat it: your loins
8 “And all these servants of yours shall girded, your sandals on your feet, and your
come down to me and bow down to me, staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in
saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people at haste. It is the Passover of HWHY.
your feet!’ And after that I shall go out.” 12 ‘And I shall pass through the land of
And he went out from Pharaoh in great dis- Mitsrayim on that night, and shall smite all
pleasure. the first-born in the land of Mitsrayim,
9 But HWHY said to Mosheh, “Pharaoh is both man and beast. And on all the mighty
not going to listen to you, in order to multi- ones of Mitsrayim I shall execute judg-
ply My wonders in the land of Mitsrayim.” ment. I am HWHY.
10 And Mosheh and Aharon did all these 13 ‘And the blood shall be a sign for you
wonders before Pharaoh, however, HWHY on the houses where you are. And when I
hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did see the blood, I shall pass over you, and let
not let the children of Yisra’Ãl go out of his the plague not come on you to destroy you
land. when I smite the land of Mitsrayim.
14 ‘And this day shall become to you a
whoever eats leavened bread from the first slaughtering of HWHY, who passed over the
day until the seventh day, that being shall houses of the children of Yisra’Ãl in Mits-
be cut off from Yisra’Ãl. rayim when He smote the Mitsrites and
16 ‘And on the first day is a set-apart gath- delivered our households.’ ” And the peo-
ering, and on the seventh day you have a ple bowed their heads and did obeisance.
set-apart gathering. No work at all is done 28 And the children of Yisra’Ãl went away
on them, only that which is eaten by every and did so – as HWHY had commanded
being, that alone is prepared by you. Mosheh and Aharon, so they did.
17 ‘And you shall guard the Festival of 29 And it came to be at midnight that HWHY
Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I smote all the first-born in the land of
brought your divisions out of the land of Mitsrayim, from the first-born of Pharaoh
Mitsrayim. And you shall guard this day who sat on his throne to the first-born of
throughout your generations, an everlast- the captive who was in the dungeon, and
ing law. all the first-born of livestock.
18 ‘In the first month, on the fourteenth 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he
day of the month, in the evening, you shall and all his servants, and all the Mitsrites.
eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first And there was a great cry in Mitsrayim, for
day of the month in the evening. there was not a house where there was not
19 ‘For seven days no leaven is to be a dead one.
found in your houses, for if anyone eats 31 Then he called for Mosheh and Aharon
what is leavened, that same being shall be by night, and said, “Arise, go out from the
cut off from the congregation of Yisra’Ãl, midst of my people, both you and the
whether sojourner or native of the land. children of Yisra’Ãl. And go, serve HWHY as
20 ‘Do not eat that which is leavened – in you have said.
all your dwellings you are to eat unleav- 32 “Take both your flocks and your herds,
ened bread.’ ” as you have said, and go. Then you shall
21 And Mosheh called for all the elders of bless me too.”
Yisra’Ãl and said to them, “Go out and take 33 And the Mitsrites urged the people, to
lambs for yourselves according to your hasten to send them away out of the land.
clans, and slaughter the Passover lamb. For they said, “We are all dying!”
22 “And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, 34 And the people took their dough before
and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, it was leavened, having their kneading
and strike the lintel and the two doorposts bowls bound up in their garments on their
with the blood that is in the basin, and you, shoulders.
none of you shall go out of the door of his 35 And the children of Yisra’Ãl had done
shall pass over the door and not allow the eyes of the Mitsrites, so that they gave
destroyer to come into your houses to them what they asked, and they plundered
smite you. the Mitsrites.
24 “And you shall guard this word as a law 37 And the children of Yisra’Ãl set out
for you and your sons, forever. from RaÈmeses to Sukkoth, about six
25 “And it shall be, when you come to the hundred thousand men on foot, besides the
land which HWHY gives you, as He little ones.
promised, that you shall guard this service. 38 And a mixed multitude went up with
SHEMOTH 12 70
take any of the flesh outside the house, nor your hand and as a reminder between your
are you to break any bone of it. eyes, that the Torah of HWHY is to be in your
47 “All the congregation of Yisra’Ãl are to mouth, for with a strong hand HWHY has
perform it. brought you out of Mitsrayim.
10 “And you shall guard this law at its
48 “And when a stranger sojourns with
you and shall perform the Passover to appointed time from year to year.
11 “And it shall be, when HWHY brings you
HWHY, let all his males be circumcised, and
then let him come near and perform it, and into the land of the KenaÈanites, as He
swore to you and your fathers, and gives
he shall be as a native of the land. But let
it to you,
no uncircumcised eat of it. 12 that you shall pass over to HWHY every
49 “There is one Torah for the native-born
one opening the womb, and every first-
and for the stranger who sojourns among born that comes from your livestock, the
you.” males belong to HWHY.
50 And all the children of Yisra’Ãl did as 13 “But every first-born of a donkey you
HWHY commanded Mosheh and Aharon, so are to ransom with a lamb. And if you do
they did. not ransom it, then you shall break its
51 And it came to be on that same day that
neck. And every first-born of man among
HWHY brought the children of Yisra’Ãl out of your sons you are to ransom.
the land of Mitsrayim according to their 14 “And it shall be, when your son asks
this?’ then you shall say to him, ‘By am to be esteemed through Pharaoh and
strength of hand HWHY brought us out of over all his army, and the Mitsrites shall
Mitsrayim, out of the house of bondage. know that I am HWHY.” And they did so.
15 ‘And it came to be, when Pharaoh was 5 And it was reported to the sovereign of
too hardened to let us go, that HWHY killed Mitsrayim that the people had fled, and the
every first-born in the land of Mitsrayim, heart of Pharaoh and his servants was
both the first-born of man and the first- turned against the people. And they said,
born of beast. Therefore I am slaughtering “Why have we done this, that we have let
to HWHY every male that open the womb, Yisra’Ãl go from serving us?”
but every first-born of my sons I ransom.’ 6 So he made his chariot ready and took
16 “And it shall be as a sign on your hand his people with him.
and as frontlets between your eyes, for by 7 And he took six hundred choice
strength of hand HWHY brought us out of chariots, and all the chariots of Mitsrayim
Mitsrayim.” with officers over all of them.
17 And it came to be, when Pharaoh had 8 And HWHY hardened the heart of
let the people go, that Elohim did not lead Pharaoh sovereign of Mitsrayim, and he
them by way of the land of the Philistines, pursued the children of Yisra’Ãl, but the
though that was nearer, for Elohim said, children of Yisra’Ãl went out defiantly.
“Lest the people regret when they see 9 And the Mitsrites pursued them, and all
fighting, and return to Mitsrayim.” the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his
18 So Elohim led the people around by horsemen and his army, and overtook them
way of the wilderness of the Sea of Reeds. camping by the sea beside Pi HaÁiroth,
And the children of Yisra’Ãl went up before BaÈal Tsephon.
armed from the land of Mitsrayim. 10 And when Pharaoh drew near, the chil-
19 And Mosheh took the bones of YosÃph dren of Yisra’Ãl lifted their eyes and saw
with him, for he certainly made the chil- the Mitsrites coming up after them. And
dren of Yisra’Ãl swear, saying, “Elohim they were greatly afraid, so the children of
shall certainly visit you, and you shall Yisra’Ãl cried out to HWHY.
bring my bones from here with you.” 11 And they said to Mosheh, “Did you
20 And they departed from Sukkoth and take us away to die in the wilderness
camped in Âtham at the edge of the wilder- because there are no graves in Mitsrayim?
ness. What is this you have done to us, to bring
21 And HWHY went before them by day in a us up out of Mitsrayim?
column of cloud to lead the way, and by 12 “Is this not the word that we spoke to
night in a column of fire to give them light, you in Mitsrayim, saying, ‘Leave us alone
so as to go by day and night. and let us serve the Mitsrites?’ For it
22 The column of cloud did not cease by would have been better for us to serve the
day, nor the column of fire by night, before Mitsrites than to die in the wilderness.”
the people. 13 And Mosheh said to the people, “Do
ground through the midst of the sea. over the sea, and the sea returned to its
17 “And I, see I am hardening the hearts of usual flow, at the break of day, with the
the Mitsrites, and they shall follow them. Mitsrites fleeing into it. Thus HWHY over-
And I am to be esteemed through Pharaoh threw the Mitsrites in the midst of the sea,
and over all his army, his chariots, and his 28 and the waters returned and covered the
went before the camp of Yisra’Ãl, moved dry ground in the midst of the sea, and the
and went behind them. And the column of waters were a wall to them on their right
cloud went from before them and stood and on their left.
behind them, 30 Thus HWHY saved Yisra’Ãl that day out
20 and came between the camp of the of the hand of the Mitsrites, and Yisra’Ãl
Mitsrites and the camp of Yisra’Ãl. And it saw the Mitsrites dead on the seashore.
was the cloud and the darkness, and it gave 31 And Yisra’Ãl saw the great work which
light by night, and the one did not come HWHY had done in Mitsrayim, and the
near the other all the night. people feared HWHY, and believed HWHY
21 And Mosheh stretched out his hand and His servant Mosheh.
over the sea. And HWHY caused the sea to go
back by a strong east wind all that night,
and made the sea into dry land, and the 15 Then Mosheh and the children of
Yisra’Ãl sang this song to HWHY, and
waters were divided. spoke, saying, “I sing to HWHY, for He is
22 And the children of Yisra’Ãl went into highly exalted! The horse and its rider He
the midst of the sea on dry ground, and the has thrown into the sea!
waters were a wall to them on their right 2 “Yah is my strength and song, and He
horsemen. Name.
24 And it came to be, in the morning 4 “He has cast Pharaoh’s chariots and his
watch, that HWHY looked down upon the army into the sea, and his chosen officers
army of the Mitsrites through the column are drowned in the Sea of Reeds.
of fire and cloud, and He brought the army 5 “The depths covered them, they went
so that they drove them with difficulty. great in power. Your right hand, O HWHY,
And the Mitsrites said, “Let us flee from has crushed the enemy.
the face of Yisra’Ãl, for HWHY fights for 7 “And in the greatness of Your excel-
them against the Mitsrites.” lence You pulled down those who rose up
26 Then HWHY said to Mosheh, “Stretch out against You. You sent forth Your wrath, it
your hand over the sea, and let the waters consumed them like stubble.
come back upon the Mitsrites, on their 8 “And with the wind of Your nostrils the
chariots, and on their horsemen.” waters were heaped up, the floods stood
27 And Mosheh stretched out his hand like a wall, the depths became stiff in the
e This prophetic phrase is repeated in Teh. 118:14 and again in Yesh. 12:2. In both these latter two places one
might see it as a Messianic prophecy of the Messiah to come: the Yeshua of Yah – giving us an indication of
Messiah’s Name and what His Name means!
73 SHEMOTH 16
gripped the inhabitants of Philistia. were twelve fountains of water and seven-
15 “Then the chiefs of EÅom were trou- ty palm trees. And they camped there by
bled, the mighty men of Mo’aÄ, trembling the waters.
grips them, all the inhabitants of KenaÈan
melted.
16 “Fear and dread fell on them, by the 16 And they set out from Âlim, and all
the congregation of the children of
greatness of Your arm they are as silent as Yisra’Ãl came to the Wilderness of Sin,
a stone, until Your people pass over, O which is between Âlim and Sinai, on the
HWHY, until the people, whom You have fifteenth day of the second month after
bought, pass over. their going out of the land of Mitsrayim.
17 “You bring them in and plant them in 2 And all the congregation of the children
the mountain of Your inheritance, in the of Yisra’Ãl grumbled against Mosheh and
place, O HWHY, which You have made for Aharon in the wilderness.
Your own dwelling, the set-apart place, O 3 And the children of Yisra’Ãl said to
HWHY, which Your hands have prepared. them, “If only we had died by the hand of
18 “HWHY reigns forever and ever.” HWHY in the land of Mitsrayim, when we sat
19 For the horses of Pharaoh went with his by the pots of meat and when we ate bread
chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and to satisfaction! For you have brought us
HWHY brought back the waters of the sea out into this wilderness to put all this
upon them. And the children of Yisra’Ãl assembly to death with hunger.”
went on dry ground in the midst of the sea. 4 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “See, I am
20 And Miryam the prophetess, the sister raining bread from the heavens for you.
of Aharon, took the timbrel in her hand. And the people shall go out and gather a
And all the women went out after her with day’s portion every day, in order to try
timbrels and with dances. them, whether they walk in My Torah or
21 And Miryam answered them, “Sing to not.
HWHY, for He is highly exalted! The horse 5 “And it shall be on the sixth day that
and its rider He has thrown into the sea!” they shall prepare what they bring in, and
22 And Mosheh brought Yisra’Ãl from the it shall be twice as much as they gather
Sea of Reeds, and they went out into the daily.”
Wilderness of Shur. And they went three 6 And Mosheh and Aharon said to all the
days in the wilderness and found no water. children of Yisra’Ãl, “At evening you shall
SHEMOTH 16 74
esteem of HWHY, for He hears your grum- who gathered much did not have too much,
blings against HWHY. And what are we, that and he who gathered little did not have too
you grumble against us?” little. Each one gathered according to his
8 And Mosheh said, “In that HWHY gives need.
19 And Mosheh said, “Let no one leave
you meat to eat in the evening, and in the
morning bread to satisfaction, for HWHY any of it until morning.”
20 And they did not listen to Mosheh, so
hears your grumblings which you make
against Him. And what are we? Your some of them left part of it until morning,
grumblings are not against us but against and it bred worms and stank. And Mosheh
HWHY.” was wroth with them.
9 And Mosheh said to Aharon, “Say to 21 And they gathered it every morning,
all the congregation of the children of each one according to his need. And when
Yisra’Ãl, ‘Come near before HWHY, for He the sun became hot, it melted.
22 And it came to be, on the sixth day, that
has heard your grumblings.’ ”
10 And it came to be, as Aharon spoke to they gathered twice as much bread, two
all the congregation of the children of omers for each one. And all the rulers of
Yisra’Ãl, that they looked toward the the congregation came and told Mosheh.
23 And he said to them, “This is what HWHY
wilderness and see, the esteem of HWHY
appeared in the cloud. has said, ‘Tomorrow is a rest, a Sabbath
11 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying, set-apart to HWHY. That which you bake,
12 “I have heard the grumblings of the bake; and that which you cook, cook. And
children of Yisra’Ãl. Speak to them, saying, lay up for yourselves all that is left over, to
‘Between the evenings you are to eat meat, keep it until morning.’ ”
and in the morning you are to be satisfied 24 And they laid it up till morning, as
with bread. And you shall know that I am Mosheh commanded. And it did not stink,
HWHY your Elohim.’ ” and no worm was in it.
13 And it came to be that quails came up at 25 And Mosheh said, “Eat it today, for
evening and covered the camp, and in the today is a Sabbath to HWHY, today you do
morning the dew lay all around the camp. not find it in the field.
14 And the layer of dew went up, and see, 26 “Gather it six days, but on the seventh
on the surface of the wilderness, was a day, which is the Sabbath, there is none.”
small round substance, as fine as frost on 27 And it came to be that some of the
they did not know what it was. And shall you refuse to guard My commands
Mosheh said to them, “It is the bread and My Torot 1?
which HWHY has given you to eat. 29 “See, because HWHY has given you the
16 “This is the word which HWHY has com- Sabbath, therefore He is giving you bread
manded: ‘Let every man gather it accord- for two days on the sixth day. Let each one
ing to each one’s need, an omer for each stay in his place, do not let anyone go out
being, according to the number of beings. of his place on the seventh day.”
Let every man take for those who are in his 30 So the people rested on the seventh
tent.’ ” day. f
1 Torot - plural of Torah, teaching. f The seventh day of the week, the weekly Sabbath, was observed before the
Ten Words were given on Mt. Sinai. Indeed, this day was set apart and blessed right back there at creation, as we
read in Ber. 2:2 & 3.
75 SHEMOTH 18
31 And the house of Yisra’Ãl called its so before the eyes of the elders of Yisra’Ãl.
name Manna. And it was like white corian- 7 And he called the name of the place
der seed, and the taste of it was like thin Massah and MeriÄah, because of the
cakes made with honey. ‘strife’ of the children of Yisra’Ãl, and
32 And Mosheh said, “This is the word because they ‘tried’ HWHY, saying, “Is HWHY
which HWHY has commanded: ‘Fill an omer in our midst or not?”
with it, to keep for your generations, so 8 And AmalÃq came and fought with
that they see the bread with which I fed Yisra’Ãl in RephiÅim.
you in the wilderness, when I brought you 9 And Mosheh said to Yehoshua,
out of the land of Mitsrayim.’ ” “Choose for us men and go out, fight with
33 And Mosheh said to Aharon, “Take a AmalÃq. Tomorrow I am stationing myself
pot and put an omer of manna in it, and on the top of the hill with the rod of
set it down before HWHY, to keep for your Elohim in my hand.”
generations.” 10 And Yehoshua did as Mosheh said to
34 As HWHY commanded Mosheh, so did him, to fight with AmalÃq. And Mosheh,
Aharon set it down before the Witness, to Aharon, and Àur went up to the top of the
keep. hill.
35 And the children of Yisra’Ãl ate manna 11 And it came to be, when Mosheh held
forty years, until they came to an inhabited up his hand, that Yisra’Ãl prevailed. And
land. They ate manna until they came to when he let down his hand, AmalÃq
the border of the land of KenaÈan. prevailed.
36 And an omer is one-tenth of an Ãphah. 12 But Mosheh’s hands were heavy, so
rock, and water shall come out of it, and one was GÃreshom, for he said, “I have
the people shall drink.” And Mosheh did been a sojourner in a foreign land,”
SHEMOTH 18 76
4 and the name of the other was EliÈezer, 16 “When they have a matter, they come
for he said, “The Elohim of my father was to me, and I rightly rule between one and
my help, and delivered me from the sword another, and make known the laws of
of Pharaoh.” Elohim and His Torot.”
5 Yithro, Mosheh’s father-in-law, came 17 And the father-in-law of Mosheh said
with his sons and his wife to Mosheh in the to him, “What you are doing is not good.
wilderness, where he was encamped at the 18 “Both you and these people with you
and how HWHY had delivered them. people able men, who fear Elohim, men of
9 And Yithro rejoiced for all the good truth, hating unfair gain. And place these
which HWHY had done for Yisra’Ãl, whom over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers
He had delivered out of the hand of the of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of
Mitsrites. tens.
10 And Yithro said, “Blessed be HWHY, 22 “And they shall rightly rule the people
who has delivered you out of the hand of at all times. And it shall be that they bring
the Mitsrites and out of the hand of every great matter to you, but they them-
Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people selves rightly rule every small matter. So,
from under the hand of the Mitsrites. make it lighter for yourself, for they shall
11 “Now I know that HWHY is greater than bear with you.
all the mighty ones, indeed in the matter in 23 “If you do this word, and Elohim shall
which they acted proudly, above them.” command you, then you shall be able to
12 Then Yithro, the father-in-law of stand and all this people also go to their
Mosheh, brought a burnt offering and other place in peace.”
slaughterings unto Elohim. And Aharon 24 And Mosheh listened to the voice of his
came with all the elders of Yisra’Ãl to eat father-in-law and did all that he said.
bread with the father-in-law of Mosheh 25 And Mosheh chose able men out of all
2 For they set out from RephiÅim, and 13 ‘Not a hand is to touch it, but he shall
had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and certainly be stoned or shot with an arrow,
camped in the wilderness. So Yisra’Ãl whether man or beast, he shall not live.’
camped there before the mountain. When the trumpet sounds long, let them
3 And Mosheh went up to Elohim, and come near the mountain.”
HWHY called to him from the mountain, 14 And Mosheh came down from the
saying, “This is what you are to say to mountain to the people and set the people
the house of YaÈaqoÄ, and declare to the apart, and they washed their garments.
children of Yisra’Ãl: 15 And he said to the people, “Be prepared
4 ‘You have seen what I did to the by the third day. Do not come near a wife.”
Mitsrites, and how I bore you on eagles’ 16 And it came to be, on the third day in
wings and brought you to Myself. the morning, that there were thunders and
5 ‘And now, if you diligently obey My lightnings, and a thick cloud on the moun-
voice , g and shall guard My covenant, then tain. And the sound of the ram’s horn was
you shall be My treasured possession very loud, and all the people who were in
above all the peoples – for all the earth is the camp trembled.
Mine – 17 And Mosheh brought the people out of
6 ‘and you shall be to Me a reign of the camp to meet with Elohim, and they
priests and a set-apart nation.’ Those are stood at the foot of the mountain.
the words which you are to speak to the 18 And Mount Sinai was in smoke, all of
reported the words of the people to HWHY. and warn the people, lest they break
10 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Go to the through unto HWHY to see, and many of
people and set them apart today and tomor- them fall.
row. And they shall wash their garments, 22 “And let the priests who come near
11 and shall be prepared by the third day. HWHY set themselves apart too, lest HWHY
For on the third day HWHY shall come down break out against them.”
upon Mount Sinai before the eyes of all the 23 And Mosheh said to HWHY, “The people
mountain or touch the border of it. and then come up, you and Aharon with
Whoever touches the mountain shall cer- you. But do not let the priests and the
tainly be put to death. people break through to come up to HWHY,
g AÄraham became the father of Yisra’Ãl, and HWHY says that he obeyed His voice (Ber. 26:5). Here, once again,
we see that it is an imperative condition to be part of His chosen people – we need to obey His voice. We see this
same condition laid down in Yn. 3:36, our Messiah being the embodiment of His Father’s voice!
SHEMOTH 19 78
your neighbour.
20 And Elohim spoke all these Words,
saying,
2 “I am HWHY your Elohim, who brought
17 “You do not covet your neighbour’s
so that your days are prolonged upon the 21 “These are the right-rulings which
you are to set before them:
soil which HWHY your Elohim is giving you. 2 “When you buy a HeÄrew servant, he
13 “You do not murder. serves six years, and in the seventh he goes
h Or lift up, or take. i There are other Sabbaths, but this is the weekly Sabbath.
j The Ten Words (Commands) were given so that we know what sin is, as we also read in Rom. 3:20, Rom. 4:15
& Rom. 7:7. The Ten Words are in parallel with the fear of Elohim, in fact, almost synonymous.
79 SHEMOTH 21
out free, for naught. one smites the other with a stone or with
3 “If he comes in by himself, he goes out his fist, and he does not die but is confined
by himself; if he comes in married, then to his bed,
his wife shall go out with him. 19 if he rises again and walks about out-
4 “If his master has given him a wife, and side with his staff, then he who smote him
she has borne him sons or daughters, the shall be innocent. He only pays for lost
wife and her children are her master’s, and time and sees to it that he is completely
he goes out by himself. healed.
5 “And if the servant truly says, ‘I love 20 “And when a man smites his male or
my master, my wife, and my children, let female servant with a rod, so that he dies
me not go out free,’ under his hand, he shall certainly be pun-
6 then his master shall bring him before ished.
Elohim, and shall bring him to the door, or 21 “But if he remains alive a day or two,
to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce he is not punished; for he is his property.
his ear with an awl. And he shall serve him 22 “And when men strive and they shall
then he shall let her be ransomed. He shall give life for life,
have no authority to sell her to a foreign 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for
shall appoint for you a place where he is to the habit of goring, and its owner has been
flee. warned, and he has not kept it confined, so
14 “But when a man acts presumptuously that it has killed a man or a woman, the ox
against his neighbour, to kill him by is stoned and its owner also is put to death.
treachery, you are to take him even from 30 “If a sin-covering is laid upon him, then
man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an declares wrong repays double to his neigh-
ox or a donkey falls in it, bour.
34 the owner of the pit is to repay, he is to 10 “When a man gives to his neighbour a
give silver to their owner, and the dead donkey, or ox, or sheep, or any beast to
beast is his. watch over, and it dies, or is injured, or is
35 “And when the ox of a man smites the driven away while no one is looking,
ox of his neighbour and it dies, then they 11 let an oath of HWHY be between them
shall sell the live ox and divide the silver both, that he has not put his hand into his
from it, and also divide the dead ox. neighbour’s goods. And the owner of it
36 “Or if it was known that the ox was shall accept that, and he does not repay.
previously in the habit of goring, and 12 “But if it is indeed stolen from him, he
its owner has not kept it confined, he shall repays to its owner.
certainly repay ox for ox, while the dead 13 “If it is torn to pieces, then let him
guilt for his bloodshed, he shall certainly who is not engaged, and lies with her, he
repay. If he has not the means, then he shall certainly pay the bride-price for her
shall be sold for his theft. to be his wife.
4 “If the theft is indeed found alive in his 17 “If her father absolutely refuses to give
repays from the best of his own field and certainly be put to death.
the best of his own vineyard. 20 “He who slaughters to a mighty one,
6 “When fire breaks out and spreads to except to HWHY only, is put under the ban.
thorn bushes, so that stacked grain, or 21 “Do not tread down a sojourner or
standing grain, or the field is consumed, he oppress him, for you were sojourners in
who kindled the fire shall certainly repay. the land of Mitsrayim.
7 “When a man gives silver or goods to 22 “Do not afflict any widow or fatherless
Elohim to see whether he has put his hand slay you with the sword, your wives shall
into his neighbour’s goods. be widows and your children fatherless.
9 “For every matter of transgression, for 25 “If you do lend silver to any of My peo-
ox, for donkey, for sheep, for garment, or ple, the poor among you, you are not to be
for whatever is lost which another claims like one that lends on interest to him. Do
to be his, let the matter of them both come not lay interest on him.
before Elohim. And whomever Elohim 26 “If you take your neighbour’s garment
81 SHEMOTH 23
as a pledge at all, you are to return it to him land, and shall gather its increase,
before the sun goes down. 11 but the seventh year you are to let it
27 “For that is his only covering, it is his rest, and shall leave it, and the poor of your
garment for his skin. What does he sleep people shall eat. And what they leave, the
in? And it shall be that when he cries to beasts of the field eat. Do the same with
Me, I shall hear, for I show favour. your vineyard and your oliveyard.
28 “Do not revile Elohim, nor curse a ruler 12 “Six days you are to do your work, and
oxen, with your sheep. It is to be with its heed. And make no mention of the name
mother seven days. On the eighth day you of other mighty ones, k let it not be heard
give it to Me. from your mouth.
31 “And you are set-apart men to Me, and 14 “Three l times in the year you are to
you do not eat any meat which is torn to observe a festival to Me:
pieces in the field, you throw it to the dogs. 15 “Guard the Festival of Unleavened
after many, to turn aside what is right. first-fruits of your labours which you have
3 “And do not favour a poor man in his sown in the field; and the Festival of the
strife. Ingathering at the outgoing of the year,
4 “When you meet your enemy’s ox or when you have gathered in the fruit of your
his donkey going astray, you shall certainly labours from the field.
return it to him. 17 “Three times in the year all your males
5 “When you see the donkey of him who are to appear before the Master HWHY.
hates you lying under its burden, you shall 18 “Do not offer the blood of My slaugh-
refrain from leaving it to him, you shall tering with leavened bread, and the fat of
certainly help him. My offering shall not remain until morn-
6 “Do not turn aside the right-ruling of ing.
your poor in his strife. 19 “Bring the first of the first-fruits of
7 “Keep yourself far from a false matter, your land into the House of HWHY your
and do not kill the innocent and the right- Elohim. Do not cook a young goat in its
eous, for I do not declare the wrong right. mother’s milk.
8 “And do not take a bribe, for a bribe 20 “See, I am sending a Messenger before
blinds the seeing one and twists the words you to guard you in the way and to bring
of the righteous. you into the place which I have prepared.
9 “And do not oppress a sojourner, as you 21 “Be on guard before Him and obey His
yourselves know the heart of a sojourner, voice. Do not rebel against Him, for He is
because you were sojourners in the land of not going to pardon your transgression, for
Mitsrayim. My Name is in Him.
10 “And for six years you are to sow your 22 “But if you diligently obey His voice m
k This is part of the so-called Covenant Law, and is further proof that the Chosen People need to be set apart, and
their language too. l The Festivals of HWHY are grouped in three, for three different times of the year.
m Again the necessity of obeying His voice is emphasised.
SHEMOTH 23 82
and shall do all that I speak, then I shall be Yisra’Ãl, and you shall bow yourselves
an enemy to your enemies and a distresser from a distance.
to those who distress you. 2 “But Mosheh shall draw near to HWHY
23 “For My Messenger shall go before you by himself, and let them not draw near, nor
and shall bring you in to the Amorites and let the people go up with him.”
the Àittites and the Perizzites and the 3 And Mosheh came and related to the
KenaÈanites and the Àiwwites and the people all the Words of HWHY and all the
YeÄusites, and I shall cut them off. right-rulings. And all the people answered
24 “Do not bow down to their mighty with one voice and said, “All the Words
ones, nor serve them, nor do according to which HWHY has spoken we shall do.”
their works, but without fail overthrow 4 And Mosheh wrote down all the Words
them and without fail break down their of HWHY, and rose up early in the morning,
pillars. and built an altar at the foot of the moun-
25 “And you shall serve HWHY your tain, and twelve standing columns for the
Elohim, and He shall bless your bread and twelve tribes of Yisra’Ãl.
your water. And I shall remove sickness 5 And he sent young men of the children
mies turn their backs to you. and read in the hearing of the people. And
28 “And I shall send hornets before you, they said, “All that HWHY has spoken we
which shall drive out the Àiwwite, the shall do, and obey.”
KenaÈanite, and the Àittite from before 8 And Mosheh took the blood and sprin-
your hand, and you shall drive them out against the chiefs of the children of
before you. Yisra’Ãl! And they saw Elohim, and they
32 “Do not make a covenant with them nor ate and drank.
with their mighty ones. 12 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Come up to
33 “Let them not dwell in your land, lest Me on the mountain and be there, while I
they make you sin against Me when you give you tablets of stone, and the Torah
serve their mighty ones, when it becomes a and the command which I have written, to
snare to you.” teach them.”
13 And Mosheh arose with his assistant
for us until we come back to you. And see, rings on one side, and two rings on the
Aharon and Àur are with you. Whoever other side.
has matters, let him go to them.” 13 “And you shall make poles of acacia
15 And Mosheh went up into the moun- wood, and overlay them with gold,
tain, and a cloud covered the mountain. 14 and shall put the poles into the rings on
16 And the esteem of HWHY dwelt on the sides of the ark, to lift up the ark by
Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for them.
six days. And on the seventh day He called 15 “The poles are in the rings of the ark,
to Mosheh out of the midst of the cloud. they are not taken from it.
17 And the appearance of the esteem of 16 “And into the ark you shall put the
HWHY was like a consuming fire on the top Witness which I give you.
of the mountain, before the eyes of the 17 “And you shall make a lid of atonement
it came to be that Mosheh was on the gold, make them of beaten work, at the two
mountain forty days and forty nights. ends of the lid of atonement.
19 “And make one keruÄ at one end, and
you shall take up My contribution. out their wings above, covering the lid of
3 “And this is the contribution which you atonement with their wings, with their
take up from them: gold, and silver, and faces toward each other, the faces of the
bronze, keruÄim turned toward the lid of atone-
4 and blue and purple and scarlet materi- ment.
al, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, 21 “And you shall put the lid of atonement
5 and rams’ skins dyed red, and fine on top of the ark, and put into the ark the
leather, and acacia wood, Witness which I give you.
6 oil for the light, spices for the anointing 22 “And I shall meet with you there, and
oil and for the sweet incense, from above the lid of atonement, from
7 shoham stones, and stones to be set in between the two keruÄim which are on the
the shoulder garment and in the breast- ark of the Witness, I shall speak to you all
plate. that which I command you concerning the
8 “And they shall make Me a Set-apart children of Yisra’Ãl.
Place, and I shall dwell in their midst. 23 “And you shall make a table of acacia
9 “According to all that I show you – the wood two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a
pattern of the Dwelling Place and the pat- cubit and a half high.
tern of all its furnishings – make it exactly 24 “And you shall overlay it with clean
and a half wide, and a cubit and a half breadth all around, and shall make a gold
high. moulding for the rim all around.
11 “And you shall overlay it with clean 26 “And you shall make for it four rings of
gold, inside and outside you shall overlay gold, and put the rings on the four corners
it. And you shall make on it a moulding of that are at its four legs.
gold all around. 27 “The rings are close to the rim, as hold-
12 “And you shall cast four rings of gold ers for the poles to lift the table.
for it, and put them in its four corners, two 28 “And you shall make the poles of
SHEMOTH 25 84
acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, four cubits, all the curtains having one
and the table shall be lifted with them. measure.
29 “And you shall make its dishes, and its 3 “Five curtains are joined to each other,
ladles, and its jars, and its bowls for pour- and five curtains are joined to each other.
ing. Make them of clean gold. 4 “And you shall make loops of blue on
30 “And you shall put the showbread on the edge of the end curtain on one set, and
the table before Me, continually. do the same on the edge of the end curtain
31 “And you shall make a lampstand of of the second set.
clean gold – the lampstand is made of beat- 5 “Make fifty loops in the one curtain and
en work. Its base and its shaft, its cups, its make fifty loops on the edge of the end
ornamental knobs and blossoms are from curtain of the second set, the loops being
it, opposite to each other.
32 and six branches shall come out of its 6 “And you shall make fifty hooks of
sides: three branches of the lampstand out gold, and shall join the curtains together
of one side, and three branches of the with the hooks, and the Dwelling Place
lampstand out of the other side; shall be one.
33 three cups made like almond flowers on 7 “And you shall make curtains of goats’
one branch, with ornamental knob and hair, for a tent over the Dwelling Place,
blossom, and three cups made like almond make eleven curtains.
flowers on the other branch, with orna- 8 “The length of each curtain is thirty
mental knob and blossom – so for the six cubits, and the width of each curtain four
branches coming out of the lampstand. cubits, one measure to the eleven curtains.
34 “And on the lampstand itself are four 9 “And you shall join the five curtains by
cups made like almond flowers, with themselves, and the six curtains by them-
ornamental knob and blossom, selves, and you shall double over the six
35 and a knob under the first two branches curtains at the front of the Tent.
of the same, and a knob under the second 10 “And you shall make fifty loops on the
two branches of the same, and a knob edge of the curtain that is outermost in one
under the third two branches of the same, set, and fifty loops on the edge of the
according to the six branches coming out curtain of the second set.
of the lampstand. 11 “And you shall make fifty bronze
36 “Their knobs and their branches are of hooks, and put the hooks into the loops,
the same – all of it one beaten work of and join the tent together, and it shall be
clean gold. one.
37 “And you shall make seven lamps for 12 “And the overlapping part of the rest of
it, and they shall mount its lamps so that the curtains of the Tent, the half curtain
they give light in front of it. that remains, shall hang over the back of
38 “And its snuffers and their trays are of the Dwelling Place.
clean gold. 13 “And a cubit on one side and a cubit on
39 “It is made of a talent of clean gold, the other side, of what remains of the
with all these utensils. length of the curtains of the Tent, is to hang
40 “So see, and do according to the pattern over the sides of the Dwelling Place, on
which was shown to you on the mountain. this side and on that side, to cover it.
14 “And you shall make a covering of ram
rial. Make them, with keruÄim, the work make the boards of acacia wood, standing
of a skilled workman. up.
2 “The length of each curtain is twenty- 16 “Ten cubits is the length of a board, and
eight cubits, and the width of each curtain a cubit and a half the width of each board,
85 SHEMOTH 27
17 two tenons in each board for binding hooks, and shall bring the ark of the
one to another. Do the same for all the Witness there, behind the veil. And the
boards of the Dwelling Place. veil shall make a separation for you
18 “And you shall make the boards for the between the Set-apart and the Most Set-
Dwelling Place, twenty boards for the apart Place.
south side, 34 “And you shall put the lid of atonement
19 and make forty sockets of silver under upon the ark of the Witness in the Most
the twenty boards, two sockets under each Set-apart Place.
of the boards for its two tenons. 35 “And you shall set the table outside the
20 “And for the second side of the veil, and the lampstand opposite the table
Dwelling Place, on the north side, twenty on the side of the Dwelling Place toward
boards, the south, and put the table on the north
21 and their forty sockets of silver, two side.
sockets under each of the boards. 36 “And you shall make a covering for
22 “And for the extreme parts of the the door of the Tent, of blue and purple and
Dwelling Place, westward, make six scarlet material, and fine woven linen,
boards, made by a weaver.
23 and make two boards for the two back 37 “And you shall make for the covering
corners of the Dwelling Place. five columns of acacia wood, and overlay
24 “And they are double beneath and simi- them with gold, their hooks of gold, and
larly they are complete to the top, to the you shall cast five sockets of bronze for
one ring. So it is for both of them, they are them.
for the two corners.
25 “And they shall be eight boards, and
their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets – 27 “And you shall make an altar of
acacia wood, five cubits long and
two sockets under the one board, and two five cubits wide – the altar is square – and
sockets under the other board. its height three cubits.
26 “And you shall make bars of acacia 2 “And you shall make its horns on its
wood, five for the boards on one side of four corners, its horns are of the same. And
the Dwelling Place, you shall overlay it with bronze.
27 and five bars for the boards on the other 3 “And you shall make its pots to receive
side of the Dwelling Place, and five bars its ashes, and its shovels and its basins and
for the boards of the side of the Dwelling its forks and its fire holders. Make all its
Place, for the extreme parts westward, utensils of bronze.
28 with the middle bar in the midst of the 4 “And you shall make a grating for it, a
boards, going through from end to end. bronze network, and shall make on the net-
29 “And overlay the boards with gold, and work four bronze rings at its four corners,
make their rings of gold as holders for the 5 and shall put it under the rim of the
bars, and overlay the bars with gold. altar beneath, so that the network is
30 “And you shall raise up the Dwelling halfway up the altar.
Place according to its pattern which you 6 “And you shall make poles for the altar,
were shown on the mountain. poles of acacia wood, and shall overlay
31 “And you shall make a veil of blue and them with bronze.
purple and scarlet material, and fine 7 “And the poles shall be put in the rings,
woven linen, the work of a skilled work- and the poles shall be on the two sides of
man, made with keruÄim. the altar for lifting it.
32 “And you shall put it on the four 8 “Make it hollow with boards. As it was
columns of acacia wood overlaid with shown to you on the mountain, so they are
gold, their hooks of gold, upon four sock- to make it.
ets of silver. 9 “And you shall make the courtyard of
33 “And you shall hang the veil from the the Dwelling Place: for the south side
SHEMOTH 27 86
screens for the courtyard made of fine serving as priest to Me: Aharon, NaÅaÄ
woven linen, one hundred cubits long for and AÄihu, ElÈazar and Ithamar, the sons of
one side, Aharon.
10 and its twenty columns and their twenty 2 “And you shall make set-apart gar-
sockets of bronze, the hooks of the ments for Aharon your brother, for esteem
columns and their bands of silver, and for comeliness.
11 and so for the north side in length, 3 “And you, speak to all the wise of
screens one hundred cubits long, with its heart, whom I have filled with a spirit of
twenty columns and their twenty sockets wisdom, and they shall make the garments
of bronze, and the hooks of the columns of Aharon, to set him apart, for him to
and their bands of silver. serve as priest to Me.
12 “And the width of the courtyard on the 4 “And these are the garments which they
west side screens of fifty cubits, with their make: a breastplate, a shoulder garment, a
ten columns and their ten sockets. robe, an embroidered long shirt, a turban,
13 “And the width of the courtyard on the and a girdle. And they shall make set-apart
east side fifty cubits. garments for Aharon your brother and his
14 “And the screens on one side of the sons, for him to serve as priest to Me.
gate fifteen cubits, with their three 5 “And they shall take the gold, and the
columns and their three sockets. blue and the purple and the scarlet materi-
15 “And on the other side screens of al, and the fine linen,
fifteen cubits, with their three columns and 6 and shall make the shoulder garment of
their three sockets. gold, of blue and purple and scarlet materi-
16 “And for the gate of the courtyard a al, and fine woven linen, the work of a
covering twenty cubits long, of blue and skilled workman.
purple and scarlet material, and fine 7 “It is to have two shoulder pieces
woven linen, made by a weaver – four joined at its two edges, and so it is joined
columns and four sockets. together.
17 “All the columns around the courtyard 8 “And the embroidered band of the
have bands of silver, their hooks silver and shoulder garment, which is on it, is of the
their sockets bronze. same workmanship, made of gold, of blue
18 “The length of the courtyard is one and purple and scarlet material, and fine
hundred cubits, and the width fifty by fifty, woven linen.
and the height five cubits, woven of fine 9 “And you shall take two shoham stones
linen thread, and its sockets of bronze. and engrave on them the names of the sons
19 “All the utensils of the Dwelling Place of Yisra’Ãl,
for all its service, all its pegs, and all the 10 six of their names on one stone, and the
pegs of the courtyard, are bronze. remaining six names on the other stone,
20 “And you, you are to command the according to their birth.
children of Yisra’Ãl to bring you clear oil 11 “With the work of an engraver in stone,
of pressed olives for the light, to cause the like the engravings of a signet, engrave the
lamp to burn continually. two stones with the names of the sons of
21 “In the Tent of Meeting, outside the Yisra’Ãl. Set them in settings of gold.
veil which is before the Witness, Aharon 12 “And you shall put the two stones
and his sons are to tend it from evening on the shoulder pieces of the shoulder
until morning before HWHY – a law forever garment as stones of remembrance for the
to their generations, from the children of sons of Yisra’Ãl. And Aharon shall bear
Yisra’Ãl. their names before HWHY on his two shoul-
ders, for a remembrance.
28 “And you, bring near Aharon your
brother and his sons with him,
13 “And you shall make settings of gold,
14 and two chains of clean gold like braid-
from among the children of Yisra’Ãl, for ed cords, and fasten the braided chains to
87 SHEMOTH 28
names of the sons of Yisra’Ãl, twelve granates of blue and purple and scarlet
according to their names, like the engrav- material, all around its hem, and bells of
ings of a signet, each one with its own gold between them all around:
name, for the twelve tribes. 34 a golden bell and a pomegranate, a
22 “And you shall make braided chains of golden bell and a pomegranate, on the hem
corded work for the breastplate at the end, of the robe all around.
of clean gold. 35 “And it shall be upon Aharon to attend
23 “And you shall make two rings of gold in, and its sound shall be heard when he
for the breastplate, and shall put the two goes into the set-apart place before HWHY
rings on the two ends of the breastplate. and when he comes out, so that he does not
24 “And you shall put the two cords of die.
gold in the two rings which are on the ends 36 “And you shall make a plate of clean
them on the shoulder pieces of the shoul- and it shall be on the turban – it is to be on
der garment in the front. the front of the turban.
26 “And you shall make two rings of gold, 38 “And it shall be on the forehead of
and shall put them on the two ends of the Aharon, and Aharon shall bear the guilt of
breastplate, on the edge of it, which is on the set-apart gifts which the children of
the inner side of the shoulder garment. Yisra’Ãl set apart in all their set-apart gifts.
27 “And you shall make two rings of gold, And it shall always be on his forehead, for
and put them on the two shoulder pieces, acceptance for them before HWHY.
underneath the shoulder garment, on the 39 “And you shall weave the long shirt of
front of it, close to the seam above the fine linen, and shall make the turban of
embroidered band of the shoulder garment, fine linen, and you shall make the girdle of
28 and they bind the breastplate by means woven work.
of its rings to the rings of the shoulder 40 “And make long shirts for Aharon’s
garment, using a blue cord, so that it is sons. And you shall make girdles for them,
above the embroidered band of the shoul- and you shall make turbans for them, for
der garment, so that the breastplate does esteem and comeliness.
not come loose from the shoulder garment. 41 “And you shall put them on Aharon
SHEMOTH 28 88
your brother and on his sons with him, and before HWHY, by the door of the Tent of
shall anoint them, and shall ordain them, Meeting,
and shall set them apart, and they shall 12 and take some of the blood of the bull
serve as priests to Me. and put it on the horns of the altar with
42 “And make linen trousers for them, to
your finger, and pour all the blood beside
cover their nakedness, reaching from the the base of the altar.
waist to the thighs. 13 “And you shall take all the fat that
43 “And they shall be on Aharon and on
covers the entrails, and the appendage on
his sons when they come into the Tent of the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat
Meeting, or when they come near the altar that is on them, and burn them on the altar.
to attend in the Set-apart Place, so that they 14 “But the flesh of the bull, and its skin
do not bear crookedness and die – a law and its dung, you shall burn with fire out-
forever to him, and to his seed after him. side the camp. It is a sin offering.
15 “And take one ram, and Aharon and his
basket of the unleavened bread that is offering for atonement. And you shall
before HWHY. cleanse the altar when you make atone-
24 “And you shall put all these in the ment for it, and you shall anoint it to set it
hands of Aharon and in the hands of his apart.
sons, and you shall wave them – a wave 37 “For seven days you shall make atone-
offering before HWHY. ment for the altar, and set it apart. And the
25 “Then you shall take them from their altar shall be most set-apart – whatever
hands and burn them on the altar as a burnt touches the altar is to be set-apart.
offering, as a sweet fragrance before HWHY. 38 “And this is what you prepare on the
It is an offering made by fire to HWHY. altar: two lambs, a year old, daily, continu-
26 “And you shall take the breast of the ally.
ram of Aharon’s ordination and wave it – a 39 “Prepare the one lamb in the morning,
wave offering before HWHY, and it shall be and the other lamb you prepare between
your portion. the evenings,
27 “And from the ram of ordination you 40 and one-tenth of an Ãphah of flour
shall set apart the breast of the wave offer- mixed with one-fourth of a hin of pressed
ing which is waved, and the thigh of the oil, and one-fourth of a hin of wine as a
contribution which is raised, of that which drink offering, with the one lamb.
is for Aharon and of that which is for his 41 “And prepare the other lamb between
from their peace offerings – their contribu- erations at the door of the Tent of Meeting
tion to HWHY. before HWHY, where I shall meet with you to
29 “And the set-apart garments of Aharon speak with you.
are for his sons after him, to be anointed in 43 “And there I shall meet with the
enters the Tent of Meeting to attend in the Meeting and the altar. And Aharon and his
set-apart place. sons I set apart to serve as priests to Me.
31 “And take the ram of ordination and 45 “And I shall dwell in the midst of the
cook its flesh in a set-apart place. children of Yisra’Ãl and shall be their
32 “And Aharon and his sons shall eat the Elohim.
flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the 46 “And they shall know that I am HWHY
basket, by the door of the Tent of Meeting, their Elohim, who brought them up out of
33 and they shall eat those offerings with the land of Mitsrayim, to dwell in their
which the atonement was made, to ordain midst. I am HWHY their Elohim.
them, to set them apart. But let a stranger
not eat them, because they are set-apart.
34 “And if any of the flesh of the ordina- 30 “And you shall make an altar to
burn incense on, make it of acacia
tion offerings, or of the bread, be left over wood,
until the morning, then you shall burn up 2 a cubit long and a cubit wide – it is a
what is left over. It is not eaten, because it square – and two cubits high, its horns of
is set-apart. the same.
35 “And so you shall do to Aharon and his 3 “And you shall overlay its top, and its
sons, according to all I have commanded sides all around, and its horns with clean
you. Seven days you shall ordain them, gold. And you shall make for it a moulding
36 and prepare a bull each day as a sin of gold all around.
SHEMOTH 30 90
4 “And make two gold rings for it, under 17 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
the moulding on both its sides. Make them 18 “And you shall make a basin of bronze,
on its two sides, and they shall be holders with its stand also of bronze, for washing.
for the poles to lift it with. And you shall put it between the Tent of
5 “And you shall make the poles of
Meeting and the altar, and shall put water
acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. in it.
6 “And you shall put it before the veil 19 “And Aharon and his sons shall wash
that is before the ark of the Witness, before from it their hands and their feet.
the lid of atonement that is over the 20 “When they go into the Tent of
Witness, where I am to meet with you. Meeting, or when they come near the altar
7 “And Aharon shall burn on it sweet
to attend, to burn an offering made by fire
incense, morning by morning. As he tends to HWHY, they wash with water, lest they
the lamps, he shall burn incense on it. die.
8 “And when Aharon lights the lamps 21 “And they shall wash their hands and
between the evenings, he shall burn incense their feet, lest they die. And it shall be a
on it – a continual incense before HWHY law forever to them, to him and his seed
throughout your generations. throughout their generations.”
9 “Do not offer strange incense on it, or a 22 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
burnt offering, or a grain offering, and do 23 “And take for yourself choice spices,
not pour a drink offering on it. five hundred sheqels of liquid myrrh, and
10 “And Aharon shall make atonement
half as much – two hundred and fifty – of
upon its horns once a year with the blood sweet-smelling cinnamon, and two hun-
of the sin offering of atonement – once a dred and fifty of sweet-smelling cane,
year he makes atonement upon it through- 24 and five hundred of cassia, according to
out your generations. It is most set-apart the sheqel of the set-apart place, and a hin
to HWHY.” of olive oil.
11 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying, 25 “And you shall make from these a set-
12 “When you take the census of the chil- apart anointing oil, a compound, blended,
dren of Yisra’Ãl, to register them, then each the work of a perfumer. It is a set-apart
one shall give an atonement for his life to anointing oil.
HWHY, when you register them, so that there 26 “And with it you shall anoint the Tent
is no plague among them when you regis- of Meeting and the ark of the Witness,
ter them. 27 and the table and all its utensils, and the
13 “Everyone among those who are regis- lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of
tered is to give this: half a sheqel according incense,
to the sheqel of the set-apart place, twenty 28 and the altar of burnt offering with all
gÃrahs being a sheqel. The half-sheqel is its utensils, and the basin and its stand.
the contribution to HWHY. 29 “And you shall set them apart, and they
14 “Everyone passing over to be regis- shall be most set-apart. Whatever touches
tered, from twenty years old and above, them is to be set-apart.
gives a contribution to HWHY. 30 “And you shall anoint Aharon and his
15 “The rich does not give more and the sons, and set them apart, to serve as priests
poor does not give less than half a sheqel, to Me.
when you give a contribution to HWHY, 31 “And speak to the children of Yisra’Ãl,
to make atonement for yourselves. saying, ‘This is a set-apart anointing oil to
16 “And you shall take the silver for the Me throughout your generations.
atonement from the children of Yisra’Ãl, 32 ‘It shall not be poured on the flesh of a
and give it for the service of the Tent of man, and make no other like it, according
Meeting. And it shall be to the children of to its composition. It is set-apart, it is set-
Yisra’Ãl for a remembrance before HWHY, apart to you.
to make atonement for yourselves.” 33 ‘Whoever compounds any like it, or
91 SHEMOTH 32
whoever puts any of it on a stranger, shall 11 and the anointing oil and sweet incense
be cut off from his people.’ ” for the Set-apart Place. According to all
34 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Take sweet that I have commanded you, they are to
spices, fragrant gum and cinnamon and do.”
galbanam, and clear frankincense with 12 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
these sweet spices, all in equal amounts. 13 “And you, speak to the children of
35 “Then you shall make of these an Yisra’Ãl, saying, ‘My Sabbaths you are to
incense, a compound, work of a perfumer, guard, by all means, for it is a sign n
salted, clean, set-apart. between Me and you throughout your
36 “And you shall beat some of it very generations, to know that I, HWHY, am
fine, and put some of it before the Witness setting you apart.
in the Tent of Meeting where I meet with 14 ‘And you shall guard the Sabbath, for it
its utensils, and the basin and its stand, golden earrings which are in the ears of
10 and the woven garments, and the set- your wives, your sons, and your daughters,
apart garments for Aharon the priest and and bring them to me.”
the garments of his sons, for serving as 3 “And all the people took off the golden
nThe only sign of HWHY setting us apart, the only sign of the everlasting covenant, is His Sabbaths, one of them
being the seventh day Sabbath. This is repeated in YeÁezqÃl 20:12 & 20.
SHEMOTH 32 92
brought them to Aharon. 14 And HWHY relented from the evil which
4 And he took this from their hand, and
He said He would do to His people.
he formed it with an engraving tool, and 15 And Mosheh turned and went down
made a moulded calf. And they said, “This from the mountain, and in his hand were
is your mighty one, O Yisra’Ãl, that the two tablets of the Witness, tablets
brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim!” written on both their sides, written on the
5 And Aharon saw and built an altar
one and on the other.
before it. And Aharon called out and said, 16 And the tablets were the work of
“Tomorrow is a festival to HWHY.” o Elohim, and the writing was the writing of
6 And they rose early on the next day,
Elohim engraved on the tablets.
and offered burnt offerings, and brought 17 And Yehoshua heard the noise of the
peace offerings. And the people sat down people as they shouted and he said to
to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Mosheh, “A noise of battle in the camp!”
7 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Go, get 18 But he said, “It is not the sound of those
down! For your people whom you brought who shout of might, nor is it the sound of
out of the land of Mitsrayim have corrupt- those who cry out in weakness, but the
ed themselves. sound of singing that I hear.”
8 “They have turned aside quickly out of 19 And it came to be, as soon as he came
the way which I commanded them. They near the camp, that he saw the calf and the
have made themselves a moulded calf, and dancing. And Mosheh’s displeasure
have bowed themselves to it and slaugh- burned, and he threw the tablets out of his
tered to it, and said, ‘This is your mighty hands and broke them at the foot of the
one, O Yisra’Ãl, who brought you out of mountain.
the land of Mitsrayim!’ ” 20 And he took the calf which they had
9 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “I have seen
made, and burned it in the fire, and ground
this people, and see, it is a stiff-necked it into powder, and scattered it on the face
people! of the water and made the children of
10 “And now, let Me alone, that My wrath Yisra’Ãl drink it.
might burn against them and I consume 21 And Mosheh said to Aharon, “What did
them and I make of you a great nation.” this people do to you that you have brought
11 But Mosheh pleaded with HWHY his so great a sin upon them?”
Elohim, and said, “HWHY, why does Your 22 And Aharon said, “Do not let the
wrath burn against Your people whom You displeasure of my master burn. You know
have brought out of the land of Mitsrayim the people, that it is in evil.
with great power and with a strong hand? 23 “And they said to me, ‘Make us mighty
12 “Why should the Mitsrites speak, and ones who go before us. For this Mosheh,
say, ‘For evil He brought them out to kill the man who brought us out of the land of
them in the mountains, and to consume Mitsrayim, we do not know what has
them from the face of the earth’? Turn become of him.’
from the heat of Your wrath, and relent 24 “And I said to them, ‘Whoever has
from this evil to Your people. gold, let them take it off.’ And they gave it
13 “Remember AÄraham, YitsÁaq, and to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this
Yisra’Ãl, Your servants, to whom You calf came out.”
swore by Yourself, and said to them, ‘I 25 And Mosheh saw that the people were
increase your seed like the stars of the let loose, for Aharon had let them loose, to
heavens. And all this land that I have their shame among their enemies.
spoken of I give to your seed, and they 26 And Mosheh stood in the entrance of
shall inherit it forever.’ ” the camp, and said, “Who is for HWHY?
o The high priest Aharon yielded to the people and brought in mixed worship, which is an abomination in the
eyes of HWHY.
93 SHEMOTH 33
Come to me.” And all the sons of LÃwi sume you on the way.”
gathered themselves to him. 4 And when the people heard this evil
27 And he said to them, “Thus said HWHY word, they mourned, and no one put on his
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl: ‘Each one put his ornaments.
sword on his side, pass over to and fro 5 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Say to the
from gate to gate in the camp, and each children of Yisra’Ãl, ‘You are a stiff-
one slay his brother, and each one his necked people. Should I go up in your
friend, and each one his relative.’ ” midst for one moment I shall consume
28 And the sons of LÃwi did according to you. And now, take off your ornaments,
the word of Mosheh. And about three and I shall know what to do to you.’ ”
thousand men of the people fell that day. 6 So the children of Yisra’Ãl took off
29 And Mosheh said, “You are ordained their ornaments at Mount ÀorÃÄ.
for HWHY today – since each one has been 7 And Mosheh took his tent and pitched
against his son and his brother – so as to it outside the camp, far from the camp, and
bring upon you a blessing today.” called it the Tent of Meeting. And it came
30 And it came to be on the next day that to be that everyone who sought HWHY went
Mosheh said to the people, “You, you have out to the Tent of Meeting which was
sinned a great sin. And now I am going up outside the camp.
to HWHY – if I might atone for your sin.” 8 And it came to be, whenever Mosheh
31 And Mosheh returned to HWHY and said, went out to the Tent, that all the people
“Oh, these people have sinned a great sin, rose, and each man stood at his tent door
and have made for themselves a mighty and watched Mosheh until he entered the
one of gold! Tent.
32 “And now, if You would forgive their 9 And it came to be, when Mosheh
sin, but if not, please blot me out of Your entered the Tent, that the column of cloud
book which You have written.” descended and stood at the door of the
33 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Whoever Tent, and He spoke with Mosheh.
has sinned against Me, I blot him out of 10 And all the people saw the column of
day of My visitation I shall visit their sin face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he
upon them.” would return to the camp, but his servant
35 And HWHY plagued the people because Yehoshua son of Nun, a young man, did
they made the calf, which Aharon made. not leave the Tent.
12 And Mosheh said to HWHY, “See, You
you are a stiff-necked people, lest I con- is not going, do not lead us up from here.
SHEMOTH 33 94
16 “For how then shall it be known that I stood with him there, and proclaimed the
have found favour in Your eyes, I and Your Name, HWHY.
people, except You go with us? Then we 6 And HWHY passed before him and pro-
word you have spoken I shall do, for you forgiving crookedness and transgression
have found favour in My eyes, and I know and sin, but by no means leaving unpun-
you by name.” ished, p visiting the crookedness of the
18 Then he said, “Please, show me Your fathers upon the children and the
esteem.” children’s children to the third and the
19 And He said, “I shall cause all My fourth generation.”
goodness to pass before you, and I shall 8 And Mosheh hurried and bowed him-
proclaim the Name of HWHY before you. self toward the earth, and did obeisance,
And I shall favour him whom I favour, and 9 and said, “If, now, I have found favour
shall have compassion on him whom I in Your eyes, O HWHY, I pray, let HWHY
have compassion.” go on in our midst, even though we are a -
20 But He said, “You are unable to see My stiff-necked people. And forgive our
face, for no man does see Me and live.” crookedness and our sin, and take us as
21 And HWHY said, “See, there is a place Your inheritance.”
with Me! And you shall stand on the rock. 10 And He said, “See, I am making a
22 “And it shall be, while My esteem pass- covenant. Before all your people I am
es by, that I shall put you in the cleft of the going to do wonders such as have not been
rock and cover you with My hand while I done in all the earth, nor in any nation.
pass by. And all the people among whom you are
23 “Then I shall take away My hand and shall see the work of HWHY. For what I am
you shall see My back, but My face shall doing with you is awesome.
not be seen.” 11 “Guard what I command you today.
the top of the mountain. smash their pillars, and cut down their
3 “And let no man come up with you, and AshÃrim –
let no man be seen in all the mountain, and 14 for you do not bow yourselves to anoth-
let not even the flock or the herd feed in er mighty one, for HWHY, whose Name is
front of that mountain.” jealous, is a jealous Âl –
4 And he cut two tablets of stone like the 15 lest you make a covenant with the
first ones. Then Mosheh rose early in the inhabitants of the land, and they whore
morning and went up Mount Sinai, as HWHY after their mighty ones, and slaughter to
had commanded him, and he took two their mighty ones, and one of them invites
tablets of stone in his hand. you and you eat of his slaughterings,
5 And HWHY came down in the cloud and 16 and you take of his daughters for your
after their mighty ones. down from Mount Sinai, while the two
17 “Do not make a moulded mighty one tablets of the Witness were in Mosheh’s
for yourselves. hand when he came down from the moun-
18 “Guard the Festival of Unleavened tain, that Mosheh did not know that the
Bread. For seven days you eat unleavened skin of his face shone since he had spoken
bread, as I commanded you, in the appoint- with Him.
ed time of the month of AÄiÄ, because in 30 And Aharon and all the children of
the month of AÄiÄ you came out from Yisra’Ãl looked at Mosheh and saw the
Mitsrayim. skin of his face shone, and they were afraid
19 “Everyone opening the womb is Mine, to come near him.
and every male first-born among your live- 31 But Mosheh called out to them, and
stock, whether bull or sheep. Aharon and all the rulers of the congrega-
20 “But the first-born of a donkey you tion returned to him, and Mosheh spoke to
ransom with a lamb. And if you do not them.
ransom, then you shall break his neck. 32 And afterward all the children of
Every first-born of your sons you shall ran- Yisra’Ãl came near, and he commanded
som. And they shall not appear before Me them all that HWHY had spoken with him on
empty-handed. Mount Sinai.
21 “Six days you work, but on the seventh 33 And when Mosheh ended speaking
day you rest – in ploughing time and in with them, he put a veil on his face.
harvest you rest. 34 But whenever Mosheh went in before
22 “And perform the Festival of Weeks HWHY to speak with Him, he would remove
for yourself, of the first-fruits of wheat the veil until he came out. And when he
harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering at came out he spoke to the children of
the turn of the year. Yisra’Ãl what he had been commanded,
23 “Three times in the year all your men 35 and the children of Yisra’Ãl would see
are to appear before the Master, HWHY, the the face of Mosheh, that the skin of
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, Mosheh’s face shone, and Mosheh would
24 for I dispossess nations before you, and put the veil on his face again, until he went
shall enlarge your borders, and let no one in to speak with Him.
covet your land when you go up to appear
before HWHY your Elohim three times in the
year. 35 And Mosheh assembled all the
congregation of the children of
25 “Do not offer the blood of My slaugh- Yisra’Ãl, and said to them, “These are the
tering with leaven, and do not let the Words which HWHY has commanded you to
slaughtering of the Festival of the Passover do:
remain until morning. 2 “Work is done for six days, but on the
26 “Bring the first of the first-fruits of seventh day it shall be set-apart to you, a
your land to the House of HWHY your Sabbath of rest to HWHY. Anyone doing
Elohim. Do not cook a young goat in its work on it is put to death.
mother’s milk.” 3 “Do not kindle a fire in any of your
27 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Write these dwellings on the Sabbath day.”
Words, for according to the mouth of these 4 And Mosheh spoke to all the congrega-
Words I have made a covenant with you tion of the children of Yisra’Ãl, saying,
and with Yisra’Ãl.” “This is the word which HWHY commanded,
28 And he was there with HWHY forty days saying,
and forty nights. He did not eat bread and 5 ‘Take from among you a contribution
he did not drink water. And He wrote on to HWHY. Everyone whose heart so moves
the tablets the Words of the covenant, the him, let him bring it as a contribution to
SHEMOTH 35 96
HWHY: gold, and silver, and bronze, necklaces, all golden goods, even every
6 and blue, and purple, and scarlet mater- one who made a wave offering of gold to
ial, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, HWHY.
7 and ram skins dyed red, and fine 23 And every man, with whom was found
leather, and acacia wood, blue and purple and scarlet material, and
8 and oil for the light, and spices for the fine linen, and goats’ hair, and rams’ skins
anointing oil and for the sweet incense, dyed red, and fine leather, brought them.
9 and shoham stones, and stones to be set 24 Everyone who would make a contribu-
in the shoulder garment and in the breast- tion to HWHY of silver or bronze, brought it.
plate. And everyone with whom was found
10 ‘And let all the wise-hearted among
acacia wood for any work of the service,
you come and make all that HWHY has com- brought it.
manded: 25 And all the wise-hearted women spun
11 the Dwelling Place, its tent and its cov-
yarn with their hands, and brought what
ering, its hooks and its boards, its bars, its they had spun, the blue and the purple, the
columns, and its sockets, scarlet material, and the fine linen.
12 the ark and its poles, the lid of atone- 26 And all the women whose hearts lifted
ment and the veil of the covering, them up in wisdom spun the goats’ hair.
13 the table and its poles, and all its uten- 27 And the rulers brought shoham stones,
sils, and the showbread, and the stones to be set in the shoulder
14 and the lampstand for the light, and its
garment and in the breastplate,
utensils, and its lamps, and the oil for the 28 and the spices and the oil for the light,
light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet
15 and the incense altar, and its poles, and
incense.
the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, 29 The children of Yisra’Ãl brought a
and the covering for the door at the voluntary offering to HWHY, all the men and
entrance of the Dwelling Place, women whose hearts moved them to bring
16 the altar of burnt offering with its
all kinds of work which HWHY, by the hand
bronze grating, its poles, and all its uten-
of Mosheh, had commanded to be done.
sils, the basin and its stand, 30 And Mosheh said to the children of
17 the screens of the courtyard, its
columns, and their sockets, and the cover- Yisra’Ãl, “See, HWHY has called by name
ing for the gate of the courtyard, Betsal’Ãl son of Uri, son of Àur, of the
18 the pegs of the Dwelling Place, and the tribe of YehuÅah,
31 and He has filled him with the Spirit of
pegs of the courtyard, and their cords,
19 the woven garments to do service in the Elohim, in wisdom, in understanding, and
set-apart place, the set-apart garments for in knowledge, and in all work,
32 to make designs, to work in gold and in
Aharon the priest and the garments of his
sons to serve as priests.’ ” silver and in bronze,
20 And all the congregation of the children 33 and in cutting of stones for setting, and
of Yisra’Ãl withdrew from the presence of in carving wood, and to work in all work-
Mosheh. manship of design.
21 And everyone whose heart lifted him 34 “And He has put in his heart the ability
up and everyone whose spirit moved him to teach, in him and OholiaÄ son of
came, and they brought the contribution to AÁisama¿, of the tribe of Dan.
35 “He has filled them with skill to do all
HWHY for the work of the Tent of Meeting,
and for all its service, and for the set-apart work of the engraver and the designer
garments. and embroiderer, in blue and in purple, in
22 And they came, both men and women, scarlet material, and in fine linen, and a
all whose hearts moved them, and brought weaver, doing any work, and makers of
earrings and nose rings, and rings and designs.
97 SHEMOTH 36
to know how to do all work for the service joined the curtains to each other with the
of the set-apart place, shall do according to hooks, and the Dwelling Place became
all that HWHY has commanded.” one.
2 And Mosheh called Betsal’Ãl and 14 And he made curtains of goats’ hair for
OholiaÄ, and every wise-hearted man in the tent over the Dwelling Place, he made
whose heart HWHY had given wisdom, eleven curtains.
everyone whose heart lifted him up, to 15 The length of each curtain was thirty
come and do the work. cubits, and the width of each curtain four
3 And they received from Mosheh all the cubits, the eleven curtains having one mea-
contribution which the children of Yisra’Ãl sure.
had brought for the work of the service of 16 And he joined five curtains by them-
making the set-apart place. But they still selves and six curtains by themselves.
brought to him voluntary offerings every 17 And he made fifty loops on the edge of
for the service of the work which HWHY rams’ skins, dyed red, and a covering of
commanded us to do.” fine leather above that.
6 Then Mosheh commanded and they 20 And for the Dwelling Place he made
sent this word throughout the camp, boards of acacia wood, standing up.
saying, “Let neither man nor woman do 21 The length of each board was ten
any more work for the contribution of the cubits, and the width of each board a cubit
set-apart place.” And the people were and a half.
withheld from bringing, 22 Each board had two tenons for binding
7 for what they had was enough for all one to another. So he did to all the boards
the work to be done, more than enough. of the Dwelling Place.
8 Then all the wise-hearted ones among 23 And he made boards for the Dwelling
them who worked on the Dwelling Place Place, twenty boards for the south side.
made ten curtains woven of fine linen and 24 And he made forty sockets of silver to
blue and purple and scarlet material. They go under the twenty boards, and two sock-
made them with keruÄim, the work of a ets under each of the boards for its two
skilled workman. tenons.
9 The length of each curtain was twenty- 25 And for the other side of the Dwelling
eight cubits, and the width of each curtain Place, for the north side, he made twenty
four cubits, all the curtains having one boards,
measure. 26 and their forty sockets of silver, two
10 And he joined five curtains, one to sockets under the one board, and two
another; and the other five curtains he sockets under the other board.
joined, one to another. 27 And he made six boards for the west
11 And he made loops of blue on the edge side of the Dwelling Place.
of the end curtain of one set, the same he 28 And he made two boards for the two
did on the edge of the end curtain of the back corners of the Dwelling Place.
other set. 29 And they were double beneath, and
12 Fifty loops he made on one curtain, and similarly they were complete to the top by
fifty loops he made on the edge of the end one ring. So he did to both of them for the
SHEMOTH 36 98
side of the Dwelling Place, and five bars above, and covered the lid of atonement
for the boards of the Dwelling Place at the with their wings, with their faces toward
rear, westward. each other, the faces of the keruÄim were
33 And he made the middle bar to pass turned toward the lid of atonement.
through the boards from one end to the 10 And he made the table of acacia wood,
ers for the bars, and overlaid the bars with made a moulding of gold all around it.
gold. 12 And he made a rim of a handbreadth all
35 And he made a veil of blue and purple around it, and made a moulding of gold for
and scarlet material, and fine worked the rim all around it.
linen. It was made with keruÄim, the work 13 And he cast four rings of gold for it,
of a skilled workman. and put the rings on the four corners that
36 And he made four columns of acacia were at its four legs.
wood for it, and overlaid them with gold, 14 The rings were next to the rim, as hold-
with their hooks of gold. And he cast four ers for the poles to lift the table.
sockets of silver for them. 15 And he made the poles of acacia wood
37 And he made a covering for the Tent to lift the table, and overlaid them with
door of blue and purple and scarlet materi- gold.
al and fine woven linen, made by a weaver, 16 And he made the utensils which were
38 and its five columns with their hooks. on the table, its dishes, and its cups, and its
And he overlaid their tops and their rings bowls, and its jars for pouring, of clean
with gold, but their five sockets were of gold.
bronze. 17 And he made the lampstand of clean
its four feet, two rings on its one side, and flowers on one branch, with ornamental
two rings on its other side. knob and blossom, and three cups like
4 And he made poles of acacia wood, and almond flowers on the other branch, a
overlaid them with gold. knob and a blossom – so for the six
5 And he put the poles into the rings at branches coming out of the lampstand.
the sides of the ark, to lift the ark. 20 And on the lampstand were four
6 And he made a lid of atonement of cups like almond flowers, its knobs and
clean gold, two and a half cubits long and a blossoms,
cubit and a half wide. 21 and a knob under the first two branches
99 SHEMOTH 38
of the same, and a knob under the second 8 And he made the basin of bronze and
two branches of the same, and a knob its stand of bronze, from the bronze
under the third two branches of the same, mirrors of the serving women who did
for the six branches coming out of it. service at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
22 Their knobs and their branches were of 9 And he made the courtyard: for the
it, all of it was one beaten work of clean south side the screens of the courtyard
gold. were of fine woven linen, one hundred
23 And he made its seven lamps, and its cubits long,
snuffers, and its trays, of clean gold. 10 their twenty columns and their twenty
24 He made it of a talent of clean gold, and sockets, of bronze. The hooks of the
all its utensils. columns and their bands were of silver.
25 And he made the incense altar of acacia 11 And for the north side the screens were
wood, a cubit long and a cubit wide, one hundred cubits long, their twenty
square, and two cubits high. Its horns were columns and their twenty sockets, of
of it. bronze. The hooks of the columns and
26 And he overlaid it with clean gold, its their bands were of silver.
top and its sides all around, and its horns. 12 And for the west side there were
And he made a moulding for it of gold all screens of fifty cubits, their ten columns
around it. and their ten sockets. The hooks of the
27 And he made two rings of gold for it columns and their bands were of silver.
under its moulding, at its two corners on 13 And for the east side eastward, fifty
and the clean incense of sweet spices, side of the courtyard gate, on this side and
according to the work of the perfumer. that side, with their three columns and
their three sockets.
38 And he made the altar of burnt
offering of acacia wood, five
16 All the screens of the courtyard all
and three cubits high. of bronze, the hooks of the columns and
2 And he made its horns on its four their bands were of silver, and the overlay
corners, the horns were of it. And he over- of their tops was of silver. And all the
laid it with bronze. columns of the courtyard had bands of
3 And he made all the utensils for the silver.
altar: the pots, and the shovels, and the 18 And the covering for the gate of the
basins, and the forks, and the fire holders. courtyard was the work of an embroiderer,
He made all its utensils of bronze. of blue and purple and scarlet material,
4 And he made a grating for the altar, a and of fine woven linen, and twenty cubits
bronze network, under its rim, midway long, and the height along its width was
from the bottom. five cubits, corresponding to the screens of
5 And he cast four rings for the four the courtyard.
corners of the bronze grating, as holders 19 And the columns were four, and their
the sides of the altar, with which to lift it. and of the courtyard all around, were of
He made the altar hollow with boards. bronze.
SHEMOTH 38 100
Dwelling Place, the Dwelling Place of 39 And of the blue and purple and
scarlet material they made woven
the Witness, which was appointed by the garments, to do service in the set-apart
command of Mosheh, for the service of the place. And they made the set-apart gar-
LÃwites, by the hand of Ithamar, son of ments which were for Aharon, as HWHY had
Aharon the priest. commanded Mosheh.
22 And Betsal’Ãl son of Uri, son of Àur, of 2 And he made the shoulder garment of
the tribe of YehuÅah, made all that HWHY gold, of blue and purple and scarlet materi-
had commanded Mosheh. al, and of fine woven linen.
23 And with him: OholiaÄ son of AÁisa- 3 And they beat out sheets of gold and cut
ma¿, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver and it into threads, to work it in with the blue
designer, an embroiderer in blue and pur- and purple and scarlet material, and the
ple and scarlet material, and in fine linen. fine linen, the work of a skilled workman.
24 All the gold prepared for the work, in 4 They made shoulder pieces for it to join
all the work of the set-apart place – and it it, it was joined at its two edges.
was the gold of the wave offering – came 5 And the embroidered band of his shoul-
to be twenty-nine talents and seven hun- der garment that was on it was of the same
dred and thirty sheqels, according to the work of gold, and blue and purple and
sheqel of the set-apart place. scarlet material, and of fine woven linen,
25 And the silver from the ones counted of as HWHY had commanded Mosheh.
the congregation was one hundred talents 6 And they made the shoham stones, set
and one thousand seven hundred and in plated work of gold, engraved as signets
seventy-five sheqels, according to the are engraved, according to the names of
sheqel of the set-apart place: the sons of Yisra’Ãl.
26 a beqa, half a sheqel for a head, accord- 7 And he put them on the shoulders of the
ing to the sheqel of the set-apart place, for shoulder garment, stones of remembrance
everyone passing over to those counted, for the sons of Yisra’Ãl, as HWHY had
from twenty years old and above, for six commanded Mosheh.
hundred and three thousand, five hundred 8 And he made the breastplate, a work of
talent for each socket. double, its length a span, its width a span,
28 And of the one thousand seven hundred doubled.
and seventy-five sheqels he made hooks 10 And they filled it with four rows of
for the columns, and overlaid their tops, stones: a row of ruby, a topaz, and an
and made bands for them. emerald was the first row;
29 And the bronze of the wave offering 11 and the second row a turquoise, a sap-
was seventy talents and two thousand four phire, and a diamond;
hundred sheqels. 12 and the third row a jacinth, an agate,
30 And with it he made the sockets for the and an amethyst;
door of the Tent of Meeting, and the 13 and the fourth row a beryl, a shoham,
bronze altar, and the bronze grating for it, and a jasper – set in plated work of gold in
and all the utensils for the altar, their settings.
31 and the sockets for the courtyard all 14 And the stones were according to the
around, and the bases for the courtyard names of the sons of Yisra’Ãl, twelve
gate, and all the pegs for the Dwelling according to their names, engraved like a
Place, and all the pegs for the courtyard all signet, each one with its own name accord-
around. ing to the twelve tribes.
101 SHEMOTH 39
15 And they made braided chains of cord- turban ornaments of fine linen, and short
ed work for the breastplate at the ends, of trousers of fine woven linen,
clean gold. 29 and a girdle of fine woven linen with
16 And they made two settings of gold and blue and purple and scarlet material, the
two gold rings, and put the two rings on work of an embroiderer, as HWHY had com-
the two ends of the breastplate. manded Mosheh.
17 And they put the two cords of gold in 30 And they made the plate of the set-apart
the two rings on the ends of the breast- sign of dedication of clean gold, and wrote
plate. on it an inscription like the engraving of a
18 And the two ends of the two cords they signet: SET-APARTNESS TO HWHY.
fastened in the two settings, and put them 31 And they put on it a blue cord, to fasten
on the shoulder pieces of the shoulder it above on the turban, as HWHY had com-
garment in the front. manded Mosheh.
19 And they made two rings of gold and 32 And all the work of the Dwelling Place
put them on the two ends of the breast- of the Tent of Meeting was completed.
plate, on the edge of it, which was on the And the children of Yisra’Ãl did according
inward side of the shoulder garment. to all that HWHY had commanded Mosheh,
20 And they made two gold rings and put so they did.
them on the two shoulder pieces, under- 33 And they brought the Dwelling Place to
neath the shoulder garment, on the front of Mosheh, the tent and all its furnishings, its
it, close to its seam above the embroidered hooks, its boards, its bars, and its columns,
band of the shoulder garment. and its sockets,
21 And they bound the breastplate by 34 and the covering of rams’ skins dyed
means of its rings to the rings of the shoul- red, and the covering of fine leather, and
der garment with a blue cord, so that it the veil of the covering,
would be above the embroidered band of 35 the ark of the Witness with its poles,
the shoulder garment, and that the breast- and the lid of atonement,
plate would not come loose from the 36 the table, and all its utensils, and the
middle, like the opening in a scaled oil, and the sweet incense, and the cover-
armour, with a woven binding all around ing for the Tent door,
the opening, so that it would not tear. 39 the bronze altar and its bronze grating,
24 And they made on the hem of the robe its poles, and all its utensils, the basin with
pomegranates of blue and purple and scar- its stand,
let material, twined. 40 the screens of the courtyard, its
25 And they made bells of clean gold, and columns and its sockets, the covering for
put the bells between the pomegranates on the courtyard gate, its cords, and its pegs,
the hem of the robe all around between the and all the utensils for the service of the
pomegranates: Dwelling Place, for the Tent of Meeting,
26 a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and 41 the woven garments, to do service in
a pomegranate, all around the hem of the set-apart place: the set-apart garments
the robe, for the service, as HWHY had for Aharon the priest, and his sons’
commanded Mosheh. garments, to serve as priests.
27 And they made the long shirt of fine 42 According to all that HWHY had com-
linen, the work of a weaver, for Aharon manded Mosheh, so the children of
and his sons, Yisra’Ãl did all the work.
28 and a turban of fine linen, and the 43 And Mosheh looked over all the work
SHEMOTH 40 102
Witness, and screen the ark with the veil. Place and put the covering of the tent on
4 “And you shall bring in the table and top of it, as HWHY had commanded Mosheh.
20 And he took the Witness and put it into
arrange what belongs on it, and bring in
the lampstand and light its lamps. the ark, and he put the poles through the
5 “And you shall set the altar of gold for rings of the ark, and put the lid of atone-
the incense before the ark of the Witness, ment on top of the ark,
21 and brought the ark into the Dwelling
and put up the covering of the door to the
Dwelling Place. Place, and placed the veil of the covering
6 “And you shall set the altar of the burnt to screen off the ark of the Witness, as
offering before the door of the Dwelling HWHY had commanded Mosheh.
22 And he put the table in the Tent of
Place of the Tent of Meeting,
7 and shall set the basin between the Tent Meeting, on the north side of the Dwelling
of Meeting and the altar, and shall put Place, outside the veil,
water therein. 23 and set the bread in order upon it before
8 “And you shall set up the courtyard all HWHY, as HWHY had commanded Mosheh.
around, and shall place the covering of the 24 And he put the lampstand in the Tent of
it, and shall set it and all its utensils apart, had commanded Mosheh.
and it shall be set-apart. 26 And he put the gold altar in the Tent of
10 “And you shall anoint the altar of the Meeting in front of the veil,
burnt offering and all its utensils, and set 27 and burned sweet incense on it, as HWHY
the altar apart, and the altar shall be most had commanded Mosheh.
set-apart. 28 And he set up the covering to the door
11 “And you shall anoint the basin and its of the Dwelling Place.
stand, and set it apart. 29 And he put the altar of burnt offering
12 “And you shall bring Aharon and his before the door of the Dwelling Place of
sons to the door of the Tent of Meeting and the Tent of Meeting, and offered upon it
wash them with water. the burnt offering and the grain offering, as
13 “And you shall put the set-apart gar- HWHY had commanded Mosheh.
ments on Aharon, and anoint him and set 30 And he put the basin between the Tent
him apart to serve as priest to Me. of Meeting and the altar, and put water
14 “And you shall bring his sons and put therein for washing.
long shirts on them, 31 And Mosheh, and Aharon, and his sons
15 and shall anoint them, as you anointed washed their hands and their feet with
their father, and they shall serve as priests water from it,
to Me. And their anointing shall be for 32 as they went into the Tent of Meeting,
them an everlasting priesthood throughout and as they came near the altar. They
their generations.” would wash, as HWHY had commanded
16 And Mosheh did according to all that Mosheh.
HWHY had commanded him, so he did. 33 And he raised up the courtyard all
103 SHEMOTH 40
around the Dwelling Place and the altar, 36 And when the cloud was taken up from
and placed the covering of the courtyard above the Dwelling Place, the children of
gate. And Mosheh completed the work. Yisra’Ãl went onward in all their journeys.
34 And the cloud covered the Tent of 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then
Meeting, and the esteem of HWHY filled the they did not set out till the day that it was
Dwelling Place. taken up.
35 And Mosheh was not able to come into 38 For the cloud of HWHY was on the
the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud Dwelling Place by day, and fire was on it
dwelt on it, and the esteem of HWHY filled by night, before the eyes of all the house of
the Dwelling Place. Yisra’Ãl, in all their journeys.
WAYYIQRA
LEVITICUS — 3 MOSHEH
2
7 ‘And the sons of Aharon the priest shall
‘And when anyone brings a grain
put fire on the altar, and lay the wood in offering to HWHY, his offering is to be
order on the fire. of fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it,
8 ‘And the sons of Aharon, the priests,
and put frankincense on it,
shall arrange the pieces, with the head and 2 and he shall bring it to the sons of
the fat on the wood which is on the fire on Aharon, the priests, and he shall take from
the altar. it his hand filled with fine flour and oil
9 ‘But its entrails and its legs he washes
with all the frankincense. And the priest
with water. And the priest shall burn all of shall burn it as a remembrance portion on
it on the altar as a burnt offering, an offer- the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet
ing made by fire, a sweet fragrance to fragrance to HWHY.
HWHY. 3 ‘And the rest of the grain offering is for
10 ‘And if his offering is from the flock,
Aharon and his sons, most set-apart of the
from the sheep or from the goats as a burnt offerings to HWHY by fire.
offering, let him bring a male, a perfect one. 4 ‘And when you bring as an offering a
11 ‘And he shall slaughter it on the north
grain offering baked in the oven, it is of
side of the altar before HWHY. And the sons unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with
of Aharon, the priests, shall sprinkle its oil, or unleavened thin cakes anointed with
blood on the altar all around. oil.
12 ‘And he shall cut it into its pieces, with 5 ‘But if your offering is a grain offering
its head and its fat, and the priest shall on the griddle, it is of fine flour, unleav-
105 WAYYIQRA 3
ened, mixed with oil. bring an offering made by fire to HWHY, the
6 ‘Divide it into bits and pour oil on it, it
fat that covers the entrails and all the fat
is a grain offering. that is on the entrails,
7 ‘And if your offering is a grain offer- 4 and the two kidneys, and the fat that
ing, in a stewing-pot, it is made of fine is on them by the loins, and the appendage
flour with oil. on the liver which he removes with the
8 ‘And you shall bring to HWHY the grain
kidneys.
offering that is made of these, and shall 5 ‘And the sons of Aharon shall burn it
present it to the priest, and he shall bring it on the altar upon the burnt offering, which
to the altar. is on the wood, which is on the fire, as an
9 ‘And the priest shall take from the grain
offering made by fire, a sweet fragrance to
offering a remembrance portion, and burn HWHY.
it on the altar, an offering made by fire, 6 ‘And if that which he presents is from
a sweet fragrance to HWHY. the flock, for a peace offering to HWHY,
10 ‘And the rest of the grain offering is for
male or female, he brings a perfect one.
Aharon and his sons, most set-apart of the 7 ‘If he is bringing a lamb as his offering,
offerings to HWHY made by fire. then he shall bring it before HWHY,
11 ‘No grain offering which you bring to 8 and shall lay his hand on the head of his
HWHY is made with leaven, for you do not offering, and slaughter it in front of the Tent
burn any leaven or any honey in an offer- of Meeting, and the sons of Aharon shall
ing to HWHY made by fire. sprinkle its blood on the altar round about.
12 ‘Bring them to HWHY as an offering of 9 ‘And from the peace offering he shall
the first-fruits, but they are not burned on bring near – as an offering made by fire to
the altar for a sweet fragrance. HWHY – its fat, all the fat tail which he
13 ‘And season with salt every offering of removes close to the backbone, and the fat
your grain offering, and do not allow the that covers the entrails and all the fat that is
salt of the covenant of your Elohim to be on the entrails,
lacking from your grain offering. With all 10 and the two kidneys and the fat that
your offerings you bring salt. is on them by the loins, and the appendage
14 ‘And if you bring a grain offering of on the liver, which he removes with the
your first-fruits to HWHY, bring for the grain kidneys.
offering of your first-fruits green heads of 11 ‘And the priest shall burn them on the
grain roasted on the fire, crushed heads of altar as food, an offering made by fire to
new grain. HWHY.
15 ‘And you shall put oil on it, and lay 12 ‘And if his offering is a goat, then he
frankincense on it. It is a grain offering. shall bring it before HWHY,
16 ‘And the priest shall burn the remem- 13 and shall lay his hand on its head and
brance portion, from its crushed grain and slaughter it before the Tent of Meeting.
from its oil, with all the frankincense, an And the sons of Aharon shall sprinkle its
offering made by fire to HWHY. blood on the altar all around.
14 ‘And from it he shall bring his offering,
blood on the altar all around. the altar as food, an offering made by
3 ‘And from the peace offering he shall fire for a sweet fragrance. All the fat
WAYYIQRA 3 106
generations in all your dwellings: you do Yisra’Ãl strays by mistake, and the matter
not eat any fat or any blood.’ ” has been hidden from the eyes of the
assembly, and they have done against any
4 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
2 “Speak to the children of Yisra’Ãl,
of the commands of HWHY, which are not to
be done, and shall be guilty,
14 when the sin which they have sinned
saying, ‘When a being sins by mistake
against any of the commands of HWHY, becomes known, then the assembly shall
which are not to be done, and shall do any bring a young bull for the sin, and bring it
of them: before the Tent of Meeting.
3 ‘If the anointed priest sins, bringing 15 ‘And the elders of the congregation
guilt on the people, then he shall bring to shall lay their hands on the head of the bull
HWHY for his sin which he has sinned a before HWHY, and the bull shall be slaugh-
young bull, a perfect one, as a sin offering, tered before HWHY.
4 and he shall bring the bull to the door of 16 ‘And the anointed priest shall bring
the Tent of Meeting before HWHY, and shall some of the bull’s blood to the Tent of
lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slaugh- Meeting,
17 and the priest shall dip his finger in the
ter the bull before HWHY.
5 ‘And the anointed priest shall take blood and sprinkle it seven times before
some of the bull’s blood and bring it to the HWHY, in front of the veil,
18 and put some of the blood on the horns
Tent of Meeting,
6 and the priest shall dip his finger in the of the altar which is before HWHY, which is
blood and sprinkle some of the blood in the Tent of Meeting, and pour all the
seven times before HWHY, in front of the blood at the base of the altar of burnt offer-
veil of the set-apart place. ing, which is at the door of the Tent of
7 ‘And the priest shall put some of the Meeting.
blood on the horns of the altar of sweet 19 ‘Then he takes all the fat from it and
incense before HWHY, which is in the Tent shall burn it on the altar.
of Meeting, and pour all the blood of the 20 ‘And he shall do with the bull as he did
bull at the base of the altar of the burnt with the bull as a sin offering – so shall he
offering, which is at the door of the Tent of do it. And the priest shall make atonement
Meeting. for them, and it shall be forgiven them.
8 ‘Then he takes all the fat of the bull as 21 ‘And he shall bring the bull outside the
the sin offering, the fat that covers the camp, and burn it as he burned the first
entrails and all the fat which is on the bull. It is a sin offering for the assembly.
entrails, 22 ‘When a ruler sins, and by mistake has
9 and the two kidneys and the fat that is done against any of the commands of HWHY
on them by the loins, and the appendage on his Elohim which are not to be done, and
the liver, which he removes with the shall be guilty,
kidneys, 23 or if his sin which he has sinned is
10 as it was taken from the bull of the made known to him, then he shall bring as
peace offering. And the priest shall burn his offering a buck of the goats, a male,
them on the altar of the burnt offering. a perfect one.
11 ‘But the skin of the bull, and all its 24 ‘And he shall lay his hand on the head
flesh, with its head and legs, its entrails of the goat, and slaughter it at the place
and dung – where they slaughter the burnt offering
12 all of the bull – he shall bring outside before HWHY. It is a sin offering.
the camp to a clean place, where the ashes 25 ‘And the priest shall take some of the
are poured out, and burn it on wood with blood of the sin offering with his finger,
fire. Where the ashes are poured out it is and shall put it on the horns of the altar of
107 WAYYIQRA 5
land sins by mistake by doing against any man, any of his uncleanness by which he is
of the commands of HWHY which are not to unclean, and it has been hidden from him,
be done, and shall be guilty, when he shall know it, then he shall be
28 or if his sin which he has sinned shall guilty.
be made known to him, then he shall bring 4 ‘Or when a being swears, speaking
as his offering a female goat, a perfect one, rashly with his lips to do evil or to do
for his sin which he has sinned. good, whatever it is that a man swears
29 ‘And he shall lay his hand on the head rashly with an oath, and it has been hidden
of the sin offering, and slaughter the sin from him, when he shall know it, then he
offering at the place of the burnt offering. shall be guilty of one of these.
30 ‘And the priest shall take some of its 5 ‘And it shall be, when he is guilty of
blood with his finger, and shall put it on one of these, that he shall confess that in
the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and which he has sinned,
pour all the blood at the base of the altar, 6 and shall bring his guilt offering to
31 then remove all its fat, as fat is removed HWHY for his sin which he has sinned, a
from the slaughtering of the peace offer- female from the flock, a lamb or a female
ing. And the priest shall burn it on the altar goat as a sin offering. And the priest shall
for a sweet fragrance to HWHY. And the make atonement for him, for his sin.
priest shall make atonement for him, and it 7 ‘And if he is unable to bring a lamb,
offering at the place where they slaughter who shall bring near that which is for the
the burnt offering. sin offering first, and wring off its head
34 ‘And the priest shall take some of the from its neck, but not sever it.
blood of the sin offering with his finger, 9 ‘And he shall sprinkle some of the
and shall put it on the horns of the altar of blood of the sin offering on the side of the
burnt offering, and pour all the blood at the altar, and the rest of the blood shall be
base of the altar. drained out at the base of the altar. It is a
35 ‘Then he removes all its fat, as the fat sin offering.
of the lamb is removed from the slaughter- 10 ‘And he shall prepare the second as
ing of the peace offering. And the priest a burnt offering according to the right-
shall burn it on the altar, according to the ruling, and the priest shall make atonement
offerings made by fire to HWHY. So the for him, for his sin which he has sinned,
priest shall make atonement for his sin that and it shall be forgiven him.
he has sinned, and it shall be forgiven him. 11 ‘But if he is unable to bring two turtle-
by fire to HWHY. It is a sin offering. He shall repay its total value, add one-fifth
13 ‘And the priest shall make atonement more to it, and give it to whom it belongs,
for him, for his sin that he has sinned in on the day of his guilt offering.
any of these, and it shall be forgiven him. 6 “Then he brings his guilt offering to
And it shall be the priest’s, like a grain HWHY, a ram, a perfect one, from the flock,
offering.’ ” with your valuation, as a guilt offering, to
14 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying, the priest.
15 “When a being commits a trespass, and 7 “And the priest shall make atonement
has sinned by mistake against the set-apart for him before HWHY, and he shall be
matters of HWHY, then he shall bring to HWHY forgiven for whatever he did that made
as his guilt offering a ram, a perfect one, him guilty.”
from the flock, with your valuation in she- 8 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
qels of silver according to the sheqel of the 9 “Command Aharon and his sons,
set-apart place, as a guilt offering. saying, ‘This is the Torah of the burnt
16 “And he shall make good for the sin offering: This is the burnt offering,
that he has done against that which is set- because it is burned on the altar all night
apart, and shall add one-fifth to it and give until morning, and the fire of the altar is
it to the priest. And the priest shall make kept burning on it.
atonement for him with the ram of the guilt 10 ‘And the priest shall put on his linen
offering, and it shall be forgiven him. garment, and put his linen trousers on his
17 “And when any being sins, and has body, and shall take up the ashes of the
done what is not to be done, against any of burnt offering which the fire has consumed
the commands of HWHY, though he knew it on the altar, and shall put them beside the
not, yet he shall be guilty and shall bear his altar.
crookedness. 11 ‘And he shall take off his garments, and
18 “Then he shall bring to the priest a ram, put on other garments, and shall bring the
a perfect one, from the flock, with your ashes outside the camp to a clean place.
valuation, as a guilt offering. And the 12 ‘And the fire on the altar is kept burn-
priest shall make atonement for his ing on it, it is not put out. And the priest
mistake he committed unintentionally, shall burn wood on it every morning, and
though he did not know it, and it shall be arrange the burnt offering on it, and shall
forgiven him – burn on it the fat of the peace offerings –
19 it is a guilt offering, he was truly guilty 13 fire is continually kept burning on the
his neighbour about a deposit, or about a from the fine flour of the grain offering,
pledge, or about a robbery, or shall extort and from its oil, and all the frankincense
from his neighbour, which is on the grain offering, and shall
3 or has found what was lost and has lied burn it on the altar for a sweet fragrance, as
concerning it, or did swear falsely, so that its remembrance portion to HWHY.
he sins in regard to any one of all these that 16 ‘Then Aharon and his sons eat the rest
his peace offering for thanksgiving, it is the slaughtering of his peace offering.
eaten the same day it is offered, he does 30 ‘With his own hands he bring the offer-
not leave any of it until morning. ings made by fire to HWHY. He brings the fat
16 ‘And if the offering he brings is a vow with the breast, to be waved as a wave
or a voluntary offering, it is eaten the same offering before HWHY.
day that he brings his slaughtering, and 31 ‘And the priest shall burn the fat on the
what is left of it is eaten the next day, altar, but the breast shall be Aharon’s and
17 but whatever is left of the flesh of the his sons.’
slaughtering on the third day is burned 32 ‘And the right thigh you give to the
day, it is not accepted. It is not reckoned brings the blood of the peace offering, and
to him who brings it, it is unclean to him, the fat, the right thigh is his for a portion.
and the being who eats of it bears his 34 ‘For the breast of the wave offering and
peace offering that belongs to HWHY, while and the anointed portion for his sons, from
he is unclean, that being shall be cut off the offerings made by fire to HWHY, on the
from his people. day when Mosheh presented them to serve
21 ‘And when a being who touches that as priests to HWHY,
which is unclean, of the uncleanness of 36 which HWHY commanded to be given to
man, or of the uncleanness of beast, or of them by the children of Yisra’Ãl, on the day
any unclean swarming creature, and shall that He anointed them, a law forever
eat the flesh of the peace offering that throughout their generations.
belongs to HWHY, that being shall be cut off 37 This is the Torah of the burnt offering,
from his people.’ ” of the grain offering, and of the sin offer-
22 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying, ing, and of the guilt offering, and of the
23 “Speak to the children of Yisra’Ãl, ordinations, and of the peace offering,
saying, ‘Do not eat any fat, of bull or sheep 38 which HWHY commanded Mosheh on
shall be cut off from his people. and the garments, and the anointing oil,
26 ‘And do not eat any blood in any of and the bull of the sin offering, and the two
your dwellings, of bird or of beast. rams, and the basket of unleavened bread,
27 ‘Any being who eats any blood, even 3 and assemble all the congregation at the
that being shall be cut off from his door of the Tent of Meeting.”
people.’ ” 4 And Mosheh did as HWHY commanded
28 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying, him, and the congregation was assembled
29 “Speak to the children of Yisra’Ãl, at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
saying, ‘He who brings his peace offering 5 And Mosheh said to the congregation,
to HWHY brings his offering to HWHY from “This is the word HWHY commanded to
111 WAYYIQRA 8
him, and girded him with the embroidered in water. And Mosheh burned the entire
band of the shoulder garment, and with it ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering for
tied the shoulder garment on him, a sweet fragrance, and an offering made
8 and put the breastplate on him, and put by fire to HWHY, as HWHY had commanded
the Urim and the Tummim in the breast- Mosheh.
plate, 22 And he brought the second ram, the
9 and put the turban on his head. And on ram of ordination, and Aharon and his sons
the turban, on its front, he put the golden laid their hands on the head of the ram,
plate, the set-apart sign of dedication, as 23 and it was slaughtered. And Mosheh
HWHY had commanded Mosheh. took some of its blood and put it on the tip
10 And Mosheh took the anointing oil and of Aharon’s right ear, and on the thumb of
anointed the Dwelling Place and all that his right hand, and on the big toe of his
was in it, and set them apart. right foot.
11 And he sprinkled some of it on the altar 24 And he brought near the sons of
seven times, and anointed the altar and all Aharon, and Mosheh put some of the
its utensils, and the basin and its base, to blood on the tips of their right ears, and on
set them apart. the thumbs of their right hands, and on the
12 And he poured some of the anointing big toes of their right feet. And Mosheh
oil on Aharon’s head and anointed him, to sprinkled the blood on the altar all around,
set him apart. 25 and took the fat and the fat tail, and
13 And Mosheh brought the sons of all the fat that was on the entrails, and
Aharon and put long shirts on them, and the appendage on the liver, and the two
girded them with girdles, and put turbans kidneys and their fat, and the right thigh,
on them, as HWHY had commanded Mosheh. 26 and from the basket of unleavened
14 And he brought the bull for the sin bread that was before HWHY he took one
offering, and Aharon and his sons laid their unleavened cake, and a cake of bread
hands on the head of the bull for the sin anointed with oil, and one thin cake, and
offering, put them on the fat and on the right thigh,
15 and it was slaughtered. And Mosheh 27 and placed all these in the hands of
took the blood, and put some on the horns Aharon and in the hands of his sons, and
of the altar all around with his finger, and waved them as a wave offering before
cleansed the altar. And he poured the blood HWHY.
at the base of the altar, and set it apart, to 28 Mosheh then took them from their
make atonement for it. hands and burned them on the altar, on the
16 And he took all the fat that was on the burnt offering. They were ordinations for a
entrails, and the appendage on the liver, sweet fragrance. It was an offering by fire
and the two kidneys with their fat, and to HWHY.
Mosheh burned them on the altar. 29 And Mosheh took the breast and waved
17 And the bull, and its skin, and its flesh, it, a wave offering before HWHY. It was
and its dung, he burned with fire outside Mosheh’s portion of the ram of ordination,
the camp, as HWHY had commanded as HWHY had commanded Mosheh.
Mosheh. 30 And Mosheh took some of the anoint-
18 And he brought the ram of the burnt ing oil and some of the blood which was
offering, and Aharon and his sons laid their on the altar, and sprinkled it on Aharon, on
hands on the head of the ram, his garments, and on his sons, and on the
WAYYIQRA 8 112
garments of his sons with him. And he set the offering of the people, and make atone-
apart Aharon, his garments, and his sons, ment for them, as HWHY has commanded.”
and the garments of his sons with him. 8 So Aharon came near to the altar and
31 And Mosheh said to Aharon and his slaughtered the calf of the sin offering,
sons, “Cook the flesh at the door of the which was for himself.
Tent of Meeting, and eat it there with the 9 And the sons of Aharon brought the
bread that is in the basket of the ordina- blood to him, and he dipped his finger in
tions, as I have commanded, saying, the blood, and put it on the horns of the
‘Aharon and his sons are to eat it.’ altar, and poured the blood at the base of
32 “Then burn the rest of the flesh and the the altar.
bread with fire. 10 And the fat, and the kidneys, and the
33 “And do not go outside the door of the appendage on the liver of the sin offering
Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the he burned on the altar, as HWHY had
days of your ordination are completed – commanded Mosheh.
for he fills your hands for seven days. 11 And the flesh and the skin he burned
34 “HWHY has commanded to do, as he has with fire outside the camp.
done this day, to make atonement for you. 12 And he slaughtered the burnt offering,
35 “And stay at the door of the Tent of and the sons of Aharon presented to him
Meeting day and night for seven days. And the blood, which he sprinkled on the altar
you shall guard the duty of HWHY, and not all around.
die, for so I have been commanded.” 13 And they presented the burnt offering
36 And Aharon and his sons did all the to him, with its pieces and head, and he
words that HWHY had commanded by the burned them on the altar.
hand of Mosheh. 14 And he washed the entrails and the
sons and the elders of Yisra’Ãl. and took the goat, which was the sin offer-
2 And he said to Aharon, “Take for your- ing for the people, and slaughtered it and
self a young bull as a sin offering and a made it a sin offering, like the first one.
ram as a burnt offering, a perfect one, and 16 And he brought the burnt offering and
saying, ‘Take a male goat as a sin offering, filled his hand with it, and burned it on the
and a calf and a lamb, both a year old, altar, besides the burnt offering of the
perfect ones, as a burnt offering, morning.
4 and a bull and a ram as peace offerings, 18 And he slaughtered the bull and the ram
to slaughter before HWHY, and a grain offer- as peace offerings, which were for the
ing mixed with oil. For today HWHY shall people. And Aharon’s sons presented to
appear to you.’ ” him the blood, which he sprinkled on the
5 And they took what Mosheh command- altar all around,
ed before the Tent of Meeting, and all the 19 and the fat from the bull and the ram,
congregation drew near and stood before the fat tail, and the covering, and the
HWHY. kidneys, and the appendage on the liver,
6 And Mosheh said, “This is the word 20 and they placed the fat on the breasts,
which HWHY commanded you to do, so that and he burned the fat on the altar.
the esteem of HWHY appears to you.” 21 But the breasts and the right thigh
7 And Mosheh said to Aharon, “Go to the Aharon waved as a wave offering before
altar, and prepare your sin offering and HWHY, as Mosheh had commanded.
your burnt offering, and make atonement 22 Aharon then lifted up his hand toward
for yourself and for the people. And make the people and blessed them, and came
113 WAYYIQRA 11
down from making the sin offering, and the laws which HWHY has spoken to them by
the burnt offering, and the peace offerings. the hand of Mosheh.”
23 And Mosheh and Aharon went into the 12 And Mosheh spoke to Aharon, and to
Tent of Meeting, and came out and blessed ElÈazar and Ithamar, his sons who were
the people. And the esteem of HWHY left, “Take the grain offering that is left
appeared to all the people, over from the offerings made by fire to
24 and fire came out from before HWHY and
HWHY, and eat it without leaven beside the
consumed the burnt offering and the fat on altar, for it is most set-apart.
the altar. And all the people saw and cried 13 “And you shall eat it in a set-apart
aloud and fell on their faces. place, because it is yours by law and your
sons’ by law, of the offerings made by fire
10 And NaÅaÄ and AÄihu, the sons of
Aharon, each took his fire holder
to HWHY, for so I have been commanded.
14 “And the breast of the wave offering
and put fire in it, and put incense on it, and and the thigh of the contribution you eat in
brought strange fire before HWHY, which He a clean place, you, and your sons, and your
had not commanded them. daughters with you. For they are yours by
2 And fire came out from HWHY and con-
law and your sons’ by law, which are given
sumed them, and they died before HWHY. from the slaughterings of peace offerings
3 Then Mosheh said to Aharon, “This is
of the children of Yisra’Ãl.
what HWHY spoke, saying, ‘By those who 15 “The thigh of the contribution and the
come near Me let Me be set-apart! And breast of the wave offering they bring with
before all the people let Me be esteemed!’ ” the offerings of fat made by fire, to bring
And Aharon was silent. as a wave offering before HWHY. And it
4 And Mosheh called to Misha’Ãl and to
shall be yours and your sons’ with you, by
Eltsaphan, the sons of Uzzi’Ãl the uncle of a law forever, as HWHY has commanded.”
Aharon, and said to them, “Come near, 16 And Mosheh diligently looked for the
take your brothers from before the set- goat of the sin offering and saw it was
apart place out of the camp.” burned up. And he was wroth with ElÈazar
5 So they came near and took them by
and Ithamar, the sons of Aharon who were
their long shirts out of the camp, as left, saying,
Mosheh had said. 17 “Why have you not eaten the sin offer-
6 And Mosheh said to Aharon, and to
ing in a set-apart place, since it is most set-
ElÈazar and to Ithamar, his sons, “Do not apart, and Elohim has given it to you to
unbind your heads nor tear your garments, bear the crookedness of the congregation,
lest you die, and wrath come upon all the to make atonement for them before HWHY?
people. But let your brothers, all the house 18 “See, its blood was not brought inside
of Yisra’Ãl, bewail the burning which HWHY the set-apart place. You should have eaten
has kindled. it without fail in a set-apart place, as I have
7 “And do not go out from the door of the commanded.”
Tent of Meeting, lest you die, for the 19 And Aharon said to Mosheh, “See,
anointing oil of HWHY is upon you.” And today they have brought their sin offering
they did according to the word of Mosheh. and their burnt offering before HWHY, and
8 And HWHY spoke to Aharon, saying, matters like these have come to me! If I
9 “Do not drink wine or strong drink, had eaten the sin offering today, would it
you, nor your sons with you, when you go have been right in the eyes of HWHY?”
into the Tent of Meeting, lest you die – a 20 And when Mosheh heard that, it was
law forever throughout your generations, good in his eyes.
10 so as to make a distinction between the
saying, ‘These are the living creatures and the hoopoe, and the bat.
which you do eat among all the beasts that 20 ‘All flying insects that creep on all
divided, chewing the cud, among the insect that creeps on all fours: those which
beasts, that you do eat. have jointed legs above their feet with
4 ‘Only, these you do not eat among which to leap on the earth.
those that chew the cud or those that have a 22 ‘These of them you do eat: the locust
split hoof: the camel, because it chews the after its kind, and the destroying locust
cud but does not have a split hoof, it is after its kind, and the cricket after its kind,
unclean to you; and the grasshopper after its kind.
5 and the rabbit, because it chews the cud 23 ‘But all other flying insects which have
but does not have a split hoof, it is unclean four feet is an abomination to you.
to you; 24 ‘And by these you are made unclean,
6 and the hare, because it chews the cud anyone touching the carcass of any of them
but does not have a split hoof, it is unclean is unclean until evening,
to you; 25 and anyone picking up part of the car-
7 and the pig, though it has a split hoof, cass of any of them has to wash his gar-
completely divided, yet does not chew the ments, and shall be unclean until evening.
cud, it is unclean to you. 26 ‘Every beast that has a split hoof not
8 ‘Their flesh you do not eat, and their completely divided, or does not chew the
carcasses you do not touch. They are cud, is unclean to you. Anyone who touch-
unclean to you. es their carcass is unclean.
9 ‘These you do eat of all that are in the 27 ‘And whatever goes on its paws,
waters: any one that has fins and scales in among all the creatures that go on all fours,
the waters, in the seas or in the rivers, that those are unclean to you. Anyone who
you do eat. touches their carcass is unclean until
10 ‘But all that have not fins and scales in evening,
the seas and in the rivers, all that move in 28 and he who picks up their carcass has to
the waters or any living creature which is wash his garments, and shall be unclean
in the waters, they are an abomination to until evening. They are unclean to you.
you. 29 ‘And these are unclean to you among
11 ‘They are an abomination to you – of the creeping creatures that creep on the
their flesh you do not eat, and their car- earth: the mole, and the mouse, and the
casses you abominate. tortoise after its kind,
12 ‘All that have not fins or scales in the 30 and the gecko, and the land crocodile,
waters is an abomination to you. and the sand reptile, and the sand lizard,
13 ‘And these you do abominate among and the chameleon.
the birds, they are not eaten, they are an 31 ‘These are unclean to you among all
abomination: the eagle, and the vulture, that creep. Anyone who touches them
and the black vulture, when they are dead becomes unclean until
14 and the hawk, and the falcon after its evening.
kind, 32 ‘And whatever any of them in its dead
15 every raven after its kind, state falls upon, becomes unclean, whether
16 and the ostrich, and the nighthawk, and it is any wooden object or garment or skin
the seagull, and the hawk after its kind, or sack, any object in which work is done,
17 and the little owl, and the fisher owl, it is put in water. And it shall be unclean
and the great owl, until evening, then it shall be clean.
18 and the white owl, and the pelican, and 33 ‘Any earthen vessel into which any of
34 ‘Any of the food which might be eaten, clean and the clean, and between the living
on which water comes, becomes unclean, creature that is eaten and the living crea-
and any drink which might be drunk from ture that is not eaten.’ ”
it becomes unclean.
35 ‘And on whatever any of their carcass
falls becomes unclean – an oven or cook- 12 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
2 “Speak to the children of Yisra’Ãl,
ing range – it is broken down. They are saying, ‘When a woman has conceived,
unclean, and are unclean to you. and has given birth to a male child, then
36 ‘But a fountain or a well, a collection of she shall be unclean seven days, as in the
water, is clean, but whatever touches their days of her monthly separation she is
carcass is unclean. unclean.
37 ‘And when any of their carcass falls on 3 ‘And on the eighth day the flesh of his
carcass becomes unclean until evening. then she shall be unclean for two weeks, as
40 ‘And he who eats of its carcass has to in her monthly separation, and she remains
wash his garments, and shall be unclean in the blood of her cleansing for sixty-six
until evening. And he who picks up its days.
carcass has to wash his garments, and shall 6 ‘And when the days of her cleansing
has many feet among all creeping creatures make atonement for her, and she shall be
that creep on the earth, these you do not cleansed from the flow of her blood. This
eat, for they are an abomination. is the Torah for her who has given birth to
43 ‘Do not make yourselves abominable a male or a female.
with any creeping creature that creeps, and 8 ‘And if she is not able to bring a lamb,
do not make yourselves unclean with then she shall bring two turtledoves or two
them, lest you be defiled by them. young pigeons, one as a burnt offering and
44 ‘For I am HWHY your Elohim, and you the other as a sin offering. And the priest
shall set yourselves apart. And you shall shall make atonement for her, and she shall
be set-apart, for I am set-apart. And do not be clean.’ ”
defile yourselves with any creeping
creature that creeps on the earth.
45 ‘For I am HWHY who is bringing you up 13 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh and to
Aharon, saying,
2 “When a man has on the skin of his
out of the land of Mitsrayim, to be your
Elohim. And you shall be set-apart, for I body a swelling, a scab, or a bright spot,
am set-apart. and it shall become on the skin of his body
46 ‘This is the Torah of the beasts and the like a leprous infection, then he shall be
birds and every living creature that moves brought to Aharon the priest or to one of
in the waters, and of every creature that his sons the priests.
creeps on the earth, 3 “And the priest shall look at the infec-
47 to make a distinction between the un- tion on the skin of the body. And if the hair
WAYYIQRA 13 116
on the infection has turned white, and the the raw flesh is unclean, it is leprosy.
infection appears to be deeper than the skin 16 “Or when the raw flesh changes and
of his body, it is a leprous infection. And turns white again, he shall come to the
the priest shall look at him, and pronounce priest.
him unclean. 17 “And the priest shall look at him and
4 “But if the bright spot is white on the see, if the infection has turned white, then
skin of his body, and does not appear to be the priest shall pronounce the infected one
deeper than the skin, and its hair has not clean, he is clean.
turned white, then the priest shall shut up 18 “And when the body has a boil in the
seventh day and see, if the infection a white swelling or a bright spot, reddish-
appears to be as it was, and the infection white, then it shall be seen by the priest.
has not spread on the skin, then the priest 20 “And the priest shall look and see, if
shall shut him up another seven days. it appears deeper than the skin, and its hair
6 “And the priest shall look at him again has turned white, the priest shall
on the seventh day and see, if the infection pronounce him unclean, it is a leprous
has darkened, and the infection has not infection which has broken out of the boil.
spread on the skin, then the priest shall 21 “But if the priest looks at it and sees no
pronounce him clean. It is a scab, and he white hairs in it, and it is not deeper than
shall wash his garments and be clean. the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall
7 “But if the scab spreads further over the shut him up seven days;
skin, after he has been seen by the priest 22 and if it has spread further over the
for his cleansing, he shall be seen by the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him
priest again. unclean, it is a leprous infection.
8 “And the priest shall look and see, if 23 “But if the bright spot stays in its place,
the scab has spread on the skin, then the it has not spread, it is the scar of the boil,
priest shall pronounce him unclean, it is and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
leprosy. 24 “Or when the body receives a burn on
9 “When the infection of leprosy is on a its skin by fire, and the raw flesh of the
man, then he shall be brought to the priest. burn shall become a bright spot, reddish-
10 “And the priest shall look and see, if white or white,
the swelling on the skin is white, and it has 25 then the priest shall look at it and see, if
turned the hair white, and there is a spot of the hair of the bright spot has turned white,
raw flesh in the swelling, and it appears deeper than the skin, it is
11 it is an old leprosy on the skin of his leprosy broken out in the burn. And the
body, and the priest shall pronounce him priest shall pronounce him unclean, it is a
unclean. He does not shut him up, for he is leprous infection.
unclean. 26 “But if the priest looks at it and sees
12 “And if leprosy breaks out all over the there are no white hairs in the bright spot,
skin, and the leprosy shall cover all the and it is not deeper than the skin, but has
skin of the infected one, from his head to faded, then the priest shall shut him up
his foot, wherever the priest looks, seven days.
13 then the priest shall look and see, if the 27 “And the priest shall look at him on the
leprosy has covered all his body, he shall seventh day. If it spreads further over the
pronounce the infected one clean. It has all skin, then the priest shall pronounce him
turned white, he is clean. unclean, it is a leprous infection.
14 “But the day raw flesh appears on him, 28 “But if the bright spot stays in its place,
the priest shall pronounce him unclean, it if the swelling of the infection is reddish-
is an eruption, a leprosy of the head or white on his bald head or on his bald fore-
beard. head, as the appearance of leprosy on the
31 “But when the priest looks at the infec- skin of the body,
tion of the eruption and sees that it does 44 he is a leprous man, he is unclean. The
not appear deeper than the skin, and there priest shall pronounce him unclean, with-
is no black hair in it, then the priest shall out fail, his infection is on his head.
shut up the one with the infection of the 45 “As for the leper who has the infection,
eruption seven days. his garments are torn, and his head is
32 “And on the seventh day the priest shall uncovered, and he has to cover his upper
look at the infection and see, if the erup- lip and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’
tion has not spread, and there is no yellow 46 “He is unclean – all the days he has the
hair in it, and the eruption does not appear infection he is unclean. He is unclean,
deeper than the skin, and he dwells alone, his dwelling place is
33 then he shall shave himself, but the outside the camp.
eruption he does not shave. And the priest 47 “And when a garment has an infection
shall shut up the one with the eruption of leprosy in it, in a woollen garment or in
another seven days. a linen garment,
34 “And on the seventh day the priest shall 48 or in the warp or in the weft of linen or
look at the eruption and see, if the eruption wool, or in leather or in any leather-work,
has not spread over the skin, and does not 49 and the infection shall be greenish or
appear deeper than the skin, then the priest reddish in the garment or in the leather, or
shall pronounce him clean. And he shall in the warp or in the weft, or in any leather
wash his garments, and he shall be clean. object, it is an infection of leprosy and
35 “But if the eruption spreads further shall be shown to the priest.
over the skin after his cleansing, 50 “And the priest shall look at the infec-
36 then the priest shall look at him and tion and shut up the infected one seven
see, if the eruption has spread over the days.
skin, the priest need not seek for yellow 51 “And he shall look at the infection on
bright spots on the skin of the body, white warp or the weft, in wool or in linen, or
bright spots, any leather object in which the infection is,
39 then the priest shall look and see, if the for it is an active leprosy. It is burned with
bright spots on the skin of the body are dull fire.
white, it is a white spot that grows on the 53 “But if the priest looks and sees that the
forehead, he is bald on the forehead, he is they shall wash that in which the infection
WAYYIQRA 13 118
in the warp or in the weft, or in any leather male lambs, perfect ones, and one ewe
object, it is a spreading infection. Burn it lamb a year old, a perfect one, and three-
with fire, that in which the infection is. tenths of an Ãphah of fine flour mixed with
58 “And if you wash the garment, or the oil as a grain offering, and one log of oil.
warp or the weft, or any leather object, if 11 “And the priest who is cleansing shall
the infection has disappeared from it, then present the man who is to be cleansed,
it shall be washed a second time, and shall with these offerings, before HWHY, at the
be clean. door of the Tent of Meeting.
59 “This is the Torah of the infection 12 “And the priest shall take one male
of leprosy in a garment of wool or linen, or lamb and bring it as a guilt offering, and
in the warp or in the weft, or in any leather the log of oil, and wave them as a wave
object, to pronounce it clean or to pro- offering before HWHY.
nounce it unclean.” 13 “And he shall slaughter the lamb in the
and scarlet, and hyssop. log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his
5 “And the priest shall command, and own left hand.
he shall kill one of the birds in an earthen 16 “And the priest shall dip his right finger
vessel over running water. in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall
6 “Let him take the live bird and the sprinkle some of the oil with his finger
cedar wood and the scarlet and the hyssop, seven times before HWHY.
and dip them and the live bird in the blood 17 “And of the rest of the oil in his hand,
of the bird that was killed over the running the priest puts some on the tip of the right
water. ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on
7 “And he shall sprinkle it seven times on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big
him who is to be cleansed from the toe of his right foot, on the blood of the
leprosy, and shall pronounce him clean, guilt offering.
and shall let the live bird loose in the open 18 “And the rest of the oil that is in the
119 WAYYIQRA 14
priest’s hand he puts on the head of him 30 “And he shall prepare one of the turtle-
who is to be cleansed. And the priest shall doves or young pigeons, such as he is able
make atonement for him before HWHY. to afford,
19 “And the priest shall make the sin 31 that which he is able to afford, the one
offering, and make atonement for him who as a sin offering and the other as a burnt
is to be cleansed from his uncleanness. offering, with the grain offering. And the
Then afterwards he slaughters the burnt priest shall make atonement for him who is
offering. to be cleansed before HWHY.
20 “And the priest shall offer the burnt 32 “This is the Torah for one who had an
offering and the grain offering on the altar. infection of leprosy, who is unable to
And the priest shall make atonement for afford for his cleansing.”
him, and he shall be clean. 33 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh and to
21 “But if he is poor and is unable to Aharon, saying,
afford it, then he shall take one male lamb 34 “When you come into the land of
put it on the tip of the right ear of him who to the door of the house, and shut up the
is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his house seven days.
right hand, and on the big toe of his right 39 “And the priest shall come again on the
that is in his hand on the tip of the right ear inside, all around, and the dust that they
of him who is to be cleansed, and on the scrape off they shall pour out in an unclean
thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe place outside the city.
of his right foot, on the place of the blood 42 “And they shall take other stones and
of the guilt offering. put them in the place of those stones, and
29 “And the rest of the oil that is in the take other mortar and plaster the house.
priest’s hand he puts on the head of him 43 “And if the plague comes back and
who is to be cleansed, to make atonement breaks out in the house, after he has
for him before HWHY. removed the stones, after he has scraped
WAYYIQRA 14 120
the house, and after it is plastered, say to them, ‘When any man has a
44 then the priest shall come and look and discharge from his flesh, his discharge is
see, if the plague has spread in the house, it unclean.
is an active leprosy in the house, it is 3 ‘And this is his uncleanness in regard to
the city to an unclean place. who has the discharge lies, and any object
46 “And he who goes into the house, all on which he sits becomes unclean.
the days while it is shut up, becomes un- 5 ‘And anyone who touches his bed has
in the house has to wash his garments. which he who has the discharge sat, has to
48 “However, if the priest indeed comes in wash his garments, and shall bathe in
and looks at it and sees that the plague has water, and be unclean until evening.
not spread in the house after the house was 7 ‘And he who touches the flesh of him
plastered, then the priest shall pronounce who has the discharge has to wash his
the house clean, because the plague is garments, and shall bathe in water, and
healed. shall be unclean until evening.
49 “And to cleanse the house, he shall take 8 ‘And when he who has the discharge
two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and spits on him who is clean, then he shall
hyssop. wash his garments, and shall bathe in
50 “And he shall kill one of the birds in an water, and be unclean until evening.
earthen vessel over running water, 9 ‘Any saddle on which he who has the
51 and he shall take the cedar wood, and discharge rides becomes unclean.
the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the live 10 ‘And whoever touches any of that
bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain which was under him is unclean until
bird and in the running water, and shall evening. And he who is carrying them up
sprinkle the house seven times. has to wash his garments, and shall bathe
52 “He shall thus cleanse the house with in water, and be unclean until evening.
the blood of the bird and the running water 11 ‘And anyone whom he who has the dis-
and the live bird, and with the cedar wood, charge touches without rinsing his hands in
and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet, water, shall wash his garments and bathe in
53 and he shall let the live bird loose water, and be unclean until evening.
outside the city in the open field, and 12 ‘And the earthen vessel which he who
shall make atonement for the house, and has the discharge touches has to be broken,
it shall be clean. and every wooden vessel has to be rinsed
54 “This is the Torah for any infection of in water.
leprosy, and eruption, 13 ‘And when he who has a discharge is
55 and for leprosy of a garment, and of a cleansed of his discharge, then he shall
house, count for himself seven days for his
56 and for a swelling, and for a scab, and cleansing, and shall wash his garments,
for a bright spot, and shall bathe his flesh in running water,
57 to teach when it is unclean and when it and be clean.
is clean. This is the Torah of leprosy.” 14 ‘And on the eighth day he takes for
15 ‘And the priest shall prepare them, the shall bathe in water, and be unclean until
one as a sin offering and the other as a evening.
burnt offering. And the priest shall make 28 ‘But if she is cleansed of her discharge,
atonement for him before HWHY because of then she shall count for herself seven days,
his discharge. and after that she is clean.
16 ‘And when a man has an emission of 29 ‘And on the eighth day she takes for
semen, then he shall wash all his flesh in herself two turtledoves or two young
water, and be unclean until evening. pigeons, and shall bring them to the priest,
17 ‘And any garment and any leather on to the door of the Tent of Meeting.
which there is semen, shall also be washed 30 ‘And the priest shall prepare the one as
with water, and be unclean until evening. a sin offering and the other as a burnt
18 ‘And when a woman lies with a man, offering, and the priest shall make atone-
and there is an emission of semen, they ment for her before HWHY for the discharge
both shall bathe in water, and be unclean of her uncleanness.
until evening. 31 ‘Thus you shall separate the children of
19 ‘And when a woman has a discharge, Yisra’Ãl from their uncleanness, lest they
and the discharge from her flesh is blood, die in their uncleanness when they defile
she has to be in her separation for seven My Dwelling Place which is in their midst.
days. And whoever touches her is unclean 32 ‘This is the Torah for one who has a
she sat on has to wash his garments, and 16 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh after
the death of the two sons of
shall bathe in water, and be unclean until Aharon, as they drew near before HWHY,
evening. and died.
23 ‘And if it is on the bed or on any object 2 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Speak to
on which she sits, when he touches it, he is Aharon your brother not to come in at all
unclean until evening. times to the Set-apart Place inside the veil,
24 ‘And if any man lies with her at all, and before the lid of atonement which is on the
her monthly flow is on him, he shall be ark, lest he die, because I appear in the
unclean seven days. And any bed he lies cloud above the lid of atonement.
on is unclean. 3 “With this Aharon should come into the
25 ‘And when a woman has a discharge of Set-apart Place: with the blood of a young
blood for many days, other than at the time bull as a sin offering, and of a ram as a
of her monthly separation, or when she burnt offering.
discharges beyond her usual time of 4 “He should put on the set-apart linen
monthly separation, all the days of her long shirt, with linen trousers on his flesh,
unclean discharge shall be as the days of and gird himself with a linen girdle, and be
her monthly separation. She is unclean. dressed with the linen turban – they are
26 ‘Any bed on which she lies all the days set-apart garments. And he shall bathe his
of her discharge is to her as the bed of her body in water, and shall put them on.
monthly separation. And whatever she sits 5 “And from the congregation of the
sin offering, which is for himself, and Meeting when he goes in to make atone-
make atonement for himself and for his ment in the Set-apart Place, until he comes
house. out. And he shall make atonement for him-
7 “And he shall take the two goats and let self, and for his household, and for all the
them stand before HWHY at the door of the assembly of Yisra’Ãl.
Tent of Meeting. 18 “And he shall go out to the altar that is
8 “And Aharon shall cast lots for the two before HWHY, and make atonement for it.
goats, one lot for HWHY and the other lot for And he shall take some of the blood of the
Azazel. bull and some of the blood of the goat, and
9 “And Aharon shall bring the goat on put it on the horns of the altar all around.
which the lot for HWHY fell, and shall 19 “And he shall sprinkle some of the
prepare it as a sin offering. blood on it with his finger seven times, and
10 “But the goat on which the lot for cleanse it, and set it apart from the
Azazel fell is caused to stand alive before uncleanness of the children of Yisra’Ãl.
HWHY, to make atonement upon it, to send it 20 “And when he has finished atoning for
into the wilderness to Azazel. the Set-apart Place, and the Tent of
11 “And Aharon shall bring the bull of the Meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the
sin offering, which is for himself, and live goat.
make atonement for himself and for his 21 “Then Aharon shall lay both his hands
house, and shall slaughter the bull as the on the head of the live goat, and shall
sin offering which is for himself, confess over it all the crookednesses of the
12 and shall take a fire holder filled with children of Yisra’Ãl, and all their transgres-
burning coals of fire from the altar before sions in all their sins, and shall put them on
HWHY, with his hands filled with sweet the head of the goat, and shall send it away
incense beaten fine, and shall bring it into the wilderness by the hand of a fit
inside the veil. man.
13 “And he shall put the incense on the 22 “And the goat shall bear on itself
fire before HWHY, and the cloud of incense all their crookednesses, to a land cut off.
shall cover the lid of atonement which is Thus he shall send the goat away into the
on the Witness, lest he die. wilderness.
14 “And he shall take some of the blood of 23 “Aharon shall then come into the Tent
the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on of Meeting, and shall take off the linen
the lid of atonement on the east side, also garments which he put on when he went
in front of the lid of atonement he sprinkles into the Set-apart Place, and shall leave
some of the blood with his finger seven them there.
times. 24 “And he shall bathe his body in water
15 “And he shall slaughter the goat of the in the set-apart place, and shall put on his
sin offering, which is for the people, and garments, and shall come out and prepare
shall bring its blood inside the veil, and his burnt offering and the burnt offering of
shall do with that blood as he did with the the people, and make atonement for him-
blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the lid self and for the people,
of atonement and in front of the lid of 25 and burn the fat of the sin offering on
Set-apart Place, because of the uncleanness Azazel washes his garments, and shall
of the children of Yisra’Ãl, and because of bathe his body in water, and afterward he
their transgressions in all their sins. And so comes into the camp.
he does for the Tent of Meeting which is 27 “And the bull for the sin offering and
dwelling with them in the midst of their the goat for the sin offering, whose blood
uncleanness. was brought in to make atonement in the
17 “And no man should be in the Tent of Set-apart Place, is brought outside the
123 WAYYIQRA 18
camp. And they shall burn their skins, and them as peace offerings to HWHY.
their flesh, and their dung with fire. 6 “And the priest shall sprinkle the blood
28 “And he who burns them washes his
on the altar of HWHY at the door of the Tent
garments, and shall bathe his body in of Meeting, and shall burn the fat for a
water, and afterward he comes into the sweet fragrance to HWHY.
camp. 7 “And let them no longer slaughter their
29 “And this shall be for you a law
slaughterings to demons, after whom they
forever: In the seventh month, on the tenth whored. This is a law forever for them
day of the month, you afflict your beings, throughout their generations.” ’
and do no work, the native or the stranger 8 “And say to them, ‘Any man of the
who sojourns among you. house of Yisra’Ãl, or of the strangers who
30 “For on that day he makes atonement
sojourn among you, who offers a burnt
for you, to cleanse you, to be clean from all offering or slaughtering,
your sins before HWHY. 9 and does not bring it to the door of the
31 “It is a Sabbath of rest for you, and you
Tent of Meeting, to do it to HWHY, that man
shall afflict your beings – a law forever. shall be cut off from among his people.
32 “And the priest, who is anointed and 10 ‘And any man of the house of Yisra’Ãl,
ordained to serve as priest in his father’s or of the strangers who sojourn among
place, shall make atonement, and shall put you, who eats any blood, I shall set My
on the linen garments, the set-apart gar- face against that being who eats blood, and
ments, shall cut him off from among his people.
33 and he shall make atonement for the 11 ‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood,
Most Set-apart Place, and make atonement and I have given it to you upon the altar to
for the Tent of Meeting and for the altar, make atonement for your lives, for it is the
and make atonement for the priests and for blood that makes atonement for the life.’
all the people of the assembly. 12 “Therefore I said to the children of
34 “And this shall be for you a law forev- Yisra’Ãl, ‘No being among you eats blood,
er, to make atonement for the children of nor does any stranger who sojourns among
Yisra’Ãl, for all their sins, once a year.” you eat blood.’
And he did as HWHY commanded Mosheh. 13 “And any man from the children of
bring them to HWHY at the door of the Tent and say to them, ‘I am HWHY your Elohim.
of meeting, to the priest, and slaughter 3 ‘Do not do as they do in the land of
WAYYIQRA 18 124
Mitsrayim, where you dwelt. And do not are her relatives – it is wickedness.
do as they do in the land of KenaÈan, where 18 ‘And do not take a woman as a rival to
I am bringing you, and do not walk in their her sister, to uncover her nakedness while
laws. the other is alive.
4 ‘Do My right-rulings and guard My 19 ‘And do not approach a woman
laws, to walk in them. I am HWHY your to uncover her nakedness in her monthly
Elohim. separation of uncleanness.
5 ‘And you shall guard My laws and My 20 ‘And do not have intercourse with the
right-rulings, which a man does and lives wife of your neighbour, to defile yourself
by them. I am HWHY. with her.
6 ‘No one is to approach anyone of his 21 ‘And do not give any of your offspring
own flesh to uncover his nakedness. I am to pass through to Mole¿. And do not pro-
HWHY. fane the Name of your Elohim. I am HWHY.
7 ‘The nakedness of your father or the 22 ‘And do not lie with a male as with a
where, their nakedness you do not uncover. fore I punished it for its crookedness, and
10 ‘The nakedness of your son’s daughter the land vomited out its inhabitants.
or your daughter’s daughter, their naked- 26 ‘But you, you shall guard My laws and
ness you do not uncover, for theirs is your My right-rulings, and not do any of these
own nakedness. abominations, the native nor stranger who
11 ‘The nakedness of your father’s wife’s sojourns among you,
daughter, brought forth by your father, she 27 because the men of the land who were
is your sister, you do not uncover her before you have done all these abomina-
nakedness. tions, and thus the land became defiled,
12 ‘The nakedness of your father’s sister 28 ‘So let not the land vomit you out for
you do not uncover, she is your father’s defiling it, as it vomited out the nations
flesh. that were before you.
13 ‘The nakedness of your mother’s sister 29 ‘For whoever does any of these abomi-
you do not uncover, for she is your nations, those beings who do them shall be
mother’s flesh. cut off from among their people.
14 ‘The nakedness of your father’s brother 30 ‘And you shall guard My Charge, so as
you do not uncover, you do not approach not to do any of these abominable practices
his wife, she is your aunt. which were done before you, so as not to
15 ‘The nakedness of your daughter-in- defile yourselves by them. I am HWHY your
law you do not uncover, she is your son’s Elohim.’ ”
wife, you do not uncover her nakedness.
16 ‘The nakedness of your brother’s wife
you do not uncover, it is your brother’s 19 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
2 “Speak to all the congregation of
daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They er and his father, and guard My Sabbaths.
125 WAYYIQRA 19
ness, because he has profaned the set-apart for him with the ram of the guilt offering
offering of HWHY, and that being shall be before HWHY for his sin which he has done.
cut off from his people. And the sin which he has sinned shall be
9 ‘And when you reap the harvest of your forgiven him.
23 ‘And when you come into the land,
land, do not completely reap the corners of
your field or gather the gleanings of your and have planted all kinds of trees for
harvest. food, then you shall reckon their fruit as
10 ‘And do not glean your vineyard or uncircumcised. For three years it is as
gather every grape of your vineyard, leave uncircumcised to you, it is not eaten.
24 ‘And in the fourth year all its fruit is
them for the poor and the stranger. I am
HWHY your Elohim. set-apart – praises to HWHY.
11 ‘Do not steal, do not lie, do not deceive 25 ‘And in the fifth year you eat its fruit,
him. The wages of him who is hired is not nor destroy the corner of your beard.
to remain with you all night until morning. 28 ‘And do not make any cuttings in your
14 ‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stum- flesh for the dead, nor put tattoo marks on
bling-block before the blind, but fear your you. I am HWHY.
Elohim. I am HWHY. 29 ‘Do not profane your daughter by
15 ‘Do no unrighteousness in right-ruling. making her a whore, so that the land does
Do not be partial to the poor or favour the not whore, and the land becomes filled
face of the great, but rightly rule your with wickedness.
neighbour in righteousness. 30 ‘Guard My Sabbaths and reverence My
16 ‘Do not go slandering among your set-apart place. I am HWHY.
people. Do not stand against the blood 31 ‘Do not turn to mediums, and do not
bear no sin because of him. you shall favour the face of an old man,
18 ‘Do not take vengeance or bear a and shall fear your Elohim. I am HWHY.
grudge against the children of your people. 33 ‘And when a stranger sojourns with
And you shall love your neighbour as you in your land, do not oppress him.
yourself. I am HWHY. 34 ‘Let the stranger who dwells among
19 ‘Guard My laws. Do not let your live- you be to you as the native among you, and
stock mate with another kind. Do not sow you shall love him as yourself. For you
your field with mixed seed. And do not put were strangers in the land of Mitsrayim. I
WAYYIQRA 19 126
even go whoring after Mole¿ – from the during her sickness and uncovers her
midst of their people. nakedness: he has laid bare her flow, and
6 ‘And the being who turns to mediums, she has uncovered the flow of her blood,
and to spiritists, to go whoring after them, I both of them shall be cut off from the
shall set My face against that being and cut midst of their people.
him off from the midst of his people. 19 ‘And do not uncover the nakedness of
7 ‘And you shall set yourselves apart, your mother’s sister nor of your father’s
and shall be set-apart, for I am HWHY your sister, for that is laying bare one’s own
Elohim, flesh, they bear their crookedness.
8 and you shall guard My laws and do 20 ‘And a man who lies with his uncle’s
them. I am HWHY, who sets you apart. wife: he has uncovered his uncle’s naked-
9 ‘For everyone who curses his father or ness, they bear their sin, they die childless.
his mother shall certainly be put to death – 21 ‘And a man who takes his brother’s
he has cursed his father or his mother, his wife: it is uncleanness, he has uncovered
blood is on him. his brother’s nakedness, they are childless.
10 ‘And a man who commits adultery with 22 ‘And you shall guard all My laws and
the wife of another man, who commits all My right-rulings, and do them, so that
adultery with the wife of his neighbour: the the land where I am bringing you to dwell
adulterer and the adulteress shall certainly does not vomit you out.
127 WAYYIQRA 21
23 ‘And do not walk in the laws of the 8 ‘And you shall set him apart, for he
nation which I am driving out before you, brings the bread of your Elohim, he is set-
for they do all these, and therefore I apart to you. For I, HWHY, setting you apart,
loathed them. am set-apart.
24 ‘But I say to you, “You are going to 9 ‘And when the daughter of any priest
possess their land, and I Myself give it to profanes herself by whoring, she profanes
you to possess it, a land flowing with milk her father. She is burned with fire.
and honey.” I am HWHY your Elohim, who 10 ‘And the high priest among his broth-
has separated you from the peoples. ers, on whose head the anointing oil was
25 ‘And you shall make a distinction poured and who is ordained to wear the
between clean beasts and unclean, and garments, does not unbind his head nor
between unclean birds and clean. And do tear his garments,
not make yourselves abominable by beast 11 nor come near any dead body, nor
or by bird, or whatever creeps on the defile himself for his father or his mother,
ground, which I have separated from you 12 nor go out of the set-apart place, nor
certainly be put to death, they are to stone woman or a whore – these he does not
them with stones. Their blood is upon take. But a maiden of his own people he
them.’ ” does take as a wife.
15 ‘And he does not profane his offspring
for the dead among his people, 17 “Speak to Aharon, saying, ‘No man of
2 except for his relatives who are nearest your offspring throughout their genera-
to him: for his mother, and for his father, tions, who has any defect, is to draw near
and for his son, and for his daughter, and to bring the bread of his Elohim.
for his brother; 18 ‘For any man who has a defect is not to
3 and for his maiden sister who is near to draw near: a man blind or one lame or dis-
him, who has had no husband – for her he figured or deformed,
is defiled. 19 a man who has a broken foot or broken
4 ‘A leader does not defile himself hand,
among his people, to profane himself; 20 or is a hunchback or a dwarf, or a man
5 they do not make any bald place on who has a defect in his eye, or eczema or
their heads, and they do not shave the cor- scab, or is a eunuch.
ner of their beard, and they do not make a 21 ‘No man among the offspring of
take a woman put away from her husband, approach the altar, because he has a defect,
for he is set-apart to his Elohim. lest he profanes My set-apart places. For I
WAYYIQRA 21 128
sons, and to all the children of Yisra’Ãl. widow or put away, and has no child, and
has returned to her father’s house as in her
22 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
2 “Speak to Aharon and his sons,
youth, she does eat her father’s food, but
no stranger eats of it.
14 ‘And when a man eats the set-apart
that they separate themselves from the set-
apart offerings of the children of Yisra’Ãl, offering by mistake, then he shall give a
and that they do not profane My set-apart set-apart offering to the priest, and add
Name in what they set apart to Me. I am one-fifth to it.
15 ‘And let the priests not profane the set-
HWHY.
3 “Say to them, ‘Any man of all your off- apart offerings of the children of Yisra’Ãl,
spring throughout your generations who which they lift up to HWHY,
16 or allow them to bear the crookedness
draws near the set-apart offerings which
the children of Yisra’Ãl set apart to HWHY, of trespass when they eat their set-apart
while he has uncleanness upon him, that offerings. For I am HWHY, who sets them
being shall be cut off from before Me. I am apart.’ ”
17 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
HWHY.
4 ‘Any man of the offspring of Aharon, 18 “Speak to Aharon and his sons, and to
who is a leper or has a discharge, does not all the children of Yisra’Ãl, and say to
eat the set-apart offerings until he is clean. them, ‘Any man of the house of Yisra’Ãl,
And whoever touches what is rendered or of the strangers in Yisra’Ãl, who brings
unclean by a corpse, or a man who has had his offering for any of his vows or for any
an emission of semen, of his voluntary offerings, which they
5 or a man who touches any creeping bring to HWHY as a burnt offering,
creature by which he would be made 19 for your acceptance, is a male, a perfect
unclean, or any being by whom he would one from the cattle, from the sheep, or
become unclean, even any of his unclean- from the goats.
ness; 20 ‘Whatever has a defect, you do not
6 the being who has touched it shall be bring, for it is not acceptable for you.
unclean until evening, and does not eat the 21 ‘And when a man brings a peace offer-
set-apart offerings, but shall bathe his body ing to HWHY, to complete a vow, or a volun-
in water. tary offering from the cattle or the sheep, it
7 ‘And when the sun goes down he shall is to be perfect to be accepted, let there be
be clean, and afterward eat the set-apart no defect in it.
offerings, because it is his food. 22 ‘Those blind or broken or having a cut,
8 ‘He does not eat that which dies or is or have an ulcer or eczema or scabs, you
torn by beasts, becoming unclean by it. do not bring to HWHY, nor make an offering
I am HWHY. by fire of them on the altar to HWHY.
9 ‘And they shall guard My Charge, lest 23 ‘As for a bull or a lamb that has any
they bear sin for it and die thereby, when limb deformed or dwarfed you do prepare
they profane it. I HWHY set them apart. as a voluntary offering, but for a vow it is
10 ‘And no stranger eats the set-apart not accepted.
offering. A sojourner with the priest, or a 24 ‘Do not bring to HWHY what is bruised or
hired servant, does not eat the set-apart crushed, or torn or cut, nor do it in your
offering. land.
11 ‘But when the priest buys a being with 25 ‘And from a son of a stranger’s hand
his money, he does eat of it. And one who you do not bring any of these as the bread
is born in his house does eat his food. of your Elohim, for their corruption is in
12 ‘And when a priest’s daughter is them, and defects are in them, they are not
married to a stranger, she does not eat of acceptable for you.’ ”
129 WAYYIQRA 23
26 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying, into the land which I give you, and shall
27 “When a bull or a sheep or a goat is reap its harvest, then you shall bring a
born, it shall be seven days with its mother. sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest to
And from the eighth day and thereafter it is the priest.
11 ‘And he shall wave the sheaf before
acceptable as an offering made by fire to
HWHY. HWHY, for your acceptance. On the morrow
28 “But do not slaughter a cow or a sheep after the Sabbath the priest waves it.
12 ‘And on that day when you wave the
and its young on the same day.
29 “And when you bring a slaughtering of sheaf, you shall prepare a male lamb a year
thanksgiving to HWHY, bring it for your old, a perfect one, as a burnt offering to
acceptance. HWHY,
30 “It is eaten that same day, leave none of 13 and its grain offering: two-tenths of an
apart gatherings, My appointed times, are Sabbath you count fifty days, then you
these: shall bring a new grain offering to HWHY.
3 ‘Six days work is done, but the seventh 17 ‘Bring from your dwellings for a wave
day is a Sabbath of rest, a set-apart gather- offering two loaves of bread, of two-tenths
ing. You do no work, it is a Sabbath to of an Ãphah of fine flour they are, baked
HWHY in all your dwellings. with leaven, first-fruits to HWHY.
4 ‘These are the appointed times of HWHY, 18 ‘And besides the bread, you shall bring
set-apart gatherings which you are to pro- seven lambs a year old, perfect ones, and
claim at their appointed times. one young bull and two rams. They are a
5 ‘In the first month, on the fourteenth burnt offering to HWHY, with their grain
day of the month, between the evenings, is offering and their drink offerings, an offer-
the Passover to HWHY. ing made by fire for a sweet fragrance to
6 ‘And on the fifteenth day of this month HWHY.
is the Festival of Unleavened Bread to 19 ‘And you shall offer one male goat as a
HWHY – seven days you eat unleavened sin offering, and two male lambs a year
bread. old, as a peace offering.
7 ‘On the first day you have a set-apart 20 ‘And the priest shall wave them,
made by fire to HWHY. On the eighth day twelve cakes with it, two-tenths of an
there shall be a set-apart gathering for you, Ãphah in each cake.
and you shall bring an offering made by 6 “And you shall set them in two rows,
fire to HWHY. It is a closing festival, you do six in a row, on the clean table before HWHY.
no servile work. 7 “And you shall put clear frankincense
131 WAYYIQRA 25
on each row, and it shall be on the bread as the stranger and for the native, for I am
a remembrance portion, an offering made HWHY your Elohim.’ ”
by fire to HWHY. 23 And Mosheh spoke to the children of
8 “On every Sabbath he is to arrange it Yisra’Ãl, and they brought the one who
before HWHY continually, from the children cursed outside the camp, and stoned him
of Yisra’Ãl – an everlasting covenant. with stones. And the children of Yisra’Ãl
9 “And it shall be for Aharon and his did as HWHY commanded Mosheh.
sons, and they shall eat it in the set-apart
place, because it is most set-apart to him
from the offerings of HWHY made by fire – 25 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh on
Mount Sinai, saying,
2 “Speak to the children of Yisra’Ãl, and
an everlasting law.”
10 And the son of an Yisra’Ãlite woman, say to them, ‘When you come into the land
whose father was a Mitsrite, went out which I give you, then the land shall
among the children of Yisra’Ãl. And the observe a Sabbath to HWHY.
Yisra’Ãlite woman’s son and a man of 3 ‘Six years you sow your field, and six
Yisra’Ãl strove in the camp. years you prune your vineyard, and gather
11 And the Yisra’Ãlite woman’s son blas- in its fruit,
phemed the Name, and cursed. So they 4 but in the seventh year the land is to
brought him to Mosheh. Now his mother’s have a Sabbath of rest, a Sabbath to HWHY.
name was Shelomith the daughter of DiÄri, Do not sow your field and do not prune
of the tribe of Dan. your vineyard.
12 And they put him in under guard, that 5 ‘Do not reap what grows of its own of
it might be declared to them at the mouth your harvest, and do not gather the grapes
of HWHY. of your unpruned vine, for it is a year of
13 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying, rest for the land.
14 “Bring the one who has cursed outside 6 ‘And the Sabbath of the land shall be
the camp, and all those who heard him to you for food, for you and your servant,
shall lay their hands on his head, and all and for your female servant and your hired
the congregation shall stone him. servant, and for the stranger who sojourns
15 “And speak to the children of Yisra’Ãl, with you,
saying, ‘Anyone who curses his Elohim 7 and for your livestock and the beasts
shall bear his sin. that are in your land. All its crops are for
16 ‘And he who blasphemes the Name of food.
HWHY shall certainly be put to death, and all 8 ‘And you shall count seven Sabbaths of
the congregation certainly stone him, the years for yourself, seven times seven
stranger as well as the native. When he years. And the time of the seven Sabbaths
blasphemes the Name, he is put to death. of years shall be to you forty-nine years.
17 ‘And he who smites the life from any 9 ‘You shall then sound a ram’s horn to
man shall certainly be put to death. pass through on the tenth day of the
18 ‘And he who smites a beast repays it, seventh month, on the Day of Atonement
body for body. cause a ram’s horn to pass through all your
19 ‘And when a man inflicts a blemish land.
upon his neighbour, as he has done so it is 10 ‘And you shall set the fiftieth year
12 ‘It is a Jubilee, it is set-apart to you. Eat 28 ‘And if his hand has not found enough
from the field its crops. to give back to him, then what was sold
13 ‘In the Year of this Jubilee let each one shall remain in the hand of him who
of you return to his possession. bought it until the Year of Jubilee. And it
14 ‘And when you sell whatever to your shall be released in the Jubilee, and he
neighbour or buy from the hand of your shall return to his possession.
neighbour, do not exploit one another. 29 ‘And when a man sells a house in a
15 ‘According to the number of years after walled city, then his right of redemption
the Jubilee you buy from your neighbour, shall be at the end of the year after it is
and according to the number of years of sold. His right of redemption lasts a year.
crops he sells to you. 30 ‘But if it is not redeemed within a com-
16 ‘According to the greater number of plete year, then the house in the walled city
years you increase its price, and according shall be established beyond reclaim to the
to the fewer number of years you diminish buyer of it, throughout his generations. It is
its price, because he sells to you according not released in the Jubilee.
to the number of the years of the crops. 31 ‘The houses of villages, however,
17 ‘And do not oppress one another, but which have no wall around them are
you shall fear your Elohim. For I am HWHY reckoned as the field of the country. A
your Elohim. right of redemption belongs to it, and they
18 ‘And you shall do My laws and guard are released in the Jubilee.
My right-rulings, and shall do them. And 32 ‘As for the cities of the LÃwites, and
you shall dwell in the land in safety, the houses in the cities of their possession,
19 ‘and the land shall yield its fruit, and the LÃwites have a right of redemption
you shall eat to satisfaction, and shall forever.
dwell there in safety. 33 ‘And that which is redeemed from the
20 ‘And since you might say, “What do we LÃwites, both the sale of a house and the
eat in the seventh year, since we do not city of his possession shall be released in
sow nor gather in our crops?” the Year of Jubilee, because the houses in
21 ‘Therefore I have commanded My the cities of the LÃwites are their posses-
blessing on you in the sixth year, and it sion in the midst of the children of
shall bring forth the crop for three years. Yisra’Ãl.
22 ‘And you shall sow in the eighth year, 34 ‘But the field of the open land of their
and eat of the old crop until the ninth year. cities is not sold, for it is their everlasting
Eat of the old until its crop comes in. possession.
23 ‘And the land is not to be sold beyond 35 ‘And when your brother becomes poor,
reclaim, for the land is Mine, for you are and his hand has failed with you, then you
sojourners and settlers with Me. shall sustain him, and he shall live with
24 ‘And provide for a redemption for the you, like a stranger or a sojourner.
land, in all the land of your possession. 36 ‘Take no interest from him, or profit,
25 ‘When your brother becomes poor, and but you shall fear your Elohim, and your
has sold some of his possession, and his brother shall live with you.
redeemer, a close relative comes to redeem 37 ‘Do not lend him your silver on inter-
it, then he shall redeem what his brother est, and do not lend him your food for
sold. profit.
26 ‘And when the man has no one to 38 ‘I am HWHY your Elohim, who brought
redeem it, but he himself becomes able to you out of the land of Mitsrayim, to give
redeem it, you the land of KenaÈan, to be your
27 then let him count the years since its Elohim.
sale, and return the remainder to the man 39 ‘And when your brother who dwells by
to whom he sold it, that he shall return to you becomes poor, and sells himself to
his possession. you, do not make him serve as a slave.
133 WAYYIQRA 26
own clan, even return to the possession of years, then he shall be released in the Year
his fathers. of Jubilee, he and his children with him.
42 ‘For they are My servants, whom I 55 ‘Because the children of Yisra’Ãl are
brought out of the land of Mitsrayim, they servants to Me, they are My servants
are not sold as slaves. whom I brought out of the land of Mits-
43 ‘Do not rule over him with harshness, rayim. I am HWHY your Elohim.
but you shall fear your Elohim.
44 ‘And your male and female slaves
whom you have from the nations that are 26 ‘Do not make idols for yourselves,
and do not set up a carved image or
around you, from them you buy male and a pillar for yourselves, and do not place a
female slaves, stone image in your land, to bow down to
45 and also from the sons of the strangers it. For I am HWHY your Elohim.
sojourning among you, from them you 2 ‘Guard My Sabbaths and reverence My
buy, and from their clans who are with set-apart place. I am HWHY.
you, which they shall bring forth in your 3 ‘If you walk in My laws and guard My
land, and they shall be your property. commands, and shall do them,
46 ‘And you shall take them as an inheri- 4 then I shall give you rain in its season,
tance for your children after you, to inherit and the land shall yield its crops, and the
them as a possession, they are your slaves trees of the field yield their fruit.
for all time. But over your brothers, the 5 ‘And your threshing shall last till the
children of Yisra’Ãl, you do not rule with time of the grape harvest, and the grape
harshness, one over another. harvest shall last till the time of sowing.
47 ‘Now when a sojourner or a settler with And you shall eat your bread until you
you becomes rich, and your brother with have enough, and shall dwell in your land
him becomes poor, and sells himself to safely.
the settler or sojourner with you, or to a 6 ‘And I shall give peace in the land, and
member of the sojourner’s clan, you shall lie down and no one make you
48 after he has been sold, there is a right of afraid. And I shall clear the land of evil
redemption to him – one of his brothers beasts, and not let the sword go through
does redeem him, your land.
49 or his uncle or his uncle’s son does 7 ‘And you shall pursue your enemies,
redeem him, or anyone who is a close rela- and they shall fall by the sword before you.
tive to him in his clan does redeem him, or 8 ‘And five of you shall pursue a hun-
if he is able, then he shall redeem himself. dred, and a hundred of you pursue ten
50 ‘And he shall reckon with him who thousand. And your enemies shall fall by
bought him: The price of his release shall the sword before you.
be according to the number of years, from 9 ‘And I shall turn to you and make you
the year that he was sold to him until the bear fruit, and shall increase you, and shall
Year of Jubilee; as the days of a hired establish My covenant with you.
servant it is with him. 10 ‘And you shall eat the old supply, and
51 ‘If there are yet many years, according clear out the old because of the new.
to them he repays the price of his redemp- 11 ‘And I shall set My Dwelling Place in
tion, from the silver of his purchase. your midst, and My being shall not reject
52 ‘And if few years are left until the Year you.
of Jubilee, then he shall reckon with him, 12 ‘And I shall walk in your midst, and
and according to his years he repays him shall be your Elohim, and you shall be My
WAYYIQRA 26 134
people. enemy.
13 ‘I am HWHY your Elohim, who brought 26 ‘When I have cut off your supply of
you out of the land of Mitsrayim, from bread, ten women shall bake your bread in
being their slaves. And I have broken the one oven, and they shall bring back to you
bars of your yoke and made you walk your bread by weight, and you shall eat
upright. and not be satisfied.
14 ‘But if you do not obey Me, and do not 27 ‘And if in spite of this, you do not obey
being loathes My right-rulings, so that you wrath. And I Myself shall punish you
do not do all My commands, but break My seven times for your sins.
covenant, 29 ‘And you shall eat the flesh of your
16 I also do this to you: And I shall sons, and eat the flesh of your daughters.
appoint sudden alarm over you, wasting 30 ‘And I shall destroy your high places,
disease and inflammation, destroying and cut down your sun-pillars, and put
the eyes, and consuming the life. And you your carcasses on the carcasses of your
shall sow your seed in vain, for your idols. And My being shall loathe you.
enemies shall eat it. 31 ‘And I shall turn your cities into ruins
17 ‘And I shall set My face against you, and lay your set-apart places waste, and
and you shall be smitten before your not smell your sweet fragrances.
enemies. And those who hate you shall 32 ‘And I shall lay the land waste, and
rule over you, and you shall flee when no your enemies who dwell in it shall be
one pursues you. astonished at it.
18 ‘And after all this, if you do not obey 33 ‘And I shall scatter you among the
Me, then I shall punish you seven times gentiles and draw out a sword after you.
more for your sins. And your land shall be desert and your
19 ‘And I shall break the pride of your cities ruins,
power, and shall make your heavens like 34 and the land enjoy its Sabbaths as long
iron and your earth like bronze. as it lies waste and you are in your
20 ‘And your strength shall be spent in enemies’ land. Then the land would rest
vain and your land not yield its crops, nor and enjoy its Sabbaths.
the trees of the land yield their fruit. 35 ‘As long as it lies waste it rests, for the
21 ‘And if you walk contrary to Me, and time it did not rest on your Sabbaths when
refuse to obey Me, I shall bring on you you dwelt in it.
seven times more plagues, according to 36 ‘And as for those of you who are left, I
these, but walk contrary to Me, another, as from before a sword, when no
24 then I also shall walk contrary to you, one pursues. And you shall be unable to
and I Myself shall smite you seven times stand before your enemies.
for your sins. 38 ‘And you shall perish among the
25 ‘And I shall bring against you a sword gentiles, and the land of your enemies shall
executing the vengeance of My covenant, eat you up,
and you shall gather together in your cities, 39 and those of you who are left rot away
and I shall send pestilence among you, and in their crookedness in your enemies’
you shall be given into the hand of the lands, and also in their fathers’ crooked-
135 WAYYIQRA 27
nesses rot away with them. shall be twenty sheqels, and for a female
40 ‘But if they confess their crookedness ten sheqels;
and the crookedness of their fathers, with 6 and if from a month old up to five years
their trespass in which they trespassed old, then your evaluation for a male shall
against Me, and that they also have walked be five sheqels of silver, and for a female
contrary to Me, your evaluation shall be three sheqels of
41 and that I also have walked contrary to silver;
them and have brought them into the land 7 and if from sixty years old and above,
with YaÈaqoÄ, and also My covenant with ation, then he shall present himself before
YitsÁaq, and also remember My covenant the priest, and the priest shall set a value
with AÄraham, and remember the land. for him. According to the ability of him
43 ‘For the land was abandoned by them, who vowed, the priest shall value him.
and enjoying its Sabbaths while lying 9 ‘And if it is a beast of which they bring
waste without them, and they were paying an offering to HWHY, all such given to HWHY
for their crookedness, because they reject- is set-apart.
ed My right-rulings and because their 10 ‘He is not to replace it or exchange it,
being loathed My laws. good for spoilt or spoilt for good. And if he
44 ‘And yet for all this, when they are in at all exchanges beast for beast, then both
the land of their enemies, I shall not reject it and the one exchanged for it is set-apart.
them, nor shall I loathe them so as to 11 ‘And if it is any unclean beast of which
destroy them and break My covenant with they do not bring an offering to HWHY, then
them. For I am HWHY their Elohim. he shall present the beast before the priest;
45 ‘Then I shall remember for their sake 12 and the priest shall value it, whether it
the covenant of the ancestors whom I is good or spoilt. According to your evalu-
brought out of the land of Mitsrayim ation, O priest, so it shall be.
before the eyes of the nations to be their 13 ‘But if he indeed redeems it, then he
and the Torot 1 which HWHY made between to be set-apart to HWHY, then the priest shall
Himself and the children of Yisra’Ãl on value it, whether it is good or spoilt. As the
Mount Sinai by the hand of Mosheh. priest values it, so it stands.
15 ‘And if he who sets it apart does
remain till the Year of Jubilee, and it shall 27 ‘And if among the unclean beasts, then
field, to be the possession of the priest. among men, is ransomed, but shall certain-
22 ‘And if a man sets apart to HWHY a field ly be put to death.
which he has bought, which is not the field 30 ‘And all the tithe of the land – of the
of Jubilee, and he shall give your evalua- tithes, he adds one-fifth to it.
tion on that day, set-apart to HWHY. 32 ‘And the entire tithe of the herd and of
24 ‘In the Year of Jubilee the field returns the flock, all that passes under the rod, the
to him from whom he bought it, to him tenth one is set-apart to HWHY.
whose is the possession of the land. 33 ‘He does not inquire whether it is good
25 ‘And all your evaluations is to be or spoilt, nor does he exchange it. And if
according to the sheqel of the set-apart he exchanges it at all, then both it and the
place: twenty gÃrahs to the sheqel. one exchanged for it are set-apart, it is not
26 ‘However, a first-born of the beasts, redeemed.’ ”
which is first-born to HWHY, no man sets it 34 These are the commands a which HWHY
apart – whether bull or sheep, it belongs to commanded Mosheh for the children of
HWHY. Yisra’Ãl on Mount Sinai.
a The word “commands” is mostly used for the Ten Commandments, and also for all the commands given in the
so-called “Covenant Law” (Shemoth chapters 20-23), but here it is used as an all-inclusive term.
BEMIÊBAR
NUMBERS — 4 MOSHEH
of the children of Yisra’Ãl, by their clans, registered them in the Wilderness of Sinai.
20 And the children of Re’uÄÃn, Yisra’Ãl’s
by their fathers’ houses, according to the
number of names, every male, head by first-born, their genealogies by their clans,
head, by their fathers’ house, according to the
3 from twenty years old and above, number of names, every male head by
everyone going out to the army in Yisra’Ãl. head, from twenty years old and above,
Number them by their divisions, you and everyone going out to the army,
21 those who were registered of the tribe
Aharon.
4 “And a man from every tribe should be of Re’uÄÃn were forty-six thousand five
with you, each one the head of his father’s hundred.
22 From the children of ShimÈon, their
house.
5 “And these are the names of the men genealogies by their clans, by their fathers’
who stand with you. From Re’uÄÃn: Eli- house, of those who were registered,
tsur, son of SheÅÃy’ur. according to the number of names, every
6 “From ShimÈon: Shelumi’Ãl, son of male head by head, from twenty years old
Tsurishaddai. and above, everyone going out to the army,
23 those who were registered of the tribe
7 “From YehuÅah: NaÁshon, son of
the number of names, from twenty years children of Yisra’Ãl, by their fathers’ hous-
old and above, everyone going out to the es, from twenty years old and above,
army, everyone going out to the army in Yisra’Ãl,
33 those who were registered of the tribe 46 all those that were registered were six
of Ephrayim were forty thousand five hundred and three thousand five hundred
hundred. and fifty.
34 From the children of Menashsheh, their 47 But the LÃwites were not registered
genealogies by their clans, by their fathers’ among them by their fathers’ tribe,
house, according to the number of names, 48 because HWHY had spoken to Mosheh,
of Binyamin were thirty-five thousand four forward, the LÃwites take it down. And
hundred. when the Dwelling Place is to be set up,
38 From the children of Dan, their the LÃwites set it up. And the stranger who
genealogies by their clans, by their fathers’ comes near is put to death.
house, according to the number of names, 52 “And the children of Yisra’Ãl shall
from twenty years old and above, everyone pitch their tents, everyone by his own
going out to the army, camp, everyone by his own banner,
39 those who were registered of the tribe according to their divisions,
of Dan were sixty-two thousand seven 53 but let the LÃwites camp around the
so they did. dred and fifty. And they are the second to
depart.
2 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh and to
Aharon, saying,
2 “The children of Yisra’Ãl are to camp,
17 And the Tent of Meeting, the camp of
forty-six thousand five hundred. tribe of AshÃr, and the leader of the chil-
12 And those who camp next to him: the dren of AshÃr: PaÍÈi’Ãl, son of O¿ran.
tribe of ShimÈon, and the leader of the 28 And his army with their registered
of the children of GaÅ: Elyasaph, son of ones: fifty-three thousand four hundred.
ReÈuw’Ãl. 31 All the registered ones of the camp of
15 And his army with their registered Dan: one hundred and fifty-seven thousand
ones: forty-five thousand six hundred and six hundred. They depart last, with their
fifty. banners.
16 All the registered ones of the camp of 32 These were registered ones of the chil-
Re’uÄÃn, according to their divisions: one dren of Yisra’Ãl by their fathers’ houses.
hundred and fifty-one thousand four hun- All who were registered according to their
BEMIÊBAR 2 140
divisions of the camps: six hundred and Yisra’Ãl. And the LÃwites shall be Mine,
three thousand five hundred and fifty. 13 because all the first-born are Mine. On
33 But the LÃwites were not registered the day that I struck all the first-born in the
among the children of Yisra’Ãl, as HWHY land of Mitsrayim, I set apart to Myself all
commanded Mosheh. the first-born in Yisra’Ãl, both man and
34 And the children of Yisra’Ãl did accord- beast. They are Mine, I am HWHY.”
ing to all that HWHY commanded Mosheh. 14 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh in the
Aharon: NaÅaÄ, the first-born, and AÄihu, their names: GÃreshon, and Qehath, and
ElÈazar, and Ithamar. Merari.
3 These are the names of the sons of 18 And these are the names of the sons of
Aharon, the anointed priests, whom he GÃreshon by their clans: LiÄni and ShimÈi.
ordained to act as priests. 19 And the sons of Qehath by their clans:
4 And NaÅaÄ and AÄihu had died before Amram and Yitshar, ÀeÄron and Uzzi’Ãl.
HWHY when they brought strange fire before 20 And the sons of Merari by their clans:
HWHY in the Wilderness of Sinai. And they MaÁli and Mushi. These are the clans of
had no children. So ElÈazar and Ithamar the LÃwites by their fathers’ houses.
acted as priests in the presence of Aharon 21 From GÃreshon came the clan of the
them before Aharon the priest, and they number of all the males from a month old
shall serve him, and above, their registered ones were
7 and shall guard his duty and the duty of seven thousand five hundred.
all the congregation before the Tent of 23 The clans of the GÃreshonites were
Meeting, to do the service of the Dwelling to camp westward, behind the Dwelling
Place. Place,
8 “And they shall guard all the furnish- 24 and the leader of the fathers’ house of
ings of the Tent of Meeting, and the duty the GÃreshonites: Elyasaph, son of La’Ãl.
of the children of Yisra’Ãl, to do the service 25 And the duty of the children of
28 In number, all the males, from a month take the number of their names.
old and above, were eight thousand six 41 “And you shall take the LÃwites for Me
hundred, guarding the duty of the set-apart – I am HWHY – instead of all the first-born
place. among the children of Yisra’Ãl, and the
29 The clans of the children of Qehath livestock of the LÃwites instead of all
were to camp on the south side of the the first-born among the livestock of the
Dwelling Place. children of Yisra’Ãl.”
30 And the leader of the fathers’ house of 42 And Mosheh registered all the first-
the clans of the Qehathites was Elitsaphan, born among the children of Yisra’Ãl as
son of Uzzi’Ãl. HWHY had commanded him.
31 And their duty was the ark, and the 43 And all the first-born males, by the
table, and the lampstand, and the altars, number of names, from one month old
and the utensils of the set-apart place used and above of their registered ones, were
in the service, and the covering, and all its twenty-two thousand two hundred and
service. seventy-three.
32 And ElÈazar, son of Aharon the priest, 44 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
was to be chief over the leaders of the 45 “Take the LÃwites instead of all the
LÃwites, with oversight of those who guard first-born among the children of Yisra’Ãl,
the duty of the set-apart place. and the livestock of the LÃwites instead of
33 From Merari came the clan of the their livestock. And the LÃwites shall be
MaÁlites and the clan of the Mushites. Mine, I am HWHY.
These were the clans of Merari. 46 “And for the ransom of the two hun-
34 And the number of their registered dred and seventy-three of the first-born of
ones, all the males from a month old and the children of Yisra’Ãl, who are more than
above, were six thousand two hundred. the number of the LÃwites,
35 And the leader of the fathers’ house of 47 you shall take five sheqels for each one,
the clans of Merari was Tsuri’Ãl, son of head by head – take it by the sheqel of the
AÄiÁayil. These were to camp on the north set-apart place, the sheqel of twenty
side of the Dwelling Place. gÃrahs.
36 And the appointed duty of the children 48 “And you shall give the silver, the ran-
of Merari was the boards of the Dwelling som of those who are in excess among
Place, and its bars, and its columns, and its them, to Aharon and his sons.”
sockets, and its utensils, and all its service, 49 And Mosheh took the ransom silver
37 and the columns of the courtyard all from those who were over and above those
around, with their sockets, and their pegs, who were ransomed by the LÃwites.
and their cords. 50 From the first-born of the children of
38 And those who were to camp before the Yisra’Ãl he took the silver, one thousand
Dwelling Place on the east, before the Tent three hundred and sixty-five pieces,
of Meeting, were Mosheh and Aharon, and according to the sheqel of the set-apart
his sons, guarding the duty of the set-apart place.
place, and the duty of the children of 51 And Mosheh gave their ransom silver
Yisra’Ãl. But the stranger who came near to Aharon, and to his sons, according to
was to be put to death. the word of HWHY, as HWHY had commanded
39 All the registered ones of the LÃwites, Mosheh.
whom Mosheh and Aharon registered at
the command of HWHY, by their clans, all
the males from a month old and above, 4 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, and to
Aharon, saying,
2 “Take a census of the sons of Qehath
were twenty-two thousand.
40 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Register all from among the children of LÃwi, by their
the first-born males of the children of clans, by their fathers’ house,
Yisra’Ãl from a month old and above, and 3 from thirty years old and above, even to
BEMIÊBAR 4 142
fifty years old, all who enter the service to they die. These matters are the burden of
do the work in the Tent of Meeting. the sons of Qehath in the Tent of Meeting.
4 “This is the service of the sons of 16 “And the oversight of ElÈazar, son of
Qehath in the Tent of Meeting, the most Aharon the priest, is the oil for the light,
set-apart matters: and the sweet incense, and the daily grain
5 “At the breaking of camp, Aharon and offering, and the anointing oil, and the
his sons shall come, and they shall take oversight of all the Dwelling Place and all
down the covering veil and cover the ark that is in it, with the set-apart place and its
of the Witness with it, furnishings.”
6 and shall put on it a covering of fine 17 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, and to
on it the dishes, and the ladles, and the and not die when they approach the most
bowls, and the jars for pouring, and the set-apart objects: Aharon and his sons shall
showbread on it. go in and appoint each of them to his
8 “And they shall spread over them a service and his burden.
scarlet wrapper, and cover the same with a 20 “They are not, however, to go in to
covering of fine leather, and shall insert its watch while the set-apart objects are being
poles, covered, lest they die.”
9 and shall take a blue wrapper and cover 21 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
the lampstand of the light, with its lamps, 22 “Take a census also of the sons of
and its snuffers, and its trays, and all its oil GÃreshon, by their fathers’ house, by their
vessels, by which they serve it. clans.
10 “And they shall put it with all its uten- 23 “Register them, from thirty years old
sils in a covering of fine leather, and put it and above, even to fifty years old, all who
on a bar. enter to perform the service, to do the
11 “And over the golden altar they shall service in the Tent of Meeting.
spread a blue wrapper, and cover it with a 24 “This is the service of the clans of the
covering of fine leather, and shall insert its GÃreshonites, in serving and in bearing
poles, burdens:
12 and shall take all the utensils of service 25 “And they shall bear the curtains of the
with which they serve in the set-apart Dwelling Place and the Tent of Meeting
place, and shall put them in a blue wrapper, with its covering, the covering of fine
cover them with a covering of fine leather, leather that is on it, the covering for the
and put them on a bar, door of the Tent of Meeting,
13 and shall remove the ashes from the 26 and the screens of the courtyard and the
altar, and spread a purple wrapper over it, covering for the door of the gate of
14 and shall put on it all its utensils by the courtyard, which is around the
which they serve there: the fire holders, the Dwelling Place and altar, and their cords,
forks, and the shovels, and the basins, and all the equipment for their service and all
all the utensils of the altar, and shall spread that is made for them – so shall they serve.
on it a covering of fine leather, and insert 27 “Aharon and his sons are to command
Qehath shall come to lift them, but let sons of GÃreshon in the Tent of Meeting.
them not touch that which is set-apart, lest And let their duties be under the hand of
143 BEMIÊBAR 5
Ithamar, son of Aharon the priest. Mosheh and Aharon registered according
29 “As for the sons of Merari, register to the command of HWHY.
them by their clans and by their fathers’ 42 And those of the clans of the sons of
enter the service to do the work of the Tent fifty years old, all who entered the service
of Meeting. for work in the Tent of Meeting,
31 “And this is the duty of their burden, 44 the registered ones, by their clans were
according to all their service for the Tent three thousand two hundred.
of Meeting: the boards of the Dwelling 45 These were the registered ones of the
Place, and its bars, and its columns, and its clans of the sons of Merari, whom
sockets, Mosheh and Aharon registered according
32 and the columns around the courtyard to the command of HWHY by the hand of
with their sockets, and their pegs, and their Mosheh.
cords, with all their equipment and all their 46 All the registered ones of the LÃwites,
service. And assign to each by name the whom Mosheh and Aharon and the leaders
equipment of the duty of their burden. of Yisra’Ãl registered, by their clans and by
33 “This is the service of the clans of the their fathers’ houses,
sons of Merari, as all their service for the 47 from thirty years old and above, even to
Tent of Meeting, under the hand of fifty years old, all who came to do the
Ithamar, son of Aharon the priest.” work of service and the work of bearing
34 So Mosheh and Aharon and the leaders burdens in the Tent of Meeting,
of the congregation registered the sons of 48 their registered ones were eight thou-
the Qehathites by their clans and by their sand five hundred and eighty.
fathers’ house, 49 According to the command of HWHY
35 from thirty years old and above, even to they were registered by the hand of
fifty years old, all who entered the service Mosheh, each according to his service and
for work in the Tent of Meeting. according to his burden, thus were they
36 And their registered ones, by their registered by him, as HWHY commanded
clans, were two thousand seven hundred Mosheh.
and fifty.
37 These were the registered ones of the
clans of the Qehathites, all those serving in 5 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
2 “Command the children of Yisra’Ãl
the Tent of Meeting, whom Mosheh and to send out of the camp every leper,
Aharon registered according to the com- and everyone who has a discharge, and
mand of HWHY by the hand of Mosheh. whoever becomes defiled 1 for a being.
38 And those registered ones of the sons of 3 “Send out both male and female, send
GÃreshon, by their clans and by their them outside the camp, so that they do not
fathers’ house, defile their camps in the midst of which I
39 from thirty years old and above, even to dwell.”
fifty years old, all who entered the service 4 And the children of Yisra’Ãl did so, to
for work in the Tent of Meeting, send them outside the camp. As HWHY had
40 the registered ones, by their clans, by spoken to Mosheh, so the children of
their fathers’ house, were two thousand six Yisra’Ãl did.
hundred and thirty. 5 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
41 These were the registered ones of the 6 “Speak to the children of Yisra’Ãl,
clans of the sons of GÃreshon, of all who ‘When a man or woman commits any sin
serve in the Tent of Meeting, whom that men commit in trespass against HWHY,
1 Defilement can be imparted from one to another.
BEMIÊBAR 5 144
and that being is guilty, holds in his hand the bitter water that
7 then they shall confess their sin which brings a curse.
they have done. And he shall restore his 19 ‘And the priest shall make her swear,
guilt in its principal, plus one-fifth of it, and say to the woman, “If no man has lain
and give it to whom he has been guilty. with you, and if you have not turned aside
8 ‘But if the man has no relative to to uncleanness under your husband’s
restore the guilt to, the guilt which is authority, be free from this bitter water
restored goes to HWHY, for the priest, in that brings a curse.
addition to the ram of the atonement with 20 “But if you have turned aside under
which atonement is made for him. your husband’s authority, and if you have
9 ‘And every contribution of all the set- defiled yourself and some man other than
apart gifts of the children of Yisra’Ãl, your husband has lain with you” –
which they bring to the priest, becomes 21 then the priest shall make the woman
say to them, ‘When any man’s wife turns shall go into your inward parts, and make
aside and has committed a trespass against your belly swell and your thigh waste
him, away.” And the woman shall say, “AmÃn,
13 and a man has intercourse with her, and amÃn.”
it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, 23 ‘And the priest shall write these curses
and it is concealed that she has defiled her- in a book, and shall wipe them off into the
self, and there was no witness against her, bitter water,
nor was she caught, 24 and shall make the woman drink the
14 and a spirit of jealousy comes upon him bitter water that brings the curse, and the
and he becomes jealous of his wife who water that brings the curse shall enter her
has defiled herself, or a spirit of jealousy to become bitter.
comes upon him and he becomes jealous 25 ‘And the priest shall take the grain
of his wife although she has not defiled offering of jealousy from the woman’s
herself, hand, and shall wave the offering before
15 then the man shall bring his wife to the HWHY, and bring it to the altar.
priest. And he shall bring the offering for 26 ‘And the priest shall take a hand filled
her, one-tenth of an Ãphah of barley flour. with the offering, as its remembrance
He is not to pour oil on it or put frankin- offering, and burn it on the altar, and after-
cense on it, because it is a grain offering of ward make the woman drink the water.
jealousy, an offering for remembering, for 27 ‘And when he has made her drink the
bringing crookedness to remembrance. water, then it shall be, if she has defiled
16 ‘And the priest shall bring her near, and herself and has committed a trespass
shall make her stand before HWHY. against her husband, that the water that
17 ‘And the priest shall take set-apart brings the curse shall enter her and become
water in an earthen vessel, and take some bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her
of the dust that is on the floor of the thigh shall waste away, and the woman
Dwelling Place and put it into the water. shall become a curse among her people.
18 ‘And the priest shall make the woman 28 ‘But if the woman has not defiled her-
stand before HWHY, and shall uncover the self, and is clean, then she shall be clear
woman’s head, and put the offering for and shall conceive children.
remembering in her hands, which is the 29 ‘This is the Torah of jealousy, when a
grain offering of jealousy, while the priest wife turns aside under her husband’s
145 BEMIÊBAR 6
authority and defiles herself, his separation, and shall bring a male lamb
30 or when a spirit of jealousy comes upon a year old, as a guilt offering. But the
a man, and he becomes jealous of his wife. former days are not counted, because his
Then he shall make the woman stand separation was defiled.
before HWHY, and the priest shall do to her 13 ‘And this is the Torah of the Nazirite:
all this Torah. When the days of his separation are com-
31 ‘And the man shall be clear from pleted, he is brought to the door of the Tent
crookedness, but the woman bear her of Meeting,
crookedness.’ ” 14 and he shall bring his offering to HWHY:
grapes or raisins. HWHY and prepare his sin offering and his
4 ‘All the days of his separation he does burnt offering.
not eat whatever is made of the grapevine, 17 ‘And he shall prepare the ram as a
apart. He shall let the locks of the hair of of his separation at the door of the Tent of
his head grow long. Meeting, and shall take the hair from the
6 ‘All the days of his separation to HWHY head of his separation and shall put it on
he does not go near a dead body. the fire which is under the slaughtering of
7 ‘He does not make himself unclean for the peace offering.
his father, or for his mother, for his brother 19 ‘And the priest shall take the boiled
or his sister, when they die, because his shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened
separation to Elohim is on his head. cake from the basket, and one unleavened
8 ‘All the days of his separation he is set- thin cake, and put them upon the hands of
apart to HWHY. the Nazirite after he has shaved his hair of
9 ‘And when anyone dies beside him in separation.
an instant, suddenly, and he has defiled the 20 ‘Then the priest shall wave them, a
head of his separation, then he shall shave wave offering before HWHY. It is set-apart
his head on the day of his cleansing – on for the priest, besides the breast of the
the seventh day he shaves it. wave offering and besides the thigh of the
10 ‘And on the eighth day he brings two contribution. And afterwards the Nazirite
turtledoves or two young pigeons to the shall drink wine.’
priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, 21 “This is the Torah of the Nazirite who
11 and the priest shall prepare one as a sin vows to HWHY the offering for his separa-
offering and the other as a burnt offering, tion, and besides that, whatever else his
and shall make atonement for him, because hand is able to provide. According to the
he sinned by reason of the dead body. And vow which he takes, so he shall do accord-
he shall set apart his head on that day, ing to the Torah of his separation.”
12 and shall separate to HWHY the days of 22 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
BEMIÊBAR 6 146
23 “Speak to Aharon and his sons, saying, offering before the altar.
‘This is how you bless the children of 11 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Let them
Yisra’Ãl. Say to them: bring their offering, one leader each day,
24 “HWHY bless you and guard you; for the dedication of the altar.”
25 HWHY make His face shine upon you, 12 And the one who brought his offering
and show favour to you; on the first day was NaÁshon, son of
26 HWHY lift up His face upon you, and give AmminaÅaÄ, from the tribe of YehuÅah.
you peace.” ’ a 13 And his offering was one silver dish,
27 “Thus they shall put My Name on the the weight of which was one hundred and
children of Yisra’Ãl, and I Myself shall thirty sheqels, one silver bowl of seventy
bless them.” sheqels, according to the sheqel of the set-
apart place, both of them filled with fine
7 And it came to be, when Mosheh fin-
ished setting up the Dwelling Place,
flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
14 one gold ladle of ten sheqels, filled
that he anointed it and set it apart and all its with incense;
furnishings, as well as the altar and all its 15 one young bull, one ram, one male
utensils. Thus he anointed them and set lamb a year old, as a burnt offering;
them apart. 16 one male goat as a sin offering;
2 And the leaders of Yisra’Ãl, heads of 17 and as a peace offering: two cattle, five
their fathers’ houses who were the leaders rams, five male goats, five male lambs a
of the tribes and over the ones registered, year old. This was the offering of
drew near, NaÁshon, son of AmminaÅaÄ.
3 and they brought their offering before 18 On the second day NethanÃ’l, son of
HWHY: six covered wagons and twelve cat- TsuÈar, leader of Yissas¿ar, brought near.
tle, a wagon for every two of the leaders, 19 He brought his offering, one silver dish,
and for each one a bull. And they brought the weight of which was one hundred and
them near before the Dwelling Place. thirty sheqels, one silver bowl of seventy
4 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying, sheqels, according to the sheqel of the set-
5 “Accept these from them, and they apart place, both of them filled with fine
shall be used in doing the service of the flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
Tent of Meeting. And you shall give them 20 one gold ladle of ten sheqels, filled
the sons of GÃreshon, according to their rams, five male goats, five male lambs a
service. year old. This was the offering of
8 And he gave four wagons and eight NethanÃ’l, son of TsuÈar.
cattle to the sons of Merari, according to 24 On the third day EliyaÄ, son of ÀÃlon,
their service, under the hand of Ithamar, leader of the children of ZeÄulun:
son of Aharon the priest. 25 his offering was one silver dish, the
9 But to the sons of Qehath he gave none, weight of which was one hundred and
because theirs was the service of the set- thirty sheqels, one silver bowl of seventy
apart objects, which they bore on their sheqels, according to the sheqel of the set-
shoulders. apart place, both of them filled with fine
10 And the leaders brought the dedication flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
offering of the altar in the day it was 26 one gold ladle of ten sheqels, filled
27 one young bull, one ram, one male 44 one gold ladle of ten sheqels, filled
year old. This was the offering of EliyaÄ, 47 and as a peace offering: two cattle, five
sheqels, according to the sheqel of the set- weight of which was one hundred and
apart place, both of them filled with fine thirty sheqels, one silver bowl of seventy
flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; sheqels, according to the sheqel of the set-
32 one gold ladle of ten sheqels, filled apart place, both of them filled with fine
with incense; flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
33 one young bull, one ram, one male 50 one gold ladle of ten sheqels, filled
year old. This was the offering of Elitsur, 53 and as a peace offering: two cattle, five
sheqels, according to the sheqel of the set- weight of which was one hundred and
apart place, both of them filled with fine thirty sheqels, one silver bowl of seventy
flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; sheqels, according to the sheqel of the set-
38 one gold ladle of ten sheqels, filled apart place, both of them filled with fine
with incense; flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
39 one young bull, one ram, one male 56 one gold ladle of ten sheqels, filled
year old. This was the offering of 59 and as a peace offering: two cattle, five
Shelumi’Ãl, son of Tsurishaddai. rams, five male goats, five male lambs a
42 On the sixth day Elyasaph, son of year old. This was the offering of Gamli’Ãl,
Deu’Ãl, leader of the children of GaÅ: son of PeÅahtsur.
43 his offering was one silver dish, the 60 On the ninth day AÄiÅan, son of
weight of which was one hundred and GiÅÈoni, leader of the children of Bin-
thirty sheqels, one silver bowl of seventy yamin:
sheqels, according to the sheqel of the set- 61 his offering was one silver dish, the
apart place, both of them filled with fine weight of which was one hundred and
flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; thirty sheqels, one silver bowl of seventy
BEMIÊBAR 7 148
sheqels, according to the sheqel of the set- thirty sheqels, one silver bowl of seventy
apart place, both of them filled with fine sheqels, according to the sheqel of the set-
flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; apart place, both of them filled with fine
62 one gold ladle of ten sheqels, filled flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
with incense; 80 one gold ladle of ten sheqels, filled
63 one young bull, one ram, one male with incense;
lamb a year old, as a burnt offering; 81 one young bull, one ram, one male
64 one male goat as a sin offering; lamb a year old, as a burnt offering;
65 and as a peace offering: two cattle, five 82 one male goat as a sin offering;
rams, five male goats, five male lambs a 83 and as a peace offering: two cattle, five
year old. This was the offering of AÄiÅan, rams, five male goats, five male lambs a
son of GiÅÈoni. year old. This was the offering of AÁira,
66 On the tenth day AÁiÈezer, son of son of Ânan.
Ammishaddai, leader of the children of 84 This was the dedication of the altar
sheqels, according to the sheqel of the set- thirty sheqels and each bowl seventy she-
apart place, both of them filled with fine qels. All the silver of the vessels was two
flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; thousand four hundred sheqels, according
68 one gold ladle of ten sheqels, filled to the sheqel of the set-apart place.
with incense; 86 The twelve gold ladles filled with
69 one young bull, one ram, one male incense was ten sheqels each, according to
lamb a year old, as a burnt offering; the sheqel of the set-apart place. All the
70 one male goat as a sin offering; gold of the ladles was one hundred and
71 and as a peace offering: two cattle, five twenty sheqels.
rams, five male goats, five male lambs a 87 All the cattle for the burnt offering
year old. This was the offering of AÁiÈezer, were twelve young bulls, the rams twelve,
son of Ammishaddai. the male lambs a year old twelve, with
72 On the eleventh day PaÍÈi’Ãl, son of their grain offering, and the male goats as a
O¿ran, leader of the children of AshÃr: sin offering twelve.
73 his offering was one silver dish, the 88 And all the cattle for the peace offer-
weight of which was one hundred and ings were twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty,
thirty sheqels, one silver bowl of seventy the male goats sixty, the lambs a year old
sheqels, according to the sheqel of the set- sixty. This was the dedication of the altar
apart place, both of them filled with fine after it was anointed.
flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; 89 And when Mosheh went into the Tent
74 one gold ladle of ten sheqels, filled of Meeting to speak with Him, he heard
with incense; the voice of One speaking to him from
75 one young bull, one ram, one male above the lid of atonement that was on the
lamb a year old, as a burnt offering; ark of the Witness, from between the two
76 one male goat as a sin offering; keruÄim. Thus He spoke to him.
77 and as a peace offering: two cattle, five
son of O¿ran. ‘When you set up the lamps, let the seven
78 On the twelfth day AÁira, son of Ânan, lamps give light in front of the lamp-
leader of the children of Naphtali: stand.’ ”
79 his offering was one silver dish, the 3 And Aharon did so. He set up the lamps
weight of which was one hundred and to face toward the front of the lampstand,
149 BEMIÊBAR 9
children of Yisra’Ãl, and you shall cleanse to Aharon and his sons from among the
them, children of Yisra’Ãl, to do the service of the
7 and do this to them to cleanse them: children of Yisra’Ãl in the Tent of Meeting,
Sprinkle water of sin offering on them, and to make atonement for the children of
and they shall shave all their body, and Yisra’Ãl, that there be no plague among the
shall wash their garments, and cleanse children of Yisra’Ãl when the children of
themselves, Yisra’Ãl come near the set-apart place.”
8 and shall take a young bull with its 20 Thus Mosheh and Aharon and all the
grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, congregation of the children of Yisra’Ãl did
while you take another young bull as a sin to the LÃwites according to all that HWHY
offering. commanded Mosheh concerning the
9 “And you shall bring the LÃwites LÃwites, so the children of Yisra’Ãl did to
before the Tent of Meeting, and you shall them.
21 And the LÃwites cleansed themselves
assemble all the congregation of the
children of Yisra’Ãl. and washed their garments, and Aharon
10 “And you shall bring the LÃwites waved them, a wave offering before HWHY,
before HWHY, and the children of Yisra’Ãl and Aharon made atonement for them to
shall lay their hands on the LÃwites, cleanse them.
11 and Aharon shall wave the LÃwites 22 Then after that the LÃwites went in to
before HWHY, a wave offering from the do their service in the Tent of Meeting
children of Yisra’Ãl – so shall they be for before Aharon and his sons as HWHY com-
doing the service of HWHY. manded Mosheh concerning the LÃwites,
12 “And the LÃwites shall lay their hands so they did to them.
on the heads of the young bulls. And one 23 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
shall be prepared as a sin offering and the 24 “This applies to the LÃwites: From
other as a burnt offering to HWHY, to make twenty-five years old and above let him
atonement for the LÃwites. come into active service in the service of
13 “And you shall have the LÃwites stand the Tent of Meeting,
before Aharon and his sons, and then wave 25 and at the age of fifty years they retire
them, a wave offering to HWHY. from active service of the service, and
14 “Thus you shall separate the LÃwites serve no more,
from among the children of Yisra’Ãl, and 26 but they shall attend with their brothers
the LÃwites shall be Mine. in the Tent of Meeting, to guard the duty,
15 “Then after that the LÃwites shall go in but shall do no service. Thus you shall do
to do service in the Tent of Meeting, when to the LÃwites regarding their duties.”
you have cleansed them and waved them
as a wave offering.
16 “For they are given ones, given to Me 9 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh in the
Wilderness of Sinai, in the first month
from among the children of Yisra’Ãl. I have of the second year after they had come out
taken them for Myself instead of all who of the land of Mitsrayim, saying,
open the womb, the first-born of all the 2 “Now, let the children of Yisra’Ãl
between the evenings, perform it at its 15 And on the day that the Dwelling Place
appointed time. According to all its laws was raised up, the cloud covered the
and right-rulings you perform it.” Dwelling Place, the Tent of the Witness.
4 And Mosheh spoke to the children of From evening until morning it was above
Yisra’Ãl to perform the Passover. the Dwelling Place like the appearance of
5 So they performed the Passover on the fire.
fourteenth day of the first month, between 16 Thus it was continually: the cloud
the evenings, in the Wilderness of Sinai. covered it by day, and the appearance of
According to all that HWHY commanded fire by night.
Mosheh, so the children of Yisra’Ãl did. 17 And whenever the cloud was taken up
6 But there were men who were defiled 1 from above the Tent, after that the children
for a being of a man, so that they were not of Yisra’Ãl would depart. And in the place
able to perform the Passover on that day. where the cloud dwelt, there the children
So they came before Mosheh and Aharon of Yisra’Ãl would camp.
that day, 18 At the command of HWHY the children of
7 and those men said to him, “We are Yisra’Ãl departed, and at the command of
defiled 1 for the being of a man. Why are HWHY they camped. They remained camped
we withheld from bringing near the offer- as long as the cloud dwelt above the
ing of HWHY at its appointed time among the Dwelling Place.
children of Yisra’Ãl?” 19 Even when the cloud lingered many
8 And Mosheh said to them, “Wait, let days above the Dwelling Place, the chil-
me hear what HWHY commands concerning dren of Yisra’Ãl guarded the Charge of
you.” HWHY, and did not depart.
9 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying, 20 And so it was, when the cloud was
10 “Speak to the children of Yisra’Ãl, above the Dwelling Place a few days:
saying, ‘When any male of you or your according to the command of HWHY they
generations is unclean 1 for a being, or is camped, and according to the command of
far away on a journey, he shall still per- HWHY they would depart.
form the Passover of HWHY. 21 And so it was, when the cloud dwelt
11 ‘On the fourteenth day of the second only from evening until morning: when the
month, between the evenings, they cloud was taken up in the morning, then
perform it – with unleavened bread and they departed. Whether by day or by night,
bitter herbs they eat it. whenever the cloud was taken up, they
12 ‘They do not leave of it until morning, departed.
and they do not break a bone of it. 22 Whether two days, or a month, or a
According to all the laws of the Passover year that the cloud lingered above the
they perform it. Dwelling Place to dwell upon it, the chil-
13 ‘But the man who is clean and is not on dren of Yisra’Ãl camped, and did not
a journey, and has failed to perform the depart. But when it was taken up, they
Passover, that same being shall be cut off departed.
from among his people, because he did not 23 At the command of HWHY they camped,
bring the offering of HWHY at its appointed and at the command of HWHY they departed.
time – that man bears his sin. They guarded the Charge of HWHY, at the
14 ‘And when a stranger sojourns among command of HWHY by the hand of Mosheh.
you, then he shall perform the Passover of
HWHY. He shall do so according to the law
of the Passover and according to its right- 10 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
2 “Make two silver trumpets for
ruling. You have one law, both for the yourself, make them of beaten work. And
stranger and the native of the land.’ ” you shall use them for calling the congrega-
1 Defilement can be imparted from one to another.
151 BEMIÊBAR 10
tion and for breaking camp. children of ZeÄulun was EliyaÄ, son of
3 “And when they blow both of them, all ÀÃlon.
the congregation shall meet before you at 17 And the Dwelling Place was taken
the door of the Tent of Meeting. down. And the sons of GÃreshon and the
4 “And if they blow one, then the leaders, sons of Merari departed, bearing the
the heads of the thousands of Yisra’Ãl, Dwelling Place.
shall gather to you. 18 And the banner of the camp of Re’uÄÃn
5 “And when you blow a shout, the departed according to their divisions. And
camps that lie on the east side shall depart. over their army was Elitsur, son of
6 “And when you blow a shout the SheÅÃy’ur.
second time, then the camps that lie on the 19 And over the army of the tribe of the
south side shall depart – they blow a shout children of ShimÈon was Shelumi’Ãl, son
for them to depart. of Tsurishaddai.
7 “And when the assembly is to be 20 And over the army of the tribe of the
assembled, you blow, but do not shout. children of GaÅ was Elyasaph, the son of
8 “And the sons of Aharon, the priests, Deu’Ãl.
blow with the trumpets. And it shall be 21 And the Qehathites departed, bearing
to you for a law forever throughout your the set-apart objects, while the Dwelling
generations. Place was set up before they came.
9 “And when you go into battle in your 22 And the banner of the camp of the
land against the enemy that distresses you, children of Ephrayim departed according
then you shall shout with the trumpets, and to their divisions. And over their army was
you shall be remembered before HWHY your Elishama, son of AmmihuÅ.
Elohim, and you shall be saved from your 23 And over the army of the tribe of the
ning of your months, you shall blow the children of Binyamin was AÄiÅan, son of
trumpets over your burnt offerings and GiÅÈoni.
over your peace offerings. And they shall 25 Then the banner of the camp of the
be a remembrance for you before your children of Dan, which formed the rear
Elohim. I am HWHY your Elohim.” guard of all the camps, departed according
11 And it came to be on the twentieth day to their divisions. And over their army was
of the second month, in the second year, AÁiÈezer, son of Ammishaddai.
that the cloud was taken up from above the 26 And over the army of the tribe of the
Dwelling Place of the Witness. children of AshÃr was PaÍÈi’Ãl, the son of
12 And the children of Yisra’Ãl departed, O¿ran.
setting out from the Wilderness of Sinai. 27 And over the army of the tribe of the
And the cloud dwelt on it in the Wilderness children of Naphtali was AÁira, the son of
of Paran. Ânan.
13 Thus they departed the first time, 28 Such was the order of setting out of the
dren of YehuÅah departed first according ReÈuw’Ãl the MiÅyanite, Mosheh’s father-
to their divisions. And over their army was in-law, “We are setting out for the place of
NaÁshon, son of AmminaÅaÄ. which HWHY said, ‘I give it to you.’ Come
15 And over the army of the tribe of the with us, and we shall do good to you, for
children of Yissas¿ar was NethanÃ’l, son HWHY has spoken good concerning
of TsuÈar. Yisra’Ãl.”
16 And over the army of the tribe of the 30 And he replied to him, “I am not going,
BEMIÊBAR 10 152
but I am going to my own land and to my cakes of it. And its taste was as the taste of
relatives.” cakes baked with oil.
31 Then he said, “Please do not leave us, 9 And when the dew fell on the camp at
because you know how we are to camp in night, the manna fell on it.
the wilderness, and you shall be our eyes. 10 And Mosheh heard the people weeping
32 “And it shall be, when you go with us, throughout their clans, each man at the
then it shall be that whatever good HWHY door of his tent. And the displeasure of
does to us, the same we shall do to you.” HWHY burned exceedingly. And in the eyes
33 So they set out from the mountain of of Mosheh it was evil,
HWHY on a journey of three days. And the 11 so Mosheh said to HWHY, “Why have
ark of the covenant of HWHY went before You done evil to Your servant? And why
them for the three days’ journey, to seek have I not found favour in Your eyes, to
out a resting place for them. put the burden of all these people on me?
34 And the cloud of HWHY was above them 12 “Was it I who conceived all these
by day when they went out from the camp. people? Was it I who brought them forth,
35 And it came to be, whenever the ark set that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in
out, that Mosheh said, “Rise up, O HWHY! your bosom, as the foster father carries a
And let Your enemies be scattered, and let nursing child,’ to the land which You
those who hate You flee before You.” swore to their fathers?
36 And when it rested, he said, “Return, 13 “Where am I to get meat to give to all
O HWHY, to the countless thousands of these people? For they weep before me,
Yisra’Ãl.” saying, ‘Give us meat to eat.’
14 “I am unable to bear all these people
His displeasure burned. And the fire of please slay me altogether, if I have found
HWHY burned among them, and consumed favour in Your eyes, and let me not see my
those in the outskirts of the camp. evil!”
2 And the people cried out to Mosheh, 16 Then HWHY said to Mosheh, “Gather to
and Mosheh prayed to HWHY, and the fire Me seventy men of the elders of Yisra’Ãl,
died down. whom you know to be the elders of the
3 Then he called the name of the place people and officers over them. And bring
TaÄÈÃrah, because the fire of HWHY had them to the Tent of Meeting, and let them
burned among them. stand there with you.
4 And the mixed multitude who were in 17 “And I shall come down and speak with
their midst lusted greatly, so the children of you there, and shall take of the Spirit that
Yisra’Ãl also wept again and said, “Who is is on you, and put on them. And they shall
giving us meat to eat? bear the burden of the people with you, so
5 “We remember the fish which we ate that you do not bear it yourself alone.
without cost in Mitsrayim, the cucumbers, 18 “And say to the people, ‘Set yourselves
and the melons, and the leeks, and the apart for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat,
onions, and the garlic, because you have wept in the hearing of
6 but now our throat is dried up. There is HWHY, saying, “Who is giving us meat to
naught to look at but this manna!” eat? For it was well with us in Mitsrayim.”
7 Now the manna was like coriander And HWHY shall give you meat, and you
seed, and its appearance like the appear- shall eat.
ance of bdellium. 19 ‘You are going to eat, not one day, nor
8 The people went about and gathered it, two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor
ground it on millstones or beat it in the twenty days,
mortar, and cooked it in a pot, and made 20 but for a month of days, until it comes
153 BEMIÊBAR 12
HWHY who is among you, and have wept and all that night, and all the next day, and
before Him, saying, “Why did we come up gathered the quail. He who has least gath-
out of Mitsrayim?” ’ ” ered ten Áomers. And they spread them out
21 And Mosheh said, “The people in for themselves all around the camp.
whose midst I am are six hundred thousand 33 The meat was still between their teeth,
men on foot, and You, You have said, ‘I before it was chewed, and the wrath of
give them meat to eat for a month of days.’ HWHY burned against the people, and HWHY
22 “Could flocks and herds be slaughtered smote the people with an exceeding great
for them, to be sufficient for them? Or plague.
could all the fish of the sea be gathered 34 Then he called the name of that place
together for them, to be sufficient for QiÄroth Hatta’awah, because there they
them?” buried the people who had lusted.
23 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Is the arm 35 From QiÄroth Hatta’awah the people
of HWHY too short? Now see whether My set out for ÀatsÃroth – and they were at
word meets you or not!” ÀatsÃroth.
24 And Mosheh went out and spoke to the
was upon him, and placed the same upon through Mosheh? Has He not also spoken
the seventy elders. And it came to be, through us?” And HWHY heard it.
when the Spirit rested upon them, that they 3 And the man Mosheh was very humble,
prophesied, but did not continue. more than all men who were on the face of
26 However, two men had remained in the the earth.
camp. The name of one was EldaÅ, and the 4 And suddenly HWHY said to Mosheh,
name of the other MÃyÅaÅ. And the Spirit and Aharon, and Miryam, “You three,
rested upon them. Now they were among come out to the Tent of Meeting!” So the
those listed, but did not go out to the Tent. three came out.
And they prophesied in the camp. 5 And HWHY came down in the column of
27 And a young man ran and informed cloud and stood in the door of the Tent,
Mosheh, and said, “EldaÅ and MÃyÅaÅ are and called Aharon and Miryam. And they
prophesying in the camp.” both went forward.
28 And Yehoshua son of Nun, Mosheh’s 6 And He said, “Hear now My words: If
assistant from his youth, answered and your prophet is of HWHY, I make Myself
said, “Mosheh my master, forbid them!” known to him in a vision, and I speak to
29 Then Mosheh said to him, “Are you him in a dream.
jealous for my sake? Oh, that all the people 7 “Not so with My servant Mosheh, he is
of HWHY were prophets, that HWHY would put trustworthy in all My house.
His Spirit upon them!” 8 “I speak with him mouth to mouth, and
30 And Mosheh returned to the camp, both plainly, and not in riddles. And he sees the
he and the elders of Yisra’Ãl. form of HWHY. So why were you not afraid
31 And a wind went forth from HWHY, and to speak against My servant Mosheh?”
it brought quail from the sea and let them 9 And the displeasure of HWHY burned
fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey against them, and He left.
on this side and about a day’s journey on 10 And the cloud turned away from above
the other side, all around the camp, and the Tent, and look: Miryam was leprous, as
about two cubits above the surface of the white as snow! And Aharon turned toward
BEMIÊBAR 12 154
when coming out of its mother’s womb, Mosheh sent to spy out the land. And
with our flesh half consumed!” Mosheh called HoshÃa the son of Nun,
13 And Mosheh cried out to HWHY, saying, Yehoshua.
“O Âl, please heal her, please!” 17 And Mosheh sent them to spy out the
14 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “If her father land of KenaÈan, and said to them, “Go
had but spit in her face, would she not be up here into the South, and go up to the
ashamed seven days? Let her be shut out of mountains,
the camp seven days, and after that let her 18 and see what the land is like, and the
until Miryam was readmitted. good or evil, whether the cities they inhab-
16 And afterward the people departed it are in camps or strongholds,
from ÀatsÃroth, and they camped in the 20 and whether the land is rich or poor,
of Yisra’Ãl. Send one man from each tribe from the Wilderness of Tsin as far as
of their fathers, every one a leader among ReÁoÄ, near the entrance of Àamath.
them.” 22 And they went up through the South
3 And by the command of HWHY Mosheh and came to ÀeÄron. And AÁiman,
sent them from the Wilderness of Paran, ShÃshai, and Talmai, the descendants of
all of them men who were heads of the Anaq, were there. Now ÀeÄron had been
children of Yisra’Ãl. built seven years before TsoÈan in Mits-
4 And these were their names. From the rayim.
tribe of Re’uÄÃn: Shammua, son of Zakkur. 23 And they came to the wadi Eshkol, and
5 From the tribe of ShimÈon: Shaphat, cut down from there a branch with one
son of Àori. cluster of grapes. And they bore it between
6 From the tribe of YehuÅah: KalÃÄ, son two of them on a pole, also of the pome-
of Yephunneh. granates and of the figs.
7 From the tribe of Yissas¿ar: YiÍ’al, son 24 That place was called the wadi Eshkol,
And truly, it flows with milk and honey, son of Yephunneh, who were among those
and this is its fruit. who had spied out the land, tore their
28 “But the people who dwell in the land garments,
are strong, and the cities are walled, very 7 and they spoke to all the congregation
great. And we saw the descendants of of the children of Yisra’Ãl, saying, “The
Anaq there too. land we passed through to spy out is an
29 “The AmalÃqites dwell in the land of exceedingly good land.
the South, while the Àittites and the 8 “If HWHY has delighted in us, then He
YeÄusites and the Amorites dwell in the shall bring us into this land and give it to
mountains. And the KenaÈanites dwell by us, ‘a land which is flowing with milk and
the sea and along the banks of the YardÃn.” honey.’
30 And KalÃÄ silenced the people before 9 “Only, do not rebel against HWHY, nor
Mosheh, and said, “Let us go up at once fear the people of the land, for they are our
and take possession, for we are certainly bread. Their defence has turned away from
able to overcome it.” them, and HWHY is with us. Do not fear
31 But the men who had gone up with him them.”
said, “We are not able to go up against the 10 But all the congregation said to stone
people, for they are stronger than we.” them with stones. Then the esteem of HWHY
32 And they gave the children of Yisra’Ãl appeared in the Tent of Meeting before all
an evil report of the land which they had the children of Yisra’Ãl.
spied out, saying, “The land through which 11 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “How long
we have gone as spies is a land eating up shall I be scorned by these people? And
its inhabitants, and all the people whom we how long shall I not be trusted by them,
saw in it are men of great size. with all the signs which I have done in
33 “And we saw there the Nephilim, sons their midst?
of Anaq, of the Nephilim. And we were 12 “Let Me smite them with the pestilence
like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and so and disinherit them, and make of you a
we were in their eyes.” nation greater and mightier than they.”
13 And Mosheh said to HWHY, “Then the
bled against Mosheh and against Aharon, this land they have heard that You, HWHY,
and all the congregation said to them, “If are in the midst of these people, that You,
only we had died in the land of Mitsrayim! HWHY, are seen eye to eye and that Your
Or if only we had died in this wilderness! cloud stands above them, and You go
3 “And why is HWHY bringing us to this before them in a column of cloud by day
land to fall by the sword, that our wives and in a column of fire by night.
and children should become a prey? Would 15 “Now if You shall kill these people as
it not be better for us to turn back to one man, then the nations which have
Mitsrayim?” heard of Your report shall speak, saying,
4 And they said to each other, “Let us 16 ‘Because HWHY was not able to bring
appoint a leader, and let us turn back to this people to the land which He swore to
Mitsrayim.” give them, therefore He killed them in the
5 Then Mosheh and Aharon fell on their wilderness.’
faces before all the assembly of the 17 “And now, I pray, let the power of HWHY
forgiving crookedness and transgression, 32 ‘But as for you, your carcasses are
on the children to the third and fourth the wilderness forty years, and shall bear
generation.’ your whorings, until your carcasses are
19 “Please forgive the crookedness of this consumed in the wilderness.
people, according to the greatness of Your 34 ‘According to the number of the days in
kindness, as You have forgiven this people, which you spied out the land, forty days –
from Mitsrayim even until now.” a day for a year, a day for a year – you are
20 And HWHY said, “I shall forgive, accord- to bear your crookednesses forty years,
ing to your word, and you shall know My breaking off.
21 but truly, as I live and all the earth is 35 ‘I am HWHY, I have spoken, I shall do
filled with the esteem of HWHY, this to all this evil congregation who are
22 for none of these men who have seen meeting against Me: In this wilderness
My esteem and the signs which I did in they are consumed, and there they die.’ ”
Mitsrayim and in the wilderness, and have 36 And the men whom Mosheh sent to spy
tried Me now these ten times, and have out the land, who returned and made all the
disobeyed My voice, congregation grumble against him by
23 shall see the land of which I swore to bringing an evil report of the land,
their fathers, nor any of those who scorned 37 even those men who brought the evil
Me completely, I shall bring into the land land, only Yehoshua son of Nun, and
where he went, and his seed shall inherit it. KalÃÄ son of Yephunneh remained alive.
25 “Since the AmalÃqites and the 39 And when Mosheh spoke these words
KenaÈanites are dwelling in the valley, turn to all the children of Yisra’Ãl, the people
back tomorrow and set out into the wilder- mourned greatly.
ness by the Way of the Sea of Reeds.” 40 And they rose up early in the morning
26 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, and to and went up to the top of the mountain,
Aharon, saying, saying, “See, we have indeed sinned, but
27 “How long shall this evil congregation we shall go up to the place which HWHY had
have this grumbling against Me? I have spoken of!”
heard the grumblings which the children of 41 But Mosheh said, “Why do you now
Yisra’Ãl are grumbling against Me. transgress the command of HWHY, since it
28 “Say to them, ‘As I live,’ declares HWHY, does not prosper?
‘as you have spoken in My hearing, so I do 42 “Do not go up, lest you be smitten by
wilderness, all of you who were registered, KenaÈanites are there before you, and you
according to your entire number, from shall fall by the sword. Because you have
twenty years old and above. turned away from HWHY, HWHY is not with
30 ‘None of you except KalÃÄ son of you.”
Yephunneh, and Yehoshua son of Nun, 44 But they presumed to go up to the
shall enter the land which I swore I would mountaintop, but neither the ark of the
make you dwell in. covenant of HWHY nor Mosheh left the
31 ‘But your little ones, whom you said camp.
would become a prey, I shall bring in, and 45 So the AmalÃqites and the KenaÈanites
they shall know the land which you have who dwelt in that mountain came down
rejected. and smote them, and beat them down, even
157 BEMIÊBAR 15
accomplish a vow or as a voluntary offer- you and for the stranger who sojourns with
ing or in your appointed times, to make a you.’ ”
sweet fragrance to HWHY, from the herd or 17 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
with one-fourth of a hin of oil, the bread of the land, that you present a
5 and one-fourth of a hin of wine as a contribution to HWHY.
drink offering you prepare with the burnt 20 ‘Present a cake of the first of your
flour mixed with one-third of a hin of oil, give to HWHY a contribution throughout
7 and as a drink offering you bring one- your generations.
third of a hin of wine as a sweet fragrance 22 ‘And when you sin by mistake, c and do
accomplish a vow, or as a peace offering to the hand of Mosheh, from the day HWHY
HWHY, gave command and onward throughout
9 then shall be brought with the young your generations,
bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an 24 then it shall be, if it is done by mistake,
Ãphah of fine flour mixed with half a hin without the knowledge of the congrega-
of oil, tion, that all the congregation shall prepare
10 and bring as the drink offering half a one young bull as a burnt offering, as a
hin of wine as an offering made by fire, a sweet fragrance to HWHY, with its grain
sweet fragrance to HWHY. offering and its drink offering, according
11 ‘This is what is done for each young to the right-ruling, and one male goat as a
bull, for each ram, or for each lamb or sin offering.
young goat. 25 ‘Then the priest shall make atonement
12 ‘According to the number that you for all the congregation of the children of
prepare, so you do for each one according Yisra’Ãl, and it shall be forgiven them, for
to their number. it was by mistake. And they shall bring
13 ‘Let all who are native do so with them, their offering, an offering made by fire to
in bringing near an offering made by fire, HWHY, and their sin offering before HWHY,
a sweet fragrance to HWHY. for their mistake.
14 ‘And when a stranger sojourns with 26 ‘And it shall be forgiven all the congre-
c This passage, up to v. 31, clearly shows the difference between sinning by mistake (unintentional sin) on the
one hand, and sinning defiantly (intentional sin) on the other hand. Sinning by mistake is also dealt with in
Wayyiqra chapter 4.
BEMIÊBAR 15 158
gation of the children of Yisra’Ãl and the the tzitzit 2 of the corners.
stranger who sojourns in their midst, 39 “And it shall be to you for a tzitzit 2,
because all the people did it by mistake. and you shall see it, and shall remember all
27 ‘And if a being sins by mistake, then he the commands of HWHY and shall do them,
shall bring a female goat a year old as a sin and not search after your own heart and
offering. your own eyes after which you went whor-
28 ‘And the priest shall make atonement ing,
for the being who strays by mistake, when 40 so that you remember, and shall do all
he sins by mistake before HWHY, to make My commands, and be set-apart unto your
atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven Elohim. d
him. 41 “I am HWHY your Elohim, who brought
29 ‘For him who does whatever by mis- you out of the land of Mitsrayim, to be
take there is one Torah, both for him who your Elohim. I am HWHY your Elohim.”
is native among the children of Yisra’Ãl
and for the stranger who sojourns in their
midst. 16 And QoraÁ, son of Yitshar, son of
Qehath, son of LÃwi, took both
30 ‘But the being who does whatever Dathan and AÄiram the sons of EliyaÄ, and
defiantly, whether he is native or a On, son of Peleth, sons of Re’uÄÃn,
stranger, he reviles HWHY, and that being 2 and they rose up before Mosheh with
shall be cut off from among his people. some of the children of Yisra’Ãl, two hun-
31 ‘Because he has despised the word of dred and fifty leaders of the congregation,
HWHY, and has broken His command, that called ones of the meeting, men of name.
being shall certainly be cut off, his 3 And they assembled against Mosheh
because it had not been declared what ny, saying, “Tomorrow morning HWHY shall
should be done to him. make known who is His and who is set-
35 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “The man apart, and bring him near to Him. And let
shall certainly be put to death, all the con- Him bring near to Him the one whom He
gregation stoning him with stones outside chooses.
the camp.” 6 “Do this: Take fire holders, QoraÁ and
36 And all the congregation brought him all your company,
outside the camp and stoned him with 7 and put fire in them and put incense in
stones, as HWHY commanded Mosheh, and them before HWHY tomorrow. And it shall
he died. be that the one whom HWHY chooses is the
37 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying, set-apart one. Enough of you, sons of
38 “Speak to the children of Yisra’Ãl, and LÃwi!”
you shall say to them to make tzitziyot 1 on 8 And Mosheh said to QoraÁ, “Hear now,
1, 2 See Explanatory notes - “Tzitzit” - plural Tzitziyot. d Being set-apart unto Elohim, and to do all His com-
mands, run parallel with one another, in fact, are synonymous. But we first need to come to belief, then follows
the obedience, as proof of our love towards Him (Shemoth 20:6, DeÄarim 7:9, DeÄarim 11:1, DeÄarim 30:16,
NeÁ. 1:5, Dan. 9:4, 1 YoÁ. 5:2-3, 2 YoÁ. v. 6).
159 BEMIÊBAR 16
of Yisra’Ãl has separated you from the 22 But they fell on their faces, and said,
congregation of Yisra’Ãl, to bring you near “O Âl, Elohim of the spirits of all flesh!
to Himself, to perform the service of the When one man sins, are You wroth with all
Dwelling Place of HWHY, and to stand the congregation?”
before the congregation to serve them, 23 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
10 and that He has brought you near to 24 “Speak to the congregation, saying,
Himself, you and all your brothers, the ‘Move away from around the tents of
sons of LÃwi, with you? Yet you seek the QoraÁ, Dathan, and AÄiram.’ ”
priesthood as well? 25 So Mosheh rose up and went to Dathan
11 “Therefore you and all your company and AÄiram, and the elders of Yisra’Ãl
are set against HWHY. And Aharon, what is followed him.
he that you grumble against him?” 26 And he spoke to the congregation,
12 And Mosheh sent to call Dathan and saying, “Please turn away from the tents of
AÄiram the sons of EliyaÄ, but they said, these wrong men! Do not touch whatever
“We are not coming up! belongs to them, lest you be consumed in
13 “Is it little that you have brought us up all their sins.”
out of a land flowing with milk and honey, 27 Then they moved away from around
to kill us in the wilderness, that you would the tents of QoraÁ, Dathan, and AÄiram.
also seize total rule over us? And Dathan and AÄiram came out and
14 “Also, you have not brought us into a stood at the door of their tents, with their
land flowing with milk and honey, nor wives, and their sons, and their little
given us inheritance of fields and vine- children.
yards. Would you bore out the eyes of 28 And Mosheh said, “By this you know
these men? We are not coming up!” that HWHY has sent me to do all these works,
15 And Mosheh became very displeased, that they are not from my own heart.
and said to HWHY, “Do not respect their 29 “If these die as all men do, or if they are
offering. I have not taken one donkey from visited as all men are visited, then HWHY has
them, nor have I done harm to any of not sent me.
them.” 30 “But if HWHY creates what is unheard of,
16 Then Mosheh said to QoraÁ, and the earth opens its mouth and swal-
“Tomorrow, you and all your company lows them up with all that belongs to them,
shall be there before HWHY, you and they and they go down alive into the grave, then
and Aharon. you shall know that these men have
17 “And take each one his fire holder, and scorned HWHY.”
you shall put incense in it. And let each 31 And it came to be, as he ended speak-
one bring his fire holder before HWHY, two ing all these words, that the ground under
hundred and fifty fire holders, and you and them split apart,
Aharon, each one with his fire holder.” 32 and the earth opened its mouth and
18 So each one took his fire holder, and swallowed them up, with their households
put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and and all the men with QoraÁ, with all their
stood at the door of the Tent of Meeting goods.
with Mosheh and Aharon. 33 So they and all those with them went
19 And QoraÁ assembled all the congrega- down alive into the grave, and the earth
tion against them at the door of the Tent of closed over them, and they perished from
Meeting. Then the esteem of HWHY the midst of the assembly.
appeared to all the congregation. 34 And all Yisra’Ãl who were round about
20 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, and to them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest
Aharon, saying, the earth swallow us up!”
21 “Separate yourselves from the midst of 35 And a fire came out from HWHY and
this congregation, and let Me consume consumed the two hundred and fifty men
them in a moment.” who were offering incense.
BEMIÊBAR 16 160
before HWHY, therefore they are set-apart. and take from them a rod from each
And let them become a sign to the children father’s house, all their leaders according
of Yisra’Ãl.” to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods. Write
39 And ElÈazar the priest took the bronze each one’s name on his rod,
3 and write Aharon’s name on the rod of
fire holders, which those who were burned
up had brought, and they were beaten out LÃwi, for there is one rod for the head of
as a covering on the altar – each father’s house.
40 a remembrance to the children of Yis- 4 “You shall then place them in the Tent
ra’Ãl that no stranger who is not of the seed of Meeting before the Witness, where I
of Aharon, should come near to offer meet with you.
5 “And it shall be that the rod of the man
incense before HWHY, and not be like QoraÁ
and his company – as HWHY had said to him whom I choose buds, and I shall rid Myself
through Mosheh. of the grumblings of the children of
41 But all the congregation of the children Yisra’Ãl, which they grumble against you.”
6 And Mosheh spoke to the children of
of Yisra’Ãl grumbled against Mosheh and
against Aharon on the next day, saying, Yisra’Ãl, and all their leaders gave him a
“You, you have killed the people of HWHY.” rod each, for each leader according to their
42 And it came to be, when the congrega- fathers’ houses, twelve rods. And the rod
tion assembled against Mosheh and against of Aharon was among their rods.
Aharon, that they turned toward the Tent of 7 So Mosheh placed the rods before HWHY
Meeting. And see, the cloud covered it, in the Tent of the Witness.
and the esteem of HWHY appeared. 8 And it came to be on the next day that
43 And Mosheh and Aharon came before Mosheh went into the Tent of the Witness
the Tent of Meeting. and saw that the rod of Aharon, of the
44 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying, house of LÃwi, had budded, and brought
45 “Arise from amidst this congregation, forth buds, and blossomed and bore ripe
and let Me consume them in a moment.” almonds.
And they fell on their faces. 9 And Mosheh brought out all the rods
46 So Mosheh said to Aharon, “Take the from before HWHY to all the children of
fire holder and put fire in it from the altar, Yisra’Ãl. And they looked, and each man
and lay incense on, and go, hurry to the took his rod.
congregation and make atonement for 10 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Bring
them, for wrath has gone out from HWHY, Aharon’s rod back before the Witness, to
the plague has begun.” be kept as a sign against the rebels, so that
47 And Aharon took it as Mosheh com- you put an end to their grumblings against
manded, and ran into the midst of the Me, lest they die.”
assembly, and saw that the plague had 11 And Mosheh did as HWHY had com-
Place of HWHY dies. Shall we be consumed every male eats it. It is set-apart to you.
11 “This also is yours: the contribution of
– to die?”
their gift, with all the wave offerings of the
18 And HWHY said to Aharon, “You
and your sons and your father’s
children of Yisra’Ãl. I have given them to
you, and your sons and daughters with
you, as a law forever. Everyone who is
house with you are to bear the crookedness
against the set-apart place, and you and clean in your house eats it.
12 “All the best of the oil, and all the best
your sons with you are to bear the crooked-
ness against your priesthood. of the new wine and the grain – their first-
2 “But bring with you your brothers of fruits which they give to HWHY – I have
the tribe of LÃwi too, the tribe of your given them to you.
13 “The first-fruits of all that is in their
father to join you and serve you while you
and your sons are with you before the Tent land, which they bring to HWHY, are yours.
of the Witness. Everyone who is clean in your house
3 “And they shall guard your charge, and eats it.
14 “All that is dedicated in Yisra’Ãl is
the duty of all the Tent, but they do not
come near the furnishings of the set-apart yours.
15 “Everyone opening a womb of all flesh,
place and the altar, lest they die, both they
and you. which they bring to HWHY, whether man or
4 “And they shall be joined with you and beast, is yours. But the first-born of man
guard the duty to the Tent of Meeting, for you shall certainly ransom, and the first-
all the service of the Tent, but a stranger born of the unclean beast you ransom.
16 “And ransom their ransomed ones
does not come near you.
5 “And you shall guard the duty of the when one month old, according to your
set-apart place and the duty of the altar, so valuation, five sheqels of silver, according
that there be no more wrath on the children to the sheqel of the set-apart place, which
of Yisra’Ãl. is twenty gÃrahs.
6 “And see, I Myself have taken your 17 “But the first-born of a cow, or the first-
brothers the LÃwites from the midst of the born of a sheep, or the first-born of a goat
children of Yisra’Ãl – a gift to you, given you do not ransom, they are set-apart.
by HWHY, to do the service of the Tent of Sprinkle their blood on the altar, and burn
Meeting. their fat as an offering made by fire for a
7 “But you and your sons with you are to sweet fragrance to HWHY.
guard your priesthood for all matters at the 18 “And their flesh is yours, as the wave
altar and behind the veil, and you shall breast and as the right thigh, it is yours.
serve. I have given you the priesthood as a 19 “All the contributions of the set-apart
gift for service, but the stranger who gifts, which the children of Yisra’Ãl present
comes near is put to death.” to HWHY, I have given to you and your sons
8 And HWHY spoke to Aharon, “And see, I and daughters with you as a law forever. It
Myself have also given you the charge of is a covenant of salt forever before HWHY
My contributions, all the set-apart gifts of with you and your seed with you.”
the children of Yisra’Ãl. I have given them 20 And HWHY said to Aharon, “You are not
to you for the anointing, and to your sons, to have an inheritance in their land, nor
as a law forever. have any portion in their midst. I am your
9 “This is yours of the most set-apart portion and your inheritance among the
gifts, from the fire: all their offerings, all children of Yisra’Ãl.
their grain offerings and all their sin offer- 21 “And see, I have given the children of
ings and all their guilt offerings which they LÃwi all the tithes in Yisra’Ãl as an inheri-
render to Me, are most set-apart for you tance in return for the service which they
and your sons. are serving, the service of the Tent of
10 “Eat it in the most set-apart place – Meeting.
BEMIÊBAR 18 162
22 “And let the children of Yisra’Ãl no red heifer, a perfect one, in which there is
more come near the Tent of Meeting, lest no blemish and on which a yoke has never
they bear sin and die, come.
23 because the LÃwites shall do the service 3 ‘And you shall give it to ElÈazar the
of the Tent of Meeting, so they themselves priest, and he shall bring it outside the
bear their crookedness. A law forever, camp, and shall slaughter it before him.
throughout your generations: that among 4 ‘And ElÈazar the priest shall take some
the children of Yisra’Ãl they are to have no of its blood with his finger, and sprinkle
inheritance, some of its blood seven times toward the
24 but the tithes of the children of Yisra’Ãl, front of the Tent of Meeting.
which they present as a contribution to 5 ‘And the heifer shall be burned before
HWHY, I have given to the LÃwites as an his eyes – he burns its hide, and its flesh,
inheritance. That is why I have said to and its blood, and its dung.
them, ‘Among the children of Yisra’Ãl they 6 ‘And the priest shall take cedar wood
‘When you take from the children of ments, and shall bathe his body in water,
Yisra’Ãl the tithes which I have given you and afterward come into the camp, but the
from them as your inheritance, then you priest is unclean until evening.
shall present a contribution of it to HWHY, 8 ‘And he who is burning it washes his
a tenth of the tithe. garments in water, and shall bathe his body
27 ‘And your contribution shall be reck- in water, and is unclean until evening.
oned to you as grain from the threshing- 9 ‘And a clean man shall gather up the
floor and as filling from the winepress. ashes of the heifer, and shall place them
28 ‘Thus you also present a contribution outside the camp in a clean place. And
unto HWHY from all your tithes which you they shall be kept for the congregation
receive from the children of Yisra’Ãl. And of the children of Yisra’Ãl for the water
you shall give from it the contribution to for uncleanness, it is for cleansing from
HWHY to Aharon the priest. sin.
29 ‘From all your gifts you present every 10 ‘And he who gathers the ashes of the
contribution due to HWHY, from all the best heifer shall wash his garments, and is
of them, the set-apart part of them.’ unclean until evening. And it shall be a law
30 “And you shall say to them, ‘When you forever to the children of Yisra’Ãl and to
have presented the best of it, then the rest the stranger who sojourns in their midst.
shall be reckoned to the LÃwites as the 11 ‘He who touches the dead of any
yield of the threshing-floor and as the yield human being is unclean for seven days.
of the winepress. 12 ‘He is to cleanse himself with the water
31 ‘And you shall eat it in any place, you on the third day, and on the seventh day he
and your households, for it is your reward is clean. But if he does not cleanse himself
for your service in the Tent of Meeting, on the third day, then on the seventh day he
32 and bear no sin because of it, when you is not clean.
have presented the best of it, and do not 13 ‘Anyone who touches the dead of a
profane the set-apart gifts of the children human being, and does not cleanse him-
of Yisra’Ãl, lest you die.’ ” self, defiles the Dwelling Place of HWHY.
And that being shall be cut off from
19 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh and to
Aharon, saying,
2 “This is a law of the Torah which HWHY
Yisra’Ãl. He is unclean, for the water for
uncleanness was not sprinkled on him, his
uncleanness is still upon him.
has commanded, saying, ‘Speak to the 14 ‘This is the Torah when a man dies in a
children of Yisra’Ãl, that they bring you a tent: All who come into the tent and all
163 BEMIÊBAR 20
who are in the tent are unclean for seven bly of HWHY into this wilderness, that we
days, and our livestock should die here?
15 and every open vessel which has no 5 “And why have you brought us up out
cover fastened on it, is unclean. of Mitsrayim, to bring us to this evil place?
16 ‘Anyone in the open field who touches
– not a place of grain or figs or vines or
someone slain by a sword or who has died, pomegranates, and there is no water to
or a bone of a man, or a grave, is unclean drink.”
for seven days. 6 Then Mosheh and Aharon went from
17 ‘And for the unclean being they shall
the presence of the assembly to the door of
take some of the ashes of the heifer burnt the Tent of Meeting, and they fell on their
for cleansing from sin, and running water faces. And the esteem of HWHY appeared
shall be put on them in a vessel. to them.
18 ‘And a clean man shall take hyssop and 7 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
dip it in the water, and shall sprinkle it on 8 “Take the rod and assemble the congre-
the tent, and on all the vessels, and on the gation, you and your brother Aharon. And
beings who were there, or on the one who you shall speak to the rock before their
touched a bone, or the slain, or the dead, or eyes, and it shall give its water. And you
a grave. shall bring water for them out of the rock
19 ‘And the clean one shall sprinkle the
and give drink to the congregation and
unclean on the third day and on the seventh their livestock.”
day. And on the seventh day he shall 9 And Mosheh took the rod from before
cleanse himself, and shall wash his gar- HWHY as He commanded him.
ments and bathe in water, and shall be 10 And Mosheh and Aharon assembled
clean in the evening. the assembly before the rock. And he said
20 ‘But the man who is unclean and does to them, “Hear now, you rebels, shall we
not cleanse himself, that being shall be cut bring water for you out of this rock?”
off from among the assembly, because he 11 Then Mosheh lifted his hand and struck
has defiled the set-apart place of HWHY – the rock twice with his rod. And much
water for uncleanness has not been sprin- water came out, and the congregation and
kled on him, he is unclean. their livestock drank.
21 ‘And it shall be a law for them forever. 12 But HWHY spoke to Mosheh and to
And the one who sprinkles the water for Aharon, “Because you did not believe Me,
uncleanness washes his garments. And the to set Me apart in the eyes of the children
one who touches the water for uncleanness of Yisra’Ãl, therefore you do not bring this
is unclean until evening. assembly into the land which I have given
22 ‘And whatever the unclean being them.”
touches is unclean. And the being who 13 These were the waters of MeriÄah,
touches it is unclean until evening.’ ” because the children of Yisra’Ãl contended
with HWHY, and He was set apart among
20 And the children of Yisra’Ãl, all the
congregation, came into the
them.
14 And Mosheh sent messengers from
Wilderness of Tsin in the first month, and QaÅÃsh to the sovereign of EÅom. “This is
the people stayed in QaÅÃsh. And Miryam what your brother Yisra’Ãl said, ‘You know
died there and was buried there. all the hardship that has befallen us,
2 Now there was no water for the congre- 15 that our fathers went down to Mits-
gation and they assembled against Mosheh rayim, and we dwelt in Mitsrayim a long
and against Aharon. time, and the Mitsrites did evil to us and
3 And the people contended with Mosheh our fathers.
and spoke, saying, “If only we had died 16 ‘And we cried out to HWHY, and He
when our brothers died before HWHY! heard our voice and sent the Messenger
4 “Why have you brought up the assem- and brought us up out of Mitsrayim. And
BEMIÊBAR 20 164
to Mount Hor. people, and they bit the people. And many
23 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh and to of the people of Yisra’Ãl died.
7 Then the people came to Mosheh, and
Aharon in Mount Hor near the border of
the land of EÅom, saying, said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken
24 “Aharon is to be gathered to his people, against HWHY and against you. Pray to HWHY
for he is not to enter the land which I have to take away the serpents from us.” So
given to the children of Yisra’Ãl, because Mosheh prayed on behalf of the people.
8 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Make a
you rebelled against My mouth at the
water of MeriÄah. fiery serpent, and set it on a pole. And it
25 “Take Aharon and ElÈazar his son, and shall be that everyone who is bitten, when
bring them up to Mount Hor, he looks at it, shall live.”
9 So Mosheh made a bronze serpent, and
26 and strip Aharon of his garments and
put it on a pole. And it came to be, if a
put them on ElÈazar his son, for Aharon is
serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked
to be gathered to his people and die there.” at the bronze serpent, he lived.
27 And Mosheh did as HWHY commanded,
10 And the children of Yisra’Ãl set out and
and they went up to Mount Hor before the camped in OÄoth.
eyes of all the congregation. 11 And they departed from OÄoth and
28 And Mosheh stripped Aharon of his
camped at Iyà Ha-AÄarim, in the wilder-
garments and put them on ElÈazar his son. ness which is east of Mo’aÄ, toward sun-
And Aharon died there on the top of the rise.
mountain. And Mosheh and ElÈazar came 12 From there they set out and camped at
down from the mountain. the wadi ZereÅ.
29 And when all the congregation saw that 13 From there they set out and camped on
Aharon was dead, all the house of Yisra’Ãl the other side of the Arnon, which is in the
wept for Aharon, thirty days. wilderness that extends from the border of
165 BEMIÊBAR 22
the Amorites, for the Arnon is the border 27 That is why those who speak in
of Mo’aÄ, between Mo’aÄ and the proverbs say, “Come to Àeshbon, let the
Amorites. city of SiÁon be built and established.
14 Therefore it is said in the Book of the 28 “For fire went out from Àeshbon, a
Battles of HWHY, “WahÃÄ in Suphah, the flame from the city of SiÁon. It consumed
wadi Arnon, Ar of Mo’aÄ, the masters of the heights of
15 and the slope of the wadi that turns the Arnon.
aside to the dwelling of Ar, and lies on the 29 “Woe to you, Mo’aÄ! You have per-
in the country of Mo’aÄ, to the top of Bashan. And OÍ sovereign of Bashan went
Pisgah which looks down on the waste- out against them, he and all his people, to
land. battle at EÅreÈi.
21 And Yisra’Ãl sent messengers to SiÁon 34 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Do not fear
sovereign of the Amorites, saying, him, for I have given him into your hand,
22 “Let me pass through your land. We with all his people and his land. And you
shall not turn off into fields or vineyards, shall do to him as you did to SiÁon sover-
we shall not drink water from wells, but go eign of the Amorites, who dwelt at Àesh-
by the sovereign’s highway until we have bon.”
passed over your border.” 35 And they smote him, and his sons, and
23 But SiÁon would not allow Yisra’Ãl to all his people, until no remnant was left to
pass through his border. So SiÁon gathered him. And they took possession of his land.
all his people together and went out against
Yisra’Ãl in the wilderness, and he came to
Yahats and fought against Yisra’Ãl. 22 And the children of Yisra’Ãl set out
and camped in the desert plains of
24 And Yisra’Ãl smote him with the edge Mo’aÄ beyond the YardÃn of YeriÁo.
of the sword, and took possession of his 2 And Balaq son of Tsippor saw all that
land from the Arnon to the Yabboq, as far Yisra’Ãl had done to the Amorites.
as the children of Ammon, for the border 3 And Mo’aÄ was exceedingly afraid of
of the children of Ammon was strong. the people because they were many, and
25 And Yisra’Ãl took all these cities, and Mo’aÄ was in dread because of the
Yisra’Ãl dwelt in all the cities of the children of Yisra’Ãl.
Amorites – in Àeshbon and in all its 4 And Mo’aÄ said to the elders of
of BeÈor at Pethor, which is near the River give me his house filled with silver and
in the land of the sons of his people, to gold, I am unable to go beyond the word of
call him, saying, “See, a people has come HWHY my Elohim, to do less or more.
from Mitsrayim. See, they have covered 19 “And now, please, you also stay here
the surface of the land, and are settling tonight, and let me find out what more
next to me! HWHY says to me.”
6 “And now, please come at once, curse 20 And Elohim came to BilÈam at night
this people for me, for they are too strong and said to him, “If the men come to call
for me. It might be that I smite them and you, rise and go with them, but only the
drive them out of the land, for I know that word which I speak to you that you do.”
he whom you bless is blessed, and he 21 And BilÈam rose in the morning and
whom you curse is cursed.” saddled his donkey, and went with the
7 And the elders of Mo’aÄ and the elders heads of Mo’aÄ.
of MiÅyan left with the fees for divination 22 But the displeasure of Elohim burned
in their hand, and they came to BilÈam and because he went, and the Messenger of
spoke the words of Balaq to him. HWHY stationed Himself in the way as an
8 And he said to them, “Spend the night adversary against him. And he was riding
here, and I shall bring back word to you, as on his donkey, and his two servants were
HWHY speaks to me.” So the heads of Mo’aÄ with him.
stayed with BilÈam. 23 And the donkey saw the Messenger of
9 And Elohim came to BilÈam and said, HWHY standing in the way with His drawn
“Who are these men with you?” sword in His hand, and the donkey turned
10 And BilÈam said to Elohim, “Balaq, son aside out of the way and went into the
of Tsippor, sovereign of Mo’aÄ, has sent to field. So BilÈam beat the donkey to turn her
me, saying, back onto the way.
11 ‘See, a people has come out of Mits- 24 Then the Messenger of HWHY stood in a
rayim and cover the surface of the land. narrow passage between the vineyards,
Come now, curse them for me. It might be with a wall on this side and a wall on that
that I am able to fight against them and side.
drive them out.’ ” 25 And when the donkey saw the
12 And Elohim said to BilÈam, “Do not go Messenger of HWHY, she pushed herself
with them. You do not curse the people, for against the wall and crushed BilÈam’s foot
they are blessed.” against the wall, so he beat her again.
13 And BilÈam rose in the morning and 26 And the Messenger of HWHY went
said to the heads of Balaq, “Go back to further, and stood in a narrow place where
your land, for HWHY has refused to allow me there was no way to turn aside, right or
to go with you.” left.
14 And the heads of Mo’aÄ arose and went 27 And when the donkey saw the
to Balaq, and said, “BilÈam refuses to come Messenger of HWHY, she lay down under
with us.” BilÈam. So BilÈam’s displeasure burned,
15 Then Balaq again sent heads, more and he beat the donkey with his staff.
numerous and more esteemed than they. 28 Then HWHY opened the mouth of the
16 And they came to BilÈam and said to donkey, and she said to BilÈam, “What
him, “This is what Balaq son of Tsippor have I done to you, that you have beaten
said: ‘Do not be withheld from coming to me these three times?”
me, please, 29 And BilÈam said to the donkey,
17 for I esteem you very greatly, and what- “Because you have mocked me. I wish
ever you say to me, I do. Therefore please there were a sword in my hand, for I would
come, curse this people for me.’ ” have killed you by now!”
18 And BilÈam answered and said to the 30 And the donkey said to BilÈam, “Am
servants of Balaq, “Though Balaq were to I not your donkey on which you have
167 BEMIÊBAR 23
ridden, ever since I became yours, to this pare seven bulls and seven rams for me
day? Was I ever known to do so to you?” here.”
And he said, “No.” 2 And Balaq did as BilÈam had spoken,
31 Then HWHY opened BilÈam’s eyes, and and Balaq and BilÈam offered a bull and a
he saw the Messenger of HWHY standing in ram on each altar.
the way with His drawn sword in His hand. 3 BilÈam then said to Balaq, “Stand by
And he bowed his head and fell on his your burnt offering, and let me go on. It
face. might be that HWHY does come to meet me,
32 And the Messenger of HWHY said to him, and whatever He shows me I shall declare
“Why have you beaten your donkey these to you.” And he went to a bare height.
three times? See, I have come out to stand 4 And Elohim came to BilÈam, and he
against you, because your way is reckless said to Him, “I have prepared the seven
before Me. altars, and I have offered on each altar a
33 “And the donkey saw Me and turned bull and a ram.”
aside from Me these three times. If she had 5 And HWHY put a word in the mouth of
not turned aside from Me, I certainly BilÈam, and said, “Return to Balaq, and
would have killed you by now, and let her this is what you say.”
live.” 6 And he returned to him and saw him
34 And BilÈam said to the Messenger of standing by his burnt offering, he and all
HWHY, “I have sinned, for I did not know the heads of Mo’aÄ.
You stood in the way against me. And now, 7 And he took up his proverb and said,
if evil is in Your eyes, let me turn back.” “Balaq the sovereign of Mo’aÄ has brought
35 And the Messenger of HWHY said to me from Aram, from the mountains of the
BilÈam, “Go with the men, but only the east. ‘Come, curse YaÈaqoÄ for me, and
word that I speak to you, that you speak.” come, rage at Yisra’Ãl!’
BilÈam then went with the heads of Balaq. 8 “How do I curse whom Âl has not
36 And when Balaq heard that BilÈam was cursed? And how do I rage at whom HWHY
coming, he went out to meet him at the city has not raged?
of Mo’aÄ, which is on the border at the 9 “For from the top of the rocks I see
Arnon, which was in the extremity of the him, and from the hills I observe him.
border. Look, a people dwelling alone, not reckon-
37 And Balaq said to BilÈam, “Did I not ing itself among the nations.
urgently send to you, calling for you? Why 10 “Who shall count the dust of YaÈaqoÄ,
did you not come to me? Am I not able to and the number of one-fourth of Yisra’Ãl?
esteem you?” Let me die the death of the upright, and let
38 And BilÈam said to Balaq, “See, I have my end be like his!”
come to you! Now, am I at all able to say 11 And Balaq said to BilÈam, “What have
somewhat? The word that Elohim puts in you done to me? I took you to curse
my mouth, that I speak.” my enemies, and look, you have kept on
39 And BilÈam went with Balaq, and they blessing!”
came to Qiryath Àutsoth. 12 And he answered and said, “Should I
40 And Balaq slaughtered cattle and not take heed to speak what HWHY has put in
sheep, and he sent some to BilÈam and to my mouth?”
the heads who were with him. 13 And Balaq said to him, “Please come
41 And it came to be the next day, that with me to another place from where you
Balaq took BilÈam and brought him up to see them. You only see the extremity but
the high places of BaÈal, and from there he not all of them. Curse them for me from
saw the extremity of the camp. there.”
14 And he took him to the field of
on each altar.
15 And he said to Balaq, “Stand here by 24 And when BilÈam saw that it
pleased HWHY to bless Yisra’Ãl, he
your burnt offering while I meet over did not go as at other times, to seek to use
there.” sorcery, but he set his face toward the
16 And HWHY came to BilÈam, and put a wilderness.
2 And BilÈam lifted up his eyes and saw
word in his mouth, and said, “Go back to
Balaq, and say this.” Yisra’Ãl encamped according to their
17 So he went to him and saw him stand- tribes. And the Spirit of Elohim came upon
ing by his burnt offering, and the heads of him.
3 And he took up his proverb and said,
Mo’aÄ with him. And Balaq asked him,
“What did HWHY say?” “The saying of BilÈam, son of BeÈor, and
18 And he took up his proverb and said, the saying of the man whose eyes are
“Rise up, Balaq, and hear! Listen to me, opened,
4 the saying of him who hears the words
son of Tsippor!
19 “Âl is not a man, to lie; nor a son of of Âl, who sees the vision of the Almighty,
man, to repent! Has He said, and would He who falls down, with eyes opened wide:
5 “How good are your tents, O YaÈaqoÄ,
not do it; or spoken, and would not con-
firm it? your dwellings, O Yisra’Ãl!
6 “Like wadis that stretch out, like
20 “See, I have received, to bless. And He
has blessed, and I do not reverse it. gardens by a river, like aloes planted by
21 “He has not looked upon wickedness in HWHY, like cedars beside waters.
7 “He makes water flow from his buck-
YaÈaqoÄ, nor has He seen trouble in
Yisra’Ãl. HWHY his Elohim is with him, and ets, and his seed is in many waters. His
sovereign is higher than AÍaÍ, and his
the shout of a Sovereign is in him.
22 “Âl who brought them out of Mitsra- reign is exalted.
8 “Âl who brought him out of Mitsrayim
yim, is for them like the horns of a wild ox.
23 “For there is no sorcery against is for them like the horns of a wild ox; he
devours nations, his enemies; and he
YaÈaqoÄ, nor is there any divination against breaks their bones, and with his arrows he
Yisra’Ãl. Now it is said to YaÈaqoÄ and to smites.
Yisra’Ãl, ‘What has Âl done!’ 9 “He bowed down, he lay down like a
24 “Look, a people rises like a lioness, and
lion. And, like a lion, who would rouse
lifts itself up like a lion; it lies not down him? Blessed is he who blesses you, and
until it devours the prey, and drinks the cursed is he who curses you.”
blood of the slain.” 10 Then the displeasure of Balaq burned
25 And Balaq said to BilÈam, “Do not
against BilÈam, and he struck his hands
curse them at all, nor bless them at all!” together. Balaq then said to BilÈam, “I
26 And BilÈam answered and said to
summoned you to curse my enemies, and
Balaq, “Have I not spoken to you, saying, see, you have kept on blessing, these three
‘All that HWHY speaks, that I do’?” times!
27 And Balaq said to BilÈam, “Please 11 “And now flee to your place. I said I
come, let me take you to another place. It would greatly esteem you, and see, HWHY
might be right in the eyes of Elohim that has kept you back from esteem.”
you curse them for me from there.” 12 And BilÈam said to Balaq, “Did I not
28 And Balaq took BilÈam to the top of
also speak to your messengers whom you
PeÈor, that overlooks the wasteland. sent to me, saying,
29 And BilÈam said to Balaq, “Build seven 13 ‘If Balaq should give me his house
alters for me here, and prepare seven bulls filled with silver and gold, I am unable to
and seven rams for me here.” go beyond the word of HWHY, to do either
30 And Balaq did as BilÈam had said, and good or evil of my own heart. What HWHY
offered a bull and a ram on each altar. speaks, that I speak’?
169 BEMIÊBAR 25
14 “And now, see, I am going to my people ate and bowed down to their mighty
people. Come, let me advise you what this ones.
people is going to do to your people in the 3 Thus Yisra’Ãl was joined to BaÈal PeÈor,
the saying of the man whose eyes are leaders of the people and hang them up
opened, before HWHY, before the sun, so that the
16 the saying of him who hears the words burning displeasure of HWHY turns away
of Âl, and knows the knowledge of the from Yisra’Ãl.”
Most High, who sees the vision of the 5 And Mosheh said to the judges of
Almighty, who falls down, with eyes Yisra’Ãl, “Each one of you slay his men
opened wide: who were joined to BaÈal PeÈor.”
17 “I see Him, e but not now; I observe 6 And see, one of the children of Yisra’Ãl
Him, but not near. A Star shall come out of came and brought to his brothers a
YaÈaqoÄ, and a Sceptre shall rise out of MiÅyanite woman before the eyes of
Yisra’Ãl, and shall smite the corners of Mosheh and before the eyes of all the con-
Mo’aÄ, and shall destroy all the sons of gregation of the children of Yisra’Ãl, who
ShÃth. were weeping at the door of the Tent of
18 “And EÅom shall be a possession; and Meeting.
SÃÈir shall be a possession – enemies – and 7 And when PineÁas, son of ElÈazar, son
up his proverb and said, “AmalÃq was first into the tent and thrust both of them
among the nations, but his latter end is to through, the man of Yisra’Ãl, and the
perish forever.” woman through her belly. Thus the plague
21 He then looked on the QÃynites, and he among the children of Yisra’Ãl came to a
took up his proverb and said, “Firm is your stop.
dwelling place, and your nest is set in the 9 And those who died in the plague were
does Asshur keep you captive?” 11 “PineÁas, son of ElÈazar, son of Aharon
23 And he took up his proverb and said, the priest, has turned back My wrath from
“Oh, who does live when Âl does this? the children of Yisra’Ãl, because he was
24 And ships shall come from the coast of ardent with My ardour in their midst, so
Kittim, and they shall afflict Asshur and that I did not consume the children of
afflict ÂÄer, and so shall AmalÃq, and he Yisra’Ãl in My ardour.
also perishes.” 12 “Therefore say, ‘See, I am giving him
25 And BilÈam arose and left, and returned My covenant of peace,
to his place. And Balaq also went his way. 13 and it shall be to him and to his seed
slaughterings of their mighty ones, and the was killed, who was killed with the
e One of the most vivid prophecies of the Messiah to come! Yet this same BilÈam, the prophet upon whom the
Spirit of Elohim came, later on went astray and led Yisra’Ãl into sin (31:16 and 25:3, also 2 KÃpha 2:15)!
BEMIÊBAR 25 170
MiÅyanite woman, was Zimri, son of Salu, consumed two hundred and fifty men. And
a leader of a father’s house among the they became a sign,
ShimÈonites. 11 but the sons of QoraÁ did not die.
15 And the name of the MiÅyanite woman 12 Sons of ShimÈon according to their
who was killed was Kozbi the daughter of clans: of Nemu’Ãl, the clan of the
Tsur. He was head of the people of a Nemu’Ãlites; of Yamin, the clan of the
father’s house in MiÅyan. Yaminites; of Ya¿in, the clan of the
16 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying, Ya¿inites;
17 “Distress the MiÅyanites! And you 13 of ZeraÁ, the clan of the ZarÁites; of
with which they deceived you in the matter twenty-two thousand two hundred.
of PeÈor and in the matter of Kozbi, the 15 Sons of GaÅ according to their clans: of
daughter of a leader of MiÅyan, their sister, Tsephon, the clan of the Tsephonites; of
who was killed in the day of the plague Àaggi, the clan of the Àaggites; of Shuni,
because of PeÈor.” the clan of the Shunites;
16 of Ozni, the clan of the Oznites; of Âri,
ElÈazar, son of Aharon the priest, saying, ArÃli, the clan of the ArÃlites.
2 “Take a census of all the congregation 18 These are the clans of the sons of GaÅ
of the children of Yisra’Ãl from twenty according to their registered ones: forty
years old and above, by their fathers’ hous- thousand five hundred.
es, everyone going out to the army in 19 Sons of YehuÅah: Âr and Onan. And Âr
with them in the desert plains of Mo’aÄ by clans: of ShÃlah, the clan of the ShÃlanites;
the YardÃn of YeriÁo, saying, of Perets, the clan of the Partsites; of
4 “Take a census of the people from twen- ZeraÁ, the clan of the ZarÁites.
ty years old and above, as HWHY command- 21 And sons of Perets: of Àetsron, the clan
ed Mosheh and the children of Yisra’Ãl of the Àetsronites; of Àamul, the clan of
who came out of the land of Mitsrayim.” the Àamulites.
5 Re’uÄÃn, first-born of Yisra’Ãl, sons of 22 These are the clans of YehuÅah accord-
Re’uÄÃn: of Àano¿, the clan of the ing to their registered ones: seventy-six
Àano¿ites; of Pallu, the clan of the thousand five hundred.
Palluites; 23 Sons of Yissas¿ar according to their
6 of Àetsron, the clan of the Àetsronites; clans: of Tola, the clan of the Tolaites; of
of Karmi, the clan of the Karmites. Puwwah, the clan of the Punites;
7 These are the clans of the Re’uÄÃnites, 24 of YashuÄ, the clan of the YashuÄites;
and their registered ones were forty-three of Shimron, the clan of the Shimronites.
thousand seven hundred and thirty. 25 These are the clans of Yissas¿ar
8 And the son of Pallu: EliyaÄ. according to their registered ones: sixty-
9 And the sons of EliyaÄ: Nemu’Ãl, and four thousand three hundred.
Dathan, and AÄiram. This Dathan and 26 Sons of ZeÄulun according to their
AÄiram, were the called ones of the con- clans: of SereÅ, the clan of the Sardites; of
gregation, who contended against Mosheh Âlon, the clan of the Âlonites; of YaÁle’Ãl,
and against Aharon in the company of the clan of the YaÁle’Ãlites.
QoraÁ, when they contended against HWHY, 27 These are the clans of the ZeÄulunites
10 and the earth opened its mouth and according to their registered ones: sixty
swallowed them up together with QoraÁ thousand five hundred.
when that company died, when the fire 28 Sons of YosÃph according to their
171 BEMIÊBAR 26
clan of the Iyezerites; of ÀÃleq, the clan of clan of the ÀeÄerites; of Malki’Ãl, the clan
the ÀÃleqites; of the Malki’Ãlites.
31 of Asri’Ãl, the clan of the Asri’Ãlites; of 46 And the name of the daughter of AshÃr
ShemiÅaites; of ÀÃpher, the clan of the according to their registered ones: fifty-
ÀÃpherites. three thousand four hundred.
33 And TselophÁaÅ son of ÀÃpher had no 48 Sons of Naphtali according to their
sons, but daughters. And the names of the clans: of YaÁtse’Ãl, the clan of the
daughters of TselophÁaÅ: MaÁlah, and YaÁtse’Ãlites; of Guni, the clan of the
NoÈah, ÀoÍlah, Milkah, and Tirtsah. Gunites;
34 These are the clans of Menashsheh, and 49 of YÃtser, the clan of the YÃtserites; of
their registered ones: fifty-two thousand ShillÃm, the clan of the ShillÃmites.
seven hundred. 50 These are the clans of Naphtali accord-
35 These are the sons of Ephrayim accord- ing to their clans, and their registered ones:
ing to their clans: of ShuthelaÁ, the clan of forty-five thousand four hundred.
the ShuthalÁites; of Be¿er, the clan of the 51 These are the registered ones of the
Ba¿rites; of TaÁan, the clan of the children of Yisra’Ãl: six hundred and one
TaÁanites. thousand seven hundred and thirty.
36 And these are sons of ShuthelaÁ: of 52 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
These are the sons of YosÃph according to inheritance, and to the small one you give
their clans. a smaller inheritance. Each shall be given
38 Sons of Binyamin according to their its inheritance according to their registered
clans: of Bela, the clan of the Belaites; of ones.
AshbÃl, the clan of the AshbÃlites; of 55 “But the land is divided by lot, they
AÁiram, the clan of the AÁiramites; inherit according to the names of the tribes
39 of Shephupham, the clan of the of their fathers.
Shephuphamites; of Àupham, the clan of 56 “According to the lot their inheritance
their clans: of ShuÁam, the clan of the clan of the LiÄnites, the clan of the
ShuÁamites. These are the clans of Dan ÀeÄronites, the clan of the MaÁlites, the
according to their clans. clan of the Mushites, and the clan of the
43 All the clans of the ShuÁamites, QorÁites. And Qehath brought forth Am-
according to their registered ones: sixty- ram.
four thousand four hundred. 59 And the name of Amram’s wife was
BEMIÊBAR 26 172
Yo¿eÄeÅ the daughter of LÃwi, who was what is right. You should certainly give
born to LÃwi in Mitsrayim. And to Amram them a possession of inheritance among
she bore Aharon and Mosheh and their their father’s brothers, and cause the inher-
sister Miryam. itance of their father to pass to them.
60 And to Aharon were born NaÅaÄ and 8 “And speak to the children of Yisra’Ãl,
AÄihu, ElÈazar and Ithamar. saying, ‘When a man dies and has no son,
61 And NaÅaÄ and AÄihu died when they then you shall cause his inheritance to pass
brought strange fire before HWHY. to his daughter.
62 And their registered ones were twenty- 9 ‘And if he has no daughter, then you
three thousand, every male from a month shall give his inheritance to his brothers.
old and above. For they were not regis- 10 ‘And if he has no brothers, then you
tered among the other children of Yisra’Ãl, shall give his inheritance to his father’s
because there was no inheritance given to brothers.
them among the children of Yisra’Ãl. 11 ‘And if his father has no brothers, then
63 These are the ones registered by you shall give his inheritance to the nearest
Mosheh and ElÈazar the priest, who regis- relative in his clan, and he shall possess
tered the sons of Yisra’Ãl in the desert it.’ ” And it shall be to the children of
plains of Mo’aÄ by the YardÃn of YeriÁo. Yisra’Ãl a law of right-ruling, as HWHY com-
64 But among these there was not a man of manded Mosheh.
those registered by Mosheh and Aharon 12 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Go up into
the priest when they registered the sons of this Mount AÄarim, and see the land which
Yisra’Ãl in the Wilderness of Sinai. I have given to the children of Yisra’Ãl.
65 For HWHY had said of them, “They shall 13 “And when you have seen it, you also
certainly die in the wilderness.” And not a shall be gathered to your people as Aharon
man was left of them, except KalÃÄ son of your brother was gathered,
Yephunneh, and Yehoshua son of Nun. 14 because you rebelled against My mouth
daughters: MaÁlah, NoÈah, and ÀoÍlah, 16 “Let HWHY, the Elohim of the spirits
and Milkah, and Tirtsah. of all flesh, appoint a man over the congre-
2 And they stood before Mosheh, and gation,
before ElÈazar the priest, and before the 17 who goes out before them and comes in
leaders and all the congregation, by the before them, who leads them out and
doorway of the Tent of Meeting, saying, brings them in, so that the congregation
3 “Our father died in the wilderness, yet of HWHY be not like sheep without a
he was not in the company of those who shepherd.”
were met together against HWHY, in compa- 18 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “Take
ny with QoraÁ, but he died in his own sin. Yehoshua son of Nun with you, a man in
And he had no sons. whom is the Spirit. And you shall lay your
4 “Why should the name of our father be hand on him,
removed from among his clan because he 19 and shall set him before ElÈazar the
had no son? Give us a possession among priest and before all the congregation, and
the brothers of our father.” give him charge before their eyes,
5 Mosheh then brought their case before 20 and shall put some of your esteem upon
him, and took Yehoshua and set him before mixed with oil, as a grain offering for each
ElÈazar the priest and before all the congre- lamb, as a burnt offering of sweet fra-
gation, grance, an offering made by fire to HWHY.
23 and laid his hands on him and commis- 14 ‘And their drink offering is half a hin of
sioned him, as HWHY commanded by the wine for a bull, and one-third of a hin for a
hand of Mosheh. ram, and one-fourth of a hin for a lamb.
This is the burnt offering for each month
28 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
2 “Command the children of
throughout the months of the year,
15 and one male goat as a sin offering to
offering made by fire which you bring to a festival. For seven days unleavened
HWHY: two male lambs a year old, perfect bread is eaten.
ones, daily, a continual burnt offering. 18 ‘On the first day is a set-apart gather-
4 ‘The one lamb you prepare in the morn- ing, you do no servile work.
ing, and the other lamb you prepare 19 ‘And you shall bring near an offering
offered at Mount Sinai for a sweet fra- mixed with oil. Prepare three-tenths of an
grance, an offering made by fire to HWHY, Ãphah for a bull, and two-tenths for a ram.
7 and its drink offering, one-fourth of a 21 ‘Prepare one-tenth of an Ãphah for each
hin for each lamb. Pour out the drink to of the seven lambs,
HWHY as an offering in the set-apart place. 22 and one goat as a sin offering, to make
8 ‘And the other lamb you prepare atonement for you.
between the evenings. As the morning 23 ‘Prepare these besides the burnt offer-
grain offering and its drink offering, you ing of the morning, which is for a continu-
prepare it as an offering made by fire, a al burnt offering.
sweet fragrance to HWHY. 24 ‘According to these you are to prepare
9 ‘And on the Sabbath day two lambs a the food of the offering made by fire daily
year old, perfect ones, and two-tenths of an for seven days, as a sweet fragrance to
Ãphah of fine flour as a grain offering, HWHY. It is prepared besides the continual
mixed with oil, with its drink offering, burnt offering and its drink offering.
10 the burnt offering for every Sabbath, 25 ‘And on the seventh day you have a set-
besides the continual burnt offering with apart gathering, you do no servile work.
its drink offering. 26 ‘And on the day of the first-fruits, when
11 ‘And on the beginnings of your months you bring a new grain offering to HWHY at
you bring near a burnt offering to HWHY: your Festival of Weeks, you have a set-
two young bulls and one ram, and seven apart gathering, you do no servile work.
lambs a year old, perfect ones; 27 ‘And you shall bring near a burnt offer-
BEMIÊBAR 28 174
lambs,
16 and one male goat as a sin offering,
set-apart gathering, you do no servile
work, it is a day of blowing the trumpets besides the continual burnt offering, its
for you. grain offering, and its drink offering.
2 ‘And you shall prepare a burnt offering 17 ‘Then on the second day: twelve young
as a sweet fragrance to HWHY: one young bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs a year old,
bull, one ram, seven lambs a year old, perfect ones,
18 and their grain offering and their drink
perfect ones,
3 and their grain offering: fine flour offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for
mixed with oil, three-tenths of an Ãphah the lambs, by their number, according to
for the bull, two-tenths for the ram, the right-ruling,
4 and one-tenth for each of the seven 19 and one male goat as a sin offering,
their drink offerings, according to their offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for
right-ruling, as a sweet fragrance, an offer- the lambs, by their number, according to
ing made by fire to HWHY. the right-ruling,
7 ‘And on the tenth day of this seventh 22 and one goat as a sin offering, besides
month you have a set-apart gathering, and the continual burnt offering, its grain offer-
you shall afflict your beings, you do no ing, and its drink offering.
work. 23 ‘Then on the fourth day: ten bulls, two
8 ‘And you shall bring near a burnt offer- rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect
ing to HWHY, a sweet fragrance: one young ones,
bull, one ram, seven lambs a year old, per- 24 and their grain offering and their drink
fect ones they are for you, offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for
9 and their grain offering: fine flour the lambs, by their number, according to
mixed with oil, three-tenths of an Ãphah the right-ruling,
for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram, 25 and one male goat as a sin offering,
10 one-tenth for each of the seven lambs, besides the continual burnt offering, its
11 one male goat as a sin offering, besides grain offering, and its drink offering.
the sin offering for atonement, the continu- 26 ‘Then on the fifth day: nine bulls, two
al burnt offering with its grain offering, rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect
175 BEMIÊBAR 30
ones,
27 and their grain offering and their drink 30 And Mosheh spoke to the heads of
the tribes concerning the children
offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for of Yisra’Ãl, saying, “This is the word
the lambs, by their number, according to which HWHY has commanded:
2 “When a man vows a vow to HWHY, or
the right-ruling,
28 and one goat as a sin offering, besides swears an oath to bind himself by some
the continual burnt offering, its grain offer- agreement, he does not break his word, he
ing, and its drink offering. does according to all that comes out of his
29 ‘Then on the sixth day: eight bulls, two mouth.
3 “Or if a woman vows a vow to HWHY,
rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect
ones, and binds herself by some agreement while
30 and their grain offering and their drink in her father’s house in her youth,
4 and her father hears her vow and the
offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for
the lambs, by their number, according to agreement by which she has bound herself,
the right-ruling, and her father has kept silent towards her,
31 and one goat as a sin offering, besides then all her vows shall stand, and every
the continual burnt offering, its grain offer- agreement with which she has bound her-
ing, and its drink offering. self stands.
5 “But if her father forbids her on the day
32 ‘Then on the seventh day: seven bulls,
two rams, fourteen lambs a year old, per- that he hears, then none of her vows nor
fect ones, her agreements by which she has bound
33 and their grain offering and their drink herself stand. And HWHY pardons her,
offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for because her father has forbidden her.
6 “But if she at all belongs to a husband,
the lambs, by their number, according to
while bound by her vows or by a rash
the right-ruling,
34 and one goat as a sin offering, besides utterance from her lips by which she bound
herself,
the continual burnt offering, its grain offer- 7 and her husband hears it, and he has
ing, and its drink offering. kept silent towards her on the day that he
35 ‘On the eighth day you have an assem-
hears, then her vows shall stand, and her
bly, you do no servile work, agreements by which she bound herself do
36 and you shall bring near a burnt offer-
stand.
ing, an offering made by fire, a sweet 8 “But if her husband forbids her on the
fragrance to HWHY: one bull, one ram, seven day that he hears it, then he has nullified
lambs a year old, perfect ones, her vow which she vowed, and the rash
37 their grain offering and their drink
utterance of her lips by which she bound
offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for herself, and HWHY pardons her.
the lambs, by their number, according to 9 “But any vow of a widow or a divorced
the right-ruling, woman, by which she has bound herself,
38 and one goat as a sin offering, besides
stands against her.
the continual burnt offering, its grain offer- 10 “And if she vowed in her husband’s
ing, and its drink offering. house, or bound herself by an agreement
39 ‘These you prepare to HWHY at your
with an oath,
appointed times, besides your vowed offer- 11 and her husband heard it, and has kept
ings and your voluntary offerings, as your silent towards her and did not forbid her,
burnt offerings and your grain offerings, as then all her vows shall stand, and every
your drink offerings and your peace offer- agreement by which she bound herself
ings.’ ” stands.
40 And Mosheh spoke to the children of 12 “But if her husband clearly nullified
Yisra’Ãl according to all HWHY had com- them on the day he heard them, then what-
manded Mosheh. ever came from her lips concerning her
BEMIÊBAR 30 176
vows or concerning the agreement binding 10 And they burned with fire all the cities
her, it does not stand – her husband has where they dwelt, and all their settlements.
nullified them, and HWHY pardons her. 11 And they took all the spoil and all the
13 “Every vow and every binding oath to booty, both of man and beast.
afflict her being, let her husband confirm 12 And they brought the captives, and the
it, or let her husband nullify it. booty, and the spoil to Mosheh, and to
14 “But if her husband is altogether silent ElÈazar the priest, and to the congregation
at her from day to day, then he confirms all of the children of Yisra’Ãl, to the camp in
her vows or all the agreements that bind the desert plains of Mo’aÄ by the YardÃn of
her – he confirms them, because he kept YeriÁo.
silent towards her on the day that he heard. 13 And Mosheh, and ElÈazar the priest,
15 “But if he nullifies them after he has and all the leaders of the congregation,
heard, then he shall bear her crookedness.” went to meet them outside the camp.
16 These are the laws which HWHY com- 14 But Mosheh was wroth with the offi-
manded Mosheh, between a man and his cers of the army, with the commanders of
wife, and between a father and his daugh- thousands and commanders of hundreds,
ter in her youth in her father’s house. who had come from the campaign.
15 And Mosheh said to them, “Have you
MiÅyanites to take vengeance for HWHY on little ones. And every woman who has
MiÅyan. known a man by lying with a man you
4 “Send a thousand from each tribe of all shall slay.
the tribes of Yisra’Ãl for the campaign.” 18 “But keep alive for yourselves all the
5 So there were supplied from the tribes female children who have not known a
of Yisra’Ãl one thousand from each tribe, man by lying with a man.
twelve thousand armed ones for the cam- 19 “And you, camp outside the camp
the trumpets for sounding in his hand. object of leather and all the work of goats’
7 And they fought against the MiÅ- hair, and every object of wood.”
yanites, as HWHY commanded Mosheh, and 21 And ElÈazar the priest said to the men
slew all the males. of the campaign who went to the battle,
8 And they slew the sovereigns of “This is the law of the Torah which HWHY
MiÅyan with the rest of those who were commanded Mosheh:
pierced: Ewi, and Reqem, and Tsur, and 22 “Only the gold, and the silver, the
Àur, and ReÄa, the five sovereigns of bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead,
MiÅyan. And they slew BilÈam son of 23 every object that passes through fire,
BeÈor with the sword. you put through the fire, and it shall be
9 And the sons of Yisra’Ãl took all the clean; only, let it be cleansed with the
women of MiÅyan captive, with their little water for uncleanness. And whatever does
ones, and took as spoil all their livestock, not pass through fire you pass through
and all their possessions. water.
177 BEMIÊBAR 32
24 “And you shall wash your garments on 41 So Mosheh gave the levy which was
the seventh day and be clean, and after- the contribution unto HWHY to ElÈazar the
wards come into the camp.” priest, as HWHY commanded Mosheh.
25 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying, 42 And from the children of Yisra’Ãl’s
26 “Count up the plunder that was taken, half, which Mosheh divided from the men
of man and of beast, you and ElÈazar the who campaigned:
priest and the heads of the fathers of the 43 now the half belonging to the congrega-
the battle, who went out on the campaign, 45 and thirty thousand five hundred
men of battle who went out on the cam- 47 Then Mosheh took from the children of
paign: one out of every five hundred, of Yisra’Ãl’s half: one out of every fifty,
man, and of the cattle, and of the donkeys, drawn from man and beast, and gave them
and of the sheep. to the LÃwites, who guarded the duty
29 “Take it from their half, and give it to of the Dwelling Place of HWHY, as HWHY
ElÈazar the priest as a contribution to HWHY. commanded Mosheh.
30 “And from the children of Yisra’Ãl’s 48 And the officers who were over thou-
half you shall take one of every fifty, of sands of the campaign, the commanders of
man, of the cattle, of the donkeys, and of thousands and commanders of hundreds,
the sheep, of all the livestock, and give came near to Mosheh,
them to the LÃwites guarding the duty of 49 and they said to Mosheh, “Your ser-
the Dwelling Place of HWHY.” vants have taken a count of the fighting
31 And Mosheh and ElÈazar the priest did men under our command, and not a man of
as HWHY commanded Mosheh. us is missing.
32 And the booty remaining from the 50 “So we have brought an offering for
plunder, which the people of the campaign HWHY, what every man found of ornaments
had taken, was six hundred and seventy- of gold: armlets and bracelets and signet
five thousand sheep, rings and earrings and necklaces, to make
33 and seventy-two thousand cattle, atonement for ourselves before HWHY.”
34 and sixty-one thousand donkeys, 51 And Mosheh and ElÈazar the priest
35 and thirty-two thousand human beings received the gold from them, all the
in all, of women who had not known a man fashioned ornaments.
by lying with a man. 52 And all the gold of the offering that
36 And the half, the portion for those who they presented to HWHY, from the comman-
went out on the campaign, was in number ders of thousands and commanders of hun-
three hundred and thirty-seven thousand dreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred
five hundred sheep, and fifty sheqels.
37 and the levy unto HWHY of the sheep was 53 The men of the campaign had taken
six hundred and seventy-five. spoil, every man for himself.
38 And the cattle were thirty-six thousand, 54 And Mosheh and ElÈazar the priest
of which the levy unto HWHY was seventy- received the gold from the commanders of
two. thousands and of hundreds, and brought it
39 And the donkeys were thirty thousand into the Tent of Meeting as a remembrance
five hundred, of which the levy unto HWHY for the children of Yisra’Ãl before HWHY.
was sixty-one.
40 And the human beings were sixteen
thousand, of which the levy unto HWHY was 32 And the children of Re’uÄÃn and
the children of GaÅ had much live-
thirty-two beings. stock, a large number. And they saw the
BEMIÊBAR 32 178
land of YaÈzÃr and the land of GilÈaÅ and father’s place, an increase of men, sinners,
saw that the place was a place for live- to add still more the burning displeasure of
stock. HWHY against Yisra’Ãl.
2 So the children of GaÅ and the children 15 “For if you turn away from following
of Re’uÄÃn came and spoke to Mosheh, Him, He shall once again leave them in the
and to ElÈazar the priest, and to the leaders wilderness, and you shall destroy all these
of the congregation, saying, people.”
3 “Ataroth, and DiÄon, and YaÈzÃr, and 16 Then they came near to him and said,
Nimrah, and Àeshbon, and ElÈalÃh, and “Let us build sheep-enclosures here for our
SeÄam, and NeÄo, and BeÈon, livestock, and cities for our little ones,
4 the land which HWHY had smitten before 17 but let us ourselves be armed, hastening
the congregation of Yisra’Ãl, is a land for before the children of Yisra’Ãl until we
livestock, and your servants have live- have brought them to their place. And our
stock.” little ones shall dwell in the walled cities
5 And they said, “If we have found because of the inhabitants of the land.
favour in your eyes, let this land be given 18 “We shall not return to our homes until
to your servants as a possession, and do every one of the children of Yisra’Ãl has
not let us pass over the YardÃn.” received his inheritance.
6 And Mosheh said to the children of 19 “For we shall not inherit with them on
GaÅ and to the children of Re’uÄÃn, “Are the other side of the YardÃn and beyond,
your brothers to go into the battle while because our inheritance has fallen to us on
you yourselves sit here? this eastern side of the YardÃn.”
7 “Now why do you discourage the heart 20 And Mosheh said to them, “If you
of the children of Yisra’Ãl from passing make this promise: if you arm yourselves
over into the land which HWHY has given before HWHY for battle,
them? 21 and all your armed ones pass over the
8 “Thus your fathers did when I sent YardÃn before HWHY until He has driven out
them away from QaÅÃsh BarnÃa to see the His enemies from before Him,
land. 22 and the land has been subdued before
9 “For when they went up to the wadi HWHY, then afterward you shall return, and
Eshkol and saw the land, they discouraged be guiltless before HWHY and before
the heart of the children of Yisra’Ãl, so that Yisra’Ãl. And this land shall be your
they did not go into the land which HWHY possession before HWHY.
had given them. 23 “But if you do not do so, then see, you
10 “Then the displeasure of HWHY burned shall sin against HWHY, and know: your sin
on that day, and He swore an oath, saying, is going to find you out.
11 ‘Not one of the men who came up from 24 “Build cities for your little ones and
Mitsrayim, from twenty years old and enclosures for your sheep, and do what
above, is to see the land of which I you have promised.”
swore to AÄraham, YitsÁaq, and YaÈaqoÄ, 25 And the children of GaÅ and the chil-
because they did not follow Me com- dren of Re’uÄÃn spoke to Mosheh, saying,
pletely, “Your servants are going to do as my
12 except KalÃÄ son of Yephunneh, the master commands.
Qenizzite, and Yehoshua son of Nun, for 26 “Our little ones, our wives, our flocks,
they have followed HWHY completely.’ and all our livestock are going to be there
13 “So the displeasure of HWHY burned in the cities of GilÈaÅ,
against Yisra’Ãl, and He made them wan- 27 but your servants are passing over,
der in the wilderness forty years, until all every armed one of the army, before HWHY,
the generation that had done evil in the to battle, as my master says.”
eyes of HWHY was destroyed. 28 And Mosheh gave command concern-
14 “And see, you have risen in your ing them to ElÈazar the priest, to Yehoshua
179 BEMIÊBAR 33
to the children of Re’uÄÃn, and to half the camped at Âtham, which is on the edge of
tribe of Menashsheh, son of YosÃph, the the wilderness.
7 And they departed from Âtham and
reign of SiÁon sovereign of the Amorites
turned back to Pi HaÁiroth, which is east of
and the reign of OÍ sovereign of Bashan,
BaÈal Tsephon. And they camped near
the land with its cities within the borders,
MiÍdol.
the cities of the land round about. 8 And
34 And the children of GaÅ built DiÄon they departed from before
HaÁiroth and passed over through the
and Ataroth and AroÈÃr, midst of the sea into the wilderness, went
35 and Atroth, Shophan and YaÈzÃr and
three days’ journey in the Wilderness of
YoÍbehah, Âtham, and camped at Marah.
36 and BÃyth Nimrah and BÃyth Haran,
9 And they departed from Marah and
walled cities, and enclosures for sheep. came to Âlim. And at Âlim were twelve
37 And the children of Re’uÄÃn built
springs of water and seventy palm trees, so
Àeshbon and ElÈalÃh and Qiryathayim, they camped there.
38 NeÄo and BaÈal MeÈon – the names
10 And they departed from Âlim and
being changed – and ShiÄmah. And they camped by the Sea of Reeds.
gave other names to the cities which they 11 And they departed from the Sea of
built. Reeds and camped in the Wilderness of
39 And the sons of Ma¿ir son of
Sin.
Menashsheh went to GilÈaÅ and took it, 12 And they departed from the Wilderness
and dispossessed the Amorites who were of Sin and camped at Dophqah.
in it. 13 And they departed from Dophqah and
40 So Mosheh gave GilÈaÅ to Ma¿ir, son
camped at Alush.
of Menashsheh, and he dwelt in it. 14 And they departed from Alush and
41 And Ya’ir son of Menashsheh went and
camped at RephiÅim, and there was no
took its small towns, and called them water for the people to drink.
Àawoth Ya’ir. 15 And they departed from RephiÅim and
42 And NoÄaÁ went and took Qenath and camped in the Wilderness of Sinai.
its villages, and he called it NoÄaÁ, after 16 And they departed from the Wilderness
camped at AÄronah. tants of the land from before you, and shall
35 And they departed from AÄronah and destroy all their engraved stones, and shall
camped at Etsyon GeÄer. destroy all their moulded images, and lay
36 And they departed from Etsyon GeÄer waste all their high places,
and camped in the Wilderness of Tsin, 53 and you shall possess the land and
which is QaÅÃsh. dwell in it, for I have given you the land to
37 And they departed from QaÅÃsh and possess.
camped at Mount Hor, on the boundary of 54 ‘And you shall divide the land by lot as
tants of the land from before you, then it of Yisra’Ãl, saying, “This is the land which
shall be that those whom you let remain you inherit by lot, which HWHY has com-
shall be pricks in your eyes and thorns in manded to give to the nine tribes and to the
your sides, and they shall trouble you in half-tribe.
the land where you dwell. 14 “For the tribe of the children of
56 ‘And it shall be that I do to you as I
Re’uÄÃn according to the house of their
thought to do to them.’ ” fathers, and the tribe of the children of GaÅ
according to the house of their fathers,
34 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
2 “Command the children of
have received their inheritance. And the
half-tribe of Menashsheh has received its
Yisra’Ãl, and say to them, ‘When you come inheritance.
into the land of KenaÈan, this is the land 15 “The two tribes and the half-tribe have
which falls to you as an inheritance, the
received their inheritance beyond the
land of KenaÈan to its boundaries:
3 ‘Then your southern border shall be YardÃn of YeriÁo eastward, toward the
from the Wilderness of Tsin along the bor- sunrise.”
16 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying,
der of EÅom, and your southern border 17 “These are the names of the men who
shall be eastward from the end of the Salt
Sea. divide the land among you as an inheri-
4 ‘Then your border shall turn from the tance: ElÈazar the priest, and Yehoshua son
southern side of the Ascent of Aqrabbim, of Nun.
18 “And take one leader of every tribe to
continue to Tsin, and be on the south of
QaÅÃsh BarnÃa, and it shall go on to Àatsar divide the land for the inheritance.
19 “And these are the names of the men.
Addar, and continue to Atsmon.
5 ‘And the border shall turn from Atsmon From the tribe of YehuÅah: KalÃÄ son of
to the wadi of Mitsrayim, and it shall end Yephunneh.
at the Sea. 20 “And from the tribe of the children of
6 ‘As for the western border, you shall
ShimÈon: Shemu’Ãl son of AmmihuÅ.
have the Great Sea for a border, this is your 21 “From the tribe of Binyamin: EliÅaÅ
western border. son of Kislon.
7 ‘And this is your northern border: From 22 “And a leader from the tribe of the
the Great Sea you mark out your border- children of Dan: Buqqi son of YoÍli.
line to Mount Hor, 23 “From the sons of YosÃph: a leader
8 from Mount Hor you mark out your
from the tribe of the children of
border to the entrance of Àamath, and the Menashsheh, Àanni’Ãl son of ÂphoÅ.
edge of the border shall be toward TseÅaÅ, 24 “And a leader from the tribe of the
9 and the border shall proceed to Ziph-
children of Ephrayim: Qemu’Ãl son of
ron, and it shall end at Àatsar Ânan. This is
Shiphtan.
your northern border. 25 “And a leader from the tribe of the chil-
10 ‘And you shall mark out your eastern
border from Àatsar Ânan to Shepham, dren of ZeÄulun: Elitsaphan son of Parna¿.
26 “And a leader from the tribe of the chil-
11 and the border shall go down from
Shepham to RiÄlah on the east side of dren of Yissas¿ar: Palti’Ãl son of Azzan.
27 “And a leader from the tribe of the
Ayin, and the border shall go down and
reach to the eastern side of the Sea of children of AshÃr: AÁihuÅ son of Shelomi.
28 “And a leader from the tribe of the
Kinnereth.
12 ‘And the border shall go down along children of Naphtali: PeÅah’Ãl son of
the YardÃn, and it shall end at the Salt Sea. AmmihuÅ.”
29 These are the ones HWHY commanded to
This is your land with its surrounding
boundaries.’ ” divide the inheritance among the children
13 And Mosheh commanded the children of Yisra’Ãl in the land of KenaÈan.
BEMIÊBAR 35 182
from the possession of the children of Yis- enmity, or throws an object at him without
ra’Ãl. From the larger tribe you give many, lying in wait,
from the smaller you give few, each one 23 or uses a stone, by which a man could
gives some of its cities to the LÃwites, in die, throwing it at him without seeing him,
proportion to the inheritance that each so that he dies, while he was not his enemy
inherits.” or seeking his harm,
9 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh, saying, 24 then the congregation shall judge
10 “Speak to the children of Yisra’Ãl, and between him who killed someone and the
say to them, ‘When you pass over the revenger of blood, according to these
YardÃn into the land of KenaÈan, right-rulings.
11 then you shall choose cities to be cities 25 ‘And the congregation shall rescue the
of refuge for you, that the one who acci- one who killed someone from the hand of
dentally killed someone shall flee there. the revenger of blood, and the congrega-
12 ‘And they shall be cities of refuge for tion shall return him to the city of refuge
you from the revenger, and the one who where he had fled, and he shall remain
killed someone is not to die until he stands there until the death of the high priest who
before the congregation in right-ruling. was anointed with the set-apart oil.
13 ‘And of the cities which you give, six 26 ‘But if the one who killed someone at
are to be cities of refuge. any time goes outside the limits of the city
14 ‘Give three cities beyond the YardÃn, of refuge where he fled,
and give three cities in the land of KenaÈan, 27 and the revenger of blood finds him
183 BEMIÊBAR 36
outside the limits of his city of refuge, and and shall be added to the inheritance of the
the revenger of blood kills him who killed tribe into which they marry, and taken
someone, he is not guilty of blood, from the lot of our inheritance.
28 because he should have remained in his 4 “And if the Jubilee of the children of
city of refuge until the death of the high Yisra’Ãl takes place, then their inheritance
priest. But after the death of the high priest shall be added to the inheritance of the
he who killed someone is to return to the tribe into which they marry, and their
land of his possession. inheritance taken away from the inheri-
29 ‘And these shall be for a law of right- tance of the tribe of our fathers.”
ruling to you throughout your generations 5 And Mosheh commanded the children
bear witness against someone to die. manded, for the daughters of TselophÁaÅ,
31 ‘And take no ransom for the life of a saying, ‘Let them marry who is good in
murderer who is guilty of death, but he their eyes, but let them marry only within
shall certainly be put to death. the clan of their father’s tribe.’
32 ‘And take no ransom for him who has 7 “And the inheritance of the children of
fled to his city of refuge to return to dwell Yisra’Ãl is not to change hands from tribe
in the land before the death of the priest. to tribe, for every one of the children of
33 ‘And do not profane the land where you Yisra’Ãl is to cling to the inheritance of the
are, for blood profanes the land, and the tribe of his fathers.
land is not pardoned for the blood that is 8 “And every daughter possessing an
shed on it, except by the blood of him who inheritance in any tribe of the children of
shed it. Yisra’Ãl is to be the wife of one of the clan
34 ‘And do not defile the land which you of her father’s tribe, so that the children of
inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell, for I, Yisra’Ãl possess each the inheritance of his
HWHY, am dwelling in the midst of the chil- fathers.
dren of Yisra’Ãl.’ ” 9 “Thus the inheritance is not to change
ers, the heads of the fathers of the children Milkah, and NoÈah, the daughters of
of Yisra’Ãl, TselophÁaÅ, were married to the sons of
2 and said, “HWHY commanded my master their father’s brothers.
to give the land as an inheritance by lot to 12 And they were married into the clans of
the children of Yisra’Ãl, and my master the children of Menashsheh, the son of
was commanded by HWHY to give the inher- YosÃph, and their inheritance remained in
itance of our brother TselophÁaÅ to his the tribe of their father’s clan.
daughters. 13 These are the commands and the right-
3 “Now if they are married to any of the rulings which HWHY commanded the chil-
sons of the other tribes of the children of dren of Yisra’Ãl by the hand of Mosheh in
Yisra’Ãl, then their inheritance shall be the desert plains of Mo’aÄ by the YardÃn of
taken from the inheritance of our fathers, YeriÁo.
DEÉARIM
DEUTERONOMY — 5 MOSHEH
plain, in the mountains and in the low the words which you should do.
country, and in the NegeÄ and on the sea- 19 “Then we set out from ÀorÃÄ, and went
coast, to the land of the KenaÈanites and to through all that great and awesome wilder-
LeÄanon, as far as the great river, the River ness which you saw on the way to the
Euphrates. mountains of the Amorites, as HWHY our
8 ‘See, I have set the land before you. Go Elohim had commanded us. And we came
in and possess the land which HWHY swore to QaÅÃsh BarnÃa.
to your fathers, to AÄraham, to YitsÁaq, 20 “And I said to you, ‘You have come to
and to YaÈaqoÄ, to give to them and their the mountains of the Amorites, which HWHY
seed after them.’ our Elohim is giving us.
9 “And I spoke to you at that time, 21 ‘See, HWHY your Elohim has set the land
saying, ‘I am unable to bear you by myself. before you. Go up and possess it, as HWHY
10 ‘HWHY your Elohim has increased you, Elohim of your fathers has spoken to you.
and see, you are today as numerous as the Do not fear, nor be discouraged.’
stars of the heavens. 22 “And all of you came near to me and
11 ‘HWHY Elohim of your fathers is going said, ‘Let us send men before us, and let
to add to you a thousand times more than them search out the land for us, and bring
you are, and bless you as He has spoken to back word to us of the way by which we
you! should go up, and of the cities into which
185 DEÉARIM 2
5 “Do not strive with them, for I do not battle had finally perished from among the
give you any of their land, no, not so much people,
as one footstep, because I have given 17 that HWHY spoke to me, saying,
Mount SÃÈir to Âsaw as a possession. 18 ‘This day you are to pass over at Ar, the
6 “What food you buy from them with boundary of Mo’aÄ.
silver you shall eat. And also, what water 19 ‘And when you come near the children
you buy from them with silver you shall of Ammon, do not distress them nor stir
drink. yourself up against them, for I do not give
7 “For HWHY your Elohim has blessed you you any of the land of the children of
in all the work of your hand. He has known Ammon as a possession, because I have
your wandering through this great wilder- given it to the descendants of Lot as a
ness. These forty years HWHY your Elohim possession.’
has been with you, you have not lacked 20 (That was also reckoned as a land of
desert plain, away from Âylath and Etsyon as the Anaqim. But HWHY destroyed them
GeÄer, we turned and passed over by way before them, and they dispossessed them
of the Wilderness of Mo’aÄ. and dwelt in their place,
9 “And HWHY said to me, ‘Do not distress 22 as He had done for the descendants of
Mo’aÄ, nor stir yourself up against them Âsaw, who dwelt in SÃÈir, when He
in battle, for I do not give you any of their destroyed the Àorites from before them.
land as a possession, because I have given They dispossessed them and dwelt in their
Ar to the descendants of Lot as a posses- place, even to this day.
sion.’ ” 23 And the Awwim who dwelt in villages
10 (The Âmites had dwelt there formerly, as far as Azzah, the Kaphtorim who came
a people as great and numerous and tall as from Kaphtor, destroyed them and dwelt in
the Anaqim. their place).
11 They were also reckoned as Repha’ites, 24 ‘Arise, set out and pass over the wadi
like the Anaqim, but the Mo’aÄites call Arnon. See, I have given into your hand
them Âmites. SiÁon the Amorite, sovereign of Àeshbon,
12 And the Àorites formerly dwelt in SÃÈir, and his land. Begin to possess it, and stir
but the descendants of Âsaw dispossessed up yourself against him in battle.
them and destroyed them from before 25 ‘This day I begin to put the dread and
them, and dwelt in their place, as Yisra’Ãl fear of you upon the peoples under all the
did to the land of their possession which heavens, who, when they hear the report of
HWHY gave them). you, shall tremble and shake because of
13 “ ‘Now rise up, and pass over the wadi you.’
ZereÅ.’ So we passed over the wadi ZereÅ. 26 “Then I sent messengers from the
14 “And the time we took to come from Wilderness of QeÅÃmoth to SiÁon sover-
QaÅÃsh BarnÃa until we passed over the eign of Àeshbon, with words of peace,
wadi ZereÅ was thirty-eight years, until all saying,
the generation of the men of battle was 27 ‘Let me pass over through your land on
consumed from the midst of the camp, as the highway. I shall go on the highway and
HWHY had sworn to them. turn neither to the right nor to the left.
15 “And also, the hand of HWHY was 28 ‘What food you sell me for silver I shall
against them, to destroy them from the eat, and what water you give me for silver
midst of the camp until they were con- I shall drink. Only let me pass over on foot,
sumed. 29 as the descendants of Âsaw who dwell
16 “And it came to be, when all the men of in SÃÈir and the Mo’aÄites who dwell in Ar
187 DEÉARIM 3
did for me – until I pass over the YardÃn to trict of ArgoÄ, the reign of OÍ in Bashan.
the land HWHY our Elohim is giving us.’ 5 “All these cities were fenced with high
30 “But SiÁon sovereign of Àeshbon walls, gates and bars, besides a great many
would not let us pass over, for HWHY your unwalled towns.
Elohim hardened his spirit and strength- 6 “And we put them under the ban, as we
ened his heart, to give him into your hand, did to SiÁon sovereign of Àeshbon, putting
as it is this day. the men, the women, and the children of
31 “And HWHY said to me, ‘See, I have every city under the ban.
begun to give SiÁon and his land over to 7 “But all the livestock and the spoil of
you. Begin to possess – in order to possess the cities we took as booty for ourselves.
his land.’ 8 “And at that time we took the land,
32 “And SiÁon and all his people came out from the hand of the two sovereigns of the
against us to fight at Yahats, Amorites, that was beyond the YardÃn,
33 and HWHY our Elohim gave him over to from the wadi Arnon to Mount Àermon
us, so we smote him, and his sons, and all 9 “(TsiÅonians call Àermon, Siryon –
and we put the men, women, and little ones all Bashan, as far as Sal¿ah and EÅreÈi,
of every city under the ban, we left none cities of the reign of OÍ in Bashan.
remaining. 11 “For only OÍ sovereign of Bashan was
35 “Only the livestock we took as plunder left of the remnant of the Repha’ites. See,
for ourselves, and the spoil of the cities his bedstead was an iron bedstead. Is it not
which we captured. in Rabbah of the children of Ammon?
36 “From AroÈÃr, which is on the edge of Nine cubits is its length and four cubits its
the wadi Arnon, and the city that is by the width, according to the cubit of a man.
wadi, as far as GilÈaÅ, there was not one 12 “And this land, which we possessed at
city too high for us. HWHY our Elohim gave that time, from AroÈÃr, which is by the
all to us. wadi Arnon, and half the mountains of
37 “Only you did not go near the land of GilÈaÅ and its cities, I gave to the
the children of Ammon – anywhere along Re’uÄÃnites and the GaÅites.
the wadi Yabboq, or to the cities of the 13 “And the rest of GilÈaÅ, and all Bashan,
mountains, or wherever HWHY our Elohim the reign of OÍ, I gave to half the tribe of
had forbidden us. Menashsheh – all the district of ArgoÄ,
with all Bashan, called the land of the
3 “Then we turned and went up the way
to Bashan. And OÍ sovereign of
Repha’ites.
14 “YaÈir son of Menashsheh had taken all
Bashan came out against us, he and all his the district of ArgoÄ, as far as the border of
people, to battle at EÅreÈi. the Geshurites and the MaÈa¿athites, and
2 “And HWHY said to me, ‘Do not fear called them after his own name: the
him, for I have given him and all his Bashan of Hawoth YaÈir, to this day.
people and his land into your hand. And 15 “And to Ma¿ir I gave GilÈaÅ.
you shall do to him as you did to SiÁon 16 “And to the Re’uÄÃnites and the
sovereign of the Amorites, who dwelt at GaÅites I gave from GilÈaÅ as far as the
Àeshbon.’ wadi Arnon, the middle of the wadi as
3 “So HWHY our Elohim also gave into our the border, as far as the wadi Yabboq, the
hands OÍ sovereign of Bashan, with all his border of the children of Ammon,
people, and we smote him until he had no 17 and the desert plain, with the YardÃn as
midst of the fire. You heard a voice of selves a carved image in the form of
words, but saw no form, you only heard a whatever HWHY your Elohim has forbidden
voice. you.
13 “And He made known to you His 24 “For HWHY your Elohim is a consuming
selves, for you saw no form when HWHY witness against you on that day, that you
spoke to you at ÀorÃÄ out of the midst of soon completely perish from the land
the fire, which you pass over the YardÃn to possess
16 lest you should do corruptly and shall – you do not prolong your days in it but are
make for yourselves a carved image in the completely destroyed.
form of any figure – the likeness of male or 27 “And HWHY shall scatter you among
heavens, and shall see the sun, and the your Elohim, and shall find, when you
moon, and the stars – all the host of the search for Him with all your heart b and
heavens – and you be drawn away into with all your being.
bowing down to them and serving them, 30 “In your distress, when all these words
which HWHY your Elohim has allotted to all shall come upon you in the latter days, c
the peoples under all the heavens. then you shall return to HWHY your Elohim
20 “But HWHY has taken you and brought and shall obey His voice.
you out of the iron furnace, out of Mits- 31 “For HWHY your Elohim is a compas-
rayim, to be His people, an inheritance, as sionate Âl, He does not forsake you, nor
it is today. destroy you, nor forget the covenant of
21 “And HWHY was enraged with me your fathers which He swore to them.
because of your words, and swore that 32 “For ask now of the days that are past,
I would not pass over the YardÃn, and which were before you, since the day that
that I would not enter the good land which Elohim created man on the earth, and ask
HWHY your Elohim is giving you as an from one end of the heavens to the other
inheritance. end of the heavens, whether there has been
22 “For I am to die in this land, I am not a Word as great as this, or has been heard
passing over the YardÃn, but you are pass- like it.
ing over, and shall possess that good land. 33 “Has a people heard the voice of
23 “Guard yourselves, lest you forget the Elohim speaking out of the midst of the
covenant of HWHY your Elohim which He fire, as you have heard, and live?
made with you, and shall make for your- 34 “Or has Elohim tried to go and take for
b Yirm. 29:13. c This prophecy for the latter days (end-time) is the blessed promise that Yisra’Ãl shall return to
Elohim and obey His voice!
DEÉARIM 4 190
Himself a nation from the midst of a nation site BÃyth PeÈor, in the land of SiÁon
by trials, and by signs, and by wonders, sovereign of the Amorites, who dwelt at
and by battle, and by a strong hand and an Àeshbon, whom Mosheh and the children
outstretched arm, and by great fearsome of Yisra’Ãl had smitten after they came out
deeds, according to all that HWHY your of Mitsrayim.
Elohim did for you in Mitsrayim before 47 And they took possession of his land
voice, to instruct you, and on earth He the wadi Arnon, even to Mount Siyon,
showed you His great fire, and you heard which is Àermon,
His words out of the midst of the fire. 49 and all the desert plain beyond the
37 “And because He loved your fathers, YardÃn as far as the Sea of the AraÄah,
therefore He chose their seed after them, below the slopes of Pisgah.
and brought you out of Mitsrayim with His
Presence, with His great power,
38 to drive out from before you nations 5 And Mosheh called all Yisra’Ãl, and
said to them, “Hear, O Yisra’Ãl, the
greater and stronger than you, to bring you laws and right-rulings which I speak in
in, to give you their land as an inheritance, your hearing today. And you shall learn
as it is today. them, and guard to do them.
39 “And you shall know today, and shall 2 “HWHY our Elohim made a covenant
earth beneath; there is none else. our fathers, but with us, those who are here
40 “And you shall guard His laws and His today, all of us who are alive.
commands which I command you today, 4 “HWHY spoke with you face to face on
so that it is well with you and with your the mountain from the midst of the fire.
children after you, and so that you prolong 5 “I stood between HWHY and you at that
your days on the soil which HWHY your time, to declare to you the Word of HWHY –
Elohim is giving you for all time.” for you were afraid because of the fire, and
41 Then Mosheh separated three cities you did not go up the mountain – saying:
beyond the YardÃn, toward the rising of 6 ‘I am HWHY your Elohim who brought
11 ‘You do not bring d the Name of HWHY you came near to me, all the heads of your
your Elohim to naught, for HWHY does not tribes and your elders,
24 and said, ‘See, HWHY our Elohim has
leave him unpunished who brings His
Name to naught. shown us His esteem and His greatness,
12 ‘Guard the Sabbath day, to set it apart, and we have heard His voice from the
as HWHY your Elohim commanded you. midst of the fire. Today we have seen that
13 ‘Six days you labour, and shall do all Elohim speaks with man – and he lives!
25 ‘And now why should we die? For this
your work,
14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath e of great fire is consuming us. If we hear the
HWHY your Elohim. You do not do any voice of HWHY our Elohim any more, then
work – you, nor your son, nor your daugh- we shall die.
26 ‘For who is there of all flesh who has
ter, nor your male servant, nor your female
servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor heard the voice of the living Elohim speak-
any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is ing from the midst of the fire, as we have,
within your gates, so that your male and does live?
27 ‘You go near and hear all that HWHY our
servant and your female servant rest as you
do. Elohim says, and speak to us all that HWHY
15 ‘And you shall remember that you were our Elohim says to you, and we shall hear
a slave in the land of Mitsrayim, and that and do it.’
28 “And HWHY heard the voice of your
HWHY your Elohim brought you out from
there by a strong hand and by an out- words when you spoke to me, and HWHY
stretched arm. Therefore HWHY your Elohim said to me, ‘I have heard the voice of
commanded you to observe the Sabbath the words of this people which they have
day. spoken to you. They have done well in all
16 ‘Respect your father and your mother, that they have spoken.
as HWHY your Elohim has commanded you, 29 ‘Oh, that they had such a heart in them,
so that your days are prolonged, and so to fear Me and to guard all My commands
that it is well with you on the soil which always, so that it might be well with them
HWHY your Elohim is giving you. and with their children forever!
17 ‘You do not murder. 30 ‘Go, say to them, “Return to your
18 ‘You do not commit adultery. tents.”
19 ‘You do not steal. 31 ‘But you, stand here by Me, and let Me
20 ‘You do not bear false witness against speak to you all the commands, and the
your neighbour. laws, and the right-rulings which you are
21 ‘You do not covet your neighbour’s to teach them. And they shall do them
wife, nor do you desire your neighbour’s in the land which I am giving them to
house, his field, nor his male servant, nor possess.’
his female servant, his ox, nor his donkey, 32 “And you shall guard to do as HWHY
or whatever belongs to your neighbour.’ your Elohim has commanded you – do not
22 “These Words f HWHY spoke to all your turn aside, to the right or to the left.
assembly, in the mountain from the midst 33 “Walk in all the way which HWHY your
of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick Elohim has commanded you, so that you
darkness, with a loud voice, and He added live and it be well with you. And you shall
no more. And He wrote them on two prolong your days in the land which you
tablets of stone and gave them to me. possess.
23 “And it came to be, when you heard the
shall guard to do, that it might be well with HWHY your Elohim, and His witnesses, and
you, and that you increase greatly as HWHY His laws which He has commanded you.
Elohim of your fathers has spoken to you, 18 “And you shall do what is right and
in a land flowing with milk and honey. good in the eyes of HWHY, that it might be
4 “Hear, O Yisra’Ãl: HWHY our Elohim, well with you, and you shall go in and pos-
HWHY is one! sess the good land of which HWHY swore to
5 “And you shall love HWHY your Elohim your fathers,
with all your heart, and with all your being, 19 to drive out all your enemies from
and with all your might. before you, as HWHY has spoken.
6 “And these Words g which I am com- 20 “When your son asks you in time to
manding you today shall be in your heart, come, saying, ‘What is the meaning of
7 and you shall impress them upon your the witnesses, and the laws, and the right-
children, and shall speak of them when rulings which HWHY our Elohim has com-
you sit in your house, and when you walk manded you?’
by the way, and when you lie down, and 21 then you shall say to your son, ‘We
He swore to your fathers, to AÄraham, to bring us in, to give us the land of which He
YitsÁaq, and to YaÈaqoÄ, to give you great swore to our fathers.
and good cities which you did not build, 24 ‘And HWHY commanded us to do all
11 and houses filled with all kinds of these laws, to fear HWHY our Elohim, for our
goods, which you did not fill, and wells good always, to keep us alive, as it is
dug which you did not dig, vineyards and today.
olive trees which you did not plant, and 25 ‘And it is righteousness for us when
you shall eat and be satisfied – we guard to do all this command h before
12 be on guard, lest you forget HWHY who HWHY our Elohim, as He has commanded
brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, us.’
from the house of bondage.
13 “Fear HWHY your Elohim and serve Him,
g See footnote at 5:22. h “Command,” singular, very often has the meaning of “commands,” plural. The fact
that “righteousness” is synonymous with “guarding the commands or teachings” of Elohim, is again repeated in
Teh. 119:172 and in Yesh. 51:7.
193 DEÉARIM 7
and the Amorites and the KenaÈanites and the covenant and the kindness which He
the Perizzites and the Àiwwites and the swore to your fathers,
YeÄusites, seven nations greater and 13 and shall love you and bless you and
mightier than you. increase you, and shall bless the fruit of
2 “And when HWHY your Elohim gives your womb and the fruit of your land, your
them over to you, you shall smite them and grain and your new wine and your oil, the
put them under the ban, completely. Make increase of your cattle and the offspring of
no covenant with them, and show them no your flock, in the land of which He swore
favour. to your fathers to give you.
3 “And do not intermarry with them – 14 “Blessed are you above all peoples –
you do not give your daughter to his son, there is not going to be a barren man or a
and you do not take his daughter for your barren woman among you or among your
son, livestock.
4 for he turns your sons away from fol- 15 “And HWHY shall turn away from you all
lowing Me, to serve other mighty ones. sickness and put on you none of the evil
Then the displeasure of HWHY shall burn diseases of Mitsrayim which you have
against you and promptly destroy you. known, but He shall put them on all those
5 “But this is what you do to them: Break who hate you.
down their altars, and smash their pillars, 16 “And you shall consume all the peoples
and cut down their AshÃrim, and burn their whom HWHY your Elohim is delivering over
carved images with fire. to you – your eye shall not pardon them.
6 “For you are a set-apart people to HWHY And do not serve their mighty ones, for
your Elohim. HWHY your Elohim has chosen that is a snare to you.
you to be a people for Himself, a treasured 17 “When you say in your heart, ‘These
possession above all the peoples on the nations are greater than I, I am unable to
face of the earth. drive them out,’
7 “HWHY did not set His love on you nor 18 do not be afraid of them. Remember
choose you because you were more numer- well what HWHY your Elohim did to
ous than any other people, for you were the Pharaoh and to all Mitsrayim,
least of all peoples, 19 the great trials which your eyes saw,
8 but because of HWHY loving you, and and the signs and the wonders, the strong
because of Him guarding the oath which hand and the outstretched arm, by which
He swore to your fathers, HWHY has brought HWHY your Elohim brought you out. HWHY
you out with a strong hand, and redeemed your Elohim does so to all the peoples of
you from the house of bondage, from the whom you are afraid.
hand of Pharaoh sovereign of Mitsrayim. 20 “And HWHY your Elohim also sends the
9 “And you shall know that HWHY your hornet among them until those who are
Elohim, He is Elohim, the trustworthy Âl left, who hide themselves from you, are
guarding covenant and kindness for a thou- destroyed.
sand generations with those who love Him, 21 “Do not be afraid of them, for HWHY
and those who guard His commands, your Elohim, the great and awesome Âl, is
10 but repaying those who hate Him to in your midst.
their face, to destroy them. He does not 22 “And HWHY your Elohim shall drive out
delay to do so with him who hates Him, He those nations before you, little by little.
repays him to his face. You are not allowed to destroy them at
11 “And you shall guard the command, once, lest the beasts of the field become
and the laws, and the right-rulings which I too numerous for you.
command you today, to do them. 23 “But HWHY your Elohim shall deliver
12 “And it shall be, because you hear these them over to you and destroy them with a
right-rulings, and shall guard and do them, great destruction until they are consumed.
that HWHY your Elohim shall guard with you 24 “And He shall give their sovereigns
DEÉARIM 7 194
into your hand, and you shall destroy their scarcity, in which you do not lack at all, a
name from under the heavens. No one is land whose stones are iron and out of
going to be able to stand against you until whose hills you dig copper.
you have destroyed them. 10 “And you shall eat and be satisfied, and
25 “The carved images of their mighty
shall bless HWHY your Elohim for the good
ones you are to burn with fire. Do not land which He has given you.
covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor 11 “Be on guard, lest you forget HWHY your
take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by Elohim by not guarding His commands,
it, for it is an abomination to HWHY your and His right-rulings, and His laws which I
Elohim. command you today,
26 “And do not bring an abomination into 12 lest you eat and shall be satisfied, and
your house, lest you be accursed like it. build lovely houses and shall dwell in
Utterly loathe it and utterly hate it, for it is them,
accursed. 13 and your herds and your flocks
you, nor did your foot swell these forty power and the strength of my hand have
years. made for me this wealth!’
5 “Thus you shall know in your heart that 18 “But you shall remember HWHY your
as a man disciplines his son, so HWHY your Elohim, for it is He who gives you power
Elohim disciplines you, to get wealth, in order to establish His
6 therefore you shall guard the com- covenant which He swore to your fathers,
mands of HWHY your Elohim, to walk in His as it is today.
19 “And it shall be, if you by any means
ways and to fear Him.
7 “For HWHY your Elohim is bringing you forget HWHY your Elohim, and follow other
into a good land, a land of streams of mighty ones, and serve them and bow
water, of fountains and springs, that flow yourself to them, I have warned you this
out of valleys and hills, day that you shall certainly perish.
8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and 20 “Like the nations which HWHY is
fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive destroying before you, so you are to perish,
oil and honey, because you did not obey the voice of HWHY
9 a land in which you eat bread without your Elohim.
iThat is why we are tried (proven). His purpose is to see whether we shall endure and guard His commands, or
not. j Messiah quotes this in Mt. 4:4 and in Lk. 4:4.
195 DEÉARIM 9
your Elohim has driven them out before seen this people, and look, they are a stiff-
you, saying, ‘Because of my righteousness necked people.
HWHY has brought me in to possess this 14 ‘Leave Me alone, so that I destroy them
land.’ But it is because of the wrong of and blot out their name from under the
these nations that HWHY is driving them out heavens, and make of you a nation
from before you. stronger and greater than they.’
5 “It is not because of your righteousness 15 “So I turned and came down from the
or the uprightness of your heart that you go mountain, and the mountain burned with
in to possess their land, but because of the fire. And the two tablets of the covenant
wrong of these nations that HWHY your were in my two hands.
Elohim drives them out from before you, 16 “And I looked and saw that you had
in order to establish the word which HWHY sinned against HWHY your Elohim, and had
swore to your fathers, to AÄraham, to made for yourselves a moulded calf! You
YitsÁaq, and to YaÈaqoÄ. had quickly turned aside from the way
6 “And you shall know that HWHY your which HWHY had commanded you.
Elohim is not giving you this good land to 17 “And I took the two tablets and threw
possess because of your righteousness, for them out of my two hands and broke them
you are a stiff-necked people. before your eyes,
7 “Remember, do not forget how you 18 “and I fell down before HWHY, as at the
provoked to wrath HWHY your Elohim in the first, forty days and forty nights. I did not
wilderness. From the day that you came eat bread and I did not drink water,
out of the land of Mitsrayim until you because of all your sins which you com-
came to this place, you have been rebel- mitted in doing evil in the eyes of HWHY, to
lious against HWHY. provoke Him.
8 “Even in ÀorÃÄ you made HWHY wroth, 19 “For I was afraid of the displeasure and
so that HWHY was enraged with you, to rage with which HWHY was wroth with you,
destroy you. to destroy you. But HWHY listened to me
9 “When I went up into the mountain to that time once more.
receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of 20 “And HWHY was very enraged with
the covenant which HWHY made with you, Aharon, to destroy him, so I prayed for
then I stayed on the mountain forty days Aharon at that time also.
and forty nights. I did not eat bread nor did 21 “And I took your sin, the calf which
I drink water. you had made, and burned it with fire and
10 “Then HWHY gave me the two tablets of crushed it and ground it very small, until it
stone written with the finger of Elohim, was as fine as dust. And I threw its dust
DEÉARIM 9 196
into the stream that came down from the 4 “And He wrote on the tablets according
land which I have given you,’ then you mountain, and put the tablets in the ark
rebelled against the mouth of HWHY your which I had made. And they are there, as
Elohim, and you neither trusted Him nor HWHY commanded me.”
listened to His voice. 6 Now the children of Yisra’Ãl set out
24 “You have been rebellious against HWHY from the wells of BenÃi YaÈaqan to
from the day that I knew you. MosÃrah. Aharon died there, and he was
25 “So I fell down before HWHY the forty buried there. And ElÈazar his son became
days and forty nights, for I fell down priest in his place.
because HWHY had said He would destroy 7 From there they set out to GuÅgoÅah,
and Your inheritance whom You have LÃwi to bear the ark of the covenant of
redeemed in Your greatness, whom You HWHY, to stand before HWHY, to serve Him,
have brought out of Mitsrayim with a and to bless in His Name, to this day.
strong hand. 9 Therefore LÃwi has no portion nor
27 ‘Remember Your servants, AÄraham, inheritance with his brothers. HWHY is his
YitsÁaq, and YaÈaqoÄ. Do not look on the inheritance, as HWHY your Elohim promised
stubbornness of this people, or on their him.
wrong or on their sin, 10 “And I stayed in the mountain for forty
28 lest the land from which You brought days and forty nights. And HWHY heard me
us should say, “Because HWHY was not able at that time also, and HWHY chose not to
to bring them to the land which He destroy you.
promised them, and because He hated 11 “And HWHY said to me, ‘Arise, go before
them, He has brought them out to kill them the people, to set out, and let them go in
in the wilderness.” and possess the land which I swore to their
29 ‘And they are Your people and Your fathers to give them.’
inheritance, whom You brought out by 12 “And now, Yisra’Ãl, what is HWHY your
Your great power and by Your out- Elohim asking of you, but to fear HWHY
stretched arm.’ your Elohim, to walk in all His ways and
to love Him, and to serve HWHY your
10 “At that time HWHY said to me,
‘Hew for yourself two tablets of
Elohim with all your heart and with all
your being,
stone like the first, and come up to Me on 13 to guard the commands of HWHY and His
the mountain. And you shall make yourself laws which I command you today for your
an ark of wood, good?
2 then I write on the tablets the Words 14 “See, the heavens and the heaven of
that were on the first tablets, which you heavens belong to HWHY your Elohim, also
broke. And you shall put them in the ark.’ the earth with all that is in it.
3 “So I made an ark of acacia wood, 15 “HWHY delighted only in your fathers, to
hewed two tablets of stone like the first, love them. And He chose their seed after
and went up the mountain, with the two them, you above all peoples, k as it is today.
tablets in my hand. 16 “And you shall circumcise the foreskin
k See also 7:6, 14:2, 26:18, Teh. 135:4 and Amos 3:2.
197 DEÉARIM 11
of your heart, l and harden your neck no and their tents, and all the living creatures
more. that were in their possession, in the midst
17 “For HWHY your Elohim is Elohim of of all Yisra’Ãl.
mighty ones and Master of masters, the 7 “For yours are the eyes that saw all the
great Âl, mighty and awesome, who shows great work of HWHY, which He did.
no partiality nor takes a bribe. 8 “And you shall guard every command
18 “He executes right-ruling for the father- which I command you today, so that you
less and the widow, and loves the stranger, are strong, and shall go in, and shall pos-
giving him food and a garment. sess the land which you are passing over to
19 “And you shall love the stranger, for possess,
you were strangers in the land of Mits- 9 and to prolong your days in the land
Elohim, who has done for you these great possess is not like the land of Mitsrayim
and awesome deeds which your eyes have from which you have come, where you
seen. sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as
22 “Your fathers went down to Mitsrayim a vegetable garden,
with seventy beings, and now HWHY your 11 but the land which you are passing over
Elohim has made you as numerous as the to possess is a land of hills and valleys,
stars of the heavens. which drinks water from the rain of the
heavens,
11 “And you shall love HWHY your
Elohim and guard His Charge: m
12 a land which HWHY your Elohim looks
not your children who have not known and obey My commands which I command
who have not seen the discipline of HWHY you today, to love HWHY your Elohim and to
your Elohim, His greatness, His strong serve Him with all your heart and with all
hand and His outstretched arm, your being,
3 and His signs, and His works which He 14 then I shall give you the rain for your
had done in the midst of Mitsrayim, to land in its season, the early rain and the
Pharaoh sovereign of Mitsrayim, and to all latter rain, and you shall gather in your
his land; grain, and your new wine, and your oil.
4 and that which He had done to the army 15 ‘And I shall give grass in your fields for
of Mitsrayim, to their horses and their your livestock, and you shall eat and be
chariots, when He made the waters of the satisfied.
Sea of Reeds overflow them as they pur- 16 ‘Guard yourselves, lest your heart be
sued you, and how HWHY has destroyed deceived, and you turn aside and serve
them to this day; other mighty ones and bow down to them.
5 and what He had done for you in the 17 ‘Then the displeasure of HWHY shall
wilderness till you came to this place; burn against you, and He shall shut up the
6 and what He had done to Dathan and heavens, and there be no rain, and the land
AÄiram the sons of EliyaÄ, son of Re’uÄÃn, not give its increase. And you shall perish
when the earth opened its mouth and quickly from the good land which HWHY is
swallowed them up, and their households, giving you.
lCircumcision of the heart runs parallel with, or results in the guarding of His commands – also read 30:6-8,
Rom. 2:26-29, and 1 Cor. 7:19. m See Ber. 26:5.
DEÉARIM 11 198
18 ‘And you shall lay up these Words n of KenaÈanites who dwell in the desert plain
Mine in your heart and in your being, and opposite Gilgal, beside the terebinth trees
shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and of Moreh?
they shall be as frontlets between your 31 ‘For you are passing over the YardÃn to
way, and when you lie down, and when right-rulings which I am setting before you
you rise up, today.’
20 and shall write them on the doorposts
commands which I command you, to do it, where the nations which you are dispos-
to love HWHY your Elohim, to walk in all sessing served their mighty ones, on the
His ways, and to cling to Him, high mountains and on the hills and under
23 then HWHY shall drive out all these every green tree.
nations before you, and you shall dispos- 3 “And you shall break down their altars,
sess greater and stronger nations than you. and smash their pillars, and burn their
24 ‘Every place on which the sole of your AshÃrim with fire. And you shall cut down
foot treads is yours: from the wilderness, the carved images of their mighty ones and
and LeÄanon, from the river, the River shall destroy their name o out of that place.
Euphrates, even to the Western Sea is your 4 “Do not do so to HWHY your Elohim,
commands of HWHY your Elohim, but turn your Elohim, and shall rejoice in all that
aside from the way which I command you you put your hand to, you and your house-
today, to go after other mighty ones which holds, in which HWHY your Elohim has
you have not known. blessed you.
29 ‘And it shall be, when HWHY your 8 “Do not do as we are doing here today
Elohim has brought you into the land – each one doing whatever is right in his
which you go to possess, that you shall put own eyes. p
the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the 9 “Because you have not yet entered the
curse on Mount ÂyÄal. rest and the inheritance which HWHY your
30 ‘Are they not beyond the YardÃn, Elohim is giving you.
toward the setting sun, in the land of the 10 “But you shall pass over the YardÃn,
n See footnote at 5:22. o The names of the gentile deities (mighty ones). p See Shof. 17:6 & 21:25.
199 DEÉARIM 12
in one of your tribes, there you are to offer you and your children after you, when you
your burnt offerings, and there you are to do what is right in the eyes of HWHY.
do all that I command you. 26 “Only, the set-apart gifts which you
15 “Only, whatever your being desires you have, and your vowed offerings, you are to
shall slaughter and eat, according to the take up and go to the place which HWHY
blessing of HWHY your Elohim which He chooses.
has given you, within all your gates. The 27 “And you shall make your burnt offer-
unclean and the clean do eat of it, of the ings, the meat and the blood, on the altar of
gazelle and the deer alike. HWHY your Elohim. And the blood of your
16 “Only, the blood you do not eat, pour it offerings is poured out on the altar of HWHY
on the earth like water. your Elohim, and you eat the meat.
17 “You are not allowed to eat within your 28 “Guard, and obey all these words
gates the tithe of your grain, or of your which I command you, that it might be
new wine, or of your oil, or of the firstlings well with you and your children after you
of your herd or your flock, or of any of forever, when you do what is good and
your offerings which you vow, or of your right in the eyes of HWHY your Elohim.
voluntary offerings, or of the contribution 29 “When HWHY your Elohim does cut off
your daughter, and your male servant and ensnared to follow them, after they are
your female servant, and the LÃwite who is destroyed from before you, and that you do
within your gates. And you shall rejoice not inquire about their mighty ones, say-
before HWHY your Elohim in all that you put ing, ‘How did these nations serve their
your hands to. mighty ones? And let me do so too.’ q
q See also 18:9, Way. 18:3, Yirm.10:2, YeÁez. 11:12 & 20:32, Eph. 4:17, and 1 KÃpha 4:3
DEÉARIM 12 200
31 “Do not do so to HWHY your Elohim, for hand is first against him to put him to
every abomination which HWHY hates they death, and afterward the hand of all the
have done to their mighty ones, for they people,
10 and you shall stone him with stones
even burn their sons and daughters in the
fire to their mighty ones. until he dies, because he sought to entice
32 “All the words I am commanding you, you away from HWHY your Elohim, who
guard to do it – do not add to it nor take brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim,
away from it. r from the house of bondage.
11 “And let all Yisra’Ãl hear and fear, and
whether you love HWHY your Elohim with ask diligently. And see if the matter is true
all your heart and with all your being. and established that this abomination was
4 “Walk after HWHY your Elohim and fear done in your midst,
Him, and guard His commands and obey 15 you shall certainly smite the inhabitants
His voice, and serve Him and cling to Him. of that city with the edge of the sword,
5 “And that prophet or that dreamer of putting it under the ban, and all that is in it
dreams is put to death, because he has spo- and its livestock, with the edge of the
ken apostasy against HWHY your Elohim – sword.
who brought you out of the land of 16 “And gather all its plunder into the
Mitsrayim and redeemed you from the middle of the street, and completely burn
house of bondage – to make you stray from with fire the city and all its plunder, before
the way in which HWHY your Elohim com- HWHY your Elohim. And it shall be a heap
manded you to walk. Thus you shall purge forever, never to be built again.
the evil from your midst. 17 “And none of that which is put under
6 “When your brother, the son of your the ban is to cling to your hand, so that
mother, or your son or your daughter, or HWHY turns from the fierceness of His dis-
the wife of your bosom, or your friend who pleasure and shall show you compassion,
is as your own being, entices you secretly, love you and increase you, as He swore to
saying, ‘Let us go and serve other mighty your fathers,
ones’– which you have not known, neither 18 when you obey the voice of HWHY your
you nor your fathers, Elohim, to guard all His commands which
7 of the mighty ones of the people which I command you today, to do what is right
are all around you, near to you or far off in the eyes of HWHY your Elohim.
from you, from one end of the earth to the
other end of the earth –
8 do not agree with him or listen to him, 14 “You are the children of HWHY your
Elohim. Do not cut yourselves nor
nor shall your eye pardon him, nor spare shave the front of your head for the dead,
him or conceal him, 2 for you are a set-apart people to HWHY
9 but you shall certainly kill him. Your your Elohim, and HWHY has chosen you to
be a people for Himself, a treasured pos- 22 “You shall tithe without fail all the
session above all the peoples who are on yield of your grain that the field brings
the face of the earth. forth year by year.
3 “Do not eat whatever is abominable. 23 “And you shall eat before HWHY your
4 “These are the living creatures which Elohim, in the place where He chooses to
you do eat: ox, sheep, and goat, make His Name dwell, the tithe of your
5 deer, and gazelle, and roebuck, and grain and your new wine and your oil, and
wild goat, and mountain goat, and ante- of the firstlings of your herds and your
lope, and mountain sheep. sheep, so that you learn to fear HWHY your
6 “And every beast that has a split hoof Elohim always.
divided in two, chewing the cud, among 24 “But when the way is too long for you,
the beasts, you do eat. so that you are not able to bring the tithe,
7 “But of those chewing the cud or those or when the place where HWHY your Elohim
having a split hoof completely divided, chooses to put His Name is too far from
you do not eat, such as these: the camel, you, when HWHY your Elohim is blessing
and the hare, and the rabbit, for they chew you,
the cud but do not have a split hoof, they 25 then you shall give it in silver, and shall
are unclean for you. take the silver in your hand and go
8 “And the pig is unclean for you, to the place which HWHY your Elohim
because it has a split hoof, but does not chooses.
chew the cud. You do not eat their flesh or 26 “And you shall use the silver for what-
touch their dead carcasses. ever your being desires: for cattle or sheep,
9 “These you do eat of all that are in the for wine or strong drink, for whatever your
waters: all that have fins and scales you do being desires. And you shall eat there
eat. before HWHY your Elohim, and you shall
10 “And whatever does not have fins and rejoice, you and your household.
scales you do not eat, it is unclean for you. 27 “And do not forsake the LÃwite who is
11 “Any clean bird you do eat, within your gates, for he has no part nor
12 but these you do not eat: the eagle, and inheritance with you.
the vulture, and the black vulture, 28 “At the end of every third year you
13 and the red kite, and the falcon, and the bring out all the tithe of your increase of
buzzard after their kinds, that year and store it up within your gates.
14 and every raven after its kind, 29 “And the LÃwite, because he has no
15 and the ostrich, and the nighthawk, portion nor inheritance with you, and the
and the seagull, and the hawk after their sojourner and the fatherless and the widow
kinds, who are within your gates, shall come and
16 the little owl, and the great owl, and the eat and be satisfied, so that HWHY your
white owl, Elohim does bless you in all the work of
17 and the pelican, and the carrion vulture, your hand which you do.
and the fisher owl,
18 and the stork, and the heron after its
unclean for you, they are not eaten. Every creditor is to release what he has
20 “Any clean bird you do eat. loaned to his neighbour, he does not
21 “Do not eat whatever dies of itself. require it of his neighbour or his brother,
Give it to the stranger who is within your because it is called the release of HWHY.
gates, to eat it, or sell it to a foreigner. For 3 “Of a foreigner you could require it, but
you are a set-apart people to HWHY your your hand is to release whatever is owed
Elohim. Do not cook a young goat in its by your brother.
mother’s milk. 4 “Only, there should be no poor among
DEÉARIM 15 202
you. For HWHY does greatly bless you in the HWHY your Elohim redeemed you.
land which HWHY your Elohim is giving you Therefore I am commanding you this word
to possess as an inheritance, today.
5 only if you diligently obey the voice of 16 “And it shall be, when he says to you, ‘I
HWHY your Elohim, to guard to do all these do not go away from you,’ because he
commands which I am commanding you loves you and your house, because it is
today. good for him with you,
6 “For HWHY your Elohim shall bless you 17 then you shall take an awl and thrust it
as He promised you. And you shall lend to through his ear to the door, and he shall be
many nations, but you shall not borrow. your servant forever. Do the same to your
And you shall rule over many nations, but female servant.
they do not rule over you. 18 “Let it not be hard in your eyes when
7 “When there is a poor man with you, you send him away free from you, for he
one of your brothers, within any of the has been worth a double hired servant in
gates in your land which HWHY your Elohim serving you six years. And HWHY your
is giving you, do not harden your heart nor Elohim shall bless you in all that you do.
shut your hand from your poor brother, 19 “Set apart to HWHY your Elohim all the
8 for you shall certainly open your hand first-born males that come from your herd
to him and certainly lend him enough for and your flock. Do no work with the first-
his need, whatever he needs. born of your herd, nor shear the first-born
9 “Be on guard lest there be a thought of of your flock.
BeliyaÈal in your heart, saying, ‘The sev- 20 “You and your household are to eat it
enth year, the year of release, is near,’ and before HWHY your Elohim year by year in
your eye is evil against your poor brother the place which HWHY chooses.
and you give him naught. And he shall cry 21 “But when there is any defect in it,
out to HWHY against you, and it shall be a lame or blind, or has any evil defect, do not
sin in you. slaughter it to HWHY your Elohim.
10 “You shall certainly give to him, and 22 “Eat it within your gates – the unclean
your heart should not be grieved when you and the clean alike – as the gazelle, and as
give to him, because for this reason HWHY the deer.
your Elohim does bless you in all your 23 “Only, do not eat its blood, pour it on
works and in all to which you put your the ground like water.
hand.
11 “Because the poor one does not cease
from the land. Therefore I am command- 16 “Guard the month of AÄiÄ, and
perform the Passover to HWHY your
ing you, saying, ‘You shall certainly open Elohim, for in the month of AÄiÄ HWHY
your hand to your brother, to your poor your Elohim brought you out of Mitsrayim
and to your needy one, in your land.’ by night.
12 “When your brother is sold to you, a 2 “And you shall slaughter the Passover
HeÄrew man or a HeÄrew woman, and to HWHY your Elohim, from the flock and
shall serve you six years, then let him go the herd, in the place where HWHY chooses
free from you in the seventh year. to put His Name.
13 “And when you send him away free 3 “Eat no leavened bread with it. For
from you, let him not go away empty- seven days you eat unleavened bread with
handed. it, bread of affliction, because you came
14 “You shall richly supply him from your out of the land of Mitsrayim in haste – so
flock, and from your threshing-floor, and that you remember the day in which you
from your winepress. With that which came out of the land of Mitsrayim, all the
HWHY has blessed you with, give to him. days of your life.
15 “And you shall remember that you 4 “And no leaven should be seen with
were a slave in the land of Mitsrayim, and you in all your border for seven days,
203 DEÉARIM 17
neither should any of the meat which you Elohim does bless you in all your increase
slaughter in the evening on the first day and in all the work of your hands, and you
stay all night until morning. shall be only rejoicing!
5 “You are not allowed to slaughter the 16 “Three times a year all your males
Passover within any of your gates which appear before HWHY your Elohim in the
HWHY your Elohim gives you, place which He chooses: at the Festival of
6 but at the place where HWHY your Unleavened Bread, and at the Festival
Elohim chooses to make His Name dwell, of Weeks, and at the Festival of Booths.
there you slaughter the Passover in the And none should appear before HWHY
evening, at the going down of the sun, at empty-handed,
the appointed time you came out of 17 but each one with the gift of his hand,
and in the morning you shall turn and go to your gates, which HWHY your Elohim is giv-
your tents. ing you, according to your tribes. And they
8 “Six days you eat unleavened bread, shall judge the people with righteous right-
and on the seventh day there is a closing ruling.
festival to HWHY your Elohim – you do no 19 “Do not distort right-ruling. Do not
which you give as HWHY your Elohim bless- an AshÃrah near the altar of HWHY your
es you. Elohim that you make for yourself.
11 “And you shall rejoice before HWHY 22 “And do not set up a pillar, which HWHY
your Elohim, you and your son and your your Elohim hates.
daughter, and your male servant and your
female servant, and the LÃwite who is
within your gates, and the stranger and the 17 “Do not slaughter to HWHY your
Elohim a bull or sheep which has
fatherless and the widow who are in your any blemish, any evil matter, for that is an
midst, at the place where HWHY your abomination to HWHY your Elohim.
Elohim chooses to make His Name dwell. 2 “When there is found in your midst, in
12 “And you shall remember that you any of your cities which HWHY your Elohim
were a slave in Mitsrayim, and you shall is giving you, a man or a woman who does
guard and do these laws. what is evil in the eyes of HWHY your
13 “Perform the Festival of Booths for Elohim, in transgressing His covenant,
seven days after the ingathering from your 3 and has gone and served other mighty
threshing-floor and from your winepress, ones and bowed down to them, or to the
14 and you shall rejoice in your festival, sun or to the moon or to any of the host of
you and your son and your daughter, and the heavens, which I have not commanded,
your male servant and your female servant, 4 and it has been made known to you and
and the LÃwite, and the stranger and the you have heard, and has searched
fatherless and the widow who are within diligently. Then see, if true: the matter is
your gates. confirmed that such an abomination has
15 “For seven days you shall observe a been done in Yisra’Ãl,
festival to HWHY your Elohim in the place 5 then you shall bring out to your gates
which HWHY chooses, because HWHY your that man or woman who has done this evil
DEÉARIM 17 204
matter, and you shall stone to death that Mitsrayim to increase horses, for HWHY has
man or woman with stones. said to you, ‘Do not return that way again.’
6 “At the mouth of two or three witnesses 17 “And he is not to increase wives for
shall he that is to die be put to death. He himself, lest his heart turn away, nor is
is not put to death by the mouth of one he to greatly increase silver and gold for
witness. himself.
7 “The hand of the witnesses shall be first 18 “And it shall be, when he sits on the
against him to put him to death, and the throne of his reign, that he shall write for
hand of all the people last. So you shall himself a copy of this Torah in a book,
purge the evil from your midst. from the one before the priests, the
8 “When any matter arises which is too
LÃwites.
hard for you to judge, between blood and 19 “And it shall be with him, and he shall
blood, between plea and plea, or between read it all the days of his life, so that he
stroke and stroke – matters of strife within learns to fear HWHY his Elohim and guard
your gates – then you shall rise and go up all the Words of this Torah and these laws,
to the place which HWHY your Elohim to do them,
chooses, 20 so that his heart is not lifted up above
9 and shall come to the priests, the
his brothers, and so as not to turn aside
LÃwites, and to the judge who is in those from the command, right or left, so that he
days, and shall inquire. And they shall prolongs his days in his reign, he and his
declare to you the word of right-ruling, children, in the midst of Yisra’Ãl.
10 and you shall do according to the word
set a foreigner over you, who is not your his Elohim, like all his brothers the
brother. LÃwites, who are standing there before
16 “Only, he is not to increase horses for HWHY.
himself, nor cause the people to return to 8 “They are to have portion for portion to
205 DEÉARIM 19
eat, besides what comes from the sale of 21 “And when you say in your heart,
learn to do according to the abominations of HWHY and the word is not, or comes
of those gentiles. s not, that is the word which HWHY has not
10 “Let no one be found among you who spoken. The prophet has spoken it pre-
makes his son or his daughter pass through sumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.
the fire, or one who practises divination, or
a user of magic, or one who interprets
omens or a sorcerer, 19 “When HWHY your Elohim cuts off
the nations whose land HWHY your
11 or one who conjures spells, or a medi- Elohim is giving you, and you dispossess
um, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the them and dwell in their cities and in their
dead. houses,
12 “For whoever does these are an abomi- 2 separate three cities for yourself in the
nation to HWHY, and because of these abom- midst of your land which HWHY your
inations HWHY your Elohim drives them out Elohim is giving you to possess.
from before you. 3 “Prepare a way for yourself, and divide
13 “Be perfect before HWHY your Elohim, into three parts the border of your land
14 for these nations whom you are pos- which HWHY your Elohim is giving you to
sessing do listen to those using magic and inherit, that anyone who killed someone
to diviners. But as for you, HWHY your shall flee there.
Elohim has not appointed such for you. 4 “And this is the matter of the one who
15 “HWHY your Elohim shall raise up for killed someone who flees there and live:
you a Prophet t like me from your midst, He who smites his neighbour unintention-
from your brothers. Listen to Him, ally, not having hated him in time past,
16 according to all you asked of HWHY your 5 even he who goes to the forest with his
Elohim in ÀorÃÄ in the day of the assem- neighbour to cut timber, and his hand
bly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the swings a stroke with the axe to cut down
voice of HWHY my Elohim, nor let me see the tree, and the head slips from the han-
this great fire any more, lest I die.’ dle and strikes his neighbour so that he
17 “And HWHY said to me, ‘What they have dies – let him flee to one of these cities
spoken is good. and live,
18 ‘I shall raise up for them a Prophet u 6 lest the revenger of blood, while his
like you out of the midst of their brothers. displeasure is hot, pursue the one who
And I shall put My Words v in His mouth, killed someone and overtake him, because
and He shall speak to them all that I com- the way is long, and shall smite him,
mand Him. though he was not worthy of death, since
19 ‘And it shall be, the man who does not he had not hated him before.
listen to My Words which He speaks in 7 “Therefore I am commanding you, say-
speak a word in My Name, which I have your border, as He swore to your fathers,
not commanded him to speak, or who and has given you the land which He
speaks in the name of other mighty ones, promised to give to your fathers –
even that prophet shall die.’ 9 when you guard all this command to do
s See footnote at 12:30. tSee footnote at v. 18. u The Messiah, as confirmed in Acts 3:22-26, and Acts 7:37.
v This identifies the TrueMessiah for us. aSWHY confirmed this fact in seven places in YoÁanan, namely in
YoÁ. 3:34, 7:16, 8:28, 8:40, 12:49, 14:24, and 17:8 – His teachings (words, commands) are identical to those
of His Father.
DEÉARIM 19 206
and shall lie in wait for him and rise ra’Ãl: You are drawing near today to battle
against him and smite the life from him so with your enemies. Do not let your heart
that he dies, then he shall flee to one of faint, do not fear, or tremble, or be afraid
these cities, before them,
12 and the elders of his city shall send and 4 for HWHY your Elohim is He who goes
bring him from there, and give him into the with you, to fight for you against your
hand of the revenger of blood, and he shall enemies, to save you.’
5 “And the officers shall speak to the
die.
13 “Your eye shall not pardon him, but people, saying, ‘Who is the man who has
you shall purge the blood of innocent built a new house and has not dedicated it?
blood from Yisra’Ãl, so that it might be Let him go and return to his house, lest he
well with you. die in the battle and another man dedicate
14 “Do not remove your neighbour’s it.
6 ‘And who is the man who has planted a
boundary, which those in the past have set,
vineyard and has not begun to use it? Let
in your inheritance which you inherit in the
him also go and return to his house, lest he
land that HWHY your Elohim is giving you to
die in the battle and another man should
possess. begin to use it.
15 “One witness does not rise up against a
7 ‘And who is the man who is engaged to
man concerning any crookedness or any a woman and has not taken her? Let him
sin that he commits. At the mouth of two go and return to his house, lest he die in the
witnesses or at the mouth of three witness- battle and another man take her.’
es a matter is established. 8 “And the officers shall speak further to
16 “When a malicious witness rises up
the people, and say, ‘Who is the man who
against any man to accuse him of turning is afraid and tender of heart? Let him go
aside, and return to his house, lest the heart of his
17 then both men who have the dispute
brothers faint like his heart.’
shall stand before HWHY, before the priests 9 “And it shall be, when the officers have
and the judges who serve in those days. finished speaking to the people, that they
18 “And the judges shall diligently search
shall appoint commanders of the divisions
and see if the witness is a false witness, to lead the people.
who has falsely accused his brother, 10 “When you draw near to a city to fight
19 then you shall do to him as he thought
against it, then you shall make a call for
to have done to his brother. Thus you shall peace to it.
purge the evil from your midst. 11 “And it shall be that if it accepts your
20 “And let the rest hear and fear, and
call for peace, and shall open to you, then
never again do this evil matter in your all the people found in it are to be your
midst. compulsory labour, and serve you.
21 “And let your eye not pardon, life for 12 “But if it does not make peace with
life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for you, and shall fight against you, then you
hand, foot for foot. shall besiege it,
207 DEÉARIM 21
down, to build siege-works against the city ty, and shall dwell in your house, and
that is fighting against you, until it falls. mourn her father and her mother a month
of days. And after that you shall go in to
21 “When anyone is found slain, lying
in the field in the land which HWHY
her and be her husband, and she shall be
your wife.
14 “And it shall be, if you are not pleased
your Elohim is giving you to possess, and
it is not known who smote him, with her, then you shall let her go at her
2 then your elders and your judges shall desire, but you do not sell her at all for
go out, and they shall measure the distance silver. Do not treat her harshly, since you
from the slain man to the cities round have humbled her.
about. 15 “When a man has two wives, one loved
3 “And it shall be that the elders of the and the other unloved, and they have borne
city nearest to the slain man shall take a him children, both the loved and the
heifer which has not been worked and unloved, and the first-born son is of her
which has not pulled with a yoke, who is unloved,
4 and the elders of that city shall bring 16 then it shall be, on the day he makes his
the heifer down to a wadi with flowing sons to inherit his possessions, he is not
water, which is neither ploughed nor sown, allowed to treat the son of the beloved wife
and they shall break the heifer’s neck there as first-born in the face of the son of the
DEÉARIM 21 208
unloved, who is truly the first-born. pertains to a man, nor does a man put on a
17 “But he is to acknowledge the son of woman’s garment, for whoever does this
the unloved wife as the first-born by giving is an abomination to HWHY your Elohim.
him a double portion of all that he has, for 6 “When you come upon a bird’s nest
he is the beginning of his strength – the along the way, in any tree or on the
right of the first-born is his. ground, with young ones or eggs, with the
18 “When a man has a wayward and rebel- mother sitting on the young or on the eggs,
lious son who is not listening to the voice do not take the mother with the young –
of his father or the voice of his mother, and 7 let the mother go without fail, and take
who, when they have disciplined him, does the young for yourself, so that it might be
not listen to them, well with you, and that you shall prolong
19 then his father and his mother shall take your days.
hold of him and bring him out to the elders 8 “When you build a new house, then
of his city, to the gate of his city, you shall make a parapet for your roof, so
20 and shall say to the elders of his city, that you do not bring blood-guilt on your
‘This son of ours is wayward and rebel- house when one falls from it.
lious. He is not listening to our voice, he is 9 “Do not sow your vineyard with differ-
a glutton and a drunkard.’ ent kinds of seed, lest the yield of the seed
21 “Then all the men of his city shall stone which you have sown and the fruit of your
him to death with stones. Thus you shall vineyard be defiled.
purge the evil from your midst. And let all 10 “Do not plough with an ox and a
worthy of death, then he shall be put to kinds, of wool and linen together.
death and you shall hang him on a tree. 12 “Make tassels on the four corners of the
23 “Let his body not remain overnight on garment with which you cover yourself.
the tree, for you shall certainly bury him 13 “When any man takes a wife, and shall
the same day – for he who is hanged is go in to her, and shall hate her,
accursed of Elohim – so that you do not 14 and shall make abusive charges against
defile the land which HWHY your Elohim is her and bring an evil name on her and say,
giving you as an inheritance. ‘I took this woman, and when I came to
her I did not find her a maiden,’
22 “When you see your brother’s ox
or his sheep going straying away,
15 then the father and mother of the young
if you do not know him, then you shall elders, ‘I gave my daughter to this man as
bring it to your own house, and it shall be wife, and he hates her.
with you until your brother seeks it, then 17 ‘And see, he has made abusive charges
you shall return it to him. against her, saying, “I did not find your
3 “And so you do with his donkey, and so daughter a maiden,” and yet these are the
you do with his garment, and so you do proofs of my daughter’s maidenhood.’
with whatever your brother loses, which he And they shall spread the garment before
has lost and you have found. You are not the elders of the city.
allowed to hide yourself. 18 “And the elders of that city shall take
4 “When you see your brother’s donkey that man and punish him,
or his ox fall down on the way, you shall 19 and fine him one hundred pieces of sil-
not hide yourself from them. Help him ver and give them to the father of the
raise them without fail. young woman, because he has brought an
5 “A woman does not wear that which evil name on a maiden of Yisra’Ãl. And she
209 DEÉARIM 23
her away all his days. midst of your camp, to deliver you and
30 “A man does not take his father’s wife, give your enemies over to you. Therefore
nor uncover his father’s skirt. your camp shall be set-apart, so that He
does not see unclean matter among you,
23 “No one wounded, crushed or
whose member is cut off does enter
and shall turn away from you.
15 “You do not hand over to his master the
DEÉARIM 23 210
slave who has escaped from his master to 2 and if she left his house and went and
in the place which he chooses within one and write her a certificate of divorce, and
of your gates, where it is pleasing to him. put it in her hand, and send her out of his
Do not oppress him. house, or when the latter husband dies who
17 “None of the daughters of Yisra’Ãl is to took her to be his wife,
be a cult prostitute, nor any of the sons of 4 then her former husband who sent her
interest of silver, interest of food, or inter- him not go out into the army nor let any
est of whatever is lent at interest. matter be imposed upon him. He shall be
20 “To a foreigner you lend at interest, but exempt one year for the sake of his home,
to your brother you do not lend at interest, to rejoice with his wife whom he has
so that HWHY your Elohim might bless you taken.
in all that you put your hand to in the land 6 “No one takes in pledge the lower or
which you are entering to possess. the upper millstone, for he would be taking
21 “When you make a vow to HWHY your a life in pledge.
Elohim, do not delay to pay it, for HWHY 7 “When a man is found kidnapping any
you shall guard and do, for you voluntarily to diligently guard and do according to all
vowed to HWHY your Elohim what you have that the priests, the LÃwites, teach you. As
promised with your mouth. I have commanded them, so you shall
24 “When you come into your neighbour’s guard to do.
vineyard, you shall eat to the satisfaction 9 “Remember what HWHY your Elohim did
of your desire, but do not put any in a to Miryam on the way when you came out
receptacle of yours. of Mitsrayim.
25 “When you come into your neighbour’s 10 “When you lend your brother a loan, do
standing grain, you shall pluck the heads not go into his house to get his pledge.
with your hand, but do not use a sickle on 11 “Stand outside, and let the man to
your neighbour’s standing grain. whom you lend bring the pledge out to
you.
24 “When a man takes a wife and
shall marry her, then it shall be, if
12 “And if the man is poor, do not sleep
has found a matter of uncoveredness w in at sundown, and he shall sleep in his own
her, and he shall write her a certificate of garment, and shall bless you. And it shall
divorce, and put it in her hand, and send be righteousness to you before HWHY your
her out of his house, Elohim.
w Proof that she is not a maiden, indicating that she had previously been fornicating. Messiah was probably quot-
ing this in Mt. 5:32 and in Mt. 19:9.
211 DEÉARIM 25
14 “Do not oppress a hired servant who is lest he beat him with many more blows
poor and needy, of your brothers or of the than these, and your brother be degraded
strangers who is in your land within your before your eyes.
gates. 4 “Do not muzzle an ox while it is thresh-
15 “Give him his wages on the same day, ing.
and do not let the sun go down on it, for he 5 “When brothers dwell together, and
is poor and lifts up his being to it, so that one of them has died, and has no son, the
he does not cry out against you to HWHY, widow of the dead man shall not become a
and it shall be sin in you. stranger’s outside. Her husband’s brother
16 “Fathers are not put to death for their does go in to her, and shall take her as his
children, and children are not put to death wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s
for their fathers, each is to die for his own brother to her.
sin. 6 “And it shall be that the first-born son
17 “Do not twist the right-ruling of a which she bears does rise up for the name
stranger or the fatherless, nor take the gar- of his dead brother, so that his name is not
ment of a widow. blotted out of Yisra’Ãl.
18 “But you shall remember that you were 7 “But if the man does not desire to take
a slave in Mitsrayim, and that HWHY your his brother’s wife, then let his brother’s
Elohim redeemed you from there. wife go up to the gate to the elders, and
Therefore I am commanding you to do this say, ‘My husband’s brother refuses to raise
word. up a name to his brother in Yisra’Ãl, he
19 “When you reap your harvest in your does not agree to perform the duty of my
field, and have forgotten a sheaf in the husband’s brother.’
field, do not go back to get it. Let it be for 8 “The elders of his city shall then call
the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the him and speak to him, and he shall stand
widow, so that HWHY your Elohim might and say, ‘I have no desire to take her,’
bless you in all the work of your hands. 9 then his brother’s wife shall come to
20 “When you beat your olive trees, do not him in the presence of the elders, and
examine the branch behind you. Let it be remove his sandal from his foot, and shall
for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for spit in his face, and answer and say, ‘Thus
the widow. it is done to the man who does not build up
21 “When you gather the grapes of your his brother’s house.’
vineyard, do not glean behind you. Let it 10 “And in Yisra’Ãl his name shall be
be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and called, ‘The house of him who had his san-
for the widow. dal removed.’
22 “And you shall remember that you 11 “When men fight with one another, and
were a slave in the land of Mitsrayim. the wife of one shall draw near to rescue
Therefore I am commanding you to do this her husband from the hand of the one
word. attacking him, and shall put out her hand
and seize him by the genitals,
25 “When there is a dispute between
men, then they shall come unto
12 then you shall cut off her hand – your
the righteous declared righteous and the ing weights, a heavy and a light.
wrongdoer declared wrong. 14 “You shall not have in your house
2 “And it shall be, if the wrongdoer is to differing measures, a large and a small.
be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to 15 “You shall have a perfect and right
lie down and be beaten in his presence weight, a perfect and right measure, so that
with the number of blows according to his they prolong your days on the soil which
wrong. HWHY your Elohim is giving you.
3 “Forty blows he gives him but no more, 16 “For all who do these, and all who do
DEÉARIM 25 212
Elohim has given you rest from your HWHY your Elohim has given to you and
enemies all around, in the land which your house, you and the LÃwite and the
HWHY your Elohim is giving you to possess stranger who is among you.
12 “When you have completed tithing all
as an inheritance, that you blot out the
remembrance of AmalÃq from under the the tithe of your increase in the third year,
heavens. Do not forget! which is the year of tithing, and have given
it to the LÃwite, to the stranger, to the
26 “And it shall be, when you come
into the land which HWHY your
fatherless, and to the widow, and they have
eaten within your gates and have been
satisfied,
Elohim is giving you as an inheritance, and
13 then you shall say before HWHY your
you possess it and dwell in it,
2 that you shall take some of the first of Elohim, ‘I have put away the set-apart por-
all the fruits of the soil which you bring tion from my house, and also have given it
from your land that HWHY your Elohim is to the LÃwite, and to the stranger, and to
giving you, and shall put it in a basket and the fatherless, and to the widow, according
go to the place where HWHY your Elohim to all Your command which You have
chooses to make His Name dwell there. commanded me. I have not transgressed
3 “And you shall come to the one who is Your commands, nor have I forgotten.
priest in those days, and say to him, ‘I shall 14 ‘I have not eaten any of it when in
declare today to HWHY your Elohim that I mourning, nor have I removed any of it for
have come to the land which HWHY swore to any unclean use, nor given any of it for the
our fathers to give us.’ dead. I have obeyed the voice of HWHY my
4 “And the priest shall take the basket Elohim, I have done according to all that
from your hand and place it before the altar You have commanded me.
of HWHY your Elohim. 15 ‘Look from Your set-apart dwelling
5 “And you shall answer and say before place, from the heavens, and bless Your
HWHY your Elohim, ‘My father was a people Yisra’Ãl and the land which You
perishing Aramean, and he went down to have given us, as You swore to our fathers,
Mitsrayim and sojourned there with few “a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’
men. And there he became a nation, great, 16 “Today HWHY your Elohim is command-
with a strong hand and with an out- today to be His people, a treasured posses-
stretched arm, with great fear and with sion, as He has spoken to you, and to guard
213 DEÉARIM 27
all His commands, over the YardÃn: ShimÈon, and LÃwi, and
19 so as to set you high above all nations YehuÅah, and Yissas¿ar, and YosÃph, and
which He has made, for a praise, and for a Binyamin.
name, and for esteem, and for you to be a 13 “And these are to stand on Mount
set-apart people to HWHY your Elohim, as ÂyÄal to curse: Re’uÄÃn, GaÅ, and AshÃr,
He has spoken.” and ZeÄulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
14 “And the LÃwites shall speak with a
today, and you shall plaster them with ruling of the stranger, the fatherless, and
plaster, widow.’ And all the people shall say,
5 and build an altar to HWHY your Elohim
‘AmÃn!’
there, an altar of stones – do not use an 20 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s
iron tool on them. wife, because he has uncovered his
6 “Build the altar of HWHY your Elohim
father’s bed.’ And all the people shall say,
with complete stones, and you shall offer ‘AmÃn!’
burnt offerings on it to HWHY your Elohim, 21 ‘Cursed is he who lies with any beast.’
7 and shall offer peace offerings, and eat
And all the people shall say, ‘AmÃn!’
there, and rejoice before HWHY your 22 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister,
Elohim. the daughter of his father or the daughter
8 “And you shall write all the Words of
of his mother.’ And all the people shall
this Torah on the stones – plainly and
say, ‘AmÃn!’
well.” 23 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-
9 And Mosheh and the priests, the
LÃwites, spoke to all Yisra’Ãl, saying, “Be in-law.’ And all the people shall say,
silent and hear, O Yisra’Ãl: This day you ‘AmÃn!’
24 ‘Cursed is he who smites his neighbour
have become the people of HWHY your
Elohim, secretly.’ And all the people shall say,
10 and you shall obey the voice of HWHY ‘AmÃn!’
25 ‘Cursed is he who takes a bribe to slay
your Elohim, and do His commands and
His laws which I command you today.” an innocent being.’ And all the people
11 And Mosheh commanded the people on shall say, ‘AmÃn!’
26 ‘Cursed is he who does not establish
that day, saying,
12 “These are to stand on Mount Gerizim the Words of this Torah.’ And all the peo-
to bless the people, when you have passed ple shall say, ‘AmÃn!’
DEÉARIM 28 214
and the offspring of your flocks. the fruit of your land, the increase of your
5 “Blessed is your basket and your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.
kneading bowl. 19 “Cursed are you when you come in,
6 “Blessed are you when you come in, and cursed are you when you go out.
and blessed are you when you go out. 20 “HWHY sends on you the curse, the con-
7 “HWHY causes your enemies who rise fusion, and the rebuke in all that you set
against you to be smitten before your face your hand to do, until you are destroyed
– they come out against you one way and and until you perish quickly, because of
flee before you seven ways. the evil of your doings by which you have
8 “HWHY commands the blessing on you in forsaken Me.
your storehouses and in all to which you 21 “HWHY makes the plague cling to you
set your hand, and shall bless you in the until He has consumed you from the land
land which HWHY your Elohim is giving which you are going to possess.
you. 22 “HWHY smites you with wasting disease,
9 “HWHY does establish you as a set-apart and with inflammation, and with burning,
people to Himself, as He has sworn to you, and with extreme heat, and with the sword,
if you guard the commands of HWHY your and with blight, and with mildew. And
Elohim and walk in His ways. they shall pursue you until you perish.
10 “And all peoples of the earth shall see 23 “And your heavens which are over your
that the Name of HWHY is called upon you, head shall be bronze, and the earth which
and they shall be afraid of you. is under you iron.
11 “And HWHY shall make you to have 24 “HWHY makes the rain of your land pow-
plenty of what is good, in the fruit of your der and dust; from the heavens it comes
body, in the fruit of your livestock, and in down on you until you are destroyed.
the fruit of your ground, in the land of 25 “HWHY causes you to be defeated before
which HWHY swore to your fathers to give your enemies – you go out one way against
you. them and flee seven ways before them.
12 “HWHY opens to you His good treasure, And you shall become a horror to all the
the heavens, to give the rain to your land in reigns of the earth.
its season, and to bless all the work of your 26 “And your carcasses shall be food for
hand. And you shall lend to many nations, all the birds of the heavens and the beasts
but you do not borrow. of the earth, with no one to frighten them
13 “And HWHY shall make you the head and away.
not the tail. And you shall be only on top, 27 “HWHY shall smite you with the boils of
and not be beneath, if you obey the Mitsrayim, with tumours, with the scab,
commands of HWHY your Elohim, which I and with the itch, from which you are
command you today, to guard and do. unable to be healed.
215 DEÉARIM 28
blind man gropes in darkness, and not higher and higher above you, but you
prosper in your ways. And you shall be come down lower and lower.
44 “He lends to you, but you do not lend to
only oppressed and plundered all the days,
with no one to save you. him. He is the head, and you are the tail.
30 “You become engaged to a wife, but 45 “And all these curses shall come upon
another man does lie with her. You build a you, and they shall pursue and overtake
house, but do not dwell in it. You plant a you, until you are destroyed, because you
vineyard, but do not use its fruit. did not obey the voice of HWHY your
31 “Your ox is slaughtered before your Elohim, to guard His commands and His
eyes, but you do not eat of it. Your donkey laws which He commanded you.
46 “And they shall be upon you for a
is violently taken from before you, and it is
not given back to you. Your sheep are sign and for a wonder, and on your seed,
given to your enemies, with no one to save forever.
47 “Because you did not serve HWHY your
them.
32 “Your sons and your daughters are Elohim with joy and gladness of heart for
given to another people, and your eyes all the plenty,
48 you shall serve your enemies whom
look and fail for them all day long, and
your hand powerless. HWHY sends against you, in hunger, and in
33 “A people whom you have not known thirst, and in nakedness, and in need of all.
eat the fruit of your land and all your And he shall put a yoke of iron on your
labours. And you shall be only oppressed neck until he has destroyed you.
49 “HWHY brings a nation against you from
and crushed all the days.
34 “And you shall be maddened because afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as
of the sight which your eyes see. the eagle flies, a nation whose language
35 “HWHY smites you in the knees and on you shall not understand,
the legs with evil boils of which you are 50 a fierce-looking nation, which shows
unable to be healed, and from the sole of no regard for the elderly nor show favour
your foot to the top of your head. to the young,
36 “HWHY brings you and the sovereign 51 and they shall eat the fruit of your live-
whom you set over you to a nation which stock and the fruit of your land, until you
neither you nor your fathers have known, are destroyed. They leave you no grain,
and there you shall serve other mighty nor new wine, nor oil, nor the increase of
ones, wood and stone. your cattle or the offspring of your flocks,
37 “Thus you shall become an astonish- until they have destroyed you.
ment, a proverb, and a mockery among all 52 “And they shall besiege you at all your
the peoples to which HWHY drives you. gates till your high and fenced walls, in
38 “You take much seed out into the field which you are trusting, come down in all
but gather little in, for the locust consumes your land. And they shall besiege you at all
it. your gates in all your land which HWHY your
39 “You plant vineyards, and shall labour, Elohim has given you.
but you neither drink of the wine nor 53 “And you shall eat the fruit of your own
gather, for the worm eats it. body, the flesh of your sons and your
40 “You have olive trees in all your daughters whom HWHY your Elohim has
border, but do not anoint with oil, for your given you, in the siege and distress in
olives drop off. which your enemies distress you.
41 “You bring forth sons and daughters, 54 “The man among you who is tender,
but they are not with you, for they go into and who is very delicate, his eye is evil
captivity. against his brother, against the wife of his
DEÉARIM 28 216
bosom, and against the rest of his children the sole of your foot. But there HWHY shall
whom he leaves behind, give you a trembling heart, and failing
55 against giving any of them the flesh of
eyes, and sorrow of being.
his children that he eats, because it is all 66 “And your life shall be hanging in sus-
that has been left to him in the siege and pense before you, and you shall fear day
distress with which your enemy distresses and night, and not be certain of your life.
you in all your gates. 67 “In the morning you say, ‘Oh, that it
56 “The tender and the delicate woman
were evening!’ And at evening you say,
among you, who have not tried to set the ‘Oh, that it were morning!’ because of the
sole of her foot on the ground because of fear of your heart, with which you fear,
her delicateness and tenderness, her eye is and because of the sight which your eyes
evil against the husband of her bosom, and see.
against her son, and against her daughter, 68 “And HWHY shall bring you back to
57 and against her seed which comes out
Mitsrayim in ships, by a way of which I
from between her feet, and her children said to you, ‘You are never to see it again.’
whom she bears, for she eats them in secret And there you shall be sold to your
for lack of all, in the siege and distress enemies as male and female slaves, but no
with which your enemy distresses you in one to buy.”
all your gates.
58 “If you do not guard to do all the Words
mighty ones, which neither you nor your inheritance to the Re’uÄÃnites, and to the
fathers have known, wood and stone. GaÅites, and to half the tribe of Menash-
65 “And among those nations you are to sheh.
find no rest, nor have a resting place for 9 “Therefore you shall guard the words
217 DEÉARIM 30
of this covenant, and do them, so that you to all the curses of the covenant that are
prosper in all that you do. written in this Book of the Torah.
10 “All of you are standing today before 22 “And the generation to come of your
HWHY your Elohim: your leaders, your children who rise up after you, and the for-
tribes, your elders and your officers, all the eigner who comes from a far land, shall
men of Yisra’Ãl, say when they see the plagues of that land
11 your little ones, your wives, and your and the sicknesses which HWHY has sent
sojourner who is in the midst of your into it:
camp, from the one who cuts your wood to 23 ‘All its land is sulphur, salt, and burn-
the one who draws your water, ing; it is not sown, nor does it bear, nor
12 so that you should enter into covenant does any grass grow there, like the over-
with HWHY your Elohim, and into His oath, throw of SeÅom and Amorah, AÅmah and
which HWHY your Elohim makes with you TseÄoyim, which HWHY overthrew in His
today, displeasure and His wrath.’
13 in order to establish you today as a peo- 24 “And all nations shall say, ‘Why has
ple for Himself, and He Himself be your HWHY done so to this land? What does the
Elohim, as He has spoken to you, and as heat of this great displeasure mean?’
He has sworn to your fathers, to AÄraham, 25 “And it shall be said, ‘Because they
with him who is not here with us today. mighty ones and bowed themselves to
16 “For you know how we dwelt in the them, mighty ones that they did not know
land of Mitsrayim and how we passed and that He had not given to them,
through the nations which you passed 27 therefore the displeasure of HWHY
gold, which were with them, land in displeasure, and in wrath, and in
18 lest there should be among you a man great rage, and cast them into another land,
or woman or clan or tribe, whose heart as it is today.’
turns away today from HWHY our Elohim, to 29 “The secret matters belong to HWHY our
go and serve the mighty ones of these Elohim, but what is revealed belongs to us
nations, lest there should be among you a and to our children forever, to do all the
root bearing bitterness or wormwood. Words of this Torah.
19 “And it shall be, when he hears the
jealousy shall burn against that man, and Elohim and obey His voice, according to
every curse that is written in this book all that I command you today, with all your
shall settle on him, and HWHY shall blot out heart and with all your being, you and your
his name from under the heavens. children,
21 “And HWHY shall separate him for evil, 3 then HWHY your Elohim shall turn back
out of all the tribes of Yisra’Ãl, according your captivity, and shall have compassion
DEÉARIM 30 218
on you, and He shall turn back and gather love HWHY your Elohim, to walk in His
you from all the peoples where HWHY your ways, and to guard His commands, and His
Elohim has scattered you. laws, and His right-rulings. And you shall
4 “If any of you are driven out to the
live and increase, and HWHY your Elohim
farthest parts under the heavens, from shall bless you in the land which you go to
there HWHY your Elohim does gather you, possess.
and from there He does take you. 17 “But if your heart turns away, and you
5 “And HWHY your Elohim shall bring you
do not obey, and shall be drawn away, and
to the land which your fathers possessed, shall bow down to other mighty ones and
and you shall possess it. And He shall do serve them,
good to you, and increase you more than 18 “I have declared to you today that you
your fathers. shall certainly perish, you shall not pro-
6 “And HWHY your Elohim shall circum-
long your days in the land which you are
cise your heart and the heart of your seed, passing over the YardÃn to enter and pos-
to love HWHY your Elohim with all your sess.
heart and with all your being, so that you 19 “I have called the heavens and the earth
might live, as witnesses today against you: I have set
7 and HWHY your Elohim shall put all
before you life and death, the blessing and
these curses on your enemies and on those the curse. Therefore you shall choose life,
who hate you, who persecuted you. so that you live, both you and your seed,
8 “And you shall turn back and obey the 20 to love HWHY your Elohim, to obey His
voice of HWHY and do all His commands voice, and to cling to Him – for He is your
which I command you today. life and the length of your days – to dwell
9 “And HWHY your Elohim shall make you
in the land which HWHY swore to your
have excess in all the work of your hand, fathers, to AÄraham, to YitsÁaq, and to
in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of YaÈaqoÄ, to give them.”
your livestock, and in the fruit of your
ground for good. For HWHY turns back to
rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced 31 And Mosheh went and spoke these
words to all Yisra’Ãl,
over your fathers, 2 and he said to them, “I am one hundred
10 if you obey the voice of HWHY your and twenty years old today. I am no longer
Elohim, to guard His commands and His able to go out and come in. And HWHY has
laws which are written in this Book of the said to me, ‘You do not pass over this
Torah, if you turn back to HWHY your YardÃn.’
Elohim with all your heart and with all 3 “HWHY your Elohim Himself is passing
your being. over before you. He shall destroy these
11 “For this command which I am com- nations from before you and you possess
manding you today, it is not too hard for them. Yehoshua himself is passing over
you, nor is it far off. before you, as HWHY has spoken.
12 “It is not in the heavens, to say, ‘Who 4 “And HWHY shall do to them as He did to
shall ascend into the heavens for us, and SiÁon and to OÍ, the sovereigns of the
bring it to us, and cause us to hear it, so Amorites and their land, when He
that we do it?’ destroyed them.
13 “Nor is it beyond the sea, to say, ‘Who 5 “And HWHY shall give them over to you,
shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to and you shall do to them according to all
us, and cause us to hear it, so that we do it?’ the command which I have commanded
14 “For the Word is very near you, in your you.
mouth and in your heart – to do it. 6 “Be strong and courageous, do not fear
15 “See, I have set before you today life nor be afraid of them. For it is HWHY your
and good, and death and evil, Elohim who is going with you. He does
16 in that I am commanding you today to not fail you nor forsake you.”
219 DEÉARIM 31
7 And Mosheh called Yehoshua and said sake them and hide My face from them,
to him before the eyes of all Yisra’Ãl, “Be and they shall be consumed. And many
strong and courageous, for you are going evils and distresses shall come upon them,
with this people to the land which HWHY and it shall be said in that day, ‘Is it not
has sworn to their fathers to give them, and because our Elohim is not in our midst that
you are to let them inherit it. these evils have come upon us?’
8 “And it is HWHY who is going before 18 “And I shall certainly hide My face in
you, He Himself is with you. He does not that day, because of all the evil which they
fail you nor forsake you. Do not fear nor have done, for they shall turn to other
be discouraged.” mighty ones.
9 And Mosheh wrote this Torah and gave 19 “And now write down this song for
it to the priests, the sons of LÃwi, who bore yourselves, and teach it to the children of
the ark of the covenant of HWHY, and to all Yisra’Ãl. Put it in their mouths, so that
the elders of Yisra’Ãl. this song is to Me for a witness against the
10 And Mosheh commanded them, saying, children of Yisra’Ãl.
“At the end of seven years, at the appoint- 20 “And I shall bring them to the land
ed time, the year of release, at the Festival flowing with milk and honey, of which I
of Booths, swore to their fathers, and they shall eat
11 when all Yisra’Ãl comes to appear and be satisfied and be fat, then they shall
before HWHY your Elohim in the place turn to other mighty ones, and they shall
which He chooses, read this Torah before serve them, and scorn Me and break My
all Yisra’Ãl in their hearing. covenant.
12 “Assemble the people, the men and the 21 “And it shall be, when many evils and
women and the little ones, and your distresses come upon them, that this song
sojourner who is within your gates, so that shall answer before them as a witness. For
they hear, and so that they learn to fear it is not to be forgotten in the mouths of
HWHY your Elohim and guard to do all the their seed, for I know their thoughts which
Words of this Torah. they are forming today, even before I bring
13 “And their children, who have not them to the land of which I swore to give
known it, should hear and learn to fear them.”
HWHY your Elohim as long as you live in the 22 And Mosheh wrote this song the same
land you are passing over the YardÃn to day, and taught it to the children of
possess.” Yisra’Ãl.
14 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “See, the 23 And He commanded Yehoshua son of
days have drawn near for you to die. Call Nun, and said, “Be strong and courageous,
Yehoshua, and present yourselves in the for you are to bring the children of Yisra’Ãl
Tent of Meeting, so that I command him.” into the land of which I swore to them, and
And Mosheh and Yehoshua went and pre- I Myself am with you.”
sented themselves in the Tent of Meeting. 24 And it came to be, when Mosheh had
15 And HWHY appeared at the Tent in a completed writing the Words of this Torah
column of a cloud, and the column of a in a book, until their completion,
cloud stood above the door of the Tent. 25 that Mosheh commanded the LÃwites,
16 And HWHY said to Mosheh, “See, you who bore the ark of the covenant of HWHY,
are about to sleep with your fathers. And saying,
this people shall rise and whore after the 26 “Take this Book of the Torah, and you
mighty ones of the strangers of the land shall place it beside the ark of the covenant
into the midst of which they shall enter, of HWHY your Elohim, and it shall be there
and forsake Me and break My covenant as a witness against you,
which I have made with them. 27 for I myself know your rebellion and
17 “Then My displeasure shall burn your stiff neck. See, while I am still alive
against them in that day, and I shall for- with you today, you have been rebellious
DEÉARIM 31 220
against HWHY, then how much more after He set the boundaries of the peoples
my death? According to the number of the
28 “Assemble unto me all the elders of children of Yisra’Ãl.
9 “For the portion of HWHY is His people,
your tribes, and your officers, so that I
speak these words in their hearing and call YaÈaqoÄ His allotted inheritance.
10 “He found him in a wilderness,
the heavens and the earth to witness
against them. And in a wasted, howling desert.
29 “For I know that after my death you He encompassed him,
shall do very corruptly and turn aside from He made him understand,
the way which I have commanded you. He watched over him as the apple of
And evil shall come to you in the latter His eye. x
11 “As an eagle stirs up its nest,
days, because you do what is evil in the
eyes of HWHY, to provoke Him through the Flutters over its young,
work of your hands.” Spreading out its wings, taking them
30 So Mosheh spoke in the hearing of all up,
the assembly of Yisra’Ãl the words of this Bearing them on its wings.
12 “HWHY alone led him,
song till their completion:
And there was no strange mighty one
32 “Give ear, O heavens, and let me
speak;
with him.
13 “He made him ride in the heights of the
generations. Eloah –
Ask your father and let him show you, Mighty ones they did not know,
Your elders, and let them say to you: New ones who came lately,
8 “When the Most High gave the nations Which your fathers did not fear.
their inheritance 18 “You neglected the Rock who brought
And forgot the Âl who fathered you. And HWHY had given them up?
19 “And HWHY saw, and despised, 31 “For their rock is not like our Rock –
Because of the provocation of His sons Even our enemies are judges.
and His daughters. 32 “Their vine is of the vine of SeÅom
20 “And He said, ‘Let Me hide My face
And of the fields of Amorah;
from them, Their grapes are grapes of gall,
Let Me see what their end is, Their clusters are bitter.
For they are a perverse generation, 33 “Their wine is the poison of serpents,
Children in whom there is no trusting. And the fierce venom of cobras.
21 “They made Me jealous by what is not 34 ‘Is it not stored up with Me,
Âl, Sealed up among My treasures?
They provoked Me with their worthless 35 ‘Vengeance is Mine, and repayment,
matters. At the time their foot slips;
But I make them jealous by those who For near is the day of their calamity,
are no people, And the matters prepared are hastening
I provoke them with a foolish nation. to them.’
22 “For a fire was kindled in My wrath 36 “For HWHY rightly rules His people
And burns to the bottom of She’ol, And has compassion on His servants,
And consumes the earth and its When He sees that their power is gone,
increase, And there is no one remaining,
And sets on fire the foundations of Shut up or at large.
mountains. 37 “And He shall say,
23 “I gather evils upon them,
‘Where are their mighty ones,
I use up My arrows upon them – The rock in whom they sought refuge?
24 “Wasted by scarcity of food, 38 ‘Who ate the fat of their slaughterings,
And consumed by heat and bitter And drank the wine of their drink
destruction, offering?
And the teeth of beasts I send upon Let them arise and help you,
them, Let it be a hiding-place for you!
With the poison of serpents of the dust. 39 ‘See now that I, I am He,
25 “The sword bereaves from the outside, And there is no Elohim besides Me.
And fear from within, I put to death and I make alive.
Both young man and maiden, I have wounded, and I heal.
Nursing child with the man of grey And from My hand no one delivers!
hairs. 40 ‘For I lift My hand to the heavens,
26 “I said, ‘I should blow them away, And shall say: As I live forever,
I should make the remembrance 41 ‘If I have sharpened My flashing
of them sword,
To cease from among men, And My hand takes hold on judgment,
27 ‘If I did not fear the enemy’s taunt, I shall return vengeance to My
Lest their adversaries misunderstand, enemies,
Lest they say, “Our hand is high, And repay those who hate Me.
And HWHY has not done all this.” ’ 42 ‘I make My arrows drunk with blood,
28 “For they are a nation lost to counsel, And My sword devours flesh,
And there is no understanding in them. With the blood of the slain and the
29 “If they were wise, captives,
They would understand this, From the long-haired enemy chiefs.’
They would consider their latter end! 43 “O nations, acclaim His people!
30 “How would one chase a thousand, For He avenges the blood of His
And two put ten thousand to flight, servants,
Unless their Rock had sold them, And returns vengeance to His
DEÉARIM 32 222
these words to all Yisra’Ãl, “Hear, HWHY, the voice of YehuÅah, and
46 he said to them, “Set your heart on all bring him to his people. His hands shall
the words with which I warn you today, so fight for him, and You be a help against his
that you command your children to guard enemies.”
to do all the Words of this Torah. 8 And of LÃwi he said, “Your Tummim
47 “For it is not a worthless Word for you, and Your Urim belong to Your kind one,
because it is your life, and by this Word whom You tried at Massah, with whom
you prolong your days on the soil which You contended at the waters of MeriÄah,
you pass over the YardÃn to possess.” 9 who said of his father and mother, ‘I
48 And HWHY spoke to Mosheh that same have not seen them.’ And he did not
day, saying, acknowledge his brothers, or know his
49 “Go up this mountain of the AÄarim, own children, for they have guarded Your
Mount NeÄo, which is in the land of Word and watched over Your covenant.
Mo’aÄ, which is opposite YeriÁo, and look 10 “They teach Your right-rulings to
at the land of KenaÈan, which I give to the YaÈaqoÄ, and Your Torah to Yisra’Ãl. They
children of Yisra’Ãl as a possession, put incense before You, and a complete
50 and die on the mountain which you burnt offering on Your altar.
ascend, and be gathered to your people, as 11 “O HWHY, bless his strength, and accept
Aharon your brother died on Mount Hor the work of his hands. Smite the loins of
and was gathered to his people, those who rise against him, and of those
51 because you trespassed against Me in who hate him, that they rise no more.”
the midst of the children of Yisra’Ãl at the 12 Of Binyamin he said, “Let the beloved
waters of MeriÄah QaÅÃsh, in the Wilder- of HWHY dwell in safety by Him, shielding
ness of Tsin, because you did not set Me him all the day, as he dwells between His
apart in the midst of the children of Yis- shoulders.”
ra’Ãl. 13 And of YosÃph he said, “Blessed of
52 “For you are to look at the land before HWHY is his land, with the choicest from the
you, but not enter there, into the land heavens, with the dew, and the deep lying
which I am giving to the children of beneath,
Yisra’Ãl.” 14 with the choice fruits of the sun, with
and rose from SÃÈir for them. He shone that fills it, and the good pleasure of Him
forth from Mount Paran, and came with who dwelt in the bush. Let it come on the
ten thousands of set-apart ones – at His head of YosÃph, and on the crown of the
right hand a law of fire for them. head of him who was separate from his
3 Indeed, He loves the peoples, all His brothers.
set-apart ones are in Your hand. And they, 17 “His splendour is like a first-born bull,
they sat down at Your feet, receiving Your and his horns are like the horns of the wild
Words. ox. With them he pushes the peoples to the
4 Mosheh commanded us a Torah, an ends of the earth. And they are the ten
223 DEÉARIM 34
blessed of sons. Let him be accepted by his twenty years old when he died. His eyes
brothers, and dip his foot in oil. were not dim nor his freshness gone.
8 And the children of Yisra’Ãl wept
25 “Your sandals are iron and bronze, and
your strength as your days. for Mosheh in the desert plains of Mo’aÄ
26 “O Yeshurun, there is no one like Âl, thirty days. And the days of weeping and
riding the heavens to help you, and on the mourning for Mosheh were completed.
9 And Yehoshua son of Nun was filled
clouds, in His excellency.
27 “The Elohim of old is a refuge, and with the spirit of wisdom, for Mosheh had
beneath are everlasting arms. And He laid his hands on him. And the children of
drives out the enemy from before you and Yisra’Ãl listened to him, and did as HWHY
says, ‘Destroy!’ had commanded Mosheh.
28 “Thus Yisra’Ãl dwells in safety, the 10 And since then no prophet has arisen in
fountain of YaÈaqoÄ alone, in a land of Yisra’Ãl like Mosheh, whom HWHY knew
grain and new wine. His heavens also drop face to face,
11 for all the signs and wonders which
down dew.
29 “Blessed are you, O Yisra’Ãl! Who is HWHY sent him to do in the land of
like you, a people saved by HWHY, the shield Mitsrayim, before Pharaoh, and before all
of your help, and He who is the sword of his servants, and in all his land,
your excellency! And your enemies are 12 and for all that strong hand and all
subdued for you, and you tread down their the great fearsome deeds which Mosheh
high places.” did before the eyes of all Yisra’Ãl.
YEHOSHUA
JOSHUA
spoke to Yehoshua son of Nun, the assis- and to the GaÅites and to half the tribe of
tant of Mosheh, saying, Menashsheh, saying,
2 “Mosheh My servant is dead, so now, 13 “Remember the word which Mosheh,
arise, pass over this YardÃn, you and all servant of HWHY, commanded you, saying,
this people, to the land which I am giving ‘HWHY your Elohim is giving you rest, and
to them, to the children of Yisra’Ãl. He shall give you this land.’
3 “Every place on which the sole of your 14 “Let your wives, your little ones, and
foot treads I have given you, as I spoke to your livestock stay in the land which
Mosheh. Mosheh gave you beyond the YardÃn. But
4 “From the wilderness and this LeÄanon you shall pass before your brothers armed,
even as far as the great river, the River all your brave fighters, and shall help
Euphrates, all the land of the Àittites, and them,
to the Great Sea toward the going down of 15 until HWHY has given your brothers rest,
the sun, is your border. as unto you. So shall they also take posses-
5 “No man is going to stand before you sion of the land which HWHY your Elohim is
all the days of your life. As I was with giving them. Then you shall return to the
Mosheh, so I am with you. I do not fail you land of your possession, and shall possess
nor forsake you. that which Mosheh the servant of HWHY
6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are gave you beyond the YardÃn toward the
to let this people inherit the land which I rising of the sun.”
swore to their fathers to give them. 16 And they answered Yehoshua, saying,
7 “Only be strong and very courageous, “All that you have commanded us we do,
to guard to do according to all the Torah and wherever you send us we go.
which Mosheh My servant commanded 17 “According to all that we obeyed
you. Do not turn from it right or left, so Mosheh, so we obey you. Only, let HWHY
that you act wisely wherever you go. your Elohim be with you, as He was with
8 “Do not let this Book of the Torah Mosheh.
depart from your mouth, but you shall 18 “Whoever rebels against your com-
meditate on it day and night, so that you mand and does not obey your words, in all
guard to do according to all that is written that you command him, is put to death.
in it. For then you shall make your way Only be strong and courageous.”
prosperous, and act wisely.
9 “Have I not commanded you? Be
strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, 2 And Yehoshua son of Nun secretly
sent out two men from Shittim to spy,
nor be discouraged, for HWHY your Elohim saying, “Go, see the land, and YeriÁo.”
is with you wherever you go.” And they went, and came to the house of
10 And Yehoshua commanded the officers a woman, a whore, and her name was
of the people, saying, RaÁaÄ, and they lay down there.
11 “Pass through the midst of the camp 2 But it was reported to the sovereign of
and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare YeriÁo, saying, “See, men from the chil-
food for yourselves, for within three days dren of Yisra’Ãl have come here tonight to
you are passing over this YardÃn, to go in search out the land.”
to possess the land which HWHY your 3 And the sovereign of YeriÁo sent to
225 YEHOSHUA 3
RaÁaÄ, saying, “Bring out the men who 15 So she let them down by a rope through
have come to you, who have entered your the window, for her house was on the city
house, for they have come to search out all wall and she dwelt on the wall.
the land.” 16 And she said to them, “Go to the moun-
4 But the woman had taken the two men tain, lest the pursuers come upon you. And
and hid them. So she said, “The men came you shall hide there three days, until the
to me, but I did not know where they were pursuers have returned, and afterwards go
from. on your way.”
5 “Then it came to be as the gate was 17 And the men said to her, “We are
being shut, when it was dark, that the men released from this oath of yours which you
went out. I do not know where the men have made us swear,
went. Pursue them quickly, so that you 18 unless, when we come into the land,
the gate afterwards as soon as the pursuers outside the doors of your house into the
had gone out. street, his blood is on his own head, and we
8 And before they lay down, she came up are innocent. And anyone who is with you
to them on the roof, in the house, his blood is on our head if a
9 and she said to the men, “I know that hand is laid on him.
HWHY has given you the land, and that the 20 “And if you expose this matter of ours,
fear of you has fallen on us, and that all the then we shall be released from your oath
inhabitants of the land melt away because which you made us swear.”
of you. 21 And she said, “Let it be according to
10 “For we have heard how HWHY dried up your words.” And she sent them away, and
the water of the Sea of Reeds for you when they went. And she bound the scarlet cord
you came out of Mitsrayim, and what you in the window.
did to the two sovereigns of the Amorites 22 So they left and came to the mountain,
who were beyond the YardÃn, SiÁon and and stayed there three days until the
OÍ, whom you put under the ban. pursuers returned. And the pursuers sought
11 “And when we heard, our hearts melt- them in all the way, but did not find them.
ed, and there was no spirit left in anyone 23 Then the two men returned and came
because of you, for HWHY your Elohim, He down from the mountain, and passed over.
is Elohim in the heavens above and on And they came to Yehoshua son of Nun,
earth beneath. and related to him all that had befallen
12 “And now, please swear to me by HWHY, them.
since I have shown you kindness, that you 24 And they said to Yehoshua, “Truly
also show kindness to my father’s house, HWHY has given all the land into our hands,
and shall give me a true token, and also, all the inhabitants of the land
13 and shall spare my father, and my have melted away because of us.”
mother, and my brothers, and my sisters,
and all that they have, and shall deliver our
lives from death.” 3 And Yehoshua rose early in the morn-
ing, and they set out from Shittim and
14 And the men said to her, “Our lives for came to the YardÃn, he and all the children
yours, if you do not expose this matter of of Yisra’Ãl, and stayed there before they
ours, then it shall be, when HWHY has given passed over.
us the land, that we shall treat you in 2 And it came to be, after three days, that
kindness and truth.” the officers went into the midst of the
YEHOSHUA 3 226
priests, the LÃwites, bearing it, then you YardÃn, and the feet of the priests bearing
shall set out from your place and follow it. the ark dipped in the edge of the water –
4 “Only, keep a distance between you now the YardÃn overflows all its banks
and it, about two thousand cubits by during all the time of harvest –
measure. Do not come near it, so that you 16 that the waters which came down from
know which way to go, for you have not upstream stood still, and rose in a heap
passed over this way before.” very far away at AÅam, the city that is
5 And Yehoshua said to the people, “Set beside Tsarethan. And the waters going
yourselves apart, for tomorrow HWHY is down into the Sea of the AraÄah, the Salt
doing wonders in your midst.” Sea, were completely cut off. And the
6 And Yehoshua spoke to the priests, say- people passed over opposite YeriÁo.
ing, “Take up the ark of the covenant and 17 And the priests bearing the ark of the
pass over before the people.” So they took covenant of HWHY stood firm on dry ground
up the ark of the covenant and went before in the midst of the YardÃn. And all Yisra’Ãl
the people. passed over on dry ground, until all the
7 And HWHY said to Yehoshua, “This day I nation had completely passed over the
begin to make you great before the eyes of YardÃn.
all Yisra’Ãl, so that they know that I am
with you as I was with Mosheh.
8 “And you, command the priests who 4 And it came to be, when the entire
nation had completely passed over
bear the ark of the covenant, saying, the YardÃn, that HWHY spoke to Yehoshua,
‘When you come to the edge of the water saying,
of the YardÃn, stand in the YardÃn.’ ” 2 “Take for yourselves twelve men from
9 And Yehoshua said to the children of the people, one man from every tribe,
Yisra’Ãl, “Come near, and hear the words 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take for
before you into the YardÃn. before the ark of HWHY your Elohim into the
12 “And now, take for yourselves twelve midst of the YardÃn, and each one of you
men from the tribes of Yisra’Ãl, one man take up a stone on his shoulder, according
from every tribe. to the number of the tribes of the children
13 “And it shall be, as soon as the soles of of Yisra’Ãl,
the feet of the priests who bear the ark of 6 so that this shall be a sign in your midst
HWHY, the Master of all the earth, come to when your children ask in time to come,
rest in the waters of the YardÃn, that the saying, ‘What do these stones mean to
waters of the YardÃn are cut off, the waters you?’
that come down from upstream, and stand 7 “Then you shall answer them that the
passed over the YardÃn, the waters of the 19 And the people came up from the
YardÃn were cut off. And these stones shall YardÃn on the tenth day of the first month,
be for a remembrance to the children of and they camped in Gilgal on the east
Yisra’Ãl forever.” border of YeriÁo.
8 And the children of Yisra’Ãl did so, as 20 And those twelve stones which they
Yehoshua commanded, and took up twelve took out of the YardÃn, Yehoshua set up in
stones from the midst of the YardÃn, as Gilgal.
HWHY had spoken to Yehoshua, according to 21 And he said to the children of Yisra’Ãl,
the number of the tribes of the children of saying, “When your children ask their
Yisra’Ãl, and took them over with them to fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are
their camp, and laid them down there. these stones?’
9 Yehoshua also set up twelve stones in 22 then you shall let your children know,
the midst of the YardÃn, in the place where saying, ‘Yisra’Ãl passed over this YardÃn
the feet of the priests who bore the ark of on dry land,’
the covenant stood. And they are there to 23 for HWHY your Elohim dried up the
to all that Mosheh had commanded Yeho- know the hand of HWHY, that it is strong, so
shua. And the people hastened and passed that you shall fear HWHY your Elohim
over. forever.”
11 And it came to be, when all the people
before the eyes of all Yisra’Ãl. And they “Make knives of flint for yourself, and
feared him, as they had feared Mosheh, all circumcise the sons of Yisra’Ãl again the
the days of his life. second time.”
15 And HWHY spoke to Yehoshua, saying, 3 So Yehoshua made knives of flint for
16 “Command the priests who bear the ark himself, and circumcised the sons of
of the Witness, and let them come up from Yisra’Ãl at the Hill of Foreskins.
the YardÃn.” 4 And this is why Yehoshua circumcised
17 And Yehoshua commanded the priests, them: All the people who came out of
saying, “Come up from the YardÃn.” Mitsrayim who were males, all the men of
18 And it came to be, when the priests battle, had died in the wilderness on the
who bore the ark of the covenant of HWHY way, after they had come out of Mitsrayim.
had come from the midst of the YardÃn, 5 For all the people who came out had
and the soles of the priests’ feet touched been circumcised, but all the people who
the dry land, that the waters of the YardÃn were born in the wilderness on the way as
returned to their place and flowed over all they came out of Mitsrayim had not been
its banks as before. circumcised.
YEHOSHUA 5 228
forty years in the wilderness, till all the 6 And YeriÁo was shut up tight because
of the presence of the sons of Yisra’Ãl
nation – the men of battle who came out of – none going out, and none coming in.
Mitsrayim – were consumed, because they 2 And HWHY said to Yehoshua, “See! I
did not obey the voice of HWHY, to whom have given YeriÁo and its sovereign,
HWHY swore not to show them the land mighty brave men, into your hand.
3 “And you shall go around the city, all
which HWHY had sworn to their fathers that
He would give us, “a land flowing with the men of battle going around the city
milk and honey.” once. Do this for six days.
7 And Yehoshua circumcised their sons 4 “And let seven priests bear seven rams’
whom He raised up in their place; for they horns before the ark, and on the seventh
were uncircumcised, because they had not day go around the city seven times while
been circumcised on the way. the priests blow the horns.
8 And it came to be, when they had 5 “And it shall be, when they make a
completed circumcising all the nation, that long blast with the ram’s horn, and when
they stayed in their places in the camp till you hear the sound of the horn, that all the
they were healed. people shout with a great shout. And the
9 And HWHY said to Yehoshua, “Today I wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the
have rolled away the reproach of Mits- people shall go up every man straight
rayim from you.” So the name of the place before him.”
6 And Yehoshua son of Nun called the
is called Gilgal to this day.
10 And the children of Yisra’Ãl camped in priests and said to them, “Take up the ark
Gilgal, and performed the Passover on the of the covenant, and let seven priests bear
seven rams’ horns before the ark of HWHY.”
fourteenth day of the month at evening on 7 And he said to the people, “Pass over,
the desert plains of YeriÁo.
11 And they ate of the stored grain of the and go around the city, and let him who is
armed pass over before the ark of HWHY.”
land on the morrow after the Passover, 8 And it came to be, when Yehoshua had
unleavened bread and roasted grain on this spoken to the people, that the seven priests
same day. bearing the seven rams’ horns before HWHY
12 And the manna ceased on the day after
passed over and blew the horns, and the
they had eaten the stored grain of the land. ark of the covenant of HWHY went after
And the children of Yisra’Ãl no longer had them.
manna, but they ate the food of the land of 9 And the armed men went before the
KenaÈan that year. priests who blew the horns, and the rear
13 And it came to be, when Yehoshua was
guard came after the ark, going on and
by YeriÁo, that he lifted his eyes and blowing the horns.
looked and saw a Man standing opposite 10 But Yehoshua had commanded the peo-
him with His sword drawn in His hand. ple, saying, “Do not shout or cause your
And Yehoshua went to Him and said to voice to be heard, nor let any word come
Him, “Are You for us or for our adver- out of your mouth, until the day I say to
saries?” you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout.”
14 And He said, “No, for I have now come 11 And the ark of HWHY went around the
as Captain of the host of HWHY.” And city, going around once. And they came
Yehoshua fell on his face to the earth and into the camp and stayed in the camp.
did obeisance, and said to Him, “What is 12 And Yehoshua rose early in the morn-
my Master saying to His servant?” ing, and the priests took up the ark of HWHY.
15 And the Captain of the host of HWHY 13 And seven priests bearing seven rams’
said to Yehoshua, “Take your sandal off horns before the ark of HWHY were walking,
your foot, for the place where you stand is going on, and they blew the horns, and the
set-apart.” And Yehoshua did so. armed men went before them. But the rear
229 YEHOSHUA 7
that they rose early, about the dawning of the whore, and her father’s household, and
the day, and went around the city seven all that she had. And she dwelt in the midst
times in this way. Only on that day they of Yisra’Ãl to this day, because she hid the
went around the city seven times. messengers whom Yehoshua sent to spy
16 And it came to be at the seventh time, out YeriÁo.
26 And Yehoshua warned them at that
when the priests blew the horns, that
Yehoshua said to the people, “Shout, for time, saying, “Cursed is the man before
HWHY has given you the city! HWHY who rises up and builds this city
17 “And the city shall be put under the YeriÁo – he lays its foundation with his
ban, it and all that is in it belongs to HWHY. first-born, and with his youngest he sets up
Only RaÁaÄ the whore is to live, she and its gates.”
27 And HWHY was with Yehoshua, and a
all who are with her in the house, because
she hid the messengers that we sent. report about him was in all the land.
18 “And you, by all means guard your-
people went up into the city, every man to him, “Let not all the people go up, but
straight before him, and they captured the let about two or three thousand men go up
city. and smite Ai. Do not make all the people
21 And they put under the ban all that was toil up there, for the people of Ai are few.”
in the city, both man and woman, young 4 And about three thousand men went up
and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, there from the people, but they fled before
with the edge of the sword. the men of Ai.
22 And to the two men who had spied out 5 And the men of Ai smote about thirty-
the land Yehoshua said, “Go into the house six men, for they pursued them from
of the woman, the whore, and from there before the gate as far as SheÄarim, and
bring out the woman and all that she has, smote them on the descent. So the hearts of
as you swore to her.” the people melted and became like water.
23 And the young men, the spies, went in 6 And Yehoshua tore his garments, and
and brought out RaÁaÄ, and her father, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark
her mother, and her brothers, and all that of HWHY until evening, both he and the
she had. So they brought out all her rela- elders of Yisra’Ãl, and they put dust on
tives and set them outside the camp of their heads.
Yisra’Ãl. 7 And Yehoshua said, “Oh Master HWHY,
YEHOSHUA 7 230
why have You brought this people over the and he took the clan of the ZarÁites. And
YardÃn at all, to give us into the hand of he brought the clan of the ZarÁites by men,
the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had and ZaÄdi was taken.
been content to stay beyond the YardÃn! 18 And he brought his household by men,
8 “O HWHY, what do I say when Yisra’Ãl and A¿an son of Karmi, son of ZaÄdi, son
turns its back before its enemies, of ZeraÁ, of the tribe of YehuÅah, was
9 and the KenaÈanites and all the inhabi- taken.
tants of the land hear, and shall surround 19 Then Yehoshua said to A¿an, “My son,
us, and cut off our name from the earth. now give esteem to HWHY Elohim of Yis-
What then do You do for Your great ra’Ãl, and make confession to Him. And
Name?” please declare to me what you have done,
10 And HWHY said to Yehoshua, “Rise up! do not hide it from me.”
Why are you lying on your face? 20 So A¿an answered Yehoshua and said,
11 “Yisra’Ãl has sinned, and they have also “Truly, I have sinned against HWHY Elohim
transgressed My covenant which I com- of Yisra’Ãl, and this is what I did:
manded them. And they have even taken 21 “When I saw among the spoil a lovely
some of that which is under the ban, and garment from ShinÈar, and two hundred
have both stolen and deceived, and also sheqels of silver, and a wedge of gold
put it among their own goods. weighing fifty sheqels, I coveted them and
12 “And the sons of Yisra’Ãl shall not be took them. And see, they are hidden in the
able to stand before their enemies. They ground in the midst of my tent, with the
are going to turn their backs before their silver under it.”
enemies, for they have become accursed. I 22 And Yehoshua sent messengers, and
am not with you any more, unless you they ran to the tent. And see, it was hidden
destroy that which is under the ban from in his tent, with the silver under it.
your midst. 23 And they took them from the midst of
13 “Rise up, set the people apart, and you the tent, brought them to Yehoshua and to
shall say, ‘Set yourselves apart for tomor- all the children of Yisra’Ãl, and laid them
row, because thus said HWHY Elohim of out before HWHY.
Yisra’Ãl, “That which is under the ban is in 24 Then Yehoshua, and all Yisra’Ãl with
your midst, O Yisra’Ãl. You are not able to him, took A¿an son of ZeraÁ, and the
stand before your enemies until you put silver, and the garment, and the wedge of
away that which is under the ban out of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and
your midst.” his oxen, and his donkeys, and his sheep,
14 ‘And you shall be brought near in the and his tent, and all that he had, and they
morning, according to your tribes. And it brought them to the Valley of A¿or.
shall be, the tribe which HWHY takes comes 25 And Yehoshua said, “Why have you
according to clans. And the clan which troubled us? HWHY does trouble you today!”
HWHY takes comes by households. And the Then all Yisra’Ãl stoned him with stones.
household which HWHY takes comes by And they burned them with fire after they
men. had stoned them with stones.
15 ‘And it shall be that he who is taken 26 And they raised over him a great heap
with that which is under the ban is burned of stones, which remains to this day. Then
with fire, he and all that he has, because he HWHY turned from the fierceness of His dis-
has transgressed the covenant of HWHY, and pleasure. Therefore the name of that place
because he has committed wickedness in has been called the Valley of A¿or to this
Yisra’Ãl.’ ” day.
16 So Yehoshua arose early in the morning
Ai. See, I have given into your hand the Yehoshua went that night into the midst of
sovereign of Ai, and his people, and his the valley.
city, and his land. 14 And it came to be, when the sovereign
2 “So you shall do to Ai and its sovereign of Ai saw it, that the men of the city
as you did to YeriÁo and its sovereign. hastened and rose up early and went out
Only its spoil and its livestock you take as against Yisra’Ãl to battle, he and all his
plunder for yourselves. Set for yourselves people, at an appointed place before the
an ambush for the city, behind it.” desert plain. But he did not know that
3 And Yehoshua and all the soldiers rose there was an ambush against him behind
up, to go up to Ai. And Yehoshua chose the city.
thirty thousand mighty brave men and sent 15 And Yehoshua and all Yisra’Ãl let
city, behind the city. Do not go very far called together to pursue them. And they
from the city, but all of you shall be pursued Yehoshua and were drawn away
prepared, from the city.
5 while I and all the people who are with 17 So there was not a man left in Ai or
me approach the city. And it shall be, when BÃyth Âl who did not go out after Yisra’Ãl,
they come out against us, as formerly, that and they left the city open and pursued
we shall flee before them, Yisra’Ãl.
6 and they shall come out after us till we 18 And HWHY said to Yehoshua, “Stretch
have drawn them from the city, as though out the spear that is in your hand toward
saying, ‘They are fleeing before us as Ai, for I give it into your hand.” And
formerly.’ And we shall flee before them, Yehoshua stretched out the spear that he
7 then you shall rise from the ambush and had in his hand toward the city,
seize the city. And HWHY your Elohim shall 19 and the ambush rose up quickly from
give it into your hand. their place, and they ran at the stretching
8 “And it shall be, when you capture the out of his hand, and entered the city and
city, that you burn the city with fire. Do took it, and hastened to burn the city with
according to the word of HWHY. See, I have fire.
commanded you.” 20 And the men of Ai looked behind them
9 And Yehoshua sent them out. And they and saw the smoke of the city rising to the
went to lie in ambush, and stayed between heavens. And there was no power in them
BÃyth Âl and Ai, on the west side of Ai. to flee this way or that way, for the people
But Yehoshua stayed that night in the who had fled to the wilderness turned back
midst of the people. on the pursuers.
10 And Yehoshua rose up early in the 21 For when Yehoshua and all Yisra’Ãl
morning and inspected the people, and saw that the ambush had captured the city
went up, he and the elders of Yisra’Ãl, and that the smoke of the city went up,
before the people to Ai. they turned back and smote the men of Ai.
11 And all the soldiers who were with him 22 The others also came out of the city
went up and drew near, and came before against them, so they were in the midst of
the city and camped on the north side of Yisra’Ãl, some on this side and some on
Ai, with the valley between them and Ai. that side. And they smote them until none
12 And he took about five thousand men were left, and none had escaped.
and set them in ambush between BÃyth Âl 23 But the sovereign of Ai they caught
and Ai, on the west side of the city. alive, and brought him to Yehoshua.
13 So they stationed the people, all the 24 And it came to be, when Yisra’Ãl ended
army that was on the north of the city, and slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the
its rear guard on the west of the city, and field, in the wilderness where they pur-
YEHOSHUA 8 232
sued them, and when they all had fallen by of the Torah.
the edge of the sword until they were con- 35 There was not a word of all that
sumed, that all the Yisra’Ãlites returned to Mosheh had commanded which Yehoshua
Ai and smote it with the edge of the did not read before all the assembly of
sword. Yisra’Ãl, with the women, and the little
25 And it came to be that all who fell that ones, and the sojourners who accompanied
day, both men and women, were twelve them.
thousand – all men of Ai.
26 And Yehoshua did not draw back his
hand, with which he stretched out the 9 And it came to be, when all the
sovereigns who were beyond the
spear, until he had put all the inhabitants of YardÃn, in the hills and in the low country
Ai under the ban. and in all the coasts of the Great Sea
27 Only the livestock and the spoil of that toward LeÄanon – the Àittite and the
city Yisra’Ãl took as booty for themselves, Amorite, the KenaÈanite and the Perizzite,
according to the word of HWHY which He the Àiwwite and the YeÄusite – heard,
had commanded Yehoshua. 2 they gathered together to fight with
28 And Yehoshua burned Ai and made it a Yehoshua and Yisra’Ãl with one accord.
heap forever, a ruin to this day. 3 And the inhabitants of GiÄÈon heard
29 And he hanged the sovereign of Ai on a what Yehoshua had done to YeriÁo and Ai,
tree until evening. And at sunset Yehoshua 4 and they acted slyly and went and pre-
commanded that they should take his tended to be envoys. And they took old
corpse down from the tree, and throw it at sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn
the entrance of the gate of the city, and and mended,
raise over it a great heap of stones, to this 5 and old and patched sandals on their
commanded the children of Yisra’Ãl, as it camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the
is written in the Book of the Torah of men of Yisra’Ãl, “We have come from a far
Mosheh, “an altar of unhewn stones over land, and now, make a covenant with us.”
which no man has wielded iron.” And they 7 But the men of Yisra’Ãl said to the
offered on it burnt offerings to HWHY, and Àiwwites, “It could be that you dwell in
slaughtered peace offerings. our midst, so how would we make a
32 And there, in the presence of the covenant with you?”
children of Yisra’Ãl, he wrote on the stones 8 And they said to Yehoshua, “We are
a copy of the Torah of Mosheh, which he your servants.” And Yehoshua said to
had written. them, “Who are you, and where do you
33 And all Yisra’Ãl – the sojourner as well come from?”
as the native – with their elders and offi- 9 So they said to him, “From a land very
cers and judges, stood on either side of the far off your servants have come, because
ark before the priests, the LÃwites, who of the Name of HWHY your Elohim. For we
bore the ark of the covenant of HWHY. Half have heard the report of Him, and all that
of them were in front of Mount Gerizim He did in Mitsrayim,
and half of them in front of Mount ÂyÄal, 10 and all that He had done to the two
as Mosheh the servant of HWHY had com- sovereigns of the Amorites who were
manded before, that they should bless the beyond the YardÃn, to SiÁon sovereign of
people of Yisra’Ãl. Àeshbon, and OÍ sovereign of Bashan,
34 And afterward he read all the words of who was at Ashtaroth.
the Torah, the blessings and the cursings, 11 “So our elders and all the inhabitants of
according to all that is written in the Book our land spoke to us, saying, ‘Take food
233 YEHOSHUA 10
with you for the journey, and go to meet 24 And they answered Yehoshua and said,
them, and say to them, “We are your “Your servants were clearly told that HWHY
servants, and now, make a covenant with your Elohim commanded His servant
us.” ’ Mosheh to give you all the land, and to
12 “This bread of ours we took hot for our destroy all the inhabitants of the land from
provision from our houses on the day that before you. So we were very much afraid
we left to come to you. But now, see, it is for our lives because of you, and have
dry and it is crumby. done this deed.
13 “And these wineskins which we filled 25 “And now, see, we are in your hands.
were new, and see, they are torn. And these Do with us as it seems good and right to
our garments and our sandals have become do to us.”
old because of the very long journey.” 26 And he did so to them, and delivered
14 And the men of Yisra’Ãl took some of them out of the hand of the children of
their food, but they did not ask the mouth Yisra’Ãl, and they did not kill them.
of HWHY. 27 And that day Yehoshua made them
15 And Yehoshua made peace with them, woodcutters and drawers of water for the
and made a covenant with them to let them congregation and for the altar of HWHY,
live, and the rulers of the congregation even to this day, at the place that He should
swore to them. choose.
16 And it came to be at the end of three
congregation had sworn to them by HWHY was a great city, as one of the royal cities,
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl. And all the con- and because it was greater than Ai, and all
gregation grumbled against the rulers. its men were mighty.
19 But all the rulers said to all the con- 3 And AÅoni-TseÅeq sovereign of
gregation, “We have sworn to them by Yerushalayim sent to Hoham sovereign of
HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, and we are unable ÀeÄron, and to Piram sovereign of
to touch them now. Yarmuth, and to Yaphiya sovereign of
20 “Let us do this to them: We shall keep La¿ish, and to DeÄir sovereign of EÍlon,
them alive, lest wrath be upon us because saying,
of the oath which we swore to them.” 4 “Come up to me and help me, and let us
21 And the rulers said to them, “Let them smite GiÄÈon, for it has made peace with
live, but let them be woodcutters and Yehoshua and with the children of
drawers of water for all the congregation, Yisra’Ãl.”
as the rulers had promised them.” 5 So the five sovereigns of the Amorites
22 Then Yehoshua called for them, and he – the sovereign of Yerushalayim, the
spoke to them, saying, “Why have you sovereign of ÀeÄron, the sovereign of
deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from Yarmuth, the sovereign of La¿ish, the
you,’ yet you are dwelling in our midst? sovereign of EÍlon – gathered together and
23 “And now you are cursed, and you went up, they and all their armies, and
shall not cease from being slaves, and camped before GiÄÈon and fought against
woodcutters and drawers of water for the it.
House of my Elohim.” 6 And the men of GiÄÈon sent to
YEHOSHUA 10 234
Yehoshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, saying, “The five sovereigns have been
“Do not withdraw your hand from your found hidden in the cave at MaqqÃÅah.”
servants. Come up to us quickly, and save 18 And Yehoshua said, “Roll large stones
us and help us, for all the sovereigns of the against the mouth of the cave, and set men
Amorites who dwell in the mountains have by it to guard them.
assembled against us.” 19 “And you, do not stand still, but pursue
7 And Yehoshua went up from Gilgal, he your enemies. And you shall smite them in
and all the soldiers with him, and all the the rear. Do not allow them to enter their
mighty brave men. cities, for HWHY your Elohim has given
8 And HWHY said to Yehoshua, “Do not them into your hand.”
fear them, for I have given them into your 20 And it came to be, when Yehoshua and
hand. Not one of them does stand before the children of Yisra’Ãl had ended smiting
you.” them with a very great slaughter, till they
9 So then Yehoshua came upon them had finished – but those who escaped went
suddenly, having gone up all night from into walled cities –
Gilgal. 21 that all the people returned to the camp,
10 And HWHY threw them into confusion to Yehoshua at MaqqÃÅah, in peace. No
before Yisra’Ãl, and they smote them with one moved his tongue against any of the
a great slaughter at GiÄÈon, and pursued sons of Yisra’Ãl.
them along the way that goes to BÃyth 22 Then Yehoshua said, “Open the mouth
Àoron, and smote them as far as AzÃqah of the cave, and bring out those five
and MaqqÃÅah. sovereigns to me from the cave.”
11 And it came to be, as they fled before 23 And they did so, and brought those five
Yisra’Ãl and were on the descent of BÃyth sovereigns to him from the cave: the
Àoron, that HWHY threw down large sovereign of Yerushalayim, the sovereign
hailstones from the heavens on them as far of ÀeÄron, the sovereign of Yarmuth, the
as AzÃqah, and they died. There were more sovereign of La¿ish, the sovereign of
who died from the hailstones than those EÍlon.
whom the sons of Yisra’Ãl had slain with 24 And it came to be, when they brought
stopped, till the nation avenged itself upon be afraid nor be discouraged, be strong and
their enemies. Is this not written in the courageous, for this is what HWHY is going
Book of Yashar? Thus the sun stopped in to do to all your enemies whom you are
the midst of the heavens, and did not fighting.”
hasten to go down for an entire day. 26 And afterward Yehoshua smote them
14 And there has been no day like that, and killed them, and hanged them on five
before it or after it, that HWHY listened to the trees. And they were hanging on the trees
voice of a man, because HWHY fought for until evening.
Yisra’Ãl. 27 And it came to be, at the time of the
15 So Yehoshua returned, and all Yisra’Ãl going down of the sun, that Yehoshua
with him, to the camp at Gilgal. commanded, and they took them down
16 Now these five sovereigns had fled and from the trees, and threw them into the
hidden themselves in a cave at MaqqÃÅah. cave where they had been hidden, and laid
17 And it was reported to Yehoshua, large stones against the cave’s mouth, to
235 YEHOSHUA 11
MaqqÃÅah, and he smote it with the edge its cities. And they smote them with the
of the sword, and he put its sovereign edge of the sword and put all the people
under the ban – them and all the people who were in it under the ban, he left no
who were in it, he left no survivor. And he survivor. As he had done to ÀeÄron, so he
did to the sovereign of MaqqÃÅah as he did to DeÄir and its sovereign, as he had
had done to the sovereign of YeriÁo. done also to LiÄnah and its sovereign.
29 Then Yehoshua passed over, and all 40 Thus Yehoshua smote all the land: the
Yisra’Ãl with him, from MaqqÃÅah to mountain country and the South and the
LiÄnah. And they fought against LiÄnah. low country and the wilderness slopes, and
30 And HWHY also gave it and its sovereign all their sovereigns. He left no survivor,
into the hand of Yisra’Ãl. And he smote it but put all that breathed under the ban, as
and all the people who were in it with the HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl had commanded.
edge of the sword, he left no survivor in it. 41 And Yehoshua smote them from
And he did to its sovereign as he had done QaÅÃsh BarnÃa as far as Azzah, and all the
to the sovereign of YeriÁo. land of Goshen, even as far as GiÄÈon.
31 Then Yehoshua passed over, and all 42 And Yehoshua captured all these sover-
Yisra’Ãl with him, from LiÄnah to La¿ish, eigns and their land at one time, because
and encamped against it and fought against HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl fought for Yis-
it. ra’Ãl.
32 And HWHY gave La¿ish into the hand of 43 And Yehoshua returned, and all Yis-
Yisra’Ãl, who captured it on the second ra’Ãl with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
day, and smote it and all the people who
were in it with the edge of the sword,
according to all that he had done to 11 And it came to be, when YaÄin
sovereign of Àatsor heard, that he
LiÄnah. sent to YoÄaÄ sovereign of MaÅon, and to
33 Then Horam sovereign of Gezer came the sovereign of Shimron, and to the
up to help La¿ish. And Yehoshua smote sovereign of A¿shaph,
him and his people, until he left him no 2 and to the sovereigns who were from
edge of the sword, and its sovereign, and and they came and camped together at the
all its cities, and all the people who were in waters of MÃrom to fight against Yisra’Ãl.
it. He left no survivor, according to all 6 And HWHY said to Yehoshua, “Do not be
that he had done to EÍlon, but put it and all afraid of their presence, for tomorrow
the people who were in it under the ban. about this time I am giving all of them over
38 Then Yehoshua returned, and all to Yisra’Ãl, slain. Hamstring their horses
Yisra’Ãl with him, to DeÄir, and fought and burn their chariots with fire.”
YEHOSHUA 11 236
7 And Yehoshua, and all the soldiers with eigns for a long time.
him, came against them suddenly by the 19 There was not a city that made peace
waters of MÃrom, and they fell on them. with the children of Yisra’Ãl, except the
8 And HWHY gave them into the hand of Àiwwites, the inhabitants of GiÄÈon. All
Yisra’Ãl, and they smote them and pursued the others they took in battle.
them to Great TsiÅon, and to Misrephoth 20 For it was of HWHY to harden their
Mayim, and to the Valley of Mitspeh hearts, that they should come against
eastward. And they smote them until no Yisra’Ãl in battle, in order to put them
survivor was left to them. under the ban, so that they might have no
9 And Yehoshua did to them as HWHY said favour, but that He might annihilate them,
to him: he hamstrung their horses and as HWHY had commanded Mosheh.
burned their chariots with fire. 21 And at that time Yehoshua came and
10 And Yehoshua turned back at that time cut off the Anaqim from the mountains,
and captured Àatsor, and smote its from ÀeÄron, from DeÄir, from AnaÄ, and
sovereign with the sword, for Àatsor was from all the mountains of YehuÅah, and
formerly the head of all those reigns. from all the mountains of Yisra’Ãl.
11 And they smote all the people who Yehoshua put them with their cities under
were in it with the edge of the sword, the ban.
putting them under the ban. He did not 22 There were none of the Anaqim left in
leave anyone breathing. Then he burned the land of the children of Yisra’Ãl; only in
Àatsor with fire. Azzah, in Gath, and in AshdoÅ some
12 And Yehoshua captured all the cities of remained.
those sovereigns, and all their sovereigns, 23 Thus Yehoshua took the entire land,
and he smote them with the edge of the according to all that HWHY had said to
sword. He put them under the ban, as Mosheh. And Yehoshua gave it as an
Mosheh the servant of HWHY commanded. inheritance to Yisra’Ãl according to their
13 However, Yisra’Ãl did not burn any divisions by their tribes. And the land
cities that stood on their mounds, but rested from fighting.
Yehoshua burned only Àatsor.
14 And all the spoil of these cities and the
livestock, the children of Yisra’Ãl took as 12 And these are the sovereigns of the
land whom the children of Yisra’Ãl
booty for themselves. But they smote smote, and whose land they possessed
every man with the edge of the sword until beyond the YardÃn towards the sun-rising,
they had destroyed them, and they did not from the wadi Arnon to Mount Àermon,
leave anyone breathing. and all the desert plain eastward:
15 As HWHY had commanded Mosheh his 2 SiÁon sovereign of the Amorites, who
all the land of Goshen, and the low Kinneroth eastward as far as the Sea of the
country, and the desert plain, and the AraÄah, the Salt Sea, the way to BÃyth
mountains of Yisra’Ãl and its low lands, Yeshimoth, and southward below the
17 from Mount Àalaq that goes up to SÃÈir, slopes of Pisgah,
and as far as BaÈal GaÅ in the Valley of 4 and the border of OÍ, sovereign of
LeÄanon below Mount Àermon. And he Bashan, who was of the remnant of the
captured all their sovereigns, and smote Repha’ites, who dwelt at Ashtaroth and at
them and killed them. EÅreÈi,
18 Yehoshua fought with all those sover- 5 and ruled in Mount Àermon, and in
237 YEHOSHUA 13
Sal¿ah, and in all Bashan, as far as the bor- sovereign of YoqneÈam in Karmel, one;
der of the Geshurites and the MaÈa¿athites, 23 the sovereign of Dor in the heights of
and the half of GilÈaÅ as far as the border Dor, one; the sovereign of the nations of
of SiÁon sovereign of Àeshbon. Gilgal, one;
6 Mosheh the servant of HWHY and the 24 the sovereign of Tirtsah, one – thirty-
Yisra’Ãl smote beyond the YardÃn, on the districts of the Philistines and all the
west, from BaÈal GaÅ in the Valley of Geshurites,
LeÄanon as far as Mount Àalaq that goes 3 from ShiÁor which is in front of
up to SÃÈir, which Yehoshua gave to the Mitsrayim, and up to the border of Eqron
tribes of Yisra’Ãl as a possession according northward, are considered as KenaÈanite
to their divisions, – the five princes of the Philistines,
8 in the mountain country, and in the low the Azzathites, and the AshdoÅites, the
country, and in the desert plain, and in the Eshqelonites, the Gittites, and the Eqron-
slopes, and in the wilderness, and in the ites; also the Awwites
South, the Àittites, the Amorites and the 4 on the south; all the land of the
KenaÈanites, the Perizzites, the Àiwwites, KenaÈanites, and MeÈarah that belongs to
and the YeÄusites: the TsiÅonians as far as AphÃq, to the
9 the sovereign of YeriÁo, one; the sover- border of the Amorites;
eign of Ai, which is beside BÃyth Âl, one; 5 and the land of the GeÄalites, and all
10 the sovereign of Yerushalayim, one; the LeÄanon, toward the sunrise, from BaÈal
sovereign of ÀeÄron, one; GaÅ below Mount Àermon as far as the
11 the sovereign of Yarmuth, one; the entrance to Àamath;
sovereign of La¿ish, one; 6 all the inhabitants of the mountains
12 the sovereign of EÍlon, one; the from LeÄanon as far as Misrephoth
sovereign of Gezer, one; Mayim, and all the TsiÅonians. I Myself
13 the sovereign of DeÄir, one; the drive them out from before the children of
sovereign of GeÅer, one; Yisra’Ãl. Only, divide it by lot to Yisra’Ãl
14 the sovereign of Àormah, one; the as an inheritance, as I have commanded
sovereign of AraÅ, one; you.
15 the sovereign of LiÄnah, one; the 7 “And now, divide this land as an
sovereign of AÅullam, one; inheritance to the nine tribes and half the
16 the sovereign of MaqqÃÅah, one; the tribe of Menashsheh.”
sovereign of BÃyth Âl, one; 8 With them the other half tribe the
17 the sovereign of TappuwaÁ, one; the Re’uÄÃnites and the GaÅites received their
sovereign of ÀÃpher, one; inheritance, which Mosheh had given
18 the sovereign of AphÃq, one; the them, beyond the YardÃn eastward, as
sovereign of Sharon, one; Mosheh the servant of HWHY had given
19 the sovereign of MaÅon, one; the them:
sovereign of Àatsor, one; 9 from AroÈÃr which is on the bank of
20 the sovereign of Shimron MÃron, one; the wadi Arnon, and the city that is in the
the sovereign of A¿shaph, one; middle of the wadi, and all the plain of
21 the sovereign of TaÈana¿, one; the MÃyÅeÄa as far as DiÄon;
sovereign of MeÍiddo, one; 10 and all the cities of SiÁon sovereign of
22 the sovereign of QeÅesh, one; the the Amorites, who reigned in Àeshbon, as
YEHOSHUA 13 238
far as the border of the children of 24 And Mosheh gave to the tribe of GaÅ,
Geshurites, and of the MaÈa¿athites, and cities of GilÈaÅ, and half the land of the
all Mount Àermon, and all Bashan as far as children of Ammon as far as AroÈÃr, which
Sal¿ah; is before Rabbah,
12 all the reign of OÍ in Bashan, who 26 and from Àeshbon to Ramath Mitspeh
reigned in Ashtaroth and EÅreÈi, who and Betonim, and from MaÁanayim to the
remained of the remnant of the Repha’ites, border of DeÄir,
for Mosheh had smitten and dispossessed 27 and in the valley BÃyth Haram, and
inheritance, as He said to them. Menashsheh, and it was for half the tribe
15 And Mosheh gave to the tribe of the of the children of Menashsheh for their
children of Re’uÄÃn, for their clans: clans:
16 and their border was from AroÈÃr, 30 and their border was from MaÁanayim,
which is on the bank of the wadi Arnon, all Bashan, all the reign of OÍ sovereign of
and the city that is in the middle of the Bashan, and all the small towns of Ya’ir
wadi, and all the plain by MÃyÅeÄa, which are in Bashan, sixty cities;
17 Àeshbon and all its cities that are in the 31 and the half of GilÈaÅ, and Ashtaroth
plain: DiÄon, and Bamoth BaÈal, and BÃyth and EÅreÈi, cities of the reign of OÍ in
BaÈal MeÈon, Bashan, were for the children of Ma¿ir son
18 and Yahtsah, and QeÅÃmoth, and of Menashsheh, to the half of the children
MÃphaÈath, of Ma¿ir for their clans.
19 and Qiryathayim, and SiÄmah, and 32 These Mosheh gave as an inheritance in
Tsereth ShaÁar on the mountain of the the desert plains of Mo’aÄ beyond the
valley, YardÃn, by YeriÁo eastward.
20 and BÃyth PeÈor, and the slopes of 33 But to the tribe of LÃwi Mosheh gave
Pisgah, and BÃyth Yeshimoth; no inheritance. HWHY, Elohim of Yisra’Ãl,
21 and all the cities of the tableland, and He was their inheritance, as He had said to
all the reign of SiÁon sovereign of the them.
Amorites, who reigned in Àeshbon, whom
Mosheh had smitten with the princes of
MiÅyan: Ewi, and Reqem, and Tsur, and 14 Now these the children of Yisra’Ãl
inherited in the land of KenaÈan,
Àur, and ReÄa, princes of SiÁon dwelling which ElÈazar the priest, and Yehoshua son
in the land. of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the
22 And the sons of Yisra’Ãl killed with the tribes of the children of Yisra’Ãl caused
sword BilÈam son of BeÈor, the diviner, them to inherit.
among those who were killed by them. 2 Their inheritance was by lot, as HWHY
23 And the border of the children of had commanded by the hand of Mosheh,
Re’uÄÃn was the bank of the YardÃn. This for the nine tribes and the half-tribe.
was the inheritance of the children of 3 For Mosheh had given the inheritance
Re’uÄÃn for their clans, the cities and their of the two tribes and the half-tribe beyond
villages. the YardÃn, but to the LÃwites he gave no
239 YEHOSHUA 15
know the word which HWHY said to Mosheh the Ascent of Aqrabbim, passed over to
the man of Elohim concerning you and me Tsin, and went up on the south side of
in QaÅÃsh BarnÃa. QaÅÃsh BarnÃa, and passed over to
7 “I was forty years old when Mosheh the Àetsron, went up to AÅar, and went around
servant of HWHY sent me from QaÅÃsh to Qarqa,
BarnÃa to spy out the land, and I brought 4 and passed over to Atsmon, and went
back word to him as it was in my heart. out to the wadi of Mitsrayim, and the
8 “But my brothers who went up with me border ended at the sea. This is your
made the heart of the people melt, but I southern border.
followed HWHY my Elohim completely. 5 And the east border was the Salt Sea as
9 “So Mosheh swore on that day, saying, far as the end of the YardÃn. And the
‘The land on which your foot has trodden border on the northern quarter began at the
is your inheritance and your children’s bay of the sea at the end of the YardÃn.
forever, because you have followed HWHY 6 And the border went up to BÃyth
Yisra’Ãl walked in the wilderness. And from the Valley of A¿or, and it turned
now, see, I am eighty-five years old today. northward toward Gilgal, which is before
11 “Yet I am still as strong today as I was the Ascent of AÅummim, which is south of
on the day that Mosheh sent me. As my the wadi. And the border passed over to
strength was then, so my strength is now, the waters of Ân Shemesh and ended at Ân
for battle, and for going out and for RoÍÃl.
coming in. 8 And the border went up by the Valley
12 “And now, give me this mountain of of the Son of Hinnom to the southern slope
which HWHY spoke in that day, for you of the YeÄusite city, that is Yerushalayim.
heard in that day how the Anaqim were And the border went up to the top of the
there, and that the cities were great and mountain that lies before the Valley of
walled. If HWHY is with me, then I shall dis- Hinnom westward, which is at the end of
possess them, as HWHY said.” the Valley of Repha’im northward.
13 Yehoshua then blessed him, and gave 9 And the border went around from the
ÀeÄron to KalÃÄ son of Yephunneh as an top of the hill to the fountain of the water
inheritance. of NephtowaÁ, and went up to the cities of
14 So ÀeÄron became the inheritance of Mount Ephron. And the border went
KalÃÄ son of Yephunneh the Qenizzite to around to BaÈalah, that is Qiryath YeÈarim.
this day, because he followed HWHY Elohim 10 And the border turned around from
passed over to the side of Mount YeÈarim 26 Amam, and Shema, and MolaÅah,
on the north, that is Kesalon, and went 27 and Àatsar Gaddah, and Àeshmon, and
down to BÃyth Shemesh, and passed over BÃyth Pelet,
to Timnah. 28 and Àatsar ShuÈal, and Be’ÃrsheÄa, and
11 And the border went out to the side of Bizyothyah,
Eqron northward. And the border went 29 BaÈalah, and Iyim, and Etsem,
around to Shikkeron, and passed over to 30 and EltolaÅ, and Kesil, and Àormah,
Mount BaÈalah, and went out to YaÄne’Ãl. 31 and TsiqlaÍ, and MaÅmannah, and
of the Great Sea. This is the boundary of and Rimmon. All the cities were twenty-
the children of YehuÅah all around for nine, with their villages.
their clans. 33 In the low country: Eshta’ol, and
13 And to KalÃÄ son of Yephunneh he TsorÈah, and Ashnah,
gave a portion in the midst of the children 34 and ZanowaÁ, and Ân Gannim,
of YehuÅah, according to the command of TappuwaÁ and Ânam,
HWHY to Yehoshua: Qiryath Arba, that is 35 Yarmuth and AÅullam, So¿oh and
Anaq from there: ShÃshai, and AÁiman, GeÅÃrah, and GeÅÃrothayim – fourteen
and Talmai, the children of Anaq. cities with their villages.
15 And he went up from there to the 37 Tsenan, and ÀaÅashah, and MiÍdal
Qiryath SÃpher and shall capture it, to him 40 and Kabbon, and LaÁmam, and Kith-
of KalÃÄ, did capture it, so he gave him NaÈamah, and MaqqÃÅah – sixteen cities
A¿sah his daughter as wife. with their villages.
18 And it came to be, when she came to 42 LiÄnah, and Ether, and Ashan,
him, that she persuaded him to ask her 43 and YiphtaÁ, and Ashnah, and NetsiÄ,
father for a field. And when she got off 44 and QeÈilah, and A¿ziÄ, and MarÃshah
from the donkey, KalÃÄ said to her, “What – nine cities with their villages.
is the matter?” 45 Eqron with its towns and its villages,
19 And she said, “Give me a blessing. 46 from Eqron to the sea, all that were by
Since you have given me land in the South, the side of AshdoÅ, with their villages.
give me also fountains of water.” And he 47 AshdoÅ, its towns and its villages;
gave her the upper fountains and the lower Azzah, its towns and its villages; as far as
fountains. the wadi of Mitsrayim and the Great Sea
20 This was the inheritance of the tribe of with its coastline.
the children of YehuÅah for their clans: 48 And in the mountain country: Shamur,
21 And the cities at the furthest border of and Yattir, and So¿oh,
the tribe of the children of YehuÅah, 49 and Dannah, and Qiryath Sannah, that
54 and Àumtah, and Qiryath Arba, that is ward to the wadi Qanah, and it ended at the
ÀeÄron, and TsiÈor – nine cities with their sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of
villages. the children of Ephrayim for their clans.
55 MaÈon, Karmel, and Ziph, and Yutah, 9 And the separate cities for the children
56 and YizreÈÃl, and YoqÅeÈam, and of Ephrayim were in the midst of the
ZanowaÁ, inheritance of the children of Menashsheh,
57 Qayin, GiÄÈah, and Timnah – ten cities all the cities with their villages.
with their villages. 10 And they did not drive out the
58 ÀalÁul, BÃyth Tsur, and GeÅor, KenaÈanites who dwelt in Gezer, so the
59 and MaÈarath, and BÃyth Anoth, and KenaÈanites dwell among the Ephrayimites
Elteqon – six cities with their villages. to this day and have become compulsory
60 Qiryath BaÈal, that is Qiryath YeÈarim, labour.
and Rabbah – two cities with their villages.
61 In the wilderness: BÃyth AraÄah,
YeÄusites have dwelt with the children Menashsheh for their clans there was: for
of YehuÅah at Yerushalayim to this day. the children of AÄiÈezer, and for the
children of ÀÃleq, and for the children of
16 And the lot for the children of
YosÃph went out from the YardÃn,
Asri’Ãl, and for the children of She¿em,
and for the children of ÀÃpher, and for the
by YeriÁo, to the waters of YeriÁo on the children of ShemiÅa. These were the male
east, to the wilderness going up from children of Menashsheh son of YosÃph
YeriÁo through the mountains to BÃyth Âl, according to their clans.
2 and went out from BÃyth Âl to Luz, and 3 But TselophÁaÅ son of ÀÃpher, son of
passed over to the border of the Arkites at GilÈaÅ, son of Ma¿ir, son of Menashsheh,
Ataroth, had no sons, but only daughters. And these
3 and went down westward to the were the names of his daughters: MaÁlah
boundary of the YaphlÃtites, as far as the and NoÈah, ÀoÍlah, Milkah and Tirtsah.
boundary of Lower BÃyth Àoron to Gezer, 4 And they came near before ElÈazar the
and it ended at the sea. priest, before Yehoshua son of Nun, and
4 Thus the children of YosÃph, Menash- before the rulers, saying, “HWHY command-
sheh and Ephrayim, inherited. ed Mosheh to give us an inheritance
5 And the border of the children of among our brothers.” So he gave them an
Ephrayim, according to their clans, was: inheritance among their father’s brothers,
The border of their inheritance on the east according to the command of HWHY.
side was Ataroth Addar as far as Upper 5 And ten portions fell to Menashsheh,
the border went around eastward to received an inheritance among his sons.
Ta’anath Shiloh, and passed over it on the And the rest of Menashsheh’s sons had the
east of YanoÁah, land of GilÈaÅ.
7 and went down from YanoÁah to 7 And the border of Menashsheh was
Ataroth and NaÈarah, reached to YeriÁo, from AshÃr to Mi¿methath, which faces
and came out at the YardÃn. She¿em. And the border went up to the
8 From TappuwaÁ the border went west- right to the inhabitants of Ân TappuwaÁ.
YEHOSHUA 17 242
8 The land of TappuwaÁ belonged to great power, you are not to have one lot,
Menashsheh, but TappuwaÁ on the border 18 for the hill country shall be yours. For
of Menashsheh belonged to the children of though it is a forest, you shall cut it down,
Ephrayim. and its farthest limits shall be yours. For
9 And the border went down to the wadi you are to drive out the KenaÈanites,
Qanah, southward to the wadi. These cities though they have iron chariots and are
of Ephrayim were in the midst of the cities strong.”
of Menashsheh, but the border of Menash-
sheh was north of the wadi, and it ended at
the sea. 18 And all the congregation of the
children of Yisra’Ãl assembled at
10 Southward it was Ephrayim’s, and Shiloh, and they let the Tent of Meeting
northward it was Menashsheh’s, and the dwell there. And the land was subdued
sea was its border, and they reached to before them.
AshÃr on the north and to Yissas¿ar on the 2 And seven tribes were left among the
towns, and YiÄleÈam and its towns, and the Yisra’Ãl, “Till when are you going to fail to
inhabitants of Dor and its towns, and the go in and possess the land which HWHY
inhabitants of Ân Dor and its towns, and Elohim of your fathers has given you?
the inhabitants of TaÈana¿ and its towns, 4 “Appoint three men from each tribe,
and the inhabitants of MeÍiddo and its and let me send them out to go through the
towns – three of the heights. land and describe it according to their
12 But the children of Menashsheh were inheritance, and come back to me.
unable to drive out the inhabitants of those 5 “And they shall divide it into seven
cities, for the KenaÈanites desired to dwell portions – YehuÅah stays within their bor-
in that land. der on the south, and the house of YosÃph
13 And it came to be, when the children of stays within their border on the north –
Yisra’Ãl grew strong, that they put the 6 and you shall describe the land in seven
KenaÈanites to compulsory labour, but did portions, and shall bring it to me. Then I
not utterly drive them out. shall cast lots for you here before HWHY our
14 And the children of YosÃph spoke to Elohim.
Yehoshua, saying, “Why have you given 7 “But the LÃwites have no portion
us but one lot and one portion to inherit, among you, for the priesthood of HWHY is
seeing we are a great people whom HWHY their inheritance. And GaÅ, and Re’uÄÃn,
has blessed until now?” and half the tribe of Menashsheh have
15 And Yehoshua said to them, “If you are received their inheritance beyond the
a great people, go up to the forest and clear YardÃn on the east, which Mosheh the
a place for yourself there in the land of the servant of HWHY gave them.”
Perizzites and the Repha’ites, since the hill 8 So the men rose up and went. And
country of Ephrayim is too narrow for Yehoshua commanded those who went to
you.” describe the land, saying, “Go, walk
16 Then the children of YosÃph said, “The through the land, and describe it, and come
hill country is not enough for us, and all back to me, and let me cast lots for you
the KenaÈanites who dwell in the land of here before HWHY in Shiloh.”
the valley have chariots of iron, both those 9 So the men went, and passed through
who are of BÃyth She’an and its towns and the land, and described it in a book in
those who are of the Valley of YizreÈÃl.” seven portions by cities. And they came to
17 And Yehoshua spoke to the house of Yehoshua at the camp in Shiloh.
YosÃph, to Ephrayim and to Menashsheh, 10 And Yehoshua cast lots for them in
saying, “You are a great people and have Shiloh before HWHY, and there Yehoshua
243 YEHOSHUA 19
divided the land to the children of Yisra’Ãl 21 And the cities for the tribe of the chil-
from the YardÃn, and the border went up to and GaÄa – twelve cities with their
the side of YeriÁo on the north, and went villages.
up through the mountains westward, and 25 GiÄÈon, and Ramah, and Be’Ãroth,
ended at the Wilderness of BÃyth Awen. 26 and Mitspeh, and Kephirah, and
13 And the border went over from there Motsah,
toward Luz, to the side of Luz, that is 27 and Reqem, and Yirpe’Ãl, and Taralah,
BÃyth Âl, southward. And the border went 28 and Tsela, Eleph, and the YeÄusite, that
down to Ataroth AÅar, by the hill that lies is Yerushalayim, GiÄÈath, and Qiryath –
on the south side of Lower BÃyth Àoron. fourteen cities with their villages. This was
14 And the border was drawn and went the inheritance of the children of Binyamin
around the west side to the south, from the for their clans.
hill that faces BÃyth Àoron southward, and
it ended at Qiryath BaÈal, that is Qiryath
YeÈarim, a city of the children of YehuÅah. 19 And the second lot came out for
ShimÈon, for the tribe of the chil-
This was the west side. dren of ShimÈon for their clans. And their
15 And the south side was from the end of inheritance was within the inheritance of
Qiryath YeÈarim, and the border went out the children of YehuÅah.
westward, and went out to the fountain of 2 And they had in their inheritance
the Repha’im on the north, and went down 5 and TsiqlaÍ, and BÃyth MarkaÄoth, and
out to Ân Shemesh, and went out toward four cities and their villages;
Geliloth, which is opposite the Ascent of 8 and all the villages that were all around
AÅummim, and went down to the stone of these cities as far as BaÈalath Be’Ãr,
Bohan son of Re’uÄÃn, Ramath NeÍeÄ. This was the inheritance of
18 and passed over to the side opposite the tribe of the children of ShimÈon for
AraÄah northward, and went down to their clans.
AraÄah. 9 The inheritance of the children of
19 And the border passed over to the side ShimÈon was out of the portion of the
of BÃyth ÀoÍlah northward, and the border children of YehuÅah, for the portion of the
ended at the north bay at the Salt Sea, at children of YehuÅah was too much for
the south end of the YardÃn. This was the them. So the children of ShimÈon had their
southern boundary, inheritance within their inheritance.
20 and the YardÃn borders it on the east 10 And the third lot came up for the
side. This was the inheritance of the children of ZeÄulun for their clans, and the
children of Binyamin, according to its border of their inheritance was as far as
boundaries all around, for their clans. SariÅ.
YEHOSHUA 19 244
11 And their border went toward the sea, and Qanah, as far as Great TsiÅon.
and Maralah, and reached to Dabbesheth, 29 And the border turned to Ramah and to
and reached to the wadi that faced Yoq- the strong city Tsor, and the border turned
neÈam, to Àosah, and ended at the sea, from the
12 and turned back from SariÅ eastward coast to A¿ziÄ.
toward the sunrise, to the border of Kisloth 30 And Ummah, and AphÃq, and ReÁoÄ
TaÄor, and went out toward DaÄerath, and were included – twenty-two cities with
went up to Yaphiya. their villages.
13 And from there it passed over eastward, 31 This was the inheritance of the tribe of
to the east of Gath ÀÃpher, toward Eth the children of AshÃr for their clans, these
Qatsin, and went out to Rimmon, which cities with their villages.
borders on NÃÈah. 32 The sixth lot came out to the children of
14 And the border went around it on the Naphtali, for the children of Naphtali for
north side of Àannathon, and it ended in their clans.
the Valley of YiphthaÁ Âl; 33 And their border was from Àeleph,
15 also Qattath, and Nahalal, and Shim- from the terebinth tree in Tsa’anannim, and
ron, and YiÅalah, and BÃyth LeÁem – AÅami NeqeÄ, and YaÄne’Ãl, as far as
twelve cities with their villages. Laqqum, and it ended at the YardÃn.
16 This was the inheritance of the children 34 And the border turned westward to
of ZeÄulun for their clans, these cities with Aznoth TaÄor, and went out from there
their villages. toward Àuqqoq, and reached to ZeÄulun
17 The fourth lot came out to Yissas¿ar, on the south side and AshÃr on the west
for the children of Yissas¿ar, for their side, and ended at YehuÅah by the YardÃn
clans. toward the sunrise.
18 And their border was toward YizreÈÃl, 35 And the cities of defence were Tsiddim,
and Kesulloth, and ShunÃm, TsÃr, and Àammath, Raqqath, and Kin-
19 and Àapharayim, and Shiyon, and nereth,
AnaÁarath, 36 and AÅamah, and Ramah, and Àatsor,
20 and Rabbith, and Qishyon, and EÄets, 37 and QeÅesh, and EÅreÈi, and Ân Àatsor,
21 and Remeth, and Ân Gannim, and Ân 38 and Yiron, and MiÍdal Âl, ÀorÃm, and
Àaddah, and BÃyth PatstsÃts. BÃyth Anath, and BÃyth Shemesh – nine-
22 And the border reached to TaÄor, and teen cities with their villages.
ShaÁatsimah, and BÃyth Shemesh, and 39 This was the inheritance of the tribe of
their border ended at the YardÃn – sixteen the children of Naphtali for their clans, the
cities with their villages. cities with their villages.
23 This was the inheritance of the tribe of 40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe
the children of Yissas¿ar for their clans, of the children of Dan for their clans.
the cities and their villages. 41 And the border of their inheritance was
24 And the fifth lot came out for the tribe TsorÈah, and Eshta’ol, and Ir Shemesh,
of the children of AshÃr for their clans. 42 and ShaÈalabbin, and Ayalon, and
25 And their border was Àelqath, and Yithlah,
Àali, and Beten, and A¿shaph, 43 and Âlon, and Timnathah, and Eqron,
26 and Allammele¿, and AmaÅ, and 44 and ElteqÃh, and Gibbethon, and
out to KaÄul which was on the left, went out from them. And the children of
28 and ÀeÄron, and ReÁoÄ, and Àammon, Dan went up to fight against Leshem and
245 YEHOSHUA 21
captured it. And they smote it with the slayer return and come to his own city and
edge of the sword, and possessed it, and his own house, to the city from which he
dwelt in it, and called it Leshem, Dan, after fled.’ ”
the name of Dan their father. 7 So they set apart QeÅesh in Galil, in the
48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the mountains of Naphtali, and She¿em in the
children of Dan for their clans, these cities mountains of Ephrayim, and Qiryath Arba,
with their villages. that is ÀeÄron, in the mountains of
49 And when they had ended dividing the YehuÅah.
land as an inheritance according to their 8 And beyond the YardÃn, by YeriÁo
borders, the children of Yisra’Ãl gave an eastward, they appointed Betser in the
inheritance to Yehoshua son of Nun in wilderness on the plain, from the tribe of
their midst. Re’uÄÃn, and Ramoth in GilÈaÅ, from the
50 According to the mouth of HWHY they tribe of GaÅ, and Golan in Bashan, from
gave him the city which he asked for, the tribe of Menashsheh.
Timnath SeraÁ in the mountains of 9 These were the cities appointed for all
Ephrayim. And he built the city and dwelt the children of Yisra’Ãl and for the stranger
in it. who sojourned in their midst, for anyone
51 These were the inheritances which accidentally killing any being, to flee
ElÈazar the priest, and Yehoshua son of there, and not die by the hand of the
Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the revenger of blood until he stood before the
tribes of the children of Yisra’Ãl divided as congregation.
an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before HWHY,
at the door of the Tent of Meeting. And
they ended dividing the country. 21 And the heads of the fathers of the
LÃwites came near to ElÈazar the
priest, to Yehoshua son of Nun, and to the
20 And HWHY spoke to Yehoshua,
saying,
2 “Speak to the children of Yisra’Ãl,
heads of the fathers of the tribes of the
children of Yisra’Ãl.
2 And they spoke to them at Shiloh in the
saying, ‘Appoint for yourselves cities of land of KenaÈan, saying, “HWHY command-
refuge, of which I spoke to you through ed through Mosheh to give us cities to
Mosheh, dwell in, with their open land for our
3 for the slayer who kills any being livestock.”
accidentally, unintentionally, to flee there. 3 So the children of Yisra’Ãl gave to the
And they shall be your refuge from the LÃwites from their inheritance, at the
revenger of blood. command of HWHY, these cities and their
4 ‘And he shall flee to one of those cities, open land:
and stand at the entrance of the gate of the 4 And the lot came out for the clans of
city, and declare his case in the hearing of the Qehathites. And the children of Aharon
the elders of that city. And they shall take the priest, who were of the LÃwites, had
him into the city as one of them, and give thirteen cities by lot from the tribe of
him a place, and he shall dwell among YehuÅah, from the tribe of ShimÈon, and
them. from the tribe of Binyamin.
5 ‘And when the revenger of blood 5 And the rest of the children of Qehath
pursues him, they do not give the slayer had ten cities by lot from the clans of the
into his hand, because he smote his neigh- tribe of Ephrayim, from the tribe of Dan,
bour unintentionally, and did not hate him and from the half-tribe of Menashsheh.
beforehand. 6 And the children of GÃreshon had
6 ‘And he shall dwell in that city until he thirteen cities by lot from the clans of the
stands before the congregation for right- tribe of Yissas¿ar, from the tribe of AshÃr,
ruling, and until the death of the one who from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the
is high priest in those days. Then let the half-tribe of Menashsheh in Bashan.
YEHOSHUA 21 246
7 The children of Merari for their clans 22 and QiÄtsayim with its open land, and
had twelve cities from the tribe of BÃyth Àoron with its open land – four
Re’uÄÃn, and from the tribe of GaÅ, and cities.
from the tribe of ZeÄulun. 23 And from the tribe of Dan, ElteqÃh
8 Thus the children of Yisra’Ãl gave these with its open land, Gibbethon with its open
cities with their open land by lot to the land,
LÃwites, as HWHY had commanded by the 24 Ayalon with its open land, and Gath
YehuÅah and from the tribe of the children TaÈna¿ with its open land, and Gath
of ShimÈon they gave these cities which Rimmon with its open land – two cities.
are mentioned by name, 26 All the ten cities with their open lands
10 and they were for the children of were for the rest of the clans of the
Aharon, one of the clans of the Qehathites, children of Qehath.
who were of the children of LÃwi, for the 27 And to the children of GÃreshon, of the
lot was theirs first. clans of the LÃwites, from the other half-
11 And they gave them Qiryath Arba, that tribe of Menashsheh, they gave Golan in
is ÀeÄron – Arba was the father of Anaq – Bashan with its open land as a city of
in the mountains of YehuÅah, with the refuge for the slayer, and BeÈeshterah with
open land surrounding it. its open land – two cities.
12 And the fields of the city and its 28 And from the tribe of Yissas¿ar,
villages they gave to KalÃÄ son of Qishyon with its open land, DaÄerath with
Yephunneh as his possession. its open land,
13 But to the children of Aharon the priest 29 Yarmuth with its open land, and Ân
they gave ÀeÄron with its open land – a Gannim with its open land – four cities.
city of refuge for the slayer – and LiÄnah 30 And from the tribe of AshÃr, Mish’al
with its open land, with its open land, AÄdon with its open
14 and Yattir with its open land, and land,
Eshtemoa with its open land, 31 Àelqath with its open land, and ReÁoÄ
15 and Àolon with its open land, and with its open land – four cities.
DeÄir with its open land, 32 And from the tribe of Naphtali, QeÅesh
16 and Ayin with its open land, and Yuttah in Galil with its open land as a city of
with its open land, and BÃyth Shemesh refuge for the slayer, and Àammoth Dor
with its open land – nine cities from those with its open land, and Qartan with its
two tribes. open land – three cities.
17 And from the tribe of Binyamin, GiÄÈon 33 All the cities of the GÃreshonites for
with its open land, GeÄa with its open land, their clans were thirteen cities with their
18 Anathoth with its open land, and open land.
Almon with its open land – four cities. 34 And to the clans of the children of
19 All the cities of the children of Aharon, Merari, the rest of the LÃwites, from the
the priests, were thirteen cities with their tribe of ZeÄulun, YoqneÈam with its open
open lands. land, Qartah with its open land,
20 And the clans of the children of 35 Dimnah with its open land, Nahalal
Qehath, the LÃwites, the rest of the with its open land – four cities.
children of Qehath, even they had the 36 And from the tribe of Re’uÄÃn, Betser
cities of their lot from the tribe of with its open land, Yahtsah with its open
Ephrayim. land,
21 And they gave them She¿em with its 37 QeÅÃmoth with its open land, and
open land in the mountains of Ephrayim as MÃphaÈath with its open land – four cities.
a city of refuge for the slayer, and Gezer 38 And from the tribe of GaÅ, Ramoth in
with its open land, GilÈaÅ with its open land as a city of refuge
247 YEHOSHUA 22
for the slayer, and MaÁanayim with its them away, and they went to their tents.
open land, 7 And to half the tribe of Menashsheh
39 Àeshbon with its open land, YaÈzÃr with Mosheh had given a possession in Bashan,
its open land – four cities in all. but to the other half of it Yehoshua gave
40 All the cities for the children of Merari land among their brothers beyond the
for their clans, the rest of the clans of the YardÃn, westward. So when Yehoshua sent
LÃwites, were by their lot twelve cities. them away to their tents, he also blessed
41 All the cities of the LÃwites within the them,
possession of the children of Yisra’Ãl were 8 and spoke to them, saying, “Return to
forty-eight cities with their open lands. your tents with great riches, and with very
42 Each of these cities had its open land much livestock, and with silver, and with
surrounding it. So it was with all these gold, and with bronze, and with iron, and
cities. with countless garments. Divide the spoil
43 Thus HWHY gave to Yisra’Ãl all the land of your enemies with your brothers.”
of which He had sworn to give to their 9 And the children of Re’uÄÃn, and the
fathers, and they took possession of it, and children of GaÅ, and half the tribe of
dwelt in it. Menashsheh returned, and left the children
44 And HWHY gave them rest all around, of Yisra’Ãl at Shiloh, which is in the land
according to all that He had sworn to their of KenaÈan, to go to the land of GilÈaÅ, to
fathers. And not a man of all their enemies the land of their possession, which they
stood against them, HWHY gave all their possessed according to the command of
enemies into their hand. HWHY by the hand of Mosheh.
45 Not a word failed of any good word 10 And they came to the districts of the
which HWHY had spoken to the house of YardÃn which is in the land of KenaÈan,
Yisra’Ãl – all came in. and the children of Re’uÄÃn, and the
children of GaÅ, and half the tribe of
22 Then Yehoshua called for the
Re’uÄÃnites, and the GaÅites, and
Menashsheh built an altar there by the
YardÃn, a great conspicuous altar.
half the tribe of Menashsheh, 11 And the children of Yisra’Ãl heard it
2 and said to them, “You, you have said, “See, the children of Re’uÄÃn, and the
guarded all that Mosheh the servant of children of GaÅ, and half the tribe of
HWHY commanded you, and have obeyed Menashsheh have built an altar opposite
my voice in all that I commanded you. the land of KenaÈan, in the districts of the
3 “You have not left your brothers these YardÃn, at the border of the children of
many days, up to this day, but have Yisra’Ãl.”
guarded the Charge, the command of HWHY 12 And when the children of Yisra’Ãl
the land of your possession, which Mosheh son of ElÈazar the priest to the children of
the servant of HWHY gave you beyond the Re’uÄÃn, and to the children of GaÅ, and to
YardÃn. half the tribe of Menashsheh, into the land
5 “Only, diligently guard to do the of GilÈaÅ,
command and the Torah which Mosheh the 14 and ten rulers with him, one ruler each
servant of HWHY commanded you, to love from the chief house of every tribe of
HWHY your Elohim, and to walk in all His Yisra’Ãl. And each one was the head of the
ways, and to guard His commands, and to house of his father among the divisions of
cling to Him, and to serve Him with all Yisra’Ãl.
your heart and with all your being.” 15 And they came to the children of
6 And Yehoshua blessed them and sent Re’uÄÃn and to the children of GaÅ, and to
YEHOSHUA 22 248
half the tribe of Menashsheh, to the land of make our sons stop fearing HWHY.’
GilÈaÅ, and spoke with them, saying, 26 “So we said, ‘Let us now prepare to
16 “Thus says all the congregation of
build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offer-
HWHY, ‘What is this trespass you have ing nor for slaughtering,
committed against the Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, 27 but to be a witness between you and us
to turn away this day from following HWHY, and our generations after us, to do the
in that you have built for yourselves an service of HWHY before Him with our burnt
altar, to rebel against HWHY this day? offerings, with our slaughterings, and with
17 ‘Is the crookedness of PeÈor not enough
our peace offerings, that your sons should
for us, from which we have not been not say to our sons in time to come, “You
cleansed till this day, although there was a have no portion with HWHY.” ’
plague in the congregation of HWHY, 28 “So we said that it shall be, when they
18 that you turn away today from follow-
say this to us or to our generations in time
ing HWHY? And it shall be, if you rebel to come, that we shall say, ‘See the pattern
today against HWHY, that tomorrow He is of the altar of HWHY which our fathers
wroth with all the congregation of Yisra’Ãl. made, though not for burnt offerings nor
19 ‘And indeed, if the land of your posses-
for slaughterings, but it is a witness
sion is unclean, then pass over to the land between you and us.’
of the possession of HWHY, where the 29 “Far be it from us to rebel against HWHY,
Dwelling Place of HWHY dwells, and take and to turn from following HWHY this day,
possession among us. But do not rebel to build an altar for burnt offerings, for
against HWHY, nor rebel against us, by grain offerings, or for slaughterings,
building yourselves an altar besides the besides the altar of HWHY our Elohim which
altar of HWHY our Elohim. is before His Dwelling Place.”
20 ‘Did not A¿an son of ZeraÁ commit a 30 And PineÁas the priest and the rulers of
trespass in that which is under the ban, and the congregation, and the heads of the
wrath fell on all the congregation of thousands of Yisra’Ãl who were with him,
Yisra’Ãl? And he was not the only one to heard the words that the children of
die in his crookedness.’ ” Re’uÄÃn, and the children of GaÅ, and the
21 Then the children of Re’uÄÃn, and the children of Menashsheh spoke, and it was
children of GaÅ, and half the tribe of good in their eyes.
Menashsheh answered and said to the 31 And PineÁas son of ElÈazar the priest
heads of the divisions of Yisra’Ãl, said to the children of Re’uÄÃn, and to the
22 “Âl Elohim HWHY, Âl Elohim HWHY, He children of GaÅ, and to the children of
knows, and let Yisra’Ãl itself know. If this Menashsheh, “Today we know that HWHY is
has been in rebellion, or if in trespass in our midst, because you have not
against HWHY, do not save us this day. committed against HWHY this trespass. Now
23 “If we have built ourselves an altar to you have delivered the children of Yisra’Ãl
turn from following HWHY, or if to offer out of the hand of HWHY.”
burnt offerings or grain offerings on it, or 32 And PineÁas son of ElÈazar the priest,
if to make peace offerings on it, let HWHY and the rulers, returned from the children
Himself require it. of Re’uÄÃn and the children of GaÅ, from
24 “But truly, from fear, for a reason we the land of GilÈaÅ to the land of KenaÈan, to
did this, saying, ‘In time to come your sons the children of Yisra’Ãl, and brought back
might speak to our sons, saying, “What word to them.
have you to do with HWHY Elohim of 33 So the matter was good in the eyes of
34 And the children of Re’uÄÃn and the cling to the remnant of these nations, these
children of GaÅ called the altar, “A witness that remain among you, and intermarry
between us that HWHY is Elohim.” with them, and go in to them and they to
you,
23 And it came to be, a long time after
HWHY had given rest to Yisra’Ãl
13 know for certain that HWHY your Elohim
you great and strong nations. As for you, “Thus said HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, ‘Long
no one has stood against you to this day. ago your fathers dwelt beyond the River –
10 “One man of you put a thousand to TeraÁ, the father of AÄraham and the
flight, for HWHY your Elohim is He who is father of NaÁor. And they served other
fighting for you, as He has promised you. mighty ones. b
11 “And you shall diligently guard your- 3 ‘So I took your father AÄraham from
selves, to love HWHY your Elohim. beyond the River, and caused him to go
12 “But if you do turn back at all, and through all the land of KenaÈan, and multi-
perfection and in truth, and put away the the Book of the Torah of Elohim. And he
mighty ones which your fathers served took a large stone, and set it up there under
beyond the River and in Mitsrayim, and the oak that was by the set-apart place of
251 YEHOSHUA 24
lest you lie against your Elohim.” children of Yisra’Ãl had brought up out of
28 Then Yehoshua sent the people away, Mitsrayim, they buried at She¿em, in the
each to his own inheritance. plot of ground which YaÈaqoÄ had bought
29 And after these events it came to be that from the sons of Àamor the father of
Yehoshua son of Nun, the servant of HWHY, She¿em for one hundred pieces of silver,
died, one hundred and ten years old. and which had become an inheritance of
30 And they buried him within the border the children of YosÃph.
of his inheritance at Timnath SeraÁ, which 33 And ElÈazar son of Aharon died, and
is in the mountains of Ephrayim, on the they buried him in a hill that belonged to
north side of Mount GaÈash. PineÁas his son, which was given to him in
31 And Yisra’Ãl served HWHY all the days of the hill country of Ephrayim.
SHOPHETIM
JUDGES — RULERS
and he died there. border, and Ashqelon and its border, and
8 And the children of YehuÅah fought Eqron and its border.
against Yerushalayim and captured it, and 19 And HWHY was with YehuÅah, so they
smote it with the edge of the sword and set took possession of the mountains, but they
the city on fire. were unable to drive out the inhabitants of
9 And afterward the children of YehuÅah the plain, because they had chariots of
went down to fight against the KenaÈanites iron.
who dwelt in the mountains, in the South, 20 And they gave ÀeÄron to KalÃÄ, as
and in the low country. Mosheh had said, and he drove out from
10 And YehuÅah went against the Ken- there the three sons of Anaq.
aÈanites who dwelt in ÀeÄron – now the 21 However, the children of Binyamin did
name of ÀeÄron was formerly Qiryath not drive out the YeÄusites who inhabited
Arba – and they smote ShÃshai, and Yerushalayim, so the YeÄusites have dwelt
AÁiman, and Talmai. with the children of Binyamin in Yeru-
11 And from there they went against the shalayim to this day.
inhabitants of DeÄir – now the name of 22 And the house of YosÃph also went up
DeÄir was formerly Qiryath SÃpher. against BÃyth Âl, and HWHY was with them.
253 SHOPHETIM 2
23 And the house of YosÃph sent men to But when the hand of the house of YosÃph
spy out BÃyth Âl – now the name of the became stronger, they became compulsory
city was formerly Luz. labour.
24 And the watchmen saw a man coming 36 And the border of the Amorites was
out of the city, and they said to him, from the Ascent of Aqrabbim, from Sela,
“Please show us the entrance to the city, and upward.
and we shall show you kindness.”
25 So he showed them the entrance to the
city, and they smote the city with the edge 2 And the Messenger of HWHY came up
from Gilgal to Bo¿im, and said, “I led
of the sword. But the man and all his clan you up from Mitsrayim and brought you to
they let go, the land of which I swore to your fathers,
26 and the man went to the land of the and I said, ‘I do not break My covenant
Àittites and built a city, and called its name with you,
Luz, which is its name to this day. 2 and as for you, do not make a covenant
27 And Menashsheh did not dispossess with the inhabitants of this land – break
BÃyth She’an and its villages, nor TaÈana¿ down their altars.’ But you have not
and its villages, nor the inhabitants of Dor obeyed My voice. What is this you have
and its villages, nor the inhabitants of done?
YiÄleÈam and its villages, nor the inhabi- 3 “Therefore I also said, ‘I am not driving
tants of MeÍiddo and its villages, for the them out before you, and they shall be
KenaÈanites desired to dwell in that land. adversaries to you, and their mighty ones
28 And it came to be, when Yisra’Ãl was shall be a snare to you.’ ”
strong, that they put the KenaÈanites into 4 And it came to be, when the Messenger
compulsory labour, but did not completely of HWHY spoke these words to all the
drive them out. children of Yisra’Ãl, that the people lifted
29 Neither did Ephrayim drive out the up their voice and wept.
KenaÈanites who dwelt in Gezer, so the 5 So they called the name of that place
KenaÈanites dwelt in their midst, in Gezer. Bo¿im, and slaughtered there to HWHY.
30 Neither did ZeÄulun drive out the 6 Then Yehoshua dismissed the people,
inhabitants of Qitron or the inhabitants of and the children of Yisra’Ãl went each to
Nahalol, so the KenaÈanites dwelt in their his own inheritance to possess the land.
midst, and became compulsory labour. 7 And the people served HWHY all the days
31 Neither did AshÃr drive out the inhabi- of Yehoshua, and all the days of the elders
tants of Akko nor the inhabitants of who outlived Yehoshua, who had seen all
TsiÅon, nor of AÁlaÄ, nor of A¿ziÄ, nor of the great works of HWHY which He had done
Àelbah, nor of Aphiq, nor of ReÁoÄ. for Yisra’Ãl.
32 So the AshÃrites dwelt in the midst of 8 And Yehoshua son of Nun, the servant
the KenaÈanites, the inhabitants of the land, of HWHY, died, one hundred and ten years
because they did not drive them out. old.
33 Neither did Naphtali drive out the 9 And they buried him within the border
inhabitants of BÃyth Shemesh nor the of his inheritance at Timnath Àeres, in the
inhabitants of BÃyth Anath, but they dwelt mountains of Ephrayim, on the north side
among the KenaÈanites, the inhabitants of of Mount GaÈash.
the land. And the inhabitants of BÃyth 10 And all that generation were likewise
Shemesh and of BÃyth Anath became gathered to their fathers, and another
compulsory labour for them. generation arose after them who did not
34 And the Amorites pressed the children know HWHY nor the work which He had
of Dan into the mountains, for they would done for Yisra’Ãl.
not allow them to come down to the valley, 11 Then the children of Yisra’Ãl did evil in
35 and the Amorites desired to dwell in the eyes of HWHY, and served the BaÈals,
Mount Àeres, in Ayalon, and in ShaÈalÄim. 12 and forsook HWHY Elohim of their
SHOPHETIM 2 254
fathers, who had brought them out of the whether they would guard the way of HWHY,
land of Mitsrayim, and went after other to walk in them as their fathers guarded
mighty ones, of the mighty ones of the them, or not.”
people who were all around them, and they 23 So HWHY left those nations, without
bowed down to them, and provoked HWHY. driving them out at once, and did not give
13 So they forsook HWHY and served BaÈal
them into the hand of Yehoshua.
and the Ashtoreths.
14 And the displeasure of HWHY burned
that I commanded their fathers, and has not out to HWHY, HWHY raised up a saviour for
obeyed My voice, the children of Yisra’Ãl, who saved them:
21 I also shall no longer drive out before Othni’Ãl son of Qenaz, KalÃÄ’s younger
them any of the nations which Yehoshua brother.
left when he died, 10 And the Spirit of HWHY came upon him,
22 in order to try a Yisra’Ãl by them, and he ruled Yisra’Ãl, and went out to
battle, and HWHY gave into his hand shut the doors of the upper room behind
Kushan-RishÈathayim sovereign of Aram him and locked them.
24 And when he had gone out, his servants
Naharayim. And his hand prevailed over
Kushan-RishÈathayim, came to look and saw the doors of the roof
11 and the land had rest for forty years. room were locked. So they said, “He is
Then Othni’Ãl son of Qenaz died, only covering his feet in the cool roof
12 and the children of Yisra’Ãl again did room.”
25 And they waited until they were
evil in the eyes of HWHY. And HWHY made
EÍlon sovereign of Mo’aÄ strong against ashamed, but saw he was not opening the
Yisra’Ãl, because they had done evil in the doors of the upper room. So they took the
eyes of HWHY. key and opened them and saw their master,
13 And he gathered to himself the children fallen to the ground, dead.
26 But while they were delaying ÂhuÅ
of Ammon and AmalÃq, and went and
smote Yisra’Ãl, and they took possession of escaped and had passed beyond the stone
the city of palms. images, and escaped to SeÈirah.
14 And the children of Yisra’Ãl served 27 And it came to be, when he arrived, that
EÍlon sovereign of Mo’aÄ eighteen years. he blew the ram’s horn in the mountains of
15 And when the children of Yisra’Ãl cried Ephrayim, and the children of Yisra’Ãl
out to HWHY, HWHY raised up a saviour for went down with him from the mountains,
them: ÂhuÅ son of GÃra, a Binyamite, a with him leading them.
28 And he said to them, “Follow me, for
man impeded in his right hand. And by
him the children of Yisra’Ãl sent a present HWHY has given your enemies the Mo’aÄites
to EÍlon sovereign of Mo’aÄ. into your hand.” And they went down after
16 And ÂhuÅ made himself a sword, it was him, and took the fords of YardÃn leading
double-edged and a cubit in length, and he to Mo’aÄ, and did not allow anyone to pass
girded it under his long robe on his right over.
thigh. 29 And they smote about ten thousand
17 And he brought the present to EÍlon men of Mo’aÄ at that time, all robust and
sovereign of Mo’aÄ. Now EÍlon was a brave men, and not a man escaped.
very fat man. 30And on that day Mo’aÄ was humbled
18 And it came to be that when he had under the hand of Yisra’Ãl. And the land
finished bringing near the present, he sent had rest for eighty years.
away the people bearing the present. 31 And after him was Shamgar son of
19 But he himself turned back from the Anath, and he smote six hundred men of
stone images that were at Gilgal, and said, the Philistines with an ox goad. And he too
“I have a secret message for you, O sover- saved Yisra’Ãl.
eign.” And he said, “Be silent!” And all
those standing beside him went out from
him. 4 And when ÂhuÅ was dead, the
children of Yisra’Ãl again did evil in
20 And ÂhuÅ came to him while he was the eyes of HWHY.
sitting in his cool roof room. And ÂhuÅ 2 Therefore HWHY sold them into the hand
said, “I have a message from Elohim for of YaÄin the sovereign of KenaÈan, who
you.” So he arose from his seat. reigned in Àatsor. And the commander of
21 And ÂhuÅ reached with his left hand, his army was Sisera, who was dwelling in
and took the sword from his right thigh, Àarosheth Haggoyim.
and thrust it into his stomach. 3 And the children of Yisra’Ãl cried out to
22 And the handle went in after the blade, HWHY, because he had nine hundred
and the fat closed over the blade, for he did chariots of iron, and for twenty years he
not draw the sword out of his stomach, and harshly oppressed the children of Yisra’Ãl.
it came out behind. 4 And DeÄorah, a prophetess, the wife of
23 Then ÂhuÅ went out to the porch and LappiÅoth, was ruling Yisra’Ãl at that time.
SHOPHETIM 4 256
5 And she was dwelling under the palm 16 But Baraq pursued the chariots and the
tree of DeÄorah between Ramah and BÃyth army as far as Àarosheth Haggoyim, and
Âl in the mountains of Ephrayim. And the all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of
children of Yisra’Ãl came up to her for the sword, not one was left.
right-ruling. 17 Sisera, meanwhile, had fled on foot to
6 And she sent and called for Baraq son the tent of YaÈÃl, the wife of ÀeÄer the
of AÄinoÈam from QeÅesh in Naphtali, and QÃynite, for there was peace between
said to him, “Has not HWHY Elohim of YaÄin sovereign of Àatsor and the house of
Yisra’Ãl commanded, ‘Go, and you shall ÀeÄer the QÃynite.
draw towards Mount TaÄor, and shall take 18 And YaÈÃl went out to meet Sisera, and
with you ten thousand men of the sons of said to him, “Turn aside, my master, turn
Naphtali and of the sons of ZeÄulun, aside to me, do not fear.” So he turned
7 and I shall draw unto you Sisera, the aside with her into the tent, and she
commander of YaÄin’s army, with his char- covered him with a blanket.
iots and his company at the wadi Qishon, 19 And he said to her, “Please give me a
and shall give him into your hand’?” little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So
8 And Baraq said to her, “If you go with she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him
me, then I shall go; but if you do not go a drink, and covered him.
with me, I do not go.” 20 And he said to her, “Stand at the door
9 And she said, “I shall certainly go with of the tent, and it shall be if anyone comes
you. Only, there shall be no esteem for you and asks you, and says, ‘Is there a man
in the journey you are taking, for HWHY is here?’ you shall say, ‘No.’ ”
going to sell Sisera into the hand of a 21 But YaÈÃl, ÀeÄer’s wife, took a tent
woman.” So DeÄorah arose and went with peg and took a hammer in her hand, and
Baraq to QeÅesh. went softly to him and drove the peg into
10 And Baraq called ZeÄulun and Naphtali the side of his head, and it went down into
to QeÅesh. And he went up – ten thousand the ground – for he was fast asleep and
men under his command – and DeÄorah exhausted – and he died.
went up with him. 22 And see, as Baraq pursued Sisera, YaÈÃl
11 And ÀeÄer the QÃynite, of the children came out to meet him, and said to him,
of ÀoÄaÄ the father-in-law of Mosheh, had “Come, let me show you the man whom
separated himself from the QÃynites and you are seeking.” And when he went into
pitched his tent near the terebinth tree at her tent, there lay Sisera, dead with the peg
TsaÈanayim, which is beside QeÅesh. in the side of his head.
12 And they reported to Sisera that Baraq 23 And on that day Elohim humbled YaÄin
son of AÄinoÈam had gone up to Mount sovereign of KenaÈan in the presence of the
TaÄor. children of Yisra’Ãl.
13 So Sisera called all his chariots, nine 24 And the hand of the children of Yisra’Ãl
hundred chariots of iron, and all the people grew stronger and stronger against YaÄin
who were with him, from Àarosheth sovereign of KenaÈan, until they had cut
Haggoyim to the wadi Qishon. off YaÄin sovereign of KenaÈan.
14 And DeÄorah said to Baraq, “Rise up!
from his chariot and fled away on foot. when You stepped from the field of EÅom,
257 SHOPHETIM 5
the earth shook and the heavens poured, its landing places.
the clouds also poured water. 18 “ZeÄulun is a people who risked their
5 “The mountains flowed at the presence lives to the point of death, Naphtali also,
of HWHY, this Sinai, at the presence of HWHY on the heights of the field.
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl. 19 “Sovereigns came, they fought, then
6 “In the days of Shamgar, the son of the sovereigns of KenaÈan fought in
Anath, in the days of YaÈÃl, the highways TaÈana¿, by the waters of MeÍiddo; they
were deserted, and the travellers went in took no spoils of silver.
crooked ways. 20 “From the heavens they fought; the
7 “Leadership ceased, it ceased in Yis- stars from their courses fought against
ra’Ãl, until I, DeÄorah, arose – a mother in Sisera.
Yisra’Ãl arose. 21 “The wadi of Qishon swept them away,
8 “They chose new mighty ones, then that age-old wadi, the wadi of Qishon. O
fighting was in the gates! Neither a shield my being, you have trampled in strength!
nor spear was seen among forty thousand 22 “Then stamped hoofs of horses, with
Yisra’Ãl, the volunteers among the people. HWHY, ‘curse, curse its inhabitants, because
Bless HWHY! they did not come to the help of HWHY, to
10 “You who ride on white donkeys, you the help of HWHY among the mighty.’
who sit on rich carpets, and you who walk 24 “Blessed above women is YaÈÃl, the
along the way, declare it! wife of ÀeÄer the QÃynite – above women
11 “By the voice of shouters, between the in tents she is blessed.
places of drawing water, there they recount 25 “He asked for water, she gave milk; she
the righteous acts of HWHY, the righteous brought out curdled milk in a bowl for
acts of His leadership in Yisra’Ãl; then the nobles.
people of HWHY shall go down to the gates. 26 “She stretched her hand to the tent peg,
12 “Wake up, wake up, DeÄorah! Wake and her right hand to the workmen’s ham-
up, wake up, sing a song! Arise, Baraq, mer. Then she pounded Sisera, she
and lead your captives away, O son of smashed his head, she pierced and struck
AÄinoÈam! through the side of his head.
13 “Then He set the remnant to rule the 27 “Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he
nobles; HWHY came down for me against the lay still; between her feet he bowed, he
mighty ones. fell; where he bowed, there he fell –
14 “Out of Ephrayim their root is against destroyed.
AmalÃq. After you, Binyamin, with your 28 “Through the window the mother of
peoples, out of Ma¿ir lawgivers came Sisera looked, and cried out through the
down, and out of ZeÄulun those who han- lattice, ‘Why does his chariot delay to
dle the scribe’s reed. come? Why have the steps of his chariots
15 “And the heads of Yissas¿ar were with tarried?’
DeÄorah. And as Yissas¿ar, so was Baraq 29 “The wise ones of her princesses
sent into the valley under his command. answered her, indeed, she answered her-
Among the divisions of Re’uÄÃn there self,
were great searchings of heart. 30 ‘Do they not find and divide the spoil: a
16 “Why did you remain among the sheep- girl or two for each man; a spoil of dyed
folds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? work for Sisera, a spoil of dyed work
The divisions of Re’uÄÃn have great embroidered, dyed work richly embroi-
searchings of heart. dered for the necks of the looter?’
17 “GilÈaÅ remained beyond the YardÃn, 31 “So do all Your enemies perish, O
and why did Dan remain on ships? AshÃr HWHY! But let those who love Him be like
continued at the seashore, and remained by the sun rising in its might!”
SHOPHETIM 5 258
And the land had rest forty years. him, and said to him, “HWHY is with you,
you mighty brave one!”
6 And the children of Yisra’Ãl did evil
in the eyes of HWHY, and HWHY gave
13 And GiÅÈon said to Him, “O my master,
24 And GiÅÈon built an altar there to HWHY, the AÄiÈezerites gathered behind him.
35 And he sent messengers throughout all
and called it: HWHY Shalom. To this day it is
still in Ophrah of the AÄiÈezerites. Menashsheh, who also gathered behind
25 And the same night it came to be that him. And he sent messengers to AshÃr, and
HWHY said to him, “Take the young bull of to ZeÄulun, and to Naphtali. And they
your father, and the second bull of seven came up to meet them.
36 And GiÅÈon said to Elohim, “If You are
years old, and you shall throw down the
altar of BaÈal that your father has, and cut saving Yisra’Ãl by my hand as You have
down the AshÃrah that is beside it. said,
26 “And you shall build an altar to HWHY 37 see, I am placing a fleece of wool on
your Elohim on top of this rock in an the threshing-floor. If there is dew only on
orderly way, and shall take the second bull the fleece, and it is dry on all the ground,
and offer a burnt offering with the wood of then I shall know that You are saving
the image which you cut down.” Yisra’Ãl by my hand, as You have said.”
27 And GiÅÈon took ten men from among 38 And it was so, and he rose early the
his servants and did as HWHY had said to next morning and pressed the fleece, and
him. And it came to be, because he feared wrung dew out of the fleece, to fill a bowl
his father’s household and the men of the with water.
39 And GiÅÈon said to Elohim, “Do not be
city too much to do it by day, that he did it
by night. displeased with me, and let me speak only
28 And the men of the city arose early in this time: Please let me try only this time
the morning and saw the altar of BaÈal was with the fleece, please let it be dry only on
broken down, and the AshÃrah that was the fleece, and let there be dew on all the
beside it had been cut down, and the sec- ground.”
ond bull was being offered on the altar 40 And Elohim did so that night, and it
which was built. was dry on the fleece only, but there was
29 And they said to each other, “Who has dew on all the ground.
done this deed?” And when they had
inquired and asked, they said, “GiÅÈon son
of Yo’ash has done this deed.” 7 And YerubbaÈal, that is GiÅÈon, and all
the people who were with him rose up
30 And the men of the city said to Yo’ash, early and encamped by the fountain of
“Bring out your son, so that he dies, for he ÀaroÅ, so that the camp of MiÅyan was on
has broken down the altar of BaÈal, and the north side of them by the hill of Moreh
because he has cut down the AshÃrah that in the valley.
was beside it.” 2 And HWHY said to GiÅÈon, “The people
31 And Yo’ash said to all who stood who are with you are too many for Me to
against him, “You, would you plead for give MiÅyan into their hands, lest Yisra’Ãl
BaÈal? You, would you save him? Let the boast against Me, saying, ‘My own hand
one who would plead for him be put to has saved me.’
death by morning! If he is a mighty one, let 3 “And now, proclaim in the hearing of
him plead for himself, because his altar has the people, saying, ‘Whoever is afraid and
been broken down!” trembling, let him turn back, and leave
32 So that day he called him YerubbaÈal, Mount GilÈaÅ.’ ” And twenty-two thousand
saying, “Let BaÈal plead against him, of the people turned back, while ten
because he has broken down his altar.” thousand remained.
33 Now all MiÅyan and AmalÃq and the 4 And HWHY said to GiÅÈon, “The people
people of the East, were gathered together. are still too many. Bring them down to the
And they passed over and encamped in the water, and let Me prove them for you there.
Valley of YizreÈÃl. And it shall be, that of whom I say to you,
34 Then the Spirit of HWHY came upon ‘This one goes with you,’ let him go with
GiÅÈon, and he blew the ram’s horn, and you. And of whomever I say to you, ‘This
SHOPHETIM 7 260
one does not go with you,’ let him not go.” that he bowed himself down. And he
5 So he brought the people down to the returned to the camp of Yisra’Ãl, and said,
water. And HWHY said to GiÅÈon, “Everyone “Arise, for HWHY has given the camp of
who laps the water with his tongue, as a MiÅyan into your hand.”
dog laps, separate him from everyone who 16 And he divided the three hundred men
bows down on his knees to drink.” into three companies, and he put a ram’s
6 And the number of those who lapped, horn into the hands of all of them, with
putting their hand to their mouth, was three empty jars, and torches inside the jars.
hundred men, and all the rest of the people 17 And he said to them, “Watch me and do
bowed down on their knees to drink water. likewise. And see, when I come to the edge
7 And HWHY said to GiÅÈon, “By the three of the camp do as I do.
hundred men who lapped I save you, and 18 “And I shall blow the ram’s horn, I and
shall give MiÅyan into your hand. Let all all those with me, then you shall also blow
the other people go, each to his place.” the ram’s horns round about all the camp,
8 And the people took food and their and say, ‘For HWHY and for GiÅÈon!’ ”
ram’s horns in their hands. And he sent 19 And GiÅÈon and the hundred men who
away all the rest of Yisra’Ãl, each to his were with him came to the edge of the
tent, but kept those three hundred men. camp at the beginning of the middle watch,
Now the camp of MiÅyan was below him as they had but newly posted the watch.
in the valley. And they blew the ram’s horns and broke
9 And it came to be, on that night, that the jars that were in their hands.
HWHY said to him, “Arise, go down against 20 And the three companies blew the
the camp, for I have given it into your ram’s horns and broke the jars, and held
hand. the torches in their left hands and the ram’s
10 “But if you are afraid to go down, go horns in their right hands for blowing. And
down, you and Purah your servant, to the they cried, “For HWHY and for GiÅÈon!”
camp. 21 And each stood in his place, round
11 “And you shall hear what they say, and about the camp. And all the army ran and
after that let your hands be strengthened. cried out and fled,
And you shall go down against the camp.” 22 and the three hundred blew the ram’s
So he went down with Purah his servant to horns, and HWHY set the sword of each one
the edge of the armed men who were in the against the other throughout all the camp.
camp. And the army fled to BÃyth Shittah, toward
12 And MiÅyan and AmalÃq, and all the TserÃrah, as far as the border of AÄÃl
people of the East, were lying in the valley MeÁolah, by Tabbath.
as many as locusts. And their camels were 23 And the men of Yisra’Ãl were called
as numerous as the sand by the seashore. from Naphtali, and from AshÃr, and from
13 And GiÅÈon came, and see, a man was all Menashsheh, and pursued MiÅyan.
relating a dream to his companion, and 24 Then GiÅÈon sent messengers through-
said, “See I had a dream, and see, a loaf of out all the mountains of Ephrayim, saying,
barley bread tumbled into the camp of “Come down to meet MiÅyan, and capture
MiÅyan, and it came to a tent and smote it from them the watering places as far as
so that it fell and overturned, and the tent BÃyth Barah and the YardÃn.” So all the
fell down.” men of Ephrayim were called and captured
14 And his companion answered and said, the watering places as far as BÃyth Barah
“This is nil else than the sword of GiÅÈon and the YardÃn.
son of Yo’ash, a man of Yisra’Ãl. Elohim 25 And they captured two princes of
has given MiÅyan and all the camp into his MiÅyan, OrÃÄ and Ze’ÃÄ, and slew OrÃÄ at
hand.” the rock of OrÃÄ, and Ze’ÃÄ they slew at
15 And it came to be, when GiÅÈon heard the winepress of Ze’ÃÄ while they pursued
this dream related, and its interpretation, MiÅyan. And they brought the heads of
261 SHOPHETIM 8
OrÃÄ and Ze’ÃÄ to GiÅÈon beyond the camp while the camp was at ease.
YardÃn. 12 And ZeÄaÁ and Tsalmunna fled, and he
who were with him came to the YardÃn, thorns of the wilderness and briers, and
passing over, weary yet pursuing. with them he taught the men of Sukkoth a
5 And he said to the men of Sukkoth, lesson.
“Please give loaves of bread to the people 17 And he broke down the tower of
who follow me, for they are weary, and I Penu’Ãl and slew the men of the city.
am pursuing ZeÄaÁ and Tsalmunna, sover- 18 And he said to ZeÄaÁ and Tsalmunna,
men of Sukkoth had answered him. yourself, and fall on us. For as a man is, so
9 So he spoke also to the men of Penu’Ãl, is his might.” So GiÅÈon arose and slew
saying, “When I come back in peace I shall ZeÄaÁ and Tsalmunna, and took the
break down this tower!” crescent ornaments which were on their
10 And ZeÄaÁ and Tsalmunna were at camels’ necks.
Qarqor, and their armies with them, about 22 So the men of Yisra’Ãl said to GiÅÈon,
fifteen thousand men, all who were left of “Rule over us, both you and your son, also
all the army of the people of the East. Now your son’s son, for you have saved us from
those who had already fallen were one the hand of MiÅyan.”
hundred and twenty thousand men who 23 But GiÅÈon said to them, “I do not rule
drew the sword. over you, nor does my son rule over you.
11 And GiÅÈon went up by the way of HWHY does rule over you.”
those who dwell in tents on the east of 24 And GiÅÈon said to them, “I have a
NoÄaÁ and YoÍbehah. And he smote the request to make of you, that each of you
SHOPHETIM 8 262
give me the ring from his spoil.” For they masters of She¿em, ‘Which is better for
had rings of gold, because they were you, that seventy men, all the sons of
YishmaÈÃlites. YerubbaÈal rule over you, or that one man
25 And they said, “We shall certainly give rule over you?’ And you shall remember
them.” And they spread out a garment, and that I am your own flesh and bone.”
each man threw into it the ring from his 3 And his mother’s brothers spoke all
robes which were on the sovereigns of silver from the house of BaÈal-Berith, with
MiÅyan, and besides the chains that were which AÄimele¿ hired worthless and
around their camels’ necks. reckless men. And they followed him.
27 And GiÅÈon made it into a shoulder 5 And he went to his father’s house at
garment and set it up in his city, Ophrah. Ophrah and slew his brothers, the seventy
And all Yisra’Ãl went whoring after it sons of YerubbaÈal, on one stone. But
there. And it became a snare to GiÅÈon and Yotham the youngest son of YerubbaÈal
to his house. was left, because he hid himself.
28 Thus MiÅyan was humbled before the 6 And all the masters of She¿em gath-
children of Yisra’Ãl, and they lifted their ered together, and all of BÃyth Millo, and
heads no more. And the land had rest for they went and made AÄimele¿ sovereign
forty years in the days of GiÅÈon. beside the terebinth tree at the post that
29 And YerubbaÈal son of Yo’ash went and was in She¿em.
dwelt in his own house. 7 And they informed Yotham, and he
30 And GiÅÈon had seventy sons who were went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim,
his own offspring, for he had many wives. and lifted his voice and cried out, and said
31 And his concubine who was in She¿em to them, “Hear me, you masters of
also bore him a son, and he gave him the She¿em, and let Elohim hear you!
name AÄimele¿. 8 “The trees went forth to anoint a sover-
32 And GiÅÈon son of Yo’ash died at a eign over them. And they said to the olive
good old age, and was buried in the tomb tree, ‘reign over us!’
of Yo’ash his father, in Ophrah of the 9 “And the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall
remember HWHY their Elohim, who had leave my sweetness and my good fruit, and
delivered them from the hands of all their go to sway over trees?’
enemies round about, 12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come,
35 nor did they show kindness to the house reign over us!’
of YerubbaÈal, GiÅÈon, according to all the 13 “And the vine said to them, ‘Shall I
good which he did for Yisra’Ãl. leave my new wine, which rejoices mighty
ones and men, and go to sway over trees?’
9 And AÄimele¿ son of YerubbaÈal went
to She¿em, to his mother’s brothers,
14 “Then all the trees said to the bramble,
of the house of his mother’s father, saying, in truth you anoint me as sovereign over
2 “Please speak in the hearing of all the you, come, take shelter in my shade. But if
263 SHOPHETIM 9
not, let fire come out of the bramble and held a feast. And they went into the house
devour the cedars of LeÄanon!’ of their mighty one, and ate and drank, and
16 “And now, if you have acted in truth cursed AÄimele¿.
and integrity in setting up AÄimele¿ to 28 And GaÈal son of EÄeÅ said, “Who is
reign, and if you have acted well with AÄimele¿, and who is She¿em, that we
YerubbaÈal and his house, and have done to should serve him? Is he not the son of
him as his hands did to you – YerubbaÈal, and is not ZeÄul his officer?
17 for my father fought for you and risked Serve the men of Àamor the father of
his life, and delivered you out of the hand She¿em! But why should we serve him?
of MiÅyan, 29 “If only this people were under my
18 but you have risen up against my hand! Then I would remove AÄimele¿.”
father’s house today, and slew his seventy And he said to AÄimele¿, “Increase your
sons on one stone, and set up AÄimele¿, army and come out!”
the son of his female servant, to reign over 30 And when ZeÄul, the governor of the
the masters of She¿em, because he is your city, heard the words of GaÈal son of EÄeÅ,
brother – his displeasure burned.
19 if then you have acted in truth and 31 And he sent messengers to AÄimele¿
integrity with YerubbaÈal and with his by deceit, saying, “See, GaÈal son of EÄeÅ
house this day, then rejoice in AÄimele¿, and his brothers have come to She¿em.
and let him also rejoice in you. And see, they are besieging the city against
20 “But if not, let fire come out from you.
AÄimele¿ and devour the masters of 32 “And now, get up by night, you and the
She¿em and BÃyth Millo, and let fire come people who are with you, and lie in wait in
out from the masters of She¿em and from the field.
BÃyth Millo and devour AÄimele¿!” 33 “And it shall be, as soon as the sun is
21 Then Yotham ran away and fled, and he up in the morning, then rise early and rush
went to Be’Ãr and dwelt there, for fear of upon the city. And see, when he and the
AÄimele¿ his brother. people who are with him come out against
22 And AÄimele¿ governed Yisra’Ãl three you, you shall do to them as your hand
years, finds to do.”
23 and Elohim sent an evil spirit between 34 And AÄimele¿ and all the people who
AÄimele¿ and the masters of She¿em. And were with him rose up by night, and laid in
the masters of She¿em acted treacherously wait against She¿em in four companies.
against AÄimele¿, 35 Now GaÈal son of EÄeÅ went out and
24 in order that the violence done to the stood in the entrance to the city gate, and
seventy sons of YerubbaÈal might come, AÄimele¿ and the people who were with
and their blood be laid on AÄimele¿ their him rose from lying in wait.
brother, who slew them, and on the masters 36 And when GaÈal saw the people, he said
of She¿em, who strengthened his hands to to ZeÄul, “See, people are coming down
slay his brothers. from the tops of the mountains!” But ZeÄul
25 And the masters of She¿em set men in said to him, “You are seeing the shadows
ambush against him on the tops of the of the mountains like men.”
mountains, and they robbed all who passed 37 And GaÈal spoke again and said, “See,
over by them along that way. And it was people are coming down from the high part
reported to AÄimele¿. of the land, and another company is com-
26 And GaÈal son of EÄeÅ came with his ing from the Diviners’ Terebinth Tree.”
brothers and passed over to She¿em. And 38 And ZeÄul said to him, “Now where is
the masters of She¿em put their trust in your mouth with which you said, ‘Who is
him, AÄimele¿, that we should serve him?’ Are
27 and went out into the fields, and not these the people whom you despised?
gathered their vineyards and trod out, and I beg you, go out and fight them now.”
SHOPHETIM 9 264
39 So GaÈal went out, leading the masters themselves in, and went up to the top of
of She¿em, and fought AÄimele¿. the tower.
40 And AÄimele¿ pursued him, and he 52 And AÄimele¿ came to the tower and
fled from him. And many fell wounded, up fought against it, and approached the door
to the entrance of the gate. of the tower to burn it with fire.
41 And AÄimele¿ stayed at Arumah, and 53 But a certain woman dropped an upper
ZeÄul drove out GaÈal and his brothers, so millstone on the head of AÄimele¿, and
that they would not dwell in She¿em. crushed his skull.
42 And it came to be the next day that the 54 He then immediately called the young
people went out into the field, and they man, his armour-bearer, and said to him,
informed AÄimele¿. “Draw your sword and kill me, lest men
43 And he took his people, and divided say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” And
them into three companies, and laid in wait his young man thrust him through, and he
in the field, and looked and saw the people died.
coming out of the city. And he rose against 55 And when the men of Yisra’Ãl saw that
them and smote them. AÄimele¿ was dead, each one went to his
44 And AÄimele¿ and the company that own place.
was with him rushed forward and stood at 56 Thus did Elohim repay the evil of AÄi-
the entrance of the gate of the city. And the mele¿, which he had done to his father to
other two companies rushed upon all who slay his seventy brothers.
were in the fields and smote them. 57 And all the evil of the men of She¿em
45 And AÄimele¿ fought against the city Elohim turned back on their own heads,
all that day, and captured the city and slew and the curse of Yotham son of YerubbaÈal
the people who were in it. And he broke came on them.
down the city and sowed it with salt.
46 And all the masters of the tower of
She¿em had heard that, and entered the 10 And after AÄimele¿ there arose
Tola son of Pu’ah, son of DoÅo, a
stronghold of the house of Âl Berith. man of Yissas¿ar, to save Yisra’Ãl. And he
47 And it was reported to AÄimele¿ that dwelt in Shamur in the mountains of
all the masters of the tower of She¿em Ephrayim.
were gathered together. 2 And he ruled Yisra’Ãl twenty-three
48 So AÄimele¿ went up to Mount Tsal- years. Then he died and was buried in
mon, he and all the people who were with Shamur.
him. And AÄimele¿ took an axe in his 3 And after him arose Ya’ir, a GilÈaÅite,
hand and cut down a branch from the trees, and he ruled Yisra’Ãl twenty-two years.
and took it and laid it on his shoulder. Then 4 And he had thirty sons who rode on
he said to the people who were with him, thirty donkeys. And they had thirty towns,
“What you have seen me do, hurry, do as I which are called Hawoth Yair to this day,
have done.” which are in the land of GilÈaÅ.
49 And all the people likewise cut down 5 And Ya’ir died, and was buried in
hold, and set the stronghold on fire above evil in the eyes of HWHY, and served the
them, so that all the men of the tower of BaÈals and the Ashtoreths, and the mighty
She¿em died, about a thousand men and ones of Aram, and the mighty ones of
women. TsiÅon, and the mighty ones of Mo’aÄ, and
50 AÄimele¿ then went to ThÃÄÃts, and he the mighty ones of the children of Ammon,
encamped against ThÃÄÃts and captured it. and the mighty ones of the Philistines –
51 However, there was a strong tower in and forsook HWHY and did not serve Him.
the city, and all the men and women and all 7 Therefore the displeasure of HWHY
the masters of the city fled there and shut burned against Yisra’Ãl. And He sold them
265 SHOPHETIM 11
into the hands of the Philistines and into 2 And the wife of GilÈaÅ bore sons. And
the hands of the children of Ammon. when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove
8 And they crushed and oppressed the YiphtaÁ out, and said to him, “You shall
children of Yisra’Ãl that year – for eighteen not have an inheritance in the house of our
years – all the children of Yisra’Ãl who father, for you are the son of another
were beyond the YardÃn in the land of the woman.”
Amorites, in GilÈaÅ. 3 And YiphtaÁ fled from his brothers and
9 And the children of Ammon passed dwelt in the land of ToÄ. And worthless
over the YardÃn to fight against YehuÅah, men banded together with YiphtaÁ and
and against Binyamin, and against the went out with him.
house of Ephrayim, so that Yisra’Ãl had 4 And it came to be, some time later, that
You, because we have both forsaken our Ammon fought against Yisra’Ãl, that the
Elohim and served the BaÈals!” elders of GilÈaÅ went to bring YiphtaÁ out
11 So HWHY said to the children of Yisra’Ãl, of the land of ToÄ.
“Was it not from the Mitsrites and from the 6 And they said to YiphtaÁ, “Come, and
Amorites and from the children of Ammon you shall be our commander, and let us
and from the Philistines that I saved you? fight against the children of Ammon.”
12 “And the TsiÅonians and AmalÃq and 7 But YiphtaÁ said to the elders of GilÈaÅ,
MaÈon oppressed you. And you cried out to “Did you not hate me, and drive me from
Me, and I saved you from their hand. my father’s house? Why have you come to
13 “But you, you have forsaken Me and me now when you are in trouble?”
served other mighty ones. Therefore I do 8 And the elders of GilÈaÅ said to
is good in Your eyes, only deliver us today, GilÈaÅ, “If you take me back home to fight
please.” against the children of Ammon, and HWHY
16 So they put away the foreign mighty gives them to me, am I to be your head?”
ones from their midst and served HWHY. 10 And the elders of GilÈaÅ said to
And His being was grieved with the trou- YiphtaÁ, “HWHY is witness between us, if
ble of Yisra’Ãl. we do not do according to your words.”
17 Then the children of Ammon were 11 Then YiphtaÁ went with the elders of
called together and encamped in GilÈaÅ. GilÈaÅ, and the people set him over them,
And the children of Yisra’Ãl gathered as head and commander. And YiphtaÁ
together and encamped in Mitspah. spoke all his words before HWHY in
18 And the people, the heads of GilÈaÅ, Mitspah.
said to each other, “Let the man who is the 12 And YiphtaÁ sent messengers to the
as far as the Yabboq, and to the YardÃn. 25 ‘And now are you any better than Balaq
And now, give back those lands in peace.” son of Tsippor, sovereign of Mo’aÄ? Did
14 But YiphtaÁ again sent messengers to he ever strive against Yisra’Ãl? Did he ever
the sovereign of the children of Ammon, fight against them?
15 and said to him, “This is what YiphtaÁ 26 ‘While Yisra’Ãl dwelt in Àeshbon and
said, ‘Yisra’Ãl did not take the land of its villages, and in AroÈÃr and its villages,
Mo’aÄ, nor the land of the children of and in all the cities along the banks of
Ammon. Arnon, for three hundred years, why did
16 ‘For when they came up from Mits- you not recover them within that time?
rayim, and Yisra’Ãl walked through the 27 ‘So I have not sinned against you, but
wilderness as far as the Sea of Reeds and you are doing me evil by fighting against
came to QaÅÃsh, me. Let HWHY the Judge, judge today
17 then Yisra’Ãl sent messengers to the between the children of Yisra’Ãl and the
sovereign of EÅom, saying, “Please let me children of Ammon.’ ”
pass over, through your land.” But the sov- 28 But the sovereign of the children of
ereign of EÅom would not listen. And they Ammon did not listen to the words which
also sent to the sovereign of Mo’aÄ, but he YiphtaÁ sent him.
refused, so Yisra’Ãl stayed at QaÅÃsh. 29 And the Spirit of HWHY came upon
18 ‘Then they went through the wilderness YiphtaÁ, and he passed through GilÈaÅ and
and around the land of EÅom and the land Menashsheh, and passed through Mitspeh
of Mo’aÄ, and came to the east side of the of GilÈaÅ. And from Mitspeh of GilÈaÅ he
land of Mo’aÄ, and encamped beyond passed on toward the children of Ammon.
Arnon. But they did not enter the border of 30 And YiphtaÁ made a vow to HWHY, and
Mo’aÄ, for Arnon was the border of said, “If You give the children of Ammon
Mo’aÄ. into my hands,
19 ‘And Yisra’Ãl sent messengers to SiÁon 31 then it shall be that whatever comes out
sovereign of the Amorites, sovereign of of the doors of my house to meet me, when
Àeshbon, and Yisra’Ãl said to him, “Please I return in peace from the children of
let us pass over, through your land into our Ammon, shall belong to HWHY, and I shall
place.” offer it up as a burnt offering.”
20 ‘But SiÁon did not trust Yisra’Ãl to pass 32 YiphtaÁ then passed on toward the
over through his border, and SiÁon children of Ammon to fight against them,
gathered all his people together, and they and HWHY gave them into his hands.
encamped in Yahats, and fought against 33 And he smote them from AroÈÃr as far
Amorites, the inhabitants of that land. Mitspah, and saw his daughter coming out
22 ‘Thus they took possession of all the to meet him with timbrels and dancing.
border of the Amorites, from Arnon to the Now except for her he had neither son nor
Yabboq and from the wilderness to the daughter.
YardÃn. 35 And it came to be, when he saw her,
23 ‘And now, HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl has that he tore his garments, and said, “Oh my
driven out the Amorites from before His daughter! You have brought me very low,
people Yisra’Ãl, should you then possess it? and you are among those who trouble me!
24 ‘Whatever Kemosh your mighty one And I, I have given my word to HWHY, and I
gives you to possess, do you not possess am unable to turn back.”
it? And all that which HWHY our Elohim 36 And she said to him, “My father, if you
takes possession of before us, we possess. have given your word to HWHY, do to me
267 SHOPHETIM 13
for you upon your enemies, the children of say, ‘Shibboleth’!” And he would say,
Ammon.” “Sibboleth,” for he was unable to pro-
37 And she said to her father, “Let this be nounce it right. Then they seized him and
done for me: let me alone for two months, slew him at the fords of the YardÃn. And at
and let me go and wander on the moun- that time there fell forty-two thousand
tains and bewail my maidenhood, my Ephrayimites.
friends and I.” 7 And YiphtaÁ ruled Yisra’Ãl six years.
38 Then he said, “Go.” And he sent her And YiphtaÁ the GilÈaÅite died and was
away for two months. And she went with buried in one of the cities of GilÈaÅ.
her friends, and bewailed her maidenhood 8 And after him, IÄtsan of BÃyth LeÁem
months that she returned to her father, and thirty daughters – he sent abroad and
he did to her as he had vowed, and she brought in thirty daughters for his sons.
knew no man. And it became a statute in And he ruled Yisra’Ãl seven years.
Yisra’Ãl 10 And IÄtsan died and was buried at
40 that the daughters of Yisra’Ãl went BÃyth LeÁem.
every year for four days to lament the 11 And after him Âlon the ZeÄulunite
daughter of YiphtaÁ the GilÈaÅite. ruled Yisra’Ãl. And he ruled Yisra’Ãl ten
years.
12 And the men of Ephrayim gathered
together, and passed over toward
12 And Âlon the ZeÄulunite died and was
GilÈaÅites are fugitives of Ephrayim in the the woman and said to her, “See now, you
midst of Ephrayim, in the midst of are barren and have not borne, but you
Menashsheh.” shall conceive, and you shall bear a son.
5 And GilÈaÅ captured the fords of the 4 “And now, please guard, and do not
YardÃn that faced Ephrayim. And it came drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat
to be, when the fugitives from Ephrayim any unclean food.
said, “Let me pass over,” the men of GilÈaÅ 5 “For look, you are conceiving and
said to him, “You are an Ephrayimite!” If bearing a son. And let no razor come upon
SHOPHETIM 13 268
his head, for the youth is a Nazirite to not eat your food. But if you offer a burnt
Elohim from the womb on. And he shall offering, offer it to HWHY.” For ManowaÁ
begin to save Yisra’Ãl out of the hand of did not know He was a Messenger of HWHY.
the Philistines.” 17 Then ManowaÁ said to the Messenger
6 And the woman came and spoke to her of HWHY, “What is Your name? When Your
husband, saying, “A Man of Elohim came words come true, then we shall esteem
to me, and His appearance was like the You.”
appearance of a Messenger of Elohim, 18 And the Messenger of HWHY said to him,
very awesome. But I did not ask Him “Why do you ask My name, since it is
where He was from, and He did not wondrous?”
declare to me His name. 19 And ManowaÁ took the young goat
7 “And He said to me, ‘See, you are with the grain offering, and offered it upon
conceiving and bearing a son. And now, the rock to HWHY. And He did wondrously
drink no wine or strong drink, nor eat any while ManowaÁ and his wife looked on.
unclean food, for the youth is a Nazirite to 20 And it came to be, as the flame went up
Elohim from the womb to the day of his toward the heavens from the altar, that the
death.’ ” Messenger of HWHY went up in the flame of
8 And ManowaÁ prayed to HWHY, and the altar. And ManowaÁ and his wife were
said, “O HWHY, please let the Man of watching, and they fell on their faces to the
Elohim whom You sent come to us again ground.
and teach us what to do for the youth who 21 And the Messenger of HWHY did not
ting in the field, but ManowaÁ her husband shall certainly die, because we have seen
was not with her. Elohim!”
10 And the woman ran hurriedly and 23 But his wife said to him, “If HWHY had
informed her husband, and said to him, been pleased to put us to death, He would
“See, He has appeared to me, the Man who not have accepted a burnt offering and a
came to me the other day!” grain offering from our hands, nor would
11 And ManowaÁ arose and went after his He have shown us all this, nor would He
wife, and came to the Man, and he said to have let us hear the like of this!”
Him, “Are You the Man who spoke to this 24 So the woman bore a son and called his
woman?” And He said, “I am.” name Shimshon. And the child grew, and
12 And ManowaÁ said, “Now let Your HWHY blessed him.
words come true! What is to be the rule for 25 And the Spirit of HWHY began to move
the youth’s life and his work?” him at MaÁanÃh Dan, between TsorÈah and
13 And the Messenger of HWHY said to Eshta’ol.
ManowaÁ, “Let the woman guard all that I
said to her.
14 “Let her not eat any food that comes 14 And Shimshon went down to
Timnah, and saw a woman in
from the vine, neither let her drink wine or Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.
strong drink, or eat any unclean food. Let 2 And he went up and informed his father
her guard all that which I have commanded and mother, saying, “I have seen a woman
her.” in Timnah of the daughters of the
15 And ManowaÁ said to the Messenger Philistines. And now, take her for me for a
of HWHY, “Please let us detain You, and pre- wife.”
pare a young goat for You.” 3 But his father and mother said to him,
16 And the Messenger of HWHY said to “Is there no woman among the daughters
ManowaÁ, “Though you detain Me, I do of your brothers, or among all my people,
269 SHOPHETIM 15
that you should take a wife from the uncir- 15 And it came to be on the seventh day
cumcised Philistines?” And Shimshon said that they said to Shimshon’s wife, “Entice
to his father, “Take her for me, for she is your husband to explain the riddle to us, or
pleasing in my eyes.” else we burn you and your father’s house
4 However, his father and mother did not with fire. Have you invited us in order to
know that it was of HWHY, that He was take what is ours? Is it not?”
seeking an occasion to move against the 16 And Shimshon’s wife wept before him,
Philistines. For at that time the Philistines and said, “You only hate me, and do not
were ruling over Yisra’Ãl. love me! You have put forth a riddle to the
5 Then Shimshon went down to Timnah sons of my people, but you have not
with his father and mother, and came to the explained it to me.” And he said to her,
vineyards of Timnah, and saw a young lion “Look, I have not explained it to my father
came roaring at him. or my mother, and should I explain it to
6 And the Spirit of HWHY came mightily you?”
upon him, and he tore it apart as the tearing 17 And she had wept before him the seven
apart of a young goat, with naught in his days while their feast lasted. And it came
hand. But he did not make known to his to be on the seventh day that he informed
father or his mother what he had done. her, because she pressed him so much. She
7 And he went down and spoke to the then explained the riddle to the sons of her
woman, and she pleased Shimshon well. people.
8 And when he returned later to take her, 18 And the men of the city said to him on
he turned aside to look at the carcass of the the seventh day before the sun went down,
lion, and saw a swarm of bees and honey “What is sweeter than honey? And what is
in the carcass of the lion. stronger than a lion?” And he said to them,
9 And he took some of it in his hands and “If you had not ploughed with my heifer,
went along, eating. And he came to his you would not have solved my riddle!”
father and mother, and gave them, and they 19 Then the Spirit of HWHY came upon him
ate. But he did not make known to them mightily, and he went down to Ashqelon
that he took the honey out of the carcass of and smote thirty of their men, stripped
the lion. them, and gave the changes of garments to
10 So his father went down to the woman. those who had explained the riddle. And
And Shimshon gave a feast there, for his displeasure burned, and he went back
young men used to do so. up to his father’s house.
11 And it came to be, when they saw him, 20 And Shimshon’s wife was given to his
that they brought thirty companions to be companion, who had been his friend.
with him.
12 And Shimshon said to them, “Please let
me put forth a riddle to you. If you clearly 15 And it came to be, after some time,
in the days of wheat harvest, that
solve and explain it to me within the seven Shimshon visited his wife with a young
days of the feast, then I shall give you thir- goat. And he said, “Let me go in to my
ty linen garments and thirty changes of wife, into her room.” But her father would
garments. not permit him to go in.
13 “But if you are unable to explain it to 2 And her father said, “Indeed, I thought
me, then you shall give me thirty linen that you hated her intensely; so I gave her
shirts and thirty changes of garments.” to your companion. Is not her younger
And they said to him, “Put forth your rid- sister better than she? Please, take her
dle and let us hear it.” instead.”
14 And he said to them, “Out of the eater 3 And Shimshon said to them, “This time
came forth food, and out of the strong I am blameless regarding the Philistines
came forth sweetness.” And for three days if I do evil to them!”
they were unable to explain the riddle. 4 And Shimshon went and caught three
SHOPHETIM 15 270
hundred foxes, and took torches, and broke loose from his hands.
turned them tail to tail, and put a torch 15 And he found a fresh jawbone of a
between each pair of tails, donkey, and put out his hand and took it,
5 and set the torches on fire, and sent and smote a thousand men with it.
them out into the standing grain of the 16 And Shimshon said, “With the jawbone
Philistines, and burned up both the shocks of a donkey, one heap, two heaps, with the
and the standing grain, even the vineyards jawbone of a donkey I have smitten a thou-
and olive-trees. sand men!”
6 And the Philistines said, “Who did 17 And it came to be, when he had ended
this?” And they answered, “Shimshon, the speaking, that he threw the jawbone from
son-in-law of the Timnite, because he took his hand, and called that place Ramath
away his wife and gave her to his compan- LeÁi.
ion.” Then the Philistines went up and 18 And he became very thirsty, and cried
burned her and her father with fire. out to HWHY and said, “You have given this
7 And Shimshon said to them, “Though great deliverance by the hand of Your ser-
you do this, yet I shall take revenge on vant. And now, am I to die of thirst and fall
you, and after that I cease.” into the hand of the uncircumcised?”
8 And he smote them hip and thigh, a 19 And Elohim split the hollow place that
great slaughter, and went down and dwelt is in LeÁi, and water came out, and he
in the cleft of the rock of Âytam. drank. And his spirit came back, and he
9 The Philistines then went up and revived. So he called its name Ân Haqqore,
encamped in YehuÅah, and spread out which is in LeÁi to this day.
against LeÁi. 20 And he ruled Yisra’Ãl twenty years in
10 And the men of YehuÅah said, “Why the days of the Philistines.
have you come up against us?” And they
answered, “We have come up to bind
Shimshon, to do to him as he has did to 16 And Shimshon went to Azzah and
saw a woman there, a whore, and
us.” went in to her –
11 Then three thousand men of YehuÅah 2 the Azzathites saying, “Shimshon has
went down to the cleft of the rock of come here!” So they went round and lay in
Âytam and said to Shimshon, “Do you not wait for him all night at the gate of the city,
know that the Philistines are rulers over and kept silent all night, saying, “In the
us? Why have you have done this to us?” morning, when it is daylight, then we shall
And he said to them, “As they did to me, kill him.”
so I did to them.” 3 Now Shimshon lay until midnight, and
12 And they said to him, “We have come rose at midnight, and took hold of the
down to bind you, to give you into the doors of the gate of the city and the two
hand of the Philistines.” And Shimshon gateposts, and pulled them up with the bar,
said to them, “Swear to me not to fall on put them on his shoulders, and took them
me yourselves.” to the top of the hill that faces ÀeÄron.
13 And they spoke to him, saying, “No, 4 And it came to be afterward that he
but we are certainly going to bind you, and loved a woman in the wadi SorÃq, whose
shall give you into their hand but certainly name was Delilah.
not kill you.” So they bound him with two 5 And the princes of the Philistines came
new ropes and brought him up from the up to her and said to her, “Entice him, and
rock. find out where his great strength lies, and
14 When he came to LeÁi, the Philistines see by what we might overpower him, then
came shouting to meet him. And the Spirit we shall bind him to humble him. And let
of HWHY came mightily upon him. And the us give you, each one of us, eleven hun-
ropes that were on his arms became like dred pieces of silver.”
flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds 6 And Delilah said to Shimshon, “Please
271 SHOPHETIM 16
reveal to me where your great strength lies, Elohim from my mother’s womb. If I were
and by what you might be bound, to hum- shaven, then my strength would leave me,
ble you.” and I would become as weak as any other
7 And Shimshon said to her, “If they bind man.”
me with seven fresh cords, not yet dried, 18 And Delilah saw that he had made
then I shall be weak, and be like any other known to her all his heart, and she sent and
man.” called for the princes of the Philistines,
8 The princes of the Philistines then saying, “Come up once more, for he has
brought her seven fresh cords, not yet made known to me all his heart.” So the
dried, and she bound him with them, princes of the Philistines came up to her
9 while those lying in wait stayed with and brought the money in their hand.
her in the room. And she said to him, “The 19 And she made him sleep on her knees,
Philistines are upon you, Shimshon!” But and called for a man and shaved off the
he broke the cords as a strand of yarn seven locks of his head. Thus she began to
breaks when it touches fire. So the secret humble him, and his strength left him.
of his strength remained unknown. 20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon
10 And Delilah said to Shimshon, “Look, you, Shimshon!” And he awoke from his
you have mocked me and spoken lies to sleep, and said, “Let me go out as before,
me. Now, please reveal to me by what you at other times, and shake myself loose!”
might be bound.” But he did not know that HWHY had turned
11 And he said to her, “If they bind me aside from him.
tightly with new ropes that have never 21 So the Philistines took him and put out
been used, then I shall be weak, and be like his eyes, and brought him down to Azzah,
any other man.” and bound him with bronze shackles. And
12 And Delilah took new ropes and bound he became a grinder in the prison.
him with them, and said to him, “The 22 But the hair of his head began to grow
Philistines are upon you, Shimshon!” And again after it had been shaven.
those lying in wait were sitting in the inner 23 And the princes of the Philistines
room. But he broke them off his arms like gathered to offer a great slaughtering to
a thread. DaÍon their mighty one, and to rejoice.
13 So Delilah said to Shimshon, “Until now And they said, “Our mighty one has given
you have mocked me and spoken lies to me, Shimshon our enemy into our hands!”
reveal to me how you might be bound.” 24 And the people saw him, and praised
And he said to her, “If you weave the their mighty one, for they said, “Our
seven locks of my head with the web.” mighty one has given into our hands our
14 Then she fastened it with a pin, and enemy, the destroyer of our land, who slew
said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, many of us.”
Shimshon!” But he awoke from his sleep, 25 And it came to be, when their hearts
and pulled out the pin of the loom and the were glad, that they said, “Call for Shim-
web. shon, and let him entertain us.” So they
15 Then she said to him, “How do you say, called for Shimshon from the prison, and
‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with he entertained them. And they made him
me? You have mocked me these three stand between the columns.
times, and have not made known to me 26 And Shimshon said to the young man
where your great strength lies.” who held him by the hand, “Let me alone
16 And it came to be, when she pressed and let me feel the columns which support
him daily with her words and urged him, the house, so that I lean on them.”
so that his being was wearied to death, 27 And the house was filled with men and
17 that he made known to her all his heart, women. And all the princes of the
and said to her, “No razor has ever come Philistines were there. And about three
upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to thousand men and women were on the roof
SHOPHETIM 16 272
Elohim, and let me avenge myself on the LeÁem in YehuÅah, of the clan of Yehu-
Philistines with vengeance for my two Åah. And he was a LÃwite, and he was
eyes!” sojourning there.
29 And Shimshon took hold of the two 8 And the man went out of the city of
middle columns which supported the BÃyth LeÁem in YehuÅah to sojourn wher-
house, and he braced himself against them, ever he could find a place. And he came to
one on his right and the other on his left. the mountains of Ephrayim, to the house of
30 And Shimshon said, “Let me die with Mi¿ah, as he journeyed.
the Philistines!” And he bowed himself 9 And Mi¿ah said to him, “Where do you
mightily, and the house fell on the princes come from?” And he said to him, “I am a
and all the people in it. And the dead that LÃwite from BÃyth LeÁem in YehuÅah,
he killed at his death were more than he and I am on my way to find a place to
had killed in his life. sojourn.”
31 And his brothers and all his father’s 10 And Mi¿ah said to him, “Dwell with
household came down and took him, and me, and be a father and a priest to me, and
brought him up and buried him between I give you ten pieces of silver per year, and
TsorÈah and Eshta’ol in the tomb of his a suit of garments, and your food.” And the
father ManowaÁ. And he had ruled Yis- LÃwite went in.
ra’Ãl twenty years. 11 So the LÃwite agreed to dwell with the
mother, and his mother took two hundred of their clan, brave men from TsorÈah and
pieces of silver and gave them to the Eshta’ol, to spy out the land and search it.
silversmith, and he made it into a carved And they said to them, “Go, search the
image and a moulded image. And they land,” so they went to the mountains of
were in the house of Mi¿ahu. Ephrayim, to the house of Mi¿ah, and
5 Now the man Mi¿ah had a house of spent the night there.
mighty ones, and made a shoulder garment 3 When they were near the house of
and house idols. And he ordained one of Mi¿ah, they recognised the voice of the
his sons, who became his priest. young LÃwite, and turned aside and said to
have become his priest.” battle, who were of the children of Dan,
5 And they said to him, “Please inquire stood by the entrance of the gate.
of Elohim, and we shall know whether the 17 And the five men who had gone to spy
journey on which we are going is prosper- out the land went up, and entering there,
ous.” they took the carved image, and the shoul-
6 And the priest said to them, “Go in der garment, and the house idols, and the
peace. Your journey on which you go is moulded image, while the priest stood at
before HWHY.” the entrance of the gate with the six hun-
7 Then the five men left and came to dred men who were armed for battle.
Layish, and saw the people who were in 18 And these went into Mi¿ah’s house and
their midst, how they dwelt safely, accord- took the idol, and the shoulder garment,
ing to the ruling of the TsiÅonians, at rest and the house idols, and the moulded
and unsuspecting. And no one possessing image. Then the priest said to them, “What
authority in the land was reproaching for are you doing?”
any matter. And they were far from the 19 And they said to him, “Be silent, put
TsiÅonians, and they had no word with your hand over your mouth, and come with
anyone. us, and be a father and a priest to us. Is it
8 And the spies came back to their broth- better for you to be a priest to the house-
ers at TsorÈah and Eshta’ol, and their broth- hold of one man, or that you be a priest to a
ers said to them, “What do you say?” tribe and a clan in Yisra’Ãl?”
9 And they said, “Arise, and let us go up 20 And the heart of the priest was glad.
against them. For we have seen the land, And he took the shoulder garment, and the
and look, it is very good. And you sit still! house idols, and the carved image, and
Do not hesitate to go to enter in to possess took his place among the people.
the land. 21 And they turned and went, and put the
10 “When you go, you are to come to an little ones, and the livestock, and the
unsuspecting people, and the land is spa- valuables in front of them.
cious. For Elohim has given it into your 22 They had gone some distance from the
hands, a place in which there is no lack of house of Mi¿ah, when the men who were
any matter which is on the earth.” in the houses near Mi¿ah’s house gathered
11 And six hundred men of the clan of the together and overtook the children of Dan,
Danites went from there, from TsorÈah and 23 and called out to the children of Dan.
Eshta’ol, armed for battle. So they turned around and said to Mi¿ah,
12 And they went up and encamped in “What is the matter, that you have gathered
Qiryath YeÈarim in YehuÅah. Therefore such a company?”
they call that place MaÁanÃh Êan to this 24 And he said, “You have taken away my
day. See, it is west of Qiryath YeÈarim. mighty ones which I made, and the priest,
13 And they passed over from there to the and you are leaving. Now what more do I
mountains of Ephrayim, and came to the have? What is this you say to me, ‘What is
house of Mi¿ah. the matter?’ ”
14 And the five men who had gone to spy 25 And the children of Dan said to him,
out the land of Layish answered and said to “Do not let your voice be heard among us,
their brothers, “Do you know that there are lest men, bitter of being, fall upon you, and
in these houses a shoulder garment, and you lose your life, with the lives of your
house idols, and a carved image, and a household!”
moulded image? And now, you know what 26 And the children of Dan went their
SHOPHETIM 18 274
way. And when Mi¿ah saw that they were 5 And it came to be on the fourth day that
too strong for him, he turned and went they arose early in the morning. And he
back to his house. prepared to leave, but the young woman’s
27 Then they took what Mi¿ah had made, father said to his son-in-law, “Refresh your
and the priest who had belonged to him, heart with a piece of bread, and afterward
and went to Layish, to a people who were go your way.”
at rest and unsuspecting, and smote them 6 So they sat down, and the two of them
with the edge of the sword and burned the ate and drank together. And the young
city with fire. woman’s father said to the man, “Please
28 And there was no deliverer, because it agree to stay all night, and let your heart be
was far from TsiÅon, and they had no word glad.”
with anyone. And it was in the valley that 7 And when the man arose to go, his
belongs to BÃyth ReÁoÄ. And they rebuilt father-in-law urged him. So he spent the
the city and dwelt there. night there again.
29 And they called the name of the city 8 And he arose early in the morning on
Dan, after the name of Dan their father, the fifth day to go. But the young woman’s
who was born to Yisra’Ãl. But previously father said, “Please refresh your heart.” So
the name of the city was Layish. they delayed until afternoon, and both of
30 And the children of Dan set up for them ate.
themselves the carved image. And Yeho- 9 And the man arose to go, he and his
nathan son of GÃreshom, son of Menash- concubine and his servant. But his father-
sheh, and his sons were priests to the tribe in-law, the young woman’s father, said to
of Dan until the day the land was taken him, “See, the day is now drawing toward
into exile. evening. Please spend the night. See, the
31 And they set up for themselves the day is coming to an end. Stay here, and let
carved image of Mi¿ah, which he had your heart be glad. And you shall rise early
made, all the days that the house of Elohim tomorrow for your journey, and you shall
was in Shiloh. go to your tent.”
10 But the man would not stay that night.
himself a concubine from BÃyth LeÁem in far spent. And the servant said to his
YehuÅah. master, “Come, please, and let us turn
2 And his concubine committed whoring aside into this city of the YeÄusites and
against him, and went away from him to spend the night in it.”
her father’s house at BÃyth LeÁem in 12 And his master said to him, “Let us not
YehuÅah, and was there four months. turn aside here into a city of foreigners,
3 And her husband arose and went after who are not of the children of Yisra’Ãl. But
her, to speak to her heart and bring her we shall pass over to GiÄÈah.”
back, having his servant and a couple of 13 And he said to his servant, “Come, let
donkeys with him. And she brought him us draw near to one of these places, and
into her father’s house. And the father of spend the night in GiÄÈah or in Ramah.”
the young woman saw him, and he was 14 And they passed over and went their
glad to meet him. way. And the sun went down on them near
4 And his father-in-law, the young wom- GiÄÈah, which belongs to Binyamin,
an’s father, detained him, and he dwelt 15 and they turned off there to go in to
with him three days. And they ate and spend the night in GiÄÈah. So he went in,
drank and spent the nights there. and he sat down in the open square of the
275 SHOPHETIM 20
city, for no one would take them into his morning, and let her go when the day
house to spend the night. began to break.
16 But see, an old man came in from his 26 And as morning appeared the woman
work in the field at evening, who also was came back and fell down at the door of the
from the mountains of Ephrayim. And he man’s house where her master was, till it
was sojourning in GiÄÈah, whereas the men was light.
of the place were Binyamites. 27 And her master rose up in the morning,
17 And when he lifted up his eyes, he saw and opened the doors of the house and
the traveller in the open square of the city. went out to go his way, and saw his concu-
And the old man said, “Where are you bine, fallen at the door of the house with
going, and where do you come from?” her hands on the threshold.
18 And he said to him, “We are passing 28 And he said to her, “Rise up and let us
over from BÃyth LeÁem in YehuÅah to the go.” But there was no answer. Then he
other side of the mountains of Ephrayim. I took her on the donkey, and the man rose
am from there, and I went to BÃyth LeÁem and went to his place,
in YehuÅah, and I am going to the House 29 and came into his house and took a
of HWHY. But there is no one taking me into knife, then laid hold of his concubine, and
his house, cut her up limb by limb into twelve pieces,
19 yet there is both straw and fodder for and sent her throughout all the borders of
our donkeys, and bread and wine for Yisra’Ãl.
myself, and for your female servant, and 30 And it came to be that all who saw it
for the young man who is with your ser- said, “There has never been, and there has
vant; there is no lack of any matter.” not been seen the like of this, from the day
20 And the old man said, “Peace be with that the children of Yisra’Ãl came up from
you! However, let all your needs be on me, the land of Mitsrayim until this day. Set
only do not spend the night in the open your heart on it, take counsel, and speak
square.” up!”
21 And he brought him into his house, and
the old man, saying, “Bring out the man tribes of Yisra’Ãl, presented themselves in
who came to your house, so that we know the assembly of the people of Elohim, four
him!” hundred thousand foot soldiers who drew
23 But the man, the master of the house, the sword.
went out to them and said to them, “No, 3 And the children of Binyamin heard
my brothers! I beg you, do no evil! Since that the children of Yisra’Ãl had gone up to
this man has come into my house, do not Mitspah. And the children of Yisra’Ãl said,
do this folly. “Speak up, how did this evil come about?”
24 “Look, here is my maiden daughter and 4 And the man, the LÃwite, husband of
the man’s concubine. Let me bring them the woman who was murdered, answered
out now, and humble them, and do with and said, “My concubine and I went into
them what is good in your eyes, but do not GiÄÈah, which belongs to Binyamin, to
do such a foolish matter to this man!” spend the night.
25 But the men would not listen to him. So 5 “And the masters of GiÄÈah rose against
the man took his concubine and brought me, and surrounded the house at night
her out to them. And they knew her and because of me. They thought to kill me,
rolled themselves on her all night until but instead they humbled my concubine,
SHOPHETIM 20 276
speak and give your counsel here!” battle against Binyamin, and the men of
8 And all the people rose as one man, Yisra’Ãl put themselves in battle array to
saying, “Let not one of us go to his tent, fight against them at GiÄÈah.
nor any of us turn back to his house. 21 And the children of Binyamin came out
9 “And now, this is what we do to GiÄÈah: of GiÄÈah, and on that day cut down to the
go against it by lot. ground twenty-two thousand men of the
10 “And we shall take ten men out of Yisra’Ãlites.
every hundred throughout all the tribes of 22 But the people, the men of Yisra’Ãl,
Yisra’Ãl, and a hundred out of every strengthened themselves and again formed
thousand, and a thousand out of every ten the battle line at the place where they had
thousand, to make food for the people, put themselves in array on the first day.
to prepare for their going to GiÄÈah in 23 And the children of Yisra’Ãl went up
Binyamin, for all the folly they did in and wept before HWHY until evening, and
Yisra’Ãl.” asked of HWHY, saying, “Should I again
11 And all the men of Yisra’Ãl were draw near for battle against the children of
gathered against the city, knit together as my brother Binyamin?” And HWHY said,
one man. “Go up against him.”
12 And the tribes of Yisra’Ãl sent men 24 And the children of Yisra’Ãl drew near
through all the tribe of Binyamin, saying, to the children of Binyamin on the second
“What is this evil that has come about day.
among you? 25 And Binyamin went out against them
13 “And now, give us the men, the sons of from GiÄÈah on the second day, and cut
BeliyaÈal who are in GiÄÈah, so that we put down to the ground eighteen thousand
them to death and put away evil from more of the children of Yisra’Ãl – all these
Yisra’Ãl!” But the children of Binyamin drew the sword.
would not listen to the voice of their 26 And all the children of Yisra’Ãl, even
brothers, the children of Yisra’Ãl. all the people, went up and came to BÃyth
14 So the children of Binyamin gathered Âl and wept, and sat there before HWHY and
together from their cities to GiÄÈah, to go fasted that day until evening. And they
to battle against the children of Yisra’Ãl. offered burnt offerings and peace offerings
15 And from their cities at that time the before HWHY.
children of Binyamin registered twenty-six 27 And the children of Yisra’Ãl asked of
thousand men who drew the sword, HWHY – the ark of the covenant of Elohim
besides the inhabitants of GiÄÈah, who reg- was there in those days,
istered seven hundred chosen men. 28 and PineÁas son of ElÈazar, son of
16 Among all this people there were seven Aharon, stood before it in those days –
hundred chosen men who were left-hand- saying, “Should I yet again go out to battle
ed, each one could sling a stone at a hair’s against the children of my brother
breadth and not miss. Binyamin, or should I cease?” And HWHY
17 And besides Binyamin, the men of said, “Go up, for tomorrow I give them
Yisra’Ãl registered four hundred thousand into your hand.”
men who drew the sword, all of these were 29 And Yisra’Ãl set ambushers all around
array against GiÄÈah as at the other times. back, the men of Binyamin were troubled,
31 And the children of Binyamin came out for they saw that calamity was close to
to meet the people – drawn away from the them.
city. And they began to smite some of the 42 And they turned their backs before the
people, slaying, as at the other times, in the men of Yisra’Ãl toward the way of the
highways, of which one went up to BÃyth wilderness, but the battle overtook them,
Âl and the other to GiÄÈah in the field, while those who had come out of the cities
about thirty men of Yisra’Ãl. were destroying them in their midst.
32 And the children of Binyamin said, 43 They surrounded the Binyamites and
“They are going to be smitten before us, as pursued them, and with ease trampled
previously.” But the children of Yisra’Ãl them down as far as the front of GiÄÈah
said, “Let us flee and draw them away toward the east.
from the city to the highways.” 44 And there fell of Binyamin eighteen
33 And all the men of Yisra’Ãl rose from thousand men – all of these were mighty
their place and put themselves in battle men.
array at BaÈal Tamar. And the ambush of 45 And they turned and fled toward the
Yisra’Ãl broke forth from their position at wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. And
MaÈareh ÌeÄa. they cut down five thousand of them on the
34 And ten thousand chosen men from all highways, and followed after them up to
Yisra’Ãl came against GiÄÈah, and the GiÅom, and smote two thousand of them.
battle was fierce. But they did not know 46 And all who fell of Binyamin that day
that calamity was close to them. were twenty-five thousand men who drew
35 And HWHY smote Binyamin before the sword, all of these were mighty men.
Yisra’Ãl. And the children of Yisra’Ãl 47 But six hundred men turned and fled
destroyed twenty-five thousand one hun- toward the wilderness to the rock of
dred men on that day in Binyamin – all Rimmon, and they dwelt at the rock of
these drew the sword. Rimmon for four months.
36 And the children of Binyamin saw that 48 And the men of Yisra’Ãl turned back
they were smitten. And the men of Yisra’Ãl against the children of Binyamin, and
had given ground to the Binyamites, smote them with the edge of the sword
because they trusted in the ambush that from every city, men and beasts, all who
they had set against GiÄÈah, were found. And they set fire to all the
37 and the ambush hurried and came cities they came to.
against GiÄÈah, and the ambush spread out
and smote the entire city with the edge of
the sword. 21 And the men of Yisra’Ãl had sworn
an oath at Mitspah, saying, “Not
38 And the appointed signal between the one of us shall give his daughter to
men of Yisra’Ãl and the ambush was that Binyamin as a wife.”
they would make a great cloud of smoke 2 So the people came to BÃyth Âl, and sat
rise up from the city, there until evening before Elohim, and
39 then the men of Yisra’Ãl would turn in lifted up their voices and wept bitterly,
battle, and Binyamin began to smite dead 3 and said, “O HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl,
about thirty of the men of Yisra’Ãl. For why has this come about in Yisra’Ãl, that
they said, “They are indeed smitten before today there should be one tribe missing in
us, as at the first battle.” Yisra’Ãl?”
40 Then the cloud began to rise from the 4 And it came to be on the morrow, that
city in a column of smoke, and the the people rose early and built an altar
Binyamites looked behind them, and saw there, and brought burnt offerings and
the entire city going up in smoke to the peace offerings.
SHOPHETIM 21 278
5 And the children of Yisra’Ãl said, “Who 16 And the elders of the congregation said,
is there among all the tribes of Yisra’Ãl “What do we do for wives for those who
who did not come up with the assembly to remain, since the women have been
HWHY?” For they had made a great oath destroyed out of Binyamin?”
concerning anyone who had not come up 17 And they said, “There is an inheritance
to HWHY at Mitspah, saying, “He shall for the survivors of Binyamin, and no tribe
certainly be put to death.” is to be destroyed from Yisra’Ãl.
6 And the children of Yisra’Ãl were sorry 18 “But we are unable to give them wives
for Binyamin their brother, and said, “One from our daughters, for the children of
tribe is cut off from Yisra’Ãl today. Yisra’Ãl have sworn an oath, saying,
7 “What do we do for wives for those
‘Cursed be the one who gives a wife to
who remain, seeing we have sworn by Binyamin.’ ”
HWHY not to give them our daughters as 19 So they said, “See, there is a yearly fes-
wives?” tival of HWHY in Shiloh, which is north of
8 And they said, “Which one of the tribes
BÃyth Âl, on the east side of the highway
of Yisra’Ãl did not come up to Mitspah to that goes up from BÃyth Âl to She¿em, and
HWHY? ” And see, no one had come to the south of LeÄonah.”
camp from YaÄÃsh GilÈaÅ to the assembly. 20 And they commanded the children of
9 For when the people called a roll, see,
Binyamin, saying, “Go, lie in wait in the
not one of the inhabitants of YaÄÃsh GilÈaÅ vineyards,
was there. 21 “and watch. And see, when the daugh-
10 And the congregation sent out there
ters of Shiloh come out to perform their
twelve thousand of their bravest men, and
dances, then you shall come out from the
commanded them, saying, “Go, and you
vineyards, and every man catch a wife for
shall smite the inhabitants of YaÄÃsh
GilÈaÅ with the edge of the sword, even the himself from the daughters of Shiloh, and
women and children. go to the land of Binyamin.
22 “And it shall be, when their fathers or
11 “And this is what you do: Put under the
ban every male, and every woman who has their brothers come to us to complain, that
known a man by lying with him.” we shall say to them, ‘Favour us with
12 And they found among the inhabitants them, because we did not take a wife for
of YaÄÃsh GilÈaÅ four hundred young any of them in battle, neither have you
maidens who had not known a man. And given them to them, making yourselves
they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, guilty of your oath.’ ”
23 And the children of Binyamin did so,
which is in the land of KenaÈan.
13 Then all the congregation sent, and and took enough wives for their number
spoke to the children of Binyamin who from those who danced, whom they
were at the rock of Rimmon, and pro- caught. Then they went and returned to
claimed peace to them. their inheritance, and they rebuilt the cities
14 And Binyamin turned back at that time, and dwelt in them.
24 And the children of Yisra’Ãl went from
and they gave them the women whom they
had saved alive of the women of YaÄÃsh there at that time, each one to his tribe and
GilÈaÅ. But even so there were not enough clan. And they went from there, each one
for them. to his inheritance.
15And the people were sorry for Bin- 25 In those days there was no sovereign in
yamin, because HWHY had made a breach in Yisra’Ãl – everyone did what was right in
the tribes of Yisra’Ãl. his own eyes. c
drinking in Shiloh, while Âli the priest was that Àannah conceived and bore a son, and
sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the called his name Shemu’Ãl, “Because I have
Hÿal of HWHY. asked HWHY for him.”
10 And she was bitter in life, and prayed to 21 And the man Elqanah and all his house
HWHY and wept greatly. went up to offer to HWHY the yearly slaugh-
11 And she made a vow and said, “O HWHY tering and his vow.
of hosts, if You would indeed look on the 22 But Àannah did not go up, for she said
affliction of your female servant and to her husband, “When the child is
remember me, and not forget your female weaned, then I shall take him. And he shall
servant, but shall give your female servant appear before HWHY and remain forever
a male child, then I shall give him to HWHY there.”
all the days of his life, and let no razor 23 And her husband Elqanah said to her,
come upon his head.” “Do what is good in your eyes. Remain
1 SHEMU’ÂL 1 280
until you have weaned him. Only let HWHY but the wrong are silent in darkness, for
establish His word.” And the woman man does not become mighty by power.
10 “Those who oppose HWHY are shattered,
remained and nursed her son until she had
weaned him. from the heavens He thunders against
24 And when she had weaned him, she them. HWHY judges the ends of the earth,
took him up with her, with three bulls, and and gives strength to His sovereign, and
one Ãphah of flour, and a skin of wine, and exalts the horn of His anointed.”
11 And Elqanah went to his house at
brought him to the House of HWHY in
Shiloh. And the child was young. Ramah. But the youth served HWHY before
25 And they slaughtered a bull, and Âli the priest.
12 And the sons of Âli were sons of
brought the child to Âli.
26 And she said, “O my master! As your BeliyaÈal – they did not know HWHY.
13 And the ruling of the priests with the
being lives, my master, I am the woman
who stood by you here, praying to HWHY. people was that when any man offered a
27 “I prayed for this youth, and HWHY has slaughtering, the priest’s servant shall
granted me what I asked of Him. come with a three-pronged flesh-hook in
28 “So I have also loaned him to HWHY. All his hand while the meat was cookling,
14 and shall thrust it into the basin, or
the days that he lives he shall be loaned to
HWHY.” And he worshipped there before kettle, or cauldron, or pot. And the priest
HWHY. would take for himself all that the flesh-
hook brought up. Thus they did in Shiloh
2 And Àannah prayed and said, “My
heart rejoices in HWHY, my horn has
to all the Yisra’Ãlites who came there.
15 Also, before they burned the fat, the
been high in HWHY. My mouth is opened priest’s servant would come and say to the
wide over my enemies, for I have rejoiced man who slaughtered, “Give meat for
in Your deliverance. roasting to the priest, for he does not
2 “There is no one set-apart like HWHY, for accept cooked meat from you, but raw.”
there is no one besides You, and there is no 16 And if the man said to him, “Let the fat
who has many children pines away. robe, and bring it to him year by year when
6 “HWHY puts to death and makes alive, she came up with her husband to offer the
He brings down to the grave and raises up. yearly slaughtering.
7 “HWHY makes poor and makes rich, He 20 And Âli blessed Elqanah and his wife,
brings low and lifts up. and said, “HWHY give you offspring from
8 “He raises the poor from the dust, He this woman for the one she prayed for and
lifts the needy from the dunghill, to sit gave to HWHY.” Then they would go to their
with princes, and make them inherit a own home.
throne of esteem. For the supports of the 21 And HWHY visited Àannah, so that she
earth belong to HWHY, and He has set the conceived and bore three sons and two
world upon them. daughters, while the young Shemu’Ãl grew
9 “He guards the feet of His kind ones, before HWHY.
281 1 SHEMU’ÂL 3
22 And Âli was very old, and had heard all Elohim does for Yisra’Ãl, and there shall
that his sons were doing to all Yisra’Ãl, and not be an old man in your house forever.
how they lay with the women who were 33 ‘But any of your men whom I do not
assembling at the door of the Tent of cut off from My altar is to consume your
Meeting. eyes and grieve your life, and all the
23 And he said to them, “Why do you do increase of your house die as men.
deeds like these? For I hear of your evil 34 ‘And this is the sign to you that comes
deeds from all the people. upon your two sons, upon Àophni and
24 “No, my sons! For it is not a good PineÁas: in one day they are going to die,
report that I hear: making the people of both of them.
HWHY transgress. 35 ‘And I shall raise up for Myself a trust-
25 “If one man sins against another, worthy priest who does according to what
Elohim shall judge him. But if a man sins is in My heart and in My being. And I shall
against HWHY, who shall pray for him?” But build him a steadfast house, and he shall
they did not listen to the voice of their walk before My anointed forever.
father, though HWHY was pleased to put 36 ‘And it shall be that everyone who is
My altar, to burn incense, and to wear a was lying down in his place. And his eyes
shoulder garment before Me? And did I had begun to grow so dim that he was
not give to the house of your father all the unable to see,
offerings of the children of Yisra’Ãl made 3 And the lamp of Elohim had not gone
Me forever.’ But now HWHY declares, ‘Far And Shemu’Ãl arose and went to Âli, and
be it from Me, for those who highly esteem said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But
Me I highly esteem, and those who despise he answered, “My son, I did not call – lie
Me are lightly esteemed. down again.”
31 ‘See, the days are coming that I shall 7 Now Shemu’Ãl did not yet know HWHY,
cut off your arm and the arm of your and the word of HWHY was not yet revealed
father’s house, so that an old man shall not to him.
be found in your house. 8 And HWHY called Shemu’Ãl again the
32 ‘And you shall see an enemy in My third time, and he arose and went to Âli,
Dwelling Place, despite all the good which and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.”
1 SHEMU’ÂL 3 282
judging his house forever for the crooked- brought from there the ark of the covenant
of HWHY of hosts, dwelling between the
ness which he knows, because his sons
keruÄim. And the two sons of Âli, Àophni
cursed Elohim, and he did not rebuke them.
14 “And therefore I have sworn to the and PineÁas, were there with the ark of the
covenant of Elohim.
house of Âli that the crookedness of the 5 And when the ark of the covenant of
house of Âli shall never be atoned for, by HWHY came into the camp, all Yisra’Ãl
slaughtering or grain offering.” shouted so loudly that the earth shook.
15 And Shemu’Ãl lay down until morning,
6 And when the Philistines heard the
and opened the doors of the House of HWHY. noise of the shout, they said, “What is the
And Shemu’Ãl was afraid to report the noise of this great shout in the camp of the
vision to Âli. HeÄrews?” And when they knew that the
16 Then Âli called Shemu’Ãl and said,
ark of HWHY had come into the camp,
“Shemu’Ãl, my son!” And he answered, 7 the Philistines were afraid, for they
“Here I am.” said, “Elohim has come into the camp!”
17 And he said, “What is the word that He
And they said, “Woe to us! For it has never
spoke to you? Please do not hide it from been like this before.
me. Elohim do so to you, and more also, 8 “Woe to us! Who shall deliver us from
if you hide a word from me of all the the hand of these mighty Elohim? These
words that He spoke to you.” are the Elohim who smote the Mitsrites
18 And Shemu’Ãl reported to him all the
with all the plagues in the wilderness.
words, and hid none from him. And he 9 “Be strong and be men, you Philistines,
said, “It is HWHY. Let Him do what is good that you do not become servants of the
in His eyes.” HeÄrews, as they have been to you. Be
19 And Shemu’Ãl grew up, and HWHY was
men, and fight!”
with him and did not let any of his words 10 And the Philistines fought, and Yisra’Ãl
fall to the ground. was smitten, and every man fled to his tent.
20 And all Yisra’Ãl from Dan to And the slaughter was very great, and
Be’ÃrsheÄa knew that Shemu’Ãl had been there fell of Yisra’Ãl thirty thousand foot
established as a prophet of HWHY. soldiers.
21 And HWHY continued to appear in 11 And the ark of Elohim was captured,
Shiloh, because HWHY revealed Himself to and the two sons of Âli died, Àophni and
Shemu’Ãl in Shiloh by the word of HWHY. PineÁas.
283 1 SHEMU’ÂL 5
heart trembled for the ark of Elohim. And Elohim and brought it into the house of
the man came into the city and reported it, DaÍon and set it by DaÍon.
and all the city cried out. 3 And the AshdoÅites rose early in the
14 And Âli heard the noise of the outcry morning and saw DaÍon fallen on its face
and said, “What is the noise of this to the ground before the ark of HWHY.
uproar?” And the man came hastily and So they took DaÍon and put it in its place
informed Âli. again.
15 Now Âli was ninety-eight years old and 4 And they arose early the next morning
his eyes were so dim that he was unable to and saw DaÍon fallen on its face to the
see. ground before the ark of HWHY, and the
16 And the man said to Âli, “I am he who head of DaÍon and both the palms of its
came from the battle. And I fled today hands cut off, on the threshold, only DaÍon
from the battle line.” And he said, “What itself was left of it.
was the matter, my son?” 5 That is why, to this day, the priests of
17 And the messenger answered and said, DaÍon and all who come into DaÍon’s
“Yisra’Ãl has fled before the Philistines, house do not tread on the threshold of
and there has been a great slaughter among DaÍon in AshdoÅ.
the people. And your two sons have died, 6 But the hand of HWHY was heavy on the
Àophni and PineÁas, and the ark of Elohim AshdoÅites, and He wasted them and
has been captured.” smote them with tumours – AshdoÅ and
18 And it came to be, when he made its borders.
mention of the ark of Elohim, that Âli fell 7 And when the men of AshdoÅ saw this,
off the seat backward by the side of the they said, “Let not the ark of the Elohim of
gate. And his neck was broken and he died, Yisra’Ãl remain with us, for His hand has
for the man was old and heavy. And he been hard on us, and on DaÍon our mighty
ruled Yisra’Ãl forty years. one.”
19 And his daughter-in-law, PineÁas’ wife, 8 Then they sent and gathered to them all
was pregnant, about to bear. And when she the princes of the Philistines, and said,
heard the news that the ark of Elohim was “What do we do with the ark of the Elohim
captured, and that her father-in-law and her of Yisra’Ãl?” And they answered, “Let the
husband were dead, she bowed herself and ark of the Elohim of Yisra’Ãl be removed
gave birth, because her pains came upon to Gath.” And they removed the ark of the
her. Elohim of Yisra’Ãl.
20 And about the time of her death the 9 And it came to be, after they removed
women who stood by her said to her, “Do it, that the hand of HWHY was against the
not fear, for you have borne a son.” But city with a very great destruction. And He
she did not answer, nor did she set her smote the men of the city, from the least to
heart to it. the greatest, and tumours broke out
21 And she called the child I¿aÄoÅ, say- on them.
ing, “The esteem has departed from 10 They then sent the ark of Elohim to
Yisra’Ãl!” because the ark of Elohim was Eqron. And it came to be, as the ark of
taken and because of her father-in-law and Elohim came to Eqron, that the Eqronites
her husband. cried out, saying, “They have removed the
22 And she said, “The esteem has departed ark of the Elohim of Yisra’Ãl to us, to kill
from Yisra’Ãl, for the ark of Elohim was us and our people!”
1 SHEMU’ÂL 5 284
11 And they sent and gathered together all away, and it shall go.
the princes of the Philistines, and said, 9 “And you shall see, if it goes up the
“Send away the ark of the Elohim of way to its own border, to BÃyth Shemesh,
Yisra’Ãl, and let it return to its own place, then He has done us this great evil. But if
so that it does not kill us and our people.” not, then we shall know that His hand has
For there had come a deadly destruction not come against us – an accident it was
throughout all the city – the hand of to us.”
Elohim was very heavy there. 10 And the men did so and took two milk
12 And the men who did not die were cows and hitched them to the wagon, and
smitten with tumours, and the cry of the shut up their calves at home.
city went up to the heavens. 11 And they put the ark of HWHY on the
empty, but you shall certainly return it to ing their wheat harvest in the valley. And
Him with a guilt offering. Then you are they lifted their eyes and saw the ark, and
going to be healed, and it shall be known rejoiced to see it.
to you why His hand does not turn aside 14 And the wagon came into the field of
five golden rats. For the same plague was HWHY and the chest that was with it, in
on all of you and on your princes. which were the objects of gold, and put
5 “And you shall make images of your them on the great stone. And the men of
tumours and images of your rats that ruin BÃyth Shemesh slaughtered burnt offerings
the land, and you shall give esteem to the and made offerings the same day to HWHY.
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl. It could be that He 16 And when the five princes of the
does lift His hand from you, from your Philistines saw it, they returned to Eqron
mighty ones, and from your land. the same day.
6 “And why do you harden your hearts as 17 And these are the gold tumours which
the Mitsrites and Pharaoh hardened their the Philistines returned as a guilt offering
hearts? When He had severely dealt with to HWHY: one for AshdoÅ, one for Azzah,
them, did they not send them away, and one for Ashqelon, one for Gath, one for
they went? Eqron,
7 “And now, take and make a new 18 and the gold rats, by the number of all
wagon, and two milk cows which have the cities of the Philistines belonging to the
never been yoked, and hitch the cows to five princes, both walled cities and country
the wagon. And take their calves home, villages, even as far as the great meadow
away from them. on which they placed the ark of HWHY,
8 “And take the ark of HWHY and put it on remain to this day in the field of Yehoshua
the wagon. And put the objects of gold of BÃyth Shemesh.
which you are returning to Him as a guilt 19 And He smote among the men of BÃyth
offering in a chest by its side, and send it Shemesh, for they had looked into the ark
285 1 SHEMU’ÂL 8
“Who is able to stand before this set-apart up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew
HWHY Elohim? And to whom shall He go near to battle against Yisra’Ãl. But HWHY
from us?” thundered with a great noise on that day on
21 And they sent messengers to the inhabi- the Philistines, and troubled them, and they
tants of Qiryath YeÈarim, saying, “The were smitten before Yisra’Ãl.
11 And the men of Yisra’Ãl went out from
Philistines have brought back the ark of
HWHY. Come down, take it up to you.” Mitspah and pursued the Philistines, and
drove them back as far as below BÃyth
7 And the men of Qiryath YeÈarim came
and took the ark of HWHY, and brought
Kar.
12 And Shemu’Ãl took a stone and set it up
ark remained in Qiryath YeÈarim, that the no longer came into the border of Yisra’Ãl.
time increased, it came to be twenty years. And the hand of HWHY was against the
And all the house of Yisra’Ãl lamented Philistines all the days of Shemu’Ãl.
after HWHY. 14 And the cities which the Philistines had
3 And Shemu’Ãl spoke to all the house of taken from Yisra’Ãl were returned to
Yisra’Ãl, saying, “If you return to HWHY Yisra’Ãl, from Eqron to Gath. And Yisra’Ãl
with all your hearts, then put away the recovered its border from the hands of the
foreign mighty ones and Ashtaroth from Philistines. And there was peace between
among you, and prepare your hearts for Yisra’Ãl and the Amorites.
HWHY, and serve Him only, so that He deliv- 15 And Shemu’Ãl rightly ruled Yisra’Ãl all
ers you from the hand of the Philistines.” the days of his life,
4 And the children of Yisra’Ãl put away 16 and each year he made the rounds of
the BaÈals and Ashtaroth, and served HWHY BÃyth Âl, and Gilgal, and Mitspah, and
only. rightly ruled Yisra’Ãl in all those places.
5 And Shemu’Ãl said, “Gather all Yisra’Ãl 17 Then he returned to Ramah, for his
to Mitspah and let me pray to HWHY for you.” home was there. And there he rightly ruled
6 And they gathered to Mitspah and drew Yisra’Ãl, and there he built an altar to HWHY.
water, and poured it out before HWHY. And
they fasted that day, and said there, “We
have sinned against HWHY.” And Shemu’Ãl 8 And it came to be, when Shemu’Ãl
was old, that he made his sons rulers
rightly ruled the children of Yisra’Ãl at over Yisra’Ãl.
Mitspah. 2 And the name of his first-born was
7 And when the Philistines heard that the Yo’Ãl, and the name of his second, AÄiyah,
children of Yisra’Ãl had gathered together rulers in Be’ÃrsheÄa.
at Mitspah, the princes of the Philistines 3 But his sons did not walk in his ways,
went up against Yisra’Ãl. And the children and turned aside after own gain, and took
of Yisra’Ãl heard of it, and were afraid of bribes, and twisted right-ruling.
the Philistines. 4 And all the elders of Yisra’Ãl gathered
8 And the children of Yisra’Ãl said to together and came to Shemu’Ãl at Ramah,
Shemu’Ãl, “Do not cease to cry out to HWHY 5 and said to him, “Look, you are old,
our Elohim for us, that He would save us and your sons do not walk in your ways.
from the hand of the Philistines.” Now appoint for us a sovereign to rule us
1 SHEMU’ÂL 8 286
like all the nations.” a chosen for yourselves, but HWHY is not
6 But the word was evil in the eyes of
going to answer you in that day.”
Shemu’Ãl when they said, “Give us a 19 However, the people refused to listen to
sovereign to rule us.” So Shemu’Ãl prayed the voice of Shemu’Ãl, and said, “No, but
to HWHY. let a sovereign be over us.
7 And HWHY said to Shemu’Ãl, “Listen to 20 Then we shall be, we also, like all the
the voice of the people in all that they say nations, and our sovereign shall rule us and
to you, for they have not rejected you, but go out before us and fight our battles.”
they have rejected Me from reigning over 21 And Shemu’Ãl heard all the words of
them. the people, and he repeated them in the
8 “According to all the works which they
hearing of HWHY.
have done since the day that I brought 22 And HWHY said to Shemu’Ãl, “Listen to
them up out of Mitsrayim, even to this day their voice, and make them a sovereign.”
– forsaking Me and serving other mighty And Shemu’Ãl said to the men of Yisra’Ãl,
ones – so they are doing to you too. “Each of you go to his city.”
9 “And now, listen to their voice, but you
aYisra’Ãl relinquished her high calling to be the Spiritual leading nation, and chose to become a secular political
one, like the gentile nations.
287 1 SHEMU’ÂL 10
7 And Sha’ul said to his servant, “But the gate, and said, “Please inform me,
look, if we go, what do we bring the man? where is the house of the seer?”
For the bread in our bags is all gone, and 19 And Shemu’Ãl answered Sha’ul and
there is no present to bring to the man of said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the
Elohim. What do we have?” high place, for you shall eat with me today.
8 And the servant answered Sha’ul again And tomorrow I shall let you go and make
and said, “Look, I have here at hand one known to you all that is in your heart.
fourth of a sheqel of silver. And I shall 20 “As for your donkeys that were lost
give that to the man of Elohim, and he three days ago, do not set your heart on
shall make known to us our way.” them, for they have been found. And on
9 Formerly, in Yisra’Ãl, when a man went whom is all the desire of Yisra’Ãl? Is it not
to inquire of Elohim, he spoke thus, on you and on all your father’s house?”
“Come, let us go to the seer,” for the 21 And Sha’ul answered and said, “Am I
prophet of today was formerly called a not a Binyamite – of the smallest of the
seer. tribes of Yisra’Ãl, and my clan the least of
10 And Sha’ul said to his servant, “Your all the clans of the tribe of Binyamin? Why
word is good. Come, let us go.” And they then do you speak like this to me?”
went to the city where the man of Elohim 22 And Shemu’Ãl took Sha’ul and his
is. Look, ahead of you. Hurry now, for he the portion which I gave you, of which I
came to this city today, for the people have told you to set it aside.”
an offering on the high place today. 24 And the cook brought out the thigh
13 “As you come into the city, you are with its upper part and set it before Sha’ul.
going to find him before he goes up to the And Shemu’Ãl said, “See what was kept
high place to eat. For the people do not eat back. It was set aside for you. Eat, for it
until he comes, for he blesses the slaugh- has been kept for you for this appointed
tering, afterward they who are invited eat. time, saying, I have invited the people.”
And now, go up, for you should find him And Sha’ul ate with Shemu’Ãl on that day.
about this time.” 25 And they came down from the high
14 And they went up to the city. They place into the city, and Shemu’Ãl spoke
were coming into the midst of the city, and with Sha’ul on the roof.
saw Shemu’Ãl coming out toward them to 26 And they rose early. And it came to be
border of Binyamin at TseltsaÁ, and they “And who is their father?” That is why it
shall say to you, ‘The donkeys which you became a proverb, “Is Sha’ul also among
went to look for have been found. And see, the prophets?”
your father has left the matters of the 13 And when he stopped prophesying, he
bearing three loaves of bread, and another inform me what Shemu’Ãl said to you.”
bearing a skin of wine. 16 And Sha’ul said to his uncle, “He
4 “And they shall greet you and give you informed us plainly that the donkeys had
two loaves of bread, which you shall been found.” But he did not disclose to
accept from their hand. him about the matter of the reign, what
5 “After that go to the hill of Elohim Shemu’Ãl had said.
where the Philistine watch-post is. And it 17 And Shemu’Ãl called the people togeth-
shall be, when you have come there to the er to HWHY at Mitspah,
city, that you shall meet a group of 18 and said to the children of Yisra’Ãl,
prophets coming down from the high place “Thus said HWHY, the Elohim of Yisra’Ãl,
with a stringed instrument, and a tam- ‘I have brought Yisra’Ãl up out of
bourine, and a flute, and a lyre before Mitsrayim, and delivered you from the
them, and they are prophesying. hand of the Mitsrites and from the hand of
6 “And the Spirit of HWHY shall come all reigns and from those who oppressed
upon you, and you shall prophesy with you.’
them and be turned into another man. 19 “And today you have rejected your
7 “And it shall be, when these signs come Elohim, who Himself saved you out of all
to you, do for yourself as your hand finds your evils and your distresses. And you
to do, for Elohim is with you. have said to Him, ‘No, but set a sovereign
8 “And you shall go down before me to over us!’ And now, present yourselves
Gilgal. And see, I am coming down to you before HWHY by your tribes and by your
to slaughter burnt offerings and make clans.”
peace offerings. Wait seven days, till I 20 And Shemu’Ãl brought near all the
come to you, then I shall make known to tribes of Yisra’Ãl, and the tribe of Bin-
you what you should do.” yamin was taken.
9 And it came to be, when he had turned 21 Then he brought near the tribe of
his back to go from Shemu’Ãl, that Elohim Binyamin, by their clans, and the clan of
gave him another heart. And all those signs Matri was taken, and Sha’ul son of Qish
came on that day. was taken. And when they sought him, he
10 And they came there to the hill and saw could not be found.
a group of prophets, to meet him. And the 22 And they asked again of HWHY, “Has the
Spirit of Elohim came upon him, and he man come here yet?” And HWHY answered,
prophesied in their midst. “See, he has hidden by the baggage.”
11 And it came to be, all who knew him 23 And they ran and brought him from
formerly looked and saw that he prophe- there. And he stood in the midst of the
sied among the prophets. So the people people, and he was taller than any of the
said to each other, “What is this that has people, from his shoulders and upwards.
289 1 SHEMU’ÂL 12
that there is no one like him among all the the children of Yisra’Ãl were three hundred
people?” And all the people shouted and thousand, and the men of YehuÅah thirty
said, “Let the sovereign live!” thousand.
25 And Shemu’Ãl declared to the people 9 And they said to the messengers who
the rulings of the reign, and wrote it in came, “Say this to the men of YaÄÃsh
a book and placed it before HWHY. And GilÈaÅ, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is
Shemu’Ãl sent all the people away, each to hot, you shall have help.’ ” Then the mes-
his house. sengers came and informed the men of
26 And Sha’ul went to his house too, to YaÄÃsh, and they rejoiced.
GiÄÈah. And with him went brave men 10 So the men of YaÄÃsh said, “Tomorrow
whose hearts Elohim had touched. we come out to you, and you shall do to
27 But the sons of BeliyaÈal said, “What! us whatever seems good to you.”
Does this one save us?” And they despised 11 And it came to be, on the next day, that
him, and brought him no presents. But he Sha’ul put the people in three companies.
kept silent. And they came into the midst of the camp
in the morning watch and smote Ammon
11 And NaÁash the Ammonite came
up and camped against YaÄÃsh
until the heat of the day. And it came to be
that those left were scattered, so that no
GilÈaÅ. And all the men of YaÄÃsh said to two of them were left together.
NaÁash, “Make a covenant with us, and we 12 And the people said to Shemu’Ãl, “Who
shall serve you.” said, ‘Shall Sha’ul reign over us?’ Bring
2 Then NaÁash the Ammonite answered the men, so that we put them to death.”
them, “For this I make a covenant with 13 But Sha’ul said, “No man is put to
you, that I dig out all your right eyes, and I death this day, for today HWHY has wrought
shall bring reproach on all Yisra’Ãl.” deliverance in Yisra’Ãl.”
3 And the elders of YaÄÃsh said to him, 14 And Shemu’Ãl said to the people,
“Leave us alone for seven days, so that we “Come, and let us go to Gilgal and renew
send messengers to all the borders of the reign there.”
Yisra’Ãl. And then, if there is no one to 15 And all the people went to Gilgal, and
save us, we shall come out to you.” there they set up Sha’ul to reign before
4 And the messengers came to GiÄÈah of HWHY in Gilgal, and there they made
Sha’ul and spoke the words in the hearing slaughterings of peace offerings before
of the people. And all the people lifted up HWHY. And there Sha’ul rejoiced, and all the
their voices and wept. men of Yisra’Ãl, very greatly.
5 And look, Sha’ul was coming behind
Sha’ul mightily as he heard these words, ing before you. And I am old and grey, and
and his displeasure burned greatly. look, my sons are with you. And I have
7 And he took a yoke of cattle and cut walked before you from my youth to this
them in pieces, and sent them throughout day.
all the border of Yisra’Ãl by the hands of 3 “Look, here I am. Witness against me
messengers, saying, “Whoever does not go before HWHY and before His anointed:
out with Sha’ul and Shemu’Ãl to battle, let Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey
this be done to his cattle.” And the fear of have I taken, or whom have I oppressed?
HWHY fell on the people, and they came out Whom have I abused, or from whose hand
1 SHEMU’ÂL 12 290
have I received any bribe with which to follow HWHY your Elohim.
blind my eyes? – then I restore it to you.” 15 “But if you do not obey the voice of
4 And they said, “You have not HWHY, and shall rebel against the command
oppressed us or abused us, nor have you of HWHY, then the hand of HWHY shall be
taken any bribe from anyone’s hand.” against you, as it was against your fathers.
5 So he said to them, “HWHY is witness 16 “And now, stand and see this great
against you, and His anointed is witness matter which HWHY does before your eyes:
today, that you have found naught in my 17 “Is today not the wheat harvest? Let me
hand.” And they answered, “He is wit- call to HWHY, so that He sends thunder and
ness.” rain – know then and see that your evil is
6 And Shemu’Ãl said to the people, “It is
great, which you have done in the eyes of
HWHY who appointed Mosheh and Aharon, HWHY, in asking for yourselves a sover-
and who brought your fathers up from the eign.”
land of Mitsrayim. 18 And Shemu’Ãl called to HWHY, and HWHY
7 “And now, stand still, so that I judge
sent thunder and rain that day. And all the
you before HWHY concerning all the people greatly feared HWHY and Shemu’Ãl.
righteous acts of HWHY which He did to you 19 And all the people said to Shemu’Ãl,
and your fathers: “Pray for your servants to HWHY your
8 “When YaÈaqoÄ had come to Mits-
Elohim, that we do not die, for we have
rayim, and your fathers cried out to HWHY, added to all our sins this evil of asking for
then HWHY sent Mosheh and Aharon, who ourselves a sovereign.”
brought your fathers out of Mitsrayim and 20 And Shemu’Ãl said to the people, “Do
made them dwell in this place. not fear. You have done all this evil. Only,
9 “But they forgot HWHY their Elohim, so
do not turn aside from following HWHY.
He sold them into the hand of Sisera, And you shall serve HWHY with all your
commander of the army of Àatsor, and into heart,
the hand of the Philistines, and into the 21 and do not turn aside after worthless
hand of the sovereign of Mo’aÄ. And they matters which do not profit or deliver, for
fought against them. they are worthless.
10 “And they cried out to HWHY, and said, 22 “For HWHY would not cast away His peo-
‘We have sinned, because we have forsak- ple, for His great Name’s sake, seeing it
en HWHY and served the BaÈals and the has pleased HWHY to make you His people.
Ashtaroth. And now, deliver us from the 23 “Also, as for me, far be it from me that
hand of our enemies, and we serve You.’ I should sin against HWHY in ceasing to pray
11 “And HWHY sent YerubbaÈal, and BeÅan, for you, but I shall teach you the good and
and YiphtaÁ, and Shemu’Ãl, and delivered straight way.
you out of the hand of your enemies round 24 “Only fear HWHY, and you shall serve
about, and you dwelt in safety. Him in truth with all your heart, for con-
12 “And when you saw that NaÁash sider what marvels He has done for you.
sovereign of the children of Ammon came 25 “But if you persist in doing evil, both
against you, you said to me, ‘No, but let you and your sovereign are consumed.”
a sovereign reign over us,’ when HWHY your
Elohim was your sovereign.
13 “And now, here is the sovereign whom 13 Sha’ul was ... years old when he
began to reign. And when he had
you have chosen and whom you have reigned two years over Yisra’Ãl,
asked. And see, HWHY has set a sovereign 2 Sha’ul chose for himself three thousand
b Acts 13:22.
1 SHEMU’ÂL 13 292
he did not inform his father. and knees with his armour-bearer after
2 And Sha’ul remained at the outskirts of him. And they fell before Yonathan, and
GiÄÈah under a pomegranate tree at MiÍron, his armour-bearer was putting them to
and the people who were with him were death behind him.
about six hundred men. 14 And that first slaughter which Yonathan
3 And AÁiyah son of AÁituÄ, I¿aÄoÅ’s and his armour-bearer made was about
brother, son of PineÁas, son of Âli, the twenty men, in about half an acre of land.
priest of HWHY in Shiloh, was wearing a 15 And there was trembling in the camp,
shoulder garment. And the people did not in the field, and among all the people. The
know that Yonathan had gone. outpost and the raiders also trembled, and
4 And between the passes, by which the ground shook. And it became a trem-
Yonathan sought to go over to the outpost bling of Elohim.
of the Philistines, there was an edge of a 16 And the watchmen of Sha’ul in GiÄÈah
rock on one side and an edge of a rock on of Binyamin looked and saw the crowd
the other side. And the name of one was melting away, and they went here and
BotsÃts, and the name of the other Seneh. there.
5 The one edge was on the north opposite 17 And Sha’ul said to the people who were
Mi¿mash, and the other on the south oppo- with him, “Please inspect and see who has
site GiÄÈah. gone from us.” So they inspected and saw
6 And Yehonathan said to the young man that Yonathan and his armour-bearer were
who bore his armour, “Come, and let us go missing.
over to the outpost of these uncircumcised. 18 And Sha’ul said to AÁiyah, “Bring the
If so be, HWHY does work for us. For there ark of Elohim here.” For the ark of Elohim
is no hindrance for HWHY to save by many was with the children of Yisra’Ãl on that
or by few.” day.
7 And his armour-bearer said to him, “Do 19 And it came to be, while Sha’ul talked
all that is in your heart, incline yourself. to the priest, that the noise which was in
See, I am with you, according to your the camp of the Philistines went on, and
heart.” became great, so Sha’ul said to the priest,
8 And Yehonathan said, “See, we are “Withdraw your hand.”
passing over to the men – and show our- 20 And Sha’ul was called, and all the
selves to them. people who were with him , and they went
9 “If they say this to us, ‘Wait until we to the battle. And see, every man’s sword
come to you,’ then we shall stand still in was against his neighbour – a very great
our place and not go up to them. confusion.
10 “But if they say this, ‘Come up to us,’ 21 And the HeÄrews who were with the
then we shall go up. For HWHY has given Philistines before that time, who went up
them into our hand, and this is the sign to with them into the camp, turned round,
us.” they too, to be with Yisra’Ãl, who were
11 And both of them disclosed themselves with Sha’ul and Yonathan.
to the outpost of the Philistines, and the 22 And all the men of Yisra’Ãl who had
Philistines said, “See, the HeÄrews are hidden in the mountains of Ephrayim,
coming out of the holes where they have heard that the Philistines fled, and they
hidden.” also pursued them in the battle.
12 And the men of the outpost called to 23 Thus HWHY saved Yisra’Ãl that day, and
Yonathan and his armour-bearer, and said, the battle passed over to BÃyth Awen.
293 1 SHEMU’ÂL 14
brought his ox with him that night, and ra’Ãl, and fought against all his enemies
slaughtered it there. round about, against Mo’aÄ, and against
35 And Sha’ul built an altar to HWHY. It the children of Ammon, and against EÅom,
1 SHEMU’ÂL 14 294
and against the sovereigns of TsoÄah, and 7 And Sha’ul smote the AmalÃqites, from
against the Philistines. And wherever he Àawilah all the way to Shur, which is
turned, he inflicted punishment. before Mitsrayim.
48 And he gathered an army and smote the 8 And he caught AÍaÍ sovereign of the
AmalÃqites, and delivered Yisra’Ãl from AmalÃqites alive, and put under the ban all
the hands of those who plundered them. the people with the edge of the sword.
49 And the sons of Sha’ul were Yonathan 9 But Sha’ul and the people spared AÍaÍ
and Yishwi and Malkishua. And the names and the best of the sheep, and the cattle,
of his two daughters were these: the name and the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that
of the first-born MÃraÄ, and the name of was good, and would not put them under
the younger Mi¿al. the ban. But all goods despised and worth-
50 And the name of Sha’ul’s wife was less, that they put under the ban.
AÁinoÈam the daughter of AÁimaÈats. And 10 And the word of HWHY came to
when Sha’ul saw any mighty man or any ing to meet Sha’ul, and it was told to
brave man, he took him for himself. Shemu’Ãl, saying, “Sha’ul went to Karmel,
and see, he set up a monument for himself,
15 And Shemu’Ãl said to Sha’ul,
“HWHY sent me to anoint you sover-
then turned and passed over, and went
down to Gilgal.”
eign over His people, over Yisra’Ãl. And 13 And Shemu’Ãl came to Sha’ul, and
now, listen to the voice of the words of Sha’ul said to him, “Blessed are you of
HWHY. HWHY! I have performed the word of HWHY.”
2 “Thus said HWHY of hosts, ‘I shall pun- 14 But Shemu’Ãl said, “What then is this
ish AmalÃq for what he did to Yisra’Ãl, bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the
how he set himself against him on the way lowing of the cattle which I hear?”
when he came up from Mitsrayim. 15 And Sha’ul said, “They have brought
3 ‘Now go, and you shall smite AmalÃq them from AmalÃq, because the people
and put under the ban all that he has, and spared the best of the sheep and the cattle,
you shall not spare them, and put to death to slaughter to HWHY your Elohim. And the
from man to woman, from infant to rest we have put under the ban.”
nursing child, from ox to sheep, from 16 And Shemu’Ãl said to Sha’ul, “Wait,
men of YehuÅah. little in your own eyes, were you not head
5 And Sha’ul came to a city of AmalÃq, of the tribes of Yisra’Ãl? And did not HWHY
and lay in wait in the wadi. anoint you sovereign over Yisra’Ãl?
6 And Sha’ul said to the QÃynites, “Go, 18 “And HWHY sent you on the way, and
turn aside, come down from among the said, ‘Go, and you shall put under the ban
AmalÃqites, lest I destroy you with them. the sinners, the AmalÃqites, and fight
For you did show kindness to all the against them until they are consumed.’
children of Yisra’Ãl when they came up out 19 “And why did you not obey the voice
of Mitsrayim.” So the QÃynites turned of HWHY, but swooped down on the spoil,
aside from the midst of the AmalÃqites. and did evil in the eyes of HWHY?”
295 1 SHEMU’ÂL 16
20 And Sha’ul said to Shemu’Ãl, “I did said, “Truly, the bitterness of death has
obey the voice of HWHY, and I went on the turned aside.”
way on which HWHY sent me, and brought 33 And Shemu’Ãl said, “As your sword
back AÍaÍ sovereign of AmalÃq, and I put bereaved women, let your mother be
AmalÃq under the ban. bereaved among women too.” Shemu’Ãl
21 “But the people took of the spoil, of the then hewed AÍaÍ to pieces before HWHY in
sheep and cattle, the best of that which Gilgal.
should have been put under the ban, to 34 And Shemu’Ãl went to Ramah, while
slaughter to HWHY your Elohim in Gilgal.” Sha’ul went up to his house at GiÄÈah of
22 Then Shemu’Ãl said, “Does HWHY Sha’ul.
delight in burnt offerings and slaughter- 35 And Shemu’Ãl did not see Sha’ul again
ings, as in obeying the voice of HWHY? until the day of his death, for Shemu’Ãl
Look, to obey is better than an offering, to mourned for Sha’ul. And HWHY was grieved
heed is better than the fat of rams. that He had made Sha’ul to reign over
23 “For rebellion is as the sin of divina- Yisra’Ãl.
tion, and stubbornness is as wickedness
and idolatry. Because you have rejected the
word of HWHY, He also does reject you as 16 And HWHY said to Shemu’Ãl, “How
long are you going to mourn for
sovereign.” Sha’ul, seeing I have rejected him from
24 And Sha’ul said to Shemu’Ãl, “I have reigning over Yisra’Ãl? Fill your horn with
sinned, for I have transgressed the com- oil, and go, I am sending you to Yishai the
mand of HWHY and your words, because I BÃyth LeÁemite. For I have seen among
feared the people and listened to their his sons a sovereign for Myself.”
voice. 2 And Shemu’Ãl said, “How would I go?
25 “And now, please pardon my sin, and When Sha’ul hears it, he shall kill me.”
return with me, and let me bow myself to And HWHY said, “Take a heifer with you,
HWHY.” and say, ‘I have come to slaughter to HWHY.’
26 But Shemu’Ãl said to Sha’ul, “I do not 3 “And you shall invite Yishai to the
return with you, for you have rejected the slaughtering, then let Me show you what to
word of HWHY, and HWHY does reject you do. And you shall anoint for Me the one I
from being sovereign over Yisra’Ãl.” say to you.”
27 And as Shemu’Ãl turned around to go 4 And Shemu’Ãl did what HWHY said, and
away, Sha’ul seized the edge of his robe, went to BÃyth LeÁem. And the elders of
and it tore. the town trembled at his coming, and said,
28 And Shemu’Ãl said to him, “HWHY has “Do you come in peace?”
torn the reign of Yisra’Ãl from you today, 5 And he said, “In peace. I have come to
and has given it to a neighbour of yours, slaughter to HWHY. Set yourselves apart, and
better than you. you shall come with me to the slaughter-
29 “Moreover, the Eminence of Yisra’Ãl ing.” And he set Yishai and his sons apart,
does not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, and invited them to the slaughtering.
that He should relent.” 6 And it came to be, when they came,
30 Then he said, “I have sinned. But that he saw EliyaÄ and thought, “The
esteem me now, please, before the elders anointed of HWHY is indeed before Him.”
of my people and before Yisra’Ãl, and 7 But HWHY said to Shemu’Ãl, “Do not
return with me, and I shall bow myself look at his appearance or at the height of
to HWHY your Elohim.” his stature, because I have refused him, for
31 And Shemu’Ãl turned back after Sha’ul, not as man sees, for man looks at the eyes,
and Sha’ul bowed himself to HWHY. but HWHY looks at the heart.”
32 And Shemu’Ãl said, “Bring AÍaÍ sov- 8 Then Yishai called AÄinaÅaÄ, and
ereign of the AmalÃqites here to me.” So made him pass before Shemu’Ãl. And he
AÍaÍ came to him delightedly, and AÍaÍ said, “Neither has HWHY chosen this one.”
1 SHEMU’ÂL 16 296
Yishai, “HWHY has not chosen these.” “Please let DawiÅ stand before me, for he
11 And Shemu’Ãl said to Yishai, “Are has found favour in my eyes.”
these all the young men?” And he said, 23 And it came to be, whenever the evil
“There remains yet the youngest, and see, spirit from Elohim was upon Sha’ul, that
he is tending the sheep.” And Shemu’Ãl DawiÅ would take a lyre and play it with
said to Yishai, “Send and bring him, for we his hand. Then Sha’ul would become
do not turn round till he comes here.” refreshed and well, and the evil spirit
12 And he sent and brought him in. And would leave him.
he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-
looking. And HWHY said, “Arise, anoint
him, for this is the one!” 17 And the Philistines had gathered
their armies for battle, and came
13 And Shemu’Ãl took the horn of oil and together at So¿oh, which belongs to Yehu-
anointed him in the midst of his brothers. Åah, and encamped between So¿oh and
And the Spirit of HWHY came upon DawiÅ AzÃqah, in Ephes Dammim.
from that day and onwards. And Shemu’Ãl 2 And Sha’ul and the men of Yisra’Ãl
arose and went to Ramah. were gathered and encamped in the Valley
14 And the Spirit of HWHY turned aside of Âlah, and drew up in battle array to meet
from Sha’ul, and an evil spirit from HWHY the Philistines.
troubled him. c 3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain
15 And the servants of Sha’ul said to him, on one side, and Yisra’Ãl stood on a moun-
“Look, now, an evil spirit from Elohim is tain on the other side, with the valley
troubling you. between them.
16 “Please, let our master command your 4 Then a champion came out from the
servants who are before you, to seek out a camp of the Philistines, named Golyath,
man who is a skilled player on the lyre. from Gath, whose height was six cubits
And it shall be that when the evil spirit and a span.
from Elohim is upon you, that he shall 5 And a bronze helmet was on his head,
play with his hand, and you be well.” and he was armed with a scaled armour,
17 And Sha’ul said to his servants, “Please and the weight of the coat was five thou-
get me a man that plays well, and bring sand sheqels of bronze,
him to me.” 6 and bronze shin guards on his legs and
18 And one of the servants answered and a bronze spear between his shoulders.
said, “Look, I have seen a son of Yishai the 7 And the wood of his spear was like a
BÃyth LeÁemite, who knows how to play, a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead
brave one, and a man of battle, and skilled weighed six hundred sheqels, and a shield-
in words, and a handsome man. And HWHY bearer went before him.
is with him.” 8 And he stood and shouted to the armies
19 So Sha’ul sent messengers to Yishai, of Yisra’Ãl, and said to them, “Why have
and said, “Send me your son DawiÅ, who you come out to line up for battle? Am I
is with the sheep.” not a Philistine, and you the servants of
20 And Yishai took a donkey loaded with Sha’ul? Choose a man for yourselves, and
bread, and a skin of wine, and a young let him come down to me.
goat, and sent them by his son DawiÅ to 9 “If he is able to fight with me, and shall
c This is the sad result when someone, who had received the Spirit, disobeys HWHY – even if the Spirit of Elohim
did come upon him again for a while, as we read in 19:23.
297 1 SHEMU’ÂL 17
smite me, then we shall be your servants. 23 And he was speaking with them and
But if I overcome him and shall smite him, saw the champion, the Philistine of Gath,
then you shall be our servants and serve Golyath by name, coming up from the
us.” armies of the Philistines. And he spoke
10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I according to the same words, and DawiÅ
shall reproach the armies of Yisra’Ãl. Give heard.
me a man, and let us fight together.” 24 And all the men of Yisra’Ãl, when they
11 And Sha’ul and all Yisra’Ãl heard these saw the man, ran from him and were in
words of the Philistine, and they were great fear.
broken down and in great fear. 25 And the men of Yisra’Ãl said, “Have
12 Now DawiÅ was the son of that you seen this man who has come up? For
Ephrathite of BÃyth LeÁem in YehuÅah, he has come up to reproach Yisra’Ãl. And
whose name was Yishai, and he had eight it shall be that the man who smites him,
sons, and in the days of Sha’ul the man the sovereign is going to enrich him with
was old among men. great riches, and give him his daughter,
13 And the three oldest sons of Yishai and give his father’s house exemption in
went, they had gone to follow Sha’ul to the Yisra’Ãl.”
battle, and the names of his three sons who 26 And DawiÅ spoke to the men who
went to the battle were EliyaÄ the first- stood by him, saying, “What shall be done
born, and his second AÄinaÅaÄ, and the for the man who smites this Philistine and
third Shammah. shall take away reproach from Yisra’Ãl?
14 And DawiÅ was the youngest. And the For who is this uncircumcised Philistine,
three oldest followed Sha’ul, that he should reproach the armies of the
15 but DawiÅ went and returned from living Elohim?”
Sha’ul to feed his father’s sheep at BÃyth 27 And the people answered him accord-
Yisra’Ãl were in the Valley of Âlah, fight- another and said the same word. And these
ing with the Philistines. people answered him a word like the first
20 And DawiÅ rose up early in the morn- word.
ing, and left the sheep with a herdsman, 31 And when the words which DawiÅ
and took and went as Yishai had com- spoke were heard, they reported them to
manded him. And he came to the camp as Sha’ul, and he sent for him.
the army was going out to the fight, and 32 And DawiÅ said to Sha’ul, “Let no
they shouted for the battle. man’s heart fail because of him, your ser-
21 And Yisra’Ãl and the Philistines drew vant is going, and shall fight with this
up in battle array, army against army. Philistine.”
22 And DawiÅ left his supplies in the hand 33 And Sha’ul said to DawiÅ, “You are not
of the keeper of the supplies, and ran to the able to go against this Philistine to fight
army, and came and greeted his brothers. with him, for you are but a youth, and he a
1 SHEMU’ÂL 17 298
man of battle from his youth.” Name of HWHY of hosts, the Elohim of the
34 Then DawiÅ said to Sha’ul, “Your
armies of Yisra’Ãl, whom you have
servant has been tending sheep for his reproached.
father, and when a lion or a bear came and 46 “This day HWHY shall deliver you into
took a lamb out of the flock, my hand, and I shall smite you and take
35 I went out after it and smote it, and
your head from you, and give the carcasses
rescued it from its mouth. And when it of the camp of the Philistines today to the
rose against me, I caught it by its beard, birds of the heavens and the wild beasts of
and smote it and killed it. the earth, so that all the earth know that
36 “Your servant has smitten both lion and
Elohim is for Yisra’Ãl,
bear. And this uncircumcised Philistine 47 and all this assembly know that HWHY
shall be like one of them, seeing he has does not save with sword and spear, for the
reproached the armies of the living battle belongs to HWHY, and He shall give
Elohim.” you into our hands.”
37 And DawiÅ said, “HWHY, who delivered 48 And it came to be, when the Philistine
me from the paw of the lion and from the arose and came and drew near to meet
paw of the bear, He does deliver me from DawiÅ, that DawiÅ hurried and ran toward
the hand of this Philistine.” And Sha’ul the army to meet the Philistine.
said to DawiÅ, “Go, and HWHY be with 49 And DawiÅ put his hand in his bag and
you!” took out a stone, and slung it and smote the
38 And Sha’ul dressed DawiÅ with his
Philistine on his forehead, so that the stone
garments, and he put a bronze helmet on sank into his forehead, and he fell on his
his head, and put a coat of armour on him. face to the ground.
39 And DawiÅ girded his sword over his 50 Thus DawiÅ prevailed over the Philis-
garments, and began to go, but he had not tine with a sling and a stone, and smote the
tried them. Then DawiÅ said to Sha’ul, “I Philistine and killed him, and there was no
am not able to go with these, for I have not sword in the hand of DawiÅ.
tried them.” So DawiÅ took them off. 51 Then DawiÅ ran and stood over the
40 And he took his staff in his hand, and Philistine, and took his sword and drew it
chose for himself five smooth stones from out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off
the wadi, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, his head with it. And when the Philistines
in a pouch which he had, and his sling was saw that their champion was dead, they
in his hand. And he drew near to the fled.
Philistine. 52 And the men of Yisra’Ãl and YehuÅah
41 And the Philistine came, and began arose and shouted, and pursued the
drawing near to DawiÅ, and the man who Philistines as far as the entrance of the
bore the shield went before him. valley and to the gates of Eqron. And the
42 And when the Philistine looked about wounded of the Philistines fell along the
and saw DawiÅ, he despised him, for he way to ShaÈarayim, even as far as Gath
was a youth, and ruddy and good-looking. and Eqron.
43 And the Philistine said to DawiÅ, “Am 53 Then the children of Yisra’Ãl turned
I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” back from chasing the Philistines, and they
And the Philistine cursed DawiÅ by his plundered their camps.
mighty ones. 54 And DawiÅ took the head of the
44 And the Philistine said to DawiÅ, Philistine and brought it to Yerushalayim,
“Come to me, and I give your flesh to the but he put his weapons in his tent.
birds of the heavens and the beasts of 55 And when Sha’ul saw DawiÅ going out
and brought him before Sha’ul with the said, “Let me smite DawiÅ, even to the
head of the Philistine in his hand. wall.” But twice DawiÅ withdrew from his
58 And Sha’ul said to him, “Whose son presence.
are you, young man?” And DawiÅ said, 12 And Sha’ul was afraid of DawiÅ,
“The son of your servant Yishai the BÃyth because HWHY was with him, but from
LeÁemite.” Sha’ul He had turned away.
13 Sha’ul therefore removed him from his
would not let him return to his father’s wisely, and was afraid of him.
house any more. 16 But all Yisra’Ãl and YehuÅah loved
3 And Yehonathan and DawiÅ made a DawiÅ, as he went out and came in before
covenant, because he loved him as his own them.
being. 17 And Sha’ul said to DawiÅ, “See my
4 And Yehonathan took off the robe that older daughter MÃraÄ! I give her to you as
was on him and gave it to DawiÅ, and his a wife. Only be brave for me, and fight the
garments, even to his sword and his bow battles of HWHY.” For Sha’ul thought, “Let
and his girdle. not my hand be against him, but let the
5 And DawiÅ went out wherever Sha’ul hand of the Philistines be against him.”
sent him. He acted wisely, and Sha’ul set 18 And DawiÅ said to Sha’ul, “Who am I,
him over the men of battle, and it was right and what is my life or my father’s clan in
in the eyes of all the people and also in the Yisra’Ãl, that I should be son-in-law to the
eyes of Sha’ul’s servants. sovereign?”
6 And it came to be, as they came in, as 19 And it came to be at the time when
DawiÅ was returning from smiting the MÃraÄ, Sha’ul’s daughter, should have
Philistine, that the women came out from been given to DawiÅ, that she was given to
all the cities of Yisra’Ãl, singing and AÅri’Ãl the MeÁolathite as a wife.
dancing, to meet Sha’ul the sovereign with 20 And Mi¿al, Sha’ul’s daughter, loved
tambourines, with joy, and with musical DawiÅ. And they told Sha’ul, and the
instruments. matter was right in his eyes.
7 And the women sang as they danced, 21 And Sha’ul said, “Let me give her to
and said, “Sha’ul smote his thousands, and him and let her be a snare to him, and the
DawiÅ his ten thousands.” hand of the Philistines be against him.” So
8 And Sha’ul was very wroth, and this Sha’ul said to DawiÅ a second time,
matter was evil in his eyes, and he said, “Become my son-in-law today.”
“To DawiÅ they have given ten thousands, 22 And Sha’ul commanded his servants,
and to me they have given thousands. So “Speak to DawiÅ gently, and say, ‘See, the
what more for him, except the reign?” sovereign has delighted in you, and all his
9 And from that day on Sha’ul eyed servants have loved you. And now, be the
DawiÅ. sovereign’s son-in-law!’ ”
10 And it came to be on the next day that 23 And the servants of Sha’ul spoke those
an evil spirit from Elohim came upon words in the hearing of DawiÅ. And DawiÅ
1 SHEMU’ÂL 18 300
said, “Does it seem to you a small matter not the sovereign sin against his servant,
to be a sovereign’s son-in-law, seeing I am against DawiÅ, because he has not sinned
a poor man, and lightly esteemed?” against you, and because his works have
24 And the servants of Sha’ul told him, been very good toward you.
saying, “DawiÅ has spoken according to 5 “For he took his life in his hands and
ed to have DawiÅ fall by the hand of the Yehonathan, and Sha’ul swore, “As HWHY
Philistines. lives, he does not die.”
26 And his servants declared these words 7 Yehonathan then called DawiÅ, and
to DawiÅ, and it pleased DawiÅ well to Yehonathan told him all these words. So
become the sovereign’s son-in-law. And Yehonathan brought DawiÅ to Sha’ul, and
the days had not expired, he was in his presence as before.
27 and DawiÅ arose and went, he and his 8 And there was fighting again, and
men, and smote two hundred men of the DawiÅ went out and fought with the
Philistines. And DawiÅ brought their Philistines, and smote them, a great smit-
foreskins, and they set them before the ing, and they fled before him.
sovereign, to become the sovereign’s son- 9 And an evil spirit from HWHY came upon
in-law. And Sha’ul gave him Mi¿al his Sha’ul as he sat in his house with his spear
daughter as a wife. in his hand. And DawiÅ was playing the
28 And Sha’ul saw and knew that HWHY lyre with his hand,
was with DawiÅ, and Mi¿al daughter of 10 and Sha’ul sought to smite the spear
Sha’ul did love him. through DawiÅ, and into the wall, but he
29 So then Sha’ul was still more afraid of slipped away from the presence of Sha’ul,
DawiÅ. And Sha’ul came to be an enemy so he smote the spear into the wall. And
of DawiÅ all the days. DawiÅ fled and escaped that night.
30 And the princes of the Philistines went 11 And Sha’ul sent messengers to
out to fight. And it came to be, whenever DawiÅ’s house to watch him and to put
they went out, that DawiÅ acted more him to death in the morning. And Mi¿al,
wisely than all the servants of Sha’ul, so DawiÅ’s wife, informed him, saying,
that his name came to be very precious. “If you do not save your life tonight,
tomorrow you are put to death.”
19 And Sha’ul spoke to Yonathan his
son and to all his servants, to put
12 So Mi¿al let DawiÅ down through a
son, delighted much in DawiÅ, laid it in the bed, and put a cover of goats’
2 and Yehonathan declared to DawiÅ, hair for his head, and covered it with a
saying, “My father Sha’ul seeks to put you garment.
to death. And now, please be on your guard 14 And when Sha’ul sent messengers to
until morning, and dwell in secrecy, and take DawiÅ, she said, “He is sick.”
hide. 15 And Sha’ul sent the messengers back to
3 “And I myself shall go out and stand see DawiÅ, saying, “Bring him up to me in
beside my father in the field where you the bed to put him to death.”
are, and speak with my father about you, 16 And the messengers came in and saw
and shall see, and shall let you know.” the household idol in the bed, with a cover
4 And Yehonathan spoke well of DawiÅ of goats’ hair for his head.
to Sha’ul his father, and said to him, “Let 17 Sha’ul then said to Mi¿al, “Why have
301 1 SHEMU’ÂL 20
you deceived me like this, and sent my grieved.’ But truly, as HWHY lives and as
enemy away, so that he escaped?” And your being lives, there is but a step
Mi¿al answered Sha’ul, “He said to me, between me and death.”
‘Let me go, why should I put you to 4 And Yehonathan said to DawiÅ,
death?’ ” “Whatever your desire is, I do it for you.”
18 Now DawiÅ fled and escaped, and went 5 And DawiÅ said to Yehonathan, “See,
to Shemu’Ãl at Ramah, and told him all tomorrow is the New Moon, and I ought to
that Sha’ul had done to him. And he and sit with the sovereign to eat. But let me go,
Shemu’Ãl went and dwelt in Nawith. and I shall hide in the field until the third
19 And it was reported to Sha’ul, saying,
day at evening.
“See, DawiÅ is in Nawith in Ramah!” 6 “If your father misses me at all, then
20 And Sha’ul sent messengers to take
you shall say, ‘DawiÅ earnestly asked my
DawiÅ. And they saw the assembly of the permission to run over to BÃyth LeÁem,
prophets prophesying, and Shemu’Ãl his city, for a yearly slaughtering is made
standing as leader over them, and the Spirit there for all the clan.’
of Elohim came upon the messengers of 7 “If he says thus, ‘It is well,’ your ser-
Sha’ul, and they also prophesied. vant is safe. But if he is very displeased,
21 And when Sha’ul was told, he sent
then know that he has resolved to do evil.
other messengers, and they prophesied 8 “And you shall show kindness to your
likewise. So Sha’ul sent messengers again, servant, for you have brought your servant
the third time, and they prophesied also. into a covenant of HWHY with you. And if
22 Then he himself went to Ramah, and
there is crookedness in me, put me to death
came to the great well that is at Se¿u. And yourself, for why should you bring me to
he asked, and said, “Where are Shemu’Ãl your father?”
and DawiÅ?” And one said, “There in 9 And Yehonathan said, “Far be it from
Nawith in Ramah.” you! For if I knew with certainty that my
23 So he went there to Nawith in Ramah. father has resolved that evil is to come
And the Spirit of Elohim was upon him upon you, then would I not make it known
too, and he went on and prophesied until to you?”
he came to Nawith in Ramah. 10 And DawiÅ said to Yehonathan, “Who
24 And he also stripped off his garments would make it known to me, or what if
and prophesied before Shemu’Ãl, and lay your father answers you sharply?”
down naked all that day and all that night. 11 And Yehonathan said to DawiÅ,
Therefore they say, “Is Sha’ul also among “Come, and let us go out into the field.”
the prophets?” And they both went out into the field.
12 And Yehonathan said to DawiÅ, “HWHY
“Your father knows well that I have found only while I still live, so that I do not die,
favour in your eyes, and he says, ‘Do not 15 and do not cut off your kindness from
let Yehonathan know this, lest he be my house forever, no, not when HWHY has
1 SHEMU’ÂL 20 302
cut off every one of the enemies of DawiÅ brother has commanded me to be there.
from the face of the earth.” And now, if I have found favour in your
16 And Yehonathan made a covenant with eyes, please let me get away and see my
the house of DawiÅ, saying, “HWHY shall brothers.’ That is why he has not come to
require it at the hand of the enemies of the sovereign’s table.”
DawiÅ.” 30 Then the displeasure of Sha’ul burned
17 And Yehonathan again made DawiÅ against Yehonathan, and he said to him,
swear, because he loved him, for he loved “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman!
him as he loved his own being. Do I not know that you have chosen the
18 So Yehonathan said to him, “Tomorrow son of Yishai to your own shame and to the
is the New Moon, and you shall be missed, shame of your mother’s nakedness?
because your seat shall be empty. 31 “For as long as the son of Yishai lives
19 “And on the third day, go down quickly on the earth, you shall not be established,
and you shall come to the place where you you and your reign. And now, send and
hid on the day of the deed, and shall bring him to me, for he is a son of death.”
remain by the stone Âtsel. 32 And Yehonathan answered Sha’ul his
20 “And let me shoot three arrows to the father, and said to him, “Why should he
side of it as though shooting at a target, be put to death? What has he done?”
21 and see, I shall send the youth, saying, 33 At that, Sha’ul hurled a spear at him to
‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I expressly say to smite him. Then Yehonathan knew that his
the youth, ‘Look, the arrows are on this father had resolved to put DawiÅ to death.
side of you, get them and come,’ then, as 34 And Yehonathan rose up from the table
HWHY lives, there is safety for you and no in the heat of displeasure, and ate no food
concern. the second day of the month, for he was
22 “But if I say thus to the youth, ‘Look, grieved for DawiÅ, because his father put
the arrows are beyond you,’ go your way, him to shame.
for HWHY has sent you away. 35 And it came to be, in the morning, that
23 “And as for the word which you and I Yehonathan went out into the field at the
have spoken of, see, HWHY is between you time appointed with DawiÅ, and a small
and me forever.” youth was with him.
24 And DawiÅ hid in the field. And when 36 And he said to the youth, “Now run,
the New Moon came, the sovereign sat find the arrows which I shoot.” As the
down by the food to eat. youth ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
25 And the sovereign sat on his seat, as at 37 And when the youth came to the place
other times, on a seat by the wall, with where the arrow was which Yehonathan
Yehonathan standing, and AÄnÃr sitting by had shot, Yehonathan called out after the
Sha’ul’s side, but the place of DawiÅ was youth and said, “Is not the arrow beyond
empty. you?”
26 But Sha’ul spoke not a word that day, 38 And Yehonathan shouted after the
for he thought, “It is an accident; he is not youth, “Make haste, hurry, do not stand
clean, for he has not been cleansed.” still!” And Yehonathan’s youth picked up
27 And it came to be the next day, the sec- the arrows and came to his master.
ond day of the month, that DawiÅ’s place 39 But the youth knew not a speck. Only
was empty. And Sha’ul said to Yehonathan Yehonathan and DawiÅ knew of the matter.
his son, “Why has the son of Yishai not 40 Then Yehonathan gave his weapons to
come to eat, either yesterday or today?” the youth and said to him, “Go, take them
28 And Yehonathan answered Sha’ul, to the city.”
“DawiÅ earnestly asked my permission to 41 And as soon as the youth had gone,
go to BÃyth LeÁem. DawiÅ rose up from the south side, and fell
29 “And he said, ‘Please let me go, for our on his face to the ground, and bowed down
clan has a slaughtering in the city, and my three times. And they kissed one another.
303 1 SHEMU’ÂL 22
And they wept together, but DawiÅ more the Valley of Âlah. See, it is wrapped in a
so. garment behind the shoulder garment. If
42 And Yehonathan said to DawiÅ, “Go in you would take it, take it. For there is none
peace, since we have both sworn in the other except this one here.” And DawiÅ
Name of HWHY, saying, ‘HWHY is between said, “There is none like it, give it to me.”
you and me, and between your seed and 10 And DawiÅ rose and fled that day from
my seed, forever.’ ” Then he arose and left, before Sha’ul, and went to A¿ish the
and Yehonathan went into the city. sovereign of Gath.
11 But the servants of A¿ish said to him,
And the vessels of the young men are set- everyone who was in debt, and everyone
apart, and it is an ordinary mission, and bitter in being gathered to him. So he
also, it was set-apart in the vessel today.” became head over them, and there were
6 Then the priest gave him set-apart about four hundred men with him.
bread, for there was no bread there except 3 And DawiÅ went from there to Mitspeh
the showbread which had been taken from of Mo’aÄ and said to the sovereign of
before HWHY, in order to put hot bread in on Mo’aÄ, “Please let my father and mother
the day it is taken away. come here with you, till I know what
7 Now one of the servants of Sha’ul was Elohim does for me.”
there that day, detained before HWHY. And 4 And he left them with the sovereign of
his name was Do’ÃÍ, an EÅomite, the chief Mo’aÄ, and they dwelt with him all the
of the herdsmen who belonged to Sha’ul. time that DawiÅ was in the stronghold.
8 And DawiÅ said to AÁimele¿, “Is there 5 And the prophet GaÅ said to DawiÅ,
not here on hand a spear or a sword? For I “Do not remain in the stronghold. Leave,
have brought neither my sword nor my and go to the land of YehuÅah.” So DawiÅ
weapons with me, because the matter of left and went into the Àereth woods.
the sovereign was urgent.” 6 And Sha’ul heard that DawiÅ and the
9 And the priest said, “The sword of men who were with him had been discov-
Golyath the Philistine, whom you smote in ered, while Sha’ul was in GiÄÈah, sitting
1 SHEMU’ÂL 22 304
under a tamarisk tree in Ramah, with his 17 The sovereign then said to the guards
spear in his hand, and all his servants who stood about him, “Turn and put the
standing about him. priests of HWHY to death, because their hand
7 And Sha’ul said to his servants who also is with DawiÅ, and because they knew
were standing around him, “Hear now, you when he fled and did not reveal it to me.”
Binyamites! Does the son of Yishai give But the servants of the sovereign would
every one of you fields and vineyards, and not lift their hands to come against the
make you all commanders of thousands priests of HWHY.
and commanders of hundreds? 18 And the sovereign said to Do’ÃÍ, “You
8 “For all of you have conspired against turn and come against the priests!” So
me, and there is no one who reveals to me Do’ÃÍ the EÅomite turned and came
that my son has made a covenant with the against the priests, and put to death on that
son of Yishai. And there is not one of you day eighty-five men who wore a linen
who is grieved for me or reveals to me that shoulder garment.
my son has stirred up my servant against 19 And he smote NoÄ, the city of the
me, to lie in wait, as it is this day.” priests, with the edge of the sword, from
9 And Do’ÃÍ the EÅomite, who was set men even to women, from children even to
over the servants of Sha’ul, answered and nursing infants, and oxen and donkeys
said, “I saw the son of Yishai going to and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
NoÄ, to AÁimele¿ son of AÁituÄ. 20 And one of the sons of AÁimele¿ son of
10 “And he inquired of HWHY for him, gave AÁituÄ, named EÄyathar, escaped and fled
him food, and gave him the sword of after DawiÅ.
Golyath the Philistine.” 21 And EÄyathar reported to DawiÅ that
11 And the sovereign sent someone to call Sha’ul had slain the priests of HWHY.
AÁimele¿ the priest, son of AÁituÄ, and all 22 And DawiÅ said to EÄyathar, “I knew
his father’s house, the priests who were in that day, when Do’ÃÍ the EÅomite was
NoÄ. And they all came to the sovereign, there, that he would certainly inform
12 and Sha’ul said, “Hear now, son of Sha’ul. I am accountable for all the lives of
AÁituÄ!” And he answered, “Here I am, your father’s house.
my master.” 23 “Remain with me, do not fear. For he
13 And Sha’ul said to him, “Why have who seeks my life seeks your life, but with
you conspired against me, you and the son me you are safe.”
of Yishai, by giving him bread and a
sword, and have inquired of Elohim for
him, to rise against me, to lie in wait, as it 23 And they informed DawiÅ, saying,
“See, the Philistines are fighting
is this day?” against QeÈilah, and they are plundering
14 And AÁimele¿ answered the sovereign the threshing-floors.”
and said, “And who among all your ser- 2 So DawiÅ inquired of HWHY, saying,
father. For your servant knew not of all again. And HWHY answered him and said,
this, little or much.” “Arise, go down to QeÈilah, for I am giving
16 And the sovereign said, “You shall the Philistines into your hand.”
certainly die, AÁimele¿, you and all your 5 So DawiÅ and his men went to QeÈilah
away their livestock and smote them, to find you, and you are to reign over
a great smiting. Thus DawiÅ saved the Yisra’Ãl, and I am to be next to you. Even
inhabitants of QeÈilah. my father Sha’ul knows that.”
6 And it came to be, when EÄyathar son 18 And they made a covenant before HWHY.
of AÁimele¿ fled to DawiÅ at QeÈilah, that And DawiÅ remained at Àoresh while
he went down with a shoulder garment in Yehonathan went to his own house.
his hand. 19 And the Ziphites came up to Sha’ul at
7 And Sha’ul was informed that DawiÅ GiÄÈah, saying, “Is DawiÅ not hiding with
had gone to QeÈilah. Then Sha’ul said, us in strongholds Àoresh, in the hill of
“Elohim has estranged him into my hand, Àa¿ilah, which is on the south of the
for he has shut himself in by entering a wasteland?
town that has gates and bars.” 20 “And now, O sovereign, by all the
8 And Sha’ul summoned all the people to desire of your being, come down, come
battle, to go down to QeÈilah to besiege down, and our part is to surrender him into
DawiÅ and his men. the sovereign’s hand.”
9 And DawiÅ knew that Sha’ul was 21 And Sha’ul said, “Blessed are you of
plotting evil against him, and said to HWHY, for you have sympathy with me.
EÄyathar the priest, “Bring the shoulder 22 “Please go, prepare yet further and find
garment here.” out and see the place where his hide-out is,
10 And DawiÅ said, “O HWHY Elohim of who has seen him there. For I am told that
Yisra’Ãl, Your servant has heard for certain he is very cunning.
that Sha’ul seeks to come to QeÈilah to 23 “So look, and learn all about the hiding
destroy the city for my sake. places where he hides. And you shall come
11 “Are the landowners of QeÈilah going back to me with certainty, then I shall go
to surrender me into his hand? Is Sha’ul with you. And it shall be, if he is in the
coming down, as Your servant has heard? land, that I shall search for him throughout
O HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, I pray, let Your all the clans of YehuÅah.”
servant know.” And HWHY said, “He is 24 And they rose up and went to Ziph
said, “They are going to surrender you.” him, and they informed DawiÅ, so he went
13 Then DawiÅ and his men, about six down to the rock, and remained in the
hundred, arose and left QeÈilah and went Wilderness of MaÈon. And when Sha’ul
wherever they could go. And Sha’ul was heard this, he pursued DawiÅ in the
informed that DawiÅ had escaped from Wilderness of MaÈon.
QeÈilah, and he ceased to go out. 26 And Sha’ul went on one side of the
14 And DawiÅ remained in the wilderness, mountain, and DawiÅ and his men on the
in strongholds, and remained in the hill other side of the mountain. And DawiÅ
country in the Wilderness of Ziph. And was hurrying to get away from Sha’ul, for
Sha’ul sought him every day, but Elohim Sha’ul and his men were surrounding
did not give him into his hand. DawiÅ and his men to take them.
15 And DawiÅ saw that Sha’ul had come 27 Then a messenger came to Sha’ul, say-
out to seek his life while DawiÅ was in the ing, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines
Wilderness of Ziph at Àoresh. have invaded the land!”
16 And Yehonathan, Sha’ul’s son, arose 28 So Sha’ul turned back from pursuing
and went to DawiÅ at Àoresh and strength- DawiÅ, and went against the Philistines.
ened his hand in Elohim, Therefore they called that place Sela
17 and said to him, “Do not fear, for the HammaÁleqoth.
hand of Sha’ul my father is not going 29 And DawiÅ went up from there and
1 SHEMU’ÂL 23 306
remained in strongholds at Ân GeÅi. cut off the corner of your robe, and did not
slay you, know and see that there is neither
24 And it came to be, when Sha’ul
had returned from pursuing the
evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have
not sinned against you, while you are hunt-
Philistines, that it was reported to him, ing my life to take it.
saying, “See, DawiÅ is in the Wilderness 12 “Let HWHY judge between you and me,
of Ân GeÅi.” and let HWHY revenge me on you, but my
2 So Sha’ul took three thousand chosen hand is not against you.
men from all Yisra’Ãl, and went to seek 13 “As the proverb of the ancients says,
DawiÅ and his men on the Rocks of the ‘Wrong comes from the wrongdoer.’ But
Wild Goats. my hand is not against you.
3 And he came to the sheepfolds, on the 14 “After whom has the sovereign of Yis-
way, and there was a cave. And Sha’ul ra’Ãl come out? Whom do you pursue? A
went in to relieve himself. Now DawiÅ and dead dog? A flea?
his men were sitting in the sides of the 15 “And HWHY shall be judge, and rightly
cave. rule between you and me, and see and
4 And the men of DawiÅ said to him, plead my case, and rightly rule me out of
“See, the day of which HWHY said to you, your hand.”
‘See, I am giving your enemy into your 16 And it came to be, when DawiÅ had
hand, and you shall do to him as it seems ended speaking these words to Sha’ul, that
good to you!’ ” And DawiÅ arose and gen- Sha’ul said, “Is this your voice, my son
tly cut off a corner of Sha’ul’s robe. DawiÅ?” So Sha’ul lifted up his voice and
5 And it came to be afterward that the wept.
heart of DawiÅ smote him because he had 17 And he said to DawiÅ, “You are more
cut the robe of Sha’ul. righteous than I, for you have rewarded me
6 So he said to his men, “Far be it from with good, whereas I have rewarded you
me, by HWHY, that I should do this matter to with evil.
my master, anointed of HWHY, to stretch out 18 “And you have shown today how you
my hand against him, for he is the anointed have done good to me, for when HWHY
of HWHY.” surrendered me into your hand you did not
7 And DawiÅ dispersed his servants with slay me.
words, and did not allow them to rise 19 “For if a man finds his enemy, shall he
against Sha’ul. And Sha’ul rose up from let him get away safely? And let HWHY
the cave and went on his way. reward you with good for what you have
8 And afterward DawiÅ arose and went done to me today.
out of the cave, and called out to Sha’ul, 20 “And now look, I know that you shall
saying, “My master the sovereign!” And certainly reign, and that the reign of
when Sha’ul looked behind him, DawiÅ Yisra’Ãl shall be established in your hand.
bowed with his face to the earth, and did 21 “And now, swear to me by HWHY that
obeisance. you do not cut off my seed after me, nor
9 And DawiÅ said to Sha’ul, “Why do destroy my name from my father’s house.”
you listen to the words of men who say, 22 And DawiÅ swore to Sha’ul. Then
‘See, DawiÅ seeks to do you evil’? Sha’ul went home, and DawiÅ and his men
10 “See, this day your eyes have seen that went up to the stronghold.
HWHY gave you today into my hand in the
cave, and one said to slay you. But my eye
pardoned you, and I said, ‘I do not stretch 25 And Shemu’Ãl died, and all
Yisra’Ãl gathered and mourned for
out my hand against my master, for he is him, and buried him at his home in Ramah.
the anointed of HWHY.’ And DawiÅ arose and went down into the
11 “And my father, see! Yea, see the cor- Wilderness of Paran.
ner of your robe in my hand! For in that I 2 Now there was a man in MaÈon and his
307 1 SHEMU’ÂL 25
work was in Karmel, and the man was very 14 And one of the young men informed
great. And he had three thousand sheep AÄiÍayil, the wife of NaÄal, saying, “See,
and a thousand goats. And he came to be DawiÅ have sent messengers from the
shearing his sheep in Karmel. wilderness to greet our master, but he
3 And the name of the man was NaÄal, scoffed at them.
and the name of his wife AÄiÍayil. And 15 “But the men were very good to us, and
she was a woman of good understanding did not put us to shame, nor did we miss
and good-looking. But the man was hard any item all the days we accompanied
and evil in his doings. And he was of them, when we were in the fields.
KalÃÄ. 16 “They were a wall to us both by night
4 And DawiÅ heard in the wilderness that and day, all the days we were with them
NaÄal was shearing his sheep. tending the sheep.
5 And DawiÅ sent ten young men, and 17 “And now, know and see what you
DawiÅ said to the young men, “Go up to should do, for evil has been resolved
Karmel, and you shall come to NaÄal, against our master, and against all his
and greet him in my name, household, and he is too much of a son of
6 and say this, ‘Long life and peace to BeliyaÈal to speak to.”
you! And peace to your house, and peace 18 Then AÄiÍayil made haste and took two
to all that you have! hundred loaves, and two skins of wine, and
7 ‘And now, I have heard that you have five sheep made ready, five measures of
shearers. Now your shepherds have been roasted grain, and one hundred clusters of
with us. We did not put them to shame, and raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and
not a speck of theirs was missing all the loaded them on donkeys.
days they were in Karmel. 19 And she said to her servants, “Pass over
8 ‘Ask your young men, and let them before me. See, I am coming after you.”
inform you. So let my young men find But she did not inform her husband NaÄal.
favour in your eyes, for we come on a 20 And it came to be, as she rode on the
good day. Please give whatever comes to donkey, that she went down under cover of
your hand to your servants and to your the hill, and there were DawiÅ and his
son DawiÅ.’ ” men, coming down toward her, and she
9 And the young men of DawiÅ came and met them.
spoke to NaÄal according to all these 21 And DawiÅ had said, “Only in vain
words in the name of DawiÅ, and waited. have I protected all that this one has in the
10 But NaÄal answered the servants of wilderness, so that not a speck was missing
DawiÅ and said, “Who is DawiÅ, and who of all that belongs to him. And he has
is the son of Yishai? The servants who are repaid me evil for good.
running away from their masters, have 22 “Let Elohim do so, and more also, to
from who knows where?” hastened to come down from the donkey,
12 And the young men of DawiÅ turned and fell on her face before DawiÅ, and
around on their way and went back, and bowed down to the ground,
came and reported to him all these words. 24 and fell at his feet and said, “On me,
13 And DawiÅ said to his men, “Each one my master, let this crookedness be on me!
gird on his sword.” So they each girded on And please let your female servant speak
his sword, and DawiÅ also girded on his in your ears, and hear the words of your
sword. And about four hundred men went female servant.
with DawiÅ, and two hundred remained 25 “Please, let not my master regard this
is, so is he: NaÄal is his name, and folly is what she had brought him, and said to her,
with him. But I, your female servant, did “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have
not see the young men of my master whom listened to your voice and have accepted
you sent. your face.”
26 “And now my master, as HWHY lives and 36 And AÄiÍayil went to NaÄal, and see,
as your being lives, since HWHY has with- he was at a feast in his house, like the feast
held you from coming to bloodshed and of a sovereign. And NaÄal’s heart was glad
from avenging yourself with your own within him, and he was exceedingly drunk.
hand, now then, let your enemies be as So she told him not a word, little or much,
NaÄal, even those seeking evil against my until morning light.
master. 37 And it came to be, in the morning,
27 “And now this present which your when the wine had gone from NaÄal, and
female servant has brought to my master, his wife had told him these matters, that
let it be given to the young men who his heart died within him, and he became
follow my master. like a stone.
28 “Please forgive the transgression of 38 And it came to be in about ten days,
your female servant. For HWHY is certainly that HWHY smote NaÄal, and he died.
making a steadfast house for my master, 39 And DawiÅ heard that NaÄal was dead,
because my master fights the battles of and he said, “Blessed be HWHY, who has
HWHY, and evil is not found in you in all pleaded the cause of my reproach from the
your days. hand of NaÄal, and has kept His servant
29 “And if a man rises to pursue you and from evil! For HWHY has returned the evil of
seek your life, and the life of my master NaÄal on his own head.” And DawiÅ sent
has been bound in the bundle of the living and spoke to AÄiÍayil, to take her as his
with HWHY your Elohim, then the lives of wife.
your enemies He shall sling out, as from 40 And when the servants of DawiÅ had
has appointed you ruler over Yisra’Ãl, earth, and said, “Here is your female
31 do not let this be a staggering and stum- servant, a servant to wash the feet of the
bling of heart to my master, that you have servants of my master.”
shed blood without cause, or that my mas- 42 And AÄiÍayil hurried and rose, and
ter has saved himself. And when HWHY has rode on a donkey, with five of her female
done good to my master, then remember attendants. And she followed the messen-
your female servant.” gers of DawiÅ, and became his wife.
32 And DawiÅ said to AÄiÍayil, “Blessed 43 DawiÅ had also taken AÁinoÈam of
be HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, who sent you YizreÈÃl, and so both of them were his
to meet me today! wives.
33 “And blessed is your good taste, and 44 But Sha’ul had given Mi¿al his daugh-
blessed are you, because you have kept me ter, DawiÅ’s wife, to Palti son of Layish,
this day from coming to bloodshed and who was from Galliym.
from avenging myself with my own hand.
34 “Nevertheless, as HWHY Elohim of
Yisra’Ãl lives, who has kept me back from 26 And the Ziphites came to Sha’ul at
GiÄÈah, saying, “Is not DawiÅ
doing evil to you, if you had not hurried hiding himself in the hill of Àa¿ilah, over-
and come to meet me, not a male would looking the wasteland?”
have been left to NaÄal by break of day, for 2 And Sha’ul rose up and went down to
DawiÅ in the Wilderness of Ziph. away, a great distance being between them.
3 And Sha’ul encamped in the hill of 14 And DawiÅ called out to the people and
Àa¿ilah, overlooking the wasteland, by the to AÄnÃr son of NÃr, saying, “Do you not
way, while DawiÅ was dwelling in the answer, AÄnÃr?” And AÄnÃr answered and
wilderness, and he saw that Sha’ul came said, “Who are you, calling out to the
after him into the wilderness. sovereign?”
4 And DawiÅ sent out spies, and learned 15 And DawiÅ said to AÄnÃr, “Are you not
that Sha’ul had indeed come. a man? And who is like you in Yisra’Ãl?
5 And DawiÅ rose up and came to the Why then have you not guarded your
place where Sha’ul had encamped. And master the sovereign? For one of the
DawiÅ saw the place where Sha’ul lay, and people came in to destroy your master
AÄnÃr son of NÃr, the commander of his the sovereign.
army. And Sha’ul was lying within the 16 “What you have done is not good. As
enclosure, with the people encamped all HWHY lives, you are worthy to die, because
around him. you have not guarded your master, the
6 And DawiÅ spoke up and said to anointed of HWHY. And now see where the
AÁimele¿ the Àittite and to AÄishai son of sovereign’s spear is, and the jug of water
Tseruyah, brother of Yo’aÄ, saying, “Who that was by his head.”
does go down with me to Sha’ul in the 17 And Sha’ul recognised DawiÅ’s voice,
camp?” And AÄishai said, “I, I go down and said, “Is that your voice, my son
with you.” DawiÅ?” And DawiÅ said, “It is my voice,
7 And DawiÅ and AÄishai came to the my master, O sovereign.”
people by night and saw Sha’ul lying 18 And he said, “Why is this that my
asleep within the camp, with his spear master is pursuing his servant? For what
stuck in the ground by his head, and AÄnÃr have I done, or what evil is in my hand?
and the people lay all around him. 19 “And now, please, let my master the
8 And AÄishai said to DawiÅ, “Elohim sovereign hear the words of his servant: If
has surrendered your enemy into your HWHY has moved you against me, let Him
hand this day. And now, please, let me accept an offering. But if it is the children
smite him at once with the spear, right into of men, then they are cursed before HWHY,
the earth, and not a second time!” for they have driven me out today that I
9 But DawiÅ said to AÄishai, “Do not should not join myself to the inheritance of
destroy him, for who shall stretch out his HWHY, saying, ‘Go, serve other mighty
hand against the anointed of HWHY, and be ones.’
guiltless?” 20 “And now, do not let my blood fall to
10 DawiÅ also said, “As HWHY lives, except the earth before the face of HWHY. For the
HWHY does smite him, or his day come that sovereign of Yisra’Ãl has come out to seek
he shall die, or he shall go out to battle a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the
and perish, mountains.”
11 far be it from me, by HWHY, that I stretch 21 And Sha’ul said, “I have sinned. Come
out my hand against the anointed of HWHY. back, my son DawiÅ. For no more am I
And now, please take the spear and the jug going to do evil to you, because my life
of water that are by his head, and let us was precious in your eyes today. See, I
go.” have acted foolishly, and have greatly
12 So DawiÅ took the spear and the jug of strayed.”
water by Sha’ul’s head, and they went 22 And DawiÅ answered and said, “See,
away. And no man saw it or knew it or the sovereign’s spear! And let one of the
awoke, for they were all asleep, because a young men come over and get it.
deep sleep from HWHY had fallen on them. 23 “And let HWHY reward every man for his
13 And DawiÅ passed over to the other righteousness and his trustworthiness, for
side, and stood on the top of a hill far this day HWHY gave you into my hand, but I
1 SHEMU’ÂL 26 310
you, my son DawiÅ, achieving much, and woman, to bring news to Gath, saying,
indeed prevailing!” Then DawiÅ went on “Lest they inform against us, saying, ‘Thus
his way, and Sha’ul returned to his place. DawiÅ did.’ ” And this was his practice all
the days that he dwelt in the country of
27 And DawiÅ said in his heart, “Now
I shall perish by the hand of
the Philistines.
12 And A¿ish trusted DawiÅ, saying to
Sha’ul, some day. There is naught better himself, “He has indeed made himself a
for me than to escape to the land of the stench to his people in Yisra’Ãl, and has
Philistines. Then Sha’ul shall give up become my servant forever.”
searching for me any longer in any part of
Yisra’Ãl, and I shall escape out of his
hand.”
2 So DawiÅ rose up and passed over with
28 And it came to be in those days
that the Philistines gathered their
armies for battle, to fight with Yisra’Ãl.
the six hundred men who were with him to And A¿ish said to DawiÅ, “You know, of
A¿ish son of MaÈo¿, sovereign of Gath. course, that you are to go out with me in
3 And DawiÅ dwelt with A¿ish at Gath, the army, you and your men.”
he and his men, each man with his house- 2 And DawiÅ said to A¿ish, “Very well,
hold – DawiÅ with his two wives, you shall know what your servant should
AÁinoÈam the YizreÈÃlitess, and AÄiÍayil do.” And A¿ish said to DawiÅ, “Very well,
the Karmelitess, NaÄal’s widow. I make you one of my chief guardians for-
4 And it was reported to Sha’ul that ever.”
DawiÅ had fled to Gath, so he sought him 3 And Shemu’Ãl had died, and all Yis-
servant dwell in the royal city with you?” came and encamped at ShunÃm. And
6 And A¿ish gave him TsiqlaÍ that day. Sha’ul gathered all Yisra’Ãl, and they
That is why TsiqlaÍ has belonged to the encamped at Gilboa.
sovereigns of YehuÅah to this day. 5 And when Sha’ul saw the army of the
7 And the time that DawiÅ dwelt in the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart
country of the Philistines came to be a year trembled greatly.
and four months. 6 And Sha’ul inquired of HWHY, but HWHY
8 And DawiÅ and his men went up and did not answer him, either by dreams or by
raided the Geshurites, and the Girzites, and Urim or by the prophets.
the AmalÃqites. For those nations were the 7 Sha’ul then said to his servants, “Find
inhabitants of the land from of old, as you me a woman who is a medium, to go to her
go to Shur, even as far as the land of and inquire of her.” And his servants said
Mitsrayim. to him, “Look, there is a woman who is
9 And when DawiÅ had smitten the land, a medium at Ân Dor.”
he left neither man nor woman alive, but 8 And Sha’ul disguised himself and put
took away sheep, and cattle, and donkeys, on other garments, and went, he and two
and camels, and garments, and returned men with him. And they came to the
311 1 SHEMU’ÂL 29
woman by night. And he said, “Please tomorrow you and your sons are with me.
divine for me, and bring up for me the one HWHY also gives the army of Yisra’Ãl into
I shall name.” the hand of the Philistines.”
9 But the woman said to him, “Look, you 20 And immediately Sha’ul fell on the
know what Sha’ul has done, how he has ground, his complete length, and greatly
cut off the mediums and the spiritists from feared because of the words of Shemu’Ãl.
the land. Why then do you lay a snare for And there was no strength in him, for he
my life, to put me to death?” had eaten no food all day or all night.
10 And Sha’ul swore to her by HWHY, 21 And the woman came to Sha’ul and
saying, “As HWHY lives, no punishment saw that he had been greatly disturbed, and
comes upon you for this matter.” said to him, “See, your female servant has
11 And the woman said, “Whom do I obeyed your voice, and I have put my life
bring up for you?” So he said, “Bring up in my hands and has listened to the words
Shemu’Ãl for me.” which you spoke to me.
12 And when the woman saw Shemu’Ãl, 22 “And now, please listen to the voice of
she cried out with a loud voice. And the your female servant too, and let me set a
woman spoke to Sha’ul, saying, “Why piece of bread before you. And eat, so that
have you deceived me? You yourself are you have strength when you go on your
Sha’ul!” way.”
13 And the sovereign said to her, “Do not 23 But he refused and said, “I am not
be afraid. What did you see?” And the going to eat.” But his servants, together
woman said to Sha’ul, “I saw a spirit with the woman, urged him. And he
coming up out of the earth.” listened to their voice. So he rose from the
14 And he said to her, “What is his form?” ground and sat on the bed.
And she said, “An old man is coming up, 24 And the woman had a fatted calf in the
and he is covered with a mantle.” And house, and she quickly slaughtered it. And
Sha’ul knew that it was Shemu’Ãl, and he she took flour and kneaded it, and baked
bowed with his face to the ground and unleavened bread from it.
did obeisance. 25 And she brought it before Sha’ul and
15 And Shemu’Ãl said to Sha’ul, “Why his servants. And they ate, and rose up and
have you disturbed me by bringing me went away that night.
up?” And Sha’ul answered, “I am deeply
distressed, for the Philistines are fighting
against me, and Elohim has turned aside 29 And the Philistines gathered all
their armies at AphÃq, while Yis-
from me and does not answer me any ra’Ãl encamped by a fountain which is in
more, neither by prophets nor by dreams. YizreÈÃl.
So I have called you, to reveal to me what 2 And the princes of the Philistines were
matter to you today. wroth with him, and the princes of the
19 “Further, HWHY also gives Yisra’Ãl with Philistines said to him, “Send the man
you into the hand of the Philistines. And back, let him return to the place which you
1 SHEMU’ÂL 29 312
have appointed for him, and do not let him city and saw it burned with fire, and their
go down with us to battle, lest in the battle wives and their sons and their daughters
he become our adversary. For with what had been taken captive.
could he appease his master, if not with the 4 And DawiÅ and the people who were
heads of these men? with him lifted up their voices and wept,
5 “Is this not DawiÅ, of whom they sang until they had no more power to weep.
to each other in dances, saying, ‘Sha’ul 5 And DawiÅ’s two wives, AÁinoÈam the
smote his thousands, and DawiÅ his ten YizreÈÃlitess, and AÄiÍayil the widow of
thousands’?” NaÄal the Karmelite, had been taken cap-
6 And A¿ish called DawiÅ and said to tive.
him, “As HWHY lives, you have been 6 And DawiÅ was greatly distressed, for
straight, and your going out and your the people spoke of stoning him, because
coming in with me in the army is good in the being of all the people was grieved,
my eyes. For to this day I have not found each for his sons and his daughters. But
evil in you since the day of your coming to DawiÅ strengthened himself in HWHY his
me. But in the eyes of the princes you are Elohim.
not good. 7 And DawiÅ said to EÄyathar the priest,
7 “And now, return, and go in peace, and son of AÁimele¿, “Please bring the shoul-
do no evil in the eyes of the princes of the der garment here to me.” So EÄyathar
Philistines.” brought the shoulder garment to DawiÅ.
8 And DawiÅ said to A¿ish, “But what 8 And DawiÅ inquired of HWHY, saying,
have I done? And to this day what have “Do I pursue this band? Do I overtake
you found in your servant as long as I have them?” And He answered him, “Pursue,
been with you, that I should not go and for you shall certainly overtake them, and
fight against the enemies of my master the certainly rescue.”
sovereign?” 9 So DawiÅ went, he and the six hundred
9 But A¿ish answered and said to DawiÅ, men who were with him, and came to the
“I know that you are as good in my eyes as wadi Besor, where a halt was made by
a messenger of Elohim, but the princes of those who were left behind,
the Philistines have said, ‘Let him not go 10 while DawiÅ pursued, he and four hun-
up with us to the battle.’ dred men – for two hundred halted, who
10 “And now, rise early in the morning were too faint to pass over the wadi Besor.
with your master’s servants who have 11 And they found a man in the field, a
come with you. And as soon as you are up Mitsrite, and took him to DawiÅ. And they
early in the morning and have light, then gave him bread and he ate, and they let
go.” him drink water,
11 And DawiÅ and his men rose up early 12 and gave him a piece of a cake of figs
to go in the morning, to return to the land and two clusters of raisins. And when he
of the Philistines, and the Philistines went had eaten, his strength came back to him,
up to YizreÈÃl. for he had not eaten bread nor drunk water
for three days and three nights.
30 And it came to be, when DawiÅ
and his men came to TsiqlaÍ, on
13 And DawiÅ said to him, “To whom do
15 And DawiÅ said to him, “Could you forward, he appointed it for a law and a
bring me down to this marauding band?” right-ruling for Yisra’Ãl to this day.
And he said, “Swear to me by Elohim that 26 And when DawiÅ came to TsiqlaÍ, he
you neither kill me nor surrender me into sent some of the spoil to the elders of
the hands of my master, then I bring you YehuÅah, to his friends, saying, “Here is a
down to this marauding band.” present for you from the spoil of the
16 And he brought him down and saw they enemies of HWHY,”
were spread out over all the land, eating 27 to those in BÃyth Âl, and to those in
and drinking and dancing, because of all Ramoth of the South, and to those in Yattir,
the great spoil which they had taken from 28 and to those in AroÈÃr, and to those in
the land of the Philistines and from the Siphmoth, and to those in Eshtemoa,
land of YehuÅah. 29 and to those in Ra¿al, and to those in
17 And DawiÅ smote them from twilight the cities of the YeraÁme’Ãlites, and to
until the evening of the next day. And none those in the cities of the QÃynites,
of them escaped, except four hundred 30 and to those in Àormah, and to those in
young men who rode on camels and fled. Korashan, and to those in Atha¿,
18 And DawiÅ rescued all that the 31 and to those in ÀeÄron, and to all the
AmalÃqites had taken. DawiÅ also rescued places where DawiÅ had gone up and
his two wives. down, he and his men.
19 And there was none missing to them,
livestock, and they said, “This is DawiÅ’s Sha’ul and his sons. And the Philistines
spoil.” smote Yehonathan, and AÄinaÅaÄ, and
21 And DawiÅ came to the two hundred Malkishua, sons of Sha’ul.
men who were too faint to follow DawiÅ, 3 And the battle went hard against
who had also been left at the wadi Besor. Sha’ul, and the archers hit him, so that
And they went out to meet DawiÅ and to he was severely wounded by the archers.
meet the people who were with him. And 4 And Sha’ul said to his armour-bearer,
when DawiÅ came near the people, he “Draw your sword, and thrust me through
greeted them. with it, lest these uncircumcised men come
22 And all the evil and worthless men of and thrust me through and roll themselves
those who went with DawiÅ answered and on me.” But his armour-bearer would not,
said, “Because they did not go with us, we for he was greatly afraid. So Sha’ul took
do not give them any of the spoil that we the sword and fell on it.
have rescued, except for every man’s wife 5 And when his armour-bearer saw that
and children, and let them take them and Sha’ul was dead, he also fell on his sword,
go.” and died with him.
23 But DawiÅ said, “My brothers, do not 6 Thus Sha’ul died, and three of his sons,
do so with what HWHY has given us, who and his armour-bearer, also all his men,
has protected us and gave into our hand the together on that day.
band that came against us. 7 And they saw – the men of Yisra’Ãl
24 “And who would listen to you in this who were beyond the valley, and those
matter? For as his portion is who goes who were beyond the YardÃn – that the
down to the battle, so is his portion who men of Yisra’Ãl had fled and that Sha’ul
remains with the baggage, they share and his sons were dead. So they forsook
alike.” the cities and fled, and the Philistines came
25 And it came to be, from that day and dwelt in them.
1 SHEMU’ÂL 31 314
8 And the next day it came to be, when 11 And the inhabitants of YaÄÃsh GilÈaÅ
the Philistines came to strip the slain, that heard what the Philistines had done to
they found Sha’ul and his three sons fallen Sha’ul,
on Mount Gilboa. 12 and all the brave men arose and went
9 And they cut off his head and stripped all night, and took the body of Sha’ul and
off his armour, and sent word throughout the bodies of his sons from the wall of
the land of the Philistines, to announce it in BÃyth Shan. And they came to YaÄÃsh and
the house of their idols and to the people. burned them there.
10 And they placed his armour in the 13 And they took their bones and buried
house of the Ashtaroth, and they fastened them under the tamarisk tree at YaÄÃsh,
his body to the wall of BÃyth Shan. and fasted for seven days.
2 SHEMU’ÂL
2 SAMUEL
see, a man came out of the camp from informed him, “Where are you from?”
Sha’ul with his garments torn and dust on And he answered, “I am the son of a
his head. And it came to be, when he came sojourner, an AmalÃqite.”
to DawiÅ, that he fell to the ground and did 14 And DawiÅ said to him, “How was it
escaped from the camp of Yisra’Ãl.” men and said, “Draw near and fall on
4 And DawiÅ said to him, “What was the him!” And he smote him so that he died.
matter? Please inform me.” And he said, 16 And DawiÅ said to him, “Your blood is
“The people have fled from the battle, and on your own head, for your own mouth has
also many of the people have fallen and are witnessed against you, saying, ‘I myself
dead, and Sha’ul and Yehonathan his son have put to death the anointed of HWHY.’ ”
are dead too.” 17 Then DawiÅ lamented with this lamen-
5 And DawiÅ said to the young man who tation over Sha’ul and over Yehonathan his
informed him, “How do you know that son,
Sha’ul and Yehonathan his son are dead?” 18 and he ordered “The Bow” to be taught
6 And the young man who informed him to the children of YehuÅah. See, it is writ-
said, “By chance I was on Mount Gilboa ten in the Book of Yashar:
and saw Sha’ul leaning on his spear. And 19 “The splendour of Yisra’Ãl
see, the chariots and horsemen followed Is slain on your high places!
hard after him. How the mighty have fallen!
7 “And when he looked behind him, he 20 “Declare it not in Gath,
saw me and called to me, and I answered, Proclaim it not in the streets of
‘Here I am.’ Ashqelon,
8 “And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So Lest the daughters of the Philistines
I answered him, ‘I am an AmalÃqite.’ rejoice,
9 “And he said to me, ‘Please stand over Lest the daughters of the uncircum-
me and put me to death, for agony has cised exult.
seized me, but my life is still in me.’ 21 “Mountains of Gilboa!
10 “So I stood beside him and put him to No dew or rain be upon you,
death, for I knew he would not live after he Nor fields of offerings.
had fallen. And I took the diadem that was For there the shield of the mighty lay
on his head and the bracelet that was on his rejected,
arm, and have brought them here to my The shield of Sha’ul, not anointed with
master.” oil.
11 And DawiÅ took hold of his own gar- 22 “From the blood of the slain,
ments and tore them, and also all the men From the fat of the mighty,
who were with him. The bow of Yehonathan did not turn
12 And they mourned and wept and fasted back,
2 SHEMU’ÂL 1 316
And the sword of Sha’ul did not return truth to you, and I am also going to do you
empty. good, because you have done this deed.
23 “Sha’ul and Yehonathan were beloved 7 “And now, let your hands be strength-
And pleasant in their lives, ened and be brave, for your master Sha’ul
And in their death they were not is dead, and also the house of YehuÅah
parted. has anointed me sovereign over them.”
They were swifter than eagles, 8 But AÄnÃr son of NÃr, commander
They were stronger than lions. of the army of Sha’ul, took Ishbosheth the
24 “Daughters of Yisra’Ãl – weep over son of Sha’ul, and brought him over to
Sha’ul, MaÁanayim,
Who wrapped you in scarlet, with 9 and set him up to reign over GilÈaÅ, and
In the midst of the battle! years old when he began to reign over
Yehonathan was slain in your high Yisra’Ãl, and he reigned two years. Only
places. the house of YehuÅah followed DawiÅ.
26 “I am distressed for you, my brother 11 And the time that DawiÅ was sovereign
Surpassing the love of women. of Ishbosheth son of Sha’ul, went out from
27 “How the mighty have fallen, MaÁanayim to GiÄÈon.
And the weapons of battle perish!” 13 And Yo’aÄ son of Tseruyah, and the
20 And AÄnÃr looked behind him and said, dred and sixty men who died.
“Are you Asah’Ãl?” And he answered, 32 And they brought Asah’Ãl and buried
smote him with the blunt end of the spear ÀeÄron. And his first-born was Amnon by
in the stomach, so that the spear came out AÁinoÈam the YizreÈÃlitess;
of his back. And he fell down there and 3 and his second, Kil’aÄ, by AÄiÍayil the
died on the spot. And it came to be that as widow of NaÄal the Karmelite; and the
many as came to the place where Asah’Ãl third, AÄshalom son of MaÈa¿ah, the
fell down and died, stood still. daughter of Talmai, sovereign of Geshur;
24 And Yo’aÄ and AÄishai pursued AÄnÃr. 4 and the fourth, AÅoniyah son of
And the sun was going down and they Àaggith; and the fifth, Shephatyah son
came to the hill of Ammah, which over- of AÄital;
looks GiyaÁ by the way to the Wilderness 5 and the sixth, YithreÈam, by DawiÅ’s
company, and took their stand on top of a fighting between the house of Sha’ul and
hill. the house of DawiÅ, that AÄnÃr was
26 And AÄnÃr called to Yo’aÄ and said, strengthening himself in the house of
“Should the sword devour forever? Do you Sha’ul.
not know that it is bitter in the latter end? 7 And Sha’ul had a concubine, whose
And when are you going to say to the name was Ritspah, daughter of Ayah. And
people to turn back from pursuing their Ishbosheth said to AÄnÃr, “Why have you
brothers?” gone in to my father’s concubine?”
27 And Yo’aÄ said, “As Elohim lives, if 8 And AÄnÃr was very displeased at the
you had not spoken, then all the people words of Ishbosheth, and said, “Am I a
would have given up pursuing their dog’s head that belongs to YehuÅah, that I
brothers only the next morning.” show kindness to the house of Sha’ul your
28 Yo’aÄ then blew a ram’s horn, and all father, to his brothers, and to his friends
the people halted and pursued Yisra’Ãl no today, and have not let you fall into the
further, nor did they fight any more. hand of DawiÅ, that you charge me today
29 And AÄnÃr and his men went on all that with a sin concerning this woman?
night through the desert plain, and passed 9 “Elohim does so to AÄnÃr, and more
over the YardÃn, and went through all also, if I do not do for DawiÅ as HWHY has
Bithron. And they came to MaÁanayim. sworn to him:
30 And Yo’aÄ turned back from pursuing 10 to cause the reign to pass over from the
AÄnÃr. And when he had gathered all the house of Sha’ul, and to raise up the throne
people together, there were missing of of DawiÅ over Yisra’Ãl and over YehuÅah,
DawiÅ’s servants nineteen men and Asah’Ãl. from Dan to Be’ÃrsheÄa.”
31 But the servants of DawiÅ had smitten, 11 And he was unable to answer AÄnÃr
of Binyamin and AÄnÃr’s men, three hun- another word, because he feared him.
2 SHEMU’ÂL 3 318
12 And AÄnÃr sent messengers on his 23 And Yo’aÄ and all the army that was
behalf to DawiÅ, saying, “Whose is the with him came, and they reported to Yo’aÄ,
land?” saying also, “Make your covenant saying, “AÄnÃr son of NÃr came to the sov-
with me, and see, my hand is with you to ereign, and he sent him away, and he has
bring all Yisra’Ãl to you.” gone in peace.”
13 And DawiÅ said, “Good, I make a 24 And Yo’aÄ went to the sovereign and
covenant with you. Only one matter I am said, “What have you done? See, AÄnÃr
asking of you: you do not see my face has come to you! Why is it that you sent
unless you first bring Mi¿al, daughter of him away, and he has already gone?
Sha’ul, when you come to see my face.” 25 “You know that AÄnÃr son of NÃr came
14 DawiÅ then sent messengers to to deceive you, to know your going out
Ishbosheth son of Sha’ul, saying, “Give and your coming in, and to know all that
me my wife Mi¿al, to whom I became you are doing.”
engaged for a hundred foreskins of the 26 Yo’aÄ then left DawiÅ, and he sent
BaÁurim, going on and weeping behind Yo’aÄ took him aside in the gate to speak
her. And AÄnÃr said to him, “Go, turn with him privately, and there struck him in
back!” And he turned back. the stomach, so that he died for the blood
17 And AÄnÃr had a word with the elders of Asah’Ãl his brother.
of Yisra’Ãl, saying, “In time past you were 28 And when DawiÅ heard it afterwards,
seeking for DawiÅ to be sovereign over he said, “My reign and I are guiltless
you. before HWHY forever of the blood of AÄnÃr
18 “And now, do it! For HWHY has spoken son of NÃr.
of DawiÅ, saying, ‘By the hand of My 29 “Let it rest on the head of Yo’aÄ and on
servant DawiÅ, I save My people Yisra’Ãl all his father’s house. And let there never
from the hand of the Philistines and the fail to be in the house of Yo’aÄ one who
hand of all their enemies.’ ” has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on
19 And AÄnÃr also spoke in the hearing of a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks
Binyamin. And AÄnÃr also went to speak bread.”
in the hearing of DawiÅ in ÀeÄron all that 30 So Yo’aÄ and AÄishai his brother slew
seemed good to Yisra’Ãl and all the house AÄnÃr, because he had killed their brother
of Binyamin. Asah’Ãl at GiÄÈon in the battle.
20 And AÄnÃr and twenty men with him 31 And DawiÅ said to Yo’aÄ and to all the
came to DawiÅ at ÀeÄron. And DawiÅ people who were with him, “Tear your gar-
made a feast for AÄnÃr and the men who ments, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and
were with him. mourn for AÄnÃr.” And Sovereign DawiÅ
21 And AÄnÃr said to DawiÅ, “Let me followed the coffin.
arise and go, and gather all Yisra’Ãl to my 32 And they buried AÄnÃr in ÀeÄron. And
master the sovereign, and let them make a the sovereign lifted up his voice and wept at
covenant with you, and you shall reign the grave of AÄnÃr, and all the people wept.
over all that your being desires.” And 33 And the sovereign sang a lament over
DawiÅ sent AÄnÃr away, and he went in AÄnÃr and said, “Should AÄnÃr die as a
peace. fool dies?
22 And see, the servants of DawiÅ and 34 “Your hands were not bound nor your
Yo’aÄ came from a raid and brought much feet put into shackles. As one falls before
spoil with them. But AÄnÃr was not with sons of evil, so you fell.” And all the peo-
DawiÅ in ÀeÄron, for he had sent him ple wept over him again.
away, and he had gone in peace. 35 And all the people came to cause
319 2 SHEMU’ÂL 5
DawiÅ to eat food while it was still day, ed him. And they took his head, and went
but DawiÅ swore, saying, “Elohim do so to the way of the desert plain all night,
me, and more also, if I taste bread or 8 and brought the head of Ishbosheth to
whatever else till the sun goes down!” DawiÅ at ÀeÄron, and said to the sover-
36 And all the people took note of it, and eign, “See, the head of Ishbosheth, the son
it was good in their eyes, since whatever of Sha’ul your enemy, who sought your
the sovereign did was good in the eyes of life. So HWHY has given my master the sov-
all the people. ereign vengeance on Sha’ul and his seed
37 And all the people and all Yisra’Ãl this day.”
knew that day that it had not been the 9 And DawiÅ answered RÿaÄ and
sovereign’s intent to kill AÄnÃr son of NÃr. BaÈanah his brother, sons of Rimmon the
38 The sovereign also said to his servants, Be’Ãrothite, and said to them, “As HWHY
“Do you not know that a prince and a great lives, who has redeemed my life out of all
one has fallen in Yisra’Ãl today? distress,
39 “And I am weak today, though anointed 10 when someone reported to me, saying,
sovereign. And these men, the sons of ‘See, Sha’ul is dead,’ and he was a bearer
Tseruyah, are too harsh for me. Let HWHY of good news in his own eyes, I then took
repay the evil-doer according to his evil.” hold of him and slew him in TsiqlaÍ,
which was the reward I gave him for his
4 And the son of Sha’ul heard that
AÄnÃr had died in ÀeÄron, and he lost
news.
11 “How much more, when wrong men
heart, and all Yisra’Ãl was troubled. have slain a righteous man in his own
2 And the son of Sha’ul had two men, house on his bed, should I not now require
commanders of bands, and the name of his blood at your hand and remove you
one was BaÈanah and the name of the other from the earth?”
RÿaÄ, sons of Rimmon the Be’Ãrothite, of 12 And DawiÅ commanded his young
the children of Binyamin. For Be’Ãroth men, and they slew them, and cut off their
was also reckoned to Binyamin, hands and feet, and hanged them by the
3 because the Be’Ãrothites fled to Gitta- pool in ÀeÄron. And they took the head of
yim and have been sojourners there until Ishbosheth and buried it in the tomb of
this day. AÄnÃr in ÀeÄron.
4 Now Yehonathan, son of Sha’ul, had a
be, as she hurried to flee, that he fell and over us, you were the one who led Yisra’Ãl
became lame. And his name was Mephi- out and brought them in. And HWHY said to
Äosheth. you, ‘Shepherd My people Yisra’Ãl, and be
5 So the sons of Rimmon the Be’Ãrothite, ruler over Yisra’Ãl.’ ”
RÿaÄ and BaÈanah, went and came at 3 And all the elders of Yisra’Ãl came to
about the heat of the day to the house of the sovereign at ÀeÄron, and Sovereign
Ishbosheth, who was lying on his bed at DawiÅ made a covenant with them at
noon. ÀeÄron before HWHY. And they anointed
6 And they came into the midst of the DawiÅ sovereign over Yisra’Ãl.
house, to fetch wheat, and they struck him 4 DawiÅ was thirty years old when he
in the stomach, and RÿaÄ and BaÈanah his began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
brother escaped. 5 In ÀeÄron he reigned over YehuÅah
7 Thus they came into the house when he seven years and six months, and in
was lying on his bed in his bedroom, and Yerushalayim he reigned thirty-three years
they smote him, and slew him, and behead- over all Yisra’Ãl and YehuÅah.
2 SHEMU’ÂL 5 320
6 And the sovereign and his men went to 20 And DawiÅ came to BaÈal Peratsim,
Yerushalayim against the YeÄusites, the and DawiÅ smote them there. And he said,
inhabitants of the land. And they spoke to “HWHY has broken through my enemies
DawiÅ, saying, “Except you take away the before me, like a breakthrough of water.”
blind and the lame, you are not going to So he called the name of that place BaÈal
come in here,” thinking, “DawiÅ is not Peratsim.
going to come in here.” 21 And they left their images there, and
7 But DawiÅ captured the stronghold of DawiÅ and his men took them away.
Tsiyon, the City of DawiÅ. 22 And the Philistines again came up and
8 And DawiÅ said on that day, “Anyone were spread out in the Valley of Repha’im.
who smites the YeÄusites, let him go by the 23 And when DawiÅ inquired of HWHY, He
water-shaft and take the lame and the said, “Do not go up, turn around behind
blind, who are hated by DawiÅ’s being.” them, and you shall come upon them in
That is why they say, “The blind and the front of the mulberry trees.
lame do not come into the house.” 24 “And it shall be, when you hear the
9 And DawiÅ dwelt in the stronghold, sound of stepping in the tops of the mul-
and called it the City of DawiÅ. And berry trees, then act promptly, for then
DawiÅ built all around from the Millo and HWHY shall go out before you to smite the
inward. camp of the Philistines.”
10 And DawiÅ went on and became great, 25 And DawiÅ did so, as HWHY commanded
and HWHY Elohim of hosts was with him. him, and smote the Philistines from GeÄa
11 Now Àiram sovereign of Tsor sent as far as Gezer.
messengers to DawiÅ, and cedar trees, and
carpenters and masons. And they built a
house for DawiÅ. 6 Now DawiÅ again gathered all the
chosen men of Yisra’Ãl, thirty thou-
12 And DawiÅ knew that HWHY had estab- sand.
lished him as sovereign over Yisra’Ãl, and 2 And DawiÅ rose up and went with all
that He had exalted His reign, because of the people who were with him from BaÈalÃ
His people Yisra’Ãl. YehuÅah, to bring up from there the ark of
13 And DawiÅ took more concubines and Elohim, that is called by the Name, the
wives from Yerushalayim, after he had Name HWHY of Hosts, who dwells between
come from ÀeÄron, and more sons and the keruÄim.
daughters were born to DawiÅ. 3 And they placed the ark of Elohim on a
14 And these were the names of those born new wagon, and brought it from the house
to him in Yerushalayim: Shammua, and of AÄinaÅaÄ, which was on the hill. And
ShoÄaÄ, and Nathan, and Shelomoh, Uzzah and AÁyo, sons of AÄinaÅaÄ, were
15 and YiÄÁar, and Elishua, and NepheÍ, leading the new wagon.
and Yaphiya, 4 And they brought it from the house of
16 and Elishama, and ElyaÅa, and Eliphelet. AÄinaÅaÄ, which was on the hill, with the
17 And the Philistines heard that they had ark of Elohim. And AÁyo was walking
anointed DawiÅ sovereign over Yisra’Ãl, before the ark.
and all the Philistines went up to search for 5 And DawiÅ and all the house of
DawiÅ, but DawiÅ heard and went down to Yisra’Ãl were dancing before HWHY, with all
the stronghold. instruments of fir wood, and with lyres,
18 And the Philistines came and spread and with harps, and with tambourines, and
themselves out in the Valley of Repha’im. with sistrums, and with cymbals.
19 And DawiÅ inquired of HWHY, saying, 6 And when they came to the threshing-
“Do I go up against the Philistines? Do floor of Na¿on, Uzzah reached out toward
You give them into my hand?” And HWHY the ark of Elohim and took hold of it,
said to DawiÅ, “Go up, for I shall certainly for the oxen stumbled.
give the Philistines into your hand.” 7 And the wrath of HWHY burned against
321 2 SHEMU’ÂL 7
Uzzah, and Elohim smote him there for the all the crowd of Yisra’Ãl, from man even to
fault. And he died there by the ark of women, to each one a loaf of bread, and a
Elohim. measure, and a cake of raisins. And all the
8 And DawiÅ was displeased because people left, each one to his house.
HWHY had broken out against Uzzah. And 20 And DawiÅ returned to bless his house-
he called the name of the place Perets hold, and Mi¿al the daughter of Sha’ul
Uzzah, until this day. came out to meet DawiÅ, and said, “How
9 And DawiÅ was afraid of HWHY on that esteemed was the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl
day, and said, “How shall the ark of HWHY today, uncovering himself today in the
come to me?” eyes of the female servants of his servants,
10 And DawiÅ would not move the ark of as one of the foolish ones shamelessly
HWHY with him into the City of DawiÅ, but uncovers himself!”
DawiÅ turned it aside to the house of 21 So DawiÅ said to Mi¿al, “Before HWHY,
went and brought up the ark of Elohim no children to the day of her death.
from the house of OÄÃÅ-EÅom to the City
of DawiÅ with rejoicing.
13 And it came to be, when those bearing 7 And it came to be when the sovereign
was dwelling in his house, and HWHY
the ark of HWHY had gone six steps, that he had given him rest from all his enemies all
slaughtered bulls and fatted sheep. around,
14 And DawiÅ danced before HWHY with all 2 that the sovereign said to Nathan the
his might. And DawiÅ was wearing a linen prophet, “See now, I am dwelling in a
shoulder garment. house of cedar, but the ark of Elohim
15 Thus DawiÅ and all the house of dwells within curtains.”
Yisra’Ãl brought up the ark of HWHY with 3 And Nathan said to the sovereign, “Go,
shouting and with the sound of the ram’s do all that is in your heart, for HWHY is with
horn. you.”
16 And it came to be, when the ark of HWHY 4 And it came to be that night that the
came into the City of DawiÅ, that Mi¿al, word of HWHY came to Nathan, saying,
daughter of Sha’ul, looked through a win- 5 “Go and say to My servant DawiÅ,
dow and saw Sovereign DawiÅ leaping and ‘Thus said HWHY, “Would you build a house
dancing before HWHY, and she despised him for Me to dwell in?
in her heart. 6 “For I have not dwelt in a house since
17 So they brought the ark of HWHY in, and the time that I brought the children of
set it in its place in the midst of the Tent Yisra’Ãl up from Mitsrayim, even to this
that DawiÅ had pitched for it. And DawiÅ day, but have moved about in a Tent and in
brought burnt offerings before HWHY, and a Dwelling Place.
peace offerings. 7 “Wherever I have walked with all the
18 And when DawiÅ had finished bringing children of Yisra’Ãl, have I ever spoken a
burnt offerings and peace offerings, he word to anyone from the tribes of Yisra’Ãl,
blessed the people in the Name of HWHY whom I commanded to shepherd My
of hosts. people Yisra’Ãl, saying, ‘Why have you
19 And he apportioned to all the people, to not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’
2 SHEMU’ÂL 7 322
the pasture, from following the flock, to be to Your own heart, You have done all this
ruler over My people, over Yisra’Ãl. greatness, to make it known to Your
9 “And I have been with you wherever servant.
you have gone, and have cut off all your 22 “You are great indeed, O Master HWHY.
enemies from before you, and have made For there is none like You, and there is no
you a great name, like the name of the Elohim but You, according to all that we
great ones who are on the earth. have heard with our ears.
10 “And I shall appoint a place for My 23 “And who is like Your people, like
people Yisra’Ãl, and shall plant them, and Yisra’Ãl, the one nation on the earth whom
they shall dwell in a place of their own and Elohim went to redeem for Himself as a
no longer be afraid, neither shall the chil- people, to make for Himself a Name, and
dren of wickedness oppress them again, as to do for You greatness, and awesome
at the first, deeds for Your land before Your people,
11 even from the day I appointed rulers whom You redeemed for Yourself from
over My people Yisra’Ãl, and have caused Mitsrayim, from the nations and their
you to rest from all your enemies. And mighty ones?
HWHY has declared to you that He would 24 “And You have established for Yourself
parts, and shall establish his reign. which You have spoken concerning Your
13 “He does build a house for My Name, servant and concerning his house, establish
and I shall establish the throne of his reign it forever and do as You have said.
forever. 26 “And let Your Name be made great for-
14 “I am to be his Father, and he is My ever, saying, ‘HWHY of hosts is the Elohim
son. If he does perversely, I shall reprove over Yisra’Ãl.’ And let the house of Your
him with the rod of men and with the servant DawiÅ be established before You.
blows of the sons of men. 27 “For You, O HWHY of hosts, the Elohim
15 “But My kindness does not turn aside of Yisra’Ãl, have revealed this to Your
from him, as I turned it aside from Sha’ul, servant, saying, ‘I build you a house.’
whom I removed from before you. Therefore Your servant has taken heart to
16 “And your house and your reign are to pray this prayer to You.
be steadfast forever before you – your 28 “And now, O Master HWHY, You are
throne is established forever.” ’ ” Elohim, and Your words are true, and
17 According to all these words and You have spoken this goodness to Your
according to all this vision, so Nathan servant.
spoke to DawiÅ. 29 “And now, be pleased to bless the
18 And Sovereign DawiÅ went in and sat house of Your servant, to be before You,
before HWHY and he said, “Who am I, forever. For You, O Master HWHY, have spo-
O Master HWHY? And what is my house, ken it, and with Your blessing let the house
that You have brought me this far? of Your servant be blessed forever.”
19 “And yet this was a small matter in
them off with a line, causing them to lie Throughout all EÅom he put watch-posts,
down on the earth. With two lines he and all the EÅomites became DawiÅ’s
measured off those to be put to death, and servants. And HWHY saved DawiÅ wherever
with one complete line those to be kept he went.
alive. And the Mo’aÄites became DawiÅ’s 15 And DawiÅ reigned over all Yisra’Ãl,
servants, and brought presents. and DawiÅ was doing right-ruling and
3 DawiÅ also smote HaÅaÅezer son of righteousness to all his people.
ReÁoÄ, sovereign of TsoÄah, as he went to 16 And Yo’aÄ son of Tseruyah was over
restore his rule at the River Euphrates. the army, and Yehoshaphat son of AÁiluÅ
4 And DawiÅ captured from him one was recorder,
thousand and seven hundred horsemen, 17 and TsaÅoq son of AÁituÄ and AÁi-
and twenty thousand foot soldiers. And mele¿ son of EÄyathar were the priests,
DawiÅ destroyed all the chariots, but he and Serayah was the scribe,
left of them a hundred chariots. 18 and Benayahu son of YehoyaÅa was
5 And the Arameans of Damascus came over both the KerÃthites and the PelÃthites,
to help HaÅaÅezer sovereign of TsoÄah, and DawiÅ’s sons were priests.
and DawiÅ smote twenty-two thousand of
the Arameans.
6 Then DawiÅ put watch-posts in Aram 9 And DawiÅ said, “Is there still anyone
who is left of the house of Sha’ul, that
of Damascus. And the Arameans became I might show him kindness, because of
DawiÅ’s servants, and brought presents. Yehonathan?”
And HWHY saved DawiÅ wherever he went. 2 And the house of Sha’ul had a servant
7 And DawiÅ took the shields of gold whose name was TsiÄa. And they had
which were on the servants of HaÅaÅezer, called him to DawiÅ, and the sovereign
and brought them to Yerushalayim. said to him, “Are you TsiÄa?” And he said,
8 And from BetaÁ and from BÃrothai, “Your servant!”
cities of HaÅaÅezer, Sovereign DawiÅ took 3 And the sovereign said, “Is there not
DawiÅ, to ask peace of him and bless him, he?” And TsiÄa said to the sovereign, “See,
because he had fought against HaÅaÅezer he is in the house of Ma¿ir son of
and smote him, for HaÅaÅezer had battles Ammi’Ãl, in Lo ÊeÄar.”
with ToÈi. And Yoram brought with him 5 And Sovereign DawiÅ sent and brought
objects of silver, and objects of gold, and him out of the house of Ma¿ir son of
objects of bronze. Ammi’Ãl, from Lo ÊeÄar.
11 Sovereign DawiÅ also set these apart to 6 And MephiÄosheth son of Yehonathan,
HWHY, along with the silver and gold that he son of Sha’ul, came to DawiÅ, and fell on
had set apart from all the nations which he his face and did obeisance. And DawiÅ
had humbled: said, “MephiÄosheth!” And he answered,
12 from Aram, and from Mo’aÄ, and from “Here is your servant!”
the children of Ammon, and from the 7 DawiÅ then said to him, “Do not fear,
Philistines, and from AmalÃq, and from for I shall certainly show you kindness
the spoil of HaÅaÅezer son of ReÁoÄ, because of Yehonathan your father, and
sovereign of TsoÄah. shall return to you all the land of Sha’ul
13 And DawiÅ made a name for himself your grandfather, and let you eat bread at
when he returned from smiting eighteen my table continually.”
thousand Arameans in the Valley of Salt. 8 And he bowed himself and said, “What
14 And he put watch-posts in EÅom. is your servant, that you should turn to
2 SHEMU’ÂL 9 324
such a dead dog as I?” ly ashamed. And the sovereign said, “Wait
9 And the sovereign called TsiÄa servant at YeriÁo until your beards have grown,
of Sha’ul, and said to him, “I have given to and then return.”
your master’s son all that belonged to 6 And when the children of Ammon saw
Sha’ul and to all his house. that they had become a stench to DawiÅ,
10 “And you and your sons and your the children of Ammon sent and hired
servants, shall work the land for him, and Arameans of BÃyth ReÁoÄ and Arameans
you shall bring in its yield, and your mas- of TsoÄa, twenty thousand foot soldiers,
ter’s son shall have food to eat. But let and the sovereign of MaÈa¿ah, one thou-
MephiÄosheth your master’s son eat bread sand men, and men of ToÄ, twelve thou-
at my table always.” And TsiÄa had fifteen sand men.
sons and twenty servants. 7 And DawiÅ heard, and sent Yo’aÄ and
11 And TsiÄa said to the sovereign, the entire army, the mighty men.
“According to all that my master the sover- 8 And the children of Ammon came out
eign has commanded his servant, so your and put themselves in battle array at the
servant does.” “As for MephiÄosheth,” entrance of the gate. And the Arameans of
said the sovereign, “he shall eat at my table TsoÄa, and ReÁoÄ, and men of ToÄ, and
as one of the sons of the sovereign.” MaÈa¿ah were by themselves in the field.
12 And MephiÄosheth had a young son 9 And Yo’aÄ saw that the battle line was
whose name was Mi¿a. And all who dwelt against him before and behind, and he
in the house of TsiÄa were servants of chose out of all the chosen men of Yisra’Ãl
MephiÄosheth. and put them in battle array against the
13 And MephiÄosheth was dwelling in Arameans.
Yerushalayim, for he ate continually at the 10 And the rest of the people he gave
sovereign’s table. And he was lame in under the hand of AÄishai his brother, and
both his feet. he put them in battle array against the
children of Ammon.
10 And after this it came to be that the
sovereign of the children of
11 And he said, “If the Arameans are too
ness to Àanun son of NaÁash, as his father our people and for the cities of our Elohim,
showed kindness to me.” So DawiÅ sent by and let HWHY do what is good in His eyes.”
the hand of his servants to comfort him 13 And Yo’aÄ drew near, and the people
concerning his father. And when DawiÅ’s with him, to battle against Aram, and they
servants came into the land of the children fled before him.
of Ammon, 14 And when the children of Ammon saw
3 the chiefs of the children of Ammon that the Arameans were fleeing, they also
said to Àanun their master, “Is DawiÅ fled before AÄishai, and went into the city.
esteeming your father in your eyes in that And Yo’aÄ returned from the children of
he has sent comforters to you? Has DawiÅ Ammon and came to Yerushalayim.
not rather sent his servants to you to search 15 And Aram saw that they were smitten
the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow before Yisra’Ãl, and they gathered together,
it?” 16 and HaÅaÅezer sent and brought out
4 So Àanun took DawiÅ’s servants and the Arameans who were beyond the River,
shaved off half of their beards, and cut off and they came to ÀÃlam. And ShoÄa¿ the
their garments in the middle, as far as their commander of the army of HaÅaÅezer
buttocks, and sent them away. went before them.
5 And they informed DawiÅ, and he sent 17 And it was reported to DawiÅ, and he
to meet them, because the men were great- gathered all Yisra’Ãl, and passed over the
325 2 SHEMU’ÂL 11
and they fought with him. sovereign’s house with all the servants of
18 And Aram fled before Yisra’Ãl, and his master, and did not go down to his
DawiÅ slew seven hundred charioteers and house.
forty thousand horsemen of Aram, and he 10 And they informed DawiÅ, saying,
smote ShoÄa¿, commander of their army, “Uriyah did not go down to his house,” So
who died there. DawiÅ said to Uriyah, “Did you not come
19 And all the sovereigns, the servants of from a journey? Why did you not go down
HaÅaÅezer, saw that they were smitten by to your house?”
Yisra’Ãl, and made peace with Yisra’Ãl, 11 And Uriyah said to DawiÅ, “The ark
and served them. And the Arameans were and Yisra’Ãl and YehuÅah are dwelling in
afraid to help the children of Ammon any booths, and my master Yo’aÄ and the
more. servants of my master are encamped in the
open fields. And I, should I go to my house
11 And it came to be at the turn of the
year, at the time sovereigns go out
to eat and to drink, and to lie with my
wife? As you live, and as your being lives,
to battle, that DawiÅ sent Yo’aÄ and his let me not do this.”
servants with him, and all Yisra’Ãl, and 12 And DawiÅ said to Uriyah, “Remain
they destroyed the children of Ammon and here today also, and tomorrow I let you
besieged Rabbah. But DawiÅ remained go.” So Uriyah remained in Yerushalayim,
at Yerushalayim. that day and the next.
2 And it came to be, at evening time, that 13 And DawiÅ called him, and he ate and
DawiÅ rose up from his bed and walked drank before him, and he made him drunk.
about on the roof of the sovereign’s house. And at evening he went out to lie on his
And from the roof he saw a woman bed with the servants of his master, but he
bathing, and the woman was very good to did not go down to his house.
look at. 14 And it came to be in the morning that
3 And DawiÅ sent and asked about the DawiÅ wrote a letter to Yo’aÄ and sent it
woman, and one said, “Is this not by the hand of Uriyah.
BathsheÄa, the daughter of Eliyam, the 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set
wife of Uriyah the Àittite?” Uriyah in the front of the heaviest battle,
4 And DawiÅ sent messengers, to fetch and you shall turn away from him, and he
her. And she came to him, and he lay with shall be smitten and shall die.”
her – for she was cleansing herself from 16 And it came to be, as Yo’aÄ watched
her uncleanness – and she returned to her the city, that he appointed Uriyah to the
house. place where he knew there were brave
5 And the woman conceived, and sent men.
and informed DawiÅ, and said, “I am 17 And the men of the city came out and
people were doing, and how the fighting “When you have finished reporting all the
was going. events of the battle to the sovereign,
8 And DawiÅ said to Uriyah, “Go down 20 then it shall be, if the sovereign’s wrath
to your house and wash your feet.” And rises and he says to you, ‘Why did you go
Uriyah went out from the sovereign’s so near to the city when you fought? Did
house, and a gift from the sovereign you not know that they would shoot from
2 SHEMU’ÂL 11 326
threw an upper millstone on him from the against the man, and he said to Nathan,
wall, so that he died in ThÃÄÃts? Why did “As HWHY lives, the man who has done
you go near the wall?’ Then you shall say, this is a son of death!
‘Your servant Uriyah the Àittite is also 6 “Also, he has to repay fourfold for the
to Yo’aÄ, ‘Do not let this matter be evil in HWHY to do evil in His eyes? You have
your eyes, for the sword devours one as killed Uriyah the Àittite with the sword,
well as another. Strengthen your attack and his wife you took to be your wife, and
against the city, and overthrow it.’ And you have killed him with the sword of the
encourage him.” children of Ammon.
26 And the wife of Uriyah heard that 10 ‘And now, the sword does not turn
Uriyah her husband was dead, and she aside from your house, because you have
lamented for her husband. despised Me, and have taken the wife of
27 And when her mourning was over, Uriyah the Àittite to be your wife.’
DawiÅ sent and brought her to his house, 11 “Thus said HWHY, ‘See, I am raising up
and she became his wife and bore him evil against you, from your own house, and
a son. But the deed that DawiÅ had done shall take your wives before your eyes and
was evil in the eyes of HWHY. give them to your neighbour, and he shall
lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
12 Then HWHY sent Nathan to DawiÅ.
And he came to him, and said to
12 ‘For you did it in secret, but I shall do
alive. And it grew up with him and with have greatly scorned HWHY, the child also
his children together. It ate of his own food who is born to you shall certainly die.”
and drank from his own cup and lay in his 15 And Nathan went to his house, and
bosom. And it was like a daughter to him. HWHY smote the child that Uriyah’s wife
4 “And a traveller came to the rich man, had born to DawiÅ, and he was sick.
who refused to take from his own flock 16 And DawiÅ sought Elohim for the
and from his own herd to prepare one for child, and DawiÅ fasted and went in and
the wayfaring man who had come to him, spent all night lying on the ground.
but he took the poor man’s lamb and 17 So the elders of his house stood up over
327 2 SHEMU’ÂL 13
him, to raise him up from the earth. But he went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and
would not, nor did he eat food with them. captured it.
18 And on the seventh day it came to be 30 And he took their sovereign’s crown
that the child died. And the servants of from his head. And its weight was a talent
DawiÅ were afraid to inform him that the of gold, with precious stones, and it was on
child was dead, for they said, “Look, while DawiÅ’s head. And he brought out the
the child was still alive, we spoke to him, spoil of the city, a very great amount.
and he would not listen to our voice. And 31 And he brought out the people who
how do we say to him that the child is were in it, and set them to the saw and to
dead? Then he shall do evil!” sharp instruments of iron and to axes of
19 And DawiÅ saw that his servants were iron, and made them pass over to the brick
whispering, and DawiÅ perceived that the works. And so he did with all the cities of
child was dead. Then DawiÅ said to his the children of Ammon. And DawiÅ and
servants, “Is the child dead?” And they all the people returned to Yerushalayim.
said, “He is dead.”
20 DawiÅ then rose up from the ground,
and washed and anointed himself, and 13 And after this it came to be that
AÄshalom son of DawiÅ had a
changed his garments. And he went into lovely sister, whose name was Tamar, and
the House of HWHY and bowed himself, then Amnon son of DawiÅ loved her.
came to his own house, and asked, and 2 And Amnon was distressed, even to
they set food before him, so he ate. become sick, because of his sister Tamar –
21 And his servants said to him, “What is for she was a maiden – and it was hard in
this that you have done? You fasted and the eyes of Amnon to do whatever to her.
wept because of the living child, but when 3 And Amnon had a friend whose name
the child died, you rose up and ate food.” was YonaÅaÄ son of ShimÈah, DawiÅ’s
22 And he said, “While the child was alive brother. Now YonaÅaÄ was a very wise
I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows man.
whether HWHY shows favour unto me, and 4 And he said to him, “Why are you, the
called after my name.” house, while he was lying down. And she
29 And DawiÅ gathered all the people and took dough and kneaded it, and made
2 SHEMU’ÂL 13 328
cakes before his eyes, and baked the cakes. reports, and he was very wroth.
9 And she took the pan and turned them 22 And AÄshalom spoke to his brother
out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon neither good nor evil. For
Amnon said, “Make everyone go away AÄshalom hated Amnon, because he had
from me.” And they all went out from him. humbled his sister Tamar.
10 And Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the 23 And it came to be, after two years, that
food into the bedroom, that I eat from your AÄshalom had sheep-shearers in BaÈal
hand.” And Tamar took the cakes which Hatsor, which is beside Ephrayim, and
she had made, and brought them to Amnon AÄshalom invited all the sons of the sover-
her brother in the bedroom. eign.
11 And she brought them to him to eat, 24 And AÄshalom came to the sovereign
and he took hold of her and said to her, and said, “See, your servant has sheep-
“Come, lie with me, my sister.” shearers. Please, let the sovereign and his
12 And she answered him, “No, my broth- servants go with your servant.”
er, do not humble me, for it is not done so 25 But the sovereign said to AÄshalom,
in Yisra’Ãl. Do not do this wickedness! “No, my son, let us not all go now, lest we
13 “And I, where could I take my shame? be too heavy on you.” And he urged him,
And you – you would be like one of the but he would not go. And he blessed him.
fools in Yisra’Ãl. And now, please speak to 26 And AÄshalom said, “If not, please let
the sovereign, for he would not withhold my brother Amnon go with us.” And the
me from you.” sovereign said to him, “Why should he go
14 But he would not listen to her voice, with you?”
and being stronger than she, he humbled 27 And AÄshalom urged him, so he let
her and lay with her. Amnon and all the sons of the sovereign go
15 Amnon then hated her exceedingly, so with him.
that the hatred with which he hated her was 28 And AÄshalom had commanded his
greater than the love with which he had servants, saying, “Watch, and when the
loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Arise, heart of Amnon is glad with wine, and I
go!” shall say to you, ‘Smite Amnon!’ then kill
16 And she said to him, “No, for this evil him. Do not be afraid. Have I not com-
of sending me away is worse than the other manded you? Be strong and brave.”
you have done to me.” But he would not 29 Then the servants of AÄshalom did to
think that all the sons of the sovereign are against your female servant and said,
dead. For only Amnon is dead.” ‘Give him who smote his brother, so that
34 And AÄshalom fled, and the young we put him to death for the life of his
man who was watching lifted up his eyes brother whom he killed, and destroy the
and looked and saw many people were heir also.’ Thus they would extinguish my
coming from the way behind him, on the burning coal that is left, and leave to my
side of the hill. husband neither name nor remnant on the
35 Then YonaÅaÄ said to the sovereign, earth.”
“Look, the sons of the sovereign are 8 And the sovereign said to the woman,
coming; as your servant said, so it is.” “Go to your house, and let me give orders
36 And it came to be, as soon as he had concerning you.”
finished speaking, that look, the sons of the 9 And the woman of Teqowa said to the
sovereign came, and they lifted up their sovereign, “My master, O sovereign, let
voice and wept. And the sovereign too, and the crookedness be on me and on my
all his servants wept very bitterly. father’s house, and the sovereign and his
37 But AÄshalom fled and went to Talmai throne be guiltless.”
son of AmmihuÅ, sovereign of Geshur. 10 And the sovereign said, “Whoever
And DawiÅ mourned for his son all the speaks to you, bring him to me, and let him
days. no longer touch you.”
38 So AÄshalom fled and went to Geshur, 11 And she said, “Please let the sovereign
and was there three years. remember HWHY your Elohim, and the
39 Sovereign DawiÅ then longed to go to redeemer of blood not destroy any more,
AÄshalom, for he had been comforted lest they destroy my son.” And he said,
concerning Amnon, because he was dead. “As HWHY lives, not one hair of your son
shall fall to the ground.”
14 And Yo’aÄ son of Tseruyah knew
that the heart of the sovereign was
12 And the woman said, “Please, let your
from there a wise woman, and said to her, you reasoned like this against the people of
“Please pretend to be a mourner, and put Elohim? For in speaking this word the
on mourning garments, and do not anoint sovereign is as one who is guilty, in that
yourself with oil, but act like a woman the sovereign does not bring his outcast
who has been mourning a long time for the one home again.
dead. 14 “For we shall certainly die and become
3 “Then you shall go to the sovereign and like water spilled on the ground, which is
speak to him according to this word.” And not gathered up again. Yet Elohim does not
Yo’aÄ put the words in her mouth. take away a life, but shall devise ways, so
4 And when the woman of Teqowa spoke that His outcast ones are not cast out from
to the sovereign, she fell on her face to the Him.
ground and did obeisance, and said, “Save, 15 “And now I have come to speak this
in the field, and there was no one to part his female servant from the hand of the
them, but the one smote the other and man seeking to destroy me and my son
killed him. together from the inheritance of Elohim.’
7 “And see, the entire clan has risen up 17 “Then your female servant said, ‘Please
2 SHEMU’ÂL 14 330
let the word of my master the sovereign be and one daughter whose name was Tamar.
comforting, for my master the sovereign is She was a woman of fair appearance.
as the messenger of Elohim, in discerning 28 And AÄshalom dwelt in Yerushalayim,
the good and the evil. And HWHY your two years, and he had not seen the sover-
Elohim is with you.’ ” eign’s face.
18 And the sovereign answered and said to 29 Then AÄshalom sent for Yo’aÄ, to send
the woman, “Please do not hide from me him to the sovereign, but he would not
the matter that I am asking you.” And the come to him. And he sent again the second
woman said, “Please, let my master the time, but he would not come.
sovereign speak.” 30 And he said to his servants, “See,
19 And the sovereign said, “Is the hand of Yo’aÄ’s field is near mine, and he has bar-
Yo’aÄ with you in all this?” And the ley there. Go and set it on fire.” And
woman answered and said, “As your being AÄshalom’s servants set the field on fire.
lives, my master the sovereign, no one 31 Then Yo’aÄ rose up and came to the
turns to the right or to the left from all that house of AÄshalom, and said to him, “Why
my master the sovereign has spoken. For have your servants set my field on fire?”
your servant Yo’aÄ commanded me, and 32 And AÄshalom said to Yo’aÄ, “Look, I
he put all these words in the mouth of your sent to you, saying, ‘Come here, so that I
female servant. send you to the sovereign, to say, “Why
20 “Your servant Yo’aÄ has done this to have I come from Geshur? It was good for
change the appearance of the matter. But me while I was there.” ’ And now, let me
my master is wise, according to the wis- see the sovereign’s face. And if there is
dom of a messenger of Elohim, to know all any crookedness in me, then you shall put
that is in the earth.” me to death.”
21 And the sovereign said to Yo’aÄ, “See 33 Yo’aÄ then went to the sovereign and
now, you shall do this matter. And go, informed him. And he called for AÄsha-
bring back the young man AÄshalom.” lom, and he came to the sovereign and
22 And Yo’aÄ fell to the ground on his bowed himself on his face to the ground
face and did obeisance, and blessed the before the sovereign. Then the sovereign
sovereign. And Yo’aÄ said, “Today your kissed AÄshalom.
servant knows that I have found favour in
your eyes, my master, O sovereign, in that
the sovereign has done the word of his 15 And it came to be after this that
AÄshalom prepared a chariot and
servant.” horses for himself, and fifty men to run
23 And Yo’aÄ rose up and went to Geshur, before him.
and brought AÄshalom to Yerushalayim. 2 And AÄshalom used to rise early and
24 And the sovereign said, “Let him return stand beside the way to the gate. And it
to his own house, but do not let him see my came to be, whenever anyone who had a
face.” And AÄshalom went to his own complaint came to the sovereign for a
house, and did not see the sovereign’s face. right-ruling, that AÄshalom would call to
25 And in all Yisra’Ãl there was no one him and say, “What city are you from?”
who was praised as much as AÄshalom for And when he said, “Your servant is from
his good looks. From the sole of his foot to such and such a tribe of Yisra’Ãl,”
the crown of his head there was no blemish 3 AÄshalom would say to him, “Look,
it, he weighed the hair of his head at two were made judge in the land, and everyone
hundred sheqels by the sovereign’s weight. who has any complaint or case would
27 And to AÄshalom were born three sons, come to me, and I shall let right be done to
331 2 SHEMU’ÂL 15
came near him to bow down to him, that he people at his feet, and they stood still at the
would put out his hand and take him and last house.
kiss him. 18 And all his servants were passing on at
6 And AÄshalom did this to all Yisra’Ãl his side. And all the KerÃthites, and all the
who came to the sovereign for right-ruling. PelÃthites, and all the Gittites, six hundred
And AÄshalom stole the hearts of the men men who had followed him from Gath,
of Yisra’Ãl. were passing on before the sovereign.
7 And it came to be at the end of four 19 And the sovereign said to Ittai the
years that AÄshalom said to the sovereign, Gittite, “Why do you go, you also, with
“Please, let me go to ÀeÄron and pay the us? Turn back and remain with the
vow which I vowed to HWHY. sovereign, for you are a foreigner, and also
8 “For your servant vowed a vow while I an exile from your own place.
dwelt at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If HWHY 20 “You came yesterday, and should I
indeed brings me back to Yerushalayim, today make you wander up and down with
then I shall serve HWHY.’ ” us, when I am going wherever I am going?
9 And the sovereign said to him, “Go in Return, and take your brothers back.
peace.” And he rose up and went to Kindness and truth be with you.”
ÀeÄron. 21 And Ittai answered the sovereign and
10 But AÄshalom sent spies throughout all said, “As HWHY lives, and as my master
the tribes of Yisra’Ãl, saying, “As soon as the sovereign lives, in whatever place my
you hear the sound of the ram’s horn, then master the sovereign is, whether in death
you shall say, ‘AÄshalom is sovereign in or life, let your servant also be there.”
ÀeÄron!’ ” 22 Therefore DawiÅ said to Ittai, “Go, and
11 And with AÄshalom went two hundred pass over.” And Ittai the Gittite and all his
men from Yerushalayim who were invited, men and all the little ones who were with
and they went along unsuspectingly, and him passed over.
did not know the matter at all. 23 And all the land was weeping with a
12 AÄshalom also sent for AÁithophel the loud voice, and all the people were passing
Gilonite, counsellor of DawiÅ, from his over. And the sovereign himself was
city, from Giloh, while he was bringing passing over the wadi QiÅron, and all
offerings. And it came to be that the con- the people were passing over toward
spiracy became strong, for the people with the way of the wilderness.
AÄshalom kept increasing. 24 And see, TsaÅoq also came, and all the
13 Then a messenger came to DawiÅ, LÃwites with him, bearing the ark of the
saying, “The hearts of the men of Yisra’Ãl covenant of Elohim. And they set down
are with AÄshalom.” the ark of Elohim, and EÄyathar went up
14 And DawiÅ said to all his servants who until all the people completed passing over
were with him at Yerushalayim, “Rise up, from the city.
and let us flee, for none of us shall escape 25 And the sovereign said to TsaÅoq,
from AÄshalom. Go in haste, lest he over- “Take the ark of Elohim back to the city. If
take us quickly and bring evil upon us, and I find favour in the eyes of HWHY, then He
smite the city with the edge of the sword.” shall bring me back and show me both
15 And the sovereign’s servants said to the it and His dwelling.
sovereign, “Look, your servants shall do 26 “But if He says thus, ‘I have not
according to all my master the sovereign delighted in you,’ here I am, let Him do
chooses.” to me as seems good in His eyes.”
16 And the sovereign went out, and all 27 And the sovereign said to TsaÅoq the
his household at his feet. But the sovereign priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the
left ten women, concubines, to look after city in peace, and your two sons with you,
2 SHEMU’ÂL 15 332
AÁimaÈats your son, and Yehonathan son fruit, and a skin of wine.
of EÄyathar. 2 And the sovereign said to TsiÄa, “Why
28 “See, I am waiting in the desert plains do you have these?” And TsiÄa said, “The
of the wilderness until word comes from donkeys are for the sovereign’s household
you to inform me.” to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit
29 And TsaÅoq and EÄyathar took the ark for the young men to eat, and the wine for
of Elohim back to Yerushalayim, and they the wearied to drink in the wilderness.”
remained there. 3 And the sovereign said, “And where is
30 And DawiÅ went up by the ascent of the son of your master?” And TsiÄa said to
the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went the sovereign, “See, he remains in Yeru-
up. And he had his head covered and went shalayim, for he said, ‘Today the house of
barefoot. And all the people who were Yisra’Ãl is going to return the reign of my
with him covered their heads and went up, father to me.’ ”
weeping as they went up. 4 And the sovereign said to TsiÄa, “See,
31 And DawiÅ was informed, saying, all that belongs to MephiÄosheth is yours.”
“AÁithophel is among the conspirators And TsiÄa said, “I have bowed myself,
with AÄshalom.” And DawiÅ said, “O let me find favour in your eyes, my master,
HWHY, I pray You, make the counsel of O sovereign!”
AÁithophel foolish!” 5 And when Sovereign DawiÅ came to
32 And it came to be that DawiÅ came to BaÁurim he saw a man from the clan of the
the summit, where he bowed himself house of Sha’ul, whose name was ShimÈi
before Elohim, and saw Àushai the Arkite, son of GÃra, coming from there. He came
coming to meet him with his robe torn and out, cursing as he came.
dust on his head. 6 And he threw DawiÅ with stones, and
33 And DawiÅ said to him, “If you pass on all the servants of Sovereign DawiÅ. And
with me, then you shall become a burden all the people and all the mighty men were
to me, on his right and on his left.
34 but if you return to the city, and say to 7 And this is what ShimÈi said as he
AÄshalom, ‘I am your servant, O sovereign cursed, “Get out! Get out! O man of blood,
– once servant of your father, but now I am and man of BeliyaÈal!
your servant,’ then you shall nullify the 8 “HWHY has brought upon you all the
men of Yisra’Ãl, came to Yerushalayim, the Arkite also, and let us hear what he
and AÁithophel was with him. says too.”
16 And it came to be, when Àushai the 6 And Àushai came to AÄshalom, and
Arkite, the friend of DawiÅ, had come to AÄshalom spoke to him, saying, “AÁitho-
AÄshalom, that Àushai said to AÄshalom, phel has spoken according to this word.
“Let the sovereign live! Let the sovereign Should we do as he says? If not, speak up.”
7 And Àushai said to AÄshalom, “The
live!”
17 And AÄshalom said to Àushai, “Is this advice that AÁithophel has given is not
your kindness to your friend? Why did you good at this time.”
8 And Àushai said, “You know your
not go with your friend?”
18 And Àushai said to AÄshalom, “No, I father and his men, that they are mighty
am for the one whom HWHY and this people men, and they are as bitter in being as a
and all the men of Yisra’Ãl have chosen, bear robbed of her cubs in the field. And
and with him I remain. your father is a man of battle, and would
19 “And besides, whom should I serve? not spend the night with the people.
9 “See, by now he is hidden in some pit,
Should it not be before his son? As I have
served before your father, so I am before or in some place. And it shall be, when
you.” some of them fall at the first, that whoever
20 And AÄshalom said to AÁithophel, hears it shall say, ‘There has been a slaugh-
“Give your advice. What should we do?” ter among the people who are following
21 And AÁithophel said to AÄshalom, “Go AÄshalom.’
in to your father’s concubines, whom he 10 “And even he who is brave, whose
has left to look after the house. And all heart is like the heart of a lion, would
Yisra’Ãl shall hear that you have made utterly melt. For all Yisra’Ãl knows that
yourself a stench to your father. And the your father is a mighty man, and those who
hands of all who are with you shall be are with him are brave men.
strong.” 11 “But I advise: Let all Yisra’Ãl without
22 So they pitched a tent for AÄshalom on fail be gathered to you, from Dan to
the top of the house, and AÄshalom went Be’ÃrsheÄa, as numerous as the sand by the
in to his father’s concubines before the sea, and that you yourself go to battle.
eyes of all Yisra’Ãl. 12 “And we shall come upon him in some
23 Now the advice AÁithophel gave in place where he is found, and fall on him as
those days was as if one had inquired at the the dew falls on the ground. And there
word of Elohim. So was all the advice of shall be left of him and of all the men with
AÁithophel both to DawiÅ and to him not even one.
AÄshalom. 13 “And if he withdraws into a city, then
then said, “The advice of Àushai the his house, and hanged himself, and died.
Arkite is better than the advice of And he was buried in his father’s tomb.
AÁithophel.” For HWHY had ordained to nul- 24 And DawiÅ came to MaÁanayim. And
lify the good advice of AÁithophel, for the AÄshalom passed over the YardÃn, he and
sake of HWHY bringing evil upon AÄshalom. all the men of Yisra’Ãl with him.
15 Àushai then said to TsaÅoq and to 25 And AÄshalom appointed Amasa over
EÄyathar the priests, “AÁithophel has the army instead of Yo’aÄ. Now Amasa
advised AÄshalom and the elders of was the son of a man whose name was
Yisra’Ãl such and such, but I have advised Yithra, an Yisra’Ãlite, who had gone in to
so and so. AÄiÍayil the daughter of NaÁash, sister
16 “And now, send hastily and inform of Tseruyah, Yo’aÄ’s mother.
DawiÅ, saying, ‘Do not spend this night in 26 And Yisra’Ãl and AÄshalom encamped
the desert plains of the wilderness, but pass in the land of GilÈaÅ.
over without fail, lest the sovereign and all 27 And it came to be, when DawiÅ had
the people with him be swallowed up.’ ” come to MaÁanayim, that ShoÄi son of
17 And Yehonathan and AÁimaÈats were NaÁash from Rabbah of the children of
stationed at Ân RoÍÃl, and a female servant Ammon, and Ma¿ir son of Ammi’Ãl from
would come and inform them, and they Lo ÊeÄar, and Barzillai the GilÈaÅite from
would go and inform Sovereign DawiÅ, for RoÍelim,
they could not be seen entering the city. 28 brought beds and basins, and earthen
18 But a youth saw them, and informed vessels and wheat, and barley and flour,
AÄshalom. So the two of them went away and roasted grain and beans, and lentils,
at once and came to a man’s house in and parched vegetables,
BaÁurim, who had a well in his courtyard, 29 and honey and curds, and sheep and
and they went down into it. cheese of the herd, for DawiÅ and the
19 And the woman took and spread a people who were with him to eat. For they
covering over the well’s mouth, and spread said, “The people are hungry and weary
ground grain on it, so the matter was not and thirsty in the wilderness.”
known.
20 And the servants of AÄshalom came to
the woman at the house and said, “Where 18 And DawiÅ mustered the people
who were with him, and set com-
are AÁimaÈats and Yehonathan?” And the manders of thousands and commanders of
woman said to them, “They have passed hundreds over them.
over the stream of water.” And they looked 2 And DawiÅ sent out one third of the
and did not find them, and returned to people under the hand of Yo’aÄ, and one
Yerushalayim. third under the hand of AÄishai son of
21 And it came to be, after they had left, Tseruyah, Yo’aÄ’s brother, and one third
that they came up out of the well and went under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the
and informed Sovereign DawiÅ, and said sovereign said to the people, “I shall cer-
to DawiÅ, “Arise and pass over the water tainly go out with you too.”
quickly. For thus AÁithophel has advised 3 But the people answered, “Do not go
against you.” out, for if we flee away, they would not set
22 And DawiÅ and all the people who heart upon us. Even if half of us die, they
were with him rose up and passed over the would not set heart upon us. For now, ten
YardÃn. And by morning light not even thousand are like us. Therefore, it is better
one remained who had not gone over the for you to support us from the city.”
YardÃn. 4 And the sovereign said to them, “That
23 And AÁithophel saw that his advice which is good in your eyes I do.” And the
was not followed, so he saddled his don- sovereign stood beside the gate, and all
key, and rose up and went home to his the people went out by hundreds and by
house, to his city. Then he gave charge to thousands.
335 2 SHEMU’ÂL 18
5 And the sovereign ordered Yo’aÄ, and armour went around, and smote AÄshalom
AÄishai and Ittai, saying, “Be gentle with and put him to death.
the young man AÄshalom for my sake.” 16 And Yo’aÄ blew the ram’s horn, and
And all the people heard when the sover- the people returned from pursuing Yisra’Ãl,
eign gave all the commanders orders con- for Yo’aÄ had held the people back.
cerning AÄshalom. 17 And they took AÄshalom and threw
6 So the people went out into the field to him into a large pit in the forest, and
meet Yisra’Ãl. And the battle was in the heaped a very large pile of stones over
forest of Ephrayim, him. And all Yisra’Ãl fled, each one to his
7 and the people of Yisra’Ãl were smitten tent.
there before the servants of DawiÅ. And 18 And AÄshalom in his lifetime had taken
the slaughter there that day was great – and set up a monument for himself, which
twenty thousand. is in the Sovereign’s Valley. For he said, “I
8 And the battle there was scattered over have no son to keep my name in remem-
the face of all the land, and the forest brance.” And he called the monument after
devoured more people that day than the his own name. And to this day it is called
sword devoured. AÄshalom’s Monument.
9 And when AÄshalom met the servants 19 And AÁimaÈats son of TsaÅoq said,
of DawiÅ, AÄshalom was riding on a mule, “Please let me run and take the news to the
and the mule went under the thick sovereign, for HWHY has avenged him of his
branches of a great terebinth tree, and enemies.”
his head caught in the terebinth. And he 20 But Yo’aÄ said to him, “You are not the
was suspended between the heavens and man to take the news today, but you shall
earth while the mule which was under him take the news another day. But today you
passed on. do not take news, because the sovereign’s
10 And a certain man saw it and informed son is dead.”
Yo’aÄ, and said, “Look, I saw AÄshalom 21 And Yo’aÄ said to the Kushite, “Go,
hanging in a terebinth tree!” inform the sovereign what you have seen.”
11 And Yo’aÄ said to the man who And the Kushite bowed himself to Yo’aÄ
informed him, “Now look, you saw, and and ran.
why did you not smite him to the earth 22 And AÁimaÈats son of TsaÅoq said
there? Then I would have given you ten again to Yo’aÄ, “And whatever might be,
pieces of silver and a belt.” please let me also run after the Kushite.”
12 But the man answered Yo’aÄ, “Though And Yo’aÄ said, “Why would you run, my
I were to receive a thousand pieces of sil- son, there is no news to bring you reward.”
ver in my hand, I would not raise my hand 23 “And whatever might be,” he said, “let
against the son of the sovereign. Because me run.” So he said to him, “Run.” And
in our hearing the sovereign ordered you AÁimaÈats ran by the way of the plain, and
and AÄishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Take heed, passed the Kushite.
you who go against the youth, against 24 Now DawiÅ was sitting between the
in the midst of the terebinth tree. running, and the watchman called out to
15 And ten young men who bore Yo’aÄ’s the gatekeeper and said, “See, a man, run-
2 SHEMU’ÂL 18 336
ning by himself!” And the sovereign said, voice, “O my son AÄshalom! O AÄshalom,
“This one is also bringing news.” my son, my son!”
27 And the watchman said, “I see the 5 And Yo’aÄ came into the house to the
running of the first is like the running of sovereign, and said, “Today you have put
AÁimaÈats son of TsaÅoq.” And the sover- to shame all your servants who today have
eign said, “This is a good man, and he saved your life, and the lives of your sons
comes with good news.” and daughters, and the lives of your wives
28 And AÁimaÈats called out and said to and the lives of your concubines,
the sovereign, “Peace!” Then he bowed 6 by loving those who hate you, and by
down with his face to the earth before the hating those who love you. For you have
sovereign, and said, “Blessed be HWHY your made it clear today that you have neither
Elohim, who has surrendered the men who commanders nor servants, for today I
raised their hand against my master the know that if AÄshalom had lived and all of
sovereign!” us had died today, then it would be right in
29 And the sovereign said, “Peace to the your eyes.
young man, to AÄshalom?” And AÁimaÈats 7 “And now, arise, go out and speak to
answered, “When Yo’aÄ sent the sover- the heart of your servants. For I swear by
eign’s servant and me your servant, I saw a HWHY, if you do not go out, not one passes
great crowd, but I did not know why.” the night with you. And that is worse for
30 And the sovereign said, “Turn aside you than all the evil that has come upon
and stand here.” And he turned aside and you from your youth until now.”
stood still. 8 So the sovereign rose up and sat in the
31 And see, the Kushite came, and the gate. And they told all the people, saying,
Kushite said, “Receive news, my master “Look, the sovereign is sitting in the gate.”
the sovereign! For HWHY has avenged you And all the people came before the
this day of all those who rose against you.” sovereign. As for Yisra’Ãl, they had fled,
32 And the sovereign said to the Kushite, each one to his tent.
“Peace to the young man, to AÄshalom?” 9 And it came to be, that all the people
And the Kushite answered, “Let the were contending throughout all the tribes
enemies of my master the sovereign, and of Yisra’Ãl, saying, “The sovereign deliv-
all who rise against you for evil, be as that ered us from the hand of the enemies, he
young man is!” rescued us from the hand of the Philistines,
33 And the sovereign was shaken, and and now he has fled from the land because
went up to the room over the gate, and of AÄshalom,
wept. And as he went, he said this, “O my 10 and AÄshalom, whom we anointed over
son AÄshalom! My son, my son us, has died in battle. And now, why are
AÄshalom, if only I had died instead of you silent about bringing back the sover-
you! O AÄshalom my son, my son!” eign?”
11 And Sovereign DawiÅ sent to TsaÅoq
ereign has been grieved for his son.” and my flesh. Why then are you the last to
3 And the people stole back into the city bring back the sovereign?’
that day, as people who are ashamed steal 13 “And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my
away when they flee in battle. bone and my flesh? Elohim do so to me,
4 And the sovereign covered his face, and more also, if you are not commander
and the sovereign cried out with a loud of the army before me all the days in place
337 2 SHEMU’ÂL 19
sent to the sovereign, saying “Return, you to Yerushalayim to meet the sovereign,
and all your servants!” that the sovereign said to him, “Why did
15 So the sovereign returned and came to you not go with me, MephiÄosheth?”
the YardÃn. And YehuÅah came to Gilgal, 26 And he answered, “My master, O
to go to meet the sovereign, to bring the sovereign, my servant deceived me. For
sovereign over the YardÃn. your servant said, ‘I am saddling a donkey
16 And ShimÈi son of GÃra, a Binyamite, for myself to ride on it and go to the
who was from BaÁurim, hastened and sovereign,’ because your servant is lame.
came down with the men of YehuÅah to 27 “And he spoke slander against your
they rushed over the YardÃn before the dead men before my master the sovereign.
sovereign. Yet you set your servant among those who
18 And they passed over the ford to bring eat at your own table. Therefore what right
over the sovereign’s household, and to do have I still to cry out any more to the
what was good in his eyes. And ShimÈi son sovereign?”
of GÃra fell down before the sovereign 29 Then the sovereign said to him, “Why
when he had passed over the YardÃn, do you speak any more of your matters? I
19 and said to the sovereign, “Do not let have said, ‘You and TsiÄa share the land.’ ”
my master reckon crookedness to me, 30 And MephiÄosheth said to the sover-
neither remember what wrong your servant eign, “Rather, let him take it all, since my
did on the day that my master the sover- master the sovereign has come back in
eign left Yerushalayim, that the sovereign peace to his own house.”
should take it to heart. 31 And Barzillai the GilÈaÅite came down
20 “For I, your servant, know that I have from RoÍelim and passed over the YardÃn
sinned. And see, I have come today, first of with the sovereign, to send him on his way
all the house of YosÃph, to go down to over the YardÃn.
meet my master the sovereign.” 32 And Barzillai was a very aged man,
21 But AÄishai son of Tseruyah answered eighty years old. And he had sustained the
and said, “Should ShimÈi not be put to sovereign while he was dwelling at
death for this, because he cursed the MaÁanayim, for he was a very rich man.
anointed of HWHY?” 33 And the sovereign said to Barzillai,
22 And DawiÅ said, “What have I to do “Pass over with me, and I shall provide for
with you, you sons of Tseruyah, that you you with me in Yerushalayim.”
are to be adversaries to me today? Should 34 But Barzillai said to the sovereign,
any man be put to death in Yisra’Ãl today? “How many are the days of my life, that
For do I not know that I am sovereign over I should go up with the sovereign to Yeru-
Yisra’Ãl today?” shalayim?
23 So the sovereign said to ShimÈi, “You 35 “I am now eighty years old. Do I dis-
do not die.” And the sovereign swore to cern between the good and evil? Does your
him. servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Do
24 And MephiÄosheth son of Sha’ul came I still hear the voice of singing men and
down to meet the sovereign. And he had singing women? Why then should your
not attended to his feet, nor trimmed his servant be a further burden to my master
moustache, nor washed his garments, from the sovereign?
2 SHEMU’ÂL 19 338
36 “Your servant would only pass over the son of Yishai – each one to his tents, O
YardÃn with the sovereign for a short dis- Yisra’Ãl!”
tance. And why should the sovereign repay 2 Then all the men of Yisra’Ãl deserted
with my master the sovereign, and do for Yerushalayim. And the sovereign took the
him what is good in your eyes.” ten women, his concubines whom he had
38 And the sovereign answered, “Kimham left to look after the house, and put them in
is passing over with me, and let me do a protected house and supported them, but
for him what is good in your eyes. Now did not go in to them. So they were shut up
whatever you choose of me, I do for you.” to the day of their death, living in widow-
39 Then all the people went over the hood.
YardÃn. And when the sovereign had 4 And the sovereign said to Amasa, “Call
passed over, the sovereign kissed Barzillai the men of YehuÅah for me within three
and blessed him, and he returned to his days, and be present here yourself.”
own place. 5 And Amasa went to call the men of
40 And the sovereign passed over to YehuÅah. But he delayed longer than the
Gilgal, and Kimham passed over with him. appointed time which DawiÅ had appoint-
And all the people of YehuÅah brought the ed him.
sovereign over, and also half the people 6 And DawiÅ said to AÄishai, “Now
brought the sovereign, and his household, him, with the KerÃthites and the PelÃthites,
and all DawiÅ’s men with him over the and all the mighty men. And they went out
YardÃn?” of Yerushalayim to pursue SheÄa son of
42 And all the men of YehuÅah answered Bi¿ri.
the men of Yisra’Ãl, “Because the sover- 8 When they were near the large stone
eign is our relative. And why are you dis- which is in GiÄÈon, Amasa came before
pleased over this matter? Have we at all them. And Yo’aÄ was dressed in battle
eaten at the sovereign’s cost? Or has he armour, and on it was a girdle with a sword
given us any gift?” fastened in its sheath at his hips. And as he
43 And the men of Yisra’Ãl answered the went forward, it fell out.
men of YehuÅah, and said, “We have ten 9 And Yo’aÄ said to Amasa, “Peace, my
parts in the sovereign, and in DawiÅ too, brother?” And Yo’aÄ took Amasa by the
we have more than you. Why then did you beard with his right hand to kiss him.
despise us? Was it not our advice first to 10 But Amasa was not on guard against
bring back our sovereign?” But the words the sword in Yo’aÄ’s hand. And he struck
of the men of YehuÅah were harsher than him with it in the stomach, and his inward
the words of the men of Yisra’Ãl. parts poured out on the ground, and he did
not strike him again, and he died. Then
20 And there came to be a man of
BeliyaÈal, whose name was SheÄa
Yo’aÄ and AÄishai his brother pursued
SheÄa son of Bi¿ri.
son of Bi¿ri, a Binyamite. And he blew a 11 And a man, one of Yo’aÄ’s men, stood
ram’s horn, and said, “We have no part in beside him, and said, “Whoever is well
DawiÅ, nor do we have inheritance in the pleased with Yo’aÄ and whoever is for
339 2 SHEMU’ÂL 21
DawiÅ, let him follow Yo’aÄ!” to Yo’aÄ. Then he blew a ram’s horn, and
12 And Amasa was rolling in his blood in they dispersed from the city, each one to
the middle of the highway. And the man his tent. And Yo’aÄ returned to the
saw that all the people stood still, so he sovereign at Yerushalayim.
moved Amasa from the highway to the 23 Now Yo’aÄ was over all the army of
field and threw a garment over him, when Yisra’Ãl, and Benayah son of YehoyaÅa
he saw that everyone who came upon him was over the KerÃthites and the PelÃthites,
halted. 24 and AÅoram was over the compulsory
13 When he was removed from the high- labour, and Yehoshaphat son of AÁiluÅ
way, all the men passed on after Yo’aÄ to was recorder,
pursue SheÄa son of Bi¿ri. 25 and Shewa was scribe, and TsaÅoq and
14 And he passed over through all the EÄyathar were the priests,
tribes of Yisra’Ãl to AÄÃl, and to BÃyth 26 and Ira the YaÈirite was priest to DawiÅ.
it, far be it from me to swallow up or to man who consumed us and plotted against
destroy! us, that we should be destroyed from
21 “That is not the case. But a man from remaining in all the border of Yisra’Ãl,
the mountains of Ephrayim, SheÄa son of 6 let seven men of his sons be given to
Bi¿ri by name, has raised his hand against us, and we shall hang them before HWHY in
the sovereign, against DawiÅ. Hand him GiÄÈah of Sha’ul, whom HWHY chose.” And
over, him alone, and I withdraw from the the sovereign said, “I give them.”
city.” And the woman said to Yo’aÄ, 7 But the sovereign spared MephiÄosheth
“Look, his head is going to be thrown to son of Yehonathan, son of Sha’ul, because
you over the wall.” of the oath of HWHY that was between them,
22 So the woman in her wisdom went to between DawiÅ and Yehonathan son of
all the people. And they cut off the head of Sha’ul.
SheÄa son of Bi¿ri, and threw it out 8 And the sovereign took the two sons of
2 SHEMU’ÂL 21 340
Ritspah the daughter of Ayah, whom she him, saying, “Do not go out with us to
bore to Sha’ul: Armoni and the other battle any more, lest you put out the
MephiÄosheth, and the five sons of Mi¿al lamp of Yisra’Ãl.”
the daughter of Sha’ul, whom she brought 18 And it came to be afterward, that there
up for AÅri’Ãl the son of Barzillai, the was a battle again with the Philistines at
MeÁolathite, GoÄ. Then Sibbe¿ai the Àushathite smote
9 and gave them into the hands of the Saph, who was one of the sons of the giant.
GiÄÈonites, and they hanged them on the 19 And there was a battle with the
hill before HWHY. So the seven fell together, Philistines again at GoÄ, where ElÁanan
and were put to death in the days of har- son of YaÈarÃy-OreÍim the BÃyth LeÁemite
vest, in the first days, in the beginning of smote Golyath the Gittite, the shaft of
barley harvest. whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
10 And Ritspah the daughter of Ayah took 20 And there was a battle in Gath again,
sackcloth and spread it for herself on the where there was a man of great height,
rock, from the beginning of harvest until who had six fingers on each hand and six
the late rains poured on them from the toes on each foot, twenty-four in number.
heavens. And she did not allow the birds of And he also was descended from the
the heavens to rest on them by day nor the giants.
beasts of the field by night. 21 And he reproached Yisra’Ãl, and
11 And DawiÅ was informed what Ritspah Yehonathan son of ShimÈi, the brother of
the daughter of Ayah, the concubine of DawiÅ, smote him.
Sha’ul, had done. 22 These four were born to the giant in
12 And DawiÅ went and took the bones of Gath, and they fell by the hand of DawiÅ
Sha’ul, and the bones of Yehonathan his and by the hand of his servants.
son, from the men of YaÄÃsh GilÈaÅ who
had stolen them from the street of BÃyth
Shan, where the Philistines had hung them 22 Then DawiÅ spoke to HWHY the
words of this song, on the day
up, after the Philistines had struck down when HWHY had delivered him from the
Sha’ul in Gilboa. hand of all his enemies, and from the hand
13 And he brought up the bones of Sha’ul of Sha’ul.
and the bones of Yehonathan his son from 2 And he said, “HWHY is my rock and my
there, and they gathered the bones of those stronghold and my deliverer.
who had been hanged, 3 “My Elohim is my rock, I take refuge
14 and buried the bones of Sha’ul and in Him,
Yehonathan his son in the land of My shield and the horn of my
Binyamin in Tsela, in the tomb of Qish his deliverance,
father, and did all that the sovereign My high tower and my refuge.
commanded. And after that Elohim heard My Saviour, You save me from
prayer for the land. violence.
15 And the Philistines were again fighting 4 “I call on HWHY, the One to be praised,
against Yisra’Ãl, so DawiÅ and his servants And I am saved from my enemies.
with him went down and fought against the 5 “For the waves of death surrounded
And devouring fire from His mouth; And I guard myself from my
Coals were kindled by it. crookedness.
10 “And He bowed the heavens and 25 “And HWHY repays me according to my
wind. kind,
12 “And He put darkness around Him With the perfect one You show
as booths, Yourself perfect,
Darkness of waters, thick clouds. 27 “With the clean You show Yourself
13 “From the brightness before Him clean,
Coals of fire were kindled. And with the crooked You show
14 “HWHY thundered from the heavens, Yourself twisted.
And the Most High sent forth 28 “For You save the humble people,
righteousness; them,
According to the cleanness of my And I do not turn back till they are
hands He repaid me. destroyed.
22 “For I have guarded the ways of HWHY, 39 “And I destroy them and crush them,
And have not acted wrongly against So that they do not rise,
2 SHEMU’ÂL 22 342
As soon as they hear they obey me. Uses iron or the shaft of a spear,
46 “Sons of the foreigner fade away, And with fire they are burned up
And gird themselves from their in their place.”
strongholds. 8 These are the names of the mighty men
47 “HWHY lives! And blessed is my Rock! whom DawiÅ had: YoshÃÄ-BassheÄeth the
And exalted is my Elohim, TaÁkemonite, chief among the officers, he
The Rock of my deliverance, was AÅino the Etsnite, for eight hundred
48 “Âl who avenges me, slain at one time.
And bringing peoples down under me, 9 And after him was ElÈazar son of DoÅo,
49 “And bringing me out from my the AÁoÁite, one of the three mighty men
enemies; with DawiÅ when they taunted the
You raise me up above those rising up Philistines who were gathered there for bat-
against me; tle, and the men of Yisra’Ãl had gone up.
You deliver me from a man of 10 He arose and smote the Philistines until
Repha’im. Àushathite,
14 And DawiÅ was then in the stronghold, 28 Tsalmon the AÁoÁite, Maharai the
HWHY, to do this – the blood of the men who MaÈa¿athite, Eliyam son of AÁithophel the
went at the risk of their lives!” So he Gilonite,
would not drink it. This is what the three 35 Àetsrai the Karmelite, PaÈarai the
dred men whom he slew, and had a name Be’Ãrothite, armour-bearer of Yo’aÄ son of
among these three. Tseruyah,
19 Was he not the most esteemed of three? 38 Ira the Yithrite, GarÃÄ the Yithrite,
And he became their commander, but he 39 and Uriyah the Àittite – thirty-seven in
man. And the Mitsrite had a spear in his commander of the army who was with
hand, so he went down to him with a staff, him, “Go please, throughout all the tribes
wrested the spear out of the Mitsrite’s of Yisra’Ãl, from Dan to Be’ÃrsheÄa, and
hand, and slew him with his own spear. register the people, so that I know the
22 This is what Benayahu son of Yeho- number of the people.”
yaÅa did, and had a name among three 3 And Yo’aÄ said to the sovereign, “Even
camped in AroÈÃr, on the right side of the to the messenger who was destroying the
town which is in the midst of the wadi of people, “It is enough, now stop Your
GaÅ, and toward YaÈzÃr. hand.” And the messenger of HWHY was by
6 Then they came to GilÈaÅ and to the the threshing-floor of Arawnah the
land of TaÁtim ÀoÅshi, and they came to YeÄusite.
Dan YaÈan and around to TsiÅon. 17 And DawiÅ spoke to HWHY when he saw
7 And they came to the stronghold of
the messenger who was smiting the peo-
Tsor and to all the cities of the Àiwwites ple, and said, “See, I have sinned, and I
and the KenaÈanites, and went out to South have done perversely. But these sheep,
YehuÅah as far as Be’ÃrsheÄa. what have they done? Let Your hand, I
8 And when they had gone through all
pray, be against me and against my father’s
the land, they came to Yerushalayim at the house.”
end of nine months and twenty days. 18 And GaÅ came that day to DawiÅ and
9 And Yo’aÄ gave the number of the
said to him, “Go up, raise an altar to HWHY
registration of the people to the sovereign, on the threshing-floor of Arawnah the
and there were in Yisra’Ãl eight hundred YeÄusite.”
thousand brave men who drew the sword, 19 And DawiÅ, according to the word of
and the men of YehuÅah were five hundred
thousand men. GaÅ, went up as HWHY commanded.
10 And the heart of DawiÅ smote him after 20 And Arawnah looked and saw the
he had numbered the people. And DawiÅ sovereign and his servants coming toward
said to HWHY, “I have sinned greatly in what him. And Arawnah went out and bowed
I have done. But now, I pray, O HWHY, take before the sovereign with his face to the
away the crookedness of Your servant, for ground.
I have done very foolishly.” 21 And Arawnah said, “Why has my mas-
11 And DawiÅ rose up in the morning, and
ter the sovereign come to his servant?”
the word of HWHY came to the prophet GaÅ, And DawiÅ said, “To buy the threshing-
DawiÅ’s seer, saying, floor from you, to build an altar to HWHY, so
12 “Go, and you shall speak to DawiÅ,
that the plague be withdrawn from the
‘Thus said HWHY, “I hold three options people.”
before you. Choose one of them, and I do 22 And Arawnah said to DawiÅ, “Let my
it to you.” ’ ” master the sovereign take and offer that
13 GaÅ then came to DawiÅ and informed
which seems good to him. Here are cattle
him. And he said to him, “Should seven for burnt offering, and threshing imple-
years of scarcity of food come to you in ments and the yokes of the cattle for wood.
your land? Or would you flee three months 23 “All these, O sovereign, Arawnah has
before your enemies, while they pursue
you? Or should there be three days’ plague given to the sovereign.” And Arawnah said
in your land? Now know and see what to the sovereign, “HWHY your Elohim accept
answer I take back to Him who sent me.” you!”
14 And DawiÅ said to GaÅ, “I am in great 24 And the sovereign said to Arawnah,
trouble. Please let us fall into the hand of “No, let me buy it from you for a price, for
HWHY, for His compassion is great, but do certain. I am not offering burnt offerings to
not let me fall into the hand of man.” HWHY my Elohim without cost.” So DawiÅ
15 And HWHY sent a plague upon Yisra’Ãl bought the threshing-floor and the cattle
from the morning till the appointed time, for fifty sheqels of silver.
and from Dan to Be’ÃrsheÄa seventy thou- 25 And DawiÅ built an altar to HWHY there,
sand men of the people died. and offered burnt offerings and peace
16 And the messenger stretched out His offerings. And HWHY answered the prayers
hand over Yerushalayim to destroy it, and for the land, and the plague was withdrawn
HWHY relented concerning the evil, and said from Yisra’Ãl.
1 MELAËIM
1 KINGS
before the sovereign and be his compan- and say to him, ‘Did you not, my master, O
ion, and shall lie in your bosom, so that our sovereign, swear to your female servant,
master the sovereign gets warm.” saying, “Certainly, your son Shelomoh
3 And they sought for a lovely young shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my
woman in all the border of Yisra’Ãl, and throne”? Why then has AÅoniyahu become
found AÄishaÍ the Shunammite, and sovereign?’
brought her to the sovereign. 14 “Look, while you are still speaking
4 And the young woman was very lovely. there with the sovereign let me come in
And she was a companion for the sover- after you and confirm your words.”
eign, and served him, but the sovereign did 15 And BathsheÄa went into the room to
not know her. the sovereign. Now the sovereign was very
5 And AÅoniyah son of Àaggith exalted old, and AÄishaÍ the Shunammite was
himself, saying, “I reign.” And he prepared serving the sovereign.
for himself a chariot and horsemen, and 16 And BathsheÄa bowed and did obei-
fifty men to run before him. sance to the sovereign. And the sovereign
6 Now his father had not worried him at said, “What do you wish?”
any time by saying, “Why have you done 17 And she said to him, “My master, you
so?” He was also very good-looking. And swore by HWHY your Elohim to your female
he was born after AÄshalom. servant, saying, ‘Certainly, Shelomoh your
7 And he talked with Yo’aÄ son of son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on
Tseruyah and with EÄyathar the priest, and my throne.’
they supported AÅoniyah. 18 “And now, look! AÅoniyah has become
8 But TsaÅoq the priest, and Benayahu sovereign. And now, my master the sover-
son of YehoyaÅa, and Nathan the prophet, eign, you do not know about it.
and ShimÈi, and RÃÈi, and the mighty men 19 “And he has offered great numbers of
who belonged to DawiÅ were not with bulls and fatlings and sheep, and has
AÅoniyahu. invited all the sons of the sovereign, and
9 And AÅoniyahu offered sheep and EÄyathar the priest, and Yo’aÄ the com-
cattle and fatlings by the stone of ZoÁeleth, mander of the army, but he did not invite
which is by Ân RoÍÃl. He also invited all Shelomoh your servant.
his brothers, the sovereign’s sons, and all 20 “And you my master, O sovereign, the
the men of YehuÅah, servants of the eyes of all Yisra’Ãl are on you, to declare to
sovereign. them who is going to sit on the throne of
10 But he did not invite Nathan the my master the sovereign after him.
prophet, or Benayahu, or the mighty men, 21 “Otherwise it shall be, when my master
or Shelomoh his brother. the sovereign rests with his fathers, that I
11 Nathan then spoke to BathsheÄa the and my son Shelomoh shall be considered
mother of Shelomoh, saying, “Have you sinners.”
1 MELAËIM 1 346
22 And see, while she was still speaking my own mule, and take him down to
with the sovereign, Nathan the prophet GiÁon.
also came in. 34 “And there TsaÅoq the priest and
23 So they informed the sovereign, saying, Nathan the prophet shall anoint him sover-
“Here is Nathan the prophet.” And when eign over Yisra’Ãl. And blow the horn, and
he came in before the sovereign, he bowed say, ‘Let Sovereign Shelomoh live!’
down before the sovereign with his face to 35 “And you shall come up after him, and
the army, and EÄyathar the priest. And sovereign, so let Him be with Shelomoh
look! They are eating and drinking before and make his throne greater than the throne
him. And they say, ‘Let Sovereign of my master Sovereign DawiÅ.”
AÅoniyahu live!’ 38 Then TsaÅoq the priest, and Nathan the
26 “But he has not invited me, me your prophet, and Benayahu son of YehoyaÅa,
servant, nor TsaÅoq the priest, nor Bena- and the KerÃthites, and the PelÃthites went
yahu son of YehoyaÅa, nor your servant down and had Shelomoh ride on Sovereign
Shelomoh. DawiÅ’s mule, and took him to GiÁon.
27 “If this matter is from my master the 39 And TsaÅoq the priest took a horn of oil
sovereign, then you did not let your from the Tent and anointed Shelomoh. And
servant know who should sit on the throne they blew the horn, and all the people said,
of my master the sovereign after him.” “Let Sovereign Shelomoh live!”
28 And Sovereign DawiÅ answered and 40 And all the people came up after him.
said, “Call BathsheÄa to me.” So she came And the people played the flutes and
into the sovereign’s presence and stood rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth
before the sovereign. was split by their noise!
29 And the sovereign took an oath and 41 And AÅoniyahu and all the guests who
said, “As HWHY lives, who has redeemed were with him heard it as they had finished
my life out of all distress, eating. And Yo’aÄ heard the sound of the
30 even as I swore to you by HWHY Elohim horn, and said, “Why is the city in such a
of Yisra’Ãl, saying, ‘Certainly, Shelomoh noisy uproar?”
your son shall reign after me, and he shall 42 And he was still speaking, then see,
sit on my throne in my place,’ even so I do Yonathan came, son of EÄyathar the priest.
this day.” And AÅoniyahu said to him, “Come in, for
31 And BathsheÄa bowed with her face to you are a brave man, and you bring good
the earth, and did obeisance to the sover- news.”
eign, and said, “Let my master Sovereign 43 But Yonathan answered and said to
and Benayahu son of YehoyaÅa.” And they TsaÅoq the priest, and Nathan the prophet,
came before the sovereign. and Benayahu son of YehoyaÅa, and the
33 And the sovereign said to them, “Take KerÃthites, and the PelÃthites. And they
with you the servants of your master, and had him ride on the sovereign’s mule.
you shall have Shelomoh my son ride on 45 “And TsaÅoq the priest and Nathan the
347 1 MELAËIM 2
prophet have anointed him sovereign at 4 so that HWHY does establish His word
GiÁon. And they have gone up from there which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If
rejoicing, and the city is moved. This is the your sons guard their way, to walk before
noise you heard. Me in truth with all their heart and with all
46 “And further, Shelomoh sits on the
their being,’ saying, ‘there is not to cease a
throne of the reign. man of yours on the throne of Yisra’Ãl.’
47 “And further, the servants of the sover- 5 “And also, you know what Yo’aÄ son
eign have gone to bless our master of Tseruyah did to me, and what he did
Sovereign DawiÅ, saying, ‘Let your to the two commanders of the armies of
Elohim make the name of Shelomoh better Yisra’Ãl, to AÄnÃr son of NÃr and Amasa
than your name, and his throne greater son of Yether, that he slew them, and shed
than your throne.’ And the sovereign the blood of battle in peace, and put the
bowed himself on the bed. blood of battle on his belt that was around
48 “And the sovereign also said thus,
his waist, and on his sandals that were on
‘Blessed be HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, who his feet.
has given one to sit on my throne this day, 6 “So act according to your wisdom, and
while my eyes see it!’ ” do not let his grey hair go down to the
49 And all the guests who were invited by
grave in peace.
AÅoniyahu were afraid, and rose, and each 7 “But show kindness to the sons of
one went his way. Barzillai the GilÈaÅite, and let them be
50 And AÅoniyahu was afraid of Shelo-
among those who eat at your table, for so
moh, and rose, and went and took hold of they came to me when I fled from
the horns of the altar. AÄshalom your brother.
51 And it was reported to Shelomoh, 8 “And see, with you is ShimÈi son of
saying, “Look, AÅoniyahu is afraid of GÃra, the Binyamite from BaÁurim, who
Sovereign Shelomoh. And look, he has cursed me with a grievous cursing in the
taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, day when I went to MaÁanayim. But he
‘Let Sovereign Shelomoh swear to me came down to meet me at the YardÃn, and I
today that he does not put his servant to swore to him by HWHY, saying, ‘I shall not
death with the sword.’ ” put you to death with the sword.’
52 And Shelomoh said, “If he proves him- 9 “And now, do not leave him unpun-
self a worthy man, not one hair of him is ished, for you are a wise man and know
going to fall to the earth, but if evil is what you should do to him, and shall bring
found in him, then he shall die.” his grey hair down to the grave with
53 And Sovereign Shelomoh sent, and blood.”
they brought him down from the altar. 10 And DawiÅ slept with his fathers, and
And he came and fell down before was buried in the City of DawiÅ.
Sovereign Shelomoh. And Shelomoh said 11 And the days that DawiÅ reigned over
to him, “Go to your house.” Yisra’Ãl was forty years. He reigned seven
years in ÀeÄron, and in Yerushalayim he
2 And the days of DawiÅ drew near to
die, and he commanded Shelomoh
reigned thirty-three years.
12 And Shelomoh sat on the throne of his
his son, saying, father DawiÅ. And his reign was firmly
2 “I am going the way of all the earth. established.
And you shall be strong, and be a man. 13 And AÅoniyahu son of Àaggith came
3 “And guard the Charge of HWHY your to BathsheÄa the mother of Shelomoh, and
Elohim: to walk in His ways, to guard His she said, “Do you come in peace?” And he
laws, His commands, His right-rulings, said, “Peace.”
and His witnesses, as it is written in the 14 And he said, “I have a word for you,”
Torah of Mosheh, so that you do wisely all and she said, “Speak.”
that you do and wherever you turn; 15 And he said, “You know that the reign
1 MELAËIM 2 348
was mine, and all Yisra’Ãl had set their my father DawiÅ, and because you were
faces toward me, that I should reign. But afflicted in all my father was afflicted in.”
the reign has been turned around, and has 27 So Shelomoh dismissed EÄyathar from
become my brother’s, for it was his from being priest to HWHY, to fill the word of
HWHY. HWHY which He spoke concerning the house
16 “And now, I am making one request of of Âli at Shiloh.
you, do not refuse me.” And she said to 28 And news came to Yo’aÄ, for Yo’aÄ
bowed down to her, and sat down on his and said to him, “Thus said the sovereign,
throne and had a throne set for the sover- ‘Come out!’ ” And he said, “No, for here I
eign’s mother. So she sat at his right hand. die.” And Benayahu brought back word to
20 And she said, “I am making one small the sovereign, saying, “Thus said Yo’aÄ,
request of you, do not refuse me.” And the and thus he answered me.”
sovereign said to her, “Ask it, my mother, 31 And the sovereign said to him, “Do as
for I do not refuse you.” he has said, and fall upon him. And you
21 Then she said, “Let AÄishaÍ the shall bury him, so that you take away from
Shunammite be given to AÅoniyahu your me and from the house of my father the
brother as wife.” blood which Yo’aÄ shed without cause.
22 And Sovereign Shelomoh answered 32 “Thus HWHY shall return his blood on his
and said to his mother, “Now why do you head, because he had fallen on two men
ask AÄishaÍ the Shunammite for AÅoni- more righteous and better than he, and
yahu? Ask for him the reign also – for he is slew them with the sword, while my father
my older brother – for him, and for DawiÅ did not know it: AÄnÃr son of NÃr,
EÄyathar the priest, and for Yo’aÄ son of commander of the army of Yisra’Ãl, and
Tseruyah.” Amasa son of Yether, commander of the
23 And Sovereign Shelomoh swore by army of YehuÅah.
HWHY, saying, “Elohim does so to me, and 33 “So shall their blood return upon the
more also, if AÅoniyahu has not spoken head of Yo’aÄ and upon the head of his
this word against his own life! seed forever. But upon DawiÅ and his seed,
24 “And now, as HWHY lives, who estab- upon his house and his throne, there is to
lished me and set me on the throne of be peace forever from HWHY.”
DawiÅ my father, and who has made me a 34 Then Benayahu son of YehoyaÅa went
house, as He promised, AÅoniyahu shall be up and fell upon him and put him to death.
put to death today!” And he was buried in his own house in the
25 And Sovereign Shelomoh sent by the wilderness.
hand of Benayahu son of YehoyaÅa, and he 35 And the sovereign put Benayahu son of
fell upon him, and he died. YehoyaÅa in his place over the army, and
26 Then the sovereign said to EÄyathar the the sovereign put TsaÅoq the priest in the
priest, “Go to Anathoth, to your own place of EÄyathar.
fields, for you deserve death. But I do not 36 And the sovereign sent and called for
put you to death at this time, because you ShimÈi, and said to him, “Build yourself a
did bear the ark of the Master HWHY before house in Yerushalayim and dwell there,
349 1 MELAËIM 3
and do not go out from there anywhere. 2 Only, the people slaughtered at the high
37 “And it shall be, on the day you go out places, for a house for the Name of HWHY
and pass over the wadi QiÅron, know for had not been built until those days.
certain that you shall die – your blood is on 3 And Shelomoh loved HWHY, walking
your own head.” in the laws of his father DawiÅ, except that
38 And ShimÈi said to the sovereign, “The he slaughtered and burned incense at the
word is good. As my master the sovereign high places.
has said, so your servant does.” So ShimÈi 4 And the sovereign went to GibÈon to
dwelt in Yerushalayim many days. slaughter there, for that was the great high
39 And it came to be at the end of three place. Shelomoh offered a thousand burnt
years, that two slaves of ShimÈi fled to offerings on that altar.
A¿ish son of MaÈa¿ah, sovereign of Gath. 5 At GibÈon HWHY appeared to Shelomoh
And they informed ShimÈi, saying, “See, in a dream by night, and Elohim said, “Ask
your slaves are in Gath!” what I should give you.”
40 And ShimÈi rose up, and saddled his 6 And Shelomoh said, “You have shown
donkey, and went to A¿ish at Gath to look great kindness to your servant DawiÅ my
for his slaves. And ShimÈi went and father, as he walked before You in truth,
brought his slaves from Gath. and in righteousness, and in uprightness
41 And Shelomoh was told that ShimÈi had of heart with You. And You have guarded
gone from Yerushalayim to Gath and had for him this great kindness, and did give
come back. him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this
42 So the sovereign sent and called for day.
ShimÈi, and said to him, “Did I not make 7 “And now, O HWHY my Elohim, You
you swear by HWHY, and warn you, saying, have set up Your servant to reign instead of
‘Know for certain that on the day you my father DawiÅ. But I am a little child, I
leave to go anywhere, you shall certainly do not know how to go out or to come in.
die’? And you said to me, ‘The word I 8 “And Your servant is in the midst of
and the throne of DawiÅ is established have asked this, and have not asked long
before HWHY forever.” life for yourself, nor have asked riches for
46 So the sovereign ordered Benayahu son yourself, nor have asked the life of your
of YehoyaÅa, and he went out and fell on enemies, but have asked for yourself
him, and he died. And the reign was estab- discernment to understand right-ruling,
lished in the hand of Shelomoh. 12 see, I shall do according to your words.
had completed building his own house, have not asked: both riches and esteem, so
and the House of HWHY, and the wall all that there shall not be anyone like you
around Yerushalayim. among the sovereigns all your days.
1 MELAËIM 3 350
14 “And if you walk in My ways, to guard come with compassion for her son. And
My laws and My commands, as your she said, “O my master, give her the living
father DawiÅ walked, then I shall prolong child, and by no means kill him!” But the
your days.” other said, “Let him be neither mine nor
15 And Shelomoh awoke, and see, it was a yours, but divide him.”
dream! And he came into Yerushalayim 27 And the sovereign answered and said,
and stood before the ark of the covenant of “Give the first woman the living child, and
HWHY, and offered up burnt offerings and by no means kill him – she is his mother.”
made peace offerings. And he made a feast 28 And all Yisra’Ãl heard of the right-
for all his servants. ruling which the sovereign had rendered.
16 Then two women, whores, came to the And they feared the sovereign, for they
sovereign, and stood before him. saw that the wisdom of Elohim was in him
17 And one woman said, “O my master, to do right-ruling.
this woman and I dwell in the same house.
And I gave birth while she was in the
house. 4 And it came to be that Sovereign
Shelomoh was sovereign over all
18 “And it came to be, the third day after I Yisra’Ãl.
had given birth, that this woman also gave 2 And these were his chief officials:
birth. And we were together. There was no Azaryahu son of TsaÅoq, the priest;
one else with us in the house, only the two 3 EliÁoreph and AÁiyah, sons of Shisha,
her bosom, and laid her dead child in my officers; ZaÄuÅ son of Nathan, a priest,
bosom. friend of the sovereign;
21 “And I rose up in the morning to nurse 6 and AÁishar, over the household; and
my son and saw he was dead. But I looked AÅoniram son of AÄda, over the compul-
at him closely in the morning, and saw he sory labour.
was not my son whom I had borne.” 7 And Shelomoh had twelve governors
22 And the other woman said, “No! But over all Yisra’Ãl, who provided food for
the living one is my son, and the dead one the sovereign and his household – each one
is your son.” And the first woman said, made provision for one month of the year –
“No! For the dead one is your son, and the 8 and these were their names: Ben-Àur,
For your son is the dead one, and my son is the land of ÀÃpher were his;
the living one.’ ” 11 Ben-AÄinaÅaÄ, all the height of Dor,
24 And the sovereign said, “Bring me a Taphath the daughter of Shelomoh became
sword.” So they brought a sword before his wife;
the sovereign. 12 BaÈana son of AÁiluÅ, in TaÈana¿ and
25 And the sovereign said, “Divide the MeÍiddo, and all BÃyth She’an, which is
living child in two, and give half to one, beside Tsarethan below YizreÈÃl, from
and half to the other.” BÃyth She’an to AÄÃl MeÁolah, as far as
26 And the woman whose son was living the other side of YoqneÈam;
spoke to the sovereign, for she was over- 13 Ben-GeÄer, in Ramoth GilÈaÅ, the
351 1 MELAËIM 5
towns of Ya’ir son of Menashsheh in steeds, each one according to his right-
GilÈaÅ were his; the portion of ArgoÄ in ruling.
Bashan, sixty large cities with walls and 29 And Elohim gave Shelomoh exceeding
Amorites and of OÍ sovereign of Bashan, and his songs were one thousand and five.
and one governor was in the land. 33 And he spoke of trees, from the cedar
20 YehuÅah and Yisra’Ãl were as numer- tree of LeÄanon even to the hyssop that
ous as the sand by the sea, eating and springs out of the wall. And he spoke
drinking and rejoicing. of beasts, and of birds, and of creeping
21 And Shelomoh was ruling over all creatures, and of fish.
reigns from the River to the land of the 34 And there came from all peoples, from
Philistines, as far as the border of Mits- all the sovereigns of the earth who had
rayim. They did taskwork and served heard of his wisdom, to hear the wisdom of
Shelomoh all the days of his life. Shelomoh.
22 And Shelomoh’s food supply for one
of the River from TiphsaÁ even to Azzah, unable to build a house for the Name of
over all the sovereigns on this side of the HWHY his Elohim because of the battles
River. And he had peace on all sides round which were all around him, until HWHY put
about him. them under the soles of his feet.
25 And YehuÅah and Yisra’Ãl dwelt safely, 4 “But now HWHY my Elohim has given
each man under his vine and his fig tree, me rest all around, there is neither
from Dan as far as Be’ÃrsheÄa, all the days adversary nor evil incident.
of Shelomoh. 5 “And see, I intend to build a house for
26 And Shelomoh had forty thousand the Name of HWHY my Elohim, as HWHY
stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve spoke to my father DawiÅ, saying, ‘Your
thousand horsemen. son, whom I set on your throne in your
27 And these governors, each one in his place, he does build the house for My
month, provided food for Sovereign Name.’
Shelomoh and for all who came to the 6 “And now, command that they cut
table of Sovereign Shelomoh. There was down cedars for me from LeÄanon. And let
no lack in their supply. my servants be with your servants, and let
28 They also brought barley and straw to me pay you wages for your servants
the appointed place, for the horses and according to whatever you say. For you
1 MELAËIM 5 352
the words of Shelomoh, that he rejoiced 6 And it came to be, in the four hundred
and eightieth year after the children of
greatly and said, “Blessed be HWHY this day, Yisra’Ãl had come out of the land of
for He has given DawiÅ a wise son over Mitsrayim, in the fourth year of the reign
this great people!” of Shelomoh over Yisra’Ãl, in the month of
8 And Àiram sent to Shelomoh, saying, Ziw, which is the second month, that he
“I have heard that which you sent me. Let began to build the House of HWHY.
me do all you desire concerning the cedar 2 And the house which Sovereign
and cypress logs. Shelomoh built for HWHY was sixty cubits
9 “Let my servants bring them down long, and twenty wide, and thirty cubits
from LeÄanon to the sea, then I put them in high.
rafts by sea to the place you direct me. And 3 And the porch at the front of the hÿal
I shall spread them out there, then you take of the House was twenty cubits long,
them up, while you do my desire by giving according to the breadth of the House, and
food for my household.” its width ten cubits, from the front of the
10 And Àiram gave Shelomoh cedar and House.
cypress logs – all his desire. 4 And he made for the House windows
11 And Shelomoh gave Àiram twenty with narrowed frames.
thousand kors of wheat as food for his 5 And against the wall of the House he
household, and twenty kors of pressed oil. built rooms all around, against the walls of
Thus Shelomoh gave to Àiram year by the House, all around the hÿal and the
year. Speaking Place. Thus he made side rooms
12 And HWHY gave Shelomoh wisdom, as all around.
He promised him. And there was peace 6 The lowest side room was five cubits
between Àiram and Shelomoh, and the two wide, and the middle one was six cubits
of them made a covenant. wide, and the third one was seven cubits
13 And Sovereign Shelomoh raised up wide; for he made narrow ledges around
compulsory labour out of all Yisra’Ãl. And the outside of the House, so as not to lay
the compulsory labour was thirty thousand hold on the walls of the House.
men. 7 And the House, when it was being
14 And he sent them to LeÄanon, ten thou- built, was built with finished stone made
sand a month by courses – they were one ready beforehand, so that no hammer or
month in LeÄanon, two months at home. chisel or any iron tool was heard in the
And AÅoniram was over the compulsory House while it was being built.
labour. 8 The doorway for the middle side room
15 And Shelomoh had seventy thousand was on the right side of the House. And
bearing burdens, and eighty thousand they went up by stairs to the middle side
hewing stone in the mountains, rooms, and from the middle to the third.
16 besides three thousand three hundred 9 So he built the House and completed it,
from the chiefs of Shelomoh’s deputies and he panelled the House with beams and
who were over the work, those ruling over boards of cedar.
the people who laboured in the work. 10 And he built the side rooms of the
17 And the sovereign commanded, and structure against all the House, each five
they brought large stones, precious stones, cubits high, and they were fastened to the
to lay the foundation of the House with House with cedar beams.
hewn stones. 11 And the word of HWHY came to
18 And Shelomoh’s builders, and Àiram’s Shelomoh, saying,
builders, and the men of GeÄal did hew, 12 “This House which you are building –
and prepared timber and stones to build the if you walk in My laws, and do My right-
353 1 MELAËIM 7
rulings, and shall guard all My commands and so was the other keruÄ.
and walk in them, then I shall confirm My 27 And he placed the keruÄim in the midst
word with you, which I spoke to your of the inner house. And they stretched out
father DawiÅ, the wings of the keruÄim so that the wing
13 and shall dwell in the midst of the chil- of the one touched one wall, and the wing
dren of Yisra’Ãl, and not forsake My peo- of the other keruÄ touched the other wall.
ple Yisra’Ãl.” And their wings touched each other in the
14 So Shelomoh built the House and com- middle of the room.
pleted it. 28 And he overlaid the keruÄim with gold.
15 And he built the walls of the House 29 And he carved all the walls of the
inside with cedar boards, from the floor of House all around, both inside and outside,
the House to the ceiling he panelled them with carved figures of keruÄim, and palm
on the inside with wood, and covered the trees, and open flowers.
floor of the House with planks of cypress. 30 And he overlaid the floor of the House
16 And he built twenty cubits at the rear of with gold, inside and outside.
the House, from floor to the walls, with 31 And for the entrance of the Speaking
cedar boards. And he built it inside as the Place he made doors of olive wood: the
Speaking Place, as the Most Set-apart lintel, doorposts, a fifth.
Place. 32 And the two doors were of olive wood.
17 And the House was forty cubits, it is And he carved on them figures of keruÄim,
the hÿal before it. and palm trees, and open flowers, and
18 And the cedar for the House inside was overlaid them with gold. And he spread
carved with ornaments and open flowers; the gold on the keruÄim and on the palm
all was cedar, not a stone was seen. trees.
19 And he prepared the Speaking Place in 33 And so he made doorposts for the door
the midst of the House, to place the ark of of the hÿal of olive wood – a fourth part.
the covenant of HWHY there. 34 And the two doors were of cypress
20 And the front of the Speaking Place wood, the two leaves of the one folded,
was twenty cubits long, and twenty cubits and two leaves of the other door folded.
wide, and twenty cubits high. And he 35 And he carved keruÄim, and palm trees,
overlaid it with refined gold, and overlaid and open flowers, and overlaid them with
the altar of cedar. gold laid smoothly on the carved work.
21 And Shelomoh overlaid the inside of 36 And he built the inner courtyard with
the House with refined gold, and made three rows of hewn stone and a row of
gold chains pass over the front of the cedar beams.
Speaking Place, and overlaid it with gold. 37 In the fourth year the foundation of the
22 Thus he overlaid the entire House with House of HWHY was laid, in the month Ziw.
gold, until the entire House was complet- 38 And in the eleventh year, in the month
ed. And the entire altar that was by the Bul, the eighth month, the house was com-
Speaking Place he overlaid with gold. pleted in all its matters and according to all
23 And inside the Speaking Place he made its plans. Thus he built it for seven years.
two keruÄim of olive wood, ten cubits
high.
24 And one wing of the keruÄ was five 7 And Shelomoh built his own house
for thirteen years, and he completed
cubits, and the other wing of the keruÄ five his entire house.
cubits – ten cubits from the tip of one wing 2 And he built the house of the forest of
to the tip of the other. LeÄanon. It was one hundred cubits long,
25 And the other keruÄ was ten cubits. and fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits
Both keruÄim were of the same size and high, with four rows of cedar columns, and
shape. cedar beams on the columns.
26 The height of one keruÄ was ten cubits, 3 And it was panelled with cedar above
1 MELAËIM 7 354
the beams that were on forty-five columns, the height of one capital was five cubits,
fifteen to a row. and the height of the other capital was five
4 And there were windows with nar- cubits –
rowed frames in three rows, and window 17 a lattice network, with wreaths of
was opposite window, three times. chainwork, for the capitals which were on
5 And all the doorways and doorposts top of the columns, seven chains for one
had square frames. And window was capital and seven for the other capital.
opposite window, three times. 18 And he made the columns, and two
6 And he made the porch of the columns, rows of pomegranates above the network
fifty cubits long and thirty cubits wide. all around to cover the capitals that were
And the porch was in front of them, and on top, and so he did for the other capital.
the columns and the roof was in front of 19 And the capitals that were on top of the
it was panelled with cedar from floor to the two columns, by the bulge which was
floor. next to the network. And the pomegranates
8 And the house where he was to dwell, were two hundred, in rows on each of the
in the other courtyard, within the hall was capitals all around.
of like workmanship. And Shelomoh made 21 And he set up the columns by the porch
a house like this hall for Pharaoh’s daugh- of the hÿal. And he set up the column on
ter, whom he had taken. the right and called its name Ya¿in, and he
9 All these were of precious stone hewn set up the column on the left and called its
to size, sawed with a saw, inside and out, name BoÈaz.
from the foundation to the coping, and also 22 And on the top of the columns was lily
on the outside to the great courtyard. work. Thus the work of the columns was
10 And the foundation was of precious completed.
stone, large stones, stones of ten cubits and 23 And he made the Sea of cast metal, ten
stones of eight cubits. cubits from one rim to the other, round all
11 And above were precious stones, hewn about, and five cubits high, and a line of
to size, and cedar wood. thirty cubits measured around it.
12 So the great courtyard all around had 24 And below its rim were ornaments all
three rows of hewn stones and a row of around, ten to a cubit, all the way around
cedar beams, as was the inner courtyard of the Sea. The ornaments were cast in two
the House of HWHY and the porch of the rows when it was cast.
House. 25 It stood on twelve oxen, three facing
13 And Sovereign Shelomoh sent and north, and three facing west, and three
brought Àiram from Tsor. facing south, and three facing east. And
14 He was the son of a widow from the the Sea was set upon them, and all their
tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man back parts were inward.
of Tsor, a bronze worker. And he was filled 26 And it was a handbreadth thick, and its
with wisdom and understanding and skill rim was shaped like the rim of a cup, like a
in working with all kinds of bronze work. lily blossom. It held two thousand baths.
So he came to Sovereign Shelomoh and 27 And he made ten stands of bronze, each
did all his work. stand was four cubits long, and four cubits
15 And he cast two columns of bronze, wide, and three cubits high.
each one eighteen cubits high, and a line of 28 And this is how the stands were made:
twelve cubits measured the circumference They had side panels, and the side panels
of each. were between frames,
16 And he made two capitals of cast 29 and on the side panels that were
bronze, to put on the tops of the columns – between the frames were lions, oxen, and
355 1 MELAËIM 8
were engravings, but the side panels were bowls. And all these utensils which Àiram
square, not round. made for Sovereign Shelomoh for the
32 And the four wheels were under the House of HWHY were of polished bronze.
side panels, and the axles of the wheels 46 The sovereign had them cast in clay in
were joined to the stand, and the height of the district of YardÃn between Sukkoth and
a wheel was one and a half cubits. Tsarethan.
33 And the wheels were made like chariot 47 And Shelomoh left all the utensils
wheels. Their axle pins, and their rims, and unweighed, because they were many, nor
their spokes, and their hubs were all cast. was the weight of the bronze searched out.
34 And there were four supports at the 48 So Shelomoh made all the utensils for
four corners of each stand, its supports the House of HWHY: the altar of gold, and
were of the stand itself. the table of gold on which was the
35 And on the top of the stand, half a cubit showbread;
in height – round all around. And on the 49 and the lampstands of refined gold, five
top of the stand, its flanges and its side on the right side and five on the left in
panels were of the same. front of the Speaking Place, with the flow-
36 And on the plates of its flanges and on ers and the lamps and the snuffers of gold;
its side panels he engraved keruÄim, lions, 50 and the basins, and the snuffers, and the
and palm trees, according to the clear bowls, and the ladles, and the fire holders
space on each, with wreaths all around. of refined gold, and the hinges of gold,
37 He made the ten stands like this: all of both for the doors of the inner house, the
them were of one mould, one measure, and Most Set-apart Place, and for the doors of
one shape. the house of the Hÿal.
38 And he made ten basins of bronze; each 51 Thus all the work which Sovereign
basin contained forty baths, and each basin Shelomoh had done for the House of HWHY
was four cubits, one basin on each of the was completed. And Shelomoh brought in
ten stands. the set-apart items of his father DawiÅ: the
39 And he put five stands on the right side silver and the gold and the utensils, and
of the house, and five on the left side of the he put them in the treasuries of the House
house, and he put the Sea on the right side of HWHY.
of the house to the east, facing the south.
40 And Àiram made the pots and the shov-
els and the bowls. And Àiram completed 8 Then Shelomoh assembled the elders
of Yisra’Ãl and all the heads of the
doing all the work that he was to do for tribes, the chief fathers of the children of
Sovereign Shelomoh on the House of Yisra’Ãl, to Sovereign Shelomoh in Yeru-
HWHY: shalayim, to bring up the ark of the
41 the two columns, and the bowl-shaped covenant of HWHY from the City of DawiÅ,
capitals that were on top of the columns, which is Tsiyon.
and the two networks covering the two 2 And all the men of Yisra’Ãl assembled
ark, slaughtering so many sheep and cattle, ‘Because it has been in your heart to build
that they could not be counted or num- a house for My Name, you did well that it
bered. was in your heart.
6 And the priests brought in the ark of the 19 ‘Only, you do not build the house, but
covenant of HWHY to its place, into the your son, who is coming from your loins,
Speaking Place of the House, to the Most he does build the house for My Name.’
Set-apart Place, under the wings of the 20 “Now HWHY has established His word
place, in front of the Speaking Place, but ark, wherein is the covenant of HWHY which
they were not seen from outside. And they He made with our fathers, when He
are there to this day. brought them out of the land of Mits-
9 There was naught in the ark, only the rayim.”
two tablets of stone which Mosheh put 22 And Shelomoh stood before the altar of
there at ÀorÃÄ, where HWHY made a HWHY in front of all the assembly of
covenant with the children of Yisra’Ãl, Yisra’Ãl, and spread out his hands toward
when they came out of the land of Mits- the heavens,
rayim. 23 and said, “HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl,
10 And it came to be, when the priests there is no Elohim in the heavens above or
came out of the Set-apart Place, that the on earth below like You, guarding Your
cloud filled the House of HWHY, covenant and kindness with Your servants
11 so that the priests were unable to stand who walk before You with all their heart,
and perform the service because of the 24 who has guarded that which You did
cloud, for the esteem of HWHY filled the promise Your servant DawiÅ my father.
House of HWHY. Indeed, You have both spoken with Your
12 And Shelomoh said, “HWHY has said He mouth and have filled it with Your hand, as
would dwell in the dark cloud. it is this day.
13 I have indeed built You an exalted 25 “And now, HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl,
house, an established place for You to guard what You promised Your servant
dwell in forever.” DawiÅ my father, saying, ‘There is not to
14 And the sovereign turned around and cease a man of yours before Me, sitting on
blessed all the assembly of Yisra’Ãl, while the throne of Yisra’Ãl – only, if your sons
all the assembly of Yisra’Ãl was standing. guard their way, to walk before Me as you
15 And he said, “Blessed be HWHY Elohim have walked before Me.’
of Yisra’Ãl, who spoke with His mouth to 26 “And now, O Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, please
my father DawiÅ, and with His hand has let Your word come true which You have
357 1 MELAËIM 8
earth? See, the heavens and the heavens of land; when there is pestilence, blight,
the heavens are unable to contain You, mildew, locusts, grasshoppers; when their
how much less this House which I have enemy distresses them in the land of their
built! cities; any plague, any sickness,
28 “Yet, shall You turn to the prayer of 38 whatever prayer, whatever supplication
Your servant and his supplication, O HWHY made by anyone of all Your people
my Elohim, and listen to the cry and the Yisra’Ãl, each knowing the plague of his
prayer which Your servant is praying own heart, and shall spread out his hands
before You today? toward this House,
29 “For Your eyes to be open toward this 39 then hear in the heavens, Your dwel-
House night and day, toward the place of ling place, and forgive, and act, and render
which You said, ‘My Name is there,’ to lis- unto everyone according to all his ways,
ten to the prayer which Your servant makes whose heart You know. Because You –
toward this place. You alone – know the hearts of all the sons
30 “Then, shall You hear the supplication of men,
of Your servant and of Your people 40 so that they fear You all the days that
Yisra’Ãl when they pray toward this place, they live in the land which You gave to our
when You hear in Your dwelling place, in fathers.
the heavens? And shall You hear, and 41 “Also, concerning a foreigner, who is
cause him to swear, and comes and swears Your strong hand and Your outstretched
before Your altar in this House, arm – and he shall come and pray toward
32 then hear in the heavens, and act and this House,
rightly rule Your servants, declaring the 43 hear in the heavens Your dwelling
wrongdoer wrong, bringing his way on his place, and do according to all for which the
head, and declaring the righteous right by foreigner calls to You, so that all peoples
giving him according to his righteousness. of the earth know Your Name and fear
33 “When Your people Yisra’Ãl are You, as do Your people Yisra’Ãl, and know
smitten before an enemy, because they that this House which I have built is called
have sinned against You, and they shall by Your Name.
turn back to You and confess Your Name, 44 “When Your people go out to battle
and pray and make supplication to You against their enemy, in the way that You
in this House, send them, and they shall pray to HWHY
34 then hear in the heavens, and forgive toward the city which You have chosen
the sin of Your people Yisra’Ãl, and bring and toward the House which I have built
them back to the land which You gave to for Your Name,
their fathers. 45 then shall You hear in the heavens their
35 “When the heavens are shut up and prayer and their supplication, and maintain
there is no rain because they sin against their cause?
You, when they pray toward this place and 46 “When they sin against You – for there
confess Your Name, and turn from their sin is no one who does not sin – and You
because You afflict them, become enraged with them and give them
36 then hear in the heavens, and forgive to the enemy, and they take them captive to
the sin of Your servants, Your people the land of the enemy, far or near;
Yisra’Ãl – for You teach them the good 47 and they shall turn back unto their heart
way in which they should walk – and shall in the land where they have been taken
give rain on Your land which You have captive, and shall turn, and make supplica-
1 MELAËIM 8 358
tion to You in the land of those who took 58 to incline our hearts to Himself, to walk
them captive, saying, ‘We have sinned and in all His ways, and to guard His com-
acted crookedly, we have committed mands and His laws and His right-
wrong,’ rulings, which He commanded our fathers.
48 and they shall turn back to You with all 59 “And let these words of mine, with
their heart and with all their being in the which I have made supplication before
land of their enemies who led them away HWHY, be near HWHY our Elohim day and
captive, and shall pray to You toward their night, to maintain the cause of His servant
land which You gave to their fathers, the and the cause of His people Yisra’Ãl, the
city which You have chosen and the House matter of each day in its day,
which I have built for Your Name, 60 so that all the peoples of the earth might
49 then shall You hear in the heavens Your know that HWHY is Elohim, there is no one
dwelling place their prayer and their sup- else.
plication, and maintain their cause, 61 “Let your heart therefore be perfect to
50 and forgive Your people who have HWHY our Elohim, to walk in His laws and
sinned against You, and all their transgres- guard His commands, as at this day.”
sions which they have transgressed against 62 And the sovereign and all Yisra’Ãl with
You? And give them compassion before him made slaughterings before HWHY.
those who took them captive, and they 63 And Shelomoh brought peace offer-
Your people Yisra’Ãl, to listen to them middle of the courtyard that was in front of
whenever they call to You. the House of HWHY, for there he made burnt
53 “For You have separated them unto offerings, and the grain offerings, and the
Yourself for an inheritance, out of all the fat of the peace offerings, because the
peoples of the earth, as You spoke by the bronze altar that was before HWHY was too
hand of Your servant Mosheh, when You small to contain the burnt offerings, and
brought our fathers out of Mitsrayim, O the grain offerings, and the fat of the peace
Master HWHY.” offerings.
54 And it came to be, when Shelomoh had 65 And Shelomoh at that time observed
ended praying all this prayer and supplica- the Festival, and all Yisra’Ãl with him, a
tion to HWHY, that he rose up from before great assembly from the entrance of
the altar of HWHY, from kneeling on his Àamath to the wadi of Mitsrayim, before
knees with his hands spread up to the HWHY our Elohim, seven days and seven
heavens. days – fourteen days. a
55 And he stood and blessed all the assem- 66 On the eighth day he sent the people
bly of Yisra’Ãl with a loud voice, saying, away. And they blessed the sovereign, and
56 “Blessed be HWHY, who has given rest to went to their tents rejoicing and glad of
His people Yisra’Ãl, according to all that heart for all the goodness that HWHY had
He promised. There has not failed one done for His servant DawiÅ, and for
word of all His good word, which He Yisra’Ãl His people.
promised through His servant Mosheh.
57 “HWHY our Elohim is with us as He was
with our fathers – He does not leave us nor 9 And it came to be, when Shelomoh
had finished building the House of
forsake us – HWHY and the house of the sovereign, and
a It seems that the first seven were the Festival of Dedication, and the last seven the Festival of Booths.
359 1 MELAËIM 9
all the desire of Shelomoh which he was Sovereign Shelomoh gave Àiram twenty
pleased to do, cities in the land of Galil.
2 that HWHY appeared to Shelomoh the 12 And Àiram came from Tsor to see the
second time, as He had appeared to him cities which Shelomoh had given him, but
at GibÈon. they were not right in his eyes,
3 And HWHY said to him, “I have heard 13 and he said, “What are these cities you
your prayer and your supplication that you have given me, my brother?” And he
have made before Me. I have set this house called them the land of KaÄul, as they are
apart which you have built to put My to this day.
Name there forever, and My eyes and My 14 And Àiram sent the sovereign one hun-
your father DawiÅ walked, in integrity of sory labour which Sovereign Shelomoh
heart and in uprightness, to do according to raised, to build the House of HWHY, and his
all that I have commanded you, if you own house, and Millo, and the wall of
guard My laws and My right-rulings, Yerushalayim, and Àatsor, and MeÍiddo,
5 then I shall establish the throne of your and Gezer –
reign over Yisra’Ãl forever, as I promised 16 Pharaoh sovereign of Mitsrayim had
DawiÅ your father, saying, ‘There is not to gone up and taken Gezer and burned it
cease a man of yours on the throne of with fire, and had slain the KenaÈanites
Yisra’Ãl.’ who dwelt in the city, and had given it as a
6 “If you at all turn back, you or your payment for the bride to his daughter,
sons, from following Me, and do not guard Shelomoh’s wife –
My commands, My laws, which I have set 17 and Shelomoh built Gezer, and Lower
and send away from My presence this had, and cities for his chariots and cities
house which I have set apart for My Name. for his cavalry, and whatever Shelomoh
And Yisra’Ãl shall be a proverb and a desired to build in Yerushalayim, and in
mockery among all the peoples. LeÄanon, and in all the land of his rule.
8 “And this house, which has been exalt- 20 All the people who were left of the
ed, everyone who passes by it shall be Amorites, the Àittites, the Perizzites, the
astonished, and hiss, and say, ‘Why has Àiwwites, and the YeÄusites, who were not
HWHY done thus to this land and to this of the children of Yisra’Ãl –
house?’ 21 their descendants who were left in
9 “Then they shall say, ‘Because they the land after them, whom the children of
have forsaken HWHY their Elohim, who Yisra’Ãl had not been able to destroy com-
brought their fathers out of the land of pletely – from these Shelomoh raised com-
Mitsrayim, and they embraced other pulsory labour, as it is to this day.
mighty ones, and bowed themselves to 22 But Shelomoh did not make slaves of
them and served them. That is why HWHY the children of Yisra’Ãl, because they were
has brought all this evil on them.’ ” men of battle, and his servants, and his
10 And it came to be, at the end of twenty rulers, and his officers, and commanders of
years, that Shelomoh had built the two his chariots, and his cavalry.
houses, the House of HWHY and the house of 23 These were the chiefs of the officials
from the City of DawiÅ to her house that 8 “Blessed are your men and blessed are
he built for her. Then he built Millo. these your servants, who stand continually
25 And three times a year Shelomoh before you, who are hearing your wisdom!
brought burnt offerings and peace offer- 9 “Blessed be HWHY your Elohim, who
ings on the altar which he had built for delighted in you, to put you on the throne
HWHY, and he burned incense with that of Yisra’Ãl! Because HWHY has loved
which was before HWHY – thus gave com- Yisra’Ãl forever, therefore He made you
pleteness to the House. sovereign, to do right-ruling and righteous-
26 And Sovereign Shelomoh built a fleet ness.”
of ships at Etsyon GeÄer, which is near 10 And she gave the sovereign one hun-
Âyloth on the shore of the Sea of Reeds, dred and twenty talents of gold, and very
in the land of EÅom. many spices, and precious stones. Never
27 And Àiram sent his servants with the again did so many spices come as the
fleet, seamen who knew the sea, to work sovereigness of SheÄa gave to Sovereign
with the servants of Shelomoh. Shelomoh.
28 And they went to Ophir, and took four 11 And also, the ships of Àiram, which
hundred and twenty talents of gold from brought gold from Ophir, brought almug
there, and brought it to Sovereign wood, a great many, and precious stones
Shelomoh. from Ophir.
12 And the sovereign made steps of the
very great company, with camels that bore sovereigness of SheÄa all she desired,
spices, very much gold, and precious whatever she asked, besides what he gave
stones. And she came to Shelomoh, and her according to the hand of Sovereign
she spoke with him about all that was in Shelomoh. And she turned and went to her
her heart. land, she and her servants.
3 And Shelomoh answered all her ques- 14 And the weight of gold that came to
tions. There was no matter hidden for the Shelomoh yearly was six hundred and
sovereign that he did not make known to sixty-six talents of gold,
her. 15 besides that from men of travel, and the
4 And the sovereigness of SheÄa saw all profit from traders, and from all the
the wisdom of Shelomoh, and the house sovereigns of AraÄia, and from the gover-
that he had built, nors of the land.
5 and the food on his table, and the seat- 16 And Sovereign Shelomoh made two
ing of his servants, and the service of his hundred large shields of beaten gold – six
waiters and their attire, and his cupbearers, hundred pieces of gold went into each
and his burnt offerings which he offered in shield;
the House of HWHY, and there was no more 17 and three hundred shields of beaten
I have not been told the half! Your wisdom the throne was round at the back, and there
and prosperity exceed the report which I were armrests on either side of the place of
heard. the seat, and two lions stood beside the
361 1 MELAËIM 11
the sovereigns of Aram. the sake of your father DawiÅ. Out of the
hand of your son I shall tear it.
11 And Sovereign Shelomoh loved
many foreign women in addition to
13 “Only, I shall not tear away all the reign
he had smitten every male in EÅom – hand against the sovereign: Shelomoh had
16 Yo’aÄ remained there with all Yisra’Ãl built Millo, repairing the breaks in the City
for six months, until every male in EÅom of DawiÅ his father.
was cut off – 28 And the man YaroÄÈam was a brave
17 that HaÅaÅ fled to go to Mitsrayim, he man. And Shelomoh, seeing that the young
and certain EÅomites of his father’s ser- man was doing his work well, made him
vants with him, while HaÅaÅ was still a the officer over all the compulsory labour
little child. of the house of YosÃph.
18 And they arose from MiÅyan and came 29 And it came to be at that time, when
to Paran, and took men with them from YaroÄÈam went out of Yerushalayim, that
Paran and came to Mitsrayim, to Pharaoh the prophet AÁiyah the Shilonite met him
sovereign of Mitsrayim, who gave him a on the way. And he was wearing a new
house, and ordered food for him, and gave garment, and the two were alone in the
him land. field.
19 And HaÅaÅ found much favour in the 30 And AÁiyah took hold of the new
eyes of Pharaoh, so that he gave him as garment that was on him, and tore it into
wife the sister of his own wife, the sister twelve pieces,
of Sovereigness TaÁpenÃs. 31 and said to YaroÄÈam, “Take for your-
20 And the sister of TaÁpenÃs bore him self ten pieces, for thus said HWHY, the
GenuÄath his son, whom TaÁpenÃs weaned Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, ‘See, I am tearing the
in Pharaoh’s house. And GenuÄath was in reign out of the hand of Shelomoh and
the house of Pharaoh among the sons of shall give ten tribes to you,
Pharaoh. 32 but he shall have one tribe for the sake
21 And HaÅaÅ heard in Mitsrayim that of My servant DawiÅ, and for the sake of
DawiÅ slept with his fathers, and that Yerushalayim, the city which I have
Yo’aÄ the commander of the army was chosen out of all the tribes of Yisra’Ãl.
dead, and HaÅaÅ said to Pharaoh, “Let me 33 ‘Because they have forsaken Me, and
Yisra’Ãl and reigned over Aram. My servant DawiÅ shall always have a
26 And a servant of Shelomoh, YaroÄÈam lamp before Me in Yerushalayim, the city
363 1 MELAËIM 12
which I have chosen for Myself, to put My Shelomoh while he still lived, and he said,
Name there. “What do you advise me to answer these
37 ‘So I take you, and you shall reign over people?”
all that your being desires, and you shall be 7 And they spoke to him, saying, “If you
servant DawiÅ did, then I shall be with gave him, and consulted the young men
you and build for you a steadfast house, who had grown up with him, who stood
as I built for DawiÅ, and shall give Yisra’Ãl before him.
to you. 9 And he said to them, “What advice do
39 ‘And because of this I humble the seed you give? How should we answer this
of DawiÅ, but not forever.’ ” people who have spoken to me, saying,
40 And Shelomoh sought to kill YaroÄÈam, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put
but YaroÄÈam rose up and fled to Mits- on us’?”
rayim, to Shishaq sovereign of Mitsrayim, 10 And the young men who had grown up
and was in Mitsrayim until the death of with him spoke to him, saying, “Say this to
Shelomoh. this people who have spoken to you, say-
41 And the rest of the acts of Shelomoh, ing, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but
all that he did, and his wisdom, are they you make it lighter on us.’ Say this to
not written in the book of the acts of them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my
Shelomoh? father’s waist!
42 And the days that Shelomoh reigned in 11 ‘And now, my father laid a heavy yoke
Yerushalayim over all Yisra’Ãl was forty on you, but I add to your yoke; my father
years. flogged you with whips, but I, I flog you
43 So Shelomoh slept with his fathers, and with scourges!’ ”
was buried in the City of DawiÅ his father, 12 So YaroÄÈam and all the people came to
and ReÁaÄÈam his son reigned in his place. ReÁaÄÈam the third day, as the sovereign
had spoken, saying, “Come back to me the
12 And ReÁaÄÈam went to She¿em,
for all Yisra’Ãl had gone to
third day.”
13 But the sovereign answered the people
She¿em to set him up to reign. harshly, and ignored the advice which the
2 And it came to be, when YaroÄÈam son elders had given him,
of NeÄat heard this – he was still in 14 and he spoke to them according to the
Mitsrayim, for he had fled from the advice of the young men, saying, “My
presence of Sovereign Shelomoh and had father made your yoke heavy, but I add to
been dwelling in Mitsrayim – your yoke; my father flogged you with
3 that they sent and called him. And whips, but I, I flog you with scourges!”
YaroÄÈam and all the assembly of Yisra’Ãl 15 So the sovereign did not listen to the
came and spoke to ReÁaÄÈam, saying, people, for the turn of events was from
4 “Your father made our yoke hard, and HWHY, in order to establish His word, which
now, lighten the hard service of your HWHY had spoken by AÁiyah the Shilonite
father, and his heavy yoke which he put on to YaroÄÈam son of NeÄat.
us, then we serve you.” 16 And all Yisra’Ãl saw that the sovereign
5 And he said to them, “Go away for did not listen to them. Then the people
three days, then come back to me.” And answered the sovereign, saying, “What
the people went. portion do we have in DawiÅ? And there is
6 Then Sovereign ReÁaÄÈam consulted no inheritance in the son of Yishai. To your
the elders who stood before his father mighty ones, b O Yisra’Ãl! Now, see to your
1 MELAËIM 12 364
own house, O DawiÅ!” So Yisra’Ãl went to ings in the House of HWHY at Yerushalayim,
their tents. then the heart of this people shall turn back
17 But as for the children of Yisra’Ãl who
to their master, ReÁaÄÈam sovereign of
dwelt in the cities of YehuÅah, ReÁaÄÈam YehuÅah, and they shall slay me and go
reigned over them. back to ReÁaÄÈam sovereign of YehuÅah.”
18 And when Sovereign ReÁaÄÈam sent 28 So the sovereign took counsel and
AÅoram, who was over the compulsory made two calves of gold, and said to the
labour, all Yisra’Ãl stoned him with stones, people, “It is too much for you to go up to
and he died. And Sovereign ReÁaÄÈam Yerushalayim. See, your mighty ones,
hastily mounted his chariot to flee to O Yisra’Ãl, which brought you up from
Yerushalayim. the land of Mitsrayim!”
19 Thus Yisra’Ãl revolted against the 29 And he set up one in BÃyth Âl, and the
house of DawiÅ to this day. other he put in Dan.
20 And it came to be when all Yisra’Ãl 30 And this matter became a sin, for the
heard that YaroÄÈam had come back, they people went before the one as far as Dan.
sent for him and called him to the congre- 31 And he made the house of high places,
gation, and set him up to reign over all and made priests from all sorts of people,
Yisra’Ãl. There was none who followed who were not of the sons of LÃwi.
the house of DawiÅ, except the tribe of 32 And YaroÄÈam performed a festival on
YehuÅah only. the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like
21 And ReÁaÄÈam came to Yerushalayim,
the festival that was in YehuÅah, and he
and he assembled all the house of YehuÅah offered on the altar. So he did at BÃyth Âl,
with the tribe of Binyamin, one hundred slaughtering to the calves that he had
and eighty thousand chosen brave men, to made. And at BÃyth Âl he appointed the
fight against the house of Yisra’Ãl, to bring priests of the high places which he had
back the reign to ReÁaÄÈam son of made.
Shelomoh. 33 And he made offerings on the altar
22 But the word of Elohim came to
which he had made at BÃyth Âl on the
Shemayah the man of Elohim, saying, fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the
23 “Speak to ReÁaÄÈam son of Shelomoh, month which he had devised in his own
sovereign of YehuÅah, and to all the house heart. And he performed a festival for the
of YehuÅah and Binyamin, and to the rest children of Yisra’Ãl, and offered on the
of the people, saying, altar and burned incense.
24 ‘Thus said HWHY, “Do not go up or fight
Elohim, who cried out against the altar in with you or to go in with you, nor am I to
BÃyth Âl, that he stretched out his hand eat bread or drink water with you in this
from the altar, saying, “Seize him!” Then place.
his hand, which he stretched out toward 17 “For word came to me by the word of
him, dried up, so that he was unable to HWHY, ‘Do not eat bread nor drink water
bring it back to him. there, nor return by going the way you
5 And the altar was split apart, and the came.’ ”
ashes poured out from the altar, according 18 And he said to him, “I too am a prophet
to the sign which the man of Elohim had like you, and a messenger spoke to me by
given by the word of HWHY. the word of HWHY, saying, ‘Bring him back
6 And the sovereign answered and said to with you to your house, and let him eat
the man of Elohim, “Please appease the bread and drink water.’ ” But he lied to
face of HWHY your Elohim, and pray for me, him.
that my hand might be restored to me.” 19 So he turned back with him, and ate
And the man of Elohim appeased the face bread in his house, and drank water.
of HWHY, and the sovereign’s hand was 20 And it came to be, as they sat at the
restored to him, and became as it was table, that the word of HWHY came to the
before. prophet who had brought him back,
7 The sovereign then said to the man of 21 and he cried out to the man of Elohim
Elohim, “Come home with me and refresh who came from YehuÅah, saying, “Thus
yourself, and I give you a gift.” said HWHY, ‘Because you have rebelled
8 But the man of Elohim said to the against the mouth of HWHY, and have not
sovereign, “If you were to give me half guarded the command which HWHY your
your house, I do not go in with you, nor do Elohim commanded you,
I eat bread nor drink water in this place. 22 and turned back, and ate bread, and
9 “For so He commanded me by the word drank water in the place of which He said
of HWHY, saying, ‘Do not eat bread, nor to you, “Do not eat bread nor drink water,”
drink water, nor return by the same way your body shall not enter the burying-place
you came.’ ” of your fathers.’ ”
10 So he went another way and did not 23 And it came to be, after he had eaten
return by the way he came to BÃyth Âl. bread and after he had drunk, that he
11 And a certain old prophet was dwelling saddled the donkey for him, for the
in BÃyth Âl, and his sons came and told prophet whom he had brought back.
him all the works that the man of Elohim 24 And he went, and a lion met him on the
had done that day in BÃyth Âl, the words way and killed him. And his body was
which he had spoken to the sovereign. thrown on the way. And the donkey was
12 And their father said to them, “Which standing by it, and the lion was standing by
way did he go?” And his sons had seen the body.
which way the man of Elohim went who 25 And see, men were passing by and saw
came from YehuÅah. the body thrown on the way, while the lion
13 And he said to his sons, “Saddle the was standing by the body. And they went
donkey for me.” And they saddled the and reported it in the city where the old
donkey for him, and he rode on it, prophet dwelt.
14 and went after the man of Elohim, and 26 And the prophet who had brought him
found him sitting under a terebinth. And he back from the way heard it, and said, “It is
said to him, “Are you the man of Elohim the man of Elohim who rebelled against
who came from YehuÅah?” And he said, the mouth of HWHY, and HWHY gave him to
1 MELAËIM 13 366
the lion, and it tore him apart and killed up and went to Shiloh, and came to the
him, according to the word of HWHY which house of AÁiyah. But AÁiyahu was unable
He spoke to him.” to see, for his eyes had set because of his
27 And he spoke to his sons, saying, age.
“Saddle the donkey for me.” And they 5 And HWHY had said to AÁiyahu, “See,
the man of Elohim, and placed it on the the sound of her footsteps as she came
donkey, and brought it back. And the old through the door, he said, “Come in, wife
prophet came to the city to mourn, and to of YaroÄÈam. Why are you making your-
bury him, self strange? And I have been sent to you
30 and he placed his body in his own with a hard word.
tomb. And they lamented over him, say- 7 Go, say to YaroÄÈam, ‘Thus said HWHY
in the tomb where the man of Elohim is of DawiÅ, and gave it to you – and you
buried. Lay my bones beside his bones. have not been as My servant DawiÅ, who
32 “For the word which he cried out, by guarded My commands and who followed
the word of HWHY, against the altar in BÃyth Me with all his heart, to do only what was
Âl, and against all the houses of the high right in My eyes,
places which are in the cities of Shomeron, 9 but you have done more evil than all
shall certainly come to be.” who were before you, for you have gone
33 After this event YaroÄÈam did not turn and made for yourself other mighty ones
from his evil way, but again he made and moulded images to provoke Me, and
priests from all sorts of people for the high have cast Me behind your back –
places. Whoever wished, he ordained, to 10 therefore, see, I am bringing evil to the
become one of the priests of the high house of YaroÄÈam, and shall cut off from
places. YaroÄÈam every male in Yisra’Ãl, whether
34 And this matter was the sin of the house shut up or left at large, and sweep away the
of YaroÄÈam, even to cut it off and destroy remnant of the house of YaroÄÈam, as one
it from the face of the earth. sweeps away dung until it is all gone.
11 Those of YaroÄÈam who die in the city
know that you are the wife of YaroÄÈam, When your feet enter the city, the child
and go to Shiloh. See, AÁiyah the prophet shall die.
is there, who spoke to me of becoming 13 “And all Yisra’Ãl shall mourn for him
sovereign over this people. and bury him, for he is the only one of
3 “And you shall take with you ten YaroÄÈam who shall come to the grave,
loaves, and cakes, and a jar of honey, and because in him there is found a good report
go to him. Let him declare to you what toward HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, in the
becomes of the child.” house of YaroÄÈam.
4 And YaroÄÈam’s wife did so, and rose 14 “And HWHY shall raise up for Himself
367 1 MELAËIM 15
beyond the River, because they made their of bronze to replace them, and entrusted
AshÃrim, provoking HWHY, them into the hands of the chiefs of the
16 and He shall give Yisra’Ãl up, because guard, who guarded the entrance of the
of the sins of YaroÄÈam, who sinned and sovereign’s house.
who made Yisra’Ãl sin.” 28 And it came to be, whenever the sover-
17 And the wife of YaroÄÈam rose up and eign went into the House of HWHY, the
went, and came to Tirtsah. When she came guards would bring them, then take them
to the threshold of the house, the child back into the guardroom.
died. 29 And the rest of the acts of ReÁaÄÈam,
18 And they buried him, and all Yisra’Ãl and all that he did, are they not written in
lamented for him, according to the word of the book of the annals of the sovereigns of
HWHY which He spoke through His servant YehuÅah?
AÁiyahu the prophet. 30 And there was fighting between
19 And the rest of the acts of YaroÄÈam, ReÁaÄÈam and YaroÄÈam all the days.
how he fought and how he reigned, see, 31 So ReÁaÄÈam slept with his fathers, and
they are written in the book of the annals was buried with his fathers in the City of
of the sovereigns of Yisra’Ãl. DawiÅ. And the name of his mother was
20 And the days that YaroÄÈam reigned NaÈamah the Ammonitess. And AÄiyam
was twenty-two years. So he slept with his his son reigned in his place.
fathers, and NaÅaÄ his son reigned in his
place.
21 Meanwhile ReÁaÄÈam son of Shelomoh 15 And in the eighteenth year of
Sovereign YaroÄÈam son of NeÄat,
reigned in YehuÅah. ReÁaÄÈam was forty- AÄiyam became sovereign over YehuÅah.
one years old when he became sovereign, 2 He reigned three years in Yeru-
and he reigned seventeen years in Yeru- shalayim, and his mother’s name was
shalayim, the city which HWHY had chosen MaÈa¿ah the granddaughter of AÄishalom.
out of all the tribes of Yisra’Ãl, to put His 3 And he walked in all the sins of his
Name there. And his mother’s name was father, which he had done before him, and
NaÈamah the Ammonitess. his heart was not perfect to HWHY his
22 And YehuÅah did evil in the eyes of Elohim, as was the heart of his father
HWHY, and they provoked Him to jealousy DawiÅ.
with their sins which they committed, 4 But for DawiÅ’s sake HWHY his Elohim
more than all that their fathers had done. gave him a lamp in Yerushalayim, to raise
23 For they also built for themselves high up his son after him and by establishing
places, and pillars, and AshÃrim on every Yerushalayim,
high hill and under every green tree. 5 for DawiÅ did what was right in the
24 And there were also cult prostitutes in eyes of HWHY, and did not turn aside from
the land. They did according to all the all that He commanded him all the days of
abominations of the gentiles which HWHY his life, except in the matter of Uriyah the
dispossessed before the children of Àittite.
Yisra’Ãl. 6 And there was fighting between
25 And it came to be, in the fifth year of ReÁaÄÈam and YaroÄÈam all the days of his
Sovereign ReÁaÄÈam, that Shishaq sover- life.
eign of Mitsrayim came up against Yeru- 7 And the rest of the acts of AÄiyam, and
1 MELAËIM 15 368
all that he did, are they not written in the your covenant with BaÈasha sovereign of
book of the annals of the sovereigns of Yisra’Ãl, so that he withdraws from me.”
YehuÅah? And there was fighting between 20 And Ben-HaÅaÅ listened to Sovereign
name was MaÈa¿ah the granddaughter of YehuÅah – none was exempted – and they
AÄishalom. took away the stones and timber of Ramah,
11 And Asa did what was right in the eyes which BaÈasha had used for building. And
of HWHY, as his father DawiÅ had done, with them Sovereign Asa built GeÄa of
12 and put away the cult prostitutes from Binyamin, and Mitspah.
the land, and removed all the idols that his 23 And the rest of all the acts of Asa, and
fathers had made. all his might, and all that he did, and the
13 And he also removed MaÈa¿ah his cities which he built, are they not written
grandmother from being sovereigness in the book of the annals of the sovereigns
mother, because she had made an abom- of YehuÅah? But in the time of his old age
inable image for AshÃrah. And Asa cut he was diseased in his feet.
down her abominable image and burned it 24 So Asa slept with his fathers, and was
of HWHY and the treasuries of the sover- year of Asa sovereign of YehuÅah, and
eign’s house, and gave them into the hand reigned in his place.
of his servants. And Sovereign Asa sent 29 And it came to be, when he became
them to Ben-HaÅaÅ son of TaÄrimmon, sovereign, that he smote all the house of
son of Àezyon, sovereign of Aram, who YaroÄÈam. He did not leave to YaroÄÈam
dwelt in Damascus, saying, anyone breathing, until he had destroyed
19 “Let there be a covenant between you him, according to the word of HWHY which
and me, as there was between my father He had spoken by His servant AÁiyah the
and your father. Look, I have sent you a Shilonite,
present of silver and gold. Come, break 30 because of the sins of YaroÄÈam, which
369 1 MELAËIM 16
he had sinned and by which he had made began to reign over Yisra’Ãl in Tirtsah,
Yisra’Ãl sin, because of his provocation two years.
with which he had provoked HWHY Elohim 9 And his servant Zimri, commander of
YehuÅah, BaÈasha son of AÁiyah became reign, as soon as he was seated on his
sovereign over all Yisra’Ãl in Tirtsah, and throne, that he smote all the household of
reigned twenty-four years. BaÈasha. He did not leave him one male,
34 And he did evil in the eyes of HWHY, and neither of his relatives nor of his friends.
walked in the way of YaroÄÈam, and in his 12 So Zimri destroyed the entire house of
sin by which he had made Yisra’Ãl sin. BaÈasha, according to the word of HWHY,
which He spoke against BaÈasha by YÃhu
16 Then the word of HWHY came
to YÃhu son of Àanani, against
the prophet,
13 for all the sins of BaÈasha and the sins
sin, to provoke Me with their sins, that he did, are they not written in the book
3 see, I am going to sweep away BaÈasha of the annals of the sovereigns of Yisra’Ãl?
and his house, and shall make your house 15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa sov-
like the house of YaroÄÈam the son of ereign of YehuÅah, Zimri reigned seven
NeÄat. days in Tirtsah. And the people were
4 “Anyone belonging to BaÈasha who encamped against Gibbethon, which
dies in a city the dogs eat, and anyone belonged to the Philistines.
belonging to him who dies in a field the 16 And the people who were encamped
birds of the heavens eat.” heard it said, “Zimri has conspired and
5 And the rest of the acts of BaÈasha, also smote the sovereign.” So all Yisra’Ãl
what he did, and his might, are they not set up Omri, the commander of the army,
written in the book of the annals of the to reign over Yisra’Ãl that day in the camp.
sovereigns of Yisra’Ãl? 17 And Omri went up, and all Yisra’Ãl
6 So BaÈasha slept with his fathers and with him, from Gibbethon, and they
was buried in Tirtsah. And his son Âlah besieged Tirtsah.
reigned in his place. 18 And it came to be, when Zimri saw that
7 Moreover, the word of HWHY came by the city was captured, that he went into a
the prophet YÃhu son of Àanani against high place of the sovereign’s house and
BaÈasha and his house, because of all the burned the sovereign’s house down upon
evil that he did in the eyes of HWHY in himself with fire, and died,
provoking Him with the work of his hands, 19 because of the sins which he had sinned
in being like the house of YaroÄÈam, and in doing evil in the eyes of HWHY, in walk-
because he smote them. ing in the way of YaroÄÈam, and in his sin
8 In the twenty-sixth year of Asa sover- which he had committed to make Yisra’Ãl
eign of YehuÅah, Âlah son of BaÈasha sin.
1 MELAËIM 16 370
20 And the rest of the acts of Zimri, and house of BaÈal, which he had built in
the conspiracy he made, are they not Shomeron.
written in the book of the annals of the 33 And AÁaÄ made an AshÃrah. And AÁaÄ
reign, and half followed Omri. YeriÁo. He laid its foundation at the cost of
22 But the people who followed Omri AÄiram his first-born, and at the cost of his
were stronger than the people who fol- youngest son SeÍuÄ he set up its gates,
lowed TiÄni son of Ginath. And TiÄni died according to the word of HWHY, which He
and Omri reigned. had spoken through Yehoshua son of Nun.
23 In the thirty-first year of Asa sovereign
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl with their worthless- word of HWHY, for he went and dwelt by the
nesses. wadi Kerith, which flows into the YardÃn.
27 And the rest of the acts of Omri which 6 And the ravens brought him bread and
he did, and the might that he attained, are meat in the morning, and bread and meat
they not written in the book of the annals in the evening, and he drank from the
of the sovereigns of Yisra’Ãl? stream.
28 So Omri slept with his fathers and was 7 And it came to be after a while that the
buried in Shomeron. And AÁaÄ his son stream dried up, because there had been no
reigned in his place. rain in the land.
29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa sover- 8 Then the word of HWHY came to him,
son of Omri reigned over Yisra’Ãl in belongs to TsiÅon, and dwell there. See, I
Shomeron twenty-two years. have commanded a widow there to sustain
30 And AÁaÄ son of Omri did evil in the you.”
eyes of HWHY, more than all those before 10 And he rose up and went to Tsarephath,
sovereign of the TsiÅonians. And he went called and said to her, “Please bring me a
and served BaÈal and bowed himself to it, piece of bread in your hand.”
32 and raised up an altar for BaÈal in the 12 And she said, “As HWHY your Elohim
371 1 MELAËIM 18
And afterward make some for yourself and himself to AÁaÄ. And the scarcity of food
your son. in Shomeron was severe.
14 “For thus said HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, 3 And AÁaÄ had called OÄaÅyahu, who
‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor was over his house. Now OÄaÅyahu feared
the jar of oil run dry, until the day HWHY HWHY exceedingly.
sends rain on the earth.’ ” 4 And it came to be, while IzeÄel cut
15 So she went and did according to the down the prophets of HWHY, that OÄaÅyahu
word of Âliyahu, and she and he and her had taken one hundred prophets and
household ate for many days. hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed
16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor them with bread and water.
did the jar of oil run dry, according to the 5 And AÁaÄ had said to OÄaÅyahu, “Go
word of HWHY which He spoke by Âliyahu. into the land to all the springs of water and
17 And after these events it came to be that to all the wadis, it could be that we find
the son of the woman who owned the grass to keep the horses and mules alive,
house became sick. And his sickness was and not have any livestock cut off.
very severe until there was no breath left 6 And they divided the land between
to be remembered, and to kill my son?” see, Âliyahu met him. And he recognised
19 And he said to her, “Give me your him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is that
son.” So he took him from her arms and you, my master Âliyahu?”
took him to the upper room where he was 8 And he answered him, “It is I. Go, say
dwelling, and laid him on his own bed, to your master, ‘Âliyahu is here.’ ”
20 and cried out to HWHY and said, “O HWHY 9 And he said, “What have I sinned, that
my Elohim, have You also brought evil on you are giving your servant into the hand
the widow with whom I am sojourning, to of AÁaÄ, to kill me?
kill her son?” 10 “As HWHY your Elohim lives, there is no
21 And he stretched himself out on the nation or reign where my master has not
child three times, and cried out to HWHY and sent to look for you. And when they said,
said, “O HWHY my Elohim, I pray, let the ‘He is not here,’ he made the reign or
life of this child come back to him.” nation swear that they could not find you.
22 And HWHY heard the voice of Âliyahu, 11 “And now you say, ‘Go, say to your
and the life of the child came back to him, master, “Âliyahu is here” ’!
and he lived. 12 “And it shall be, as soon as I am gone
23 And Âliyahu took the child and brought from you, that the Spirit of HWHY takes you
him down from the upper room into the away to a place I do not know. And I shall
house, and gave him to his mother. And come to report to AÁaÄ, and when he does
Âliyahu said, “See, your son lives!” not find you, he shall kill me. But I your
24 And the woman said to Âliyahu, “Now servant have feared HWHY from my youth.
by this I know that you are a man of 13 “Was it not reported to my master what
Elohim, and that the word of HWHY in your I did when IzeÄel slew the prophets of
1 MELAËIM 18 372
HWHY, how I hid one hundred men of the on the name of your mighty one, but set no
prophets of HWHY, fifty to a cave, and fed fire.”
26 So they took the bull which was given
them with bread and water?
14 “And now you say, ‘Go, say to your them, and prepared it, and called on the
master, “Âliyahu is here!” ’ Then he shall name of BaÈal from morning even until
slay me.” noon, saying, “O BaÈal, answer us!” But
15 And Âliyahu said, “As HWHY of hosts there was no voice and no one answered.
lives, before whom I stand, I shall indeed And they leaped about the altar which they
show myself to him today.” had made.
16 OÄaÅyahu then went to meet AÁaÄ and 27 And it came to be at noon, that Âliyahu
informed him, and AÁaÄ went to meet taunted them and said, “Cry aloud, for he
Âliyahu. is a mighty one; he is meditating, or he is
17 And it came to be, when AÁaÄ saw busy, or he is on a journey, or it could be
Âliyahu, that AÁaÄ said to him, “Is that that he is asleep and has to be awakened!”
28 And they cried aloud, and cut them-
you, O disturber of Yisra’Ãl?”
18 And he answered, “I have not disturbed selves, according to their ruling, with
Yisra’Ãl, but you and your father’s house, knives and spears, until the blood gushed
in that you have forsaken the commands of out on them.
29 And it came to be when midday was
HWHY, and you have followed the BaÈals.
19 “And now, send and gather all Yisra’Ãl past, that they prophesied until the time of
to me on Mount Karmel, the four hundred bringing the evening offering. But there
and fifty prophets of BaÈal, and the four was no voice and no one answered, and no
hundred prophets of AshÃrah, who eat at one paying attention.
30 Then Âliyahu said to all the people,
IzeÄel’s table.”
20 AÁaÄ then sent for all the children of “Come closer to me.” And all the people
Yisra’Ãl, and gathered the prophets on came closer to him. And he repaired the
Mount Karmel. altar of HWHY that was broken down.
21 And Âliyahu came to all the people, 31 And Âliyahu took twelve stones,
and said, “How long would you keep hop- according to the number of the tribes of the
ping between two opinions? If HWHY is sons of YaÈaqoÄ, to whom the word of HWHY
Elohim, follow Him; and if BaÈal, follow had come, saying, “Yisra’Ãl is your name.”
him.” But the people answered him not 32 And with the stones he built an altar in
but set no fire. And I, I prepare the other and they did it a second time. And he said,
bull, and shall lay it on the wood, but set “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third
no fire. time.
24 “And you shall call on the name of your 35 And the water flowed around the altar,
mighty one, and I, I call on the Name of and he filled the trench with water too.
HWHY. And the Elohim who answers by fire, 36 And it came to be, at the time of bring-
He is Elohim.” So all the people answered ing the evening offering, that Âliyahu the
and said, “The word is good.” prophet came near and said, “HWHY Elohim
25 And Âliyahu said to the prophets of of AÄraham, YitsÁaq, and Yisra’Ãl, let it be
BaÈal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and known today: You are Elohim in Yisra’Ãl,
prepare it first, for you are many. And call and I Your servant, have done all these
373 1 MELAËIM 19
back to You again.” into the wilderness, and came and sat
38 Then the fire of HWHY fell and consumed down under a broom tree, and prayed that
the burnt offering, and the wood and the he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now,
stones and the dust, and it licked up the HWHY, take my life, for I am no better than
water that was in the trench. my fathers!”
39 And all the people saw, and fell on their 5 And he lay and slept under a broom
faces, and said, “HWHY, He is the Elohim! tree, and see, a messenger touched him,
HWHY, He is the Elohim!” and said to him, “Rise, eat.”
40 And Âliyahu said to them, “Seize the 6 And he looked and saw by his head a
prophets of BaÈal! Do not let one of them cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So
escape!” So they seized them, and Âliyahu he ate and drank, and turned and lay down.
brought them down to the wadi Qishon and 7 And the messenger of HWHY came back
slaughtered them there. the second time, and touched him, and
41 And Âliyahu said to AÁaÄ, “Go up, eat said, “Rise, eat, for the journey is too much
and drink, because of the sound of the for you.”
noise of rain.” 8 And he rose up and ate and drank, and
42 And AÁaÄ went up to eat and to drink. went in the strength of that food forty days
And Âliyahu went up to the top of Karmel, and forty nights as far as ÀorÃÄ, the moun-
and he bowed down on the ground, and put tain of Elohim.
his face between his knees, 9 And there he went into a cave and spent
43 and said to his servant, “Go up, please, the night there. And see, the word of HWHY
look closely toward the sea.” So he went came to him, and said to him, “What are
up and looked closely, and said, “Not you doing here, Âliyahu?”
a speck.” And seven times he said, “Go 10 And he said, “I have been very jealous
the heavens became black with clouds and mountain before HWHY.” And see, HWHY
wind, and there was a heavy rain, while passed by, and a great and strong wind
AÁaÄ rode and went to YizreÈÃl. tearing the mountains and breaking the
46 And the hand of HWHY was on Âliyahu. rocks in pieces before HWHY – HWHY was not
And he girded up his loins and ran ahead in the wind. And after the wind an earth-
of AÁaÄ to the entrance of YizreÈÃl. quake – HWHY was not in the earthquake,
12 and after the earthquake a fire – HWHY
of Yisra’Ãl have forsaken Your covenant. and said, “As you say, my master, O sover-
They have thrown down Your altars, and eign, I am yours, and all that I have.”
they have slain Your prophets with the 5 And the messengers came back and
sword, and I am left, I alone, and they seek said, “Thus speaks Ben-HaÅaÅ, saying,
my life, to take it.” ‘Indeed I have sent to you, saying, “Give
15 And HWHY said to him, “Go, return on me your silver and your gold, your wives
your way to the Wilderness of Damascus. and your children,”
And you shall go in and anoint Àaza’Ãl as 6 but about this time tomorrow I shall
the sword of Àaza’Ãl, YÃhu does kill. And the elders of the land, and said, “Please
whoever escapes from the sword of YÃhu, know and see the evil this one is seeking,
Elisha does kill. for he sent to me for my wives, and for my
18 “And I shall leave seven thousand in children, and for my silver, and for my
Yisra’Ãl, all whose knees have not bowed gold, and I did not refuse him.”
to BaÈal, and every mouth that has not 8 And all the elders and all the people
Elisha son of Shaphat, who was ploughing HaÅaÅ, “Say to my master the sovereign,
with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and ‘All that you sent for to your servant the
he was with the twelfth. And Âliyahu first time I shall do, but this I am unable to
passed by him and threw his robe on him. do.’ ” And the messengers went and
20 And he left the oxen and ran after brought back word to him.
Âliyahu, and said, “Please let me kiss my 10 And Ben-HaÅaÅ sent to him and said,
father and my mother, and then I follow “The mighty ones do so to me, and more
you.” And he said to him, “Go, turn back, also, if enough dust is left of Shomeron
for what have I done to you?” for a handful for each of the people who
21 And he turned back from him, and took follow me.”
a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and 11 And the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl answered
cooked their flesh, using the implements of and said, “Speak, ‘Him who girds on his
the oxen, and gave it to the people, and armour should not boast like him who lays
they ate. Then he rose up and followed it down.’ ”
Âliyahu, and became his servant. 12 And it came to be when this word was
and besieged Shomeron, and fought sovereign of Yisra’Ãl, saying, “Thus said
against it. HWHY, ‘Have you seen all this great compa-
2 And he sent messengers into the city to ny? See, I am giving it into your hand
AÁaÄ sovereign of Yisra’Ãl, and said to today, and you shall know that I am
him, “Thus said Ben-HaÅaÅ, HWHY.’ ”
3 ‘Your silver and your gold are mine, 14 And AÁaÄ said, “By whom?” And he
and your wives and children, the best, are said, “Thus said HWHY, ‘By the young rulers
mine.’ ” of the provinces.’ ” And he said, “Who
4 And the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl answered opens the attack?” Then he answered,
375 1 MELAËIM 20
HaÅaÅ and the thirty-two sovereigns and spoke to the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl, and
helping him were getting drunk in the said, “Thus said HWHY, ‘Because the
booths. Arameans have said, “HWHY is Elohim of
17 And the young rulers of the provinces the hills, but He is not Elohim of the
went out first. And Ben-HaÅaÅ sent out, valleys,” therefore I shall give all this great
and they reported to him, saying, “Men company into your hand, and you shall
have come out of Shomeron!” know that I am HWHY.’ ”
18 Then he said, “If they have come out 29 And they encamped opposite each
for peace, seize them alive. And if they other for seven days. And it came to be
have come out for battle, seize them alive.” that on the seventh day the battle was
19 So these young rulers of the provinces joined. And the children of Yisra’Ãl smote
went out of the city with the army which one hundred thousand foot soldiers of the
followed them. Arameans in one day.
20 And each smote his man, so the 30 And those that were left fled to AphÃq,
Arameans fled, and Yisra’Ãl pursued them. into the city, and a wall fell on twenty-
And Ben-HaÅaÅ the sovereign of Aram seven thousand of the men who were left.
escaped on a horse with the horsemen. And Ben-HaÅaÅ fled and went into the
21 And the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl went out city, into an inner room.
and smote the horses and chariots, and 31 And his servants said to him, “See now,
smote the Arameans, a great smiting. we have heard that the sovereigns of the
22 And the prophet came to the sovereign house of Yisra’Ãl are kind sovereigns.
of Yisra’Ãl and said to him, “Go, strength- Please, let us put sackcloth around our
en yourself. And know and see what you waists and ropes around our heads, and go
should do, for at the turn of the year the out to the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl. It could
sovereign of Aram is coming up against be that he spares your life.”
you.” 32 So they girded sackcloth on their loins
23 And the servants of the sovereign of and put ropes around their heads, and came
Aram said to him, “Their mighty ones are to the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl and said, “Your
mighty ones of the hills. That is why they servant Ben-HaÅaÅ said, ‘Please let me
were stronger than we. But let us fight live.’ ” And he said, “Is he still alive? He is
against them in the plain – are we not my brother.”
stronger than they? 33 And the men divined and they quickly
24 “Now do this: Take away the sover- grasped it and said, “Your brother Ben-
eigns, each from his position, and put HaÅaÅ.” And he said, “Go, bring him.” So
officers in their places, Ben-HaÅaÅ came out to him, and he let
25 and number an army like the army that him come up on the chariot.
you have lost, horse for horse and chariot 34 And Ben-HaÅaÅ said to him, “The
for chariot, and let us fight against them in cities which my father took from your
the plain – are we not stronger than they?” father I return. And set up market-places
And he listened to their voice and did so. for yourself in Damascus, as my father did
26 And it came to be, at the turn of the in Shomeron.” And AÁaÄ said, “I send you
year, that Ben-HaÅaÅ mustered the away with this covenant.” And he made
Arameans and went up to AphÃq to fight a covenant with him and sent him away.
against Yisra’Ãl. 35 And a certain man of the sons of the
1 MELAËIM 20 376
prophets said to his neighbour by the word 3 And NaÄoth said to AÁaÄ, “Far be it
of HWHY, “Smite me, please.” But the man from me, by HWHY, that I should give the
refused to smite him. inheritance of my fathers to you!”
36 Then he said to him, “Because you 4 And AÁaÄ went into his house embit-
have not obeyed the voice of HWHY, see, as tered and displeased because of the word
soon as you leave me a lion shall smite which NaÄoth the YizreÈÃlite had spoken to
you.” And when he left him, a lion found him when he said, “I do not give you the
him and smote him. inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay
37 And he found another man, and said, down on his bed, and turned away his face,
“Smite me, please.” So the man smote and did not eat food.
him, smiting and wounding. 5 And IzeÄel his wife came to him, and
38 Then the prophet went and waited for said to him, “Why is your spirit so embit-
the sovereign by the way, and disguised tered that you are not eating food?”
himself with ashes on his eyes. 6 And he said to her, “Because I spoke to
39 And as the sovereign passed by, he NaÄoth the YizreÈÃlite, and said to him,
cried out to the sovereign and said, “Your ‘Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you
servant went out into the midst of the prefer, I give you another vineyard for it.’
battle. And see, a man came over and But he answered, ‘I do not give you my
brought a man to me, and said, ‘Guard this vineyard.’ ”
man. If he should in any way be missing, 7 So IzeÄel his wife said to him, “Do you
your life shall be for his life, or else you now rule over Yisra’Ãl? Rise up, eat food,
shall pay a talent of silver.’ and let your heart be glad. Let me give you
40 “And it came to be, while your servant the vineyard of NaÄoth the YizreÈÃlite!”
was busy here and there, he was gone.” 8 Then she wrote letters in AÁaÄ’s name,
And the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl said to him, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the
“Your judgment is right, you yourself have letters to the elders and the nobles who
decided it.” were dwelling in the city with NaÄoth.
41 Then he quickly removed the ashes 9 And she wrote in the letters, saying,
from his eyes. And the sovereign of “Proclaim a fast, and seat NaÄoth at the
Yisra’Ãl recognised him as one of the head of the people,
prophets. 10 and seat two men, sons of BeliyaÈal
42 And he said to him, “Thus said HWHY, before him to bear witness against him,
‘Because you have let slip out of your hand saying, ‘You have blasphemed Elohim and
a man whom I put under the ban, therefore the sovereign.’ Then you shall take him
your life shall go for his life, and your out, and stone him to death.”
people for his people.’ ” 11 And the men of his city, the elders and
43 And the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl went to nobles who were inhabitants of his city,
his house embittered and displeased, and did as IzeÄel had sent to them, as it was
came to Shomeron. written in the letters which she had sent to
them.
21 And it came to be, after these
events, that NaÄoth the YizreÈÃlite
12 They proclaimed a fast, and seated
the palace of AÁaÄ the sovereign of and sat before him. And the men of
Shomeron. BeliyaÈal witnessed against him, against
2 And AÁaÄ spoke to NaÄoth, saying, NaÄoth, in the presence of the people, say-
“Give me your vineyard, and it shall be a ing, “NaÄoth has blasphemed Elohim and
vegetable garden for me, since it adjoins the sovereign!” So they took him outside
my house. And let me give you a better the city and stoned him with stones, and he
vineyard for it. If it is good in your eyes, died.
let me give you its worth in silver.” 14 And they sent to IzeÄel, saying,
377 1 MELAËIM 22
“NaÄoth has been stoned and is dead.” following idols, according to all that the
15 And it came to be, when IzeÄel heard Amorites had done, whom HWHY dispos-
that NaÄoth had been stoned and was dead, sessed from before the children of Yisra’Ãl.
that IzeÄel said to AÁaÄ, “Arise, take 27 And it came to be, when AÁaÄ heard
possession of the vineyard of NaÄoth the those words, that he tore his garments and
YizreÈÃlite, which he refused to give you put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and
for money, for NaÄoth is not alive but lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
dead.” 28 And the word of HWHY came to Âliyahu
16 And it came to be, when AÁaÄ heard the Tishbite, saying,
that NaÄoth was dead, that AÁaÄ rose to go 29 “See how AÁaÄ has humbled himself
down to take possession of the vineyard before Me? Because he has humbled
of NaÄoth the YizreÈÃlite. himself before Me, I do not bring the evil
17 And the word of HWHY came to Âliyahu in his days, but in the days of his son I
the Tishbite, saying, bring the evil on his house.”
18 “Rise up, go down to meet AÁaÄ sover-
‘Thus said HWHY, “Have you murdered and Yehoshaphat sovereign of YehuÅah came
also taken possession?” ’ And you shall down to the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl.
speak to him, saying, ‘Thus said HWHY, “In 3 And the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl said to
the place where dogs licked the blood of his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth in
NaÄoth, the dogs are going to lick your GilÈaÅ is ours, and we are keeping silent
blood, even yours.” ’ ” from taking it out of the hand of the
20 And AÁaÄ said to Âliyahu, “Have you sovereign of Aram!”
found me, O my enemy?” And he 4 And he said to Yehoshaphat, “Do you
answered, “I have found you, because you go with me to battle at Ramoth GilÈaÅ?”
have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of And Yehoshaphat said to the sovereign of
HWHY: Yisra’Ãl, “I am as you are, my people as
21 ‘See, I am bringing evil on you, and your people, my horses as your horses.”
shall consume your descendants, and cut 5 And Yehoshaphat said to the sovereign
off from AÁaÄ every male in Yisra’Ãl, both of Yisra’Ãl, “Please, first inquire for the
those shut up and those left at large, word of HWHY.”
22 and make your house like the house of 6 And the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl gathered
YaroÄÈam son of NeÄat, and like the house the prophets, about four hundred men, and
of BaÈasha son of AÁiyah, because of said to them, “Do I go against Ramoth
the provocation with which you have GilÈaÅ to battle, or do I refrain?” And they
provoked Me, and made Yisra’Ãl sin.’ said, “Go up, for HWHY does give it into the
23 “And also of IzeÄel HWHY has spoken, hand of the sovereign.”
saying, ‘The dogs are going to eat IzeÄel 7 And Yehoshaphat said, “Is there not
the birds of the heavens are going to eat Yehoshaphat, “There is still one man,
whoever dies in the field.” Mi¿ayehu son of Yimlah, to inquire of
25 Indeed, there never was anyone like HWHY by him. But I hate him, because he
AÁaÄ who sold himself to do evil in the does not prophesy good concerning me,
eyes of HWHY, because IzeÄel his wife but evil.” And Yehoshaphat said, “Let not
stirred him up. the sovereign say so!”
26 And he acted very abominably in 9 So the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl called an
1 MELAËIM 22 378
officer and said, “Bring Mi¿ayehu son of 21 “And a spirit came forward and stood
Yehoshaphat sovereign of YehuÅah were And he said, ‘I shall go out and be a spirit
sitting, each on his throne, dressed in their of falsehood in the mouth of all his
robes, at a threshing-floor at the entrance prophets.’ And He said, ‘Entice him, and
of the gate of Shomeron. And all the also prevail. Go out and do so.’
prophets were prophesying before them. 23 “And now, see, HWHY has put a spirit of
11 And TsiÅqiyah son of KenaÈanah had falsehood in the mouth of all these
made horns of iron for himself, and said, prophets of yours, and HWHY has spoken
“Thus said HWHY, ‘With these you push the evil concerning you.”
Arameans until they are destroyed.’ ” 24 And TsiÅqiyahu son of KenaÈanah
12 And all the prophets were prophesying came near and smote Mi¿ayehu on the
so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth GilÈaÅ and cheek, and said, “Where did the spirit of
prosper, for HWHY shall give it into the hand HWHY pass over from me to speak to you?”
of the sovereign.” 25 And Mi¿ayehu said, “Look, you shall
13 And the messenger who had gone to see on that day when you go into an inner
call Mi¿ayehu spoke to him, saying, “See room to hide!”
now, the words of the prophets with one 26 And the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl said,
mouth are good towards the sovereign. “Take Mi¿ayehu, and return him to Amon
Please, let your word be like the word of the governor of the city, and to Yo’ash son
one of them, and you shall speak good.” of the sovereign,
14 And Mi¿ayehu said, “As HWHY lives, 27 and say, ‘Thus said the sovereign, “Put
whatever HWHY says to me, that I speak.” this one in prison, and feed him with bread
15 And he came to the sovereign, and the of affliction and water of affliction until I
sovereign said to him, “Mi¿ayehu, do we come in peace.” ’ ”
go against Ramoth GilÈaÅ to battle, or do 28 And Mi¿ayehu said, “If you ever return
we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go in peace, HWHY has not spoken by me.” And
and prosper, for HWHY shall give it into the he said, “Hear, all you people!”
hand of the sovereign!” 29 And the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl and
16 And the sovereign said to him, “How Yehoshaphat the sovereign of YehuÅah
many times have I made you swear that went up to Ramoth GilÈaÅ.
you do not speak to me, except the truth, 30 And the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl said to
AÁaÄ to go up and fall at Ramoth GilÈaÅ?’ ders of the chariots saw that it was not the
And this one said this, and another said sovereign of Yisra’Ãl, that they turned back
that. from pursuing him.
379 1 MELAËIM 22
34 And a man drew a bow in his simplici- away, for the people slaughtered and
ty, and smote the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl burned incense on the high places.
between the joints of his armour. And he 44 And Yehoshaphat made peace with the
said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn sovereign of Yisra’Ãl.
around and take me out of the battle, for I 45 And the rest of the acts of Yehoshaphat,
am wounded.”
35 And the battle increased that day. And and the might that he showed, and how he
fought, are they not written in the book of
the sovereign was propped up in his the annals of the sovereigns of YehuÅah?
chariot, facing the Arameans, and died at
46 And the rest of the cult prostitutes, who
evening, and the blood ran out from the
wound onto the floor of the chariot. remained in the days of his father Asa, he
36 And as the sun was going down, a cleared out from the land.
shout passed through the camp, saying, 47 And there was then no sovereign in
“Each to his city, and each to his land!” EÅom, a deputy was sovereign.
37 So the sovereign died and was brought 48 Yehoshaphat made Tarshish ships to go
to Shomeron, and they buried the sover- to Ophir for gold. However, they did not
eign in Shomeron. go, for the ships were wrecked at Etsyon
38 And when the chariot was washed at a GeÄer.
pool in Shomeron, the dogs licked up his 49 Then AÁazyahu son of AÁaÄ said to
blood, where the whores bathed, according Yehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with
to the word of HWHY which He had spoken. your servants in the ships.” But Yeho-
39 And the rest of the acts of AÁaÄ and all
shaphat would not.
that he did, and the ivory house which he 50 So Yehoshaphat slept with his fathers,
built and all the cities that he built, are they
and was buried with his fathers in the City
not written in the book of the annals of the
of DawiÅ his father. And Yehoram his son
sovereigns of Yisra’Ãl?
40 So AÁaÄ slept with his fathers, and
reigned in his place.
51 AÁazyahu son of AÁaÄ began to reign
AÁazyahu his son reigned in his place.
41 And Yehoshaphat son of Asa began to over Yisra’Ãl in Shomeron in the seven-
reign over YehuÅah in the fourth year of teenth year of Yehoshaphat sovereign of
AÁaÄ sovereign of Yisra’Ãl. YehuÅah, and reigned two years over
42 Yehoshaphat was thirty-five years old Yisra’Ãl,
52 and did evil in the eyes of HWHY, and
when he became sovereign, and he reigned
twenty-five years in Yerushalayim. And walked in the way of his father and in the
his mother’s name was AzuÄah the way of his mother and in the way of
daughter of ShilÁi. YaroÄÈam son of NeÄat, who had made
43 And he walked in all the ways of his Yisra’Ãl sin,
father Asa. He did not turn aside from 53 and served BaÈal and bowed himself to
them, doing what was right in the eyes of it, and provoked HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl,
HWHY. Only, the high places were not taken according to all that his father had done.
2 MELAËIM
2 KINGS
them, “Go, inquire of BaÈal-ZeÄuÄ, the with his fifty men to him. And he answered
mighty one of Eqron, if I shall recover and said to him, “Man of Elohim, this is
from this injury.” what the sovereign said, ‘Come down at
3 But a messenger of HWHY spoke to once!’ ”
Âliyah the Tishbite, “Rise up, go up to 12 And Âliyah answered and said to them,
meet the messengers of the sovereign of “If I am a man of Elohim, let fire come
Shomeron, and say to them, ‘Is it because down from the heavens and consume you
there is no Elohim in Yisra’Ãl that you are and your fifty men.” And a fire of Elohim
going to inquire of BaÈal-ZeÄuÄ, the came down from the heavens and con-
mighty one of Eqron?’ sumed him and his fifty.
4 “So therefore, thus said HWHY, ‘You are 13 And again he sent a third captain of
not going to get out of the bed to which fifty with his fifty men. And the third cap-
you have gone up, for you shall certainly tain of fifty went up, and came and fell on
die.’ ” And Âliyah went. his knees before Âliyahu, and pleaded with
5 And the messengers returned to him, him, and said to him, “Man of Elohim,
and he said to them, “Why have you come please let my life and the life of these fifty
back?” servants of yours be precious in your eyes.
6 And they said to him, “A man came up 14 “See, fire has come down from the
to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go, return to heavens and burned up the first two cap-
the sovereign who sent you, and say to tains of fifties with their fifties. But let my
him, “Thus said HWHY, ‘Is it because there life be precious in your eyes.”
is no Elohim in Yisra’Ãl that you are send- 15 And the Messenger of HWHY said to
ing to inquire of BaÈal-ZeÄuÄ, the mighty Âliyahu, “Go down with him; do not be
one of Eqron? Therefore you are not going afraid of him.” So he rose up and went
to get out of the bed to which you have down with him to the sovereign,
gone up, for you shall certainly die.’ ” ’ ” 16 and spoke to him, “Thus said HWHY,
7 And he said to them, “What was the ‘Because you have sent messengers to
man like who came up to meet you and inquire of BaÈal-ZeÄuÄ, the mighty one of
spoke to you these words?” Eqron, is it because there is no Elohim in
8 And they answered him, “He was a Yisra’Ãl to inquire of His word? Therefore
hairy man, and wore a leather girdle you are not going to get out of the bed to
around his waist.” And he said, “It is which you have gone up, for you shall
Âliyah the Tishbite.” certainly die.’ ”
9 He then sent to him a captain of fifty 17 And he died, according to the word of
with his fifty men. And he went up to him, HWHY which Âliyahu had spoken. And
and see, he was sitting on the top of a hill. Yehoram reigned in his place, in the sec-
And he spoke to him, “Man of Elohim, the ond year of Yehoram son of Yehoshaphat
sovereign has said, ‘Come down!’ ” sovereign of YehuÅah, for he had no son.
10 And Âliyahu answered and said to the 18 And the rest of the acts of AÁazyahu
captain of fifty, “And if I am a man of which he did, are they not written in the
381 2 MELAËIM 2
book of the annals of the sovereigns of horses of fire which separated the two of
Yisra’Ãl? them. And Âliyahu went up by a whirlwind
into the heavens.
2 And it came to be, when HWHY was to
take up Âliyahu to the heavens by a
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out,
please remain here, for HWHY has sent me were from YeriÁo saw him, they said,
on to YeriÁo.” And he said, “As HWHY lives, “The spirit of Âliyahu rests on Elisha.”
and as your being lives, I do not leave And they came to meet him, and bowed to
you!” And they came into YeriÁo. the ground before him.
5 And the sons of the prophets who were 16 And they said to him, “Look, there are
at YeriÁo came to Elisha and said to him, fifty strong men with your servants. Please
“Do you know that HWHY is taking away let them go and search for your master, lest
your master from over you today?” And he the Spirit of HWHY has taken him up and
said, “I also know, be silent!” cast him upon some mountain or into some
6 And Âliyahu said to him, “Please valley.” And he said, “Send no one.”
remain here, for HWHY has sent me on to the 17 But they pressed upon him till he was
YardÃn.” And he said, “As HWHY lives, and ashamed, and he said, “Send.” So they sent
as your being lives, I do not leave you!” fifty men, and they searched for three days
And the two of them went on. but did not find him.
7 And fifty men of the sons of the 18 And they returned to him, for he
prophets went and stood facing them at a remained in YeriÁo, and he said to them,
distance, while the two of them stood by “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”
the YardÃn. 19 And the men of the city said to Elisha,
8 And Âliyahu took his mantle, and “Look, the site of this city is good, as my
rolled it up, and struck the water. And it master sees, but the waters are spoilt, and
was divided this way and that, so that the the soil barren.”
two of them passed over on dry ground. 20 And he said, “Bring me a new bowl,
9 And it came to be, when they had and put salt in it.” And they brought it to
passed over, that Âliyahu said to Elisha, him.
“Ask what I am to do for you, before I am 21 And he went out to the source of the
taken away from you!” And Elisha said, water, and threw salt in there, and said,
“Please let a double portion of your spirit “Thus said HWHY, ‘I have healed this water
be upon me.” – no longer shall death or barrenness come
10 And he said, “You have made it hard to from it.’ ”
ask, yet if you see me when I am taken 22 And the waters were healed, to this day,
from you, it is yours; but if not, it is not.” according to the word of Elisha which he
11 And it came to be, as they continued on spoke.
and spoke, that see, a chariot of fire with 23 And he went up from there to BÃyth Âl.
2 MELAËIM 2 382
And as he was going up the way, some “What? Has HWHY called these three
youths came from the city and mocked sovereigns to give them into the hand of
him, and said to him, “Go up, baldhead! Mo’aÄ.”
Go up, baldhead!” 11 And Yehoshaphat said, “Is there no
24 And he turned around and looked at
prophet of HWHY here? Then let us inquire
them, and pronounced a curse on them in of HWHY through him.” One of the servants
the Name of HWHY. And two female bears of the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl then answered
came out of the forest and tore to pieces and said, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here,
forty-two of the youths. who poured water out on the hands of
25 And from there he went to Mount
Âliyahu.”
Karmel, and from there he returned to 12 And Yehoshaphat said, “The word of
Shomeron. HWHY is with him.” And the sovereign of
Yisra’Ãl and Yehoshaphat and the sover-
3 And Yehoram son of AÁaÄ began to
reign over Yisra’Ãl at Shomeron in the
eign of EÅom went down to him.
13 And Elisha said to the sovereign of
eighteenth year of Yehoshaphat sovereign Yisra’Ãl, “What have I to do with you? Go
of YehuÅah, and reigned twelve years. to the prophets of your father and the
2 And he did evil in the eyes of HWHY,
prophets of your mother.” And the sover-
but not like his father and mother; for he eign of Yisra’Ãl said to him, “No, for HWHY
removed the statue of BaÈal which his has called these three sovereigns to give
father had made. them into the hand of Mo’aÄ.”
3 But he clung to the sins of YaroÄÈam 14 And Elisha said, “As HWHY of hosts
son of NeÄat, who had made Yisra’Ãl sin. lives, before whom I stand, if it were not
He did not turn away from them. that I regard the presence of Yehoshaphat
4 And MÃysha sovereign of Mo’aÄ was a
sovereign of YehuÅah, I would not look at
sheep-breeder, and he paid the sovereign you nor see you.
of Yisra’Ãl one hundred thousand lambs 15 “And now, bring me a harpist.” And it
and the wool of one hundred thousand came to be, when the harpist played, that
rams. the hand of HWHY came upon him.
5 And it came to be, when AÁaÄ died, 16 And he said, “Thus said HWHY, ‘Make
that the sovereign of Mo’aÄ revolted this wadi ditches – ditches.’
against the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl. 17 “For thus said HWHY, ‘You are not going
6 And Sovereign Yehoram went out of to see wind, nor rain. Yet that wadi is to be
Shomeron at that time and mustered all filled with water, so that you, your cattle,
Yisra’Ãl. and your beasts shall drink.’
7 And he went and sent to Yehoshaphat 18 “And this shall be but a light matter in
sovereign of YehuÅah, saying, “The sover- the eyes of HWHY. And He shall give Mo’aÄ
eign of Mo’aÄ has revolted against me. Do into your hand.
you go with me to fight against Mo’aÄ?” 19 “And you shall smite every walled city
And he said, “I go up. I am as you are, my and every choice city, and shall cut down
people as your people, my horses as your every good tree, and stop up every foun-
horses.” tain of water, and ruin every good piece of
8 And he said, “Which way do we go land with stones.”
up?” And he said, “By way of the Wilder- 20 And it came to be in the morning, when
ness of EÅom.” the grain offering was offered, that see,
9 And the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl went, and water came by way of EÅom, and the land
the sovereign of YehuÅah and the sover- was filled with water.
eign of EÅom, and went round a journey of 21 And when all Mo’aÄ heard that the
seven days. And there was no water for the sovereigns had come up to fight against
army, nor for the cattle that followed them. them, all who were able to bear arms and
10 And the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl said, older were gathered, and they stood at
383 2 MELAËIM 4
the border. behind her and her sons, who brought the
22 And they rose up early in the morning, vessels to her, and she poured it out.
and the sun was shining on the water. And 6 And it came to be, when the vessels
the Mo’aÄites saw the water on the other were filled, that she said to her son, “Bring
side as red as blood. me another vessel.” But he said to her,
23 And they said, “This is blood. The sov- “There is not another vessel.” And the oil
ereigns have indeed struck swords and ceased.
have killed one another. And now, Mo’aÄ, 7 So she went and informed the man of
to the spoil!” Elohim, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and
24 And they came to the camp of Yisra’Ãl, pay your debt. And you and your sons live
and Yisra’Ãl rose up and smote the on the rest.”
Mo’aÄites, so that they fled before them. 8 And it came to be on a day that Elisha
And they entered their land, and smote the went to ShunÃm, where there was a promi-
Mo’aÄites. nent woman, and she urged him to eat
25 And they broke down the cities, and some food. And it came to be, as often as
each man threw a stone on every good he passed by, that he turned in there to eat
piece of land and filled it. And they some food.
stopped up all the fountains of water and 9 And she said to her husband, “Look, I
cut down all the good trees, until only the know that this is a set-apart man of
stones of Qir Àaraseth was left. And the Elohim, who passes by us continually.
slingers went round and smote it. 10 “Please, let us make a small upper
26 And when the sovereign of Mo’aÄ saw room on the wall, and let us put a bed for
that the battle was too strong for him, him there, and a table and a chair and a
he took with him seven hundred men lampstand. And it shall be, whenever he
who drew swords, to break through to the comes to us, let him turn in there.”
sovereign of EÅom, but they could not, 11 And it came to be on a day that he came
27 then took his eldest son who would there, and he turned in to the upper room
have reigned in his place, and offered him and lay down there.
as a burnt offering upon the wall. And 12 And he said to GÃÁazi his servant,
there was great wrath against Yisra’Ãl. And “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he
they left him and returned to the land. called her, and she stood before him.
13 And he said to him, “Please say to her,
do for you? Inform me, what do you have for her?” And GÃÁazi answered, “Well,
in the house?” And she said, “Your female she has no son, and her husband is old.”
servant has none at all in the house except 15 And he said, “Call her.” So he called
everywhere, from all your neighbours, you shall embrace a son.” And she said,
empty vessels, do not get a few. “No, my master, man of Elohim, do not lie
4 “And when you have come in, you to your female servant!”
shall shut the door behind you and your 17 And the woman conceived, and bore a
sons. Then pour it into all those vessels, son when the appointed time had come, of
and set aside the filled ones.” which Elisha had spoken to her.
5 So she went from him and shut the door 18 And the child grew. And it came to be
2 MELAËIM 4 384
on a day that he went out to his father, to But there was no voice and there was no
the reapers, hearing, so he went back to meet him, and
19 and he said to his father, “My head, my reported to him, saying, “The child has not
head!” And he said to a servant, “Take him awakened.”
to his mother.” 32 And Elisha came into the house and
20 So he took him and brought him to his saw the child was dead, lying on his bed,
mother, and he sat on her knees till noon, 33 and he went in, and shut the door
door on him, and went out. and put his mouth on his mouth, and his
22 And she called to her husband, and eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his
said, “Please send me one of the young hands, and stretched himself out on the
men and one of the donkeys, so that I hurry child, and the flesh of the child became
to the man of Elohim and return.” warm.
23 And he said, “Why are you going to 35 And he returned and walked back and
him today? It is neither the New Moon nor forth in the house, then went up and
the Sabbath.” And she said, “It is well!” stretched himself out on him. And the
24 And she saddled the donkey and said to child sneezed seven times, and the child
her servant, “Drive and go, do not slow opened his eyes.
down, except I speak to you.” 36 And he called GÃÁazi and said, “Call
25 And she went, and came to the man of this Shunammite.” So he called her. And
Elohim at Mount Karmel. And it came to she came in to him, and he said, “Pick up
be, when the man of Elohim saw her at a your son.”
distance, that he said to his servant GÃÁazi, 37 Then she went in and fell at his feet,
“See, the Shunammite woman. and bowed herself to the ground, and
26 “Please run now to meet her, and say to picked up her son and went out.
her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with 38 And Elisha returned to Gilgal. And the
your husband? Is it well with the child?’ ” scarcity of food was in the land, and the
And she answered, “It is well.” sons of the prophets were sitting before
27 And she came to the man of Elohim at him. And he said to his servant, “Put on the
the hill, and she caught him by the feet, but large pot, and cook stew for the sons of the
GÃÁazi came near to push her away. But prophets.”
the man of Elohim said, “Leave her alone, 39 And one went out to the field to gather
for her being is bitter in her, and HWHY has plants, and found a wild vine, and gathered
hidden it from me, and has not revealed it wild cucumbers from it, filling the skirt of
to me.” his garment, and came and sliced them into
28 And she said, “Did I ask a son of my the pot of stew, though they did not know
master? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive what they were.
me’?” 40 They then served it to the men to eat.
29 And he said to GÃÁazi, “Gird up your And it came to be, as they were eating the
loins, and take my staff in your hand, and stew, that they cried out and said, “O man
go. When you meet anyone, do not greet of Elohim, there is death in the pot!” And
him, and when anyone greets you, do not they were unable to eat it.
answer him. And you shall lay my staff on 41 And he said, “Then bring some flour.”
the face of the child.” And he put it into the pot, and said, “Serve
30 And the mother of the child said, “As it to the people to eat.” And there was no
HWHY lives, and as your being lives, I do not evil matter in the pot.
leave you.” And he rose and followed her. 42 Now a man came from BaÈal Shalishah,
31 And GÃÁazi went on ahead of them, and brought the man of Elohim bread of
and laid the staff on the face of the child. the first-fruits, twenty loaves of barley
385 2 MELAËIM 5
bread, and newly ripened grain in his me, so that he knows that there is a prophet
knapsack. And he said, “Give it to the peo- in Yisra’Ãl.”
ple to eat.” 9 So NaÈaman came with his horses and
43 And his servant said, “What? Do I set chariot, and he stood at the entrance of the
this before one hundred men?” And he house of Elisha.
said, “Give it to the people to eat. For thus 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him,
said HWHY, ‘Eat and have some left over.’ ” saying, “Go, and you shall wash seven
44 And he set it before them, and they ate times in the YardÃn, that your flesh might
and had some left over, according to the be restored to you, and be clean.”
word of HWHY. 11 But NaÈaman became wroth, and went
brave man, but leprous. the rivers of Damascus, better than all the
2 And the Arameans had gone out on waters of Yisra’Ãl? Could I not wash in
raids, and had brought back captive a them and be clean?” And he turned and
young girl from the land of Yisra’Ãl, and went away in a rage.
she served the wife of NaÈaman. 13 And his servants came near and spoke
3 And she said to her mistress, “If only to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet
my master were with the prophet who is in had spoken to you a great matter, would
Shomeron! Then he would recover him of you not have done it? How much more
his leprosy.” then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be
4 And NaÈaman went in and reported to clean’?”
his master, saying, “Thus and thus spoke 14 Then he went down and dipped seven
the girl who is from the land of Yisra’Ãl.” times in the YardÃn, according to the word
5 And the sovereign of Aram said, “Go, of the man of Elohim. And his flesh was
enter, and let me send a letter to the sover- restored like the flesh of a little child, and
eign of Yisra’Ãl.” And he went and took he was clean.
with him ten talents of silver, and six thou- 15 And he returned to the man of Elohim,
sand pieces of gold, and ten changes of he and all his company, and came and
garments. stood before him and said, “See, now I
6 And he brought the letter to the sover- know that there is no Elohim in all the
eign of Yisra’Ãl, which said, “And now, earth, except in Yisra’Ãl. And now, please
when this letter comes to you, see I have take a gift from your servant.”
sent NaÈaman my servant to you, so that 16 But he said, “As HWHY lives, before
you shall recover him of his leprosy.” whom I stand, I do not accept it.” And he
7 And it came to be, when the sovereign pressed on him to accept it, but he refused.
of Yisra’Ãl read the letter, that he tore his 17 Then NaÈaman said, “If not, please let
garments and said, “Am I Elohim, to kill your servant be given two mule-loads of
and keep alive, that this man sends a man earth, for no longer is your servant going
to me to recover him of his leprosy? For to make a burnt offering and slaughtering
consider now, and see how he is seeking to other mighty ones, but to HWHY.
an occasion with me!” 18 “HWHY grant forgiveness to your servant
8 And it came to be, when Elisha the man in this matter: when my master goes into
of Elohim heard that the sovereign of the house of Rimmon to worship there, and
Yisra’Ãl had torn his garments, that he sent he leans on my hand, and I bow down in
to the sovereign, saying, “Why have you the house of Rimmon; when I bow down in
torn your garments? Please let him come to the house of Rimmon, HWHY, please grant
2 MELAËIM 5 386
forgiveness to your servant in this matter.” 3 Then the one said, “Please undertake to
19 Then he said to him, “Go in peace.” go with your servants.” And he answered,
And when he had gone from him some “I shall go.”
distance, 4 And he went with them, and they came
20 But GÃÁazi, the servant of Elisha the to the YardÃn, and they cut down trees.
man of Elohim, said to himself, “Look, my 5 And it came to be, as one was cutting
master has spared NaÈaman this Aramean, down a tree, that the iron axe head fell into
while not receiving from his hands what he the water. And he cried out and said, “Oh
brought. But as HWHY lives, I shall run after my master, for it was borrowed!”
him and take whatever from him.” 6 And the man of Elohim said, “Where
21 And GÃÁazi pursued NaÈaman. And did it fall?” And he showed him the place.
when NaÈaman saw him running after him, And he cut off a stick, and threw it in there,
he came down from the chariot to meet and made the iron float.
him, and said, “Is there peace?” 7 And he said, “Pick it up.” And he
22 And he said, “Peace. My master has reached out his hand and took it.
sent me, saying, ‘Look, even now two 8 And the sovereign of Aram was fight-
young men of the sons of the prophets ing against Yisra’Ãl, and took counsel with
have come to me from the mountains of his servants, saying, “My camp is in such
Ephrayim. Please give them a talent of and such a place.”
silver and two changes of garments.’ ” 9 And the man of Elohim sent to the
23 And NaÈaman said, “Please accept two sovereign of Yisra’Ãl, saying, “Be on
talents.” And he urged him, and bound two guard, do not pass this place, for the
talents of silver in two bags, with two Arameans are coming down there.”
changes of garments, and handed them to 10 The sovereign of Yisra’Ãl then sent to
two of his servants. And they bare them the place of which the man of Elohim had
ahead of him. spoken to him, and warned him, so that he
24 And when he came to the high place, he was on his guard there, not once, and not
took them from their hand, and stored twice.
them away in the house, and let the men 11 And this greatly troubled the heart of
cattle, and male and female servants? so that I send and get him.” And it was
27 “So let the leprosy of NaÈaman cling to reported to him, saying, “See, he is in
you and your descendants forever.” And Dothan.”
he went out from him as leprous as snow. 14 And he sent horses and chariots and a
dwell with you is too small for us. rose early and went out, and saw an army,
2 “Please, let us go to the YardÃn, and let surrounding the city with horses and chari-
every man take a log from there, and let us ots. And his servant said to him, “Oh, my
make there a place to dwell.” And he master! What do we do?”
answered, “Go.” 16 And he answered, “Do not fear, for
387 2 MELAËIM 7
those who are with us are more than those the threshing floor or from the winepress?”
who are with them.” 28 And the sovereign said to her, “What is
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “HWHY, I troubling you?” And she answered, “This
pray, open his eyes and let him see.” And woman said to me, ‘Give your son and let
HWHY opened the eyes of the young man, us eat him today, and tomorrow we eat my
and he looked and saw the mountain son.’
covered with horses and chariots of fire 29 “So we cooked my son, and ate him.
all around Elisha. And I said to her on the next day, ‘Give
18 And when they came down to him, your son and let us eat him.’ But she has
Elisha prayed to HWHY, and said, “Strike hidden her son.”
this nation with blindness, I pray.” And He 30 And it came to be, when the sovereign
struck them with blindness according to heard the words of the woman, that he tore
the word of Elisha. his garments. And as he passed by on the
19 And Elisha said to them, “This is not wall, the people looked and saw the sack-
the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, cloth on his body, underneath.
and let me bring you to the man whom you 31 And he said, “Elohim do so to me and
seek.” But he led them to Shomeron. more also, if the head of Elisha son of
20 And it came to be, when they had come Shaphat remains on him today.”
to Shomeron, that Elisha said, “HWHY, open 32 And Elisha was sitting in his house, and
the eyes of these men so that they see.” the elders were sitting with him. And the
And HWHY opened their eyes, and they sovereign sent a man ahead of him, but
looked and saw they were in the midst of before the messenger came to him, he said
Shomeron! to the elders, “Do you see how this son of a
21 And when the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl murderer has sent someone to take away
saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, my head? Look, when the messenger
should I smite? Should I smite?” comes, shut the door, and hold him fast at
22 But he said, “Do not smite. Do you the door. Is not the sound of his master’s
smite those whom you have taken captive feet behind him?”
with your sword and your bow? Set food 33 While he was still speaking with them,
and water before them and let them eat and then see, the messenger came down to him,
drink and go to their master.” and he said, “Look, this evil is from HWHY,
23 And he made a great feast for them. why should I wait for HWHY any longer?”
And after they ate and drank, he let them
go, and they went to their master. And the
bands of Aramean raiders came no more 7 And Elisha said, “Hear the word of
HWHY. Thus said HWHY, ‘About this time
into the land of Yisra’Ãl. tomorrow a seah of fine flour for a sheqel,
24 And after this it came to be that Ben- and two seahs of barley for a sheqel, at the
HaÅaÅ the sovereign of Aram mustered all gate of Shomeron.’ ”
his army, and went up and besieged 2 And an officer on whose hand the sov-
shall die. And now, come, let us surrender horses that are left in the city. Look, they
to the army of the Arameans. If they keep are like the entire crowd of Yisra’Ãl that
us alive, we live. And if they kill us, we are left in it, look, they are like the entire
shall die.” crowd of Yisra’Ãl left from those who are
5 So at twilight they rose up to go to the consumed. So let us send and see.”
camp of the Arameans. And when they had 14 They then took two chariots with hors-
come to the outskirts of the Aramean es. And the sovereign sent them in the
camp, look, no one was there. direction of the camp of Aram, saying,
6 For HWHY had caused the army of the “Go and see.”
Arameans to hear the noise of chariots and 15 And they went after them to the
the noise of horses, the noise of a great YardÃn. And look, all the way was littered
army, and they said to each other, “Look, with garments and weapons which the
the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl has hired against Arameans had thrown away in their haste.
us the sovereigns of the Àittites and the And the messengers returned and reported
sovereigns of the Mitsrites to come against to the sovereign.
us!” 16 Then the people went out and plun-
7 So they rose up and fled at twilight, and dered the camp of Aram. So a seah of fine
left the camp as it is – their tents, and their flour was for a sheqel, and two seahs of
horses, and their donkeys – and they fled barley for a sheqel, according to the word
for their lives. of HWHY.
8 And when these lepers came to the out- 17 And the sovereign had appointed the
skirts of the camp, they went into one tent officer on whose hand he leaned to be in
and ate and drank, and took from there charge of the gate. But the people trampled
silver and gold and garments, and went him in the gate, and he died, as the man of
and hid them. And they came back and Elohim had said, who spoke when the
went into another tent, and took from there sovereign came down to him.
and went and hid it. 18 And it came to be, as the man of
9 Then they said to each other, “We are Elohim had spoken to the sovereign, say-
not doing right. This day is a day of good ing, “Two seahs of barley for a sheqel, and
news, and we are keeping silent. And if we a seah of fine flour for a sheqel, at this time
wait until morning light, then evil shall tomorrow in the gate of Shomeron,”
come upon us. And now, come, let us go 19 that officer answered the man of
and inform the house of the sovereign.” Elohim, and said, “Now look, if HWHY is
10 And they came and called to the gate- making windows in the heavens, is it
keepers of the city, and informed them, according to this word?” And he had said,
saying, “We went to the camp of Aram, “Look, you are about to see it with your
and look, there is not a man or a voice of eyes, but not eat of it.”
man, only horses tied and donkeys tied, 20 And so it came to be for him, for the
and the tents as they were.” people trampled him in the gate, and he
11 And the gatekeepers called, and they died.
informed the house of the sovereign inside.
12 So the sovereign rose up in the night
and said to his servants, “Let me now 8 And Elisha spoke to the woman
whose son he had restored to life, say-
inform you what the Arameans have done ing, “Rise up and go, you and your house-
to us. They know that we are starving, so hold, and sojourn wherever you do
they have gone out of the camp to hide sojourn, for HWHY has called for a scarcity
themselves in the field, saying, ‘When they of food, and also, it is coming upon the
come out of the city, we shall catch them land for seven years.”
alive, and enter into the city.’ ” 2 And the woman rose up and did accord-
13 And one of his servants answered and ing to the word of the man of Elohim, and
said, “Please, let some take five of the she went with her household and sojourned
389 2 MELAËIM 8
in the land of the Philistines, seven years. strongholds on fire, and slaying their
3 And it came to be, at the end of seven young men with the sword, and dashing
years, that the woman returned from the their children, and ripping open their
land of the Philistines. And she went to cry women with child.”
out to the sovereign for her house and for 13 And Àaza’Ãl said, “But what is your
sovereign for her house and for her land. he took a thick cloth and dipped it in water,
And GÃÁazi said, “My master, O sover- and spread it over his face so that he died.
eign, this is the woman, and this is her son And Àaza’Ãl reigned in his place.
whom Elisha restored to life.” 16 And in the fifth year of Yehoram son of
6 So the sovereign asked the woman, and AÁaÄ sovereign of Yisra’Ãl – Yehoshaphat
she related to him. And the sovereign was sovereign of YehuÅah – Yehoram son
appointed a certain eunuch for her, saying, of Yehoshaphat began to reign as sover-
“Return all that was hers, and all the eign of YehuÅah.
increase of the field from the day that she 17 He was thirty-two years old when he
left the land until now.” began to reign, and he reigned eight years
7 And Elisha came to Damascus, and in Yerushalayim.
Ben-HaÅaÅ sovereign of Aram was sick. 18 And he walked in the way of the sover-
And it was reported to him, saying, “The eigns of Yisra’Ãl, as the house of AÁaÄ had
man of Elohim has come here.” done, for the daughter of AÁaÄ was his
8 And the sovereign said to Àaza’Ãl, wife. And he did evil in the eyes of HWHY.
“Take a present in your hand, and go to 19 However, HWHY would not destroy
meet the man of Elohim, and inquire of YehuÅah, for the sake of DawiÅ His ser-
HWHY by him, saying, ‘Do I recover from vant, as He promised him to give a lamp to
this sickness?’ ” him and his sons forever.
9 And Àaza’Ãl went to meet him and took 20 In his days EÅom revolted from under
a present with him, of all the good wares the hand of YehuÅah, and made a sover-
of Damascus, forty camel-loads. And he eign over themselves.
came and stood before him, and said, 21 And Yoram passed over to TsaÈir, and
“Your son Ben-HaÅaÅ sovereign of Aram all his chariots with him. And he rose by
has sent me to you, saying, ‘Do I recover night and smote the EÅomites who had sur-
from this sickness?’ ” rounded him and the commanders of the
10 And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to chariots, but his people fled to their tents.
him, ‘You shall certainly recover.’ But 22 Yet EÅom has been in revolt from
HWHY has shown me that he shall certainly under the hand of YehuÅah to this day.
die.” Then LiÄnah revolted at the same time.
11 And he looked at him steadily until he 23 And the rest of the acts of Yoram, and
was ashamed. Then the man of Elohim all that he did, are they not written in the
wept. book of the annals of the sovereigns of
12 And Àaza’Ãl said, “Why is my master YehuÅah?
weeping?” And he answered, “Because I 24 So Yoram slept with his fathers, and
know the evil that you are going to do to was buried with his fathers in the City of
the children of Yisra’Ãl: Setting their DawiÅ. And AÁazyahu his son reigned in
2 MELAËIM 8 390
of Yehoram sovereign of YehuÅah began your master, and I shall avenge the blood
to reign. of My servants the prophets, and the blood
26 AÁazyahu was twenty-two years old of all the servants of HWHY, at the hand of
when he began to reign, and he reigned IzeÄel.
one year in Yerushalayim. And the name 8 ‘And all the house of AÁaÄ shall perish.
of his mother was Athalyahu, the grand- And I shall cut off from AÁaÄ all the males
daughter of Omri, sovereign of Yisra’Ãl. in Yisra’Ãl, both those shut up and those
27 And he walked in the way of the house left at large.
of AÁaÄ, and did evil in the eyes of HWHY, 9 ‘And I shall give up the house of AÁaÄ
as the house of AÁaÄ had done, for he was like the house of YaroÄÈam son of NeÄat,
the son-in-law of the house of AÁaÄ. and like the house of BaÈasha son of
28 And he went with Yoram son of AÁaÄ AÁiyah.
to battle against Àaza’Ãl sovereign of 10 ‘And the dogs are going to eat IzeÄel in
Aram at Ramoth GilÈaÅ, and the Arameans the portion of YizreÈÃl, with none to bury
smote Yoram. her.’ ” Then he opened the door and fled.
29 And Sovereign Yoram went back to 11 And YÃhu came out to the servants of
YizreÈÃl to recover from the wounds with his master, and one said to him, “Is there
which the Arameans had smitten him at peace? Why did this madman come to
Ramah, when he fought against Àaza’Ãl you?” And he said to them, “You know the
sovereign of Aram. Then AÁazyahu son man and his talk.”
of Yehoram, the sovereign of YehuÅah, 12 And they said, “A lie! Reveal it to us
went down to see Yoram son of AÁaÄ in now.” So he said, “Thus and thus he spoke
YizreÈÃl, for he was sick. to me, saying, ‘Thus said HWHY, “I have
anointed you sovereign over Yisra’Ãl.” ’ ”
9 And Elisha the prophet called one of
the sons of the prophets, and said to
13 And they hurried, and each one took his
for YÃhu son of Yehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, conspired against Yoram – now
Nimshi, and go in and make him rise up Yoram had been guarding Ramoth GilÈaÅ,
from among his brothers, and take him to he and all Yisra’Ãl, against Àaza’Ãl sover-
an inner room, eign of Aram.
3 “and take the flask of oil, and pour it on 15 But Sovereign Yehoram had returned
his head, and say, ‘Thus said HWHY, “I have to YizreÈÃl to recover from the wounds
anointed you sovereign over Yisra’Ãl.” ’ with which the Arameans had smitten him
Then you shall open the door and flee, and when he fought with Àaza’Ãl sovereign of
do not wait.” Aram – YÃhu now said, “If this is your
4 So the young man – the young man the desire, let no one leave or escape from the
prophet – went to Ramoth GilÈaÅ, city to go and make it known in YizreÈÃl!”
5 and came in and saw the commanders 16 And YÃhu rode in a chariot and went to
of the army sitting. And he said, “I have a YizreÈÃl, for Yoram was laid up there. And
message for you, O commander.” And AÁazyah sovereign of YehuÅah had come
YÃhu said, “For which one of us?” And he down to see Yoram.
said, “For you, commander.” 17 And a watchman stood on the tower in
6 And he rose up and went into the YizreÈÃl, and he saw the company of YÃhu
house. And he poured the oil on his head, as he came, and said, “I see a company of
and said to him, “Thus said HWHY Elohim of men.” And Yehoram said, “Get a horse-
391 2 MELAËIM 10
man and send him to meet them, and let saw this and fled up the way to BÃyth
him say, ‘Is there peace?’ ” Haggan. And YÃhu pursued him, and said,
18 And the horseman went to meet him, “Smite him, him too, in the chariot,” at the
and said, “Thus said the sovereign, ‘Is ascent to Gur, which is by YiÄleÈam. And
there peace?’ ” And YÃhu said, “What he fled to MeÍiddo, and died there.
have you to do with peace? Turn around 28 Then his servants conveyed him in the
and follow me.” And the watchman spoke, chariot to Yerushalayim, and buried him in
saying, “The messenger went to them, but his tomb with his fathers in the City of
is not coming back.” DawiÅ.
19 Then he sent out a second horseman 29 And in the eleventh year of Yoram son
who came to them, and said, “Thus said of AÁaÄ, AÁazyah began to reign over
the sovereign, ‘Is there peace?’ ” And YehuÅah.
YÃhu answered, “What have you to do 30 And YÃhu came to YizreÈÃl, and IzeÄel
with peace? Turn around and follow me.” heard of it. And she put paint on her eyes
20 And the watchman spoke, saying, “He and adorned her head, and looked through
went up to them and is not coming back. a window.
And the driving is like the driving of YÃhu 31 And as YÃhu came to the gate, she said,
son of Nimshi, for he drives madly!” “Is it peace, Zimri, slayer of your master?”
21 Then Yehoram said, “Hitch up.” And 32 And he lifted up his face to the window
his chariot was hitched up. And Yehoram and said, “Who is with me? Who?” And
sovereign of Yisra’Ãl and AÁazyahu sover- two, three eunuchs looked down to him.
eign of YehuÅah went out, each in his 33 And he said, “Throw her down.” And
chariot. And they went out to meet YÃhu, they threw her down, and some of her
and met him on the portion of NaÄoth the blood spattered on the wall and on the
YizreÈÃlite. horses, and he trampled her under foot.
22 And it came to be, when Yehoram saw 34 And he went in, and he ate and drank,
YÃhu, that he said, “Is there peace, YÃhu?” and said, “Go now, see to this cursed one,
But he answered, “What peace, as long as and bury her, for she was a sovereign’s
the whorings of your mother IzeÄel and her daughter.”
witchcraft are so many?” 35 So they went to bury her, but all they
23 Thereupon Yehoram turned his hands found of her was the skull and the feet and
around and fled, and said to AÁazyahu, the palms of the hands.
“Treachery, O AÁazyah!” 36 And they came back and informed him.
24 And YÃhu drew his bow and shot And he said, “This is the word of HWHY,
Yehoram between his arms. And the arrow which He spoke by His servant Âliyahu the
came out at his heart, and he sank down in Tishbite, saying, ‘In the portion of YizreÈÃl
his chariot. dogs are going to eat the flesh of IzeÄel,
25 And YÃhu said to BiÅqar his officer, 37 and the corpse of IzeÄel shall be as
“Take him up, and throw him into the dung on the surface of the field, in the
portion of the field of NaÄoth the portion of YizreÈÃl, so that they do not say,
YizreÈÃlite. Remember how you and I were “This is IzeÄel.” ’ ”
riding together behind AÁaÄ his father, and
HWHY lifted up this pronouncement against
him: 10 And AÁaÄ had seventy sons in
Shomeron. And YÃhu wrote letters
26 ‘Have I not seen the blood of NaÄoth and sent to Shomeron, to the rulers of
and the blood of his sons last night?’ YizreÈÃl, to the elders, and to the guardians
declares HWHY. ‘And I shall repay you in of AÁaÄ, saying,
this portion,’ declares HWHY. And now, take 2 And now, when this letter comes to
up, throw him on the portion, according you, since your master’s sons are with you,
to the word of HWHY.” and you have chariots and horses, and a
27 And AÁazyah sovereign of YehuÅah walled city, and weapons,
2 MELAËIM 10 392
3 choose the best and most upright of ers of AÁazyahu, and we have come down
your master’s sons, and set him on his to greet the sons of the sovereign and the
father’s throne, and fight for your master’s sons of the sovereigness mother.”
house. 14 And he said, “Take them alive!” So
4 And they were greatly afraid, and said, they took them alive, and slew them at the
“Look, two sovereigns have not stood well of BÃyth ÂqeÅ, forty-two men, and he
before him, how do we stand, we?” left none of them.
5 And he who was over the house, and he 15 And he left there and met YehonaÅaÄ
who was over the city, the elders also, and son of RÿaÄ, coming to meet him, and
the guardians, sent to YÃhu, saying, “We blessed him and said to him, “Is your heart
are your servants, and all that you say to us right, as my heart is toward your heart?”
we do. We do not set up anyone to reign. And YehonaÅaÄ answered, “It is.” YÃhu
Do what is good in your eyes.” said, “If it is, give me your hand.” And he
6 And he wrote a second letter to them, gave him his hand, and he took him up to
saying, If you are for me, and if you obey him into the chariot.
my voice, take the heads of the men, your 16 And he said, “Come with me, and see
master’s sons, and come to me at YizreÈÃl my ardour for HWHY.” And they made him
by this time tomorrow. Now the sover- ride in his chariot.
eign’s sons, seventy beings, were with the 17 And he came to Shomeron, and smote
great men of the city, who brought them all those left of AÁaÄ in Shomeron, till he
up. had destroyed them, according to the word
7 And it came to be, when the letter came of HWHY which He spoke to Âliyahu.
to them, that they took the sovereign’s 18 And YÃhu gathered all the people and
sons and slaughtered them, seventy men, said to them, “AÁaÄ served BaÈal a little;
and put their heads in baskets and sent YÃhu serves him much.
them to him at YizreÈÃl. 19 “And now, call to me all the prophets
8 Then a messenger came and informed of BaÈal, all his servants, and all his priests.
him, saying, “They have brought the heads Let no one be missing, for I have a great
of the sovereign’s sons.” And he said, slaughtering to make to BaÈal. Anyone
“Make them two heaps at the entrance of who is lacking shall not live!” But YÃhu
the gate until morning.” did this deceptively, in order to destroy the
9 And it came to be, in the morning, that servants of BaÈal.
he went out and stood, and said to all the 20 And YÃhu said, “Set apart an assembly
people, “You are righteous. Look, I con- for BaÈal.” So they proclaimed it.
spired against my master and slew him, but 21 And YÃhu sent throughout all Yisra’Ãl,
who smote all these? and all the servants of BaÈal came, so that
10 “Know now that not one word of HWHY there was not a man left who did not come.
which HWHY spoke concerning the house of And they came into the house of BaÈal, and
AÁaÄ does fall to the ground, for HWHY has the house of BaÈal was filled from end
done what He spoke by His servant to end.
Âliyahu.” 22 And he said to him who was over the
11 And YÃhu smote all those left of the wardrobe, “Bring out garments for all the
house of AÁaÄ in YizreÈÃl, and all his great servants of BaÈal.” And he brought out gar-
men and his friends and his priests, until he ments for them.
left him without a survivor. 23 And YÃhu and YehonaÅaÄ son of
12 And he rose up to go, and went to RÿaÄ went into the house of BaÈal, and
Shomeron. On the way, at BÃyth ÂqeÅ of said to the servants of BaÈal, “Search and
the Shepherds, see that no servants of HWHY are here with
13 YÃhu met the brothers of AÁazyahu you, but only the servants of BaÈal.”
sovereign of YehuÅah, and said, “Who are 24 So they went in to make offerings and
you?” And they answered, “We are broth- burnt offerings. Now YÃhu had appointed
393 2 MELAËIM 11
My eyes, and have done to the house of “This is what you are to do: One-third of
AÁaÄ all that was in My heart, your sons you who come in on the Sabbath to be on
are going to sit on the throne of Yisra’Ãl to guard in the sovereign’s house,
the fourth generation.” 6 and one-third at the gate of Sur, and
31 But YÃhu did not guard to walk in the one-third at the gate behind the runners.
Torah of HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl with all And you shall be on guard in the house,
his heart. For he did not turn away from lest it be broken down.
the sins of YaroÄÈam, who had made 7 “And the two detachments of you
that he did, and all his might, are they not according to all that YehoyaÅa the priest
written in the book of the annals of the commanded. And each of them took his
sovereigns of Yisra’Ãl? men who were going in on the Sabbath,
35 So YÃhu slept with his fathers, and they with those who were going out on the
buried him in Shomeron. And Yeho’aÁaz Sabbath, and came to YehoyaÅa the priest.
his son reigned in his place. 10 And the priest gave the commanders of
36 And the days that YÃhu reigned over hundreds the spears and shields which had
Yisra’Ãl in Shomeron were twenty-eight belonged to Sovereign DawiÅ, that were
2 MELAËIM 11 394
runners, the people, and she came to the taken away; the people still slaughter and
people, into the House of HWHY, burned incense on the high places.
14 and looked and saw the sovereign 4 And Yeho’ash said to the priests, “All
standing by a column, according to the the silver of the set-apart gifts that are
ruling, and the chiefs and the trumpeters brought into the House of HWHY, the silver
were beside the sovereign, and all the coming over, each man’s assessment
people of the land rejoicing and blowing silver, all the silver that a man purposes in
trumpets. And Athalyah tore her garments his heart to bring into the House of HWHY,
5 let the priests take for themselves, each
and cried out, “Treason! Treason!”
15 And YehoyaÅa the priest commanded from his friend. And let them repair the
the commanders of the hundreds, the offi- damages of the House, wherever there is
cers of the army, and said to them, “Take damage.”
6 And it came to be, by the twenty-third
her outside the ranks, and slay with the
sword whoever follows her.” For the priest year of Sovereign Yeho’ash, that the
had said, “Do not let her be killed in the priests had not repaired the damages of the
House of HWHY.” House,
16 So they took hold of her, and she went 7 and Sovereign Yeho’ash called Yeho-
by way of the horses’ entrance to the sov- yaÅa the priest and the other priests, and
ereign’s house, and was put to death there. said to them, “Why have you not repaired
17 And YehoyaÅa made a covenant the damages of the House? And now, do
between HWHY and the sovereign and the not take any more silver from your friends,
people, to be the people of HWHY – also but give it for repairing the damages of the
between the sovereign and the people. House.”
18 And all the people of the land went to 8 And the priests agreed that they would
the house of BaÈal, and broke it down. neither receive any more silver from the
They completely broke up its altars and people, nor repair the damages of the
images, and slew Mattan the priest of BaÈal House.
before the altars. And the priest appointed 9 And YehoyaÅa the priest took a chest,
inspectors over the House of HWHY, and bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside
19 and took the commanders of hundreds, the altar, on the right side as one comes
and the Karites, and the runners, and all the into the House of HWHY. And the priests
people of the land. And they brought the who guarded the door put there all the
sovereign down from the House of HWHY, silver that was brought into the House of
and went by way of the gate of the runners HWHY.
to the sovereign’s house. And he sat on the 10 And it came to be, whenever they saw
throne of the sovereigns. that there was much silver in the chest, that
20 And all the people of the land rejoiced. the sovereign’s scribe and the high priest
And the city had rest, for they had slain came up and put it in bags, and counted the
Athalyahu with the sword in the sover- silver that was found in the House of HWHY,
395 2 MELAËIM 13
repair the damage of the House of HWHY, followed the sins of YaroÄÈam son of
and for all that was paid out to repair the NeÄat, who had made Yisra’Ãl sin. He did
House. not turn away from them.
13 However there were not made for the 3 And the displeasure of HWHY burned
House of HWHY basins of silver, snuffers, against Yisra’Ãl, and He gave them into
sprinkling-bowls, trumpets, any objects of the hand of Àaza’Ãl sovereign of Aram,
gold, or objects of silver, from the silver and into the hand of Ben-HaÅaÅ son of
that was brought into the House of HWHY, Àaza’Ãl, all the days.
14 for they gave that to the workmen, and 4 Then Yeho’aÁaz sought the face of
they repaired the House of HWHY with it. HWHY. And HWHY listened to him, for He saw
15 And they did not reckon with the men the oppression of Yisra’Ãl, because the
into whose hand they gave the silver to be sovereign of Aram oppressed them.
paid to workmen, for they acted trust- 5 And HWHY gave Yisra’Ãl a saviour, so
It belonged to the priests. the sins of the house of YaroÄÈam, who had
17 And Àaza’Ãl sovereign of Aram went made Yisra’Ãl sin, but walked in them.
up and fought against Gath, and captured Moreover, the AshÃrah also remained in
it. And Àaza’Ãl set his face to go up to Shomeron.
Yerushalayim. 7 For He left of the army of Yeho’aÁaz
18 And Yeho’ash sovereign of YehuÅah only fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and
took all the set-apart gifts that his fathers, ten thousand footmen, for the sovereign of
Yehoshaphat and Yehoram and AÁazyahu, Aram had destroyed them and made them
sovereigns of YehuÅah, had set apart, and like the dust at threshing.
his own set-apart gifts, and all the gold 8 And the rest of the acts of Yeho’aÁaz,
found in the treasuries of the House of and all that he did, and his might, are they
HWHY and in the sovereign’s house, and sent not written in the book of the annals of the
them to Àaza’Ãl sovereign of Aram. Then sovereigns of Yisra’Ãl?
he went away from Yerushalayim. 9 So Yeho’aÁaz slept with his fathers,
19 And the rest of the acts of Yo’ash, and and they buried him in Shomeron. And
all that he did, are they not written in the Yo’ash his son reigned in his place.
book of the annals of the sovereigns of 10 In the thirty-seventh year of Yo’ash
And Amatsyah his son reigned in his all that he did, and his might with which he
2 MELAËIM 13 396
fought against Amatsyah sovereign of with AÄraham, YitsÁaq, and YaÈaqoÄ, and
YehuÅah, are they not written in the book would not destroy them or cast them from
of the annals of the sovereigns of Yisra’Ãl? His presence as yet.
13 So Yo’ash slept with his fathers. And 24 And Àaza’Ãl sovereign of Aram died.
YaroÄÈam sat on his throne. And Yo’ash And Ben-HaÅaÅ his son reigned in his
was buried in Shomeron with the sover- place.
eigns of Yisra’Ãl. 25 And Yeho’ash son of Yeho’aÁaz recov-
14 And Elisha had become sick with the ered from the hand of Ben-HaÅaÅ, son of
sickness in which he died. And Yo’ash the Àaza’Ãl, the cities which he had taken
sovereign of Yisra’Ãl came down to him, out of the hand of Yeho’aÁaz his father in
and wept over his face, and said, “O my battle. Yo’ash smote him three times, and
father, my father, the chariots of Yisra’Ãl he recovered the cities of Yisra’Ãl.
and their horsemen!”
15 And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow
and some arrows.” And he took a bow and 14 In the second year of Yo’ash son
of Yo’aÁaz, sovereign of Yisra’Ãl,
some arrows. Amatsyahu son of Yo’ash, sovereign of
16 And he said to the sovereign of YehuÅah, began to reign.
Yisra’Ãl, “Place your hand on the bow.” So 2 He was twenty-five years old when he
he placed his hand, and Elisha placed his began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine
hands on the hands of the sovereign, years in Yerushalayim. And his mother’s
17 and said, “Open the east window.” And name was YehoÈaddin of Yerushalayim.
he had opened it and Elisha said, “Shoot.” 3 And he did what was right in the eyes
And he shot. Then he said, “The arrow of of HWHY, but not like his father DawiÅ. He
deliverance of HWHY and the arrow of deliv- did according to all his father Yo’ash did.
erance from Aram, for you shall smite 4 However, the high places were not
Aram at AphÃq until it is finished.” taken away. The people still slaughtered
18 Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and and burned incense on the high places.
he took them. And he said to the sovereign 5 And it came to be, as soon as the reign
of Yisra’Ãl, “Strike the ground,” and he was established in his hand, that he smote
struck three times, and stopped. his servants who had smitten his father the
19 And the man of Elohim was wroth with sovereign.
him and said, “You should have smitten 6 But he did not put to death the children
five or six times, then you would have of the murderers, according to what is
smitten Aram till its utter destruction. But written in the Book of the Torah of
now you shall smite Aram only three Mosheh, in which HWHY commanded, say-
times.” ing, “Fathers are not put to death for the
20 And Elisha died, and they buried him. children, and children are not put to death
And the raiding bands from Mo’aÄ came for the fathers, but each one is put to death
into the land in the spring of the year. for his own sin.”
21 And it came to be, they were burying a 7 He smote EÅom in the Valley of Salt,
man, and there they saw a raiding band, ten thousand, and took Sela in battle, and
and cast the man in the tomb of Elisha. called its name Yoqthe’Ãl to this day.
And the man fell and touched the bones of 8 Amatsyah then sent messengers to
Elisha, and came to life and stood on his Yeho’ash son of Yeho’aÁaz, son of YÃhu,
feet. sovereign of Yisra’Ãl, saying, “Come, let
22 And Àaza’Ãl sovereign of Aram us look each other in the face!”
oppressed Yisra’Ãl all the days of 9 And Yeho’ash sovereign of Yisra’Ãl
wife.’ And a wild beast that was in 21 And all the people of YehuÅah took
LeÄanon passed by and trampled the Azaryah, who was sixteen years old, and
thistle. set him up to reign instead of his father
10 “You have certainly smitten EÅom, and Amatsyahu.
your heart has lifted you up. Be esteemed 22 He built Âylath and restored it to
and stay in your house. But why do you YehuÅah, after the sovereign slept with his
stir up yourself to evil, that you should fathers.
fall – you and YehuÅah with you?” 23 In the fifteenth year of Amatsyahu son
11 But Amatsyahu did not listen, so of Yo’ash, the sovereign of YehuÅah,
Yeho’ash sovereign of Yisra’Ãl went up, YaroÄÈam son of Yo’ash, the sovereign of
and he and Amatsyahu sovereign of Yehu- Yisra’Ãl, began to reign in Shomeron, and
Åah faced one another at BÃyth Shemesh, reigned forty-one years.
which belongs to YehuÅah. 24 And he did evil in the eyes of HWHY. He
12 And YehuÅah was smitten before Yis- did not turn away from all the sins of
ra’Ãl, and they each fled to his tent. YaroÄÈam son of NeÄat, who had made
13 And Yeho’ash sovereign of Yisra’Ãl Yisra’Ãl sin.
caught Amatsyahu sovereign of YehuÅah, 25 He restored the border of Yisra’Ãl from
son of Yeho’ash, son of AÁazyahu, at the entrance of Àamath to the Sea of the
BÃyth Shemesh. And they came to AraÄah, according to the word of HWHY
Yerushalayim and he broke through the Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, which He had spoken
wall of Yerushalayim from the Gate of through His servant Yonah son of Amittai,
Ephrayim to the Corner Gate, four hundred the prophet who was from Gath ÀÃpher.
cubits, 26 For HWHY saw that the affliction of
14 and took all the gold and silver, and all Yisra’Ãl was very bitter. And there was no
the objects that were found in the House of one, neither shut up nor left at large, to
HWHY and in the treasuries of the sover- help Yisra’Ãl.
eign’s house, and hostages, and returned to 27 And HWHY had not said that He would
YehuÅah, are they not written in the book and all that he did, and his might, how he
of the annals of the sovereigns of Yisra’Ãl? fought, and how he recovered Damascus
16 So Yeho’ash slept with his fathers, and and Àamath for YehuÅah in Yisra’Ãl, are
was buried in Shomeron with the sover- they not written in the book of the annals
eigns of Yisra’Ãl. And YaroÄÈam his son of the sovereigns of Yisra’Ãl?
reigned in his place. 29 So YaroÄÈam slept with his fathers, the
17 And Amatsyahu son of Yo’ash, sover- sovereigns of Yisra’Ãl. And Ze¿aryah his
eign of YehuÅah, lived fifteen years after son reigned in his place.
the death of Yeho’ash son of Yeho’aÁaz,
sovereign of Yisra’Ãl.
18 And the rest of the acts of Amatsyahu, 15 In the twenty-seventh year of
YaroÄÈam sovereign of Yisra’Ãl,
are they not written in the book of the Azaryah son of Amatsyah, sovereign of
annals of the sovereigns of YehuÅah? YehuÅah, began to reign.
19 And they made a conspiracy against 2 He was sixteen years old when he
buried at Yerushalayim with his fathers in of HWHY, according to all that his father
the City of DawiÅ. Amatsyahu did,
2 MELAËIM 15 398
4 however, the high places were not open all the pregnant women.
taken away. The people still slaughtered 17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azaryah sov-
and burned incense on the high places. ereign of YehuÅah, MenaÁÃm son of GaÅi
5 And HWHY smote the sovereign, so that began to reign over Yisra’Ãl, ten years in
he was a leper until the day of his death, Shomeron.
and he dwelt in a separate house. And 18 And he did evil in the eyes of HWHY. He
Yotham son of the sovereign was over the did not turn away from the sins of
house, ruling the people of the land. YaroÄÈam son of NeÄat, who had made
6 And the rest of the acts of Azaryahu, Yisra’Ãl sin, all his days.
and all that he did, are they not written in 19 Pul the sovereign of Ashshur came
the book of the annals of the sovereigns of against the land. And MenaÁÃm gave Pul a
YehuÅah? thousand talents of silver, for his hand to
7 So Azaryah slept with his fathers, and be with him to strengthen the reign in his
they buried him with his fathers in the City hand.
of DawiÅ. And Yotham his son reigned in 20 And MenaÁÃm exacted the silver of
his fathers had done. He did not turn away and all that he did, are they not written in
from the sins of YaroÄÈam son of NeÄat, the book of the annals of the sovereigns of
who had made Yisra’Ãl sin. Yisra’Ãl?
10 And Shallum son of YaÄÃsh conspired 22 So MenaÁÃm slept with his fathers.
against him, and smote him in front of the And PeqaÁyah his son reigned in his place.
people, and killed him, and reigned in his 23 In the fiftieth year of Azaryah the sov-
and killed him, and reigned in his place. and all that he did, see, they are written in
15 And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and the book of the annals of the sovereigns of
the conspiracy which he led, see, they are Yisra’Ãl.
written in the book of the annals of the 27 In the fifty-second year of Azaryah
him, therefore he smote it. And he ripped did not turn away from the sins of
399 2 MELAËIM 16
YaroÄÈam son of NeÄat, who had made years in Yerushalayim. And he did not do
Yisra’Ãl sin. what was right in the eyes of HWHY his
29 In the days of PeqaÁ sovereign of Elohim, as his father DawiÅ had done.
Yisra’Ãl, TiÍlath-Pileser sovereign of 3 But he walked in the way of the sover-
Ashshur came and took Iyon, and AÄÃl eigns of Yisra’Ãl, and he also made his son
BÃyth MaÈa¿ah, and YanowaÁ, and pass through the fire, according to the
QeÅesh, and Àatsor, and GilÈaÅ, and Galil, abominations of the gentiles whom HWHY
all the land of Naphtali, and took them into had dispossessed from before the children
exile to Ashshur. of Yisra’Ãl.
30 And HoshÃa son of Âlah led a conspira- 4 And he slaughtered and burned incense
cy against PeqaÁ son of Remalyahu, and on the high places, and on the hills, and
smote him, and killed him, and reigned in under every green tree.
his place in the twentieth year of Yotham 5 Then Retsin sovereign of Aram and
taken away. The people still slaughtered was found in the House of HWHY, and in the
and burned incense on the high places. He treasuries of the house of the sovereign,
built the Upper Gate of the House of HWHY. and sent it as a present to the sovereign of
36 And the rest of the acts of Yotham, and Ashshur.
all that he did, are they not written in the 9 And the sovereign of Ashshur listened
book of the annals of the sovereigns of to him. And the sovereign of Ashshur went
YehuÅah? up against Damascus and captured it, and
37 In those days HWHY began to send Retsin exiled it to Qir, and he killed Retsin.
sovereign of Aram and PeqaÁ son of 10 And Sovereign AÁaz went to meet
Damascus, the sovereign saw the altar, and 3 Shalmaneser sovereign of Ashshur
the sovereign approached the altar and came up against him. And HoshÃa became
made offerings on it. his servant, and rendered him a present.
13 And he burned his burnt offering and 4 But the sovereign of Ashshur found a
his grain offering. And he poured his drink conspiracy in HoshÃa, for he had sent mes-
offering and sprinkled the blood of his sengers to So, sovereign of Mitsrayim, and
peace offerings on the altar. had not brought a present to the sovereign
14 And the bronze altar which was before of Ashshur, as year by year. And the sover-
HWHY he brought from the front of the eign of Ashshur shut him up, and bound
House, from between the new altar and the him in prison.
House of HWHY, and put it on the north side 5 And the sovereign of Ashshur went
altar burn the morning burnt offering, eign of Ashshur captured Shomeron and
and the evening grain offering, and the exiled Yisra’Ãl to Ashshur, and settled
sovereign’s burnt offering, and his grain them in ÀalaÁ and ÀaÄor, the River of
offering, with the burnt offering of all Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
the people of the land, and their grain 7 Now this came to be because the chil-
offering, and their drink offerings. And dren of Yisra’Ãl had sinned against HWHY
sprinkle on it all the blood of the burnt their Elohim – who had brought them up
offering and all the blood of the slaughter- out of the land of Mitsrayim, from under
ing. And the bronze altar is for me to the hand of Pharaoh sovereign of
inquire by.” Mitsrayim – and feared other mighty ones,
16 And Uriyah the priest did according to 8 and walked in the laws of the gentiles
all that Sovereign AÁaz commanded. whom HWHY had dispossessed from before
17 And Sovereign AÁaz cut off the side the children of Yisra’Ãl, and of the sover-
panels of the stands, and removed the eigns of Yisra’Ãl that they had made.
basins from them. And he took down the 9 And the children of Yisra’Ãl secretly
Sea from the bronze oxen that were under did against HWHY their Elohim matters that
it, and put it on a pavement of stones. were not right, and they built for them-
18 And the covered way which they had selves high places in all their cities, from
built in the House for the Sabbath, and the watchtower unto the walled city,
sovereign’s outer entrance, he took from 10 and set up for themselves pillars and
the House of HWHY, because of the sover- AshÃrim on every high hill and under
eign of Ashshur. every green tree,
19 And the rest of the acts of AÁaz which 11 and burned incense there on all the high
he did, are they not written in the book of places, like the gentiles whom HWHY had
the annals of the sovereigns of YehuÅah? removed from their presence. And they did
20 So AÁaz slept with his fathers, and was evil matters to provoke HWHY,
buried with his fathers in the City of 12 and served the idols, of which HWHY had
DawiÅ. And Àizqiyahu his son reigned in said to them, “Do not do this.”
his place. 13 And HWHY warned Yisra’Ãl and
YehuÅah, through all of His prophets, and
17 In the twelfth year of AÁaz sover-
eign of YehuÅah, HoshÃa son of
every seer, saying, “Turn back from your
evil ways, and guard My commands and
Âlah began to reign over Yisra’Ãl in My laws, according to all the Torah which
Shomeron, for nine years. I commanded your fathers, and which I
2 And he did evil in the eyes of HWHY, but sent to you by My servants the prophets.”
not as the sovereigns of Yisra’Ãl who were 14 But they did not listen and hardened
into the hand of plunderers, until He had Benoth, and the men of Kuth made NÃrÍal,
cast them out from His presence. and the men of Àamath made Ashima,
21 For He tore Yisra’Ãl from the house of 31 and the Awwites made NiÄÁaz and
DawiÅ, and they made YaroÄÈam son of Tartaq. And the Sepharwites burned their
NeÄat sovereign. And YaroÄÈam drove children in fire to AÅrammele¿ and
Yisra’Ãl from following HWHY, and made Anammele¿, the mighty ones of Sepharim.
them commit a great sin. 32 They also feared HWHY, and from every
22 And the children of Yisra’Ãl walked in class they made for themselves priests of
all the sins of YaroÄÈam which he did. the high places, who offered for them in
They did not turn away from them, the house of the high places.
23 until HWHY removed Yisra’Ãl from His 33 They were fearing HWHY, and they were
presence, as He spoke by all His servants serving their own mighty ones, b according
the prophets. So Yisra’Ãl was exiled from to the ruling of the nations from among
their land to Ashshur, as it is to this day. whom they had been exiled.
24 And the sovereign of Ashshur brought 34 To this day they are doing according to
people from BaÄel, and from Kuthah, and the former rulings: they are not fearing
from Awwa, and from Àamath, and HWHY, nor do they follow their laws or their
Sepharwayim, and placed them in the right-rulings, or the Torah and command
cities of Shomeron instead of the children which HWHY had commanded the children
of Yisra’Ãl. And they took possession of of YaÈaqoÄ, whose name He made
Shomeron and dwelt in its cities. Yisra’Ãl,
a Man-made laws. b Mixed worship, mixing the true with the false – compromise!
2 MELAËIM 17 402
35 with whom HWHY had made a covenant His commands, which HWHY had command-
and commanded them, saying, “Do not ed Mosheh.
fear other mighty ones, nor bow down to 7 And HWHY was with him – wherever he
them nor serve them nor slaughter to them; went he acted wisely. And he rebelled
36 but HWHY, who brought you up from the against the sovereign of Ashshur and did
land of Mitsrayim with great power and not serve him.
with an outstretched arm, Him you shall 8 He smote the Philistines, as far as
fear, and to Him you shall bow yourselves, Azzah and its borders – from watchtower
and to Him you shall slaughter. unto the walled city.
37 “And guard to do forever the laws, and 9 And it came to be in the fourth year of
the right-rulings, and the Torah, and the Sovereign Àizqiyahu, which was the sev-
command which He wrote for you. And do enth year of HoshÃa son of Âlah, sovereign
not fear other mighty ones. of Yisra’Ãl, that Shalmaneser sovereign of
38 “And do not forget the covenant that I Ashshur came up against Shomeron and
have made with you, and do not fear other besieged it,
mighty ones. 10 and they captured it at the end of three
39 “But fear HWHY your Elohim, so that years. In the sixth year of Àizqiyah, that is
He delivers you from the hand of all your the ninth year of HoshÃa sovereign of
enemies.” Yisra’Ãl, Shomeron was captured.
40 And they did not obey, but did accord- 11 And the sovereign of Ashshur exiled
their fathers did, they are doing to this day. HWHY their Elohim, but transgressed His
covenant – all that Mosheh the servant of
18 And it came to be in the third year
of HoshÃa son of Âlah, sovereign
HWHY had commanded. And they did not
obey nor do them.
of Yisra’Ãl, that Àizqiyah son of AÁaz, 13 And in the fourteenth year of Sovereign
name was AÄi, daughter of Ze¿aryah. sent to the sovereign of Ashshur at La¿ish,
3 And he did what was right in the eyes saying, “I have done wrong, turn away
of HWHY, according to all that his father from me. I shall bear whatever you impose
DawiÅ did. on me.” And the sovereign of Ashshur
4 He took away the high places and broke imposed upon Àizqiyah, the sovereign of
the pillars, and cut down the AshÃrah, and YehuÅah, three hundred talents of silver
broke in pieces the bronze serpent which and thirty talents of gold.
Mosheh had made, for until those days the 15 And Àizqiyah gave him all the silver
children of Yisra’Ãl burned incense to it, that was found in the House of HWHY and in
and called it NeÁushtan. the treasuries of the sovereign’s house.
5 He put his trust in HWHY Elohim of 16 At that time Àizqiyah cut off the doors
Yisra’Ãl, and after him was none like him of the Hÿal of HWHY, and the doorposts
among all the sovereigns of YehuÅah, nor which Àizqiyah sovereign of YehuÅah had
who were before him, overlaid, and gave it to the sovereign of
6 and he clung to HWHY. He did not turn Ashshur.
away from following Him, but guarded 17 And the sovereign of Ashshur sent the
Tartan, and the RaÄsaris, and the 27 And the RaÄshaqÃh said to them, “Has
RaÄshaqÃh from La¿ish, with a great army my master sent me to your master and to
against Yerushalayim, to Sovereign Àiz- you to speak these words, and not to the
qiyahu. And they went up and came to men sitting on the wall to eat their own
Yerushalayim. And when they had come dung and drink their own urine, with you?”
up, they came and stood by the channel of 28 And the RaÄshaqÃh stood and called
the upper pool, which was on the highway out with a loud voice in the language of
to the Launderer’s Field. YehuÅah, and spoke and said, “Hear the
18 And they called to the sovereign. And word of the great sovereign, the sovereign
Elyaqim son of Àilqiyahu, who was over of Ashshur!
the household, and SheÄnah the scribe, and 29 “Thus said the sovereign, ‘Do not let
Yo’aÁ son of Asaph, the recorder, came Àizqiyahu deceive you, for he is unable to
out to them. deliver you out of his hand,
19 And the RaÄshaqÃh said to them, 30 and do not let Àizqiyahu make you
“Please say to Àizqiyahu, ‘Thus said the trust in HWHY, saying, “HWHY shall certainly
great sovereign, the sovereign of Ashshur, deliver us, and this city is not given into
“What is this trust in which you have the hand of the sovereign of Ashshur.” ’
trusted? 31 “Do not listen to Àizqiyahu, for thus
20 “You have spoken of having counsel said the sovereign of Ashshur, ‘Make
and strength for battle, but they are only peace with me by a present and come out
words of the lips! And in whom do you to me, and let each of you eat from his own
trust, that you rebel against me? vine and each from his own fig tree, and
21 “Now look! You have put your trust in each of you drink the waters of his own
the staff of this crushed reed, Mitsrayim, cistern,
on which if a man leans, it shall go into his 32 until I come. Then I shall take you
hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh sovereign away to a land like your own land, a land
of Mitsrayim to all who trust in him. of grain and new wine, a land of bread and
22 “But when you say to me, ‘We trust in vineyards, a land of olive-trees and honey,
HWHY our Elohim,’ is it not He whose high and live, and not die. But do not listen to
places and whose altars Àizqiyahu has Àizqiyahu, when he misleads you, saying,
taken away, and said to YehuÅah and “HWHY shall deliver us.”
Yerushalayim, ‘Bow yourselves before 33 ‘Has any of the mighty ones of the
this altar in Yerushalayim’?” ’ nations at all delivered its land from the
23 “And now, I urge you, give a pledge to hand of the sovereign of Ashshur?
my master the sovereign of Ashshur, then 34 ‘Where are the mighty ones of Àamath
I give you two thousand horses, if you are and ArpaÅ? Where are the mighty ones of
able to put riders on them! Sepharwayim and HÃna and Iwwah? Did
24 “And how do you turn back the face of they deliver Shomeron from my hand?
one commander of the least of my master’s 35 ‘Who among all the mighty ones of
servants, and trust in Mitsrayim for chari- the lands have delivered their land out of
ots and horsemen? my hand, that HWHY should deliver Yeru-
25 “Have I now come up without HWHY shalayim from my hand?’ ”
against this place to destroy it? HWHY said to 36 But the people were silent and did not
me, ‘Go up against this land, and you shall answer him a word, for the command of
destroy it.’ ” the sovereign was, “Do not answer him.”
26 Then said Elyaqim son of Àilqiyahu, 37 And Elyaqim son of Àilqiyah, who was
and SheÄnah, and Yo’aÁ to the RaÄshaqÃh, over the household, and SheÄnah the
“Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, scribe, and Yo’aÁ son of Asaph, the
for we understand it. And do not speak to recorder, came to Àizqiyahu with their
us in the language of YehuÅah, in the ears garments torn, and they reported to him the
of the people on the wall.” words of the RaÄshaqÃh.
2 MELAËIM 18 404
household, and SheÄnah the scribe, and the the sovereign of ArpaÅ, and the sovereign
elders of the priests, covering themselves of the city of Sepharwayim, HÃna, and
with sackcloth, to Yeshayahu the prophet, Iwwah?’ ”
son of Amots. 14 And Àizqiyahu received the letters
3 And they said to him, “Thus said from the hand of the messengers, and read
Àizqiyahu, ‘This day is a day of distress them, and went up to the House of HWHY.
and rebuke and scorn, for the children have And Àizqiyahu spread it before HWHY.
come to birth but there is no power to bring 15 And Àizqiyahu prayed before HWHY,
Elohim has heard. Therefore lift up your Open Your eyes, O HWHY, and see. And
prayer for the remnant that is left.’ ” hear the words of SanÁÃriÄ, which he has
5 And the servants of Sovereign Àizqi- sent to reproach the living Elohim.
yahu came to Yeshayahu, 17 “Truly, HWHY, the sovereigns of Ashshur
6 and Yeshayahu said to them, “Say this have laid waste the nations and their lands,
to your master, ‘Thus said HWHY, “Do 18 and have put their mighty ones into the
not be afraid of the words which you have fire, for they were not mighty ones, but the
heard, with which the servants of the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, and
sovereign of Ashshur have reviled Me. destroyed them.
7 “See, I am putting a spirit upon him, 19 “And now, O HWHY our Elohim, I pray,
and he shall hear a report and return to his save us from his hand, so that all the reigns
own land. And I shall cause him to fall by of the earth know that You are HWHY
the sword in his land.” ’ ” Elohim, You alone.”
8 And the RaÄshaqÃh returned and found 20 Then Yeshayahu son of Amots sent to
the sovereign of Ashshur fighting against Àizqiyahu, saying, “Thus said HWHY
LiÄnah, for he had heard that he had left Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, ‘I have heard that
La¿ish. which you have prayed to Me against
9 And when the sovereign heard concern- SanÁÃriÄ sovereign of Ashshur.’
ing Tirhaqah sovereign of Kush, “See, 21 “This is the word which HWHY has
he has come out to fight against you,” spoken concerning him, ‘The maiden, the
he again sent messengers to Àizqiyahu, daughter of Tsiyon, has despised you,
saying, mocked you; the daughter of Yeru-
10 “Speak to Àizqiyahu sovereign of shalayim has shaken her head behind you!
YehuÅah, saying, ‘Do not let your Elohim 22 ‘Whom have you reproached and
in whom you trust deceive you, saying, reviled? Against whom have you raised a
“Yerushalayim is not given into the hand voice, and lifted up your eyes on high?
of the sovereign of Ashshur.” Against the Set-apart One of Yisra’Ãl!
11 ‘See, you have heard what the sover- 23 ‘By the hand of your messengers you
eigns of Ashshur have done to all lands by have reproached HWHY, and said, “With my
putting them under the ban. And are you many chariots I have come up to the height
going to be delivered? of the mountains, to the sides of LeÄanon.
12 ‘Have the mighty ones of the nations And I cut down its tall cedars, its choice
405 2 MELAËIM 20
bridle in your lips, and I shall turn you I have walked before You in truth and with
back by the way which you came. a perfect heart, and have done what was
29 ‘And this is the sign for you: This year good in Your eyes.” And Àizqiyahu wept
you eat what grows of itself, and in the bitterly.
second year what springs from that, and in 4 And it came to be, before Yeshayahu
the third year sow and reap and plant vine- had gone out into the middle court, that the
yards and eat their fruit. word of HWHY came to him, saying,
30 ‘And the remnant who have escaped of 5 “Return and say to Àizqiyahu the
the house of YehuÅah shall again take root leader of My people, ‘Thus said HWHY, the
downward, and bear fruit upward. Elohim of DawiÅ your father, “I have
31 ‘For out of Yerushalayim comes forth a heard your prayer, I have seen your tears.
remnant, and those who escape from See, I am going to heal you. On the third
Mount Tsiyon – the ardour of HWHY does day go up to the House of HWHY.
this.’ 6 “And I shall add to your days fifteen
32 “Therefore thus said HWHY concerning years, and deliver you and this city from
the sovereign of Ashshur, ‘He does not the hand of the sovereign of Ashshur, and
come into this city, nor does he shoot an shall defend this city for My own sake, and
arrow there, nor does he come before it for the sake of DawiÅ My servant.” ’ ”
with shield, nor does he build a siege 7 And Yeshayahu said, “Take a cake of
mound against it. figs.” And they took and laid it on the boil,
33 ‘By the way that he came, by the same and he recovered.
he turns back. And he does not come into 8 And Àizqiyahu said to Yeshayahu,
this city,’ declares HWHY. “What is the sign that HWHY does heal me,
34 ‘And I shall defend this city, to save it and that I shall go up to the House of HWHY
for My own sake and for the sake of the third day?”
DawiÅ My servant.’ ” 9 And Yeshayahu said, “This is the sign
35 And it came to be in that night that the for you from HWHY, that HWHY does the word
messenger of HWHY went out, and smote in which He has spoken: shall the shadow go
the camp of Ashshur one hundred and forward ten degrees or go backward ten
eighty-five thousand. And they rose up degrees?”
early in the morning and saw all of them 10 And Àizqiyahu said, “It would be easy
2 MELAËIM 20 406
for the shadow to go down ten degrees; no, 21 So Àizqiyahu slept with his fathers.
but let the shadow go backward ten And Menashsheh his son reigned in his
degrees.” place.
11 And Yeshayahu the prophet cried out to
silver and the gold, and the spices and the which Àizqiyahu his father had destroyed,
precious ointment, and all his armoury, and raised up altars for BaÈal, and made an
and all that was found among his treasures. AshÃrah, as AÁaÄ sovereign of Yisra’Ãl
There was not an object in his house or had done, and he bowed himself to all the
in all his rule that Àizqiyahu did not show host of the heavens and served them.
them. 4 And he built altars in the House of
14 And Yeshayahu the prophet came to HWHY, of which HWHY had said, “In Yeru-
Sovereign Àizqiyahu, and said to him, shalayim I put My Name.”
“What did these men say, and from where 5 And he built altars for all the host of the
did they come to you?” And Àizqiyahu heavens in the two courtyards of the House
said, “They came from a distant land, from of HWHY.
BaÄel.” 6 And he made his son pass through the
15 And he said, “What have they seen in fire, and practised magic, and used divina-
your house?” And Àizqiyahu answered, tion, and consulted spiritists and mediums.
“They saw all that is in my house; there is He did much evil in the eyes of HWHY,
not an object among my treasures that I did to provoke Him.
not show them.” 7 And he placed a carved image of
16 And Yeshayahu said to Àizqiyahu, AshÃrah that he had made in the House of
“Hear the word of HWHY: which HWHY had said to DawiÅ and to
17 ‘See, the days are coming when all that Shelomoh his son, “In this house and in
is in your house, and what your fathers Yerushalayim, which I have chosen out of
have treasured up until this day, shall be all the tribes of Yisra’Ãl, I put My Name
brought to BaÄel – no object is to be left,’ forever,
said HWHY. 8 and no more shall I cause the feet of
18 ‘And they are going to take away some Yisra’Ãl to move from the soil which I
of your sons who are to be born to you, gave their fathers – only if they guard to do
whom you bring forth, and they shall be according to all that I have commanded
eunuchs in the palace of the sovereign of them, and according to all the Torah that
BaÄel.’ ” My servant Mosheh commanded them.”
19 And Àizqiyahu said to Yeshayahu, 9 But they did not obey, and Menashsheh
“The word of HWHY which you have spoken led them astray to do more evil than the
is good!” And he said, “Is it not so, if gentiles whom HWHY had destroyed before
peace and truth are to be in my days?” the children of Yisra’Ãl.
20 And the rest of the acts of Àizqiyahu, 10 And HWHY spoke by His servants the
and all his might and how he made a pool prophets, saying,
and a channel and brought water into the 11 “Because Menashsheh sovereign of
city, are they not written in the book of the YehuÅah has done these abominations,
annals of the sovereigns of YehuÅah? having done more evil than all the
407 2 MELAËIM 22
Amorites who were before him, and also Amon, and the people of the land set up his
made YehuÅah sin with his idols, son Yoshiyahu to reign in his place.
12 therefore thus said HWHY Elohim of 25 And the rest of the acts of Amon which
Yisra’Ãl, ‘See, I am bringing such evil he did, are they not written in the book of
upon Yerushalayim and YehuÅah that both the annals of the sovereigns of YehuÅah?
ears of those who hear of it shall tingle. 26 And he was buried in his tomb in the
13 ‘And I shall stretch over Yerushalayim garden of Uzza. And his son Yoshiyahu
the measuring line of Shomeron and the reigned in his place.
plummet of the house of AÁaÄ, and shall
wipe Yerushalayim as one wipes a dish,
wiping it and turning it upside down. 22 Yoshiyahu was eight years old
when he began to reign, and he
14 ‘And I shall forsake the remnant of My reigned thirty-one years in Yerushalayim.
inheritance and give them into the hand of And his mother’s name was YeÅiÅah the
their enemies. And they shall be for a prey daughter of AÅayah of Botsqath.
and for a plunder to all their enemies, 2 And he did what was right in the eyes
15 because they have done evil in My of HWHY, and walked in all the ways of his
eyes, and have provoked Me since the day father DawiÅ, and did not turn aside, right
their fathers came out of Mitsrayim, even or left.
to this day.’ ” 3 And it came to be, in the eighteenth
16 And also, Menashsheh shed very much year of Sovereign Yoshiyahu, that the sov-
innocent blood, until he had filled ereign sent Shaphan the scribe, son of
Yerushalayim from one end to another, Atsalyahu, son of Meshullam, to the House
besides his sin with which he made of HWHY, saying,
YehuÅah sin, in doing evil in the eyes 4 “Go up to Àilqiyahu the high priest,
years in Yerushalayim. And the name of stonemasons, and to buy timber and hewn
his mother was Meshullemeth the daughter stone to repair the house.
of Àaruts of YoteÄah. 7 “However, let not the silver given into
20 And he did evil in the eyes of HWHY, as their hand be reckoned with them, for they
his father Menashsheh had done, are acting trustworthily.”
21 and walked in all the ways that his 8 And Àilqiyahu the high priest said to
father had walked, and served the idols Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the
that his father had served, and bowed him- Book of the Torah in the House of HWHY.”
self to them, And Àilqiyah gave the book to Shaphan,
22 and forsook HWHY Elohim of his fathers, and he read it.
and did not walk in the way of HWHY. 9 And Shaphan the scribe came to the
23 And the servants of Amon conspired sovereign, and brought word to the sover-
against him, and killed the sovereign in his eign again, saying, “Your servants have
own house. gathered the silver that was found in the
24 But the people of the land smote all house, and have given it into the hand of
those who had conspired against Sovereign those who do the work, who oversee the
2 MELAËIM 22 408
and A¿bor, and Shaphan, and Asayah went and made a covenant before HWHY, to
to Àuldah the prophetess, the wife of follow HWHY and to guard His commands
Shallum son of Tiqwah, son of ÀarÁas, and His witnesses and His laws, with all
keeper of the wardrobe. Now she was his heart and all his being, to establish the
dwelling in Yerushalayim in the Second words of this covenant that were written in
Quarter. And they spoke with her. this book. And all the people stood to the
15 And she said to them, “Thus said HWHY covenant.
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, ‘Say to the man who 4 Then the sovereign commanded Àilqi-
sent you to Me, yahu the high priest, and the priests
16 “Thus said HWHY, ‘See, I am bringing of the second order, and the doorkeepers,
evil on this place and on its inhabitants, all to bring out of the Hÿal of HWHY all the
the words of the book which the sovereign objects that were made for BaÈal, and for
of YehuÅah has read, AshÃrah, and for all the host of the heav-
17 because they have forsaken Me and ens. And he burned them outside
burned incense to other mighty ones to Yerushalayim in the fields of QiÅron, and
provoke Me with all the works of their took their ashes to BÃyth Âl.
hands. And so My wrath shall be kindled 5 And he put down the black-robed
against this place and not be quenched.’ ” ’ priests d whom the sovereigns of YehuÅah
18 “And to the sovereign of YehuÅah, who had appointed to burn incense on the high
sent you to inquire of HWHY, say this to him, places in the cities of YehuÅah and in the
‘Thus said HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, “As places all around Yerushalayim, and those
for the words which you have heard, who burned incense to BaÈal, to the sun,
19 because your heart was tender, and you and to the moon, and to the constellations,
humbled yourself before HWHY when you and to all the host of the heavens.
heard what I spoke against this place and 6 And he brought out the AshÃrah from
against its inhabitants, that they would the House of HWHY, to the wadi QiÅron
become a ruin and a curse, and did tore outside Yerushalayim, and burned it at
d Heb. kemarim.
409 2 MELAËIM 23
the wadi QiÅron and ground it to ashes, sin, both that altar and the high place he
and threw its ashes on the graves of the broke down. And he burned the high place
sons of the people. and ground it to dust, and burned the
7 And he broke down the houses of the AshÃrah.
male cult prostitutes that were in the House 16 Then Yoshiyahu turned, and saw the
of HWHY, where the women wove tapestries tombs that were there on the mountain.
for the AshÃrah. And he sent and took the bones out of the
8 And he brought all the priests from the tombs and burned them on the altar, and
cities of YehuÅah, and defiled the high defiled it according to the word of HWHY
places where the priests had burned which the man of Elohim proclaimed, who
incense, from GeÄa to Be’ÃrsheÄa, and proclaimed these words.
broke down the high places at the gates 17 And he said, “What tombstone is this
which were at the entrance of the Gate of that I see?” And the men of the city said to
Yehoshua the governor of the city, which him, “It is the tomb of the man of Elohim
were to the left of the city gate. who came from YehuÅah and proclaimed
9 However, the priests of the high places these matters which you have done against
did not come up to the altar of HWHY in the altar of BÃyth Âl.”
Yerushalayim, but they ate unleavened 18 And he said, “Let him alone, let no one
bread among their brothers. move his bones.” So they left his bones
10 And he defiled Topheth, which is in the alone, with the bones of the prophet who
Valley of the Son of Hinnom, so that no came from Shomeron.
man could make his son or his daughter 19 And Yoshiyahu also took away all the
pass through the fire to Mole¿. houses of the high places that were in the
11 And he did away with the horses that cities of Shomeron, which the sovereigns
the sovereigns of YehuÅah had given to the of Yisra’Ãl had made to provoke. And he
sun, at the entrance to the House of HWHY, did to them according to all the deeds he
by the room of Nathan-Mele¿ the eunuch, did in BÃyth Âl.
that were in the court. And he burned the 20 And he slaughtered all the priests of the
chariots of the sun with fire. high places who were there, on the altars,
12 And the altars that were on the roof of and burned men’s bones on them, and
the upper room of AÁaz, which the sover- went back to Yerushalayim.
eigns of YehuÅah had made, and the altars 21 And the sovereign commanded all the
which Menashsheh had made in the two people, saying, “Prepare the Passover to
courtyards of the House of HWHY, the sover- HWHY your Elohim, as it is written in this
eign broke down, and rushed from there, Book of the Covenant.”
and threw their dust into the wadi QiÅron. 22 For such a Passover had not been pre-
13 And the sovereign defiled the high pared since the days of the rulers who
places that were before Yerushalayim, ruled Yisra’Ãl, nor in all the days of the
which were on the right hand of the sovereigns of Yisra’Ãl and the sovereigns
Mountain of Destruction, which Shelomoh of YehuÅah,
sovereign of Yisra’Ãl built for Ashtoreth 23 but in the eighteenth year of Sovereign
the abomination of the TsiÅonians, and for Yoshiyahu this Passover was prepared
Kemosh the abomination of the Mo’aÄites, before HWHY in Yerushalayim.
and for Milkom the abomination of the 24 And also, Yoshiyahu put away those
like him, who turned back to HWHY with all gold to Pharaoh. Only, he taxed the land to
his heart, and with all his being, and with give silver according to the command of
all his might, according to all the Torah of Pharaoh. He exacted the silver and gold
Mosheh; and after him none rose up like from the people of the land, from every
him. one according to his assessment, to give it
26 However, HWHY did not turn from the to Pharaoh Ne¿o.
36 Yehoyaqim was twenty-five years old
fierceness of His great wrath, with which
His wrath burned against YehuÅah, when he began to reign, and he reigned
because of all the provocations with which eleven years in Yerushalayim. And his
Menashsheh had provoked Him. mother’s name was ZeÄiÅah the daughter
27 And HWHY said, “Even YehuÅah I shall of PeÅayah of Rumah.
37 And he did evil in the eyes of HWHY,
remove from My presence, as I have
removed Yisra’Ãl, and I shall reject this according to all that his fathers did.
city Yerushalayim which I have chosen,
and the House of which I said, ‘My Name
is there.’ ” 24 In his days NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar sover-
eign of BaÄel came up, and Yeho-
28 And the rest of the acts of Yoshiyahu, yaqim became his servant for three years.
and all that he did, are they not written in And he turned and rebelled against him.
2 And HWHY sent against him raiding
the book of the annals of the sovereigns of
YehuÅah? bands of Chaldeans, and raiding bands of
29 In his days Pharaoh Ne¿o sovereign of Aram, and raiding bands of Mo’aÄ, and
Mitsrayim went up against the sovereign raiding bands of the children of Ammon.
of Ashshur, to the River Euphrates. And And He sent them against YehuÅah to
Sovereign Yoshiyahu went out to him, and destroy it, according to the word of HWHY
he killed him at MeÍiddo when he saw which He had spoken by His servants the
him. prophets.
30 And his servants conveyed his body in 3 Only at the command of HWHY this came
a chariot from MeÍiddo, and brought him upon YehuÅah, to remove them from His
to Yerushalayim, and buried him in his presence, because of the sins of
own tomb. And the people of the land took Menashsheh, according to all that he did,
Yeho’aÁaz son of Yoshiyahu, and anointed 4 and also because of the innocent blood
him, and set him up to reign in his father’s that he shed. For he filled Yerushalayim
place. with innocent blood, which HWHY would
31 Yeho’aÁaz was twenty-three years old not forgive.
when he began to reign, and he reigned 5 And the rest of the acts of Yehoyaqim,
three months in Yerushalayim. And his and all that he did, are they not written
mother’s name was Àamutal the daughter in the book of the annals of the sovereigns
of Yirmeyahu of LiÄnah. of YehuÅah?
32 And he did evil in the eyes of HWHY, 6 So Yehoyaqim slept with his fathers.
according to all that his fathers did. And Yehoya¿in his son reigned in his
33 And Pharaoh Ne¿o imprisoned him at place.
Riblah in the land of Àamath, to keep him 7 And the sovereign of Mitsrayim did not
from reigning in Yerushalayim. And he come out of his land again, for the sover-
imposed on the land a fine of one hundred eign of BaÄel had taken all that belonged
talents of silver and a talent of gold. to the sovereign of Mitsrayim from the
34 And Pharaoh Ne¿o set up Elyaqim son wadi of Mitsrayim to the River Euphrates.
of Yoshiyahu to reign in place of his father 8 Yehoya¿in was eighteen years old
Yoshiyahu, and changed his name to when he began to reign, and he reigned in
Yehoyaqim. And Pharaoh took Yeho’aÁaz Yerushalayim three months. And his
411 2 MELAËIM 25
mother’s name was NeÁushta the daughter HWHY, until He had cast them out from His
of Elnathan of Yerushalayim. presence. And TsiÅqiyahu rebelled against
9 And he did evil in the eyes of HWHY,
the sovereign of BaÄel.
according to all that his father did.
10 At that time the servants of NeÄu-
guard took into exile the rest of the people AÁiqam, son of Shaphan, over the people
who were left in the city and the deserters who were left in the land of YehuÅah,
who deserted to the sovereign of BaÄel, whom NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar sovereign of BaÄel
with the rest of the multitude. had left.
12 But the chief of the guard left some of
23 And all the commanders of the armies,
the poor of the land as vinedressers and they and their men, heard that the sover-
farmers.
13 And the bronze columns that were in eign of BaÄel had appointed GeÅalyahu.
the House of HWHY, and the stands and the And they came to GeÅalyahu at Mitspah,
bronze Sea that were in the House of HWHY, even YishmaÈÃl son of Nethanyah, and
the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and took YoÁanan son of QarÃaÁ, and Serayah son
their bronze away to BaÄel. of TanÁumeth the Netophathite, and
14 And they took the pots, and the shovels, YaÈazanyahu the son of a MaÈa¿athite, they
and the snuffers, and the ladles, and all and their men.
the bronze utensils the priests used in the 24 And GeÅalyahu swore to them and
service. their men, and said to them, “Do not be
15 And the chief of the guard took the fire
afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans.
holders and the basins which were of solid Dwell in the land and serve the sovereign
gold and solid silver.
16 The bronze of all these utensils was of BaÄel, and let it be well with you.”
25 And in the seventh month it came to be
beyond measure – the two columns, the
one Sea, and the stands, which Shelomoh that YishmaÈÃl son of Nethanyah, son of
had made for the House of HWHY. Elishama, of the seed of the reign, came
17 The height of one column was eighteen with ten men and smote GeÅalyahu that he
cubits, and the capital on it was of bronze. died, and the YehuÅim, and the Chaldeans
And the height of the capital was three who were with him at Mitspah.
cubits, and the network and pomegranates 26 And all the people rose up, small and
all around the capital were all of bronze. great, and the commanders of the armies,
And the second column was the same, with and went to Mitsrayim, for they were
a network. afraid of the Chaldeans.
18 And the chief of the guard took Serayah
27 And it came to be in the thirty-seventh
the chief priest, and Tsephanyahu the
second priest, and the three doorkeepers. year of the exile of Yehoya¿in sovereign
19 And out of the city he took a certain of YehuÅah, in the twelfth month, on the
eunuch who was appointed over the men twenty-seventh of the month, that Ewil-
of battle, and five men of those who saw MeroÅa¿ sovereign of BaÄel, in the year
the sovereign’s face, who were found in that he began to reign, released Yehoya¿in
the city, and the chief scribe of the army sovereign of YehuÅah from prison,
who mustered the people of the land, and 28 and spoke kindly to him, and set his
sixty men of the people of the land who throne above the throne of the sovereigns
were found in the city. who were with him in BaÄel,
20 And NeÄuzaraÅan, chief of the guard,
29 and changed his prison garments. And
took them and made them go to the sover-
eign of BaÄel at Riblah. he ate bread continually before the sover-
21 And the sovereign of BaÄel smote them eign all the days of his life.
30 And as his allowance, a continual
and put them to death at Riblah in the land
of Àamath. So he exiled YehuÅah from its allowance was given to him from the sov-
own land. ereign, a quota for each day, all the days of
22 And he appointed GeÅalyahu son of his life.
YESHAYAHU
ISAIAH
with crookedness, a seed of evil-doers, I hide My eyes from you; even though you
sons acting corruptly! They have forsaken make many prayers, I do not hear. Your
HWHY, they have provoked the Set-apart hands have become filled with blood.
One of Yisra’Ãl, they went backward. 16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves
5 Why should you be beaten any more? clean; put away the evil of your doings
You continue in apostasy! All the head is from before My eyes. Stop doing evil!
sick, and all the heart faints. 17 “Learn to do good! Seek right-ruling,
6 From the sole of the foot, to the head, reprove the oppressor, defend the father-
there is no soundness in it – wounds and less, plead for the widow.
bruises and open sores; they have not been 18 “Come now, and let us reason togeth-
closed or bound up, or soothed with oint- er,” says HWHY. “Though your sins are like
ment. scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
7 Your land is laid waste, your cities are though they are red like crimson, they shall
burned with fire, strangers devour your be as wool.
land in your presence. And it is laid waste, 19 “If you submit and obey, you shall eat
as overthrown by strangers. the good of the land;
8 And the daughter of Tsiyon is left as a 20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be
booth in a vineyard, as a hut in a garden of devoured by the sword,” for the mouth
cucumbers, as a besieged city. of HWHY has spoken.
9 Unless HWHY of hosts had left to us a 21 How the steadfast city has become a
small remnant, we would have become whore! I have filled it with right-ruling;
like SeÅom, we would have been made righteousness lodged in it, but now mur-
like Amorah. derers.
10 Hear the word of HWHY, you rulers of 22 Your silver has become dross, your
SeÅom; give ear to the Toraha of our wine is mixed with water.
Elohim, you people of Amorah! 23 Your rulers are stubborn, and compan-
11 “Of what use to Me are your many ions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes, and
slaughterings?” declares HWHY. “I have had runs after rewards. They do not defend the
enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow
fat of fed beasts. I do not delight in the reach them.
the first, and your counsellors as at the gold, and there is no end to their treasures.
beginning. After this you shall be called And their land is filled with horses, and
the city of righteousness, a steadfast city.” there is no end to their chariots.
27 Tsiyon shall be redeemed with right- 8 And their land is filled with idols; they
ruling, and her returning ones with right- bow themselves to the work of their own
eousness. hands, to what their own fingers have made.
28 And the destruction of transgressors 9 And the lowly bows down, and the high
and of sinners is together, and those who is humbled; therefore You do not forgive
forsake HWHY shall be consumed. them.
29 For they shall be ashamed of the tere- 10 Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust,
binth trees which you have desired. And because of the fear of HWHY and the splen-
you shall be embarrassed because of the dour of His excellency.
11 The lofty looks of man shall be hum-
gardens which you have chosen.
30 For you shall be as a terebinth whose bled, the pride of men shall be bowed
leaf fades, and as a garden that has no water. down, and HWHY alone shall be exalted in
31 The strong shall be for tow, and his that day.
12 For HWHY of hosts has a day against all
work for a spark. And both shall burn
together, with no one to extinguish. that is proud and lofty, against all that is
lifted up, so that it is brought low;
2 The word that Yeshayahu the son of
Amots saw concerning YehuÅah and
13 and against all the cedars of LeÄanon
mountain of the House of HWHY is estab- against all the hills that are lifted up;
lished on the top of the mountains, and 15 and against every lofty tower, and
shall be exalted above the hills. And all against every strong wall;
nations shall flow to it. 16 and against all the ships of Tarshish,
3 And many peoples shall come and say, and against all the desirable craft.
“Come, and let us go up to the mountain of 17 And the loftiness of man shall be
HWHY, to the House of the Elohim of bowed down, and the pride of men shall be
YaÈaqoÄ, and let Him teach us His ways, brought low. And HWHY alone shall be
and let us walk in His paths, for out of exalted in that day,
Tsiyon comes forth the Torah, and the 18 and the idols completely pass away.
Word b of HWHY from Yerushalayim.” 19 And they shall go into the holes of the
4 And He shall judge between the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, from
nations, and shall reprove many peoples. dread of HWHY and the splendour of His
And they shall beat their swords into excellency, when He arises to shake the
ploughshares, and their spears into pruning earth mightily.
hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword 20 In that day man shall throw away his
against nation, neither teach battle any idols of silver and his idols of gold, which
more. they made, each for himself to worship, to
b His ways, His paths, the teaching and the Word of HWHY are used synonymously.
415 YESHAYAHU 4
the moles and bats, them, and women rule over them. O My
21 to go into the clefts of the rocks, and people! Your leaders lead you astray, c and
into the crags of the rugged rocks, because swallow the way of your paths.”
of the fear of HWHY and the splendour of His 13 HWHY shall stand up to plead, and is
c 9:16.
YESHAYAHU 4 416
splendid and esteemed. And the fruit of the house of Yisra’Ãl, and the man of YehuÅah
earth shall be excellent and comely for the is His pleasant plant. He looked for right-
escaped ones d of Yisra’Ãl. ruling, but see, oppression; for righteous-
3 And it shall be that he who is left in ness, but see, weeping.
Tsiyon and he who remains in Yerusha- 8 Woe to those who join house to house,
layim is called set-apart, everyone who is who add field to field, until there is no
written among the living in Yerushalayim. room, and you are made to dwell alone in
4 When HWHY has washed away the filth the midst of the land!
of the daughters of Tsiyon, and rinsed 9 In my hearing HWHY of hosts said,
away the blood of Yerushalayim from her “Truly, many houses shall be a waste – big
midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the and fine ones, without inhabitant.
spirit of burning, 10 “For ten acres of vineyard yield one
5 then HWHY shall create above every bath, and a Áomer of seed yields one
dwelling place of Mount Tsiyon, and Ãphah.”
above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke 11 Woe to those who rise early in the
by day and the shining of a flaming fire by morning pursuing strong drink, who stay
night, for over all the esteem shall be a up late at night – wine inflames them!
covering, 12 And the lyre and the harp, the tam-
6 and a booth for shade in the daytime bourine and flute, and wine are in their
from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for feasts; but they do not regard the deeds of
a shelter from storm and rain. HWHY, nor see the work of His hands.
13 Therefore my people have gone into
yielded rotten ones. man humbled, and the eyes of the proud
3 “And now, O inhabitant of Yerusha- are humbled.
layim and man of YehuÅah, please judge 16 But HWHY of hosts is exalted in judg-
Why, when I waited for the yielding of pasture, and strangers shall eat in the waste
grapes, did it yield rotten ones? places of the fat ones.
5 “And now, please let Me inform you 18 Woe to those who draw crookedness
what I am doing to My vineyard: To take with cords of falsehood, and sin as with
away its hedge and it shall be burned; to wagon ropes,
break down its wall and it shall be tram- 19 who are saying, “Let Him hurry! Let
light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe
and sweet for bitter! filled the Hÿal.
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own 2 Above it stood seraphim. Each one had
eyes, e and clever in their own sight! six wings: with two he covered his face,
22 Woe to the mighty to drink wine, and with two he covered his feet, and with two
brave men to mix strong drink, he flew.
23 who declare right the wrong for a bribe, 3 And one cried to another and said,
and the righteousness of the righteous they “Set-apart, set-apart, set-apart is HWHY of
turn aside from him! hosts; all the earth is filled with His
24 Therefore, as a tongue of fire devours esteem!”
the stubble, and the flame consumes the 4 And the posts of the door were shaken
chaff, their root is as rottenness, and their by the voice of him who cried out, and
blossom goes up like dust – because they the house was filled with smoke.
have rejected the Torah of HWHY of hosts, 5 And I said, “Woe to me, for I am
and despised the Word f of the Set-apart undone! Because I am a man of unclean
One of Yisra’Ãl. lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of
25 Therefore the displeasure of HWHY unclean lips – for my eyes have seen the
has burned against His people, and He Sovereign, HWHY of hosts.”
stretches out His hand against them and 6 And one of the seraphim flew to me,
smites them, and the mountains tremble. having in his hand a live coal which he had
And their carcass is as filth in the middle taken with the tongs from the altar.
of the streets. With all this His displeasure 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and
has not turned back, and His hand is still said, “See, this has touched your lips; your
stretched out! crookedness is taken away, and your sin is
26 And He shall lift up a banner to the covered.”
nations from afar, and shall whistle to them 8 And I heard the voice of HWHY, saying,
from the end of the earth. And see, they “Whom do I send, and who would go for
come with speed, swiftly! Us?” And I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
27 Not one of them is weary or stumbling, 9 And He said, “Go, and you shall say to
not one slumbers or sleeps. Not a belt shall this people, ‘Hearing, you hear, but do not
be loosened on their loins, nor the thong of understand; and seeing, you see, but do not
their sandals be broken. know.’
28 Their arrows are sharp, and all their 10 “Make the heart of this people fat, and
bows bent; their horses’ hooves shall seem their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest
like flint, and their wheels like a whirl- they see with their eyes, and hear with
wind. their ears, and understand with their heart,
29 Their roar is like that of a lion, they and shall turn and be healed.” g
roar like young lions. And they growl and 11 Then I said, “HWHY, until when?” And
seize prey, and slip away, with no one to He answered, “Until the cities are laid
rescue. waste and without inhabitant, and the
30 And in that day they shall growl over it houses are without a man, and the land is
as with the growling of the sea. And one laid waste, a ruin,
shall look at the earth, and see, darkness 12 and HWHY has removed men far away,
and distress! And light shall be darkened and the forsaken places be many in the
by the clouds. midst of the land.
13 “But still, there is a tenth part in it, and
remains when it is cut down. The set-apart DawiÅ! Is it not enough that you weary
seed is its stump!” men, that you weary my Elohim also?
14 “Therefore HWHY Himself gives you a
HWHY!”
13 And he said, “Hear now, O house of 8 And HWHY said to me, “Take a large
tablet, and write on it with a man’s
h Âl with us.
419 YESHAYAHU 9
record, Uriyah the priest and Ze¿aryahu and fall, and be broken and snared and
son of YeÄere¿yahu.” taken.”
3 And I went to the prophetess, and she 16 Bind up the witness, seal the Torah
conceived and bore a son. And HWHY said to among my taught ones.
me, “Call his name MahÃr-Shalal-Àash- 17 And I shall wait on HWHY, who hides His
Damascus and the spoil of Shomeron is has given me – for signs and wonders in
taken away before the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl from HWHY of hosts, who dwells in
Ashshur.” Mount Tsiyon.
5 And HWHY spoke to me again, saying, 19 And when they say to you, “Seek those
6 “Inasmuch as these people refused the who are mediums and wizards, who whis-
waters of ShiloaÁ that flow softly, and per and mutter,” should not a people seek
rejoice in Retsin and in Remalyahu’s son; their Elohim? Should they seek the dead
7 now therefore, see, HWHY brings up over on behalf of the living?
them the waters of the River, strong and 20 To the Torah and to the witness! If they
mighty – the sovereign of Ashshur and all do not speak according to this Word, it is
his esteem. And he shall come up over all because they have no daybreak. i
his channels and go over all his banks. 21 And they shall pass through it hard
8 “And he shall pass through YehuÅah, pressed and hungry. And it shall be, when
he shall overflow and pass over, reaching they are hungry, that they shall be wroth
up to the neck. And the stretching out of and curse their sovereign and their Elohim,
his wings shall fill the breadth of Your looking upward.
land, O Immanu’Ãl. 22 And they shall look to the earth and see
9 “Be shattered, O you peoples, and be distress and darkness, gloom of hard times,
broken in pieces! Give ear, all you from and be driven into thick darkness.
the far places of the earth. Gird yourselves,
but be broken in pieces; gird yourselves,
but be broken in pieces. 9 But there is no gloom upon her who is
distressed, as when at first He hum-
10 “Take counsel, and it comes to naught; bled the land of ZeÄulun and the land of
speak a word, and it does not stand, for Âl Naphtali, and afterward more heavily
is with us.” oppressed her, by the way of the sea,
11 For HWHY spoke thus to me with a strong beyond the YardÃn, in Galil of the nations.
hand, and instructed me that I should not 2 The people who were walking in dark-
walk in the way of this people, saying, ness have seen a great light; upon those
12 “Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’ concern- who dwelt in the land of the shadow of
ing all that this people call a conspiracy, death a light has shone.
nor be afraid of their threats, nor be 3 You shall increase the nation; You shall
Yisra’Ãl, as a trap and a snare to the inhabi- tumult, and coat rolled in blood, shall be
i Or light.
YESHAYAHU 9 420
used for burning and fuel of fire. bushes of the forest ablaze, and they roll
6 For a Child shall be born unto us, a Son up like rising smoke.
shall be given unto us, and the rule is on 19 The land shall be burned up by the
His shoulder. And His Name is called wrath of HWHY of hosts, and the people be
Wonder, Counsellor, Strong Âl, Father of as fuel for the fire. A man shall not spare
Continuity, Prince of Peace. his brother,
7 Of the increase of His rule and peace 20 and cut down on the right hand, but
there is no end, upon the throne of DawiÅ shall be hungry; and he devours on the left
and over His reign, j to establish it and sus- hand, but shall not be satisfied; each one
tain it with right-ruling and with righteous- devouring the flesh of his own arm:
ness from now on, even forever. The 21 Menashsheh Ephrayim, and Ephrayim
ardour of HWHY of hosts does this. Menashsheh; together they are against
8 HWHY sent a word against YaÈaqoÄ, and YehuÅah. With all this His displeasure has
it has fallen on Yisra’Ãl. not turned back, and His hand is still
9 And the people shall know, all of them, stretched out.
Ephrayim and the inhabitant of Shomeron,
who say in pride and greatness of heart:
10 “The bricks have fallen down, but we 10 “Woe to those making unrighteous
laws, and writers who have pre-
rebuild with hewn stones; the sycamores scribed toil,
are cut down, but we replace them with 2 to keep the needy back from right-
Yisra’Ãl, palm branch and reed in one day. pleasure and the staff in whose hand is My
15 Elder and highly respected, he is the displeasure.
head; the prophet who teaches falsehood, 6 “Against a defiled nation I send him,
their young men, and has no compassion heart think so, for it is in his heart to
on their fatherless and widows; for every- destroy, and cut off not a few nations.
one is defiled and evil, and every mouth 8 “For he says, ‘Are not my princes
j See 16:5, Teh. 2, Teh. 45:6, Mi¿. 5:2, Lk. 1:32-33. k 3:12.
421 YESHAYAHU 11
idols, whose carved images excelled those as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of
of Yerushalayim and Shomeron, them shall return – a decisive end, over-
11 as I have done to Shomeron and her flowing with righteousness.
idols, do I not do also to Yerushalayim and 23 For the Master HWHY of hosts is making
on Yerushalayim, that I shall punish the hosts, “My people, who dwell in Tsiyon,
fruit of the greatness of the heart of the be not afraid of Ashshur, who beats you
sovereign of Ashshur, and the boasting of with a rod and lifts up his staff against you,
his haughty looks. in the way of Mitsrayim.
13 “For he has said, ‘By the power of my 25 “For yet a little while and the displea-
hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, sure shall be completed, and My displea-
for I have been clever. And I remove the sure be to their destruction.”
boundaries of the people, and have robbed 26 And HWHY of hosts stirs up a lash for
their treasuries. And I put down the inhabi- him as the smiting of MiÅyan at the rock of
tants like a strong one. OrÃÄ. And as His rod was on the sea, so
14 ‘And my hand finds the riches of the shall He lift it up in the way of Mitsrayim.
people like a nest. And I have gathered all 27 And in that day it shall be that his
the earth like forsaken eggs are gathered. burden is removed from your shoulder, and
And there was no one who moved his wing, his yoke from your neck, and the yoke
nor opened his mouth with even a peep.’ ” shall be destroyed because of the anointing
15 Would the axe boast itself over him oil.
who chops with it, or the saw exalt itself 28 He has come upon Ayath, he has passed
over him who saws with it? As a rod wav- MiÍron. At Mi¿mash he stored his sup-
ing those who lift it up! As a staff lifting up plies.
that which is not wood! 29 They have gone through the pass, they
16 Therefore the Master, HWHY of hosts, have taken up lodging at GeÄa. Ramah is
sends leanness among his fat ones. And afraid, GiÄÈah of Sha’ul has fled.
under his esteem he kindles a burning like 30 Lift up your voice, O daughter of
it shall burn and devour his weeds and his GÃÄim sought refuge.
thornbushes in one day, 32 Yet he remains at NoÄ that day; he
18 and consume the esteem of his forest shakes his fist at the mountain of the
and of his fertile field, both life and flesh. daughter of Tsiyon, the hill of Yeru-
And they shall be as when a sick man shalayim.
wastes away, 33 Look, the Master, HWHY of hosts, is lop-
19 and the remaining trees of his forest ping off a branch with an awesome crash,
shall be so few in number that a child and the tall ones are cut down, and the
records them. lofty ones are laid low.
20 And in that day it shall be that the 34 And He shall cut down the thickets of
remnant of Yisra’Ãl, and those who have the forest with iron, and LeÄanon shall fall
escaped of the house of YaÈaqoÄ, never as a mighty one!
again lean upon him who defeated them,
but shall lean upon HWHY, the Set-apart One
of Yisra’Ãl, in truth. 11 And a Rod shall come forth from
the stump of Yishai, and a Sprout
21 A remnant shall return, the remnant of from his roots shall bear fruit.
YaÈaqoÄ, to the Mighty Âl. 2 The Spirit of HWHY shall rest upon Him
22 For though your people, O Yisra’Ãl, be – the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
YESHAYAHU 11 422
the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit aside, and the adversaries of YehuÅah be
of knowledge and of the fear of HWHY, cut off. Ephrayim shall not envy YehuÅah,
3 and shall make Him breathe in the fear and YehuÅah not trouble Ephrayim.
of HWHY. l And He shall not judge by the 14 But they shall fly down upon the shoul-
sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing der of the Philistines toward the west;
of His ears. together they plunder the people of the
4 But with righteousness He shall judge east, their hand stretching forth on EÅom
the poor, and shall decide with straightness and Mo’aÄ, and the children of Ammon
for the meek ones of the earth, and shall shall be subject to them.
smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, 15 And HWHY shall put under the ban the
and slay the wrong with the breath of His tongue of the Sea of Mitsrayim, and He
lips. shall wave His hand over the River with
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of the might of His Spirit, and shall smite it in
His loins, and trustworthiness the girdle of the seven streams, and shall cause men to
His waist. tread it in sandals.
6 And a wolf shall dwell with the lamb, 16 And there shall be a highway for the
and a leopard lie down with the young remnant of His people, those left from
goat, and the calf and the young lion and Ashshur, as it was for Yisra’Ãl in the day
the fatling together, and a little child leads when he came up from the land of
them. Mitsrayim.
7 And cow and bear shall feed, their
Unto Him the gentiles n shall seek, and His HWHY, call upon His Name; make known
rest shall be esteem. His deeds among the peoples, make men-
11 And it shall be in that day that HWHY sets tion that His Name is exalted.
His hand again a second time o to recover 5 “Sing to HWHY, For He has done excel-
the remnant of His people who are left, lently; this is known in all the earth.
from Ashshur and from Mitsrayim, from 6 “Cry aloud and shout, O inhabitant of
Pathros and from Kush, from Âylam and Tsiyon, for great is the Set-apart One of
from ShinÈar, from Àamath and from the Yisra’Ãl in your midst!” q
islands of the sea.
12 And He shall raise a banner for the
nations, and gather the outcasts of Yisra’Ãl, 13 The message concerning BaÄel
which Yeshayahu son of Amots
and assemble the dispersed of YehuÅah saw.
from the four corners of the earth. 2 “Lift up a banner on the high mountain,
13 And the envy of Ephrayim shall turn raise your voice to them; wave your hand,
l Runs parallel with “guarding the commands, or words” of HWHY. m ÀaÄ. 2:14. n Or nations.
o This has not yet been filled. It is a prophecy of the redemption of the remnant of His people (Yisra’Ãl) in the
end-time, of which every prophetic book speaks, repeatedly.
p See Shem. 15:2, Teh. 118:14 – the revelation of the True Messiah, “The Yeshua of Yah”.
q This prophecy for the end-time is found in almost every one of the prophetic books.
423 YESHAYAHU 14
let them enter the gates of the nobles. and everyone taken falls by the sword.
3 “I have commanded My set-apart ones; 16 “And their children are dashed to
I have also called My mighty men for My pieces before their eyes, their houses plun-
displeasure, My proudly exulting ones.” dered and their wives ravished.
4 The noise of an uproar in the moun- 17 “See, I am stirring up the Medes
tains, like that of many people! A noise of against them, who do not regard silver, and
uproar of the reigns of gentiles gathered as for gold, they do not delight in it.
together! HWHY of hosts is gathering an 18 “And bows dash the young to pieces,
His weapons of displeasure, to destroy all the comeliness of the Chaldeans’ pride,
the earth. r shall be as when Elohim overthrew SeÅom
6 Howl, for the day of HWHY is near! It and Amorah.
comes as a destruction from the Almighty. 20 “She shall never be inhabited, nor be
7 Therefore all hands go limp, every settled from generation to generation; nor
man’s heart melts, shall the AraÄian pitch tents there, nor
8 and they shall be afraid. Pangs and shepherds rest their flocks there.
sorrows take hold of them, they are in pain 21 “But wild beasts of the desert shall lie
as a woman in labour; they are amazed at there, and their houses shall be filled with
one another, their faces aflame! owls. And ostriches shall dwell there, and
9 See, the day of HWHY is coming, fierce, wild goats frolic there.
with wrath and heat of displeasure, to lay 22 “And hyenas shall cry in their citadels,
the earth waste, and destroy its sinners and jackals in their pleasant palaces. And
from it. her time is near to come, and her days are
10 For the stars of the heavens and their not drawn out.”
constellations do not give off their light.
The sun shall be dark at its rising, and the
moon not send out its light. 14 Because HWHY has compassion on
YaÈaqoÄ, and shall again choose
11 “And I shall punish the world for its Yisra’Ãl, s and give them rest in their own
evil, and the wrong for their crookedness, land. And the strangers shall join them,
and shall put an end to the arrogance of and they shall cling to the house of
the proud, and lay low the pride of the YaÈaqoÄ. t
ruthless. 2 And peoples shall take them and bring
12 “I shall make mortal man scarcer than them to their own place. And the house of
fine gold, and mankind scarcer than the Yisra’Ãl shall possess them for servants
gold of Ophir. and female servants in the land of HWHY.
13 “So I shall make the heavens tremble, And they shall make captives of their
and the earth shall shake from her place, in captors, and rule over their oppressors.
the wrath of HWHY of hosts and in the day of 3 And it shall be, in the day HWHY gives
the heat of His displeasure. you rest from your sorrow, and from your
14 “And it shall be as the hunted gazelle, trouble and the hard service in which you
and as a sheep that no man takes up – were made to serve,
every man turns to his own people, and 4 that you shall take up this proverb
everyone flees to his own land. against the sovereign of BaÄel, and say,
15 “Whoever is found is thrust through, “How the oppressor has ceased, the gold-
r This end-time judgment upon the earth is found in practically every prophetic book, and in Revelation. In
Yeshayahu it is also described in chs. 24, 34, 63 & 66.
s See 45:17, Yirm. 30:11, Yirm. 46:28, Dan. 2:44, Amos 9:8, Ze¿. 1:16-17, Ze¿. 2:10-12, Yo’Ãl 3:16.
t See 56:6-8 & 60:3, Amos 9:12, Ze¿. 2:11, Ze¿. 8:23, Rom. 11:17-24, Rev. 21:24.
YESHAYAHU 14 424
in displeasure, is persecuted and no one for you have destroyed your land and slain
restrains. your people. Let the seed of evil-doers
7 “All the earth is at rest and at peace, never be mentioned.
they shall break forth into singing. 21 “Prepare his children for slaughter,
8 “Even the cypress trees rejoice over because of the crookedness of their fathers,
you, and the cedars of LeÄanon, saying, lest they rise up and possess the land, and
‘Since you were cut down, no woodcutter fill the face of the world with cities.”
has come up against us.’ 22 “And I shall rise up against them,”
9 “The grave from beneath is excited declares HWHY of hosts, “and shall cut off
about you, to meet you at your coming; it from BaÄel the name and remnant, and off-
stirs up the dead for you, all the chief ones spring and descendant,” declares HWHY.
of the earth; it has raised up from their 23 “And I shall make it a possession for
thrones all the sovereigns of the gentiles. the porcupine, and marshes of muddy
10 “All of them respond and say to you, water; and shall sweep it with the broom of
‘Have you also become as weak as we? destruction,” declares HWHY of hosts.
Have you become like us? 24 HWHY of hosts has sworn, saying, “Truly,
11 ‘Your arrogance has been brought as I have planned, so shall it be; and as
down to the grave, and the sound of your I have purposed, so it stands:
stringed instruments; the maggot is spread 25 “To break Ashshur in My land, and
under you, and worms cover you.’ tread him down on My mountains. And his
12 “How you have fallen from the heav- yoke shall be removed from them, and his
ens, O HÃlÃl, u son of the morning! You burden removed from their shoulders.
have been cut down to the ground, you 26 “This is the counsel that is counselled
who laid low the gentiles! for all the earth, and this is the hand that is
13 “For you have said in your heart, ‘Let stretched out over all the nations.
me go up to the heavens, let me raise my 27 “For HWHY of hosts has counselled, and
throne above the stars of Âl, and let me sit who annuls it? And His hand that is
in the mount of meeting on the sides of the stretched out, who turns it back?”
north; 28 This is the message which came in the
14 let me go up above the heights of the year that Sovereign AÁaz died:
clouds, let me be like the Most High.’ 29 “Do not rejoice, all you of Philistia, that
15 “But you are brought down to the the rod that smote you is broken; for out of
grave, to the sides of the Pit. the serpent’s roots comes forth an adder,
16 “Those who see you stare at you, and and its offspring is a fiery flying serpent.
ponder over you, saying, ‘Is this the man 30 “And the first-born of the poor shall
who made the earth tremble, who shook feed, and the needy lie down in safety. And
reigns, I shall kill your roots with scarcity of food,
17 who made the world as a wilderness and it shall slay your remnant.
and destroyed its cities, who would not 31 “Howl, O gate! Cry, O city! Melt away,
open the house of his prisoners?’ all you of Philistia! For smoke shall come
18 “All the sovereigns of the gentiles, all from the north, and there is no stranger in
of them, were laid in esteem, everyone in his ranks.”
his own house; 32 And what does one answer the messen-
19 but you have been thrown from your gers of a nation? “That HWHY has founded
u The gentiles are ruled by the sovereign of BaÄel: HÃlÃl, the Shining One!
425 YESHAYAHU 17
Tsiyon, and the poor of His people take Mo’aÄ; be a shelter to them from the face
refuge in it.” of the ravager. For the oppressor has met
his end, destruction has ceased, those tram-
15 The message concerning Mo’aÄ.
Because in the night Ar of Mo’aÄ
pling down have perished from the land.
5 “And in kindness the throne shall be
was laid waste, was silenced! Because in established. And One shall sit on it in truth,
the night Qir of Mo’aÄ was laid waste, was in the Tent of DawiÅ, judging and seeking
silenced! right-ruling, and speeding righteousness.”
2 He has gone up to the house and DiÄon, 6 We have heard of the pride of Mo’aÄ –
to the high places to weep. Mo’aÄ is wail- very proud – of his pride, his arrogance
ing over NeÄo and over MÃyÅeÄa; on all and his rage. His boastings are not true.
their heads is baldness, and every beard is 7 So Mo’aÄ wails for Mo’aÄ, everyone
in their streets everyone wails, weeping the vine of SiÄmah. The masters of the
bitterly. gentiles have broken down its choice
4 And Àeshbon and ElÈalÃh cry out, their plants, which have reached to YaÈzÃr and
voice shall be heard as far as Yahats. wandered through the wilderness. Her
Therefore the armed ones of Mo’aÄ shout; branches are stretched out, they are gone
his being shall tremble within him. over the sea.
5 My own heart is toward Mo’aÄ; her 9 Therefore I bewail the vine of SiÄmah,
fugitives cry unto TsoÈar, like a three-year- with the weeping of YaÈzÃr. I water you
old heifer. For by the ascent of LuÁith they with my tears, O Àeshbon and ElÈalÃh, for
go up with weeping; for in the way of acclamation have fallen over your summer
Àoronayim they raise a cry of destruction. fruit and your harvest.
6 For the waters of Nimrim are wastes, 10 Gladness is taken away, and joy from
for the green grass has withered away; the the orchard; in the vineyards there is no
grass fails, there is no greenness. singing, nor shouting; No treaders tread
7 Therefore the wealth, acquired and out wine in their presses; I have made their
stored up, they take away to the wadi of acclamation cease.
the Willows. 11 Therefore my inward parts sound like a
8 For the cry has gone all around the lyre for Mo’aÄ, and my inner being for Qir
borders of Mo’aÄ, its wailing to EÍlayim Àeres.
and its wailing to Be’Ãr Âlim. 12 And it shall be, when it is seen that
9 “For the waters of Dimon shall be filled Mo’aÄ has wearied herself on the high
with blood; for I shall bring more upon place, that she shall come to her set-apart
Dimon, lions upon him who escapes from place to pray, but not be able.
Mo’aÄ, and on the remnant of the land.” 13 This is the word which HWHY has spoken
make your shadow like the night in the 17 The message concerning
Damascus. “See, Damascus ceases
middle of the day; hide the outcasts, do not to be a city, and shall become a heap of
betray him who escapes. ruins.
4 “Let My outcasts dwell with you, O 2 “The cities of AroÈÃr are forsaken, they
YESHAYAHU 17 426
are for flocks which shall lie down, with morning, it is no more. This is the portion
no one to frighten. of those who plunder us, and the lot of
3 “And the stronghold shall cease from those who rob us.
Ephrayim, and the reign from Damascus,
and the remnant of Aram be as the esteem
of the sons of Yisra’Ãl,” declares HWHY of 18 Woe to the land shadowed with
whirring wings, which is beyond
hosts. the rivers of Kush,
4 “And in that day it shall be that the 2 which sends envoys by sea, even in
esteem of YaÈaqoÄ wanes, and the fatness vessels of reed on the waters, saying, “Go,
of his flesh grows lean. swift messengers, to a nation tall and
5 “And it shall be as when the harvester smooth-skinned, to a people dreaded from
gathers the grain, and reaps the heads with their beginning onward, a nation mighty
his arm. And it shall be as he who gathers and trampling, whose land the rivers
heads of grain in the Valley of Repha’im. divide.”
6 “And gleaning grapes shall be left in it, 3 All inhabitants of the world, and you
like the shaking of an olive tree, two or that dwell on the earth: When a banner is
three olives at the top of the uppermost lifted up on the mountains, look! And
branch, four or five in its most fruit-bear- when a ram’s horn is blown, hear!
ing branches,” declares HWHY Elohim of 4 For thus HWHY said to me, “I am still,
a forsaken forest and an uppermost branch, birds of prey and for the beasts of the
which they left because of the children of earth. And the birds of prey shall summer
Yisra’Ãl. And it shall become a ruin. on them, and all the beasts of the earth
10 Because you have forgotten the Elohim winter on them.
of your deliverance, and have not remem- 7 In that time a present shall be brought
bered the Rock of your stronghold, there- to HWHY of hosts from a people tall and
fore you shall plant pleasant plants and set smooth-skinned, and from a people awe-
out foreign seedlings, some from their beginning onward – a
11 by day make your plant to grow, and in nation mighty and trampling, whose land
the morning make your seed to flourish – the rivers have divided – to the place of the
but the harvest is a heap in the day of grief Name of HWHY of hosts, to Mount Tsiyon.
and incurable pain.
12 Woe to the uproar of many people who
make a noise like the roar of the seas, and 19 The message concerning Mits-
rayim. See, HWHY is riding on a
to the rushing of nations that make a rush- swift cloud, and He shall come into
ing like the rushing of mighty waters – Mitsrayim. And the idols of Mitsrayim
13 nations rushing like the rushing of shall tremble at His presence, and the heart
many waters. But He shall rebuke them of Mitsrayim melt in its midst.
and they shall flee far away, and be chased 2 “And I shall stir up Mitsrites against
like the chaff of the mountains before the Mitsrites, and they shall fight, each one
wind, like whirling dust before the whirl- against his brother, and each one against
wind. his neighbour, city against city, reign
14 At eventide, look! Alarm! Before against reign.
427 YESHAYAHU 20
3 “And the spirit of Mitsrayim shall van- fears for himself, because of the counsel of
ish within them, and I destroy their coun- HWHY of hosts which He has counselled
sel. And they shall seek the idols and the against it.
mutterers, the mediums and the sorcerers. 18 In that day five cities in the land of
4 “And I shall deliver the Mitsrites into Mitsrayim shall speak the language of
the hand of a cruel master, and a fierce KenaÈan and swear by HWHY of hosts, one is
sovereign to rule over them,” declares the called the City of Destruction.
Master, HWHY of hosts. 19 In that day an altar to HWHY shall be in
5 And waters shall fail from the sea, and the midst of the land of Mitsrayim, and a
the river wasted and dried up. standing column to HWHY at its border.
6 And the rivers shall stink, and the 20 And it shall be for a sign and for a wit-
streams shall be weak and dried up. Reeds ness to HWHY of hosts in the land of
and rushes shall wither. Mitsrayim. When they cry to HWHY because
7 Bare places by the River, by the mouth of the oppressors, He sends them a Saviour
of the River, and every sown field by the and an Elohim, and shall deliver them.
River shall wither. It shall be driven away, 21 And HWHY shall be known to Mitsrayim,
Pharaoh, “I am the son of the wise, the son with Mitsrayim and Ashshur, even a bless-
of ancient sovereigns?” ing in the midst of the earth,
12 Where are they? Where are your wise 25 whom HWHY of hosts shall bless, saying,
men? Let them show you, and let them “Blessed is Mitsrayim My people, and
know what HWHY of hosts has counselled Ashshur the work of My hands, and
against Mitsrayim. Yisra’Ãl My inheritance.”
13 The princes of TsoÈan have become
in all her work, as a drunkard strays in his of Yeshayahu son of Amots, saying, “Go,
vomit. and remove the sackcloth from your body,
15 And there is no work for Mitsrayim, by and take your sandals off your feet.” And
either head or tail, palm branch or bulrush. he did so, walking naked and barefoot.
16 In that day Mitsrayim shall become like 3 And HWHY said, “As My servant Yesha-
women, and tremble and fear because of yahu has walked naked and barefoot three
the waving of the hand of HWHY of hosts, years for a sign and a wonder against Mits-
which He waves over it. rayim and Kush,
17 And the land of YehuÅah shall be a fear 4 so does the sovereign of Ashshur lead
to Mitsrayim, everyone who mentions it away the captives of Mitsrayim and the
YESHAYAHU 20 428
exiles of Kush, young and old, naked and calls to me out of SÃÈir, “Watchman, how
barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered – much of the night is passed? Watchman,
the shame of Mitsrayim. how much of the night has passed?”
5 “And they shall be afraid and ashamed 12 The watchman said, “Morning came,
of Kush, their expectation, and of and also the night. If you inquire, inquire.
Mitsrayim, their boast. Come again!”
6 “And the inhabitant of this coastland 13 The message concerning AraÄia. In the
shall say in that day, ‘See, such is our forest in AraÄia you stay, O you travelling
expectation, wherever we flee for help to companies of DeÅanites.
be delivered from the sovereign of 14 You who dwell in the land of TÃma,
Ashshur. And how do we escape?’ ” bring water to him who is thirsty, meet the
fugitive with bread.
21 The message concerning the
Wilderness of the Sea. As whirl-
15 For they fled from the swords, from the
into fear for me. noisy city, a city of revelry? Your slain are
5 Prepare the table, spread the mat, eat not slain with the sword, nor the dead in
and drink. Arise, you princes, anoint the battle.
shield! 3 All your rulers have fled together; with-
6 For HWHY has said this to me, “Go, set a out a bow they were taken captive. All
watchman, let him declare what he sees.” who are found in you are bound together,
7 And he saw a chariot with a pair of who have fled from afar.
horsemen, a chariot of donkeys, and a 4 Therefore I said, “Look away from me,
chariot of camels, and he listened atten- let me weep bitterly. Do not try to comfort
tively, very attentively. me because of the ravaging of the daughter
8 Then he cried, “A lion, O HWHY! I stand of my people.”
continually on the watchtower in the day- 5 For it is a day of uproar and treading
time, and I have sat at my post every night. down and perplexity by the Master HWHY of
9 “And see this, a chariot of men coming hosts in the Valley of Vision – breaking
with a pair of horsemen!” And he spoke up down of a wall and of crying to the moun-
and said, “BaÄel is fallen, is fallen! And all tain.
the carved images of her mighty ones He 6 And Âylam bore the quiver with chari-
has broken to the ground.” ots of men and horsemen, and Qir bared
10 Oh, my threshing and the grain of my the shield.
floor! That which I have heard from HWHY 7 And it shall be that your choicest
of hosts, the Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, I have valleys shall be filled with chariots, and
declared to you. the horsemen shall take up positions at the
11 The message concerning Dumah. He gate.
429 YESHAYAHU 23
8 Then He removed the covering of open, and no one shuts; and shall shut, and
YehuÅah. And you looked in that day to no one opens.
the weapons of the House of the Forest. 23 ‘And I shall fasten him like a peg in a
9 And you saw the breaches of the city of steadfast place, and he shall become a
DawiÅ, that it was great. And you gathered throne of esteem to his father’s house.
together the waters of the lower pool. 24 ‘And they shall hang on him all the
10 And you counted the houses of Yeru- weight of his father’s house, the offspring
shalayim, and the houses you broke down and the offshoots, all vessels of small
to strengthen the wall. quantity, from the cups to all the jars.
11 And you dug a ditch between the two 25 ‘In that day,’ declares HWHY of hosts,
walls for the water of the old pool. But you ‘the peg that is fastened in the steadfast
have not looked to its Maker, nor have you place shall be removed and be cut down
seen Him who fashioned it long ago. and fall, and the burden that was on it shall
12 And in that day the Master HWHY of be cut off. For HWHY has spoken.’ ”
hosts called for weeping and for mourning,
for baldness and for girding with sack-
cloth. 23 The message concerning Tsor.
Howl, you ships of Tarshish! For it
13 Then see! Joy and gladness, slaying has been destroyed, without house, without
oxen and killing sheep, eating meat and harbour. From the land of Kittim it has
drinking wine, “Let us eat and drink, for been revealed to them.
tomorrow we die!” 2 Be silent, you inhabitants of the coast-
14 And it was revealed in my hearing by land, you merchants of TsiÅon, who passed
HWHY of hosts, “For this crookedness shall over the sea, they filled you.
certainly not be pardoned until you die,” 3 And on great waters the grain of
said the Master HWHY of hosts. ShiÁor, the harvest of the River, was her
15 Thus said the Master HWHY of hosts, increase. And she was a market-place for
“Go, come to this steward, to SheÄnah, the nations.
who is over the house, and say, 4 Be ashamed, O TsiÅon, for the sea has
16 ‘What have you here, and whom have spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying,
you here, that you have hewn a tomb here, “I have not laboured, nor brought forth
as he who hews himself a tomb on high, children; neither have I reared young men,
cutting out a resting place for himself in brought up maidens.”
a rock? 5 Like the report of Mitsrayim, they too
17 ‘See, HWHY is hurling you away, O man, are grieved at the report of Tsor.
and is firmly grasping you, 6 Pass over to Tarshish; wail, you inhabi-
18 rolling you up tightly like a ball, into a tants of the coastland!
wide land. There you are to die, and there 7 Is this your city of revelry, whose antiq-
your esteemed chariots are to be the shame uity is from days of old, whose feet carried
of your master’s house. her far off to sojourn?
19 ‘And I shall drive you from your office, 8 Who has counselled this against Tsor,
and you shall be ousted from your posi- the crowning city, whose merchants are
tion. chiefs, whose traders are the esteemed of
20 ‘And it shall be in that day, that I shall the earth?
call My servant Elyaqim son of Àilqiyahu. 9 HWHY of hosts has counselled it, to defile
21 ‘And I shall put your robe on him, and the pride of all splendour, and to shame all
strengthen him with your girdle, and give the esteemed of the earth.
your authority into his hand. And he shall 10 Overflow through your land like the
of DawiÅ on his shoulder. And he shall sea, He shook the reigns; HWHY has given a
YESHAYAHU 23 430
command against KenaÈan to destroy its haughty people of the earth shall languish.
strongholds. 5 For the earth has been defiled under its
12 And He said, “Never again shall you inhabitants, because they have trans-
exult, O you oppressed maiden daughter of gressed the Torot, 1 changed v the law, bro-
TsiÅon. Arise, pass over to Kittim, even ken the everlasting covenant. w
there you shall find no rest.” 6 Therefore a curse shall consume the
13 See the land of the Chaldeans – this earth, and those who dwell in it be
people did not exist. Ashshur founded it punished. Therefore the inhabitants of the
for wild beasts of the desert. They set up earth shall be burned, and few men shall
their siege-towers, they demolished her be left.
palaces, and made her a ruin. 7 The new wine shall fail, the vine shall
14 Howl, you ships of Tarshish, for your languish, all those glad at heart shall sigh.
stronghold is laid waste! 8 The joy of the tambourine shall cease,
15 And in that day it shall be that Tsor is the noise of those who rejoice shall end,
forgotten seventy years, according to the the joy of the lyre shall cease.
days of one sovereign. At the end of seven- 9 No more do they drink wine with a
ty years it shall be to Tsor as in the song of song, strong drink is bitter to those who
the whore: drink it.
16 “Take a lyre, go about the city, you for- 10 The deserted city shall be broken down,
gotten whore; make sweet playing, sing every house shall be shut, no one enters.
many songs, so that you might be remem- 11 There is a crying for wine in the streets;
to her hire and commit whoring with all the stricken with destruction.
reigns of the earth on the face of the soil. 13 For thus it is to be in the midst of the
18 And her goods and her hire shall be set earth among the peoples, like the shaking
apart for HWHY, not treasured nor laid up, of an olive tree, like the gleaning of grapes
for her gain is for those who dwell before when the grape harvest is done.
HWHY, to eat sufficiently, and for a choice 14 They lift up their voice, they sing of the
borrower, as with the creditor so with the you, O inhabitant of the earth.
debtor; 18 And it shall be that he who flees from
3 the earth is completely emptied and the noise of the fear falls into the pit, and
utterly plundered, for HWHY has spoken this he who comes up from the midst of the pit
word. is caught in the snare. For the windows
4 The earth shall mourn and wither, the from on high shall be opened, and the
world shall languish and wither, the foundations of the earth be shaken.
1 Torot - plural of Torah - teaching. v Yirm. 23:36.w This is the only reason, according to all Scriptures, why the
earth shall be burned in the day of judgment – see also 13:9, 13:11, 26:21, 66:24, Mi¿. 5:15, Tseph. 1:2-18.
431 YESHAYAHU 26
x 12:6, 16:5, 46:13, 52:8, 59:20, Teh.102:16, YeÁez. 43:7-9, Yo’Ãl 3:17 & 21, Mi¿. 4:7-8, Tseph. 3:14-17, Ze¿.
1:16-17, Ze¿. 2:10, Ze¿. 8:3-8, Ze¿. 14:1-11, Acts 1:6-7, Rev. 21.
YESHAYAHU 26 432
You have also done all our works in us. thornbushes and weeds against Me in
13 O HWHY our Elohim, other masters battle? I would go through them, I would
besides You have had rule over us; only in burn them together.
5 “Or let him take hold of My strength
You do we make mention of Your Name.
14 The dead do not live; the departed
and make peace with Me. Let him make
peace with Me!”
spirits1 do not rise. Therefore You have 6 Those who come He causes to take root
visited and destroyed them, and made all in YaÈaqoÄ, Yisra’Ãl shall blossom and bud.
their remembrance to perish. And they shall fill the face of the world
15 You shall increase the nation, O HWHY,
with fruit.
You shall increase the nation; You are 7 Has He smitten him as He smote those
esteemed; You shall expand all the borders who were smiting him? Or were they slain
of the land. as those they had slaughtered?
16 O HWHY, in distress they shall visit You, 8 In measure, by sending her away, You
they shall pour out a prayer when Your dis- contended with her. He shall take away by
ciplining is upon them. His rough wind in the day of the east wind.
17 As a woman with child and about to 9 Therefore by this the crookedness of
give birth writhes and cries out in her pain, YaÈaqoÄ is covered. And this is all the fruit
so shall we be before Your face, O HWHY. of taking away his sin: when he makes all
18 We have conceived, we writhed in pain; the stones of the altar like chalkstones that
we have given birth to wind. We have not are beaten to dust – AshÃrim and sun-
accomplished deliverance in the earth, nor pillars rise no more.
10 For the city of defence is lonely, a
have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
19 Let Your dead live, together with my home forsaken and left like a wilderness –
dead body, let them arise. Awake and sing, there the calf feeds, and there it lies down,
and shall consume its branches.
you who dwell in dust; for Your dew is a 11 When its twigs are dry, they are broken
dew of light, and let the earth give birth to off, women come and set them on fire. For
the departed spirits. 2 it is a people of no understanding, there-
20 Go, my people, enter your rooms, and
fore He who made them has no compas-
shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, sion on them, and He who formed them
as it were, for a little while, until the dis- shows them no favour.
pleasure is past. 12 And in that day it shall be that HWHY
21 For look, HWHY is coming out of His
threshes, from the channel of the River to
place to punish the inhabitants of the earth the wadi of Mitsrayim. And you shall be
for their crookedness. And the earth shall gathered one by one, y O children of Yis-
disclose her blood, and no longer cover her ra’Ãl.
slain. 13 And in that day it shall be that a great
horn is blown, and those who were perish- “Command upon command, command
ing in the land of Ashshur and the outcasts upon command, line upon line, line upon
in the land of Mitsrayim shall come, and line, here a little, there a little,” so that they
shall worship HWHY on the set-apart moun- go and shall stumble backward, and be
tain, in Yerushalayim. broken and snared and taken captive.
14 Therefore hear the Word of HWHY, you
mer, which, when one sees it, he eats it up suring line, and righteousness the plum-
while it is still in his hand. met. And the hail shall sweep away the
5 In that day HWHY of hosts is for a crown refuge of lying, and the waters overflow
of splendour and a head-dress of comeli- the hiding place.
ness to the remnant of His people, 18 And your covenant with death shall be
6 and a spirit of right-ruling to him who annulled, and your vision with the grave
sits in right-ruling, and strength to those not stand. When an overflowing scourge
who turn back the battle at the gate. passes through, then you shall be trampled
7 And these too have gone astray through down by it.
wine, and through strong drink wandered 19 As often as it passes through it shall
about. Priest and prophet have gone astray take you, for it shall pass through every
through strong drink, they are swallowed morning, and by day and by night. And it
up by wine, they wander about through shall be only trembling to understand the
strong drink, they go astray in vision, they message.”
stumble in right-ruling. 20 For the bed shall be too short for a man
8 For all tables shall be covered with to stretch out on, and the covering shall be
vomit, no place without filth. too narrow to wrap himself in it.
9 Whom would He teach knowledge? 21 For HWHY rises up as at Mount Peratsim,
And whom would He make to understand and He is wroth as at the Valley of GiÄÈon,
the message? Those weaned from milk, to do His work, His strange work, and to
those taken from the breasts! do His deed, His strange deed.
10 For it is: command upon command, 22 And now, do not be scoffers, lest your
command upon command, line upon line, bonds be made strong. For I have heard
line upon line, here a little, there a little. from the Master HWHY of hosts, a destruc-
11 For with a jabbering lip and a foreign tion decreed upon all the earth.
tongue He speaks to this people, 23 Give ear and hear my voice, listen and
12 to whom He said, “This is the rest, give hear my Word.
rest to the weary,” and, “This is the 24 Does the ploughman keep ploughing all
refreshing.” But they would not hear. day to sow? Does he keep turning his soil
13 But the Word of HWHY was to them, and breaking the clods?
YESHAYAHU 28 434
25 When he has levelled its surface, does and his being is empty; or as when a thirsty
he not sow the caraway and scatter the man dreams, and see, he drinks; but he
cummin, plant the wheat in rows, the awakes, and see, he is faint, and his being
barley in the appointed place, and the spelt is longing. Thus shall the crowd of all the
in its place? gentiles be who fight against Mount
26 For He instructs him for right-ruling, Tsiyon.
his Elohim teaches him. 9 Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves
27 For caraway is not threshed with a and be blind! They are drunk, but not with
threshing sledge, nor is a wagon wheel wine; they stagger, but not with strong
rolled over cummin, but caraway is beaten drink.
out with a stick, and cummin with a rod. 10 For HWHY has poured out on you the
28 Grain is crushed, so one does not go on spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your
threshing it forever, nor break it with his eyes, the prophets. And He has covered
wagon wheel, nor crush it with his horse- your heads, the seers.
men. 11 And the entire vision is to you like the
29 Even this has come from HWHY of hosts, words of a book that is sealed, which men
who did wonders in counsel, who made give to one who knows books, saying,
wisdom great. “Read this, please.” And he said, “I am
unable, for it is sealed.”
29 Woe to Ari’Ãl, to Ari’Ãl, the city
where DawiÅ dwelt! Add year to
12 And the book is given to one who does
speak out of the ground, and your speech marvellous work among this people, a
shall be low, out of the dust. And your marvellous work and a wonder. And the
voice shall be like a medium’s, out of the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and
ground, and your speech whisper out of the the understanding of their clever men shall
dust. be hidden.”
5 “But the crowd of those strange to you 15 Woe to those who seek deep to hide
shall be like fine dust, and the crowd of the their counsel far from HWHY, and their
ruthless ones as chaff blowing away. And works are in the dark; they say, “Who sees
it shall be in an instant, suddenly!” us?” and, “Who knows us?”
6 You shall be visited by HWHY of hosts 16 How perverse of you! Should the potter
with thunder and earthquake and great be reckoned as the clay? Should what is
noise, with whirlwind and storm, and made say of its Maker, “He did not make
flame of devouring fire. me”? And what is formed say of Him who
7 Then the crowd of all the gentiles who formed it, “He did not understand”?
fight against Ari’Ãl, even all who fight 17 Is it not yet a little while, and LeÄanon
against her and her stronghold, and distress shall be turned into garden land, and
her, shall be as a dream of a night vision. garden land be reckoned as a forest?
8 And it shall be as when a hungry man 18 And in that day the deaf shall hear the
dreams, and see, he eats; but he awakes, words of the book, and the eyes of the
blind shall see out of gloom, and out of 7 even Mitsrayim, whose help is vain and
rejoice in the Set-apart One of Yisra’Ãl. and inscribe it on a scroll, that it is for a
20 For the ruthless one is brought to latter day, a witness forever:
naught, the scorner is consumed, and all 9 that this is a rebellious people, lying
who watch for evil shall be cut off, children, children who refuse to hear the
21 those who make a man to sin in word, Torah of HWHY,
and lay a snare for him who reproves in the 10 who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and
gate, and turn aside the righteous with to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us
empty reasoning. what is right. Speak to us what is smooth,
22 Therefore thus said HWHY, who ran- prophesy deceits.
somed AÄraham, concerning the house 11 “Turn aside from the way, swerve from
of YaÈaqoÄ, “YaÈaqoÄ is no longer put to the path, cause the Set-apart One of
shame, no longer does his face grow pale. Yisra’Ãl to cease from before us.”
23 “For when he sees his children, the 12 Therefore thus said the Set-apart One
work of My hands, in his midst, they shall of Yisra’Ãl, “Because you despise this
set apart My Name, and set apart the Set- word, and trust in oppression and perverse-
apart One of YaÈaqoÄ, and fear the Elohim ness, and rely on them,
of Yisra’Ãl. 13 therefore this crookedness is to you like
24 “And those who went astray in spirit a breach ready to fall, a bulge in a high
shall come to understanding, and the wall, whose breaking comes suddenly,
grumblers accept instruction.” swiftly.”
14 And He shall break it like the breaking
Mitsrayim, and have not asked My mouth, apart One of Yisra’Ãl, “In returning and
to be strengthened in the strength of rest you are saved, in stillness and trust is
Pharaoh, and to seek refuge in the shadow your strength.” But you would not,
of Mitsrayim! 16 and you said, “No, for we flee upon
3 “And the strength of Pharaoh shall horses,” therefore you flee! And, “We ride
become your shame, and the refuge in the on swift horses,” therefore those who pur-
shadow of Mitsrayim your confusion. sue you are swift!
4 “For his princes were at TsoÈan, and his 17 One thousand flee at the rebuke of one;
messengers came to Àanes. at the rebuke of five you shall flee until
5 “They were all ashamed of a people you are left as a pole on top of a mountain
who do not profit them, not for help or and as a sign on a hill.
profit, but a shame and also a reproach.” 18 And therefore HWHY shall wait, to show
6 The message concerning the beasts of you favour. And therefore He shall be
the South. Through a land of trouble and exalted, to have compassion on you. For
distress, from which came the lioness and HWHY is an Elohim of right-ruling. Blessed
lion, the adder and fiery flying serpent, are all those who wait for Him.
they convey their riches on the backs of 19 For the people shall dwell in Tsiyon at
young donkeys, and their treasures on the Yerushalayim, you shall weep no more. He
humps of camels, to an unprofitable peo- shall show much favour to you at the
ple, sound of your cry; when He hears, He shall
YESHAYAHU 30 436
shall no longer be hidden. But your eyes is broken down, with a rod He smites.
shall see your Teacher, b 32 And every passage of the ordained staff
21 and your ears hear a word behind you, which HWHY lays on him, shall be with tam-
saying, “This is the Way, walk in it,” bourines and lyres, when He shall fight
whenever you turn to the right, or when- with it, battling with a brandishing arm.
ever you turn to the left. 33 For Topheth was ordained of old, even
22 And you shall defile the covering of for the sovereign it has been prepared. He
your graven images of silver, and the has made it deep and large, its fire pit with
plating of your moulded images of gold. much wood; the breath of HWHY, as a stream
You shall throw them away as a menstrual of burning sulphur, is burning in it!
cloth and say to them, “Be gone!”
23 And He shall give the rain for your seed
with which you sow the ground, and bread 31 Woe to those who go down to
Mitsrayim for help, and rely on
of the increase of the earth. And it shall be horses, who trust in chariots because they
fat and rich, your cattle grazing in an are many, and in horsemen because they
enlarged pasture in that day, are very strong, but who do not look to the
24 and the oxen and the young donkeys Set-apart One of Yisra’Ãl, nor seek HWHY!
that work the ground eat seasoned fodder 2 And He also is wise, and has brought
winnowed with shovel and fan. evil, and has not turned aside His words.
25 And on every high mountain and on And He shall rise up against the house of
every high hill there shall be rivers and evil-doers, and against the help of workers
streams of waters, in the day of great of wickedness.
slaughter, when the towers fall. 3 And the Mitsrites are men, and not Âl.
26 And the light of the moon shall be as And their horses are flesh, and not spirit.
the light of the sun, and the light of the sun And when HWHY stretches out His hand,
be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in both he who helps shall stumble, and he
the day that HWHY binds up the breach of who is helped shall fall. And they shall all
His people, and heals the wound of His fall, together.
blows. 4 For this is what HWHY has said to me,
27 See, the Name of HWHY is coming from “As a lion roars, and a young lion over his
afar, burning with His wrath, and heavy prey, though a band of shepherds is called
smoke. His lips shall be filled with rage, out against him, he is not afraid of their
and His tongue be as a devouring fire; voice nor disturbed by their noise, so HWHY
28 and His breath shall be as an overflow- of hosts shall come down to fight upon
ing stream, which reaches up to the neck, Mount Tsiyon and upon its hill.
to sift c the nations with a sieve of false- 5 “Like hovering birds, so does HWHY of
hood, and a misleading bridle on the jaws hosts protect Yerushalayim – protecting
of the peoples. and delivering, passing over and rescuing.”
29 Let the song be to you as in a night set 6 Turn back to Him from whom the chil-
apart for a festival, and gladness of heart as dren of Yisra’Ãl have deeply fallen away.
he who is going with a flute, to come into 7 For in that day, let each man reject his
the mountain of HWHY, to the Rock of idols of silver and his idols of gold, which
Yisra’Ãl. your own hands have made for yourselves,
30 And HWHY shall cause His excellent as a sin.
voice to be heard, and show the coming 8 “And Ashshur shall fall by a sword not
down of His arm, with raging wrath and of man, and a sword not of mankind shall
devour him. But he shall flee from the the ground of My people, indeed, over all
sword, and his young men shall become the houses of joy, the city of revelry;
slave labour, 14 for the palace is abandoned, the crowd-
9 and his strength pass away because of ed city deserted. Hill and watchtower serve
fear, and his commanders shall be afraid of as caves forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a
the banner,” declares HWHY, whose light is pasture of flocks;
in Tsiyon and whose furnace is in Yeru- 15 until the Spirit is poured upon us from
yourselves, make yourselves bare, and gird your times, a wealth of deliverance, wis-
sackcloth on your waists. dom and knowledge. The fear of HWHY –
12 Lament upon the breasts for the pleas- that is His treasure.
ant fields, for the fruit-bearing vine. 7 See, their brave ones shall cry outside,
13 Weeds and thornbushes come up over the messengers of peace weep bitterly.
YESHAYAHU 33 438
Its stakes are never removed, nor any of HWHY, the year of recompense for the cause
its cords broken. of Tsiyon.
21 But there, great is HWHY for us; a place 9 And its streams shall be turned into tar,
of broad rivers, streams, in which no boat and its dust into sulphur, and its land shall
with oars sails, nor big ships pass by – become burning tar,
22 for HWHY is our Judge, HWHY is our 10 that is not quenched night or day, its
through it forever and ever, opened, and the ears of the deaf be opened.
11 so that the pelican and the porcupine 6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer,
possess it, also the owl and the raven dwell and the tongue of the dumb sing, because
in it. And He shall stretch out over it the waters shall burst forth in the wilderness,
line of formlessness and stones of empti- and streams in the desert.
ness. 7 And the parched ground shall become a
12 Its caves, with no one in them, is called pool, and the thirsty land springs of water
a reign, but all its rulers have vanished. – in the home for jackals, where each lay,
13 And thorns shall come up in its palaces, grass with reeds and rushes.
nettles and brambles in its strongholds. 8 And there shall be a highway, and a
And it shall be a home for jackals, a court- way, and it shall be called “The Way of
yard for ostriches. Set-apartness.” e The unclean does not pass
14 And the wild beasts of the desert shall over it, but it is for those who walk the
also meet with the jackals, and the shaggy way, and no fools wander on it.
goat call to its companion. The night crea- 9 No lion is there, nor any ravenous beast
ture shall also settle there, and shall find go up on it, it is not found there. But the
for herself a place of rest. redeemed shall walk there.
15 The arrow snake shall nest there, and 10 And the ransomed of HWHY shall return
lay eggs and hatch, and gather them under and enter Tsiyon with singing, with ever-
her shadow. There too the vultures shall lasting joy on their heads. They shall
gather, each with its mate. obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and
16 Search from the book of HWHY, and sighing shall flee away.
read: not one of these shall be missing, not
one shall be without a mate, for He has
commanded my mouth. And His Spirit 36 And it came to be in the fourteenth
year of Sovereign Àizqiyahu that
shall gather them. SanÁÃriÄ sovereign of Ashshur came up
17 And He shall cast the lot for them, and against all the walled cities of YehuÅah
His hand shall divide it among them with a and took them.
measuring line – they possess it forever, 2 And the sovereign of Ashshur sent the
from generation to generation they dwell RaÄshaqÃh with a great army from La¿ish
in it. to Sovereign Àizqiyahu at Yerushalayim.
And he stood by the channel of the upper
35 Let the wilderness and the dry
place be glad for them, and let the
pool, on the highway to the Launderer’s
Field.
desert rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 3 And there came to him Elyaqim son of
2 It blossoms much and rejoices, even Àilqiyahu, who was over the household,
with joy and singing. The esteem of and SheÄnah the scribe, and Yo’aÁ son of
LeÄanon shall be given to it, the excellence Asaph, the recorder.
of Karmel and Sharon. They shall see 4 The RaÄshaqÃh then said to them,
the esteem of HWHY, the excellency of our “Please say to Àizqiyahu, ‘Thus said the
Elohim. great sovereign, the sovereign of Ashshur,
3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make “What trust is this in which you trust?
firm the weak knees. 5 “I say: You speak of having counsel
4 Say to those with anxious heart, “Be and strength for battle, but they are vain
strong, do not fear! See, your Elohim words. Now in whom do you trust, that
comes with vengeance, with the recom- you have rebelled against me?
pense of Elohim. He is coming to save 6 “Look! You are trusting in the staff of
e Teh. 77:13.
YESHAYAHU 36 440
pierce it. So is Pharaoh the sovereign of away to a land like your own land, a land
Mitsrayim to all who trust in him. of grain and new wine, a land of bread and
7 “But if you say to me, ‘We trust in HWHY vineyards.
our Elohim,’ is it not He whose high places 18 ‘Beware lest Àizqiyahu mislead you,
and whose altars Àizqiyahu has taken saying, “HWHY shall deliver us.” Has any
away, and has said to YehuÅah and to one of the mighty ones of the nations
Yerushalayim, ‘Bow yourselves before this delivered its land from the hand of the sov-
altar’? ereign of Ashshur?
8 “And now, I urge you, please give a 19 ‘Where are the mighty ones of Àamath
pledge to my master the sovereign of and ArpaÅ? Where are the mighty ones of
Ashshur, and I give you two thousand Sepharwayim? And when have they deliv-
horses, if you are able on your part to put ered Shomeron from my hand?
riders on them! 20 ‘Who among all the mighty ones of
9 “And how do you refuse one officer of these lands have delivered their land from
the least of my master’s servants, and put my hand, that HWHY should deliver Yeru-
your trust in Mitsrayim for chariots and shalayim from my hand?’ ”
horsemen? 21 But they were silent and answered him
10 “And now, have I come up without not a word, for the command of the sover-
HWHY against this land to destroy it? HWHY eign was, “Do not answer him.”
said to me, ‘Go up against this land, and 22 And Elyaqim son of Àilqiyahu, who
drink their own urine with you?” household, and SheÄnah the scribe, and the
13 And the RaÄshaqÃh stood and called elders of the priests, covering themselves
out with a loud voice in the language of with sackcloth, to Yeshayahu the prophet,
YehuÅah, and said, “Hear the words of the the son of Amots.
great sovereign, the sovereign of Ashshur! 3 And they said to him, “Thus said
14 “Thus said the sovereign, ‘Do not let Àizqiyahu, ‘This day is a day of distress
Àizqiyahu deceive you, for he is unable to and rebuke and scorn, for the children have
deliver you, come to birth, but there is no strength to
15 and do not let Àizqiyahu make you bring forth.
trust in HWHY, saying, “HWHY shall certainly 4 ‘It could be that HWHY your Elohim does
deliver us, this city is not given into the hear the words of the RaÄshaqÃh, whom
hand of the sovereign of Ashshur.” ’ his master the sovereign of Ashshur has
16 “Do not listen to Àizqiyahu, for thus sent to reproach the living Elohim, and
said the sovereign of Ashshur, ‘Make shall rebuke the words which HWHY your
peace with me by a present and come out Elohim has heard. Therefore lift up your
to me. And let each of you eat from his prayer for the remnant that is left.’ ”
own vine and each from his own fig tree, 5 So the servants of Sovereign Àizqiyahu
be afraid of the words which you have fire, for they were not mighty ones, but the
heard, with which the servants of the work of men’s hands, wood and stone.
sovereign of Ashshur have reviled Me. And they destroyed them.
7 “See, I am putting a spirit in him, and 20 “And now, O HWHY our Elohim, save us
he shall hear a report and return to his own from his hand, so that all the reigns of the
land. And I shall cause him to fall by the earth know that You are HWHY, You alone.”
sword in his own land.” ’ ” 21 Then Yeshayahu son of Amots sent to
8 And the RaÄshaqÃh returned and found Àizqiyahu, saying, “Thus said HWHY
the sovereign of Ashshur fighting against Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, ‘Because you have
LiÄnah, for he had heard that he had left prayed to Me against SanÁÃriÄ sovereign
La¿ish. of Ashshur,
9 And he heard concerning Tirhaqah sov- 22 this is the word which HWHY has spoken
ereign of Kush, “He has come out to fight concerning him, “The maiden, the daugh-
with you.” And when he heard it, he sent ter of Tsiyon, has despised you, mocked
messengers to Àizqiyahu, saying, you; the daughter of Yerushalayim has
10 “Speak to Àizqiyahu the sovereign of shaken her head behind you!
YehuÅah, saying, ‘Do not let your Elohim 23 “Whom have you reproached and
in whom you trust deceive you, saying, reviled? And against whom have you
“Yerushalayim is not given into the hand raised your voice, and lifted up your eyes
of the sovereign of Ashshur.” in pride? Against the Set-apart One of
11 ‘See, you have heard what the sover- Yisra’Ãl!
eigns of Ashshur have done to all lands by 24 “By the hand of your servants you have
putting them under the ban. And are you reproached HWHY, and said, ‘With my many
going to be delivered? chariots I have come up to the height of the
12 ‘Have the mighty ones of the nations mountains, to the limits of LeÄanon. And I
delivered those whom my fathers have cut down its tall cedars and its choice
destroyed, Gozan and Àaran and Retseph, cypress trees. And I enter its farthest
and the sons of ÂÅen who were in height, its thickest forest.
Telassar? 25 ‘I have dug and drunk water, and with
13 ‘Where is the sovereign of Àamath, and the soles of my feet I have dried up all the
the sovereign of ArpaÅ, and the sovereign streams of defence.’
of the city of Sepharwayim, HÃna, and 26 “Have you not heard long ago how I
sent to reproach the living Elohim. your pride have come up to My ears, I
18 “Truly, HWHY, the sovereigns of Ashshur shall put My hook in your nose and My
have laid waste all the lands, and their bridle in your lips, and I shall turn you
YESHAYAHU 37 442
back by the way which you came. done what is good in Your eyes.” And
30 “And this shall be the sign for you: This Àizqiyahu wept bitterly.
year you eat such as grows of itself, and 4 And the word of HWHY came to Yesha-
vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. HWHY, the Elohim of DawiÅ your father, “I
31 “And the remnant who have escaped of have heard your prayer, I have seen your
the house of YehuÅah shall again take root tears. See, I am adding fifteen years to
downward, and bear fruit upward. your days.
32 “For out of Yerushalayim comes forth 6 “And out of the hand of the sovereign
a remnant, and those who escape from of Ashshur I shall deliver you and this city,
Mount Tsiyon – the ardour of HWHY of hosts and protect this city.” ’
does this. 7 “And this is the sign to you from HWHY,
33 “Therefore thus said HWHY concerning that HWHY does this word which He has
the sovereign of Ashshur, ‘He does not spoken:
come into this city, nor does he shoot an 8 “See, I am bringing the shadow on the
arrow there, nor does he come before it sundial, which has gone down with the sun
with shield, nor does he build a siege on the sundial of AÁaz, ten degrees back-
mound against it. ward.” And the sun returned ten degrees
34 ‘By the way that he came, by the same on the dial by which it had gone down.
he turns back. And into this city he does 9 This is the writing of Àizqiyahu sover-
not come,’ declares HWHY. eign of YehuÅah, when he had been sick
35 ‘And I shall defend this city, to save it and had recovered from his sickness:
for My own sake and for the sake of My 10 I said, “Am I to go into the gates of the
and eighty-five thousand. And they arose land of the living! I shall no longer look on
early in the morning, and saw all of them, man with the inhabitants of the world!
dead bodies. 12 “My dwelling is plucked up, taken
37 And SanÁÃriÄ the sovereign of Ashshur from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have cut
broke camp and went away, and turned off my life like a weaver; He cuts me off
back, and remained at NinewÃh. from the loom. From day to night You
38 And it came to be, as he was bowing make an end of me.
himself in the house of Nisro¿ his mighty 13 “I soothed myself until morning. Like a
one, that his sons AÅrammele¿ and lion, so He shatters all my bones. From day
Shar’etser smote him with the sword, and to night You make an end of me.
they escaped into the land of Ararat. And 14 “Like a swallow or a thrush, so I chat-
his son ÂsarÁaddon reigned in his place. tered; I moaned like a dove; my eyes look
weakly on high. O HWHY, I am oppressed,
38 In those days Àizqiyahu was sick
and near death. And Yeshayahu the
undertake for me!
15 “What do I say? For He has spoken to
prophet, the son of Amots, came to him, me, and He Himself has acted. Softly I go,
and said to him, “Thus said HWHY, ‘Set your all my years, because of the bitterness of
house in order, for you are going to die and my being.
not live.’ ” 16 “O HWHY, by these do men live, and my
2 And Àizqiyahu turned his face toward spirit finds life in all of them. Restore me
the wall, and prayed to HWHY, and make me live.
3 and said, “I pray, O HWHY, please 17 “See, for peace I had what was bitter,
remember how I have walked before You bitter. But You have lovingly delivered my
in truth and with a perfect heart, and have being from the pit of corruption, for You
443 YESHAYAHU 40
have cast all my sins behind Your back. forth. And they shall be eunuchs in the
18 “For the grave does not thank You, nor palace of the sovereign of BaÄel.’ ”
death praise You; those who go down to 8 And Àizqiyahu said to Yeshayahu,
the pit do not watch for Your truth. “The word of HWHY which you have spoken
19 “The living, the living – he is praising is good!” And he said, “Because there is
You, as I do this day. A father makes peace and truth in my days.”
known Your truth to his children.
20 “HWHY, come to save me! And let us sing
he heard that he had been sick and had mountain and hill made low. And the steep
recovered. ground shall become level, and the rough
2 And Àizqiyahu was pleased with them, places smooth.
and showed them the house of his trea- 5 “And the esteem of HWHY shall be
sures, the silver and gold, the spices and revealed, and all flesh together shall see it.
precious ointment, and all his armoury, and For the mouth of HWHY has spoken.”
all that was found among his treasures. 6 The voice said, “Cry out!” and he said,
There was not an object in his house or in “What do I cry?” “All flesh is grass, and
all his rule that Àizqiyahu did not show all its loveliness is like the flower of the
them. field.
3 And Yeshayahu the prophet went to 7 “Grass shall wither, the flower shall
Sovereign Àizqiyahu, and said to him, fade, when the Spirit of HWHY has blown on
“What did these men say, and from where it! Truly the people is grass!
did they come to you?” And Àizqiyahu 8 “Grass shall wither, the flower shall
said, “They came to me from a distant fade, but the Word of our Elohim stands
land, from BaÄel.” forever.” f
4 And he said, “What have they seen in 9 You who bring good news to Tsiyon,
your house?” And Àizqiyahu said, “They get up into the high mountain. You who
have seen all that is in my house; there is bring good news to Yerushalayim, lift
not an object among my treasures that I did up your voice with strength, lift it up,
not show them.” be not afraid. Say to the cities of YehuÅah,
5 So Yeshayahu said to Àizqiyahu, “Hear “See your Elohim!”
the word of HWHY of hosts: 10 See, the Master HWHY comes with a
6 ‘See, the days are coming when all that strong hand, and His arm rules for Him.
is in your house, and what your fathers See, His reward is with Him, and His
have stored up until this day, shall be taken recompense before Him.
away to BaÄel; not a matter shall be left,’ 11 He feeds His flock like a shepherd, He
declares HWHY. gathers the lambs with His arm, and carries
7 ‘And they shall take some of your sons them in His bosom, gently leading those
who are born to you, whom you bring who are with young.
f 1 KÃpha 1:24-25.
YESHAYAHU 40 444
12 Who has measured the waters in the their host by number, He calls them all by
hollow of his hand, and measured the name, by the greatness of His might and
heavens with a span, and contained the the strength of His power – not one is
dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed missing.
the mountains in scales and the hills in 27 Why do you say, O YaÈaqoÄ, and speak,
who instructed Him, and taught Him in the heard? The everlasting Elohim, HWHY, the
path of right-ruling? Who taught Him Creator of the ends of the earth, neither
knowledge, and showed Him the way of faints nor is weary. His understanding is
understanding? unsearchable.
15 See, nations are as a drop in a bucket, 29 He gives power to the faint, and to
and are reckoned as dust on the balance. those who have no might He increases
See, He lifts up isles as fine dust. strength.
16 And LeÄanon is not enough to burn, 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
nor its beasts enough for a burnt offering. and young men stumble and fall,
17 All nations before Him are as a non- 31 but those who wait on HWHY renew their
entity, and they are reckoned by Him as strength, they raise up the wing like eagles,
less than a speck, and emptiness. they run and are not weary, they walk and
18 And to whom would you liken Âl? And do not faint.
what likeness would you compare to Him?
19 The workman moulds a graven image,
and the goldsmith overspreads it with gold, 41 “Be silent before Me, you coast-
lands, and let peoples renew their
and the silversmith casts silver chains. power! Let them come near, then let them
20 He who is too poor for such an offering speak. Let us come together for right-rul-
chooses a tree that does not rot. He seeks ing.
for himself a skilled craftsman to prepare a 2 “Who raised up the righteous one from
carved image that does not totter. the east, called him to His foot, gave the
21 Did you not know? Have you not nations before him, and made sovereigns
heard? Has it not been declared to you submit to him? He gave them as the dust to
from the beginning? Have you not under- his sword, as driven stubble to his bow.
stood from the foundations of the earth? 3 “He pursued them, passed over in safe-
22 It is He who sits above the circle of the ty, by a path that he had not gone with his
earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshop- feet.
pers, who stretches out the heavens like a 4 “Who has performed and done it, call-
curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to ing the generations from the beginning? ‘I,
dwell in, HWHY, am the first, and with the last I am
23 who brings princes to naught, shall He.’ ”
make the rulers of the earth as emptiness. 5 Coastlands see it and fear, the ends of
24 Hardly have they been planted, hardly the earth are afraid – they draw near and
have they been sown, hardly has their come.
stock taken root in the earth, when He shall 6 Everyone helps his neighbour, and says
blow on them and they wither, and a whirl- to his brother, “Be strong!”
wind take them away like stubble. 7 And the craftsman encourages the gold-
25 “And to whom then do you liken Me, smith. He who smooths with the hammer
or to whom am I compared?” says the Set- inspires him who strikes the anvil, saying
apart One. of the joining, “It is good.” And he fastens
26 Lift up your eyes on high and see. Who it with nails, so it does not totter.
has created these? He who is bringing out 8 “But you, Yisra’Ãl, are My servant,
445 YESHAYAHU 42
strengthen you, I shall also help you, I come hereafter, and we know that you are
shall also uphold you with the right hand mighty ones; yea, do good or do evil, and
of My righteousness.’ let us be amazed and see it together.
11 “See, all those who raged against you 24 “See, you are of naught, and your work
are ashamed and blush, they are as non- a breath; he who chooses you is an abomi-
existent. And the men who strive with you nation.
perish. 25 “I have stirred up one from the north,
12 “You seek them but do not find them, and he comes; from the rising of the sun he
those who struggle with you. Those who calls on My Name. And he comes against
fight you are as non-existent, as naught. princes as though mortar, as the potter
13 “For I, HWHY your Elohim, am holding treads clay.
your right hand, saying to you, ‘Do not 26 “Who has declared from the beginning,
fear, I shall help you.’ and we know? and former times, and we
14 “Do not fear, you worm YaÈaqoÄ, you say, ‘He is righteous’? No, no one is
men of Yisra’Ãl! I shall help you,” declares declaring; no, no one is proclaiming; no,
HWHY and your Redeemer, the Set-apart no one is hearing your words.
One of Yisra’Ãl. 27 “He who is First said to Tsiyon, ‘See,
15 “See, I shall make you into a new see them!’ And to Yerushalayim I give one
threshing sledge with sharp teeth, let you who brings good news.
thresh mountains and beat them small, and 28 “And I see that there is no man, and of
you, you rejoice in HWHY, and boast in the works are naught, their moulded images
Set-apart One of Yisra’Ãl. are wind and confusion.
17 “When the poor and needy seek water,
wilderness become a pool of water, and a voice, nor causes His voice to be heard in
dry land springs of water. the street.
19 “I set in the wilderness cedar, acacia 3 “A crushed reed He does not break, and
and myrtle and oil tree; I place in the desert smoking flax He does not quench. He
cypress, pine and box tree together. brings forth right-ruling in accordance
20 “So that they see and know, and consid- with truth.
er and understand together, that the hand of 4 “He does not become weak or crushed,
HWHY has done this, and the Set-apart One until He has established right-ruling in the
of Yisra’Ãl has created it. earth. And the coastlands wait for His
21 “Present your case,” says HWHY. “Let Torah.”
your strong ones come near,” says the 5 Thus said the Âl, HWHY, who created the
YESHAYAHU 42 446
comes from it, who gives breath to the as My messenger whom I send? Who is
people on it, and spirit to those who walk blind as he who is at peace, and blind as
on it: servant of HWHY?
6 “I, HWHY, have called You in righteous- 20 “You see much, but do not observe;
ness, and I take hold of Your hand and ears are open, but do not hear.”
guard You, and give You for a covenant to 21 It has delighted HWHY, for the sake of
a people, for a light to the gentiles, His righteousness, to make the Torah great
7 to open blind eyes, to bring out prison- and esteemed.
ers from the prison, those who sit in dark- 22 But this is a people robbed and plun-
ness from the prison house. dered, all of them are snared in holes, and
8 “I am HWHY, that is My Name, and My they are hidden in prison houses. They
esteem I do not give to another, nor My have become a prey, with no one to deliver
praise to idols. – for plunder, and no one to say, “Restore!”
9 “See, the former predictions have 23 Who among you gives ear to this, pays
come, and new ones I am declaring; before attention and hears for the time to come?
they spring forth I let you hear them.” 24 Who gave YaÈaqoÄ for plunder, and
10 Sing to HWHY a new song; His praise Yisra’Ãl to the robbers? Was it not HWHY,
from the ends of the earth, you who go He against whom we sinned? For they
down to the sea, and all that is in it, you would not walk in His ways, and they did
coastlands and you inhabitants of them! not obey His Torah!
11 Let the wilderness and its cities lift up 25 So He has poured on him His burning
their voice, the villages where QÃÅar displeasure and the strength of battle, and
dwells. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing, let it set him on fire all around, yet he did not
them shout from the top of the mountains. understand. And it burned against him,
12 Let them give esteem to HWHY, and yet he did not take it to heart!
declare His praise in the coastlands.
13 HWHY goes forth like a mighty man. He
stirs up ardour like a fighter. He cries out, 43 But now, thus said HWHY, your
Creator, O YaÈaqoÄ, and He who
yea, shout aloud. Over His enemies He formed you, O Yisra’Ãl, “Do not fear, for I
shows Himself mighty. have redeemed you. I have called you by
14 “I have kept silent from of old, I have your name, you are Mine.
been still and held Myself back. Like a 2 “When you pass through the waters, I
woman in labour I now cry out, I pant and am with you; and through rivers, they do
gasp at once. not overflow you. When you walk through
15 “I lay waste mountains and hills, and I fire, you are not scorched, and a flame
dry up all their plants. And I shall make does not burn you.
rivers become coastlands, and I dry up 3 “For I am HWHY your Elohim, the Set-
light before them, and crooked places you have been esteemed, and I have loved
straight. These matters I shall do for them, you. And I give men in your place, and
and I shall not forsake them. peoples for your life.
17 “Those who trust in idols, who say to 5 “Do not fear, for I am with you. I shall
the moulded images, ‘You are our mighty bring your seed from the east, and gather
ones,’ shall be turned back, utterly you from the west.
ashamed. 6 “I shall say to the north, ‘Give them
18 “Hear, you deaf! And look, you blind, up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them
447 YESHAYAHU 44
back!’ Bring My sons from afar, and My 20 “The beast of the field esteems Me, the
daughters from the ends of the earth – jackals and the ostriches, because I have
7 all those who are called by My Name, given waters in the wilderness and rivers
whom I have created, formed, even made in the desert, to give drink to My people,
for My esteem.” My chosen,
8 He shall bring out a blind people who 21 this people I have formed for Myself,
have eyes, and deaf ones who have ears. let them relate My praise.
9 All the nations shall be assembled, and 22 “But you have not called on Me, O
the peoples be gathered. Who among them YaÈaqoÄ, for you have been weary of Me,
declares this, and show us former events? O Yisra’Ãl.
Let them give their witnesses, to be 23 “You have not brought Me the sheep
declared right; or let them hear and say, for your burnt offerings, nor have you
“It is truth.” esteemed Me with your slaughterings. I
10 “You are My witnesses,” declares HWHY, have not caused you to serve with grain
“And My servant whom I have chosen, so offerings, nor wearied you with incense.
that you know and believe Me, and under- 24 “You have not bought Me sweet cane
stand that I am He. Before Me there was with silver, nor have you satisfied Me with
no Âl formed, nor after Me there is none. the fat of your slaughterings. You have
11 “I, I am HWHY, and besides Me there is only burdened Me with your sins, you
no saviour. have wearied Me with your crookednesses.
12 “I, I have declared and saved, and made 25 “I, I am He who blots out your trans-
known, and there was no foreign mighty gressions for My own sake, and remember
one among you. And you are My witness- your sins no more.
es,” declares HWHY, “that I am Âl. 26 “Remind Me, let us enter into judg-
13 “Even from the day I am He, and no ment, together; relate, that you might be
one delivers out of My hand. I work, and declared right.
who turns it back?” 27 “Your first father sinned, and your
14 Thus said HWHY, your Redeemer, the interpreters have transgressed against Me.
Set-apart One of Yisra’Ãl, “For your sake I 28 “So I have profaned the chief ones of
shall send to BaÄel, and bring them all the set-apart place, and I have delivered up
down as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, YaÈaqoÄ to the curse, and Yisra’Ãl to scorn.
who rejoice in their ships.
15 “I am HWHY, your Set-apart One, Creator
extinguished, they have been quenched floods on the dry ground. I pour My Spirit
like a wick): on your seed, and My blessing on your
18 “Do not remember the former events, offspring,
nor consider the events of old. 4 and they shall spring up among the
19 “See, I am doing what is new, let it now grass like willows by streams of water.’
spring forth. Do you not know it? I am 5 “One says, ‘I belong to HWHY; another
even making a way in the wilderness and calls himself by the name of YaÈaqoÄ;
rivers in the desert. another writes with his hand, ‘Unto HWHY,’
gA poetical title for Yisra’Ãl, meaning the Straight One or the Upright One. This poetical title is also found in
DeÄarim 32:15, 33:5 & 33:26.
YESHAYAHU 44 448
and names himself by the name of Yisra’Ãl. and is satisfied. He also warms himself and
6“Thus said HWHY, Sovereign of Yisra’Ãl, says, “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the
and his Redeemer, HWHY of hosts, ‘I am the fire.”
First and I am the Last, besides Me there is 17 And the rest of it he makes into a
come, let them declare these to them. He has smeared their eyes from seeing,
8 ‘Do not fear, nor be afraid. Have I not and their hearts from understanding.
since made you hear, and declared it? You 19 And no one recalls it to his heart, nor is
put to shame. turns him aside, and he does not deliver his
10 Who would form a mighty one or cast being, nor says, “Is there not a lie in my
an idol that is of no value? right hand?”
11 See, all his companions are ashamed, 21 “Remember these matters, O YaÈaqoÄ,
and the workmen, they are but men. Let and Yisra’Ãl, for you are My servant! I
them all be gathered together, let them have formed you, you are My servant, O
stand up, let them fear, let them be put to Yisra’Ãl, do not forget Me!
shame, altogether. 22 “I shall wipe out your transgressions
12 The craftsman in iron with the tools like a cloud, and your sins like a mist.
works one in the coals, and fashions it with Return to Me, for I shall redeem you.”
hammers, and works it with the strength of 23 Sing, O heavens, for HWHY shall do it!
his arms. Even so, he shall be hungry, and Shout, O depths of the earth! Break forth
has no strength; he drinks no water and is into singing, O mountains, forest, and
weary. every tree in it! For HWHY shall redeem
13 The carpenter stretches out his rule, he YaÈaqoÄ, and make Himself clear in
outlines it with chalk; he fashions it with a Yisra’Ãl.
plane, and he outlines it with the compass, 24 Thus said HWHY, your Redeemer, and He
and makes it like the figure of a man, who formed you from the womb, “I am
according to the comeliness of a man, to HWHY, doing all, stretching out the heavens
remain in the house. all alone, spreading out the earth, with
14 He cuts down cedars for himself, and none beside Me,
takes cypress and oak, which he raised 25 frustrating the signs of the babblers,
among the trees of the forest. He has plant- and driving diviners mad, turning wise
ed a pine, and the rain nourishes it. men backward, and making their knowl-
15 And it shall be for a man to burn, for he edge foolish,
takes some of it and warms himself. He 26 confirming the word of His servant,
also kindles it and shall bake bread. He and completing the counsel of His messen-
also makes a mighty one and bows himself gers, who says of Yerushalayim, ‘Be
to it – has made it a carved image and falls inhabited,’ and of the cities of YehuÅah,
down before it. ‘They shall be built, and her ruins raised
16 Half of it he shall burn in the fire; with up by Me,’
this half he eats meat. He roasts a roast, 27 who is saying to the deep, ‘Be dry, and
449 YESHAYAHU 45
shepherd, and he completes all My plea- man on it. I, My hands have stretched out
sure, even saying to Yerushalayim, “Let the heavens, and all their host I have com-
her be built,” and to the Hÿal, “Let her manded.
foundation be laid.” ’ 13 “I have stirred him up in righteousness,
places, so that you know that I, HWHY, who Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, Saviour!
are calling you by your name, am the 16 They shall be put to shame, and even be
you have not known Me. everlasting deliverance. You are not to be
5 ‘I am HWHY, and there is none else – ashamed nor hurt, forever and ever.
there is no Elohim besides Me. I gird you, 18 For thus said HWHY, Creator of the heav-
though you have not known Me, ens, He is Elohim, Former of earth and its
6 so that they know from the rising of the Maker, He established it, He did not create
sun to its setting that there is none but Me. it to be empty, He formed it to be inhabit-
I am HWHY, and there is none else, ed: “I am HWHY, and there is none else.
7 forming light and creating darkness, 19 “I have not spoken in secret, in a dark
making peace and creating evil. I, HWHY, do place of the earth. I have not said to the
all these.’ seed of YaÈaqoÄ, ‘Seek Me in vain.’ I am
8 “Rain down, O heavens, from above, HWHY, speaking righteousness, declaring
and let clouds pour down righteousness. matters that are straight.
Let the earth open, let them bring forth 20 “Gather yourselves and come; draw
deliverance, and let righteousness spring near together, you who have escaped from
up together. I, HWHY, have created it. the gentiles. No knowledge have they who
9 “Woe to him who strives with his are lifting up the wood of their carved
Maker! (a potsherd with the potsherds of image, and pray to a mighty one that does
the earth). Does clay say to him who forms not save.
it, ‘What are you making?’ Or your handi- 21 “Declare and bring near, let them even
work say, ‘He has no hands’? take counsel together. Who has announced
10 “Woe to him who says to his father, this from of old? Who has declared it from
‘What are you bringing forth?’ Or to the that time? Is it not I, HWHY? And there is no
woman, ‘What are you labouring over?’ ” mighty one besides Me, a righteous Âl and
11 Thus said HWHY, the Set-apart One of a Saviour, there is none besides Me.
Yisra’Ãl, and his Maker, “Do you ask Me 22 “Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends
about My sons what is to come? And about of the earth! For I am Âl, and there is none
the work of My hands do you command else.
YESHAYAHU 45 450
and shall not return, so that to Me every who are far from righteousness:
knee shall bow, every tongue swear. 13 “I shall bring My righteousness near, it
24 “One shall say, ‘Only in HWHY do I have is not far off, and My deliverance, it is not
righteousness and strength’ – he comes to delayed. And I shall give deliverance in
Him. And all those displeased with Him Tsiyon, My esteem to Yisra’Ãl.
shall be put to shame.
25 “In HWHY all the seed of Yisra’Ãl shall be
declared right and boast. ” 47 “Come down and sit in the dust, O
maiden daughter of BaÄel. Sit on
the ground without a throne, O daughter of
46 BÃl has bowed down, NeÄo is
stooping, their idols were on the
the Chaldeans! For no more do they call
you tender and delicate.
2 “Take the millstones and grind flour.
beasts and on the cattle. That which is car-
ried is burdensome, a burden to the weary. Remove your veil, lift up the skirt, uncover
2 They have stooped, they have bowed the leg, pass through rivers.
down together, they were unable to deliver 3 “Let your nakedness be uncovered, let
the burden, but they themselves went into your shame also be exposed. I take
captivity. vengeance, and meet no man.”
3 “Listen to Me, O house of YaÈaqoÄ, and 4 Our Redeemer, HWHY of hosts is His
all the remnant of the house of Yisra’Ãl, Name, the Set-apart One of Yisra’Ãl.
who are borne from the belly, who are car- 5 “Sit silent, and go into darkness, O
bear, and I carry and rescue. profaned My inheritance and I gave them
5 “To whom do you liken Me, and com- into your hand. You showed them no com-
pare Me and make Me similar, that we passion, you made your yoke very heavy
should be alike? on the elderly.
6 “They pour gold out of the bag, and 7 “And you said, ‘I am mistress forever,’
weigh silver on the scale. They hire a gold- so that you did not take these matters to
smith, and he makes it a mighty one. They heart, and did not remember the latter end
fall down, they also bow themselves. of them.
7 “They bear it on the shoulder, they 8 “And now, hear this, you who are given
carry it and set it in its place, and it stands to pleasures, who dwells complacently,
– from its place it does not move. Though who says in your heart, ‘I am, and there is
one cries out to it, it does not answer, nor none but me. I do not sit as a widow, nor
save him from his distress. do I know the loss of children.’
8 “Remember this, and show yourselves 9 “Both of these come to you suddenly,
men; turn it back, you transgressors. in one day: the loss of children, and wid-
9 “Remember the former events of old, owhood. They shall come upon you in
for I am Âl, and there is no one else – completeness, because of your many
Elohim, and there is no one like Me, witchcrafts, for your numerous great
10 declaring the end from the beginning, potent spells.
and from of old that which has not yet been 10 “And you have trusted in your evil, you
done, saying, ‘My counsel does stand, and have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom
all My delight I do,’ and your knowledge have led you astray.
11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the And you have said in your heart, ‘I am, and
man who executes My counsel, from a dis- there is none but me.’
tant land. Indeed I have spoken it, I also 11 “But evil shall come upon you, you not
bring it to pass. I have planned it, I also do knowing from where it arises, and trouble
451 YESHAYAHU 48
fall upon you, you being unable to put it heard them, lest you should say, ‘Look, I
off, and ruin come upon you suddenly, knew them.’
which you know not. 8 “No, you have not heard; no, you have
12 “Stand now with your potent spells and not known; no, from of old your ear has
your many witchcrafts, in which you have not been open. Because I knew that you
laboured from your youth, if so be you are are indeed treacherous, and are called ‘a
able to profit, if so be you find strength. transgressor from the womb.’
13 “You are exhausted by your many 9 “For My Name’s sake I postponed My
counsels; let the astrologers, the stargazers, displeasure, and for My praise I held it
and those who prognosticate by the new back from you, so as not to cut you off.
moons stand up and save you from what is 10 “See, I have refined you, but not as
from the power of the flame, there is not a do it. For how is it profaned? And My
coal to be warmed by, nor a fire to sit esteem I do not give to another.
before it! 12 “Listen to Me, O YaÈaqoÄ, and Yisra’Ãl,
15 “So they shall be to you with whom My called: I am He, I am the First, I am
you have laboured, your merchants from also the Last.
your youth. They shall wander, each one 13 “Also, My hand has laid the foundation
his own way, there is none to save you. of the earth, and My right hand has
stretched out the heavens. I call to them, let
48 “Hear this, O house of YaÈaqoÄ,
who are called by the name of
them stand together.
14 “All of you, gather yourselves, and
Yisra’Ãl, and have come from the waters of hear! Who among them has declared
YehuÅah, who swear by the Name of HWHY, these? HWHY has loved him. Let him do His
and profess the Elohim of Yisra’Ãl – pleasure on BaÄel, and His arm be on the
though not in truth or in righteousness – Chaldeans.
2 for they call themselves after the set- 15 “I, I have spoken, I have also called
apart city, and lean on the Elohim of him, I have brought him, and he shall make
Yisra’Ãl – HWHY of hosts is His Name: his way prosperous.
3 “I have declared the former events from 16 “Come near to Me, hear this: I have not
the beginning, and they went forth from spoken in secret from the beginning; from
My mouth, and I made you hear them. the time that it was, I was there. And now
Suddenly I acted, and they came to be. the Master HWHY has sent Me, and His
4 “Because I knew that you were hard, Spirit.”
and your neck was an iron sinew, and your 17 Thus said HWHY, your Redeemer, the
my carved image and my moulded image mands! Then your peace would have been
commanded them.’ like a river, and your righteousness like the
6 “You have heard, look at them all. And waves of the sea.
do you not declare it? From now on I shall 19 “And your seed would have been like
make you hear new ones, even hidden the sand, and the offspring of your inward
ones, which you have not known. parts like the grains of sand. His name
7 “Now they shall be created and not would not have been cut off nor destroyed
long ago. And before this day you have not from before Me.
h That’s how He chooses – see DeÄ. 8:2-16. Yesh. 48:10 is an all-time prophetic truth!
YESHAYAHU 48 452
20 “Come out of BaÄel! Flee from the shall answer You, and in the day of deliv-
Chaldeans! Declare this with a voice of erance I shall help You – and I guard You
singing, proclaim it, send it out to the end and give You for a covenant of the people,
of the earth! Say, ‘HWHY has redeemed His to restore the earth, to cause them to inher-
servant YaÈaqoÄ!’ ” it the ruined inheritances,
21 And they did not thirst when He led 9 to say to the prisoners, ‘Go out,’ to
them through the deserts; He caused those who are in darkness, ‘Show your-
waters from a rock to flow for them; He selves.’ “Let them feed on the ways, and
split the rock, and waters gushed out. let their pasture be on all bare hills.
22 “There is no peace for the wrong,” said 10 “They shall not hunger nor thirst, nei-
has called Me from the womb, from My way, and My highways raised up.
mother’s belly He has caused My Name to 12 “See, these come from far away, and
be remembered. see, those from the north and the west, and
2 And He made My mouth like a sharp these from the land of Sinim.”
sword, in the shadow of His hand He hid 13 Sing, O heavens, rejoice, O earth! And
Me, and made Me a polished shaft. In His break out in singing, O mountains! For
quiver He hid Me.” HWHY shall comfort His people and have
3 And He said to Me, ‘You are My ser- compassion on His afflicted ones.
vant, O Yisra’Ãl, in whom I am adorned.’ 14 But Tsiyon says, “HWHY has forsaken
4 And I said, ‘I have laboured in vain, I me, and HWHY has forgotten me.”
have spent my strength for emptiness, and 15 “Would a woman forget her nursing
in vain. But my right-ruling is with HWHY, child, and not have compassion on the son
and my work with my Elohim.’ ” of her womb? Though they forget, I never
5 And now said HWHY – who formed Me forget you.
from the womb to be His Servant, to bring 16 “See, I have inscribed you on the palms
YaÈaqoÄ back to Him, though Yisra’Ãl is of My hands; your walls are always before
not gathered to Him, yet I am esteemed in Me.
the eyes of HWHY, and My Elohim has been 17 “Your sons shall hurry, your destroyers
tribes of YaÈaqoÄ, and to bring back the all of them gather together and come to
preserved ones of Yisra’Ãl? And I shall you. As I live,” declares HWHY, “you shall
give You as a light to the gentiles, to be My put on all of them as an ornament, and bind
deliverance to the ends of the earth!” i them on you as a bride does.
7 Thus said HWHY, the Redeemer of 19 “For your wastes, and your deserted
Yisra’Ãl, their Set-apart One, to the places, and the land of your destruction,
despised , to the loathed One of the nation, shall soon be too narrow for the inhabi-
to the Servant of rulers, “Sovereigns shall tants, while those who swallowed you up
see and arise, rulers also shall bow them- are far away.
selves, because of HWHY who is steadfast, 20 “The sons of your bereavement shall
the Set-apart One of Yisra’Ãl. And He has yet say in your ears, ‘The place is too nar-
chosen You!” row for me, make room for me to live.’
8 Thus said HWHY, “In a favourable time I 21 “And you shall say in your heart, ‘Who
iThese first six verses of Yesh. 49 clearly reveal that the Chosen Servant is Yisra’Ãl, yet they also speak of the
Messiah, indicating to us that Messiah is the embodiment of Yisra’Ãl!
453 YESHAYAHU 51
has brought forth these for me, since I am hear as taught ones.
bereaved and barren, an exile, and wander- 5 The Master HWHY has opened My ear,
ing to and fro? And who reared them? See, and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away.
I was left alone – from where did these 6 I gave My back to those who struck
come?’ ” Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked
22 Thus said the Master HWHY, “See, I lift out the beard, I did not hide My face from
My hand up to the gentiles, and set up My humiliation and spitting.
banner for the peoples; and they shall bring 7 And the Master HWHY helps Me, there-
your sons in their arms, and your daughters fore I shall not be humiliated. So I have set
carried on their shoulders; My face like a flint, and I know that I am
23 “And sovereigns shall be your foster not put to shame.
fathers, and their sovereignesses your 8 Near is He who declares Me right. Who
nursing mothers. They bow down to you would contend with Me? Let us stand
with their faces to the earth, and lick up the together. Who is My adversary? Let him
dust of your feet. And you shall know that come near Me.
I am HWHY – those who wait for Me shall 9 See, the Master HWHY helps Me. Who
creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Sarah who bore you. For he was alone
Look, you were sold for your crookedness- when I called him, and I blessed him and
es, and your mother was put away for your increased him.
transgressions. 3 “For HWHY shall comfort Tsiyon, He
2 “When I came, why was there no one? shall comfort all her waste places. For He
When I called, why was there no one to makes her wilderness like ÂÅen, and her
answer? Was My hand too short to desert like the garden of HWHY. Joy and
redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? gladness are found in it, thanksgiving and
See, by My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the voice of song.
the rivers a wilderness; their fish stink for 4 “Listen to Me, My people, and give ear
there is not water, and die of thirst. to Me, O My nation, for the Torah goes
3 “I clothe the heavens with darkness, forth from Me, and My right-ruling I set as
and I make sackcloth their covering.” a light to peoples.
4 The Master HWHY has given Me the 5 “My righteousness is near, My deliver-
tongue of taught ones, that I should know to ance shall go forth, and My arms judge
help the weary with a word. He wakes Me peoples. Coastlands wait upon Me, and for
morning by morning, he wakes My ear to My arm they wait expectantly.
YESHAYAHU 51 454
6 “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and to Tsiyon, ‘You are My people.’ ”
look on the earth beneath, for the heavens 17 Awake, awake yourself! Rise up, O
shall vanish like smoke, and the earth Yerushalayim, you who have drunk at the
wear out like a garment, and those who hand of HWHY the cup of His wrath. You
dwell in it die as gnats. But My deliver- have drunk the dregs of the cup of reeling,
ance is forever, and My righteousness is and drained it out.
not broken. 18 Of all the sons she bore, she has none to
7 “Listen to Me, you who know right- guide her. And of all the sons she has
eousness, a people in whose heart is My brought up, none takes her by the hand.
Torah: do not fear the reproach of men, nor 19 Both these are coming upon you – who
RahaÄ apart, and pierced the Crocodile? and drunk, but not with wine.
10 Was it not You who dried up the sea, 22 Thus said your Master, HWHY and your
the waters of the great deep, who made the Elohim, who pleads the cause of His peo-
depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to ple, “See, I shall take out of your hand the
pass over? cup of reeling, the dregs of the cup of My
11 And let the ransomed of HWHY return. wrath – never again shall you drink it.
And they shall come to Tsiyon with 23 “And I shall put it into the hand of
singing, with everlasting joy on their those who afflict you, who have said to
heads. Let them attain joy and gladness; your being, ‘Bow down, and we pass over
sorrow and sighing shall flee away. you.’ And you made your back like the
12 “I, I am He who comforts you. Who are ground, and as the street, to walk over.”
you that you should be afraid of man that
dies, and of the son of man who is made
like grass? 52 Awake, awake! Put on your
strength, O Tsiyon, put on your
13 “And you have forgotten HWHY your garments of splendour, O Yerushalayim,
Maker who stretched out the heavens and the set-apart city! For no more do the
laid the foundations of the earth, and you uncircumcised and the unclean come into
continually fear, all the day, because of the you.
rage of the oppressor, as he has prepared to 2 Shake yourself from the dust, arise, and
destroy. And where is the rage of the sit down, O Yerushalayim. Loose yourself
oppressor? from the bonds of your neck, O captive
14 “Bowed, he hastens to be loosened, that daughter of Tsiyon!
he should not die in the pit, and that his 3 For thus said HWHY, “You have been
bread should not fail. sold for naught, and you are redeemed not
15 “But I am HWHY your Elohim, stirring up with silver.”
the sea, and its waves roar. HWHY of hosts is 4 For thus said the Master HWHY, “At first
lay the foundations of the earth, and to say HWHY, “that My people are taken away for
j See Teh. 74:10 & 18, this being a transgression of the 3rd Command (Shemoth 20:7, DeÄarim 5:11).
455 YESHAYAHU 53
naught? Those who rule over them make has no form or splendour that we should
them wail,” declares HWHY, “and My Name look upon Him, nor appearance that we
is despised j all day continually. should desire Him –
6 “Therefore My people shall know My 3 despised and rejected by men, a man of
Name, k in that day, for I am the One who pains and knowing sickness. And as one
is speaking. See, it is I.” from whom the face is hidden, being
7 How pleasant upon the mountains are despised, and we did not consider Him.
the feet of him who brings good news, who 4 Truly, He has borne our sicknesses and
proclaims peace, who brings good news, carried our pains. Yet we reckoned Him
who proclaims deliverance, who says to stricken, smitten by Elohim, and afflicted.
Tsiyon, “Your Elohim reigns!” 5 But He was pierced for our transgres-
8 The voice of your watchmen! They sions, He was crushed for our crooked-
shall lift up their voices, together they nesses. The chastisement for our peace
shout for joy, because eye to eye they see was upon Him, and by His stripes we are
the return of HWHY to Tsiyon. healed.
9 Break forth into joy, sing together, you 6 We all, like sheep, went astray, each
waste places of Yerushalayim! For HWHY one of us has turned to his own way. And
shall comfort His people, He shall redeem HWHY has laid on Him the crookedness of
Yerushalayim. us all.
10 HWHY shall lay bare His set-apart arm in 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
the eyes of all the nations. And all the ends but He did not open His mouth. He was led
of the earth shall see the deliverance of our as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep
Elohim. before its shearers is silent, but He did not
11 Turn aside! Turn aside! Come out from open His mouth.
there, touch not the unclean. Come out of 8 He was taken from prison and from
her midst, be clean, you who bear the judgment. And as for His generation, who
vessels of HWHY. considered that He shall be cut off from the
12 For you shall not come out in haste, nor land of the living? For the transgression of
go in flight. For HWHY is going before you, My people He was stricken.
and the Elohim of Yisra’Ãl is your rear 9 And He was appointed a grave with the
what had not been recounted to them they of His life and be satisfied. Through His
shall see, and what they had not heard they knowledge My righteous Servant makes
shall understand. many righteous, and He bears their
crookednesses.
53 Who has believed our report? And
to whom was the arm of HWHY
12 Therefore I give Him a portion among
k This prophecy concerning the restoration of His Name, is given in eight other Scriptures.
l 1 KÃpha 2:22.
YESHAYAHU 53 456
and made intercession for the transgres- stones in antimony, and shall lay your
sors. foundations with sapphires,
12 and shall make your battlements of
ing kindness I shall have compassion on Hear, so that your being lives. And let Me
you,” said HWHY, your Redeemer. make an everlasting covenant with you,
9 “For this is the waters of NoaÁ to Me, the trustworthy kindnesses of DawiÅ.
in that I have sworn that the waters of 4 “See, I have given Him m as a witness
NoaÁ would never again cover the earth, to the people, a Leader and a Commander
so have I sworn not to be wroth with you, for the people.
nor to rebuke you. 5 “See, a nation you do not know you
10 “For though the mountains be removed shall call, and a nation who does not know
and the hills be shaken, My kindness is not you run to you, because of HWHY your
removed from you, nor is My covenant of Elohim, and the Set-apart One of Yisra’Ãl,
peace shaken,” said HWHY, who has com- for He has adorned you.”
passion on you. 6 Seek HWHY while He is to be found, call
11 “O you afflicted one, tossed with storm, on Him while He is near.
and not comforted, see, I am setting your 7 Let the wrong forsake his way, and the
unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him 5 to them I shall give in My house and
return to HWHY, who has compassion on within My walls a place and a name better
him, and to our Elohim, for He pardons than that of sons and daughters – I give
much. them an everlasting name that is not cut
8 “For My thoughts are not your off.
thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” 6 “Also the sons of the foreigner n who
snow from the heavens, and do not return mountain, and let them rejoice in My
there, but water the earth, and make it house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and
bring forth and bud, and give seed to the their slaughterings are accepted on My
sower and bread to the eater, altar, for My house is called a house of
11 so is My Word that goes forth from My prayer for all the peoples.”
mouth – it does not return to Me empty, 8 The Master HWHY, who gathers the
but shall do what I please, and shall cer- outcasts of Yisra’Ãl, declares, “I gather still
tainly accomplish what I sent it for. others to him besides those who are
12 “For with joy you go out, and with gathered to him.”
peace you are brought in – the mountains 9 All you beasts of the field, come to
and the hills break forth into singing before devour, all you beasts in the forest.
you, and all the trees of the field clap the 10 His watchmen are blind, all of them,
name, for an everlasting sign which is not they never have enough. And they are
cut off.” shepherds! They have not known under-
standing. All of them look to their own
56 Thus said HWHY, “Guard right-rul-
ing, and do righteousness, for near
way, every one for his own gain, from his
own end, saying,
is My deliverance to come, and My right- 12 “Come, let me bring wine and fill our-
eousness to be revealed. selves with strong drink. o And tomorrow
2 “Blessed is the man who does this, and shall be as today, even much greater.”
the son of man who lays hold on it, guard-
ing the Sabbath lest he profane it, and
guarding his hand from doing any evil.
3 “And let not the son of the foreigner
57 The righteous one has perished,
and no one takes it to heart. And
kind men are taken away, while no one
who has joined himself to HWHY speak, say- understands that the righteous one is taken
ing, ‘HWHY has certainly separated me from away from the presence of evil,
His people,’ nor let the eunuch say, ‘Look I 2 he enters into peace. They who walk in
who guard My Sabbaths, and have chosen ess, you offspring of the adulterer and the
what pleases Me, and hold fast to My whore!
covenant: 4 Against whom are you sporting?
n The gentiles who are grafted in among the True Yisra’Ãlites (the believing and obedient YehuÅim). These
gentiles also serve HWHY, love His Name and guard His Sabbaths, and hold fast His covenant.
o See chapters 28 & 29.
YESHAYAHU 57 458
Against whom do you make a wide mouth humble, and to revive the heart of bruised
and stick out the tongue? Are you not ones.
children of transgression, offspring of 16 “For I would not strive forever, nor am
to make an offering. peace to him who is far off and to him who
8 “Also behind the doors and their posts is near,” said HWHY, “and I shall heal him.”
you have set up your remembrance. For 20 But the wrong are like the troubled sea,
you have departed from Me, and have for it is unable to rest, and its waters cast
gone up to them. You have made your bed up mud and dirt.
wide and made a covenant with them. You 21 “There is no peace,” said my Elohim,
have loved their bed, where you saw their “for the wrong.”
hand.
9 “And you went to the sovereign with
ointment, and increased your perfumes. 58 “Cry aloud, do not spare. Lift up
your voice like a ram’s horn.
And you sent your messengers far off, and Declare to My people their transgression,
lowered yourself even to the grave. and the house of YaÈaqoÄ their sins.
10 “You have wearied yourselves with 2 “Yet they seek Me day by day, and
your many wanderings, yet you did not delight to know My ways, as a nation that
say, ‘I give up!’ You have found the life of did righteousness, and did not forsake the
your hand, therefore you were not grieved. right-ruling of their Elohim. They ask of
11 “And of whom have you been afraid, or Me rulings of righteousness, they delight
feared, that you have lied and not remem- in drawing near to Elohim.
bered Me, nor taken it to your heart? Have 3 They say, ‘Why have we fasted, and
I not been silent, even from of old, and you You have not seen? Why have we afflicted
have not feared Me? our beings, and You took no note?’ “Look,
12 “Let Me declare your righteousness and in the day of your fasting you find plea-
your works, for they do not profit you. sure, and drive on all your labourers.
13 “When you cry out, let your collection 4 “Look, you fast for strife and con-
of idols deliver you. But the wind shall tention, and to strike with the fist of
bear them all away, a breath take them. wrongness. You do not fast as you do this
But he who takes refuge in Me shall day, to make your voice heard on high.
inherit the land, and possess My set-apart 5 “Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for
One who dwells forever, whose Name is to loosen the tight cords of wrongness, to
set-apart, “I dwell in the high and set-apart undo the bands of the yoke, to exempt the
place, with him who has a bruised and oppressed, and to break off every yoke?
humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the 7 “Is it not to share your bread with the
459 YESHAYAHU 59
hungry, and that you bring to your house blood, and your fingers with crookedness;
the poor who are cast out; when you see your lips have spoken falsehood, your
the naked, and cover him, and not hide tongue mutters unrighteousness.
yourself from your own flesh? 4 No one calls for righteousness, and no
8 “Then your light would break forth like one pleads for truth. They trust in empti-
the morning, your healing spring forth ness and speak worthlessness; they con-
speedily. And your righteousness shall go ceive trouble and bring forth wickedness.
before you, the esteem of HWHY would be 5 They have hatched adders’ eggs and
your rear guard. they weave the spider’s web. Whoever eats
9 “Then, when you call, HWHY would their eggs dies, and when one is broken an
answer; when you cry, He would say, adder is hatched.
‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke 6 Their webs do not become garments,
from your midst, the pointing of the finger, nor do they cover themselves with their
and the speaking of unrighteousness, works. Their works are works of wicked-
10 if you extend your being to the hungry ness, and a deed of violence is in their
and satisfy the afflicted being, then your hands.
light shall dawn in the darkness, and your 7 Their feet run to evil, and they hurry to
like a watered garden, and like a spring of and there is no right-ruling in their ways.
water, whose waters do not fail. They have made crooked paths for them-
12 “And those from among you shall build selves, whoever treads in them shall not
the old waste places. You shall raise up know peace.
the foundations of many generations. And 9 Therefore right-ruling has been far
you would be called the Repairer of the from us, and righteousness does not reach
Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell us. We look for light, but there is darkness;
In. for brightness, but we walk in thick dark-
13 “If you do turn back your foot from the ness!
Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My 10 We feel for the wall like the blind, and
set-apart day, and shall call the Sabbath we feel as without eyes. At noon we stum-
‘a delight,’ the set-apart day of HWHY ble as at twilight, in deserted places, like
‘esteemed,’ and shall esteem it, not doing the dead.
your own ways, nor finding your own 11 All of us growl like bears, and moan
pleasure, nor speaking your own words, sadly like doves. We look for right-ruling,
14 then you shall delight yourself in HWHY. but there is none; for deliverance, but it is
And I shall cause you to ride on the heights far from us.
of the earth, and feed you with the inheri- 12 For our transgressions have increased
tance of YaÈaqoÄ your father. For the before You, and our sins witnessed against
mouth of HWHY has spoken!” us. For our transgressions are with us, and
as for our crookednesses, we know them:
59 Look, the hand of HWHY has not
become too short to save, nor His
13 transgressing, and being untrue to HWHY,
fallen in the street, and right is unable to all of them have gathered, they have come
enter. p to you; your sons come from afar, and your
15 And the truth is lacking, and whoever daughters are supported on the side.
turns away from evil makes himself a prey. 5 “Then you shall see and be bright, and
And HWHY saw, and it displeased Him that your heart shall throb and swell, for the
there was no right-ruling. wealth of the sea is turned to you, the rich-
16 And He saw that there was no man, and es of the gentiles come to you.
was astonished that there was no interces- 6 “A stream of camels cover your land,
sor. So His own arm saved for Him, and the dromedaries of MiÅyan and Âphah; all
His righteousness upheld him. those from SheÄa come, bearing gold and
17 And He put on righteousness as a incense, and proclaiming the praises of
breastplate, and a helmet of deliverance on HWHY.
His head. And He put on garments of 7 “All the flocks of QÃÅar are gathered to
vengeance for clothing, and wrapped you, the rams of NeÄayoth serve you; they
Himself with ardour as a mantle. come up for acceptance on My altar, and I
18 According to their deeds, so He repays, embellish My esteemed House.
wrath to His adversaries, recompense to 8 “Who are these who fly like a cloud,
His enemies. He repays recompense to the and like doves to their windows?
coastlands. 9 “Because the coastlands wait for Me,
19 And they shall fear the Name of HWHY and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring
from the west, and His esteem from the ris- your sons from afar, their silver and their
ing of the sun, when He comes like a dis- gold with them, to the Name of HWHY your
tressing stream which the Spirit of HWHY Elohim, and to the Set-apart One of
drives on. Yisra’Ãl, because He has adorned you.
20 “And the Redeemer shall come to 10 “And the sons of foreigners shall build
Tsiyon, q and to those turning from trans- your walls, and their sovereigns serve you.
gression in YaÈaqoÄ,” declares HWHY. For in My wrath I have smitten you, but in
21 “As for Me, this is My covenant with My delight I shall have compassion on
them,” said HWHY: “My Spirit that is upon you.
you, and My Words r that I have put in 11 “And your gates shall be open continu-
your mouth, shall not be withdrawn from ally, they are not shut day or night, to bring
your mouth, nor from the mouth of your to you the wealth of the gentiles, and their
descendants, nor from the mouth of your sovereigns in procession.
descendants’ descendants,” said HWHY, 12 “For the nation and the reign that do not
“from this time and forever.” serve you shall perish, and those gentiles
shall be utterly laid waste.
60 “Arise, shine, for your light has
come! And the esteem of HWHY has
13 “The esteem of LeÄanon shall come to
qSee footnote at 24:23. r His Spirit and His Word operate together, in unity. This prophecy about a covenant
was for True Yisra’Ãl, therefore for Messiah, for He is the embodiment of True Yisra’Ãl – He is their Sovereign.
Spirit and Word are in unity! s Yesh. 60:19,20, Rev. 21:23,24.
461 YESHAYAHU 62
15 “Instead of you being forsaken and And they shall be called trees of righteous-
hated, so that no one passes through you, I ness, a planting of HWHY, to be adorned.
shall make you an everlasting excellence, a 4 And they shall rebuild the old ruins,
joy of many generations. raise up the former wastes. And they shall
16 “And you shall drink dry the milk of restore the ruined cities, the wastes of
the gentiles, and shall milk the breast of many generations.
sovereigns. And you shall know that I, 5 And strangers shall stand and feed your
HWHY, your Saviour and your Redeemer, flocks, and the sons of the foreigner be
am the Elohim of YaÈaqoÄ. your ploughmen and your vinedressers.
17 “Instead of bronze I bring gold, and 6 But you shall be called, ‘Priests of
instead of iron I bring silver, and bronze HWHY,’ ‘Servants of our Elohim’ shall be
instead of wood, and iron instead of stones. said of you. You shall consume the
And I shall make your officers peace, and strength of the gentiles, and boast in their
your magistrates righteousness. esteem.
18 “Violence shall no longer be heard in 7 Instead of your shame and reproach,
your land, neither wasting nor ruin within they rejoice a second time in their portion.
your borders. And you shall call your walls Therefore they take possession a second
Deliverance, and your gates Praise. time in their land, everlasting joy is theirs.
19 “No longer is the sun your light by day, 8 “For I, HWHY, love right-ruling; I hate
nor does the moon give light to you for robbery for burnt offering. And I shall give
brightness, but HWHY shall be to you an their reward in truth, and make an everlast-
everlasting light, and your Elohim your ing covenant with them.
comeliness. 9 “And their seed shall be known among
20 “No longer does your sun go down, nor the gentiles, and their offspring in the
your moon withdraw itself, for HWHY shall midst of the peoples. All who see them
be your everlasting light, and the days of shall acknowledge them, that they are the
your mourning shall be ended. seed HWHY has blessed.”
21 “And your people, all of them right- 10 I greatly rejoice in HWHY, my being
eous, shall inherit the earth forever – a exults in my Elohim. For He has put gar-
branch of My planting, a work of My ments of deliverance on me, He has cov-
hands, to be adorned. ered me with the robe of righteousness, as
22 “The little shall become a thousand, a bridegroom decks himself with orna-
and the small one a strong nation. t I, HWHY, ments, and as a bride adorns herself with
shall hasten it in its time.” her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth its bud, as
so shall your sons marry you. And as the helping, and I was astonished that there
bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so was none upholding. So My own arm
shall your Elohim rejoice over you. saved for Me, and My wrath upheld Me.
6 I have set watchmen on your walls, O 6 “And I trod down peoples in My dis-
Yerushalayim, all the day and all the night, pleasure, and made them drunk in My
continually, who are not silent. You who wrath, and brought down their strength to
remember HWHY, give yourselves no rest, earth.”
7 and give Him no rest till He establishes 7 Let me recount the kindnesses of HWHY
and till He makes Yerushalayim a praise in and the praises of HWHY, according to all
the earth. that HWHY has done for us, and the great
8 HWHY has sworn by His right hand and goodness toward the house of Yisra’Ãl,
by the arm of His strength, “No more do which He has done for them according to
I give your grain to be food for your His compassion, and according to His
enemies, nor do sons of the foreigner drink many kindnesses.
8 And He said, “They are My people,
your new wine, for which you have
laboured; children who do not act falsely.” And He
9 but those gathering it shall eat it, and became their Saviour.
9 In all their distress He was distressed,
praise HWHY. And those collecting it shall
drink it in My set-apart courts.” and the Messenger of His Presence saved
10 Pass through, pass through the gates! them. In His love and in His compassion
Prepare the way for the people. Build up, He redeemed them, and He lifted them up
build up the highway! Remove the stones. and carried them all the days of old.
Lift up a banner for the peoples! 10 But they rebelled and grieved His Set-
11 See, HWHY has proclaimed to the end of apart Spirit, so He turned against them as
the earth: “Say to the daughter of Tsiyon, an enemy, and He fought against them.
‘See, your deliverance has come; see, His 11 Then He remembered the days of old,
reward is with Him, and His work before Mosheh, His people, “Where is He who
Him.’ ” brought them up out of the sea with the
12 And they shall be called, “The Set- shepherd of His flock? Where is He who
apart People, the Redeemed of HWHY.” And put His Set-apart Spirit within him,
you shall be called, “Sought Out, a City 12 who led them by the right hand of
from Botsrah, who is robed in splendour, horse in the wilderness they did not stum-
striding forward in the greatness of His ble.”
strength? “It is I who speak in righteous- 14 As a beast goes down into the valley,
ness, mighty to save.” and the Spirit of HWHY causes him to rest, so
2 Why is there red on Your raiment, and You led Your people, to make Yourself a
Your garments like one who treads in the comely Name.
winepress? 15 Look down from the heavens, and see
463 YESHAYAHU 65
from Your set-apart and comely dwelling. us, and have consumed us because of our
Where are Your ardour and Your might, crookednesses.
the stirring of Your inward parts and Your 8 And now, O HWHY, You are our Father.
compassion toward me? Are they with- We are the clay, and You our potter. And
held? we are all the work of Your hand.
16 For You are our Father, though AÄra- 9 Do not be wroth, O HWHY, nor remem-
ham does not know us, and Yisra’Ãl does ber crookedness forever. See, please look,
not recognise us. You, O HWHY, are our all of us are Your people!
Father, our Redeemer – Your Name is from 10 Your set-apart cities has become a
from Your fear? Turn back, for the sake our fathers praised You, has been burned
of Your servants, the tribes of Your inheri- up with fire. And all that we treasured has
tance. become a ruin.
18 For a little while Your set-apart people 12 In view of all this, would You restrain
possessed it – our adversaries have trodden Yourself, O HWHY? Would You keep silent
down Your set-apart place. u and afflict us beyond measure?
19 We have become like those over whom
tains did shake before You! the night in secret places, who eat flesh of
4 Since the beginning of the ages they pigs, v and the broth of unclean meat is in
have not heard nor perceived by the ear, their pots,
nor has the eye seen any Elohim besides 5 who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not
You, who acts for those who wait for Him. come near me, for I am set-apart to you!’
5 You shall meet him who rejoices and These are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that
does righteousness, who remembers You burns all day.
in Your ways. See, You were wroth when 6 “See, it is written before Me: I am not
we sinned in them a long time. And should silent, but shall repay, and I shall repay
we be saved? into their bosom,
6 And all of us have become as one 7 your crookednesses and the crooked-
unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as nesses of your fathers together,” said HWHY,
soiled rags. And all of us fade like a leaf, “who burned incense on the mountains and
and our crookednesses, like the wind, have reproached Me on the hills. And I shall
taken us away. measure their former work into their
7 And there is no one who calls on Your bosom.”
Name, who stirs himself up to take hold of 8 Thus said HWHY, “As the new wine is
You; for You have hidden Your face from found in the cluster, and one shall say, ‘Do
u Teh. 74, Teh. 79, Yirm 51:51, ¿ah 1:10, Dan. 8:13, Dan. 11:31, Mt. 24:15. v See 66:17.
YESHAYAHU 65 464
not destroy it, for there is blessing in it,’ does not complete his days, for the youth
so I do for My servants’ sake, not to dies one hundred years old, but the sinner
destroy them all. being one hundred years old shall be light-
9 “And I shall bring forth a seed from ly esteemed.
YaÈaqoÄ, and from YehuÅah an heir of My 21 “And they shall build houses and
mountains. And My chosen ones shall inhabit them, and plant vineyards and eat
inherit it, and My servants dwell there. their fruit.
10 “And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, 22 “They shall not build and another
and the Valley of A¿or a place for herds to inhabit; they shall not plant and another
lie down, for My people who have sought eat. For the days of My people are going to
Me. be as the days of a tree, and My chosen
11 “But you are those who forsake HWHY, ones outlive the work of their hands.
who forget My set-apart mountain, who 23 “They shall not labour in vain, nor
prepare a table for Gad, and who fill a bring forth children for trouble. For they
drink offering for Meni. are the seed of the blessed of HWHY, and
12 “And I shall allot you to the sword, and their offspring with them.
let you all bow down to the slaughter, 24 “And it shall be that before they call, I
because I called and you did not answer, I answer. And while they are still speaking,
spoke and you did not hear, and you did I hear.
evil before My eyes and chose that in 25 “Wolf and lamb feed together, a lion
which I did not delight.” eats straw as an ox, and dust is the snake’s
13 Therefore thus said the Master HWHY, food. They shall do no evil, nor destroy in
“See, My servants eat, but you hunger; see, all My set-apart mountain,” said HWHY.
My servants drink, but you thirst; see, My
servants rejoice, but you are put to shame;
14 see, My servants sing for joy of heart, 66 Thus said HWHY, “The heavens are
My throne, and the earth is My
but you cry for sorrow of heart, and wail footstool. Where is this house that you
for breaking of spirit. build for Me? And where is this place of
15 “And you shall leave your name as a My rest?
curse to My chosen, for the Master HWHY 2 “And all these My hand have made,
shall put you to death, and call His ser- and all these that exist,” declares HWHY.
vants by another name, “Yet to such a one I look: on him who is
16 so that he who blesses himself in the poor and bruised of spirit, and who trem-
earth does bless himself in the Elohim of bles at My Word.
truth. And he who swears in the earth does 3 “But whoever slaughters the bull slays
swear by the Elohim of truth. Because the a man; whoever slaughters the lamb breaks
former distresses shall be forgotten, and a dog’s neck; whoever brings a grain offer-
because they shall be hidden from My ing – pig’s blood; whoever burns incense
eyes. blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen
17 “For look, I am creating new heavens their own ways, and their being delights in
and a new earth, and the former shall not their abominations.
be remembered, nor come to heart. 4 “I shall also choose their punishments,
18 “But be glad and rejoice forever in and bring their fears on them. Because I
what I create; for look, I create Yerushala- called, but no one answered. I spoke and
yim a rejoicing, and her people a joy. they did not hear, and they did evil before
19 “And I shall rejoice in Yerushalayim, My eyes, and chose what was displeasing
and shall joy in My people, and let the to Me.”
voice of weeping no more be heard in her, 5 Hear the Word of HWHY, you who trem-
nor the voice of crying. ble at His Word, “Your brothers who hate
20 “No more is an infant from there going you, who cast you out for My Name’s
to live but a few days, nor an old man who sake, said, ‘Let HWHY be esteemed, so that
465 YESHAYAHU 66
we see your joy.’ But they are put to shall judge all flesh, and the slain of HWHY
shame.” shall be many –
6 “A roaring sound from the city, a voice 17 those who set themselves apart and
from the Hÿal, the voice of HWHY, repay- cleanse themselves at the gardens after
ing His enemies! ‘One’ in the midst, eating flesh of pigs w
7 “Before she laboured, she gave birth;
and the abomination and the mouse, are
before a pain came to her, she was deliv- snatched away, together,” declares HWHY.
ered of a male child. 18 “And I, because of their works and
8 “Who has heard the like of this? Who
their imaginations, am coming to gather all
has seen the like of these? Is a land brought nations and tongues. And they shall come
forth in one day? Is a nation born at once? and see My esteem.
For as soon as Tsiyon laboured, she gave 19 “And I shall set a sign among them, and
birth to her children.
9 “Shall I bring to birth, and not give shall send some of those who escape to the
nations – Tarshish and Pul and LuÅ, who
delivery?” says HWHY. “Shall I who give draw the bow, and TuÄal and Yawan, the
delivery restrain birth?” said your Elohim. coastlands afar off who have not heard My
10 “Rejoice with Yerushalayim, and be
report nor seen My esteem. And they shall
glad with her, all you who love her; rejoice declare My esteem among the gentiles.
greatly with her, all you who mourn for her; 20 “And they shall bring all your brothers
11 so that you feed, and shall be satisfied
with the breast of her comforts, so that you as an offering to HWHY out of all the gentiles,
drink deeply, and shall delight yourselves on horses and in chariots and in litters, on
in her overflowing esteem.” mules and on camels, to My set-apart
12 For thus said HWHY, “See, I am extend- mountain Yerushalayim,” declares HWHY,
ing peace to her like a river, and the esteem “as the children of Yisra’Ãl bring an offer-
of the gentiles like a flowing stream. And ing in a clean vessel into the House of HWHY.
21 “And from them too I shall take for
you shall feed; you shall be carried on the
side, and be fondled on her knees. priests – for LÃwites,” declares HWHY.
13 “As one whom his mother comforts, so 22 “For as the new heavens and the new
I comfort you. And in Yerushalayim you earth that I make stand before Me,”
are comforted.” declares HWHY, “so your seed and your
14 “And you shall see, and your heart shall name shall stand.
23 “And it shall be that from New Moon
rejoice, and your bones flourish as tender
grass. And the hand of HWHY shall be to New Moon, and from Sabbath to
known to His servants, and His displeasure Sabbath, x all flesh shall come to worship
to His enemies. before Me,” declares HWHY.
15 “For look, HWHY comes with fire and 24 “And they shall go forth and look upon
with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to ren- the corpses of the men who have trans-
der His displeasure with burning, and His gressed against Me. y For their worm shall
rebuke with flames of fire. not die, and their fire not be quenched.
16 “For by fire and by His sword HWHY And they shall be repulsive to all flesh!”
w See 65:4. x Meaning: Every week on the Sabbath. y See 24:6, 34:2-3, Teh. 110:6, Yirm. 25:33.
YIRMEYAHU
JEREMIAH
you to deliver you,” declares HWHY. not prevail against you. For I am with
9 Then HWHY put forth His hand and you,” declares HWHY, “to deliver you.”
touched my mouth, and HWHY said to me,
“See, I have put My words in your mouth.
10 “See, I have this day set you over the 2 And the word of HWHY came to me,
saying,
nations and over the reigns, to root out and 2 “Go, and you shall cry in the hearing of
to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, Yerushalayim, saying, ‘Thus said HWHY,
to build and to plant.” “I remember you, the kindness of your
11 And the word of HWHY came to me, say- youth, the love of your bridehood, when
ing, “What do you see, Yirmeyahu?” And I you went after Me in the wilderness, in
said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” a land that was not sown.
12 And HWHY said to me, “You have seen 3 “Yisra’Ãl was set-apart to HWHY, the
well, for I am watching over My word to first-fruits of His increase. All who ate of it
do it.” became guilty – evil came upon them,”
13 And the word of HWHY came to me a declares HWHY.’ ”
second time, saying, “What do you see?” 4 Hear the word of HWHY, O house of
And I said, “I see a boiling pot, and it is YaÈaqoÄ and all the clans of the house of
facing away from the north.” Yisra’Ãl.
14 And HWHY said to me, “Out of the north 5 Thus said HWHY, “What unrighteousness
467 YIRMEYAHU 2
have your fathers found in Me, that they you in the way?
have gone far from Me, and went after 18 “And now why take the way to
ness, through a land of deserts and pits, backslidings reprove you. Know therefore
through a land of drought and the shadow and see that it is evil and bitter that you
of death, a land that no one passed through have forsaken HWHY your Elohim, and that
and where no one dwelt?’ My fear is not in you,” declares the Master
7 “Then I brought you into a garden land, HWHY of hosts.
to eat its fruit and its goodness. But when 20 “For of old you have broken your yoke
you entered, you defiled My land and and tore of your bonds. And you said, ‘I
made My inheritance an abomination. am not serving You,’ when on every high
8 “The priests did not say, ‘Where is hill and under every green tree you lay
HWHY?’ And those who handle the Torah down, a whore.
did not know Me, and the shepherds a 21 “Yet I had planted you a choice vine, all
transgressed against Me, and the prophets of it a true seed. How then have you turned
prophesied by BaÈal, and walked after mat- before Me into the degenerate plant of a
ters that did not profit. strange vine?
9 “Therefore I still contend with you,” 22 “Although you wash yourself with lye,
declares HWHY, “and with your children’s and use much soap, yet your crookedness
children I contend. is ingrained before Me,” declares the
10 “For, pass beyond the isles of Kittim Master HWHY.
and see, and send to QÃÅar and observe 23 “How do you say, ‘I am not defiled, I
well, and see if there has been any like this. have not gone after the BaÈals’? See your
11 “Has a nation changed its mighty ones, way in the valley, know what you have
which are not mighty ones? But My people done: a swift dromedary breaking loose in
have changed My esteem b for that which her ways,
does not profit. 24 a wild donkey used to the wilderness,
12 “Be amazed, O heavens, at this, and be sniffing the wind in the desire of her being
frightened, be utterly dried up,” declares – in her time of mating, who turns her
HWHY. away? All those who seek her need not
13 “For My people have done two evils: weary themselves; in her month they find
they have forsaken Me, the fountain of her.
living waters, c to hew out for themselves 25 “Keep your foot from being bare, and
cisterns, cracked cisterns, which do not your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is
hold water. useless, because I love strangers, and after
14 “Is Yisra’Ãl a servant? Was he born in them I go.’
the house? Why is he given to plunder? 26 “As the thief is ashamed when he is
15 “The young lions roared at him, they found out, so is the house of Yisra’Ãl
growled, and made his land waste; his ashamed – they and their sovereigns and
cities have been burned, without inhabi- their heads, and their priests and their
tant. prophets,
16 “Even the sons of Noph and of 27 saying to a tree, ‘You are my father,’
TaÁpanÁes have shaven the crown of your and to a stone, ‘You gave birth to me.’ For
head. they have turned their back to Me, and not
17 “Have you not done this to yourself, by their face. But in the time of their calamity
forsaking HWHY your Elohim when He led they say, ‘Arise and save us.’
a See 10:21, 12:10-11, 50:6-7. b Symbolic name for His Ark. c See 17:13.
YIRMEYAHU 2 468
28 “But where are your mighty ones that them like an AraÄian in the wilderness.
you have made for yourselves? Let them And you made the land unclean with your
arise, see if they save you in the time of whorings and your evil.
your calamity. Because your mighty ones 3 “Therefore the showers have been
have become as many as your cities, O withheld, and there has been no latter rain.
YehuÅah. You have had a whore’s forehead, you
29 “Why do you complain to Me? You all refuse to be ashamed.
have transgressed against Me,” declares 4 “Shall you not from now on cry to Me,
they received no instruction. Your sword one keep it to the end?’ See, you have spo-
has devoured your prophets like a destroy- ken and done the evils that you could.”
ing lion. 6 And HWHY said to me in the days of
31 “O generation, see the word of HWHY! Yoshiyahu the sovereign, “Have you seen
Have I been a wilderness to Yisra’Ãl, Or what backsliding Yisra’Ãl has done? She
a land of darkness? Why do My people has gone up on every high mountain and
say, ‘We have broken loose; we come to under every green tree, and there commit-
You no more’? ted whoring.
32 “Would a maiden forget her ornaments, 7 “And after she had done all these, I said
or a bride her headband? Yet My people ‘Return to Me.’ But she did not return.
have forgotten Me, days without number. And her treacherous sister YehuÅah saw it.
33 “Why do you embellish your way to 8 “And I saw that for all the causes for
seek love? Therefore you have even taught which backsliding Yisra’Ãl had committed
the evil women your ways. adultery, I had put her away and given her
34 “Even on your skirts is found the blood a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous
of the lives of the poor innocents. You did sister YehuÅah did not fear, but went and
not find them breaking in, but in spite of committed whoring too.
all these, 9 “And it came to be, through her frivo-
35 you say, ‘Because I am innocent, cer- lous whoring, that she defiled the land and
tainly His displeasure shall turn from me.’ committed adultery with stones and wood.
See, I shall bring judgment on you, 10 “And yet for all this her treacherous sis-
because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ ter YehuÅah has not turned to Me with all
36 “Why do you go about so much to her heart, but falsely,” declares HWHY.
change your way? Even of Mitsrayim you 11 And HWHY said to me, “Backsliding
are to be ashamed, as you were ashamed of Yisra’Ãl has shown herself more righteous
Ashshur. than treacherous YehuÅah.
37 “Even from this one you shall go forth, 12 “Go and proclaim these words toward
with your hands on your head. For HWHY the north, and say, ‘Return, O backsliding
has rejected those you trust, and you shall Yisra’Ãl,’ declares HWHY, ‘I shall not look
not prosper by them. on you in displeasure, for I am kind,’
declares HWHY, ‘and I do not bear a grudge
3 Elohim said, “If a man puts away his
wife, and she goes from him and
forever.
13 ‘Only, acknowledge your crookedness,
becomes another man’s, does he return to because you have transgressed against
her again? Would not that land be made HWHY your Elohim, and have scattered your
greatly unclean? But you have committed ways to strangers under every green tree,
whoring with many lovers. And would you and you have not obeyed My voice,’
return to Me?” declares HWHY. declares HWHY.
2 “Lift up your eyes to the bare heights 14 “Return, O backsliding children,”
and see: where have you not lain with declares HWHY, “for I shall rule over you,
men? Besides the ways you have sat for and shall take you, one from a city and two
469 YIRMEYAHU 4
from a clan, d and shall bring you to sinned against HWHY our Elohim, we and
Tsiyon. our fathers, from our youth even to this
15 “And I shall give you shepherds
day, and have not obeyed the voice of
according to My heart, and they shall feed HWHY our Elohim.”
you with knowledge and understanding.
16 “And it shall be, when you have
our fathers from our youth, their flocks and You have greatly deceived this people and
their herds, their sons and their daughters. Yerushalayim, saying, ‘Peace is for you,’
25 “We shall lie down in our shame, while whereas the sword reaches to the heart.”
our reproach covers us. For we have 11 At that time it shall be said to this peo-
ple and to Yerushalayim, “A scorching 26 I looked, and saw the garden land was a
wind of the bare heights blows in the wilderness, and all its cities were broken
wilderness toward the daughter of My peo- down at the presence of HWHY, by His burn-
ple, not to fan or to cleanse. ing displeasure.
12 “A wind too strong for this shall come 27 For thus said HWHY, “All the earth shall
for Me. Now it is I who speak judgments be a ruin, but I shall not make a complete
against them. end.
13 “See, he comes up like clouds, and his 28 “On account of this, let the earth mourn
chariots like a whirlwind. His horses shall and the heavens above be dark, because I
be swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for we have spoken, because I have purposed and
shall be ravaged!” shall not relent, nor do I turn back from it.”
14 O Yerushalayim, wash your heart from 29 All the city is fleeing from the noise of
evil, and be saved. Till when would your the horsemen and bowmen. They shall go
wicked thoughts remain within you? into bushes and climb up on the rocks. All
15 For a voice is declaring from Dan, and the city is forsaken, and no one is dwelling
is proclaiming trouble from Mount in it.
Ephrayim: 30 And when you are ravaged, what
16 “Announce to the nations, look, pro- would you do? Though you put on crim-
claim against Yerushalayim, that besiegers son, though you adorn yourself with orna-
are coming from a distant land and raise ments of gold, though you enlarge your
their voice against the cities of YehuÅah. eyes with paint, you adorn yourself in
17 “Like keepers of a field they are against vain. Your lovers despise you, they seek
her all around, because she has rebelled your life.
against Me,” declares HWHY. 31 For I have heard a voice as of a woman
18 “Your ways and your deeds have in labour, the distress as of her who brings
brought this upon you. This is your evil, forth her first child, the voice of the
because it is bitter, because it has reached daughter of Tsiyon! She bewails herself,
into your heart.” she spreads out her hands, saying, “Woe to
19 O my inward parts, my inward parts! me, for my being faints because of mur-
I am in pain! O the walls of my heart! My derers!”
heart pounds in me, I am not silent. For
you have heard, O my being, the sound of
the ram’s horn, a shout of battle! 5 “Diligently search the streets of
Yerushalayim, and please look, and
20 Destruction upon destruction is cried, know and seek in her open places if you
for all the land is ravaged. Suddenly my find a man, if there is anyone doing right-
tents are ravaged – my curtains in a ruling, seeking the truth, then I shall par-
moment. don her.
21 How long shall I see a banner, and hear 2 “Even when they say, ‘As HWHY lives,’
the sound of the ram’s horn? they swear falsely, for certain.”
22 “For My people are foolish, they have 3 O HWHY, are Your eyes not on truth? You
not known Me. They are stupid children, have smitten them, but they have not
and they have no understanding. They are grieved. You have consumed them, but
wise to do evil, but to do good they have they have refused to receive instruction.
no knowledge.” They made their faces harder than rock,
23 I looked at the earth, and saw it was they refused to turn back.
formless and empty. And the heavens, they 4 Then I said, “These are only the poor.
had no light. They have been foolish, for they have not
24 I looked at the mountains, and saw they known the way of HWHY, the right-ruling of
shook, and all the hills were swaying. their Elohim.
25 I looked, and saw there was no man, 5 “Let me go to the great men and speak
and all the birds of the heavens had fled. to them, for they have known the way of
471 YIRMEYAHU 5
HWHY, the right-ruling of their Elohim.” But vines and your fig trees. With the sword
these have altogether broken the yoke and they shall demolish your walled cities, in
torn off the bonds. which you are trusting.
6 Therefore a lion from the forest shall 18 “But even in those days,” declares
smite them, a wolf of the deserts ravage HWHY, “I shall not make a complete end of
them. A leopard is watching over their you.
19 “And it shall be, when they say, ‘Why
cities, whoever comes out of them is torn
in pieces. For their transgressions have does HWHY our Elohim do all this to us?’
been many, their backslidings have been then you shall answer them, ‘As you have
numerous. forsaken Me and served foreign mighty
7 “Why should I pardon you for this? ones in your land, so you shall serve
Your children have forsaken Me and sworn foreigners in a land that is not yours.’
20 “Declare this in the house of YaÈaqoÄ
by those that are not mighty ones. When I
had filled them up, they then committed and proclaim it in YehuÅah, saying,
21 ‘Hear this now, O foolish people with-
adultery and they thronged to the house of
a whore. out heart, who have eyes and see not, and
8 “They were like well-fed horses, every who have ears and hear not:
22 ‘Do you not fear Me?’ declares HWHY.
one neighed after his neighbour’s wife.
9 “Would I not punish them for this?” ‘Do you not tremble at My presence, who
declares HWHY. “And would I not revenge have placed the sand as the boundary of
Myself on such a nation as this? the sea, by an everlasting law, and it does
10 “Go up on her walls and destroy, but not pass over it? Though its waves toss to
do not make a complete end. Take away and fro, they are not able; though they roar,
her branches, for they do not belong to they do not pass over it.
23 ‘But this people has a backsliding and
HWHY.
11 “For the house of Yisra’Ãl and the rebellious heart, they have turned aside
house of YehuÅah have utterly betrayed and gone away.
Me,” declares HWHY. 24 ‘And they do not say in their heart, “Let
12 They have been untrue to HWHY, and us now fear HWHY our Elohim, who gives
said, “It is not He. No evil comes upon us, rain, both the former and the latter, in its
nor do we see sword or scarcity of food.” season. He guards for us the appointed
13 And the prophets have become wind, weeks of the harvest.”
and the Word is not in them. Thus shall be 25 ‘Your crookednesses have turned these
done to them: away, and your sins have kept the good
14 Therefore thus said HWHY Elohim of from you.
hosts, “Because you speak this word, see, I 26 ‘For among My people are found
am making My words in your mouth fire, wrong men who lie in wait as one who sets
and this people wood, and it shall devour snares. They have set up a trap, they catch
them. men.
15 “See, I am bringing a nation against 27 ‘As a cage is filled with birds, so their
you from afar, O house of Yisra’Ãl,” houses are filled with deceit. Therefore
declares HWHY. “It is an enduring nation, it they have become great and grown rich.
is an ancient nation, a nation whose lan- 28 ‘They have become fat, they are sleek.
guage you do not know, nor do you under- They also overlook the deeds of the wrong.
stand what they say. They did not rightly rule the cause of the
16 “Their quiver is like an open tomb, all fatherless, so that they prosper. And the
of them are mighty men. right of the needy they did not rightly rule.
17 “And they shall eat up your harvest and 29 ‘Would I not punish them for this?’
your bread, which your sons and daughters declares HWHY. ‘Would I not revenge
should eat. They shall eat up your flocks Myself on such a nation as this?’
and your herds, they shall eat up your 30 “An astounding and horrible matter has
YIRMEYAHU 5 472
come to be in the land: even husband and wife shall be taken, the
31 The prophets have prophesied falsely, e aged and the very old.
and the priests rule by their own hand, and 12 “And their houses shall be turned over
My people have loved it so. f And what are to others, fields and wives together. For I
you going to do at the end of it? shall stretch out My hand against the
inhabitants of the land,” declares HWHY.
6 “O children of Binyamin, gather your-
selves to flee out of the midst of
13 “For from the least of them even to the
north, and great destruction. ple slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when
2 “I shall cut off the lovely and delicate there is no peace.
one, the daughter of Tsiyon. 15 Were they ashamed when they had
3 “The shepherds with their flocks shall done abomination? No! They were not at
come to her, they shall pitch their tents all ashamed, nor did they know how to
against her all around. They shall pasture, blush. Therefore they shall fall among
each one in his own place.” those who fall. They shall stumble at the
4 “Set apart battle against her. Arise, and time I visit them,” said HWHY.
let us go up at noon. Woe to us, for the day 16 Thus said HWHY, “Stand in the ways and
goes away, for the shadows of the evening see, and ask for the old paths, where the
are lengthening. good way is, and walk in it; and find rest
5 “Arise, and let us go by night, and let us for yourselves. But they said, ‘We do not
destroy her palaces.” walk in it.’
6 For thus said HWHY of hosts, “Cut down 17 “And I raised up watchmen over you,
her trees, and cast up a siege mound and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the ram’s
against Yerushalayim. She is the city to be horn!’ But they said, ‘We do not listen.’
punished, in whose midst there is only 18 “Therefore hear, you nations, and
flows with her evil. Violence and destruc- upon this people, even the fruit of their
tion are heard in her. Before Me continual- thoughts, because they have not listened to
ly are suffering and smiting. My words, nor My Torah – and they reject-
8 “Be instructed, O Yerushalayim, lest ed it.
My being be torn from you, lest I make 20 “What need have I of frankincense
you a waste, a land not inhabited.” from SheÄa, and sweet cane from a distant
9 Thus said HWHY of hosts, “Let them land? Your burnt offerings are not accept-
thoroughly glean as a vine the remnant of able, and your slaughterings have not been
Yisra’Ãl; pass your hand again over the sweet to Me.”
branches like a grape-gatherer.” 21 Therefore thus said HWHY, “See, I am
10 To whom shall I speak and give warn- laying stumbling-blocks before this peo-
ing, so that they hear? See, their ear is ple. And the fathers and the sons together
uncircumcised, and they are unable to shall stumble on them, the neighbour and
listen. See, the word of HWHY is a reproach his friend shall perish.”
to them, they do not delight in it. 22 Thus said HWHY, “See, a people shall
11 Therefore I am filled with the wrath of come from the land of the north, and a
HWHY. I have become weary of containing great nation is stirred up from the farthest
it. “Pour it out on the children outside, and parts of the earth,
on the company of young men together, for 23 they seize bow and spear, they are cruel
and have no compassion, their voice roars 8 “See, you are trusting in false words,
like the sea. And they ride on horses, set in which do not profit –
array as a man for battle against you, O 9 stealing, murdering, and committing
cloth, and roll about in ashes! Make Name, become a den of robbers in your
mourning as for an only son, most bitter eyes? Look, I, even I Myself have seen it,”
lamentation because suddenly the ravager declares HWHY.
shall come upon us. 12 “But go now to My place at Shiloh,
27 “I have made you a trier and a strong- where I set My Name at the first, and see
hold among My people, so that you know, what I did to it because of the evil of My
and shall try their way. people Yisra’Ãl.
28 “All of them are rebels of rebels, walk- 13 “And now, because you have done all
ing as slanderers. They are bronze and these works,” declares HWHY, “and I spoke
iron, all of them are corrupters. to you, rising up early and speaking, but
29 “The bellows have burned, the lead has you did not hear, and I called you, but you
been consumed by fire. The refiner has did not answer,
refined in vain, for those who are evil have 14 “I shall also do to this house, which is
and you shall proclaim there this word, and nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor
shall say, ‘Hear the word of HWHY, all you make intercession to Me, for I do not hear
of YehuÅah who enter in at these gates to you.
bow before HWHY!’ ” 17 “Do you not see what they are doing in
3 Thus said HWHY of hosts, the Elohim of the cities of YehuÅah and in the streets of
Yisra’Ãl, “Make your ways and your deeds Yerushalayim?
good, then I let you dwell in this place. 18 “The children are gathering wood, the
4 “Do not trust in these false words, say- fathers are lighting the fire, and the women
ing, ‘This is the Hÿal of HWHY, the Hÿal are kneading their dough, to make cakes
of HWHY, the Hÿal of HWHY!’ for the sovereigness of the heavens, and to
5 “For if you truly make your ways and pour out drink offerings to other mighty
your deeds good, if you truly do right- ones, to provoke Me.
ruling between a man and his neighbour, 19 “Is it Me they are provoking?” declares
6 if you do not oppress the stranger, the HWHY. “Is it not themselves – unto the
fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed shame of their own faces?”
innocent blood in this place, or walk after 20 Therefore, thus said the Master HWHY,
other mighty ones to your own evil, “See, My displeasure and My wrath is
7 then I shall let you dwell in this place, poured out on this place, on man and on
in the land that I gave to your fathers for- beast, and on the trees of the field and on
ever and ever. the fruit of the ground. And it shall burn
YIRMEYAHU 7 474
matters of burnt offerings or slaughterings. food for the birds of the heavens and for
23 “But this word I did command them, the beasts of the earth, with none to fright-
saying, ‘Obey My voice, g and I shall be en them away.
your Elohim, and you be My people. And 34 “And in the cities of YehuÅah and in
walk in all the ways that I have command- the streets of Yerushalayim I shall make to
ed you, so that it be well with you.’ cease the voice of rejoicing and the voice
24 “But they did not obey or incline their of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom
ear, but walked in the counsels, in the and the voice of the bride. For the land
stubbornness of their evil heart, and went shall become a waste!
backward and not forward.
25 “From the day that your fathers came
out of the land of Mitsrayim until this day, 8 “At that time,” declares HWHY, “they
shall bring the bones of the sovereigns
I have even sent to you all My servants the of YehuÅah, and the bones of its heads, and
prophets, daily rising up early and sending the bones of the priests, and the bones of
them. the prophets, and the bones of the inhabi-
26 “But they did not obey Me or incline tants of Yerushalayim, out of their graves,
their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did 2 and shall spread them before the sun
evil, more than their fathers. and the moon and all the host of the heav-
27 “And you shall speak all these words to ens, which they have loved and which they
them, though they do not listen to you. have served and after which they have
And you shall also call to them, though walked, which they have sought, and to
they do not answer you. which they have bowed themselves. They
28 “But you shall say to them, ‘This is a shall not be gathered nor buried, they shall
nation that did not obey the voice of HWHY be for dung on the face of the earth.
their Elohim, nor did they accept instruc- 3 “And death shall be preferred to life by
tion. Truth has perished and has been cut all the rest of those who remain of this evil
off from their mouth. people, who remain in all the places where
29 ‘Cut off your hair and throw it away, I have driven them,” declares HWHY of
and take up a lamentation on the bare hosts.
heights, for HWHY has rejected and forsaken 4 “And you shall say to them, ‘Thus said
the generation of His wrath.’ HWHY, “Would they fall, and not rise? Does
30 “For the children of YehuÅah have one turn away and not return?
done what is evil in My eyes,” declares 5 “Why then has this people, Yerusha-
HWHY. “They have set their abominations in layim, turned away in a continual backslid-
the house which is called by My Name, to ing? They cling to deceit, they refuse to
defile it. turn back.
31 “And they have built the high places of 6 “I have listened and heard – they do not
Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son speak right. No man has repented of his
of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their evil, saying, ‘What have I done?’ They all
daughters in the fire, which I did not com- turned to their own course, like a horse
mand, nor did it come into My heart. rushing into battle.
g AÄraham did so (Ber. 26:5), and HWHY again laid down this condition for Yisra’Ãl to be His people (Shem. 19:5),
and the same applies to us (Yn. 3:36, Rom. 6:16, Heb. 4:11, Heb. 5:9, Rev. 22:14).
475 YIRMEYAHU 9
7 “Even a stork in the heavens knows her my heart is sick within me.
appointed times. And a turtledove, and a 19 Observe! The voice, the cry of the
swallow, and a thrush observe the time of daughter of my people from a distant land,
their coming. But My people do not know “Is HWHY not in Tsiyon? Is her Sovereign
the right-ruling of HWHY. not in her?” “Why have they provoked Me
8 “How do you say, ‘We are wise, and the with their carved images, and with foreign
Torah of HWHY is with us’? But look, the worthlessnesses?”
false pen of the scribe has worked false- 20 “The harvest is past, the summer is
shall be broken down and caught. See, they people I have been broken. I have grown
have rejected the Word of HWHY, so what sad; astonishment has seized me.
wisdom do they have? 22 Is there no balm in GilÈaÅ, is there no
10 “Therefore I give their wives to others, healer there? Why has the healing of the
and their fields to possessing ones. For daughter of my people not come?
from the least even to the greatest, they are
all greedy for gain. From the prophet to the
priest, all act falsely. 9 Oh, that my head were waters, and my
eyes a fountain of tears, and I would
11 “And they heal the breach of the daugh- weep day and night for the slain of the
ter of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, daughter of my people!
peace!’ when there is no peace. 2 Oh, that I had in the wilderness a lodg-
12 “Were they ashamed when they had ing place for wayfaring men, and I would
done abomination? No! They were not at leave my people, and go from them! For
all ashamed, nor did they know how to they are all adulterers, an assembly of
blush. So they shall fall among those who treacherous men.
fall. They shall stumble in the time of their 3 “And they bend their tongue like a bow.
from them.” ’ ” and not trust any brother. For every brother
14 Why are we sitting still? Gather your- catches by the heel, and every neighbour
selves, and let us go into the walled cities, walks with slanderers.
and let us be silent there. For HWHY our 5 “And everyone deceives his neighbour,
Elohim has let us perish and given us poi- and no one speaks the truth. They have
soned water to drink, because we have taught their tongue to speak falsehood, and
sinned against HWHY. have wearied themselves to crook.
15 We looked for peace, but there was no 6 “You live in the midst of deceit;
good; and for a time of healing, but see – through deceit they have refused to know
fear! Me,” declares HWHY.
16 The snorting of his horses was heard 7 Therefore thus said HWHY of hosts, “See,
from Dan. All the land shook at the sound I shall refine them, and shall try them, for
of the neighing of his strong ones. what shall I do because of the daughter of
They came and devoured the land and all My people?
that fills it, the city and those who dwell in 8 “Their tongue is an arrow shot out. It
Myself on such a nation as this?” 20 But hear the word of HWHY, O women,
10 “I shall take up a weeping and wailing
and let your ear receive the word of His
for the mountains, and for the pastures of mouth. And teach your daughters wailing,
the wilderness a lamentation, because they and each one her neighbour a lamentation.
have been burned up, without any passing 21 For death has come through our win-
over, nor has the voice of cattle been heard. dows, has entered our palaces, cutting off
Both the birds of the heavens and the the children from the streets, and the
beasts have fled, they have gone. young men from the squares.
11 “And I shall make Yerushalayim a heap 22 Speak, “Thus declares HWHY, ‘The
of ruins, a habitation for jackals; and the corpses of men shall fall as dung on the
cities of YehuÅah I shall make a waste, face of the field, like cuttings after the
without an inhabitant.” reaper, with none to gather them.’ ”
12 Who is the wise man, that he under- 23 Thus said HWHY, “Let not the wise boast
stands this? And to whom has the mouth of in his wisdom, let not the mighty boast in
HWHY spoken, that he declares it? Why has his might, nor let the rich boast in his
the land perished, has it been burned up riches,
like a wilderness, with none passing 24 but let him who boasts boast of this,
through? that he understands and knows Me, that I
13 And HWHY says, “Because they have for-
am HWHY, doing kindness, right-ruling, and
saken My Torah which I set before them, righteousness in the earth. For in these I
and have not obeyed My voice, h nor delight,” declares HWHY.
walked according to it, 25 “See, the days are coming,” declares
14 but they have walked according to the
HWHY, “when I shall punish all circumcised
stubbornness of their own heart and after with the uncircumcised –
the BaÈals, which their fathers had taught 26 “Mitsrayim, and YehuÅah, and EÅom,
them.” and the children of Ammon, and Mo’aÄ,
15 Therefore thus said HWHY of hosts, the
and all those trimmed on the edges, who
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, “See, I am making this dwell in the wilderness. For all the gentiles
people eat wormwood, and I shall make are uncircumcised, and all the house of
them drink poisoned water. Yisra’Ãl are uncircumcised in heart!”
16 “And I shall scatter them among the
en the land, because we have been thrown do not speak. They have to be carried,
out of our dwellings.’ ” because they do not walk. Do not be afraid
instruction of worthlessness is the tree. and they have not sought HWHY. Therefore
9 Silver is beaten into plates; it is brought they did not understand, and all their flock
from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the scattered.” k
work of the craftsman and of the hands of 22 See, it has come, the voice of a report,
the smith; draped in blue and purple; all of and a great shaking out of the land of the
them are the work of skilled ones. north, to make the cities of YehuÅah a
10 But HWHY is truly Elohim. He is the liv- waste, a habitation of jackals.
ing Elohim and the everlasting Sovereign. 23 O HWHY, I know the way of man is not in
At His wrath the earth shakes, and nations himself, it is not for man who walks to
are unable to stand His displeasure. direct his own steps.
11 Say to them this, “The elah 1 that did 24 O HWHY, chastise me, but with right-
not make the heavens and the earth shall ruling – not in Your displeasure, lest You
perish from the earth and from under these bring me to naught.
heavens.” 25 Pour out Your wrath on the gentiles
12 He has made the earth by His power, who do not know You, and on the tribes
He has established the world by His wis- who do not call on Your Name. For they
dom, and has stretched out the heavens by have eaten up YaÈaqoÄ, devoured him and
His understanding. consumed him, and laid waste his home. l
13 When He makes His voice heard, there
his moulded image is falsehood, and there HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, “Cursed is the
is no spirit in them. man who does not obey the words of this
15 They are worthless, a work of mockery. covenant,
In the time of their punishment they perish. 4 which I commanded your fathers in the
16 The Portion of YaÈaqoÄ is not like day when I brought them out of the land of
these, for He is the Maker of all, and Mitsrayim, from the iron furnace, saying,
Yisra’Ãl is the tribe of His inheritance – ‘Obey My voice, m and you shall do
HWHY of hosts is His Name. according to all that I command you, and
17 Gather up your bundle from the you shall be My people, and I be your
ground, you who live under siege! Elohim,’
18 For thus said HWHY, “See, at this time I 5 in order to establish the oath which I
am hurling out the inhabitants of the land, have sworn to your fathers, to give them a
and shall distress them, so that they feel land flowing with milk and honey, as it is
it.” this day.” ’ ” And I answered and said,
1 Elah - Aramaic for mighty one - See Explanatory notes under El, Eloah etc. k See 2:8, 12:10-11, 50:6-7, YeÁez.
34:1-23, 2 Tim. 4:3-4, 2 KÃpha 2:1-22. l Teh. 79:6, Mi¿. 4:5. m See footnote 7:23.
YIRMEYAHU 11 478
ear, but everyone walked in the stubborn- know it. Then You showed me their deeds.
ness of his evil heart. So I brought on them 19 But I was like a gentle lamb brought to
all the words of this covenant, which I the slaughter. And I did not know that they
commanded them to do, and they did not had plotted against me, saying, “Let us
do.’ ” destroy the tree with its fruit, and let us cut
9 And HWHY said to me, “There is a con- him off from the land of the living, and let
spiracy among the men of YehuÅah and his name be remembered no more.”
among the inhabitants of Yerushalayim. 20 But, O HWHY of hosts, who judges right-
10 “They have turned back to the crooked- eously, who tries kidneys and heart, let me
nesses of their forefathers who refused to see Your vengeance upon them, for unto
hear My words, and they have gone after You I have revealed my cause.
other mighty ones to serve them. The 21 “Therefore thus said HWHY concerning
house of Yisra’Ãl and the house of Yehu- the men of Anathoth who are seeking your
Åah have broken My covenant I made with life, saying, ‘Do not prophesy in the Name
their fathers.” of HWHY, lest you die by our hand’ –
11 Therefore thus said HWHY, “See, I am 22 therefore thus said HWHY of hosts, ‘See,
bringing evil on them which they are I am punishing them, the young men shall
unable to escape. Then they shall cry out to die by the sword, their sons and their
Me, but I shall not listen to them. daughters shall die by scarcity of food.
12 “And the cities of YehuÅah and the 23 ‘And there shall be no remnant of them,
inhabitants of Yerushalayim shall go and for I bring evil on the men of Anathoth –
cry out to the mighty ones to whom they the year of their punishment.’ ”
burn incense, but they shall bring no deliv-
erance to them at all in the time of their
evil. 12 Righteous are You, O HWHY, when I
plead with You. Indeed, let me
13 “For your mighty ones have become as speak with You about right-rulings. Why
many as your cities, O YehuÅah. And you has the way of the wrong prospered? All
have set up as many altars to shame as the workers of treachery are at ease? n
there are streets in Yerushalayim – altars to 2 You have planted them and they have
burn incense to BaÈal. taken root, they grow and they bear fruit.
14 “And you, do not pray for this people, You are near in their mouth but far from
or lift up a cry or prayer for them, for I do their kidneys.
not hear them in the time that they cry out 3 But You have known me, O HWHY. You
to Me because of their evil. see me, and You have tried my heart
15 “Why should My beloved be in My toward You. Draw them away like sheep
house – she has done wickedness with for slaughter, and separate them for the day
many. And does the set-apart flesh remove of slaughter.
your evil from you? Then you rejoice? 4 How long shall the land mourn, and the
plants of every field wither? The beasts sion on them and bring them back, every-
and birds are consumed, for the evil of one to his inheritance and everyone to his
those who dwell there, because they said, land.
“He does not see our latter ending.” 16 “And it shall be, if they learn well the
5 “If you have run with the footmen, and ways of My people, to swear by My Name,
they have wearied you, then how do you ‘As HWHY lives,’ as they taught My people
contend with horses? And if in the land of to swear by BaÈal, then they shall be estab-
peace, you feel safe, then how do you man- lished in the midst of My people.
age in the YardÃn jungle? 17 “But if they do not obey, I shall pluck
6 “For even your brothers, the house of up, pluck up and destroy that nation,”
your father, even they have betrayed you, declares HWHY.
even they have cried aloud after you. Do
not believe them, even though they speak
smooth words to you. 13 Thus HWHY said to me, “Go and get
yourself a linen girdle, and put it
7 “I have forsaken My house, I have left on your loins, but do not put it in water.”
My inheritance, I have given the beloved 2 So I bought a girdle according to the
of My being into the hand of her enemies. word of HWHY, and put it on my loins.
8 “My inheritance has become to Me like 3 And the word of HWHY came to me the
a lion in the forest. It cries out against Me, second time, saying,
therefore I have hated it. 4 “Take the girdle that you have bought,
9 “My inheritance is to Me like a speck- which is on your loins, and arise, go to the
led bird of prey, the birds of prey all Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole in the
around are against her. Go, gather all the rock.”
beasts of the field, bring them to devour! 5 And I went and hid it by the Euphrates,
10 “Many shepherds have destroyed My as HWHY commanded me.
vineyard, they have trodden My portion 6 And it came to be after many days that
under foot, they have made My pleasant HWHY said to me, “Arise, go to the
portion become a deserted wilderness. o Euphrates, and take from there the girdle
11 “They have laid it waste – a waste, it which I commanded you to hide there.”
mourns to Me. All the land is laid waste, 7 So I went to the Euphrates and dug, and
because no one takes it to heart. I took the girdle from the place where I had
12 “The ravagers have come on all the hidden it. And there was the girdle, ruined.
bare heights in the wilderness, for the It was completely useless.
sword of HWHY is devouring from one end 8 “And the word of HWHY came to me,
ashamed of your harvest because of the My Words, who walk in the stubbornness
burning displeasure of HWHY.” of their heart, and walk after other mighty
14 Thus said HWHY, “As for all My evil ones to serve them and to bow themselves
neighbours who touch the inheritance to them, is like this girdle which is com-
which I have caused My people Yisra’Ãl to pletely useless.
inherit; see, I am plucking them out of 11 ‘For as the girdle clings to the loins of a
their land, and I shall pluck out the house man, so I have caused all the house of
of YehuÅah from their midst. Yisra’Ãl and all the house of YehuÅah to
15 “And it shall be, after My plucking cling to Me,’ declares HWHY, ‘to become
them out, I shall return, and have compas- Mine – for a people, and for a name, and
And when they say to you, ‘Do we not passes away by the wind of the wilderness.
know that every bottle should be filled 25 “This is your lot, your measured por-
throne of DawiÅ, and the priests, and the face, and your shame shall be seen,
prophets, and all the inhabitants of 27 your adulteries and your neighings, the
before He brings darkness, and before your have languished. They have mourned on
feet stumble on the dark mountains, and the ground, and the cry of Yerushalayim
while you are looking for light. He turns it has gone up.
into the shadow of death, makes it gross 3 “And their nobles have sent their little
be taken into exile, all of it. She shall be heights, they sniffed at the wind like
taken into exile, completely. jackals. Their eyes have failed because
20 Lift up your eyes and see those who there was no grass.”
come from the north. Where is the flock 7 O HWHY, though our crookednesses
that was given to you, your fair sheep? witness against us, act, for Your Name’s
21 What would you say when He visits sake. For our backslidings have been
you? For you have taught them to be many, we have sinned against You.
chiefs, to be head over you. Do not pangs 8 O Expectation of Yisra’Ãl, its Saviour
seize you, like a woman in labour? in time of distress, why should You be like
22 And when you say in your heart, “Why a stranger in the land, or like a traveller
has this come upon me?” It is because of who turns aside to lodge?
your great crookedness that your skirts 9 Why should You be as one who is
have been uncovered, your heels made stunned, as a mighty man that is unable to
481 YIRMEYAHU 15
save? Yet You, O HWHY, are in our midst, in a land they do not know.’ ”
19 Have You completely rejected Yehu-
and Your Name has been called on us. Do
not leave us! Åah? Has Your being loathed Tsiyon? Why
10 Thus said HWHY to this people, “So they have You smitten us so that there is no
have loved to wander, they have not healing for us? We looked for peace, but
restrained their feet. Therefore HWHY has there was no good; and for the time of
not accepted them. Now He does remem- healing, but see – fear!
20 O HWHY, we know our wrong and the
ber their crookedness and punish their
sins.” crookedness of our fathers, for we have
11 And HWHY said to me, “Do not pray for sinned against You.
21 Do not scorn us, for Your Name’s sake.
this people for their good.
12 “When they fast, I do not hear their cry. Do not despise the throne of Your esteem.
And when they offer burnt offering and Remember, do not break Your covenant
grain offering, I do not accept them. with us.
22 Are there among the worthless idols of
Instead, I am consuming them by sword,
and by scarcity of food, and by pestilence.” the nations any causing rain? And do the
13 But I said, “Ah, Master HWHY! See, the heavens give showers? Are You not He, O
prophets say to them, ‘You are not to see a HWHY our Elohim? And we wait for You,
sword, nor have scarcity of food, for I give for You are the One who does all this.
you true peace in this place.’ ”
14 Then HWHY said to me, “The prophets
prophesying shall be thrown out in the kinds,” declares HWHY, “the sword to slay,
streets of Yerushalayim because of the the dogs to drag, the birds of the heavens
scarcity of food and the sword, with no one and the beasts of the earth to devour and
to bury them – them nor their wives, their destroy.
sons nor their daughters. For I shall pour 4 “And I shall make them for a horror to
with a mighty blow, with a very severe Yerushalayim? And who mourns for you?
wound. And who turns aside to ask how you are
18 ‘If I go out to the field, then see those doing?
slain with the sword! And if I enter the 6 “You who have forsaken Me,” declares
city, then see those sick from scarcity of HWHY, “you have gone backward. Therefore
food! For both prophet and priest go about I shall stretch out My hand against you and
p 23:11-36.
YIRMEYAHU 15 482
destroy you. I have been weary of relent- healed? Are You to me like a failing
ing! stream, as waters not steadfast?
7 “And I shall winnow them with a win- 19 Therefore thus said HWHY, “If you turn
nowing fan in the gates of the land. I shall back, then I shall bring you back. Before
bereave, I shall destroy My people. They Me you shall stand. And if you take out the
would not turn back from their ways. precious from the worthless, you shall
8 “Their widows shall be more numerous become as My mouth. Let them return to
than the sand of the seas. I shall bring you, but do not return to them.
against them, against the mother of the 20 “And I shall make you to this people a
young men, a ravager at noon. I shall cause strong bronze wall. And they shall fight
agitation and sudden alarm to fall on her, against you, but not overcome you. For I
suddenly. am with you to save you and deliver you,”
9 “She who has borne seven shall pine declares HWHY.
away. She shall breathe her last. Her sun 21 “And I shall deliver you from the hand
shall go down while it is yet day. She shall of evil-doers, and I shall ransom you from
be put to shame and be humiliated. And the grip of the ruthless.”
their remnant I give up to the sword before
their enemies,” declares HWHY.
10 Woe to me, my mother, that you have 16 And the word of HWHY came to me,
saying,
2 “Do not take a wife, nor have sons or
borne me, a man of strife and a man of
contention to all the earth! I have neither daughters in this place.”
lent for interest, nor have men lent to me 3 For thus said HWHY concerning the sons
for interest. All of them are reviling me. and daughters who are born in this place,
11 HWHY said, “Did I not direct you for and concerning their mothers who bear
your good? Did I not intercede for you in a them and their fathers who bring them
time of evil and in a time of distress forth in this land,
against the enemy? 4 “They shall die of deaths from diseases,
12 “Does one break iron, iron or bronze they shall not be lamented nor be buried,
from the north? but be like dung on the face of the earth,
13 “Your wealth and your treasures I give and be consumed by sword and by scarcity
as plunder, not for price, because of all of food. And their corpses shall be meat
your sins, even in all your borders. for the birds of the heavens and for the
14 “And I shall cause them to pass over beasts of the earth.”
with your enemies into a land which you 5 For thus said HWHY, “Do not enter the
did not know, for a fire is kindled in My house of mourning, neither go to lament or
displeasure, which burns upon you.” mourn for them, for I have withdrawn My
15 You Yourself know, O HWHY. Remember peace from this people,” declares HWHY,
me and visit me, and take vengeance for “even the kindness and the compassions.
me on these who persecute me. In Your 6 “Both great and small shall die in this
patience, do not take me away. Know that land. They shall not be buried, and no one
for You I have suffered reproach. shall lament for them, or cut themselves, or
16 Your words were found, and I ate them, make themselves bald for them.
and Your word was to me the joy and 7 “Neither shall they break bread in
rejoicing of my heart. For Your Name is mourning for them to comfort them for the
called on me, O HWHY Elohim of hosts. dead, nor give them the cup of comfort to
17 I have not sat in the company of the drink for their father or their mother.
mockers, nor do I exult. I have sat alone 8 “Do not enter the house of feasting to
because of Your hand, for You have filled sit with them, to eat and drink.”
me with displeasure. 9 For thus said HWHY of hosts, the Elohim
18 Why is my pain without end and my of Yisra’Ãl, “See, before your eyes and in
wound incurable, which refuses to be your days, I am making the voice of rejoic-
483 YIRMEYAHU 17
ing and the voice of gladness, the voice of 19 O HWHY, my strength and my stronghold
the bridegroom and the voice of the bride and my refuge, in the day of distress the
to cease in this place. gentiles shall come to You from the ends of
10 “And it shall be, when you declare to
the earth and say, “Our fathers have inher-
this people all these words, and they shall ited only falsehood, futility, and there is no
say to you, ‘Why has HWHY pronounced all value in them.” q
this great evil against us? And what is our 20 Would a man make mighty ones for
crookedness, and what is our sin that we himself, which are not mighty ones?
have committed against HWHY our Elohim?’ 21 “Therefore see, I am causing them to
11 then you shall say to them, ‘Because
know, this time I cause them to know My
your fathers have forsaken Me,’ declares hand and My might. And they shall know
HWHY, ‘and have walked after other mighty that My Name is HWHY!”
ones and served them and bowed them-
selves to them, and have forsaken Me, and
did not guard My Torah.
12 ‘And you have done more evil than
17 “The sin of YehuÅah is written
with a pen of iron, engraved with
the point of a diamond on the tablet of their
your fathers, for look, each one walks heart, and on the horns of your altars,
according to the stubbornness of his own 2 while their children remember their
evil heart, without listening to Me. altars and their AshÃrim by the spreading
13 ‘So I shall throw you out of this land
trees on the high hills.
into a land that you do not know, neither 3 “My mountain in the field, I give as
you nor your fathers. And there you shall plunder your wealth, all your treasures,
serve other mighty ones day and night, your high places of sin, throughout all your
where I show you no favour.’ borders.
14 “Therefore see, the days are coming,” 4 “And you, even of yourself, shall let go
declares HWHY, “when it is no longer said, of your inheritance which I gave you. And
‘HWHY lives who brought up the children of I shall make you serve your enemies in a
Yisra’Ãl from the land of Mitsrayim,’ land which you have not known, for you
15 but, ‘HWHY lives who brought up the have kindled a fire in My displeasure
children of Yisra’Ãl from the land of the which burns forever.”
north and from all the lands where He had 5 Thus said HWHY, “Cursed is the man
driven them.’ For I shall bring them back who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm,
into their land I gave to their fathers. and whose heart turns away from HWHY.
16 “See, I am sending for many fisher- 6 “For he shall be like a shrub in the
men,” declares HWHY, “and they shall fish desert, and not see when good comes, and
them. And after that I shall send for many shall inhabit the parched places in the
hunters, and they shall hunt them from wilderness, a salt land that is not inhabited.
every mountain and every hill, and out of 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in HWHY,
the holes of the rocks. and whose trust is HWHY.
17 “For My eyes are on all their ways; 8 “For he shall be like a tree planted by
they have not been hidden from My face, the waters, which spreads out its roots by
nor has their crookedness been hidden the river, and does not see when heat
from My eyes. comes. And his leaf shall be green, and in
18 “And first I shall repay double for their the year of drought he is not anxious, nor
crookedness and their sin, because they does he cease from yielding fruit.
have defiled My land with the dead bodies 9 “The heart is crooked r above all, and
of their disgusting matters, and have filled desperately sick – who shall know it?
My inheritance with their abominations.” 10 “I, HWHY, search the heart, I try the kid-
q The truth, and the Messiah, was given to Yisra’Ãl (the YehuÅim), not to the gentiles – see Teh. 147:19, Yesh.
2:3, Yesh. 60:2-3, Yn.4:22, Rom. 2:20, Rom. 3:2, Rom. 9:4. r 7:24, 16:12, 18:12, 23:17.
YIRMEYAHU 17 484
neys, and give every man according to his hear and not to receive instruction.
ways, according to the fruit of his deeds. 24 “And it shall be, if you diligently obey
11 “As a partridge that broods but does not Me,” declares HWHY, “to bring in no burden
hatch, so is he who gets riches, but not by through the gates of this city on the
right. It leaves him in the midst of his days, Sabbath day, and set apart the Sabbath day,
and at his end he is a fool.” to do no work in it,
12 An esteemed throne, exalted from the 25 then sovereigns and heads sitting on the
beginning, is the place of our set-apart throne of DawiÅ shall enter in through the
place. gates of this city, riding in chariots and on
13 O HWHY, the expectation of Yisra’Ãl, all horses, they and their heads – the men of
who forsake You are put to shame. “Those YehuÅah and the inhabitants of Yeru-
who depart from Me shall be written in the shalayim. And this city shall be inhabited
earth, because they have forsaken HWHY, the forever.
fountain of living waters.” s 26 “And they shall come from the cities of
14 Heal me, O HWHY, so that I am healed. YehuÅah and from the places around Yeru-
Save me, so that I am saved, for You are shalayim, and from the land of Binyamin
my praise. and from the low country, from the moun-
15 See, they say to me, “Where is the word tains and from the South, bringing burnt
of HWHY? Let it come now!” offerings and slaughterings, grain offerings
16 And I have not run away from being a and incense, bringing offerings of praise to
shepherd who follows You, nor have I the House of HWHY.
longed for the desperately sick day. You 27 “But if you do not obey Me to set apart
Yourself have known, that which came out the Sabbath day, and not to bear a burden
of my lips was before You. when entering the gates of Yerushalayim
17 Do not be a ruin to me, You are my on the Sabbath day, then I shall kindle a
shelter in the day of evil. fire in its gates, and it shall consume the
18 Let these who persecute me be put to palaces of Yerushalayim, and not be
shame, but do not let me be put to shame. quenched.” ’ ”
Let them be broken, but do not let me be
broken. Bring on them the day of evil, and
destroy them with double destruction!
19 Thus HWHY said to me, “Go and stand in
18 The word which came to
Yirmeyahu from HWHY, saying,
2 “Arise, and go down to the potter’s
the gate of the children of the people, by house, and there I let you hear My words.”
which the sovereigns of YehuÅah come in 3 So I went down to the potter’s house,
and by which they go out, and in all the and saw him doing a piece of work on the
gates of Yerushalayim. wheel.
20 “And you shall say to them, ‘Hear the 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was
word of HWHY, you sovereigns of YehuÅah, ruined in the hand of the potter, so he
and all YehuÅah, and all the inhabitants of remade it into another vessel, as it seemed
Yerushalayim, who enter by these gates. good to the potter to do.
21 ‘Thus said HWHY, “Guard yourselves, 5 Then the word of HWHY came to me,
ear, and they made their neck stiff not to nation and concerning a reign, to pluck up,
s See 2:13.
485 YIRMEYAHU 19
to pull down, and to destroy it, 19 Attend to me, O HWHY, and listen to the
8 and that nation shall turn from its evil
voice of my adversaries!
because I have spoken against it, then I 20 Should good be repaid with evil? For
shall repent of the evil that I thought to do they have dug a pit for my life. Remember
to it. that I stood before You to speak good for
9 “And the moment I speak concerning a
them, and to turn away Your wrath from
nation and concerning a reign, to build and them.
to plant it, 21 So give their children over to scarcity
10 and it shall do evil in My eyes in not
of food, and hand them over to the power
obeying My voice, then I shall repent con- of the sword. Let their wives become
cerning the good with which I spoke of widows and bereaved of their children.
doing to it. Let their men be put to death, their young
11 “And now, speak to the men of
men be smitten by the sword in battle.
YehuÅah and to the inhabitants of Yeru- 22 Let a cry be heard from their houses,
shalayim, saying, ‘Thus said HWHY, “See, I when You bring a raiding party suddenly
am forming evil and devising a plan upon them. For they have dug a pit to take
against you. Return now every one from me, and laid snares for my feet.
his evil way, and make your ways and your 23 But You, O HWHY, You know all their
deeds good.” ’ ” counsel against me, to slay me. Do not par-
12 But they shall say, “It is no use! For we
don their crookedness, nor blot out their
walk according to our own plans, and we sin from Your presence, and let them be
do each one the stubbornness of his evil overthrown before You. Deal with them in
heart.” t the time of Your displeasure.
13 Therefore thus said HWHY, “Ask now
the prophet. Come and let us smite him to burn their sons with fire for burnt offer-
with the tongue, and let us not listen to any ings to BaÈal, which I did not command or
of his words.” speak, nor did it come into My heart.
declares HWHY, “that this place shall no 20 And Pashhur son of ImmÃr, the
priest who was also chief governor
more be called Topheth or the Valley of the in the House of HWHY, heard that Yirme-
Son of Hinnom, but rather the Valley of yahu prophesied these words,
2 And Pashhur smote Yirmeyahu the
Slaughter.
7 “And I shall pour out the counsel of prophet, and put him in the stocks that
YehuÅah and Yerushalayim in this place, were in the high gate of Binyamin, which
and I shall make them fall by the sword was by the House of HWHY.
3 And it came to be on the next day that
before their enemies and by the hands of
those who seek their lives. And I shall give Pashhur brought Yirmeyahu out of the
their corpses as meat for the birds of the stocks, and Yirmeyahu said to him, “HWHY
heavens and for the beasts of the earth. has not called your name Pashhur, but
8 “And I shall make this city a ruin, and a MaÍor-MissaÄiÄ.
4 “For thus said HWHY, ‘See, I am making
hissing – everyone who passes by it is
appalled and hisses because of all its you a fear to yourself and to all your
plagues. friends. And they shall fall by the sword of
9 “And I shall make them to eat the flesh their enemies, while your eyes see it. And I
of their sons and the flesh of their daugh- shall give all YehuÅah into the hand of the
ters, and eat one another’s flesh in the sovereign of BaÄel, and he shall exile them
siege and in the distress with which their to BaÄel and slay them with the sword.
5 ‘And I shall give all the wealth of this
enemies and those who seek their lives
distress them.” ’ city and all its labour, and all its valuables,
10 “And you shall break the jug before the and all the treasures of the sovereigns of
YehuÅah, I give into the hand of their
eyes of the men who go with you,
11 and shall say to them, ‘Thus said HWHY enemies, who shall plunder them, seize
them, and shall bring them to BaÄel.
of hosts, “Even so I break this people and 6 ‘And you, Pashhur, and all who dwell
this city, as one breaks a potter’s vessel, in your house, shall go into captivity, and
which one is unable to repair again. And enter into BaÄel. And there you shall die,
let them bury them in Topheth till there is and be buried there, you and all your
no place to bury. friends, to whom you have prophesied
12 “This is what I shall do to this place,”
falsehood.’ ”
declares HWHY, “and to its inhabitants, so as 7 O HWHY, You enticed me, and I was
to make this city like Topheth. enticed. You are stronger than I, and have
13 “And the houses of Yerushalayim and
prevailed. I have been ridiculed all day
the houses of the sovereigns of YehuÅah long, everyone mocks me.
shall be as unclean as the place of Topheth, 8 For when I speak, I cry out, proclaim-
because of all the houses on whose roofs ing violence and ruin. Because the word of
they have burned incense to all the host of HWHY was made to me a reproach and a
the heavens, and poured out drink offer- derision daily.
ings to other mighty ones.” ’ ” 9 Whenever I said, “Let me not mention
14 And when Yirmeyahu returned from
Him, nor speak in His Name again,” it was
Topheth, where HWHY had sent him to in my heart like a burning fire shut up in
prophesy, he stood in the courtyard of the my bones. And I became weary of holding
House of HWHY and said to all the people, it back, and was helpless.
15 “Thus said HWHY of hosts, the Elohim of 10 For I heard many mocking, “Fear on
Yisra’Ãl, ‘See, I am bringing on this city every side!” “Expose,” they say, “yea, let
and on all her towns all the evil that I have us expose him!” All my friends watched
pronounced against it, because they have for my stumbling, saying, “He might be
stiffened their necks so as not to hear My lured away, so that we prevail against him,
words.’ ” and take our revenge on him.”
487 YIRMEYAHU 21
O sovereign of YehuÅah, you who sit on wide house with spacious rooms, and cut
the throne of DawiÅ, you and your servants out windows for it, panelling it with cedar
and your people who enter these gates! and painting it in red.’
3 ‘Thus said HWHY, “Do right-ruling and 15 “Do you reign because you enclose
righteousness, and deliver him who is yourself in cedar? Did not your father eat
robbed out of the hand of the oppressor. and drink, and do right-ruling and right-
Do not maltreat nor do violence to the eousness? Then it was well with him.
16 “He defended the cause of the poor and
stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor
shed innocent blood in this place. needy – then it was well. Was this not to
4 “For if you certainly do this word, then know Me?” declares HWHY.
17 “But your eyes and your heart are only
there shall enter in by the gates of this
house sovereigns sitting on the throne of upon your own greedy gain, and on shed-
DawiÅ, riding on horses and in chariots, he ding innocent blood, and on oppression
and his servants and his people. and on doing violence.”
5 “But if you do not obey these words, I 18 Therefore thus said HWHY concerning
swear by Myself,” declares HWHY, “that this Yehoyaqim son of Yoshiyahu, sovereign of
house shall become a ruin.” ’ ” YehuÅah, “Let them not lament for him:
6 For thus said HWHY to the house of the ‘Alas, my brother!’ or ‘Alas, my sister!’
sovereign of YehuÅah, “You are like GilÈaÅ Let them not lament for him: ‘Alas, mas-
to Me, the head of LeÄanon. But I shall ter!’ or ‘Alas, his excellency!’
19 “He shall be buried with the burial of a
make you a wilderness, and cities which
are not inhabited. donkey, dragged and thrown outside the
7 “And I shall prepare destroyers against gates of Yerushalayim.
you, each with his weapons. And they shall 20 “Go up to LeÄanon, and cry out, and lift
cut down your choice cedars and throw up your voice in Bashan. And cry from
them into the fire. AÄarim, for all your lovers are destroyed.
8 “And many gentiles shall pass by this 21 “I have spoken to you in your ease, but
city, and they shall say to one another, you said, ‘I do not listen.’ This has been
‘Why has HWHY done so to this great city?’ your way from your youth, for you did not
9 “Then they shall say, ‘Because they obey My voice.
have forsaken the covenant of HWHY their 22 “Let all your shepherds be devoured by
Elohim, and bowed themselves to other the wind, and your lovers go into captivity.
mighty ones and served them.’ ” Then you shall be ashamed and humiliated
10 Do not weep for the dead, nor mourn for all your evil.
for him. Weep bitterly for him who goes 23 “You who dwell in LeÄanon, being
away, for he shall never come back nor see nested in the cedars, how you shall groan
the land of his birth. when pangs come upon you, like the pains
11 For thus said HWHY concerning Shallum of a woman giving birth!
son of Yoshiyahu, sovereign of YehuÅah, 24 “As I live,” declares HWHY, “though
have exiled him, and not see this land those who seek your life, and into the hand
again. of those whose face you fear, into the hand
13 “Woe to him who builds his house of NeÄu¿aÅretstsar sovereign of BaÄel and
without righteousness and his rooms with- the hand of the Chaldeans.
489 YIRMEYAHU 23
26 “And I shall hurl you out, and your children of Yisra’Ãl out of the land of
mother who bore you, into another land Mitsrayim,’
where you were not born, and there you 8 but, ‘As HWHY lives who brought up and
they hurled out, he and his descendants, of the prophets; all my bones shake. I am
and cast into a land which they do not like a drunken man, and like a man over-
know? come by wine, because of HWHY, and
29 “O land, land, land! Hear the word of because of His set-apart words.
HWHY! 10 For the land is filled with adulterers; for
30 “Thus said HWHY, ‘Write this man down the land mourns because of a curse. The
as childless, a strong man who is not to pastures of the wilderness are dried up.
prosper in his days, for none of his descen- And their course is evil, and their might
dants shall prosper, sitting on the throne of is not right.
DawiÅ, or rule any more in YehuÅah.’ ” 11 “For both prophet and priest have
ture!” u declares HWHY. slippery ways in the dark. They are driven
2 Therefore thus said HWHY Elohim of on and they shall fall in them. For I bring
Yisra’Ãl against the shepherds who feed evil on them, the year of their punish-
My people, “You have scattered My flock, ment,” declares HWHY.
driven them away, and have not tended 13 “And I have seen folly in the prophets
them. See, I am punishing you for the evil of Shomeron: they prophesied by BaÈal
of your deeds,” declares HWHY. and led My people Yisra’Ãl astray.
3 “Therefore I shall gather the remnant of 14 “And among the prophets of Yeru-
My flock out of all the lands where I have shalayim I have seen a horrible matter:
driven them, and shall bring them back to committing adultery and walking in false-
their fold. And they shall bear and hood. And they strengthen the hands of
increase. evil ones, so that no one turns back from
4 “And I shall raise up shepherds over his evil. All of them are like SeÅom to Me,
them, and they shall feed them. v And they and her inhabitants like Amorah.
shall fear no more, nor be discouraged, nor 15 “Therefore thus said HWHY of hosts con-
shall they be lacking,” declares HWHY. cerning the prophets, ‘See, I am making
5 “See, the days are coming,” declares them eat wormwood, and shall make them
HWHY, “when I shall raise for DawiÅ a drink poisoned water. For defilement has
Branch w of righteousness, and a Sovereign gone out into all the land from the prophets
shall reign and act wisely, and shall do of Yerushalayim.’ ”
right-ruling and righteousness in the earth. 16 Thus said HWHY of hosts, “Do not listen
6 “In His days YehuÅah shall be saved, to the words of the prophets who prophesy
and Yisra’Ãl dwell safely. And this is His to you, they lead you astray. They speak a
Name whereby He shall be called: ‘HWHY vision of their own heart, not from the
our Righteousness.’ mouth of HWHY.
7 “Therefore, see, the days are coming,” 17 “They keep on saying to those who
declares HWHY, “when they shall say no despise Me, ‘HWHY has said you shall have
more, ‘As HWHY lives who brought up the peace.’ And to all who walk according to
u 10:21, 50:5-6, YeÁez. 34:1-23, Ze¿. 10:2, Mt. 9:36. v 3:14-17. w Or Sprout.
YIRMEYAHU 23 490
the stubbornness of their own heart they declares HWHY, “who use their tongues and
say, ‘No evil comes upon you.’ ” say, ‘He declares.’
18 For who has stood in the counsel of 32 “See, I am against those who prophesy
HWHY, and has seen and heard His word? false dreams,” declares HWHY, “and relate
Who has listened to His word and obeyed them, and lead My people astray by their
it? falsehoods and by their reckless boasting.
19 See, a storm of HWHY shall go forth in a
But I Myself did not send them nor have I
rage, a whirling storm! It whirls on the commanded them. And they do not profit
head of the wrong. this people at all,” declares HWHY.
20 The displeasure of HWHY shall not turn 33 “And when these people or the prophet
back until He has done and established the or the priest ask you, saying, ‘What is the
purposes of His heart. In the latter days message of HWHY?’ then you shall say to
you shall understand it perfectly. x them, ‘What message?’ I shall forsake
21 “I did not send these prophets, yet they
you,” declares HWHY.
ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they 34 “As for the prophet and the priest and
prophesied. y the people who say, ‘The message of
22 “But if they had stood in My counsel,
HWHY,’ I shall punish that man and his
then they would have let My people hear house.
My Words, and they would have turned 35 “This is what each one says to his
them from their evil way and from the evil neighbour, and each one to his brother,
of their deeds. ‘What has HWHY answered?’ and, ‘What has
23 “Am I an Elohim close by,” declares
HWHY spoken?’
HWHY, “and not an Elohim afar off? 36 “But the message of HWHY you no
24 “If anyone is hidden in secret places,
longer remember! For every man’s mes-
would I not see him?” declares HWHY. “Do I sage is his own word, for you have
not fill the heavens and earth?” declares changed z the Words of the living Elohim,
HWHY. HWHY of hosts, our Elohim!
25 “I have heard what the prophets have 37 “This is what you say to the prophet,
said who prophesy falsehood in My Name, ‘What has HWHY answered you?’ and,
saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ ‘What has HWHY spoken?’
26 “Till when shall it be in the heart of the 38 “But since you say, ‘The message of
prophets? – the prophets of falsehood and HWHY!’ therefore thus said HWHY, ‘Because
prophets of the deceit of their own heart, you say this word, “The message of HWHY!”
27 who try to make My people forget My and I have sent to you, saying, “Do not say,
Name by their dreams which everyone ‘The message of HWHY!’ ”
relates to his neighbour, as their fathers 39 therefore see, I, I shall utterly forget
forgot My Name for BaÈal. you and cast you away from My presence,
28 “The prophet who has a dream, let him along with the city that I gave you and
relate the dream, and he who has My your fathers.
Word, let him speak My Word in truth. 40 ‘And I shall put an everlasting reproach
What is the chaff to the wheat?” declares on you, and an everlasting shame that is
HWHY. not forgotten.’ ”
29 “Is not My Word like a fire?” declares
men and smiths, from Yerushalayim, and all the people of YehuÅah and to all the
had brought them to BaÄel. inhabitants of Yerushalayim, saying,
2 One basket had very good figs, like the 3 “From the thirteenth year of Yoshiyahu
figs that are first ripe. And the other basket son of Amon, sovereign of YehuÅah, even
had very spoilt figs which could not be to this day, this is the twenty-third year in
eaten, they were so spoilt.” which the word of HWHY has come to me.
3 And HWHY said to me, “What do you And I have spoken to you, rising early and
see, Yirmeyahu?” And I said, “Figs, the speaking, but you have not listened.
good figs, very good. And the spoilt, very 4 “Moreover, HWHY has sent to you all His
spoilt, which could not be eaten, they are servants the prophets, rising early and
so spoilt.” sending them, but you have not listened
4 Again the word of HWHY came to me, nor inclined your ear to hear,
saying, 5 saying, ‘Turn back now everyone from
5 “Thus said HWHY, the Elohim of his evil way and from the evil of your
Yisra’Ãl, ‘Like these good figs, so do I deeds, and dwell on the soil which HWHY
acknowledge the exiles of YehuÅah, whom has given to you and your fathers forever
I have sent out of this place for their own and ever.
good, into the land of the Chaldeans. 6 ‘And do not go after other mighty ones
6 ‘And I shall set My eyes on them for to serve them and to bow down to them.
good, and shall bring them back to this And do not provoke Me with the works of
land. And I shall build them and not pull your hands, so that I do you no evil.’
them down, and shall plant them and not 7 “But you did not listen to Me,” declares
people and I shall be their Elohim, for they ‘Because you did not obey My words,
shall turn back to Me with all their heart. 9 see, I am sending and taking all the
8 ‘And as the spoilt figs that could not be tribes of the north,’ declares HWHY, ‘and
eaten because they are so spoilt,’ for thus NeÄu¿aÅretstsar the sovereign of BaÄel,
said HWHY, ‘so do I give up TsiÅqiyahu, the My servant, and shall bring them against
sovereign of YehuÅah, his heads, the rest this land and against its inhabitants, and
of Yerushalayim who remain in this land, against these nations all around, and shall
and those who dwell in the land of put them under the ban, and make them an
Mitsrayim. astonishment, and a hissing, and everlast-
9 ‘And I shall make them a horror to all ing ruins.
the reigns of the earth, for evil, to be a 10 ‘And I shall banish from them the voice
reproach and a byword, a mockery and a of rejoicing and the voice of gladness, the
curse, in all the places to which I drive voice of the bridegroom and the voice of
them. the bride, the sound of the millstones and
10 ‘And I shall send the sword, the scarci- the light of the lamp.
ty of food, and the pestilence among them, 11 ‘And all this land shall be a ruin and a
till they are consumed from the land that I waste, and these nations shall serve the
gave to them and their fathers.’ ” sovereign of BaÄel seventy years.
12 ‘And it shall be, when seventy years are
all that is written in this book, which 27 “And you shall say to them, ‘Thus said
Yirmeyahu has prophesied concerning all HWHY of hosts, the Elohim of Yisra’Ãl,
the nations. “Drink, be drunk, and vomit! Fall and rise
14 ‘For they too shall be enslaved by many no more, because of the sword which I
nations and great sovereigns. And I shall am sending among you.” ’
repay them according to their deeds and 28 “And it shall be, when they refuse to
according to the works of their hands.’ ” take the cup from your hand to drink, then
15 For thus said HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl to you shall say to them, ‘Thus said HWHY of
me, “Take this wine cup of wrath from My hosts, “You shall drink!
hand, and make all the nations, to whom I 29 “For look, I am beginning to bring evil
send you, drink it. upon the city which is called by My Name,
16 “And they shall drink, and shake, and and should you be entirely unpunished?
go mad because of the sword that I am You are not going unpunished, for I am
sending among them.” calling for a sword on all the inhabitants of
17 I then took the cup from the hand of the earth,” declares HWHY of hosts.’
HWHY, and made all the nations drink, to 30 “And you shall prophesy against them
whom HWHY had sent me, all these words, and say to them, ‘HWHY
18 namely Yerushalayim and the cities of roars from on high, and utters His voice
YehuÅah, and its sovereigns, its heads, to from His set-apart dwelling place. He roars
make them a ruin, an object of astonish- mightily over His fold, a shout as those
ment, a hissing, and a curse, as it is this who tread the grapes, against all the inhab-
day; itants of the earth.
19 Pharaoh sovereign of Mitsrayim, and 31 “Tumult shall come to the ends of the
his servants, and his heads, and all his peo- earth, for HWHY has a controversy with the
ple; nations. He shall enter into judgment with
20 and all the mixed multitude, and all the all flesh. The wrong He shall give to the
sovereigns of the land of Uts, and all the sword,’ declares HWHY.”
sovereigns of the land of the Philistines – 32 Thus said HWHY of hosts, “See, evil is
even Ashqelon, and Azzah, and Eqron, and going forth from nation to nation, and a
the remnant of AshdoÅ; great whirlwind is raised up from the far-
21 EÅom, and Mo’aÄ, and the children of thest parts of the earth.
Ammon; 33 “And in that day the slain of HWHY shall
22 and all the sovereigns of Tsor, and all be from one end of the earth even to the
the sovereigns of TsiÅon, and the sover- other end of the earth. a They shall not be
eigns of the coastlands which are beyond lamented, or gathered, or buried, for they
the sea; are dung on the face of the ground.
23 DeÅan, and TÃma, and Buz, and all 34 “Howl, you shepherds, and cry! And
who are in the farthest corners; roll yourselves in the ashes, you leaders of
24 and all the sovereigns of AraÄia and all the flock! For the days of your slaughter
the sovereigns of the mixed multitude who and your scatterings are completed, and
dwell in the wilderness; you shall fall like a choice vessel.
25 and all the sovereigns of Zimri, and all 35 “And a place of refuge shall perish
the sovereigns of Âylam, and all the sover- from the shepherds, and escape from the
eigns of the Medes; leaders of the flock.
26 and all the sovereigns of the north, far 36 “Hear the cry of the shepherds, and a
and near, one with another, and all the wailing of the leaders of the flock, for HWHY
reigns of the earth which are on the face of is ravaging their pasture!
the ground. Also the sovereign of ShÃsha¿ 37 “And the pastures of peace shall be cut
people seized him, saying, “You shall and all YehuÅah indeed put him to death?
certainly die! Did he not fear HWHY and seek the favour of
9 “Why have you prophesied in the HWHY? And the Master relented concerning
Name of HWHY, saying, ‘This house shall be the evil which He had pronounced against
like Shiloh, and this city be dried up, with- them. But we are doing great evil against
out an inhabitant’?” And all the people ourselves.”
were gathered against Yirmeyahu in the 20 There was however a man who prophe-
heard his words, the sovereign sought to 8 ‘And it shall be, the nation and reign
put him to death. But Uriyahu heard of it, that do not serve NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar the sov-
and was afraid and fled, and went to Mits- ereign of BaÄel, and the one that does not
rayim. put its neck under the yoke of the sover-
22 Then Yehoyaqim the sovereign sent eign of BaÄel, that nation I shall punish,’
men to Mitsrayim: Elnathan the son of declares HWHY, ‘with the sword, and the
A¿bor, and some men who went with him scarcity of food, and the pestilence, until I
to Mitsrayim. have consumed them by his hand.
23 And they brought Uriyahu from Mits- 9 ‘So do not listen to your prophets, or to
rayim and brought him to Yehoyaqim the your diviners, or to your dreamers, or to
sovereign, who smote him with the sword your observers of clouds, or your sorcer-
and threw his dead body into the graves of ers, who speak to you, saying, “Do not
the common people. serve the sovereign of BaÄel.”
24 However, the hand of AÁiqam son of 10 ‘For they are prophesying falsehood to
Shaphan was with Yirmeyahu, so as not to you, to remove you far from your land.
give him into the hand of the people to put And I shall drive you out, and you shall
him to death. perish.
11 ‘But the nations that bring their necks
sovereign of Tsor, and the sovereign of people, by the sword, by the scarcity of
TsiÅon, by the hand of the messengers who food, and by the pestilence, as HWHY has
come to Yerushalayim to TsiÅqiyahu, the spoken against the nation that does not
sovereign of YehuÅah. serve the sovereign of BaÄel?
4 ‘And you shall command them to say to 14 “Do not listen to the words of the
their masters, “Thus said HWHY of hosts, the prophets who speak to you, saying, ‘Do
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, ‘Say this to your mas- not serve the sovereign of BaÄel,’ for they
ters,’ prophesy falsehood to you,
5 ‘I have made the earth, the man and the 15 for I have not sent them,” declares
beast that are on the face of the earth, by HWHY, “yet they prophesy falsehood in My
My great power and by My outstretched Name, in order that I drive you out. Then
arm. And I shall give it to whom it seemed you shall perish, you and the prophets who
right in My eyes. prophesy to you.”
6 ‘And now, I have given all these lands 16 Then I spoke to the priests and to all
into the hand of NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar the this people, saying, “Thus said HWHY, ‘Do
sovereign of BaÄel, My servant. And the not listen to the words of your prophets
beasts of the field I have also given him to who are prophesying to you, saying, “See,
serve him. the vessels of the House of HWHY are
7 ‘And all nations shall serve him and his brought back from BaÄel soon now,”
son and his son’s son, until the time of his for they prophesy falsehood to you.
land comes. And then many nations and 17 ‘Do not listen to them. Serve the sover-
great sovereigns shall make him serve eign of BaÄel, and live! Why should this
them. city become a ruin?
495 YIRMEYAHU 28
18 ‘But if they are prophets, and if the the prophet Àananyah in the presence of
word of HWHY is with them, let them now the priests and in the presence of all the
make intercession to HWHY of hosts, that the people who stood in the House of HWHY,
vessels which are left in the House of HWHY, 6 and the prophet Yirmeyah said, “AmÃn!
and in the house of the sovereign of HWHY do so! HWHY establish your words
YehuÅah, and at Yerushalayim, shall not which you have prophesied, to bring back
go to BaÄel.’ the vessels of the House of HWHY and all the
19 “For thus said HWHY of hosts concerning exiles from BaÄel to this place!
the columns, and concerning the Sea, and 7 “Only, hear now this word that I speak
concerning the stands, and concerning the in your hearing and in the hearing of all the
remainder of the vessels which are left in people:
this city, 8 “The prophets who have been before
20 which NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar the sovereign me and before you of old prophesied
of BaÄel did not take, when he exiled against many lands and great reigns, of
Ye¿onyah the son of Yehoyaqim, the sov- battle and of evil and of pestilence.
ereign of YehuÅah, from Yerushalayim to 9 “The prophet who prophesies of peace
BaÄel, and all the nobles of YehuÅah and – when the word of the prophet comes to
Yerushalayim – pass, that prophet is known as one whom
21 thus said HWHY of hosts, the Elohim of HWHY has truly sent.”
Yisra’Ãl, concerning the vessels that 10 And Àananyah the prophet took the
remain in the House of HWHY, and in the yoke off the prophet Yirmeyah’s neck and
house of the sovereign of YehuÅah and of broke it.
Yerushalayim: 11 And Àananyah spoke in the presence of
22 ‘They shall be brought to BaÄel, and be all the people, saying, “Thus said HWHY, ‘So
there until the day that I visit them,’ I shall break the yoke of NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar
declares HWHY. ‘Then I shall bring them sovereign of BaÄel from the neck of all
back and restore them to this place.’ ” nations within two years.’ ” And the
prophet Yirmeyah went his way.
28 And it came to be in that year, at
the beginning of the reign of
12 And the word of HWHY came to Yirme-
was from GiÄÈon, spoke to me in the House ‘Thus said HWHY, “You have broken the
of HWHY in the presence of the priests and of yokes of wood, but you shall make yokes
all the people, saying, of iron instead.”
2 “Thus spoke HWHY of hosts, the Elohim 14 ‘For thus said HWHY of hosts, the Elohim
of Yisra’Ãl, saying, ‘I have broken the yoke of Yisra’Ãl, “I have put a yoke of iron on
of the sovereign of BaÄel. the neck of all these nations, to serve
3 ‘Within two years I am going to bring NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar sovereign of BaÄel. And
back to this place all the vessels of the they shall serve him. And I have also given
House of HWHY, that NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar sov- him the beasts of the field.” ’ ”
ereign of BaÄel removed from this place 15 And the prophet Yirmeyah said to
YehuÅah who went to BaÄel,’ declares sending you away from the face of the
HWHY, ‘for I am going to break the yoke of earth. This year you shall die, for you have
the sovereign of BaÄel.’ ” spoken apostasy against HWHY.’ ”
5 Then the prophet Yirmeyah spoke to 17 And Àananyah the prophet died the
YIRMEYAHU 28 496
same year, in the seventh month. come and pray to Me, and I shall listen to
you.
29 And these are the words of the let-
ter which Yirmeyah the prophet
13 ‘And you shall seek Me, and shall find
and Gemaryah the son of Àilqiyah, whom who sits on the throne of DawiÅ, concern-
TsiÅqiyah sovereign of YehuÅah sent to ing all the people who dwell in this city,
BaÄel, to NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar the sovereign of and concerning your brothers who have
BaÄel, saying, not gone out with you into exile,
4 “Thus said HWHY of hosts, Elohim of 17 thus said HWHY of hosts, ‘See, I am
Yisra’Ãl, to all the exiles whom I exiled sending on them the sword, the scarcity of
from Yerushalayim to BaÄel, food, and the pestilence. And I shall make
5 ‘Build houses and dwell in them, plant them like spoilt figs, so spoilt as to be
gardens and eat their fruit. uneatable.
6 ‘Take wives and bring forth sons and 18 ‘And I shall pursue them with the
daughters. And take wives for your sons sword, with scarcity of food, and with
and give your daughters to husbands, and pestilence. And I shall make them a horror
let them bear sons and daughters, and be among all the reigns of the earth, to be a
increased there, and not diminished. curse, and an astonishment, and a hissing,
7 ‘And seek the peace of the city where and a reproach among all the gentiles
I have exiled you, and pray to HWHY for it, where I have driven them.
for in its peace you have peace.’ 19 ‘For they did not heed My words,’
8 “For thus said HWHY of hosts, Elohim of declares HWHY, ‘which I sent to them by My
Yisra’Ãl, ‘Let not your prophets and your servants the prophets, rising up early and
diviners who are in your midst deceive sending them, yet you did not listen,’
you, neither listen to the dreams which you declares HWHY.
are dreaming. 20 “You, therefore, hear the word of HWHY,
9 ‘For they are prophesying falsely to all you exiles whom I have sent from
you in My Name. I have not sent them,’ Yerushalayim to BaÄel.
declares HWHY. 21 “Thus said HWHY of hosts, the Elohim of
10 “For thus said HWHY, ‘When seventy Yisra’Ãl, concerning AÁaÄ son of Qolayah,
years are completed, at BaÄel I shall visit and TsiÅqiyahu son of MaÈasÃyah, who are
you and establish My good word toward prophesying falsely to you in My Name,
you, to bring you back to this place. ‘See, I am giving them into the hand of
11 ‘For I know the plans I am planning for NeÄu¿aÅretstsar sovereign of BaÄel, and
you,’ declares HWHY, ‘plans of peace and he shall smite them before your eyes.
not of evil, to give you a future and an 22 ‘And because of them all the exiles of
Yisra’Ãl, and committed adultery with their saying, ‘Write in a book for yourself all the
neighbours’ wives, and have spoken a words that I have spoken to you.
3 ‘For look, the days are coming,’
word in My Name falsely which I have not
commanded them. And I am He who declares HWHY, ‘when I shall turn back the
knows, and a witness,’ declares HWHY. captivity of My people Yisra’Ãl and Yehu-
24 “And speak to Shemayahu the NeÁel- Åah,’ declares HWHY, ‘and I shall bring them
amite, saying, back to the land that I gave to their fathers,
25 “Thus speaks HWHY of hosts, the Elohim and let them possess it.’ ”
4 And these are the words HWHY spoke
of Yisra’Ãl, saying, ‘Because you have sent
concerning Yisra’Ãl and YehuÅah.
letters in your name to all the people who 5 “For this is what HWHY said, ‘We have
are at Yerushalayim, to Tsephanyah son of heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not
MaÈasÃyah the priest, and to all the priests, of peace.
saying, 6 ‘Ask now, and see if a man is giving
26 “HWHY has made you priest instead of
birth. Why do I see every man with his
YehoyaÅa the priest, so that there are over- hands on his loins like a woman in labour,
seers in the House of HWHY over everyone and all faces turned pale?
who is mad and makes himself a prophet, 7 ‘Oh! For great is that day, there is none
that you should put him in the stocks and like it. And it is the time of YaÈaqoÄ’s dis-
in the iron collar. tress, but he shall be saved out of it.
27 “So why have you not reproved Yirme- 8 ‘And it shall be in that day,’ declares
yahu of Anathoth who makes himself a HWHY of hosts, ‘that I break his yoke from
prophet to you? your neck, and tear off your bonds, and
28 “For he has sent to us in BaÄel, saying, foreigners no more enslave them.
9 ‘And they shall serve HWHY their Elohim
‘This captivity is long – build houses and
dwell in them, and plant gardens and eat and DawiÅ their sovereign, whom I raise
their fruit.’ ” ’ ” up for them.
29 And Tsephanyah the priest read this 10 ‘And you, do not fear, O YaÈaqoÄ My
letter in the hearing of Yirmeyahu the servant,’ declares HWHY, ‘nor be discour-
prophet. aged, O Yisra’Ãl. For look, I am saving you
30 Then the word of HWHY came to Yirme- from afar, and your seed from the land of
yahu, saying, their captivity. And YaÈaqoÄ shall return,
31 “Send to all those in exile, saying, and have rest and be at ease, with no one to
trouble him.
‘Thus said HWHY concerning Shemayah the 11 ‘For I am with you,’ declares HWHY, ‘to
NeÁelamite, “Because Shemayah has save you. Though I make a complete end
prophesied to you, and I have not sent him, of all gentiles c where I have scattered you,
and he has made you to trust on false- yet I do not make a complete end of you.
hood,” But I shall reprove you in judgment, and
32 therefore thus said HWHY, “See, I am
by no means leave you unpunished.’
bringing punishment upon Shemayah the 12 “For thus said HWHY, ‘Your breach is
NeÁelamite and his seed: he shall have no incurable, your wound is grievous.
one to dwell among this people, nor is he 13 ‘No one pleads your cause, to bind up.
to see the good that I am about to do for There are no healing medicines for you.
My people,” declares HWHY, “because he 14 ‘All those loving you have forgotten
has spoken apostasy against HWHY.” ’ ” you, they do not seek you. For I smote you
c See 46:28, Yesh. 34:2, Yesh. 45:17, Dan. 2:44, Amos 9:8, Àagg. 2:22.
YIRMEYAHU 30 498
as an enemy smites, with cruel chastise- 2 Thus said HWHY, “A people escaped
ment, because your crookedness is great, from the sword found favour in the wilder-
your sins have increased. ness, Yisra’Ãl, when it went to find rest.”
15 ‘Why do you cry about your breach? 3 HWHY appeared to me from afar, saying,
Your pain is incurable. Because of your “I have loved you with an everlasting love,
many crookednesses, because your sins therefore I shall draw you with kindness.
have increased, I have done this to you. 4 “I am going to build you again. And
16 ‘However, all those who devour you
you shall be rebuilt, O maiden of Yisra’Ãl!
shall be devoured. And all your adver- Again you shall take up your tambourines,
saries, every one of them, shall go into and go forth in the dances of those who
captivity. And those who exploit you shall rejoice.
be exploited, and all who prey upon you I 5 “Again you shall plant vines on the
shall make a prey. mountains of Shomeron. The planters shall
17 ‘For I restore health to you and heal
plant and treat them as common.
you of your wounds,’ declares HWHY, ‘for 6 “For there shall be a day when the
they have called you an outcast saying, watchmen cry on Mount Ephrayim, ‘Arise,
“This is Tsiyon, no one is seeking her.” ’ and let us go up to Tsiyon, to HWHY our
18 “Thus said HWHY, ‘See, I turn back the
Elohim.’ ”
captivity of YaÈaqoÄ’s tents, and have com- 7 For thus said HWHY, “Sing with gladness
passion on his dwelling places. And the for YaÈaqoÄ, and shout among the chief of
city shall be built upon its own mound, and the nations. Cry out, give praise, and say,
the palace stand on its right place. ‘O HWHY, save Your people, the remnant of
19 ‘And out of them shall arise thanks- Yisra’Ãl!’
giving and the voice of those who are 8 “See, I am bringing them from the land
laughing. And I shall increase them, and of the north, and shall gather them from
they shall not diminish. And I shall esteem the ends of the earth, among them the blind
them, and they shall not be small. and the lame, those with child and those in
20 ‘And his children shall be as before, labour, together – a great assembly return-
and his congregation shall be established ing here.
before Me. And I shall punish all who 9 “With weeping they shall come, and
oppress them. with their prayers I bring them. I shall
21 ‘And his Prince shall be from him, and make them walk by rivers of waters, in a
his Ruler shall come from among him. straight way in which they do not stumble.
And I shall bring him near, and he shall For I shall be a Father to Yisra’Ãl, and
approach Me, for who is this who pledged Ephrayim – he is My first-born.
his heart to approach Me?’ declares HWHY. 10 “Hear the word of HWHY, O gentiles, and
22 ‘And you shall be My people, and I declare it in the isles afar off, and say, ‘He
shall be your Elohim.’ ” who scattered Yisra’Ãl gathers him, and
23 See, the storm of HWHY shall go forth in shall guard him as a shepherd his flock.’
a rage, a whirling storm! It bursts upon the 11 “For HWHY shall ransom YaÈaqoÄ, and
head of the wrong. redeem him from the hand of one stronger
24 The burning displeasure of HWHY shall than he.
not turn back until He has done and estab- 12 “And they shall come in and shall sing
lished the purposes of His heart. In the on the height of Tsiyon, and stream to the
latter days you shall understand it. d goodness of HWHY, for grain and for new
wine and for oil, and for the young of the
31 “At that time,” declares HWHY, “I
shall be the Elohim of all the clans
flock and the herd. And their being shall be
like a well-watered garden, and never lan-
of Yisra’Ãl, and they shall be My people.” guish again.
d See 23:20.
499 YIRMEYAHU 31
And I shall turn their mourning to joy, and ers and those who journey with flocks,
shall comfort them, and shall make them shall dwell together.
rejoice from their sorrow, 25 “For I shall fill the weary being, and I
14 and shall fill the being of the priests shall replenish every grieved being.”
with fatness. And My people shall be satis- 26 At this I awoke and looked around, and
Ramah, wailing, bitter weeping, RaÁÃl HWHY, “that I shall sow the house of
weeping for her children, refusing to be Yisra’Ãl and the house of YehuÅah with the
comforted for her children, because they seed of man and the seed of beast.
are no more.” 28 “And it shall be, that as I have watched
16 Thus said HWHY, “Hold back your voice over them to pluck up, and to break down,
from weeping, and your eyes from tears, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to
for there is a reward for your work,” afflict, so I shall watch over them to build
declares HWHY, “and they shall return from and to plant,” declares HWHY.
the land of the enemy. 29 “In those days they shall no longer say,
17 “And there is expectancy for your latter ‘The fathers ate sour grapes, and the chil-
end,” declares HWHY, “and your children dren’s teeth are blunted.’
shall return to their own country. 30 “But each one shall die for his own
18 “I have clearly heard Ephrayim lament- crookedness – whoever eats sour grapes,
ing, ‘You have chastised me, and I was his teeth shall be blunted.
chastised, like an untrained calf. Turn me 31 “See, the days are coming,” declares
back, and I shall turn back, for You are HWHY, “when I shall make a new covenant
HWHY my Elohim. with the house of Yisra’Ãl and with the
19 ‘For after my turning back, I repented. house of YehuÅah, e
And after I was instructed, I struck myself 32 not like the covenant I made with their
on the thigh. I was ashamed, even humili- fathers in the day when I took them by the
ated, for I bore the reproach of my youth.’ hand to bring them out of the land of
20 “Is Ephrayim a precious son to Me, a Mitsrayim, My covenant which they
child of delights? For though I spoke broke, though I was a husband to them,”
against him, I still remembered him. That declares HWHY.
is why My affections were deeply moved 33 “For this is the covenant I shall make
for him. I have great compassion for him,” with the house of Yisra’Ãl after those days,
declares HWHY. declares HWHY: I shall put My Torah in their
21 “Set up signposts, make landmarks; set inward parts, and write it on their hearts.
your heart toward the highway, the way in And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall
which you went. Turn back, O maiden of be My people.
Yisra’Ãl, turn back to these cities of yours! 34 “And no longer shall they teach, each
22 “Till when would you turn here and one his neighbour, and each one his broth-
there, O backsliding daughter? For HWHY er, saying, ‘Know HWHY,’ for they shall all
has created what is new on earth: a woman know Me, from the least of them to the
encompasses a man!” greatest of them,” declares HWHY. “For I
23 Thus said HWHY of hosts, the Elohim of shall forgive their crookedness, and
Yisra’Ãl, “Let them once again say this remember their sin no more.”
word in the land of YehuÅah and in its 35 Thus said HWHY, who gives the sun for a
cities, when I turn back their captivity, light by day, and the laws of the moon and
‘HWHY bless you, O home of righteousness, the stars for a light by night, who stirs up
the sea, and its waves roar – HWHY of hosts HWHY came to me, saying,
is His Name: 7 ‘See, Àaname’Ãl son of Shallum your
36 “If these laws vanish from before Me,” uncle is coming to you, saying, “Buy my
declares HWHY, “then the seed of Yisra’Ãl field which is in Anathoth, for the right of
shall also cease from being a nation before redemption is yours to buy it.” ’
Me forever.” 8 “So Àaname’Ãl my uncle’s son came to
37 Thus said HWHY, “If the heavens above me in the court of the guard according to
could be measured, and the foundations of the word of HWHY, and said to me, ‘Please
the earth searched out beneath, I would buy my field that is in Anathoth, which is
also cast off all the seed of Yisra’Ãl for all in the land of Binyamin, for the right of
that they have done,” declares HWHY. inheritance is yours, and the redemption.
38 “See, the days are coming,” declares Buy it for yourself.’ And I knew that this
HWHY, “that the city shall be built for HWHY was the word of HWHY.
from the Tower of Àanan’Ãl to the Corner 9 “And I bought the field which was at
Gate toward the east, is to be set-apart to that which was sealed according to the
HWHY. It shall not be plucked up or thrown command and law, and that which was
down any more forever.” open –
12 and I gave the deed of purchase to
court of the guard, which was in the house Yisra’Ãl, “Take these deeds, both this deed
of the sovereign of YehuÅah. of purchase which is sealed and this deed
3 For TsiÅqiyahu sovereign of YehuÅah which is open, and put them in an earthen
had shut him up, saying, “Why are you vessel, so that they remain many days.”
prophesying, saying, ‘Thus said HWHY, 15 ‘For thus said HWHY of hosts, the Elohim
“See, I am giving this city into the hand of of Yisra’Ãl, “Houses and fields and vine-
the sovereign of BaÄel, and he shall take it, yards shall again be bought in this land.” ’
4 and TsiÅqiyahu sovereign of YehuÅah 16 “And after I had given the deed of pur-
shall not escape from the hand of the chase to Baru¿ son of NÃriyah, I prayed to
Chaldeans, but certainly be given into the HWHY, saying,
hand of the sovereign of BaÄel, and shall 17 ‘Ah, Master HWHY! See, You have made
speak with him face to face, and see him the heavens and the earth by Your great
eye to eye, power and outstretched arm. There is no
5 and he shall lead TsiÅqiyahu to BaÄel, matter too hard for You,
and be there until I visit him,” declares 18 who show kindness to thousands, and
HWHY, “though you fight with the repay the crookedness of the fathers into
Chaldeans, you shall not prosper” ’?” the bosom of their children after them – the
6 And Yirmeyahu said, “The word of Great, the Mighty Âl, HWHY of hosts is His
501 YIRMEYAHU 32
have made Yourself a Name, as it is this Yisra’Ãl and the children of YehuÅah,
day. which they have done to provoke Me –
21 ‘And You have brought Your people they, their sovereigns, their heads, their
Yisra’Ãl out of the land of Mitsrayim with priests, their prophets, and the men of
signs and wonders, with a strong hand and YehuÅah, and the inhabitants of Yeru-
an outstretched arm, and with great fear- shalayim.
some deeds. 33 “And they have turned their back to
22 ‘And You gave them this land, of which Me, and not their face – though I taught
You swore to their fathers to give them, a them, rising up early and teaching them,
land flowing with milk and honey. they did not listen to receive instruction.
23 ‘And they came in and possessed it, but 34 “And they set their abominations in the
they did not obey Your voice nor did they house which is called by My Name, to
walk in Your Torah. They did not do all defile it.
that You commanded them to do, so You 35 “And they built the high places of BaÈal
brought all this evil upon them. which are in the Valley of the Son of
24 ‘See the siege mounds! They have Hinnom, to offer up their sons and their
come to the city to take it. And the city has daughters to Mole¿, which I did not com-
been given into the hand of the Chaldeans mand them, nor did it come into My heart,
who fight against it, because of the sword that they should do this abomination, to
and the scarcity of food and the pestilence. make YehuÅah sin.
And what You have spoken has come 36 “And now, thus said HWHY, the Elohim
about, and look, You see it! of Yisra’Ãl, concerning this city of which
25 ‘Yet You, O Master HWHY, have said to you say, ‘It shall be given into the hand of
me, “Buy the field for silver, and take wit- the sovereign of BaÄel by the sword, and
nesses”! although the city has been given by scarcity of food, and by pestilence’:
into the hand of the Chaldeans.’ ” 37 ‘See, I am gathering them out of all the
26 Then the word of HWHY came to lands where I have driven them in My dis-
Yirmeyahu, saying, pleasure, and in My wrath, and in great
27 “See, I am HWHY, the Elohim of all flesh. rage. And I shall bring them back to this
Is there any matter too hard for Me?” place, and shall let them dwell in safety.
28 Therefore thus said HWHY, “See, I am 38 ‘And they shall be My people, and I
giving this city into the hand of the shall be their Elohim.
Chaldeans, into the hand of NeÄu¿aÅretst- 39 ‘And I shall give them one heart and
sar sovereign of BaÄel, and he shall take it. one way, to fear Me all the days, for the
29 “And the Chaldeans who fight against good of them and of their children after
this city shall come and set fire to this city them.
and burn it, with the houses on whose 40 ‘And I shall make an everlasting cov-
roofs they burned incense to BaÈal and enant with them, that I do not turn back
poured out drink offerings to other mighty from doing good to them. And I shall put
ones, to provoke Me. My fear in their hearts so as not to turn
30 “For the children of Yisra’Ãl and the aside from Me.
children of YehuÅah have done only evil 41 ‘And I shall rejoice over them to do
YIRMEYAHU 32 502
good to them, and shall plant them in this 9 ‘And it shall be to Me a name of joy, a
land in truth, with all My heart and with all praise, and a pride before all nations of the
My being.’ earth, who hear all the good I am doing to
42 “For thus said HWHY, ‘As I have brought them, and they shall fear and tremble for
all this great evil on this people, so I am all the goodness and all the peace I am
bringing on them all the good that I am doing to it.’
speaking to them. 10 “Thus said HWHY, ‘In this place of which
43 ‘And fields shall be bought in this land you say, “It is dried up, without man and
of which you are saying, “It is a wasteland, without beast,” in the cities of YehuÅah,
without man or beast. It has been given in the streets of Yerushalayim that are
into the hand of the Chaldeans.” deserted, without man and without inhabi-
44 ‘Fields shall be bought for silver, and tant and without beast, there shall once
deeds signed and sealed, and witnesses be again be heard
called, in the land of Binyamin, and in the 11 the voice of joy and the voice of glad-
places around Yerushalayim, and in the ness, the voice of the bridegroom and the
cities of YehuÅah, and in the cities of the voice of the bride, the voice of those who
mountains, and in the cities of the low are saying, “Praise HWHY of hosts, for HWHY
country, and in the cities of the South. For I is good, for His kindness is forever,” of
shall turn back their captivity,’ declares those who are bringing the offering of
HWHY.” praise into the House of HWHY. For I shall
turn back the captivity of the land, as at the
33 And the word of HWHY came to
Yirmeyahu a second time, while he
first,’ declares HWHY.
12 “Thus said HWHY of hosts, ‘In this place
was still shut up in the court of the guard, which is dried up, without man and with-
saying, out beast, and in all its cities, there shall
2 “Thus said HWHY who made it, HWHY who once again be a home of shepherds causing
formed it to establish it, HWHY is His Name, their flocks to lie down.
3 ‘Call unto Me, and I shall answer you, 13 ‘In the cities of the mountains, in the
and show you great and inaccessible mat- cities of the low country, and in the cities
ters, which you have not known.’ of the South, and in the land of Binyamin,
4 “For thus said HWHY, the Elohim of and in the places around Yerushalayim,
Yisra’Ãl, concerning the houses of this city and in the cities of YehuÅah, the flocks
and the houses of the sovereigns of Yehu- once again pass under the hands of him
Åah, which are thrown down against the who counts them,’ declares HWHY.
siege mounds and the sword, 14 ‘See, the days are coming,’ declares
5 while coming to fight with the Chal- HWHY, ‘when I shall establish the good
deans, and to fill their places with the word which I have promised to the house
corpses of men whom I shall slay in My of Yisra’Ãl and to the house of YehuÅah:
displeasure and My wrath, all for whose 15 ‘In those days and at that time I cause a
evil I have hidden My face from this city. Branch of righteousness to spring forth for
6 ‘See, I am bringing to it relief and heal- DawiÅ. And He shall do right-ruling and
ing. And I shall heal them and reveal to righteousness in the earth.
them the riches of peace and truth. 16 ‘In those days YehuÅah shall be saved,
7 ‘And I shall turn back the captivity of and Yerushalayim dwell in safety. And this
YehuÅah and the captivity of Yisra’Ãl, and is that which shall be proclaimed to her:
shall build them as at the first, ‘HWHY our Righteousness.’
8 and shall cleanse them from all their 17 “For thus said HWHY, ‘For DawiÅ there
crookedness that they have sinned against is not to cease a man to sit on the throne of
Me. And I shall pardon all their crooked- the house of Yisra’Ãl.
nesses that they have sinned and by which 18 ‘And for the priests, the LÃwites, there
they have transgressed against Me. is not to cease a man to offer burnt offer-
503 YIRMEYAHU 34
people have spoken, saying, ‘The two was fighting against Yerushalayim and all
clans which HWHY has chosen have been the cities of YehuÅah that were left, against
rejected by Him’? So they have despised La¿ish and AzÃqah. For only these walled
My people, f no more to be a nation before cities remained of the cities of YehuÅah.
them. 8 The word which came to Yirmeyahu
25 “Thus said HWHY, ‘If My covenant is not from HWHY, after Sovereign TsiÅqiyahu had
with day and night, and if I have not made a covenant with all the people who
appointed the laws of the heavens and were at Yerushalayim to proclaim release
earth, to them:
26 then I would also reject the descendants 9 that everyone was to set free his male
of YaÈaqoÄ and DawiÅ My servant, so that and female slave, the HeÄrew man and the
I should not take of his descendants to be HeÄrew woman, no one was to keep a
rulers over the descendants of AÄraham, YehuÅite, his brother, enslaved.
YitsÁaq, and YaÈaqoÄ. For I shall turn back 10 And when all the heads and all the peo-
their captivity, and have compassion on ple who had come into the covenant heard
them.’ ” that each one was to set free his male and
female slaves, and not keep them enslaved
34 The word which came to Yirme-
yahu from HWHY, when NeÄu¿aÅ-
any longer, they obeyed and released them.
11 But afterward they changed their minds
netstsar sovereign of BaÄel and all his and made the male and female slaves
army, and all the reigns of the earth under return, whom they had set free, and
his rule, and all the people, fought against brought them into subjection as male and
Yerushalayim and all its cities, saying, female slaves.
2 “Thus said HWHY the Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, 12 Therefore the word of HWHY came to
‘See, I am giving this city into the hand of ‘I Myself made a covenant with your
the sovereign of BaÄel. And he shall burn fathers in the day that I brought them out
of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house it and burn it with fire. And I shall make
of bondage, saying, the cities of YehuÅah a ruin without inhab-
14 “At the end of seven years each one itant.’ ”
should set free his HeÄrew brother, who
has been sold to him. And when he has
served you six years, you shall let him go 35 The word which came to Yirme-
yahu from HWHY in the days of
free from you.” But your fathers did not Yehoyaqim son of Yoshiyahu, sovereign of
obey Me nor incline their ear. YehuÅah, saying,
15 ‘And you recently turned and did what 2 “Go to the house of the RÿaÄites. And
was right in My eyes, each man proclaim- you shall speak to them, and bring them
ing release to his neighbour. And you into the House of HWHY, into one of the
made a covenant before Me in the house rooms, and give them wine to drink.”
which is called by My Name. 3 And I took YaÈazanyah the son of
16 ‘But you turned back and profaned My Yirmeyahu, the son of ÀaÄatstsinyah, and
Name, and each one of you took back his his brothers and all his sons, and all the
male and female slaves, whom he had set house of the RÿaÄites,
free, at their pleasure, and brought them 4 and brought them into the House of
into subjection, to be your male and female HWHY, into the room of the sons of Àanan
slaves.’ son of YiÍdalyahu, a man of Elohim,
17 “Therefore thus said HWHY, ‘You have which was by the chamber of the heads,
not obeyed Me in proclaiming release, above the room of MaÈasÃyahu son of
each one to his brother and each one to his Shallum, the keeper of the door.
neighbour. See, I am proclaiming release 5 And I set before the sons of the house
to you,’ declares HWHY, ‘to the sword, to the of the RÿaÄites bowls filled with wine,
pestilence, and to the scarcity of food! And and cups, and I said to them, “Drink wine.”
I shall make you a horror to all reigns of 6 But they said, “We do not drink wine,
the calf in two and passed between the seed, nor plant a vineyard, nor have any of
parts of it: these, but dwell in tents all your days, so
19 the heads of YehuÅah, and the heads of that you live many days on the face of the
Yerushalayim, the eunuchs, and the priests, land where you are sojourners.’
and all the people of the land who passed 8 “So we obeyed the voice of YonaÅaÄ
between the parts of the calf. son of RÿaÄ, our father, in all that he
20 ‘And I shall give them into the hand of commanded us, to drink no wine all our
their enemies and into the hand of those days, we, our wives, our sons, and our
who seek their life. And their corpses shall daughters,
be for food to the birds of the heavens and 9 nor to build ourselves houses to dwell
the beasts of the earth. in. And we have no vineyard, field or seed.
21 ‘And I shall give TsiÅqiyahu sovereign 10 “But we dwell in tents, and have
of YehuÅah and his heads into the hand of obeyed and done according to all that
their enemies, and into the hand of those YonaÅaÄ our father commanded us.
who seek their life, and into the hand of the 11 “And it came to be, whenNeÄu¿aÅretst-
sovereign of BaÄel’s army that has with- sar sovereign of BaÄel came up into the
drawn from you. land, that we said, ‘Come, let us go to
22 ‘See, I am commanding,’ declares Yerushalayim for fear of the army of the
HWHY, ‘and shall bring them back to this Chaldeans and for fear of the army of the
city, and they shall fight against it and take Arameans.’ So we dwell at Yerushalayim.”
505 YIRMEYAHU 36
spoken to them but they did not listen, and ing to all that Yirmeyahu the prophet
I have called to them but they did not commanded him, reading from the book
answer.’ ” the words of HWHY in the House of HWHY.
18 And Yirmeyahu said to the house of the 9 And it came to be in the fifth year of
RÿaÄites, “Thus said HWHY of hosts, the Yehoyaqim son of Yoshiyahu, sovereign of
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, ‘Because you have YehuÅah, in the ninth month, that they
obeyed the command of YonaÅaÄ your called a fast before HWHY to all the people in
father, and guarded all his commands and Yerushalayim, and to all the people who
done according to all that he commanded came from the cities of YehuÅah to
you, Yerushalayim.
19 therefore thus said HWHY of hosts, the 10 And Baru¿ read from the book the
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, “Of YonaÅaÄ son of words of Yirmeyahu in the House of HWHY,
RÿaÄ there shall never cease to be a man in the room of Gemaryahu son of Shaphan
to stand before Me.” ’ ” the scribe, in the upper courtyard at the
entry of the New Gate of the House of
36 And it came to be in the fourth
year of Yehoyaqim son of
HWHY, in the hearing of all the people.
11 And Mi¿ayehu son of Gemaryahu, son
Yoshiyahu, sovereign of YehuÅah, that this of Shaphan, heard all the words of HWHY
word came to Yirmeyahu from HWHY, say- from the book,
YIRMEYAHU 36 506
12 And then he went down to the sover- the entire scroll was burned in the fire that
eign’s house, into the scribe’s room. And was on the hearth.
there all the heads were sitting: Elishama 24 Yet the sovereign and all his servants
the scribe, and Delayahu son of Shema- who heard all these words were not afraid,
yahu, and Elnathan son of A¿bor, and nor did they tear their garments.
Gemaryahu son of Shaphan, and TsiÅqi- 25 Moreover, Elnathan, and Delayahu, and
yahu son of Àananyahu, and all the heads. Gemaryahu pleaded with the sovereign not
13 And Mi¿ayehu told them all the words to burn the scroll, but he did not listen to
which he heard when Baru¿ read the book them.
in the hearing of the people. 26 And the sovereign commanded YeraÁ-
14 Then all the heads sent YehuÅi son of me’Ãl son of the sovereign, and Serayahu
Nethanyahu, son of Shelemyahu, son of son of Azri’Ãl, and Shelemyahu son of
Kushi, to Baru¿, saying, “Take in your AÄde’Ãl, to seize Baru¿ the scribe and
hand the scroll from which you have read Yirmeyahu the prophet, but HWHY had hid
in the hearing of the people, and come.” So them.
Baru¿ son of NÃriyahu took the scroll in 27 And after the sovereign had burned the
his hand and came to them. scroll with the words which Baru¿ had
15 And they said to him, “Sit down, written from the mouth of Yirmeyahu, the
please, and read it in our hearing.” Then word of HWHY came to Yirmeyahu, saying,
Baru¿ read it in their hearing. 28 “Take another scroll, and write on it all
16 And it came to be, when they had heard the former words that were in the first
all the words, that they looked at each scroll which Yehoyaqim the sovereign of
other in fear, and said to Baru¿, “We are YehuÅah has burned,
certainly going to report all these words to 29 and say to Yehoyaqim sovereign of
I wrote them with ink in the book.” Yehoyaqim sovereign of YehuÅah, “He
19 Then the heads said to Baru¿, “Go, shall have no one to sit on the throne of
hide, you and Yirmeyahu, and let no one DawiÅ, and his dead body is to be thrown
know where you are.” out, to the heat of the day and the frost of
20 And they went to the sovereign, into the night.
the court. But they put the scroll in the 31 “And I shall punish him, and his seed,
room of Elishama the scribe, and told all and his servants for their crookedness. And
the words in the hearing of the sovereign. I shall bring on them, and on the inhabi-
21 The sovereign therefore sent YehuÅi to tants of Yerushalayim, and on the men of
bring the scroll, and he took it from the YehuÅah all the evil I have spoken against
room of Elishama the scribe. And YehuÅi them. But they did not listen.” ’ ”
read it in the hearing of the sovereign and 32 So Yirmeyahu took another scroll and
in the hearing of all the heads standing gave it to Baru¿ the scribe, son of NÃri-
beside the sovereign. yahu, who wrote on it from the mouth of
22 And the sovereign was sitting in the Yirmeyahu all the words of the book which
winter house in the ninth month, with a fire Yehoyaqim sovereign of YehuÅah had
burning on the hearth before him. burned in the fire. And many similar words
23 Then it came to be, when YehuÅi had were added to them.
read three or four columns, that the sover-
eign cut it with the scribe’s knife and threw
it into the fire that was on the hearth, until 37 And Sovereign TsiÅqiyahu son of
Yoshiyahu reigned instead of
507 YIRMEYAHU 38
Konyahu son of Yehoyaqim, whom NeÄu- seized Yirmeyahu the prophet, saying,
¿aÅretstsar sovereign of BaÄel set up to “You are deserting to the Chaldeans!”
reign in the land of YehuÅah. 14 But Yirmeyahu said, “It is a lie! I am
2 But neither he nor his servants nor the not deserting to the Chaldeans.” But he did
people of the land had listened to the not listen to him, and Yiriyah seized
words of HWHY which He spoke by the Yirmeyahu and brought him to the heads.
prophet Yirmeyahu. 15 And the heads were wroth with Yirme-
3 And TsiÅqiyahu the sovereign sent yahu, and smote him and put him in prison
Yehu¿al son of Shelemyah, and the priest, in the house of Yehonathan the scribe. For
Tsephanyahu son of MaÈasÃyah, to the they had made that for a prison.
prophet Yirmeyahu, saying, “Please pray 16 When Yirmeyahu had entered into the
to HWHY our Elohim for us.” dungeon and into the cells, then Yirme-
4 Now Yirmeyahu was still coming and yahu remained there many days.
going among the people, for they had not 17 And TsiÅqiyahu the sovereign sent and
yet put him in prison. took him out. And the sovereign asked him
5 Meanwhile, Pharaoh’s army had set out secretly in his house, and said, “Is there
from Mitsrayim. And when the Chaldeans any word from HWHY?” And Yirmeyahu
who were besieging Yerushalayim heard said, “There is.” And he said, “You are
news of them, they withdrew from Yeru- given into the hand of the sovereign of
shalayim. BaÄel!”
6 And the word of HWHY came to Yirme- 18 And Yirmeyahu said to TsiÅqiyahu the
you, shall turn back to Mitsrayim, to their sied to you, saying, ‘The sovereign of
own land. BaÄel is not coming against you or against
8 “And the Chaldeans shall return and this land?’
fight against this city, and take it and burn 20 “But now, please hear, O my master the
army of the Chaldeans who are fighting orders for Yirmeyahu to be placed in the
against you, and there remained only court of the guard, and that they should
wounded men among them, they would get give him daily a piece of bread from the
up, each man in his tent, and burn the city bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city
with fire.’ ” was gone. So Yirmeyahu remained in the
11 And it came to be, when the army of court of the guard.
the Chaldeans left the siege of Yerushala-
yim for fear of Pharaoh’s army,
12 that Yirmeyahu went out of Yeru- 38 And Shephatyah son of Mattan,
and GeÅalyahu son of Pashhur, and
shalayim to go into the land of Binyamin Yu¿al son of Shelemyahu, and Pashhur son
to receive his portion there in the midst of of Malkiyah heard the words which
the people. Yirmeyahu had spoken to all the people,
13 And it came to be, as he was in the gate saying,
of Binyamin, a master of the guard was 2 “Thus said HWHY, ‘He who remains in
there whose name was Yiriyah son of this city shall die by the sword, by scarcity
Shelemyah, son of Àananyah. And he of food, and by pestilence, but whoever
YIRMEYAHU 38 508
goes over to the Chaldeans shall live. And ropes.” And Yirmeyahu did so,
his life shall be as a prize to him, and he 13 and they pulled Yirmeyahu up with
seek the peace of this people, but the evil.” I declare it to you, shall you not put me to
5 And TsiÅqiyahu the sovereign said, death? And if I give you advice, you shall
“Look, he is in your hand. For the sover- not listen to me.”
eign is unable to do any matter against 16 But TsiÅqiyahu the sovereign swore
with ropes. And in the dungeon there was “Thus said HWHY, the Elohim of hosts, the
no water, but mud. So Yirmeyahu sank in Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, ‘If you do indeed sur-
the mud. render to the heads of the sovereign of
7 And EÄeÅ-Mele¿ the Kushite, one of BaÄel, then your being shall live, and this
the eunuchs, who was in the sovereign’s city not be burned with fire. And you and
house, heard that they had put Yirmeyahu your house shall live.
in the dungeon. And the sovereign was sit- 18 ‘But if you do not surrender to the
ting at the Gate of Binyamin, heads of the sovereign of BaÄel, then this
8 And EÄeÅ-Mele¿ came from the sover- city shall be given into the hand of the
eign’s house and spoke to the sovereign, Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire,
saying, and you shall not escape from their hand.’ ”
9 “My master the sovereign, these men 19 Then TsiÅqiyahu the sovereign said to
have done evil in all that they have done to Yirmeyahu, “I am afraid of the YehuÅim
Yirmeyahu the prophet, whom they have who have gone over to the Chaldeans, lest
thrown into the dungeon, and he is likely they give me into their hand, and they mal-
to die from hunger in the place where he is, treat me.”
for there is no more bread in the city.” 20 But Yirmeyahu said, “They shall not
10 And the sovereign commanded EÄeÅ- hand you over. Please, obey the voice of
Mele¿ the Kushite, saying, “Take thirty HWHY which I speak to you, and let it be
men from here with you, and lift Yirme- well with you, and your life be spared.
yahu the prophet out of the dungeon before 21 “But if you refuse to surrender, this is
and went into the house of the sovereign in the sovereign of YehuÅah’s house shall
under the treasury, and took old clothes be surrendered to the heads of the sover-
and old rags from there, and let them down eign of BaÄel, and see, they are saying,
by ropes into the dungeon to Yirmeyahu. “Your close friends have set upon you and
12 And EÄeÅ-Mele¿ the Kushite said to prevailed against you; your feet have sunk
Yirmeyahu, “Please put these old clothes in the mire; they have turned away again.”
and rags under your armpits, under the 23 ‘And they are going to surrender all
509 YIRMEYAHU 39
your wives and children to the Chaldeans, and brought him up to NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar
and you yourself shall not escape from sovereign of BaÄel, to RiÄlah in the land of
their hand, but be taken by the hand of the Àamath, where he spoke judgment on him.
sovereign of BaÄel, and this city shall be 6 And the sovereign of BaÄel slew the
have said to the sovereign, and also what the sovereign and the houses of the people
the sovereign said to you. Do not hide it with fire, and they broke down the walls of
from us, and we do not put you to death,’ Yerushalayim.
26 then you shall say to them, ‘I presented 9 And NeÄuzaraÅan, chief of the guard,
my petition before the sovereign, not to exiled to BaÄel the remnant of the people
send me back to the house of Yonathan to who remained in the city and those who
die there.’ ” defected to him, with the rest of the people
27 And all the heads came to Yirmeyahu who were left.
and asked him. And he informed them 10 But NeÄuzaraÅan, chief of the guard,
according to all these words that the sover- left in the land of YehuÅah the poor people,
eign had commanded. And they said no who had naught whatever, and gave them
more to him, for the matter was not heard. vineyards and fields on the same day.
28 So Yirmeyahu remained in the court of 11 And NeÄu¿aÅretstsar the sovereign of
the guard until the day that Yerushalayim BaÄel gave an order concerning Yirme-
was taken, and he was there when Yeru- yahu to NeÄuzaraÅan, chief of the guard,
shalayim was taken. saying,
12 “Take him and look after him, and do
BaÄel and all his army came against and NeÄushazban the RaÄsaris, NÃrÍal-
Yerushalayim, and besieged it. Shar’etser the RaÄmaÍ, and all the sover-
2 In the eleventh year of TsiÅqiyahu, in eign of BaÄel’s chief officers sent,
the fourth month, on the ninth day of the 14 and had Yirmeyahu taken from the
month, the city was broken into. court of the guard, and gave him to GeÅal-
3 And all the heads of the sovereign of yahu son of AÁiqam, son of Shaphan, to
BaÄel came in and sat in the Middle Gate: take him home. And he dwelt among the
NÃrÍal-Shar’etser, Samgar-NeÄo, Sarse- people.
¿im, RaÄsaris, NÃrÍal-Sarezer, RaÄmaÍ, 15 And the word of HWHY had come to
and all the rest of the heads of the sover- Yirmeyahu while he was shut up in the
eign of BaÄel. court of the guard, saying,
4 And it came to be, when TsiÅqiyahu the 16 “Go, and you shall speak to EÄeÅ-
sovereign of YehuÅah and all the men of Mele¿ the Kushite, saying, ‘Thus said
battle saw them, they fled and left the city HWHY of hosts, the Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, “See,
by night, by way of the sovereign’s garden, I am bringing My words upon this city for
by the gate between the two walls. And he evil and not for good, and they shall be
went out toward the desert plain. before you in that day.
5 But the armyof the Chaldeans pursued 17 “And I shall deliver you in that day,”
them and overtook TsiÅqiyahu in the desert declares HWHY, “so that you are not given
plains of YeriÁo. And they captured him, into the hand of the men of whom you are
YIRMEYAHU 39 510
YishmaÈÃl the son of Nethanyahu, and 41 And in the seventh month it came
to be that YishmaÈÃl son of
511 YIRMEYAHU 42
Nethanyah, son of Elishama, of the royal maÈÃl son of Nethanyahu took them cap-
seed, and of the officers of the sovereign, tive and went to go over to the Ammonites.
came with ten men to GeÅalyahu son of 11 But YoÁanan son of QarÃaÁ and all the
AÁiqam, at Mitspah. And while they ate commanders of the army that were with
bread together there in Mitspah, him heard of all the evil that YishmaÈÃl son
2 YishmaÈÃl son of Nethanyah, and the of Nethanyah had done,
ten men who were with him, arose and 12 so they took all the men and went to
smote GeÅalyahu son of AÁiqam, son of fight with YishmaÈÃl son of Nethanyah.
Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him And they found him by the great pool that
whom the sovereign of BaÄel had made is in GiÄÈon.
governor over the land. 13 And it came to be, when all the people
3 And YishmaÈÃl smote all the YehuÅim who were with YishmaÈÃl saw YoÁanan
who were with him, with GeÅalyahu at son of QarÃaÁ, and all the commanders of
Mitspah, and the Chaldeans who were the army who were with him, that they
found there, the men of battle. were glad.
4 And it came to be, on the second day 14 And all the people whom YishmaÈÃl
after he had killed GeÅalyahu, when no had taken captive from Mitspah turned
one yet knew it, around, and came back, and went to
5 that men came from She¿em, from YoÁanan son of QarÃaÁ.
Shiloh, and from Shomeron, eighty men 15 But YishmaÈÃl the son of Nethanyah
with their beards shaved and their gar- escaped from YoÁanan with eight men and
ments torn, having cut themselves, with went to the Ammonites.
offerings and incense in their hand, to 16 Then YoÁanan son of QarÃaÁ, and all
bring them to the House of HWHY. the commanders of the army that were
6 And YishmaÈÃl son of Nethanyah went with him, took from Mitspah all the rest of
out from Mitspah to meet them, weeping the people whom he had recovered from
as he walked along. And it came to be, as YishmaÈÃl son of Nethanyah after he had
he met them, that he said to them, “Come murdered GeÅalyah son of AÁiqam – the
to GeÅalyahu son of AÁiqam!” mighty men of battle and the women and
7 And it came to be, when they came the children and the eunuchs, whom he had
inside the city, that YishmaÈÃl son of brought back from GiÄÈon.
Nethanyah slew them, throwing them into 17 And they set out and dwelt in the lodg-
a pit, he and the men who were with him. ing place of Kimham, which is near BÃyth
8 But ten men were found among them LeÁem, to go to enter Mitsrayim,
who said to YishmaÈÃl, “Do not kill us, for 18 because of the Chaldeans. For they
we have wheat, and barley, and oil, and were afraid of them, because YishmaÈÃl
honey hidden in the field.” So he held back son of Nethanyah had smitten GeÅalyahu
and did not kill them among their brothers. son of AÁiqam, whom the sovereign of
9 And the pit into which YishmaÈÃl had BaÄel had made governor in the land.
thrown all the corpses of the men whom he
had slain, because of GeÅalyahu, was the
same one Asa the sovereign had made for 42 Then all the commanders of the
army, and YoÁanan son of QarÃaÁ,
fear of BaÈasha sovereign of Yisra’Ãl – and Yezanyah son of Hoshayah, and all the
YishmaÈÃl son of Nethanyahu had filled it people, from the least to the greatest, came
with the slain. near
10 Then YishmaÈÃl took captive all the rest 2 and said to Yirmeyahu the prophet,
of the people who were in Mitspah, the “We beg you, let our petition be acceptable
sovereign’s daughters and all the people to you, and pray for us to HWHY your
who were left in Mitspah, whom NeÄu- Elohim, for all this remnant, for we are few
zaraÅan, chief of the guard, had entrusted left of many, as your eyes see us.
to GeÅalyahu son of AÁiqam. And Yish- 3 “And let HWHY your Elohim show us the
YIRMEYAHU 42 512
this land,’ and so disobey the voice of HWHY 43 And it came to be, when
Yirmeyahu had ended speaking all
your Elohim, these words to all the people – all the
14 saying, ‘No, but we are going to the words of HWHY their Elohim, for which
land of Mitsrayim so that we see no fight- HWHY their Elohim had sent him to them –
ing, nor hear the sound of the ram’s horn, 2 that Azaryah son of Hoshayah, and
nor hunger for bread, and there we shall YoÁanan son of QarÃaÁ, and all the proud
stay,’ men spoke, saying to Yirmeyahu, “You are
15 then hear the word of HWHY, O remnant speaking a lie! HWHY our Elohim has not
of YehuÅah! Thus said HWHY of hosts, the sent you to say, ‘Do not go to Mitsrayim to
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, ‘If you indeed set your sojourn there.’
faces to enter Mitsrayim, and shall go to 3 “For Baru¿ son of NÃriyah is moving
513 YIRMEYAHU 44
you against us, to give us into the hand of of the mighty ones of the Mitsrites with
the Chaldeans, to put us to death or exile fire.” ’ ”
us to BaÄel.”
4 So YoÁanan son of QarÃaÁ, and all the
commanders of the army, and all the peo- 44 The word that came to Yirmeyahu
concerning all the YehuÅim who
ple disobeyed the voice of HWHY, to stay in were dwelling in the land of Mitsrayim –
the land of YehuÅah. who were dwelling at MiÍdol, and at
5 And YoÁanan son of QarÃaÁ and all the TaÁpanÁes, and at Noph, and in the land of
commanders of the army took all the rem- Pathros, saying,
nant of YehuÅah who had returned to dwell 2 “Thus said HWHY of hosts, the Elohim of
in the land of YehuÅah, from all nations Yisra’Ãl, ‘You yourselves have seen all the
where they had been driven – evil that I have brought on Yerushalayim
6 the men, and the women, and the and on all the cities of YehuÅah. And see,
children, and the sovereign’s daughters, this day they are a ruin, and no one dwells
and every being whom NeÄuzaraÅan, chief in them,
of the guard, had left with GeÅalyahu son 3 because of their evil which they have
of AÁiqam, son of Shaphan, and Yirme- done to provoke Me, by going to burn
yahu the prophet, and Baru¿ son of NÃri- incense by serving other mighty ones
yahu. whom they did not know, they nor you nor
7 So they went to the land of Mitsrayim, your fathers.
for they disobeyed the voice of HWHY. And 4 ‘And I sent to you all My servants the
they went as far as TaÁpanÁes. prophets, rising early and sending them,
8 And the word of HWHY came to Yirme- saying, “Please do not do this abominable
yahu in TaÁpanÁes, saying, matter that I hate!”
9 “Take large stones in your hand, and 5 ‘But they did not listen or incline their
you shall hide them before the eyes of the ear, to turn from their evil, not to burn
men of YehuÅah, in the clay in the brick incense to other mighty ones.
courtyard which is at the entrance to 6 ‘So My wrath and My displeasure were
vant. And I shall set his throne above these of hosts, the Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, ‘Why are
stones that I have hidden. And he shall you doing this great evil against your lives,
spread his canopy over them. to cut off from you man and woman, child
11 “And he shall come and smite the land and infant, from the midst of YehuÅah,
of Mitsrayim, bringing death to those leaving none to remain,
appointed for death, and captivity to those 8 by provoking Me with the works of
for captivity, and the sword to those for the your hands, by burning incense to other
sword. mighty ones in the land of Mitsrayim
12 “And he shall set fire to the houses of where you have gone to dwell, to cut your-
the mighty ones of Mitsrayim. And he selves off and be a curse and a reproach
shall burn them and take them captive. among all the nations of the earth?
And he shall cover himself with the land 9 ‘Have you forgotten the evils of your
of Mitsrayim, as a shepherd puts on his fathers, and the evils of the sovereigns of
garment, and he shall go out from there in YehuÅah, and the evils of their wives, and
peace. your own evils, and the evils of your
13 “And he shall break the stone pillars of wives, which they have done in the land of
the House of the Sun which are in the land YehuÅah and in the streets of Yeru-
of Mitsrayim, and he shall burn the houses shalayim?
YIRMEYAHU 44 514
10 ‘To this day they have not been hum- sword and by scarcity of food.
bled, nor have they feared, nor have they 19 “And when we burned incense to the
walked in My Torah and in My laws that I sovereigness of the heavens and poured
set before you and your fathers.’ out drink offerings to her, did we make
11 “Therefore thus said HWHY of hosts, the cakes for her, to idolize her, and pour out
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, ‘See, I am setting My drink offerings to her, without our hus-
face against you for evil and for cutting off bands?”
all YehuÅah. 20 Then Yirmeyahu spoke to all the people
12 ‘And I shall take the remnant of Yehu- – to the men and to the women, and to all
Åah who have set their faces to go into the the people who had given him that answer,
land of Mitsrayim to sojourn there. And saying,
they shall all be consumed in the land of 21 “As for the incense that you burned in
Mitsrayim – fall by the sword, consumed the cities of YehuÅah and in the streets of
by scarcity of food. From the least to the Yerushalayim, you and your fathers, your
greatest they shall die, by the sword and by sovereigns and your heads, and the people
scarcity of food. And they shall be an oath of the land, did not HWHY remember them?
and an astonishment and a curse and a And it came into His heart!
reproach! 22 “And HWHY could no longer bear it,
13 ‘And I shall punish those dwelling in because of the evil of your deeds and
the land of Mitsrayim, as I have punished because of the abominations which you
Yerushalayim, by the sword, by scarcity of did. Therefore your land is a ruin, an object
food, and by pestilence. of astonishment, a curse, and without an
14 ‘And none of the remnant of YehuÅah inhabitant, as it is this day.
who have gone into the land of Mitsrayim 23 “Because you have burned incense and
to sojourn there shall escape or survive, because you have sinned against HWHY, and
lest they return to the land of YehuÅah, to did not obey the voice of HWHY or walk in
which they are longing to return to dwell His Torah, in His laws or in His witnesses,
there. For they shall not return, except therefore this evil did befall you, as at this
those who escape.’ ” day.”
15 Then all the men who knew that their 24 And Yirmeyahu said to all the people
wives had burned incense to other mighty and to all the women, “Hear the word of
ones, and all the women who stood by, a HWHY, all YehuÅah who are in the land of
great assembly, and all the people who Mitsrayim!
dwelt in the land of Mitsrayim, in Pathros, 25 “Thus spoke HWHY of hosts, the Elohim
heads, in the cities of YehuÅah and in the YehuÅah who are dwelling in the land of
streets of Yerushalayim. And we had Mitsrayim, ‘See, I have sworn by My great
plenty of food, and were well-off, and saw Name,’ declares HWHY, ‘My Name shall no
no evil. longer be called upon by the mouth of any
18 “But since we ceased burning incense man of YehuÅah in all the land of
to the sovereigness of the heavens and Mitsrayim, saying, “As the Master HWHY
pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lives...”
lacked all and have been consumed by the 27 ‘See, I am watching over them for evil
515 YIRMEYAHU 46
and not for good. And all the men of Karkemish, and which NeÄu¿aÅretstsar the
YehuÅah who are in the land of Mitsrayim sovereign of BaÄel had smitten in the
shall be consumed by the sword and by fourth year of Yehoyaqim, son of Yoshi-
scarcity of food, until they come to an end. yahu, sovereign of YehuÅah:
28 ‘And those who escape the sword, few 3 “Prepare the large and the small shield,
in number, shall return from the land of and draw near to battle!
Mitsrayim to the land of YehuÅah. And all 4 “Harness the horses, and mount up, you
the remnant of YehuÅah, who came into horsemen! Stand with helmets, polish the
the land of Mitsrayim to sojourn there, spears, put on the armour!
shall know whose word is established, 5 “Why do I see them afraid, turned
TsiÅqiyahu sovereign of YehuÅah into the waters surge about like the rivers?
hand of NeÄu¿aÅretstsar sovereign of 8 Mitsrayim rises like a flood, and its
BaÄel, his enemy who sought his life.’ ” waters surge about like the rivers. And he
says, ‘Let me rise and cover the earth; let
45 The word that Yirmeyahu the
prophet spoke to Baru¿ son of
me destroy the city and its inhabitants.’
9 Go up, O horses, and rage, O chariots!
NÃriyah, when he had written these words And let the mighty men go forth – Kush
in a book from the mouth of Yirmeyahu, in and Put who handle the shield, and LuÅ
the fourth year of Yehoyaqim son of who handle and bend the bow.
Yoshiyahu, sovereign of YehuÅah, saying, 10 For this is the day of the Master HWHY of
2 “Thus said HWHY, the Elohim of Yis- hosts, a day of vengeance, to revenge
ra’Ãl, concerning you, Baru¿: Himself on His adversaries. And the sword
3 ‘You have said, “Woe to me now! For shall devour, and be satisfied and made
HWHY has added grief to my pain. I have drunk with their blood. For the Master
been wearied with my sighing, and I have HWHY of hosts has a slaughtering in the land
found no rest.” ’ of the north by the River Euphrates.
4 “Say this to him, ‘Thus said HWHY, “See, 11 Go up to GilÈaÅ and take balm, O maid-
what I have built I am breaking down, and en, the daughter of Mitsrayim. In vain you
what I have planted I am plucking up, that have used many remedies, there is no heal-
is, the entire land. ing for you.
5 “And do you seek great matters for 12 Nations have heard of your shame, and
yourself? Do not seek them, for look, I am your cry has filled the land. For the mighty
bringing evil on all flesh,” declares HWHY. has stumbled against the mighty, they have
“But I shall give your life to you as a prize both fallen together.
in all places, wherever you go.” ’ ” 13 The word which HWHY spoke to Yirme-
of those who seek their lives, into the hand it a command? Against Ashqelon and
of NeÄu¿aÅretstsar sovereign of BaÄel and against the seashore – there He has
into the hand of his servants. And after- appointed it.”
Àeshbon they have devised evil against around him. And all you who know his
her, ‘Come and let us cut it off as a nation.’ name, say, ‘How the strong sceptre has
O MaÅmÃn, you are also cut off, a sword been broken, the staff of splendour!’
goes after you. 18 “Come down from your esteem, and sit
3 “Listen! An outcry from Àoronayim, in thirst, O inhabitant, daughter of DiÄon.
ravaging and great destruction! For the ravager of Mo’aÄ shall come
4 “Mo’aÄ shall be destroyed, her little against you, he shall destroy your strong-
ones shall cry out. holds.
5 “For on the ascent to LuÁith they go up 19 “Stand by the way and watch, O inhabi-
weeping bitterly. For in the descent of tant of AroÈÃr. Ask him who flees and her
Àoronayim the enemies shall hear a cry of who escapes; say, ‘What has been done?’
destruction. 20 “Mo’aÄ has been put to shame, for it
6 “Flee, deliver your own lives! And be has been broken down. Howl and cry! Let
like a bush in the wilderness. it be heard in Arnon that Mo’aÄ is ravaged.
7 “For because you have trusted in your 21 “And judgment has come on the plain
works and your treasures, you shall be cap- country, on Àolon and on YaÁtsah and on
tured. And Kemosh shall go forth into MophaÈath,
exile, his priests and his heads together. 22 and on DiÄon and NeÄo and on BÃyth
8 “And a ravager shall come into every DiÄlathayim,
city, no one escapes. And the valley shall 23 and on Qiryathayim and on BÃyth
perish, and the plain be destroyed, as HWHY Gamul and on BÃyth MeÈon,
has spoken. 24 and on Qeriyoth and on Botsrah, and on
9 “Give wings to Mo’aÄ, for she has to all the cities of the land of Mo’aÄ, far or
flee away, and her cities become a ruin, near.
with no one to dwell in them. 25 “The horn of Mo’aÄ has been cut off,
10 (Cursed is he who is slack in doing the and his arm has been broken,” declares
work of HWHY, and cursed is he who with- HWHY.
holds his sword from blood). 26 “Make him drunk, because he has made
11 “Mo’aÄ has been at ease from his himself great against HWHY. Mo’aÄ shall
youth, and he has settled on his dregs, and splash in his vomit, and he shall also be in
has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, mockery.
nor has he gone into exile. Therefore his 27 “And was not Yisra’Ãl a mockery to
flavour has stayed in him, and his fra- you? Was he found among thieves? For
grance is unchanged. whenever you speak of him, you shake
12 “Therefore see, the days are coming,” your head.
declares HWHY, “when I shall send him 28 “O inhabitants of Mo’aÄ, leave the
tilters, who shall tilt him over and empty cities and dwell in the rock, and be like the
his vessels and break the bottles. dove making a nest in the sides of the
13 “And Mo’aÄ shall be ashamed because cave’s mouth.
of Kemosh, as the house of Yisra’Ãl was 29 “We have heard of the pride of Mo’aÄ
ashamed of BÃyth Âl, their refuge. (he is very proud!), of his loftiness and
14 “How do you say, ‘We are mighty and arrogance and pride, and of the haughti-
strong men for battle’? ness of his heart.”
15 “Mo’aÄ is ravaged and her cities have 30 “I know his wrath,” declares HWHY, “and
YIRMEYAHU 48 518
him who offers in the high places and 49 Concerning the Ammonites: Thus
said HWHY, “Has Yisra’Ãl no sons?
burns incense to his mighty ones,” declares Has he no heir? Why has Malkam taken
HWHY. possession of GaÅ, and his people dwell in
36 “So My heart sounds for Mo’aÄ like its cities?
flutes, and My heart sounds for the men of 2 “Therefore see, the days are coming,”
Qir Àeres like flutes. Therefore the wealth declares HWHY, “when I shall sound a battle
they made shall be gone. cry in Rabbah of the Ammonites. And it
37 “For every head is bald, and every shall be a heap, a wasteland, and her
beard clipped – cuts on all the hands, and villages shall be burned with fire. Then
sackcloth on the loins. Yisra’Ãl shall dispossess those who dispos-
38 “On all the house-tops of Mo’aÄ and in sessed him,” declares HWHY.
its streets it is all lamentation, for I have 3 “Howl, O Àeshbon, for Ai is ravaged!
broken Mo’aÄ like a vessel in which no Cry, daughters of Rabbah, gird on sack-
one delights,” declares HWHY. cloth! Lament and diligently search by the
39 “How has she been broken down! They walls, for Malkam shall go into exile, with
shall wail! How has Mo’aÄ turned her back his priests and his heads.
with shame! So Mo’aÄ shall be a mockery 4 “Why do you boast in the valleys, your
and a horror to all those about her.” flowing valley, O backsliding daughter
40 For thus said HWHY, “See, he soars like who is trusting in her treasures, saying,
an eagle, and shall spread his wings over ‘Who would come against me?’
Mo’aÄ. 5 “See, I am bringing fear upon you,
41 “Qeriyoth shall be captured, and the from all those around you,” declares the
strongholds seized. And the heart of the Master HWHY of hosts. “And you shall be
mighty men in Mo’aÄ on that day shall be driven out, each one straight ahead, with
like the heart of a woman in labour. no one to bring home the wanderer.
42 “And Mo’aÄ shall be destroyed as a 6 “And after this I turn back the captivity
people, because he has made himself great of the children of Ammon,” declares HWHY.
against HWHY. 7 Concerning EÅom: Thus said HWHY of
43 “Fear and the pit and the snare are upon hosts, “Is there no more wisdom in
you, O inhabitant of Mo’aÄ,” declares TÃman? Has counsel been lost to those
519 YIRMEYAHU 49
with understanding? Has their wisdom Me? And who summons Me? And who is
vanished? that Shepherd who stands before Me?”
8 “Flee, turn back, dwell in the depths, O 20 Therefore hear the counsel of HWHY
inhabitants of DeÅan! For I shall bring the which He has counselled concerning
calamity of Âsaw upon him, the time that I EÅom, and the purposes He has purposed
shall punish him. concerning the inhabitants of TÃman: the
9 “If grape-gatherers came to you, would least of the flock shall drag them away! He
they not leave some gleaning grapes? Even shall make their pasture a waste before
thieves by night would destroy only until them!
they had enough! 21 The earth shall be shaken at the noise of
10 “But as for Me, I shall make Âsaw bare. their fall. There is an outcry! Its noise is
I shall uncover his hiding places, so that he heard at the Sea of Reeds.
is unable to conceal himself. His seeds is 22 See, like an eagle he flies up, and
ravaged, his brothers and his neighbours, spreads his wings over Botsrah. And the
and he is no more. heart of the mighty men of EÅom in that
11 “Leave your fatherless children, let Me day shall be like the heart of a woman in
keep them alive. And let your widows trust her pain.
in Me.” 23 Concerning Damascus: “Àamath and
12 For thus said HWHY, “See, those whose ArpaÅ have been put to shame, for they
judgment was not to drink of the cup have have heard an evil report. They have been
certainly drunk. And are you the one to go melted in anxiety, like the sea, unable to
unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, rest.
but certainly drink of it. 24 “Damascus has become feeble, she has
13 “For I have sworn by Myself,” declares turned to flee, and trembling has seized
HWHY, “that Botsrah is to become a ruin, a her. Distress and pain have taken hold of
reproach, a waste, and a curse, and all its her like a woman in labour.
cities become everlasting wastes.” 25 “How is the city of praise deserted, the
14 I have heard a report from HWHY, and an city of My joy!
envoy has been sent to the nations, “Gather 26 “Therefore her young men fall in her
together, come against her, and rise up to streets, and all the men of battle are cut off
battle! in that day,” declares HWHY of hosts.
15 “For look, I shall make you small 27 “And I shall kindle a fire in the wall of
among nations, despised among men. Damascus, and it shall consume the
16 “The dread for you, the pride of your palaces of Ben-HaÅaÅ.”
heart, has deceived you, O you who dwell 28 To QÃÅar and to the reigns of Àatsor,
in the clefts of the rock, holding the height which NeÄu¿aÅretstsar sovereign of BaÄel
of the hill! Though you make your nest as smote: Thus said HWHY, “Arise, go up to
high as the eagle, from there I bring you QÃÅar, and ravage the men of the East!
down,” declares the Master. 29 “Their tents and their flocks, their cur-
17 “And EÅom shall be a ruin, everyone tains and all their vessels shall be taken.
who passes by it is astonished and whistles And they shall take away their camels for
at all its plagues. themselves. And they shall cry out to them,
18 “As in the overthrow of SeÅom and ‘Fear is on every side!’
Amorah and their neighbouring cities,” 30 “Flee, go away! Dwell in the depths, O
declares HWHY, “No one shall dwell there, inhabitants of Àatsor!” declares HWHY. “For
nor would a son of man sojourn in it. NeÄu¿aÅretstsar sovereign of BaÄel has
19 “See, he comes up like a lion from the taken counsel against you, and has devised
YardÃn jungle against the home of the a plan against you.
strong. But in an instant I shall make him 31 “Arise, go up to the nation at ease that
run away from her. And who is the Chosen dwells safely,” declares HWHY. “It has no
One, to appoint over her? For who is like gates or bars, they dwell alone.
YIRMEYAHU 49 520
h Or lost, or straying, or perishing. They have not lost their “identity” at all, no, they are straying, they are not
following the True Shepherd! i Rev. 18:4.
521 YIRMEYAHU 50
sinned against HWHY. of ruins, and put her under the ban. Let her
15 “Shout against her all around. She has have no remnant.
27 Slay all her bulls, let them go down to
given her hand, her foundations have fall-
en, her walls are thrown down, for it is the the slaughter. Woe to them! For their day
vengeance of HWHY. Take vengeance on her. has come, the time of their punishment.
28 Listen! They flee and escape from the
As she has done, so do to her.
16 “Cut off the sower from BaÄel, and him land of BaÄel, to declare in Tsiyon the
who handles the sickle at harvest time. vengeance of HWHY our Elohim, the
From before the sword of the oppressor vengeance of His Hÿal.
29 “Summon archers against BaÄel. All
each one turns to his own people, and each
one flees to his own land. you who bend the bow, encamp against it
17 “Yisra’Ãl is a scattered sheep, the lions all around, let no one escape. Repay her
have driven him away. First the sovereign according to her work, do to her according
of Ashshur devoured him, and now, at last, to all she has done. For she has been proud
this NeÄu¿aÅretstsar sovereign of BaÄel against HWHY, against the Set-apart One of
has broken his bones.” Yisra’Ãl.
18 Therefore thus said HWHY of hosts, the 30 “Therefore her young men shall fall in
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, “See, I am punishing the streets, and all her men of battle shall
the sovereign of BaÄel and his land, as I perish in that day,” declares HWHY.
31 “See, I am against you, O proud one!”
have punished the sovereign of Ashshur.
19 “And I shall bring back Yisra’Ãl to his declares the Master HWHY of hosts, “for
pasture, and he shall feed on Karmel and your day has come, the time for your pun-
Bashan. And his being shall be satisfied on ishment.
32 “And the proud one shall stumble, and
Mount Ephrayim and GilÈaÅ.
20 “In those days and at that time,” he shall fall, with no one to raise him up.
declares HWHY, “the crookedness of Yisra’Ãl And I shall kindle a fire in his cities, and it
shall be searched for, but there shall be shall devour all around him.”
none; and the sin of YehuÅah, but none 33 Thus said HWHY of hosts, “The children
shall be found. For I shall pardon those of Yisra’Ãl were oppressed, along with the
whom I leave as a remnant. children of YehuÅah. And all who took
21 “Go up against the land of Merathayim, them captive have held them fast, they
against it, and against the inhabitants of refused to let them go.
PeqoÅ. Slay and put them under the ban,” 34 “Their Redeemer is strong, HWHY of
declares HWHY, “and do according to all that hosts is His Name. He shall strongly plead
I have commanded you. their case, so as to give rest to the land, but
22 “There is a sound of battle in the land, unrest to the inhabitants of BaÄel.
and of great destruction. 35 “A sword is upon the Chaldeans,”
23 “How the hammer of all the earth has declares HWHY, “and it is upon the inhabi-
been cut off and broken! How BaÄel has tants of BaÄel, and upon her heads and
become a ruin among the nations! upon her wise men.
24 “I have laid a snare for you, and you 36 “A sword is upon the liars, and they
were captured, O BaÄel, and you yourself shall be fools. A sword is upon her mighty
did not know! You have been found and men, and they shall be broken down.
also caught, because you strove against 37 “A sword is upon their horses, and
dwell in it. And it shall never again be the Chaldeans, and the pierced-through in
inhabited, nor dwelt in, unto all genera- her streets.
tions. 5 “For neither Yisra’Ãl nor YehuÅah is
40 “As Elohim overthrew SeÅom and widowed by his Elohim, HWHY of hosts,
Amorah and their neighbouring cities,” though their land has been filled with sin
declares HWHY, “so no one would dwell against the Set-apart One of Yisra’Ãl.”
there, nor would son of man sojourn in it. 6 Flee from the midst of BaÄel, j and let
41 “See, a people shall come from the each one save his life! Do not be cut off in
north, and a great nation and many sover- her crookedness, for this is the time of the
eigns stirred up from the ends of the earth. vengeance of HWHY, the recompense He is
42 “They lay hold of bow and spear, they repaying her.
are cruel and they show no compassion. 7 BaÄel was a golden cup in the hand of
They sound like the roaring sea, and ride HWHY, making drunk all the earth. k The
on horses, set in array, like a man for the nations drank her wine, that is why the
battle, against you, O daughter of BaÄel. nations went mad!
43 “The sovereign of BaÄel has heard the 8 BaÄel shall suddenly fall and be broken.
report about them, and his hands became Howl for her! Take balm for her pain – if so
weak. Distress has seized him, pain like be, she might be healed.
that of a woman in labour. 9 We would have healed BaÄel, but she is
44 “See, he comes up like a lion from not healed. Let us leave her and each go to
the YardÃn jungle, against the enduring his own land, for her judgment reaches to
pasture. But in an instant I shall make them the heavens and is lifted up to the clouds.
run away from her. And who is the Chosen 10 HWHY has brought forth our righteous-
One whom I appoint against her? For who ness. Come and let us relate in Tsiyon the
is like Me? Who summons Me? And who work of HWHY our Elohim.
is that Shepherd who stands before Me?” 11 Polish the arrows! Put on the shields!
45 Therefore hear the counsel of HWHY HWHY has stirred up the spirit of the sover-
which He has counselled concerning eigns of the Medes. For His plan is against
BaÄel, and His purposes He has purposed BaÄel to destroy it, because it is the
concerning the land of the Chaldeans: the vengeance of HWHY, the vengeance for His
least of the flock shall drag them away! He Hÿal.
shall make their pasture a waste before 12 Lift up a banner on the walls of BaÄel,
My opponents. And I shall send winnow- shall certainly fill you with men, as with
ers to BaÄel, who shall winnow her and locusts, and they shall lift up a shout
empty her land. For they shall be against against you.”
her all around, in the day of evil. 15 He made the earth by His power, He
3 “Let the archer draw his bow, and let established the world by His wisdom, and
him stand ready in his armour. Do not stretched out the heavens by His under-
spare her young men, put all her army standing.
16 When He gives forth His voice the Appoint a commander against her, bring
waters in the heavens roar, and He makes up horses like hairy locusts.
vapours to ascend from the ends of the 28 Separate the nations against her, with
earth; He makes lightnings for the rain, the sovereigns of the Medes, its governors
and He brings the wind out of His trea- and all its rulers, all the land of his rule,
suries. 29 so that the land shakes and writhes in
17 All mankind has become too brutish to pain. For every plan of HWHY shall be estab-
know, every smith has been put to shame lished against BaÄel, to make the land of
by the carved image, for his moulded BaÄel a ruin, without inhabitant.
image is falsehood, and there is no breath 30 The mighty men of BaÄel have ceased
inhabitants of Chaldea for all the evil they flesh be upon BaÄel,” says the inhabitant
have done in Tsiyon before your eyes,” of Tsiyon. And, “Let my blood be upon the
declares HWHY. inhabitants of Chaldea,” says Yerusha-
25 “See, I am against you, O destroying layim.
mountain, who destroys all the earth,” 36 Therefore thus said HWHY, “See, I am
declares HWHY. “And I shall stretch out My pleading your case. And I shall take
hand against you. And I shall roll you vengeance for you and dry up her sea and
down from the rocks, and make you a make her fountain dry.
burnt mountain. 37 “And BaÄel shall become a heap, a
26 “And they shall not take from you a habitation of jackals, an astonishment and
stone for a corner nor a stone for a founda- a hissing, without inhabitant.
tion, but you shall be a waste forever,” 38 “Together they roar like lions, they
ram’s horn among the nations! Prepare the I shall make them drunk, so that they
nations against her, call the reigns together rejoice, and sleep a neverending sleep and
against her: Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. not awake,” declares HWHY.
YIRMEYAHU 51 524
40 “I shall bring them down like lambs to height of her strength inaccessible, rav-
the slaughter, like rams with male goats. agers shall come to her from Me,” declares
41 “Oh, how ShÃsha¿ has been captured, HWHY.
the praise of all the earth been seized! How 54 Listen! A cry from BaÄel, and great
BaÄel has become a ruin among the destruction from the land of the Chaldeans,
nations! 55 because HWHY is ravaging BaÄel, and
42 “The sea has risen over BaÄel, she has shall silence her loud voice. And her
been covered with the roaring of its waves. waves shall roar like great waters, the
43 “Her cities have become a ruin, a dry noise of their voice shall resound,
land and a desert, a land where no one 56 because the ravager shall come against
dwells, neither does son of man pass by it. her, against BaÄel, and her mighty men
44 “And I shall punish BÃl in BaÄel. And I shall be captured. Every one of their bows
shall make him spew out what he has swal- shall be broken, for HWHY is the Âl of
lowed, and nations shall no longer stream recompense, He shall certainly repay.
to him. Even the wall of BaÄel shall fall. 57 “And I shall make her rulers drunk, and
45 “Come out l of her midst, My people! her wise men, her governors, and her
And let everyone deliver his being from deputies, and her mighty men. And they
the burning displeasure of HWHY. shall sleep a lasting sleep, and not awake,”
46 “And lest your heart grow faint, and declares the Sovereign, whose Name is
you fear the report heard in the land – for a HWHY of hosts.
report shall come one year, and after that, 58 Thus said HWHY of hosts, “The broad
in another year a report shall come, and walls of BaÄel are completely demolished,
violence in the land, ruler against ruler – and her high gates are burned with fire,
47 therefore see, the days are coming that I and peoples labour in vain, and the nations
shall bring punishment on the carved weary themselves for fire.”
images of BaÄel, and all her land shall be 59 The word that Yirmeyahu the prophet
put to shame, and all her slain fall in her commanded Serayah son of NÃriyah, son
midst. of MaÁsÃyah, when he went with TsiÅqi-
48 “And the heavens and the earth and all yahu the sovereign of YehuÅah to BaÄel in
that is in them shall shout for joy over the fourth year of his reign. And Serayah
BaÄel, for the ravagers shall come to her was a quartermaster.
from the north,” declares HWHY. 60 So Yirmeyahu wrote in a book all the
49 As BaÄel is to fall for the slain of evil that would come upon BaÄel, all these
Yisra’Ãl, so for BaÄel the slain of all the words which have been written concerning
earth shall fall. BaÄel.
50 You who have escaped the sword, go 61 And Yirmeyahu said to Serayah,
away! Do not stand still! Remember HWHY “When you come to BaÄel and see it, and
from afar, and let Yerushalayim come to read all these words,
your heart. 62 then you shall say, ‘O HWHY, You have
51 We are ashamed because we have heard spoken concerning this place to cut it off,
reproach. Shame has covered our faces, for so that none shall dwell in it, neither man
strangers have come into the set-apart nor beast, for it is a ruin forever.’
places of the House of HWHY. m 63 “And it shall be, when you have ended
52 “Therefore see, the days are coming,” reading this book, that you shall tie a stone
declares HWHY, “that I shall bring punish- to it and throw it into the midst of the
ment on her carved images, while the Euphrates,
wounded groan throughout all her land. 64 and shall say, ‘So does BaÄel sink and
53 “Though BaÄel should mount up to the not rise from the evil that I am bringing
heavens, and though she should make the upon her, and they shall weary them-
l Rev. 18:4. m Teh. 79:1-7, ¿ah 1:10, Dan. 8:13, Dan. 11:31, Mt. 24:15.
525 YIRMEYAHU 52
all the men of battle fled and went out of shovels, and the snuffers, and the bowls,
the city at night by way of the gate and the ladles, and all the bronze utensils
between the two walls, which was by the with which they served,
sovereign’s garden, while the Chaldeans 19 and the basins, and the fire holders,
were near the city all around. And they and the bowls, and the pots, and the lamp-
went by way of the desert plain. stands, and the ladles, and the cups, what-
8 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued ever was of solid gold and whatever was of
the sovereign, and they overtook TsiÅ- solid silver, the chief of the guard took.
qiyahu in the desert plains of YeriÁo, and 20 The two columns, one Sea, the twelve
his entire army was scattered from him. bronze bulls which were under it, and the
9 Then they captured the sovereign and stands, which Sovereign Shelomoh had
brought him up to the sovereign of BaÄel made for the House of HWHY – the bronze of
at RiÄlah in the land of Àamath, and he all these vessels was beyond weighing.
pronounced judgments on him. 21 As for the columns, the height of one
10 And the sovereign of BaÄel slew the column was eighteen cubits, and its cir-
sons of TsiÅqiyahu before his eyes, and he cumference was twelve cubits, and its
also slew all the heads of YehuÅah in thickness was four fingers, hollow.
RiÄlah. 22 And a capital of bronze was on it. And
11 And he put out the eyes of TsiÅqiyahu. the height of one capital was five cubits,
And the sovereign of BaÄel bound him in with a network and pomegranates all
bronze shackles, and took him to BaÄel, around the capital, all of bronze. And the
and put him in prison till the day of his second column, with pomegranates was
YIRMEYAHU 52 526
who was in charge of the men of battle, and year of the exile of Yehoya¿in sovereign of
seven men who saw the sovereign’s face, YehuÅah, in the twelfth month, on the twen-
who were found in the city, and the scribe ty-fifth of the month, that Ewil-MeroÅa¿
of the commander of the army who mus- sovereign of BaÄel, in the first year of his
tered the people of the land, and sixty men reign, lifted up the head of Yehoya¿in sov-
of the people of the land who were found ereign of YehuÅah and brought him out of
in the city. prison,
26 And NeÄuzaraÅan, chief of the guard, 32 and spoke kindly to him and set his
took these and brought them to the sover- throne above those of the sovereigns who
eign of BaÄel at RiÄlah, were with him in BaÄel.
27 and the sovereign of BaÄel smote them 33 So he changed his prison garments, and
and put them to death at RiÄlah in the land he ate bread continually before the sover-
of Àamath. Thus YehuÅah was exiled from eign all the days of his life.
its own land. 34 And as for his allowance, there was
28 These are the people whom NeÄu-
a continual allowance given him by the
¿aÅretstsar exiled: in the seventh year, sovereign of BaÄel, a portion for each day
three thousand and twenty-three YehuÅim; until the day of his death, all the days
29 in the eighteenth year of NeÄu¿aÅretst- of his life.
YEÀEZQÂL
EZEKIEL
the soles of their feet were like the sole of a wheels went beside them. And when the
calves’ foot. And they sparkled like the living creatures were lifted up from the
appearance of polished bronze, earth, the wheels were lifted up.
8 and under their wings on their four 20 Wherever the spirit was to go, they
sides were the hands of a man. And each of went, because there the spirit went. And
the four had faces and wings – the wheels were lifted together with them,
9 their wings touched one another. They for the spirit of the living creatures was in
did not turn when they went, but each one the wheels.
went straight forward. 21 When those went, these went; when
10 And the likeness of their faces: the face those stood, these stood. And when those
of a man, and each of the four had the face were lifted up from the earth, the wheels
of a lion on the right side, and each of the were lifted up together with them, for the
four had the face of an ox on the left side, spirit of the living creatures was in the
and each of the four had the face of an wheels.
eagle. 22 And a likeness was over the heads of
11 Such were their faces. Their wings the living creatures, an expanse like the
were spread upward, two of each touched appearance of an awesome crystal,
one another, and two covered their bodies. stretched out over their heads.
12 And each one went straight forward, 23 And under the expanse their wings
going wherever the spirit was to go, and were straight, one toward another. Each
they did not turn when they went. one had two which covered one side, and
YEÀEZQÂL 1 528
each one had two which covered the other of them, nor be afraid of their words,
side of the body. though thistles and thorns are with you and
24 And when they went, I heard the noise you dwell among scorpions. Do not be
of their wings, like the noise of many afraid of their words or discouraged by
waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a their looks, for they are a rebellious house.
tumult like the noise of an army. And when 7 “And you shall speak My words to
they stood still, they let down their wings. them, whether they hear or whether they
25 And a voice came from above the refuse, for they are rebellious.
expanse that was over their heads. When 8 “And you, son of man, hear what I
they stood, they dropped their wings. am speaking to you. Do not be rebellious
26 And above the expanse over their heads like that rebellious house, open your
was the likeness of a throne, in appearance mouth and eat what I am giving you.”
like a sapphire stone. And on the likeness 9 And I looked and saw a hand stretched
of the throne was a likeness as the appear- out to me. And see, a scroll of a book was
ance of a man high above it. in it,
27 And from the appearance of His waist 10 and He spread it before me, and it was
and upward I saw what looked like glow- written on the inside and on the outside.
ing metal with the appearance of fire all And written on it were lamentations and
around within it. And from the appearance mourning and woe.
of His waist and downward I saw what
looked like fire, and brightness all around.
28 As the appearance of a rainbow in a 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, eat
what you find, eat this scroll, and go,
cloud on a rainy day, so was the appear- speak to the house of Yisra’Ãl.”
ance of the brightness all around it. This 2 And I opened my mouth, and He fed
on my face, and I heard a voice of One your stomach, and fill your stomach with
speaking. this scroll that I am giving you.” And I ate
it, and it was as sweet as honey in my
2 And He said to me, “Son of man,
stand on your feet, so that I speak to
mouth. a
4 And He said to me, “Son of man, go to
heard Him who was speaking to me. foreign speech and of difficult language,
3 And He said to me, “Son of man, I am but to the house of Yisra’Ãl,
sending you to the children of Yisra’Ãl, to a 6 not to many people of foreign speech
nation of rebels who have rebelled against and of difficult language, whose words you
Me. They and their fathers have trans- do not understand. If I had rather sent you
gressed against Me, until this day. to them, they would have listened to you.
4 “And the children are stiff of face and 7 “But the house of Yisra’Ãl is going to
hard of heart to whom I am sending you, refuse to listen to you, for they refuse to
and you shall say to them, ‘Thus said the listen to Me. For all the house of Yisra’Ãl
Master HWHY.’ are hard of head, and hard of heart.
5 “And they – whether they hear or 8 “See, I shall make your face as hard as
whether they refuse, for they are a rebel- their faces and your forehead as hard as
lious house – shall know that a prophet has their foreheads.
been in their midst. 9 “Like adamant stone, harder than flint,
6 “And you, son of man, do not be afraid I shall make your forehead. Do not be
afraid of them, nor be discouraged at their remembered, and his blood I require at
looks, for they are a rebellious house.” your hand.
10 And He said to me, “Son of man, 21 “But if you have warned the righteous
receive into your heart all My words that one that the righteous should not sin, and
I speak to you, and hear with your ears. he did not sin, he shall certainly live
11 “And go! Come to the exiles, to the because he has been warned, and you have
children of your people, and speak to them delivered your being.”
and say to them, ‘Thus said the Master 22 And the hand of HWHY came upon me
HWHY,’ whether they hear, or whether they there, and He said to me, “Arise, go out
refuse.” into the plain, so that I might speak to you
12 And the Spirit lifted me up, and behind there.”
me I heard the sound of a great rumbling 23 So I got up and went out into the plain,
voice, “Blessed be the esteem of HWHY from and see, the esteem of HWHY stood there,
His place,” like the esteem which I saw by the River
13 and the sound of the wings of the living KeÄar, and I fell on my face.
creatures touching one another, and the 24 And the Spirit entered me and set me
sound of the wheels beside them, and the on my feet, and spoke with me and said to
sound of a great rushing. me, “Go, shut yourself inside your house.
14 And the Spirit lifted me and took me 25 “And you, O son of man, see, they shall
away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat put cords on you and bind you with them,
of my spirit, while the hand of HWHY was so that you do not go out in their midst.
strong upon me. 26 “And I make your tongue stick to the
15 And I came to the exiles at TÃl AÄiÄ, roof of your mouth, so that you shall be
who were dwelling by the River KeÄar. dumb and not be a reprover to them, for
And I sat where they were sitting, and sat they are a rebellious house.
there, stunned among them, seven days. 27 “But when I speak with you, I open
16 And it came to be at the end of seven your mouth, and you shall say to them,
days that the word of HWHY came to me, ‘Thus said the Master HWHY.’ He who
saying, hears, let him hear. And he who refuses, let
17 “Son of man, I have made you a watch- him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.
man for the house of Yisra’Ãl. And you
shall hear a word from My mouth, and
shall warn them from Me. 4 “And you, son of man, take a clay
tablet, and you shall lay it before you,
18 “When I say to the wrong, b ‘You shall and shall inscribe on it a city, Yeru-
certainly die,’ and you have not warned shalayim,
him, nor spoken to warn the wrong from 2 and shall lay siege against it, and build
his wrong way, to save his life, that same a siege wall against it, and heap up a
wrong man shall die in his crookedness, mound against it, and set camps against it,
and his blood I require at your hand. and place battering rams against it all
19 “But if you have warned the wrong and around.
he does not turn from his wrong, nor from 3 “Then take an iron plate, and set it as an
his wrong way, he shall die in his crooked- iron wall between you and the city. And
ness, and you have delivered your being. you shall set your face against it, and it
20 “And when a righteous one turns from shall be besieged, and you shall lay siege
his righteousness and shall do unrighteous- against it. It is a sign to the house of
ness, when I have put a stumbling-block Yisra’Ãl.
before him, he shall die. Because you did 4 “And lie on your left side, and you shall
not warn him, he shall die in his sin, and put the crookedness of the house of Yis-
his righteousness which he has done is not ra’Ãl on it. As many days as you lie on it,
shall bear the crookedness of the house of of the city when the days of the siege are
YehuÅah forty days, a day for a year. I completed. And you shall take one-third
have laid on you a day for a year. and strike around it with the sword, and
7 “Then you shall set your face toward scatter one-third in the wind. And I shall
the siege of Yerushalayim, with your arm draw out a sword after them.
bared, and you shall prophesy against it. 3 “And you shall take a few hairs from
8 “And see, I shall put cords on you so there and bind them in the edge of your
that you do not turn from one side to garment.
another untill you have completed the days 4 “And take again some of them, and
of your siege. throw them into the midst of the fire, and
9 “And take wheat, and barley, and burn them in the fire. From it a fire shall
beans, and lentils, and millet, and spelt. spread unto all the house of Yisra’Ãl.
And you shall put them into one vessel, 5 “Thus said the Master HWHY, ‘This is
and make bread of them. You shall eat it, Yerushalayim which I have set in the midst
as many days as you lie on your side, three of the gentiles, with the other lands all
hundred and ninety days. around her.
10 “And your food which you eat is by 6 ‘But she rebelled against My right-
weight, twenty sheqels a day, to be eaten rulings, doing wrong, more than the gen-
from time to time. tiles, and My laws more than the lands all
11 “And drink water by measure, one- around her. For they have rejected My
sixth of a hin, to be drunk from time to right-rulings, and they have not walked in
time. My laws.’
12 “And eat it as a barley cake. And bake 7 “Therefore thus said the Master HWHY,
it, before their eyes, on human dung.” ‘Because you have rebelled more than the
13 And HWHY said, “Even so the children of gentiles all around you, and have not
Yisra’Ãl shall eat their defiled bread among walked in My laws, nor done My right-
the gentiles, to whom I drive them.” rulings, nor even done according to the
14 Then I said, “Ah, Master HWHY! See, I right-rulings of the gentiles all around
have never defiled myself from my youth you,’
till now. I have never eaten what died of 8 therefore thus said the Master HWHY,
itself or was torn by beasts, nor has ‘Look I Myself am against you and shall
unclean meat ever come into my mouth.” execute judgments in your midst before the
15 And He said to me, “See, I am giving eyes of the gentiles.
you the dung of cattle instead of human 9 ‘And I shall do among you what I have
dung, and you shall prepare your bread never done, and the like of which I never
over it.” do again, because of all your abomina-
16 And He said to me, “Son of man, see, I tions.
am going to cut off the supply of bread in 10 ‘Therefore fathers are going to eat their
Yerushalayim, and they shall eat bread by sons in your midst, and sons eat their
weight and with fear, and drink water by fathers. And I shall execute judgments
measure and with dread, among you and scatter all your remnant to
17 so that they lack bread and water, and all the winds.
shall be appalled with one another, and be 11 ‘Therefore, as I live,’ declares the
531 YEÀEZQÂL 6
destroy you, I shall increase the scarcity of and not for naught have I spoken to do this
food upon you and cut off your supply of evil to them.”
bread. 11 ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “Strike
17 ‘And I shall send against you scarcity with your hand and stamp your feet, and
of food and evil beasts, and they shall say, ‘Alas, because of all the evil abomina-
bereave you. And pestilence and blood tions of the house of Yisra’Ãl who shall fall
shall pass through you, while I bring the by sword, by scarcity of food, and by pesti-
sword against you. I, HWHY, have spoken.’ ” lence!
12 ‘He who is far off shall die by pesti-
against them and make the land a waste- ness no one holds fast to his life.
land, even more waste than the wilderness 14 ‘They have blown the trumpet and all is
toward DiÄlah, in all their dwelling places. prepared, but no one goes to battle, for My
And they shall know that I am HWHY.’ ” ’ ” wrath is on all its crowd.
15 ‘The sword is outside, and the pesti-
would I spare, for I repay your ways while be covered with trembling. And shame
your abominations are in your midst. And shall be on every face, and baldness on all
you shall know that I am HWHY!’ their heads.
5 “Thus said the Master HWHY, ‘A calami- 19 ‘They throw their silver into the streets,
ty, an only calamity, look, it has come! and their gold becomes as filth. Their
6 ‘An end has come, the end has come! It silver and their gold is unable to deliver
has awakened against you, look, it has them in the day of the wrath of HWHY.
come! They do not satisfy their appetite, nor fill
7 ‘The turn has come to you, O inhabi- their stomachs, because it has been their
tants of the land. The time has come, a day stumbling-block of crookedness.
of uproar is near, and not of rejoicing in the 20 ‘And the splendour of His ornaments,
midst. And you shall know that I am HWHY And they shall profane My secret place,
who smites. for destroyers shall enter it and profane it.
10 ‘See, the day! See, it has come! The 23 ‘Make a chain, for the land has been
turn has come, the rod has blossomed, filled with crimes of blood, and the city
pride has budded. has been filled with violence.
11 ‘The violence has grown into a rod of 24 ‘And I shall bring the evil ones of
wrongdoing. There is none of them, and the gentiles, and they shall possess their
none of its crowd, and none of their riches, houses. And I shall cause the pride of the
and none eminent among them. strong to cease, and their set-apart places
12 ‘The time has come, and the day has shall be profaned.
arrived. ‘Let not the buyer rejoice, nor the 25 ‘Destruction shall come. And they shall
seller mourn, for wrath is on all its crowd. seek peace, but there is none.
13 ‘For the seller shall not return to what 26 ‘Calamity upon calamity shall come,
has been sold, though they are still alive. and report shall be upon report. And they
For the vision is for all its crowd – it shall shall seek a vision from a prophet. But the
not turn back. And because of his crooked- teaching has perished from the priest, and
533 YEÀEZQÂL 8
counsel from the elders! 9 And He said to me, “Go in, and see the
27 ‘Let the sovereign mourn, and let the evil abominations c which they are doing
prince put on despair, and let the hands of there.”
the common people tremble. And I shall 10 And I went in and looked and saw all
deal with them according to their way, and kinds of creeping creatures, abominable
judge them with their own right-rulings. beasts, and all the idols of the house of
And they shall know that I am HWHY!’ ” Yisra’Ãl, carved all around on the walls.
11 And facing them stood seventy men of
c The True Worship became mixed with (defiled with) sun-worship, Tammuz being one of the sun deities. See
also 6:4, DeÄ. 4:19, DeÄ. 17:3, 2 Mel. 23:4-11, 2 DiÄre 14:5, IyoÄ 31:29, Yirm. 19:13, Yirm. 44:17, Acts 7:42.
YEÀEZQÂL 9 534
ers of the city draw near, each with his who had the ink-horn at his side, reported
weapon of destruction in his hand.” back and said, “I have done as You com-
2 And look, six men came from the direc- manded me.”
tion of the upper gate, which faces north,
each with his battle-axe in his hand. And
one man in their midst was clothed with 10 And I looked and saw in the
expanse that was above the head of
linen and had a writer’s ink-horn at his the keruÄim, like a sapphire stone, having
side. And they came in and stood beside the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
the bronze altar. 2 And He spoke to the man clothed with
3 And the esteem of the Elohim of linen, and said, “Go in among the wheels,
Yisra’Ãl went up from the keruÄ, where it under the keruÄ, and fill your hands with
had been, to the threshold of the House. coals of fire from among the keruÄim, and
And He called to the man clothed with scatter over the city.” And he went in
linen, who had the writer’s ink-horn at his before my eyes.
side, 3 And the keruÄim were standing on the
4 and HWHY said to him, “Pass on into the south side of the House when the man
midst of the city, into the midst of went in, and the cloud filled the inner
Yerushalayim, and you shall put a mark on court.
the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry 4 And the esteem of HWHY went up from
over all the abominations that are done the keruÄ, over the threshold of the House.
within it.” And the House was filled with the cloud,
5 And to the others He said in my hear- and the court was filled with the brightness
ing, “Pass on into the city after him and of the esteem of HWHY.
smite, do not let your eye pardon nor spare. 5 And the sound of the wings of the
6 “Slay to destruction old, young men, keruÄim was heard in the outer court, like
maidens and children and women, but do the voice of Âl Shaddai when He speaks.
not come near anyone upon whom is the 6 And it came to be, when He command-
mark, and begin at My set-apart place.” So ed the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take
they began with the elders who were in fire from among the wheels, from among
front of the House. the keruÄim,” that he went in and stood
7 And He said to them, “Defile the beside the wheel.
House, and fill the courts with the slain. 7 And the keruÄ stretched out his hand
Go out!” And they went out and smote in from among the keruÄim to the fire that
the city. was among the keruÄim, and took some,
8 And as they were smiting them it came and put it into the hands of the man clothed
to be that I alone was left. And I fell on my with linen, who took it and went out.
face and cried out, and said, “Ah, Master 8 And the form of a man’s hand was seen
HWHY! Are You destroying all the remnant under the wings of the keruÄim.
of Yisra’Ãl in pouring out Your wrath on 9 And I looked and saw four wheels
with bloodshed, and the city filled with alike; as if a wheel in the middle of a
that which is warped. For they say, ‘HWHY wheel.
has forsaken the land, and HWHY is not 11 When they went, they went on their
wheels that the four had, were covered are the men who plot wickedness and give
with eyes all around. evil counsel in this city,
13 The wheels were called in my hearing, 3 who are saying, ‘It is not near, let us
second face the face of a man, and the third prophesy, O son of man!”
the face of a lion, and the fourth the face 5 And the Spirit of HWHY fell upon me,
lifted their wings to mount up from the “Your slain whom you have laid in its
earth, the same wheels also did not turn midst, they are the meat, and this city is the
from beside them. cooking pot. But I shall bring you out of
17 When they stood still, the wheels stood the midst of it.
still, and when one was lifted up, the other 8 “You have feared the sword, and I bring
lifted itself up, for the spirit of the living a sword upon you,” declares the Master
creature was in them. HWHY.
18 And the esteem of HWHY went from the 9 “And I shall bring you out of its midst,
threshold of the House and stood over the and give you into the hands of strangers,
keruÄim. and execute judgments on you.
19 And the keruÄim lifted their wings and 10 “By the sword you fall. At the border of
rose from the earth before my eyes. When Yisra’Ãl I judge you. And you shall know
they went out, the wheels were beside that I am HWHY.
them. And it stood at the door of the east 11 “This city is not your cooking pot, nor
gate of the House of HWHY, and the esteem are you the meat in its midst. At the border
of the Elohim of Yisra’Ãl was above them. of Yisra’Ãl I judge you.
20 It was the living creature I saw under 12 “And you shall know that I am HWHY,
the Elohim of Yisra’Ãl by the River KeÄar, for you have not walked in My laws nor
and I knew they were keruÄim. executed My right-rulings, but have done
21 Each one had four faces and each one according to the rulings of the gentiles d
four wings, and the likeness of the hands which are all around you.” ’ ”
of a man was under their wings. 13 And it came to be, while I was proph-
22 And the likeness of their faces was the esying, that Pelatyahu son of Benayah
same as the faces which I had seen by the died. And I fell on my face and cried out
River KeÄar, their appearances and them- with a loud voice, and said, “Ah, Master
selves. Each one went straight forward. HWHY! Are You making an end of the rem-
nant of Yisra’Ãl?”
11 And the Spirit lifted me up and
brought me to the east gate of the
14 Then the word of HWHY came to me,
saying,
House of HWHY, which faces east. And see, 15 “Son of man, your brothers, your rela-
at the door of the gate were twenty-five tives, your kinsmen, and all the house of
men, among whom I saw YaÈazanyah son Yisra’Ãl, all of it, are those about whom the
in the lands to which they came.” ’ for exile before their eyes by day, and at
17 “Therefore say, ‘Thus said the Master evening go before their eyes, like those
HWHY, “And I shall gather you from the who go into exile.
peoples, and I shall assemble you from the 5 “Dig through the wall before their eyes,
lands where you have been scattered, and and you shall bring them out through it –
I shall give you the land of Yisra’Ãl.” ’ 6 take them on your shoulders and bring
18 “And they shall go there, and shall take them out at dark before their eyes. Cover
away all its disgusting matters and all its your face, so that you do not see the land,
abominations from there. for I have made you a sign to the house of
19 “And I shall give them one heart, and Yisra’Ãl.”
put a new spirit within you. And I shall 7 And so I did, as I was commanded. I
take the stony heart out of their flesh, and brought out my baggage for exile by day,
give them a heart of flesh, and at evening I dug through the wall with
20 so that they walk in My laws, and guard my hand. I brought them out at dark, and I
My right-rulings, and shall do them. And took them on my shoulder before their
they shall be My people and I shall be their eyes.
Elohim. 8 And in the morning the word of HWHY
21 “But to those whose hearts walk after came to me, saying,
the heart of their disgusting matters and 9 “Son of man, did not the house of
their abominations, I shall recompense Yisra’Ãl, the rebellious house, say to you,
their deeds on their own heads,” declares ‘What are you doing?’
the Master HWHY. 10 “Say to them, ‘Thus said the Master
22 And the keruÄim lifted up their wings, HWHY, “This message is to the prince in
with the wheels beside them, and the Yerushalayim and all the house of Yisra’Ãl
esteem of the Elohim of Yisra’Ãl was high who are in their midst.” ’
above them. 11 “Say, ‘I am a sign to you. As I have
23 And the esteem of HWHY went up from done, so it is done to them – they are to go
the midst of the city and stood upon the into exile, into captivity.’
mountain, which is on the east side of the 12 “And the prince who is in their midst is
words of HWHY which He had shown me. and he shall be caught in My snare. And I
shall bring him to BaÄel, the land of the
12 And the word of HWHY came to me,
saying,
2 “Son of man, you are dwelling in the
Chaldeans, but he shall not see it, and yet
die there.
14 “And I shall scatter to every wind all
midst of a rebellious house. They have who are around him to help him, and all
eyes to see but they have not seen, they his bands, and I shall draw out the sword
have ears to hear but they have not heard, after them.
537 YEÀEZQÂL 13
15 “And they shall know that I am HWHY, for many days from now, and he is proph-
when I scatter them among the gentiles. esying of times far off.’
28 “Therefore say to them, ‘Thus said the
And I shall disperse them throughout the
lands. Master HWHY, “None of My words are
16 “But I shall let a few of their men deferred any longer. When I speak a word
escape from the sword, from scarcity of it is done,” declares the Master HWHY.’ ”
food, and from pestilence, so that they
recount all their abominations among the
gentiles wherever they go. And they shall 13 And the word of HWHY came to me,
saying,
2 “Son of man, prophesy against the
know that I am HWHY.”
17 And the word of HWHY came to me, prophets of Yisra’Ãl who prophesy, and say
saying, to those who prophesy out of their own
18 “Son of man, eat your bread with trem- heart, ‘Hear the word of HWHY!’ ”
3 Thus said the Master HWHY, “Woe to the
bling, and drink your water with fear and
with anxiety. foolish prophets, who are following their
19 “And you shall say to the people of the own spirit, without having had a vision!
4 “O Yisra’Ãl, your prophets have been
land, ‘Thus said the Master HWHY to the
inhabitants of Yerushalayim and to the like foxes among ruins.
5 “You have not gone up into the breach-
land of Yisra’Ãl, “Let them eat their bread
with anxiety, and drink their water with es, nor do you build a wall for the house of
astonishment, for her land is emptied of all Yisra’Ãl to stand in battle on the day of
who are in it, because of the violence of all HWHY.
6 “Their visions are false and their
those who dwell in it.
20 “And the cities that are inhabited divinations a lie, saying, ‘Thus declares
shall be laid waste, and the land shall HWHY,’ when HWHY has not sent them, yet
become a wasteland. And you shall know they expected the word to be confirmed!
7 “Have you not seen a false vision, and
that I am HWHY.” ’ ”
21 And the word of HWHY came to me, have you not spoken a divination of lies?
saying, You say, ‘HWHY declares,’ when I have not
22 “Son of man, what is this proverb that spoken.”
you people have about the land of Yisra’Ãl, 8 Therefore thus said the Master HWHY,
which says, ‘The days go by, and every “Because you have spoken falsehood and
vision shall come to naught’? seen lies, therefore see, I am against you,”
23 “Therefore say to them, ‘Thus said the declares the Master HWHY.
Master HWHY, “I shall make this proverb to 9 “My hand shall be against the prophets
cease, so that they no longer use it as a who see falsehood and who divine lies.
proverb in Yisra’Ãl.” But say to them, “The They shall not be in the council of My peo-
days have drawn near, as well as the matter ple, nor be written in the record of the
of every vision. house of Yisra’Ãl, and they shall not enter
24 “For no longer is there to be any false into the land of Yisra’Ãl. And you shall
vision or flattering divination within the know that I am the Master HWHY.
house of Yisra’Ãl. 10 “Because, yea because they have led
25 “For I am HWHY, I speak. And the word My people astray, saying, ‘Peace!’ when
which I speak is done. It is no longer there is no peace. And when one is build-
deferred. For in your days, O rebellious ing a wall, see, they are coating it with
house, when I speak the word I shall do it,” whitewash!
declares the Master HWHY.’ ” 11 “Say to those who coat it with white-
26 Again the word of HWHY came to me, wash: it shall fall! There shall be flooding
saying, rain, and you, O great hailstones: fall! –
27 “Son of man, see, the house of Yisra’Ãl and a stormy wind breaks it down,
is saying, ‘The vision that he is seeing is 12 and see, the wall shall fall! Shall you
YEÀEZQÂL 13 538
not be asked, ‘Where is the coating with made the heart of the righteous sad, whom
which you coated it?’ ” I have not made sad. And you have
13 Therefore thus said the Master HWHY, strengthened the hands of the wrong, so
“I shall break down with a stormy wind that he does not turn from his evil way, to
in My wrath, and a flooding rain in My keep him alive.
displeasure, and great hailstones in wrath, 23 “Therefore you shall no longer see false
wash, and say to you, ‘The wall is no their idols in their hearts, and have put
more, nor those whitewashing it – the stumbling-block of their crookedness
16 the prophets of Yisra’Ãl who are proph- before their face. Should I let them inquire
esying concerning Yerushalayim, and who of Me at all?
are seeing visions of peace for her when 4 “Therefore speak to them, and you
there is no peace,’ ” declares the Master shall say to them, ‘Thus said the Master
HWHY. HWHY, “Everyone of the house of Yisra’Ãl
17 “And you, son of man, set your face who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts
against the daughters of your people, who the stumbling-block of his crookedness
are prophesying out of their own heart, and before his face, and shall come to the
prophesy against them. prophet – I HWHY shall answer him who
18 “And you shall say, ‘This is what the comes, according to his many idols,
Master HWHY said, “Woe to the women 5 in order to lay hold of the house of
sewing cushions for all joints of the hand, Yisra’Ãl by their heart, for they have
and to those making veils for the heads of become estranged from Me by their idols,
people of every size, to hunt beings! You all of them.” ’
hunt the beings of My people, while you 6 “Therefore say to the house of Yisra’Ãl,
keep alive your own beings! ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “Repent, and
19 “And you have profaned Me among turn back from your idols, and turn back
My people for handfuls of barley and for your faces from all your abominations.
pieces of bread, to put to death beings that 7 “For anyone of the house of Yisra’Ãl, or
should not die, and to keep alive beings of the strangers who sojourn in Yisra’Ãl,
who should not live, by your lying to who separates himself from Me and sets up
My people who listen to lies!” his idols in his heart and puts the stum-
20 ‘Therefore thus said the Master HWHY, bling-block of his crookedness before his
“See, I am against your cushions by which face, and shall come to a prophet to inquire
you hunt the beings there like birds. And I of him concerning Me, I HWHY shall answer
shall tear them from your arms, and shall him Myself.
let the beings go, the beings you hunt like 8 “And I shall set My face against that
Dani’Ãl, and IyoÄ, were in it, they would than any tree, the vine branch that has been
deliver only themselves by their righteous- among the trees of the forest?
ness,” declares the Master HWHY. 3 “Is wood taken from it to be made into
15 “If I cause an evil beast to pass through any work? Do they take a peg from it to
the land, and it shall bereave it, and it shall hang any vessel on?
be a wasteland, so that no man passes 4 “See, into the fire it shall be given for
through because of the beasts, fuel. Both ends of it the fire shall burn, and
16 even though these three men were in it, its middle shall be scorched. Is it fit for any
as I live,” declares the Master HWHY, “they work?
would deliver neither sons nor daughters. 5 “See, when it was intact, it was not
They alone would be delivered, but the made for work, how much less when the
land be a wasteland. fire has burned it and it is scorched shall it
17 “Or if I bring a sword on that land, and still be used for work?
I shall say, ‘Sword, go through the land,’ 6 “Therefore thus said the Master HWHY,
and I shall cut off man and beast from it, ‘As the vine tree among the trees of the
18 even though these three men were in its forest, which I have given to the fire for
midst, as I live,” declares the Master HWHY, fuel, so I shall give up the inhabitants of
“they would deliver neither sons nor Yerushalayim.
daughters, for they alone would be deliv- 7 ‘And I shall set My face against them.
were in it, as I live,” declares the Master because they committed trespass,’ declares
HWHY, “they would deliver neither son nor the Master HWHY.”
daughter. They would deliver their own
lives by their righteousness.”
21 For thus said the Master HWHY, “How 16 Again the word of HWHY came to
me, saying,
2 “Son of man, make known to Yeru-
much more it shall be when I send My four
evil judgments on Yerushalayim: the shalayim her abominations,
sword and scarcity of food and evil beasts 3 and say, ‘Thus said the Master HWHY to
and pestilence, to cut off man and beast Yerushalayim, “Your origin and your birth
YEÀEZQÂL 16 540
are from the land of KenaÈan. Your father 15 “But you trusted in your own loveli-
was an Amorite and your mother a Àittite. ness, and whored because of your name,
4 “As for your birth, on the day you were and poured out your whorings on everyone
born your navel cord was not cut, nor were passing by who would have it.
you washed in water for cleansing, and 16 “And you took some of your garments
you were not rubbed with salt at all, nor and made multi-coloured high places for
wrapped in cloth at all. yourself, and whored on them – which
5 “No eye felt sorry for you, to do any of should not have come about, nor shall it
these for you, to have compassion on you. be.
But you were thrown out into the open 17 “And you took your splendid adorn-
field, to the loathing of your life on the day ments, of My gold and My silver that I
you were born. gave you, and made for yourself images of
6 “Then I passed by you and saw you a male and whored with them.
trampled down in your own blood, and I 18 “And you took your embroidered
said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ And I garments and covered them, and you set
said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ My oil and My incense before them.
7 “I have let you grow like a plant in the 19 “And My food which I gave you, fine
field. And you are grown and are great, flour and oil and honey which I fed you,
and you come in the finest ornaments. – you set it before them as sweet incense –
breasts were formed, your hair grew, and and so it was,” declares the Master HWHY.
you were naked and bare. 20 “And you took your sons and your
8 “Again I passed by you and looked daughters, whom you bore to Me, and
upon you and saw that your time was the these you slaughtered as food to them.
time of love. And I spread My skirt over Were your whorings a small matter,
you and covered your nakedness. And I 21 that you have slain My children and
swore an oath to you and entered into a gave them up to them by causing them to
covenant with you, and you became pass through the fire?
Mine,” declares the Master HWHY. 22 “And in all your abominations and
9 “And I washed you in water, and I whorings you did not remember the days
washed off your blood, and I anointed you of your youth, when you were naked and
with oil. bare, trampled down in your blood.
10 “And I dressed you in embroidered 23 “Then it came to be after all your evil –
work and gave you sandals of leather. And ‘Woe, woe to you!’ declares the Master
I wrapped you in fine linen and covered HWHY –
you with silk. 24 that you also built an arched place for
11 “And I adorned you with ornaments, yourself, and made a high place in every
and I put bracelets on your wrists, and a street for yourself.
chain on your neck. 25 “You built your high places at the head
12 “And I put a ring on your nose, and ear- of every way, and made your loveliness to
rings in your ears, and a crown of adorning be loathed. And you parted your feet to
on your head. everyone who passed by, and increased
13 “Thus you were adorned with gold and your whorings.
silver, and your dress was of fine linen, 26 “And you whored with the sons of
and silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate Mitsrayim, your neighbours, great of flesh.
fine flour, and honey, and oil. And you And you increased your whorings to pro-
were exceedingly pretty, and became fit voke Me.
for royalty. 27 “And see, I have stretched out My hand
14 “And your name went out among the against you, and withdrew your portion,
nations because of your loveliness, for it and gave you up to the desire of those who
was perfect, by My splendour which I had hate you, the daughters of the Philistines,
put on you,” declares the Master HWHY. who are ashamed of your wicked way.
541 YEÀEZQÂL 16
28 “And you whored with the sons of 40 “And they shall bring up an assembly
Ashshur, without being satisfied. And against you, and they shall stone you with
you whored with them and still were not stones and thrust you through with their
satisfied. swords,
29 “And you increased your whorings as 41 and burn your houses with fire, and
far as the land of traders, Chaldea, and execute judgments on you before the eyes
even then you were not satisfied. of many women. And I shall make you
30 “How weak is your heart!” declares the stop whoring, and no longer give gifts.
Master HWHY, “seeing you do all this, the 42 “So I shall bring My wrath to rest upon
deeds of a shameless whore. you, and My jealousy shall turn away from
31 “You built your arched place at the you. And I shall be calm, and no longer be
head of every way, and built your high vexed.
place in every street. Yet you were unlike a 43 “Because you did not remember the
whore, you scorned payment! days of your youth, but troubled Me with
32 “The wife who commits adultery who all this, so see, I shall also bring your way
takes strangers instead of her husband! on your own head,” declares the Master
33 “To all whores they give gifts, but you HWHY. “And shall I not do this thought for
gave gifts to all your lovers, and bribed all your abominations?
them to come to you from all around in 44 “See, all who use proverbs shall use
whores after you, and in you giving a gift, despises her husband and her children.
while a gift was not given to you. Thus you And you are the sister of your sisters, who
are different.” despised their husbands and their children.
35 ‘Therefore, O whore, hear the word of Your mother was a Àittite and your father
HWHY! an Amorite.
36 ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “Because 46 “And your elder sister is Shomeron, she
your copper was poured out and your and her daughters, who is dwelling to the
nakedness uncovered in your whorings north of you. And your younger sister, who
with your lovers, and with the idols of your is dwelling to the south of you, is SeÅom
abominations, and because of the blood of and her daughters.
your children which you gave to them, 47 “And have you not walked in their
37 therefore, see, I am gathering all your ways and did according to their abomina-
lovers with whom you took pleasure, all tions? But in all your ways you soon
those you loved, with all those you hated. became more corrupt than they.
And I shall gather them from all around 48 “As I live,” declares the Master HWHY,
against you and shall uncover your naked- “neither your sister SeÅom nor her
ness to them, and they shall see all your daughters have done as you and your
nakedness. daughters have done.
38 “And I shall judge you with judgments 49 “See, this was the crookedness of your
of adulteresses and shedders of blood. And sister SeÅom: She and her daughter had
I shall bring on you the blood of wrath and pride, sufficiency of bread, and uncon-
jealousy. cerned ease. And she did not help the poor
39 “And I shall give you into their hand, and needy.
and they shall throw your arched place 50 “And they were haughty and did abom-
down, and they shall break down your high ination before Me, and I took them away
places. And they shall strip you of your when I saw it.
garments, and they shall take your splen- 51 “And Shomeron did not commit half of
did adornments, and leave you naked and your sins, but you have increased your
bare. abominations more than they, and by all
YEÀEZQÂL 16 542
made a covenant with him, and put him up the green tree and made the dry tree
under oath. And he took away the mighty flourish. I, HWHY, have spoken and shall do
of the land, it.”
14 so that the reign would be brought low
his messengers to Mitsrayim, to give him proverb concerning the land of Yisra’Ãl,
horses and many people. Shall he thrive? saying, ‘The fathers have eaten sour
Shall he escape who is doing these? And grapes, and the children’s teeth are blunt-
shall he break a covenant and still escape? ed’?
16 ‘As I live,’ declares the Master HWHY, 3 “As I live,” declares the Master HWHY,
‘in the place where the sovereign dwells “you shall no longer use this proverb
who set him up to reign, whose oath he in Yisra’Ãl.
despised and whose covenant he broke, 4 “See, all beings are Mine, the being of
with him in the midst of BaÄel he shall die! the father as well as the being of the son is
17 ‘And Pharaoh with his great army and Mine. The being that is sinning shall die.
great company is not going to help him in 5 “But if a man is righteous and shall do
“As I live, My oath which he has despised, return to the debtor his pledge, does not
and My covenant which he has broken, commit robbery, does give his bread to the
shall I not put it on his own head? hungry and covers the naked with a
20 “And I shall spread My net over him, garment,
and he shall be taken in My snare. And I 8 if he does not lend on interest or take
shall bring him to BaÄel and enter into increase, turns back his hand from unright-
judgment with him there for the trespass eousness, executes right-ruling in truth
which he committed against Me, between man and man,
21 and all his fugitives with all his bands 9 if he walks in My laws, and he has
fall by the sword, and those who are left be guarded My right-rulings in truth – he is
scattered to every wind. And you shall righteous, he shall certainly live!” declares
know that I, HWHY, have spoken.” the Master HWHY.
22 Thus said the Master HWHY, “And I shall 10 “But if he has brought forth a son who
take of the top of the highest cedar and set is a robber or a shedder of blood, who does
it out. And I Myself shall pluck off a tender any of these –
one from the topmost of its young twigs, 11 whereas he himself did not do any of
and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. these – that also he has eaten on the moun-
23 “On the mountain height of Yisra’Ãl I tains or defiled his neighbour’s wife,
plant it. And it shall bring forth branches, 12 if he has oppressed the poor and needy,
and bear fruit, and become a big cedar. has committed robbery, he does not return
And under it shall dwell birds of every a pledge, has lifted his eyes to the idols, or
sort, in the shadow of its branches they did abomination,
shall dwell. 13 if he has lent on interest or taken
24 “And all the trees of the field shall increase – shall he live? He shall not live!
know that I, HWHY, have brought down the If he has done any of these abominations,
high tree and exalted the low tree, dried he shall certainly die, his blood is upon
YEÀEZQÂL 18 544
for the crookedness of his father, he shall the wrong which he has done, and he does
certainly live! right-ruling and righteousness, he keeps
18 “His father, because he used oppres- himself alive.
sion, robbed his brother, and did what is 28 “Because he sees and turns away from
not good among his people, see, he shall all the transgressions which he has done,
die for his crookedness. he shall certainly live, he shall not die.
19 “And you said, ‘Why should the son 29 “And the house of Yisra’Ãl have said,
not bear the crookedness of the father?’ ‘The way of HWHY is not right.’ Are My
But the son has done right-ruling and right- ways not right, O house of Yisra’Ãl? Is it
eousness, he has guarded all My laws and not your ways that are not right?
he does them, he shall certainly live. 30 “Therefore I judge you, O house of
20 “The being who sins shall die. The son Yisra’Ãl, every one according to his ways,”
shall not bear the crookedness of the declares the Master HWHY. “Repent, and
father, nor the father bear the crookedness turn back from all your transgressions, and
of the son. The righteousness of the right- let not crookedness be a stumbling-block
eous is upon himself, and the wrongness to you.
of the wrong is upon himself. 31 “Cast away from you all the transgres-
21 “But the wrong, e if he turns from all sions, by which you have transgressed, and
his sins which he has done, and he shall make for yourselves a new heart and a new
guard all My laws, and shall do right- spirit. For why should you die, O house of
ruling and righteousness, he shall certainly Yisra’Ãl?
live, he shall not die. 32 “For I have no pleasure in the death of
22 “All the transgressions which he has one who dies,” declares the Master HWHY.
done shall not be remembered against him “So turn back and live!”
– in his righteousness that he has done, he
shall live.
23 “Have I any pleasure in the death of the 19 “And take up a lamentation for the
leaders of Yisra’Ãl,
2 and you shall say, ‘What a lioness was
wrong?” declares the Master HWHY. “Is it
not that he should turn from his ways, and your mother among the lions! She lay
live? down among the lions, in the midst of the
24 “But when a righteous one turns away young lions she reared her cubs.
from his righteousness and does unright- 3 ‘And she brought up one of her cubs,
her cubs and made him a young lion. Make known to them the abominations of
6 ‘And he went about among the lions, their fathers.
and became a young lion. And he learned 5 “And you shall say to them, ‘Thus said
to tear the prey, he devoured men. the Master HWHY, “On the day when I chose
7 ‘And he knew their widows, and laid Yisra’Ãl and lifted My hand in an oath to
waste their cities. And the land and all who the seed of the house of YaÈaqoÄ, and made
filled it was stunned by the noise of his Myself known to them in the land of
roaring. Mitsrayim, I lifted My hand in an oath to
8 ‘Then nations set against him from the them, saying, ‘I am HWHY your Elohim.’
provinces on every side, and spread their 6 “On that day I lifted My hand in an oath
net over him, he was caught in their pit. to them, to bring them out of the land of
9 ‘And they put him in a cage in chains, Mitsrayim into a land that I had searched
and brought him to the sovereign of BaÄel. out for them, flowing with milk and honey,
They brought him in nets, so his roar was the splendour of all lands.
no longer heard on the mountains of 7 “And I said to them, ‘Each one of you,
tenth of the month, that certain of the them My right-rulings, ‘which, if a man
elders of Yisra’Ãl came to inquire of HWHY, does, he shall live by them.’
and sat before me. 12 “And I also gave them My Sabbaths, to
2 And the word of HWHY came to me, be a sign f between them and Me, to know
fThe only sign of HWHY setting us apart, the only sign of the everlasting covenant, is His Sabbaths, one of them
being the seventh day Sabbath. See also Shem. 31:13-17.
YEÀEZQÂL 20 546
against Me in the wilderness. They did not rulings, and they rejected My laws, and
walk in My laws, and they rejected My they profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes
right-rulings, which, if a man does, he were on their fathers’ idols.
25 “And I also gave them up to laws that
shall live by them. And they greatly pro-
faned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would were not good, and right-rulings by which
pour out My wrath on them in the wilder- they would not live. g
26 “And I defiled them by their own gifts,
ness, to consume them.
14 “But I acted for My Name’s sake, not as they passed all their first-born through
to profane it before the gentiles, before the fire, so that I might stun them, so that
whose eyes I had brought them out. they know that I am HWHY.” ’
15 “And I Myself also lifted My hand in 27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the
an oath to them in the wilderness, not to house of Yisra’Ãl, and you shall say to
bring them into the land which I had given them, ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “In this
them, flowing with milk and honey, the your fathers have further reviled Me,
splendour of all lands, by committing trespass against Me.
16 because they rejected My right-rulings 28 “When I brought them into the land for
and did not walk in My laws, and they pro- which I had lifted My hand in an oath to
faned My Sabbaths. For their heart went give them, and they saw all the high hills
after their idols. and all the thick trees, they offered their
17 “And My eye pardoned them, from slaughterings there and provoked Me with
destroying them. And I did not make an their offerings there. And they sent up their
end of them in the wilderness. sweet fragrance there and poured out their
18 “And I said to their children in the drink offerings there.
wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the laws of 29 “And I said to them, ‘What is this high
your fathers, nor observe their rulings, nor place to which you go?’ So its name is
defile yourselves with their idols. called High Place to this day.” ’
19 ‘I am HWHY your Elohim. Walk in My 30 “Therefore say to the house of Yisra’Ãl,
laws, and guard My right-rulings, and do ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “Are you
them. defiling yourselves in the way of your
20 ‘And set apart My Sabbaths, and they fathers? And do you whore after their
shall be a sign between Me and you, to abominations?
know that I am HWHY your Elohim.’ 31 “For when you lift up your gifts and
21 “But the children rebelled against Me. make your sons pass through the fire, you
They did not walk in My laws, and My defile yourselves with all your idols, even
right-rulings they did not guard to do them, to this day. And shall I be inquired of by
which, if a man does, he shall live by them. you, O house of Yisra’Ãl? As I live,”
They profaned My Sabbaths, so I resolved declares the Master HWHY, “I am not being
to pour out My wrath on them to complete inquired of by you.
My displeasure against them in the wilder- 32 “And what comes up in your spirit shall
I had brought them out. “do not I, with a mighty hand, with an
23 “Also, I Myself lifted My hand in an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured
oath to those in the wilderness, to scatter out, reign over you?
them among the gentiles and disperse them 34 “And I shall bring you out from the
g Teh. 81:12, Yesh. 30:28, Acts 7:42, Rom. 1:24-28, 2 Thess. 2:11.
547 YEÀEZQÂL 21
peoples and gather you out of the lands according to your corrupt deeds, O house
where you are scattered, with a mighty of Yisra’Ãl,” declares the Master HWHY.’ ”
hand, and with an outstretched arm, and 45 And the word of HWHY came to me,
ness of the peoples, and shall enter into south, and drop word against the south and
judgment with you face to face there. prophesy against the forest land, the South.
36 “As I entered into judgment with your 47 “And you shall say to the forest of the
fathers in the wilderness of the land of South, ‘Hear the word of HWHY! Thus said
Mitsrayim, so I shall enter into judgment the Master HWHY, “See, I am kindling a fire
with you,” declares the Master HWHY. in you, and it shall devour every green tree
37 “And I shall make you pass under the and every dry tree in you – the blazing
rod, and shall bring you into the bond of flame is not quenched. And it shall burn all
the covenant, faces from the south to the north.
38 and purge the rebels from among you, 48 “And all flesh shall see that I, HWHY,
and those who transgress against Me. have kindled it, it is not quenched.” ’ ”
From the land where they sojourn I bring 49 And I said, “Ah, Master HWHY! They are
them out, but they shall not come into the saying of me, ‘Is he not speaking
land of Yisra’Ãl. And you shall know that I parables?’ ”
am HWHY.
39 “As for you, O house of Yisra’Ãl,” thus
said the Master HWHY, “Go, serve each of 21 And the word of HWHY came to me,
saying,
2 “Son of man, set your face toward
you his idols, and afterwards, if you are not
listening to Me. But do not profane My Yerushalayim, and drop word against the
set-apart Name any more with your gifts set-apart places, and prophesy against the
and your idols. land of Yisra’Ãl.
40 “For on My set-apart mountain, on the 3 “And you shall say to the land of
mountain height of Yisra’Ãl,” declares the Yisra’Ãl, ‘Thus said HWHY, “See, I am
Master HWHY, “there all the house of Yisra’Ãl, against you, and I shall draw My sword out
all of them in the land, shall serve Me. There of its sheath and cut off from you the right-
I shall accept them, and there I shall require eous and the wrong.
your offerings and the first-fruits of your 4 “Because I shall cut off from you the
offerings, together with all your set-apart righteous and the wrong, therefore My
gifts. sword shall go out of its sheath against all
41 “As a sweet fragrance I shall accept flesh from south to north.
you when I bring you out from the peoples. 5 “And all flesh shall know that I, HWHY,
And I shall gather you out of the lands have drawn My sword out of its sheath, not
where you have been scattered. And I shall to turn back again.” ’
be set-apart in you before the gentiles. 6 “And you, son of man, sigh with a
42 “And you shall know that I am HWHY, breaking of loins, and sigh with bitterness
when I bring you into the land of Yisra’Ãl, before their eyes.
into the land for which I lifted My hand in 7 “And it shall be when they say to you,
an oath to give to your fathers. ‘Why are you sighing?’ that you shall say,
43 “And there you shall remember your ‘Because of the report that is coming. And
ways and all your deeds with which you every heart shall melt, and all hands shall
were defiled. And you shall loathe your- go limp, and every spirit become faint, and
selves in your own sight because of all the all knees be weak as water. See, it is com-
evils that you did. ing, and it shall be,’ declares the Master
44 “And you shall know that I am HWHY, HWHY.”
when I have dealt with you for My Name’s 8 And the word of HWHY came to me,
9 “Son of man, prophesy, and you shall rams, to call for a slaughter, to lift the
say, ‘Thus said HWHY! “Say, ‘A sword, voice with shouting, to set battering rams
a sword is sharpened and also polished! against the gates, to heap up a siege
10 ‘It is sharpened to make a slaughter, it mound, to build a wall.
is polished to flash like lightning!’ Or shall 23 “And it shall be to them as a false
we rejoice? My son, you have despised divination in the eyes of those who have
the rod, every stick! sworn oaths to them. But he is bringing
11 “And He has given it to be polished, to their crookedness to remembrance, so that
be taken by the hand. This sword is sharp- they are taken.
ened and polished, to be given into the 24 “Therefore thus said the Master HWHY,
made like lightning, keen for slaughter. say, ‘Thus said the Master HWHY concerning
16 “Sharpen yourself on the right, set the Ammonites and concerning their
yourself on the left, wherever your edge is reproach.’ And you shall say, ‘A sword, a
appointed! sword, drawn for slaughter, polished to the
17 “And I too, I shall strike My hands utmost like lightning –
together and cause My wrath to rest. I, 29 while they see false visions for you,
HWHY, have spoken.” while they divine a lie to you – to put you
18 And the word of HWHY came to me on the necks of the profaned ones, the
again, saying, wrong ones whose day has come, in the
19 “And you, son of man, appoint for your- time of the crookedness of the end.
self two ways for the sword of the sover- 30 ‘Return it to its sheath. In the place
eign of BaÄel to go, both of them coming where you were created, in the land of
from one land. And place a signpost, put it your origin, I shall judge you.
at the head of the way to the city. 31 ‘And I shall pour out My displeasure on
20 “Appoint a way for the sword to go you, blow against you with the fire of My
to Rabbah of the Ammonites, and to wrath, and shall give you into the hands of
YehuÅah, into the walled Yerushalayim. beastly men, skilled to destroy.
21 “For the sovereign of BaÄel shall stand 32 ‘You are to be fuel for the fire, your
at the parting of the way, at the fork of the blood to be in the midst of the land. You
two ways, to practise divination. He shall are not to be remembered, for I HWHY have
shake the arrows, he shall ask the house- spoken.’ ”
hold idols, he shall look at the liver.
22 “In his right hand shall be the divina-
tion for Yerushalayim: to set up battering 22 And the word of HWHY came to me,
saying,
549 YEÀEZQÂL 22
all her abominations! remain strong, in the days when I deal with
3 “And you shall say, ‘Thus said the you? I, HWHY, have spoken, and shall do it.
Master HWHY, “The city sheds blood in her 15 “And I shall scatter you among the
midst, that her time might come. And she gentiles, and shall disperse you throughout
has made idols within herself to become the lands, and shall consume your filthi-
defiled. ness out of you.
4 “You have become guilty by the blood 16 “And you shall profane yourself before
which you have shed, and have defiled the eyes of the gentiles. And you shall
yourself with the idols which you have know that I am HWHY.” ’ ”
made. Thus you have brought your days 17 And the word of HWHY came to me, say-
reproach to the gentiles, and a mockery to become dross to Me. All of them are
all lands. bronze, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the
5 “Those near and those far from you midst of a furnace – they have become the
mock you – defiled is your name and great dross of silver.
the confusion! 19 “Therefore thus said the Master HWHY,
6 “See the leaders of Yisra’Ãl: each one ‘Because all of you have become dross,
has used his arm to shed blood in you. therefore see, I am gathering you into the
7 “They have despised father and mother midst of Yerushalayim.
within you. They have oppressed the 20 ‘As they gather silver, and bronze, and
stranger in your midst. They have wronged iron, and lead, and tin into the midst of a
the fatherless and the widow within you. furnace, to blow fire on it, to melt it, so I
8 “You have despised that which is set- gather you in My displeasure and in My
apart to Me, and you have profaned My wrath. And I shall blow and melt you.
Sabbaths. 21 ‘And I shall gather you and blow on
9 “Slanderous men have been in you to you with the fire of My wrath, and you
shed blood. And in you are those who eat shall be melted in its midst.
on the mountains. They have done wicked- 22 ‘As silver is melted in the midst of a
cleanness. saying,
11 “And the one has done abomination 24 “Son of man, say to her, ‘You are a land
with his neighbour’s wife. And another has that is not cleansed or rained upon in the
wickedly defiled his daughter-in-law. And day of displeasure.’
another within you has humbled his sister, 25 “There is a conspiracy of her prophets
his father’s daughter. in her midst, like a roaring lion tearing the
12 “In you they have taken a bribe to shed prey. They have devoured life, they have
blood. You have taken interest and taken wealth and precious matters, they
increase. You have cut off your neighbour have made many widows in her midst.
by extortion. And you have forgotten Me,” 26 “Her priests have done violence to My
the unclean and the clean. And they have from Mitsrayim, for in her youth they had
hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, and lain with her, and they squeezed her maid-
I am profaned in their midst. en nipples, and poured out their whorings
27 “Her leaders in her midst are like on her.
wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to 9 “Therefore I have given her into the
destroy lives, and to get greedy gain. hand of her lovers, into the hand of the
28 “And her prophets have coated them Ashshurians, for whom she lusted.
with whitewash, seeing a false vision, and 10 “They uncovered her nakedness, they
divining a lie for them, saying, ‘Thus said took away her sons and daughters, and
the Master HWHY,’ when HWHY had not slew her with the sword. And she became a
spoken. byword among women, and they executed
29 “The people of the land have practised judgments on her.
oppression, and committed robbery, and 11 “And her sister OholiÄah saw this, yet
have wronged the poor and needy. And she became more corrupt in her lust than
they oppressed the stranger without right- she, and in her whorings more corrupt than
ruling. her sister’s whorings.
30 “And I sought for a man among them 12 “She lusted for the sons of Ashshur,
who would make a wall, and stand in the officers and rulers, the ones near, perfectly
breach before Me on behalf of the land, dressed, horsemen riding on horses, all
that I should not destroy it – but I did not of them desirable young men.
find one! 13 “And I saw that she was defiled, they
31 “Therefore I have poured out My dis- both took the same way.
pleasure on them, I have consumed them 14 “But she increased her whorings, and
with the fire of My wrath. And I have put she looked at men carved on the wall,
their way on their own head,” declares the images of Chaldeans portrayed in red,
Master HWHY. 15 girded with belts around their loins,
were handled, and there their maiden nip- the bed of love, and they defiled her with
ples were squeezed. their whorings. And she was defiled by
4 “And their names were: Oholah the them, and her being turned from them in
elder and OholiÄah her sister. And they disgust.
were Mine, and they bore sons and daugh- 18 “And she uncovered her whorings and
ters. And their names: Shomeron is uncovered her nakedness. Then I turned
Oholah, and Yerushalayim is OholiÄah. My being from her in disgust, as My being
5 “And Oholah whored while she was had turned from her sister in disgust.
Mine. And she lusted for her lovers, the 19 “And she increased her whorings,
idols, she defiled herself. your youth, when the Mitsrites squeezed
8 “And she did not forsake her whorings your nipples because of the breasts of your
551 YEÀEZQÂL 23
lovers against you, from whom your being row, the cup of astonishment and ruin, the
turned in disgust, and shall bring them cup of your sister Shomeron.
against you from every side: 34 ‘And you shall drink it and shall drain
23 the BaÄelians, and all the Chaldeans, it, and gnaw its shards, and tear at your
PeqoÅ, and Showa, and Qowa, all the sons own breasts. For I have spoken,’ declares
of Ashshur with them, all of them desir- the Master HWHY.
able young men, governors and rulers, 35 “Therefore thus said the Master HWHY,
officers and men of name, all of them ‘Because you have forgotten Me and cast
riding on horses. Me behind your back, therefore you shall
24 ‘And they shall come against you with bear your wickedness and your whorings.’ ”
battle-axe, chariots, and vehicles, and with 36 And HWHY said to me, “Son of man,
an assembly of peoples. They shall set judge Oholah and OholiÄah! And declare
against you armour, and shield, and helmet to them their abominations.
all around. And I shall commit the judg- 37 “For they have committed adultery, and
ment to them, and they shall judge you blood is on their hands. And they have
according to their rulings. committed adultery with their idols, and
25 ‘And I shall set My jealousy against even offered their sons whom they bore to
you and they shall deal heatedly with you. Me, passing them through the fire, to
They shall cut off your nose and your ears, devour.
while the rest of you fall by the sword. 38 “They also did this to Me: They have
Your sons and your daughters they shall defiled My set-apart place on the same day,
take away, while the rest of you shall be and they have profaned My Sabbaths.
consumed by fire. 39 “For when they had slain their children
26 ‘And they shall strip you of your for their idols, on the same day they came
garments and shall take your pretty jewels. into My set-apart place to profane it. And
27 ‘And I shall put an end to your wicked- see, that is what they did in the midst of
ness and to your whorings from the land of My House.
Mitsrayim, so that you do not lift your eyes 40 “And they even sent for men to come
to them neither remember Mitsrayim any from afar, to whom a messenger was sent.
more.’ And see, they came – for whom you
28 “For thus said the Master HWHY, ‘See, I washed yourself, painted your eyes, and
am giving you into the hand of those adorned yourself with ornaments.
whom you hate, into the hand of those 41 “And you sat on a splendid couch, with
from whom your being turned in disgust. a table prepared before it, on which you
29 ‘And they shall deal with you in hatred, had set My incense and My oil.
and they shall take away all you have 42 “And the sound of a crowd at ease was
worked for, and they shall leave you naked with her, and drunkards were brought from
and bare. And the nakedness of your whor- the wilderness with men of the commonest
ings shall be uncovered, and the wicked- sort. And they put bracelets on their wrists
ness of your whorings. and pretty crowns on their heads.
30 ‘I do this to you because of your 43 “Then I said concerning the one worn
whoring after the gentiles, because you out in adulteries, ‘Now let them commit
have been defiled by their idols. her whorings, even hers!’
31 ‘You have walked in the way of your 44 “And they went in to her, as men go in
sister, and I shall give her cup into your to a woman who is a whore. Thus they
hand.’ went in to Oholah and OholiÄah, the
32 “Thus said the Master HWHY, ‘Drink of wicked women.
your sister’s cup, the deep and wide one – 45 “But let righteous men judge them with
YEÀEZQÂL 23 552
the judgment of adulteresses, and the judg- 10 “Heap on the wood, kindle the fire,
ment of women who shed blood, for they cook the meat well, mixing in the spices,
are adulteresses, and blood is on their and let the bones be burned up.
hands. 11 “And set it on the coals, empty, so that
46 “For thus said the Master HWHY, ‘Bring it gets hot, and its bronze glows. And its
up an assembly against them, give them up filthiness shall be melted in it, and its rust
to maltreatment and plunder. be consumed.
47 ‘And the assembly shall stone them 12 “She has wearied herself with sorrows,
with stones and cut them with their and her great rust has not gone from her.
swords. They shall slay their sons and their Into the fire with her rust!
daughters, and burn their houses with fire. 13 “In your filthiness is wickedness.
48 ‘And I shall put an end to wickedness Because I have cleansed you, but you are
in the land, and all the women shall be not clean. You shall not be cleansed of
instructed not to commit wickedness as your filthiness any more, till I have caused
you have done. My wrath to rest upon you.
49 ‘And they shall put your wickedness on 14 “I, HWHY, have spoken. It shall come,
you, and you shall bear the sins of your and I shall do it. I do not hold back, nor do
idols. And you shall know that I am the I pardon, nor do I relent. According to your
Master HWHY.’ ” ways and according to your deeds they
shall judge you,” declares the Master
24 And in the ninth year, in the tenth
month, on the tenth of the month,
HWHY.’ ”
15 And the word of HWHY came to me,
the word of HWHY came to me, saying, saying,
2 “Son of man, write down the name of 16 “Son of man, see, I am taking away
the day, for on this same day the sovereign from you the desire of your eyes with one
of BaÄel has thrown himself against Yeru- stroke. But do not mourn, nor weep, nor let
shalayim. your tears run down.
3 “And speak a parable to the rebellious 17 “Groan silently, make no mourning for
house, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus the dead. Bind your turban on your head,
said the Master HWHY, “Put on a pot, put it and put your sandals on your feet. Do not
on, and also pour water into it. cover your upper lip, and do not eat man’s
4 “Gather pieces of meat in it, every good bread of sorrow.”
piece, the thigh and the shoulder, fill it 18 And I spoke to the people in the morn-
with choice bones. ing, and in the evening my wife died. And
5 “Take the choice of the flock, also pile the next morning I did as I was command-
bones under it, cook it thoroughly, also let ed.
the bones cook in it.” 19 And the people said to me, “Would you
6 ‘Therefore thus said the Master HWHY, not explain to us what these matters you
“Woe to the city of blood, to the pot in are doing mean to us?”
which there is rust, and whose rust has not 20 And I said to them, “The word of HWHY
gone out of it! Bring it out piece by piece, came to me, saying,
on which no lot has fallen. 21 ‘Speak to the house of Yisra’Ãl, “Thus
7 “For her blood is in her midst. She has said the Master HWHY, ‘See, I am profaning
set it on a shining rock. She did not pour it My set-apart place – the pride of your
on the ground, to cover it with dust. strength, the desire of your eyes, and the
8 “To stir up wrath and take vengeance, I delight of your being. And your sons and
have set her blood on a shining rock, so daughters whom you left behind shall fall
that it would not be covered.” by the sword.
9 ‘Therefore thus said the Master HWHY, 22 ‘And you shall do as I have done, do
“Woe to the city of blood! Let Me also not cover your upper lip nor eat man’s
make the pile great. bread of sorrow,
553 YEÀEZQÂL 26
23 and let your turbans remain on your My hand against you, and give you as
heads and your sandals on your feet. Do plunder to the nations. And I shall cut you
not mourn, nor weep, but you shall pine off from the peoples, and make you perish
away in your crookednesses and groan from the lands. I shall destroy you, and you
with one another. shall know that I am HWHY.”
24 ‘And YeÁezqÃl shall be a sign to you. 8 ‘This is what the Master HWHY said,
Do according to all that he has done. When “Because Mo’aÄ and SÃÈir say, ‘See, the
this comes, you shall know that I am the house of YehuÅah is like all the gentiles,’
Master HWHY.’ ” 9 therefore, see, I am opening the flank of
25 ‘And you, son of man, on the day when Mo’aÄ on the side of the cities, on
I take from them their stronghold, the joy the side of his cities on its frontiers, the
of their adorning, the desire of their eyes, splendour of the land, BÃyth Yeshimoth,
and the lifting up of their being, their sons BaÈal MeÈon, and Qiryathayim,
and their daughters, 10 and I shall give it, together with the
26 on that day one that has escaped shall Ammonites, as a possession to the men of
come to you to let you hear it with your the East, so that the Ammonites are no
ears. more remembered among the nations.
27 ‘On that day your mouth shall be 11 “Also on Mo’aÄ I execute judgments,
opened to him who has escaped, and you and they shall know that I am HWHY.”
shall speak and no longer be silent. And 12 ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “Because
you shall be a sign to them. And they shall of what EÅom has done against the house
know that I am HWHY.’ ” of YehuÅah by taking vengeance, so that
they became very guilty, and they have
25 And the word of HWHY came to me,
saying,
2 “Son of man, set your face against the
taken vengeance on them,”
13 therefore thus said the Master HWHY, “I
Tsor, and they shall break down her tow- come down from their thrones, and they
ers. And I shall scrape her dust from her, shall lay aside their robes, and take off
and shall make her like a shining rock. their embroidered garments, and put on
5 ‘She shall be a place for spreading nets trembling, and sit on the ground. And they
in the midst of the sea, for I have spoken,’ shall tremble continuously, and they shall
declares the Master HWHY. ‘And she shall be astonished at you.
17 ‘And they shall take up a lamentation
become plunder for the nations,
6 while her daughter villages which are for you, and say to you, “How you have
in the fields are slain by the sword. And perished, O one inhabited by seafaring
they shall know that I am HWHY.’ men, the city well-praised, who was strong
7 “For thus said the Master HWHY, ‘See, at sea, she and her inhabitants, who put
I am bringing against Tsor from the north their fear on all her inhabitants!
NeÄu¿aÅretstsar sovereign of BaÄel, a sov- 18 Now the coastlands tremble on the day
ereign of sovereigns, with horses, and with of your fall! And the coastlands by the sea
chariots, and with horsemen, even an shall shudder at your going out.” ’
assembly, and many people. 19 “For thus said the Master HWHY, ‘When
8 ‘With the sword he shall slay your I make you a ruined city, like cities no
daughter villages in the fields. And he longer inhabited, when I bring the deep
shall heap up a siege mound against you, upon you, and great waters cover you,
and shall build a wall against you, and 20 then I shall bring you down with those
shall raise a large shield against you, who go down into the Pit, to the people of
9 and set the blow of his battering rams old. And I shall make you dwell in the
against your walls, and break down your lowest part of the earth, in wastes of old,
towers with his weapons. with those who go to the Pit, so that you do
10 ‘From his many horses, their dust shall not return. But I shall establish splendour
cover you. From the noise of the horse- in the land of the living.
men, and vehicles, and chariots, your walls 21 ‘I make you a horror, and let you be no
shall shake as he enters your gates, as men more. And you are sought for, but never
enter a city that is breached. found again,’ declares the Master HWHY.”
11 ‘With the hooves of his horses he tram-
they shall break down your walls and dwell at the entrance to the sea, merchant
destroy your pleasant houses. And they of the peoples on many coastlands, thus
shall put your stones, and your timber, and said the Master HWHY, “O Tsor, you your-
your dust in the midst of the water. self have said, ‘I am perfect in loveliness.’
555 YEÀEZQÂL 27
4 “Your borders are in the heart of the of the multitude of your works, because of
seas. Your builders have perfected your your great wealth of goods, with the wine
loveliness. of Àelbon and with white wool.
5 “They have made all your timbers of fir 19 “WeÅan and Yawan from Uzal paid for
trees from Senir. They took a cedar from your wares, they exchanged wrought iron,
LeÄanon to make a mast for you. cassia, and cane for your merchandise.
6 “From the oaks of Bashan they made 20 “DeÅan traded with you in saddlecloths
your oars. They made your deck with ivory for riding.
from the coasts of Kittim. 21 “AraÄia, and all princes of QÃÅar, were
7 “Of fine embroidered linen from Mits- merchants for you. In lambs, and rams, and
rayim was your sail to serve you as banner. goats they were your merchants.
Of blue and purple from the coasts of 22 “The traders of SheÄa and RaÈmah were
Elishah was your covering. your traders. They paid for your wares
8 “The inhabitants of TsiÅon and ArwaÅ with the choicest spices, and all kinds of
were your seamen. Your wise men, O Tsor, precious stones, and gold.
were in you, they were your sailors. 23 “Àaran, and Kanneh, and ÂÅen, traders
9 “The elders of GeÄal and its wise men of SheÄa, Ashshur, and KilmaÅ traded with
were in you repairing your seams. All the you.
ships of the sea and their seamen were in 24 “They traded with you in perfect items,
they perfected your loveliness. waters, but the east wind broke you in the
12 “Tarshish was your merchant because heart of the seas.
of your great wealth. They gave you silver, 27 “Your wealth, and your wares, your
iron, tin, and lead for your merchandise. merchandise, your mariners and your
13 “Yawan, TuÄal, and Meshe¿ were your sailors, your repairers of seams, and your
traders. They exchanged slaves and objects dealers in merchandise, and all your fight-
of bronze for your merchandise. ing men who are in you, and the entire
14 “Those from the house of ToÍarmah company which is in your midst, shall go
exchanged horses, and horsemen, and down into the heart of the seas on the day
mules for your merchandise. of your fall,
15 “The men of DeÅan traded with you. 28 the coasts shaking at the sound of the
Many isles were your market, they brought cry of your sailors.
you ivory tusks and ebony as payment. 29 “And all the oarsmen, the mariners, all
16 “Aram was your merchant because of the sailors of the sea shall come down from
the multitude of your works. They gave their ships. They shall stand on the shore,
you emeralds, purple, and embroidery, and 30 and they shall raise their voice and cry
fine linen, and corals, and rubies for your bitterly over you, and cast dust on their
wares. heads, rolling themselves in ashes.
17 “YehuÅah and the land of Yisra’Ãl were 31 “And they shall shave themselves bald
your traders. For your merchandise they because of you, and shall gird themselves
exchanged wheat of Minnith, and early with sackcloth. And they shall weep for
figs, and honey, and oil, and balm. you with bitterness of heart and bitter wail-
18 “Damascus was your merchant because ing.
YEÀEZQÂL 27 556
32 “And in their wailing for you they shall man, and not Âl, in the hand of him who
take up a lamentation. And they shall slays you?
lament for you, ‘Who is cut off in the midst 10 “The death of the uncircumcised you
of the sea like Tsor? shall die, by the hand of foreigners. For I
33 ‘When your wares went out by sea, you have spoken,” declares the Master HWHY.’ ”
have filled many peoples; with your great 11 And the word of HWHY came to me,
astonished at you, and their sovereigns Elohim. Every precious stone was your
shall be greatly afraid, their faces shall be covering: the ruby, topaz, and diamond,
troubled. beryl, shoham, and jasper, sapphire,
36 ‘The merchants among the peoples turquoise, and emerald and gold. The
shall whistle at you. You shall become a workmanship of your settings and mount-
horror, and be no more, forever.’ ” ’ ” ings was prepared for you on the day you
were created.
28 And the word of HWHY came to me,
saying,
2 “Son of man, say to the prince of Tsor,
14 “You were the anointed keruÄ that
the seas,’ whereas you are a man, and not the day you were created, until unright-
Âl, though you set your heart as the heart eousness was found in you.
of Elohim! 16 “By the greatness of your trade you
3 “Look, are you wiser than Dani’Ãl? Has became filled with violence within, and
no secret been hidden from you? you sinned. So I thrust you from the moun-
4 “By your wisdom and your understand- tain of Elohim, and I destroyed you, O
ing you have made riches for yourself, and covering keruÄ, from the midst of the
gathered gold and silver into your trea- stones of fire.
suries. 17 “Your heart was lifted up because of
5 “By your great wisdom, by your trade your loveliness, you corrupted your wis-
you have increased your riches, and your dom for the sake of your splendour. I threw
heart is lifted up because of your riches.” you to the earth, I laid you before sover-
6 ‘Therefore thus said the Master HWHY, eigns, to look at you.
“Because you have set your heart as the 18 “You profaned your set-apart places by
and you shall die the death of the slain in were astonished at you. Waste you shall
the heart of the seas. be, and cease to be, forever.” ’ ”
9 “Would you still say before him who 20 And the word of HWHY came to me, say-
21 “Son of man, set your face toward 5 “And I shall leave you in the wilder-
TsiÅon, and prophesy against her, ness, you and all the fish of your rivers. On
22 and you shall say, ‘Thus said the the face of the field you shall fall, and you
Master HWHY, “See, I am against you, O shall not be picked up or gathered. I shall
TsiÅon, and I shall be esteemed in your give you as food to the beasts of the field
midst. And they shall know that I am HWHY, and to the birds of the heavens.
when I execute judgments in her. And I 6 “And all the inhabitants of Mitsrayim
from all sides. And they shall know that I you broke and tore all their shoulders.
am HWHY. When they leaned on you, you broke and
24 “And there shall no longer be a prick- made all their loins shake.”
ing brier or a paining thorn for the house of 8 ‘Therefore thus said the Master HWHY,
Yisra’Ãl from among all who are around “See, I am bringing a sword upon you and
them, who despise them. And they shall shall cut off from you man and beast.
know that I am the Master HWHY.” 9 “And the land of Mitsrayim shall
25 ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “When become a desert and a waste. And they
I have gathered the house of Yisra’Ãl from shall know that I am HWHY, because he said,
the peoples among whom they are scat- ‘The River is mine, and I have made it.’
tered, I shall be set-apart in them before 10 “Therefore see, I am against you and
the eyes of the gentiles. And they shall against your rivers, and shall make the
dwell in their own land which I gave to My land of Mitsrayim an utter waste and a
servant YaÈaqoÄ. desert, from MiÍdol to SewÃnÃh, as far as
26 “And they shall dwell safely, and build the border of Kush.
houses, and plant vineyards, and dwell 11 “No foot of man shall pass through it,
safely, when I execute judgments on all nor foot of beast pass through it, neither
those around them who despise them. And shall it be inhabited for forty years.
they shall know that I am HWHY their 12 “And I shall make the land of Mits-
Pharaoh the sovereign of Mitsrayim, and end of forty years I shall gather the
prophesy against him, and against Mitsra- Mitsrites from the peoples among whom
yim, all of it. they were scattered.
3 “Speak, and you shall say, ‘Thus said 14 “And I shall turn back the captivity of
the Master HWHY, “See, I am against you, O Mitsrayim and I shall bring them back to
Pharaoh sovereign of Mitsrayim, O great the land of Pathros, to the land of their
monster who lies in the midst of his rivers, birth, and there they shall be a lowly reign,
who has said, ‘My River is my own, and I, 15 being the lowliest of reigns, and never
I have made it for myself.’ again exalt itself above the nations. And I
4 “And I shall put hooks in your jaws, shall make them few so as not to rule over
and I shall make the fish of your rivers the nations.
cling to your scales. And I shall bring you 16 “And no longer is it to be the refuge of
up out of the midst of your rivers, and all the house of Yisra’Ãl, bringing to remem-
the fish in your rivers cling to your scales. brance their crookedness when they turned
YEÀEZQÂL 29 558
to follow them. And they shall know that I midst of the cities that are dried up.
am the Master HWHY.” ’ ” 8 “And they shall know that I am HWHY,
17 And it came to be in the twenty-seventh when I have set a fire in Mitsrayim and all
year, in the first month, on the first of the her helpers are crushed.
month, that the word of HWHY came to me, 9 “On that day messengers shall go forth
But he and his army received no reward cause the crowd of Mitsrayim to cease, by
from Tsor, for the service he served against the hand of NeÄu¿aÅretstsar sovereign of
it. BaÄel.
19 “Therefore thus said the Master HWHY, 11 “He and his people with him, the ruth-
‘See, I am giving the land of Mitsrayim to less ones of the nations, are brought to
NeÄu¿aÅretstsar sovereign of BaÄel. And destroy the land. And they shall draw their
he shall take away her wealth, take her swords against Mitsrayim, and shall fill the
spoil, and remove her pillage. And it shall land with the slain.
be a reward for his army. 12 “And I shall make the rivers dry, and I
20 ‘I have given him the land of Mitsrayim shall sell the land into the hand of evil
as a reward for his labour, because they ones. And I shall lay the land waste, and all
worked for Me,’ declares the Master HWHY. that is in it, by the hand of foreigners. I,
21 ‘In that day I shall make the horn of the HWHY, have spoken.”
house of Yisra’Ãl to spring forth, while I 13 ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “And I
open your mouth to speak in their midst. shall destroy the idols, and make an end of
And they shall know that I am HWHY.’ ” the images in Noph, and there shall no
longer be a prince from the land of Mits-
30 And the word of HWHY came to me,
saying,
2 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus
rayim, and I shall put fear in the land of
Mitsrayim.
14 “And I shall make Pathros a waste, and
said the Master HWHY, “Howl, ‘Woe to the I shall set fire to TsoÈan, and I shall execute
day!’ judgments in No.
3 “For the day is near, even the day of 15 “And I shall pour out My wrath on Sin,
HWHY is near. It is a day of clouds, the time the stronghold of Mitsrayim. And I shall
of the nations. cut off the crowd of No.
4 “The sword shall come upon Mits- 16 “And I shall set a fire in Mitsrayim, Sin
rayim, and great anguish shall be in Kush, shall writhe in anguish, No is to be split
when the slain fall in Mitsrayim, and they open, and Noph has adversaries daily.
take away her wealth, and her foundations 17 “The young men of Awen and Pi
are broken down. Éeseth shall fall by the sword, while these
5 “Kush, and Put, and LuÅ, all the mixed cities go into captivity.
people, and KuÄ, and the sons of the land 18 “And in TeÁaphneÁes the day shall be
of the covenant, shall fall with them by the darkened, when I shatter the yokes of
sword.” Mitsrayim there. And the pride of her
6 ‘Thus said HWHY, “Those who lean on strength shall cease in her, a cloud shall
Mitsrayim shall fall, and the pride of her cover her. And her daughters shall go into
power shall come down. From MiÍdol to captivity.
SewÃnÃh those within her shall fall by the 19 “And I shall execute judgments on
sword,” declares the Master HWHY. Mitsrayim, and they shall know that I
7 “They shall be ruined amidst the wast- am HWHY.” ’ ”
ed lands, and her cities shall be in the 20 And it came to be in the eleventh year,
559 YEÀEZQÂL 31
in the first month, on the seventh of the boughs were increased, and its branches
month, that the word of HWHY came to me, became long because of the many waters,
saying, as it sent them out.
21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of 6 ‘All the birds of the heavens made their
Pharaoh sovereign of Mitsrayim. And see, nests in its boughs, and under its branches
it has not been bound up for healing, to put all the beasts of the field gave birth. And in
a bandage to bind it, to make it strong to its shadow all great nations dwelt.
hold a sword. 7 ‘And it was fair in greatness and in the
22 “Therefore thus said the Master HWHY, length of its branches, for its roots reached
‘See, I am against Pharaoh sovereign of to many waters.
Mitsrayim, and shall break his arms, both 8 ‘Cedars in the garden of Elohim did not
the strong one and the one that was broken, hide it, fir trees were not like its boughs,
and shall make the sword fall out of his and the chestnut trees were not like its
hand, branches. No tree in the garden of Elohim
23 and shall scatter the Mitsrites among was as pretty as it.
the nations, and disperse them throughout 9 ‘I made it pretty by its many branches,
his hand. And I shall break Pharaoh’s ‘Because you have increased in height, and
arms, and he shall groan before him with it set its top among the thick foliage, and
the groanings of the slain before him. its heart was lifted up in its height,
25 ‘And I shall strengthen the arms of the 11 ‘I give it into the hand of the mighty
sovereign of BaÄel, but the arms of one of the nations, and he shall certainly
Pharaoh shall fall. And they shall know deal with it. I have driven it out for its
that I am HWHY, when I put My sword into wrong.
the hand of the sovereign of BaÄel and he 12 ‘And foreigners, the most ruthless of
shall stretch it out against the land of the nations, shall cut it down and leave it.
Mitsrayim. Its branches shall fall on the mountains and
26 ‘And I shall scatter the Mitsrites among in all the valleys, its boughs lie broken by
the nations, and I shall disperse them all the rivers of the land. And all the
throughout the lands. And they shall know peoples of the earth shall come out from
that I am HWHY.’ ” under its shadow and leave it.
13 ‘On its ruin shall dwell all the birds of
gave it height with its rivers running when it is brought down to the grave I shall
around its planting, and sent their channels cause mourning. I shall cover the deep
to all the trees of the field. because of it and hold back its streams, and
5 ‘Therefore its height was lifted up many waters shall be confined. And I shall
above all the trees of the field, and its make LeÄanon mourn for it, and all the
YEÀEZQÂL 31 560
trees of the field shall wither away because 8 ‘All the bright lights of the heavens I
into the Pit. And all the trees of ÂÅen, the peoples, when I bring your destruction
choice and best of LeÄanon, all that drink among the nations, into the lands which
water, shall be comforted in the depths of you have not known.
the earth. 10 ‘And I shall make many peoples appal-
17 ‘They too shall go down to the grave led at you, and their sovereigns shall be
with it, with those slain by the sword. And greatly afraid of you when I swing My
those who were its strength shall dwell in sword before them. And they shall tremble
its shadows among the nations. continually, every man for his own life, in
18 ‘To whom are you to be compared in the day of your fall.’
esteem and greatness among the trees in 11 “For thus said the Master HWHY, ‘The
ÂÅen? But you shall be brought down with sword of the sovereign of BaÄel shall come
the trees of ÂÅen to the depths of the earth, upon you.
lie in the midst of the uncircumcised, with 12 ‘By the swords of the mighty men, all
those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh of them the ruthless ones of the nations, I
and all his crowd,’ declares the Master shall make your host fall. And they shall
HWHY.” ravage the arrogance of Mitsrayim, and all
its host shall be destroyed.
32 And it came to be in the twelfth
year, in the twelfth month, on the
13 ‘And I shall destroy all its beasts from
Pharaoh sovereign of Mitsrayim, and you and make their rivers run like oil,’ declares
shall say to him, ‘You were like a young the Master HWHY.
lion among the nations, and you are like a 15 ‘When I lay the land of Mitsrayim
monster in the seas, and you burst forth in waste, and the land shall be stripped of all
your rivers, and trouble the waters with that once filled it, when I have smitten all
your feet, and muddy their rivers.’ who dwell in it, then they shall know that I
3 “Thus said the Master HWHY, ‘And I am HWHY.
shall spread My net over you with an 16 ‘This is the lamentation, and they shall
assembly of many peoples, and they shall lament her, the daughters of the nations
bring you up in My net. lament her. Over Mitsrayim and over all
4 ‘And I shall leave you on the land, hurl her crowd they shall lament her,’ declares
you out on the open fields, and make all the Master HWHY.”
the birds of the heavens dwell on you. And 17 And it came to be in the twelfth year,
with you I shall satisfy the beasts of all the on the fifteenth of the month, that the word
earth. of HWHY came to me, saying,
5 ‘And I shall put your flesh on the moun- 18 “Son of man, wail over the crowd of
tains, and fill the valleys with your height, Mitsrayim, and send them down to the
6 and water the land with the flow of depths of the earth, her and the daughters
your blood unto the mountains, and let of the mighty nations, with those going
streams be filled with you. down to the Pit.
7 ‘And when I extinguish you, I shall 19 ‘Are you more pleasant than others? Go
cover the heavens, and make its stars dark. down, be placed with the uncircumcised.’
I shall cover the sun with a cloud, and the 20 “In the midst of those slain by the
moon shall not give her light. sword they fall. She shall be given to the
561 YEÀEZQÂL 33
sword, drawing her and all her crowds. gone down with the slain, because of the
21 “The mightiest among the mighty fear they instilled. They are ashamed of
speak to him out of the midst of the grave their might. And they lie uncircumcised
with those who help him, ‘They have gone with those slain by the sword, and bear
down, they lie with the uncircumcised, their shame with those going down to the
slain by the sword.’ Pit.
22 “Ashshur is there, and all her assembly, 31 “Pharaoh – Pharaoh and all his army –
with their graves all around her, all of them shall see them, and he shall be comforted
slain, fallen by the sword, for all his host that were slain by the
23 whose graves are set in the sides of the sword,” declares the Master HWHY.
Pit, and her assembly is all around her 32 “For I have put a fear of him in the land
grave, all of them slain, fallen by the of the living, yet he shall be placed in the
sword, because they instilled fear in the midst of the uncircumcised with those
land of the living. slain by the sword – Pharaoh and all his
24 “There is Âylam and all her crowd, host,” declares the Master HWHY.
around her grave, all of them slain, fallen
by the sword, who have gone down uncir-
cumcised to the lower parts of the earth, 33 And the word of HWHY came to me,
saying,
2 “Son of man, speak to the children of
because they instilled fear in the land of
the living. And they bear their shame with your people, and you shall say to them,
those going down to the Pit. ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and
25 “They have set her bed in the midst of the people of the land shall take a man
the slain, with all her crowd, with her from their borders and shall make him
graves all around it, all of them uncircum- their watchman,
cised, slain by the sword, for the fear they 3 and he sees the sword coming upon the
instilled in the land of the living. So they land, and shall blow the ram’s horn and
bear their shame with those going down to shall warn the people,
the Pit. In the midst of the slain they have 4 then whoever shall hear the sound of
been placed. the ram’s horn and shall not take warning,
26 “There are Meshe¿ and TuÄal and all if the sword comes and takes him away, his
her crowd, with all their graves around it, blood is on his own head.
all of them uncircumcised, slain by the 5 ‘He heard the sound of the ram’s horn,
sword, because they instilled fear in the but he did not take warning, his blood is on
land of the living. himself. But he who takes warning shall
27 “And they shall not lie with the mighty deliver his being.
who are fallen of the uncircumcised, who 6 ‘But if the watchman sees the sword
have gone down to the grave with their coming and shall not blow the ram’s horn,
battle gear, and whose swords were laid and the people shall not be warned, and the
under their heads. But their crookednesses sword comes and takes any being from
are on their bones, because of the fear of among them, he is taken away in his
the mighty in the land of the living. crookedness, and his blood I require at the
28 “And you shall be broken in the midst watchman’s hand.’
of the uncircumcised, and lie with those 7 “And you, son of man, I have made you
the uncircumcised they lie, and with those one, you shall certainly die!’ and you have
going down to the Pit. not spoken to warn the wrong from his
30 “There are the princes of the north, all way, that wrong one shall die in his
of them, and all the TsiÅonians, who have crookedness, and his blood I require at
YEÀEZQÂL 33 562
crookedness, but you have delivered your is not fair.’ O house of Yisra’Ãl, I shall
being. judge every one of you according to his
10 “And you, O son of man, say to the own ways.”
house of Yisra’Ãl, ‘This is what you have 21 And it came to be in the twelfth year of
said, “If our transgressions and our sins lie our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth of
upon us, and we pine away in them, how the month, that one who had escaped from
then shall we live?” ’ Yerushalayim came to me and said, “The
11 “Say to them, ‘As I live,’ declares the city has been smitten!”
Master HWHY, ‘I have no pleasure in the 22 And the hand of HWHY came upon me
death of the wrong, but that the wrong turn the evening before the man came who had
from his way and live. Turn back, turn escaped. And He had opened my mouth,
back from your evil ways! For why should before he came to me in the morning. And
you die, O house of Yisra’Ãl?’ my mouth was opened. And I was no
12 “And you, O son of man, say to the longer silent.
children of your people, ‘The righteous- 23 Then the word of HWHY came to me,
for the wrongness of the wrong, he shall ruins in the land of Yisra’Ãl are saying,
not stumble because of it in the day that he ‘AÄraham was only one, and he inherited
turns from his wrong. And the righteous the land. But we are many, let the land be
shall not be able to live because of his given to us as a possession.’
righteousness in the day that he sins.’ 25 “Therefore say to them, ‘Thus said the
13 “When I say to the righteous that he Master HWHY, “You eat meat with blood,
shall live, and he has trusted in his right- and you lift up your eyes toward your
eousness, and shall do unrighteousness, idols, and shed blood. Should you then
none of his righteousness shall be remem- possess the land?
bered, but because of his unrighteousness 26 “You depend on your sword, and you
that he has done, he shall die. commit abominations, and each of you
14 “Again, when I say to the wrong, ‘You defiles his neighbour’s wife. Should you
shall certainly die,’ if he turns from his sin then possess the land?” ’
and does right and righteousness, 27 “Say this to them, ‘Thus said the
15 if the wrong restores the pledge, gives Master HWHY, “As I live, those who are in
back what he has stolen, and walks in the the ruins shall fall by the sword, and the
laws of life without doing crookedness, he one who is in the open field I shall give to
shall certainly live; he shall not die. the beasts to be devoured, and those who
16 “None of his sins which he has commit- are in the strongholds and caves shall die
ted shall be remembered against him – he of the pestilence.
has done right and righteousness; he shall 28 “And I shall make the land a desert and
30 “As for you, son of man, the children of “because My flock became a prey, and My
your people are talking about you beside flock became food for every beast of the
the walls and in the doors of the houses. field, from not having a shepherd, and My
And they speak to each other, each saying shepherds did not search for My flock, but
to his brother, ‘Please come and hear what the shepherds fed themselves and did not
the word is that comes from HWHY.’ feed My flock,”
31 “And they come to you as people do, 9 therefore, O shepherds, hear the word
them. For with their mouth they show against the shepherds, and shall require
much love – their hearts pursue their My flock at their hand, and shall make
greedy gain. them cease feeding the sheep, and the
32 “And see, you are to them as a very shepherds shall feed themselves no more.
lovely song of one who has a pleasant And I shall deliver My flock from their
voice and playing well on an instrument. mouths, and they shall no longer be food
And they hear your words, but they do not for them.”
do them. 11 ‘For thus said the Master HWHY, “See, I
33 “And when it comes – see, it shall Myself shall search for My sheep and seek
come – then they shall know that a prophet them out.
has been in their midst.” 12 “As a shepherd seeks out his flock on
them, ‘Thus said the Master HWHY to the peoples and gather them from the lands,
shepherds, “Woe to the shepherds j of Yis- and shall bring them to their own land.
ra’Ãl who have been feeding themselves! And I shall feed them on the mountains of
Should not the shepherds feed the flock? Yisra’Ãl, in the valleys, and in all the
3 “You eat the fat and you put on the dwellings of the land.
wool. You slaughter the fatlings – you do 14 “In good pasture I shall feed them, and
not feed the flock. their fold shall be on the high mountains of
4 “You have not strengthened the weak, Yisra’Ãl. They shall lie there in a good fold
nor have you healed the sick, nor bound up and feed in rich pasture on the mountains
the broken, nor brought back the straying, of Yisra’Ãl.
nor sought what was lost; but you have 15 “I shall feed My flock and make them
ruled them with might and harshness. lie down,” declares the Master HWHY.
5 “And they were scattered because there 16 “I shall seek out the lost and bring back
was no shepherd. And they became food the strayed. And I shall bind up the broken
for all the beasts of the field when they and strengthen what was sick, but the fat
were scattered. and the strong I shall destroy. I shall feed
6 “My sheep wandered through all the them with right-ruling.”
mountains, and on every high hill. And My 17 ‘And as for you, O My flock, thus said
sheep were scattered over all the face of the Master HWHY, “See, I am judging
the earth, and no one was seeking or between sheep and sheep, between rams
searching for them.” and goats.
7 ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the 18 “Is it not enough for you to have eaten
you should drink of the clear waters, and 31 “And you, My flock, the flock of My
the rest you muddy with your feet? pasture, are men, and I am your Elohim,”
19 “And as for My flock, they eat what declares the Master HWHY.’ ”
you have trampled with your feet, and they
drink what you have muddied with your
feet.”
20 ‘Therefore thus said the Master HWHY to
35 And the word of HWHY came to me,
saying,
2 “Son of man, set your face against
them, “See, I Myself shall judge between Mount SÃÈir and prophesy against it,
fat and lean sheep. 3 and you shall say to it, ‘Thus said the
21 “Because you have pushed with flank Master HWHY, “See, O Mount SÃÈir, I am
and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak against you, and shall stretch out My hand
ones with your horns, and scattered them against you, and shall make you a ruin and
abroad, a waste.
22 therefore I shall save My flock, and let 4 “Your cities I destroy, and let you be a
them no longer be a prey. And I shall judge ruin. And you shall know that I am HWHY.
between sheep and sheep. 5 “Because you have had a continuous
23 “And I shall raise up over them one enmity, and handed the children of Yisra’Ãl
shepherd, My servant DawiÅ, and he shall over to the power of the sword at the time
feed them. He shall feed them and be their of their calamity, at the time of the
shepherd. crookedness of the end.
24 “And I, HWHY, shall be their Elohim, and 6 “Therefore, as I live,” declares the
My servant DawiÅ a prince in their midst. Master HWHY, “I shall appoint you for
I, HWHY, have spoken. blood, and let blood pursue you. Since you
25 “And I shall make a covenant of peace did not hate blood, therefore blood shall
with them, and make evil beasts cease pursue you.
from the land. And they shall dwell safely 7 “And I shall make Mount SÃÈir a ruin
in the wilderness and sleep in the forest. and a waste, and cut off from it the one
26 “And I shall make them and the places who leaves and the one who returns,
all around My hill a blessing, and shall 8 and shall fill its mountains with the
cause showers to come down in their sea- slain, those slain by the sword falling on
son – showers of blessing they are. your hills and in your valleys and in all
27 “And the trees of the field shall yield your ravines.
their fruit and the earth yield her increase, 9 “I shall make you an everlasting ruin,
and they shall be safe in their land. And and your cities uninhabited. And you shall
they shall know that I am HWHY, when I know that I am HWHY.
have broken the bars of their yoke. And I 10 “Because you have said, ‘These two
shall deliver them from the hand of those nations and these two lands are mine, and
who enslaved them, we shall possess them,’ although HWHY was
28 and they shall no longer be a prey for there,
the gentiles, and the beast of the earth 11 therefore, as I live,” declares the Master
shall not devour them. And they shall HWHY, “I shall do according to your displea-
dwell safely, with no one to make them sure and according to your envy which you
afraid. showed in your hatred against them. And I
29 “And I shall raise up for them a planting shall make Myself known among them
place of name, and they shall no longer be when I judge you.
consumed by hunger in the land, nor bear 12 “And you shall know that I am HWHY. I
the shame of the gentiles any more. have heard all your scorns which you have
30 “And they shall know that I, HWHY their spoken against the mountains of Yisra’Ãl,
Elohim, am with them, and that they, the saying, ‘They are laid waste, they were
house of Yisra’Ãl, are My people,” declares given to us for food.’
the Master HWHY.’ ” 13 “And with your mouth you have boast-
565 YEÀEZQÂL 36
ed against Me and increased your words 8 “But you, O mountains of Yisra’Ãl, put
against Me – I Myself have heard.” forth your branches and bear your fruit to
14 ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “As all the My people Yisra’Ãl, for they are about to
earth is rejoicing I shall make you a ruin. come!
15 “As you rejoiced because the inheri- 9 “For look, I am for you, and I shall turn
tance of the house of Yisra’Ãl was laid to you, and you shall be tilled and sown.
waste, so I do to you: be a ruin, O Mount 10 “And I shall increase men upon you, all
SÃÈir, as well as all of EÅom, all of it! And the house of Yisra’Ãl, all of it. And the
they shall know that I am HWHY.” ’ cities shall be inhabited and the ruins
rebuilt.
36 “And you, son of man, prophesy to
the mountains of Yisra’Ãl, and you
11 “And I shall increase upon you man
hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, and insults of the gentiles. And the reproach of
to the deserted ruins, and to the cities that the peoples you shall bear no more, and no
have been forsaken, which became a prey longer cause your nations to stumble,”
and a mocking to the rest of the gentiles all declares the Master HWHY.’ ”
around; 16 And the word of HWHY came to me,
5 therefore thus said the Master HWHY, saying,
“Have I not spoken in My burning jealousy 17 “Son of man, when the house of
against the rest of the gentiles and against Yisra’Ãl dwelt in their own land, they
all EÅom, who gave My land to themselves defiled it by their own ways and deeds. To
as a possession, with all joy of heart, with Me their way was like the uncleanness of a
scorn in their being, to drive it out for a woman in her monthly period.
prey?” ’ 18 “So I poured out My wrath on them for
6 “Therefore prophesy concerning the the blood they had shed on the land, and
land of Yisra’Ãl, and you shall say to for their idols they defiled it.
mountains, and to hills, to rivers, and to 19 “And I scattered them among the gen-
valleys, ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “See, tiles, and they were dispersed throughout
I have spoken in My jealousy and My the lands. I have judged them according to
wrath, because you have borne the shame their ways and their deeds.
of the gentiles.” 20 “And when they came to the gentiles,
7 ‘Therefore thus said the Master HWHY, “I wherever they went, they profaned My set-
have lifted My hand in an oath that the apart Name for it was said of them, ‘These
gentiles that are around you shall bear their are the people of HWHY, and yet they have
own shame. gone out of His land.’
YEÀEZQÂL 36 566
21 “But I had compassion on My set-apart to you. Be ashamed and blush for your
Name, which the house of Yisra’Ãl had ways, O house of Yisra’Ãl!”
profaned among the gentiles wherever they 33 ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “On the
you have profaned among the gentiles instead of being a ruin before the eyes of
wherever you went. all who pass by.
23 “And I shall set apart My great Name, 35 “And they shall say, ‘This land that was
which has been profaned among the gen- laid waste has become like the garden of
tiles, which you have profaned in their ÂÅen. And the wasted, the deserted, and
midst. And the gentiles shall know that I the destroyed cities are now walled and
am HWHY,” declares the Master HWHY, “when inhabited.’
I am set-apart in you before their eyes. 36 “Then the gentiles which are left all
24 “And I shall take you from among the around you shall know that I, HWHY, have
gentiles, and I shall gather you out of all rebuilt the destroyed places and planted
lands, and I shall bring you into your own what was laid waste. I, HWHY, have spoken
land. it, and I shall do it.”
25 “And I shall sprinkle clean water on 37 ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “Once
you, and you shall be clean – from all your again I shall let the house of Yisra’Ãl
filthiness and from all your idols I cleanse inquire of Me to do for them: I shall
you. increase their men like a flock.
26 “And I shall give you a new heart and 38 “As a set-apart flock, as the flock at
put a new spirit within you. And I shall Yerushalayim at her appointed times, so
take the heart of stone out of your flesh, shall the wasted cities be filled with flocks
and I shall give you a heart of flesh, of men. And they shall know that I am
27 and put My Spirit within you. k And I HWHY.” ’ ”
shall cause you to walk in My laws and
guard My right-rulings and shall do them.
28 “And you shall dwell in the land that I 37 The hand of HWHY was upon me and
took me out by the Spirit of HWHY,
gave to your fathers. And you shall be My and set me down in the midst of the valley.
people, and I shall be your Elohim. And it was filled with bones.
29 “And I shall save you from all your 2 And He made me pass among them, all
uncleannesses. And I shall call for the around, and see, there were very many on
grain and increase it, and I shall bring no the surface of the valley, and see, they
scarcity of food upon you. were very dry.
30 “And I shall increase the fruit of your 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, would
trees and the increase of your fields, so that these bones live?” And I said, “O Master
you need never again bear the reproach of HWHY, You know.”
scarcity of food among the gentiles. 4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to
31 “And you shall remember your evil these bones, and you shall say to them, ‘O
ways and your deeds that were not good. dry bones, hear the word of HWHY!
And you shall loathe yourselves in your 5 ‘Thus said the Master HWHY to these
own eyes, for your crookednesses and your bones, “See, I am bringing into you a spir-
abominations. it, and you shall live.
32 “Not for your sake am I acting,” 6 “And I shall put sinews on you and
declares the Master HWHY, “let it be known bring flesh upon you, and cover you with
skin and put a spirit in you, and you shall 18 “And when the children of your people
live. And you shall know that I am speak to you, saying, ‘Won’t you show us
HWHY.”’ ” what you mean by these?’
7 And I prophesied as I was commanded. 19 say to them, ‘Thus said the Master
And as I prophesied, there was a noise, and HWHY, “See, I am taking the stick of
there was a rattling. And the bones came YosÃph, which is in the hand of Ephrayim,
together, bone to bone. and the tribes of Yisra’Ãl, his companions.
8 And I looked and saw sinews and flesh And I shall give them unto him, with the
came upon them, and skin covered them, stick of YehuÅah, and make them one
but there was no spirit in them. stick, and they shall be one in My hand.” ’
9 He then said to me, “Prophesy to the 20 “And the sticks on which you write
spirit, prophesy, son of man, and you shall shall be in your hand before their eyes.
say to the spirit, ‘Thus said the Master 21 “And speak to them, ‘Thus said the
HWHY, “Come from the four winds, O spirit, Master HWHY, “See, I am taking the children
and breathe on these slain, so that they of Yisra’Ãl from among the gentiles,
live.” ’ ” wherever they have gone, and shall gather
10 And I prophesied as He commanded them from all around, and I shall bring
me, and the spirit came into them, and they them into their land.
lived, and stood upon their feet, a very 22 “And I shall make them one nation in
and bring you up from your graves. over them. And they shall all have one
14 “And I shall put My Spirit in you, and shepherd and walk in My right-rulings and
you shall live, and I shall settle you in your guard My laws, and shall do them.
own land. And you shall know that I HWHY 25 “And they shall dwell in the land that I
have spoken, and I have done it,” declares have given to YaÈaqoÄ My servant, where
HWHY.’ ” your fathers dwelt. And they shall dwell
15 And the word of HWHY came to me, in it, they and their children and their
saying, children’s children, forever, and My ser-
16 “And you, son of man, take a stick for vant DawiÅ be their prince forever.
yourself and write on it, ‘For YehuÅah and 26 “And I shall make a covenant of peace
for the children of Yisra’Ãl, his compan- with them – an everlasting covenant it is
ions.’ Then take another stick and write on with them. And I shall place them and
it, ‘For YosÃph, the stick of Ephrayim, and increase them, and shall place My set-apart
for all the house of Yisra’Ãl, his compan- place in their midst, forever.
ions.’ 27 “And My Dwelling Place shall be over
17 “Then bring them together for yourself them. And I shall be their Elohim, and they
into one stick, and they shall become one shall be My people.
in your hand. 28 “And the gentiles shall know that I,
YEÀEZQÂL 37 568
HWHY, am setting Yisra’Ãl apart, when a people gathered from the gentiles,
My set-apart place is in their midst – acquiring livestock and goods, who dwell
forever.” ’ ” in the middle of the land.
13 “SheÄa, and DeÅan, and the merchants
Master HWHY, “See, I am against you, O you shall say to GoÍ, ‘Thus said the Master
GoÍ, the prince of Rosh, Meshe¿, and HWHY, “In that day when My people Yisra’Ãl
TuÄal. dwell safely, would you not know?
4 “And I shall turn you around, and I 15 “And you shall come from your place
shall put hooks into your jaws, and shall out of the far north, you and many peoples
lead you out, with all your army, horses with you, all of them riding on horses, a
and horsemen, clad perfectly, a great great assembly and a mighty army.
16 “And you shall come up against My
assembly with armour and shields, all of
them handling swords. people Yisra’Ãl like a cloud, to cover the
5 “Persia, Kush, and Put are with them, land – in the latter days it shall be. And I
all of them with shield and helmet, shall bring you against My land, in order
6 “Gomer and all its bands, the house of that the gentiles know Me, when I am set
ToÍarmah from the far north and all its apart in you, O GoÍ, before their eyes.”
bands, many peoples with you. 17 ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “Are you
7 “Be ready, prepare yourself, you and all the one I spoke of in former days by My
your assemblies that are assembled unto servants the prophets of Yisra’Ãl, who
you. And you shall be a guard for them. prophesied for years in those days, to bring
8 “After many days you shall be called you against them?
up. In the latter years you shall come into 18 “And it shall be on that day, on the day
the land of those brought back from the when GoÍ comes against the land of
sword and gathered from many people on Yisra’Ãl,” declares the Master HWHY, “that
the mountains of Yisra’Ãl, which had been My wrath shall come up in My face.
a continual waste. But they were brought 19 “For in My jealousy and in the fire of
out of the gentiles, and all of them shall My wrath I have spoken, ‘On that day
dwell safely. there shall be a great shaking in the land of
9 “And you shall go up, coming like a Yisra’Ãl,
storm, covering the land like a cloud, you 20 so that the fish of the sea, and the birds
and all your bands and many peoples with of the heavens, and the beasts of the field,
you.” and all creeping creatures that creep on the
10 ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “And it earth, and all men who are on the face of
shall be in that day that words arise in your the earth shall shake at My presence. And
heart, and you shall devise an evil plan: the mountains shall be thrown down, and
11 “And you shall say, ‘Let me go up the steep places shall fall, and every wall
against a land of unwalled villages, let me fall to the ground.’
go to those at rest who dwell safely, all of 21 “And I shall call for a sword against
them dwelling without walls, and having GoÍ on all My mountains,” declares the
neither bars nor gates,’ Master HWHY, “the sword of each one being
12 to take plunder and to take booty, to against his brother.
stretch out your hand against the waste 22 “And I shall judge him with pestilence
places that are again inhabited, and against and blood, and rain down flooding rain and
569 YEÀEZQÂL 39
hailstones, fire and sulphur, on him and on 11 “And it shall be on that day that I give
his bands and on the many peoples who are GoÍ a burial site there in Yisra’Ãl, the
with him. valley of those passing by east of the sea,
23 “And I shall exalt Myself and set and stopping those passing by, because
Myself apart, and I shall be known in the there they shall bury GoÍ and all his
eyes of many nations. And they shall know crowd, and shall call it the Valley of
that I am HWHY.” ’ Hamon GoÍ.
12 “And the house of Yisra’Ãl shall bury
for I have spoken,” declares the Master be there. So they shall cleanse the land.” ’
HWHY. 17 “And you, son of man, thus said the
6 “And I shall send fire upon MaÍoÍ and Master HWHY, ‘Speak to every sort of bird
on those who live undisturbed in the coast- and to every beast of the field, “Assemble
lands. And they shall know that I am HWHY. yourselves and come, gather from all
7 “And I shall make My set-apart Name around to My offering which I am slaugh-
known in the midst of My people Yisra’Ãl, tering for you, a great offering on the
and not let My set-apart Name be profaned mountains of Yisra’Ãl, and you shall eat
any more. And the gentiles shall know that flesh and drink blood.
I am HWHY, the Set-apart One in Yisra’Ãl. 18 “Eat the flesh of the mighty, drink the
8 “See, it shall come, and it shall be blood of the princes of the earth, of rams
done,” declares the Master HWHY. “This is and lambs, of goats and bulls, all of them
the day of which I have spoken. fatlings of Bashan.
9 “And those who inhabit the cities of 19 “And you shall eat fat till you are filled,
Yisra’Ãl shall go out and set on fire and and drink blood till you are drunk, at My
burn the weapons, both the shields and offering which I am slaughtering for you.
armour, the bows and arrows, the clubs and 20 “And you shall be satisfied at My table
spears. And they shall make fires with with horses and riders, with mighty men
them for seven years, and with all the men of battle,” declares
10 and take no wood from the field nor cut the Master HWHY.
down any from the forests, for with the 21 “And I shall set My esteem among the
weapons they make fire. And they shall gentiles. And all gentiles shall see My
plunder those who plundered them, and judgment which I have executed, and My
loot those who looted them,” declares the hand which I have laid on them.
Master HWHY. 22 “And the house of Yisra’Ãl shall know
YEÀEZQÂL 39 570
that I am HWHY their Elohim from that day stood in the gateway.
4 And the man said to me, “Son of man,
onward.
23 “And the gentiles shall know that the see with your eyes and hear with your ears,
house of Yisra’Ãl went into exile for their and set your heart on all that I am showing
crookedness, because they have trespassed you, for you were brought here in order to
against Me, so that I hid My face from show them to you. Declare to the house of
them, and I gave them into the hand of Yisra’Ãl all that you are seeing.”
5 And look: a wall all around the outside
their adversaries, and they all fell by the
sword. of the House, and in the man’s hand a mea-
24 “According to their uncleanness and suring rod six cubits long, each being a
according to their transgressions I have cubit and a handbreadth. And he measured
dealt with them, and hidden My face from the width of the wall structure, one rod,
them.” ’ and the height one rod.
25 “Therefore thus said the Master HWHY, 6 Then he came to the gate facing east.
‘Now I am going to bring back the captives And he went up its stairs and measured the
of YaÈaqoÄ. And I shall have compassion threshold of the gate, one rod wide, and the
on all the house of Yisra’Ãl, and shall be other threshold, one rod wide,
7 and the little room one rod long and one
jealous for My set-apart Name.
26 ‘And they shall have borne their shame, rod wide, and between the little rooms a
and all their trespass they committed space of five cubits. And the threshold of
against Me, when they dwell safely in their the gate inwards from the porch of the gate
own land, with none to make them afraid, was one rod.
27 when I have brought them back from 8 Then he measured the porch of the
the peoples and gathered them out of inside gate, one rod.
9 And he measured the porch of the gate,
the lands of their enemies. And I shall be
set apart in them before the eyes of many eight cubits, and its posts two cubits. And
gentiles. the porch of the gate was on the inside.
28 ‘And they shall know that I am HWHY 10 And the little rooms of the east gate
their Elohim, who sent them into exile three on one side and three on the other, all
among the gentiles, and then gathered three of the same size. And posts were of
them back to their own land, and left none the same size on this side and that side.
of them behind. 11 And he measured the width of the
29 ‘And no longer do I hide My face from entrance of the gate, ten cubits, and the
them, for I shall have poured out My Spirit length of the gate thirteen cubits.
on the house of Yisra’Ãl,’ declares the 12 And the border in front of the little
Master HWHY.” rooms, one cubit on this side and one cubit
on that side. And the gate room was six
40 In the twenty-fifth year of our
exile, at the beginning of the year,
cubits on this side and six cubits on that
side.
13 And he measured the gate from the roof
on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth
year after the city was smitten, on that of one little room to the roof of the other,
same day the hand of HWHY came upon me the width was twenty-five cubits, door to
and He brought me there. door.
2 In visions of Elohim He brought me 14 And he measured the posts, sixty cubits
into the land of Yisra’Ãl and set me on a high, even to the post of the courtyard all
very high mountain, and upon it toward the around the gate.
south was as the structure of a city. 15 And from the front of the entrance gate
3 So He brought me there, and look, a to the front of the porch of the inner gate
man whose appearance was like the was fifty cubits.
appearance of bronze, and a line of flax 16 And there were narrowed window
and a measuring rod in his hand, and he frames in the little rooms and to their posts
571 YEÀEZQÂL 40
all around on the inside. And on each post its porches were according to these mea-
were palm trees. surements. And windows were in it and in
17 And he brought me into the outer court- its porches all around – fifty cubits long
yard, and look, rooms and a pavement and twenty-five cubits wide.
made all around the courtyard, thirty 30 And there were porches all around,
the lower pavement. courtyard, and palm trees were on its posts,
19 And he measured the width from the and eight steps led up to it.
front of the lower gate to the front of the 32 And he brought me into the inner court-
inner courtyard on the outside, one hun- yard toward the east, and he measured the
dred cubits toward the east and the north. gate according to these measurements.
20 And the gate of the outer courtyard 33 And its little rooms, and its posts, and
facing north he measured its length and its its porches were according to these mea-
width. surements. And windows were in it and in
21 And its little rooms, three on this side its porches all around – fifty cubits long
and three on that side, its posts and its and twenty-five cubits wide.
porches, had the same measurements as 34 And its porches were toward the outer
the first gate, its length was fifty cubits and courtyard, and palm trees were on its posts
its width twenty-five cubits. on this side and on that side, and eight
22 And its windows and its porches, and steps led up to it.
its palm trees, had the same measurements 35 And he brought me to the north gate,
as the gate facing east. And they went up and he measured it according to these
to it by seven steps, and its porch was in measurements,
front of it. 36 its little rooms, its posts, and its porch-
23 And the gate of the inner courtyard was es. And it had windows all around, its
opposite the northern gate, and at the length was fifty cubits and its width twen-
eastern gate. And he measured from gate ty-five cubits.
to gate, one hundred cubits. 37 And its posts were toward the outer
24 And he took me toward the south, and courtyard, and palm trees were on its posts
look, a gate toward the south. And he mea- on this side and on that side, and eight
sured its posts and porches according to steps led up to it.
these measurements. 38 And there was a room with its entrance
25 And windows were in it and in its by the posts of the gate, where they
porches all around like those windows, its washed the burnt offering.
length was fifty cubits and its width twen- 39 And in the porch of the gate were two
stone for the burnt offering, one cubit and a front of the Hÿal. And he said to me,
half long, one cubit and a half wide, and “This is the Most Set-apart Place.”
one cubit high. On these they placed the 5 And he measured the wall of the
instruments with which they slaughtered House, six cubits, and the width of each
the burnt offering and the offering. side room all around the House was four
43 And the double hooks, a handbreadth cubits on every side.
wide, were fastened all around. And on the 6 And the side rooms were on three lev-
tables was the flesh of the offerings. els, one above the other, thirty rooms on
44 And on the outside of the inner gate each level, they rested on ledges which
were the rooms for the singers in the inner were for the side rooms all around, to be
courtyard, one at the side of the north gate supported, but not fastened to the wall of
and facing south, and the other at the side the House.
of the south gate facing north. 7 And there was a broadening and a
45 And he said to me, “This room facing winding upwards for the side rooms, for
south is for the priests who guard the duty the winding around the House went up like
of the House. steps. And the width of the structure
46 “And the room facing north is for the increased as one went up from the lowest
priests who guard the duty of the altar, they level to the highest by way of the middle
are the sons of TsaÅoq, from the sons of one.
LÃwi, who come near HWHY to serve Him.” 8 And I saw the height all around the
47 And he measured the courtyard, one House: the foundation of the side rooms, a
hundred cubits long and one hundred rod’s length of six cubits.
cubits wide, a square. And the altar was in 9 The thickness of the outer wall of the
front of the House. side rooms was five cubits, and that which
48 And he brought me to the porch of the was left between the side rooms of the
House and measured the doorposts of the House
porch, five cubits on this side and five 10 and the rooms was a width of twenty
cubits on that side. And the width of the cubits all around the House on every side.
gate was three cubits on this side and three 11 And the door of the side room was
cubits on that side. toward the open space, one door toward
49 The length of the porch was twenty the north and another toward the south.
cubits, and the width eleven cubits. And by And the width of the place of the open
the steps which led up to it there were space was five cubits all around.
columns by the doorposts, one on this side 12 And the building that was in front of
and one on that side. the separate place at the side toward the
west was seventy cubits wide, and the wall
41 And he brought me into the Hÿal,
and he measured the doorposts, six
of the building was five cubits thick all
around, and its length ninety cubits.
cubits wide on one side and six cubits wide 13 Then he measured the House, one hun-
on the other side, the width of the Tent. dred cubits long. And the separate place
2 And the entrance was ten cubits wide, with the building and its walls, were one
and the side walls of the entrance were five hundred cubits long,
cubits on this side and five cubits on the 14 and the width of the front of the House,
other side. And he measured its length, and of the separate place eastward, was
forty cubits, and twenty cubits wide. one hundred cubits.
3 And he went inside and measured the 15 And he measured the length of the
doorposts, two cubits, and the entrance six building to the front of the separate place
cubits high, and the width of the entrance behind it, and its galleries on the one side
seven cubits. and on the other side, one hundred cubits,
4 And he measured the length, twenty as well as the inner Hÿal and the porches
cubits, and the width twenty cubits, to the of the courtyard.
573 YEÀEZQÂL 42
their three levels opposite the threshold, cubits, and opposite the pavement of the
were panelled with wood. From the ground outer courtyard, gallery against gallery in
to the windows, and the windows were three levels.
covered, 4 And before the rooms, toward the
17 from the space above the door, even to inside, was a walk ten cubits wide, a way
the inner house, as well as outside, and on of one cubit. And their doors were to the
every wall all around, inside and outside, north.
by measure. 5 And the upper rooms were shorter,
18 And it was made with keruÄim and because the galleries took away space from
palm trees, and a palm tree between keruÄ them more than from the lower and middle
and keruÄ. A keruÄ had two faces, levels of the building.
19 so that the face of a man was toward a 6 For they were in three levels and had no
palm tree on one side, and the face of a columns like the columns of the court-
young lion toward a palm tree on the other yards, so the upper level was set back more
side – made on all the House all around. than the lower and middle levels from the
20 From the floor to the space above the ground up.
door, and on the wall of the Hÿal, 7 As for the outer wall by the side of the
keruÄim and palm trees were carved. rooms, toward the outer courtyard facing
21 The doorposts of the Hÿal were the rooms, its length was fifty cubits.
square, and the front of the set-apart place, 8 For the length of the rooms toward the
the appearance of one was like the appear- outer courtyard was fifty cubits, and that
ance of the other. facing the Hÿal was one hundred cubits.
22 The altar was of wood, three cubits 9 And below these rooms was the
high, and its length two cubits. And its entrance on the east side, as one enters
corners, and its length, and its sides were them from the outer courtyard.
of wood. And he said to me, “This is the 10 In the thickness of the wall of the court-
table that is before HWHY.” yard toward the east, opposite the separate
23 And the Hÿal and the set-apart place place and opposite the building, were
had two doors. rooms.
24 And each of the doors had two panels, 11 And the way in front of them was like
two folding panels, two panels for one the appearance of the rooms which were
door and two panels for the other door. toward the north, as long and as wide as
25 And keruÄim and palm trees were the others, and all their exits and entrances
carved on the doors of the Hÿal, like were according to plan.
those carved on the walls. And thick wood 12 And according to the doors of the
was on the front of the porch outside. rooms that were toward the south, there
26 And narrowed window frames and was a door in front of the way, the way in
palm trees were on one side and on the front of the wall toward the east, as one
other, on the sides of the porch, and on the enters them.
side rooms of the House, and thick wood. 13 And he said to me, “The north rooms
dred cubits, was the north door, the width go out of the set-apart room into the outer
YEÀEZQÂL 42 574
courtyard, but leave their garments in by their whoring and by the corpses of
which they attend there, for they are set- their sovereigns on their high places.
apart, and shall put on other garments and 8 “When they placed their threshold by
shall draw near to that which is for the My threshold, and their doorpost by My
people.” doorpost, with a wall between them and
15 And when he had ended measuring the Me, they defiled My set-apart Name by the
inner House, he brought me out through abominations which they have done. So I
the gate that faces east, and measured it all consumed them in My displeasure.
around. 9 “Now let them put their whoring and
16 He measured the east side with the the corpses of their sovereigns far away
measuring rod, five hundred rods by the from Me, and I shall dwell in their midst
measuring rod all around. forever.
17 He measured the north side, five hun- 10 “Son of man, explain the House to the
dred rods by the measuring rod all around. house of Yisra’Ãl, and when they are
18 He measured the south side, five hun- ashamed of their crookednesses, they shall
dred rods by the measuring rod. measure the measurements.
19 He turned round to the west side and 11 “And since they shall be ashamed of all
measured five hundred rods by the measur- that they did, make known to them the
ing rod. design of the House and its structure, and
20 On the four sides he measured it. It had its exits and its entrances, its entire design
a wall all around, five hundred cubits long and all its laws, and all its forms and all its
and five hundred wide, to separate the set- Torot. And write it down before their eyes,
apart places from the common. so that they observe its entire design and
all its laws, and shall do them.
43 And he led me to the gate, the gate
facing east.
2 And see, the esteem of the Elohim of
12 “This is the Torah of the House: Upon
waters, and the earth shone from His altar in cubits, that cubit being one cubit
esteem. and a handbreadth, and the base one cubit
3 And it was like the appearance of the high and one cubit wide, with a rim all
vision which I saw, like the vision which I around its edge of one span. And this is the
saw when He came to destroy the city. And upper part of the altar.
the visions were like the vision which I 14 “And from the base on the ground
saw by the River KeÄar, and I fell on my to the lower ledge, two cubits, and the
face. width of the ledge one cubit, and from the
4 And the esteem of HWHY came into the smaller ledge to the larger ledge four
House by way of the gate facing east. cubits, and the width of the ledge one
5 And the Spirit took me up and brought cubit.
me into the inner courtyard. And see, the 15 “And the altar hearth is four cubits
esteem of HWHY filled the House. high, and four horns extending upward
6 And I heard someone speaking to me from the hearth.
from the House, while a man stood beside 16 “And the altar hearth is twelve cubits
soles of My feet, when I dwell in the midst fourteen wide on its four sides, with a rim
of the children of Yisra’Ãl forever, and the of half a cubit around it, and its base one
house of Yisra’Ãl shall no longer defile My cubit all around, and its steps face east.”
set-apart Name, they nor their sovereigns, 18 And He said to me, “Son of man, thus
575 YEÀEZQÂL 44
sin offering to the priests, the LÃwites, who your heart and see with your eyes and hear
are of the seed of TsaÅoq, who approach with your ears, all that I say to you con-
unto Me,’ declares the Master HWHY. cerning all the laws of the House of HWHY
20 ‘And you shall take some of its blood and all its Torot. And you shall set your
and put it on the four horns of the altar, on heart to the entrance of the house, with all
the four corners of the ledge, and on the the exits of the set-apart place,
6 and shall say to the rebellious, to the
rim around it, and shall cleanse it and
make atonement for it. house of Yisra’Ãl, ‘Thus said the Master
21 ‘And you shall take the bull of the sin HWHY, “O house of Yisra’Ãl, enough of all
offering, and shall burn it in the appointed these abominations of yours,
7 that you brought in sons of a foreigner,
place of the House, outside the set-apart
place. uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised
22 ‘And on the second day you bring a in flesh, to be in My set-apart place to pro-
male goat, a perfect one, for a sin offering. fane it, My house! That you brought near
And they shall cleanse the altar, as they My food, the fat and the blood, and you
cleansed it with the bull. broke My covenant because of all your
23 ‘When you have ended cleansing it, abominations.
8 “And you did not guard the charge of
bring a young bull, a perfect one, and a
ram from the flock, a perfect one. that which is set-apart to Me, but you have
24 ‘And you shall bring them before HWHY, set others to guard the charge of My set-
and the priests shall throw salt on them and apart place for you.”
9 ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “No son of
offer them up as a burnt offering to HWHY.
25 ‘Prepare a goat for a sin offering daily a foreigner, uncircumcised in heart or
for seven days, and prepare a young bull uncircumcised in flesh, comes into My set-
and a ram from the flock, perfect ones. apart place, even any son of a foreigner
26 ‘For seven days they shall make atone- who is among the children of Yisra’Ãl.
ment for the altar and cleanse it, and ordain 10 “And the LÃwites who went far from
and your peace offerings on the altar, and I apart place, as gatekeepers of the house
shall accept you,’ declares the Master and attendants of the house, slaughtering
HWHY.” the burnt offering and the offering for the
people, and standing before them to attend
44 And He brought me back to the
outer gate of the set-apart place
to them.
12 “Because they attended to them before
which faces east, and it was shut. their idols and became a stumbling-block
2 And HWHY said to me, “This gate is shut, of crookedness to the house of Yisra’Ãl,
it is not opened, and no one enters it, therefore I have lifted My hand in an oath
because HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl has against them,” declares the Master HWHY,
entered by it, and it shall be shut. “that they shall bear their crookedness,
3 “The prince, as prince, he sits in it to 13 and not come near Me to serve as My
eat bread before HWHY, coming in by way of priest, nor come near any of that which is
the porch of the gate, and going out the set-apart to Me, nor into the Most Set-apart
same way.” Place. And they shall bear their shame and
YEÀEZQÂL 44 576
their abominations which they have done. a brother or unmarried sister they defile
14 “Yet I shall make them those who themselves.
guard the duty of the House, for all its 26 “And after his cleansing, they count
work, and for all that has to be done in it. seven days for him,
15 “But the priests, the LÃwites, the sons 27 and on the day that he comes into the
of TsaÅoq, who guarded the duty of My inner court of the set-apart place to attend
set-apart place when the children of in the set-apart place, he brings his sin
Yisra’Ãl went astray from Me, they shall offering,” declares the Master HWHY.
draw near to Me to serve Me, and shall 28 “And it shall be to them for an inheri-
stand before Me to bring to Me the fat and tance, I am their inheritance. And you give
the blood,” declares the Master HWHY. them no possession in Yisra’Ãl – I am their
16 “They shall enter My set-apart place, possession.
and they shall draw near to My table to 29 “The grain offering, and the sin offer-
serve Me, and they shall guard My charge. ing, and the guilt offering they are to eat,
17 “And it shall be, when they enter the and all that is dedicated in Yisra’Ãl is
gates of the inner courtyard, that they put theirs.
on linen garments, and no wool shall come 30 “And the first of all the first-fruits of
upon them while they attend within the all, and every contribution of all, of all
gates of the inner courtyard or within the your contributions, belong to the priests.
house. And the first of your ground meal you give
18 “They shall have linen turbans on their to the priest, so that a blessing rests on
heads and linen trousers on their bodies, your house.
they shall not gird themselves with sweat. 31 “The priests are not to eat any bird or
19 “And when they go out to the outer beast found dead or torn to pieces.
courtyard, to the outer courtyard to the
people, they shall take off their garments in
which they have attended, and shall leave 45 “And when you divide the land by
lot into inheritance, offer a contri-
them in the set-apart rooms, and shall put bution to HWHY, a set-apart portion of the
on other garments. And they shall set apart land, in length twenty-five thousand cubits
the people in their set-apart garments. long, and in width ten thousand, this being
20 “And their heads they shall not shave, set-apart throughout its border all around.
nor shall they let their hair grow long – 2 “Of this a square plot is to be for the
they shall keep their hair well trimmed. set-apart place, five hundred by five
21 “And no priest is to drink wine when he hundred, with fifty cubits around it for an
comes into the inner court. open space.
22 “And they do not take as wife a widow 3 “And from this measure you are to
or a divorced woman, but take maidens of measure: twenty-five thousand cubits long
the seed of the house of Yisra’Ãl, or wid- and ten thousand wide. And in it is to be
ows of priests. the set-apart place, the Most Set-apart
23 “And they are to teach My people the Place.
difference between the set-apart and the 4 “This is to be a set-apart portion of the
profane, and make them know what is land, belonging to the priests, the atten-
unclean and clean. dants of the set-apart place, who draw near
24 “And they are to stand as judges in a to serve HWHY. And it shall be a place for
dispute, and judge it according to My their houses and set-apart ground for the
right-rulings. And they are to guard My set-apart place.
Torot and My laws in all My appointed 5 “And twenty-five thousand cubits in
festivals, and set apart My Sabbaths. length and ten thousand in width is for the
25 “And they are not to defile themselves LÃwites, the attendants of the House, for
by coming near a dead man. Only for a them for a possession, twenty rooms.
father or mother, for a son or daughter, for 6 “And give the city as possession: five
577 YEÀEZQÂL 46
thousand cubits wide and twenty-five offerings, at the festival, the New Moons,
thousand long, beside the contribution of the Sabbaths – in all the appointed times of
the set-apart portion – it belongs to all the the house of Yisra’Ãl. He is to prepare the
house of Yisra’Ãl. sin offering, and the grain offering, and the
7 “And the prince is to have a portion on burnt offering, and the peace offerings to
one side and the other of the set-apart con- make atonement for the house of Yisra’Ãl.”
tribution and of the possession of the city. 18 ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “In the first
And bordering on the set-apart contribu- month, on the first of the month, you are to
tion and the possession of the city, on the take a young bull, a perfect one, and shall
west side westward and on the east side cleanse the set-apart place.
eastward, and the length alongside one of 19 “And the priest shall take some of the
the portions, from the west border to the blood of the sin offering and put it on the
east border. doorposts of the House, on the four corners
8 “Of the land this is his possession in of the ledge of the altar, and on the posts of
Yisra’Ãl, and My princes shall no longer the gate of the inner courtyard.
oppress My people. And they shall give 20 “And do the same on the seventh of the
the land to the house of Yisra’Ãl, according month for anyone who makes a mistake or
to their tribes.” is foolish. And you shall make atonement
9 ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “Enough, for the House.
you princes of Yisra’Ãl! Put away violence 21 “In the first month, on the fourteenth
and plundering, and do right-ruling and day of the month, you have the Passover, a
righteousness, and stop your evictions of festival of seven days, unleavened bread is
My people,” declares the Master HWHY. eaten.
10 “Have right scales, and a right Ãphah, 22 “And on that day the prince shall pre-
and a right bath. pare for himself and for all the people of
11 “Let the Ãphah and the bath be of the the land a bull for a sin offering.
same measure, so that the bath contains 23 “And during the seven days of the festi-
one-tenth of a Áomer, and the Ãphah one- val he prepares a burnt offering to HWHY,
tenth of a Áomer. Let their measure be seven bulls and seven rams, perfect ones,
according to the Áomer. daily for seven days, and a male goat daily
12 “And the sheqel is twenty gÃrahs. Your for a sin offering.
mina is twenty sheqels, twenty-five 24 “And he prepares a grain offering of
sheqels, fifteen sheqels. one Ãphah for each bull and one Ãphah for
13 “This is the contribution which you each ram, together with a hin of oil for
present: you shall give one-sixth of an each Ãphah.
Ãphah from a Áomer of wheat, and one- 25 “In the seventh month, on the fifteenth
sixth of an Ãphah from a Áomer of barley. day of the month, at the festival, he pre-
14 “And the law concerning oil, the bath pares like these seven days, as the sin
of oil, is one-tenth of a bath from a kor. A offering, as the burnt offering, as the grain
kor is a Áomer or ten baths, for ten baths offering, and as the oil.”
are a Áomer.
15 “And one lamb from a flock, from two
hundred, from the watered pastures of 46 ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “The
gate of the inner courtyard facing
Yisra’Ãl, for grain offerings, and for a burnt east is shut the six days of work, but on the
offering, and for peace offerings, to make Sabbath it is opened, and on the day of the
atonement for them,” declares the Master New Moon it is opened.
HWHY. 2 “And the prince shall enter by way of
16 “All the people of the land are to give the porch of that gate from the outside, and
this contribution to the prince in Yisra’Ãl. he shall stand by the post. And the priests
17 “And on the prince are the burnt offer- shall prepare his burnt offering and his
ings, and the grain offerings, and drink peace offerings. And he shall bow himself
YEÀEZQÂL 46 578
prince brings to HWHY on the Sabbath day is offering, and the oil, morning by morning,
six lambs, perfect ones, and a ram, a per- a continual burnt offering.”
fect one. 16 ‘Thus said the Master HWHY, “When the
5 “And the grain offering is one Ãphah prince gives a gift of some of his inheri-
for a ram, and the grain offering for the tance to any of his sons, it belongs to his
lambs, a gift of his hand, and a hin of oil sons, it is their possession by inheritance.
for an Ãphah. 17 “And when he gives a gift of some of
6 “And on the day of the New Moon: a his inheritance to one of his servants, then
young bull, a perfect one, six lambs, and a it shall be his till the year of release, then it
ram, they should be perfect. shall return to the prince. Only the inheri-
7 “And he prepares a grain offering of an tance of his sons is theirs.
Ãphah for a bull, and an Ãphah for a ram, 18 “And the prince does not take any of
and for the lambs as his hand attains, and a the people’s inheritance by evicting them
hin of oil for an Ãphah. from their possession. He is to give his
8 “And when the prince enters, he comes sons their inheritance from his own posses-
in by way of the porch of that gate, and sion, so that none of My people are sepa-
goes out the same way. rated from his possession.” ’ ”
9 “And when the people of the land enter 19 And he brought me through the
before HWHY at the appointed times, who- entrance, which was at the side of the gate,
ever shall enter by way of the north gate to into the set-apart rooms of the priests fac-
bow himself, goes out by way of the south ing north. And look, there was a place at
gate. And whoever enters by way of the the extreme rear toward the west.
south gate, goes out by way of the north 20 And he said to me, “This is the place
gate, he shall not return by way of the gate where the priests cook the guilt offering
through which he came, but goes out and the sin offering, where they bake the
through the opposite one. grain offering, so as not to bring them out
10 “And the prince is to be in their midst, into the outer courtyard to set the people
entering when they enter, and going out apart.”
when they go out. 21 And he brought me out into the outer
11 “And in the festivals and in the appoint- courtyard and made me pass along to the
ed times the grain offering is an Ãphah for four corners of the courtyard. And look, in
a bull, and an Ãphah for a ram, and for every corner of the courtyard was another
lambs the gift of his hand, and a hin of oil courtyard.
for an Ãphah. 22 In the four corners of the courtyard
12 “And when the prince makes a sponta- were courtyards covered over, forty cubits
neous burnt offering or spontaneous peace long and thirty wide, these four corners
offerings to HWHY, the gate facing east shall having one measure,
be opened for him. And he shall prepare 23 and a row of building stones all around
his burnt offering and his peace offerings in them, all around the four of them, and
as he did on the Sabbath day. And he shall places for fire were made under the rows,
go out, and after he goes out the gate shall all around.
be shut. 24 And he said to me, “These are the
13 “And make a daily burnt offering to kitchens where the attendants of the House
HWHY of a lamb a year old, a perfect one, cook the slaughterings of the people.”
579 YEÀEZQÂL 47
trickling out on the right side. same as his brother. For I lifted My hand in
3 As the man went out to the east with the an oath to give it to your fathers, and this
line in his hand, he measured one thousand land shall fall to you as your inheritance.
cubits, and he made me pass over into 15 “And this is the border of the land on
water, water to the ankles. the north: from the Great Sea, the way of
4 And he measured one thousand and Àethlon, as one goes to TseÅaÅ,
made me pass over into water, water to the 16 “Àamath, BÃrothah, SiÄrayim, which is
knees. And he measured one thousand and between the border of Damascus and the
made me pass over, water to the loins. border of Àamath, Àatsar Hatti¿on, which
5 And he measured one thousand, a is on the border of Àawran.
stream that I was unable to pass over, for 17 “And the border shall be from the Sea
the water had risen, water to swim, a to Àatsar Ânan, the border of Damascus,
stream that is not passed over. and on the north toward the north is the
6 And he said to me, “Son of man, have border of Àamath. This is the north side.
you seen this?” And he led me and brought 18 “And the east side is from between
me back to the bank of the stream. Àawran, and Damascus, and GilÈaÅ, and
7 When I returned, then look, along the the land of Yisra’Ãl; the YardÃn, from the
bank of the stream were very many trees border to the eastern side of the sea you are
on one side and the other. to measure. This is the east side.
8 And he said to me, “These waters are 19 “And the south side toward the South is
flowing toward the eastern country, and go from Tamar to the waters of MeriÄah by
down into the AraÄah, and enter the sea, QaÅÃsh, along the Wadi to the Great Sea.
being made to flow into the sea, and the This is the south side toward the South.
waters shall be healed. 20 “And the west side is the Great Sea,
9 “And it shall be that every swarming from the border to the point opposite
creature, wherever the stream goes, shall Àamath. This is the west side.
live. And there shall be very many fish, for 21 “And you shall divide this land among
these waters shall go there, and they are yourselves according to the tribes of Yis-
healed. And wherever the stream flows all ra’Ãl.
shall live. 22 “And it shall be that you divide it by lot
10 “And it shall be that fishermen stand as an inheritance for yourselves, and for
along it, from Ân GeÅi to Ân EÍlayim, the strangers who sojourn in your midst
being places for spreading their nets. Their and who bear children among you. And
fish is to be of the same kind as the fish of they shall be to you as native-born among
the Great Sea, very many. the children of Yisra’Ãl – with you they
11 “Its swamps and marshes shall not be have an inheritance in the midst of the
healed, they shall be given over to salt. tribes of Yisra’Ãl. l
12 “And by the bank of the stream, on 23 “And it shall be that in whatever tribe
both sides, grow all kinds of trees used for the stranger sojourns, there you give him
l Yesh. 14:1, Yesh. 56:6-8, Rom. 11:17-26, Eph. 2:19, Eph. 3:6, Rev. 21:12.
YEÀEZQÂL 47 580
his inheritance,” declares the Master HWHY. width, its entire length is twenty-five thou-
sand and its width ten thousand.
48 “And these are the names of the
tribes: From the north end along
14 “And they do not sell any of it, nor
thousand in width, and on the south twen- one side and on the other of the set-apart
ty-five thousand in length. And the set- contribution and of the possession of the
apart place of HWHY shall be in its midst – city, facing the twenty-five thousand cubits
11 for the priests of the sons of TsaÅoq, of the set-apart contribution as far as the
who are set-apart, who did guard My eastern border, and westward facing the
Charge, who did not go astray when the twenty-five thousand as far as the western
children of Yisra’Ãl went astray, as the border, alongside the portions of the
LÃwites went astray. prince. And the set-apart contribution, and
12 “So this contribution shall be to them, the set-apart place of the House shall be in
from the contribution of the land, a most its midst.
set-apart place by the border of the 22 “So the possession of the LÃwites and
23 “As for the rest of the tribes, from the the tribes of Yisra’Ãl: m On the north side,
east side to the west side, Binyamin: one. measuring four thousand five hundred
24 “And by the border of Binyamin, from
cubits,
the east side to the west side, ShimÈon: 31 the three gates northward: one gate for
one. Re’uÄÃn, one gate for YehuÅah, one gate
25 “And by the border of ShimÈon, from
for LÃwi.
the east side to the west side, Yissas¿ar: 32 “And on the east side, four thousand
one.
26 “And by the border of Yissas¿ar, from five hundred cubits, three gates: one gate
the east side to the west side, ZeÄulun: one. for YosÃph, one gate for Binyamin, one
27 “And by the border of ZeÄulun, from gate for Dan.
the east side to the west side, GaÅ: one. 33 “And on the south side, measuring four
28 “And by the border of GaÅ, on the
thousand five hundred cubits, three gates:
south side toward the South, the border one gate for ShimÈon, one gate for Yissas-
shall be from Tamar to the waters of ¿ar, one gate for ZeÄulun.
MeriÄah by QaÅÃsh, along the Wadi to the 34 “And on the west side, four thousand
Great Sea.
29 “This is the land which you divide by five hundred cubits with their three gates:
lot as an inheritance among the tribes of one gate for GaÅ, one gate for AshÃr, one
Yisra’Ãl, and these are their portions,” gate for Naphtali.
35 “All around: eighteen thousand cubits.
declares the Master HWHY.
30 “And these are the exits of the city, the And the name of the city from that day is:
gates of the city according to the names of HWHY is there!” n
m See 47:22-23, Rev. 21:12. n In HeÄrew: HWHY Shammah! See also 43:7 & 9.
DANI’ÂL
utensils of the House of Elohim, which he the chief of the eunuchs had set over
brought to the land of ShinÈar to the house Dani’Ãl, Àananyah, Misha’Ãl, and Azaryah,
of his mighty one. And he brought the 12 “Please try your servants for ten days,
utensils into the treasure house of his and let them give us vegetables to eat and
mighty one. water to drink.
3 And the sovereign said to Ashpenaz, the 13 “Then let our appearances be examined
chief of his eunuchs, to bring some of the before you, and the appearances of the
children of Yisra’Ãl and some of the sover- young men who eat the portion of the sov-
eign’s descendants and some of the nobles, ereign’s food. And do with your servants
4 young men in whom there was no as you see fit.”
blemish, but good-looking, having insight 14 And he listened to them in this matter,
in all wisdom, having knowledge and and tried them ten days.
understanding learning, capable to stand in 15 And at the end of ten days their appear-
the sovereign’s palace, and to teach them ances looked better and fatter in flesh than
the writing and speech of the Chaldeans. all the young men who ate the portion of
5 And the sovereign appointed for them the sovereign’s food.
a daily ration of the sovereign’s food and of 16 And it came to be that the overseer took
the wine which he drank, and three years of away their portion of food and the wine
training for them, so that at the end thereof they were to drink, and gave them vegeta-
they should stand before the sovereign. bles.
6 Now among them were from the sons 17 As for these four young men, Elohim
of YehuÅah: Dani’Ãl, Àananyah, Misha’Ãl, gave them knowledge and skill in all learn-
and Azaryah. ing and wisdom. And Dani’Ãl had under-
7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them standing in all visions and dreams.
names. For he called Dani’Ãl, BÃlteshats- 18 And at the end of the days, when the
tsar; and Àananyah, ShaÅra¿; and sovereign had said that they should be
Misha’Ãl, MÃysha¿; and Azaryah, AÄÃÅ- brought in, the chief of the eunuchs
NeÍo. brought them in before NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar.
8 But Dani’Ãl laid it upon his heart 19 And the sovereign spoke with them, and
that he would not defile himself with the none among them all were found like
portion of the sovereign’s food, nor with Dani’Ãl, Àananyah, Misha’Ãl, and Azaryah,
the wine which he drank. So he asked per- so they stood before the sovereign.
mission from the chief of the eunuchs not 20 And in any word of wisdom and under-
that his sleep left him. killing the wise ones. And they sought
2 And the sovereign gave orders to call Dani’Ãl and his companions, to kill them.
the magicians, and the astrologers, and the 14 Then with counsel and wisdom Dani’Ãl
practisers of witchcraft, and the Chaldeans answered Aryo¿, the chief of the sover-
to declare to the sovereign his dreams. So eign’s guard, who had gone out to kill the
they came and stood before the sovereign. wise ones of BaÄel –
3 And the sovereign said to them, “I have 15 he answered and said to Aryo¿ the sov-
had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to ereign’s officer, “Why is the decree from
know the dream.” the sovereign so urgent?” So Aryo¿ made
4 And the Chaldeans spoke to the sover- the decision known to Dani’Ãl.
eign in Aramaic, “O sovereign, live forev- 16 And Dani’Ãl went in and asked the sov-
er! Relate the dream to your servants, and ereign to give him time, and he would
we shall reveal the interpretation.” show the sovereign the interpretation.
5 The sovereign answered and said to the 17 Then Dani’Ãl went to his house, and
Chaldeans, “My decision is firm: if you do made the decision known to Àananyah,
not make known the dream and its inter- Misha’Ãl, and Azaryah, his companions,
pretation to me, your limbs shall be taken 18 to seek compassion from the Elah of the
from you, and your houses made dunghills. heavens concerning this secret, so that
6 “But if you reveal the dream and Dani’Ãl and his companions should not per-
its interpretation, you shall receive gifts, ish with the rest of the wise ones of BaÄel.
and rewards, and great esteem from me. So 19 Then the secret was revealed to Dani’Ãl
reveal to me the dream and its interpreta- in a night vision, and Dani’Ãl blessed the
tion.” Elah of the heavens.
7 They answered again and said, “Let the 20 Dani’Ãl responded and said, “Blessed
sovereign relate to his servants the dream, be the Name of Elah forever and ever, for
and we shall reveal its interpretation.” wisdom and might are His.
8 The sovereign answered and said, “I 21 “And He changes the times and the
know for certain that you would gain time, seasons. He removes sovereigns and raises
because you see that my decision is firm: up sovereigns. He gives wisdom to the
9 “If you do not make known the dream wise and knowledge to those who possess
to me, there is only one decree for you! For understanding.
you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt 22 “He reveals deep and secret matters.
words before me till the time has changed. He knows what is in the darkness, and
So relate the dream to me, then I shall light dwells with Him.
know that you shall reveal its interpreta- 23 “I thank You and praise You, O Elah of
ever asked a matter like this of any magi- sovereign had appointed to destroy the
cian, or astrologer, or Chaldean. wise ones of BaÄel. He went and said this
11 “And the matter that the sovereign is to him, “Do not destroy the wise ones of
asking is difficult, and there is no other BaÄel. Bring me in before the sovereign,
who is able to reveal it to the sovereign and I shall show the interpretation to the
except the elahin, whose dwelling is not sovereign.”
with flesh.” 25 Then Aryo¿ brought Dani’Ãl in a hurry
12 Because of this the sovereign was before the sovereign, and said thus to him,
DANI’ÂL 2 584
“I have found a man among the sons of the a great mountain and filled all the earth.
exile of YehuÅah, who does make known 36 “This is the dream, and its interpreta-
Dani’Ãl, whose name was BÃlteshatstsar, sovereigns. For the Elah of the heavens has
“Are you able to make known to me the given you a reign, power, and strength, and
dream which I have seen, and its interpre- preciousness,
tation?” 38 and wherever the children of men
27 Dani’Ãl answered before the sovereign, dwell, or the beasts of the field and the
and said, “The secret which the sovereign birds of the heavens, He has given them
is asking – the wise ones, the astrologers, into your hand, and has made you ruler
the magicians, and the diviners are unable over them all. You are the head of gold.
to show it to the sovereign. 39 “And after you rises up another reign
28 “But there is an Elah in the heavens lower than yours, and another third reign
who reveals secrets, and He has made of bronze that rules over all the earth.
known to Sovereign NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar what 40 “And the fourth reign is as strong as
is to be in the latter days. Your dream, and iron, because iron crushes and shatters all.
the visions of your head upon your bed, So, like iron that breaks in pieces, it crush-
were these: es and breaks all these.
29 “As for you, O sovereign, on your bed 41 “Yet, as you saw the feet and toes, part-
your thoughts came up: What is going to ly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the
take place after this. And He who reveals reign is to be divided. But some of the
secrets has made known to you what shall strength of the iron is to be in it, because
be after this. you saw the iron mixed with muddy clay.
30 “As for me, this secret has not been 42 “And as the toes of the feet were partly
revealed to me because I have more of iron and partly of clay, so the reign is
wisdom than anyone living, but for our partly strong and partly brittle.
sakes who make known the interpretation 43 “And as you saw iron mixed with
to the sovereign, and that you should muddy clay, they are mixing themselves
know the thoughts of your heart. with the seed of men, but they are not
31 “You, O sovereign, were looking on, clinging to each other, even as iron does
and saw a great image! This great image, not mix with clay.
and its brightness excellent, was standing 44 “And in the days of these sovereigns
before you, and its form was awesome. the Elah of the heavens shall set up a reign
32 “This image’s head was of fine gold, its which shall never be destroyed, nor the
chest and arms of silver, its belly and reign pass on to other people – it crushes
thighs of bronze, and puts to an end all these reigns, and it
33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron shall stand forever. a
and partly of clay. 45 “Because you saw that the stone was
34 “You were looking on, until a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and
cut out without hands, and it smote the that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the
image on its feet of iron and clay, and clay, the silver, and the gold, the great Elah
broke them in pieces. has made known to the sovereign what
35 “Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the shall be after this. And the dream is true,
silver, and the gold were crushed together, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
and became like chaff from the summer 46 Then Sovereign NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar fell
threshing-floors. And the wind took them on his face, and did obeisance before
away so that no trace of them was found. Dani’Ãl, and gave orders to present to him
And the stone that smote the image became an offering and incense.
a Dan. 7, Teh. 22:28, Yirm. 30:11, Yo’Ãl 3:16, OÄaÅ. 15-17, ÀaÄ. 3:12-13, Tseph. 3:8, Àagg. 2:22, Rev. 11:15.
585 DANI’ÂL 3
47 The sovereign answered Dani’Ãl, and the people, nations, and languages fell
said, “Truly your Elah is the Elah of down and did obeisance to the gold image
elahin, the Master of sovereigns, and a that Sovereign NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar had set up.
revealer of secrets, since you were able to 8 Thereupon, at that time, certain Chal-
him ruler over all the province of BaÄel, ¿aÅnetstsar, “O sovereign, live forever!
and chief of the nobles, over all the wise 10 “You, O sovereign, have made a decree
sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set have set over the work of the province of
it up in the plain of Dura, in the province BaÄel: ShaÅra¿, MÃysha¿, and AÄÃÅ-
of BaÄel. NeÍo. These men, O sovereign, pay no
2 And Sovereign NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar sent heed to you. They do not serve your elahin,
word to gather together the viceroys, the and they are not doing obeisance to the
nobles, and the governors, the counsellors, gold image which you have set up.”
the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, 13 Then NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar, in rage and
and all the officials of the provinces, to wrath, gave orders to bring ShaÅra¿,
come to the dedication of the image which MÃysha¿, and AÄÃÅ-NeÍo. Then they
Sovereign NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar had set up. brought these men before the sovereign.
3 Then the viceroys, the nobles, and the 14 NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar spoke and said to
governors, the counsellors, the treasurers, them, “Is it true, ShaÅra¿, MÃysha¿, and
the judges, the magistrates, and all the offi- AÄÃÅ-NeÍo, that you do not serve my
cials of the provinces gathered together for elahin, and you do not do obeisance to the
the dedication of the image that Sovereign gold image which I have set up?
NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar had set up. And they 15 “Now if you are ready when you hear
stood before the image that NeÄu¿aÅnetst- the sound of the horn, the flute, the zither,
sar had set up. the lyre, the harp, the pipes, and all kinds
4 Then a herald loudly proclaimed, “To of instruments, and you fall down and do
you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, obeisance to the image which I have made,
and languages, good! But if you do not do obeisance, you
5 that as soon as you hear the sound of are immediately thrown into the midst of a
the horn, the flute, the zither, the lyre, the burning furnace of fire. And who is the
harp, the pipes, and all kinds of instru- elah who does deliver you from my
ments, you shall fall down and do obei- hands?”
sance to the gold image that Sovereign 16 ShaÅra¿, MÃysha¿, and AÄÃÅ-NeÍo
than it was usual to heat it. ever of any people, nation, or language
20 And he commanded some of the who speaks any wrong against the Elah of
strongest men of his army to bind ShaÅra¿, ShaÅra¿, MÃysha¿, and AÄÃÅ-NeÍo, his
MÃysha¿, and AÄÃÅ-NeÍo, and throw them limbs shall be taken, and his house made a
into the burning furnace of fire. dunghill, because there is no other Elah
21 So these men were bound in their coats, who is able to deliver like this.”
their trousers, and their turbans, and their 30 Then the sovereign promoted ShaÅra¿,
other garments, and were thrown into the MÃysha¿, and AÄÃÅ-NeÍo in the province
midst of the burning furnace of fire. of BaÄel.
22 Thereupon, because the sovereign’s
sha¿, and AÄÃÅ-NeÍo, fell down bound and wonders which the Most High Elah
into the midst of the burning furnace of has worked for me.
fire. 3 How great are His signs, and how
24 Then Sovereign NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar was mighty His wonders! His reign is an ever-
amazed, and stood up in haste and spoke lasting reign, and His rulership is from
and said to his counsellors, “Did we not generation to generation.
throw three men bound into the midst of 4 I, NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar, was at rest in my
the fire?” They answered and said to the house, and prospering in my palace.
sovereign, “Certainly, O sovereign.” 5 I saw a dream and it frightened me, and
25 He answered and said, “Look! I see the thoughts on my bed and the visions of
four men loose, walking in the midst of the my head alarmed me.
fire. And they are not hurt, and the form of 6 So I issued a decree to bring in all the
the fourth is like the Son of Elah.” wise ones of BaÄel before me, to make
26 Then NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar went near the known to me the interpretation of the
mouth of the burning furnace of fire. He dream.
spoke and said, “ShaÅra¿, MÃysha¿, and 7 So the magicians, the astrologers, the
AÄÃÅ-NeÍo, servants of the Most High Chaldeans, and the diviners came in, and I
Elah, come out, and come here.” Then related the dream to them, but its interpre-
ShaÅra¿, MÃysha¿, and AÄÃÅ-NeÍo came tation they did not make known to me.
from the midst of the fire. 8 And at last Dani’Ãl, whose name is
27 And the viceroys, the nobles, and the BÃlteshatstsar, according to the name of
governors, and the sovereign’s counsellors my elah, came before me. In him is the
gathered together, seeing these men on Spirit of the Set-apart Elah. So I related the
whose bodies the fire had no power, and dream to him, saying,
the hair of their head was not singed nor 9 “BÃlteshatstsar, chief of the magicians,
were their garments changed, nor did the because I know that the Spirit of the Set-
smell of fire come on them. apart Elah is in you, and no secret is too
587 DANI’ÂL 4
difficult for you, explain to me the visions who hate you, and its interpretation to your
of my dream that I have seen, and its inter- enemies!
pretation. 20 “The tree you saw, which became great
10 “Now the visions of my head on my and strong, whose height reached to the
bed were these: I looked, and saw a tree in heavens and was visible to all the earth,
the midst of the earth, and its height great. 21 whose leaves were lovely and its fruit
11 “The tree became great and strong, and plenty, and in it was food for all, under
its height reached to the heavens, and it which the beasts of the field dwelt, and on
was visible to the ends of all the earth. whose branches the birds of the heavens
12 “Its leaves were lovely, and its fruit sat –
plenty, and in it was food for all. The 22 it is you, O sovereign, for you have
beasts of the field found shade under it, become great and strong. And your great-
and the birds of the heavens dwelt in its ness has grown, and has reached to the
branches, and all flesh was fed from it. heavens and your rulership to the end of
13 “In the visions of my head on my bed, I the earth.
looked and saw a Watcher, even a set-apart 23 “And as the sovereign saw a Watcher,
one, coming down from the heavens. even a set-apart one, coming down from
14 “He cried aloud and said this, ‘Hew the heavens, and he said, ‘Hew down the
down the tree and cut off its branches, strip tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of
off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the its roots in the earth, even with a band of
beasts flee from under it, and the birds iron and bronze in the tender grass of the
from its branches. field. And let it be wet with the dew of the
15 ‘But leave the stump of its roots in the heavens, and let his portion be with the
earth, even with a band of iron and bronze, beasts of the field, till seven times pass
in the tender grass of the field. And let it be over him’ –
wet with the dew of the heavens, and let 24 this is the interpretation, O sovereign,
his portion be with the beasts on the grass and this is the decree of the Most High,
of the earth. which has come upon my master the
16 ‘Let his heart be changed from man’s, sovereign:
let him be given the heart of a beast, and 25 “That you are going to be driven away
seven times pass over him. from men, and your dwelling be with the
17 ‘This matter is by the decree of the beasts of the field, and you be given grass
watchers, and the command by the word of to eat like oxen, and you be wetted with
the set-apart ones, so that the living know the dew of the heavens, and seven times
that the Most High is ruler in the reign of pass over you, till you know that the Most
men, and gives it to whomever He wishes, High is ruler in the reign of men, and that
and sets over it the lowest of men.’ He gives it to whomever He wishes.
18 “This dream have I seen, I, Sovereign 26 “And they that gave the command to
NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar. And you, BÃlteshatstsar, leave the stump of its roots of the tree:
reveal its interpretation, since all the wise your reign remains yours, from the time
ones of my reign are unable to make you come to know that the heavens are
known to me the interpretation. But you ruling.
are able, for the Spirit of the Set-apart Elah 27 “Therefore, O sovereign, let my coun-
and said, “My master, the dream is to those walking about the palace of the reign of
DANI’ÂL 4 588
BaÄel.
30 The sovereign spoke and said, “Is not 5 BÃlshatstsar the sovereign made a
great feast for a thousand of his great
this great BaÄel, which I myself have built, men, and drank wine in the presence of the
for the house of the reign, by the might of thousand.
2 While tasting the wine, BÃlshatstsar
my power and for the esteem of my
splendour?” gave orders to bring the gold and silver
31 The word was still in the sovereign’s vessels which his father NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar
mouth, when a voice fell from the heavens, had taken from the Hÿal which had been
“Sovereign NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar, to you it is in Yerushalayim, that the sovereign and his
spoken: the reign has been taken away great men, his wives, and his concubines
from you, could drink from them.
3 Then they brought the gold vessels that
32 and you are driven away from men, and
had been taken from the Hÿal of the
your dwelling is to be with the beasts of
House of Elah which had been in
the field. You are given grass to eat like Yerushalayim. And the sovereign and his
oxen, and seven seasons shall pass over great men, his wives, and his concubines
you, until you know that the Most High is drank out of them.
ruler in the reign of men, and He gives it to 4 They drank wine, and praised the
whomever He wishes.” elahin of gold, and of silver, of bronze, of
33 In that hour the word was executed on
iron, of wood and of stone.
NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar, and he was driven from 5 At that moment the fingers of a man’s
men and he ate grass like oxen, and his hand appeared and wrote opposite the
body was wet with the dew of the heavens lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the
till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers sovereign’s palace. And the sovereign saw
and his nails like birds’ claws. the part of the hand that wrote.
34 And at the end of the days I, 6 Then the sovereign’s colour changed,
NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar, lifted my eyes to the and his thoughts alarmed him, so that the
heavens, and my understanding returned to joints of his hips were loosened and his
me. And I blessed the Most High and knees knocked against each other.
7 The sovereign called loudly to bring in
praised and made Him great who lives for-
ever, whose rule is an everlasting rule, and the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the
His reign is from generation to generation. diviners. The sovereign spoke and said to
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are the wise ones of BaÄel, “Whoever reads
of no account, and He does as He wishes this writing, and shows me its interpreta-
with the host of the heavens and among the tion, is robed in purple and has a chain of
inhabitants of the earth. And there is none gold around his neck, and shall be the third
to strike against His hand or say to Him, ruler in the reign.”
8 So all the sovereign’s wise ones came,
“What have You done?”
36 At the same time my understanding
but they were unable to read the writing, or
to make known its interpretation to the
returned to me, and for the preciousness sovereign.
of my reign, my esteem and splendour 9 Then Sovereign BÃlshatstsar was great-
were returning to me. And my counsellors ly alarmed, and his colour changed, and his
and nobles sought me out, and I was re- great men were puzzled.
established to my reign, and excellent 10 The sovereigness, because of the words
greatness was added to me. of the sovereign and his great men, came
37 Now I, NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar, am praising
to the banquet hall. And the sovereigness
and exalting and esteeming the Sovereign spoke and said, “O sovereign, live forever!
of the heavens, for all His works are truth, Do not let your thoughts alarm you, nor let
and His ways right. And those who walk in your colour change.
pride He is able to humble. 11 “There is a man in your reign in whom
589 DANI’ÂL 5
is the Spirit of the Set-apart Elah. And in whomever he wished he raised up, and
the days of your father, light and under- whomever he wished he made low.
standing and wisdom, like the wisdom of 20 “But when his heart was lifted up, and
the elahin, were found in him. And his spirit was so strong as to act proudly,
Sovereign NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar your father, he was put down from his throne of
your father the sovereign, made him chief reign, and they took his preciousness
of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, from him.
and diviners, 21 “Then he was driven from the sons of
12 because an excellent spirit, knowledge men, and his heart was made like the
and understanding, interpreting dreams, beasts, and his dwelling was with the
and explaining riddles, and solving diffi- wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat
cult problems were found in this Dani’Ãl, like oxen, and his body was wet with the
whom the sovereign named BÃlteshatstsar. dew of the heavens, till he knew that the
Now let Dani’Ãl be called, and let him Most High Elah is ruler in the reign of
show the interpretation.” men, and He sets up over it whomever He
13 So Dani’Ãl was brought in before the wishes.
sovereign. The sovereign spoke and said to 22 “And you his son, BÃlshatstsar, have
Dani’Ãl, “Are you that Dani’Ãl who is one not humbled your heart, although you
of the sons of the exile from YehuÅah, knew all this.
whom my father the sovereign brought 23 “And you have lifted yourself up
solve difficult problems. Now if you are from Him, and this writing was inscribed.
able to read the writing and make known 25 “And this is the writing that was
its interpretation to me, you are to be robed inscribed: MENÂ, MENÂ, TEQÂL,
in purple and have a chain of gold around UPHARSIN.
your neck, and shall be the third ruler in 26 “This is the interpretation of each word:
self, and give your rewards to another. Yet the scales, and found lacking.
I shall read the writing to the sovereign, 28 “PERES – Your reign has been divided,
and make known the interpretation to him. and given to the Medes and Persians.”
18 “O sovereign, the Most High Elah gave 29 Then BÃlshatstsar gave orders, and they
NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar your father a reign and robed Dani’Ãl in purple and put a chain of
greatness, and preciousness and esteem. gold around his neck, and they proclaimed
19 “And because of the greatness which concerning him that he is the third ruler in
He gave him, all peoples, nations, and the reign.
languages trembled and feared before him. 30 In that night BÃlshatstsar, sovereign of
the reign, being about sixty-two years old. and found Dani’Ãl praying and entreating
before his Elah.
6 It pleased Dareyawesh to appoint over
the reign one hundred and twenty
12 Then they approached the sovereign,
advisors, have consulted together to estab- they brought Dani’Ãl and threw him into
lish a royal decree and to make a strong the den of lions. But the sovereign spoke
interdict, that whoever petitions any elah and said to Dani’Ãl, “Your Elah, whom you
or man for thirty days, except you, O sov- serve continually, He Himself delivers
ereign, is thrown into the den you.”
of lions. 17 And a stone was brought and laid on
8 “Now, O sovereign, establish the inter- the mouth of the den, and the sovereign
dict and sign the writing, so that it is not to sealed it with his own signet and with the
be changed, according to the law of the signets of his great men, that the situation
Medes and Persians, which does not pass concerning Dani’Ãl might not be changed.
away.” 18 And the sovereign went to his palace
9 So Sovereign Dareyawesh signed the and spent the night fasting. And no enter-
written interdict. tainment was brought before him, and his
10 And Dani’Ãl, when he knew that the sleep fled from him.
writing was signed, went home and in his 19 Then the sovereign rose up very early
upper room with his windows open toward in the morning and hurried to the den of
Yerushalayim he knelt down on his knees lions.
three times a day, and prayed and gave 20 And when he came to the den, he called
thanks before his Elah, as he had done with a grieved voice to Dani’Ãl. The sover-
before. eign spoke and said to Dani’Ãl, “Dani’Ãl,
11 Then these men tumultuously gathered servant of the living Elah, has your Elah,
591 DANI’ÂL 7
whom you serve continually, been able to 4 “The first was like a lion, and had
deliver you from the lions?” eagle’s wings. I was looking until its
21 Then Dani’Ãl said to the sovereign, “O wings were plucked off, and it was lifted
sovereign, live forever! up from the earth and made to stand on
22 “My Elah has sent His messenger and two feet like a man, and it was given a
has shut the lions’ mouths, and they did man’s heart.
not harm me, because I was found inno- 5 “And see, another beast, a second, like
cent before Him. And also before you, O a bear. And it was raised up on one side,
sovereign, I have done no harm.” and had three ribs in its mouth between its
23 Then the sovereign was very glad and teeth. And they said this to it, ‘Arise,
gave orders that Dani’Ãl be taken up out of devour much flesh!’
the den. And Dani’Ãl was taken up out of 6 “After this I looked and saw another,
the den, and no harm was found on him, like a leopard, which had on its back four
because he trusted in his Elah. wings of a bird. The beast also had four
24 And the sovereign gave orders and they heads, and rule was given to it.
brought those men who had accused 7 “After this I looked in the night visions
Dani’Ãl, and they threw them, their and saw a fourth beast, fearsome and burly,
children, and their wives into the den of exceedingly strong. And it had great iron
lions. And the lions overpowered them, teeth. It devoured and crushed, and tram-
and broke all their bones in pieces before pled down the rest with its feet. And it was
they reached the floor of the den. different from all the beasts that were
25 Then Sovereign Dareyawesh wrote to before it, and it had ten horns.
all peoples, nations, and languages that 8 “I was thinking about the horns, then
dwell in all the earth: “Peace be increased saw another horn, a little one, coming up
to you. among them, and three of the first horns
26 “From before me is made a decree that were plucked out by the roots before it.
throughout every rule of my reign men are And see, eyes like the eyes of a man were
to tremble and fear before the Elah of in this horn, and a mouth speaking great
Dani’Ãl, for He is the living Elah, and words.
steadfast forever. And His reign is one 9 “I was looking until thrones were set
which is not destroyed, and His rule is unto up, and the Ancient of Days was seated.
the end. His garment was white as snow, and the
27 “He delivers and rescues, and He works hair of His head was like clean wool, His
signs and wonders in the heavens and on throne was flames of fire, its wheels burn-
earth, for He has delivered Dani’Ãl from ing fire.
the power of the lions.” 10 “A stream of fire was flowing and com-
28 And this Dani’Ãl prospered in the reign ing forth from His presence, and a thou-
of Dareyawesh and in the reign of Koresh sand thousands served Him, and ten thou-
the Persian. sand times ten thousand stood before Him,
the Judge was seated, and the books were
7 In the first year of BÃlshatstsar sover-
eign of BaÄel, Dani’Ãl had a dream
opened.
11 “I was looking. Then, because of the
and visions of his head on his bed. Then he sound of the great words which the horn
wrote down the dream, giving a summary was speaking, I was looking until the beast
of the matters. was slain, and its body destroyed and
2 Dani’Ãl spoke and said, “I was looking given to the burning fire,
in my vision by night and saw the four 12 and the rest of the beasts had their rule
winds of the heavens stirring up the Great taken away. But a lengthening of life was
Sea. given to them, for a season and a time.
3 “And four great beasts came up from 13 “I was looking in the night visions and
the sea, different from one another. saw One like the Son of Enosh, b coming
DANI’ÂL 7 592
with the clouds of the heavens! And He 24 ‘And the ten horns are ten sovereigns
came to the Ancient of Days, and they from this reign. They shall rise, and anoth-
brought Him near before Him. er shall rise after them, and it is different
14 “And to Him was given rulership and from the first ones, and it humbles three
preciousness and a reign, that all peoples, sovereigns,
nations, and languages should serve Him. 25 and it speaks words against the Most
His rule is an everlasting rule which shall High, and it wears out the set-apart ones of
not pass away, and His reign that which the Most High, and it intends to change
shall not be destroyed. appointed times c and law, d and they are
15 “As for me, Dani’Ãl, my spirit was given into its hand for a time and times and
pierced within my body, and the visions of half a time.
my head alarmed me. 26 ‘But the Judgement shall sit, and they
16 “I drew near to one of those who stood shall take away its rule, to cut off and to
by, and asked him the certainty of all this. destroy, until the end.
And he spoke to me and made known to 27 ‘And the reign, and the rulership, and
me the interpretation of the matters: the greatness of the reigns under all the
17 ‘These great beasts, which are four, are heavens, shall be given to the people, the
four sovereigns which rise up from the set-apart ones of the Most High. His reign
earth. is an everlasting reign, and all rulerships
18 ‘Then the set-apart ones of the Most shall serve and obey Him.’
High shall receive the reign, and possess 28 “This is the end of the matter. As for
the reign forever, even forever and ever.’ me, Dani’Ãl, my thoughts greatly alarmed
19 “Then I desired for certainty concern- me, and my colour changed. And I kept the
ing the fourth beast, which was different matter in my heart.”
from all the others, very fearsome, with its
teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which
devoured, crushed, and trampled down the 8 In the third year of the reign of
BÃlshatstsar the sovereign, a vision
rest with its feet, appeared to me, Dani’Ãl, after the one that
20 and concerning the ten horns that were appeared to me the first time.
on its head, and of the other horn that came 2 And I looked in the vision, and it came
up, before which three fell – this horn to be while I was looking, that I was in the
which had eyes and a mouth which spoke citadel of Shushan, which is in the
great words, whose appearance was greater province of Âylam. And I looked in the
than his fellows. vision, and I was by the River Ulai.
21 “I was looking, and this horn was fight- 3 And I lifted my eyes and looked and
ing against the set-apart ones, and was pre- saw a ram standing beside the river, and it
vailing against them, had two horns, and the two horns were
22 until the Ancient of Days came, and high. And the one was higher than the
right-ruling was given to the set-apart ones other, and the higher one came up last.
of the Most High, and the time came and 4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and
the set-apart ones took possession of the northward, and southward, so that no beast
reign. could stand before him, and there was no
23 “This is what he said, ‘The fourth beast one to deliver from his hand, while he did
is the fourth reign on earth, which is differ- as he pleased and became great.
ent from all other reigns, and it devours all 5 And I was observing and saw a male
the earth, tramples it down and crushes it. goat came from the west, over the surface
b Son of Enosh - This Aramaic term is similar to the HeÄrew ‘Ben AÅam,’ but not the exact equivalent of it.
However, this Aramaic term indicates the same One! c This is another word for festivals.
d Changing the law amounts to lawlessness. Read in 2 Thess. 2:3-12 about “the lawless one” and the “lawless-
ness” which would take over (indeed, it has already taken over!) in the set-apart place, and also about Messiah’s
judgment upon the lawless “prophets” in Mt. 7:23, and the lawless “believers” in Mt. 13:41!
593 DANI’ÂL 8
of all the earth, without touching the ing, and see, before me stood one having
ground. And the goat had a conspicuous the appearance of a mighty man.
horn between his eyes. 16 And I heard a man’s voice between the
6 And he came to the ram that had two banks of Ulai, who called, and said,
horns, which I had seen standing beside “GaÄri’Ãl, make this man understand the
the river, and ran at him in the rage of his vision.”
power. 17 He then came near where I stood. And
7 And I saw him come close to the ram, when he came I feared and I fell on my
and he became embittered against him, and face, but he said to me, “Understand, son
smote the ram, and broke his two horns. of man, for the vision is for the time of the
And there was no power in the ram to end.”
withstand him, but he threw him down to 18 And, as he was speaking with me, I fell
the ground and trampled on him. And there stunned upon my face to the ground, but
was no one to deliver the ram from his he touched me, and made me stand up
hand. straight,
8 And the male goat became very great. 19 and said, “Look, I am making known to
But when he was strong, the large horn you what shall take place in the latter time
was broken, and in place of it four conspic- of the wrath, for at the appointed time shall
uous ones came up toward the four winds be the end.
of the heavens. 20 “The ram which you saw, having two
9 And from one of them came a little horns, are the sovereigns of Media and
horn which became exceedingly great Persia.
toward the south, and toward the east, and 21 “And the male goat is the sovereign of
toward the Splendid Land. Greece, and the large horn between its eyes
10 And it became great, up to the host of is the first sovereign.
the heavens. And it caused some of the 22 “And that it was broken and four stood
host and some of the stars to fall to the up in its place: are four rulerships arising
earth, and trampled them down. out of that nation, but not in its power.
11 It even exalted itself as high as the 23 “And in the latter time of their rule,
Prince of the host. And it took that which when the transgressors have filled up their
is continual away from Him, and threw measure, a sovereign, fierce of face and
down the foundation of His set-apart place. skilled at intrigues, shall stand up.
12 And because of transgression, an army 24 “And his power shall be mighty, but not
was given over to the horn to oppose that by his own power, and he shall destroy
which is continual. And it threw the truth incredibly, and shall prosper and thrive,
down to the ground, e and it acted and and destroy mighty men, and the set-apart
prospered. people.
13 Then I heard a certain set-apart one 25 “And through his skill he shall make
speaking. And another set-apart one said to deceit prosper in his hand, and hold him-
that certain one who was speaking, “Till self to be great in his heart, and destroy
when is the vision, concerning that which many who are at ease, and even stand
is continual, and the transgression that lays against the Prince of princes – yet without
waste, to make both the set-apart place and hand he shall be broken.
the host to be trampled under foot?” f 26 “And what was said in the vision of the
14 And he said to me, “For two thousand evenings and mornings is truth. And hide
three hundred days, then that which is set- the vision, for it is after many days.”
apart shall be made right.” 27 And I, Dani’Ãl, was stricken and
15 And it came to be, when I, Dani’Ãl, had became sick for days. Then I rose up and
seen the vision, that I sought understand- went about the sovereign’s work. And I
was amazed at the vision, but there was no obey Your voice. So the curse and the oath
understanding. written in the Torah of Mosheh the servant
of Elohim have been poured out on us, for
9 In the first year of Dareyawesh the
son of AÁashwÃrosh, of the seed of
we have sinned against Him.
12 “And He has confirmed His words,
the Medes, who was set up as sovereign which He spoke against us and against our
over the reign of the Chaldeans – rulers who judged us, by bringing upon us
2 in the first year of his reign I, Dani’Ãl, great evil. For under all the heavens there
observed from the Scriptures the number has not been done like what was done to
of the years, according to the word of HWHY Yerushalayim.
given to Yirmeyah the prophet, for the 13 “As it is written in the Torah of
completion of the wastes of Yerushalayim Mosheh, all this evil has come upon us,
would be seventy years. and we have not entreated the face of HWHY
3 So I set my face toward HWHY the Elohim our Elohim, to turn back from our
to seek by prayer and supplications, with crookednesses, and to study Your truth.
fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes. 14 “Hence HWHY has watched over the evil
4 And I prayed to HWHY my Elohim, and and has brought it upon us. For HWHY our
made confession, and said, “O HWHY, great Elohim is righteous in all the works which
and awesome Âl, guarding the covenant He has done, but we have not obeyed His
and the kindness to those who love Him, voice.
and to those who guard His commands. 15 “And now, O HWHY our Elohim, who
5 “We have sinned and did crookedness, brought Your people out of the land of
and did wrong and rebelled, to turn aside Mitsrayim with a strong hand, and made
from Your commands and from Your right- Yourself a Name, as it is this day – we
rulings. have sinned, we have done wrong!
6 “And we have not listened to Your 16 “O HWHY, according to all Your right-
servants the prophets, who spoke in Your eousness, I pray, let Your displeasure and
Name to our sovereigns, our heads, and Your wrath be turned away from Your city
our fathers, and to all the people of the Yerushalayim, Your set-apart mountain.
land. For, because of our sins, and because of the
7 “O HWHY, to You is the righteousness, crookednesses of our fathers, Yerusha-
and to us the shame of face, as it is this day layim and Your people have become a
– to the men of YehuÅah, to the inhabitants reproach to all those around us.
of Yerushalayim and all Yisra’Ãl, those 17 “And now, our Elohim, hear the prayer
near and those far off in all the lands to of Your servant, and his supplications, and
which You have driven them, because of for the sake of HWHY cause Your face to
their trespass which they have trespassed shine on Your set-apart place, which is laid
against You. waste.
8 “O Master, to us is the shame of face, to 18 “O my Elohim, incline Your ear and
our sovereigns, to our heads, and to our hear. Open Your eyes and see our wastes,
fathers, because we have sinned against and the city which is called by Your Name.
You. For we do not present our supplications
9 “To HWHY our Elohim are the compas- before You because of our righteous deeds,
sions and forgivenesses, for we have but because of Your great compassions.
rebelled against Him. 19 “O HWHY, hear! O HWHY, forgive! O
10 “And we have not obeyed the voice of HWHY, listen and act! Do not delay for Your
HWHY our Elohim, to walk in His Torot, own sake, my Elohim, for Your city and
which He set before us through His ser- Your people are called by Your Name.”
vants the prophets. 20 And while I was speaking, and praying,
11 “And all Yisra’Ãl have transgressed and confessing my sin and the sin of my
Your Torah, and turned aside, so as not to people Yisra’Ãl, and presenting my suppli-
595 DANI’ÂL 10
man GaÄri’Ãl, whom I had seen in the and wine did not come into my mouth,
vision at the beginning, came close to me, and I did not anoint myself at all, till the
in swift flight about the time of the evening completion of three weeks of days.
4 And on the twenty-fourth day of the
offering.
22 And he made me understand, and first month, while I was by the side of the
talked with me, and said, “O Dani’Ãl, I great river, that is Àiddeqel,
5 then I lifted my eyes and looked and
have now come forth to make you wise
concerning understanding. saw a certain man dressed in linen, whose
23 “At the beginning of your supplications loins were girded with gold of Uphaz!
6 And his body was like beryl, and his
a word went out, and I have come to make
it known, for you are greatly appreciated. face like the appearance of lightning, and
So consider the word and understand the his eyes like torches of fire, and his arms
vision: and feet like polished bronze in appear-
24 “Seventy weeks are decreed for your ance, and the sound of his words like the
people and for your set-apart city, to put an sound of a crowd.
7 And I, Dani’Ãl, alone saw the vision, for
end to the transgression, and to seal up
sins, and to cover crookedness, and to the men who were with me did not see the
bring in everlasting righteousness, and to vision, but a great trembling fell upon them,
seal up vision and prophet, and to anoint and they ran away to hide themselves.
8 So I was left alone when I saw this
the Most Set-apart.
25 “Know, then, and understand: from the great vision, and no strength remained in
going forth of the command to restore and me, for my comeliness was destroyed in
build Yerushalayim until Messiah the me, and I retained no strength.
9 But I heard the sound of his words. And
Prince is seven weeks and sixty-two
weeks. It shall be built again, with streets while I heard the sound of his words I was
and a trench, but in times of affliction. stunned lying with my face to the ground.
26 “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah 10 And see, a hand touched me, and set me
shall be cut off and have naught. And the trembling on my knees and on the palms of
people of a coming prince shall destroy the my hands.
city and the set-apart place. And the end of 11 And he said to me, “O Dani’Ãl, man
it is with a flood. And wastes are decreed, greatly appreciated, understand the words
and fighting until the end. that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I
27 “And he shall confirm a covenant with have now been sent to you.” And while
many for one week. And in the middle of he was speaking this word to me, I stood
the week he shall put an end to slaughter- trembling.
ing and meal offering. And on the wing of 12 And he said to me, “Do not fear,
abominations he shall lay waste, even until Dani’Ãl, for from the first day that you set
the complete end and that which is decreed your heart to understand and to humble
is poured out on the one who lays waste.” g yourself before your Elohim, your words
were heard, and I have come because of
10 In the third year of Koresh sover-
eign of Persia a word was revealed
your words.
13 “But the head of the rule of Persia with-
to Dani’Ãl, whose name was called stood me twenty-one days. And see,
BÃlteshatstsar. And the word was true, and Mi¿a’Ãl, one of the chief heads, came to
the conflict great. And he understood the help me, for I had been left alone there
word, and had understanding of the vision. with the sovereigns of Persia.
g Mt. 24:15.
DANI’ÂL 10 596
14 “And I have come to make you under- 5 “And a sovereign of the South shall
stand what is to befall your people in the become strong, along with one of his
latter days. For the vision is yet for days to princes who gains power over him and
come.” shall rule – his rule being a great rule.
15 And when he had spoken such words to 6 “And at the end of years they shall join
me, I turned my face toward the ground themselves together, and a daughter of the
and kept silent. sovereign of the South shall come to the
16 And see, one who looked like the sons sovereign of the North to make an alliance.
of men touched my lips, and I opened my But she shall not retain the strength of her
mouth and spoke and said to him who power, nor would he or his power stand.
stood before me, “My master, because of And she shall be given up, with those who
the vision I have been seized with pains, brought her, and he who brought her forth,
and I have retained no strength. and he who supported her in those times.
17 “So how was this servant of my master 7 “But from a branch of her roots one
able to speak with you, my master? As for shall arise in his place, and he shall come
me, no strength remains in me now, nor is into the defence and come into a strong-
any breath left in me.” hold of the sovereign of the North, and
18 And again the one who looked like a shall act against them, and shall prevail,
man touched me and strengthened me. 8 and also their mighty ones, with their
19 And he said, “Do not fear, O man great- princes and their precious utensils of silver
ly appreciated! Peace be to you, be strong and gold he shall seize and bring to
now, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I Mitsrayim. And he shall stand more years
was strengthened, and said, “Let my mas- than the sovereign of the North.
ter speak, for you have strengthened me.” 9 “Then he shall enter the reign of the
20 And he said, “Do you know why I have sovereign of the South, but shall return to
come to you? And now I return to fight his own land.
with the head of Persia. And when I have 10 “But his sons shall stir themselves up,
left, see, the head of Greece shall come. and assemble a great army. And he shall
21 “But let me declare to you what is writ- certainly come and overflow and pass
ten in the Scripture of Truth, and there is through, then return to his stronghold, and
no one supporting me against these, except be stirred up.
Mi¿a’Ãl your head. 11 “Then the sovereign of the South shall
See, three more sovereigns are to arise in being exalted. And he shall cause tens of
Persia, and the fourth is to become far rich- thousands to fall, but not prevail.
er than them all. And by his power, 13 “And the sovereign of the North shall
through his riches, he stirs up all against return and raise an army greater than the
the rulership of Greece. former, and certainly come at the end of
3 “And a mighty sovereign shall arise, some years with a great army and much
and he shall rule with great authority, supplies.
and do as he pleases. 14 “And in those times many shall rise up
4 “But when he has arisen, his rule shall against the sovereign of the South, while
be broken up and divided toward the four some violent ones among your people
winds of the heavens, but not among his exalt themselves to establish the vision,
descendants nor according to his authority but they shall stumble.
with which he ruled, because his rule shall 15 “Then the sovereign of the North shall
be uprooted, even for others besides these. come in and build a siege mound, and
597 DANI’ÂL 11
capture a city of strongholds. And the arms swept away, and many fall down slain.
of the South shall not stand, nor his choice 27 “And both these sovereigns’ hearts are
people, for there is no strength to stand. to do evil, and speak lies at the same table,
16 “So his opponent shall do as he pleases but not prosper, for the end is still for an
– with no one standing against him – and appointed time.
stand in the Splendid Land with destruc- 28 “Then he shall return to his land with
tion in his hand. much supplies, and his heart be against the
17 “And he shall set his face to enter with set-apart covenant. And he shall act, and
the strength of his entire rule, and make an shall return to his land.
alliance with him. And he shall do so, and 29 “At the appointed time he shall return
give him the daughter of women to corrupt and go toward the south, but it shall not be
her. But she shall not stand, neither be for like the former or the latter.
him. 30 “For ships from Kittim shall come
18 “Then he shall turn his face to the against him, and he shall lose heart, and
coastlands and capture many. But a ruler shall return in rage against the set-apart
shall bring the reproach against them to an covenant, and shall act, and shall return
end. And with the reproach removed, he and consider those who forsake the set-
shall turn back on him. apart covenant.
19 “Then he shall turn his face toward the 31 “And strong ones shall arise from him
strongholds of his own land, but shall and profane the set-apart place, the strong-
stumble and fall, and not be found. hold, and shall take away that which is
20 “And in his place one shall stand up continual, and set up the abomination that
who imposes taxes on the adorned city of lays waste. h
the rule, but within a few days he is 32 “And by flatteries he shall profane
destroyed, but not in wrath or in battle. those who do wrong against the covenant,
21 “And in his place shall arise a despised but the people who know their Elohim
one, to whom they shall not give the excel- shall be strong, and shall act.
lency of the rule. But he shall come in 33 “And those of the people who have
peaceably, and seize the rule by flatteries. insight shall give understanding to many.
22 “And the arms of the flood shall be And they shall stumble by sword and flame,
swept away from before him and be bro- by captivity and plundering, for days.
ken, and also the prince of the covenant. 34 “And when they stumble, they shall be
23 “And after they joined him, he shall helped, a little help, but many shall join
work deceit, and shall come up and them, by flatteries.
become strong with a small nation. 35 “And some of those who have insight
24 “He shall enter peaceably, even into shall stumble, to refine them, and to
the richest places of the province, and do cleanse them, and to make them white,
what his fathers have not done, nor his until the time of the end, for it is still for an
forefathers: distribute among them plunder appointed time.
and spoil and supplies, and devise his plots 36 “And the sovereign shall do as he
against the strongholds, but only for a time. pleases, and exalt himself and show him-
25 “And he shall stir up his power and his self to be great above every mighty one,
heart against the sovereign of the South and speak incredible matters against the Âl
with a great army, and the sovereign of the of mighty ones, and shall prosper until the
South shall be stirred up to battle with a wrath has been accomplished – for what
very great and mighty army, but not stand, has been decreed shall be done –
for they shall devise plots against him. 37 and have no regard for the mighty ones
26 “And those who have been eating his of his fathers nor for the desire of women,
food shall destroy him, and his army be nor have regard for any mighty one, but
strongholds with a foreign mighty one, seal the book until the time of the end. i
which he shall acknowledge. He shall Many shall diligently search and knowl-
increase in esteem and cause them to rule edge shall increase.”
over many, and divide the land for gain. 5 Then I, Dani’Ãl, looked and saw two
40 “At the time of the end the sovereign others standing, one on this bank of the
of the South shall push at him, and the river and the other on that bank.
sovereign of the North rush against him 6 And one said to the man dressed in
like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with linen, who was above the waters of the
horsemen, and with many ships. And he river, “How long until the end of these
shall enter the lands, and shall overflow wonders?”
and pass over,
41 and shall enter the Splendid Land, and 7 And I heard the man dressed in linen,
many shall stumble, but these escape from who was above the waters of the river, and
his hand: EÅom, and Mo’aÄ, and the chief he held up his right hand and his left hand
of the sons of Ammon. to the heavens, and swore by Him who
42 “And he shall stretch out his hand lives forever, that it would be for a time,
against the lands, and the land of Mits- times, and half a time. And when they have
rayim shall not escape. ended scattering the power of the set-apart
43 “And he shall rule over the treasures of people, then all these shall be completed.
gold and silver, and over all the riches of 8 And I heard, but I did not understand,
Mitsrayim, and Libyans and Kushites shall so I said, “My master, what is the latter end
be at his steps. of these matters?”
44 “Then reports from the east and the
9 And he said, “Go, Dani’Ãl, for the
north shall disturb him, and he shall go out
words are hidden and sealed till the time of
with great wrath to destroy and put many
under the ban, the end. j
45 and he shall pitch the tents of his palace 10 “Many shall be cleansed and made
between the seas and the splendid set-apart white, and refined. But the wrong shall do
mountain, but shall come to his end with wrong – and none of the wrong shall
none to help him. understand, but those who have insight
shall understand.
12 “Now at that time Mi¿a’Ãl shall
stand up, the great head who is
11 “And from the time that which is con-
of the earth wake up, some to everlasting rest, and arise to your lot at the end of the
life, and some to reproaches, everlasting days.”
i See v. 9. j See v. 4.
HOSHÂA
YizreÈÃl, for in a little while I shall revenge her children, for they are the children of
the bloodshed of YizreÈÃl on the house of whorings.
5 “For their mother has whored, she who
YÃhu, and put an end to the reign of the
house of Yisra’Ãl. conceived them has acted shamelessly. For
5 “And it shall be in that day that I shall she said, ‘I go after my lovers, who give
break the bow of Yisra’Ãl in the Valley of me my bread and my water, my wool and
YizreÈÃl.” my linen, my oil and my drink.’
6 And she conceived again and bore a 6 “Therefore, see, I am hedging up your
daughter. And He said to him, “Call her way with thorns, and I shall wall her in, so
name Lo-RuÁamah, for no longer do I that she does not find her paths.
have compassion on the house of Yisra’Ãl 7 “And she shall pursue her lovers but
so as to forgive them at all. not overtake them, and shall seek them but
7 “But I shall have compassion on the not find them. Then she shall say, ‘Let me
house of YehuÅah and save them by HWHY go and return to my first husband, for then
their Elohim, and not save them by bow or it was better for me than now.’
by sword or battle, by horses or horsemen.” 8 “And she did not acknowledge that I
8 And she weaned Lo-RuÁamah, and gave her grain, and new wine, and oil, and
conceived and bore a son, increased her silver and gold which they
9 then He said, “Call his name Lo-Ammi, prepared for BaÈal.
for you are not My people, and I am not for 9 “Therefore I shall turn back and shall
them, ‘You are not My people,’ they shall be before the eyes of her lovers, and no one
called, ‘You are the sons of the living Âl.’ shall deliver her from My hand.
11 “And the children of YehuÅah and the 11 “And I shall cause all her rejoicing, her
children of Yisra’Ãl shall be gathered festivals, her New Moons, and her
together, and appoint for themselves one Sabbaths, even all her appointed times, to
head, and shall come up out of the earth, cease,
for great is the day of YizreÈÃl! 12 and lay waste her vines and her fig
HOSHÂA 2 600
shall lead her into the wilderness, and shall with me many days, you are not to whore,
speak to her heart, nor become any man’s, and so I shall also
15 and give to her vineyards from there, be towards you.”
4 For many days the children of Yisra’Ãl
and the Valley of A¿or as a door of expec-
are to remain without sovereign and
tation. And there she shall respond as in
without prince, and without slaughtering,
the days of her youth, as in the day when
and without pillar, and without shoulder
she came up from the land of Mitsrayim. garment or house idols.
16 “And it shall be, in that day,” declares
5 Afterward the children of Yisra’Ãl shall
HWHY, “that you call Me ‘My Husband,’ return, and seek HWHY their Elohim, and
and no longer call Me ‘My BaÈal.’ DawiÅ their sovereign, and fear HWHY and
17 “And I shall remove the names of the
His goodness, in the latter days.
BaÈals from her mouth, and they shall no
more be remembered by their name.
18 “And in that day I shall make a 4 Hear the word of HWHY, you children
of Yisra’Ãl, for HWHY has a case against
covenant for them with the beasts of the the inhabitants of the land: “For there is no
field, and with the birds of the heavens, truth or kindness or knowledge of Elohim
and with the creeping creatures of the in the land.
ground, when bow, and sword, and battle I 2 “Swearing, and lying, and murdering,
break from the earth. And I shall make and stealing, and committing adultery have
them lie down in safety. increased. And bloodshed follows blood-
19 “And I shall take you as a bride unto shed.
3 “Therefore the land mourns, and every-
Me forever, and take you as a bride unto
Me in righteousness, and in right-ruling, one living there languishes, with the beasts
and kindness and compassion. of the field and the birds of the heavens.
20 “And I shall take you as a bride unto And the fish of the sea are taken away.
4 “However, let no one strive or reprove
Me in trustworthiness, and you shall know
HWHY. another, for your people are like those
21 “And it shall be in that day that I striving with a priest.
5 “And you shall stumble in the day, and
answer,” declares HWHY, “that I answer the the prophet shall also stumble with you in
heavens, and they answer the earth, the night. And I shall make your mother
22 and the earth answer the grain and the
perish.
new wine and the oil, and they answer 6 “My people have perished for lack of
YizreÈÃl. knowledge. Because you have rejected
23 “And I shall sow her for Myself in the
knowledge, I reject you from being priest
earth, and I shall have compassion on her for Me. Since you have forgotten the Torah
who had not obtained compassion. And I of your Elohim, I also forget your children.
shall say to those who were not My people, 7 “As they were increased, so they sinned
‘You are My people,’ while they say, ‘My against Me. My esteem they have changed
Elohim!’ ” into shame.
601 HOSHÂA 6
8 “They eat the sin of My people, and lift has not been hidden from Me. For now, O
up their desire to their crookedness. Ephrayim, you have whored, Yisra’Ãl is
9 “And it shall be: like people, like priest. defiled.
And I shall punish them for their ways, and 4 “Their deeds do not allow them to
reward them for their deeds. turn back to their Elohim, for the spirit of
10 “And they shall eat but not be satisfied, whorings is among them, and they do not
they shall whore but not increase, for they know HWHY.
have stopped obeying HWHY. 5 “And the Excellency of Yisra’Ãl shall
11 “Whoring, and wine, and new wine witness to his face, and Yisra’Ãl and
enslave the heart. Ephrayim stumble in their crookedness.
12 “My people ask from their Wood, and YehuÅah shall also stumble with them.
their Staff declares to them. For a spirit of 6 “With their flocks and herds they go to
whorings has led them astray, and they seek HWHY, but do not find Him – He has
went whoring from under their Elohim. withdrawn from them.
13 “They slaughter on the mountaintops, 7 “They have acted treacherously against
and burn incense on the hills, under oak HWHY, for they have brought forth strange
and poplars and terebinth, because its children. Now a new moon shall devour
shade is good. Therefore your daughters them with their portions.
commit whoring, and your brides commit 8 “Blow the ram’s horn in GibÈah, the
brides when they commit adultery, for the rebuke. Among the tribes of Yisra’Ãl I shall
men themselves go aside with whores, and make known what is certain.
offer with cult prostitutes – a people that 10 “The chiefs of YehuÅah shall be like
do not understand are thrust down! those who remove a border – on them I
15 “Though you are a whore, Yisra’Ãl, let pour out my wrath like water.
not YehuÅah become guilty. Do not come 11 “Ephrayim is oppressed, crushed in
up to Gilgal, nor go up to BÃyth Awen, nor judgment, because it pleased him to walk
swear an oath, saying, ‘As HWHY lives!’ after Tsaw. a
16 “For Yisra’Ãl is stubborn, like a stub- 12 “So I am to Ephrayim like a moth, and
born calf. Would HWHY now feed them like to the house of YehuÅah like rottenness.
a lamb in a broad place? 13 “When Ephrayim saw his sickness, and
17 “Ephrayim is joined to idols, let him YehuÅah saw his wound, then Ephrayim
alone. went to Ashshur and sent to Sovereign
18 “Their drink is sour, they have whored YarÃÄ. But he is unable to heal you, or to
continually. Her rulers wildly loved shame. remove the wound from you.
19 “A wind has bound her up in its wings, 14 “For I am like a lion to Ephrayim, and
and they are ashamed because of their like a young lion to the house of YehuÅah.
slaughterings. I Myself tear them and go, I take them
away, and there is no one to deliver.
5 “Hear this, O priests! And listen, O
house of Yisra’Ãl! Give ear, O house
15 “I shall go, I shall return to My place,
a Name of an idol.
HOSHÂA 6 602
2 ‘After two days He shall revive us, on became sick, inflamed with wine. He
the third day He shall raise us up, so that extended his hand with scoffers.
we live before Him. 6 “For they have drawn near, their heart
3 ‘So let us know, let us pursue to know is like an oven. While they lie in wait all
HWHY. His going forth is as certain as the the night their baker sleeps. In the morning
morning. And He comes to us like the rain, it burns like a flaming fire.
like the latter rain watering the earth.’ 7 “All of them are as hot as an oven, and
4 “Ephrayim, what would I do with you? they consumed their rulers. All their sover-
YehuÅah, what would I do with you? For eigns have fallen – not one among them
your trustworthiness is like a morning calls on Me.
cloud, and like the early dew it goes away. 8 “Ephrayim mixes himself among the
5 “Therefore I have hewn them by the peoples, Ephrayim has become a cake
prophets, I have slain them by the words of unturned.
My mouth. And my right-rulings break 9 “Strangers have devoured his strength,
forth as the light. but he does not know it. Grey hairs are also
6 “For I delight in kindness and not sprinkled on him, and he does not know it.
slaughtering, and in the knowledge of 10 “And the Excellency of Yisra’Ãl did
Elohim more than burnt offerings. witness to his face, but they did not return
7 “But like AÅam they transgressed the to HWHY their Elohim, nor did they seek
covenant. There they acted treacherously Him for all this.
against Me. 11 “And Ephrayim has become a simple
8 “GilÈaÅ is a city of workers of wicked- dove without heart, they have called on
ness – tracked up with blood. Mitsrayim, they have gone to Ashshur.
9 “And as bands of robbers lie in wait for 12 “When they go I spread My net over
a man, so the company of priests murder them, I bring them down like the birds of
on the way to She¿em, for they have done the heavens, I chastise them as their con-
wickedness. gregation has heard.
10 “I have seen a horrible matter in the 13 “Woe to them, for they have strayed
house of Yisra’Ãl: the whoring of Ephra- from Me! Destruction to them, because
yim is there, Yisra’Ãl is defiled. they have transgressed against Me! And I
11 “Also, a harvest is appointed for you, O Myself have ransomed them, yet they have
YehuÅah, when I turn back the captivity of spoken falsehoods against Me,
My people. 14 and did not cry out to Me with their
3 “Yisra’Ãl has rejected what is good, an 3 They shall not dwell in the land of
they made idols for themselves, so that HWHY, nor are their offerings pleasing to
they are cut off. Him – it being like bread of mourners to
5 “O Shomeron, your calf has been cast them, all who eat it are defiled. For their
off! My wrath has burned against them. bread is for their life, it does not come into
How long shall they be incapable of inno- the House of HWHY.
cence? 5 What do you do for the appointed meet-
6 “For from Yisra’Ãl is even this: a work- ing, and in the day of the festival of HWHY?
man made it, and it is not Elohim! For the 6 For look, they shall go because of
Ashshur. A wild donkey alone by itself is yim, is the prophet, but a trapper’s snare is
Ephrayim, they have hired lovers. in all his ways. Enmity is in the House of
10 “Also, although they sold themselves his Elohim.
among the nations, this time I shall gather 9 They have deeply corrupted them-
them, when they have suffered for a while selves, as in the days of GibÈah. He
from the burden of a sovereign, of rulers. remembers their crookedness, He punishes
11 “Since Ephrayim has made many altars their sins.
for sin, they have been altars for sinning to 10 “I found Yisra’Ãl like grapes in the
crookedness and punish their sins. Let has flown away – no birth, and none with
them return to Mitsrayim! child, and no conception!
14 “For Yisra’Ãl has forgotten his Maker, 12 “Though they bring up their children, I
and has built palaces. And YehuÅah has shall make them childless, without man.
increased walled cities. But I shall send For it is woe to them when I turn away
fire upon his cities, and it shall devour his from them!
strongholds.” 13 “I have seen Ephrayim, like Tsor, plant-
whored from your Elohim. You have loved them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
a love-fee at all threshing-floors. 15 “All their evil is in Gilgal, for there I
2 Threshing floor and winepress shall not have hated them. Because of the evil of
feed them, and new wine shall fail in her. their deeds I drive them from My house,
HOSHÂA 9 604
no more do I love them. All their rulers are loving to thresh grain. But I Myself shall
rebels. pass over her comely neck – I put
16 “Ephrayim has been smitten, their root Ephrayim to the yoke, YehuÅah ploughs,
has dried up, they yield no fruit. Even if YaÈaqoÄ harrows for him.”
they bear children, I shall put to death the 12 Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap
people shall mourn for it, as well as its from their face. They slaughtered to the
priests who used to rejoice over it, because BaÈals, and burned incense to carved
of its esteem that has departed from it. images.
6 It is also brought to Ashshur as a pre- 3 “And I taught Ephrayim to walk, taking
sent for Sovereign YarÃÄ. Ephrayim does them by their arms, but they did not know
receive shame, and Yisra’Ãl is put to shame that I healed them.
through his counsel. 4 “I drew them with ropes of man, with
7 Shomeron is cut off, her sovereign is cords of love, and I was to them as those
like a twig on the surface of the water. who take the yoke from their neck. And I
8 And the high places of Awen, the sin of bent down, fed them.
Yisra’Ãl, shall be destroyed, thorn and this- 5 “No, let him return to the land of
tle come up on their altars. And they shall Mitsrayim, and let Ashshur be his sover-
say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to eign, because they refused to repent!
the hills, “Fall on us!” 6 “And the sword shall whirl in his cities,
9 “O Yisra’Ãl, you have sinned from the and it shall demolish his gate bars, and
days of GibÈah. There they stood! The consume, because of their own counsels.
battle in GibÈah against the children of 7 “My people are bent towards backslid-
perversity did not overtake them. ing from Me. Though they call to the Most
10 “When I desire, then I bind them. And High, He lifts none of them up.
peoples shall be gathered against them 8 “How could I give you up, Ephrayim?
when I bind them for their double guilt. How could I hand you over, Yisra’Ãl? How
11 “And Ephrayim is a trained heifer, could I make you like AÅmah? How could
One in your midst, and I shall not come in been false! In Gilgal they have offered
enmity. bulls. Also their altars are as heaps on a
10 “Let them follow HWHY. Like a lion He ploughed field.
roars. When He roars, then sons shall trem- 12 And when YaÈaqoÄ fled to the country
ble from the west. of Aram, Yisra’Ãl served for a wife, and for
11 “They shall tremble like a bird from a wife he kept watch.
Mitsrayim, and like a dove from the land 13 And by a prophet HWHY brought Yisra’Ãl
of Ashshur. And I shall let them dwell in out of Mitsrayim, and by a prophet he was
their own houses,” declares HWHY. watched over.
12 “Ephrayim has surrounded Me with 14 Ephrayim has provoked most bitterly.
lying, and the house of Yisra’Ãl with So his Master left his blood-guilt on him,
deceit. But YehuÅah is still wandering with and repaid him for his reproach.
Âl, and is true to the Set-apart One.”
womb, and in his strength he strove with cloud, and like dew that goes away early,
Elohim. like chaff blown off from a threshing-floor,
4 He strove with the Messenger and over- and like smoke from a window.
came, c he wept and sought His favour. He 4 “But I am HWHY your Elohim since the
found Him in BÃyth Âl, and there He spoke land of Mitsrayim, and an Elohim besides
to us – Me you shall not know, for there is no
5 even HWHY Elohim of hosts, HWHY is His Saviour besides Me.
remembrance. 5 “I knew you in the wilderness, in the
6 Therefore, return to your Elohim. land of drought.
Guard kindness and right-ruling, and wait 6 “When they were fed they were satis-
on your Elohim continually. fied. They were satisfied and their heart
7 A merchant! In his hand are scales of was exalted, therefore they forgot Me.
deceit, he loved to oppress. 7 “So I am become like a lion to them,
8 And Ephrayim says, “Indeed, I have like a leopard I watch by the way,
become rich, I have found wealth for 8 like a bear robbed of her young I attack
myself. In all my labours they shall find in them and rip open the enclosure of their
me no crookedness that is sin.” heart. And there I devour them like a lion,
9 “But I am HWHY your Elohim since the a wild beast tear them apart.
land of Mitsrayim, again I shall make you 9 “You have destroyed yourself, O
dwell in tents as in the days of the appoint- Yisra’Ãl, but your help is in Me.
10 “Where is your sovereign now to save 2 Take words with you, and return to
you in all your cities, and your rulers of HWHY. Say to Him, “Take away all crooked-
whom you said, ‘Give me a sovereign and ness, and accept what is good, and we ren-
rulers’? der the bulls of our lips. e
11 “I gave you a sovereign in My displea- 3 “Ashshur does not save us. We do not
sure, but I took him away in My wrath. ride on horses, nor ever again do we say to
12 “The crookedness of Ephrayim is
the work of our hands, ‘Our mighty ones.’
bound up, his sin is hidden. For the fatherless finds compassion in
13 “Pains of a woman in labour shall come
You.”
upon him. He is not a wise son, for it is not 4 “I shall heal their backsliding, I shall
the time that he should delay at the break- love them spontaneously, for My displea-
ing forth of children. sure has turned away from him.
14 “From the power of the grave I ransom
5 “I shall be like the dew to Yisra’Ãl. He
them, from death I redeem them. Where shall blossom like the lily, and cast out his
is your plague, O Death? Where is your roots like LeÄanon.
destruction, O Grave? Repentance is 6 “His branches shall spread, and his
hidden from My eyes.
15 “Though he bears fruit among his splendour shall be like an olive tree, and
brothers, an east wind comes, a wind from his fragrance like LeÄanon.
7 “Those who dwell under his shadow
HWHY comes up from the wilderness, and it
dries up his fountain, and his spring shall return. They shall revive like grain,
becomes dry – it plunders a treasure of all and blossom like the vine, and become as
desirable objects. fragrant as the wine of LeÄanon.
16 “Shomeron is held guilty, for she has 8 “What more has Ephrayim to do with
rebelled against her Elohim – they fall by idols? It is I who answer and look after
the sword, their infants are dashed in him. I am like a green cypress tree, your
pieces, and their pregnant women ripped fruit comes from Me.”
open.” 9 Who is wise and understands these
swarming locust has eaten, and what the near, and it comes as destruction from the
swarming locust left the crawling locust Almighty.
16 Is not the food cut off before our eyes,
has eaten, and what the crawling locust left
the consuming locust has eaten. joy and gladness from the House of our
5 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep. Elohim?
17 The seed has rotted under their clods,
And wail, all you drinkers of wine, on
account of the new wine, for it has been storehouses are laid waste, granaries are
cut off from your mouth. broken down, for the grain has withered.
18 How the beasts moan! The herds of
6 For a nation has come up against My
cattle are restless, because they have no
land, strong, and innumerable. Its teeth are
pasture. The flocks of sheep also perish.
the teeth of a lion, and it has the fangs of a 19 I cry to You HWHY, for fire has consumed
lioness.
7 It has laid waste My vine and splintered
the pastures of the wilderness, and a flame
has set on fire all the trees of the field.
My fig tree. It has made it entirely bare and 20 Even the beasts of the field cry out to
cast it away, its branches became white. You, for the water streams are dried up,
8 Wail like a maiden girded with sack-
and fire has consumed the pastures of the
cloth for the husband of her youth. wilderness.
9 The grain offering and the drink offer-
shall be darkened, and the stars withdraw the pastures of the wilderness shall spring
their brightness. forth, and the tree shall bear its fruit, the fig
11 And HWHY shall give forth His voice tree and the vine shall yield their strength.
before His army, for His camp is very 23 And you children of Tsiyon, be glad and
great, for mighty is the doer of His word. rejoice in HWHY your Elohim, for He shall
For the day of HWHY is great and very give you the Teacher of Righteousness, and
awesome, and who does bear it? cause the rain to come down for you, the
12 “Yet even now,” declares HWHY, “turn to former rain and the latter rain, as before.
Me with all your heart, and with fasting, 24 And the threshing-floors shall be filled
and with weeping, and with mourning.” with grain, and the vats shall overflow
13 And tear your heart and not your with new wine and oil.
garments, and turn back to HWHY your 25 “Then I shall repay you the years that
Elohim, for He shows favour and is com- the swarming locust has eaten, the crawl-
passionate, patient, and of great kindness, ing locust, and the consuming locust, and
and He shall relent concerning the evil. the gnawing locust, My great army which I
14 Who knows – He might turn and relent, sent among you.
and leave a blessing behind Him, a grain 26 “Then you shall eat – eat and be satis-
offering and a drink offering for HWHY your fied – and shall praise the Name of HWHY
Elohim? your Elohim, who has done with you so
15 Blow a ram’s horn in Tsiyon, set apart a wondrously. And My people shall never be
fast, call an assembly. put to shame.
16 Gather the people, set the assembly 27 “And you shall know that I am in the
apart, assemble the elders, gather the chil- midst of Yisra’Ãl, a and that I am HWHY your
dren and nursing babes. Let a bridegroom Elohim and there is no one else. And My
come out from his room, and a bride from people shall never be put to shame.
her dressing room. 28 “And after this it shall be that I pour out
17 Let the priests, servants of HWHY, weep My Spirit on all flesh. And your sons and
between the porch and the altar. And let your daughters shall prophesy, your old men
them say, “Spare Your people, O HWHY, and dream dreams, your young men see visions.
29 “And also on the male servants and on “Prepare for battle! Wake up the mighty
the female servants I shall pour out My men, let all the men of battle draw near, let
Spirit in those days. them come up.
30 “And I shall give signs in the heavens 10 “Beat your ploughshares into swords
and upon the earth: blood and fire and and your pruning-hooks into spears, let the
columns of smoke, weak say, ‘I am strong.’ ”
31 the sun is turned into darkness, and the
11 Hasten and come, all you gentiles, and
moon into blood, before the coming of the gather together all around. O HWHY, let
great and awesome day of HWHY. Your mighty men come down here.
32 “And it shall be that everyone who calls
12 “Let the gentiles be aroused, and come
on the Name of HWHY shall be delivered. b
up to the Valley of Yehoshaphat. For there
For on Mount Tsiyon and in Yerushalayim
I shall sit to judge all the gentiles on every
there shall be an escape c as HWHY has said,
side.
and among the survivors whom HWHY calls. 13 “Put in the sickle, for the harvest has
bring them down to the Valley of Yeho- decision! For the day of HWHY is near in the
shaphat. And I shall enter into judgment valley of decision.
with them there for My people, My inheri- 15 Sun and moon shall become dark, and
tance Yisra’Ãl, whom they have scattered stars shall withdraw their brightness.
among the gentiles, and they have divided 16 And HWHY shall roar from Tsiyon, and
up My land. give forth His voice from Yerushalayim.
3 “And they have cast lots for My people,
And the heavens and earth shall shake, but
and have given a young man for a whore, HWHY shall be a refuge for His people, and a
and sold a girl for wine, and drank it. stronghold for the children of Yisra’Ãl.
4 “And also, what are you to Me, O Tsor
17 “Then you shall know that I am HWHY
and TsiÅon, and all the coasts of Philistia? your Elohim, dwelling in Tsiyon, My set-
Are you repaying Me? And if you are apart mountain. d And Yerushalayim shall
repaying Me, I would swiftly and speedily be set-apart, and foreigners shall not pass
return your reward on your own head. through her again.
5 “For you have taken My silver and My
18 “And it shall be in that day that the
gold, and brought My treasures into your
temples, mountains drip with new wine, and the
6 and the people of YehuÅah and the peo- hills flow with milk. And all the streams of
YehuÅah shall be flooded with water, and a
ple of Yerushalayim you have sold to the
fountain flow from the House of HWHY and
sons of Yawan, to remove them far from
water the wadi Shittim.
their borders.
19 “Mitsrayim shall become a ruin, and
7 “See, I am stirring them up out of the
place to which you have sold them, and I EÅom a ruin, a wilderness, because of vio-
shall return on your own head what you lence done to the people of YehuÅah, whose
have done, innocent blood they shed in their land.
8 and shall sell your sons and your daugh- 20 “But YehuÅah shall dwell forever, and
ters into the hand of the people of YehuÅah, Yerushalayim to all generations.
and they shall sell them to the SheÄaites, to 21 “And I shall avenge their blood, which
a nation far off. For HWHY has spoken.” I have not avenged. And HWHY shall be
9 Proclaim this among the gentiles, dwelling in Tsiyon!”
b Acts 2:21, Rom. 10:13. c Yesh. 4:2-3, OÄaÅ. v. 17, Rev. 14:1. d See v. 21, and footnote at Yesh. 24:23.
AMOS
Gilgal, increase transgression. And bring 5 Hear this word which I take up against
you, this lamentation, O house of
your slaughterings every morning, your Yisra’Ãl:
2 The maiden of Yisra’Ãl has fallen, not
tithes every three days.
5 “And burn an offering of thanksgiving to rise again. She lies forsaken on her land,
with leaven, proclaim voluntary offerings, with no one to lift her up.
3 For thus said the Master HWHY, “The
loudly. For you have loved this, you children
of Yisra’Ãl!” declares the Master HWHY. city that goes out by a thousand has a hun-
6 “And I also gave you cleanness of teeth dred left, and that which goes out by a hun-
in all your cities, and lack of bread in all dred has ten left to the house of Yisra’Ãl.”
4 For thus said HWHY to the house of
your places. But you did not turn back to
Yisra’Ãl, “Seek Me and live,
Me,” declares HWHY. 5 but do not seek BÃyth Âl, nor enter
7 “And I also withheld rain from you,
Gilgal, nor pass over to Be’ÃrsheÄa. For
three months before the harvest. Then I Gilgal shall certainly go into exile, and
would send rain on one city, and on anoth- BÃyth Âl become a non-entity.
er city I would not send rain. One part was 6 “Seek HWHY and live, lest He break out
rained upon, and where it did not rain the like fire upon the house of YosÃph, and
part would dry up. shall consume it, with no one to quench it
8 “Then two or three cities would wander
in BÃyth Âl.
to another city to drink water, but they 7 “O you who are turning right-ruling to
were not satisfied. But you did not turn wormwood, and have cast down righteous-
back to Me,” declares HWHY. ness to the earth!”
9 “I have smitten you with blight and with 8 He who made Kimah and Kesil, and
mildew. The creeping locust devoured your who turns the shadow of death into morn-
many gardens, and your vineyards, and ing and darkened day into night, who is
your fig trees, and your olive trees. But you calling for the waters of the sea and pours
did not turn back to Me,” declares HWHY. them out on the face of the earth – HWHY is
10 “I have sent among you a plague in the His Name –
9 who is flashing forth destruction upon
way of Mitsrayim. I have slain your young
men with a sword, along with your cap- the strong, so that destruction comes upon
tured horses. And I made the stench of your the stronghold.
10 They hated the one who reproves in the
camps come up into your nostrils. But you
did not turn back to Me,” declares HWHY. gate, and they despise the one who speaks
11 “I have overthrown some of you, as the truth. a
11 Therefore, because you trample on the
Elohim overthrew SeÅom and Amorah,
poor and take grain taxes from him – you
and you were like a burning stick plucked
have built houses of hewn stone but you
from the burning. But you did not turn are not going to dwell in them, you have
back to Me,” declares HWHY. planted pleasant vineyards but not drink
12 “Therefore I am doing this to you, O
wine from them.
Yisra’Ãl. And because I do this to you, 12 For I know your transgressions are
prepare to meet your Elohim, O Yisra’Ãl!” many and your sins are great, afflicting the
13 For look, He who forms mountains, and
righteous and accepting bribes, and turning
creates the wind, and who declares to man aside the poor at the gate.
what His thought is, and makes the morn- 13 Therefore the wise keep silent at that
ing darkness, and who treads the high time, for it is an evil time.
places of the earth, HWHY Elohim of hosts 14 Seek good and not evil, so that you live.
right-ruling in the gate. It might be that there go to Àamath the great. Then go
HWHY Elohim of hosts shows favour to the down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you
remnant of YosÃph. better than these reigns, or is their border
16 Therefore HWHY Elohim of hosts, HWHY, greater than your border?
said this, “There is wailing in all open 3 You who are putting off the day of evil,
squares, and in all the streets they say, yet bring near the seat of violence,
‘Alas! Alas!’ and shall call the farmer to 4 who are lying on beds of ivory, and are
mourning, and skilled lamenters to wail- stretched out on your couches, and are
ing. eating lambs from the flock and calves
17 “And in all vineyards there is wailing, from the midst of the stall,
for I pass through your midst,” said HWHY. 5 who are singing to the sound of the
18 Woe to you who are longing for the day harp, having composed songs for them-
of HWHY! What does the day of HWHY mean selves like DawiÅ,
to you? It is darkness, and not light, 6 who are drinking wine from bowls, and
19 as when a man flees from a lion, and a anoint with the finest ointments, yet they
bear shall meet him; or entered his house, have not been pained over the breach of
rested his hand on the wall, and a serpent YosÃph!
shall bite him. 7 Therefore they shall now go into exile,
20 Is not the day of HWHY darkness, and not with the first of the exiles, and the feasting
light? Is it not very dark, with no bright- of the stretched-out ones shall cease!
ness in it? 8 The Master HWHY has sworn by Himself,
21 “I have hated, I have despised your HWHY Elohim of hosts declares, “I am
festivals, and I am not pleased with your loathing the pride of YaÈaqoÄ, and I have
assemblies. hated his palaces. Therefore I shall deliver
22 “Though you offer Me burnt offerings up the city and all that is in it.”
and your grain offerings, I do not accept 9 And it shall be, that if ten men remain
them, nor do I look on your fattened peace in one house, they shall die.
offerings. 10 And if a relative, or his undertaker,
23 “Take away from Me the noise of your brings the remains out of the house, he
songs, for I do not hear the sound of your shall say to one inside the house, “Is any-
stringed instruments. one with you?” and he says, “No,” then he
24 “And let right-ruling roll on like water, shall say, “Hush!” For we have not remem-
and righteousness like a mighty stream. bered the Name of HWHY!
25 “You brought Me slaughterings and 11 For look, HWHY is commanding, and He
meal offerings in the wilderness for forty shall smite the great house with breaches,
years, O house of Yisra’Ãl, and the little house with clefts.
26 but you took up Sikkuth your sovereign 12 Do horses run on a rock? Does one
and Kiyyun, your idols, your astral mighty plough it with oxen? For you have turned
ones, b which you made for yourselves! right-ruling into poison, and the fruit of
27 “Therefore I shall send you into exile righteousness into wormwood,
beyond Damascus,” said HWHY Elohim of 13 you who are rejoicing over a matter of
hosts – His Name. naught, who say, “Have we not taken horns
for ourselves by our own strength?”
6 Woe to those at ease in Tsiyon, and
those trusting in Mount Shomeron, the
14 “For look, I am raising up a nation
b Acts 7:43.
AMOS 7 614
line, with a plumb-line in His hand, wailing in that day,” declares the Master
8 and HWHY said to me, “Amos, what do HWHY, “many dead bodies everywhere,
you see?” And I said, “A plumb-line.” And thrown into any place – hush!”
HWHY said, “See, I am setting a plumb-line 4 Hear this, you who are swallowing up
in the midst of My people Yisra’Ãl, no the needy, to do away with the poor of the
longer do I pardon them. land,
9 “And the high places of YitsÁaq shall 5 saying, “When does the New Moon
be laid waste, and the set-apart places of pass so that we sell grain, and the Sabbath
Yisra’Ãl shall be destroyed. And I shall rise so that we trade our wheat, to make the
with the sword against the house of Ãphah small and the sheqel large, and to
YaroÄÈam.” falsify the scales by deceit,
10 Then Amatsyah the priest of BÃyth Âl 6 to buy the poor for silver, and the needy
sent to YaroÄÈam sovereign of Yisra’Ãl, for a pair of sandals, and sell the chaff of
saying, “Amos has conspired against you the wheat?”
in the midst of the house of Yisra’Ãl. The 7 HWHY has sworn by the Excellency of
land is not able to endure all his words, YaÈaqoÄ, “I shall never forget any of their
11 for this is what Amos said, ‘YaroÄÈam works.
shall die by the sword, and Yisra’Ãl 8 “Shall the land not tremble for this, and
certainly be exiled from their own land.’ ” everyone mourn who dwells in it? And all
12 And Amatsyah said to Amos, “Go, you of it shall swell like the River, heave and
seer! Flee to the land of YehuÅah, and eat subside like the River of Mitsrayim.
bread and prophesy there, 9 “And it shall be in that day,” declares
13 but do not prophesy any more at BÃyth the Master HWHY, “that I shall cause the sun
Âl, for it is the sovereign’s set-apart place to go down at noon, and shall darken the
and it is the house of the reign.” earth on a day of brightness,
14 And Amos answered and said to 10 and shall turn your festivals into
Amatsyah, “I am not a prophet, nor am I a mourning, and all your songs into lamenta-
615 AMOS 9
tion, and bring sackcloth on all loins, and the River of Mitsrayim –
baldness on every head, and shall make it 6 who is building His upper room in the
like mourning for an only son, and its end heavens, and has founded His firmament
like a day of bitterness. on the earth, who is calling for the waters
11 “See, days are coming,” declares the of the sea, and pours them out on the face
Master HWHY, “that I shall send a hunger in of the earth – HWHY is His Name.
the land, not a hunger for bread, nor a thirst 7 “Are you not like the people of Kush to
for water, but for hearing the Words of HWHY. Me, O children of Yisra’Ãl?” declares
12 “And they shall wander from sea to sea, HWHY. “Did I not bring up Yisra’Ãl from the
and from north to east – they shall diligent- land of Mitsrayim, and the Philistines from
ly search, seeking the Word of HWHY, but Kaphtor, and Aram from Qir?
they shall not find it. c 8 “Look, the eyes of the Master HWHY are
13 “In that day the pretty maidens and on the sinful reign, d and I shall destroy it
strong young men shall faint from thirst, from the face of the earth, except that, I do
14 those swearing by the guilt of Shomer- not completely destroy the house of
on, who say, ‘As your mighty one lives, O YaÈaqoÄ,” declares HWHY.
Dan!’ and, ‘As the way of Be’ÃrsheÄa 9 “For look, I am commanding, and I
lives!’ And they shall fall and never rise shall sift e the house of Yisra’Ãl among all
again.” the gentiles, as one sifts e with a sieve, yet
not a grain falls to the ground.
9 I saw HWHY standing by the altar, and
He said, “Smite the column head, so
10 “All the sinners of My people are going
who touches the earth so that it melts, and soil, and not uproot them any more from
all who dwell in it mourn, and all of it their own soil I have given them,” said
come up like the River, and subside like HWHY your Elohim!
against her for battle!” in the day of their calamity, nor looked
2 “See, I have made you small among the down on their evil in the day of their
nations, you are greatly despised. calamity, nor have seized their wealth in the
3 “The pride of your heart has deceived day of their calamity,
14 nor have stood at the parting of the way
you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock,
whose dwelling is high, who say in your to cut off his fugitives, nor handed over his
heart, ‘Who shall bring me down to the survivors in the day of distress.
ground?’ 15 “For the day of HWHY is near upon all the
4 “Though you rise high as the eagle, and gentiles. As you have done, it shall be done
though you set your nest among the stars, to you, your reward shall come back on
from there I shall bring you down,” declares your own head.
HWHY. 16 “For as you have drunk on my set-apart
5 “If thieves came to you, if robbers by mountain, so do all the gentiles drink con-
night, how ruined you would have been! tinually. And they shall drink and shall
Would they not steal till they had enough? swallow, and they shall be as though they
If grape-gatherers had come to you, would had never been.
they not leave gleanings? 17 “But on Mount Tsiyon there shall be an
6 “How Âsaw shall be searched out! His escape, a and they shall be set-apart. And
hidden treasures shall be sought out! the house of YaÈaqoÄ shall possess their
7 “All your allies shall send you forth to the possessions.
border, your friends shall deceive you and 18 “And the house of YaÈaqoÄ shall be a
overpower you. They make your bread a fire, and the house of YosÃph a flame, but the
snare under you, without you discerning it! house of Âsaw for stubble. And they shall
8 “In that day,” declares HWHY, “I shall burn among them and they shall consume
destroy the wise men from EÅom, and them, so that no survivor is left of the house
discernment from the mountains of Âsaw! of Âsaw.” For HWHY has spoken.
9 “And your mighty men shall be discour- 19 And they shall possess the South with
aged, O TÃman, so that everyone from the the mountains of Âsaw, and low country
mountains of Âsaw is cut off by slaughter. with the Philistines. And they shall possess
10 “Because of your violence against your the fields of Ephrayim and the fields of
brother YaÈaqoÄ, let shame cover you. And Shomeron, and Binyamin with GilÈaÅ,
you shall be cut off forever. 20 and the exiles of this host of the children
11 “In the day that you stood on the other of Yisra’Ãl possess that of the KenaÈanites
side, in the day that strangers took captive as far as Tsarephath, and the exiles of
his wealth, when foreigners entered his Yerushalayim who are in SepharaÅ possess
gates and cast lots for Yerushalayim, you the cities of the South.
also were like one of them! 21 And saviours shall come to Mount
12 “And you should not have looked on Tsiyon to judge the mountains of Âsaw.
your brother’s day in the day of his And the reign shall belong to HWHY. b
from the presence of HWHY, and went down the ship to land, but were unable, for the
to Yapho, and found a ship going to sea continued to grow more stormy against
Tarshish. And he paid the fare, and went them.
14 And they cried out to HWHY and said,
down into it, to go with them to Tarshish
from the presence of HWHY. “We pray, O HWHY, please, let us not perish
4 And HWHY sent out a great wind on the for this man’s life, and do not lay on us
sea, and there was a great storm on the sea, innocent blood. For You, O HWHY, have
so that the ship was thought to be broken done as it pleased You.”
15 Then they took Yonah and threw him
up.
5 And the seamen were afraid, and each into the sea, and the sea stopped raging.
16 And the men feared HWHY exceedingly,
one cried out to his mighty one, and threw
the cargo which was in the ship into the and brought an offering to HWHY and made
sea, to lighten the load. But Yonah had vows.
17 But HWHY appointed a great fish to
gone down into the lowest parts of the
ship, and he lay down, and was fast asleep. swallow Yonah. And Yonah was in the
6 And the captain came to him, and said stomach of the fish three days and three
to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? nights.
Arise, cry out to your Elohim, if so be that
Elohim shall think about us, so that we do
not perish.”
7 And they said to each other, “Come,
2 And Yonah prayed to HWHY his Elohim
from the stomach of the fish.
2 And he said, “I called to HWHY because
and let us cast lots, so that we know for of my distress, and He answered me. From
whose sake this evil has come upon us.” the stomach of the grave I cried, and You
So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Yonah. heard my voice.
8 So they said to him, “Please explain to 3 “For You threw me into the deep, into
us! For whose sake is this evil upon us? the heart of the seas, and the floods
What is your occupation? And where do surrounded me. All Your breakers and
you come from? What is your country? Your waves passed over me.
4 “So I said, ‘I have been driven away
And from what people are you?”
9 And he said to them, “I am a HeÄrew. from Your eyes. Would I ever look again
And I am fearing HWHY, the Elohim of the toward Your set-apart Hÿal?’
5 “Waters encompassed me, unto life, the
heavens, who made the sea and the dry
land.” deep closed around me, weeds were
10 And the men were exceedingly afraid, wrapped around my head.
6 “I went down to the base of the moun-
and said to him, “Why have you done
this?” For the men knew that he fled from tains, the earth with its bars were behind
the presence of HWHY, for he had informed me forever. But You brought up my life
them. from the pit, O HWHY, my Elohim.
11 And they said to him, “What are we to 7 “When my life fainted within me, I
do to you to make the sea calm for us?” remembered HWHY. And my prayer went up
YONAH 2 618
Him, b and the valleys be cleft as wax Moresheth Gath, the houses of A¿ziÄ
before the fire, as waters poured down a becoming a deception to the sovereigns of
steep place. Yisra’Ãl.
15 Again I shall bring a dispossessor to
5 All this is for the transgression of
you, O inhabitant of MarÃshah. The esteem
YaÈaqoÄ and for the sins of the house of
of Yisra’Ãl shall come to AÅullam.
Yisra’Ãl. What is the transgression of 16 Make yourself bald and cut off your hair
YaÈaqoÄ? Is it not Shomeron? And what
are the high places of YehuÅah? Are they for the children of your delight. Enlarge
not Yerushalayim? your baldness like an eagle, for they shall
6 “And I shall make Shomeron a heap in
be exiled from you.
the field, places for planting a vineyard.
And I shall pour down her stones into the
valley, and uncover her foundations.
2 Woe to those plotting wickedness, and
working out evil upon their beds! In
7 “And all her carved images shall be
the light of the morning they practise it,
because it is in the might of their hand.
beaten in pieces, and all her gifts be burned 2 And they coveted fields and seized
with the fire. And all her idols I shall lay them, also houses, and took them away.
waste, for she gathered it from the hire of a And they oppressed a man and his house, a
whore, and they shall return to the hire of a man and his inheritance.
whore.” 3 Therefore thus said HWHY, “See, against
8 Because of this I lament and howl. I go
this clan I am planning evil, from which
stripped and naked. I make a lamentation you do not remove your necks, nor walk
like jackals, and a mourning like ostriches. proudly, for this is a time of evil.
9 For her wounds are incurable. For it has 4 “In that day one shall lift up a proverb
come to YehuÅah, it has come to the gate against you, and he shall lament with a
of My people, to Yerushalayim. bitter lamentation, and shall say, ‘We have
10 Do not declare it in Gath, weep not at
been utterly ravaged! He changes the
all in BÃyth Aphrah, roll yourself in the inheritance of my people. How He
dust. removes it from me! He apportions our
11 Pass by in nakedness and shame, you fields to the backslider.’ ”
5 “Therefore you shall have no one in the from them at that time, as they have made
assembly of HWHY to divide the land by lot. their deeds evil.
6 “You do not preach, they preach. They 5 Thus said HWHY concerning the prophets
do not preach to these, reproaches are not who lead my people astray, who are biting
turned back. with their teeth and have called out,
7 “Are you called ‘House of YaÈaqoÄ’? “Peace!” They even set apart a battle
Has the Spirit of HWHY been limited? Are against him who does not give for their
these His doings? Do not My words do mouths.
good to the one walking uprightly? 6 Therefore it shall be night to you
8 “And lately My people have risen up as without vision, and darkness to you
an enemy. You strip off the robe with the without divination. The sun shall go down
garment from those who trust you, as they on the prophets, and the day shall be dark
pass by – those returning from battle. for them.
9 “You have driven the women of My 7 And the seers shall be ashamed, and the
people from their pleasant houses. You diviners embarrassed. And they shall all
have taken away My splendour from their cover their lips, for there is no answer, O
children forever. Elohim.
10 “Arise and go, for this is not your rest, 8 But truly I am filled with power, with
because uncleanness destroys, and the the Spirit of HWHY, and with right-ruling
destruction is grievous. and with might, to declare to YaÈaqoÄ his
11 “If a man walking after wind and false- transgression and to Yisra’Ãl his sin. c
hood has lied: ‘I preach to you of wine and 9 Hear this, please, you heads of the
of strong drink,’ he shall be the ‘preacher’ house of YaÈaqoÄ and you rulers of the
of this people! house of Yisra’Ãl, who despise right-ruling
12 “I shall certainly gather all of you, O and distort all that is straight,
YaÈaqoÄ, I shall bring together the remnant 10 those building up Tsiyon with blood-
of Yisra’Ãl, put them together like sheep of shed and Yerushalayim with unrighteous-
the fold, like a flock in the midst of their ness.
pasture, they being noisy because of men. 11 Her heads judge for a bribe, her priests
13 “The breach-maker shall go up before teach for pay, d and her prophets divine for
them. They shall break out, and pass a price. Yet they lean on HWHY, and say, “Is
through the gate, and go out by it, and their not HWHY in our midst? Evil does not come
sovereign pass before them, with HWHY at upon us.”
their head!” 12 Therefore, because of you, Tsiyon is
have broken their bones, and have cut it up “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of
as into a pot, like flesh in the cooking HWHY, to the House of the Elohim of
pot?” YaÈaqoÄ, and let Him teach us His ways,
4 Therefore, when they cry to HWHY He and let us walk in His paths. For out of
does not answer them, and hides His face Tsiyon comes forth the Torah, and the
word of HWHY from Yerushalayim.” e peoples into pieces, and I shall seclude
3 And He shall judge among many peo- their gain to HWHY, and their wealth to the
ples, and reprove strong nations afar off. Master of all the earth.”
They shall beat their swords into plough-
shares, and their spears into pruning hooks
– nation shall not lift up sword against 5 Now you are raided, O daughter of
raiders, a siege has been laid against
nation, neither teach battle any more. us. They strike the Judge of Yisra’Ãl with a
4 But each one shall sit under his vine rod on the cheek.
2 “But you, BÃyth LeÁem Ephrathah, you
and under his fig tree, with no one to make
them afraid, for the mouth of HWHY of hosts who are little among the clans of YehuÅah,
has spoken. out of you shall come forth to Me the One
5 For all the peoples walk, each one in to become Ruler in Yisra’Ãl. And His com-
the name of his mighty one, but we walk in ings forth h are of old, from everlasting.”
3 Therefore He shall give them up, until
the Name of HWHY our Elohim forever and
ever. f the time that she who is in labour has given
6 “In that day,” declares HWHY, “I gather birth, and the remnant of His brothers
the lame, and I bring together the outcast return to the children of Yisra’Ãl.
4 And He shall stand and shepherd i in
and those whom I have afflicted.
7 “And I shall make the lame a remnant, the strength of HWHY, in the excellency of
and the outcast a strong nation. And HWHY the Name of HWHY His Elohim. And they
shall reign over them in Mount Tsiyon, g shall dwell, for at that time He shall be
from now on and forever. great, to the ends of the earth.
8 “And you, O tower of the flock, strong- 5 And this shall be peace. When Ashshur
hold of the daughter of Tsiyon, it shall comes into our land, and when he treads in
come to you, the former rule shall come, our palaces, we shall raise against him
the reign of the daughter of Yerusha- seven shepherds and eight leaders of men.
6 And they shall shepherd the land of
layim.”
9 Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no Ashshur with the sword, and the land of
sovereign in you? Has your counsellor per- NimroÅ at its entrances. And He shall
ished? For pain has gripped you like a deliver us from Ashshur, when he comes
woman in labour. into our land and when he treads within
10 Be in pain, and deliver, O daughter of our borders.
Tsiyon, like a woman in labour. For now 7 And the remnant of YaÈaqoÄ shall be in
you are to leave the city, and you shall the midst of many peoples, as dew from
dwell in the field. And you shall go to HWHY, as showers on the grass, which do
BaÄel, there you shall be delivered, there not wait for man nor delay for the sons of
HWHY shall redeem you from the hand of men.
your enemies. 8 And the remnant of YaÈaqoÄ shall be
11 And now, many gentiles shall be among the gentiles, in the midst of many
gathered against you, who are saying, “Let peoples, like a lion among the beasts of a
her be defiled, and let our eyes look upon forest, like a young lion among flocks of
Tsiyon!” sheep, who, if he passes through, shall
12 But they do not know the thoughts of both tread down and shall tear, and there is
HWHY, nor do they understand His counsel. no one to deliver.
For He has gathered them like sheaves to 9 Let your hand be lifted up against your
hooves bronze. And you shall beat many HWHY, “that I shall cut off your horses out
e Yesh. 2:3. f Ze¿. 10:12. g See footnote Yesh. 24:23. h Or His appearances. i YeÁez. 34:13-14.
MIËAH 5 622
of your midst, and I shall destroy your in the house of the wrong, and the short
chariots. measure that is an abomination?”
11 “And I shall cut off the cities of your 11 Would I be innocent with wrong scales,
land, and I shall pull down all your strong- and with a bag of false weights?
holds. 12 “For her rich men are filled with cruel
12 “And I shall cut off witchcrafts out of unrighteousness, and her inhabitants have
your hand, and let you have no magicians. spoken falsehood, and their tongue is
13 “And I shall cut off your carved deceit in their mouth.
images, and your pillars from your midst, 13 “So I also, I shall smite you with a
so that you no longer bow down to the grievous wound, to lay you waste because
work of your hands. of your sins:
14 “And I shall pluck your AshÃrim out of 14 “You shall eat but not be satisfied, and
your midst, and I shall destroy your cities. your inside be empty. And you shall store
15 “And I shall take vengeance in wrath up but not save, and what you save I shall
and rage on the gentiles who did not obey.” give to the sword.
15 “You shall sow but not reap, you shall
Mitsrayim, and I ransomed you from the 7 Woe to me! For I am as gatherings of
summer fruit, as gleanings of the
house of bondage. And I sent Mosheh, grape harvest. There is no cluster to eat.
Aharon, and Miryam before you. My being has desired the first-ripe fruit.
5 “My people, remember, please, what 2 The kind one has perished from the
Balaq sovereign of Mo’aÄ counselled, and earth, and there is no one straight among
what BilÈam son of BeÈor answered him, men. All of them lie in wait for blood,
from Shittim to Gilgal, in order to know everyone hunts his brother with a net.
the righteousness of HWHY.” 3 Both hands are on the evil, to do it well.
6 With what shall I come before HWHY, The prince asks for gifts, the judge seeks a
bow myself before the high Elohim? Shall bribe, and the great man speaks the desire
I come before Him with burnt offerings, of his being. And they weave it together.
with calves a year old? 4 The best of them is like a prickly plant,
7 Is HWHY pleased with thousands of rams the most straight is sharper than a thorn
or ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give hedge. The day of your watchman and
my first-born for my transgression, the your punishment has come, now is their
fruit of my body for the sin of my being? confusion.
8 He has declared to you, O man, what is 5 Trust no friend, rely on no companion,
good. And what does HWHY require of you guard the doors of your mouth from her
but to do right, and to love kindness, and to who lies in your bosom.
walk humbly with your Elohim? 6 For son is despising father, daughter
9 The voice of HWHY cries to the city – and rises up against her mother, daughter-in-
let sound wisdom see Your Name! “Hear law against her mother-in-law, the enemies
the Rod and Him who appointed it! of a man are the men of his own house.
10 “Are there still treasures of wrongness 7 As for me, I look to HWHY, I wait for the
623 MIËAH 7
cover her who said to me, “Where is HWHY them come trembling from their strong-
your Elohim?” Let my eyes look on her: holds like snakes of the earth, let them be
now she is trampled down like mud in the afraid of HWHY our Elohim and fear because
streets. of You.
11 The day for building your walls! Let 18 Who is an Âl like You – taking away
the decree go far and wide in that day – crookedness and passing over the trans-
12 that day when they come to you from gression of the remnant of His inheritance?
Ashshur and the besieged cities of He shall not retain His wrath forever, for
Mitsrayim, and from the siege j to the He Himself delights in kindness.
19 He shall turn back, He shall have com-
River, and from sea to sea, and mountain to
mountain. passion on us, He shall trample upon our
13 But the earth shall become a waste crookednesses! And You throw all our sins
because of those who dwell in it, and for into the depths of the sea!
the fruit of their deeds. 20 You give truth to YaÈaqoÄ, kindness to
14 Shepherd Your people with Your rod, AÄraham, which You swore to our fathers
the flock of Your inheritance, who dwell from the days of old!
lifted up at His presence, and the world of YaÈaqoÄ like the splendour of Yisra’Ãl,
and all who dwell in it. for the emptiers have emptied them out
6 Who does stand before His rage? And and ruined their vine branches.
who rises up in the heat of His displeasure? 3 The shields of his mighty men have
His wrath is poured out like fire, and the become red, the men of battle are in scar-
rocks have been broken by Him. let. The chariots are like flaming torches in
7 HWHY is good, as a stronghold in the day the day of his preparation, and the cypress-
of distress. And He knows those who take es shall be shaken.
refuge in Him. 4 The chariots dash about in the streets,
8 But with an overwhelming flood He they rush one another in the broad ways.
makes a complete end of the place of They look like flaming torches, they run
NinewÃh, and darkness does pursue His like lightning.
enemies. 5 He remembers his noble ones, they
9 What do you plot against HWHY? He stumble in their walk, they hurry to her
makes a complete end of it. Distress does walls, and the defence is prepared.
not rise up a second time. 6 The river gates have been opened, and
10 Though they are as entangled thorns, the palace is melted.
and as drunkards with their drink, they 7 And it is established: she shall be
shall be consumed like stubble thoroughly exiled, she shall be led away. And her
dried. female servants are moaning as with the
11 From you came forth one who plots voice of doves, beating on their breasts.
evil against HWHY, a counsellor of BeliyaÈal. 8 And NinewÃh of old was like a pool of
12 Thus said HWHY, “Though they are water, now they flee away. “Stop! Stop!”
strong and many, even so, they shall be cut they cry, but no one turns back.
off and pass away. Though I have afflicted 9 Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!
you, I afflict you no more. There is no limit to the treasure – a wealth
13 “So now I break his yoke from you, and of all precious objects.
tear off your shackles.” 10 She is empty, even emptiness and
14 And HWHY has commanded concerning waste! And the heart has melted, and the
625 NAÀUM 3
knees have knocked together, and much around her, whose rampart was like the
pain is in all loins, and all their faces have sea, whose wall was like the sea?
become flushed. 9 Kush and Mitsrayim were her strength,
11 Where is the den of the lions, and the
even unlimited. Put and LuÄim were your
feeding place of the young lions, where the helpers.
lion, the lioness and the lion’s cub walked, 10 Yet she was exiled, she went into
with no one to disturb them? captivity. At the head of every street her
12 The lion tore in pieces enough for his
young children were dashed to pieces. Lots
cubs, and strangled for his lionesses, and were cast for her esteemed men, and all her
filled his caves with prey, and his dens great men were bound in chains.
with torn prey. 11 You too are to become drunk, you are
13 “See, I am against you,” declares HWHY
to go into hiding. You too are to seek
of hosts, “and I shall burn your chariots in refuge from the enemy.
smoke, and the sword devour your young 12 All your strongholds are fig trees with
lions. And I shall cut off your prey from ripened figs, when shaken they shall fall
the earth, and no longer is the voice of into the mouth of the eater.
your messengers heard.” 13 See, your people in your midst are
3
women! The gates of your land shall be
Woe to the city of blood! All of it is a
opened wide to your enemies. Fire shall
lie, filled with plunder, the prey is not
consume your gate bars.
lacking. 14 Draw for yourself water for the siege!
2 The sound of a whip and the sound of
rattling wheels, of galloping horses, of jolt- Strengthen your defences! Go into the clay
ing chariots, and tread the mortar, lay hold of the brick
3 mounted horsemen with bright sword mould!
15 There a fire shall consume you, a sword
and glittering spear, and many wounded,
and a mass of dead bodies, and no end of cut you off, eat you up like a locust. Make
corpses, they stumble over the corpses – yourself many like the locust, make your-
4 because of the many whorings of the self many like the swarming locust!
16 You have increased your merchants
well-favoured whore, the mistress of
sorceries, who sells nations by her more than the stars of the heavens. The
whorings, and clans by her sorceries. locust shall strip off and fly away.
5 “See, I am against you,” declares HWHY 17 Your officials are like the locusts, and
of hosts, “and shall lift up your skirts over your marshals are like the great grasshop-
your face, and shall show nations your pers, which settle in the hedges on a cold
nakedness, and reigns your shame. day – when the sun rises they flee away,
6 “And I shall cast abominations upon and the place where they are is unknown.
you, and treat you as foolish, and make a 18 Your shepherds have slumbered, O sov-
You do not save. the sea, like creeping creatures that have
3 Why do You show me wickedness, and no ruler over them?
cause me to see perversity? For ruin and 15 The wicked foe has pulled all of them
violence are before me. And there is strife, up with a hook, caught them in his net, and
and contention arises. gathers them in his dragnet. Therefore he
4 Therefore the Torah ceases, and right- rejoices and exults.
ruling never goes forth. For the wrong hem 16 Therefore he offers to his net, and burns
in the righteous, so that right-ruling comes incense to his dragnet, for by them is his
out twisted. portion fat and his food is rich.
5 “Look among the nations and see, and 17 Is he therefore to keep on emptying his
be amazed, be amazed! For a work is being net, and slaying nations without sparing?
wrought in your days which you would not
believe if it were told.
6 “See, I am raising up the Chaldeans, a 2 I stand at my watch, and station
myself on the watch-tower, and wait
bitter and hasty nation, who is going to see what He says to me, and what to
through the breadth of the earth, to possess answer when I am reproved.
dwelling places that are not theirs. 2 And HWHY answered me and said,
7 “They are frightening and fearsome, “Write the vision and inscribe it on tablets,
their right-ruling and their exaltation so that he who reads it runs.
proceed from themselves. 3 “For the vision is yet for an appointed
8 “Their horses shall be swifter than time, and it speaks of the end, and does not
leopards, and more fierce than evening lie. If it lingers, wait for it, for it shall
wolves. And their horsemen shall charge certainly come, it shall not delay.
ahead, and their horsemen come from afar. 4 “See, he whose being is not upright in
They fly as the eagle, rushing to eat. him is puffed up. But the righteous one
9 “All of them come for violence, the lives by his steadfastness.
direction of their faces is like the east 5 “And also, because wine betrays him, a
wind, and they gather captives like sand. man is proud, and he does not stay at
10 “And they scoff at sovereigns, and home. Because he enlarges his appetite as
princes are a laughing matter to them. the grave, and he is like death, and is not
They laugh at every stronghold, for they satisfied, and gathers to himself all nations
pile up earth and seize it. and heaps up for himself all peoples.
11 “Then shall he pass on as a wind, and 6 “Shall not all these lift up a proverb
transgress and be guilty, and ascribe this against him, and a mocking riddle against
power to his mighty one.” him, and say, ‘Woe to him who increases
12 Are You not from everlasting, O HWHY what is not his! Till when is he to load on
my Elohim, my Set-apart One? You do not himself many pledges’?
die! O HWHY, You have appointed them for 7 “Do not your creditors rise up sudden-
right-ruling, O Rock, You have established ly? And those who make you tremble wake
them for reproof. up and you be plunder for them?
13 You, whose eyes are too clean to see 8 “Because you have plundered many
evil, You are not able to look on wrong. nations, all the remnant of the people shall
627 ÀAÉAQQUQ 3
plunder you, because of men’s blood, and 2O HWHY, I have heard your report, I was
doing violence to the land, to the city, and afraid.
to all who dwell in it. O HWHY, renew Your work in the midst
9 “Woe to him who is getting evil gain
of the years!
for his house, in order to set his nest on Make it known in the midst of the
high, to escape the clutches of evil! years.
10 “You have counselled shame for your
In wrath remember compassion.
house, to cut off many peoples, and your 3 Eloah comes from TÃman,
being is sinning. And the Set-apart One from Mount
11 “For a stone from the wall cries out,
Paran. Selah.
and a beam from the timbers answers it. His splendour shall cover the heavens,
12 “Woe to him who builds a town by
And His praise shall fill the earth.
blood, and establishes a city by unright- 4 And the brightness is as the light,
eousness! He has rays from His hand,
13 “See, it is not from HWHY of hosts that
And there His power is hidden.
peoples labour only for fire, and nations 5 Before Him goes pestilence,
weary themselves for naught, And a burning flame goes forth at His
14 for the earth shall be filled with the
feet.
knowledge of the esteem of HWHY, as the 6 He shall stand and measure the earth.
waters cover the sea! a He shall look and shake the nations.
15 “Woe to him who gives drink to his
And the ancient mountains are
neighbour, pouring out your wineskin, and shattered,
also making him drunk – in order to look The age-old hills shall bow.
on their nakedness! His ways are everlasting.
16 “You shall be filled with shame instead 7 I saw the tents of Kushan under
of esteem. Drink, you too, and be exposed sorrow,
as uncircumcised! The cup of the right The curtains of the land of MiÅyan
hand of HWHY shall come around to you, tremble.
and great shame upon your esteem. 8 Shall HWHY burn against the rivers?
17 “For the violence done to LeÄanon is to
Is Your displeasure against the rivers,
overwhelm you – and the ravaging of Is Your wrath against the sea,
beasts by which you made them afraid – That You ride on Your horses,
because of men’s blood and the violence Your chariots of deliverance?
to the land, to the city and of all who dwell 9 You uncover Your bow,
in it. The oaths of the rod of the Word.
18 “Of what use shall a carved image be?
Selah.
For its maker has carved it: a moulded You cut through the earth with rivers.
image and teacher of falsehood! For the 10 The mountains shall see You,
maker trusts what he has made: to make they tremble.
dumb idols! The storm of water shall pass over.
19 “Woe to him who says to wood,
The deep shall give forth its voice,
‘Awake!’ to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Is it a It shall lift up its hands.
teacher? See, it is overlaid with gold and 11 Sun, moon shall stand still in their
silver, and there is no spirit at all inside it. places.
20 “But HWHY is in His set-apart Hÿal. Let
Like light Your arrows fly,
all the earth be silent before Him.” Like lightning is Your glittering spear.
12 You step through the earth in rage,
a Yesh. 11:9.
ÀAÉAQQUQ 3 628
the earth,” declares HWHY – der, and their houses laid waste. And they
3 “I snatch away man and beast, I snatch shall build houses but not inhabit them,
away the birds of the heavens, and the fish and they shall plant vineyards but not drink
of the sea, and the stumbling-blocks, with their wine.”
14 Near is the great day of HWHY, near and
the wrong, when I shall cut off man from
the face of the earth,” declares HWHY. hurrying greatly, the noise of the day of
4 “And I shall stretch out My hand HWHY. Let the mighty man then bitterly cry
against YehuÅah, and against all the out!
15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of
inhabitants of Yerushalayim, and cut off
every trace of BaÈal from this place, the distress and trouble, a day of waste and
names of the idolatrous priests, with the ruin, a day of darkness and gloominess, a
priests, day of clouds and thick darkness,
16 a day of ram’s horn and alarm – against
5 and those bowing down to the host of
the walled cities and against the corner
the heavens on the house-tops, and those
towers.
bowing themselves, swearing by HWHY and 17 “And I shall bring distress on men, and
swearing by Malkam;
6 and those who turn away from follow-
they shall walk like blind men – because
they have sinned against HWHY, and their
ing HWHY, and who have not sought HWHY or blood shall be poured out like dust and
inquired of Him.” their flesh like dung.”
7 Hush! in the presence of the Master
18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall
HWHY. For the day of HWHY is near, for HWHY be able to deliver them in the day of the
has prepared a slaughter, He has set apart wrath of HWHY. And by the fire of His jeal-
His invited ones. ousy all the earth shall be consumed, for
8 “And it shall be, in the day of the
He makes a sudden end of all those who
slaughter of HWHY, that I shall punish the dwell in the earth.
rulers and the sons of the sovereign, and all
such as are clad in foreign garments.
9 “And I shall punish on that day all who
laid waste, AshdoÅ is driven out at noon- in safety, that said in her heart, “I am it,
day and Eqron is uprooted. and there is none but me.” How has she
5 Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, become a waste, a place for beasts to lie
the nation of the KerÃthites! The word of down! Everyone who passes by her whis-
HWHY is against you, O KenaÈan, land of the tles and shakes his fist.
Philistines, “And I shall destroy you, so
that there is no inhabitant.”
6 And the seacoast shall be pastures, 3 Woe to her who is rebellious and
defiled, the oppressing city!
2 She did not obey the voice, she did not
shepherds’ meadows and enclosures for
flocks. accept instruction, she did not trust in
7 And the coast shall be for the remnant HWHY, she did not draw near to her Elohim.
of the house of YehuÅah. They shall feed 3 Her rulers in her midst are roaring
their flocks on it, at evening they lie down lions, her judges are evening wolves, they
in the houses of Ashqelon. For HWHY their shall leave no bone until morning.
Elohim shall visit them and turn back their 4 Her prophets are reckless, treacherous
like Amorah – a possession for weeds and towers are in ruins. I have made their
a pit of salt, and a waste forever, the streets deserted, with no one passing by.
remnant of My people plunder them, and Their cities are destroyed, without man,
the rest of My nation possess them.” without inhabitant.
10 This is what they get for their pride, 7 “I have said, ‘Only fear Me, accept
because they have reproached and exalted instruction.’ And her dwelling would not
themselves against the people of HWHY of be cut off, all that I have appointed for her.
hosts. But they rose up early, they corrupted all
11 HWHY shall be awesome to them, for He their deeds.
shall make all the mighty ones of the earth 8 “Therefore wait for Me,” declares HWHY,
to shrivel, while all the coastlands of the “until the day I rise up for plunder. For My
nations bow down to Him, each one from judgment is to gather nations, to assemble
his place. reigns, to pour out on them My rage, all
12 “You too, O Kushites, are to be slain by my burning wrath. For by the fire of My
My sword.” jealousy all the earth shall be consumed.
13 And He shall stretch out His hand 9 “For then I shall turn unto the peoples a
against the north, and destroy Ashshur, clean lip, b so that they all call on the Name
and make NinewÃh a waste, as dry as a of HWHY, to serve Him with one shoulder.
wilderness. 10 “From beyond the rivers of Kush my
14 And droves shall lie down in her midst, worshippers, the daughter of My dispersed
every beast of the nation, both pelican and ones, shall bring My offering.
bittern lodge in the tops of her columns, a 11 “In that day you shall not be put to
voice singing at the window, ruin be at the shame for any of your deeds in which you
threshold, for the cedar work is exposed. have transgressed against Me, for then I
15 This is the exultant city that is dwelling shall remove from your midst your proud
first day of the month, the word of HWHY Yehoshua son of YehotsaÅaq, the high
came by Àaggai the prophet to ZerubbaÄel priest, with all the remnant of the people,
son of She’alti’Ãl, governor of YehuÅah, obeyed the voice of HWHY their Elohim, and
and to Yehoshua son of YehotsaÅaq, the the words of Àaggai the prophet, as HWHY
high priest, saying, their Elohim had sent him. And the people
2 “Thus spoke HWHY of hosts, saying, feared the presence of HWHY.
‘This people have said, “The time has not 13 And Àaggai, the messenger of HWHY,
come, the time the House of HWHY is to be spoke the message of HWHY to the people,
built.” ’ ” saying, “I am with you, declares HWHY.”
3 Then the word of HWHY came by Àaggai 14 And HWHY stirred up the spirit of
little; eat, but do not have enough; drink, month, in the second year of Dareyawesh
but you are not filled with drink; clothe the sovereign.
yourselves, but no one is warm; and he
who earns wages, earns wages to put into a
bag with holes.” 2 In the seventh month, on the twenty-
first of the month, the word of HWHY
7 Thus said HWHY of hosts, “Consider came by Àaggai the prophet, saying,
your ways! 2 “Speak, please, to ZerubbaÄel son of
8 Go up to the mountain, and you shall She’alti’Ãl, governor of YehuÅah, and to
bring wood and build the House. And I Yehoshua son of YehotsaÅaq, the high
will be pleased with it, and let Me be priest, and to the remnant of the people,
esteemed,” said HWHY. saying,
9 “When you looked for much, then see, 3 ‘Who is there left among you who saw
it came to little. And when you brought it this House in its former esteem? And how
home, I would blow on it. Why?” declares do you see it now? Is it not in your eyes as
HWHY of hosts. “Because of My House naught when compared to it?
which lies in ruins, while each of you runs 4 ‘And now, be strong, ZerubbaÄel,’
and on the new wine, and on the oil, and on when you came out of Mitsrayim, and My
whatever the ground brings forth, and on Spirit a is remaining in your midst, do not
man, and on livestock, and on all the fear!’
a His Word and His Spirit work together, they are in unity.
633 ÀAGGAI 2
6 “For thus said HWHY of hosts, ‘Once stone in the Hÿal of HWHY,
more, in a little while, and I am shaking the 16 since those days – one came to a heap of
heavens and earth, the sea and dry land. twenty Ãphahs, and there were ten; one came
7 ‘And I shall shake all the nations, and to the winepress to draw out fifty baths from
they shall come to the Delight of all the the press, and there were twenty –
nations, and I shall fill this House with 17 ‘I smote you with blight and mildew
esteem,’ said HWHY of hosts. and hail in all the labours of your hands,
8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is and their was none of you with Me,’
Mine,’ declares HWHY of hosts. declares HWHY.
9 ‘Let the esteem of this latter House be 18 ‘Consider now from this day forward,
greater than the former,’ said HWHY of from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth
hosts. ‘And in this place I give peace,’ month, from the day that the foundation of
declares HWHY of hosts.” the Hÿal of HWHY was laid, consider it:
10 On the twenty-fourth of the ninth 19 ‘Is the seed yet in the storehouse? And
month, in the second year of Dareyawesh, until now the vine, and the fig tree, and the
the word of HWHY came unto Àaggai the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not
prophet, saying, yielded fruit! From this day on I shall bless
11 “Thus said HWHY of hosts, ‘Now, ask the you!’ ”
priests concerning the Torah, saying, 20 And a second time the word of HWHY
12 “If one bears set-apart meat in the fold came to Àaggai on the twenty-fourth day
of his garment, and with the edge he of the month, saying,
touches bread or stew, or wine or oil, or 21 “Speak to ZerubbaÄel, the governor of
any food, is it set-apart?” ’ ” And the YehuÅah, saying, ‘I am shaking the heav-
priests answered and said, “No.” ens and earth.
13 And Àaggai said, “If someone defiled 22 ‘And I shall overturn the throne of
by a dead body touches any of these, is it reigns. And I shall destroy the might of the
defiled?” And the priests answered and gentile reigns, b and overturn the chariots
said, “It is defiled.” and their riders. And the horses and their
14 And Àaggai answered and said, “ ‘So is riders shall come down, each by the sword
this people, and so is this nation before of his brother.
Me,’ declares HWHY, ‘and so is every work 23 ‘In that day,’ declares HWHY of hosts, ‘I
of their hands. And whatever they bring shall take you, ZerubbaÄel My servant, son
near there is defiled. of She’alti’Ãl,’ declares HWHY, ‘and shall
15 ‘But now, please consider, from this make you as a signet, for I have chosen
day onward: Before a stone was laid on a you,’ declares HWHY of hosts.”
the former prophets proclaimed, saying, talked to me, good words, comforting
‘Thus said HWHY of hosts, “Turn back now words.
from your evil ways and your evil deeds.” ’ 14 And the messenger who spoke with me
But they did not obey or give heed to Me,” said to me, “Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus said
declares HWHY. HWHY of hosts, “I have been jealous for
5 “Your fathers, where are they? And the Yerushalayim and for Tsiyon with great
prophets, do they live forever? jealousy.
6 “But My words and My laws, which I 15 “And I am very wroth with the nations
commanded My servants the prophets, did who are at ease, for when I was a little
they not overtake your fathers?” “Then wroth, they furthered the evil!”
they turned back and said, ‘As HWHY of 16 ‘Therefore thus said HWHY, “I shall
in the second year of Dareyawesh, the word HWHY of hosts, “Again My cities shall over-
of HWHY came to Ze¿aryah son of Bere¿- flow with goodness. And HWHY shall again
yahu, son of Iddo the prophet, saying, comfort Tsiyon, and shall again choose a
8 “I looked at night and saw a man riding Yerushalayim.” ’ ”
on a red horse, and he was standing among 18 And I lifted up my eyes and looked,
the myrtle trees in the shade. And behind and saw four horns.
him were horses: red, sorrel, and white.” 19 And I said to the messenger who was
9 And I said, “My master, what are these?” speaking to me, “What are these?” And he
And the messenger who was speaking to me said to me, “These are the horns that have
said to me, “Let me show you what they scattered YehuÅah, Yisra’Ãl, and Yeru-
are.” shalayim.”
10 And the man who stood among the 20 And HWHY showed me four craftsmen.
myrtle trees answered and said, “They are 21 And I said, “What are these coming to
the ones HWHY has sent to go throughout the do?” And he spoke saying, “These are the
earth.” horns that scattered YehuÅah, so that no
11 And they answered the messenger of one lifted up his head. But these come to
HWHY, who stood among the myrtle trees, trouble them, to throw down the horns of
2 And I lifted up my eyes and looked, 3 And he showed me Yehoshua the high
priest standing before the messenger
and saw a man with a measuring line of HWHY, and Satan standing at his right
in his hand. hand to be an adversary to him.
2 And I said, “Where are you going?” 2 And HWHY said to Satan, “HWHY rebuke
And he said to me, “To measure Yerusha- you, Satan! HWHY who has chosen Yeru-
layim, to see what is its width and what is shalayim rebuke you! Is this not a brand
its length.” plucked from the fire?”
3 And see, the messenger who was 3 And Yehoshua was dressed in filthy
speaking to me was going out. And anoth- garments, and was standing before the
er messenger was coming out to meet him, messenger.
4 and he said to him, “Run, speak to this 4 And He answered and spoke to those
young man, saying, ‘Yerushalayim is to who stood before Him, saying, “Remove
remain unwalled, because of the many the filthy garments from him.” And to him
men and livestock in it. He said, “See, I have removed your guilt
5 ‘For I Myself am to her,’ declares HWHY, from you, and shall put costly robes on
‘a wall of fire all around, and for esteem I you.”
am in her midst.’ ” 5 And I said, “Let them put a clean
6 “Oh, Oh! And flee from the land of the turban on his head.” Then they put a clean
north,” declares HWHY, “for I have scattered turban on his head, and they put garments
you like the four winds of the heavens,” on him. And the messenger of HWHY stood
declares HWHY. by.
7 “Oh, Tsiyon! Escape, you who dwell 6 And the messenger of HWHY witnessed
of esteem He sent me to the gentiles which in My ways, and if you guard My duty,
plunder you): “For he who touches you then you shall also rule My house, and also
touches the apple of My eye. b guard My courts. And I shall give you
9 “For look, I am waving My hand access among these standing here.
against them, and they shall become spoil 8 ‘Now listen, Yehoshua the high priest,
for their servants. And you shall know that you and your companions who sit before
HWHY of hosts has sent Me. you, for they are men of symbol. For look,
10 “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of I am bringing forth My Servant – the
Tsiyon! For look, I am coming, and shall Branch. f
dwell in your midst c,” declares HWHY. 9 ‘See the stone which I have put before
11 “And many gentiles shall be joined to Yehoshua: on one stone are seven eyes.
HWHY in that day, d and they shall become See, I am engraving its inscription,’
My people. And I shall dwell in your declares HWHY of hosts, ‘and I shall remove
midst. And you shall know that HWHY of the guilt of that land in one day.
hosts has sent Me to you. 10 ‘In that day,’ declares HWHY of hosts,
12 “And HWHY shall inherit YehuÅah, His ‘you shall invite one another, under the
portion in the Set-apart Land. And He shall vine and under the fig tree.’ ”
again choose Yerushalayim. e
13 “Hush, all flesh, before HWHY, for He
has roused Himself out of His set-apart 4 And the messenger who was speaking
to me came back and woke me up as a
ZerubbaÄel? A plain! And he shall bring with me came out and said to me, “Lift up
forth the capstone with shouts of “Favour, your eyes now, and see what this is that is
favour to it!” ’ ” going forth.”
8 And the word of HWHY came to me, 6 And I said, “What is it?” And he said,
HWHY of hosts has sent Me to you. this: a woman sitting inside the Ãphah-
10 “For who has despised the day of small measure!”
beginnings? They shall rejoice when they 8 And he said, “This is Wrongness!” And
see the plumb-line in the hand of he threw her down into the Ãphah-measure,
ZerubbaÄel. These seven are the eyes of and threw the lead weight over its mouth.
HWHY, which diligently search throughout 9 And I lifted up my eyes, and looked
all the earth.” and saw two women, coming with the
11 Then I responded and said to him, wind in their wings. And they had wings
“What are these two olive trees, one at the like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up
right of the lampstand and the other at its the Ãphah-measure between earth and the
left?” heavens.
12 And I responded a second time and said 10 Then I said to the messenger who was
to him, “What are these two olive branches speaking to me, “Where are they taking the
which empty golden oil from themselves Ãphah-measure?”
by means of the two gold pipes?” 11 And he said to me, “To build a house
13 And he answered me and said, “Do you for it in the land of ShinÈar. And it shall be
not know what these are?” And I said, established and set there on its own base.”
“No, my master.”
14 And he said, “These are the two anointed
ones, who stand beside the Master g of all 6 And I lifted up my eyes again, and
looked and saw four chariots coming
ones have gone out after them, and the ReÍem-Mele¿ and his men, to pray before
speckled ones have gone out to the land of HWHY,
the south.” 3 speaking to the priests who belonged to
7 And the strong ones went out, eager to the House of HWHY of hosts, and to the
go, to walk to and fro in the earth. And He prophets, saying, “Should I weep in the
said, “Go, walk to and fro in the earth.” So fifth month and fast as I have done for so
they walked to and fro in the earth. many years?”
8 And He called to me, and spoke to me, 4 Then the word of HWHY of hosts came to
the land of the north.” to the priests, saying, ‘When you fasted
9 And the word of HWHY came to me, say- and lamented in the fifth and seventh
ing, months all these seventy years, did you
10 “Receive the gift from the exiles, from truly fast for Me – for Me?
Àeldai, ToÄiyah, and YeÅayah, who have 6 ‘And when you ate and when you
come from BaÄel. Then you shall go the drank, was it not for those eating and for
same day and enter the house of Yoshiyah those drinking?
son of Tsephanyah. 7 ‘Are these not the words which HWHY
11 “And you shall take the silver and gold, proclaimed through the former prophets
make a crown, and set it on the head of when Yerushalayim and the cities around it
Yehoshua the son of YehotsaÅaq, the high were inhabited and in safety, and the South
priest, and the low country were inhabited?’ ”
12 and shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus 8 And the word of HWHY came to
place He shall branch out, and He shall right-ruling, show kindness and compas-
build the Hÿal of HWHY. sion everyone to his brother.
13 “It is He who is going to build the 10 “Do not oppress the widow or the
Hÿal of HWHY. It is He who is going to fatherless, the stranger or the poor. And do
bear the splendour. And He shall sit and not plot evil in your hearts against one
rule on His throne, and shall be a priest on another.’
His throne, and the counsel of peace shall 11 “But they refused to listen, and they
h See 3:8.
ZEËARYAH 7 638
shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their of the prophets, of the day the foundation
ears from hearing. was laid for the House of HWHY of hosts, the
12 “And they made their hearts like flint Hÿal that was to be rebuilt.
against hearing the Torah, and the words, 10 ‘For before these days there was not a
which HWHY of hosts had sent by His Spirit wage for a man, nor a hire for beast, and
through the former prophets. Therefore there was no peace for him who went out
great wrath came from HWHY of hosts. or came in, because of his enemies, and I
13 “And it came to be: as He called and set all men one against another.
they did not hear, so let them call, but I 11 ‘But now I am not as in the former days
shall not hear,” said HWHY of hosts. to the remnant of this people,’ declares
14 “And I scattered them with a storm HWHY of hosts.
wind among all the gentiles which they 12 ‘Because of the sowing of peace the
had not known. And the land was laid vine does give its fruit, the ground does
waste behind them, no one passing through give her increase, and the heavens do give
or returning, for they made the pleasant their dew. And I shall cause the remnant of
land a waste.” this people to inherit all these.
13 ‘And it shall be, as you were a curse
streets of Yerushalayim, each one with his speak the truth to one another, judge with
staff in his hand because of great age, truth and right-ruling for peace in your
5 and the streets of the city shall be filled gates.
with boys and girls playing in its streets.’ 17 ‘And do not plot evil in your heart
6 “Thus said HWHY of hosts, ‘If it is against another, and do not love a false
marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of oath. For all these I hate,’ declares HWHY.”
this people in these days, should it also be 18 And the word of HWHY of hosts came to
hands be strong, you who are listening in another, saying, “Let us earnestly go and
these days to these words, from the mouth pray before HWHY, and seek HWHY of hosts. I
shall come to seek HWHY of hosts in Yeru- Ephrayim and the horse from Yeru-
shalayim, and to pray before HWHY.’ shalayim. And the battle bow shall be cut
23 “Thus said HWHY of hosts, ‘In those days off. And He shall speak peace to the
ten men from all languages of the nations nations, and His rule is from sea to sea, and
take hold, yea, they shall take hold of the from the River to the ends of the earth.
edge of the garment of a man, a YehuÅite, 11 “Also you, because of the blood of your
saying, “Let us go with you, for we have covenant, I shall send your prisoners out of
heard that Elohim is with you .” ’ ” j the pit.
12 “Return to the stronghold, you prison-
by and him who returns, so that no oppres- ness, the diviners saw falsehood, and relate
sor passes through them again, for now I dreams of deceit, they comfort in vain.
have seen with My eyes. Therefore they have wandered about like
9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Tsiyon! sheep. They are afflicted, for there is no
Shout, O daughter of Yerushalayim! See, shepherd. l
your Sovereign is coming to you, He is 3 “My wrath burns against the shepherds,
righteous and endowed with deliverance, and I lay a charge against the leaders. For
humble and riding on a donkey, a colt, the HWHY of hosts shall visit His flock, the
house of YehuÅah, and make them like His roaring of lions, for the pride of the YardÃn
splendid horse in battle. is ravaged.
4 “From him comes the corner-stone, 4 Thus said HWHY my Elohim, “Feed the
from him the tent peg, from him the battle flock for slaughter,
bow, from him every ruler, together. 5 whose owners slaughter them and feel
5 “And they shall be like mighty men, no guilt, and their sellers say, ‘Blessed be
who trample down the mud of the streets in HWHY, for I have become rich.’ And their
the battle. And they shall fight because own shepherds do not spare them.
HWHY is with them, and the riders on horses 6 “For I shall no longer spare the inhabi-
shall be put to shame. tants of the land,” declares HWHY. “But see,
6 “And I shall make the house of Yehu- I am delivering up mankind, each one into
Åah mighty, and save the house of YosÃph. his neighbour’s hand and into the hand of
And I shall bring them back, because I his sovereign. And they shall crush the
have compassion on them. And they shall earth, but I do not deliver from their hand.”
be as though I had not pushed them aside. 7 So I shepherded the flock meant for
For I am HWHY their Elohim, and I answer slaughter, the truly poor of the flock. And I
them. took for myself two staffs, the one I called
7 “And Ephrayim shall be as a mighty Pleasantness, and the other I called Unity,
man, and their heart shall rejoice as if with and I shepherded the flock.
wine. And their children shall see and 8 Then I sent off the three shepherds in
rejoice, their heart exulting in HWHY. one month, for my being despised them,
8 “I shall whistle for them and gather and their being also loathed me.
them, for I shall ransom them. And they 9 So I said, “I am not shepherding you.
shall increase as they once increased. Let the dying die, and the straying stray,
9 “Though I sow them among peoples, and let those who are left eat each other’s
they shall remember Me in places far flesh.”
away. And they shall live, together with 10 And I took my staff, Pleasantness, and
their children, and they shall return. cut it in two, to break the covenant which I
10 “And I shall bring them back from the had made with all the peoples.
land of Mitsrayim, and gather them from 11 So it was broken on that day. And the
Ashshur, and bring them into the land of poor of the flock, who were watching me,
GilÈaÅ and LeÄanon, until no more room is knew that it was the word of HWHY.
found for them. 12 And I said to them, “If it is good in
11 “And He shall pass through the sea of your eyes, give me my wages. And if not,
distress, and strike the waves of the sea, refrain.” So they weighed out for my
and all the depths of the River shall dry up. wages thirty pieces of silver.
And the pride of Ashshur shall be brought 13 And HWHY said to me, “Throw it to the
down, and the sceptre of Mitsrayim be potter,” the splendid price at which I was
taken away. valued by them. And I took the thirty
12 “And I shall make them mighty in pieces of silver and threw them into the
HWHY, so that they walk up and down in His House of HWHY for the potter.
Name,” declares HWHY. 14 Then I cut in two my other staff, Unity,
Howl, O oaks of Bashan, for the dense the land who does not visit those straying,
forest has come down. nor seek the young, nor heal those that are
3 Listen! The howling of shepherds, for broken, nor feed those that still stand. But
their splendour is ravaged. Listen! The he does eat the flesh of the fat and tear off
641 ZEËARYAH 13
ing the flock! Let a sword be upon his arm DawiÅ and on the inhabitants of Yerusha-
and upon his right eye! His arm shall layim a spirit of favour and prayers. And
wither and his right eye shall be dimmed.” they shall look on Me whom they pierced,
and they shall mourn for Him as one
12 The message of the word of HWHY
against Yisra’Ãl. HWHY, stretching
mourns for his only son. And they shall be
in bitterness over Him as a bitterness over
out the heavens, and laying the foundation the first-born.
of the earth, and forming the spirit of man 11 “In that day the mourning in Yerusha-
within him, declares, layim is going to be great, like the mourning
2 “See, I am making Yerushalayim a cup at HaÅaÅ Rimmon in the valley of MeÍiddo.
of reeling to all the people all around, and 12 “And the land shall mourn, every clan
also against YehuÅah it is in the siege by itself: the clan of the house of DawiÅ by
against Yerushalayim. itself, and their women by themselves; the
3 “And in that day it shall be that I make clan of the house of Nathan by itself, and
Yerushalayim a very heavy stone for all their women by themselves;
peoples – all lifting it are severely injured. 13 the clan of the house of LÃwi by itself,
And all the nations of the earth shall be and their women by themselves; the clan
gathered against it. of ShimÈi by itself, and their women by
4 “In that day,” declares HWHY, “I smite themselves;
every horse with bewilderment and its 14 all the rest of the clans, every clan by
rider with madness. And on the house of itself, and their women by themselves.
YehuÅah I open My eyes, but every horse
of the peoples I smite with blindness.
5 “And the leaders of YehuÅah shall say 13 “In that day a fountain shall be
opened for the house of DawiÅ and
in their heart, ‘The inhabitants of Yerusha- for the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, for sin
layim are a strength to me, through HWHY of and for uncleanness.
hosts, their Elohim.’ 2 “And it shall be in that day,” declares
6 “In that day I make the leaders of Yehu- HWHY of hosts, “that I cut off the names of
Åah like a fire pot among trees, and like a the idols from the earth, m and they shall be
torch of fire in the sheaves. And they shall remembered no more, and I shall also
consume all the peoples all around, on the remove the prophets and the unclean spirit
right and on the left. And Yerushalayim from the earth.
shall dwell again in her own place, in 3 “And it shall be, when one prophesies
among them in that day shall be like prophets shall be ashamed, everyone of his
DawiÅ, and the house of DawiÅ like vision when he prophesies, and not put a
Elohim, like the Messenger of HWHY before hairy robe on in order to deceive,
them! 5 but shall say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a
9 “And it shall be in that day that I seek farmer, for a man sold me as a slave in my
to destroy all the gentiles that come against youth.’
m Shem. 23:13, DeÄ. 12:3, Yehosh. 23:7, Hosh. 2:17, Tseph. 3:9.
ZEËARYAH 13 642
6 “And one shall say to him, ‘What are 7 And it shall be one day which is known
these wounds in your hands?’ And he shall to HWHY, neither day nor night, but at
say, ‘Because I was wounded at home by evening time there shall be light.
those who love me.’ 8 And in that day it shall be that living
7 “O sword, awake against My Shepherd, waters flow from Yerushalayim, p half of
against the Man who is My Companion,” them toward the eastern sea and half of
declares HWHY of hosts. “Smite the them toward the western sea, in summer as
Shepherd, and let the sheep be scattered. well as in winter.
But I shall turn My hand upon the little 9 And HWHY shall be Sovereign over all
cut off and die, and one third is left therein. desert plain from GeÄa to Rimmon south
9 “And I shall bring the third into fire, of Yerushalayim, and she shall be raised up
and refine them as silver is refined, and try and inhabited in her place from
them as gold is tried. They shall call on My Binyamin’s Gate to the place of the First
Name, n and I shall answer them. I shall Gate and the Corner Gate, and from the
say, ‘This is My people,’ while they say, Tower of Àanan’Ãl to the winepresses of
‘HWHY is my Elohim.’ ” the sovereign.
11 And they shall dwell in her, and there
Yerushalayim on the east. And the Mount yim as well. And the wealth of all the gen-
of Olives shall be split in two, from east to tiles round about shall be gathered togeth-
west, a very great valley, and half of the er: gold, and silver, and garments in great
mountain shall move toward the north and quantities.
half of it toward the south. 15 So also is the plague on the horse and
5 And you shall flee to the valley of My the mule, on the camel and the donkey, and
mountain – for the valley of the mountains on all the cattle that are in those camps – as
reaches to Atsal. And you shall flee as you this plague.
fled from the earthquake in the days of 16 And it shall be that all who are left from
Uzziyah sovereign of YehuÅah. And HWHY all the gentiles which came up against
my Elohim shall come – all the set-apart Yerushalayim, shall go up from year to
ones with You. year to bow themselves to the Sovereign,
6 And in that day it shall be: there is no HWHY of hosts, and to observe the Festival
light, it is dark. of Booths.
n Tseph. 3:9. o Yo’Ãl 3:2, Tseph. 3:8, Rev. 16:14. p Rev. 22:1-2.
q See footnote Yesh. 24:23, also Dan. 2:44, Rev. 11:15. r Mal. 4:6.
643 ZEËARYAH 14
17 And it shall be, that if anyone of the do not come up to observe the Festival of
clans of the earth does not come up to Booths.
Yerushalayim to bow himself to the 20 In that day “SET-APART TO HWHY”
Sovereign, HWHY of hosts, on them there is shall be engraved on the bells of the
to be no rain. horses. And the pots in the House of HWHY
18 And if the clan of Mitsrayim does not shall be like the bowls before the altar.
come up and enter in, then there is no rain. 21 And every pot in Yerushalayim and
On them is the plague with which HWHY YehuÅah shall be set-apart to HWHY of
plagues the gentiles who do not come up to hosts. And all those who slaughter shall
observe the Festival of Booths. come and take them and cook in them.
19 This is the punishment of Mitsrayim And there shall no longer be a merchant in
and the punishment of all the gentiles that the House of HWHY of hosts, in that day.
MAL’AËI
MALACHI
straightness, and turned many away from words, and you have said, “In what way
crookedness. have we wearied Him?” In that you say,
7 “For the lips of a priest should guard “Everyone who does evil is good in the
knowledge, and they seek the Torah from eyes of HWHY, and He is delighting in
his mouth, for he is the messenger of HWHY them,” or, “Where is the Elohim of right-
of hosts. ruling?”
8 “But you, you have turned from the
one Âl create us? Why do we act treacher- coming, and who is able to stand when He
ously against one another, to profane the appears? For He is like the fire of a refiner,
covenant of the fathers? and like the soap of a launderer.
11 YehuÅah has acted treacherously, and 3 “And He shall sit as a refiner and a
an abomination has been done in Yisra’Ãl cleanser of silver. And He shall cleanse the
and in Yerushalayim, for YehuÅah has pro- sons of LÃwi, and refine them as gold and
faned what is set-apart to HWHY – which He silver, and they shall belong to HWHY, bring-
had loved – and has married the daughter ing near an offering in righteousness.
of a foreign mighty one. 4 “Then shall the offering of YehuÅah
12 Let HWHY cut off from the tents of and Yerushalayim be pleasant to HWHY, as
YaÈaqoÄ the man who does this – stirring in the days of old, as in former years.
up or answering, and bringing an offering 5 “And I shall draw near to you for right-
acted treacherously, though she is your and you, O sons of YaÈaqoÄ, shall not come
companion and the wife of your covenant. to an end.
15 And did He not make one? And He had 7 “From the days of your fathers you have
the remnant of the Spirit? And what is the turned aside from My laws and did not
one alone? He seeks a seed of Elohim. So guard them. Turn back to Me, and I shall
you shall guard your spirit, and let none act turn back to you,” said HWHY of hosts. “But
treacherously against the wife of his youth. you said, ‘In what shall we turn back?’
16 “For I hate divorce,” said HWHY Elohim 8 “Would a man rob Elohim? Yet you are
of Yisra’Ãl, “and the one who covers his robbing Me! But you said, ‘In what have
garment with cruelty,” said HWHY of hosts. we robbed You?’ In the tithe and the
“So you shall guard your spirit, and do not offering!
b Generally interpreted as YoÁanan the Immerser. c The Messiah, obviously. d YaÈaqoÄ 1:17.
MALÈAËI 3 646
9 “You have cursed Me with a curse, for possession. And I shall spare them as a
you are robbing Me, this nation, all of it! man spares his own son who serves him.
10 “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, 18 “Then you shall again see the differ-
and let there be food in My house. And ence between the righteous and the wrong,
please prove Me in this,” said HWHY of hosts, between one who serves Elohim and one
“whether I do not open for you the windows who does not serve Him.
of the heavens, and shall pour out for you
boundless blessing!
11 “And I shall rebuke the devourer for
to one another, and HWHY listen and hear, prophet e before the coming of the great
and a book of remembrance be written and awesome day of HWHY.
before Him, of those who fear HWHY, and 6 “And he shall turn the hearts of the
those who think upon His Name. fathers to the children, and the hearts of the
17 “And they shall be Mine,” said HWHY of children to their fathers, lest I come and
hosts, “on the day that I prepare a treasured smite the earth with utter destruction.” f
e This prophecy has a double reference – to YoÁanan the Immerser who came in the spirit and in the power of
Eliyahu (Lk. 1:17), but also refers to the days prior to the Great Day of HWHY. f Ze¿. 14:11.
TEHILLIM
PSALMS
a This great prophetic psalm, written by DawiÅ, is quoted in Acts 4:25-26, and vividly describes the gentiles’
rebellion against HWHY and His Messiah (Anointed). This rebellion comes to an end when HWHY and His Messiah
shall dash them to pieces, and set up the reign of HWHY on earth (see also Dan. 2:44, Dan. 7:13-28, Àagg. 2:22,
Ze¿. 14:9, Rev. 11:15). Note well: In this Teh. 2, three are speaking, namely DawiÅ, HWHY and His Messiah.
TEHILLIM 3 648
troubled;
My Sovereign and my Elohim, And You, O HWHY – till when?
For unto You I pray. 4 Return, O HWHY, rescue my life!
3 O HWHY, in the morning You hear my Oh, save me for Your kindness’ sake!
voice; 5 For in death there is no remembrance
head,
Save me from all my pursuers; And his wrongdoing comes down on
And deliver me, the top of his head.
2 Lest they tear at my throat like a lion, 17 I give thanks to HWHY according to His
Rending in pieces, with no one to righteousness,
deliver. And praise the Name of HWHY Most
3 O HWHY my Elohim, if I have done this: High.
If there is unrighteousness in my
hands,
4 If I have done evil to him who was at 8 O HWHY, our Master, how excellent
is Your Name in all the earth,
peace with me, You who set Your splendour above the
Or have plundered my enemy without heavens!
cause, 2 Out of the mouth of babes and infants
5 Let the enemy pursue me and overtake You have founded strength,
my being, Because of Your adversaries,
And trample my life to the ground, To put an end to enemy and avenger.
And lay my esteem in the dust. Selah. 3 For I see Your heavens, the work of
6 Arise, O HWHY, in Your displeasure; Your fingers,
Lift Yourself up against the rage of my The moon and the stars, which You
adversaries, have established.
And awake for me! 4 What is man that You remember him?
You shall command judgment! And the son of man that You visit him?
7 And let the congregation of the peoples 5 Yet You have made him a little less
They stumble and perish before You. All the gentiles that forget Elohim.
4 For You executed my right and my 18 For the needy is not always forgotten;
heart. being,
3 When the foundations are destroyed, Grief in my heart day by day?
What shall the righteous do? How long would my enemy be exalted
grave,
Neither let Your Kind One see
mountain? corruption.
2 He who walks blamelessly, 11 You show me the path of life;
presence; righteousness;
Let Your eyes see what is straight. I am satisfied to see Your appearance
3 You have examined my heart; when I awake.
You have visited me in the night;
You have tried me –
You find I have not schemed; 18 I love You, O HWHY,
My strength.
2 HWHY is my rock and my stronghold
My mouth would not transgress.
4 As for the deeds of men – and my deliverer;
By the word of Your lips, My Âl is my rock, I take refuge in
I have kept myself from the paths of Him;
the destroyer. My shield and the horn of my
5 My steps have held fast to Your paths, deliverance, my high tower.
3 I call upon HWHY, the One to be praised,
My feet have not slipped.
6 I have called upon You, for You answer And I am saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death surrounded me,
me, O Âl;
Incline Your ear to me, hear my And the floods of BeliyaÈal made me
speech. afraid.
7 Let Your kindness be distinguished, 5 The cords of the grave were all around
From men of the world whose portion His thick clouds passed, hail and coals
is in this life, of fire.
And You fill their bellies with Your 13 And HWHY thundered in the heavens,
TEHILLIM 18 654
And the Most High sent forth His 27 For You save the afflicted people,
voice, But bring down those whose eyes are
Hail and coals of fire. haughty.
14 And He sent out His arrows and 28 For You Yourself light my lamp;
He drew me out of many waters. And who is a rock, except our Elohim?
17 He delivered me from my strong 32 It is Âl who girds me with strength,
place; deliverance;
He delivered me for He delighted in And Your right hand supports me,
me. And Your lowliness makes me great.
20 HWHY rewarded me according to my 36 You enlarge my step under me;
With the perfect one You show To HWHY – but He answers them not.
Yourself perfect; 42 And I beat them as dust before the
26 With the clean You show Yourself wind;
clean; I empty them out like dirt in the streets.
And with the crooked You show 43 You deliver me from the strivings of
You set me at the head of the nations; bringing back the being;
A people I have not known serve me. The witness of HWHY is trustworthy,
44 As soon as they hear of me they obey making wise the simple;
me; 8 The orders of HWHY are straight,
And He humbles the peoples under me; Than much fine gold;
48 My deliverer from my enemies. And sweeter than honey and the
You lift me up above those who rise honeycomb.
against me; 11 Also, Your servant is warned by them,
d Runs parallel with/is synonymous with “guarding His commands/teachings” (see Shem. 20:20).
TEHILLIM 20 656
You set a crown of fine gold on his A reproach of men, and despised by
head. the people.
4 He asked life from You, and You gave 7 All those who see Me mock Me;
is great; Him;
You have laid excellency and Let Him deliver Him, seeing He has
splendour on him. delighted in Him!”
6 For You have made him most blessed 9 For You are the One who took Me out
And through the kindness of the Most From My mother’s belly You have
High he is not moved. been My Âl.
8 Your hand reaches all Your enemies; 11 Do not be far from Me,
Your right hand reaches those who hate For distress is near;
You. For there is none to help.
9 You make them as a furnace of fire in 12 Many bulls have surrounded Me;
And all My bones have been spread 28 For the reign belongs to HWHY,
apart; And He is ruling over the nations.
My heart has become like wax; 29 All the fat ones of the earth
It has melted in the midst of My Shall eat and bow themselves;
inward parts. All who go down to the dust bow
15 My strength is dried like a potsherd,
before Him,
And My tongue is cleaving to My Even he who did not keep alive his
jaws; own life.
And to the dust of death You are 30 A seed shall serve Him.
appointing Me. It is declared of HWHY to the coming
16 For dogs have surrounded Me;
generation.
A crowd of evil ones have encircled 31 They shall come and declare His
Me, righteousness
Piercing My hands and My feet; To a people yet to be born, e
17 I count all My bones.
For He shall do it!
They look, they stare at Me.
18 They divide My garments among them,
Let your heart live forever! And upon the waters He does establish
27 Let all the ends of the earth it.
Remember and turn to HWHY, 3 Who does go up into the mountain of
e The end-time “birth pains” and “birth.” See Great Distress in Explanatory Notes at the back.
f Or He converts.
TEHILLIM 24 658
place? me,
4 He who has innocent hands and a clean For Your goodness’ sake, O HWHY.
heart, 8 Good and straight is HWHY;
Who did not bring his life to naught, Therefore He teaches sinners in the
And did not swear deceivingly. way.
5 He receives a blessing from HWHY, 9 He guides the meek ones in
And let the Sovereign of esteem come You shall pardon my crookedness,
in. though it is great.
8 Who is this Sovereign of esteem? 12 Who, then, is the man that fears HWHY?
Even lift up, you everlasting doors! And his seed inherits the earth.
And let the Sovereign of esteem come 14 The secret of HWHY is with those who
favour,
For I am lonely and afflicted.
trust; 17 The distresses of my heart have
Let me not be ashamed; enlarged;
Let not my enemies exult over me. Oh, bring me out of my distresses!
3 Indeed, let no one who waits on You be 18 Look on my affliction and my toil,
ashamed; And forgive all my sins.
Let those who are treacherous without 19 See how many my enemies have
cause be ashamed. become;
4 Show me Your ways, O HWHY; And they hate me with a violent hatred.
Teach me Your paths. 20 Oh, guard my life, and deliver me;
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, Let me not be ashamed, for I have
For You are the Elohim of my deliver- taken refuge in You.
ance; 21 Let integrity and straightness guard
On You I wait all the day. me,
6 Remember, O HWHY, Your compassion For I have waited for You.
and Your kindnesses, 22 Redeem Yisra’Ãl, O Elohim,
For they are from everlasting. Out of all his distresses!
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth,
and my transgressions;
According to Your kindness remember 26 Rule me rightly, O HWHY,
For I have walked in my integrity.
g Runs parallel with/is synonymous with “guarding His commands/teachings” (see Shem. 20:20).
659 TEHILLIM 28
doers, voice!
And I do not sit with the wrong. And show me favour, and answer me.
6 I wash my hands in innocence; 8 To my heart You have said,
4 Give to them according to their deeds, 9 The voice of HWHY makes the deer give
And according to the evil of their prac- birth,
tices; And strips the forests bare;
Give to them according to the work of And in His Hÿal everyone says,
their hands; “Esteem!”
Bring back to them what they deserve. 10 HWHY sat enthroned at the Flood,
5 Because they do not heed the works of
And HWHY sits as Sovereign forever.
HWHY, 11 HWHY gives strength to His people;
Nor the works of His hands, He throws HWHY blesses His people with peace.
them down,
And does not build them up.
6 Blessed be HWHY,
My eye, my being and my body have For He has made marvellous His
become old with grief! kindness to me in a strong city!
10 For my life is consumed in sorrow, 22 And I, I have said in my haste, “I am
33
18 See, the eye of HWHY is on those
Shout for joy in HWHY, you
righteous! fearing Him,
Praise is fitting for the straight! On those waiting for His kindness,
2 Praise HWHY with the lyre; 19 To deliver their being from death,
Sing to Him with an instrument of ten And to keep them alive during scarcity
strings. of food.
3 Sing to Him a new song; 20 Our being has longed for HWHY;
Play sweetly with a shout of joy. Our help and our shield is He.
4 For the Word of HWHY is straight, 21 For our heart does rejoice in Him,
And all His works are in truth, For we have put our trust in His set-
5 Loving righteousness and right-ruling; apart Name.
The earth is filled with the kindness of 22 Let Your kindness, O HWHY, be upon us,
h “The Word” and “the Spirit” are unanimous, with one accord.
663 TEHILLIM 35
And delivered me from all my fears. And none of those taking refuge in
5 They looked to Him and were Him are guilty.
lightened,
And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor one cried out and HWHY heard 35 O HWHY, strive with those who
strive with me;
him, Fight against those who fight against
And saved him out of all his distresses. me.
7 The messenger of HWHY encamps all 2 Take hold of shield and armour,
And saves those whose spirit is They ask me that which I knew not.
crushed. 12 They reward me evil for good,
I praise You among a mighty people. He sets himself in a way that is not
19 Let not my lying enemies rejoice over good;
me; He does not despise evil.
Or those who hate me without cause 5 O HWHY, Your kindness is in the
broken,
of unrighteousness. But HWHY sustains the righteous.
2 For they soon wither like grass, 18 HWHY knows the days of the perfect,
And fade like green plants. And their inheritance is forever.
3 Trust in HWHY, and do good; 19 They are not ashamed in a time of evil,
Dwell in the earth, and feed on And in the days of scarcity of food
steadfastness. they are satisfied.
4 And delight yourself in HWHY, 20 But the wrongdoers shall perish;
And let Him give you the desires of And the enemies of HWHY,
your heart. Like the splendour of the meadows
5 Commit your way to HWHY, they vanish,
And trust in Him, and He does it. Like smoke they vanish away.
6 And He shall bring forth your 21 The wrongdoer is borrowing and does
Do not fret because of him who But those cursed by Him are cut off.
prospers in his way, 23 The steps of a man are ordered by
more; lending;
And you shall look on his place, And his seed is for a blessing.
But it is not. 27 Turn away from evil, and do good;
11 But the meek ones shall inherit the And dwell forever.
earth, 28 For HWHY loves right-ruling,
And delight themselves in plenty of And does not forsake His kind ones;
peace. They shall be guarded forever,
12 The wrong plots against the righteous, But the seed of the wrongdoers is cut
And gnashes his teeth at him. off.
13 HWHY laughs at him, 29 The righteous shall inherit the earth,
j This truth, which is repeated in vv. 11, 22, 29 & 34, was again repeated by Messiah in Mt. 5:5
TEHILLIM 37 666
31 The Torah of his Elohim is in his Like a heavy burden, too heavy for me.
heart; k 5 My wounds have become stinky,
His steps do not slide. festering
32 The wrong one is watching for the Because of my folly.
righteous, 6 I have been bent down;
And is seeking to slay him. I have been bowed down very much;
33 HWHY does not leave him in his hand, All day long I have gone mourning.
Or let him be declared wrong when he 7 For my loins have become filled with
is judged. burning,
34 Wait on HWHY and guard His way, And there is no soundness in my flesh.
And He shall exalt you to inherit the 8 I have become weak and greatly
earth – crushed;
When the wrongdoers are cut off, you I howled from the groaning of my
shall see it. heart.
35 I have seen the wrongdoer in great 9 HWHY, all my desire is before You;
l Teh. 37:31, Teh. 119:11, Yesh. 51:7, Heb. 10:7-9. 2 See Heb. 10:5,6.
TEHILLIM 40 668
night,
HWHY does deliver him in a day of evil. While they say to me all day,
2 HWHY does guard him and keep him “Where is your Elohim?”
alive; 4 These I remember, and pour out my
Heal me, for I have sinned against And why are you restless within me?
You.” Wait for Elohim: for I shall yet thank
5 My enemies speak evil of me, Him,
“When he dies his name shall perish.” For the deliverance of His face!
6 And when one comes to visit, 6 O my Elohim, my being is depressed
And from the heights of Àermon, The work You did in their days,
From Mount MitsÈar. In the days of old.
7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your 2 You drove out the nations with Your
waterfalls; hand,
All Your waves and breakers passed But them You planted.
over me. You afflicted peoples, and sent them
8 By day HWHY commands His kindness, out.
And by night His song is with me; 3 For not by their own sword did they
And why are you restless within me? Through Your Name we tread down
Wait for Elohim: for I shall yet thank those who rise up against us.
Him, the deliverance of my face, 6 For I do not trust in my bow,
And to Your dwelling places. And You have scattered us among the
4 That I might come to the altar of gentiles.
Elohim, 12 You sell Your people for no value,
To Âl, the joy of my delight, And have set no high price on them.
And praise You with the lyre, 13 You make us a reproach to our
death. ever;
20 If we have forgotten the Name of our The sceptre of Your reign
Elohim, Is a sceptre of straightness.
Or stretched out our hands to a foreign 7 You have loved righteousness and
Favour has been poured upon Your Is all esteemed within the palace;
lips; Her dress is embroidered with gold.
Therefore Elohim has blessed You 14 She is brought to the Sovereign in
m This is quoted in Heb. 1:8-9 (HWHY witnessing of His Son), where the Greek text has lawlessness instead of
wrongness.
671 TEHILLIM 48
her,
Are brought to You. 47 Oh, clap your hands, all you
peoples!
15 They are brought with gladness and Shout to Elohim with a voice of
rejoicing; singing!
2 For HWHY Most High is awesome;
They enter the Sovereign’s palace.
16 Instead of Your fathers are Your sons, A great Sovereign over all the earth.
3 He subdues peoples under us,
Whom You appoint princes in all the
earth. And nations under our feet.
17 I cause Your Name to be remembered 4 He chooses our inheritance for us,
46
6 Sing praises to Elohim, sing praises!
Elohim is our refuge and strength,
A help in distress, soon found. Sing praises to our Sovereign, sing
2 Therefore we do not fear, praises!
7 For Elohim is Sovereign of all the
Though the earth reels
And mountains topple into the heart of earth;
the seas. Sing praises with understanding.
8 Elohim shall reign over the nations;
3 Let its waters rage, foam;
Let mountains shake with its swelling. Elohim shall sit on His set-apart
Selah. throne.
9 Nobles of peoples shall be gathered
4 A river whose streams
Let the daughters of YehuÅah exult, Yet their followers are pleased with
Because of Your right-rulings. their words. Selah.
12 Walk about Tsiyon, 14 Like sheep they shall be laid in the
all,
Neither give to Elohim a ransom for 50 Âl Elohim HWHY shall speak,
And He shall call the earth
him; From the rising of the sun to its going
8 For the redemption of their lives is down.
costly, 2 From Tsiyon, the perfection of
A fire consumes before Him, You have thought that I was altogether
And it shall be very stormy all around like you –
Him. I rebuke you, and set it in order before
4 He calls to the heavens from above, your eyes.
And to the earth, to rightly rule His 22 “Understand this please, you who
Nor goats out of your pens. And my sin is ever before me.
10 “For every beast of the forest is Mine, 4 Against You, You alone, have I sinned,
distress – clean;
Let Me rescue you, Wash me, and I am whiter than snow.
and you esteem Me.” 8 Let me hear joy and gladness,
16 But to the wrong Elohim said, Let the bones You have crushed
“What right have you to recite My rejoice.
laws, 9 Hide Your face from my sins,
And cast My Words behind you? And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
18 “When you saw a thief, 11 Do not cast me away from Your
And laugh at him, saying, And cruel men have sought after my
7 “See the man who did not make life;
Elohim his strength, They have not set Elohim before them.
But trusted in his many riches, Selah.
Being strong in his destruction.” 4 See, Elohim is my helper;
8 But I am like a green olive tree HWHY is with those who sustain my life.
In the House of Elohim, 5 He repays evil to my enemies.
me – day long,
That I could bear; For many are fighting against me,
Nor one who hates me who is making O Most High.
himself great against me – 3 In the day I am afraid, I trust in You.
That I might walk before Elohim, On earth you weigh out the violence of
In the light of the living! your hands.
3 The wrong have been estranged from
me; mouth!
He reproaches the one who would Break out the fangs of the young lions,
swallow me up. Selah. O HWHY!
Elohim sends forth His kindness and 7 Let them melt, let them vanish as
They run and prepare themselves. 60 O Elohim, You have rejected us;
You have broken us;
Awake to help me, and see! You have been displeased;
5 And You, HWHY Elohim of hosts, Turn back to us!
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, 2 You have made the earth tremble;
You mock all the gentiles. Save with Your right hand and answer
9 O my Strength, I wait for You; me.
For Elohim is my strong tower, 6 Elohim has spoken in His set-apart-
And they are captured in their pride, Over EÅom I cast My shoe,
And for the cursing and lying they Shout loud, O Philistia,
utter. because of Me.”
13 Bring them to an end in wrath, 9 Who would bring me to the strong
TEHILLIM 60 678
life,
62 My being finds rest in
Elohim alone;
My lips do praise You.
4 Therefore I bless You while I live;
Like a leaning wall, a tottering fence. I meditate on You in the night watches.
4 They plotted to topple him from his 7 For You have been my help,
But in their heart they curse. Selah. Your right hand did uphold me.
5 My being, find rest in Elohim alone, 9 But those who seek to destroy my life,
679 TEHILLIM 66
Let everyone who swears by Him And bring near to dwell in Your courts.
exult; We are satisfied with the goodness of
For the mouth of those speaking lies Your house,
are stopped. Your set-apart Hÿal.
5 By awesome deeds in righteousness
blameless, parts,
They shoot at him suddenly and do not Are afraid of Your signs;
fear. You make the outgoings of the
5 They arm themselves with an evil morning and evening rejoice.
word; 9 You have visited the earth
And declare the work of Elohim. And the hills are girded with rejoicing.
And they shall wisely consider 13 The meadows are dressed in flocks,
His eyes keeping watch on the gentiles; Let all the peoples praise You.
6 The earth shall give her increase;
Let the rebellious not exalt themselves.
Selah. Elohim, our own Elohim, blesses us!
8 Bless our Elohim, you peoples! 7 Elohim blesses us!
And sound His praise abroad, And all the ends of the earth fear Him!
9 Who keeps us in life,
9 You, O Elohim, sent a shower 23 “So that you plunge your foot in blood;
of plenty, That the tongues of your dogs
You confirmed Your inheritance, Have their portion from the enemies.”
When it was weary. 24 They have seen Your goings,
10 Your flock dwelt in it; O Elohim,
You provided from Your goodness for The goings of my Âl, my Sovereign,
the poor, O Elohim. Into the set-apart place.
11 HWHY gave the word; 25 The singers went in front,
The women who proclaimed it was a The players on instruments after them;
great company: Among them were the maidens playing
12 “Sovereigns of armies flee in haste! tambourines.
And she who remains at home divides 26 Bless Elohim in the assemblies,
I have come into deep waters, Nor let the deep swallow me up,
And the floods overflow me. Nor let the pit shut its mouth on me.
3 I am worn out from my crying; 16 Answer me, O HWHY, for Your kindness
And the reproaches of those who And let Your burning displeasure
reproach You have fallen on me. overtake them.
10 And I wept in my being with fasting, 25 Let their encampments be deserted;
Let Your deliverance, O Elohim, set You have given the command to save
me up on high. me,
30 I praise the Name of Elohim with a For You are my rock and my
song, stronghold.
And I make Him great with 4 Rescue me, O my Elohim,
You who seek Elohim, and your hearts Master HWHY, my Trust from my youth.
live. 6 Upon You I have leaned from my birth;
33 For HWHY hears the poor, You took me out of my mother’s
And He shall not despise His captives. womb.
34 Let the heavens and earth praise Him, My praise is continually of You.
The seas and all that moves in them. 7 I have become as a wonder to many,
35 For Elohim shall save Tsiyon But You are my strong refuge.
And build the cities of YehuÅah. 8 My mouth is filled with Your praise,
And they shall dwell there Your splendour, all the day.
and possess it, 9 Do not cast me off in the time of old
36 And the seed of His servants inherit it, age,
And those who love His Name When my strength fails, do not forsake
dwell in it. n me.
10 For my enemies have spoken against
Let those who are desiring my evil Pursue and take him, for there is no
Be turned back and humiliated. one to deliver.”
3 Let those who say, “Aha, aha!” 12 O Elohim, do not be far from me;
You are my help and my deliverer; And shall praise You more and more.
O HWHY, do not delay. 15 My mouth recounts Your righteousness
And they are not plagued like other I was like a beast toward You.
men. 23 Yet I am always with You,
6 So pride is their necklace, You took hold of my right hand.
The garment of violence covers them. 24 You lead me by Your counsel,
7 Their eyes bulge from fatness; And afterward receive me unto esteem.
Their heart overflows with 25 Whom do I have in the heavens?
by them!” Elohim.
11 And they have said, “How could Âl I have made my refuge in the Master
know? HWHY,
And is there knowledge in the Most To declare all Your works.
High?”
12 See, these are the wrong,
o See IyoÄ 21:7, Yirm. 12:1-2. The answer is given in Teh. 73:17, Teh. 92:6-7. p See Teh. 79.
TEHILLIM 74 686
q See v. 18. r Even religious leaders are despising the Name of HWHY!
687 TEHILLIM 77
The shield and the sword and the And never again be pleased?
battle-axe. Selah. 8 Has His kindness ceased forever,
4 You are resplendent, Has the promise failed for all
More excellent than mountains of prey. generations?
5 The stout-hearted have been stripped; 9 Has Âl forgotten to show favour?
And who would stand in Your presence For I remember Your wonders of old.
When You are displeased? 12 And I shall meditate on all Your work,
8 From heaven You shall cause And talk of Your deeds.
judgment to be heard; 13 Your way, O Elohim, is in Set-apart-
along;
listened to me. Lightnings lit up the world;
2 In the day of my distress I sought HWHY; The earth trembled and shook.
My hand was stretched out in the night 19 Your way was in the sea,
And it did not cease, And Your path in the great waters,
And Your footsteps were not known. 13 He split the sea and caused them to
20 You did lead Your people like a flock pass through,
By the hand of Mosheh and Aharon. And He made the waters stand up like
a heap,
78 My people, give ear to my Torah, u
Incline your ears to the words of
14 And led them with the cloud by day,
To rise up and relate them to their So that the waters gushed out,
children, And the streams overflowed.
7 And place their trust in Elohim, Is He able to give bread also?
And not forget the works of Âl, Would He provide meat for His
But watch over His commands, people?”
8 And not be like their fathers, 21 Therefore HWHY heard, and He was
Elohim, above,
And they refused to walk in His Torah, And opened the doors of the heavens,
11 And they forgot His deeds 24 And He rained down manna on them
u In vv. 1-11 the words “teaching, words, witness, commands, covenant,” are used interchangeably, as parallels,
almost synonymously. We find the same in Teh. 119.
689 TEHILLIM 78
And winged birds like the sand of the The day when He redeemed them
seas, from the adversary,
28 And let them fall in the midst of His 43 How He worked His signs in
camp, Mitsrayim,
All around His Dwelling Place. And His wonders in the field of TsoÈan.
29 So they ate and were completely 44 He turned their rivers into blood,
Their food was still in their mouths, And their labour to the locust.
31 When the wrath of Elohim came 47 He destroyed their vines with hail,
And He struck down the choice ones And their livestock to bolts of fire.
of Yisra’Ãl. 49 He sent on them the burning of His
32 In spite of all this they still sinned, displeasure,
And did not believe in His wonders. Wrath, and rage, and distress,
33 So He ended their days in a breath, A deputation of messengers of evils.
And their years in trouble. 50 He made a path for His displeasure;
34 When He slew them, then they sought He did not spare their being from
Him, death,
And they returned and did earnestly But gave their life over to the plague.
seek Âl. 51 And He smote all the first-born in
35 And they remembered that Elohim was Mitsrayim,
their rock, The first-fruits of strength in the tents
And the Most High Âl their redeemer. of Àam,
36 But they flattered Him with their 52 Then made His own people go forth
And they were not true to His And they did not fear,
covenant. But the sea covered their enemies.
38 But He, the Compassionate One, 54 And He brought them to the border of
And did not stir up all His wrath. And allotted them a measured
39 For He remembered that they were inheritance,
but flesh, And made the tribes of Yisra’Ãl dwell
A passing breath that does not return. in their tents.
40 How often they rebelled against Him 56 Yet they tried and rebelled
And did not guard His witnesses, To shepherd YaÈaqoÄ His people,
57 But they turned back And Yisra’Ãl His inheritance.
And acted treacherously like their 72 And he shepherded them
high places,
And moved Him to jealousy with their 79 O Elohim, the gentiles w have
come into Your inheritance;
carved images. They have defiled Your set-apart
59 When Elohim heard this, He was Hÿal;
wroth, They turned Yerushalayim into ruins.
And greatly despised Yisra’Ãl, 2 They have given the dead bodies of
60 And He left the Dwelling Place of Your servants
Shiloh, As food for the birds of the heavens,
The Tent which He had set up among The flesh of Your kind ones to the
men. wild beast of the earth.
61 And He gave His strength v into 3 They have poured out their blood
And their widows could not weep. Who have not known You,
65 Then HWHY awoke as one asleep, And on reigns that have not called on
As a mighty man who shouts because Your Name.
of wine. 7 For they have devoured YaÈaqoÄ,
66 And He smote His adversaries And laid waste his pasture.
backward, 8 Do not remember against us
v “Strength” and “comeliness” are used as symbolic names for His Ark. See also 63:2, 132:8, and 2 DiÄre 6:41.
w See also vv. 6-7, Teh. 74:1-23, Yesh. 63:18, Yirm. 51:51, ¿ah 1:10, Dan. 8:13, Dan. 11:31, Mt. 24:15. All
these are prophecies of how the gentiles would come into the True Worship and defile it with abominations, and
also lay it waste!
691 TEHILLIM 81
Be known among the gentiles, 12 Why have You broken down her
Before our eyes. hedges,
11 Let the groaning of the prisoner come So that every passer-by plucked her
before You. fruit?
According to the greatness of Your arm 13 The boar out of the forest ravages it,
Preserve those appointed to death. And the wild beast of the field devours
12 And repay to our neighbours sevenfold it.
Their reproach, into their bosom, 14 Return, we beg You, O Elohim of
With tears, a third time. The pleasant lyre and with the harp.
6 You have made us a strife to our 3 Blow the ram’s horn at the time of the
Mitsrayim; uproar,
Open your mouth wide, and I fill it. And those hating You have lifted up
11 “But My people did not listen to My their head.
voice, 3 They craftily plot against Your people,
And Yisra’Ãl would not submit to Me. And conspire against Your treasured
12 “So I gave them over to their own ones.
stubborn heart, 4 They have said, “Come,
To walk in their own counsels. And let us wipe them out as a nation,
13 “O, if My people had listened to Me, And let the name of Yisra’Ãl be
Yisra’Ãl would walk in My ways, remembered no more.”
14 “I would subdue their enemies at once, 5 For they have conspired together with
As to Sisera,
He judges in the midst of the elohim. As to YaÄin at the wadi Qishon,
2 How long would you judge perversely, 10 Who perished at Ândor,
And show partiality to the wrong? Who became as dung for the ground.
Selah. 11 Make their nobles like OrÃÄ
3 Give right-ruling to the poor and and like Ze’ÃÄ,
fatherless, And all their princes like ZeÄaÁ
Do right to the afflicted and needy. and Tsalmunna,
4 Rescue the poor and needy; 12 Who have said, “Let us take possession
understand, dust,
They walk about in darkness. As stubble before the wind!
All the foundations of the earth are 14 As a fire consumes a forest,
15 So pursue them with Your whirlwind, 11 For HWHY Elohim is a sun and a shield;
And frighten them with Your storm. HWHY gives favour and esteem;
16 Fill their faces with shame,
He withholds no good matter
And let them seek Your Name, x From those who walk blamelessly.
O HWHY. 12 O HWHY of hosts,
17 Let them be ashamed and alarmed
Blessed is the man who trusts in You!
forever;
And let them become abashed and
perish,
18 And let them know that You,
85 HWHY, You shall take pleasure in
Your land;
You shall turn back the captivity of
Whose Name is HWHY, YaÈaqoÄ.
You alone are the Most High over all 2 You shall take away the crookedness of
the earth. Your people;
You shall cover all their sin. Selah.
84 How lovely are Your dwelling
places,
3 You shall withdraw all Your wrath;
2 Guard my being, for I am dedicated; And let those hating me see it and be
You are my Elohim; ashamed,
Save Your servant who is trusting For You, HWHY, have helped me and
in You! comforted me.
3 Show favour to me, O HWHY,
And like Your works there are none. In the register of the peoples,
9 Let all nations You have made “This one was born there.” Selah.
Come and bow themselves before You, 7 And the singers and the players on
O HWHY, instruments –
And give esteem to Your Name. All my fountains, are in you.
10 For You are great, and are doing
wonders;
You are Elohim, You alone. 88 O HWHY, Elohim of my deliverance,
By day I have cried out,
11 Teach me Your way, O HWHY; In the night also before You,
Let me walk in Your truth; 2 Let my prayer come before You,
long; to HWHY?
I have stretched out my hands to You. Who among the sons of the mighty is
10 Would You work wonders for the like HWHY?
dead? 7 Âl is greatly feared
Would the dead rise to praise You? In the company of the set-apart ones,
Selah. And awesome above all those around
11 Is Your kindness declared in the grave? Him.
Your trustworthiness in the place of 8 O HWHY Elohim of hosts,
With my mouth I make known Your Who know the festal trumpet-call!
trustworthiness They walk, O HWHY, in the light of
To all generations. Your face.
2 For I said, “Kindness is built up 16 In Your Name they rejoice all day long,
And shall build up your throne to all And the Set-apart One of Yisra’Ãl is
generations.’ ” Selah. our Sovereign.
TEHILLIM 89 696
deliverance.’ splendour,
27 “I also appoint him first-born, And have hurled his throne to the
Highest of the sovereigns of the earth. ground.
28 “I guard My kindness for him forever, 45 You have shortened the days of his
heavens. hidden?
30 “If his sons forsake My Torah Would Your wrath burn like fire
And do not walk in My right-rulings, forever?
31 “If they profane My laws 47 Please remember how short my time is;
And do not guard My commands, Why should you have created all the
32 “Then I shall visit their transgression sons of men for naught?
with the rod, 48 What man would live and not see
With which they have reproached the The years we have seen evil.
footsteps of Your anointed. 16 Reveal Your work to Your servants,
52 Blessed be HWHY forever! And Your splendour to their children.
AmÃn and AmÃn. 17 And let the pleasantness
Yet the best of them is but toil and My refuge, the Most High – your
exertion; dwelling place,
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 10 No evil befalls you,
11 Who knows the power of Your And a plague does not come near
displeasure? your tent;
And your wrath, according to the fear 11 For He commands His messengers
And all the upright in heart follow it. Have proved Me, though they saw My
16 Who would rise up for me against work.
evil-doers? 10 “For forty years I was grieved with that
And cuts them off in their own wrong- are matters of naught,
doing; But HWHY made the heavens.
HWHY our Elohim does cut them off. 6 Excellency and splendour are before
Him,
95 Come, let us sing to HWHY!
Let us raise a shout to the Rock of
Strength and comeliness are in His
set-apart place.
our deliverance. 7 Ascribe to HWHY, O clans of the
2 Let us come before His face with peoples,
thanksgiving; Ascribe to HWHY esteem and strength.
Let us raise a shout to Him in song. 8 Ascribe to HWHY the esteem of His
3 For HWHY is a great Âl, Name;
And a great Sovereign above all Bring an offering, and come into His
mighty ones. courts.
4 In whose hand are the depths of the 9 Bow yourselves to HWHY,
And His hands formed the dry land. The world also is established,
6 Come, let us bow down and bend low, immovable.
Let us kneel before HWHY our Maker. He judges the peoples in straightness.”
TEHILLIM 96 700
5 Exalt HWHY our Elohim, I hate the work of those who fall away;
And bow yourselves at His footstool, It does not cleave to me.
4 A perverse heart turns away from me;
He is set-apart.
6 Mosheh and Aharon were among His I do not know evil.
5 Him who secretly slanders his
priests,
And Shemu’Ãl was among those neighbour I cut off;
calling upon His Name. z I do not tolerate one
They called upon HWHY, and He Who has a haughty look and a proud
answered them. heart.
7 He spoke to them in the column of 6 My eyes are on the trustworthy of the
cloud; land,
They guarded His witnesses To dwell with me;
And the law He gave them. He who walks in a perfect way,
8 You answered them, He serves me.
7 He who practises deceit
O HWHY our Elohim.
You were a forgiving Âl to them, Does not dwell in my house;
Though You took vengeance on their He who speaks lies
deeds. Does not stand in my presence.
9 Exalt HWHY our Elohim, 8 Each morning I uproot all the wrong
wilderness,
101 I sing of kindness and right-
ruling;
I have been like an owl of the desert.
7 I have watched, and I am
z Not only they called on the Name of HWHY, but AÄraham, YitsÁaq and YaÈaqoÄ did so too, as we repeatedly read
in BerÃshith.
TEHILLIM 102 702
10 Because of Your displeasure and Your And the heavens are the work of Your
wrath; hands.
For You have lifted me up 26 “They shall perish, but You remain;
And they favour her dust. And do not forget all His dealings,
15 And the nations shall fear the Name of 3 Who forgives all your crookednesses,
titute, good,
And He shall not despise their prayer. Your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
18 This is written for a generation to 6 HWHY is doing righteousness
a Teh. 22:31.
703 TEHILLIM 104
heavens, them;
And His reign shall rule over all. They sing from between the branches.
20 Bless HWHY, you His messengers, 13 Watering the hills from His upper
Stretching out the heavens like a The stork has her home in the fir trees.
curtain, 18 The high hills are for wild goats;
3 Who is laying the beams of His upper Rocks a refuge for rock badgers.
rooms in the waters, 19 He made the moon for appointed
His servants a flame of fire. And seeking their food from Âl.
5 He established the earth on its 22 The sun arises – they withdraw
25 He turned their heart to hate His His chosen ones with singing.
people, 44 And He gave to them the lands of the
To conspire against His servants. gentiles,
26 He sent Mosheh His servant, And they inherited the labour of
Aharon whom He had chosen. peoples,
27 They set among them the matters of 45 In order that they might guard His
12 Then they believed His words; 31 And that was reckoned to him for
They sang His praise. righteousness
13 They soon forgot His works; To all generations forever.
They did not wait for His counsel, 32 And they provoked wrath at the waters
14 But greedily lusted in the wilderness, of MeriÄah,
And tried Âl in the desert. And Mosheh suffered on account of
15 And He gave them their request, them;
But sent leanness within their being. 33 Because they embittered his spirit,
16 And they were jealous of Mosheh in And he spoke rashly with his lips.
the camp, 34 They did not destroy the peoples,
And all the people shall say, “AmÃn!” And He cut the bars of iron in two.
Praise Yah! 17 Fools, because of their transgression,
And has filled the hungry being with They go down to the depths;
goodness. Their being is melted because of evil.
10 Some sat in darkness and in the 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a
They stumbled, and there was no one So that its waves were silent.
to help. 30 And they rejoice because they are
13 And they cried out to HWHY in their hushed;
distress, And He leads them to the haven of
And He saved them out of their their delight.
troubles. 31 Let them give thanks to HWHY for His
14 He brought them out of darkness and kindness,
the shadow of death, And His wonders to the children of
And He broke their chains in pieces. men!
15 Let them give thanks to HWHY for His 32 And let them exalt Him in the
And they build a city to settle in, Over EÅom I cast My shoe,
37 And they sow fields and plant Over Philistia I raise a shout.”
vineyards, 10 Who would bring me into the strong
And He lets not their cattle diminish. And You do not go out with our
39 But when they are diminished and armies, O Elohim!
brought low 12 Give us help from distress,
Through oppression, evil and sorrow, For the help of man is naught.
40 He pours scorn on nobles, 13 In Elohim we do mightily,
affliction,
And makes their clans like a flock.
42 The straight ones see, and rejoice,
109 Do not be silent,
O Elohim of my praise!
2 For the mouth of the wrong
And all unrighteousness shuts its And the mouth of the deceiver
mouth. Have opened against me;
43 Who is wise? Then let him observe They have spoken against me with a
these matters! false tongue.
Let them understand the kindnesses of 3 They have surrounded me with words
HWHY. of hatred,
And they attack me without a cause.
108 O Elohim, my heart is steadfast;
I sing and give praise – even my
4 In return for my love they accuse me,
While I am in prayer.
esteem. 5 And they repay me evil for good,
2 Awake, harp and lyre! And hatred for my love.
I awake the dawn. 6 Appoint over him one who is wrong,
3 I praise You, O HWHY, among peoples, And let an accuser stand at his right
And I sing praises to You among the hand.
nations. 7 When he is judged, let him be found
4 For Your kindness is great above the wrong,
heavens, And let his prayer become sin.
And Your truth reaches to the clouds. 8 Let his days be few,
5 Exalt Yourself above the heavens, Let another take his office.
O Elohim, 9 Let his children be fatherless,
And Your esteem above all the earth; And his wife a widow.
709 TEHILLIM 110
10 And let his children always wander 24 My knees are weak through fasting,
and beg, And my flesh grows lean from fatness.
And seek food out of their ruins. 25 And I, I have become a reproach to
11 Let the creditor lay a snare for all that them;
he has, They see me, they shake their heads.
And let strangers plunder his labour. 26 Help me, O HWHY my Elohim!
12 Let him have no one to extend
Save me according to Your kindness,
kindness, 27 And let them know that this is Your
Nor any to show favour to his hand.
fatherless children. You, HWHY, You have done it!
13 Let his descendants be cut off, 28 Let them curse, but You bless.
Their name be blotted out in the next They shall arise, but be ashamed,
generation. And let Your servant rejoice.
14 Let the crookedness of his fathers 29 Let my accusers put on shame,
Be remembered before HWHY, And be wrapped in their own
And let not the sin of his mother be confusion as in a cloak.
blotted out. 30 I greatly thank HWHY with my mouth,
15 Let them always be before HWHY,
And I praise Him in the midst of the
And let Him cut off their remembrance throng.
from the earth; 31 For He stands at the right hand of the
16 Because he did not remember to show
poor,
kindness, To save from those judging his being.
But persecuted the poor and needy
man;
And the broken-hearted, to put to
death.
110 HWHY said to my Master,
“Sit at My right hand,
17 He also loved cursing, so let it come to Until I make Your enemies a
footstool for Your feet.”
him; 2 HWHY sends Your mighty sceptre out of
And he did not delight in blessing,
so let it be far from him. Tsiyon.
18 And he put cursing on as with his Rule in the midst of Your enemies!
3 Your people volunteer in the day of
garment,
So let it enter his inward parts like Your might,
water, In the splendours of set-apartness!
Into his bones and like oil. From the womb, from the morning,
19 Let it be to him like a cloak he wraps You have the dew of Your youth!
4 HWHY has sworn and does not relent,
around him,
And as a girdle that he always girds on. “You are a priest forever
20 This is the reward of my accusers from According to the order of
HWHY, MalkitseÅeq.”
5 HWHY at Your right hand
And to those speaking evil against my
being. Shall smite sovereigns in the day of
21 But You, O HWHY, Master, His wrath.
6 He judges among the nations,
Deal with me for Your Name’s sake;
Because Your kindness is good, He shall fill the nations with dead
deliver me. bodies,
22 For I am poor and needy, He shall crush the Head over the
And my heart is pierced within me. mighty earth!
23 I have gone like a lengthening 7 He drinks of the stream by the
shadow, wayside,
I have been driven away like a locust. Therefore He does lift up the head!
TEHILLIM 111 710
And His righteousness stands forever. His heart is steadfast, trusting in HWHY.
4 He has made His wonders to be 8 His heart is upheld, he is not afraid,
right-ruling,
All His orders are trustworthy, 113 Praise Yah!
Praise, O servants of HWHY,
8 They are upheld forever and ever, Praise the Name of HWHY!
2 Blessed be the Name of HWHY,
Performed in truth and straightness.
9 He sent redemption to His people, Now and forever!
3 From the rising of the sun to its going
He has commanded His covenant
forever. down,
Set-apart and awesome is His Name. The Name of HWHY is praised.
10 The fear of HWHY is the beginning of 4 HWHY is high above all nations,
the earth;
112 Praise Yah!
Blessed is the man,
7 He raises the poor out of the dust,
And call upon the Name of HWHY. But HWHY helped me.
18 I pay my vows to HWHY 14 Yah is my strength and song,
And the truth of HWHY is everlasting. And declare the works of Yah.
Praise Yah! 18 Yah has punished me severely,
They were extinguished like burning 119 Blessed are the perfect
in the way,
c See footnote at Shem. 15:2. Teh. 118 is a great psalm, prophesying about Messiah to come, the Saviour
(Deliverer) of Yah. It is to be noted that this revelation about aSWHY precedes the great “Law Psalm,” Teh. 119,
for unless we are first declared righteous through belief in Him, we would have difficulty in saying, “Oh how I
love Your teaching!” (Teh. 119:97). d This is repeated 6 times in the Messianic Scriptures – 7 times in all.
713 TEHILLIM 119
Who walk in the teaching f of HWHY! Who are straying from Your
2 Blessed are those who observe His commands.
22 Remove from me reproach and scorn,
witnesses,
Who seek Him with all the heart! For I have observed Your witnesses.
3 Yea, they shall do no 23 Though princes sat, speaking against
unrighteousness; me,
They shall walk in His ways. Your servant meditates on Your laws.
4 You have commanded us 24 Your witnesses also are my delight,
Let me not stray from Your commands! And favour me with Your Torah.
11 I have treasured up Your word in 30 I have chosen the way of truth;
For Your right-rulings at all times. Which leads to the fear of You.
21 You rebuked the proud, cursed ones, 39 Turn away my reproach which I dread,
e This is repeated 6 times in the Messianic Scriptures, therefore 7 times in all. This identifies the True Messiah, as
does DeÄ. 18:18-20. f In this psalm nine other words are used which run parallel with, or are synonyms of
teaching (law), thus a total of 10 parallel words. All 176 verses of Teh. 119 contain one of these 10 parallel
words, except verse 122. g See also vv. 24, 35, 47, 70, 77, 92, 143, 174, Rom. 7:22.
TEHILLIM 119 714
I have promised to guard Your words. That Your right-rulings are righteous,
58 I have sought Your face with all And in trustworthiness You have
715 TEHILLIM 119
According to Your word to Your For by them You have given me life.
servant. 94 I am Yours, save me;
77 Let Your compassions come to me, For I have sought Your orders.
That I might live, 95 The wrong have waited for me to
And those who know Your witnesses. It is my study all day long.
80 Let my heart be perfect in Your laws, 98 Your commands make me wiser
Saying, “When would it comfort me?” For I have observed Your orders.
83 For I have become like a wineskin 101 I have restrained my feet from every
For they are the joy of my heart. 130 The opening up of Your words
112 I have inclined my heart to do gives light,
Your laws Giving understanding to the simple.
Forever, to the end. 131 I have opened my mouth and panted,
113 I have hated doubting thoughts, For I have longed for Your commands.
But I have loved Your Torah. 132 Turn to me and show me favour,
114 You are my hiding place According to Your right-ruling, toward
and my shield; those who love Your Name.
I have waited for Your word. 133 Establish my footsteps by Your word,
115 Turn away from me, you evil-doers, And let no wickedness have rule
For I observe the commands of my over me.
Elohim! 134 Redeem me from the oppression
116 Support me according to Your word, of man,
That I might live; That I might guard Your orders.
And put me not to shame 135 Make Your face shine upon Your
All the wrong of the earth, like dross; And Your right-rulings are straight.
Therefore I have loved Your witnesses. 138 You have commanded Your witnesses
120 My flesh has trembled for fear of You, In righteousness and truth,
And I am in awe of Your right-rulings. exceedingly.
121 I have done right-ruling and 139 My ardour has consumed me,
Let not the proud oppress me. And Your servant has loved it.
123 My eyes have pined away for 141 I am small and despised;
understand, is forever;
That I might know Your witnesses. Make me understand, that I might live.
126 It is time for HWHY to act! 145 I have called with all my heart;
More than gold, even fine gold! Save me, that I might guard
128 Therefore all Your orders I count as Your witnesses.
right; 147 I rise before dawn, and cry for help;
I have hated every false way. I have waited for Your word.
129 Your witnesses are wonders; 148 My eyes have gone before the night
Neither slumbers nor sleeps. With the scoffing of those who are at
5 HWHY is your guard; ease,
HWHY is your shade at your right hand. With the mockery of the proud.
6 The sun does not strike you by day,
rest
the heavens. On the land allotted to the righteous,
2 See, as the eyes of servants Lest the righteous stretch forth their
Are toward the hand of their masters, hands to unrighteousness.
As the eyes of a female servant 4 Do good, O HWHY, to those who are
crookednesses,
128 Blessed are all
who fear HWHY,
O HWHY, who would stand?
4 But with You there is forgiveness,
More than those watching for morning, 13 For HWHY has chosen Tsiyon,
watching for morning. He has desired it for His dwelling:
7 O Yisra’Ãl, wait for HWHY; 14 “This is My place of rest forever;
For with HWHY there is kindness. Here I dwell, for I have desired it.
And with Him is much redemption, 15 “I greatly bless her provision,
8 For He shall redeem Yisra’Ãl
I satisfy her poor with bread.
From all his crookednesses. 16 “And I put deliverance on her priests,
grow;
Nor have my eyes been haughty. I shall set up a lamp for My
Neither have I concerned myself Anointed One.
with great matters, 18 “I put shame on his enemies,
Nor with those too wondrous for me. While on Him His diadem shall shine.”
2 Have I not calmed, and kept my being
silent,
Like one weaned by its mother?
My being is like one weaned.
133 See how good and how pleas-
ant it is for brothers to dwell
together in unity –
3 O Yisra’Ãl, wait for HWHY, 2 Like the precious oil on the head,
Now and forever. Running down on the beard,
The beard of Aharon,
132 O HWHY, remember DawiÅ,
All his afflictions;
2 How he swore to HWHY,
Running down on the collar of his
robes –
3 Like the dew of Àermon,
Vowed to the Mighty One of YaÈaqoÄ: That comes down on the mountains of
3 “Not to enter into my dwelling-house,
Tsiyon.
Not to get into my bed, For there HWHY commanded the
4 “Not to give sleep to my eyes,
blessing,
Or slumber to my eyelids, Life forever!
5 “Until I find a place for HWHY,
forever.” Himself,
721 TEHILLIM 136
Yisra’Ãl for His treasured possession. 2 Give thanks to the Elohim of mighty
5 For I know that HWHY is great, ones!
And our Master is above all mighty For His kindness is everlasting.
ones. 3 Give thanks to the Master of masters!
6 HWHY has done whatever pleased Him, For His kindness is everlasting:
In the heavens and in earth, 4 To Him who alone does great wonders,
In the seas and in all the depths, For His kindness is everlasting;
7 Causing vapours to go up 5 To Him who by wisdom made the
treasuries; waters,
8 Who smote the first-born of Mitsrayim, For His kindness is everlasting;
From man to beast. 7 To Him who made great lights,
9 He sent signs and wonders For His kindness is everlasting;
Into your midst, O Mitsrayim, 8 The sun to rule by day,
inheritance, midst,
An inheritance to Yisra’Ãl His people. For His kindness is everlasting;
13 O HWHY, Your Name is forever, 12 With a strong hand, and with an
They have eyes, but they do not see; in the Sea of Reeds,
17 They have ears, but they do not hear; For His kindness is everlasting;
Also there is no breath in their mouth. 16 To Him who led His people through
18 Those making them become like them, the wilderness,
Everyone who is trusting in them. For His kindness is everlasting;
19 Bless HWHY, O house of Yisra’Ãl! 17 To Him who smote great sovereigns,
You who fear HWHY, bless HWHY! For His kindness is everlasting;
21 Blessed from Tsiyon, HWHY be, 19 Even SiÁon sovereign of the Amorites,
For His kindness is everlasting. For You have made great Your Word,
23 Who remembered us in our Your Name, above all.
humiliation, 3 On the day I called You did answer me,
And dash your little ones against the Or where would I flee from Your face?
rock. 8 If I go up into the heavens, You are
there;
138 I give You thanks
with all my heart;
If I make my bed in the grave, see,
You are there.
Before the mighty ones 9 I take the wings of the morning,
For Your kindness and for Your truth; Then night would be light to me;
723 TEHILLIM 141
Do not pour out my life. My being is like a thirsty land for You.
9 Guard me from the clutches Selah.
Of the trap they have laid for me, 7 Hasten, answer me, O HWHY;
And from the snares My spirit fails! Do not hide Your face
Of the workers of wickedness. from me,
10 Let the wrong fall into their own nets, Lest I be like those going down into
While I pass by. the pit.
8 Let me hear Your kindness in the
Who is subduing peoples under me. And praise Your Name forever and
3 HWHY, what is man, that You should ever.
know him? 3 Great is HWHY, and greatly to be
of lies. compassionate,
9 O Elohim, a new song I sing to You; Patient and great in kindness.
On a harp of ten strings I sing praises 9 HWHY is good to all,
And ten thousands in our fields; And raising up all who are bowed
14 Our cattle well-laden; down.
No breaking in, no going out; 15 The eyes of all look to You
I sing praises to my Elohim while I Who prepares rain for the earth,
exist. Who makes grass to sprout on the
3 Do not put your trust in princes, mountains,
In a son of man, in whom is no 9 Giving to the beast its food,
The sea and all that is in them, Praise your Elohim, O Tsiyon!
Who is guarding truth forever, 13 For He has strengthened the bars of
7 Doing right-ruling for the oppressed, your gates,
Giving bread to the hungry. He has blessed your children in your
HWHY releases those who are bound, midst,
8 HWHY opens the eyes of the blind, 14 Who makes peace in your borders,
HWHY raises those who are bowed He satisfies you with the finest wheat;
down, 15 Who sends out His command to the
But the way of the wrong ones He scatters the frost like ashes;
He turns upside down. 17 Throwing out His hail like pieces;
10 HWHY reigns forever, O Tsiyon, Who does stand before His cold?
Your Elohim to all generations. 18 He sends out His word and melts them,
i These two verses (19 & 20) are confirmed in Rom. 2:20, Rom. 3:2, and Rom. 9:4.
727 TEHILLIM 150
And you waters above the heavens! He embellishes the meek ones with
5 Let them praise the Name of HWHY, deliverance.
For He commanded 5 Let the kind ones exult in esteem;
and they were created. Let them sing aloud on their beds.
6 And He established them 6 Let the exaltation of Âl be in their
forever and ever, mouth,
He gave a law and they pass not And a two-edged sword in their hand,
beyond. 7 To execute vengeance on the gentiles,
7 Praise HWHY from the earth, Punishments on the peoples;
You great sea creatures and all the 8 To bind their sovereigns with chains,
depths, And their nobles with iron bands;
8 Fire and hail, snow and clouds, 9 To execute on them the written
Stormy wind that does His word, right-ruling;
9 The mountains and all hills, A splendour it is for all His kind ones.
Fruit tree and all cedars, Praise Yah!
10 Wild beasts and all cattle,
The praise of all His kind ones; Praise Him with stringed instruments
Of the children of Yisra’Ãl, and flutes!
A people near to Him. Praise Yah! 5 Praise Him with sounding cymbals;
Praise Yah!
MISHLÂ
PROVERBS
Let them seek me, but not find me. 13 Those who leave the paths of
29 “Because they hated knowledge straightness
And did not choose the fear of HWHY, To walk in the ways of darkness;
30 “They did not accept my counsel, 14 Who rejoice to do evil;
And knowledge be pleasant to your And He makes all your paths straight.
being, 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; c
11 Discretion would guard you; Fear HWHY and turn away from evil. d
Understanding would watch over you, 8 It is healing to your navel,
12 To deliver you from the evil way, And moistening to your bones.
From the man who speaks perversities, 9 Esteem HWHY with your goods,
wisdom, neighbour,
And the man who gets understanding; Seeing he dwells safely beside you.
14 For the gain from it is better 30 Do not strive with a man without
And all your delights are not And choose none of his ways;
comparable to her. 32 For the perverse one is an abomination
16 Length of days is in her right hand, to HWHY,
Riches and esteem in her left hand. And His secret counsel is with the
17 Her ways are pleasant ways, straight.
And all her paths are peace. 33 The curse of HWHY is on the house of
18 She is a tree of life to those taking hold the wrong,
of her, But He blesses the home of the
And blessed are all who retain her. righteous.
19 HWHY founded the earth by wisdom; 34 He certainly scoffs the scoffers,
you; diligence,
Love her, and let her watch over you. For out of it are the sources of life.
7 “The beginning of wisdom is: 24 Turn away from you a crooked mouth,
She shields you with an adorning Turn your foot away from evil.
crown.”
10 Hear, my son, and accept my words,
And do not walk in the way of Her steps lay hold of the grave.
evil-doers. 6 She does not consider the path of life;
15 Avoid it, do not pass by it; Her ways are unstable – you do not
Turn away from it and pass on. know it.
16 For they do not sleep unless they have 7 So now, listen to me, you children,
them, my teachers,
And healing to all their flesh. And I have not inclined my ear to those
23 Watch over your heart with all who instructed me!
f Our Spiritual lives ought to grow, increasingly, as we also read in Rev. 22:11.
MISHLÂ 5 732
14 “In a little while I was in all evil, And like a bird from the hand of the
In the midst of an assembly trapper.
and a congregation.” 6 Go to the ant, you lazy one!
15 Drink water from your own cistern, See her ways and be wise,
And running water from your own well. 7 Which, having no commander,
16 Should your springs be scattered overseer or ruler,
abroad, 8 Provides her supplies in the summer,
A lying tongue,
friend, And hands shedding innocent blood,
Have shaken hands in pledge for a 18 A heart devising wicked schemes,
Go, humble yourself, and urge your Tie them around your neck.
friend. 22 When you are walking about, it leads
4 Give no sleep to your eyes, you;
Nor slumber to your eyelids. When you lie down, it guards you.
5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the And when you have woken up,
hunter’s hand, It talks to you.
g Teh. 119:105.
733 MISHLÂ 7
woman. corner;
25 Do not desire her prettiness in your And he went the way to her house
heart, 9 In the twilight, in the evening,
Neither let her captivate you with her In the black and dark night.
eyelids. 10 And look, a woman met him,
26 For because of a whore Dressed like a whore,
One is brought to a crust of bread. With a hidden heart.
And an adulteress hunts a precious life. 11 She was boisterous and stubborn,
27 Would a man take fire to his bosom, Her feet did not stay at her own house.
And his garments not be burned? 12 Now in the street,
28 Would a man walk on hot coals, Now in the square,
And his feet not be scorched? And at every corner she lurks.
29 So is he who goes in to his neighbour’s 13 And she took hold of him and kissed
wife; him;
None who touches her goes She hardened her face and said to him:
unpunished. 14 “Peace offerings are with me;
30 They do not despise a thief Today I have paid my vows.
If he steals to satisfy his appetite when 15 “Therefore I came out to meet you,
Nor accept your bribe, however great! He comes home on the day of the new
moon.”
7 My son, guard my words,
And treasure up my commands with
21 With her many words she leads him
astray,
you. With her smooth lips she seduces him.
2 Guard my commands and live, 22 He goes after her immediately,
And my Torah as the apple of your eye. Like an ox he goes to the slaughter,
3 Bind them on your fingers; And as in chains, a fool to the
Write them on the tablet of your heart. punishment,
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” 23 Till an arrow strikes through his liver;
And call understanding a close friend, Like a bird rushing into a snare,
5 To guard you against the strange And did not know it would take his
woman, life.
Against the foreigner who flatters with 24 And now, listen to me, you children;
righteousness, fields,
None of them twisted or crooked, Or the first dust of the world.
9 “All of them plain to him who under- 27 “When He prepared the heavens, I was
stands, there,
And straight to those who find When He decreed a vault on the face
knowledge. of the deep,
10 “Accept my discipline, and not silver, 28 “When He set the clouds above,
And knowledge rather than choice When He made the fountains of the
gold; deep strong,
11 “For wisdom is better than rubies, 29 “When He gave to the sea its limit,
And all delights are not comparable to So that the waters would not transgress
her. His command,
12 “I, wisdom, have dwelt with insight, When He decreed the foundations of
And I find knowledge, foresight. the earth,
13 “The fear of HWHY is to hate evil. 30 “Then I was beside Him, a master
32 “And now, listen to me, you children, You alone bear it.
For blessed are they who guard my 13 A foolish woman is loud,
ways. Simple, and without knowledge.
33 “Listen to discipline and become wise, 14 For she has seated herself
are there,
Her guests are in the depths of the
She has mixed her wine, grave.
She has also prepared her table.
3 She has sent out her young women,
him, value,
5 “Come, eat of my bread and drink of But righteousness delivers from death.
the wine I have mixed.” 3 HWHY does not let the being of the
6 Leave the simple ones and live, righteous go hungry,
And walk in the way of understanding. But He thrusts away the desire of
7 He who reproves a scoffer gets shame the wrong.
for himself, 4 Poor is he who works with a lazy hand,
And he who rebukes a wrong one gets But the hand of the hard worker makes
himself a blemish. rich.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate 5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son,
wisdom, blessed,
And the knowledge of the Set-apart But the name of the wrong ones rot.
One is understanding. h 8 The wise in heart accepts commands, i
11 For by me your days become many, But one with foolish lips falls.
And years of life are added to you. 9 He who walks in integrity walks safely,
12 If you have become wise, But he who perverts his ways becomes
You have become wise for yourself, known.
And if you have scoffed, 10 He who winks with the eye causes
city; wisdom,
The ruin of the poor is their poverty. But the tongue of perverseness is cut
16 The wage of the righteous is for life, out.
The increase of the wrong is for sin. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is
17 He who heeds discipline is in the way pleasing,
of life, But the mouth of the wrong speaks
But he who refuses reproof goes astray. perverseness.
18 He who hides hatred has lying lips,
But he who restrains his lips is wise. But with the humble is wisdom.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice 3 The integrity of the straight ones
many, wrath,
But fools die for lack of heart. But righteousness delivers from death.
22 The blessing of HWHY makes one rich, 5 The righteousness of the perfect
granted. perishes,
25 As the whirlwind passes by, And the ambition of the wicked shall
The wrong one is no more, be lost.
But the righteous has an everlasting 8 The righteous is delivered from dis-
foundation. tress,
26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to And the wrong one takes his place.
the eyes, 9 The defiled one destroys his neighbour
737 MISHLÂ 12
esteem, rewarded,
But ruthless men obtain riches. How much more the wrong and the
17 A kind man is rewarding his being, sinner!
But he who is cruel troubles his own
flesh.
18 The wrong one earns false wages, 12 Whoever loves discipline loves
knowledge,
But the one sowing righteousness, But he who hates reproof is stupid.
a true reward. 2 The good obtains favour from HWHY,
19 Thus righteousness leads to life, But the man of wicked devices He
And one pursuing evil, to his own declares wrong.
death. 3 A man is not established by
20 The perverse of heart are an wrongness,
abomination to HWHY, But the root of the righteous shall not
But the perfect in the Way are His be moved.
delight. 4 A capable wife is the crown of her
21 Hand to hand, the evil one does not husband,
go unpunished, But one causing shame is like
But the seed of the righteous shall rottenness in his bones.
escape. 5 The thoughts of the righteous are
22 Like a ring of gold in a pig’s snout, right-ruling,
Is a lovely woman who lacks good The counsels of the wrong are deceit.
sense. 6 The words of the wrong are,
23 The desire of the righteous is only “Lie in wait for blood,”
good, But the mouth of the straight delivers
The expectancy of the wrong is wrath. them.
MISHLÂ 12 738
despised. depression,
9 Better to be lightly esteemed and have But a good word makes him glad.
a servant, 26 The righteous is a guide to his
But the compassion of the wrong is But the hard worker prizes his
cruelty. possessions.
11 He who tills his land is satisfied 28 In the way of righteousness is life,
But a clever one covers shame. But a wrong man is loathsome and
17 He who speaks truth declares comes to shame.
righteousness, 6 Righteousness watches over him who
But the tongue of the wise is healing. Yet has none at all.
19 The lip of truth is established forever, And one who makes himself poor,
But a lying tongue is but for a moment. Yet has great riches.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plot 8 The ransom of a man’s life is his
evil, riches,
But counsellors of peace have joy. But the poor does not hear rebuke.
21 No harm befalls the righteous, 9 The light of the righteous rejoices,
But the wrong shall be filled with evil. But the lamp of the wrong is put out.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to HWHY, 10 By pride comes only strife,
But those who deal truly are His But wisdom is with those who take
delight. advice.
739 MISHLÂ 14
life. HWHY,
13 He who despises the Word is But he whose ways are crooked
destroyed, despises Him.
But he who fears the command is 3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,
life, clean;
Turning one away from the snares of But from the strength of an ox comes
death. much increase.
15 Good understanding gains favour, 5 A trustworthy witness does not lie,
But the way of the treacherous is hard. But a false witness breathes out lies.
16 Every one with insight acts with 6 A scoffer shall seek wisdom but find
knowledge, none,
But a fool spreads folly. But knowledge is swift to him who has
17 A messenger that is wrong understanding.
falls into evil, 7 Leave the presence of a foolish man,
But a trustworthy envoy is a healing. For you shall not perceive the lips of
18 Poverty and shame are for him knowledge.
Who ignores discipline, 8 The wisdom of the clever is to
But to turn away from evil is an But among the straight there is delight.
abomination to fools. 10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
20 He who walks with the wise, And no stranger shares its joy.
shall be wise, 11 The house of the wrong is destroyed,
But the companion of fools suffers But the tent of the straight flourishes.
evil. 12 There is a way which seems right to a
21 Evil pursues sinners, man,
But good is repaid to the righteous. But its end is the way of death. k
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to 13 Even in laughter the heart is in pain,
But lack of right-ruling sweeps it away. But the clever one watches his step.
24 He who spares his rod hates his son, 16 The wise fears and turns away from
But the clever are crowned with But sin is a reproach to peoples.
knowledge. 35 The
sovereign’s delight is toward a
19 The evil ones shall bow before the wise servant,
good, But his wrath is towards him who
And the wrong ones at the gates of the causes shame.
righteous.
20 The poor is hated even by his own
But talk of the lips leads only to But perverseness in it crushes the
poverty. spirit.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, 5 A fool despises his father’s discipline,
But the righteous has a refuge in his But by sorrow of heart the spirit is
death. stricken.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who 14 The heart of the understanding one
feast. himself,
16 Better is a little with the fear of HWHY, But he who listens to reproof gets
Than great treasure with trouble. understanding.
17 Better is a meal of vegetables where 33 The fear of HWHY is the discipline of
But pleasant words are clean. But HWHY establishes his steps.
27 He who is greedy for gain, 10 An oath is on the lips of the sovereign,
l 28:9.
MISHLÂ 16 742
bones. fool,
25 There is a way that seems right to a Much less lying lips for a noble.
man, 8 A bribe is a stone of favour in the eyes
And leads him in a way that is not So a cruel messenger is sent against
good, him.
30 Winking with his eye to plot 12 Let a bereaved bear meet a man,
m 14:12.
743 MISHLÂ 18
But a stricken spirit dries the bones. The righteous run into it and are safe.
23 One who is wrong accepts a bribe 11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong
From the fruit of his mouth; Much less for a servant to rule over
He is satisfied with the increase of his princes.
lips. 11 A man’s discretion makes him patient,
21 Death and life are in the power of the And his adorning is to pass over a
tongue, transgression.
And those loving it eat its fruit. 12 The sovereign’s wrath is like the
22 He who has found a wife has found roaring of a lion,
good, But his delight is like dew on the grass.
And receives favour from HWHY. 13 A foolish son is a calamity to his
23 The poor speaks beseechingly, father,
But the rich answers fiercely. And the contentions of a wife are a
24 A man of many friends might come to continual dripping.
ruin, 14 Houses and riches are the inheritance
sleep,
Than one of perverse lips, And an idle being suffers hunger.
who is a fool. 16 He who guards the command guards
2 Also, desire without knowledge is not his life,
good; He who despises His ways dies. n
And he who hurries with his feet sins. 17 He who shows favour to the poor lends
3 The foolishness of a man perverts his to HWHY,
way, And He repays his deed.
And his heart is wroth against HWHY. 18 Discipline your son because there is
4 Wealth adds many friends, expectation,
But the poor is separated from his And do not set your being on his
friend. destruction.
5 A false witness does not go unpun- 19 One of great wrath bears punishment;
n This is an unchanging and central message throughout Scripture: Obedience to His commands (His voice) leads
to life – disobedience leads to death!
745 MISHLÂ 20
And a poor man is better than a liar. 8A sovereign who sits on the throne of
23 The fear of HWHY leads to life, judgment
And he remains satisfied, Is scattering all evil with his eyes.
He is not visited by evil. 9 Who says, “I have cleansed my heart,
24 A lazy one buries his hand in a dish, I am purged of my sin”?
And does not bring it back to his 10 Differing weights and differing
mouth. measures,
25 Beat a scoffer, Both of them are an abomination
and the simple is made wise; to HWHY.
And reprove one who has 11 Even a child is known by his deeds,
And the mouth of the wrong ones But the lips of knowledge are a
Devours wickedness. precious vessel.
29 Judgments are in store for scoffers, 16 Take the garment of one who is
Whoever provokes him sins against And by wise guidance wage a battle.
his own life. 19 He who goes about as a slanderer
3 For a man to cease from strife is reveals secrets;
esteem, Therefore do not associate with him
But every fool bursts out. Who speaks smoothly with his lips.
4 The lazy one does not plough after 20 Whoever curses his father or his
kindness, to HWHY,
But who finds a trustworthy man? And a false scale is not good.
7 The righteous man walks in his 24 The steps of a man are from HWHY;
25 Itis a snare for a man to say rashly, 11 When the scoffer is punished,
“It is set-apart,” the simple is made wise;
And only later to reconsider his vows. But when the wise is instructed, he
26 A wise sovereign winnows out the receives knowledge.
wrong, 12 The Righteous One observes the house
evil, understanding,
And strokes the inner parts of the heart. Rests in the assembly of the dead.
17 He who loves pleasure is a poor man;
But HWHY weighs the hearts. Than with a contentious and vexed
3 To do righteousness and right-ruling woman.
Is more acceptable to HWHY than 20 Desirable treasure and oil,
Than in a house shared with a But the righteous gives and does not
contentious woman. withhold.
10 The desire of the wrong is set upon 27 The slaughtering of the wrong is an
evil; abomination;
His neighbour finds no favour in his How much more when he brings it
eyes. with wickedness!
747 MISHLÂ 22
But He overthrows the words of the Which your fathers have set.
treacherous. 29 Do you see a man who is skilled in
13 The lazy one says, his work?
“There is a lion outside! He does stand before sovereigns,
I am going to be killed in the streets!” He does not stand before obscure ones.
MISHLÂ 23 748
Cease from your own understanding! Wisdom and discipline and understand-
5 Do you set your eyes on that which is ing.
not? 24 The father of the righteous greatly
But his heart is not with you. And a strange woman is a narrow well.
8 You vomit the piece you have eaten, 28 She too lies in wait as for a prey,
With all precious and pleasant riches. Do not mingle with those who change;
5 Mighty is the wise in strength, 22 For their calamity arises suddenly,
And a man of knowledge strengthens And who knows the ruin of both of
power; them?
6 For by wise guidance you wage your 23 These also are for the wise:
He does not open his mouth in the “You are righteous” – peoples curse
gate. him,
8 He who plots to do evil Nations despise him.
Is called a master of evil plots. 25 But those who rebuke the wrong,
9 The purpose of folly is sin, It is pleasant, and a good blessing
And the scoffer is an abomination to comes on them.
men. 26 He who gives a right answer kisses the
10 If you falter in the day of distress, lips.
Your strength is small! 27 Prepare your outside work,
11 Deliver those taken to death, And make it fit for yourself in the
And hold back those stumbling to the field;
slaughter, Then you shall build your house.
12 If you say, “See, we did not know 28 Do not witness against your neighbour
taste; thorns;
14 Know that wisdom is thus to your Its surface was covered with nettles;
being; And its stone wall was broken down.
If you have found it, there is a future, 32 When I saw it, I set my heart on it;
And your expectancy is not cut off. I looked and received discipline:
15 Do not lie in wait, O wrong one, 33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
Against the dwelling of the righteous; A little folding of the hands to rest;
Do not ravage his resting place; 34 And your poverty shall come,
16 For seven times a righteous man falls a prowler,
and rises, And your need like an armed man.
But the wrong one stumbles into evil.
17 Do not exult when your enemy falls,
And let not your heart rejoice when he 25 These too are proverbs of
Shelomoh which the men of
stumbles; Àizqiyah sovereign of YehuÅah
18 Lest HWHY see and it be evil in His eyes, copied:
And He turn away His wrath from him. 2 It is the esteem of Elohim to hide a
MISHLÂ 25 750
When your neighbour has put you to And a secret tongue an enraged face.
shame? 24 It is better to dwell in a corner of a
9 Plead your case with your neighbour roof,
himself, Than in a house shared with a
And do not disclose the secret of contentious woman.
another; 25 Like cold water to a parched throat,
10 Lest he who hears it put you to shame, Is good news from a distant land.
And your evil report turn not back. 26 A righteous man who gives way before
11 A word spoken at the right time the wrong,
Is like apples of gold in settings of Is like a muddied spring and a ruined
silver. fountain.
12 A ring of gold, and an ornament of fine 27 It is not good to eat much honey.
hears. spirit
13 Like the cold of snow in time of Is like a broken-down city without a
harvest wall.
Is a trustworthy messenger to those
who send him,
For he refreshes the life of his masters. 26 Like snow in summer,
and rain in harvest,
14 He who boasts of his gifts falsely So esteem is not fitting for a fool.
Is like clouds and wind without rain. 2 As a bird wanders,
15 Through patience a ruler is persuaded, as a swallow flies about,
And a soft tongue shatters a bone. So a curse without cause does not
16 Have you found honey? come.
Eat only as much as you need, 3 A whip for a horse, a bridle for a
751 MISHLÂ 27
neighbour, heart,
And says, “I was only joking!” So one’s counsel is sweet to his friend.
20 For lack of wood, the fire goes out. 10 Do not forsake your own friend or your
wind, right-ruling,
And his right hand encounters oil. But those who seek HWHY understand
17 Iron is sharpened by iron, all.
And a man sharpens the face of his 6 Better is the poor who walks in his
friend. integrity
18 He who tends the fig tree eats its fruit; Than one perverse in his ways, who is
And he who guards his master is rich.
esteemed. 7 He who watches over the Torah is a
19 As in water face reflects face, discerning son,
So a man’s heart reflects a man. But a companion of gluttons shames
20 The grave and destruction are not his father.
satisfied; 8 He who increases his possessions by
Nor a diadem to all generations. But the poor who has understanding
25 Grass vanishes, and new grass appears, searches him out.
And the vegetation of the mountains 12 When the righteous exult, there is great
But the perverted of ways falls at once. Spreads a net for his own feet.
6 An evil man is ensnared by
19 He who tills his land is satisfied with
bread, transgression,
But he who pursues vanities is filled But the righteous sings and rejoices.
7 The righteous knows the plea of the
with poverty.
20 A man of truth has many blessings, poor,
The wrong does not understand such
But one in a hurry to be rich does not
knowledge.
go unpunished. 8 Scoffers ensnare a city,
21 To show partiality is not good,
But the wise turn away wrath.
Because for a piece of bread a man 9 When a wise man disputes with a
would transgress. foolish man,
22 A man with an evil eye runs after
Whether he rages or laughs,
wealth, there is no peace.
And does not know that poverty awaits 10 Bloodthirsty men hate the perfect,
him. And seek the life of the straight.
23 He who reproves a man finds more
11 A fool lets out all his breath,
favour afterward But the wise calms it down.
Than he who flatters with the tongue. 12 If a ruler listens to lying words,
24 He who robs his father or his mother,
All his servants become wrong.
And says, “It is no transgression,” 13 The poor man and the oppressor have
He is a companion to a destroyer. this in common:
25 He who is greedy stirs up strife,
HWHY gives light to the eyes of both.
But he who trusts in HWHY prospers. 14 The sovereign who rightly rules the
26 He who trusts in his own heart is a
poor with truth,
fool, His throne is established forever.
But he who walks wisely is delivered. 15 A rod and reproof give wisdom,
27 He who gives to the poor does not lack,
But a child unrestrained brings shame
But he who hides his eyes does have to his mother.
many curses. 16 When the wrong become many,
28 When the wrong rise up, men hide transgression increases;
themselves; But the righteous look on their fall.
But when they perish, the righteous 17 Discipline your son,
p A reproof, an invitation, a call to seek these two Names which have been suppressed!
q Teh. 12:6, Teh. 18:30. r DeÄ. 4:2 & 12:32, Rev. 22:18-19.
755 MISHLÂ 31
But they are exceedingly wise: In the cause of all the sons of the
25 The ants are a people not strong, departed.
Yet they prepare their food in the 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
Or if you have plotted evil, From her profits she shall plant a vine-
Put your hand on your mouth. yard.
33 For as milk under pressure brings 17 She shall gird herself with strength,
MISHLÂ 31 756
distaff, wisdom,
And her hand shall hold the spindle. And on her tongue is the Torah of
20 She shall extend her hand to the poor, kindness.
And she shall reach out her hands to 27 She watches over the ways of her
She is dressed in fine linen and purple. But you have risen over them all.”
23 Her husband is known in the gates, 30 Loveliness is deceptive
And shall give girdles for the And let her works praise her in
merchants. the gates.
IYOÉ
JOB
was perfect and straight, and one who he has is in your hand. Only do not lay a
feared Elohim and turned aside from evil. hand on himself.” And Satan went out
2 And seven sons and three daughters from the presence of HWHY.
were born to him. 13 And the day came to be when his sons
3 And his possessions were seven thou- and daughters were eating and drinking
sand sheep, and three thousand camels, wine in the house of their brother, the first-
and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five born.
hundred female donkeys, and a very large 14 And a messenger came to IyoÄ and
body of servants, so that this man was the said, “The oxen were ploughing and the
greatest of all the people of the East. donkeys feeding alongside them,
4 And his sons went and had a feast in the 15 when SheÄa fell upon them and took
house of each on his day, and sent and them away, and they smote the servants
invited their three sisters to eat and to drink with the edge of the sword. And I alone
with them. have escaped to inform you!”
5 And it came to be, when the days of 16 While he was still speaking, another
feasting had gone round, that IyoÄ would also came and said, “The fire of Elohim fell
send and set them apart, and he would rise from the heavens and burned up the sheep
early in the morning and offer burnt offer- and the servants, and consumed them. And
ings – the number of them all – for IyoÄ I alone have escaped to inform you!”
said, “It might be that my sons have sinned 17 While he was still speaking, another also
and cursed Elohim in their hearts.” This came and said, “The Chaldeans formed
IyoÄ always did. three bands, and made a raid on the camels
6 And the day came to be that the sons of and took them away, and they smote the ser-
Elohim came to present themselves before vants with the edge of the sword. And I
HWHY, and Satan also came among them. alone have escaped to inform you!”
7 And HWHY said to Satan, “From where do 18 While he was still speaking, another
you come?” And Satan answered HWHY and also came and said, “Your sons and daugh-
said, “From diligently searching in the earth, ters were eating and drinking wine in the
and from walking up and down in it.” house of their brother, the first-born,
8 And HWHY said to Satan, “Have you 19 and see, a great wind came from the
considered My servant IyoÄ, that there is wilderness and struck the four corners of
none like him on the earth, a perfect and the house, and it fell on the young men,
straight man, one who fears Elohim and and they are dead. And I alone have
turns aside from evil?” escaped to inform you!”
9 And Satan answered HWHY and said, “Is 20 Then IyoÄ rose up and tore his robe,
IyoÄ fearing Elohim for naught? and shaved his head, and he fell to the
10 “Have You not made a hedge around ground and did obeisance.
him, and around his household, and around 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my
all that he has on every side? You have mother’s womb, and naked I return there.
blessed the work of his hands, and his HWHY has given, and HWHY has taken away.
possessions have increased in the land. Blessed be the Name of HWHY.”
11 But stretch out Your hand, please, and 22 In all this IyoÄ did not sin nor ascribe
strike all that he has – if he would not curse wrong-doing unto Elohim.
IYOÉ 2 758
you come?” And Satan answered HWHY and 3 After this IyoÄ opened his mouth and
cursed the day of his birth.
2 And IyoÄ spoke, and said,
said, “From diligently searching in the earth,
and from walking up and down in it.” 3 “Let the day perish on which I was
3 And HWHY said to Satan, “Have you con- born, and the night it was said, ‘A male
sidered My servant IyoÄ, that there is none child has been conceived.’
like him on the earth, a perfect and straight 4 Let that day be darkness. Let not Eloah
man, one who fears Elohim and turns aside from above seek for it, nor let light shine
from evil? And still he holds fast to his upon it.
integrity, although you incited Me against 5 Let darkness and the shadow of death
him, to destroy him without cause.” buy it back, let a cloud dwell on it, let all
4 And Satan answered HWHY and said, that blackens the day frighten it.
“Skin for skin, and all that a man has he 6 That night – let darkness seize it. Let it
would give for his life! not be included among the days of the
5 “But stretch out Your hand, please, and year, let it not come into the number of the
strike his bone and his flesh – if he would months.
not curse You to Your face!” 7 Look, let that night be silent! Let no
6 And HWHY said to Satan, “See, he is in singing come into it!
your hand, only spare his life.” 8 Let those curse it who curse the day,
7 And Satan went out from the presence who are ready to stir up Liwiathan.
of HWHY, and smote IyoÄ with loathsome 9 Let the stars of its twilight be dark. Let
sores from the sole of his foot to the crown it wait for light, but have none. And let it
of his head. not see the eyelashes of the dawn.
8 And he took a potsherd with which to 10 For it did not shut up the doors of my
scrape himself while he sat in the midst of mother’s womb, nor hide trouble from my
the ashes. eyes.
9 And his wife said to him, “Do you still 11 Why did I not die from the womb,
hold fast to your integrity? Curse Elohim come forth from the belly and expire?
and die!” 12 Why were there knees to receive me?
10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of Or breasts for me to suck?
the foolish women speaks. Indeed, should 13 For now I would have been lying in
we accept only good from Elohim, and not peace. I would have slept – then I would
accept evil?” In all this IyoÄ did not sin have been at rest,
with his lips. 14 with sovereigns and counsellors of the
11 And three of the friends of IyoÄ heard earth, who built ruins for themselves,
of all this evil that came on him, and each 15 or with rulers who had gold, who filled
one came from his own place – Eliphaz the their houses with silver,
TÃmanite, and BildaÅ the ShuÁite, and 16 or as a hidden untimely birth, as infants
Tsophar the NaÈamathite – and they met who never saw light?
together to come to sympathise with him 17 There the wrong cease raging, and
tance, and did not recognise him, and they hear the voice of the oppressor.
lifted their voices and wept. And each one 19 The small and great are there, and the
tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head servant is free from his master.
toward the heavens. 20 Why does He give light to the sufferer,
13 Then they sat down with him on the and life to the bitter of being,
759 IYOÉ 5
21 who are waiting for death, but it does causing my bones to shake greatly.
not come, and search for it more than 15 Then a spirit passed before my face, the
when they find the grave? appearance. A form was before my eyes –
23 Why does He give light to a man whose silence, then a voice I heard,
way has been hidden, and whom Eloah has 17 ‘Is mortal man more righteous than
my groanings pour out like water. and He charges His messengers with
25 For that which I greatly feared has straying.
come upon me, and that which I dreaded 19 ‘How much more those who dwell in
are impatient; it strikes you, and you are crushed in the gate, with no one to deliver.
troubled. 5 The hungry eat up his harvest, taking it
6 Is not your reverence your trust, the even from the thorns, and the snare snaps
integrity of ways your expectancy? up their wealth.
7 Remember, please: Who, being inno- 6 For evil does not come from the dust,
cent, has ever perished? And where have nor does trouble spring from the ground;
the straight ones ever been cut off? 7 for man is born for trouble, and the
8 According to what I have seen, those sparks fly upward.
who plough wickedness and sow suffering 8 But as for me, I would seek Âl, and I
perish, and through the Spirit of His nos- deeds, innumerable wonders,
trils they are consumed. 10 who is giving rain on the earth’s face,
10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of and is sending waters on the field’s face;
the fierce lion, but the teeth of the young 11 to set the lowly on high, and those who
and the cubs of the lioness are scattered. that their hands do not work effectively;
12 And unto me a word was secretly 13 catching the wise in their own crafti-
brought, and my ear received a little of it. ness, and the counsel of schemers are
13 Amid thoughts from visions of the swept away.
night, when deep sleep falls on men, 14 By day they encounter darkness, and at
14 fear came upon me, and trembling, noon they grope as in the night.
IYOÉ 5 760
15 But He saves the needy from the sword 7 I refuse to touch it, they are like food
seven no evil strikes you. wait? And what is my end, that I should
20 In scarcity of food He shall redeem you prolong my life?
from death, and in battle from the power of 12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Is
shielded, and you have no fear when ability driven from me?
destruction comes. 14 To a despiser of friends: shame! For he
22 At destruction and at starvation you is forsaking the fear of the Almighty.
laugh, and you have no fear of the beasts 15 My brothers are as undependable as a
the field, and the beasts of the field shall be which the snow is hidden.
at peace with you. 17 When it is warm, they cease to flow;
24 And you shall know that your tent is in when it is hot, they vanish from their place.
peace, and shall visit your tent and not sin, 18 The paths of their way turn aside, they
25 and shall know that your seed are enter wastes and perish.
many, and your offspring like the grass of 19 Passengers of TÃma looked expectant-
age, like the stacking of grain in its season. trusted, they came there and were disap-
27 Look, this we have searched out, it is pointed.
so. Hear it, and know for yourself.” 21 Indeed, you have now become the
the onslaughts of Eloah are arrayed against what does your reproving reprove?
me. 26 Do you reckon to reprove my words,
5 Does the wild donkey bray when it has and the sayings of one in despair, which
grass, or does the ox bellow over its are as wind?
fodder? 27 You would cast lots over the fatherless,
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt? Is and make merchandise of your friend!
there any flavour in the juice of mallows? 28 But now, please look at me – whether I
a Mish. 3:12, Heb. 12:6-8. b Yirm. 32:42, ¿ah 3:31-32, Hosh. 6:1.
761 IYOÉ 8
eousness. Relent! My righteousness is still me, nor leave me alone till I swallow my
in it. saliva?
30 Is there unrighteousness on my tongue? 20 Have I sinned? What have I done to
Does my taste not discern what is per- You, O Watcher of men? Why have You
verse? set me as Your target, so that I am a burden
to You?
7 “Does not man have to struggle on
earth? For his days are like the days of
21 And why do You not pardon my trans-
nights of trouble have been appointed to 8 And BildaÅ the ShuÁite answered and
said,
me. 2 “How long are you going to speak like
4 When I lie down, I say, ‘When am I this, since the words of your mouth are a
going to rise, and the night be ended?’ For strong wind?
I have had my fill of tossing till dawn. 3 Does Âl twist right-ruling? Or does the
5 My body is covered with worms and Almighty twist what is right?
dirt, my skin is cracked and it festers. 4 If your sons have sinned against Him,
6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s and He delivers them into the hand of their
shuttle, and are spent without expectancy. transgression,
7 Remember that my life is a breath! My 5 if you diligently seek Âl and plead with
longer. Your eyes are upon me, and I am no indeed He would awake for you, and shall
more. bless your righteous dwelling place.
9 The cloud fades and vanishes away, so 7 Though your beginning was small, yet
he who goes down to the grave does not your latter end would greatly increase.
come up. 8 Indeed, please ask the former genera-
10 He returns no more to his house, nor tion, and prepare for the research of their
does his place know him any more. fathers,
11 I also, I do not hold my mouth, I speak 9 for we are but of yesterday, and know
in the distress of my spirit, I complain in not, because our days on earth are as a
the bitterness of my being. shadow.
12 Am I the sea, or a sea monster, that You 10 Do they not teach you, speak to you,
set a guard over me? and bring forth words from their heart?
13 When I say, ‘My bed does comfort me, 11 Does papyrus grow without a marsh, a
death rather than my bones. and the expectancy of a defiled one does
16 I have wasted away, I would not live perish,
forever. Leave me alone, for my days are a 14 whose refuge is cut off, and whose trust
him great, that You should set Your heart stand. He holds it fast, but it does not last.
on him, 16 He is moist before the sun, and his
18 that You should visit him every morn- branches spread out in his garden.
IYOÉ 8 762
ter, and your lips with rejoicing, declare me wrong. Am I perfect? It would
22 those hating you put on shame, and the declare me perverse.
tent of the wrong is no more.” 21 Am I perfect? Do I not know my own
not answer Him. I pray to Him for my 10 “My being has grown weary of
life. I let loose my complaint, I
right-ruling. speak in the bitterness of my being.
16 Though I had called and He answered 2 I say to Eloah, ‘Do not declare me
me, I would not believe that He was listen- wrong, show me why You strive with me.
763 IYOÉ 11
me, together all around, yet You destroy me. open His lips against you,
9 Remember, please, that You have made 6 and show you the secrets of wisdom,
me like clay. And would You turn me into doubling your ability. Know then that
dust again? Eloah forgets some of your crookedness
10 Did You not pour me out like milk, and for you.
curdle me like cheese? 7 Would you find out Eloah by searching,
11 Skin and flesh you put on me, and or search out the end of the Almighty?
wove me with bones and sinews. 8 It is higher than the heavens – what
12 Life and kindness You have bestowed would you do? Deeper than the grave –
on me, and Your visitation has preserved what would you know?
my spirit. 9 Their measure is longer than the earth,
13 And these You have laid up in Your and broader than the sea.
heart, I know that this was with You: 10 If He passes through and shuts up, and
14 If I sin, then You watch me, and let no gathers, then who does reverse it?
crookedness of mine go unpunished. 11 For He knows false men. When He sees
15 If I am wrong, woe to me! And if I am wickedness does He not consider it?
righteous, I would not lift up my head – 12 But a senseless man takes heart when a
filled with shame and seeing my grief! wild donkey’s colt is born a man!
16 If I lift it up high, you hunt me as a lion, 13 If you would prepare your heart, and
and again You would show Yourself mar- stretch out your hands toward Him;
vellous against me. 14 if wickedness were in your hand, put it
17 You renew Your witnesses against me, far away and do not let perverseness dwell
and increase Your vexation toward me; in your tents;
changes and a host are with me. 15 then indeed you shall lift up your face
18 So why have You brought me forth without spot; and you shall stand firm, and
from the womb? Oh, that I had perished not be afraid,
and no eye had seen me! 16 because you would forget sorrow, and
19 I should have been as though I had not remember it as waters that have passed
been – brought from the womb to the away,
grave. 17 and your life would be brighter than
20 Are not my days few? Then cease! noon. You would soar upward, you would
Leave me alone, so that I brighten up a be like the morning.
little, 18 And you shall trust, because there is
21 Before I go, and not return, to the land expectancy. And when you have searched
of darkness and the shadow of death, you shall lie down in safety.
22 a land as dark as darkness itself, as the 19 And you shall rest, and no one would
shadow of death, without any order, whose make you afraid, and many shall seek your
IYOÉ 11 764
you; and the fish of the sea inform you. would be your wisdom!
9 Who among all these does not know 6 Please hear my reasoning, and listen to
that the hand of HWHY has done this, the pleadings of my lips.
10 in whose hand is the life of all that live, 7 Would you speak perversely for Âl, and
mouth taste food for itself? Would you plead for Âl?
12 With the aged is wisdom, and under- 9 Would it be well when He searches you
standing with length of days. out? Or could you deceive Him as one
13 With Him are wisdom and might, He deceives a man?
has counsel and understanding. 10 He would certainly reprove you if you
14 Look, He breaks down, and it is not secretly show partiality.
rebuilt. If He imprisons a man, there is no 11 Should not His excellence make you
they dry up. And He sends them out, and ashes, your shields are shields of clay.
they overwhelm the earth. 13 Be silent before me, and let me speak,
16 With Him are strength and ability. The and let whatever come upon me!
misled and the misleader are His. 14 Why do I take my flesh in my teeth,
17 He leads counsellors away stripped, and put my life in my hands?
and makes judges go mad. 15 Though, He does slay me – I wait! But
18 He loosens the bonds of sovereigns, I show my ways to be right before Him.
and binds a girdle on their loins; 16 He also is my deliverance, for a defiled
19 who leads away priests as a spoil, and one does not come before Him.
overthrows the mighty; 17 Listen closely to my words, and with
20 turning aside the lip of the trusted ones, your ears to what I say.
765 IYOÉ 15
I am not hidden from Your face: conceal me until Your wrath turns away.
21 Withdraw Your hand far from me, and Set me a time, and remember me!
let not dread of You make me afraid. 14 If a man dies, would he live again? All
22 Then call, and let me answer; or let me the days of my struggle I wait, till my
speak, and You reply to me. change comes.
23 How many are my crookednesses and 15 You would call, and I would answer
sins? Let me know my transgression and You. You have yearned for the work of
my sin. Your hands.
24 Why do You hide Your face, and reckon 16 For now You count my steps – do You
fro? And would You pursue dry stubble? and You cover over my crookedness.
26 For You write bitter charges against me, 18 But a falling mountain crumbles away,
and make me inherit the crookednesses of and a rock is moved from its place,
my youth, 19 as water wears away stones, its out-
27 and put my feet in the stocks, and look pouring washes away the soil of the earth –
closely to all my paths. You set a limit for so You have destroyed the expectancy of
the soles of my feet. man.
28 And he, like that which is rotten, wastes 20 You overpower him, forever, and he is
away, as a garment that is moth-eaten. gone – his face changes and You send him
away.
14 “Man born of woman is of few
days and turmoil-filled.
2 He comes forth like a flower and
21 His sons come to esteem, and he does
till like a hired man he enjoys his day. and withhold prayer before Âl.
7 For there is expectancy for a tree, if it is 5 For your crookedness teaches your
cut down, that it does sprout again, and mouth what to say, and you choose the
that its tender branch does not cease. tongue of the crafty.
8 Though its root grows old in the earth, 6 Not I, but your own mouth condemns
and its stump dies in the ground, you. And your own lips witness against
9 at the scent of water it buds and brings you.
forth foliage like a plant. 7 Were you the first one born? Or were
10 But man dies and is powerless, and you made before the hills?
man expires, and where is he? 8 Have you heard the secret counsel of
11 Water disappears from the sea, and a Eloah? And do you limit wisdom to your-
IYOÉ 15 766
– understand, that is not within us? shall not rise, and his possessions shall not
10 Both the grey-haired and the aged are overspread the earth.
among us, much older than your father. 30 He does not turn away from darkness.
11 Are the comforts of Âl not enough for The flame dries up his branches, and he
you – and a word that deals gently with turns aside by the breath of His mouth.
you? 31 Let him not trust in falsehood, deceiv-
12 What have you taken to heart? And ing himself, for falsehood is his reward.
why do your eyes flash? 32 Before his day it is accomplished, and
13 That you should turn your spirit against his branch shall not be green.
Âl, and let such words go out of your 33 He shakes off his unripe grape like a
have seen and declare, these; all of you are comforters of trouble!
18 which the wise declare, and have not 3 Is there an end to words of wind? Or
hidden from their fathers, what provokes you that you answer?
19 to them alone the land was given, and 4 I might also speak like you, if you were
no stranger passed over into their midst: in my place. I might heap up words against
20 All the days of the wrong one he is you, and shake my head at you.
paining himself, and few years have been 5 I might strengthen you with my mouth,
stored up for the ruthless. and my moving lips might bring relief.
21 A frightening sound is in his ears; in 6 If I speak, my pain is not relieved; and
it? He knows that a day of darkness is pre- witness. And my failure rises up against
pared for him. me, it bears witness to my face.
24 Distress and pain frighten him – they 9 He has torn in His wrath, and He hates
overwhelm him, like a sovereign ready for me. He has gnashed at me with His teeth;
the attack. my adversary sharpens His eyes upon me.
25 Because he has stretched out his hand 10 They open wide their mouths at me, in
against Âl, and acts mightily against the scorn they have smitten my cheeks, they
Almighty. mass themselves together against me.
26 He runs against Him defiantly, with 11 Âl has handed me over to the perverse,
ness, and he has put layers of fat on his took me by my neck and shattered me, and
loins. He has set me up for His target.
28 But he dwells in ruined cities, in houses 13 His archers surround me, He splits my
which no one lives in, which have been kidneys in two and does not spare, He
767 IYOÉ 18
eyes pour out tears to Eloah. Understand, and let us then talk.
21 O that one might plead for a man with 3 Why should we be reckoned as beasts,
graves are for me. and the flame of his fire does not shine.
2 Truly, mockeries are with me, and my 6 The light shall be dark in his tent, and
eye rests on their insults! his lamp beside him is put out.
3 Please lay down a pledge for me with 7 The steps of his strength are impeded,
Yourself. Who would strike hands with and his own counsel overthrows him.
me? 8 For he is sent into a net by his own feet,
4 For You have hidden their heart from and he walks on a pit-fall.
understanding, therefore You do not exalt 9 The net seizes his heel, a snare prevails
even the eyes of his children shall fail. him, and a trap for him in the path.
6 But He has made me a byword of the 11 Alarms frighten him on all sides, and
for I do not find a wise one among you. is cut off above.
11 My days have passed by, my plans have 17 Remembrance of him perishes from the
been broken off – the desires of my heart. earth, and he has no name on the street.
12 They would turn night into day, saying 18 They thrust him from light into dark-
that light is near, in the presence of dark- ness, and chase him out of the world.
IYOÉ 18 768
day, as those in the east are frightened. flesh, and I have escaped by the skin of my
21 Indeed, such are the dwellings of the teeth.
perverse, and this is the place of him who 21 Show favour to me, show favour to me,
does not know Âl.” O you my friends, for the hand of Eloah
has struck me!
19 And IyoÄ answered and said,
2 “How long would you grieve my
22 Why do you persecute me like Âl does,
estranged from me. lived, and the joy of the defiled one is but
14 My near ones have fallen away, and my for a moment?
close friends have forgotten me. 6 Although his pride mounts up to the
15 The guests in my house, and my female heavens, and his head does reach to the
servants, reckon me for a stranger – I am a clouds,
foreigner in their eyes. 7 he perishes forever like his own dung.
16 I have called my servant, but he gives Those who have seen him say, ‘Where is
no answer – I have to beg him with my he?’
mouth. 8 He flies away like a dream, and is not
17 My spirit is strange to my wife, and my found. And he is driven away like a vision
kindness to the children of my own body. of the night.
18 Even young children have scorned me. 9 Eyes that saw him do so no more, nor
769 IYOÉ 21
and his hands give back his wealth. let this be your comfort.
11 His bones shall be filled with his youth, 3 Bear with me and let me speak, and
but it lies down with him in the dust. after I have spoken, keep mocking.
12 Though evil is sweet in his mouth, he 4 As for me, is my complaint against
hides it under his tongue, man? And why should I not be impatient?
13 though he fondles it and does not 5 Look at me and be appalled, then put
forsake it, but still keeps it in his mouth, your hand on your mouth.
14 his food is turned in his stomach, the 6 And when I consider it I am frightened,
flowing with honey and cream. neither is the rod of Eloah upon them.
18 He is giving back what he laboured for, 10 Their bull breeds and does not fail,
and does not eat it – like wealth from his their cow calves without miscarriage.
trade, but he does not enjoy. 11 They send forth their little ones like a
19 For he has oppressed, he has forsaken flock, and their children dance.
the poor, he has seized a house which he 12 They sing to the tambourine and lyre,
therefore his good does not last. us, for we have no desire to know Your
22 With all his plenty he is in distress; the ways.
hand of every labourer comes against him. 15 Who is the Almighty, that we should
23 It shall be, at the filling of his stomach, serve Him? And what profit do we have if
that He casts on him His burning wrath, we pray to Him?’
and rains it down on him while he is 16 See, is their good not in their own
what remains in his tent. ness for his children.’ Let Him repay him,
27 The heavens reveal his crookedness, so that he knows it.
and the earth rises up against him. 20 Let his eyes see his destruction, and let
28 The increase of his house departs, him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
flowing away in the day of His wrath. 21 For what is his delight in his house after
29 This is the portion from Elohim for a him, when the number of his months is cut
wrong man, and the heritage Âl has off?
decreed for him.” 22 Does anyone teach Âl knowledge, since
c Teh. 73: 3 & 17, Yirm. 12:1-2 – the answer to this question is given in Teh. 73: 17.
IYOÉ 21 770
He judges those that are exalted? 9 You have sent widows away empty, and
23 One dies in his perfect strength, com- the arms of the fatherless are crushed.
pletely at ease and satisfied; 10 Therefore snares are all around you,
24 His pails are filled with milk, and his and sudden fear alarms you,
bones are juicy with marrow. 11 or darkness, so that you do not see, and
25 Another one dies in the bitterness of his a flood of water covers you.
being, and never eats with pleasure. 12 Is not Eloah in the height of heaven?
26 Together they lie down in the dust, and And see the highest stars, how lofty they
worms cover them. are!
27 Look, I know your thoughts, and the 13 And you have said, ‘What does Âl
plots with which you would wrong me. know? Would He judge through the dark
28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of the cloud?
noble one? And where is the tent, the 14 ‘Clouds screen Him, so that He does
dwelling place of the wrong ones?’ not see, and He moves about the circuit of
29 Have you not asked those passing by the heavens.’
the way? And do you not know their signs? 15 Do you observe the old way which
30 That the wicked is kept for the day of wicked men have trod,
calamity. They are brought to the day of 16 who were cut down before their time,
drink, and you have withheld bread from established for you, and light shine on your
the hungry. ways.
8 But the man of strength, he has the 29 For they have made low, and you say,
earth, and the highly respected man dwells ‘Up!’ And He saves the lowly of eyes.
in it. 30 Would He deliver one who is not inno-
771 IYOÉ 24
power? No! But He would pay attention hills, and have embraced a rock for lack of
to me. shelter.
7 There the upright might reason with 9 They snatch away the fatherless from
Him, and I would go safe forever from my the breast, and take a pledge from the poor;
Judge. 10 naked, they shall go about without a
8 See, I go forward, but He is not; and garment; and hungry, they shall take away
backward, but I do not perceive Him; sheaves.
9 to the left where He is working, but I do 11 They press out oil within their walls;
not see; He turns to the right, but I do not winepresses they shall tread, yet suffer
see. thirst.
10 For He knows the way that I take. 12 Men groan in the city, and the beings of
When He has tried me, I would come forth the wounded cry out, and Eloah does not
as gold. regard it as foolish.
11 My foot has held fast to His steps. I 13 They have become rebels against the
have guarded His way, and did not turn light; they have not known His ways nor
aside. remained in His paths.
12 I have not strayed from the command 14 The murderer rises at daylight, he slays
of His lips. I have treasured the words of the poor and needy, and in the night he is
His mouth more than my daily portion. as a thief.
13 But He is One, and who does turn Him? 15 And the eye of the adulterer watches
And He does whatever His being has for dusk, saying, ‘No eye sees me.’ And he
desired. puts a covering on the face.
14 For He completes my portion, and 16 In the dark he has broken into houses;
many like these are with Him. by day they shut themselves up; they have
15 Therefore I am troubled at His pres- not known light.
ence; I consider, and I am afraid of Him. 17 For all of them morning is the same as
16 For Âl has made me faint-hearted, and the shadow of death, when he discerns the
the Almighty has alarmed me; extreme fears of the shadow of death.
17 because I was not cut off before dark- 18 He is swift on the face of the waters;
ness, and from my face He has covered the their portion is cursed in the earth; he does
thick darkness. not turn into the way of vineyards.
19 Drought and heat snatch away snow
21 treating evil the barren who does not 12 By His power He has calmed the sea,
bear, and does no good for the widow. and by His understanding He struck down
22 But He draws the mighty away with RahaÄ.
His power – He rises up, and no one is 13 By His Spirit He adorned the heavens.
yet His eyes are on their ways. and how little a matter is heard of Him!
24 They are lifted up for a little while, then And who understands the thunder of His
they are gone, then they shall be brought power?”
low. Like all else they are gathered up, and
they are cut off like the heads of grain.
25 And if it is not so, who does prove me a 27 And IyoÄ again took up his dis-
course, and said,
2 “As Âl lives, who has turned aside my
liar, and make my word worthless?”
right-ruling, and the Almighty, who has
25 And BildaÅ the ShuÁite answered
and said,
made my life bitter,
3 as long as my breath is in me, and the
2 “Rule and fear belong to Him, making spirit of Eloah in my nostrils,
peace in His high places. 4 my lips do not speak unrighteousness,
3 Is there any number to His armies? And nor my tongue utter deceit.
on whom does His light not rise? 5 Far be it from me that I grant that you
4 So how could man be righteous before are right. Until I die I would not turn aside
Âl? Or how could he be flawless who is my integrity from me.
born of a woman? 6 My righteousness I hold fast, and I do
5 See, even the moon does not shine, and not let it go. My heart does not reproach
the stars have not been flawless in His eyes, me as long as I live.
6 how much less man, a maggot, and a 7 Let my enemy be like the wrongdoer,
And whose spirit came from you? Almighty – call on Eloah at all times?
5 The dead wait – those under the waters 11 Let me teach you by the hand of Âl, that
and those inhabiting them. which is with the Almighty I do not hide.
6 The grave is naked before Him, and 12 See, all of you have seen it. Why then
over emptiness, hanging the earth upon Âl, and the inheritance of cruel ones, which
space, they receive from the Almighty:
8 binding up waters in His thick clouds, 14 If his children are increased, it is for the
and the cloud is not torn under them, sword; and his offspring shall not have
9 covering the surface of His throne, enough to eat.
spreading His cloud over it. 15 Those who remain of him are buried in
10 He drew a limit on the surface of the death, and their widows do not weep.
waters, at the boundary of light and dark- 16 Though he heaps up silver like dust,
and are stunned at His reproof. and the innocent divides the silver.
773 IYOÉ 29
18 He built his house like a moth, like a 17 Gold or crystal are not to be compared
booth which a watchman made. with it, nor is it exchanged for a vessel of
19 He lies down, a rich man, but he is not fine gold.
gathered. When he opens his eyes, it is no 18 No mention is made of coral or crystal,
storm wind shall steal him away in the pared with it, nor is it valued in clean gold.
night. 20 And wisdom – from where does it
21 The east wind takes him away, and he come? And where is the place of under-
is gone; for it sweeps him from his place. standing? d
22 And it hurls itself against him and does 21 It has been hidden from the eyes of all
not spare; he swiftly flees from its power. living, and concealed from the birds of the
23 It claps its hands at him, and it hisses heavens.
him out of his place. 22 Destruction and death have said, ‘With
nor has the fierce lion passed over it. the days when Eloah protected me;
9 He puts his hand on the flint; he shall 3 when His lamp shone on my head,
overturn the mountains at the roots. when I walked in the dark by His light;
10 He cuts out channels in the rocks, and 4 as I was in the days of my autumn,
his eye sees every precious gem. when the intimacy of Eloah was on my
11 He dams up the sources of the rivers; tent;
and he brings to light what is hidden. 5 when the Almighty was still with me,
12 And wisdom – where is it found? And when my children were around me;
where is the place of understanding? d 6 when my steps were bathed with
13 Man does not know its value, and it is cream, and the rock poured out rivers of oil
not found in the land of the living. for me.
14 The deep has said, ‘It is not in me,’ and 7 When I went out to the gate by the city,
the sea has said, ‘It is not with me.’ to take my seat in the open square,
15 Gold is not given for it, nor is silver 8 the young men saw me and hid, and the
d The answer to the question raised in verses 12 & 20 is given in verse 28.
IYOÉ 29 774
10 the voice of leaders was hushed, and 6 to dwell in the gullies of wadis, holes of
their tongue clung to the roof of their the ground and clefts.
mouth. 7 Among the bushes they cry out, under
11 For when the ear heard, it blessed me, the nettles they huddled together –
and when the eye saw, it gave witness of me; 8 sons of fools, even sons without a
12 because I rescued the poor who cried name, they have been whipped out of the
out, and the fatherless who had no helper. land.
13 The blessing of the perishing one 9 And now I have become their song, and
would come upon me, and I made the wid- I am a byword to them.
ow’s heart sing for joy. 10 They have loathed me, they have kept
14 I put on righteousness, and it robed me; far from me, and did not refrain from
right-ruling was my cloak and turban. spitting in my face.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and I was feet to 11 Because He has loosed my bowstring
and increase my days as the sand, gain by my ruin; no one restrains them.
19 my root reaching out to the waters, and 14 They come as through a wide breach;
army, like one who comforts mourners. me; I stand up, but You only look at me.
21 You have become cruel to me; with the
would have refused to put with my sheep to ride it; and You melt me in a storm.
dogs. 23 For I have known that You bring me to
2 Of what use to me is the strength of death, and to the house appointed for all
their hands, since their manhood power living.
has perished? 24 Yet does not one in a heap of ruins
3 They are dried up from lack and stretch out his hand, or in calamity cry out
hunger, they flee to a parched land, for help?
formerly a waste and ruin. 25 Did I not weep for him who was in
4 They pluck salt herbs by the bushes, trouble? Was my being not grieved for the
and broom tree roots for their food. poor?
5 They were driven out from among men, 26 When I looked for good, then evil came
they shouted at them as at a thief, to me. And when I waited for light, dark-
775 IYOÉ 31
sun; I stood up in the assembly, I cried for sure, or caused the widow’s eyes to fail,
help. 17 or eaten my piece of bread by myself,
29 I became a brother of jackals, and a and the fatherless did not eat of it –
companion of ostriches. 18 but from my youth he grew up with me
30 My skin became black upon me, and as with a father, and from my mother’s
my bones burned with heat. womb I guided her –
31 So my lyre becomes mourning, and my 19 if I have seen anyone perish for lack of
strangeness to the workers of wickedness? Âl, and from His excellence I could not
4 Does He not see my ways, and number escape.
all my steps? 24 If I have put my trust in gold, or called
5 If I have walked with falsehood, or if fine gold my refuge;
my foot has hurried to deceit, 25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth
6 let Him weigh me in a right scale, and was great, and because my hand had
let Eloah know my integrity. gained much;
7 If my step does turn from the way, or 26 if I have looked at the sun when it
my heart has gone after my eyes, or if any shines, or the moon moving in brightness,
spot has clung to my hands, 27 so that my heart has been secretly
8 let me sow, and another eat; and let my enticed, and my mouth has kissed my
harvest be rooted out. hand –
9 If my heart has been enticed by a 28 that too is a punishable crookedness,
destruction, and take root among all my is there that has not been satisfied with his
increase. meat?’
13 If I have refused the plea of my male 32 The stranger did not have to spend the
servant or my female servant when they night in the street, for I have opened my
complained against me, doors to the way.
14 then what should I do when Âl rises up? 33 If I have covered my transgressions like
e This is how the gentiles (those who do not know HWHY) naturally become worshippers of the sun, moon and stars
– the host of heaven.
IYOÉ 31 776
34 then let me fear the great crowd, and look, not one of you proved IyoÄ wrong,
dread the scorn of clans, then I would be nor answered his words.
silent, and go out of the door! 13 Lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom’
35 Who would give me a hearing? See, my – it is Âl that drives him away, not man.
signature, let the Almighty answer me, and 14 Now he has not ordered words against
let my accuser write a bill! me, so I would not answer him with your
36 Would I not take it up on my shoulder, words.
bind it on me for a crown? 15 They have broken down; they have not
37 I would declare to Him the number of answered again; words have departed from
my steps – I would approach Him like a them.
prince. 16 And I have waited, but they do not
38 If my land cries out against me, or its speak, because they have stood still, they
furrows weep together; answered no more.
39 if I have eaten its fruit without pay- 17 Let me answer on my part, let me also
burned, because they had found no answer, 33 “And yet, O IyoÄ, please hear my
speech and listen to all my words.
2 See, please! I shall open my mouth, my
and pronounced Elohim wrong.
4 And because they were years older than tongue shall speak in my mouth.
he, Elihu had waited to speak to IyoÄ. 3 My words are from the uprightness of
5 And when Elihu saw that there was no my heart, my lips shall speak knowledge
answer in the mouth of these three men, clearly.
his wrath burned. 4 The Spirit of Âl has made me, and the
6 And Elihu, son of Bara¿’Ãl the Buzite, breath of the Almighty gives me life.
responded and said, “I am young in years, 5 If you are able, answer me, set yourself
and you are aged. Therefore I was afraid to in order before me, take your stand.
let you know my opinion. 6 See, I am like you before Âl, I too have
7 I said, ‘Days should speak, and many been formed out of clay.
years should teach wisdom.’ 7 See, no fear of me should alarm you,
8 But truly it is the spirit in man and the nor should pressure by me be heavy on
breath of the Almighty that gives him you.
understanding. 8 But you have spoken in my hearing,
9 The multitude are not wise, nor do the and the sound of words I hear, saying,
aged understand right-ruling. 9 ‘I am clear, without transgression; I am
10 Therefore I have said, ‘Listen to me, let innocent, and I have no crookedness.
me also make my opinion known to you.’ 10 See, He finds occasions against me, He
11 Look, I waited for your words, I counts me as His enemy;
listened to your reasonings, while you 11 He puts my feet in the stocks, He
eous. Let me answer you: Eloah is greater 33 If not, listen to me, keep silent, and let
bed, and with unceasing distress in his of wickedness, and walks with men of
bones, wrongness?
20 so that his life loathes bread, and his 9 For he has said, ‘It does not profit a
which were not seen stick out. heart: far be it from Âl to do wrong, and
22 And his being draws near the Pit, and from the Almighty to commit unrighteous-
his life to the destroyers. ness.
23 If there is a messenger for him, a medi- 11 For He repays man’s work to him, and
ator, one among a thousand, to show man makes man to find a reward according to
His straightness, his path.
24 then He shows favour to him, and says, 12 The truth is, Âl does not do wrong, and
‘Release him from going down to the Pit, I the Almighty does not twist right-ruling.
have found an atonement. 13 Who has assigned to Him the earth?
25 ‘Let his flesh become fresher than a And who has laid out all the world?
child’s, let him return to the days of his 14 If He sets His heart on him, should He
right, and it did not profit me.’ govern? Or would you declare a most
28 He has redeemed my being from going righteous one wrong?
down to the Pit, and my life sees the light. 18 Who shall say to a sovereign:
29 See, Âl does all these – twice, three ‘BeliyaÈal,’ to nobles: ‘Wrong one’? –
times with a man, 19 who is not partial to princes, nor
30 to bring back his being from the Pit, to regards the rich more than the poor? For
be enlightened with the light of the living. they are all the work of His hands.
31 Pay attention, IyoÄ, listen to me, keep 20 In a moment they die, in the middle of
silent, and let me speak. the night; the people are shaken and pass
32 If there are words, answer me; speak, away; and the mighty are taken away
for I desire to declare you right. without a hand.
IYOÉ 34 778
shall overthrow in the night, and they are and your righteousness for a son of man.
crushed. 9 Because of the multitude of oppres-
26 As wrong ones He slaps them in the sions they cry out; they cry out for help
presence of onlookers, because of the arm of the many.
27 because they turned from following 10 And no one says, ‘Where is Eloah my
Him, and they regarded not all His ways, Maker, who gives songs in the night,
28 so as to cause the cry of the poor to 11 teaching us more than the beasts of the
come to Him; for He hears the cry of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of
afflicted. the heavens?’
29 And when He is silent, who would then 12 There they cry, but He answers not,
condemn? And when He hides His face, because of the pride of evil ones.
who then sees Him, whether it is against a 13 Only, it is false that Âl does not hear,
done unrighteousness, I shall not do so pleasure has come? Yet He has not taken
again’? note of extreme arrogance,
33 Should He repay you because you have 16 so IyoÄ opens his mouth in vain, he
refused? For you choose, and not I, there- increases words without knowledge.”
fore speak what you know.
34 Let men of heart say to me, and a wise
since his answers are like those of wicked ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
men! 4 For truly my words are not false; the
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin – he One perfect in knowledge is with you.
claps his hands among us, and multiplies 5 See, Âl is mighty, but rejects no one –
their transgressions, that they behaved clouds, the crashing from His booth?
proudly. 30 See, He has spread his light upon it, and
10 And He opens their ear for discipline, He has covered the depths of the sea.
and commands that they turn back from 31 For by these He judges the peoples; He
their days in blessedness, and their years in ning, and commands it to strike.
pleasantness. 33 Its noise declares concerning Him, also
12 But if they do not obey, they perish by the cattle, as to what is coming up.
the sword, and die without knowledge.
13 But the defiled ones in heart become
enraged – let them not cry for help when 37 “At this too my heart trembles, and
leaps from its place.
2 Listen, listen to the trembling of His
He binds them.
14 Their being dies in youth, and their life voice, and the sound that comes from His
among the male prostitutes. mouth.
15 He rescues the afflicted one in his 3 He lets it loose under all the heavens,
affliction, and opens their ears in oppres- and His lightning to the ends of the earth.
sion. 4 After it a voice roars. He thunders with
16 And He also would have brought you the voice of His excellency, and He does
out of distress, into a broad place where not hold them back when His voice is
there is no restraint. And what is set on heard.
your table would be filled with rich food. 5 Âl thunders wondrously with His voice;
17 But you are filled with the judgment of doing great deeds, which we do not under-
the wrong, judgment and right-ruling take stand.
hold of you. 6 For He says to the snow, ‘Be on the
18 Beware, that rage does not entice you to earth,’ also to the gentle rain and the heavy
scoffing. And do not let a large bribe turn rain of His strength.
you aside. 7 He seals up the hand of every man, for
19 Would He value your riches? No, not all men to know His work.
precious ore, nor all your strength! 8 Then the beast goes into its lair, and
20 Do not long for the night, when people they stay in their dens.
go up in their place. 9 From the room of the south comes the
21 Beware, do not turn to wickedness, for whirlwind, and cold from the scattering
you have chosen this rather than affliction. winds of the north.
22 See, Âl is exalted by His power; who is 10 By the breath of Âl ice is given, and the
who has said, ‘You have worked unright- moisture; He scatters His bright clouds.
eousness’? 12 And they swirl about, being turned by
24 Remember to extol His work, of which His guidance, to do whatever He com-
men have sung. mands them on the face of the earthly
25 All men have seen it, man looks on it world.
from afar. 13 He causes it to come, whether as a rod,
26 See, Âl is great, beyond our under- or for His land, or for kindness.
standing, and we do not know the number 14 Listen to this, O IyoÄ, stand still and
distil as rain from the mist, and caused the lightning of His cloud to
28 which the clouds drop down – pour shine?
IYOÉ 37 780
16 Do you know the balancing of the and the wrong be shaken out of it?
clouds, the wonders of the One perfect in 14 It is changed like clay under a seal, and
earth is stilled from the south? wrong, and the arm lifted up is broken.
18 Did you, with Him, spread out the 16 Have you come to the sources of the
clouds, strong as a hard mirror? sea? Or have you walked about in the
19 Teach us what we should say to Him; recesses of the deep?
we do not set in order because of darkness. 17 Were the gates of death revealed to
20 Should He be told that I would speak? you? Or have you seen the gates of the
Would any man ask to be swallowed up? shadow of death?
21 And now, they shall not look on the 18 Have you understood the breadth of the
light that is bright behind the clouds, when earth? Declare, if you know it all.
the wind has passed and cleared them. 19 Where is the way to the dwelling of
22 From the golden north it comes – with light? And darkness, where is its place,
Eloah is awesome excellency. 20 that you should take it to its boundary,
23 The Almighty, we have not found Him and know the paths to its home?
out, He is exalted in power and right-ruling 21 Do you know? For you would have
and great in righteousness – He does not been born then, and the number of your
oppress. days been many!
24 Therefore men fear Him. He does not 22 Have you entered into the storehouses
regard any who are wise of heart.” of snow, or have you seen the storehouses
of hail,
38 Then HWHY answered IyoÄ out of
the whirlwind, and said,
2 “Who is this who darkens counsel by
23 which I have kept for the time of
words without knowledge? or the east wind scattered over the earth?
3 Now gird up your loins like a man, and 25 Who has cleft a channel for the over-
I ask you, and you answer Me. flowing water, or a way for the thunder-
4 Where were you when I laid the foun- claps,
dations of the earth? Declare, if you have 26 to make rain fall on land where no one
know? Or who stretched the line upon it? and to make the seeds of grass to sprout?
6 Upon what were its foundations sunk? 28 Does the rain have a father? Or who has
and all the sons of Elohim shouted for joy? who gave birth to the frost of the heavens?
8 Or who enclosed the sea with doors, 30 The waters harden like stone, and the
when it burst forth and came from the surface of the deep is frozen.
womb; 31 Do you bind the bands of Kimah, or
9 when I made the clouds its garment, loosen the cords of Kesil?
and thick darkness its swaddling band; 32 Do you bring out the constellations in
10 and assigned for it My law, and set bars its season? Or do you lead the Bear with its
and doors; sons?
11 and said, ‘This far you have come, but 33 Do you know the laws of the heavens?
no farther, and here your proud waves Or do you set their rule over the earth?
stop?’ 34 Do you lift up your voice to the clouds,
12 Have you ever commanded the morn- so that floods of water cover you?
ing, and caused the dawn to know its place, 35 Do you send out lightnings, and they go
13 to take hold of the ends of the earth, and say to you, ‘Here we are!’?
781 IYOÉ 40
36 Who has put wisdom in the inward warms them in the dust;
parts? Or who has given understanding to 15 and she forgets that a foot might crush
or to tip over the bottles of the heavens, hers; her toil is in vain, without fear,
38 when the dust hardens in clumps, and 17 because Eloah has made her forget
the clods cling together? wisdom, and did not endow her with
39 Do you hunt the prey for the lion, or understanding.
satisfy the appetite of the young lions, 18 When she lifts herself on high, she
40 when they crouch in dens, sit in the laughs at the horse and its rider.
cover of their hiding place? 19 Have you given the horse strength?
41 Who provides food for the raven, when Have you covered his neck with a mane?
its young ones cry to Âl, and wander about 20 Would you make him leap like a
with ropes, would he plough the valleys the Almighty? Let him who reproves
behind you? Eloah answer it.”
11 Would you rely on his great strength? 3 And IyoÄ answered HWHY and said,
Or would you leave your labour to him? 4 “See, I am insignificant, what would I
12 Would you trust him to bring home answer You? I lay my hand over my
your grain, and gather it to your threshing- mouth.
floor? 5 Once I have spoken, but I have no
13 The wings of the ostrich flap joyously, answer – and twice, but I say no more.”
but they are not the pinions and plumage of 6 Then HWHY answered IyoÄ out of the
I ask you, and you answer Me. 5 Would you play with him as with a
8 Would you also set aside My judg- bird? Or leash him for your young girls?
ment? Would you pronounce Me wrong, 6 Would trading partners bargain over
and you be declared righteous? him? Would they divide him among the
9 Or do you have an arm like Âl? Or do merchants?
you thunder with a voice like His? 7 Fill his skin with harpoons? Or his head
10 Deck yourself, please, with excellency with fishing spears?
and grandeur, and put on esteem and splen- 8 Put your hand on him – think of the
and look on everyone who is proud and pointed – he is laid low even at the sight of
bring him low. him!
12 Look on everyone who is proud, 10 No one is so foolhardy to wake him up.
humble him. And tread down the wrong- Who then is able to stand against Me?
doers in their place. 11 Who has given to Me first, that I should
13 Hide them in the dust together, bind repay him – under all the heavens that is
their faces in obscurity. Mine?
14 Then even I would confess to you that 12 I would not keep silent concerning his
your own right hand does save you. limbs, or his mighty power, or his fair
15 See now, BehÃmoth, which I made frame.
along with you – he eats grass like an ox. 13 Who shall take off the surface of his
16 See now, his strength is in his loins, and skin? Who approaches him with a double
his power is in his stomach muscles. bridle?
17 He bends his tail like a cedar; the 14 Who shall open the doors of his face,
sinews of his thighs are knit together. with his frightening teeth all around?
18 His bones are like tubes of bronze, his 15 Rows of scales are his pride – closed
His Maker brings near His sword. even a breath enters between them.
20 For the mountains yield food for him, 17 They are joined one to another, they
and all the beasts of the field play there. stick together and are not separated.
21 He lies under the slender trees, under 18 His sneezings flash forth light, and his
cover of reed and swamp. eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
22 The slender trees cover him with their 19 Out of his mouth go firebrands – sparks
or pierce his jaw with a hook? are afraid. Because of his crashings they
3 Would he keep on pleading with you? are bewildered.
Would he speak softly to you? 26 No sword that reaches him does pre-
4 Would he make a covenant with you to vail, neither spear, dart, or lance.
be taken as a servant forever? 27 He reckons iron as straw, bronze as
783 IYOÉ 42
O you whom my being loves, And his banner over me was love.
Where you feed your flock, 5 “Strengthen me with raisin cakes,
Where you make it rest at noon. Refresh me with apples, for I am faint
For why should I be as one who is with love.”
veiled 6 His left hand is under my head,
Beside the flocks of your companions? And his right hand embraces me.
8 If you do not know, O fairest among 7 I have put you under oath,
9 My beloved is like a gazelle or like a I held him and would not let him go,
young stag. Until I had brought him to the house
See, he is standing behind our wall, of my mother,
Looking through the windows, And into the room of her who
Peering through the lattice. conceived me.
10 My beloved responded and said to me, 5 I have put you under oath,
And our vines are all blossom. Its support of gold, its seat of purple,
16 My beloved is mine, and I am his. Within it was decked with love
He feeds his flock among the lilies. By the daughters of Yerushalayim.
17 Until the day breaks and 11 Go forth, O daughters of Tsiyon,
the shadows have fled, And see Sovereign Shelomoh with the
Turn, my beloved, crown
And be like a gazelle or a young stag With which his mother crowned him
On the mountains of Bether. on the day of his wedding,
And on the day of his gladness of
3 On my bed at night I sought the
beloved of my being;
heart.
Twins of a gazelle,
pasturing among the lilies. 5 I have come to my garden,
My sister, my bride;
6 Until the day breaks and the shadows I have plucked my myrrh
have fled, with my spice;
I shall go my way to the mountain of I have eaten my honeycomb
myrrh, with my honey;
And to the hill of frankincense. I have drunk my wine
7 You are all fair, my love, with my milk.
and not a blemish is on you. Eat, O friends!
8 Come with me from LeÄanon, Drink, and drink deeply,
My bride, with me from LeÄanon. O beloved ones!
Look from the top of Amana, 2 I was sleeping,
From the top of Shenir and Àermon, But my heart was awake – the voice of
From the dens of lions, my beloved!
From the mountains of the leopards. He knocks, “Open for me, my sister,
9 You have put heart into me, My love, my dove, my perfect one;
My sister, my bride; For my head is drenched with dew,
You have put heart into me My locks with the drops of the night.”
With one glance of your eyes, 3 I have taken off my robe, should I put
She who has taught me. The companions listen for your voice;
I would give you spiced wine to drink, Let me hear it!
Of the juice of my pomegranate. 14 Hurry, my beloved,
3 His left hand is under my head, And be like a gazelle or a young stag
And his right hand embraces me. On the mountains of spices.
RUTH
a An example of how a gentile is “grafted in” among the Chosen People. Ruth, this ex-Mo’aÄite, later on became
the great-grandmother of DawiÅ!
RUTH 1 790
who returned from the fields of Mo’aÄ, and have been told all that you have done for
they came to BÃyth LeÁem at the begin- your mother-in-law since the death of your
ning of barley harvest. husband, and how you have left your
father and your mother and the land of
2 And NaÈomi had a relative on her hus-
band’s side, a man of great wealth, of
your birth, and have come to a people
whom you did not know before.
the clan of Elimele¿, and his name was 12 “HWHY repay your work, and your
BoÈaz. reward is complete from HWHY Elohim of
2 And Ruth, the Mo’aÄitess, said to Yisra’Ãl, under whose wings you have
NaÈomi, “Please let me go to the field, and come to seek refuge.”
glean heads of grain after him in whose 13 And she said, “Let me find favour in
eyes I find favour.” So she said to her, “Go, your eyes, my master, because you have
my daughter.” comforted me, and have spoken to the
3 And she left, and went and gleaned in heart of your female servant, though I am
the field after the reapers. As it turned out, not like one of your female servants.”
she came to the part of the field belonging 14 And BoÈaz said to her, “Come here at
to BoÈaz, the near relative of Elimele¿. mealtime. Then you shall eat of the bread
4 And see, BoÈaz had come from BÃyth and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.”
LeÁem, and said to the reapers, “HWHY be And she sat beside the reapers, and he
with you!” And they answered him, “HWHY passed roasted grain to her. And she ate
bless you!” b and was satisfied, and had left over.
5 And BoÈaz said to his servant who was 15 And she rose up to glean, and BoÈaz
appointed over the reapers, “Whose young commanded his young men, saying, “Let
woman is this?” her glean even among the sheaves, and do
6 So the servant who was appointed over not embarrass her.
the reapers answered and said, “It is the 16 “Rather, draw out from the bundles for
young Mo’aÄite woman who came back her, and leave it for her to glean, and do
with NaÈomi from the fields of Mo’aÄ, not restrain her.”
7 and she said, ‘Please let me glean, and 17 And she gleaned in the field until
gather among the sheaves behind the evening, and beat out that which she had
reapers.’ And she came and has remained gleaned, and it was about an Ãphah of bar-
from morning until now – she sat a little in ley.
the house.” 18 And she took it up and went into the
8 And BoÈaz said to Ruth, “You have city, and her mother-in-law saw what she
heard, have you not, my daughter? Do not had gleaned. And she brought out and gave
go to glean in another field, nor go from to her what she had left over after she was
here, but stay close to my young women. satisfied.
9 “Let your eyes be on the field which 19 Then her mother-in-law asked her,
they reap, and you shall go after them. “Where have you gleaned today? And
Have I not commanded the young men not where did you work? Blessed be the one
to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go who took notice of you.” And she told her
to the vessels and drink from what the mother-in-law with whom she had worked,
young men have drawn.” and said, “The name of the man I worked
10 And she fell on her face, bowed down today with is BoÈaz.”
to the ground, and said to him, “Why have 20 And NaÈomi said to her daughter-in-
I found favour in your eyes, that you law, “Blessed be he of HWHY, who has not
forsaken His kindness to the living and the my daughter! For you have shown more
dead!” And NaÈomi said to her, “The man kindness at the end than at the beginning,
is a relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” not to go after young men, whether poor or
21 And Ruth the Mo’aÄitess said, “He also rich.
said to me, ‘Stay close to my young people 11 “And now, my daughter, do not fear.
until they have completed all my harvest.’ ” All that you say I do for you, for all the
22 And NaÈomi said to Ruth her daughter- people of my town know that you are a
in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you capable woman.
go out with his young women, and that 12 “And now, it is true that I am your
they do not meet you in any other field.” redeemer. However, there is a redeemer
23 And she stayed close by the young nearer than I.
women of BoÈaz to glean, till the comple- 13 “Stop over tonight, and in the morning
tion of barley harvest and wheat harvest, it shall be that if he does redeem you, good
but she dwelt with her mother-in-law. – let him do it. But if he is not pleased to
redeem you, then I shall redeem you, as
3 And NaÈomi her mother-in-law said to
her, “My daughter, should I not seek
HWHY lives! Lie down until morning.”
14 And she lay at his feet until morning,
rest for you, so that it is well with you? and she arose before one could recognise
2 “And now, is not BoÈaz, with whose another. And he said, “Let it not be known
young women you have been, our relative? that the woman came to the threshing-
See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the floor.”
threshing-floor. 15 And he said, “Bring the shawl that is on
3 “And, you shall bathe and anoint your- you and hold it.” So she held it and he
self, and put your garments on and go measured six measures of barley, and laid
down to the threshing-floor. Do not make it on her. And she went into the city.
yourself known to the man until he has 16 And when she came to her mother-in-
finished eating and drinking. law, she said, “Is that you, my daughter?”
4 “And it shall be, when he lies down, And she explained to her all that the man
that you shall notice the place where he had done for her.
lies, and shall go in and uncover his feet, 17 And she said, “He gave me these six
and lie down. And let him make known to measures of barley, for he said to me, ‘Do
you what you should do.” not go empty-handed to your mother-in-
5 And she said to her, “All that you say to law.’ ”
me, I do.” 18 And she said, “Wait, my daughter, until
6 And she went down to the threshing- you know how the matter falls, for the man
floor and did according to all that her is not going to rest until he has completed
mother-in-law instructed her. the matter this day.”
7 And BoÈaz ate and drank, and his heart
over your female servant – for you are a who has come back from the fields of
redeemer.” Mo’aÄ, sold the piece of land which
10 And he said, “Blessed are you of HWHY, belonged to our brother Elimele¿.
RUTH 4 792
4 “And I thought that I should disclose it make the woman who is coming to your
to you, saying, ‘Buy it back in the presence house as RaÁÃl and as LÃ’ah, the two who
of the inhabitants and the elders of my built the house of Yisra’Ãl. And prove your
people. If you do redeem it, redeem it. But worth in Ephrathah and proclaim the Name
if you do not redeem it, inform me, so that in BÃyth LeÁem.
I know. For there is no one but you to 12 “And let your house be like the house
redeem it, and I am next after you.’ ” And of Perets, whom Tamar bore to YehuÅah,
he said, “I redeem it.” of the seed which HWHY does give you from
5 And BoÈaz said, “On the day you buy this young woman.”
the field from the hand of NaÈomi, you 13 And BoÈaz took Ruth and she became
shall also acquire Ruth the Mo’aÄitess, the his wife. And he went in to her, and HWHY
wife of the dead, to raise up the name of granted her conception, and she bore a son.
the dead on his inheritance.” 14 And the women said to NaÈomi,
6 And the redeemer said, “I am not able “Blessed be HWHY, who has not left you this
to redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own day without a redeemer. And let his Name
inheritance. Redeem my right of redemp- be proclaimed in Yisra’Ãl!
tion for yourself, for I am not able to 15 “And he shall be to you a restorer of
redeem it.” life and a sustainer of your old age. For
7 And this was formerly done in Yisra’Ãl your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who
concerning redeeming and exchanging, to is better to you than seven sons, has borne
confirm every word: one man took off his him.”
sandal and gave it to the other, and this was 16 And NaÈomi took the child and laid him
for yourself.” Then he took off his sandal. him a name, saying, “There is a son born to
9 And BoÈaz said to the elders and to all NaÈomi.” And they called his name OÄÃÅ.
the people, “You are witnesses this day He was the father of Yishai, the father of
that I have bought all that was Elimele¿’s, DawiÅ.
and all that was Kilyon’s and MaÁlon’s, 18 And this is the genealogy of Perets:
gate, and the elders, said, “Witnesses! HWHY Yishai brought forth DawiÅ.
ÂËAH
LAMENTATIONS
wandering, my bones,
Yerushalayim remembered all her And it overpowered them;
precious matters He has spread a net for my feet and
She had in the days of old. turned me back;
He has laid me waste and faint all the All my enemies have heard of my
day. calamity,
14 “The yoke of my transgressions They have rejoiced that You have
Has been bound by His hand, done it.
Woven together and thrust upon my You shall bring on the day that You
neck. have announced,
He has made my strength stumble, So let them become like me.
HWHY has given me into hands 22 “Let all their evil come before You,
Hear now, all peoples, He has cut off every horn of Yisra’Ãl.
and see my pain. He has withdrawn His right hand from
My maidens and my young men have before the enemy.
gone into captivity. And He burns against YaÈaqoÄ
19 I called for my lovers, but they Like a flaming fire, consuming all
deceived me. around.
My priests and my elders breathed 4 He has bent His bow like an enemy.
their last in the city, He has set His right hand like an
While they sought food to bring back adversary.
their life. And He slays all who delighted the
20 “See, O HWHY, that I am in distress. eye.
My inward parts are boiling up, In the tent of the daughter of Tsiyon,
My heart is overturned within me, He has poured out His wrath like fire.
For I have been very rebellious. 5 HWHY has been like an enemy.
Into the hand of the enemy. Falsehood and folly for you,
They have made a noise in the House And have not shown you your
of HWHY crookedness,
As on the day of an appointed time. To turn back your captivity.
8 HWHY has planned to destroy But their visions for you
The wall of the daughter of Tsiyon. Are false and misleading messages.
He has stretched out a line. 15 All who pass by have clapped their
c Or festivals.
ÂËAH 2 796
Let your eyes have no rest. 9 He has blocked my ways with hewn
19 “Arise, cry out in the night, stone,
At the beginning of the watches, He has made my paths crooked.
Pour out your heart like water 10 He is to me like a bear lying in wait,
Nor does He grieve the children of O HWHY, from the lowest pit.
men. 56 You have heard my voice,
34 To crush under His feet Do not hide Your ear from my
All the prisoners of the earth, groaning,
35 To turn aside the right-ruling of man From my outcry!
Before the face of the Most High, 57 You drew near on the day I called on
36 Or wrong a man in his cause – You;
This HWHY does not approve. You said, “Do not fear!”
37 Who was it that spoke, 58 O HWHY, You did plead the case for my
as cruel, prophets,
As ostriches in the wilderness. The crookednesses of her priests,
4 The tongue of the infant has clung Who shed in her midst the blood of
To the roof of its mouth for thirst; the righteous.
Children asked for bread, 14 They staggered, blind, in the streets;
displeasure. EÅom,
And He kindled a fire in Tsiyon, You who dwell in the land of Uz!
And it consumed her foundations. The cup is to pass over to you too,
12 The sovereigns of the earth did not So that you become drunk and make
believe, yourself naked.
Nor any of the inhabitants of the world, 22 Your crookedness has been completed,
799 ÂËAH 5
5 Remember, O HWHY,
what has come upon us.
And youths stumbled under loads of
wood.
Look, and see our reproach! 14 Elders have ceased from the gate,
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to
Young men from their song.
strangers, 15 The joy of our heart has ceased,
And our houses to foreigners. Our dancing has turned into mourning.
3 We have become orphans, fatherless,
16 The crown has fallen from our head.
Our mothers are like widows. Woe to us, for we have sinned!
4 We had to pay for our drinking water,
17 Because of this our heart has been sick,
And our wood comes at a price.
5 We have been pursued close onto our Because of these our eyes have
neck, become dim,
18 Because of Mount Tsiyon
We have laboured and had no rest.
6 To Mitsrayim we have given a hand; which is laid waste;
To Ashshur, to be satisfied with bread. Foxes have gone roaming in it.
19 You, O HWHY, remain forever,
7 Our fathers sinned, they are no more.
Because of the burning heat of scarcity You have been wroth with us,
of food. exceedingly!
QOHELETH
ECCLESIASTES – CONVENER
hurries back to the place where it arose. he who increases knowledge increases
6 Going to the south, and turning round suffering.
to the north, turning, turning, and on its
rounds the wind returns.
7 All the rivers run into the sea, yet the 2 I said in my heart, “Come now, let me
try you with rejoicing and find out
sea never overflows. To the place from what is good.” But see, that too was futile.
which the rivers come, there they return 2 I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and
able to speak of it. The eye is not satisfied my body with wine, while guiding my
with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on
9 What has been is what shall be, what folly, until I could see what was good for
has been done is what shall be done, and the sons of men to do under the heavens all
there is no new matter under the sun. the days of their lives.
10 Is there a matter of which it is said, 4 I made my works great, I built myself
“See, this is new”? It was here already, houses, I planted vineyards for myself.
long ago. 5 I made gardens and parks for myself,
11 There is no remembrance of former and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in
ones, nor is there any remembrance of them.
those that are to come by those who come 6 I made pools of water for myself, to
a This HeÄrew word means Assembler or Convener, an appelative. The author could have been Shelomoh, or else
some post-exilic writer.
801 QOHELETH 3
more than all who were before me in 23 For all his days are sufferings, and his
Yerushalayim. Also my wisdom remained work grievous; even in the night his heart
with me. takes no rest. That too is futile.
10 And all that my eyes desired I did not 24 A man could do no better but to eat and
keep from them. I did not withhold my drink, and enjoy himself in his labour!
heart from any pleasure, for my heart That too, I saw, was from the hand of
rejoiced in all my labour. And this was my Elohim.
portion from all my labour. 25 For who eats or who finds enjoyment
11 But when I looked on all the works that without Him?
my hands had done and on the labour in 26 For He gives wisdom and knowledge
which I had toiled, see, all was futile and and joy to a man who is good in His eyes.
feeding on wind, and there was no gain But to the sinner He gives the task of
under the sun. gathering and collecting, to give to him
12 And I turned myself to look at wisdom, who is good before Elohim. That too is
and madness, and folly. For what would futile and feeding on wind.
the man do who comes after the sovereign
except what already has been done?
13 Then I saw that wisdom is better than 3 For every matter there is an appointed
time, even a time for every pursuit
folly, as light is better than darkness. under the heavens:
14 The wise one’s eyes are in his head, but 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a
the fool walks in darkness. And I also time to plant, and a time to uproot;
knew that one event befalls them all. 3 a time to slay, and a time to heal; a time
15 And I said in my heart, “As the event of to break down, and a time to build up;
the fool, even so it befalls me, and why 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a
was I then more wise?” Then I said in my time to mourn, and a time to dance;
heart, “This also is futile.” 5 a time to throw away stones, and a time
16 For there is no more lasting remem- to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a
brance of the wise than of the fool, since in time to refrain from embracing;
the days to come all is forgotten. And how 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time
does a wise man die? With the fool! to keep, and a time to throw away;
17 And I hated life because the work that 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time
was done under the sun was evil on me, for to be silent, and a time to speak;
all is futile and feeding on wind. 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time
18 And I hated all my labour in which I for battle, and a time for peace.
had toiled under the sun, because I leave it 9 What does the worker gain from his
foolish? Yet he shall rule over all my to the sons of men to be humbled by it.
labour in which I toiled and in which I 11 He has made it all, pretty in its time.
have shown myself wise under the sun. Even the ages He has put in their hearts,
That too is futile. except that no one finds out the work that
20 So I turned my heart and despaired of Elohim does from beginning to end.
all the labour in which I had toiled under 12 I know that there is no good for them
knowledge, and skill; yet he leaves his drink and enjoy the good of all his labour,
heritage to a man who has not laboured for it is a gift of Elohim.
it. That too is futile and a great evil. 14 I know that whatever Elohim does is
22 For what does a man get for all his forever. There is no adding to it, and there
labour and strain of his heart with which he is no taking from it. Elohim does it, that
has toiled under the sun? men should fear before Him.
QOHELETH 3 802
out what has been pursued. neither son nor brother. And there is no
16 Then again I saw under the sun: In the end to all his labours. His eye also is not
place of right-ruling, wrongness was there. satisfied with riches. “And for whom am I
And in the place of righteousness, wrong- toiling and depriving myself of good?”
ness was there. That too is futility, and an evil task.
17 I said in my heart, “Elohim judges the 9 Two are better than one, because they
righteous and the wrong, for there is a time have a good reward for their labour.
for every matter and for every work.” 10 For if they fall, one lifts his companion
18 I said in my heart, “Concerning the up. But woe to him who is alone when he
matter of the sons of men, Elohim selects falls, for he has no one to help him up.
them, so as to see that they themselves are 11 Also, if two lie down together, they
them: as one dies, so dies the other. Indeed, two withstand him. And a threefold cord is
they all have one breath – man has no not readily broken.
advantage over beasts. For all is futile. 13 A poor and wise youth is better than an
20 All are going to one place – all came old and foolish sovereign who no longer
from the dust, and all return to dust. knows how to take warning.
21 Who knows the spirit of the sons of 14 For he comes out of prison to be sover-
men, which goes upward, and the spirit of eign, although in his reign he was born
the beast, which goes down to the earth? poor.
22 So I saw that man could do no better 15 I have seen all the living who walk
but to rejoice in his own works, for that is under the sun; they were with the second
his portion. For who would bring him to youth who stands in his place.
see what shall be after him? 16 There was no end of all the people; all
neighbour. That too is futile and feeding on ness of the task, and a fool’s voice is
wind. known by his many words.
5 The fool folds his hands and consumes 4 When you make a vow to Elohim, do
6 Do not allow your mouth to cause your and rejoice in his labour, this is a gift of
flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger Elohim.
of Elohim that it was a mistake. Why 20 Though it not be much, let him remem-
should Elohim be wroth at your voice and ber the days of his life, because Elohim
destroy the work of your hands? bears witness by the gladness of his heart.
7 For in much dreaming and many words
silver; nor he who loves wealth, and dren and lives many years, so that the days
increase. That too is futile. of his years are many, but his being is not
11 With the increase of goods, there is an satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has
increase of those consuming them. What no burial, I say that a premature birth is
advantage then is there to their owners, but better than he,
4 for it comes in futility and goes away in
to look on?
12 Sweet is the sleep of a labourer whether darkness, and in darkness its name is cov-
he eats little or much, but the plenty of the ered;
rich does not let him sleep. 5 even the sun it has not seen – it has
13 There is a sickly evil I have seen under more rest than that man.
the sun: riches kept for their owner, for his 6 And though he lives a thousand years
evil. twice over, yet he shall not see goodness.
14 But those riches perish through evil
Do not all go to one place?
use. And he brings forth a son, and there is 7 All the labour of man is for his mouth,
naught in his hand. and yet the appetite is not satisfied.
15 As he came naked from his mother’s 8 For what advantage has the wise over
womb, so he returns, to go as he came. the fool? What advantage does the poor
And from his labour which goes into his have who knows how to walk before the
hand he takes none whatsoever. living?
16 And this too is a grievous evil – exactly
9 What the eyes see is better than what
as he came, so he goes. And what gain has
the desire goes after. That too is futile and
he since he toiled for the wind?
17 All his days he also eats in darkness, feeding on wind.
10 Whatever shall be, has already been
and with much sorrow and sickness and
wrath. named, and it is known that he is son of
18 See what I have seen: It is good and AÅam. And he is unable to contend with
pleasant for one to eat and drink, and to Him who is mightier than he.
11 The more words, the more futility –
enjoy the good of all his labour in which he
toils under the sun all the days of his life what is to man the advantage?
12 For who knows what is good for man in
which Elohim gives him, for it is his
portion. life, all the days of his futile life, which he
19 Further, when Elohim has given any passes like a shadow? For who declares to
man riches and wealth, and permitted him man what shall be after him, under the
to enjoy them, and to receive his portion sun?
QOHELETH 7 804
ing than to go to the house of feasting, for than ten rulers that are in the city.
that is the end of all men. And the living 20 For there is not a righteous man on
take it to heart. earth who does good and does not sin.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by 21 Also do not take to heart all the words
the sadness of the face the heart becomes they speak, lest you hear your servant curs-
better. ing you.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of 22 For you know in your heart that many
mourning, but the heart of fools is in the times you have cursed others.
house of rejoicing. 23 All this I have proved by wisdom. I
5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the said, “I am wise,” but it was far from me.
wise than for man to hear the song of fools. 24 That which is, is far off and exceeding-
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a ly deep – who does find it?
pot, so is the laughter of a fool. That too is 25 I have turned round, even my heart, to
than the proud in spirit. woman whose heart is snares and nets,
9 Do not be hasty in your spirit to be whose hands are shackles. He who pleases
vexed, for vexation rests in the bosom of Elohim escapes from her, but the sinner is
fools. captured by her.
10 Do not say, “Why were the former days 27 “See, this I have found,” says Qoheleth,
better than these?” For it is not wise of you “Counting one by one, to find a conclu-
to have asked about this. sion,
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, 28 which my being still seeks but have not
and an advantage to those who see the sun. found: I have found one man among a
12 For wisdom protects as silver protects, thousand, but a woman among all these I
but the advantage of knowledge is that have not found.
wisdom gives life to those who have it. 29 Truly, this only I have found: that
13 See the work of Elohim: For who is Elohim made man straight, but they have
able to make straight what He has made sought out many devices.”
crooked?
14 Be glad in the day of prosperity, but in
the evil day take note that Elohim has also 8 Who is like a wise one? And who
knows the meaning of a matter? A
appointed the one as well as the other, so man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and
that man should not uncover whatever the hardness of his face is changed.
shall be after him. 2 I say, “Guard the sovereign’s command
15 I have seen it all in my days of futility: because of the oath before Elohim.
There is a righteous one perishing in his 3 Do not be in a hurry to go from his
righteousness, and there is a wrong one presence. Do not take a stand in an evil
living long in his evil. matter, for he does whatever he pleases.”
16 Do not be overrighteous, neither be 4 Where the word of a sovereign is, there
overwise – why destroy yourself? is power. And who says to him, “What are
17 Do not be wrong overmuch, and do not you doing?”
be a fool – why die before your time? 5 He who guards the command knows no
18 It is good that you should take hold of evil matter. And the heart of the wise
805 QOHELETH 9
discerns both time and right-ruling, labours to seek, yet he does not find it. And
6 Because for every matter there is a time even though a wise one claims to know, he
and right-ruling, though the trouble of man is unable to find it.
is heavy upon him.
7 For he does not know what shall be; so
who declares to him when it shall be? 9 For all this I took to heart, even to
search out all this: that the righteous
8 No one has power over the spirit to and the wise and their deeds are in the
retain the spirit, and no one has power in hand of Elohim. No man knows whether
the day of death. There is no discharge in love or hatred awaits him.
battle, and wrongness does not release 2 It is the same for all: One event to the
those who are given to it. righteous and to the wrong; to the good,
9 All this I have seen; I applied my heart and to the clean, and to the unclean; and to
to every work that is done under the sun: the one slaughtering and to the one not
There is a time in which a man rules over a slaughtering. As is the good one, so is the
man for his evil. sinner; the one swearing as the one fearing
10 And so I saw the wrong ones buried, an oath.
and they came and went from the place of 3 This is an evil in all that is done under
set-apartness, and they were forgotten in the sun: there is one event to all. Truly the
the city where they had so done. That too hearts of the sons of men are filled with
is futile. evil, and madness is in their hearts while
11 Because the sentence against an evil they live, and then – to the dead!
deed is not executed speedily, therefore the 4 But for him who is joined to all the
heart of the sons of men is filled in them to living there is trust, for a living dog is
do evil. better than a dead lion.
12 Although a sinner is doing evil a hun- 5 For the living know that they shall die,
dred times, and his life is prolonged, yet I but the dead know naught, nor do they
know that there is good to those who fear have any more reward, for their remem-
Elohim, who fear before Him. brance is forgotten.
13 But it shall not be well with the wrong 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and
one, nor would he prolong his days as a their envy have now perished; and they no
shadow, because he does not fear before longer have a share in all that is done under
Elohim. the sun.
14 There is a futility which has been done 7 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink
on earth, that there are righteous ones who your wine with a glad heart; for Elohim
get according to the deeds of the wrong. has already approved your works.
And there are wrong ones who get accord- 8 Let your garments be white at all times,
ing to the deeds of the righteous. I said that and let your head lack no oil.
this too is futile. 9 See life with the wife whom you love
15 Therefore I praised enjoyment, because all the days of your futile life which He has
there is no good to man except to eat, and given you under the sun, all your days of
to drink, and to rejoice – and it remains futility. For that is your share in life, and in
with him in his labour for the days of his your toil which you have laboured under
life which Elohim has given him under the the sun.
sun. 10 All that your hand finds to do, do it
16 When I gave my heart to know wisdom with your might; for there is no work or
and to see the task which has been done on planning or knowledge or wisdom in the
earth, even though one sees no sleep day or grave where you are going.
night, 11 I again saw under the sun that the race
17 then I saw all the work of Elohim, that is not to the swift, nor the battle to the
man is unable to find out the work that has mighty, nor even bread to the wise, nor
been done under the sun. For though a man even riches to men of understanding, nor
QOHELETH 9 806
caught in a snare, so the sons of men are favour, but the lips of a fool swallow him up;
snared in an evil time, when it come down 13 the beginning of the words of his mouth
city, yet no one remembered that poor eign is a youth, and your rulers feast in the
man. morning!
16 And I said, “Wisdom is better than 17 Blessed are you, O land, when your
might. But the wisdom of the poor man is sovereign is the son of nobles, and your
despised, and his words are not heard.” rulers feast in due season – for strength and
17 The words of the wise, spoken calmly, not for drunkenness!
should be heard rather than the shout of a 18 Because of laziness the framework
lays to rest great faults. eight, for you do not know what evil might
5 There is an evil I have seen under the be on the earth.
sun, as a mistake coming from the ruler: 3 If the clouds are filled with rain, they
6 Folly is set in many high positions, empty themselves upon the earth. And if a
while the rich sit in a humble place. tree falls to the south or the north, in the
7 I have seen servants on horses – and place where the tree falls, there it is.
rulers walking on the ground like servants. 4 He who watches the wind does not sow,
8 He who digs a pit falls into it, and and he who looks at the clouds does not
whoever breaks through a wall is bitten by reap.
a snake. 5 As you do not know what is the way of
9 He who quarries stones is hurt by them. the wind, or how the bones grow in the
He who splits wood is endangered by it. womb of her who is with child, so you do not
10 If an iron tool is blunt, and one does not know the works of Elohim who makes all.
sharpen the edge, then he needs more 6 Sow your seed in the morning, and
strength, and wisdom is advantageous to until evening do not let your hand rest;
807 QOHELETH 12
since you do not know which prosper, this high, and of low places in the way; and the
or that, or whether both alike are good. almond tree blossoms, and the grasshopper
7 Sweet also is the light, and good for the becomes a burden, and desire perishes. For
eyes to see the sun; man is going to his everlasting home, and
8 But if a man lives many years, let him the mourners shall go about the streets.
rejoice in them all. But let him remember 6 Remember Him before the silver cord is
the days of darkness, for they are many. loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the
All that is coming is futility. jar shattered at the fountain, or the wheel
9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth,
broken at the well,
and let your heart gladden you in the days 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it
of your youth. And walk in the ways of was, and the spirit returns to Elohim who
your heart, and in the sight of your eyes, gave it.
but know that for all these Elohim brings 8 “Futility! Futility!” said the Qoheleth,
you into right-ruling.
10 Therefore remove vexation from your “All is futile.”
9 And besides being wise, Qoheleth also
heart, and put away evil from your flesh,
for youth and dawn of life are futility. taught the people knowledge, and he lis-
tened and sought out – set in order many
sovereign did according to the word of and she received kindness from him. So he
Memu¿an. hastened to give her preparations and her
22 So he sent letters to all the sovereign’s portions, and gave her seven choice female
provinces, to each province in its own servants from the sovereign’s palace. And
writing, and to every people in their own he moved her and her female servants to
language, that each man should be master the best place in the house of the women.
in his own house and speak in the language 10 EstÃr had not made known her people
certain man, a YehuÅite whose name was morning she returned to the second house
Morde¿ai son of Ya’ir, son of ShimÈi, son of the women, into the hand of ShaÈashgaz,
of Qish, a Binyamite, the sovereign’s eunuch, guardian of the
6 who had been exiled from Yeru- concubines. She would not come in to the
shalayim with the captives who had been sovereign again unless the sovereign
exiled with Ye¿onyah sovereign of Yehu- delighted in her and called for her by name.
Åah, whom NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar the sovereign 15 And when the turn came for EstÃr, the
tenth month, which is the month of TÃÄÃth, him daily and he would not listen to them,
in the seventh year of his reign. that they told Haman, to see whether the
17 And the sovereign loved EstÃr more words of Morde¿ai would stand – for he
than all the women, and she found favour had told them that he was a YehuÅite.
and kindness in his eyes more than all the 5 And when Haman saw that Morde¿ai
maidens. And he set the royal crown upon did not bow or do obeisance, Haman was
her head and made her sovereigness filled with wrath.
instead of Vashti. 6 But it was despicable in his eyes to lay
18 And the sovereign made a great feast, hands on Morde¿ai alone, for they had
the Feast of EstÃr, for all his officials and informed him of the people of Morde¿ai.
servants. And he proclaimed a release in Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the
the provinces and gave gifts according to YehuÅim who were throughout all the
the means of a sovereign. reign of AÁashwÃrosh, the people of
19 And when maidens were assembled a Morde¿ai.
second time, Morde¿ai sat within the sov- 7 In the first month, which is the month
within the sovereign’s gate, two of the wÃrosh, “There is a certain people scat-
sovereign’s eunuchs, BiÍthan and Teresh, tered and dispersed among the people in all
doorkeepers, were wroth and sought to lay the provinces of your reign, whose laws
hands on Sovereign AÁashwÃrosh. are different from all people, and they do
22 And the matter became known to not do the sovereign’s laws. Therefore it is
Morde¿ai, who informed Sovereigness not in the sovereign’s interest to let them
EstÃr, and EstÃr spoke to the sovereign in remain.
Morde¿ai’s name. 9 “If it pleases the sovereign, let a decree
23 And when the matter was searched be written to destroy them, and let me pay
into, it was confirmed, and both were ten thousand talents of silver into the hands
impaled on a stake. And it was written in of those who do the work, to bring it into
the book of the annals in the presence of the sovereign’s treasuries.”
the sovereign. 10 And the sovereign took his signet ring
and seated him higher than all the princes silver and the people are given to you, to
with him. do with them as seems good to you.”
2 And all the sovereign’s servants who 12 And the sovereign’s scribes were called
were in the sovereign’s gate bowed and did on the thirteenth day of the first month,
obeisance to Haman, for so the sovereign and a decree was written according to all
had commanded concerning him. But that Haman commanded – to the viceroys
Morde¿ai would not bow or do obeisance. of the sovereign, and to the governors who
3 And the sovereign’s servants who were were over each province, and to the offi-
in the sovereign’s gate said to Morde¿ai, cials of all people, to every province
“Why do you disobey the sovereign’s according to its writing, and to every
811 ESTÂR 5
people in their language. It was written in decree to destroy them, which was given at
the name of Sovereign AÁashwÃrosh, and Shushan, to show it to EstÃr and explain it
sealed with the sovereign’s signet ring. to her, and to command her to go in to the
13 And the letters were sent by the runners sovereign to make supplication to him, and
into all the sovereign’s provinces, to cut plead before him for her people.
off, to slay, and to destroy all the YehuÅim, 9 And Hatha¿ came and told EstÃr the
the twelfth month, which is the month of him a command for Morde¿ai,
AÅar, and to plunder their possessions. 11 “All the sovereign’s servants and the
14 A copy of the writing, to be made law people of the sovereign’s provinces know
in every province, was published for all that any man or woman who goes into the
people, to be ready for that day. inner court to the sovereign, who has not
15 The runners went out, hastened by the been called, he has but one law: to be put
sovereign’s command, and the decree was to death, except the one to whom the
given out in the citadel of Shushan. The sovereign holds out the golden sceptre,
sovereign and Haman then sat down to who then shall live. But I have not been
drink, but the city of Shushan was in con- called to come in to the sovereign these
fusion. thirty days.”
12 And they declared to Morde¿ai the
an open space of the city, in front of the 5 And it came to be on the third day that
EstÃr put on royal apparel and stood in
sovereign’s gate. the inner court of the sovereign’s palace, in
7 And Morde¿ai told him all that befell front of the sovereign’s house, while the
him, and all about the silver that Haman sovereign sat on his royal throne in the
promised to pay into the sovereign’s royal house, opposite the entrance of the
treasuries to destroy the YehuÅim. house.
8 And he gave him a copy of the written 2 And it came to be, when the sovereign
ESTÂR 5 812
saw Sovereigness EstÃr standing in the I see Morde¿ai the YehuÅite sitting at the
court, that she found favour in his eyes, sovereign’s gate.”
and the sovereign held out to EstÃr the 14 So his wife Zeresh and all his friends
golden sceptre which was in his hand. And said to him, “Let a stake be made, fifty
EstÃr went near and touched the top of the cubits high, and in the morning speak to
sceptre. the sovereign that Morde¿ai be impaled on
3 And the sovereign said to her, “What is it. And go with the sovereign to the feast,
it, Sovereigness EstÃr, and what is your rejoicing.” And the word pleased Haman,
request? Up to half my reign, and it is and he had the stake made.
given to you!”
4 And EstÃr answered, “If it pleases the
sovereign, let the sovereign and Haman 6 On that night the sleep of the sover-
eign fled, and he commanded to bring
come today to the feast which I have pre- the book of the records of the annals. And
pared for him.” they were read before the sovereign.
5 And the sovereign said, “Get Haman at 2 And it was found written that Morde¿ai
once, to do as EstÃr has said.” Then the had told of BiÍthana and Teresh, two of the
sovereign and Haman went to the feast sovereign’s eunuchs, the doorkeepers who
which EstÃr had prepared. had sought to lay hands on Sovereign
6 And the sovereign said to EstÃr at the AÁashwÃrosh.
feast of wine, “What is your petition? And 3 Then the sovereign said, “What has
it is given you. And what is your request? been done in value or in greatness to
Up to half my reign, and it is done!” Morde¿ai for this?” And the sovereign’s
7 And EstÃr answered and said, “My servants who attended him said, “Naught
petition and request is this: has been done for him.”
8 “If I have found favour in the eyes of 4 And the sovereign said, “Who is in the
the sovereign, and if it pleases the sov- court?” Now Haman had come into the
ereign to give my petition and perform my outer court of the sovereign’s palace to
request, then let the sovereign and Haman speak to the sovereign to impale Morde¿ai
come to the feast which I make for them, on the stake that he had prepared for him.
and tomorrow I shall do according to the 5 And the sovereign’s servants said to
that he did not stand or tremble before him, eign asked him, “What is to be done for the
he was filled with wrath against Morde¿ai. man whom the sovereign delights to
10 But Haman held himself in, and came value?” Now Haman thought in his heart,
to his house, and he sent and called for his “Whom would the sovereign delight to
friends and Zeresh his wife. value more than me?”
11 And Haman recounted to them the 7 And Haman answered the sovereign,
esteem of his wealth, and his many sons, “For the man whom the sovereign delights
and all in which the sovereign had to value,
promoted him, and how he had exalted 8 let a royal robe be brought which the
him above the officials and servants of the sovereign has worn, and a horse on which
sovereign. the sovereign has ridden, one with a royal
12 And Haman said, “Besides, EstÃr the crest placed on its head.
sovereigness let no one but me come in 9 “And let this robe and horse be given
with the sovereign to the feast which she into the hand of one of the sovereign’s
prepared. And tomorrow too I am invited most noble princes. Let them dress the
by her, along with the sovereign. man whom the sovereign delights to value.
13 “But all this does not suit me, as long as And make him ride on horseback through
813 ESTÂR 8
the city square, and proclaim before him, enemy is this evil Haman!” Then Haman
‘Thus it is done to the man whom the was afraid before the sovereign and
sovereign delights to value!’ ” sovereigness.
10 And the sovereign said to Haman, 7 And the sovereign, arising in his wrath
“Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you from the feast of wine, went into the palace
have spoken, and do so for Morde¿ai the garden. And Haman remained before
YehuÅite who sits in the sovereign’s gate. Sovereigness EstÃr, pleading for his life,
Let no word fail of all that you have spo- for he saw that evil had been decided
ken.” against him by the sovereign.
11 And Haman took the robe and the 8 And when the sovereign returned from
horse, and robed Morde¿ai and led him on the palace garden to the place of the feast of
horseback through the city square, and wine, Haman was falling on the couch
proclaimed before him, “Thus it is done to where EstÃr was. Then the sovereign said,
the man the sovereign delights to value.” “Also to ravish the sovereigness while I am
12 Then Morde¿ai went back to the in the house?” As the word left the sover-
sovereign’s gate. But Haman hurried to his eign’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
house, mourning and with covered head. 9 And ÀarÄonah, one of the eunuchs,
13 And when Haman related to his wife said to the sovereign, “Also, see the stake,
Zeresh and all his friends all that had befall- fifty cubits high, which Haman made for
en him, his wise men and his wife Zeresh Morde¿ai, who spoke good on behalf of
said to him, “If Morde¿ai, before whom you the sovereign, is standing at the house of
have begun to fall, is from the seed of the Haman.” And the sovereign said, “Impale
YehuÅim, you are not going to prevail him on it!”
against him but certainly fall before him.” 10 And they impaled Haman on the stake
14 While they were still speaking with that he had prepared for Morde¿ai, and the
him, the sovereign’s eunuchs came, and sovereign’s wrath abated.
hurried to bring Haman to the feast which
EstÃr had prepared.
8 On that day Sovereign AÁashwÃrosh
gave to Sovereigness EstÃr the house
7 And the sovereign and Haman came
in, to drink with Sovereigness EstÃr.
2 And again on the second day, at the feast
of Haman, the adversary of the YehuÅim.
And Morde¿ai came before the sovereign,
for EstÃr had explained what he was to her.
of wine, the sovereign said to EstÃr, “What 2 And the sovereign took off his signet
is your petition, Sovereigness EstÃr? And it ring, which he had taken from Haman, and
is given to you. And what is your request? gave it to Morde¿ai. And EstÃr appointed
Up to half my reign, and it is done!” Morde¿ai over the house of Haman.
3 And Sovereigness EstÃr answered and 3 And EstÃr spoke to the sovereign again,
said, “If I have found favour in your eyes, and fell down at his feet and begged him
O sovereign, and if it pleases the sover- with tears to put an end to the evil of
eign, let my life be given me at my peti- Haman the AÍaÍite, and his plot which he
tion, and my people at my request. had plotted against the YehuÅim.
4 “For we have been sold, my people and 4 And the sovereign held out the golden
I, to be cut off, to be slain, and to be sceptre toward EstÃr. And EstÃr arose and
destroyed. And if we had been sold as stood before the sovereign,
male and female slaves, I would have kept 5 and said, “If it pleases the sovereign,
silent, although the adversary could not and if I have found favour in his sight and
make up for the sovereign’s loss.” the matter is right before the sovereign and
5 Then Sovereign AÁashwÃrosh asked I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written
Sovereigness EstÃr, “Who is he, and where to bring back the letters, the plot by
is he, whose heart is set to do so?” Haman, son of HammeÅatha the AÍaÍite,
6 And EstÃr said, “The adversary and which he wrote to destroy the YehuÅim
ESTÂR 8 814
who are in all the sovereign’s provinces. sovereign’s command. And the decree was
6 “For how could I bear to see the evil given out in the citadel of Shushan.
coming to my people? Or how could I bear 15 And Morde¿ai went out from the
Åim, as it pleases you, in the sovereign’s where the sovereign’s command and
name, and seal it with the sovereign’s decree came, the YehuÅim had joy and
signet ring. For a letter which is written in gladness, a feast and a good day. And
the sovereign’s name and sealed with the many of the people of the land were
sovereign’s signet ring no one turns back.” becoming YehuÅim, for the fear of the
9 So the sovereign’s scribes were called YehuÅim had fallen upon them.
at that time, in the third month, which is
the month of Siwan, on the twenty-third
day. And it was written, according to all 9 And in the twelfth month, that is, the
month of AÅar, on the thirteenth day,
that Morde¿ai commanded to the when the sovereign’s command and his
YehuÅim, and to the viceroys, and the decree came to be done, on the day that the
governors, and the princes of the provinces enemies of the YehuÅim had waited to
from India to Kush, a hundred and twenty- overpower them, it turned around, so that
seven provinces, to every province in its the YehuÅim overpowered those who
own writing, to every people in their own hated them.
language, and to the YehuÅim in their own 2 The YehuÅim assembled in their cities,
writing, and in their own language. throughout all the provinces of Sovereign
10 And he wrote in the name of Sovereign AÁashwÃrosh to lay hands on those who
AÁashwÃrosh, and sealed it with the sought their evil. And no one stood against
sovereign’s signet ring, and sent letters by them, because fear of them fell upon all
runners on horseback, riding on royal people.
horses bred from speedy mares: 3 And all the officials of the provinces,
11 That the sovereign has granted to the and the viceroys, and the governors, and
YehuÅim who were in every city to be all those doing the sovereign’s work,
assembled and stand for their lives – to cut helped the YehuÅim, because the fear of
off, to slay, and to destroy all the power of Morde¿ai fell upon them.
the people or province that would distress 4 For Morde¿ai was great in the palace of
them, little children and women, and to the sovereign, and his report spread into all
plunder their possessions, the provinces, for this man Morde¿ai
12 on one day in all the provinces of became greater and greater.
Sovereign AÁashwÃrosh, on the thirteenth 5 And the YehuÅim smote all their ene-
day of the twelfth month, which is the mies with the stroke of the sword, with
month of AÅar. slaughter and destruction, and did what
13 The copy of the writing to be made law they pleased to those who hated them.
in every province was announced to all the 6 And in the citadel of Shushan the Yehu-
peoples, so that the YehuÅim would be Åim slew and destroyed five hundred men.
ready on that day to be avenged on their 7 And they slew Parshandatha, and Dal-
went out, hastened and pressed on by the 9 and Parmashta, and Arisai, and AriÅai,
815 ESTÂR 9
they did not lay a hand on the plunder. fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month
11 On that day the number of those who of AÅar, yearly,
were slain in the citadel of Shushan came 22 as the days on which the YehuÅim had
petition? And it is given to you. And what they had begun, and as Morde¿ai had
is your further request? And it is done.” written to them,
13 And EstÃr said, “If it pleases the 24 because Haman, son of HammeÅatha
sovereign, let it be given to the YehuÅim the AÍaÍite, the adversary of all the
who are in Shushan to do again tomorrow YehuÅim, had plotted against the YehuÅim
according to today’s decree, and let to destroy them, and had cast Pur – that is,
Haman’s ten sons be impaled on the stake.” the lot – to crush them and to destroy them.
14 And the sovereign commanded this to 25 But when she came before the sover-
be done. And the decree was given in eign, he commanded by letter that his evil
Shushan, and they impaled Haman’s ten plot which Haman had plotted against the
sons. YehuÅim should return on his own head,
15 And the YehuÅim who were in Shushan and that he and his sons should be impaled
also assembled on the fourteenth day of the on the stake.
month of AÅar and they slew three hun- 26 Therefore they called these days Purim,
dred men at Shushan. But they did not lay after the name Pur. Therefore, because of
a hand on the plunder. all the words of this letter, what they had
16 And the rest of the YehuÅim in the seen concerning this matter, and what had
sovereign’s provinces assembled and stood come upon them,
for their lives, and to get rest from their 27 the YehuÅim established and imposed it
enemies, and to slay seventy-five thousand upon themselves and upon their seed and
of their enemies. But they did not lay a all who should join them, that without fail
hand on the plunder. they should observe these two days every
17 That was on the thirteenth day of the year, according to their writing and at their
month of AÅar, and on the fourteenth day appointed time,
of the month they rested and made it a day 28 and that these days should be remem-
who dwelt in the unwalled towns were of AÄiÁayil, with Morde¿ai the YehuÅite,
making the fourteenth day of the month of wrote with all authority to confirm this
AÅar a good day of gladness and feasting, second letter about Purim.
and for sending portions to one another. 30 And Morde¿ai sent letters to all the
20 And Morde¿ai wrote these matters and YehuÅim, to the hundred and twenty-seven
sent letters to all the YehuÅim who were in provinces of the reign of AÁashwÃrosh,
ESTÂR 9 816
Yerushalayim.’ ” seventy-two;
5 And the heads of the fathers’ houses of 5 sons of AraÁ, seven hundred and seven-
spirits Elohim had stirred, rose up to go up YÃshua and Yo’aÄ, two thousand eight
and build the House of HWHY which is in hundred and twelve;
Yerushalayim. 7 sons of Âylam, one thousand two hun-
6 And all those round about them dred and fifty-four;
strengthened their hands with objects of 8 sons of Zattu, nine hundred and forty-
twenty-three; Àanan,
22 men of Netophah, fifty-six; 47 sons of GiddÃl, sons of GaÁar, sons of
23 men of Anathoth, one hundred and Re’ayah,
twenty-eight; 48 sons of Retsin, sons of NeqoÅa, sons of
24 sons of Azmaweth, forty-two; Gazzam,
25 sons of Qiryath Arim, Kephirah, and 49 sons of Uzza, sons of PasÃaÁ, sons of
twenty-two; of ÀarÁur,
28 men of BÃyth Âl and Ai, two hundred 52 sons of Batsluth, sons of MeÁiÅa, sons
twenty; GiddÃl,
33 sons of LoÅ, ÀaÅiÅ, and Ono, seven 57 sons of Shephatyah, sons of Àattil, sons
should not eat of the most set-apart gifts the appointed times of HWHY that were set-
until there stood up a priest with the Urim apart, also for everyone who volunteered a
and Tummim. voluntary offering to HWHY.
64 The entire assembly was forty-two 6 From the first day of the seventh month
thousand three hundred and sixty, they began to offer burnt offerings to HWHY.
65 besides their male and female servants
But the foundation of the Hÿal of HWHY
– these were seven thousand three hundred had not been laid.
and thirty-seven. They also had two hun- 7 And they gave silver to the stonema-
dred men and women singers. sons and the carpenters, and food, and
66 Their horses were seven hundred and
drink, and oil to the people of TsiÅon and
thirty-six, their mules two hundred and Tsor to bring cedar logs from LeÄanon to
forty-five, the sea at Yapho, according to the per-
67 their camels four hundred and thirty-
mission which they had from Koresh
five, donkeys six thousand seven hundred sovereign of Persia.
and twenty. 8 And in the second month of the second
68 And some of the heads of the fathers’
year of their coming to the House of
houses, when they came to the House of Elohim, to Yerushalayim, ZerubbaÄel son
HWHY which is in Yerushalayim, offered of She’alti’Ãl, and YÃshua son of YotsaÅaq,
voluntarily for the House of Elohim, to and the rest of their brothers the priests and
establish it in its place. the LÃwites, and all those who had come
69 They gave according to their ability to
out of the captivity to Yerushalayim,
the treasury for the work sixty-one thou- began, and they appointed the LÃwites
sand gold drachmas, and five thousand from twenty years old and above to over-
minas of silver, and one hundred priestly see the work of the House of HWHY.
garments. 9 And YÃshua stood up, his sons and his
70 And the priests and the LÃwites, and brothers, Qadmi’Ãl with his sons, the sons
some of the people, and the singers, and of YehuÅah together, to oversee those
the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, dwelt working on the House of Elohim: the sons
in their cities, and all Yisra’Ãl in their of ÀÃnaÅaÅ with their sons and their
cities. brothers the LÃwites.
10 And when the builders laid the founda-
shouted with a loud shout, and the sound the rest beyond the River. And now,
was heard far away. 11 this is a copy of the letter that they sent
for us to build a house for our Elohim, but the palace, it was not fitting for us to see
we alone build to HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, the sovereign’s shame. Therefore we have
as Sovereign Koresh the sovereign of sent and informed the sovereign,
Persia has commanded us.” 15 so that search be made in the book of
4 And it came to be that the people of the the records of your fathers, and you find in
land were weakening the hands of the peo- the book of the records, and know, that this
ple of YehuÅah and troubling them in their city is a rebellious city, and causing loss to
building, sovereigns and provinces. And revolt was
5 and hiring counsellors against them to stirred up in it since days of old, for which
thwart their plans all the days of Koresh cause this city was destroyed.
sovereign of Persia, even until the reign of 16 We inform the sovereign that if this city
Dareyawesh sovereign of Persia. is rebuilt and its walls are completed, then
6 And in the reign of AÁashwÃrosh, in you have no portion beyond the River.
the beginning of his reign, they wrote an 17 The sovereign sent a message: To
accusation against the inhabitants of ReÁum the governor, and Shimshai the
YehuÅah and Yerushalayim. scribe, to the rest of their companions who
7 And in the days of ArtaÁshashta, dwell in Shomeron, and the rest beyond
Bishlam, MithreÅath, TaÄe’Ãl, and the rest the River: Peace! And now,
of their companions wrote to ArtaÁshashta 18 the letter you sent to us has been plainly
scribe, and the rest of their companions – Yerushalayim, who have ruled over all
the judges, and the emissaries, the consuls, beyond the River. And tax, excise, and toll
the officials, the people of Ere¿ and of were paid to them.
BaÄel and of Shushan, the Dehawites, the 21 Now, make a decree to make these men
and settled in the cities of Shomeron and Why should damage increase to the hurt of
821 EZRA 6
ReÁum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their order to inform you, so we could write the
companions, they went up in a hurry to names of the men at their head.
Yerushalayim against the YehuÅim, and 11 And this is the answer they gave us,
made them cease by might and power. saying, “We are the servants of the Elah of
24 Then the work of the House of Elah heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding
which is at Yerushalayim ceased, and it the House that was built many years ago,
ceased until the second year of the reign of which a great sovereign of Yisra’Ãl built
Dareyawesh sovereign of Persia. and completed.
12 “But because our fathers provoked the
found, and this was written in it: Yerushalayim! I Dareyawesh make the
3 In the first year of Sovereign Koresh, decree – let it be done promptly.
Sovereign Koresh made a decree concern- 13 Then Tattenai, governor beyond the
ing the House of Elah at Yerushalayim, River, Shethar-Bozenai, and their compan-
“Let the house be built in the place where ions promptly did according to what
they brought offerings, and its foundations Dareyawesh the sovereign had sent.
strongly laid, its height sixty cubits, its 14 And the elders of the YehuÅim were
returned and go to the Hÿal which is in third day of the month of AÅar, which was
Yerushalayim, to its place, and deposit in the sixth year of the reign of Sovereign
them in the House of Elah,” Dareyawesh.
6 Now, Tattenai, governor beyond the 16 Then the children of Yisra’Ãl, the
River, and Shethar-Bozenai, and your priests and the LÃwites and the rest of the
companions the officials beyond the River, sons of the exile, did the dedication of this
stay away from there. House of Elah with joy,
7 Leave the work of this House of Elah 17 and offered at the dedication of this
alone. Let the governor of the YehuÅim House of Elah one hundred bulls, two hun-
and the elders of the YehuÅim build this dred rams, four hundred lambs, and as a
House of Elah on its place. sin offering for all Yisra’Ãl twelve male
8 And I make a decree as to what you goats, according to the number of the
should do for the elders of these YehuÅim, tribes of Yisra’Ãl.
for the building of this House of Elah: Let 18 And they appointed the priests to their
the exact expense be paid to these men divisions and the LÃwites to their
from the sovereign’s resources, out of the divisions, over the service of Elah in Yeru-
taxes beyond the River, so that they are not shalayim, as it is written in the Book of
stopped. Mosheh.
9 And whatever they need – both young 19 And the sons of the exile performed the
bulls and rams, and lambs for the burnt Passover on the fourteenth day of the first
offerings of the Elah of heaven, wheat, month,
salt, wine, and oil, according to the request 20 for the priests and the LÃwites had
of the priests who are in Yerushalayim – let cleansed themselves – all of them were
it be given them day by day without fail, clean. And they slaughtered the Passover
10 so that they bring pleasing offerings to for all the sons of the exile, and for their
the Elah of heaven, and pray for the life of brothers the priests, and for themselves.
the sovereign and his sons. 21 And the children of Yisra’Ãl who had
11 And I make a decree that whoever returned from the exile ate together with
changes this word, let a timber be pulled all who had separated themselves from the
from his house, and let him be impaled, uncleanness of the gentiles of the land in
hanged on it. And let his house be made a order to seek HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl.
dunghill because of this. 22 And they performed the Festival of
12 And Elah, who has caused His Name to Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for
dwell there does overthrow any sovereign HWHY caused them to rejoice, and turned the
or people who put their hand to change, to heart of the sovereign of Ashshur toward
destroy this House of Elah which is in them, to strengthen their hands in the work
823 EZRA 7
of the House of Elohim, the Elohim of about YehuÅah and Yerushalayim, with
Yisra’Ãl. regard to the law of your Elah which is in
your hand;
7 And after these events, in the reign of
ArtaÁshashta sovereign of Persia,
15 and to bring the silver and gold which
had given. And the sovereign gave him all your brothers to do with the rest of the
he asked, according to the hand of HWHY his silver and the gold, do it according to the
Elohim upon him. desire of your Elah.
7 And some of the children of Yisra’Ãl, 19 And the utensils that are given to you
and the priests, and the LÃwites, and the for the service of the House of your Elah,
singers, and the gatekeepers, and the put back before the Elah of Yerushalayim.
Nethinim came up to Yerushalayim in the 20 And the rest of the needs for the House
seventh year of Sovereign ArtaÁshashta. of your Elah, which falls to you to give,
8 And he came to Yerushalayim in the give from the sovereign’s treasure-house.
fifth month, which was in the seventh year 21 And I, I ArtaÁshashta the sovereign, do
priest, the scribe, a scribe in the words of heaven, let it be diligently done for the
the commands of HWHY, and of His laws to House of the Elah of heaven. For why
Yisra’Ãl: should there be wrath against the reign of
12 ArtaÁshashta, sovereign of sovereigns, the sovereign and his sons?
to Ezra the priest, a perfect scribe of the 24 We further inform you that there is no
law of the Elah of heaven. And now, authority to impose tax, excise, or toll on
13 I make a decree that all those of the any of the priests and LÃwites, singers,
people of Yisra’Ãl and the priests and gatekeepers, Nethinim, and servants of this
LÃwites in my reign, who volunteer to go House of Elah.
up to Yerushalayim, go with you. 25 And you, Ezra, according to the wis-
14 Since you are being sent by the sover- dom of your Elah that is in your hand,
eign and his seven counsellors to inquire appoint magistrates and judges to judge all
EZRA 7 824
the people who are beyond the River, all of Haqqatan, and with him one hundred
such as know the laws of your Elah. And and ten males;
teach those who do not know them. 13 and of the last sons of AÅoniqam,
26 And whoever does not do the law of whose names are these; Eliphelet, YeÈi’Ãl,
your Elah and the law of the sovereign, let and Shemayah, and with them sixty males;
judgment be promptly executed on him, 14 and of the sons of BiÍwai, Uthai and
whether it be death, or banishment, or con- ZabbuÅ, and with them seventy males.
fiscation of goods, or imprisonment. 15 And I assembled them at the river that
27 Blessed be HWHY Elohim of our fathers, flows to Ahawa, and we camped there
who has put this in the sovereign’s heart, three days. And I looked among the people
to embellish the House of HWHY which is in and the priests, and did not find any of the
Yerushalayim, sons of LÃwi there.
28 and has extended kindness to me before 16 Then I sent for EliÈezer, for Ari’Ãl, for
the sovereign and his counsellors, and Shemayah, and for Elnathan, and for
before all the sovereign’s mighty princes. YariÄ, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan,
So I was strengthened, as the hand of HWHY and for Ze¿aryah, and for Meshullam,
my Elohim was upon me. And I gathered leaders – also for YoyariÄ and Elnathan,
heads from Yisra’Ãl to go up with me. men of understanding.
17 And I gave them a command for Iddo
ÈÃynai son of ZeraÁyah, and with him two yah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and
hundred males; their sons, twenty;
5 of the sons of She¿anyah, the son of 20 and of the Nethinim, whom DawiÅ and
YaÁazi’Ãl, and with him three hundred the leaders had appointed for the service of
males; the LÃwites, two hundred and twenty
6 and of the sons of AÅin, EÄeÅ son of Nethinim, all of them designated by name.
Yehonathan, and with him fifty males; 21 I then proclaimed a fast there, at the
7 and of the sons of Âylam, Yeshayah son river of Ahawa, to humble ourselves
of Athalyah, and with him seventy males; before our Elohim, to seek from Him the
8 and of the sons of Shephatyah, ZeÄaÅ- right way for us and our little ones and all
yah son of Mi¿a’Ãl, and with him eighty our possessions,
males; 22 for I was ashamed to ask of the sov-
9 of the sons of Yo’aÄ, OÄaÅyah son of ereign a group of soldiers and horsemen to
YeÁi’Ãl, and with him two hundred and help us against the enemy on the way,
eighteen males; because we had spoken to the sovereign,
10 and of the sons of Shelomith, the son of saying, “The hand of our Elohim is upon
Yosiphyah, and with him one hundred and all those for good who seek Him, but His
sixty males; power and His wrath are against all those
11 and of the sons of BÃÄai, Ze¿aryah son who forsake Him.”
of BÃÄai, and with him twenty-eight males; 23 So we fasted and prayed to our Elohim
12 and of the sons of AzgaÅ, YoÁanan son for this, and He answered our prayer.
825 EZRA 9
24 And I separated twelve of the leaders of lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin
the priests: ShÃrÃÄyah, ÀashaÄyah, and ten offering – all as a burnt offering to HWHY.
of their brothers with them; 36 And they gave the sovereign’s orders to
25 and weighed out to them the silver, and the sovereign’s viceroys and the governors
the gold, and the utensils, the contribution beyond the River. And they lifted up the
for the House of our Elohim which the people and the House of Elohim.
sovereign and his counsellors and his
heads, and all Yisra’Ãl who were there, had
presented. 9 And when these matters had been
done, the leaders came to me, saying,
26 Thus I weighed into their hand six hun- “The people of Yisra’Ãl and the priests and
dred and fifty talents of silver, and silver the LÃwites have not separated themselves
objects of one hundred talents, one hun- from the peoples of the lands, as to their
dred talents of gold, abominations, those of the KenaÈanites, the
27 and twenty gold basins of a thousand Àittites, the Perizzites, the YeÄusites, the
drachmas, and two utensils of fine pol- Ammonites, the Mo’aÄites, the Mitsrites,
ished bronze, precious as gold. and the Amorites,
28 And I said to them, “You are set-apart 2 for they have taken some of their
to HWHY, and the objects are set-apart. And daughters as wives for themselves and
the silver and the gold are a voluntary their sons, so that the set-apart seed is
offering to HWHY Elohim of your fathers. intermingled with the peoples of those
29 “Watch and guard them until you weigh lands. And the hand of the leaders and
them before the leaders of the priests and rulers has been foremost in this trespass.”
the LÃwites and heads of the fathers’ houses 3 And when I heard this word, I tore my
of Yisra’Ãl in Yerushalayim, in the rooms of garment and my robe, and plucked out
the House of HWHY.” some of the hair of my head and beard, and
30 So the priests and the LÃwites took the sat down astonished.
weight of the silver and the gold and the 4 Then all those who trembled at the
was upon us, and He delivered us from the my affliction. And having torn my garment
hand of the enemy and from ambush along and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread
the way. out my hands to HWHY my Elohim,
32 And when we came to Yerushalayim, 6 and said, “O my Elohim, I am too
with him was ElÈazar son of PhineÁas. And day we have been very guilty, and for our
with them were the LÃwites, YozaÄaÅ son crookednesses we, our sovereigns, and our
of YÃshua and NoÈaÅyah son of Binnui, priests have been given into the hand of the
34 with the number and weight of all. And sovereigns of the lands, to the sword, to
all the weight was written down at that captivity, and to plunder, and to shame of
time. faces, as it is this day.
35 The sons of the exile, who had come 8 “But now, for a short while, favour has
from the captivity, brought burnt offerings been shown from HWHY our Elohim, to
to the Elohim of Yisra’Ãl: twelve bulls for leave us a remnant to escape, and to give
all Yisra’Ãl, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven us a peg in His set-apart place, that our
EZRA 9 826
Elohim might enlighten our eyes and give the sons of Olam, spoke up and said to
us a little reviving in our bondage. Ezra, “We have trespassed against our
9 “For we were slaves, but in our bondage Elohim, and have taken foreign women
our Elohim did not forsake us, and extend- from the peoples of the land. And now
ed kindness to us in the presence of the there is expectancy in Yisra’Ãl concerning
sovereigns of Persia, to revive us, to raise this.
up the House of our Elohim, to restore its 3 “Now then, let us make a covenant
ruins, and to give us a wall in YehuÅah and with our Elohim to put away all these
Yerushalayim. wives and those who have been born to
10 “And now, O our Elohim, what do we them, according to the counsel of HWHY
say after this? For we have forsaken Your and of those who tremble at the command
commands, of our Elohim. And let it be done accord-
11 which You have commanded by Your ing to the Torah.
servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land 4 “Arise, for the matter is upon you, but
which you are going in to possess is a land we are with you. Be strong and act.”
unclean through the uncleanness of the 5 And Ezra rose, and made the leaders of
peoples of the lands, by their abominations the priests, the LÃwites, and all Yisra’Ãl, to
with which they have filled it, from one swear to do according to this word. And
end to another, by their uncleanness. they swore.
12 ‘And now, do not give your daughters 6 Then Ezra rose up from before the
as wives for their sons, nor take their House of Elohim, and went into the room
daughters to your sons. And do not seek of YehoÁanan son of ElyashiÄ. And he
their peace or wealth ever, so that you are went there – he ate no bread and drank no
strong, and shall eat the good of the land, water for he mourned because of the
and leave it as an inheritance to your trespass of the exiles.
children forever.’ 7 And they passed a call throughout
13 “And after all that has come upon us for YehuÅah and Yerushalayim to all the sons
our evil deeds and for our great guilt, since of the exile, to gather at Yerushalayim,
You our Elohim have held back the rod 8 and that whoever would not come
upon our crookednesses, and have given us within three days, according to the counsel
such deliverance as this, of the leaders and elders, all his goods
14 should we turn back, to break Your would be put under a ban, and himself
commands, and join in marriage with the separated from the assembly of the exiles.
people of these abominations? Would You 9 Then all the men of YehuÅah and
not be enraged with us until You had Binyamin gathered at Yerushalayim within
consumed us, so that there would be no three days. It was the ninth month, on the
remnant or survivor? twentieth of the month. And all the people
15 “O HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, You are sat in the open space of the House of
righteous, for we are left as a remnant, as it Elohim, trembling because of the matter
is this day. See, we are before You, in our and because of showers of rain.
guilt, for there is no one to stand before 10 And Ezra the priest stood up and said to
You concerning this!” them, “You, you have trespassed and have
taken foreign women, adding to the guilt
10 And while Ezra was praying, and
while he was confessing, weeping,
of Yisra’Ãl.
11 “And now, make confession to HWHY
and bowing down before the House of Elohim of your fathers, and do His desire,
Elohim, a very large assembly – men and and separate yourselves from the peoples
women and children – gathered unto him of the land, and from the foreign women.”
from Yisra’Ãl, for the people wept very 12 And all the assembly answered and said
13 “But the people are many, and it is the 24 And of the singers: ElyashiÄ. And of
season of showers of rain, and we are not the gatekeepers: Shallum, and Telem, and
able to stand outside. And the work not of Uri.
one or two days, for we have greatly 25 And of Yisra’Ãl of the sons of Parosh:
transgressed in this matter. Ramyah, and Yizziyah, and Malkiyah, and
14 “Please, let the leaders of all the assem- Miyamin, and ElÈazar, and Malkiyah, and
bly stand. And let all those in our cities Benayah;
who have taken foreign women come at 26 and of the sons of Âylam: Mattanyah,
appointed times, together with the elders Ze¿aryah, and YeÁi’Ãl, and AÄdi, and
and judges of their cities, until the burning YerÃmoth, and Âliyah;
wrath of our Elohim is turned away from 27 and of the sons of Zattu: ElyoÈÃynai,
us in this matter.” ElyashiÄ, Mattanyah, and YerÃmoth, and
15 Only Yonathan son of Asah’Ãl and
ZaÄaÅ, and Aziza;
YaÁzeyah son of Tiqwah opposed this, and 28 and of the sons of BÃÄai: YehoÁanan,
Meshullam and Shabbethai the LÃwite Àananyah, Zabbai, and Athlai;
gave them support. 29 and of the sons of Bani: Meshullam,
16 Then the sons of the exile did so. And
Mallu¿, and AÅayah, YashuÄ, and She’al,
Ezra the priest, with certain heads of the Ramoth;
fathers’ houses, were separated by the 30 and of the sons of PaÁath-Mo’aÄ:
fathers’ houses, each of them by name.
And they sat down on the first day of the AÅna, and Kelal, Benayah, MaÈasÃyah,
tenth month to examine the matter. Mattanyah, Betsal’Ãl, and Binnui, and
17 And they finished with all the men who Menashsheh;
31 and of the sons of Àarim: EliÈezer,
had taken foreign women by the first day
of the second month. Yishshiyah, Malkiyah, Shemayah, ShimÈon,
18 And among the sons of the priests who 32 Binyamin, Mallu¿, and Shemaryah;
33 of the sons of Àashum: Mattenai,
had taken foreign women were found of
the sons of YÃshua son of YotsaÅaq, and Mattattah, ZaÄaÅ, Eliphelet, YerÃmai,
his brothers: MaÈasÃyah, and EliÈezer, and Menashsheh, and ShimÈi;
YariÄ, and GeÅalyah. 34 of the sons of Bani: MaÈaÅai, Amram,
19 And they gave their hand in pledge to and U’Ãl,
put away their wives. And being guilty, 35 Benayah, BÃÅeyah, Keluhu,
they presented a ram of the flock for their 36 Wanyah, MerÃmoth, ElyashiÄ,
guilt. 37 Mattanyah, Mattenai, and YaÈasu,
20 And of the sons of ImmÃr: Àanani and
38 and Bani, and Binnui, ShimÈi,
ZeÄaÅyah; 39 and Shelemyah, and Nathan, and AÅayah,
21 and of the sons of Àarim: MaÈasÃyah,
40 Ma¿naÅeÄai, Shashai, Sharai,
and Âliyah, and Shemayah, and YeÁi’Ãl,
41 Azar’Ãl, and Shelemyahu, Shemaryah,
and Uzziyah;
22 and of the sons of Pashhur: ElyoÈÃynai, 42 Shallum, Amaryah, and YosÃph;
QÃlayah – he is Qelita – PethaÁyah, Yehu- some of them had women who had borne
Åah, and EliÈezer. children.
NEÀEMYAH
NEHEMIAH
month of KislÃw, in the twentieth year, as I people, whom You have redeemed by Your
was in the citadel of Shushan, great power, and by Your strong hand.
2 that Àanani, one of my brothers, came 11 “O HWHY, I pray, please let Your ear be
with men from YehuÅah. And I asked them attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and
concerning the YehuÅim who had escaped, to the prayer of Your servants who delight
who had survived the captivity, and con- to fear Your Name. And let Your servant
cerning Yerushalayim. prosper this day, I pray, and grant him
3 And they said to me, “The remnant compassion in the presence of this man.”
who are left of the captivity in the province For I was cupbearer to the sovereign.
are there in great evil and reproach. And
the wall of Yerushalayim is broken down,
and its gates are burned with fire.” 2 And it came to be in the month of
Nisan, in the twentieth year of ArtaÁ-
4 And it came to be, when I heard these shashta the sovereign, when wine was
words, that I sat down and wept, and before him, that I took the wine and gave it
mourned for many days. And I was fasting to the sovereign. And I had never been sad
and praying before the Elohim of the in his presence.
heavens, 2 And the sovereign said to me, “Why is
5 and I said, “I pray, HWHY Elohim of the your face sad, since you are not sick? This
heavens, O great and awesome Âl, guard- is none else but sorrow of heart.” Then I
ing the covenant and kindness with those was very much afraid,
who love You, and with those guarding 3 and said to the sovereign, “Let the
Yisra’Ãl Your servants, and confess the sins are you asking for?” Then I prayed to the
of the children of Yisra’Ãl which we have Elohim of the heavens,
sinned against You. Both my father’s 5 and said to the sovereign, “If it seems
house and I have sinned. good to the sovereign, and if your servant
7 “We have acted very corruptly against is pleasing before you, I ask that you send
You, and have not guarded the commands, me to YehuÅah, to the city of my fathers’
nor the laws, nor the right-rulings which tombs, so that I build it.”
You commanded Your servant Mosheh. 6 And the sovereign, with the sover-
8 “Please remember the word that You eigness sitting beside him, said to me,
commanded Your servant Mosheh, saying, “How long would your journey take? And
‘If you trespass, I shall scatter you among when do you return?” So it seemed good
the peoples, before the sovereign to send me. And I set
9 but if you shall turn back to Me, and him a time.
guard My commands and do them, though 7 And I said to the sovereign, “If it seems
you were cast out to the end of the heavens, good to the sovereign, let letters be given
I shall gather them from there, and bring to me for the governors beyond the River,
them to the place which I have chosen, to that they should let me to pass through till I
829 NEÀEMYAH 3
enter.” And the sovereign gave them to me and ToÄiyah the servant, the Ammonite,
according to the good hand of my Elohim and Geshem the AraÄ, they mocked us and
upon me. despised us, and said, “What is this you are
9 Then I came to the governors beyond doing? Are you rebelling against the
the River, and gave to them the letters of sovereign?”
the sovereign. Now the sovereign had sent 20 And I answered them, and said to them,
commanders of the army and horsemen “The Elohim of the heavens, He shall bless
with me. us and let us, His servants, rise and build,
10 And Sanballat the Àoronite and but you have no portion or right or remem-
ToÄiyah the Ammonite official heard of it, brance in Yerushalayim.”
and to them it was evil, a great evil that a
man had come to seek good for the
children of Yisra’Ãl. 3 And ElyashiÄ the high priest rose up
with his brothers the priests and built
11 Then I came to Yerushalayim and was the Sheep Gate. They set it apart and set up
there three days. its doors, even as far as the Tower of
12 And I rose up in the night, I and a few Àanan’Ãl they set it apart, as far as the
men with me, but informed no one what Tower of Àanane’Ãl.
my Elohim had put in my heart to do at 2 And next to him the men of YeriÁo
Yerushalayim, nor was there any beast built. And next to them Zakkur son of Imri
with me, except the beast on which I rode. built.
13 And I went out by night through the 3 And the sons of Hassena’ah built the
Valley Gate to the Jackals’ Fountain and Fish Gate, who laid its beams and set up its
the Dung Gate, and examined the walls of doors, its bolts and bars.
Yerushalayim which were broken down 4 And next to them MerÃmoth son of
and its gates which were burned with fire. Uriyah, son of Qots, made repairs. And
14 And I went on to the Fountain Gate and next to them Meshullam son of Bere¿yah,
to the Sovereign’s Pool, but there was no son of MeshÃyzaÄ’Ãl, made repairs. And
room for the beast that was under me to next to them TsaÅoq son of BaÈana made
pass. repairs.
15 And I went up in the night by the wadi, 5 And next to them the Teqowites made
and examined the wall, and turned back, repairs, but their nobles did not put their
and entered by the Valley Gate, and shoulders to the work of their Master.
returned. 6 And YehoyaÅa son of PasÃaÁ and
16 And the deputy rulers did not know Meshullam son of BesoÅeyah repaired the
where I had gone nor what I had done. Nor Old Gate. They laid its beams and set up
had I yet informed the YehuÅim, or the its doors, and its bolts and its bars.
priests, or the nobles, or the deputy rulers, 7 And next to them Melatyah the
or the others who did the work. GiÄÈonite, and YaÅon the MÃronothite, the
17 Then I said to them, “You see the evil men of GiÄÈon and Mitspah, repaired the
which we are in, how Yerushalayim lies official seat of the governor beyond the
waste, and its gates are burned with fire. River.
Come and let us build the wall of 8 Next to him Uzzi’Ãl son of Àarhayah,
Yerushalayim, and let us no longer be a one of the goldsmiths, made repairs. And
reproach.” next to him Àananyah, one of the
18 And I informed them of the hand of my perfumers, made repairs. And they
NEÀEMYAH 3 830
Àarumaph made repairs, even opposite his the neighbourhood, made repairs.
house. And next to him Àattush son of 23 After him Binyamin and ÀashshuÄ
its doors, its bolts and bars. another section, opposite the great project-
15 And the Fountain Gate was repaired by ing tower, and as far as the wall of Ophel.
Shallun son of Kol-Àozeh, ruler of the dis- 28 Beyond the Horse Gate the priests
trict of Mitspah. He built it and covered it, made repairs, each opposite his own house.
and set up its doors, its bolts and bars – 29 After them TsaÅoq son of ImmÃr made
also the wall of the Pool of ShelaÁ by the repairs opposite his own house. After him
Sovereign’s Garden, as far as the stairs Shemayah son of She¿anyah, keeper of the
going down from the City of DawiÅ. East Gate, made repairs.
16 After him NeÁemyah son of Azbuq, 30 After him Àananyah son of Shelemyah,
ruler of half the district of BÃyth Tsur, and Àanun, the sixth son of Tsalaph,
made repairs as far as opposite the tombs repaired another section. After him
of DawiÅ, and to the man-made pool, and Meshullam son of Bere¿yah made repairs
as far as the house of the mighty men. opposite his room.
17 After him the LÃwites, ReÁum son of 31 After him Malkiyah, one of the gold-
Bani, made repairs. Next to him repaired smiths, made repairs as far as the house of
ÀashaÄyah, ruler of half the district of the Nethinim and of the merchants, oppo-
QeÈilah, for his district. site the MiphqaÅ Gate, and as far as the
18 After him their brothers, Bawwai son going up of the corner.
of ÀÃnaÅaÅ, ruler of the other half of the 32 And between the going up of the corner
district of QeÈilah, made repairs. to the Sheep Gate, the goldsmiths and the
19 And next to him Âzer son of YÃshua, merchants made repairs.
the ruler of Mitspah, repaired another sec-
tion before the going up to the armoury at
the corner. 4 And it came to be, when Sanballat
heard that we were rebuilding the
20 After him Baru¿ son of Zabbai eagerly wall, that he was wroth and highly offend-
repaired the other section, from the but- ed, and mocked the YehuÅim.
tress to the door of the house of ElyashiÄ 2 And he spoke before his brothers and
831 NEÀEMYAH 5
the army of Shomeron, and said, “What are the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of
these feeble YehuÅim doing? Are they them. Remember the great and awesome,
going to restore, slaughter, complete it in a HWHY, and fight for your brothers, your sons
day? Are they going to bring to life the and your daughters, your wives and your
stones from the heaps of rubbish which are houses.”
burned?” 15 And it came to be, when our enemies
3 And ToÄiyah the Ammonite was beside heard that it was known to us, and that
him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if Elohim had brought their counsel to
a fox should climb on it, he shall break naught, that all of us returned to the wall,
down their stone wall.” everyone to his work.
4 “Hear, O our Elohim, for we have 16 And it came to be, from that time on,
become despised. And turn back their that half of my servants were working in
reproach on their own heads, and give the work, while the other half were holding
them as a prey in a land of captivity! the spears, the shields, and the bows, and
5 “And do not cover over their crooked- the breastplates. And the rulers were
ness, and do not let their sin be blotted out behind all the house of YehuÅah,
from before You, for they have provoked 17 who were building on the wall, and
and the broken places began to be filled, deputy rulers, and to the rest of the people,
that they became very wroth, “The work is great and large, and we are
8 and all of them conspired together to separated far from one another on the wall.
come to fight against Yerushalayim and to 20 “In whatever place you hear the sound
so much rubbish that we are unable to “Let each man and his servant spend the
build the wall.” night in Yerushalayim, and they shall be
11 And our adversaries said, “Let them not our guard by night, and for the work by
know or see it until we come into their day.”
midst and shall slay them, and cause the 23 So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my
the wall, at the openings – I set the people 5 And there was a great outcry of the
people and their wives against their
according to their clans, with their swords, brothers, the YehuÅim.
their spears, and their bows. 2 And there were some who were saying,
14 And I looked, and rose up and said to “We, our sons, and our daughters are
the nobles, and to the deputy rulers, and to many. Let us get grain for them, and eat,
NEÀEMYAH 5 832
children. And see, we are subjecting our before me laid burdens on the people, and
sons and our daughters to be slaves, and took from them bread and wine, besides
some of our daughters have already been forty sheqels of silver. Their servants also
subjected, and there is no power in our oppressed the people, but I did not do so,
hands, for other men have our lands and because of the fear of Elohim.
vineyards.” 16 And I also applied myself to the work
6 And it was very displeasing to me when on this wall. We did not buy any land. And
I heard their outcry and these words. all my servants were gathered there for the
7 And my heart ruled over me, and I work.
strove with the nobles and with the deputy 17 And at my table were one hundred and
rulers, and said to them, “You are exacting fifty of the YehuÅim and deputy rulers,
interest, each one from his brother.” And I besides those who came to us from the
called a great assembly against them, nations around us.
8 and said to them, “According to our 18 And that which was prepared for me
ability we have redeemed our brothers, the daily was one ox and six choice sheep, and
YehuÅim, who were sold to the gentiles. birds were prepared for me, and once
And you even sell your brothers! Or every ten days plenty of all kinds of wine.
should they be sold to us?” And they were And in spite of this I did not seek the
silent and found not a word to say. governor’s food, because the bondage was
9 I also said, “What you are doing is not heavy on this people.
good. Should you not walk in the fear of 19 O my Elohim, remember me for the
our Elohim because of the reproach of the good – all that I have done for this people.
gentiles, our enemies?
10 “And also, I, my brothers and my
servants, am lending them silver and grain. 6 And it came to be when Sanballat, and
ToÄiyah, and Geshem the AraÄ, and
Please, let us leave off this interest! the rest of our enemies heard that I had
11 “Please, give back to them, even today, rebuilt the wall, and that there were no
their lands, their vineyards, their olive- breaks left in it – though at that time I had
trees, and their houses, also the hundredth not set up the doors in the gates –
part of the silver and of the grain, and of 2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me,
the new wine, and of the oil, that you have saying, “Come, let us meet together in the
taken from them.” villages in the plain of Ono.” But they
12 And they said, “Let us give it back, and were planning to do evil to me.
ask no more from them, we do as you say.” 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I
Then I called the priests, and made them am doing a great work, and I am unable to
swear to do according to this word. come down. Why should the work cease
13 I also shook out the fold of my garment while I leave it and come down to you?”
and said, “Let Elohim in this way shake 4 However, they sent me the same word
out each man from his house, and from his four times, and I answered them the same
property, who does not do this word, even word.
833 NEÀEMYAH 7
5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me 16 And it came to be, when all our
with an open letter in his hand, the same enemies heard, and all the nations around
word, the fifth time. us saw, that they fell greatly in their own
6 In it was written: Among the nations it eyes, and knew that this work was done by
has been heard, and Gashmu is saying, that our Elohim.
you and the YehuÅim are planning to rebel, 17 In those days the nobles of YehuÅah
therefore you are rebuilding the wall, and also sent many letters to ToÄiyah, while
you are to be their sovereign – according to those of ToÄiyah came to them.
these words. 18 For many in YehuÅah were sworn to
7 And you have also appointed prophets him, because he was the son-in-law of
to proclaim concerning you at Yeru- She¿anyah son of AraÁ, and his son
shalayim, saying, ‘A sovereign is in YehoÁanan had married the daughter of
YehuÅah!’ And now these words are heard Meshullam son of Bere¿yah.
by the sovereign. Therefore come now, and 19 They were also speaking about his
let us take counsel together. good deeds before me, and reported my
8 Then I sent to him, saying, “There are words to him. ToÄiyah sent letters to
no such matters done as you are saying, frighten me.
but you are inventing them in your own
heart.”
9 For all of them were making us afraid, 7 And it came to be, when the wall was
rebuilt, that I set up the doors, and the
saying, “Let their hands slacken for the gatekeepers, and the singers, and the
work, and it not be done.” But now, make LÃwites were appointed.
my hands strong. 2 And I put my brother Àanani in charge
10 And when I came to the house of of Yerushalayim, and Àananyah the head
Shemayah son of Delayah, son of of the palace, for he was a trustworthy man
MehÃtaÄ’Ãl, who was restrained, he said, and feared Elohim more than many.
“Let us meet together in the House of 3 And I said to them, “Let not the gates
Elohim, inside the Hÿal, and let us close of Yerushalayim be opened until the sun is
the doors of the Hÿal, for they are coming hot. And while they are standing by, let
to slay you – by night they are coming to them shut the doors and bolt them. And
slay you.” appoint guards from among the inhabitants
11 And I said, “Should a man like me flee? of Yerushalayim, each at his post, and each
And who is there like me who would go in front of his own house.”
into the Hÿal to save his life? I do not go 4 And the city was wide on both sides
prophecy against me because ToÄiyah and gather the nobles, and the deputy rulers,
Sanballat had hired him – and the people, in order to be registered by
13 because he was a hireling – that I genealogy. And I found a register of the
should be afraid, and do so, and shall sin, genealogy of those who had come up at the
and so they could give me an evil name, to beginning, and I found written in it:
reproach me. 6 These are the sons of the province who
14 My Elohim, remember ToÄiyah and came back from the captivity of the exiles
Sanballat, according to these works of whom NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar the sovereign of
theirs, and the prophetess NoÈaÅyah and BaÄel had exiled, and who returned to
the rest of the prophets who would have Yerushalayim and YehuÅah, each to his
made me afraid. city,
15 And the wall was completed on the 7 who came with ZerubbaÄel, YÃshua,
BiÍwai, NeÁum, BaÈanah. The number of 34 sons of the other Âylam, one thousand
seventy-two; forty-five;
10 sons of AraÁ, six hundred and fifty- 37 sons of LoÅ, ÀaÅiÅ, and Ono, seven
five; two;
14 sons of Zakkai, seven hundred and 41 sons of Pashhur, one thousand two hun-
eight; seventeen.
16 sons of BÃÄai, six hundred and twenty- 43 The LÃwites: sons of YÃshua, of
twenty-eight; PaÅon,
23 sons of BÃtsai, three hundred and 48 sons of LeÄanah, sons of ÀaÍaÄa, sons
twenty-four; of Salmai,
24 sons of Àariph, one hundred and 49 sons of Àanan, sons of GiddÃl, sons of
twelve; GaÁar,
25 sons of GiÄÈon, ninety-five; 50 sons of Re’ayah, sons of Retsin, sons of
26 men of BÃyth LeÁem and Netophah, NeqoÅa,
one hundred and eighty-eight; 51 sons of Gazzam, sons of Uzza, sons of
27 men of Anathoth, one hundred and PasÃaÁ,
twenty-eight; 52 sons of BÃsai, sons of MeÈunim, sons of
28 men of BÃyth Azmaweth, forty-two; Nephishesim,
29 men of Qiryath YeÈarim, Kephirah, and 53 sons of Baqbuq, sons of Àaqupha, sons
twenty-two; TemaÁ,
32 men of BÃyth Âl and Ai, one hundred 56 sons of NetsiyaÁ, and sons of Àatipha.
sons of Qots, sons of Barzillai, who took a before the assembly of both men and
wife of the daughters of Barzillai the women and all who could hear with under-
GilÈaÅite, and was called by their name. standing, on the first day of the seventh
64 These sought their register among those month.
who were counted by genealogy, but it was 3 And he read from it in the open space in
not found, so they were barred from the front of the Water Gate from morning until
priesthood as defiled. midday, before the men and women and
65 And the governor said to them that they those who could understand. And the ears
should not eat of the most set-apart gifts of all the people listened to the Book of the
until a priest stood up with the Urim and Torah.
Tummim. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a platform
66 All the assembly together was forty- of wood which they had made for the pur-
two thousand three hundred and sixty, pose. And beside him on his right stood
67 besides their male and female servants, Mattithyah, and Shema, and Anayah, and
these were seven thousand three hundred Uriyah, and Àilqiyah, and MaÈasÃyah. And
and thirty-seven. And they had two on his left stood PeÅayah, and Misha’Ãl,
hundred and forty-five men and women and Malkiyah, and Àashum, and Àashbad-
singers. danah, Ze¿aryah, Meshullam.
68 Their horses were seven hundred and 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight
thirty-six, their mules two hundred and of all the people, for he was above all the
forty-five, people. And when he opened it, all the
69 camels four hundred and thirty-five, people stood up.
donkeys six thousand seven hundred and 6 And Ezra blessed HWHY, the great
thousand gold drachmas, two thousand of Elohim, translating to give the sense,
silver minas, and sixty-seven priestly and caused them to understand the reading.
NEÀEMYAH 8 836
9 And NeÁemyah, who was the governor, Torah of Elohim. And they performed the
and Ezra the priest, the scribe, and the festival seven days. And on the eighth day
LÃwites who taught the people said to all there was an assembly, according to the
the people, “This day is set-apart to HWHY right-ruling.
your Elohim. Do not mourn or weep.” For
all the people wept when they heard the
words of the Torah. 9 And on the twenty-fourth day of this
month the children of Yisra’Ãl were
10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat the fat, assembled with fasting, and in sackcloth,
drink the sweet, and send portions to those and with earth on them.
for whom none is prepared. For this day is 2 And the descendants of Yisra’Ãl sepa-
set-apart to our HWHY. Do not be sad, for the rated themselves from all foreigners, and
joy of HWHY is your strength.” stood and confessed their sins, and the
11 And the LÃwites were silencing all the crookednesses of their fathers,
people, saying, “Hush, for the day is set- 3 and they stood up in their place and
apart, do not be sad.” read from the Book of the Torah of HWHY
12 And all the people went to eat and to their Elohim a fourth part of the day, and a
drink, and to send portions and make a fourth part they were confessing and wor-
great rejoicing, because they understood shipping HWHY their Elohim.
the words that were made known to them. 4 Then YÃshua and Bani, QaÅmi’Ãl,
13 And on the second day the heads of the SheÄanyah, Bunni, ShÃrÃÄyah, Bani,
fathers’ houses of all the people, with the Kenani stood on the stairs of the LÃwites
priests and LÃwites, were gathered to Ezra and cried out with a loud voice to HWHY
the scribe, in order to study the words of their Elohim.
the Torah. 5 Then the LÃwites, YÃshua and
14 And they found written in the Torah, QaÅmi’Ãl, Bani, ÀashaÄneyah, ShÃrÃÄyah,
which HWHY had commanded by Mosheh, HoÅiyah, SheÄanyah, PethaÁyah, said,
that the children of Yisra’Ãl should dwell “Rise, bless HWHY your Elohim forever and
in booths in the festival of the seventh ever! And let them bless Your esteemed
month, Name, which is exalted above all blessing
15 and that they should announce and and praise!
proclaim in all their cities and in Yeru- 6 “You are HWHY, You alone. You have
shalayim, saying, “Go out to the mountain, made the heavens, the heavens of the
and bring olive branches, branches of oil heavens, with all their host, the earth and
trees, and myrtle branches, and palm all that are on it, the seas and all that are in
branches, and branches of leafy trees, to them, and You give life to them all. And
make booths, as it is written.” the host of the heavens are bowing
16 So the people went out and brought themselves to You.
them and made themselves booths, each 7 “You are HWHY, the Elohim who chose
one on the roof of his house, and in their AÄram, and brought him out of Ur of the
courtyards and in the courtyards of the Chaldees, and gave him the name of
House of Elohim, and in the open space of AÄraham,
the Water Gate and in the open space of the 8 and found his heart trustworthy before
10 and gave signs and wonders against nor the column of fire by night to give
Pharaoh, and against all his servants, and them light in the way they were to go.
against all the people of his land. For You 20 “You also gave Your good Spirit to
knew that they acted proudly against them. instruct b them, and did not withhold Your
And You made a Name for Yourself, as it manna from their mouth, and gave them
is this day. water for their thirst.
11 “And You split the sea before them, and 21 “And for forty years You sustained
they passed over into the midst of the sea them in the wilderness – they lacked not.
on the dry land. And their pursuers You Their garments did not wear out and their
threw into the deep as a stone into the feet did not swell.
mighty waters. 22 “And You gave them reigns and
12 “And You led them by day with a peoples, and apportioned them their lot. So
cloudy column, and by night with a col- they took possession of the land of SiÁon,
umn of fire, to give them light in the way and the land of the sovereign of Àeshbon,
they were to go. and the land of OÍ sovereign of Bashan.
13 “And You came down on Mount Sinai, 23 “And You increased their children as
and spoke with them from the heavens, the stars of the heavens, and brought them
and gave them straight right-rulings and into the land which You had said to their
Torah of truth, a good laws and commands. fathers to go in and possess.
14 “And You made known to them Your 24 “So the sons went in and possessed the
set-apart Sabbath, and You commanded land, and You humbled before them the
them commands and laws and Torot 1, by people of the land, the KenaÈanites, and
the hand of Mosheh Your servant. gave them into their hands, with their
15 “And You gave them bread from the sovereigns and the people of the land, to
heavens for their hunger, and brought them do with them as they desired.
water out of the rock for their thirst, and 25 “And they captured walled cities and a
said to them to go in to possess the land rich land, and possessed houses filled with
which You had sworn to give them. all good, cisterns already dug, vineyards,
16 “But they and our fathers acted and olive-trees, and fruit trees, in plenty.
proudly, and hardened their necks, and did So they ate and were satisfied and grew
not obey Your commands. fat, and delighted themselves in Your great
17 “And they refused to obey, and they goodness.
remembered not Your wonders that You 26 “But they became disobedient and
did among them, and hardened their necks, rebelled against You, and cast Your Torah
and in their rebellion they appointed a behind their backs. And they slew Your
leader to return to their bondage. But You prophets who had warned them, to bring
are a forgiving Eloah, showing favour, and them back to Yourself. And they worked
compassionate, patient, and of great kind- great blasphemies.
ness, and did not forsake them. 27 “Therefore You gave them into the
18 “Even when they made a moulded calf hand of their enemies, who distressed
for themselves, and said, ‘This is your them. And in the time of their distress,
mighty one that brought you up out of when they cried to You, You heard from
Mitsrayim,’ and worked great blas- the heavens. And according to Your great
phemies, compassion You gave them saviours who
19 yet You, in Your great compassion did saved them from the hand of their enemies.
not forsake them in the wilderness. The 28 “But after they had rest, they turned
column of the cloud did not turn away back to do evil before You. Then You left
from them by day to lead them on the way, them in the hand of their enemies, so that
a Traditionally rendered laws of truth, of which we also read in Mal. 2:6, while it is rendered in Rom. 2:20 as the
truth in the law. b Mishle 1:23, YeÁez. 36:27, Ze¿. 7:12. 1 Torot - plural of Torah - teaching
NEÀEMYAH 9 838
they ruled over them. But when they sovereigns You have set over us, because
turned back and cried out to You, You of our sins. And they rule over our bodies
heard from the heavens, and delivered and our livestock at their pleasure, and we
them according to Your compassion, many are in great distress.
times, 38 “And because of all this, we are making
29 and warned them, to bring them back to a trustworthy pledge, and write it. And our
Your Torah. But they acted proudly, and rulers, our LÃwites, our priests set their
did not obey Your commands, and sinned seal on it.”
against Your right-rulings, ‘which if a man
does, he shall live c by them.’ And they
gave the rebellious shoulder and hardened 10 And those who set their seal were:
NeÁemyah the governor, son of
their necks, and would not hear. Àa¿alyah, and TsiÅqiyah,
30 “And You had patience with them for 2 Serayah, Azaryah, Yirmeyah,
many years, and did warn them by Your 3 Pashhur, Amaryah, Malkiyah,
they would not give ear. Therefore You 5 Àarim, MerÃmoth, OÄaÅyah,
gave them into the hand of the peoples of 6 Dani’Ãl, Ginnethon, Baru¿,
covenant and the kindness, let not all the yah, Qelita, Pelayah, Àanan,
trouble that has come upon us, our 11 Mi¿a, ReÁoÄ, ÀashaÄyah,
sovereigns and our heads, our priests and 12 Zakkur, ShÃrÃÄyah, SheÄanyah,
our prophets, our fathers and on all Your 13 HoÅiyah, Bani, and Beninu.
people, from the days of the sovereigns of 14 The leaders of the people: Parosh,
Ashshur until this day, seem little before PaÁath-Mo’aÄ, Âylam, Zattu, Bani,
You. 15 Bunni, AzgaÅ, BÃÄai,
33 “And in all that has come upon us You 16 AÅoniyah, BiÍwai, AÅin,
are righteous, for You have done truth, but 17 AtÃr, Àizqiyah, Azzur,
priests, and our fathers, have not done 20 MaÍpiÈash, Meshullam, ÀÃzir,
and Your witnesses, with which You wit- 22 Pelatyah, Àanan, Anayah,
gave them, or in the large and rich land 26 AÁiyah, Àanan, Anan,
which You set before them – neither turned 27 Mallu¿, Àarim, BaÈanah.
back from their evil deeds. 28 And the rest of the people, the priests,
36 “See, we are servants today! And the the LÃwites, the gatekeepers, the singers,
land that You gave to our fathers, to eat its the Nethinim, and all those who had
fruit and the good of it, see, we are separated themselves from the peoples of
servants in it! the lands unto the Torah of Elohim, their
37 “And its rich yield goes to the wives, their sons, and their daughters, all
nobles, and were entering into a curse and with the LÃwites when the LÃwites receive
into an oath to walk in the Torah of tithes, and the LÃwites bring up a tenth of
Elohim, which was given by Mosheh the the tithes to the House of our Elohim, to
servant of Elohim, and to guard and do all the rooms of the storehouse.
the commands of HWHY our Master, and His 39 For the children of Yisra’Ãl and the
right-rulings and His laws, children of LÃwi bring the offering of the
30 and that we would not give our grain, of the new wine and the oil, to the
daughters as wives to the peoples of the storerooms where the vessels of the set-
land, nor take their daughters for our sons, apart place are, where the priests who
31 and that if the peoples of the land bring attend and the gatekeepers and the singers
wares or any grain to sell on the Sabbath are, and we should not neglect the House
day, we would not buy it from them on the of our Elohim.
Sabbath, or on a set-apart day, and we
would forego the seventh year and the
interest of every hand. 11 Now the rulers of the people dwelt
at Yerushalayim, and the rest of the
32 And we imposed commands on our- people cast lots to bring one out of ten to
selves, to give from ourselves yearly one- dwell in Yerushalayim, the set-apart city,
third of a sheqel for the service of the and nine-tenths were to dwell in other
House of our Elohim: cities.
33 for the showbread, and for the con- 2 And the people blessed all the men who
tinual grain offering, and for the continual volunteered to dwell at Yerushalayim.
burnt offering of the Sabbaths, of the New 3 And these are the heads of the province
Moons, for the appointed times, and for the who dwelt in Yerushalayim, but in the
set-apart offerings, and for the sin offer- cities of YehuÅah everyone dwelt in his
ings to make atonement for Yisra’Ãl, and own possession in their cities – Yisra’Ãl,
all the work of the House of our Elohim. the priests, and the LÃwites, and the
34 And we cast lots among the priests, and Nethinim, and the sons of Shelomoh’s ser-
the LÃwites, and the people, for bringing vants.
the wood offering into the House of our 4 And in Yerushalayim dwelt certain of
Elohim, according to our fathers’ houses, the children of YehuÅah and of the chil-
at the appointed times year by year, to burn dren of Binyamin. Of the children of
on the altar of HWHY our Elohim as it is YehuÅah: Athayah son of Uzziyah, son of
written in the Torah, Ze¿aryah, son of Amaryah, son of
35 and to bring the first-fruits of our soil Shephatyah, son of Mahalal’Ãl, of the
and the first-fruits of all fruit of all trees, children of Perets;
year by year, to the House of HWHY, 5 and MaÈasÃyah son of Baru¿, son of
36 also to bring the first-born of our sons Kol-Àozeh, son of Àazayah, son of
and our livestock, as it is written in the AÅayah, son of YoyariÄ, son of Ze¿aryah,
Torah, and the firstlings of our herds and son of Shiloni.
our flocks, to the House of our Elohim, to 6 All the sons of Perets who dwelt at
the priests attending in the House of our Yerushalayim were four hundred and
Elohim. sixty-eight brave men.
37 And that we should bring the first-fruits 7 And these are the sons of Binyamin:
of our dough, and our contributions, and Sallu son of Meshullam, son of YowÈÃÅ,
the fruit from all kinds of trees, of new son of PeÅayah, son of Qolayah, son of
wine and of oil, to the priests, to the store- MaÈasÃyah, son of Ithi’Ãl, son of Yeshayah;
rooms of the House of our Elohim; and the 8 and after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hun-
tithes of our land to the LÃwites, for the dred and twenty-eight.
LÃwites should receive the tithes in all our 9 And Yo’Ãl son of Zi¿ri was their
NEÀEMYAH 11 840
Merayoth, son of AÁituÄ, was the leader of some of the children of YehuÅah dwelt in
the House of Elohim. Qiryath Arba and its villages, and in DiÄon
12 And their brothers who did the work of and its villages, and in YeqaÄtse’Ãl and its
the House were eight hundred and twenty- villages,
two; and AÅayah son of YeroÁam, son of 26 and in YÃshua, and in MolaÅah, and in
their overseer was ZaÄdi’Ãl, son of the in La¿ish and its fields; in AzÃqah and its
great ones. villages. So they dwelt from Be’ÃrsheÄa to
15 Also of the LÃwites: Shemayah son of the Valley of Hinnom.
ÀashshuÄ, son of Azriqam, son of 31 And the children of Binyamin: from
ÀashaÄyah, son of Bunni; GeÄa, Mi¿mash, and Ayyah, and BÃyth Âl,
16 and Shabbethai and YozaÄaÅ, of the and their villages;
heads of the LÃwites, over the outside 32 Anathoth, NoÄ, Ananyah;
ZaÄdi, son of Asaph, who was the leader 35 LoÅ, and Ono, and the Valley of
brothers, and AÄda son of Shammua, son YehuÅah were for Binyamin.
of Galal, son of YeÅuthun.
18 All the LÃwites in the set-apart city
were two hundred and eighty-four. 12 And these were the priests and the
LÃwites who came up with
19 And the gatekeepers, AqquÄ, Talmon, ZerubbaÄel son of She’alti’Ãl, and YÃshua:
and their brothers keeping guard at the Serayah, Yirmeyah, Ezra,
gates, were one hundred and seventy-two. 2 Amaryah, Mallu¿, Àattush,
20 And the rest of Yisra’Ãl, of the priests, 3 She¿anyah, ReÁum, MerÃmoth,
TsiÁa and Gishpa were over the Nethinim. 7 Sallu, Amoq, Àilqiyah, and YeÅayah.
22 And the overseer of the LÃwites at These were the heads of the priests and
Yerushalayim was Uzzi son of Bani, son of their brothers in the days of YÃshua.
ÀashaÄyah, son of Mattanyah, son of 8 And the LÃwites: YÃshua, Binnui,
Mi¿a. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers QaÅmi’Ãl, ShÃrÃÄyah, YehuÅah, Mattanyah
were over the work of the House of over the thanksgiving, he and his brothers.
Elohim, 9 And Baqbuqyah and Unni, their broth-
23 for the sovereign’s command was upon ers, were opposite them for guard duties.
them – and support for the singers, a mat- 10 And YÃshua brought forth Yoyaqim,
841 NEÀEMYAH 12
and Yoyaqim brought forth ElyashiÄ, and with gladness, and with thanksgivings, and
ElyashiÄ brought forth YoyaÅa, with singing, cymbals, harps and lyres.
11 and YoyaÅa brought forth Yonathan, 28 And the sons of the singers gathered
and Yonathan brought forth Yaddua. together from the countryside around
12 And in the days of Yoyaqim, the Yerushalayim, from the villages of the
priests, the heads of the fathers’ houses Netophathites,
were: of Serayah, Merayah; of Yirmeyah, 29 and from the house of Gilgal, and from
houses, also the priests in the reign of Milalai, Gilalai, MaÈai, NethanÃ’l, and
Dareyawesh the Persian. YehuÅah, Àanani with instruments of
23 The sons of LÃwi, the heads of the songs of DawiÅ the man of Elohim, with
fathers’ houses until the days of YoÁanan Ezra the scribe before them.
son of ElyashiÄ, were written in the book 37 And at the Fountain Gate and straight
opposite watch, according to the command over against them, and I behind them with
of DawiÅ the man of Elohim. half of the people on the wall, going past
25 Mattanyah, and Baqbuqyah, OÄaÅyah, the Tower of the Ovens as far as the Broad
Meshullam, Talmon, AqquÄ were gate- Wall,
keepers guarding at the storerooms of the 39 and above the Gate of Ephrayim, and
Yerushalayim they sought out the LÃwites their stand in the House of Elohim, and I
in all their places, to bring them to and half of the deputy rulers with me,
Yerushalayim to perform the dedication 41 and the priests, Elyaqim, MaÈasÃyah,
NEÀEMYAH 12 842
Minyamin, Mi¿ayah, ElyoÈÃynai, Ze¿ar- 4 And before this, ElyashiÄ the priest,
yah, and Àananyah, with trumpets, having authority over the storerooms of the
42 and MaÈasÃyah, and Shemayah, and House of our Elohim, was a relative of
ElÈazar, and Uzzi, and YehoÁanan, and ToÄiyah,
Malkiyah, and Âylam, and Âzer. And the 5 and he had prepared for him a large
singers sang aloud, with YizraÁyah in room, where previously they had stored
charge. the grain offerings, the frankincense, and
43 And on that day they brought great the utensils, and the tithes of grain, the new
offerings and rejoiced, for Elohim had wine and the oil, which were commanded
made them rejoice with great joy. And the to be given to the LÃwites and the singers
women and the children also rejoiced, so and the gatekeepers, and the contributions
that the joy of Yerushalayim was heard far for the priests.
away. 6 But in all this I was not in Yeru-
44 And on that day some were appointed shalayim, for in the thirty-second year of
over the rooms for the stores, for the con- ArtaÁshashta sovereign of BaÄel I came to
tributions, for the first-fruits, and for tithes, the sovereign. And after some days I asked
to gather into them from the fields of the leave from the sovereign to return,
cities the portions required by the Torah 7 and I came to Yerushalayim and
for the priests and for the LÃwites. For learned of the evil which ElyashiÄ had
YehuÅah rejoiced over the priests and the done for ToÄiyah, in preparing a room for
LÃwites who stood up. him in the courts of the House of Elohim.
45 Both the singers and the gatekeepers 8 And it was very displeasing to me.
guarded the charge of their Elohim and Therefore I threw all the household goods
the charge of the cleansing, according to of ToÄiyah out of the room,
the command of DawiÅ and Shelomoh his 9 and I commanded them to cleanse the
ers, a portion for each day. And they set rulers, and said, “Why is the House of
apart what was for the LÃwites, and the Elohim forsaken?” And I gathered them
LÃwites set apart what was for the children together and set them in their place.
of Aharon. 12 And all YehuÅah brought the tithe of
the people, and in it was found written that storehouse Shelemyah the priest and
an Ammonite and Mo’aÄite should not TsaÅoq the scribe, and PeÅayah of the
come into the assembly of Elohim forever, LÃwites. And next to them was Àanan son
2 because they had not met the children of Zakkur, son of Mattanyah. For they
of Yisra’Ãl with bread and water, and hired were reckoned trustworthy, and it was on
BilÈam against them to curse them, them to distribute to their brothers.
although our Elohim turned the curse into 14 Remember me, O my Elohim, concern-
treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and had married women of AshdoÅ, Ammon,
bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys Mo’aÄ.
with wine, grapes, and figs, and all kinds 24 And half of their children spoke the
of burdens, which they brought into
Yerushalayim on the Sabbath day. So I language of AshdoÅ, and could not speak
warned them on the day they sold food. the language of YehuÅah, but spoke
16 And men of Tsor dwelt there, bringing according to the language of one or the
in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold other people.
them on the Sabbath to the children of 25 Then I contended with them and cursed
YehuÅah, and in Yerushalayim. them, and smote some of them and pulled
17 Then I contended with the nobles of
out their hair, and made them swear by
YehuÅah, and said to them, “What evil Elohim, saying, “You do not give your
matter is this that you are doing, profaning daughters as wives to their sons, nor take
the Sabbath day?
18 “Did not your fathers do the same
their daughters for your sons or your-
selves.
so that our Elohim brought all this evil
26 “Did not Shelomoh sovereign of Yis-
on us and on this city? Yet you bring added
wrath on Yisra’Ãl by profaning the ra’Ãl sin because of them? Among the
Sabbath.” many nations there was no sovereign like
19 And it came to be, at the gates of Yeru-
him, who was beloved of his Elohim, and
shalayim, as it began to be dark before the Elohim made him sovereign over all
Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be Yisra’Ãl. Even him foreign women caused
shut, and commanded that they should not to sin.
be opened till after the Sabbath. And I sta-
27 “Should we then hear of your doing all
tioned some of my servants at the gates, so
that no burdens would be brought in on the this great evil, trespassing against our
Sabbath day. Elohim by marrying foreign wives?”
20 And the merchants and sellers of all 28 And one of the sons of YoyaÅa, son of
kinds of wares spent the night outside ElyashiÄ the high priest, was a son-in-law
Yerushalayim once or twice, of Sanballat the Àoronite. And I drove him
21 and I warned them, and said to them,
from me.
“Why do you spend the night around the
29 Remember them, O my Elohim,
wall? If you do so again, I lay hands on
you!” From that time on they came no because they have defiled the priesthood
more on the Sabbath. and the covenant of the priesthood, and of
22 And I commanded the LÃwites that the LÃwites.
they should cleanse themselves, and they 30 Thus I cleansed them from all that is
should come, guarding the gates, to set foreign. And I appointed duties to the
apart the Sabbath day. Remember me, O
priests and the LÃwites, each in his task,
my Elohim, concerning this also, and
31 and for the wood offering and the first-
pardon me according to the greatness of
Your kindness! fruits at appointed times. Remember me, O
23 In those days I also saw YehuÅim who my Elohim, for good!
1 DIÉRE haYAMIM
1 CHRONICLES (1 ANNALS)
MaÍoÍ, and MaÅai, and Yawan, and TuÄal, 25 ÂÄer, PeleÍ, ReÈu,
from whom came the Philistines, and the Âpher, and Àano¿, and AÄiÅa, and
Kaphtorim. EldaÈah. All these were the children of
13 And KenaÈan brought forth TsiÅon, his Qeturah.
first-born, and ÀÃth, 34 And AÄraham brought forth YitsÁaq.
14 and the YeÄusite, and the Amorite, and The sons of YitsÁaq: Âsaw and Yisra’Ãl.
the Girgashite, 35 The sons of Âsaw: Eliphaz, ReÈuw’Ãl,
15 and the Àiwwite, and the Arqite, and and YeÈush, and YaÈlam, and QoraÁ.
the Sinite, 36 And the sons of Eliphaz: TÃman, and
16 and the ArwaÅite, and the Tsemarite, Omar, Tsephi, and Gatam, and Qenaz, and
and the Àamathite. Timna, and AmalÃq.
17 The sons of ShÃm: Âylam, and Asshur, 37 The sons of ReÈuw’Ãl: NaÁath, ZeraÁ,
and Arpa¿shaÅ, and LuÅ, and Aram, and Shammah, and Mizzah.
Uts, Àul, and Gether, and Meshe¿. 38 And the sons of SÃÈir: Lotan, and
18 And Arpa¿shaÅ brought forth ShelaÁ, ShoÄal, and TsiÄÈon, and Anah, and
and ShelaÁ brought forth ÂÄer. Dishon, and Âtser, and Dishan.
19 To ÂÄer were born two sons: the name 39 And the sons of Lotan: Àori and
of one was PeleÍ, for in his days the earth Homam; Lotan’s sister was Timna.
was divided, and his brother’s name was 40 The sons of ShoÄal: Alyan, and
ZaÈawan, and YaÈaqan. The sons of Dishan: 6 And the sons of ZeraÁ: Zimri, and
Uts and Aran. Âythan, and HÃman, and Kalkol, and Dara,
43 And these were the sovereigns who five of them in all.
reigned in the land of EÅom before any 7 And the son of Karmi was A¿ar, the
sovereign reigned over the children of troubler of Yisra’Ãl, who trespassed in that
Yisra’Ãl: Bela son of BeÈor, and the name which was under the ban.
of his city was DinhaÄah. 8 And the son of Âythan was Azaryah.
44 And when Bela died, YoÄaÄ son of 9 And the sons of Àetsron who were
ZeraÁ of Botsrah reigned in his place. born to him: YeraÁme’Ãl, and Ram, and
45 And YoÄaÄ died, and Àusham of the KeluÄai.
land of the TÃmanites reigned in his place. 10 Ram brought forth AmminaÅaÄ, and
46 And when Àusham died, HaÅaÅ son of AmminaÅaÄ brought forth NaÁshon, leader
BeÅaÅ, who smote MiÅyan in the field of of the children of YehuÅah;
Mo’aÄ, reigned in his place. The name of 11 NaÁshon brought forth Salma, and
of A¿bor reigned in his place. 15 Otsem the sixth, DawiÅ the seventh.
50 And BaÈal-Àanan died, and HaÅaÅ 16 And their sisters: Tseruyah and
reigned in his place. And the name of his AÄiÍayil. And the sons of Tseruyah:
city was Pai. And his wife’s name was AÄishai, and Yo’aÄ, and Asah’Ãl, three.
MehÃtab’Ãl the daughter of MatrÃÅ, the 17 And AÄiÍayil bore Amasa. And the
daughter of Shuwa, the KenaÈanitess. And Aram, with the towns of Ya’ir, with
Âr, the first-born of YehuÅah, was evil in Qenath and its towns, sixty towns. All
the eyes of HWHY, and He slew him. these belonged to the sons of Ma¿ir the
4 And Tamar, his daughter-in-law, bore father of GilÈaÅ.
him Perets and ZeraÁ. All the sons of 24 And after the death of Àetsron in KalÃÄ
1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 2 846
Ephrathah, Àetsron’s wife AÄiyah bore TappuwaÁ, and Reqem, and Shema.
him AshÁur the father of Teqowa. 44 And Shema brought forth RaÁam the
25 And the sons of YeraÁme’Ãl the first- father of YorqeÈam, and Reqem brought
born of Àetsron were: Ram the first-born, forth Shammai.
and Bunah, and Oren, and Otsem, and 45 And the son of Shammai was MaÈon,
whose name was Atarah; she was the Àaran, and Motsa, and GazÃz. And Àaran
mother of Onam. brought forth GazÃz.
27 And the sons of Ram, the first-born of 47 And the sons of Yahdai: ReÍem, and
YeraÁme’Ãl, were MaÈats, and Yamin, and Yotham, and GÃyshan, and Pelet, and
Âqer. Âphah, and ShaÈaph.
28 And the sons of Onam were Shammai 48 MaÈa¿ah, KalÃÄ’s concubine, bore
Appayim, and SeleÅ died without children. The sons of Àur, the first-born of
31 And the son of Appayim was Yishi, and Ephrathah: ShoÄal the father of Qiryath
the son of Yishi was ShÃshan, and the son YeÈarim,
of ShÃshan was AÁlai. 51 Salma the father of BÃyth LeÁem,
32 And the sons of YaÅa, the brother of ÀarÃph the father of BÃyth GaÅer.
Shammai: Yether and Yonathan, and 52 And ShoÄal the father of Qiryath
4 Six were born to him in ÀeÄron. And 24 And the sons of ElyoÈÃynai: HoÅawyah,
he reigned there seven years and six and ElyashiÄ, and Pelayah, and AqquÄ,
months, and in Yerushalayim he reigned and YoÁanan, and Delayah, and Anani,
thirty-three years. seven.
5 And these were born to him in
the first-born, the second Yehoyaqim, the TsoÄÃÄah, and the clans of AÁarÁÃl son of
third TsiÅqiyahu, the fourth Shallum. Harum.
16 And the sons of Yehoyaqim: Ye¿onyah 9 And YaÄÃts was more esteemed than
his son and TsiÅqiyah his son. his brothers, and his mother called his
17 And the sons of Ye¿onyah the captive: name YaÄÃts, saying, “Because I bore him
She’alti’Ãl his son, in pain.”
18 and Malkiram, and PeÅayah, and 10 And YaÄÃts called on the Elohim of
Shenatstsar, Yeqamyah, Hoshama, and Yisra’Ãl saying, “Oh, that You would bless
NeÅaÄyah. me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that
19 And the sons of PeÅayah: ZerubbaÄel Your hand would be with me, and that You
and ShimÈi. The sons of ZerubbaÄel: would keep me from evil, not to be my
Meshullam, and Àananyah, and Shelomith pain!” And Elohim gave him what he
their sister, asked.
20 and ÀashuÄah, and Ohel, and Bere¿- 11 And KeluÄ the brother of ShuÁah
yah, and ÀasaÅyah, YushaÄ-ÀeseÅ, five. brought forth MeÁir, who was the father of
21 And the sons of Àananyah: Pelatyah Eshton.
and Yeshayah, the sons of Rephayah, the 12 And Eshton brought forth BÃyth-
sons of Arnan, the sons of OÄaÅyah, the Rapha, and PasÃaÁ, and TeÁinnah the
sons of She¿anyah. father of Ir-NaÁash. These were the men of
22 And the son of She¿anyah: Shemayah. Rÿah.
The sons of Shemayah: Àattush, and 13 And the sons of Qenaz: Othni’Ãl and
YiÍ’al, and BariyaÁ, and NeÈaryah, and Serayah. And sons of Othni’Ãl: Àathath,
Shaphat, six. 14 and MeÈonothai, who brought forth
23 And the sons of NeÈaryah: ElyoÈÃynai, Ophrah. And Serayah brought forth Yo’aÄ
and Àizqiyah, and Azriqam, three. the father of GÃ-Àarashim, for they were
1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 4 848
craftsmen. TsiqlaÍ,
15 And the sons of KalÃÄ the son of 31 and at BÃyth MarkaÄoth, and at Àatsar
Yephunneh: Iru, Âlah, and NaÈam. And the Susim, and at BÃyth BirÈi, and at
son of Âlah was Qenaz. ShaÈarayim. These were their cities until
16 And the sons of Yehallel’Ãl: Ziph, and the reign of DawiÅ.
Ziphah, Tireya, and Asar’Ãl. 32 And their villages were Âytam, and
17 And the sons of Ezrah: Yether, and Ayin, and Rimmon, and To¿en, and Ashan,
MereÅ, and Âpher, and Yalon. And she five cities,
bore Miryam, and Shammai, and YishbaÁ 33 and all the villages that were around
sister of NaÁam, were the fathers of YeshoÁayah, and Asayah, and AÅi’Ãl, and
QeÈilah the Garmite and of Eshtemoa the Yesimi’Ãl, and Benayah;
MaÈa¿athite. 37 and Ziza son of Shiphi, son of Allon,
20 And the sons of Shimon: Amnon, and son of YeÅayah, son of Shimri, son of
Rinnah, Ben-Àanan, and Tulon. And the Shemayah.
sons of Yishi: ZoÁÃth and Ben-ZoÁÃth. 38 These mentioned by name were leaders
21 The sons of ShÃlah the son of YehuÅah: in their clans, and their father’s house
Âr the father of Lÿah, and LaÈdah the increased greatly.
father of MarÃshah, and the clans of the 39 And they went to the entrance of
house of the linen workers of the house of GeÅor, as far as the east side of the valley,
AshbÃa; to look for pasture for their flocks,
22 and Yoqim, and the men of KozÃÄa, 40 and they found rich, good pasture,
and Yo’ash, and Saraph who ruled in and the land was broad, undisturbed and
Mo’aÄ, and YashuÄi-LeÁem. But the safe, for some Àamites had dwelt there
records were ancient. formerly.
23 These were the potters and those who 41 And these written by name came in the
dwell at NetaÈim and GeÅÃrah; there they days of Àizqiyahu sovereign of YehuÅah,
dwelt with the sovereign for his work. and smote their tents, and the homes that
24 The sons of ShimÈon: Nemu’Ãl, and were found there, and put them under the
Yamin, YariÄ, ZeraÁ, Sha’ul, ban, as it is to this day, and dwelt in their
25 Shallum his son, MiÄsam his son, place, because there was pasture for their
Mishma his son. flocks there.
26 And the sons of Mishma: Àammu’Ãl 42 And some of them, five hundred men
his son, Zakkur his son, ShimÈi his son. of the sons of ShimÈon, went to Mount
27 And ShimÈi had sixteen sons and six SÃÈir, having as their chiefs Pelatyah, and
daughters, but his brothers did not have NeÈaryah, and Rephayah, and Uzzi’Ãl, the
many children, nor did any of their clans sons of Yishi.
increase as much as the children of 43 And they smote the rest of the
YehuÅah. AmalÃqites who had escaped, and dwelt
28 And they dwelt at Be’ÃrsheÄa, and there to this day.
MolaÅah, and Àatsar ShuÈal,
29 and at Bilhah, and at Etsem, and at
TolaÅ,
30 and at Bethu’Ãl, and at Àormah, and at
5 As for the sons of Re’uÄÃn the first-
born of Yisra’Ãl – he was the first-
born, but because he profaned his father’s
849 1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 6
bed, his birthright was given to the sons of YehuÅah, and in the days of YaroÄÈam sov-
YosÃph, son of Yisra’Ãl, so that the geneal- ereign of Yisra’Ãl.
ogy is not listed according to the 18 The sons of Re’uÄÃn, and the GaÅites,
GoÍ his son, ShimÈi his son, and the HaÍrites were given into their
5 Mi¿ah his son, Re’ayah his son, BaÈal hand, and all who were with them. For
his son, they cried out to Elohim in the battle, and
6 and Be’Ãrah his son, whom Tiglath- He answered their prayer, because they put
Pileser sovereign of Ashshur took into their trust in Him.
exile. He was leader of the Re’uÄÃnites. 21 And they took away their livestock:
7 And his brothers by their clans, when fifty thousand of their camels, and two
the genealogy of their generations was reg- hundred and fifty thousand of their sheep,
istered: the chief, YeÈi’Ãl, and Ze¿aryahu, and two thousand of their donkeys, also
8 and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, one hundred thousand of their men,
son of Yo’Ãl, who dwelt in AroÈÃr, as far as 22 for many fell dead, because the battle
NeÄo and BaÈal MeÈon. was of Elohim. And they dwelt in their
9 And he dwelt eastward as far as the place until the exile.
entrance of the wilderness from the River 23 And the children of the half-tribe of
Euphrates, because their livestock had Menashsheh dwelt in the land. They
increased in the land of GilÈaÅ. increased from Bashan to BaÈal Àermon,
10 And in the days of Sha’ul they fought that is, to Senir, or Mount Àermon.
against the HaÍrites, who fell by their 24 And these were the heads of their
hand. And they dwelt in their tents over all fathers’ houses: Âpher, and Yishi, and
the eastern part of GilÈaÅ. Eli’Ãl, and Azri’Ãl, and Yirmeyah,
11 And the children of GaÅ dwelt next to HoÅawyah, and YaÁdi’Ãl – mighty brave
them in the land of Bashan as far as men, men of name, and heads of their
Sal¿ah: fathers’ houses.
12 Yo’Ãl was the chief, Shapham the next, 25 But they trespassed against the Elohim
then YaÈanai and Shaphat in Bashan; of their fathers, and whored after the
13 and their brothers of their father’s mighty ones of the peoples of the land,
house: Mi¿a’Ãl, and Meshullam, and whom Elohim had destroyed before them.
SheÄa, and Yorai, and Yakan, and Ziya, 26 So the Elohim of Yisra’Ãl stirred up the
gies in the days of Yotham sovereign of Yitshar, and ÀeÄron, and Uzzi’Ãl.
1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 6 850
3 And the children of Amram: Aharon, 26 Elqanah – the sons of Elqanah: Tsophai
and Mosheh, and Miryam. And the sons of his son, and NaÁath his son,
Aharon: NaÅaÄ and AÄihu, ElÈazar and 27 EliyaÄ his son, YeroÁam his son,
Buqqi brought forth Uzzi; son, ShimÈi his son, Uzzah his son,
6 and Uzzi brought forth ZeraÁyah, and 30 ShimÈa his son, Àaggiyah his son, and
Amaryah brought forth AÁituÄ; appointed over the service of song in the
8 and AÁituÄ brought forth TsaÅoq, and House of HWHY, after the ark came to rest.
TsaÅoq brought forth AÁimaÈats; 32 And they were rendering service in
9 and AÁimaÈats brought forth Azaryah, song before the dwelling place of the Tent
and Azaryah brought forth YoÁanan; of Meeting, until Shelomoh had built the
10 and YoÁanan brought forth Azaryah – it House of HWHY in Yerushalayim, and they
was he who served as priest in the House performed their duties according to their
that Shelomoh built in Yerushalayim; ruling.
11 and Azaryah brought forth Amaryah, 33 And these are the ones who stood with
and Amaryah brought forth AÁituÄ; their sons: Of the sons of the Qehathites
12 and AÁituÄ brought forth TsaÅoq, and were HÃman the singer, son of Yo’Ãl, son
TsaÅoq brought forth Shallum; of Shemu’Ãl,
13 and Shallum brought forth Àilqiyah, 34 son of Elqanah, son of YeroÁam, son of
AÁimoth. Shemer,
851 1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 6
47 son of MaÁli, son of Mushi, son of Re’uÄÃn, and from the tribe of GaÅ, and
Merari, son of LÃwi. from the tribe of ZeÄulun.
48 And their brothers, the LÃwites, were 64 So the children of Yisra’Ãl gave cities
appointed to every kind of service of the with their open lands to the LÃwites.
Dwelling Place of the House of Elohim. 65 And they gave by lot from the tribe of
49 But Aharon and his sons offered on the the children of YehuÅah, and from the tribe
altar of burnt offering and on the altar of of the children of ShimÈon, and from the
incense, for all the work of the Most Set- tribe of the children of Binyamin these
apart Place, and to make atonement for cities which are mentioned by name.
Yisra’Ãl, according to all that Mosheh the 66 And some of the clans of the sons of
servant of Elohim had commanded. Qehath had cities of their borders from the
50 And these are the sons of Aharon: tribe of Ephrayim.
ElÈazar his son, PineÁas his son, AÄishua 67 And they gave them the cities of
borders, of the sons of Aharon, of the clan AnÃr with its open lands, and BilÈam with
of the Qehathites, for the lot was theirs. its open lands, for the rest of the clan of the
55 And they gave them ÀeÄron in the land sons of Qehath.
of YehuÅah, with its surrounding open 71 From the clan of the half-tribe of
the cities of refuge: ÀeÄron, and LiÄnah QeÅesh with its open lands, DaÄerath with
with its open lands, and Yattir, and its open lands,
Eshtemoa with its open lands, 73 Ramoth with its open lands, and AnÃm
58 and ÀilÃn with its open lands, DeÄir with its open lands.
with its open lands, 74 And from the tribe of AshÃr: Mashal
59 and Ashan with its open lands, and with its open lands, and AÄdon with its
BÃyth Shemesh with its open lands. open lands,
60 And from the tribe of Binyamin: GeÄa 75 and Àuqoq with its open lands, and
with its open lands, and Alemeth with its ReÁoÄ with its open lands.
open lands, and Anathoth with its open 76 And from the tribe of Naphtali: QeÅesh
lands. All their cities among their clans in Galil with its open lands, and Àammon
were thirteen. with its open lands, and Qiryathayim with
61 And to the rest of the clan of the tribe of its open lands.
the Qehathites by lot ten cities from half 77 From the tribe of ZeÄulun the rest of
of Yissas¿ar, and from the tribe of AshÃr, on the east side of the YardÃn, from the
and from the tribe of Naphtali, and from tribe of Re’uÄÃn: Betser in the wilderness
the tribe of Menashsheh in Bashan. with its open lands, and Yahtsah with its
63 To the sons of Merari, throughout their open lands,
clans, by lot twelve cities from the tribe of 79 QeÅÃmoth with its open lands, and
1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 6 852
MÃphaÈath with its open lands. sand two hundred mighty brave men going
80 And from the tribe of GaÅ: Ramoth in out to the army for battle.
GilÈaÅ with its open lands, and MaÁanayim 12 And Shuppim and Àuppim were the
with its open lands, sons of Ir, and Àushim was the son of
81 and Àeshbon with its open lands, and AÁÃr.
YaÈzÃr with its open lands. 13 The sons of Naphtali: YaÁtsi’Ãl, and
the sons of YizraÁyah: Mi¿a’Ãl, and son, and she called his name Peresh. And
OÄaÅyah, and Yo’Ãl, Yishshiyah. All five the name of his brother was Sheresh, and
of them were heads. his sons were Ulam and Raqem.
4 And with them, by their generations, 17 And the son of Ulam: BeÅan. These
according to their fathers’ houses, were were the sons of GilÈaÅ, son of Ma¿ir, son
thirty-six thousand, bands of the army for of Menashsheh.
battle, for they had many wives and sons. 18 And his sister Hammole¿eth bore
5 And their brothers among all the clans Ishhod, and AÄiÈezer, and MaÁlah.
of Yissas¿ar were mighty brave men, listed 19 And the sons of ShemiÅa: AÁyan, and
and Uzzi’Ãl, and Yerimoth, and Iri, five – son, and Ezer and ElÈaÅ. But the men
heads of their fathers’ houses, and they of Gath who were born in that land slew
were listed by their genealogies, twenty- them because they came down to take their
two thousand and thirty-four mighty brave livestock.
men. 22 And Ephrayim their father mourned
8 And the sons of Be¿er: Zemirah, and many days, and his brothers came to com-
YoÈash, and EliÈezer, and ElyoÈÃynai, and fort him.
Omri, and Yerimoth, and AÄiyah, and 23 And when he went in to his wife, she
Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these were the conceived and bore a son. And he called
sons of Be¿er, his name BeriÈah, because evil had come
9 with their genealogy according to their upon his house.
generations, heads of their fathers’ houses, 24 And his daughter was She’erah, who
twenty thousand two hundred mighty built Lower and Upper BÃyth Àoron and
brave men. Uzzen She’erah.
10 And the son of YeÅiya’Ãl: Bilhan, and 25 And RephaÁ was his son, as well as
the sons of Bilhan: YeÈush, and Binyamin, Resheph, and TelaÁ his son, and TaÁan his
and ÂhuÅ, and KenaÈanah, and ZÃthan, and son,
Tarshish, and AÁishaÁar. 26 LaÈdan his son, AmmihuÅ his son,
11 All these sons of YeÅiya’Ãl were heads Elishama his son,
of their fathers’ houses, seventeen thou- 27 Nun his son, Yehoshua his son.
853 1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 8
28 And their possessions and dwelling 5 and GÃra, and Shephuphan, and
places were BÃyth Âl and its towns: to the Àuram.
east NaÈaran, and to the west Gezer and its 6 And these are the sons of ÂÁuÅ. They
towns, and She¿em and its towns, as far as were the heads of the fathers’ houses of the
Ayyah and its towns. inhabitants of GeÄa, and they were exiled
29 And by the borders of the children of to ManaÁath.
Menashsheh were BÃyth She’an and its 7 And NaÈaman, and AÁiyah, and GÃra –
towns, TaÈana¿ and its towns, MeÍiddo he exiled them. And ÂÁuÅ brought forth
and its towns, Dor and its towns. In these Uzza and AÁihuÅ.
dwelt the children of YosÃph, son of 8 And ShaÁarayim brought forth children
their sister SeraÁ. forth YoÄaÄ, and TsiÄya, and MÃysha, and
31 And the sons of BeriÈah: ÀeÄer and Malkam,
Malki’Ãl, who was the father of Birzoth. 10 and YeÈuts, and ShoÄyah, and Mirmah.
32 And ÀeÄer brought forth YaphlÃt, and These were his sons, heads of their fathers’
ShomÃr, and Àotham, and their sister houses.
Shuwa. 11 And by Àushim he brought forth
33 And the sons of YaphlÃt: Pasa¿, and AÄituÄ and ElpaÈal.
Bimhal, and Ashwath. These were the 12 And the sons of ElpaÈal: ÂÄer, and
Àarnepher, and ShuÈal, and BÃri, and 15 and ZeÄaÅyah, and AraÅ, and ÂÅer,
heads of their fathers’ houses, chosen ones, 21 and AÅayah, and Berayah, and
mighty brave men, chief leaders. And Shimrath were the sons of ShimÈi.
when they registered by genealogy for the 22 And Yishpan, and ÂÄer, and Eli’Ãl,
army, for battle, their number was twenty- 23 and AÄdon, and Zi¿ri, and Àanan,
sons of Shashaq.
the third, 26 And Shamsherai, and SheÁaryah, and
2 NoÁah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. Athalyah,
3 And the sons of Bela: Addar, and GÃra, 27 and YaÈareshyah, and Âliyah, and Zi¿ri
Tsur, and Qish, and BaÈal, and NaÅaÄ, born and his sons.
31 and GeÅor, and AÁyo, and Ze¿er, 6 And of the sons of ZeraÁ: YeÈu’Ãl, and
32 and Miqloth, who brought forth their brothers, six hundred and ninety.
ShimÈah. And they also dwelt alongside 7 And of the sons of Binyamin: Sallu son
brought forth Sha’ul, and Sha’ul brought Âlah son of Uzzi, son of Mi¿ri; and
forth Yehonathan, and Malkishua, and Meshullam son of Shephatyah, son of
AÄinaÅaÄ, and Esh-BaÈal. ReÈuw’Ãl, son of YiÄniyah;
34 And the son of Yehonathan was MeriÄ- 9 and their brothers, according to their
BaÈal, and MeriÄ-BaÈal brought forth generations, nine hundred and fifty-six. All
Mi¿ah. these men were heads of a father’s house
35 And the sons of Mi¿ah: Pithon, and in their fathers’ houses.
Mele¿, and Ta’arÃa, and AÁaz. 10 And of the priests: YeÅayah, and
36 And AÁaz brought forth YehoÈaddah, YehoyariÄ, and Ya¿in;
and YehoÈaddah brought forth Alemeth, 11 and Azaryah son of Àilqiyah, son of
and Azmaweth, and Zimri. And Zimri Meshullam, son of TsaÅoq, son of
brought forth Motsa. Merayoth, son of AÁituÄ, the officer over
37 And Motsa brought forth BinÈa, Raphah the House of Elohim;
his son, ElÈasah his son, AtsÃl his son. 12 and AÅayah son of YeroÁam, son of
38 And AtsÃl had six sons whose names PashÁur, son of Malkiyah; and MaÈasai son
were these: Azriqam, Bo¿eru, and of AÅi’Ãl, son of YaÁzÃrah, son of
YishmaÈÃl, and SheÈaryah, and OÄaÅyah, Meshullam, son of MeshillÃmith, son of
and Àanan. All these were the sons of ImmÃr;
AtsÃl. 13 and their brothers, heads of their
39 And the sons of Âsheq his brother: fathers’ houses, one thousand seven hun-
Ulam his first-born, YeÈush the second, and dred and sixty, able men for the work of
Eliphelet the third. the service of the House of Elohim.
40 And the sons of Ulam were mighty 14 And of the LÃwites: Shemayah son of
brave men, archers, and had many sons ÀashshuÄ, son of Azriqam, son of ÀashaÄ-
and grandsons, one hundred and fifty. yah, of the sons of Merari;
These were all sons of Binyamin. 15 and Baqbaqqar, Àeresh, and Galal, and
written in the book of the sovereigns of Galal, son of YeÅuthun; and Bere¿yah son
Yisra’Ãl. And YehuÅah was exiled to BaÄel of Asa, son of Elqanah, who dwelt in the
for their trespass. villages of the Netophathites.
2 And the first inhabitants who were in 17 And the gatekeepers: Shallum, and
their possessions in their cities of Yisra’Ãl, AqquÄ, and Talmon, and AÁiman, and
were the priests, the LÃwites, and the their brothers – Shallum the chief.
Nethinim. 18 And up till then they were gatekeepers
3 And in Yerushalayim dwelt some of the for the camps of the children of LÃwi at the
children of YehuÅah, and some of the Sovereign’s Gate on the east.
children of Binyamin, and some of the 19 And Shallum son of QorÃ, son of
children of Ephrayim and Menashsheh: EÄyasaph, son of QoraÁ, and his brothers,
855 1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 10
from his father’s house, the QorÁites, were work day and night.
over the work of the service, guards of the 34 These heads of the fathers’ houses of
thresholds of the Tent. And their fathers the LÃwites were heads throughout their
had been guards of the entrance to the generations. They dwelt at Yerushalayim.
camp of HWHY. 35 And YeÈi’Ãl the father of GiÄÈon, whose
20 And PineÁas son of ElÈazar was leader wife’s name was MaÈa¿ah, dwelt at
over them in time past. HWHY was with him. GiÄÈon.
21 Ze¿aryah son of Meshelemyah was 36 And his first-born son was AÄdon, then
gatekeeper at the entrance of the Tent of Tsur, and Qish, and BaÈal, and NÃr, and
Meeting. NaÅaÄ,
22 All those chosen as gatekeepers at the 37 and GeÅor, and AÁyo, and Ze¿aryah,
villages. DawiÅ and Shemu’Ãl the seer had And they too dwelt alongside their rela-
appointed them to their office of trust. tives in Yerushalayim, with their brothers.
23 So they and their sons were over the 39 And NÃr brought forth Qish, and Qish
gates of the House of HWHY, the House of brought forth Sha’ul, and Sha’ul brought
the Tent, by watches. forth Yehonathan, and Malkishua, and
24 The gatekeepers were on the four sides: AÄinaÅaÄ, and Esh-BaÈal.
the east, west, north, and south. 40 And the son of Yehonathan was MeriÄ-
25 And their brothers in their villages had BaÈal, and MeriÄ-BaÈal brought forth
to come with them from time to time for Mi¿ah.
seven days. 41 And the sons of Mi¿ah: Pithon, and
26 For the four chief gatekeepers were in Mele¿, and TaÁrÃa,
an office of trust. They were LÃwites, and 42 and AÁaz, who brought forth Yarah;
they were over the rooms and treasuries of and Yarah brought forth Alemeth, and
the House of Elohim. Azmaweth, and Zimri. And Zimri brought
27 And they spent the night all around the forth Motsa;
House of Elohim because they had the 43 and Motsa brought forth BinÈa, and
duty, and they were to open it morning by Rephayah was his son, ElÈasah his son,
morning. AtsÃl his son.
28 And some of them were over the ves- 44 And AtsÃl had six sons whose names
sels of service, for they brought them in were these: Azriqam, Bo¿eru, and
and took them out by count. YishmaÈÃl, and SheÈaryah, and OÄaÅyah,
29 And some of them were appointed over and Àanan. These were the sons of AtsÃl.
the vessels, even over all the vessels of the
set-apart place, and over the fine flour and
the wine and the oil and the incense and 10 And the Philistines fought against
Yisra’Ãl. And the men of Yisra’Ãl
the spices. fled from before the Philistines, and fell
30 And some of the sons of the priests slain on Mount Gilboa.
blended the compound of spices. 2 And the Philistines pursued Sha’ul and
31 And Mattithyah of the LÃwites, the his sons, and the Philistines smote Yona-
first-born of Shallum the QorÁite, was than, and AÄinaÅaÄ, and Malkishua, sons
entrusted with the making of the flat cakes. of Sha’ul.
32 And some of their brothers of the sons 3 And the battle was heavy on Sha’ul.
of the Qehathites were over the show- And the archers hit him, and he was
bread, to prepare every Sabbath. wounded by the archers.
33 And these were the singers, heads of 4 And Sha’ul said to his armour-bearer,
the fathers’ houses of the LÃwites, in the “Draw your sword, and thrust me through
rooms, and were exempted from other with it, lest these uncircumcised ones
duties, for they were employed in that come and abuse me.” But his armour-bear-
1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 10 856
er would not, for he was much afraid, so And they anointed DawiÅ sovereign over
Sha’ul took a sword and fell on it. Yisra’Ãl, according to the word of HWHY by
5 And when his armour-bearer saw that Shemu’Ãl.
Sha’ul was dead, he also fell on his sword 4 And DawiÅ and all Yisra’Ãl went to
Philistines came and dwelt in them. YeÄusites first becomes chief and com-
8 And the next day it came to be, when mander.” And Yo’aÄ son of Tseruyah went
the Philistines came to strip the slain, that up first, and became chief.
they found Sha’ul and his sons fallen on 7 And DawiÅ dwelt in the stronghold, so
head and his armour, and sent word Millo round about, and Yo’aÄ revived the
throughout the land of the Philistines to rest of the city.
proclaim the news among their idols and 9 And DawiÅ went on and became great,
mighty ones, and fastened his head in the men whom DawiÅ had, who strengthened
house of DaÍon. themselves with him in his reign, with all
11 And all YaÄÃsh GilÈaÅ heard of all that Yisra’Ãl, to set him up to reign over
the Philistines had done to Sha’ul, YisraÃl, according to the word of HWHY.
12 and all the brave men arose and took 11 And this is the number of the mighty
the body of Sha’ul and the bodies of his men whom DawiÅ had: YashoÄÈam son of
sons. And they brought them to YaÄÃsh, a Àa¿monite, chief of the thirty. He had
and buried their bones under the tamarisk lifted up his spear against three hundred,
tree at YaÄÃsh, and fasted seven days. slain at one time.
13 Thus Sha’ul died for his trespass which 12 And after him was ElÈazar son of DoÅo,
he had trespassed against HWHY, because he the AÁoÁite, who was one of the three
did not guard the Word of HWHY, and also mighty men.
for asking a medium for to make inquiry, 13 He was with DawiÅ at Pasdammim,
14 and did not inquire of HWHY. So He put and the Philistines were gathered there for
him to death, and turned the reign over to battle, and a portion of the field was filled
DawiÅ son of Yishai. with barley, and the people had fled before
the Philistines.
11 And all Yisra’Ãl came together to
DawiÅ at ÀeÄron, saying, “See, we
14 But they took their stand in the midst of
Yisra’Ãl out and brought them in. And down to the rock to DawiÅ, into the cave of
HWHY your Elohim said to you, ‘Shepherd AÅullam, while the army of the Philistines
My people Yisra’Ãl, and be ruler over My encamped in the Valley of Repha’im.
people Yisra’Ãl.’ ” 16 And DawiÅ was then in the stronghold,
3 So all the elders of Yisra’Ãl came to the and the watch-post of the Philistines was
sovereign at ÀeÄron, and DawiÅ made a then in BÃyth LeÁem.
covenant with them at ÀeÄron before HWHY. 17 And DawiÅ longed and said, “Oh, that
857 1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 12
someone would give me a drink of water 29 Sibbe¿ai the Àushathite, Ilai the
from the well of BÃyth LeÁem, which is by AÁoÁite,
the gate!” 30 Maharai the Netophathite, ÀÃleÅ son of
18 And the three broke through the camp BaÈanah the Netophathite,
of the Philistines, and drew water from the 31 Ithai son of RiÄai of GiÄÈah, of the
well of BÃyth LeÁem that was by the gate, children of Binyamin, Benayah the
and took it and brought it to DawiÅ. But Pirathonite,
DawiÅ would not drink it, but poured it out 32 Àurai of the wadis of GaÈash, AÄi’Ãl the
to HWHY. Arbathite,
19 And he said, “Far be it from me, O my 33 Azmaweth the BaÁarumite, ElyaÁba
risked their lives? For at the risk of their Yonathan son of ShaÍÃ the Hararite,
lives they brought it.” And he would not 35 AÁyam son of Sa¿ar the Hararite,
drink it. This is what the three mighty men Eliphal son of Ur,
did. 36 ÀÃpher the MekÃrathite, AÁiyah the
20 And AÄishai the brother of Yo’aÄ was Pelonite,
chief of another three. And he had lifted up 37 Àetsro the Karmelite, NaÈarai son of
the other two men, so he became their BÃrothite (the armour-bearer of Yo’aÄ son
head. However he did not come to the first of Tseruyah),
three. 40 Ira the Yithrite, GarÃÄ the Yithrite,
22 Benayah was the son of YehoyaÅa, the 41 Uriyah the Àittite, ZaÄaÅ son of AÁlai,
son of a brave man from QaÄtse’Ãl, who 42 AÅina son of Shiza the Re’uÄÃnite, the
had done many deeds. He smote two lion- head of the Re’uÄÃnites, and thirty with
like Mo’aÄites. He also went down and him,
smote a lion in the midst of a pit on a 43 Àanan son of MaÈa¿ah, and Yoshaphat
height, five cubits tall. And in the YeÈi’Ãl the sons of Àotham the AroÈÃrite,
Mitsrite’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s 45 YeÅiya’Ãl son of Shimri, and YoÁa his
beam, and he went down to him with a brother, the Titsite,
staff and wrenched the spear out of the 46 Eli’Ãl the MaÁawite, and YeriÄai and
Mitsrite’s hand, and slew him with his own Yoshawyah the sons of ElnaÈam, Yithmah
spear. the Mo’aÄite,
24 This is what Benayahu son of Yeho- 47 Eli’Ãl, and OÄÃÅ, and YaÈasi’Ãl of
yaÅa did, and won a name among the three MetsoÄayah.
mighty men.
25 See, he was more esteemed than the
thirty, but he did not come to the first three. 12 Now these are they who came to
DawiÅ at TsiqlaÍ while he was still
And DawiÅ set him over his court. in hiding from Sha’ul son of Qish. And
26 And the mighty men of the armies were they were among the mighty men, helping
Asah’Ãl the brother of Yo’aÄ, ElÁanan son the battle,
of DoÅo of BÃyth LeÁem, 2 armed with bows, using both the right
27 Shammoth the Harorite, ÀÃlets the hand and the left, with stones, and with
Pelonite, arrows, with bows, of the brothers of
28 Ira son of IqqÃsh the Teqowite, Sha’ul, of Binyamin.
AÄiÈezer the Anathothite, 3 The chief was AÁiÈezer and Yo’ash, the
1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 12 858
sons of ShemaÈah the GiÄÈathite; and And with you, O son of Yishai! Peace,
Yezaw’Ãl and Pelet, the sons of Azmaweth; peace to you, and peace to your helpers!
and Bera¿ah, and YÃhu the Anathothite; For your Elohim shall help you.” And
4 and Yishmayah the GiÄÈonite, a mighty DawiÅ received them, and put them among
man among the thirty, and over the thirty; the chiefs of the raiding band.
and Yirmeyah, and YaÁazi’Ãl, and 19 And some from Menashsheh went over
YoÁanan, and YozaÄaÅ the GeÅÃrathite; to DawiÅ when he was going with the
5 Eluzai, and Yerimoth, and BeÈalyah, Philistines to battle against Sha’ul. But
and Shemaryahu, and Shephatyahu the they did not help them, for the princes of
Àaruphite; the Philistines took advice and sent him
6 Elqanah, and Yishshiyahu, and Azar’Ãl, away, saying, “He might go over to his
and YowÈezer, and YashoÄÈam the master Sha’ul with our heads!”
QorÁites; 20 When he went to TsiqlaÍ, those of
7 and Yo’Ãlah and ZeÄaÅyah, the sons of Menashsheh who went over to him were
YeroÁam of GeÅor. AÅnah, and YozaÄaÅ, and YeÅiya’Ãl, and
8 And some GaÅites separated them- Mi¿a’Ãl, and YozaÄaÅ, and Elihu, and
selves to DawiÅ at the stronghold in the Tsillethai, chiefs of the thousands who
wilderness, mighty brave men, men trained were from Menashsheh.
for battle, who could handle shield and 21 And they helped DawiÅ against the
spear, whose faces were like the faces of raiding bands, for they were all mighty
lions, and were as swift as gazelles on the brave men, and they were commanders in
mountains: the army.
9 Âzer the chief, OÄaÅyah the second, 22 For at that time they came to DawiÅ
EliyaÄ the third, day by day to help him, until it was a great
10 Mishmannah the fourth, Yirmeyah the army, like an army of Elohim.
fifth, 23 And these were the numbers of the
11 Attai the sixth, Eli’Ãl the seventh, chiefs of those that were armed for battle,
12 YoÁanan the eighth, ElzaÄaÅ the ninth, and came to DawiÅ at ÀeÄron to turn over
13 Yirmeyahu the tenth, Ma¿bannai the the reign of Sha’ul to him, according to the
eleventh. word of HWHY:
14 These were from the sons of GaÅ, 24 Of the children of YehuÅah bearing
chiefs of the army. The least was over a shield and spear, six thousand eight hun-
hundred, and the greatest was over a thou- dred armed for battle;
sand. 25 of the children of ShimÈon, mighty
15 These were the ones who passed over brave men for the army, seven thousand
the YardÃn in the first month, when it was one hundred;
overflowing all its banks, and put to flight 26 of the children of LÃwi four thousand
heart shall be united with you; but if to of Sha’ul, three thousand – until then the
betray me to my enemies – there is no greatest part of them guarded the charge of
violence in my hands – let the Elohim of the house of Sha’ul;
our fathers see and reprove.” 30 and the children of Ephrayim twenty
18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, thousand eight hundred, mighty brave
chief of the officers, “Yours, O DawiÅ! ones, men of name throughout their
859 1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 14
name to come and set up DawiÅ to reign; back to us, for we sought Him not since the
32 and the children of Yissas¿ar who had days of Sha’ul.”
understanding of the times, to know what 4 And all the assembly agreed to do so,
Yisra’Ãl should do, their chiefs were two for the matter was right in the eyes of all
hundred. And all their brothers were at the people.
their command; 5 So DawiÅ assembled all Yisra’Ãl, from
33 of ZeÄulun there were fifty thousand ShiÁor in Mitsrayim to as far as the
going out to the army, arranging battle with entrance of Àamath, to bring the ark of
all weapons of battle, giving support with Elohim from Qiryath YeÈarim.
undivided heart; 6 And DawiÅ and all Yisra’Ãl went up to
34 and of Naphtali one thousand comman- BaÈalah, to Qiryath YeÈarim of YehuÅah, to
ders, and with them thirty-seven thousand bring up from there the ark of Elohim,
with shield and spear; HWHY, who dwells between the keruÁim,
35 and of the Danites, arranging battle, where the Name is called on.
twenty-eight thousand six hundred; 7 And they placed the ark of Elohim on a
36 and of AshÃr, going out to the army, new wagon from the house of AÄinaÅaÄ,
arranging battle, forty thousand; and Uzza and AÁyo were leading the
37 and of the Re’uÄÃnites and the GaÅites wagon.
and the half-tribe of Menashsheh, from 8 And DawiÅ and all Yisra’Ãl were
beyond the YardÃn, one hundred and twen- playing before Elohim with all their might,
ty thousand armed for battle with every and with songs, and with lyres, and with
kind of weapon of battle. harps, and with tambourines, and with
38 All these men of battle, keeping rank, cymbals, and with trumpets.
came to ÀeÄron with a perfect heart, to set 9 And when they came to the threshing-
up DawiÅ to reign over all Yisra’Ãl. And floor of KiÅon, Uzza put out his hand to
all the rest of Yisra’Ãl were of one heart to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled.
set up DawiÅ to reign. 10 Then the wrath of HWHY burned against
39 And they were there with DawiÅ three Uzza, and He smote him because he put
days, eating and drinking, for their broth- his hand to the ark. And he died there
ers had prepared for them. before Elohim.
40 And also those who were near to them, 11 And DawiÅ was displeased because
from as far away as Yissas¿ar and ZeÄulun HWHY had broken out against Uzza, there-
and Naphtali, were bringing food on fore that place is called Perets Uzza, until
donkeys and camels, on mules and cattle – this day.
food of flour and cakes of figs and cakes of 12 And DawiÅ was afraid of Elohim that
raisins, wine and oil and cattle and sheep day, saying, “How shall I bring the ark of
in great quantities, for there was joy in Elohim to me?”
Yisra’Ãl. 13 So DawiÅ did not take the ark with him
build him a house. all lands, and HWHY put the dread of him
2 And DawiÅ knew that HWHY had estab-
upon all nations.
lished him as sovereign over Yisra’Ãl, for
his reign was highly exalted for the sake of
His people Yisra’Ãl.
3 And DawiÅ took more wives in
15 And he built houses for himself in
the City of DawiÅ. And he pre-
pared a place for the ark of Elohim, and
Yerushalayim, and DawiÅ brought forth pitched a tent for it.
more sons and daughters. 2 Then DawiÅ said, “No one is to lift the
4 And these are the names of his children
ark of Elohim but the LÃwites, for HWHY has
whom he had in Yerushalayim: Shammua chosen them to lift the ark of Elohim and
and ShoÄaÄ, Nathan and Shelomoh, to serve Him forever.”
5 and YiÄÁar, and Elishua, and Elpelet, 3 And DawiÅ assembled all Yisra’Ãl at
6 and NoÍah, and NepheÍ, and Yaphiya,
Yerushalayim, to bring up the ark of HWHY
7 and Elishama, and BeÈelyaÅa, and
to its place, which he had prepared for it.
Eliphelet. 4 And DawiÅ gathered the children of
8 And when the Philistines heard that
Aharon and the LÃwites;
DawiÅ had been anointed sovereign over 5 of the sons of Qehath: Uri’Ãl the chief,
all Yisra’Ãl, all the Philistines went up to and one hundred and twenty of his
seek DawiÅ. And DawiÅ heard and went brothers;
out against them. 6 of the sons of Merari: Asayah the chief,
9 And the Philistines came and made a
and two hundred and twenty of his
raid on the Valley of Repha’im. brothers;
10 And DawiÅ inquired of Elohim, saying, 7 of the sons of GÃreshom: Yo’Ãl the
“Do I go up against the Philistines? And chief, and one hundred and thirty of his
shall You give them into my hand?” And brothers;
HWHY said to him, “Go up, and I shall give 8 of the sons of Elitsaphan: Shemayah
them into your hand.” the chief, and two hundred of his brothers;
11 And they went up to BaÈal Peratsim, 9 of the sons of ÀeÄron: Eli’Ãl the chief,
and DawiÅ smote them there. Then DawiÅ and eighty of his brothers;
said, “Elohim has broken through my 10 of the sons of Uzzi’Ãl: AmminaÅaÄ the
enemies by my hand like a breakthrough of chief, and one hundred and twelve of his
water.” So they called the name of that brothers.
place BaÈal Peratsim. 11 And DawiÅ called for TsaÅoq and
12 And they left their mighty ones there, EÄyathar the priests, and for the LÃwites,
so DawiÅ commanded, and they were for Uri’Ãl, Asayah, and Yo’Ãl, Shemayah,
burned with fire. and Eli’Ãl, and AmminaÅaÄ,
13 And the Philistines once again made a 12 and said to them, “You are the heads of
raid on the valley. the fathers’ houses of the LÃwites. Set
14 And DawiÅ again inquired of Elohim, yourselves apart, you and your brothers,
and Elohim said to him, “Do not go up then you shall bring up the ark of HWHY
after them. Go around them, and come Elohim of Yisra’Ãl to the place I have pre-
upon them in front of the mulberry trees. pared for it.
15 “And it shall be, when you hear a sound 13 “Because you did not do it the first
of stepping in the tops of the mulberry time, HWHY our Elohim broke out against
trees, then go out to battle, for Elohim shall us, because we did not ask Him about the
go out before you to smite the camp of the right-ruling.”
Philistines.” 14 So the priests and the LÃwites set them-
16 And DawiÅ did as Elohim commanded selves apart, to bring up the ark of HWHY
him, and they drove back the army of the Elohim of Yisra’Ãl.
Philistines from GiÄÈon as far as Gezer. 15 And the children of the LÃwites bore
17 And the name of DawiÅ went out into the ark of Elohim on their shoulders, by its
861 1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 16
poles, as Mosheh had commanded accord- leader of the service with the singers. And
ing to the word of HWHY. DawiÅ wore a linen shoulder garment.
16 And DawiÅ spoke to the leaders of the 28 So all Yisra’Ãl brought up the ark of the
LÃwites to appoint their brothers the covenant of HWHY with shouting and with
singers with instruments of song, harps, the sound of the horn, with trumpets and
and lyres, and cymbals, to lift up the voice with cymbals, sounding with harps and
with joy. lyres.
17 And the LÃwites appointed HÃman son 29 And it came to be, as the ark of the
of Yo’Ãl, and of his brothers, Asaph son of covenant of HWHY came to the City of
Bere¿yahu; and of their brothers, the sons DawiÅ, that Mi¿al the daughter of Sha’ul,
of Merari, Âythan son of Qushayahu; looking through a window, saw Sovereign
18 and with them their brothers of the sec- DawiÅ dancing and playing. And she
ond rank: Ze¿aryahu, BÃn, and YaÈazi’Ãl, despised him in her heart.
and Shemiramoth, and YeÁi’Ãl, and Unni,
EliyaÄ, and Benayahu, and MaÈasÃyahu,
and Mattithyahu, and EliphelÃhu, and 16 And they brought the ark of
Elohim, and set it in the midst of
MiqnÃyahu, and OÄÃÅ-EÅom, and YeÈi’Ãl, the Tent that DawiÅ had pitched for it. And
the gatekeepers; they brought burnt offerings and peace
19 and the singers HÃman, Asaph, and offerings before Elohim.
Âythan, were to sound the cymbals of 2 And when DawiÅ had made an end of
were doorkeepers for the ark. continually blew the trumpets before the
25 And it was DawiÅ and the elders of ark of the covenant of Elohim.
Yisra’Ãl, and the commanders over thou- 7 And on that day DawiÅ first gave
sands, who went to bring up the ark of the thanks to HWHY by the hand of Asaph and
covenant of HWHY from the house of OÄÃÅ- his brothers:
EÅom with joy. 8 Give thanks to HWHY, call upon His
26 And it came to be, when Elohim helped Name,
the LÃwites who bore the ark of the Make known His deeds among the
covenant of HWHY, that they offered seven peoples!
bulls and seven rams. 9 Sing to Him, sing praise to Him,
27 And DawiÅ was dressed in a robe of Speak of all His wonders!
fine linen, as were all the LÃwites who 10 Boast in His set-apart Name,
bore the ark, the singers, and Kenanyah the Let the hearts of those seeking HWHY
1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 16 862
rejoice! peoples,
11 Seek HWHY and His strength, Ascribe to HWHY esteem and strength.
Seek His face continually! 29 Ascribe to HWHY the esteem of His
12 Remember His wonders which He Name;
has done, Bring an offering, and come before
His signs and the right-rulings of Him;
His mouth, Bow yourself to HWHY
13 O seed of Yisra’Ãl, His servant; In the splendour of set-apartness!
O children of YaÈaqoÄ, His chosen 30 Tremble before Him, all the earth.
And His oath to YitsÁaq, Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.
17 And He established it to YaÈaqoÄ for 33 Let the trees of the forest then sing
And He is to be feared above all the priests, before the Dwelling Place of
mighty ones. HWHY at the high place that was at GiÄÈon,
26 For all the mighty ones of the peoples 40 to offer burnt offerings to HWHY on the
designated by name, to give thanks to humbled all your enemies. And I declared
HWHY, because His kindness is everlasting; to you that HWHY does build you a house.
42 and with them HÃman and YeÅuthun, to 11 “And it shall be, when your days are
sound aloud with trumpets and cymbals filled to go to be with your fathers, that I
and instruments for the songs of Elohim, shall raise up your seed after you, who is
and the sons of YeÅuthun for the gate. of your sons. And I shall establish his
43 And all the people went, each one to his reign.
house, and DawiÅ returned to bless his 12 “He does build Me a house, and I shall
is in your heart, for Elohim is with you.” according to all this vision, so did Nathan
3 And it came to be that night that the speak to DawiÅ.
word of Elohim came to Nathan, saying, 16 And Sovereign DawiÅ came in and sat
4 “Go, and you shall say to My servant before HWHY, and said, “Who am I, O HWHY
DawiÅ, ‘Thus said HWHY, “You do not build Elohim? And what is my house, that You
Me a house to dwell in. have brought me this far?
5 “For I have not dwelt in a house since 17 “And this was a small matter in Your
the time that I brought up Yisra’Ãl, even to eyes, O Elohim, but You have spoken of
this day, but have gone from tent to tent, Your servant’s house for a great while to
and from one Dwelling Place to another. come, and have looked upon me as though
6 “Wherever I have moved about with all I were an exalted man , O HWHY Elohim.
Yisra’Ãl, have I ever spoken a word to any 18 “What more could DawiÅ add to You
of the rulers of Yisra’Ãl, whom I com- for the esteem of Your servant? For You
manded to shepherd My people, saying, know Your servant.
‘Why have you not built Me a house of 19 “O HWHY, for Your servant’s sake, and
the sheep, to be ruler over My people there any Elohim besides You, according
Yisra’Ãl. to all that we have heard with our ears.
8 “And I have been with you wherever 21 “And who is like Your people Yisra’Ãl,
you have gone, and have cut off all your the one nation on the earth whom Elohim
enemies from before you, and have made went to redeem for Himself as a people; to
you a name like the name of the great men make for Yourself a great and awesome
who are on the earth. Name, by driving out nations from before
9 “And I shall prepare a place for My Your people whom You redeemed from
people Yisra’Ãl and plant them, and they Mitsrayim?
shall dwell in a place of their own and 22 “For You appointed Your people
move no more, nor shall the sons of Yisra’Ãl to be Your own people forever.
wickedness oppress them any more, as And You, HWHY, have become their Elohim.
at the first, 23 “And now, O HWHY, the word which
10 since the time that I commanded rulers You have spoken concerning Your servant
to be over My people Yisra’Ãl, and I have and concerning his house, let it stand fast
1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 17 864
forever, and do as You have said. 9 And when ToÈu sovereign of Àamath
24 “So let it stand fast, and Your Name be heard that DawiÅ had smitten all the army
great forever, saying, ‘HWHY of hosts, of HaÅaÅezer sovereign of TsoÄah,
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, is Elohim to Yisra’Ãl. 10 he sent HaÅoram his son to Sovereign
And let the house of Your servant DawiÅ DawiÅ, to ask peace of him and bless him,
be established before You.’ because he had fought against HaÅaÅezer
25 “For You, O my Elohim, have revealed and smote him – because HaÅaÅezer had
to Your servant to build a house for him. been fighting against ToÈu – with all kinds
Therefore Your servant has found courage of objects of gold, and silver, and bronze.
to pray before You. 11 Sovereign DawiÅ also set these apart to
26 “And now, HWHY, You are Elohim, and HWHY, along with the silver and gold that he
have promised this goodness to Your ser- had brought from all these nations, from
vant. EÅom, and from Mo’aÄ, and from the
27 “And now, You have been pleased to children of Ammon, and from the
bless the house of Your servant to be Philistines, and from AmalÃq.
before You forever. For You have blessed 12 And AÄishai son of Tseruyah smote
it, O HWHY, and it is blessed forever.” eighteen thousand EÅomites in the Valley
of Salt,
18 And after this it came to be that
DawiÅ smote the Philistines, and
13 and he put watch-posts in EÅom, and
Damascus, and the Arameans became ness to Àanun son of NaÁash, because his
DawiÅ’s servants, and brought presents. father showed kindness to me.” So DawiÅ
And HWHY saved DawiÅ wherever he went. sent messengers to comfort him concern-
7 And DawiÅ took the shields of gold ing his father. And the servants of DawiÅ
that were on the servants of HaÅaÅezer, came to Àanun in the land of the children
and brought them to Yerushalayim. of Ammon to comfort him.
8 And from TiÄÁath and from Kun, cities 3 And the chiefs of the children of
of HaÅaÅezer, DawiÅ brought a large Ammon said to Àanun, “Is DawiÅ esteem-
amount of bronze, with which Shelomoh ing your father, in your eyes, because he
made the bronze Sea, and the columns, and has sent comforters to you? Have his
the vessels of bronze. servants not come to you to search and to
865 1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 20
overthrow and to spy out the land?” into the city. And Yo’aÄ came to Yeru-
4 So Àanun took DawiÅ’s servants, and shalayim.
shaved them, and cut off their garments in 16 And when Aram saw that they had been
the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them smitten before Yisra’Ãl, they sent messen-
away. gers and brought the Arameans who were
5 And when some went and informed beyond the River, and Shopha¿ the
DawiÅ about the men, he sent to meet commander of HaÅaÅezer’s army went
them, because the men were greatly before them.
ashamed. And the sovereign said, “Remain 17 And it was reported to DawiÅ, and he
at YeriÁo until your beards have grown, gathered all Yisra’Ãl, and passed over the
then return.” YardÃn and came upon them, and set up in
6 And when the children of Ammon saw battle array against them. And DawiÅ set
that they had made themselves a stench to up in battle array against Aram, and they
DawiÅ, Àanun and the children of Ammon fought with him.
sent a thousand talents of silver to hire 18 And Aram fled before Yisra’Ãl, and
chariots and horsemen from Aram- DawiÅ slew seven thousand charioteers
Naharayim, and from Aram-MaÈa¿ah, and and forty thousand foot soldiers of the
from TsoÄah. Arameans, and smote Shopha¿ the
7 So they hired for themselves thirty-two commander of the army.
thousand chariots, with the sovereign of 19 And the servants of HaÅaÅezer saw that
MaÈa¿ah and his people, who came and they were smitten by Yisra’Ãl, and they
encamped before MÃyÅeÄa. And the chil- made peace with DawiÅ and became his
dren of Ammon had gathered from their servants. And the Arameans would not
cities, and came to battle. help the children of Ammon any more.
8 And when DawiÅ heard, he sent Yo’aÄ
children of Ammon are too strong for you, were in it, and put them to work with saws,
then I shall help you. and with iron picks, and with axes. And
13 “Be strong, and let us show strength for thus DawiÅ did to all the cities of the chil-
our people and for the cities of our Elohim, dren of Ammon. Then DawiÅ and all the
and let HWHY do what is good in His eyes.” people returned to Yerushalayim.
14 And Yo’aÄ drew near, and the people 4 And afterward it came to be that fight-
with him, to battle against Aram, and they ing broke out at Gezer with the Philistines.
fled before him. Then Sibbe¿ai the Àushathite smote
15 And when the children of Ammon saw Sippai of the sons of the giant, and they
that the Arameans were fleeing, they also were humbled.
fled before AÄishai his brother, and went 5 And there was fighting again with the
1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 20 866
Philistines, and ElÁanan son of Ya’ir smote 10 “Go, and you shall speak to DawiÅ,
LaÁmi the brother of Golyath the Gittite, saying, ‘Thus said HWHY, “I hold three
the shaft of whose spear was like a options before you – choose one of them
weaver’s beam. for yourself, and I do it to you.” ’ ”
6 And there was fighting again at Gath, 11 So GaÅ came to DawiÅ and said to him,
where there was a man of great size, with “Thus said HWHY, ‘Choose for yourself
twenty-four fingers and toes, six and six. 12 either three years of scarcity of food, or
And he too was born to the giant. three months to be defeated by your foes
7 And he reproached Yisra’Ãl, and Yeho- with the sword of your enemies overtaking
nathan son of ShimÈa, DawiÅ’s brother, you, or else for three days the sword of
smote him. HWHY, even the plague in the land, with the
8 These were born to the giant in Gath, messenger of HWHY destroying throughout
and they fell by the hand of DawiÅ and by all the borders of Yisra’Ãl.’ And now
the hand of his servants. consider what answer I am to return to
Him who sent me.”
21 And Satan stood up against
Yisra’Ãl, and moved DawiÅ to
13 And DawiÅ said to GaÅ, “I am in great
throughout all Yisra’Ãl and came to messenger of HWHY standing between earth
Yerushalayim. and the heavens, having in his hand a
5 And Yo’aÄ gave the sum of the number drawn sword stretched out over Yeru-
of the people to DawiÅ. And all Yisra’Ãl shalayim. And DawiÅ and the elders,
had one million one hundred thousand men wrapped in sackcloth, fell on their faces.
who drew the sword, and YehuÅah had 17 And DawiÅ said to Elohim, “Was it not
four hundred and seventy thousand men I who commanded the people to be num-
who drew the sword. bered? I am the one who has sinned and
6 But he did not number LÃwi and done evil indeed. But these, the sheep,
Binyamin among them, for the sovereign’s what have they done? Let Your hand, I
word was loathsome to Yo’aÄ. pray, O HWHY my Elohim, be against me
7 And it was evil in the eyes of Elohim, and my father’s house, but not against
concerning this matter, and He smote Your people, to be plagued.”
Yisra’Ãl. 18 And the messenger of HWHY commanded
8 Then DawiÅ said to Elohim, “I have GaÅ to say to DawiÅ that DawiÅ should go
sinned greatly, because I have done this up to raise an altar to HWHY on the threshing-
matter. But now, I pray, take away the floor of Ornan the YeÄusite.
crookedness of Your servant, for I have 19 So DawiÅ went up at the word of GaÅ,
saying, ger. And his four sons with him hid them-
867 1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 22
selves, and Ornan was threshing wheat. iron for the nails of the doors of the gates
21 And DawiÅ came to Ornan, and Ornan and for the clamps, and more bronze than
looked and saw DawiÅ, and he went out could be weighed,
from the threshing-floor, and bowed down 4 and cedar trees beyond number, for the
to DawiÅ with his face to the ground. TsiÅonians and those from Tsor brought
22 And DawiÅ said to Ornan, “Give me much cedar wood to DawiÅ.
the site of the threshing-floor, so that I 5 And DawiÅ said, “Shelomoh my son is
build an altar to HWHY on it. Give it to me at young and tender, and the house that is to
the complete price, so that the plague is be built for HWHY is to be exceedingly great,
restrained from the people.” for a splendid Name, to all the lands.
23 And Ornan said to DawiÅ, “Take it for Please, let me make preparation for it.” So
yourself, and let my master the sovereign DawiÅ made extensive preparations before
do what is good in his eyes. See, I shall his death.
give you the cattle for burnt offerings, the 6 He also called for his son Shelomoh,
threshing implements for wood, and the and commanded him to build a house for
wheat for the grain offering. I give it all.” HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl.
24 And Sovereign DawiÅ said to Ornan, 7 And DawiÅ said to Shelomoh, “My
“No, but I shall certainly buy it at the com- son, as for me, it has been in my heart to
plete price, for I do not take what is yours build a house to the Name of HWHY my
for HWHY, nor offer a burnt offering without Elohim,
cost.” 8 but the word of HWHY came to me,
25 And DawiÅ gave Ornan six hundred saying, ‘You have shed much blood and
sheqels of gold by weight for the place. have fought great battles. You do not build
26 And DawiÅ built there an altar to HWHY, a house for My Name, because you have
and offered burnt offerings and peace shed much blood on the earth in My pres-
offerings, and called on HWHY. And He ence.
answered him from the heavens by fire on 9 ‘See, a son is to be born to you, who is
the altar of burnt offering. a man of rest. And I shall give him rest
27 Then HWHY commanded the messenger, from all his enemies all around, for
and he returned his sword to its sheath. Shelomoh is his name, and peace and rest I
28 At that time, when DawiÅ saw that give to Yisra’Ãl in his days.
HWHY had answered him on the threshing- 10 ‘He does build a house for My Name,
had made in the wilderness, were at that you shall prosper and build the House of
time at the high place in GiÄÈon. HWHY your Elohim, as He has said to you.
30 But DawiÅ was unable to go before it to 12 “Only, let HWHY give you wisdom and
inquire of Elohim, for he was afraid of the understanding, and command you concern-
sword of the messenger of HWHY. ing Yisra’Ãl, so that you guard the Torah of
HWHY your Elohim,
22 DawiÅ then said, “This is the
House of HWHY Elohim, and this is
13 then you shall prosper, if you guard to
cut hewn stones to build the House of for the House of HWHY one hundred thou-
Elohim. sand talents of gold and one million talents
3 And DawiÅ prepared large quantities of of silver, and bronze and iron beyond mea-
1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 22 868
sure, for it is plenty. And I have prepared heads of the fathers’ houses of LaÈdan.
timber and stone, and you shall add to 10 And the sons of ShimÈi: YaÁath, Zina,
timber, and all types of skilled men for second. But YeÈush and BeriÈah did not
every kind of work. have many sons, so they were reckoned as
16 “Of gold and silver and bronze and iron one father’s house.
there is no limit. Rise up and do, and HWHY 12 The sons of Qehath: Amram, Yitshar,
of Yisra’Ãl to help Shelomoh his son, Mosheh. And Aharon was set apart, he and
saying, his sons forever, that he should set apart
18 “Is not HWHY your Elohim with you? the most set-apart, to burn incense before
And has He not given you rest all around? HWHY, to serve Him, and to give the bless-
For He has given the inhabitants of the ing in His Name forever.
land into my hand, and the land has been 14 Now Mosheh, the man of Elohim, his
subdued before HWHY and before His peo- sons were named after the tribe of LÃwi.
ple. 15 The sons of Mosheh: GÃreshom and
19 “Now, give your heart and your being EliÈezer.
to seek HWHY your Elohim. And rise up and 16 The sons of GÃreshom: SheÄu’Ãl was
the set-apart vessels of Elohim into the the head. And EliÈezer had no other sons,
house that is to be built for the Name but the sons of ReÁaÄyah were very many.
of HWHY.” 18 The sons of Yitshar: Shelomith was the
head.
23 And DawiÅ was old and satisfied
with days, and he made his son
19 The sons of ÀeÄron: Yeriyahu was the
Yisra’Ãl, with the priests and the LÃwites. head and Yishshiyah the second.
3 And the LÃwites were numbered from 21 The sons of Merari: MaÁli and Mushi.
the age of thirty years and above. And their The sons of MaÁli: ElÈazar and Qish.
number, head by head, was thirty-eight 22 And ElÈazar died, and had no sons, but
and four thousand to give praise to HWHY, fathers’ houses, the heads of the fathers’
“which I made for giving praise.” houses as they were counted head by head
6 And DawiÅ divided them into divi- by the number of their names, who did the
sions, of the sons of LÃwi: of GÃreshon, work for the service of the House of HWHY,
Qehath, and Merari. from the age of twenty years and above.
7 Of the GÃreshonites: LaÈdan and 25 For DawiÅ said, “HWHY Elohim of
27 For by the last words of DawiÅ the and TsaÅoq the priest, and AÁimele¿ son
LÃwites were numbered from twenty years of EÄyathar, and the heads of the fathers’
old and above, houses of the priests and LÃwites, one
28 because their duty was to help the sons father’s house taken for ElÈazar and one for
of Aharon in the service of the House of Ithamar.
HWHY, in the courtyards and in the rooms, in 7 And the first lot came forth to
the cleansing of all that was set-apart, and YehoyariÄ, the second to YeÅayah,
the work of the service of the House of 8 the third to Àarim, the fourth to
Elohim, SeÈorim,
29 both with the showbread and the fine 9 the fifth to Malkiyah, the sixth to
second to Gamul,
24 And the divisions of the sons of
Aharon: The sons of Aharon were
18 the twenty-third to Delayahu, the twen-
ty-fourth to MaÈazyahu.
NaÅaÄ and AÄihu, ElÈazar and Ithamar. 19 These were their offices in their service
2 But NaÅaÄ and AÄihu died before their for coming into the House of HWHY accord-
father, and had no children, so ElÈazar and ing to their right-ruling by the hand of
Ithamar served as priests. Aharon their father, as HWHY Elohim of
3 And DawiÅ, with TsaÅoq of the sons of Yisra’Ãl had commanded him.
ElÈazar, and AÁimele¿ of the sons of 20 And the rest of the sons of LÃwi: of the
Ithamar, divided them according to their sons of Amram, ShuÄa’Ãl; of the sons of
offices in their service. ShuÄa’Ãl, YeÁdeyahu.
4 And there were more leaders found of 21 Concerning ReÁaÄyahu, of the sons of
the sons of ElÈazar than of the sons of ReÁaÄyahu, the head was Yishshiyah.
Ithamar. So they divided the sons of 22 Of the Yitsharites, Shelomoth; of the
heads of their fathers’ houses. the head, Amaryahu the second, YaÁazi’Ãl
5 And they were divided by lot, one the third, and YeqamÈam the fourth.
group as another, for there were officials of 24 Of the sons of Uzzi’Ãl, Mi¿ah; of the
NethanÃ’l, one of the LÃwites, wrote them the son of YaÈaziyahu, Beno.
down before the sovereign, and the rulers, 27 The sons of Merari by YaÈaziyahu:
1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 24 870
Beno, and Shoham, and Zakkur, and IÄri. dred and eighty-eight.
28 Of MaÁli: ElÈazar, who had no sons. 8 And they cast lots for their duty, the
29 Of Qish: the son of Qish, YeraÁme’Ãl. small as well as the great, the teacher with
30 And the sons of Mushi: MaÁli, ÂÅer, the student.
and Yerimoth. These were the sons of the 9 And the first lot for Asaph came forth
LÃwites according to their fathers’ houses. for YosÃph; GeÅalyahu the second, he, and
31 These also cast lots, they too, as their his brothers and sons, twelve;
brothers the sons of Aharon, in the 10 the third Zakkur, his sons and his broth-
prophesied with a lyre to give thanks and and his brothers, twelve;
to praise HWHY. 22 the fifteenth YerÃmoth, his sons and his
4 Of HÃman, the sons of HÃman: brothers, twelve;
Buqqiyahu, Mattanyahu, Uzzi’Ãl, She- 23 the sixteenth Àananyahu, his sons and
exalt his horn. For Elohim gave HÃman his brothers, twelve;
fourteen sons and three daughters. 27 the twentieth Eliyathah, his sons and
6 All these were at the hands of their his brothers, twelve;
father for song in the House of HWHY, with 28 the twenty-first Hothir, his sons and his
thun, and HÃman, at the hands of the sov- and his brothers, twelve;
ereign. 30 the twenty-third MaÁaziyoth, his sons
7 And the number of them, with their and his brothers, twelve;
brothers who were taught in the songs of 31 the twenty-fourth Romamti-Ezer, his
HWHY, all who were skilled, was two hun- sons and his brothers, twelve.
871 1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 26
Meshelemyahu son of QorÃ, of the sons of north four each day, on the south four each
Asaph. day, and for the storehouse two by two.
2 And the sons of Meshelemyahu: 18 As for the Parbar on the west, there
Ze¿aryahu the first-born, YeÅiya’Ãl the were four on the highway and two at the
second, ZeÄaÅyahu the third, Yathni’Ãl Parbar.
the fourth, 19 These were the divisions of the gate-
3 Âylam the fifth, YehoÁanan the sixth, keepers among the sons of QoraÁ and
ElyoÈÃynai the seventh. among the sons of Merari.
4 And the sons of OÄÃÅ-EÅom: Shema- 20 And of the LÃwites, AÁiyah was over
yah the first-born, YehozaÄaÅ the second, the treasuries of the House of Elohim and
Yo’aÁ the third, Sa¿ar the fourth, over the treasuries of the set-apart gifts.
NethanÃ’l the fifth, 21 The sons of LaÈdan, the sons of the
5 Ammi’Ãl the sixth, Yissas¿ar the sev- GÃreshonites of LaÈdan, heads of their
enth, PeÈullethai the eighth, for Elohim fathers’ houses, of LaÈdan the GÃreshonite:
blessed him. YeÁi’Ãli.
6 Also to Shemayah his son were sons 22 The sons of YeÁi’Ãli, ZÃtham and Yo’Ãl
born who ruled their fathers’ houses, his brother, were over the treasuries of the
because they were able mighty men. House of HWHY.
7 The sons of Shemayah: Othni, and 23 Of the Amramites, the Yitsharites, the
EÅom, they and their sons and their broth- ReÁaÄyahu his son, and Yeshayahu his
ers, able men with strength for the work: son, and Yoram his son, and Zi¿ri his son,
sixty-two of OÄÃÅ-EÅom. and Shelomoth his son.
9 And Meshelemyahu had sons and 26 This Shelomoth and his brothers were
brothers, eighteen able men. over all the treasuries of the set-apart gifts
10 Also Àosah, of the children of Merari, which Sovereign DawiÅ and the heads of
had sons: Shimri the head (although he fathers’ houses, the commanders over
was not the first-born, his father made him thousands and hundreds, and the comman-
the head), ders of the army, had set apart.
11 Àilqiyahu the second, TeÄalyahu the 27 Some of the booty won in battles they
third, Ze¿aryahu the fourth. All the sons set apart to maintain the House of HWHY.
and brothers of Àosah were thirteen. 28 And all that Shemu’Ãl the seer, and
12 These divisions of the gatekeepers, Sha’ul son of Qish, and AÄnÃr son of NÃr,
among the chief men, had duties like their and Yo’aÄ son of Tseruyah had set apart,
brothers, to serve in the House of HWHY. all who were setting apart, were under the
13 And they cast lots for each gate, the hand of Shelomith and his brothers.
small as well as the great, according to 29 Of the Yitsharites, Kenanyahu and his
their father’s house. sons were for the outward duties as offi-
14 And the lot to the east fell to cials and judges over Yisra’Ãl.
Shelemyahu. Then they cast lots for his 30 Of the ÀeÄronites, ÀashaÄyahu and his
son Ze¿aryahu, a wise counsellor, and his brothers, one thousand seven hundred able
lot came out to the north; men, had the oversight of Yisra’Ãl beyond
15 to OÄÃÅ-EÅom to the south, and to his the YardÃn westward, for all the work of
sons the storehouse; HWHY, and in the service of the sovereign.
16 to Shuppim and Àosah to the west, with 31 Of the ÀeÄronites, Yeriyah was head of
the Shalle¿eth Gate on the ascending high- the ÀeÄronites according to his genealogy
1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 26 872
of the fathers. In the fortieth year of the Ephrayim, and in his division were twenty-
reign of DawiÅ they were sought, and there four thousand.
were found among them able men at YaÈzÃr 11 The eighth for the eighth month was
officials over the Re’uÄÃnites, and the AÄiÈezer the Anathothite, of the
GaÅites, and the half-tribe of Menashsheh, Binyamites, and in his division were twen-
in all matters of Elohim and matters of the ty-four thousand.
sovereign. 13 The tenth for the tenth month was
ders of thousands and hundreds and their was Benayah the Pirathonite, of the chil-
officers, served the sovereign in all matters dren of Ephrayim, and in his division were
of the divisions which came in and went twenty-four thousand.
out month by month throughout all the 15 The twelfth for the twelfth month was
months of the year, each division having Àeldai the Netophathite, of Othni’Ãl, and
twenty-four thousand. in his division were twenty-four thousand.
2 Over the first division for the first 16 And over the tribes of Yisra’Ãl: the
month was YashoÄÈam son of ZaÄdi’Ãl, and chief officer over Re’uÄÃn: EliÈezer son of
in his division were twenty-four thousand; Zi¿ri; over ShimÈon: Shephatyahu son of
3 of the sons of Perets, and the chief of MaÈa¿ah;
all the commanders of the army for the 17 LÃwi: ÀashaÄyah son of Qemu’Ãl; over
in his division were twenty-four thousand. yahu; Naphtali: Yerimoth son of Azri’Ãl;
5 The third commander of the army for 20 the children of Ephrayim: HoshÃa son
the third month was Benayahu, son of of Azazyahu; the half-tribe of Menash-
YehoyaÅa the priest, who was chief, and in sheh: Yo’Ãl son of PeÅayahu;
his division were twenty-four thousand. 21 the half-tribe of Menashsheh in GilÈaÅ:
6 This was the Benayahu who was Iddo son of Ze¿aryahu; Binyamin:
mighty among the thirty, and was over the YaÈasi’Ãl son of AÄnÃr;
thirty, and in his division was AmmizaÄaÅ 22 Dan: Azar’Ãl son of YeroÁam. These
Asah’Ãl the brother of Yo’aÄ, and those twenty years old and under, because
ZeÄaÅyah his son after him, and in his HWHY had said He would increase Yisra’Ãl
division were twenty-four thousand. like the stars of the heavens.
8 The fifth for the fifth month was 24 Yo’aÄ son of Tseruyah began a census,
Shamhuth the YizraÁite, and in his division but he did not finish, for wrath came upon
were twenty-four thousand. Yisra’Ãl because of this census; nor was
9 The sixth for the sixth month was Ira the number recorded in the account of the
son of IqqÃsh the Teqowite, and in his divi- annals of Sovereign DawiÅ.
sion were twenty-four thousand. 25 And Azmaweth son of AÅi’Ãl was over
10 The seventh for the seventh month was the sovereign’s treasuries. And Yeho-
ÀÃlets the Pelonite, of the children of nathan son of Uzziyahu was over the store-
873 1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 28
houses in the field, in the cities, and in the build a house for My Name, because you
villages, and in the watchtowers. have been a man of battle and have shed
26 And Ezri son of KeluÄ was over those blood.’
who did the work of the field for tilling the 4 “Yet HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl chose me
of the divisions who served the sovereign, build a house for the set-apart place. Be
the commanders over thousands and com- strong, and do it.”
manders over hundreds, and the heads over 11 And DawiÅ gave his son Shelomoh the
all the property and possessions of the sov- plans for the porch, and its houses, and its
ereign and of his sons, with the officials, treasuries, and its upper rooms, and its
the mighty men, and all the mighty brave inner rooms, and the place of atonement;
men. 12 and the plans for all that he had by the
2 Then Sovereign DawiÅ rose to his feet Spirit, of the courtyards of the House of
and said, “Hear me, my brothers and my HWHY, and of all the rooms all around, and
people: I had it in my heart to build a house of the treasuries of the House of Elohim,
of rest for the ark of the covenant of HWHY, and of the treasuries for the set-apart gifts;
and for the footstool of our Elohim, and 13 and for the divisions of the priests and
had made preparations to build it. the LÃwites, and for all the work of the ser-
3 “But Elohim said to me, ‘You do not vice of the House of HWHY, and for all the
1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 28 874
vessels of service in the House of HWHY; ver, and the bronze for the bronze, the iron
14 even gold by weight for utensils of for the iron, and the wood for the wood,
gold, for all utensils used in every kind of shoham stones, and settings, and fair
service; for silver for all utensils of silver stones of various colours, and all kinds of
by weight, for all utensils used in every precious stones, and marble slabs – in large
kind of service; quantities.
15 and by weight for the lampstands of 3 “And also, because I delighted in the
gold, and their lamps of gold, by weight House of my Elohim, I have treasure of
for each lampstand and its lamps; and for gold and silver; I give for the House of my
the lampstands of silver by weight, for the Elohim even more than all that I have pre-
lampstand and its lamps, according to the pared for the Set-apart House:
4 three thousand talents of gold, of the
use of each lampstand;
16 and by weight gold for the tables of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents
showbread, for each table, and silver for of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the
the tables of silver; houses;
17 and clean gold for the forks, and the 5 the gold for the gold and the silver for
basins, and the jars of clean gold, and the the silver, and for all kinds of work to be
golden bowls, by weight for every bowl; done by the hands of craftsmen. Who then
and for the silver bowls, silver by weight is moved to fill his hand today for HWHY?”
6 And the leaders of the fathers’ houses,
for every bowl;
18 and refined gold by weight for the altar and the leaders of the tribes of Yisra’Ãl,
of incense, and for the pattern of the and the commanders of thousands and of
chariot of the gold keruÁim, spreading out hundreds, with the heads over the sover-
their wings and covering over the ark of eign’s work, volunteered
7 and gave for the work of the House
the covenant of HWHY.
19 “HWHY made me understand all this in of Elohim five thousand talents and ten
writing, by His hand upon me, all the thousand darics of gold, and ten thousand
works of these plans.” talents of silver, and eighteen thousand
20 And DawiÅ said to his son Shelomoh, talents of bronze, and one hundred thou-
“Be strong and courageous, and do it. Do sand talents of iron.
not fear nor be afraid, for HWHY Elohim, my 8 And those with whom were found pre-
Elohim, is with you. He shall not leave you cious stones gave them to the treasury of
nor forsake you, until you have completed the House of HWHY, into the hand of YeÁi’Ãl
all the work for the service of the House of the GÃreshonite.
HWHY. 9 And the people rejoiced, for they had
21 “And see, the divisions of the priests given voluntarily, because with a perfect
and the LÃwites for all the service of the heart they had given voluntarily to HWHY.
House of Elohim, and every volunteer of And DawiÅ the sovereign also rejoiced
any skill is with you in all work, for every greatly.
kind of service. And the rulers and all the 10 And DawiÅ blessed HWHY before all the
people are entirely at your command.” assembly. And DawiÅ said, “Blessed are
You, HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, our Father,
29 And DawiÅ the sovereign said to
all the assembly, “My son
forever and ever.
11 “Yours, O HWHY, is the greatness, the
Shelomoh, the one whom Elohim has cho- power and the comeliness, the pre-
sen, is young and tender. And the work is eminence and the excellency, because
great, because the palace is not for man but of all that is in the heavens and in the earth.
for HWHY Elohim. Yours is the reign, O HWHY, and You are
2 “And with all my power I have pre- exalted as head above all.
pared for the House of my Elohim: the 12 “And the riches and the esteem come
gold for the gold, and the silver for the sil- from Your presence, and You rule over all.
875 1 DIÉRE haYAMIM 29
And in Your hand is power and might, and thousand lambs, with their drink offerings,
in Your hand to make great and to give and slaughterings in large numbers for all
strength to all. Yisra’Ãl.
13 “And now, our Elohim, we thank You
22 And they ate and drank before HWHY
and praise Your comely Name. with great joy on that day. And they set up
14 “But who am I, and who are my people,
Shelomoh son of DawiÅ to reign the sec-
that we should be able to give so voluntari- ond time, and anointed him before HWHY to
ly as this? For all comes from You, and we be leader, and TsaÅoq to be priest.
have given to You out of Your hand. 23 And Shelomoh sat on the throne of
15 “For we are sojourners and pilgrims
before You, as were all our fathers; our HWHY as sovereign instead of DawiÅ his
days on earth are as a shadow, and without father, and prospered; and all Yisra’Ãl
permanence. obeyed him.
16 “O HWHY our Elohim, all this store that 24 And all the rulers and the mighty men,
we have prepared to build You a house for and also all the sons of Sovereign DawiÅ,
Your set-apart Name is from Your hand, submitted themselves to Shelomoh the
and all is of You. sovereign.
17 “And I know, my Elohim, that You are 25 And HWHY exalted Shelomoh exceeding-
trying the heart and desire uprightness. As ly in the eyes of all Yisra’Ãl, and put upon
for me, in the uprightness of my heart I him such royal splendour as had not been
have voluntarily given all these. And now on any sovereign before him in Yisra’Ãl.
with joy I have seen Your people, who are 26 Thus DawiÅ son of Yishai reigned over
present here to give voluntarily to You.
18 “O HWHY Elohim of AÄraham, YitsÁaq, all Yisra’Ãl.
and Yisra’Ãl, our fathers, guard this forever 27 And the days that he reigned over
in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Yisra’Ãl was forty years. He reigned seven
Your people, and prepare their heart years in ÀeÄron, and he reigned thirty-
toward You. three years in Yerushalayim.
19 “And give my son Shelomoh a perfect 28 And he died in a good old age, satisfied
heart to guard Your commands and Your with days, riches and esteem. And
witnesses and Your laws, to do all, and Shelomoh his son reigned in his place.
to build the palace for which I have 29 And the acts of Sovereign DawiÅ, first
prepared.”
20 And DawiÅ said to all the assembly, and last, see, they are written in the book
“Now bless HWHY your Elohim.” And all of Shemu’Ãl the seer, in the book of
the assembly blessed HWHY Elohim of their Nathan the prophet, and in the book of GaÅ
fathers, and bowed their heads and did the seer,
obeisance to HWHY and the sovereign. 30 with all his reign and his might, and the
21 And they made offerings to HWHY and times that passed over him, and over
offered burnt offerings to HWHY on the next Yisra’Ãl, and over all the reigns of the
day: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, a lands.
2 DIÉRE ha YAMIM
2 CHRONICLES (2 ANNALS)
the commanders of the thousands and of you. And riches and wealth and esteem I
the hundreds, to the judges, and to every also give you, such as none of the sover-
leader in all Yisra’Ãl, the heads of the eigns have had who have been before you,
fathers’ houses. nor any after you have.”
3 And Shelomoh, and all the assembly 13 And Shelomoh went to Yerushalayim
with him, went to the high place that was from the high place that was at GiÄÈon,
at GiÄÈon, for Elohim’s Tent of Meeting from before the Tent of Meeting, and
was there, which Mosheh the servant of reigned over Yisra’Ãl.
HWHY had made in the wilderness. 14 And Shelomoh gathered chariots and
4 However, DawiÅ had brought up the horsemen, and he had one thousand four
ark of Elohim from Qiryath YeÈarim to the hundred chariots and twelve thousand
place DawiÅ had prepared for it, for he had horsemen, whom he stationed in the
pitched a tent for it in Yerushalayim. chariot cities and with the sovereign in
5 And the bronze altar that Betsal’Ãl Yerushalayim.
son of Uri son of Àur had made, he put 15 And the sovereign made silver and gold
before the Dwelling Place of HWHY. And to be as stones in Yerushalayim, and he
Shelomoh and the assembly sought it. made cedars to be as plenty as the
6 And Shelomoh went up there to the sycamores which are in the low country.
bronze altar before HWHY, which was at the 16 And Shelomoh had horses imported
Tent of Meeting, and offered a thousand from Mitsrayim and from Quà – the
burnt offerings on it. sovereign’s merchants bought them in QuÃ
7 That night Elohim appeared to Shelo- at a price.
moh, and said to him, “Ask what should I 17 And they came up and brought from
give you!” Mitsrayim a chariot for six hundred pieces
8 And Shelomoh said to Elohim, “You of silver, and a horse for one hundred and
have shown great kindness to DawiÅ my fifty. And so, for all the sovereigns of the
father, and have made me sovereign in his Àittites and the sovereigns of Aram, they
place. brought them out by their hand.
9 “Now, HWHY Elohim, let Your promise
so that I go out and come in before this sand men to bear burdens, eighty thousand
people. For who is able to rightly rule this hewing stone in the mountains, and three
great people of Yours?” thousand six hundred to oversee them.
11 And Elohim said to Shelomoh, 3 And Shelomoh sent to Àuram sover-
“Because this was in your heart, and you eign of Tsor, saying, “As you did for my
have not asked riches or wealth or esteem father DawiÅ, and sent him cedars to build
or the life of your enemies, nor have you himself a house to dwell in –
877 2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 3
4 see, I am building a House for the knows to work in gold, and in silver, in
Name of HWHY my Elohim, to set it apart to bronze, in iron, in stone, and in wood, pur-
Him, to burn before Him sweet incense, ple and blue, and in fine linen, and in crim-
and for the continual showbread, and for son, and to make any engraving and to
the burnt offerings morning and evening, accomplish any plan that is given to him,
on the Sabbaths, and on the New Moons, with your skilled men and with the skilled
and on the appointed times of HWHY our men of my master DawiÅ your father.
Elohim. This is for Yisra’Ãl forever. 15 “And now, the wheat and the barley, the
5 “And the House which I build is great, oil and the wine which my master has
for our Elohim is greater than all mighty spoken of, let him send to his servants.
ones. 16 “And let us cut wood from LeÄanon, as
6 “But who is able to build Him a House, much as you need, and bring it to you in
since the heavens and the heavens of the rafts by sea to Yapho, and you take it up to
heavens are unable to contain Him? Who Yerushalayim.”
am I then, that I should build Him a House, 17 And Shelomoh numbered all the men,
except to offer before Him? the strangers who were in the land of
7 “And now, send me at once a man who Yisra’Ãl, according to the census in which
knows to work in gold, and in silver, and in DawiÅ his father had numbered them, and
bronze, and in iron, and in purple and they were found to be one hundred and
crimson and blue, and knowing to engrave fifty-three thousand six hundred.
with the skilled men who are with me in 18 And he made seventy thousand of them
YehuÅah and Yerushalayim, whom DawiÅ to bear burdens, and eighty thousand
my father has prepared. hewers of stone in the mountain, and three
8 “And send me cedar, cypress and thousand six hundred overseers to make
algum logs from LeÄanon, for I know that the people work.
your servants know to cut timber in
LeÄanon. And see, my servants are with
your servants, 3 And Shelomoh began to build the
House of HWHY at Yerushalayim on
9 even to prepare plenty of timber for me, Mount Moriyah, where He appeared to his
for the House that I am building is great father DawiÅ, at the place that DawiÅ had
and marvellous. prepared on the threshing-floor of Ornan
10 “And see, I have given servants to you, the YeÄusite.
the hewers who cut timber, twenty thou- 2 And he began to build on the second
sand kors of ground wheat, and twenty day of the second month in the fourth year
thousand kors of barley, and twenty thou- of his reign.
sand baths of wine, and twenty thousand 3 And these are the foundations which
and a house for his reign! cypress which he overlaid with fine gold,
13 “And now I have sent a skilled man and he carved palm trees and chainwork on
having understanding, Àuram-aÄi, it.
14 the son of a woman of the daughters of 6 And he covered the house with
Dan, and his father was a man of Tsor, who precious stones for comeliness, and the
2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 3 878
gold was gold from Parwayim. about. And its height was five cubits, and a
7 And he overlaid the house, the beams, line of thirty cubits measured around it.
the doorposts, and its walls, and its doors 3 And figures like oxen were under it, all
with gold, and carved keruÄim on the around it, ten to a cubit, all the way around
walls. the Sea. Two rows of oxen were cast when
8 And he made the House of the Most it was cast.
Set-apart. Its length was according to the 4 It stood on twelve oxen, three facing
width of the house, twenty cubits, and its north, and three facing west, and three
width twenty cubits. And he overlaid it facing south, and three facing east. And the
with fine gold, six hundred talents. Sea was set upon them, and all their back
9 And the weight of the nails was fifty parts were inward.
sheqels of gold. And he overlaid the upper 5 And it was a handbreadth thick, and its
rooms with gold. rim was shaped like the rim of a cup, like a
10 In the Most Set-apart House he made lily blossom. It held three thousand baths.
two keruÄim of sculptured work, and 6 And he made ten basins, and put five
overlaid them with gold. on the right side and five on the left, to
11 And the wings of the keruÄim: their wash in them. In them they rinsed off what
total length was twenty cubits, one wing pertains to the burnt offering, but the Sea
was five cubits, touching the wall of the was for the priests to wash in.
room, and the other wing was five cubits, 7 And he made ten lampstands of gold
touching the wing of the other keruÄ, according to their ruling, and set them in
12 and the wing of the other keruÄ was the Hÿal, five on the right side and five on
five cubits, touching the wall of the room, the left.
and the other wing also was five cubits, 8 And he made ten tables, and placed
touching the wing of the other keruÄ. them in the Hÿal, five on the right side
13 The wings of these keruÄim spread out and five on the left. And he made one hun-
twenty cubits, and they stood on their feet, dred bowls of gold.
and they faced inward. 9 And he made the courtyard of the
14 And he made the veil of blue and priests, and the great court and doors for
purple and crimson and fine linen, and the court. And he overlaid these doors with
worked keruÄim on it. bronze.
15 And at the front of the House he made 10 And he placed the Sea on the right side,
two columns thirty-five cubits high, and eastward over against the south.
the capital that was on the top of each of 11 And Àuram made the pots and the
them was five cubits. shovels and the bowls. So Àuram complet-
16 And he made wreaths of chainwork, as ed doing the work that he was to do for
in the Speaking Place, and put them on top Sovereign Shelomoh for the House of
of the columns. And he made one hundred Elohim:
pomegranates, and put them on the 12 the two columns and the bowl-shaped
cubits from one rim to the other, round all 16 and the pots, and the shovels, and the
879 2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 6
forks. And all their vessels Àuram his ing so many sheep and cattle that could not
master craftsman made of polished bronze be counted or numbered.
for Sovereign Shelomoh for the House of 7 And the priests brought in the ark of the
of all these vessels that the weight of the over the place of the ark, and the keruÄim
bronze was not searched out. covered over the ark and its poles.
19 And Shelomoh had all the furnishings 9 And the poles were so long that the
made for the House of Elohim, and the ends of the poles of the ark were seen from
altar of gold and the tables on which was the set-apart place, in front of the Speaking
the showbread, Place, but they were not seen from outside.
20 and the lampstands with their lamps of And they are there to this day.
refined gold, to burn according to right- 10 There was naught in the ark but the two
ruling in front of the Speaking Place, tablets which Mosheh put there at ÀorÃÄ,
21 and the blossoms and the lamps and the when HWHY made a covenant with the
snuffers of gold, of perfect gold, children of Yisra’Ãl, when they came out of
22 and the snuffers, and the bowls, and the Mitsrayim.
ladles, and the fire holders of refined gold. 11 And it came to be when the priests
And the entrance to the House, its inner came out of the Most Set-apart Place – for
doors to the Most Set-apart Place, and the all the priests who were present had set
doors of the hÿal of the House, were of themselves apart, there was none to watch
gold. by division –
12 and the LÃwite singers, all those of
congregation of Yisra’Ãl who were assem- and a place for You to dwell in forever.”
bled to him before the ark, were slaughter- 3 And the sovereign turned around and
2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 6 880
blessed all the assembly of Yisra’Ãl, while You have both spoken with Your mouth
all the assembly of Yisra’Ãl stood. and have filled it with Your hand, as it is
4 And he said, “Blessed be HWHY Elohim this day.
of Yisra’Ãl, who has filled with His hands 16 “And now, HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl,
what He spoke with His mouth to my guard what You promised Your servant
father DawiÅ, saying, DawiÅ my father, saying, ‘There is not to
5 ‘From the day that I brought My people cease a man of yours before Me, sitting on
out of the land of Mitsrayim, I have chosen the throne of Yisra’Ãl – only, if your sons
no city from any tribe of Yisra’Ãl in which guard their way, to walk in My Torah as
to build a house for My Name to be there, you have walked before Me.’
nor did I choose any man to be a leader 17 “And now, O HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl,
over My people Yisra’Ãl. let Your word come true which You have
6 ‘But I have chosen Yerushalayim, for spoken to Your servant DawiÅ.
My Name to be there. And I have chosen 18 “For is it true: Elohim dwells with men
DawiÅ to be over My people Yisra’Ãl.’ on the earth! See, the heavens and the
7 “And it was in the heart of my father heavens of the heavens are unable to
DawiÅ to build a House for the Name of contain You, how much less this House
HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl. which I have built!
8 “But HWHY said to my father DawiÅ, 19 “Yet, shall You turn to the prayer of
‘Because it was in your heart to build a Your servant and his supplication, O HWHY
House for My Name, you did well in that it my Elohim, to listen to the cry and to the
was in your heart. prayer which Your servant is praying
9 ‘But you do not build the house, for before You?
your son who comes forth from your loins, 20 “For Your eyes to be open toward this
he does build the House for My Name.’ House day and night, toward the place
10 “Now HWHY has established His word You have said to put Your Name there, to
which He spoke, and I have been raised up listen to the prayer which Your servant
instead of my father DawiÅ, and sit on the prays toward this place.
throne of Yisra’Ãl, as HWHY promised. And I 21 “And shall You give heed to the suppli-
have built the House for the Name of HWHY cations of Your servant and of Your people
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl. Yisra’Ãl, when they pray toward this place,
11 “And there I have placed the ark, in and hear from Your dwelling place, in the
which is the covenant of HWHY which He heavens, and shall hear and forgive?
made with the children of Yisra’Ãl.” 22 “If anyone sins against his neighbour,
12 And he stood before the altar of HWHY in and he has lifted up an oath on him, to
front of all the assembly of Yisra’Ãl, and cause him to swear, and comes and swears
spread out his hands – before Your altar in this House,
13 for Shelomoh had made a bronze 23 then hear in the heavens, and act, and
platform five cubits long, and five cubits rightly rule Your servants, repaying the
broad, and three cubits high, and had put it wrong by bringing his way on his own
in the midst of the court. And he stood on head, and declare right the righteous by
it, and knelt down on his knees before all giving him according to his righteousness.
the assembly of Yisra’Ãl, and spread out 24 “And if Your people Yisra’Ãl are smit-
his hands toward the heavens – ten before an enemy because they have
14 and said, “HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, sinned against You, and they shall turn
there is no Elohim in the heavens or on back and confess Your Name, and pray and
earth like You, guarding the covenant and make supplication before You in this
kindness with Your servants who walk House,
before You with all their heart, 25 then hear in the heavens and forgive the
15 who has guarded what You promised sin of Your people Yisra’Ãl, and bring them
Your servant DawiÅ my father. Indeed, back to the land which You gave to them
881 2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 7
against You, and they shall pray toward is no one who does not sin – and You
this place and confess Your Name, and become enraged with them and give them
turn from their sin because You afflict to the enemy, and they take them captive to
them, a land far or near,
27 then hear in the heavens, and forgive 37 and they shall turn back unto their
the sin of Your servants, Your people heart, in the land where they have been
Yisra’Ãl – for You teach them the good taken captive, and shall turn, and make
way in which they should walk – and shall supplication to You in the land of their cap-
send rain on Your land which You have tivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have
given to Your people as an inheritance. acted crookedly, and have done wrong,’
28 “When there is scarcity of food in the 38 and when they return to You with all
land; when there is pestilence or blight or their heart and with all their being in the
mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when land of their captivity, where they have
their enemies distress them in the land of taken them captive, and they shall pray
their cities; any plague or any sickness; toward their land which You gave to their
29 whatever prayer, whatever supplication fathers, and the city which You have
is made by anyone, or by all Your people chosen, and toward the House which I
Yisra’Ãl, when each one knows his own have built for Your Name,
plague and his own grief, and spreads out 39 then shall You hear from the heavens,
his hands to this house, Your dwelling place, their prayer and their
30 then hear from the heavens Your supplications, and maintain their cause,
dwelling place, and forgive, and give to and forgive Your people who have sinned
everyone according to all his ways, whose against You?
heart You know – for You alone know the 40 “Now, my Elohim, I pray, let Your eyes
hearts of the sons of men – be open and let Your ears be attentive to
31 so that they fear You, to walk in Your the prayer of this place.
ways as long as they live in the land which 41 “And now, arise, O HWHY Elohim, to
You gave to our fathers. Your resting place, You and the ark of Your
32 “Also, concerning a foreigner, who is strength. Let Your priests, O HWHY Elohim,
not of Your people Yisra’Ãl, but who be robed with deliverance, and let Your
comes from a far land for the sake of Your kind ones rejoice in goodness.
great Name and Your strong hand and 42 “O HWHY Elohim, do not turn away the
Your outstretched arm, when they come face of Your anointed; remember the kind
and pray in this House, acts of Your servant DawiÅ.”
33 then hear from the heavens Your
toward this city which You have chosen how the fire came down, and the esteem of
and toward the House which I have built HWHY on the House, and they bowed their
for Your Name, faces to the ground on the pavement, and
35 then shall You hear from the heavens did obeisance and gave thanks to HWHY,
2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 7 882
saying, “For He is good, for His kindness the land, or if I send pestilence among My
is everlasting.” people,
4 And the sovereign and all the people 14 and My people upon whom My Name
were making offerings before HWHY. is called, shall humble themselves, and
5 And Sovereign Shelomoh made an pray and seek My face, and turn from their
offering of twenty-two thousand bulls evil ways, then I shall hear from the heav-
and one hundred and twenty thousand ens, and forgive their sin and heal their
sheep. Thus the sovereign and all the peo- land.
ple dedicated the House of Elohim. 15 “Now, My eyes are open and My ears
6 And the priests were standing over their attentive to the prayer of this place.
duties, and the LÃwites with instruments of 16 “And now, I have chosen and set this
the song to HWHY, which Sovereign DawiÅ house apart for My Name to be there for-
had made to give thanks to HWHY, saying, ever. And My eyes and My heart shall
“For His kindness is everlasting,” whenev- always be there.
er DawiÅ praised by their hand. And the 17 “And you, if you walk before Me as
priests were blowing trumpets before your father DawiÅ walked, and do accord-
them, and all Yisra’Ãl were standing. ing to all that I have commanded you,
7 And Shelomoh set apart the middle of and if you guard My laws and My right-
the courtyard that was in front of the rulings,
House of HWHY, for there he made burnt 18 then I shall establish the throne of your
offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, reign, as I covenanted with DawiÅ your
because the bronze altar which Shelomoh father, saying, ‘There is not to cease
had made was not able to contain the burnt a man of yours as ruler in Yisra’Ãl.’
offerings and the grain offerings and the 19 “But if you turn away and forsake My
entrance of Àamath to the wadi of which I have given them, and this house
Mitsrayim. which I have set apart for My Name I shall
9 And on the eighth day they held an cast out of My sight and make it to be a
assembly, for they performed the dedica- proverb and a mockery among all peoples.
tion of the altar seven days, and the festival 21 “And this house, which has been exalt-
for the goodness that HWHY had done for forsook HWHY Elohim of their fathers, who
DawiÅ, and for Shelomoh, and for His brought them out of the land of Mitsrayim,
people Yisra’Ãl. and embraced other mighty ones, and
11 Thus Shelomoh finished the House of bowed themselves to them and served
HWHY and the sovereign’s house. And all them, therefore He has brought all this evil
that came into the heart of Shelomoh to do on them.’ ”
in the House of HWHY and in his own house,
he prosperously executed.
12 And HWHY appeared to Shelomoh by 8 And it came to be at the end of twenty
years, that Shelomoh had built the
night, and said to him, “I have heard your House of HWHY, and his own house.
prayer, and have chosen this place for 2 As to the cities which Àuram had given
3 And Shelomoh went to Àamath TsoÄah priests, as the duty of each day required,
and seized it. and the gatekeepers by their divisions at
4 And he built TaÅmor in the wilderness, each gate, for so was the command of
and all the storage cities which he built in DawiÅ the man of Elohim.
Àamath. 15 And they did not turn aside from the
5 And he built Upper BÃyth Àoron and command of the sovereign to the priests
Lower BÃyth Àoron, cities of defence, and LÃwites concerning any matter or
with walls, gates, and bars, concerning the treasuries.
6 also BaÈalath and all the storage cities 16 And all the work of Shelomoh was
that Shelomoh had, and all the chariot prepared from the day of the foundation of
cities and the cities of the cavalry, and all the House of HWHY until it was completed.
that Shelomoh desired to build in Yeru- And the House of HWHY was perfected.
shalayim, and in LeÄanon, and in all the 17 Then Shelomoh went to Etsyon GeÄer
and the Àiwwites, and the YeÄusites, who of his servants, and servants who knew the
were not of Yisra’Ãl – sea. And they went with the servants of
8 their descendants who were left in the Shelomoh to Ophir, and took four hundred
land after them, whom the children of and fifty talents of gold from there, and
Yisra’Ãl did not destroy – from these brought it to Sovereign Shelomoh.
Shelomoh raised compulsory labour, as it
is to this day.
9 And Shelomoh did not make slaves of 9 And the sovereigness of SheÄa heard
of the report of Shelomoh, and came
the children of Yisra’Ãl for his work, but to Yerushalayim to try Shelomoh with hard
they were men of battle, and chiefs of his questions, with a very great company, and
officers, and commanders of his chariots, camels bearing spices, and much gold,
and his cavalry. and precious stones. And she came to
10 And these were the chiefs of the offi- Shelomoh, and she spoke with him about
cials of Sovereign Shelomoh: two hundred all that was in her heart.
and fifty, who ruled over the people. 2 And Shelomoh answered all her ques-
11 And Shelomoh brought the daughter of tions. And there was no matter hidden for
Pharaoh up from the City of DawiÅ to the Shelomoh which he did not make known
house he had built for her, for he said, “My to her.
wife does not dwell in the house of DawiÅ 3 And the sovereigness of SheÄa saw the
sovereign of Yisra’Ãl, for the place where wisdom of Shelomoh, and the house that
the ark of HWHY has come, is set-apart.” he had built,
12 Then Shelomoh offered burnt offerings 4 and the food on his table, and the seat-
to HWHY on the altar of HWHY which he had ing of his servants, and the service of his
built before the porch, waiters and their attire, and his cupbearers
13 even as the duty of every day required, and their attire, and his burnt offerings that
offering according to the command of he offered up in the House of HWHY, and
Mosheh, for the Sabbaths, and for the New there was no more spirit in her.
Moons, and for the appointed times three 5 Then she said to the sovereign, “True
times a year: the Festival of Unleavened was the word I heard in my own land about
Bread, and the Festival of Weeks, and the your words and your wisdom.
Festival of Booths. 6 “But I did not believe their words until
14 And according to the ruling of DawiÅ I came and saw with my own eyes. And
his father, he appointed the divisions of the see, I have not been told the half of the
priests for their service, the LÃwites for greatness of your wisdom! You exceed the
their duties, to praise and serve before the report which I heard.
2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 9 884
7 “Blessed are your men and blessed are footstool of gold, which were fastened to
these your servants, who stand continually the throne; and there were armrests on
before you and hear your wisdom! either side of the place of the seat, and two
8 “Blessed be HWHY your Elohim, who lions stood beside the armrests.
delighted in you, to put you on His throne 19 And twelve lions were standing there,
to be sovereign for HWHY your Elohim! one on each side of the six steps. The like
Because your Elohim has loved Yisra’Ãl, to of it was not in any reign.
establish them forever, therefore He made 20 And all the drinking vessels of
you sovereign over them, to do right-ruling Sovereign Shelomoh were of gold, and all
and righteousness.” the vessels of the House of the Forest of
9 And she gave the sovereign one hun- LeÄanon were of refined gold – silver was
dred and twenty talents of gold, and very reckoned of little value in the days of
many spices, and precious stones. And Shelomoh.
there has not been any spices such as those 21 For the sovereign’s ships went to
the sovereigness of SheÄa gave to Tarshish with the servants of Àuram. Once
Sovereign Shelomoh. in three years the ships of Tarshish came,
10 And also, the servants of Àuram and bringing gold, and silver, ivory, apes, and
the servants of Shelomoh, who brought baboons.
gold from Ophir, brought algum wood and 22 And Sovereign Shelomoh became
precious stones. greater than all the sovereigns of the earth
11 And the sovereign made stairs of the in riches and wisdom.
algum wood for the House of HWHY and 23 And all the sovereigns of the earth
for the sovereign’s house, also lyres and sought the presence of Shelomoh to hear
harps for singers. And there was never his wisdom, which Elohim had put in his
seen the like of them before in the land of heart.
YehuÅah. 24 And each man brought his present:
12 And Sovereign Shelomoh gave to the objects of silver, and objects of gold, and
sovereigness of SheÄa all she desired, garments, and armour, and spices, horses
whatever she asked, besides that which she and mules, the matter of a year by year.
had brought to the sovereign. And she 25 And Shelomoh had four thousand stalls
turned and went to her own land, she and for horses and chariots, and twelve thou-
her servants. sand horsemen whom he stationed in the
13 And the weight of gold that came to chariot cities and with the sovereign at
Shelomoh yearly was six hundred and Yerushalayim.
sixty-six talents of gold, 26 And he ruled over all the sovereigns
14 besides that which the merchants and from the River to the land of the
traders brought. And all the sovereigns of Philistines, as far as the border of Mits-
AraÄia and governors of the land were rayim.
bringing gold and silver to Shelomoh. 27 And the sovereign made silver in
15 And Sovereign Shelomoh made two Yerushalayim as the stones, and he made
hundred large shields of beaten gold – six cedar trees as plenty as the sycamores
hundred pieces of beaten gold went into which are in the low country.
each shield, 28 And they were bringing horses to
16 and three hundred shields of beaten Shelomoh from Mitsrayim and from all
gold – three hundred pieces of gold went lands.
into each shield. And the sovereign put 29 And the rest of the acts of Shelomoh,
them in the House of the Forest of first and last, are they not written in the
LeÄanon. book of Nathan the prophet, and in the
17 And the sovereign made a great throne prophecy of AÁiyah the Shilonite, and in
of ivory, and overlaid it with clean gold, the visions of Iddo the seer concerning
18 and six steps led to the throne, with a YaroÄÈam son of NeÄat?
885 2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 11
then we shall serve you.” sovereign did not listen to them, the people
5 And he said to them, “Come back to me answered the sovereign, saying, “What
after three days.” And the people went. portion have we in DawiÅ? And we have
6 Then Sovereign ReÁaÄÈam consulted no inheritance in the son of Yishai. Every
the elders who stood before his father man to your mighty ones, O Yisra’Ãl! Now
Shelomoh while he still lived, saying, see to your own house, O DawiÅ!” So all
“What do you advise me to answer these Yisra’Ãl went to their tents.
people?” 17 But as for the children of Yisra’Ãl who
7 And they spoke to him, saying, “If you dwelt in the cities of YehuÅah, ReÁaÄÈam
are good to these people, and shall please reigned over them.
them, and speak good words to them, they 18 Then Sovereign ReÁaÄÈam sent HaÅo-
shall be your servants all the days.” ram, who was over the compulsory labour,
8 But he ignored the advice the elders and the children of Yisra’Ãl stoned him
gave him, and consulted the young men with stones, and he died. And Sovereign
who had grown up with him, who stood ReÁaÄÈam hastily mounted his chariot to
before him. flee to Yerushalayim.
9 And he said to them, “What advice do 19 Thus Yisra’Ãl revolted against the
you give? How should we answer this house of DawiÅ to this day.
people who have spoken to me, saying,
‘Lighten the yoke which your father put
on us’?” 11 And when ReÁaÄÈam came to
Yerushalayim, he assembled from
10 And the young men who had grown up the house of YehuÅah and Binyamin one
with him spoke to him, saying, “Say this to hundred and eighty thousand chosen brave
the people who have spoken to you, men to fight against Yisra’Ãl, to bring back
saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, the reign to ReÁaÄÈam.
but you make it lighter on us.’ Say this to 2 But the word of HWHY came to Shema-
them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my yahu the man of Elohim, saying,
father’s waist! 3 “Speak to ReÁaÄÈam son of Shelomoh,
11 ‘And now, my father put a heavy yoke sovereign of YehuÅah, and to all Yisra’Ãl
on you, but I, I add to your yoke; my father in YehuÅah and Binyamin, saying,
chastised you with whips, but I with 4 ‘Thus said HWHY, “Do not go up or fight
2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 11 886
Me.” ’ ” So they obeyed the words of HWHY, granddaughter of AÄshalom more than all
and turned back from going against his wives and his concubines. For he had
YaroÄÈam. taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines,
5 And ReÁaÄÈam dwelt in Yerushalayim, and brought forth twenty-eight sons and
and built cities for a defence in YehuÅah. sixty daughters.
6 And he built BÃyth LeÁem, and Âytam, 22 And ReÁaÄÈam appointed AÄiyah son
and the LÃwites who were in all Yisra’Ãl of Sovereign ReÁaÄÈam, that Shishaq
took their stand with him. sovereign of Mitsrayim came up against
14 For the LÃwites left their open lands Yerushalayim – because they had tres-
and their possessions and came to YehuÅah passed against HWHY –
and Yerushalayim, for YaroÄÈam and his 3 with twelve hundred chariots, and sixty
sons had rejected them from serving as thousand horsemen, and innumerable peo-
priests unto HWHY, ple who came with him out of Mitsrayim:
15 as he appointed for himself priests for the LuÄim, the Sukkites and the Kushites.
the high places, and for goats, and the calf 4 And he took the cities of defence of
all the tribes of Yisra’Ãl, such as set their ReÁaÄÈam and the rulers of YehuÅah, who
heart to seek HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, had been gathered in Yerushalayim
came to Yerushalayim to offer to HWHY because of Shishaq, and said to them,
Elohim of their fathers. “Thus said HWHY, ‘You have forsaken Me,
17 And they strengthened the reign of and therefore I also have left you in the
YehuÅah, and made ReÁaÄÈam son of hand of Shishaq.’ ”
Shelomoh strong for three years, for they 6 Then the rulers of Yisra’Ãl and the sov-
walked in the way of DawiÅ and Shelomoh ereign humbled themselves, and they said,
for three years. “HWHY is righteous.”
18 And ReÁaÄÈam took for himself as wife 7 And when HWHY saw that they humbled
MaÁalath the daughter of Yerimoth son of themselves, the word of HWHY came to
DawiÅ, and of AÄiÁayil the daughter of Shemayah, saying, “They have humbled
EliyaÄ son of Yishai. themselves. I do not destroy them, but I
19 And she bore him sons: YeÈush, and shall give to them some deliverance, and
Shemaryah, and Zaham. not pour out My wrath on Yerushalayim by
20 And after her he took MaÈa¿ah the the hand of Shishaq,
granddaughter of AÄshalom. And she bore 8 but they are to become his servants, so
him AÄiyah, and Attai, and Ziza, and that they know My service and the service
887 2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 13
guard, who guarded the entrance of the Yisra’Ãl has given the reign over Yisra’Ãl
sovereign’s house. to DawiÅ forever, to him and his sons, by a
11 And it came to be, whenever the sover- covenant of salt?
eign went into the House of HWHY, the 6 “Yet YaroÄÈam son of NeÄat, the ser-
guard would go and bring them out, then vant of Shelomoh son of DawiÅ, rose up
they would take them back into the guard- and rebelled against his master.
room. 7 “And vain men gathered to him, sons of
12 And when he humbled himself, the BeliyaÈal, and strengthened themselves
wrath of HWHY turned from him, so as not to against ReÁaÄÈam son of Shelomoh, when
destroy him completely. And matters also ReÁaÄÈam was young and tender of heart
went well in YehuÅah. and could not stand against them.
13 So Sovereign ReÁaÄÈam strengthened 8 “And now you think to stand against
himself in Yerushalayim and reigned. For the reign of HWHY, which is in the hand of
ReÁaÄÈam was forty-one years old when he the sons of DawiÅ. And you are a large
became sovereign, and he reigned seven- crowd, and with you are the gold calves
teen years in Yerushalayim, the city which which YaroÄÈam made for you as mighty
HWHY had chosen out of all the tribes ones.
of Yisra’Ãl, to put His Name there. And 9 “Have you not thrown out the priests of
his mother’s name was NaÈamah, the HWHY, the sons of Aharon, and the LÃwites,
Ammonitess. and made for yourselves priests, like the
14 And he did evil, because he did not peoples of the lands, so that whoever
prepare his heart to seek HWHY. comes to ordain himself with a young bull
15 And the acts of ReÁaÄÈam, the first and and seven rams then becomes a priest of
the last, are they not written in the book of what are not mighty ones?
Shemayah the prophet, and of Iddo the 10 “But as for us, HWHY is our Elohim, and
seer concerning genealogies? And there we have not forsaken Him, and priests are
was fighting between ReÁaÄÈam and serving HWHY, the sons of Aharon and the
YaroÄÈam all the days. LÃwites, in the work,
16 So ReÁaÄÈam slept with his fathers, and 11 and are burning to HWHY every morning
was buried in the City of DawiÅ. And and every evening burnt offerings and
AÄiyah his son reigned in his place. sweet incense, and the showbread is set on
the clean table, and the lampstand of gold
13 In the eighteenth year of Sovereign
YaroÄÈam, AÄiyah began to reign
with its lamps to burn every evening, for
we are guarding the Charge of HWHY our
over YehuÅah. Elohim. But you have forsaken Him.
2 He reigned three years in Yerushala- 12 “And see, with us as Head is Elohim
yim. And his mother’s name was Mi¿a- Himself, and His priests with sounding
yahu the daughter of Uri’Ãl of GiÄÈah. And trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O
there was fighting between AÄiyah and children of Yisra’Ãl, do not fight against
YaroÄÈam. HWHY Elohim of your fathers, for you are
3 And AÄiyah joined battle with an army not going to prosper!”
2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 13 888
go behind them, so they were in front of YehuÅah, since the land had rest and he
YehuÅah, and the ambush was behind had no fighting in those years, because
them. HWHY had given him rest.
14 And YehuÅah turned and saw the battle 7 And he said to YehuÅah, “Let us build
was both in front and behind them. Then these cities and make walls around them,
they cried out to HWHY, and the priests and towers, gates, and bars, while the land
sounded the trumpets. is yet before us, because we have sought
15 And the men of YehuÅah gave a shout. HWHY our Elohim. We have sought, and He
And it came to be, as the men of YehuÅah has given us rest all around.” So they built
shouted, that Elohim smote YaroÄÈam and and prospered.
all Yisra’Ãl before AÄiyah and YehuÅah. 8 And Asa had an army of three hundred
16 And the children of Yisra’Ãl fled before thousand men from YehuÅah bearing
YehuÅah, and Elohim gave them into their shields and spears, and from Binyamin two
hand. hundred and eighty thousand men bearing
17 And AÄiyah and his people smote them shields and drew bows. All of them were
with a great slaughter, and five hundred mighty brave men.
thousand choice men of Yisra’Ãl fell slain. 9 And ZeraÁ the Kushite came out
18 And the children of Yisra’Ãl were hum- against them with an army of a million
bled at that time, while the children of men and three hundred chariots, and he
YehuÅah prevailed, because they relied on came to MarÃshah.
HWHY Elohim of their fathers. 10 And Asa went out against him, and
19 And AÄiyah pursued YaroÄÈam and they set battle in array in the Valley of
captured cities from him: BÃyth Âl with its Tsephathah at MarÃshah.
villages, and Yeshanah with its villages, 11 And Asa called to HWHY his Elohim, and
and Ephron with its villages. said, “HWHY, there is no one but You to help
20 And YaroÄÈam did not regain power between the mighty and the powerless.
again in the days of AÄiyahu. And HWHY Help us, O HWHY our Elohim, for we rest on
smote him, and he died. You, and in Your Name we go against this
21 But AÄiyah grew strong, and took four- crowd. O HWHY, You are our Elohim, do not
teen wives, and brought forth twenty-two let man prevail against You!”
sons and sixteen daughters. 12 So HWHY smote the Kushites before Asa
22 And the rest of the acts of AÄiyah, and and YehuÅah, and the Kushites fled.
his ways, and his words are written in the 13 And Asa and the people who were with
commentary of the prophet Iddo. him pursued them to Gerar. And the
Kushites fell, until none was left alive for
14 So AÄiyah slept with his fathers,
and they buried him in the City of
them, for they were broken before HWHY
and His army. And they took very much
DawiÅ. And Asa his son reigned in his spoil,
place. In his days the land rested ten years. 14 and smote all the cities around Gerar,
2 And Asa did what was good and what for the fear of HWHY came upon them. And
was right in the eyes of HWHY his Elohim, they plundered all the cities, for there was
3 and removed the altars of the stranger, exceedingly much spoil in them.
and the high places, and broke down the 15 And they also smote the camps of the
pillars and cut down the AshÃrim, herdsmen, and captured many sheep and
4 and commanded YehuÅah to seek HWHY camels, and returned to Yerushalayim.
Elohim of their fathers, and to do the Torah
and the command.
5 And he removed the high places and 15 And the Spirit of Elohim came
upon Azaryahu son of OÅÃÅ.
the sun-pillars from all the cities of 2 And he went out to face Asa, and said
YehuÅah, and the reign rested under him. to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all YehuÅah
889 2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 16
and Binyamin. HWHY is with you while you heart and sought Him with all their being.
are with Him. And if you seek Him, He is And He was found by them, and HWHY gave
found by you, but if you forsake Him, He them rest all around.
16 And he also removed MaÈa¿ah, the
forsakes you.
3 “And for many days Yisra’Ãl has been mother of Asa the sovereign, from being
without the true Elohim, and without a sovereigness mother, because she had
Torah priest, and without Torah. made an abominable image of AshÃrah.
4 “But in their distress they turned to And Asa cut down her abominable image,
HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, and they sought and crushed it, and burned it by the wadi
Him, and He was found by them. QiÅron.
5 “And in those days there was no peace 17 Yet the high places were not removed
to the one who went out, nor to the one from Yisra’Ãl. However, the heart of Asa
who came in, for great disturbances were was perfect all his days.
18 And he brought into the House of
on all the inhabitants of the lands,
6 and they were beaten down, nation Elohim the set-apart items of his father and
by nation, and city by city, for Elohim his own set-apart items: silver and gold
troubled them with every distress. and utensils.
7 “But you, be strong and do not let your 19 And there was no more fighting until
hands be feeble, for there is a reward for the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa.
your work!”
8 And when Asa heard these words and
the prophecy of OÅÃÅ the prophet, he took 16 In the thirty-sixth year of the reign
of Asa, BaÈasha the sovereign of
courage, and removed the abominations Yisra’Ãl came up against YehuÅah and built
from all the land of YehuÅah and Ramah, to prevent anyone going out or
Binyamin and from the cities which he had coming in to Asa, sovereign of YehuÅah.
2 And Asa brought silver and gold from
taken in the mountains of Ephrayim, and
restored the altar of HWHY that was before the treasuries of the House of HWHY and of
the porch of HWHY, the sovereign’s house, and sent to Ben-
9 and gathered all YehuÅah and Bin- HaÅaÅ sovereign of Aram, who dwelt in
yamin, and those who sojourned with them Damascus, saying,
from Ephrayim, and Menashsheh, and 3 “Let there be a covenant between you
ShimÈon, for they came over to him in and me, as there was between my father
great numbers from Yisra’Ãl when they and your father. See, I have sent you silver
saw that HWHY his Elohim was with him. and gold. Come, break your covenant with
10 And they gathered together at Yeru- BaÈasha sovereign of Yisra’Ãl, so that he
shalayim in the third month, in the withdraws from me.”
fifteenth year of the reign of Asa, 4 And Ben-HaÅaÅ listened to Sovereign
11 and offered to HWHY on that day seven Asa and sent the commanders of his armies
hundred bulls and seven thousand sheep against the cities of Yisra’Ãl, and they
from the spoil which they had brought. smote Iyon, and Dan, and AÄÃl Mayim,
12 And they entered into a covenant to and all the storage cities of Naphtali.
seek HWHY Elohim of their fathers with all 5 And it came to be, when BaÈasha heard
their heart and with all their being; it, that he stopped building Ramah and
13 and whoever would not seek HWHY ceased his work.
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl would be put to death, 6 Then Asa the sovereign brought all
from small to great, from man to woman. YehuÅah, and they took away the stones
14 And they swore to HWHY with a loud and timber of Ramah, which BaÈasha had
voice, with shouting and with trumpets and used for building. And with them he built
with rams’ horns. GeÄa and Mitspah.
15 And all YehuÅah rejoiced concerning 7 And at that time Àanani the seer came
the oath, for they had sworn with all their to Asa sovereign of YehuÅah, and said to
2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 16 890
him, “Because you have relied on the hand. And all YehuÅah gave presents to
sovereign of Aram, and have not relied on Yehoshaphat, and he had great riches and
HWHY your Elohim, therefore the army of esteem.
the sovereign of Aram has escaped from 6 And his heart was exalted in the ways
and horsemen? And because you relied on sent his leaders, Ben-Àayil, and OÄaÅyah,
HWHY, He gave them into your hand. and Ze¿aryah, and NethanÃ’l, and Mi¿a-
9 “For the eyes of HWHY diligently search yahu, to teach in the cities of YehuÅah.
throughout all the earth, to show Himself 8 And with them he sent LÃwites: Shema-
strong on behalf of those whose heart is yahu, and Nethanyahu, and ZeÄaÅyahu,
perfect to Him. You have acted foolishly in and Asah’Ãl, and Shemiramoth, and
this, so from now on you shall have Yehonathan, and AÅoniyahu, and ToÄi-
battles.” yahu, and ToÄaÅoniyah, the LÃwites, and
10 And Asa was wroth with the seer, and with them Elishama and Yehoram, the
put him in prison, for he was enraged at priests.
him because of this. And Asa oppressed 9 And they taught in YehuÅah, and with
some of the people at that time. them was the Book of the Torah of HWHY.
11 And look, the acts of Asa, the first and And they went around into all the cities of
the last, see, they are written in the book of YehuÅah and taught the people.
the sovereigns of YehuÅah and Yisra’Ãl. 10 And the fear of HWHY fell on all the
12 And in the thirty-ninth year of his reigns of the lands that were around
reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and YehuÅah, and they did not fight against
his disease was severe. Yet even in his Yehoshaphat.
disease he did not seek HWHY, but the physi- 11 And some of the Philistines brought
of DawiÅ. And they laid him in the bed great, and he built palaces and storage
which was filled with spices and various cities in YehuÅah.
kinds of ointments mixed by the per- 13 And he had much work in the cities of
fumer’s skill. And they made a very great YehuÅah. And the men of battle, mighty
burning for him. brave men, were in Yerushalayim.
14 And these were their numbers, accord-
the land of YehuÅah and in the cities of commander, and with him two hundred
Ephrayim which Asa his father had taken. and eighty thousand;
3 And HWHY was with Yehoshaphat, for he 16 and next to him was Amasyah son of
walked in the former ways of his father Zi¿ri, who volunteered himself to HWHY,
DawiÅ, and did not seek the BaÈals, and with him two hundred thousand
4 but sought the Elohim of his father, and mighty brave men.
walked in His commands and not accord- 17 And of Binyamin: ElyaÅa, a mighty
ing to the deeds of Yisra’Ãl. brave one, and with him two hundred thou-
5 So HWHY established the reign in his sand men armed with bow and shield;
891 2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 18
prepared for battle. made horns of iron for himself, and said,
19 These were the ones serving the sover- “Thus said HWHY, ‘With these you push the
eign, besides those whom the sovereign Arameans until they are destroyed.’ ”
put in the walled cities throughout all 11 And all the prophets were prophesying
of Yisra’Ãl, “Please inquire for the word of many times have I made you swear that
HWHY today.” you do not speak to me, except the truth, in
5 And the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl gathered the Name of HWHY?”
the prophets together, four hundred men, 16 So he said, “I saw all Yisra’Ãl scattered
and said to them, “Do we go against on the mountains, as sheep that have no
Ramoth GilÈad to battle, or do I refrain?” shepherd. And HWHY said, ‘These have no
And they said, “Go up, for Elohim does master. Let each return to his house in
give it into the sovereign’s hand.” peace.’ ”
6 But Yehoshaphat said, “Is there not still 17 And the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl said to
a prophet of HWHY here, so that we inquire Yehoshaphat, “Did I not say to you that he
of him?” would not prophesy good concerning me,
7 And the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl said to but evil?”
Yehoshaphat, “There is still one man to 18 Then he said, “Therefore hear the word
inquire of HWHY from him; but I hate him, of HWHY: I saw HWHY sitting on His throne,
because he never prophesies good and all the host of the heavens standing on
concerning me, but always evil. He is His right and on His left.
Mi¿ayehu, the son of Yimla.” And 19 “And HWHY said, ‘Who shall entice
Yehoshaphat said, “Let not the sovereign AÁaÄ sovereign of Yisra’Ãl to go up and
say so!” fall at Ramoth GilÈad?’ And one said this,
8 So the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl called one and another said that.
of his officers and said, “Bring Mi¿ahu son 20 “And a spirit came forward and stood
dressed in their robes, sat each on his spirit of falsehood in the mouth of all his
throne. And they sat at a threshing-floor at prophets.’ And He said, ‘Entice him, and
the entrance of the gate of Shomeron. And also prevail. Go out and do so.’
all the prophets were prophesying before 22 “And now, see, HWHY has put a spirit of
2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 18 892
falsehood a in the mouth of these prophets said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn
of yours, and HWHY has spoken evil con- around and take me out of the battle, for I
cerning you.” am wounded.”
23 And TsiÅqiyahu son of KenaÈanah 34 But the battle increased that day, and
came near and smote Mi¿ayehu on the the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl was propped up
cheek, and said, “Which way did the spirit in his chariot facing the Arameans until
of HWHY pass over from me to speak to evening, and he died at the time of the
you?” going down of the sun.
24 And Mi¿ayehu said, “Look, you shall
the governor of the city and to Yo’ash the out to face him, and said to Sovereign
sovereign’s son, Yehoshaphat, “Do you help the wrong and
26 and say, ‘Thus said the sovereign, “Put love those who hate HWHY? Therefore the
this one in prison, and feed him with bread wrath of HWHY is upon you.
of affliction and water of affliction until I 3 “But good matters are found in you, in
go into battle, but you put on your robes.” all the walled cities of YehuÅah, city by
And the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl disguised city,
himself, and they went into battle. 6 and said to the judges, “Watch what
30 And the sovereign of Aram had com- you are doing, for you do not judge for
manded the commanders of the chariots man, but for HWHY who is with you in the
who were with him, saying, “Fight with matter of right-ruling.
no one small or great, but only with the 7 “And now, let the fear of HWHY be upon
So they turned around to fight against him, appointed some of the LÃwites and priests,
and Yehoshaphat cried out, and HWHY and some of the chief fathers of Yisra’Ãl,
helped him, and Elohim moved them to for the right-ruling of HWHY and for dispute.
turn away from him. Then they returned to Yerushalayim.
32 And it came to be, when the comman- 9 And he commanded them, saying, “Do
ders of the chariots saw that it was not the this in the fear of HWHY, trustworthily and
sovereign of Yisra’Ãl, that they turned back with a perfect heart:
from pursuing him. 10 “When any dispute comes to you from
33 And a man drew a bow in his simplici- your brothers who dwell in their cities,
ty, and smote the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl between blood and blood, between Torah
between the joints of his armour. And he and command, laws and right-rulings, then
a 2 Thess. 2:11.
893 2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 20
you shall warn them, lest they trespass and Mo’aÄ, and Mount SÃÈir, whom You
against HWHY and wrath come upon you and would not let Yisra’Ãl invade when they
your brothers. Do this, and you shall not be came out of the land of Mitsrayim, for they
guilty. turned from them and did not destroy
11 “And look, Amaryahu the chief priest them,
is over you in all matters of HWHY. And 11 and see, they are repaying us by com-
ZeÄaÅyahu son of YishmaÈÃl, the ruler of ing in to drive us out of Your possession
the house of YehuÅah, for all the matters of which You have given us to inherit.
the sovereign, and the LÃwites are officials 12 “O our Elohim, would You not judge
before you. Be strong and do, and HWHY is them? For we are powerless against this
with the good.” great army that is coming against us. And
we do not know what to do, but our eyes
20 And after this it came to be that the
children of Mo’aÄ and the children
are upon You.”
13 And all YehuÅah, with their little ones,
of Ammon came in, and with them some of their wives, and their children, stood
the peoples, against Yehoshaphat to battle. before HWHY.
2 And they came and spoke to Yeho- 14 And the Spirit of HWHY came upon
his face to seek HWHY, and proclaimed a fast you inhabitants of Yerushalayim, and
throughout all YehuÅah. Sovereign Yehoshaphat! Thus said HWHY to
4 And YehuÅah gathered to inquire of you, ‘Do not fear, nor be afraid of the face
HWHY, even from all the cities of YehuÅah of this great army, for the battle is not
they came to seek HWHY. yours, but Elohim’s.
5 And Yehoshaphat stood in the assembly 16 ‘Go down against them tomorrow. See,
of YehuÅah and Yerushalayim, in the they are coming up by the ascent of Tsits,
House of HWHY, in front of the new court- and you shall find them at the end of the
yard, wadi before the Wilderness of Yeru’Ãl.
6 and said, “O HWHY Elohim of our 17 ‘It is not for you to fight in this.
fathers, are You not Elohim in the heavens, Position yourselves, stand still and see the
and do You not rule over all the reigns of deliverance of HWHY with you, O YehuÅah
the nations, and in Your hand is there not and Yerushalayim!’ Do not be afraid nor
power and might, so that no one is able to fear, go out against them tomorrow, for
stand against You? HWHY is with you.”
7 “Are You not our Elohim? You have 18 And Yehoshaphat bowed his head with
driven out the inhabitants of this land his face to the ground, and all YehuÅah and
before Your people Yisra’Ãl, and gave it to the inhabitants of Yerushalayim fell down
the seed of AÄraham Your friend forever. before HWHY, to bow themselves before
8 “And they dwell in it, and have built HWHY.
You a set-apart place in it for Your Name, 19 And the LÃwites, of the children of the
and in Your presence – for Your Name is in went out into the Wilderness of Teqowa.
this House – and cry out to You in our dis- And as they went out, Yehoshaphat stood
tress, and You do hear and save.’ and said, “Hear me, O YehuÅah and you
10 “And now, see, the children of Ammon inhabitants of Yerushalayim: Trust in HWHY
2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 20 894
your Elohim and be steadfast, trust His 31 Thus Yehoshaphat reigned over Yehu-
the army and were saying, “Give thanks to Asa and did not turn aside from it, doing
HWHY, for His kindness is everlasting.” what was right in the eyes of HWHY.
22 And when they began singing and 33 Only, the high places were not taken
praising, HWHY set ambushes against the away, for as yet the people had not pre-
children of Ammon, Mo’aÄ, and Mount pared their hearts for the Elohim of their
SÃÈir, who had come against YehuÅah, and fathers.
they were smitten. 34 And the rest of the acts of Yehoshaphat,
23 Then the children of Ammon and the first and the last, see, they are written
Mo’aÄ stood up against the inhabitants of in the book of YÃhu son of Àanani, which
Mount SÃÈir to destroy and annihilate is mentioned in the book of the sovereigns
them. And when they had made an end of of Yisra’Ãl.
the inhabitants of SÃÈir, they helped to 35 And after this Yehoshaphat sovereign
on the ground, and none had escaped. make ships to go to Tarshish, and they
25 And Yehoshaphat and his people came made the ships in Etsyon GeÄer.
to take away their spoil, and they found 37 Then EliÈezer son of DoÅawahu of
in the Valley of Bera¿ah, for there they 21 And Yehoshaphat slept with his
fathers, and was buried with his
blessed HWHY. Therefore the name of that fathers in the City of DawiÅ. And Yehoram
place was called The Valley of Bera¿ah to his son reigned in his place.
this day. 2 And he had brothers, the sons of
27 Then they returned, every man of Yehoshaphat: Azaryahu, and YeÁi’Ãl, and
YehuÅah and Yerushalayim, with Yeho- Ze¿aryahu, and Azaryahu, and Mi¿a’Ãl,
shaphat in front of them, to go back to and Shephatyahu. All these were sons of
Yerushalayim with joy, for HWHY had made Yehoshaphat sovereign of Yisra’Ãl.
them rejoice over their enemies. 3 And their father gave them many gifts
28 And they came to Yerushalayim, with of silver and gold and precious items, with
harps and lyres and trumpets, to the House walled cities in YehuÅah, but he had given
of HWHY. the reign to Yehoram because he was the
29 And the fear of Elohim was on all the first-born.
reigns of the lands when they heard that 4 And when Yehoram had risen up over
HWHY had fought against the enemies of the reign of his father and made himself
Yisra’Ãl. strong, he slew all his brothers with the
30 Then the reign of Yehoshaphat was at sword, and also others of the heads of
peace, for his Elohim gave him rest on all Yisra’Ãl.
sides. 5 Yehoram was thirty-two years old when
895 2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 22
he began to reign, and he reigned eight AraÄians who were near the Kushites.
years in Yerushalayim. 17 And they came up into YehuÅah and
6 And he walked in the way of the sover- broke into it, and captured all the posses-
eigns of Yisra’Ãl, as the house of AÁaÄ had sions that were found in the sovereign’s
done, for he had the daughter of AÁaÄ as a house, and also his sons and his wives, so
wife. And he did evil in the eyes of HWHY. that there was not a son left to him except
7 However, HWHY would not destroy the Yeho’aÁaz, the youngest of his sons.
house of DawiÅ, because of the covenant 18 And after all this HWHY plagued him in
He had made with DawiÅ, and since He his intestines with a disease for which
had promised to give a lamp to him and to there was no healing.
his sons, all the days. 19 And it came to be in the course of time,
8 In his days the EÅomites revolted from at the end of two years, that his intestines
under the hand of YehuÅah, and appointed came out because of his sickness, and he
a sovereign over themselves. died in great pain. And his people made no
9 Then Yehoram went out with his offi- burning for him, like the burning for his
cers, and all his chariots with him. And it fathers.
came to be that he rose by night and smote 20 He was thirty-two years old when he
the EÅomites who had surrounded him and began to reign, and he reigned eight years
the commanders of the chariots. in Yerushalayim, to no one’s regret, and
10 Thus the EÅomites revolted from under passed away. And they buried him in the
the hand of YehuÅah to this day. Then City of DawiÅ, but not in the tombs of the
LiÄnah revolted from under his hand, sovereigns.
because he had forsaken HWHY Elohim of
his fathers.
11 He had also made high places in the 22 And the inhabitants of Yerusha-
layim set up AÁazyahu his
mountains of YehuÅah, and caused the youngest son to reign in his place, for the
inhabitants of Yerushalayim to commit raiding band that came with the AraÄians
whoring, and led YehuÅah astray. into the camp had slain all the older sons.
12 And a letter came to him from Âliyahu So AÁazyahu son of Yehoram, sovereign
the prophet, saying, Thus said HWHY Elohim of YehuÅah, reigned.
of your father DawiÅ, “Because you have 2 AÁazyahu was forty-two years old
not walked in the ways of Yehoshaphat when he began to reign, and he reigned in
your father, or in the ways of Asa sover- Yerushalayim one year. And his mother’s
eign of YehuÅah, name was Athalyahu the granddaughter of
13 but have walked in the way of the Omri.
sovereigns of Yisra’Ãl, and have made 3 He too walked in the ways of the house
YehuÅah and the inhabitants of Yeru- of AÁaÄ, for his mother counselled him to
shalayim to commit whoring like the do wrong.
whorings of the house of AÁaÄ, and also 4 And he did evil in the eyes of HWHY,
have slain your brothers, those of your like the house of AÁaÄ, for they were his
father’s household, who were better than counsellors after the death of his father, to
yourself, his destruction.
14 see, HWHY is going to strike with a great 5 He also walked in their counsel, and
blow among your people, your children, went with Yehoram son of AÁaÄ sovereign
your wives, and all your possessions, of Yisra’Ãl to fight against Àaza’Ãl sover-
15 and you, with many sicknesses, with eign of Aram at Ramoth GilÈad. And the
disease of your intestines, until your Arameans smote Yoram,
intestines come out because of the sick- 6 and he returned to YizreÈÃl to recover
Yehoram, sovereign of YehuÅah, went 3 And all the assembly made a covenant
down to see Yehoram son of AÁaÄ in with the sovereign in the House of Elohim.
YizreÈÃl, for he was sick. And he said to them, “See, the son of the
7 But from Elohim came the downfall of sovereign is to reign, as HWHY has said of
AÁazyahu, through his coming to Yoram. the sons of DawiÅ.
For when he came he went out with 4 “This is what you do: One-third of you
Yehoram against YÃhu son of Nimshi, entering on the Sabbath, of the priests and
whom HWHY had anointed to cut off the the LÃwites, gatekeepers of the thresholds;
house of AÁaÄ. 5 and one-third are at the sovereign’s
8 And it came to be, when YÃhu was exe- house, and one-third at the Gate of the
cuting judgment on the house of AÁaÄ, that Foundation, while all the people are in the
he found the rulers of YehuÅah and the courtyards of the House of HWHY.
sons of AÁazyahu’s brothers who served 6 “And let no one come into the House of
AÁazyahu, and slew them. HWHY except the priests and those of the
9 So he searched for AÁazyahu, and they LÃwites who serve – they go in, for they
caught him while he was hiding in are set-apart. But all the people are to
Shomeron, and brought him to YÃhu, and guard the Charge of HWHY.
put him to death, then buried him, for they 7 “And the LÃwites shall surround the
said, “He is the son of Yehoshaphat, who sovereign on all sides, every man with his
sought HWHY with all his heart.” And there weapons in his hand. And whoever comes
was none in the house of AÁazyahu strong into the house, let him be put to death. And
enough to reign. be with the sovereign when he comes in
10 And when Athalyahu the mother of and when he goes out.”
AÁazyahu saw that her son was dead, she 8 And the LÃwites and all YehuÅah did
rose up and destroyed all the offspring of according to all that YehoyaÅa the priest
the reign of the house of YehuÅah. commanded. And each man took his men
11 But YehoshaÄÈath, the daughter of the who were to come in on the Sabbath, with
sovereign, took Yo’ash son of AÁazyahu, those going out on the Sabbath, for
and stole him away from among the sover- YehoyaÅa the priest did not dismiss the
eign’s sons who were slain, and put him divisions.
and his nurse in a bedroom. So Yeho- 9 And YehoyaÅa the priest gave to the
shaÄÈath, the daughter of Sovereign Yeho- commanders of hundreds the spears and
ram, the wife of YehoyaÅa the priest, the large and small shields which had been
because she was the sister of AÁazyahu, Sovereign DawiÅ’s, that were in the House
hid him from Athalyahu so that she could of Elohim.
not put him to death. 10 And he set all the people, every man
12 And he was hidden with them in the with his weapon in his hand, from the right
House of Elohim for six years, while side of the House to the left side of the
Athalyah was reigning over the land. House, along by the altar and by the
House, all around the sovereign.
23 And in the seventh year YehoyaÅa
strengthened himself, and made
11 And they brought out the son of the
AÅayahu, and Elishaphat son of Zi¿ri. people running and praising the sovereign,
2 And they went about through YehuÅah and she came to the people in the House of
and gathered the LÃwites from all the cities HWHY,
of YehuÅah, and the chiefs of the fathers of 13 and looked and saw the sovereign
Yisra’Ãl, and they came to Yerushalayim. standing by his column at the entrance.
897 2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 24
the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and he brought forth sons and daughters.
also the singers with instruments of song, 4 And after this it came to be that Yo’ash
and those who led in praise. Then set his heart on restoring the House of
Athalyahu tore her garments and said, HWHY.
“Treason! Treason!” 5 And he gathered the priests and the
14 And YehoyaÅa the priest brought out LÃwites, and said to them, “Go out to the
the commanders of hundreds who were set cities of YehuÅah, and gather from all
over the army, and said to them, “Take her Yisra’Ãl silver to repair the House of your
outside the ranks, and slay with the sword Elohim from year to year, and see that you
whoever follows her.” For the priest said, hurry the matter.” But the LÃwites did not
“Do not kill her in the House of HWHY.” hurry it.
15 So they laid hands on her, and she went 6 And the sovereign called YehoyaÅa the
by way of the entrance of the Horse Gate chief, and said to him, “Why have you not
into the sovereign’s house, and they put required the LÃwites to bring in from
her to death there. YehuÅah and from Yerushalayim the levy
16 YehoyaÅa then made a covenant – of Mosheh the servant of HWHY and of the
between himself and the people and the assembly of Yisra’Ãl, for the Tent of the
sovereign – to be the people of HWHY. Witness?”
17 And all the people went to the house of 7 For the sons of Athalyahu, that wrong
BaÈal, and broke it down. They completely woman, had broken into the House of
broke up its altars and images, and slew Elohim, and had also prepared all the set-
Mattan the priest of BaÈal before the altars. apart vessels of the House of HWHY to the
18 And YehoyaÅa put the offices of the BaÈals.
House of HWHY into the hand of the priests, 8 So the sovereign commanded and they
the LÃwites, whom DawiÅ had assigned in made a chest, and set it outside at the gate
the House of HWHY, to offer the burnt offer- of the House of HWHY,
ings of HWHY, as it is written in the Torah of 9 and made it known in YehuÅah and in
Mosheh, with rejoicing and with singing, Yerushalayim to bring to HWHY the levy that
by the hands of DawiÅ. Mosheh the servant of Elohim had
19 And he set the gatekeepers at the gates imposed on Yisra’Ãl in the wilderness.
of the House of HWHY, so that no one who 10 And all the rulers and all the people
was in any way unclean should enter. rejoiced, and they brought in and put them
20 And he took the commanders of hun- into the chest to completion.
dreds, and the nobles, and the governors of 11 And it came to be, at that time, when
the people, and all the people of the land, the chest was brought to the sovereign’s
and brought the sovereign down from the official by the hand of the LÃwites, and
House of HWHY. And they went through the when they saw that there was much silver,
Upper Gate to the sovereign’s house, and that the sovereign’s scribe and the high
set the sovereign on the throne of the reign. priest’s officer came and emptied the
21 And all the people of the land rejoiced. chest, and took it and returned it to its
And the city had rest, for they had slain place. So they did day by day, and gathered
Athalyahu with the sword. a large amount of silver.
12 And the sovereign and YehoyaÅa gave it
work of restoration progressed in their against him. And they came into YehuÅah
hands, and they established the House of and Yerushalayim, and destroyed all the
Elohim to its proper form and strengthened rulers of the people from among the
it. people, and sent all their spoil to the sover-
14 And when they had finished, they eign of Damascus.
brought the rest of the silver before the 24 For the army of Aram came with few
sovereign and YehoyaÅa, and they made men, but HWHY gave a very great army into
utensils from it for the House of HWHY, their hand, because they had forsaken HWHY
utensils for serving and offering, ladles and Elohim of their fathers. So they executed
vessels of gold and silver. And they offered judgment against Yo’ash.
burnt offerings in the House of HWHY con- 25 And when they had withdrawn from
tinually all the days of YehoyaÅa. him – for they left him very sick – his own
15 And YehoyaÅa was old and satisfied servants conspired against him because of
with days, and died, one hundred and thirty the blood of the sons of YehoyaÅa the
years old when he died. priest, and slew him on his bed, and he
16 And they buried him in the City of died. And they buried him in the City of
DawiÅ among the sovereigns, for he had DawiÅ, but they did not bury him in the
done good in Yisra’Ãl, both toward Elohim tombs of the sovereigns.
and His house. 26 And these are the ones who conspired
17 And after the death of YehoyaÅa the against him: ZaÄaÅ the son of ShimÈath the
rulers of YehuÅah came and bowed them- Ammonitess, and YehozaÄaÅ the son of
selves to the sovereign. And the sovereign Shimrith the Mo’aÄitess.
listened to them, 27 As to his sons, and the many words
18 and they forsook the House of HWHY about him, and the rebuilding of the House
Elohim of their fathers, and served the of Elohim, see, they are written in the com-
AshÃrim and the idols. And wrath came mentary of the book of the sovereigns.
upon YehuÅah and Yerushalayim because And Amatsyahu his son reigned in his
of their trespass. place.
19 And He sent prophets to them, to bring
gressing the commands of HWHY, b and do of HWHY, but not with a perfect heart.
not prosper? Because you have forsaken 3 And it came to be, when the reign was
HWHY, He has forsaken you.’ ” established for him, that he slew his
21 And they conspired against him, and at servants who had smitten his father the
the command of the sovereign they stoned sovereign.
him with stones in the courtyard of the 4 But he did not put their children to
year, that the army of Aram came up set over them commanders of thousands
b The Spirit of Elohim has been doing this all along, up to this day, e.g. Mi¿. 3:8, Yn. 16:8!
899 2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 25
back home. And they were greatly enraged EÅom,’ and your heart has lifted you up to
against YehuÅah, and they returned home boast. Now stay at home, why should you
in a rage. stir up yourself to evil, that you should fall
11 And Amatsyahu strengthened himself, – you and YehuÅah with you?”
and led his people, and went to the Valley 20 But Amatsyahu did not listen, for it
of Salt and smote ten thousand of the sons came from Elohim, in order to give them
of SÃÈir. into the hand of their enemies, because
12 And the sons of YehuÅah took captive they had sought the mighty ones of EÅom.
another ten thousand alive, and they 21 So Yo’ash sovereign of Yisra’Ãl went
brought them to the top of the rock, and out. And he and Amatsyahu sovereign of
threw them down from the top of the rock, YehuÅah faced one another at BÃyth
and all of them were dashed to pieces. Shemesh, which belongs to YehuÅah.
13 And the soldiers of the army which 22 And YehuÅah was smitten before
Amatsyahu had sent back from going with Yisra’Ãl, and they each fled to his tent.
him to battle, they raided the cities of 23 And Yo’ash the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl
ones, and bowed down before them and all the utensils that were found in the
burned incense to them. House of Elohim with OÄÃÅ-EÅom, and
15 Therefore the displeasure of HWHY the treasures of the sovereign’s house, and
2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 25 900
hostages, and returned to Shomeron. Valley Gate, and at the corner buttress, and
25 And Amatsyahu son of Yo’ash, sover- strengthened them.
eign of YehuÅah, lived fifteen years after 10 And he built towers in the wilderness,
the death of Yo’ash son of Yeho’aÁaz, sov- and dug many wells, for he had much live-
ereign of Yisra’Ãl. stock, both in the low country and in the
26 And the rest of the acts of Amatsyahu, plain, farmers and vinedressers in the
from the first to the last, see, are they not mountains and in Karmel, for he loved the
written in the book of the sovereigns of soil.
YehuÅah and Yisra’Ãl? 11 And Uzziyah had an army of fighting
27 And from the time that Amatsyahu men who went out to battle by divisions,
turned away from following HWHY, they according to the number on their roll
made a conspiracy against him in Yeru- as prepared by YeÈi’Ãl the scribe and
shalayim, and he fled to La¿ish. And they MaÈasÃyahu the officer, under the hand of
sent after him to La¿ish and killed him Àananyahu, one of the sovereign’s com-
there, manders.
28 and they brought him on horses and 12 The total number of the clan chiefs of
buried him with his fathers in the City of the mighty brave ones was two thousand
YehuÅah. six hundred.
13 And under their hand was an army of
he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two layim, devised by skilled men, to be on the
years in Yerushalayim. And his mother’s towers and the corners, to shoot arrows
name was Ye¿olyah of Yerushalayim. and large stones. And his name spread far
4 And he did what was right in the eyes and wide, for he was marvellously helped
of HWHY, according to all that his father till he became strong.
Amatsyahu did. 16 But when he became strong his heart
5 And he sought Elohim in the days of was lifted up, to his destruction, for he
Ze¿aryahu, who had understanding in the trespassed against HWHY his Elohim by
visions of Elohim. And while he sought entering the Hÿal of HWHY to burn incense
HWHY, Elohim made him prosper. on the altar of incense.
6 And he went out and fought against the 17 And Azaryahu the priest went in after
Philistines, and broke down the wall of him, and with him were eighty priests of
Gath, and the wall of YaÄneh, and the wall HWHY, who were brave men.
of AshdoÅ, and built cities around AshdoÅ 18 And they stood up against Sovereign
and among the Philistines. Uzziyahu, and said to him, “It is not for
7 And Elohim helped him against the you, Uzziyahu, to burn incense to HWHY,
Philistines, and against the AraÄians who but for the priests, the sons of Aharon, who
lived in Gur BaÈal, and the MeÈunites. are set-apart to burn incense. Get out of the
8 And the Ammonites gave gifts to set-apart place, for you have trespassed,
Uzziyahu. And his name spread as far as and there is no esteem to you from HWHY
the entrance of Mitsrayim, for he strength- Elohim.”
ened himself greatly. 19 And Uzziyahu was wroth. And he had a
9 And Uzziyahu built towers in Yeru- censer in his hand to burn incense. And
shalayim at the Corner Gate, and at the while he was wroth with the priests,
901 2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 28
leprosy broke out on his forehead, before all his battles and his ways, see, they are
the priests in the House of HWHY, beside the written in the book of the sovereigns of
incense altar. Yisra’Ãl and YehuÅah.
20 And Azaryahu the chief priest and all 8 He was twenty-five years old when he
the priests looked at him, and saw that he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen
was leprous on his forehead. And they hur- years in Yerushalayim.
ried him from there. And he also hurried to 9 So Yotham slept with his fathers, and
get out, because HWHY had struck him. they buried him in the City of DawiÅ. And
21 And Sovereign Uzziyahu was a leper his son AÁaz reigned in his place.
until the day of his death, and dwelt in a
seperate house, because he was a leper, for
he was cut off from the House of HWHY. 28 AÁaz was twenty years old when
he began to reign, and he reigned
And Yotham his son was over the sover- sixteen years in Yerushalayim. And he did
eign’s house, ruling the people of the land. not do what was right in the eyes of HWHY,
22 And the rest of the acts of Uzziyahu, as his father DawiÅ had done,
from the first to the last, the prophet 2 and walked in the ways of the sover-
Yeshayahu the son of Amots wrote. eigns of Yisra’Ãl, and made moulded
23 So Uzziyahu slept with his fathers, and images for the BaÈals.
they buried him with his fathers in the field 3 And he himself burned incense in the
of burial which belonged to the sovereigns, Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned
for they said, “He is a leper.” And Yotham his children in the fire, according to the
his son reigned in his place. abominations of the gentiles whom HWHY
dispossessed from before the children of
27 Yotham was twenty-five years old
when he began to reign, and he
Yisra’Ãl,
4 and slaughtered and burned incense on
reigned sixteen years in Yerushalayim. the high places, and on the hills, and under
And his mother’s name was Yerushah the every green tree.
daughter of TsaÅoq. 5 Therefore HWHY his Elohim gave him
2 And he did what was right in the eyes into the hand of the sovereign of Aram,
of HWHY, according to all that his father and they smote him, and took many of
Uzziyahu had done. Only, he did not come them away as captives, and brought them
into the Hÿal of HWHY. And the people to Damascus. And he was also given into
continued to act corruptly. the hand of the sovereign of Yisra’Ãl, who
3 He built the Upper Gate of the House of smote him with a great slaughter.
HWHY, and he built much on the wall of 6 And PeqaÁ son of Remalyahu slew one
ten thousand kors of wheat, and ten thou- captive from their brothers two hundred
sand of barley. This is what the children of thousand women, sons and daughters. And
Ammon paid him, also in the second and they also seized from them much spoil,
third years. and they brought the spoil to Shomeron.
6 And Yotham strengthened himself, for 9 But a prophet of HWHY was there, whose
he prepared his ways before HWHY his name was OÅÃÅ. And he went out before
Elohim. the army that came to Shomeron, and said
7 And the rest of the acts of Yotham, and to them, “See, because HWHY Elohim of
2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 28 902
your fathers was displeased with YehuÅah, Ashshur came against him and distressed
He has given them into your hand, and you him, and did not help him,
have slain them in a rage that reaches up to 21 though AÁaz had taken some of the
came from the army, House of Elohim, and cut in pieces the
13 and said to them, “Do not bring the utensils of the House of Elohim, and shut
captives here, to bring on us guilt before the doors of the House of HWHY, and made
HWHY. Are you planning to add to our sins for himself altars in every corner of
and to our guilt? For our guilt is great, and Yerushalayim.
burning is the wrath on Yisra’Ãl.” 25 And in every city, even the cities of
14 And the armed men left the captives YehuÅah, he made high places to burn
and the spoil before the leaders and all the incense to other mighty ones, and pro-
assembly. voked HWHY Elohim of his fathers.
15 And the men who were designated by 26 And the rest of his acts and all his
name rose up and took the captives, and ways, from first to last, see, they are
from the spoil they put on all the naked written in the book of the sovereigns of
among them, dressed them and gave them YehuÅah and Yisra’Ãl.
sandals, and gave them food and drink, and 27 So AÁaz slept with his fathers, and they
anointed them, and let all the weak ones buried him in the city, in Yerushalayim, but
ride on donkeys, and brought them to their they did not bring him into the tombs of
brothers at YeriÁo, the city of palm trees, the sovereigns of Yisra’Ãl. And Àizqiyahu
then returned to Shomeron. his son reigned in his place.
16 At that time Sovereign AÁaz sent to the
and Ayalon, and GeÅÃroth, and So¿o with of HWHY, according to all that his father
its villages, and Timnah with its villages, DawiÅ did.
and Gimzo with its villages, and dwelt 3 In the first year of his reign, in the first
he brought about a lack of restraint in LÃwites, and gathered them in the open
YehuÅah and trespassed against HWHY. place to the east.
20 And Tiglath-Pileser the sovereign of 5 And he said to them, “Listen to me, O
903 2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 29
LÃwites! Now set yourselves apart, set brought out all the uncleanness they found
apart the House of HWHY Elohim of your in the Hÿal of HWHY to the courtyard of the
fathers, and remove the uncleanness from House of HWHY. Then the LÃwites received
the set-apart place. it to take it outside to the wadi QiÅron.
6 “For our fathers have trespassed and 17 And they began to set apart on the first
have done evil in the eyes of HWHY our day of the first month, and on the eighth
Elohim, and have forsaken Him, and have day of the month they came to the porch of
turned their faces away from the Dwelling HWHY. And they set apart the House of HWHY
Place of HWHY, and have given their backs. in eight days, and on the sixteenth day of
7 “And they have shut the doors of the the first month they had finished.
porch, and put out the lamps, and they 18 Then they came in to Sovereign
have not burned incense or offered burnt Àizqiyahu and said, “We have cleansed all
offerings in the set-apart place to the the House of HWHY, and the altar of burnt
Elohim of Yisra’Ãl. offerings with all its utensils, and the table
8 “Therefore the wrath of HWHY fell upon of the showbread with all its utensils.
YehuÅah and Yerushalayim, and He has 19 “And all the utensils which Sovereign
given them up for a trembling, for an AÁaz in his reign had pushed aside, when
astonishment, and for a hissing, as you see he trespassed, we have prepared and set
with your eyes. apart. And see, they are before the altar of
9 “And see, because of this our fathers HWHY.”
have fallen by the sword. And our sons, 20 And Sovereign Àizqiyahu rose up
and our daughters, and our wives are in early, and gathered the heads of the city,
captivity for this. and went up to the House of HWHY.
10 “Now it is in my heart to make a 21 And they brought seven bulls, and
covenant with HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, so seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven
that the heat of His wrath turns away from male goats for a sin offering for the reign,
us. for the set-apart place, and for YehuÅah.
11 “My sons, do not be slack, for HWHY has And he said to the priests, the sons of
chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Aharon, to offer them on the altar of HWHY.
Him, and to be attendants for Him and 22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the
Yo’aÁ son of Zimmah and ÂÅen son of the sin offering before the sovereign and
Yo’aÁ; the assembly, and they laid their hands on
13 and of the sons of Elitsaphan, Shimri them,
and YeÈi’Ãl; and of the sons of Asaph, 24 and the priests slaughtered them, and
Ze¿aryahu and Mattanyahu; with their blood made a sin offering on the
14 and of the sons of HÃman, YeÁi’Ãl and altar, to make an atonement for all Yisra’Ãl,
ShimÈi; and of the sons of YeÅuthun, for the sovereign said that the burnt offer-
Shemayah and Uzzi’Ãl. ing and the sin offering is for all Yisra’Ãl.
15 And they gathered their brothers, and 25 And he appointed the LÃwites in the
set themselves apart, and went according House of HWHY with cymbals, with harps,
to the command of the sovereign, at the and with lyres, according to the command
words of HWHY, to cleanse the House of of DawiÅ, and of GaÅ, seer of the sover-
HWHY. eign, and of Nathan the prophet, for the
16 And the priests came into the inner part command was by the hand of HWHY, by the
of the House of HWHY to cleanse it, and hand of His prophets.
2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 29 904
26 And the LÃwites stood with the instru- people, because the matter came about so
ments of DawiÅ, and the priests with the suddenly.
trumpets.
27 And Àizqiyahu gave the order to offer
the burnt offering on the altar. And when 30 And Àizqiyahu sent to all Yisra’Ãl
and YehuÅah, and he also wrote
the burnt offering began, the singing unto letters to Ephrayim and Menashsheh, to
HWHY began, with the trumpets and with come to the House of HWHY at
the instruments of DawiÅ sovereign of Yerushalayim, to perform the Passover to
Yisra’Ãl. HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl.
28 And all the assembly were bowing, and 2 But the sovereign and his leaders and
the singers singing, and the trumpeters all the assembly in Yerushalayim had taken
blowing – all this until the burnt offering counsel to perform the Passover in the sec-
was completed. ond month.
29 And at the completion of the offering, 3 For they were unable to perform it at its
the sovereign and all who were present time, because not enough priests had set
with him bowed and worshipped. themselves apart, and the people had not
30 And Sovereign Àizqiyahu and the gathered at Yerushalayim.
rulers ordered the LÃwites to sing praise to 4 And the matter was right in the eyes of
HWHY with the words of DawiÅ and of the sovereign and in the eyes of all the
Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with assembly.
gladness, and they bowed their heads and 5 And they settled the matter, to send a
slaughterings and thank offerings, and all YehuÅah with the letters from the sover-
those whose hearts were so moved brought eign and his leaders, and spoke according
burnt offerings. to the command of the sovereign,
32 And the number of the burnt offerings “Children of Yisra’Ãl, turn back to HWHY
which the assembly brought was seventy Elohim of AÄraham, YitsÁaq, and Yisra’Ãl,
bulls, one hundred rams, two hundred so that He returns to the remnant of you
lambs – all these for a burnt offering to who have escaped from the hand of the
HWHY. sovereigns of Ashshur.
33 And the set-apart gifts were six hun- 7 “And do not be like your fathers and
dred bulls and three thousand sheep. like your brothers, who trespassed against
34 Only, the priests were too few, and HWHY Elohim of their fathers, so that He
were unable to skin all the burnt offerings, gave them up to ruin, as you see.
so their brothers the LÃwites helped them 8 “Now do not stiffen your neck, like
until the work was completed and until the your fathers, stretch forth the hand to HWHY,
other priests had set themselves apart, for and come to His set-apart place, which He
the LÃwites were more upright of heart to has set apart forever, and serve HWHY your
set themselves apart, than the priests. Elohim, so that His burning wrath turns
35 And there were also many burnt offer- away from you.
ings, with the fat of the peace offerings and 9 “For if you turn back to HWHY, your
with the drink offerings for every burnt brothers and your children shall be shown
offering. Thus the service of the House of compassion by their captors, even to return
HWHY was re-established. to this land. For HWHY your Elohim shows
36 And Àizqiyahu and all the people favour and compassion, and does not turn
rejoiced that Elohim had prepared the His face from you if you turn back to
905 2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 31
the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the presented to the assembly a thousand bulls
second month. and seven thousand sheep, and the rulers
14 And they rose up and removed the presented to the assembly a thousand bulls
altars that were in Yerushalayim, and they and ten thousand sheep. And a great num-
removed all the incense altars and threw ber of priests set themselves apart.
them into the wadi QiÅron. 25 And all the assembly of YehuÅah
15 Then they slaughtered the Passover on rejoiced, and the priests and LÃwites, and
the fourteenth day of the second month. all the assembly who had come from
And the priests and the LÃwites were Yisra’Ãl, and the sojourners who came
ashamed, and set themselves apart, and from the land of Yisra’Ãl, and those who
brought the burnt offerings to the House of dwelt in YehuÅah.
HWHY. 26 And there came to be great joy in
16 And they stood in their place according Yerushalayim, for since the days of
to their right-ruling. According to the Shelomoh son of DawiÅ, the sovereign of
Torah of Mosheh, the man of Elohim, the Yisra’Ãl, the like of this had not been in
priests sprinkled the blood from the hand Yerushalayim.
of the LÃwites. 27 And the priests, the LÃwites, rose and
17 For many in the assembly had not set blessed the people, and their voice was
themselves apart. Therefore the LÃwites heard. And their prayer came up to His set-
were over the slaughter of the Passover for apart dwelling place, to heaven.
everyone who was not clean, to set them
apart to HWHY.
18 For many of the people, many from 31 And at the completion of all this,
all Yisra’Ãl who were present went
Ephrayim and Menashsheh, Yissas¿ar and out to the cities of YehuÅah and broke
ZeÄulun, had not been cleansed, yet they down the pillars, and cut down the
ate the Passover contrary to what was AshÃrim, and tore down the high places
written. But Àizqiyahu prayed for them, and the altars, from all YehuÅah, and
saying, “HWHY who is good, provide atone- Binyamin, and in Ephrayim and
ment for everyone Menashsheh, even to completion. Then all
19 who has prepared his heart to seek the children of Yisra’Ãl returned to their
Elohim, HWHY Elohim of his fathers, though own cities, each to his possession.
he is not cleansed according to the cleans- 2 And Àizqiyahu appointed the divisions
ing of the set-apart place.” of the priests and of the LÃwites according
20 And HWHY listened to Àizqiyahu and to their divisions, each according to his
healed the people. service of the priests and LÃwites for burnt
21 And the children of Yisra’Ãl who were offerings and peace offerings, to serve and
in Yerushalayim performed the Festival of to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of
2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 31 906
the LÃwites about the heaps. who were in the fields of the open land of
10 And Azaryahu the chief priest, from the their cities, in each and every city, there
house of TsaÅoq, answered him and said, were men who were called by name to dis-
“Since they began to bring the offerings tribute portions to all the males among the
into the House of HWHY, we have had priests and to all who were listed by
enough to eat and have plenty left, for HWHY genealogies among the LÃwites.
has blessed His people. And this great 20 And Àizqiyahu did this in all YehuÅah,
amount is left over.” and he did what was good and what was
11 And Àizqiyahu ordered them to prepare right and what was true before HWHY his
rooms in the House of HWHY, and they Elohim.
prepared them. 21 And in every work that he began in the
12 Then they brought in the contribution, service of the House of Elohim, in the Torah
and the tithes, and the set-apart gifts, trust- and in the command, to seek his Elohim,
worthily. And Konanyahu the LÃwite was with all his heart, he did and prospered.
leader over them, and ShimÈi his brother
was the next.
13 And YeÁi’Ãl, and Azazyahu, and 32 After these matters and this trust-
worthiness, SanÁÃriÄ sovereign of
NaÁath, and Asah’Ãl, and Yerimoth, and Ashshur came. And he entered YehuÅah
YozaÄaÅ, and Eli’Ãl, and Yisma¿yahu, and and encamped against the cities of
907 2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 32
defence, and said to break them open to yourselves before one altar and burn
himself. incense on it”?
2 And Àizqiyahu saw that SanÁÃriÄ had 13 ‘Do you not know what I and my
come, and his face set to fight against fathers have done to all the peoples of
Yerushalayim, other lands? Were the mighty ones of the
3 and he took counsel with his rulers and nations of those lands in any way able to
mighty men to stop the water from the deliver their lands out of my hand?
springs which were outside the city. And 14 ‘Who was there among all the mighty
and find much water?” you or persuade you like this, and do not
5 And he strengthened himself, and built believe him; for no mighty one of any
up all the wall that was broken, and raised nation or reign was able to deliver his peo-
it up to the towers, and outside of it anoth- ple from my hand or the hand of my
er wall, and strengthened Millo, the City of fathers – much less your Elohim, to deliver
DawiÅ, and made large numbers of you from my hand!’ ”
weapons and shields. 16 And his servants spoke even more
6 And he appointed battle officers over against HWHY Elohim and against His ser-
the people, and gathered them to him in the vant Àizqiyahu.
open space at the city gate, and spoke to 17 And he wrote letters to reproach HWHY
us is HWHY our Elohim, to help us and to in the language of YehuÅah to the people
fight our battles.” And the people leaned of Yerushalayim who were on the wall, to
on the words of Àizqiyahu sovereign of frighten them and to trouble them, in order
YehuÅah. to capture the city.
9 After this SanÁÃriÄ the sovereign of 19 And they spoke against the Elohim of
Ashshur sent his servants to Yerushalayim Yerushalayim, as against the mighty ones
– but he himself, and all his power with of the people of the earth, the work of
him against La¿ish – to Àizqiyahu sover- men’s hands.
eign of YehuÅah, and to all YehuÅah who 20 And Sovereign Àizqiyahu and the
you remain in Yerushalayim under siege? down every mighty brave one, both the
11 ‘Is Àizqiyahu not persuading you to leader and the commander in the camp of
give yourselves over to die by scarcity of the sovereign of Ashshur, and he returned
food and by thirst, saying, “HWHY our shamefaced to his own land, and went into
Elohim shall deliver us from the hand of the house of his mighty one, and there
the sovereign of Ashshur”? some of his own offspring caused him to
12 ‘Has not Àizqiyahu himself taken away fall by the sword.
His high places and His altars, and ordered 22 Thus HWHY saved Àizqiyahu and the
YehuÅah and Yerushalayim, saying, “Bow inhabitants of Yerushalayim from the hand
2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 32 908
in the eyes of all nations thereafter. according to the abominations of the gen-
24 In those days Àizqiyahu was sick and tiles whom HWHY dispossessed from before
near death, and he prayed to HWHY. And He the children of Yisra’Ãl.
spoke to him and appointed a sign for him. 3 For again he rebuilt the high places
25 However, Àizqiyahu did not repay which Àizqiyahu his father had broken
according to the good done to him, for his down, and raised up altars for the BaÈals,
heart was lifted up, therefore wrath came and made AshÃrim, and bowed himself to
upon him and upon YehuÅah and all the host of the heavens and served
Yerushalayim. them.
26 Then Àizqiyahu humbled himself for 4 And he built altars in the House of
the pride of his heart, he and the inhabi- HWHY, of which HWHY had said, “In Yerus-
tants of Yerushalayim, so that the wrath of halayim is My Name, forever.”
HWHY did not come upon them in the days 5 And he built altars for all the host of the
for silver, and for gold, and for precious fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom,
stones, and for spices, and for shields, and and practised magic, and used divination
for all desirable utensils; and witchcraft, and consulted mediums
28 and storehouses for the harvest of and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes
grain, and wine, and oil, and stalls for all of HWHY, to provoke Him.
kinds of livestock, and folds for flocks. 7 And he placed a carved image of the
29 And he made cities for himself, and idol which he had made, in the House of
possessions of great numbers of flocks and Elohim, of which Elohim had said to
herds, for Elohim gave him much property. DawiÅ and to Shelomoh his son, “In this
30 And Àizqiyahu himself had stopped the house and in Yerushalayim, which I have
upper outlet of the waters of GiÁon, and chosen out of all the tribes of Yisra’Ãl, I put
directed them to the west side of the City My Name forever,
of DawiÅ. And Àizqiyahu prospered in all 8 and no more shall I remove the foot of
and his kindness, see, they are written inhabitants of Yerushalayim astray, to do
in the vision of Yeshayahu the prophet, son more evil than the gentiles whom HWHY had
of Amots, in the book of the sovereigns of destroyed before the children of Yisra’Ãl.
YehuÅah and Yisra’Ãl. 10 And HWHY spoke to Menashsheh and to
33 So Àizqiyahu slept with his fathers, and his people, but they did not listen.
they buried him in the upper tombs of the 11 Therefore HWHY brought upon them the
sons of DawiÅ. And all YehuÅah and the commanders of the army of the sovereign
inhabitants of Yerushalayim esteemed him of Ashshur, who captured Menashsheh
at his death. And Menashsheh his son with hooks, bound him with bronze shack-
909 2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 34
les, and made him go to BaÄel. which his father Menashsheh had made,
12 And when he was in distress, he sought and served them.
the face of HWHY his Elohim, and humbled 23 And he did not humble himself before
himself greatly before the Elohim of his HWHY, as his father Menashsheh had hum-
fathers, bled himself, for Amon trespassed more
13 and prayed to Him. And He was moved and more.
by his entreaty and heard his supplication, 24 And his servants conspired against him,
and brought him back to Yerushalayim into and killed him in his own house.
his reign. And Menashsheh knew that HWHY 25 But the people of the land smote all
Yerushalayim, and he threw them out of while he was still young, he began to seek
the city. the Elohim of his father DawiÅ. And in the
16 And he built the altar of HWHY, and twelfth year he began to cleanse YehuÅah
brought peace offerings and thank offer- and Yerushalayim from the high places,
ings on it, and ordered YehuÅah to serve and the AshÃrim, and the carved images,
HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl. and the moulded images.
17 But the people were still offering on the 4 And they broke down the altars of the
high places, though only to HWHY their BaÈals in his presence, and the sun-pillars
Elohim. which were above them he cut down. And
18 And the rest of the acts of Menashsheh, the AshÃrim, and the carved images, and
his prayer to his Elohim, and the words the moulded images he smashed, and
of the seers who spoke to him in the Name ground them up and strewed it on the
of HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, see, they are graves of those who had offered to them.
written in the book of the sovereigns of 5 And he burned the bones of the priests
where he built high places and set up the Ephrayim, and ShimÈon, as far as Naphtali,
AshÃrim and the carved images, before he in their ruins all around.
was humbled, see, they are written among 7 And he broke down the altars and the
the words of the seers. AshÃrim, and ground the carved images
20 So Menashsheh slept with his fathers, into dust, and cut down all the sun-pillars
and they buried him in his own house. And throughout all the land of Yisra’Ãl, and
his son Amon reigned in his place. returned to Yerushalayim.
21 Amon was twenty-two years old when 8 And in the eighteenth year of his reign,
he began to reign, and he reigned two when he had cleansed the land and the
years in Yerushalayim. House, he sent Shaphan son of Atsalyahu,
22 But he did evil in the eyes of HWHY, as and MaÈasÃyahu the head of the city, and
his father Menashsheh had done. And Yo’aÁ son of Yo’aÁaz the recorder, to
Amon offered to all the carved images repair the House of HWHY his Elohim.
2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 34 910
9 And they went to Àilqiyahu the high heard the words of the Torah, that he tore
priest, and they gave the silver that was his garments.
brought into the House of Elohim, which 20 And the sovereign commanded Àilqi-
the LÃwites who kept the doors had gath- yahu, AÁiqam son of Shaphan, and AÄdon
ered from the hand of Menashsheh and son of Mi¿ah, and Shaphan the scribe, and
Ephrayim, and from all the remnant of Asayah a servant of the sovereign, saying,
Yisra’Ãl, and from all YehuÅah and 21 “Go, inquire of HWHY for me, and for
Binyamin, and which they had brought him who is left in Yisra’Ãl and in Yehu-
back to Yerushalayim, Åah, concerning the words of the book that
10 and they gave it in the hand of the is found. For great is the wrath of HWHY
workmen, those appointed over the House that is poured out on us, because our
of HWHY. And they gave it to the workmen fathers have not guarded the Word of HWHY,
who worked in the House of HWHY, to repair to do according to all that is written in this
and strengthen the house. book.”
11 And they gave it to the craftsmen and to 22 Then Àilqiyahu and those of the sover-
the builders, to buy hewn stone and timber eign went to Àuldah the prophetess, the
for couplings and for beams for the houses wife of Shallum son of Toqhath, son of
which the sovereigns of YehuÅah had Àasrah, keeper of the wardrobe, who was
destroyed. dwelling in Yerushalayim in the Second
12 And the men did the work trustworthi- Quarter. And they spoke to her about this.
ly. And over them were appointed YaÁath 23 And she said to them, “Thus said HWHY
and OÄaÅyahu the LÃwites, of the sons of Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, ‘Say to the man who
Merari, and Ze¿aryah and Meshullam, of sent you to Me,
the sons of the Qehathites, to oversee; and 24 “Thus said HWHY, ‘See, I am bringing
of the LÃwites, all of whom were skilled in evil on this place and on its inhabitants, all
instruments of song, the curses that are written in the book
13 and over the burden bearers, and over- which they have read before the sovereign
seers of all who did work in any kind of of YehuÅah,
service. And of the LÃwites were scribes, 25 because they have forsaken Me and
appointed and the workmen.” fathers, and you shall be gathered to your
18 And Shaphan the scribe informed the grave in peace, so that your eyes would
sovereign, saying, “Àilqiyahu the priest not see all the evil that I am bringing on
has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it this place and its inhabitants.” ’ ” So they
before the sovereign. brought back word to the sovereign.
19 And it came to be, when the sovereign 29 And the sovereign sent and gathered all
911 2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 35
the elders of YehuÅah and Yerushalayim. 6 “And slaughter the Passover, and set
30 And the sovereign went up to the House yourselves apart, and prepare for your
of HWHY with all the men of YehuÅah and brothers, to do according to the word of
the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, and the HWHY by the hand of Mosheh.”
priests and the LÃwites, and all the people, 7 And Yoshiyahu gave the lay people
both great and small. And he read in their lambs and young goats from the flock,
hearing all the words of the Book of the all for Passover offerings for everyone
Covenant which had been found in the present, to the number of thirty thousand,
House of HWHY. and three thousand cattle – these were from
31 And the sovereign stood in his place the sovereign’s possessions.
and made a covenant before HWHY, to 8 And his leaders contributed a voluntary
follow HWHY and to guard His commands offering to the people, to the priests, and to
and His witnesses and His laws, with all the LÃwites. Àilqiyah, and Ze¿aryahu, and
his heart and all his being, to do the words YeÁi’Ãl, leaders of the House of Elohim,
of the covenant that were written in this gave to the priests for the Passover offer-
book. ings two thousand six hundred, and three
32 And he made stand all who were hundred cattle;
present in Yerushalayim and Binyamin. 9 and Konanyahu, his brothers Shema-
And the inhabitants of Yerushalayim did yahu and NethanÃ’l, and ÀashaÄyahu and
according to the covenant of Elohim, the YeÈi’Ãl and YozaÄaÅ, chiefs of the LÃwites,
Elohim of their fathers. gave to the LÃwites for Passover offerings
33 And Yoshiyahu removed all the abomi- five thousand, and five hundred cattle.
nations from all the lands that belonged to 10 And the service was prepared, and the
the children of Yisra’Ãl, and made all who priests stood in their places, and the
were present in Yisra’Ãl diligently serve LÃwites in their divisions, according to the
HWHY their Elohim. All his days they did not command of the sovereign,
turn away from following HWHY Elohim of 11 and they slaughtered the Passover. And
Yisra’Ãl, built. It is no longer to be a burden selves and for the priests, because the
on your shoulders. Now serve HWHY your priests, the sons of Aharon, were offering
Elohim and His people Yisra’Ãl, burnt offerings and fat until night. So the
4 and prepare by the fathers’ houses, LÃwites prepared for themselves and for
according to your divisions, by the writing the priests, the sons of Aharon.
of DawiÅ sovereign of Yisra’Ãl and by the 15 And the singers, the sons of Asaph,
writing of Shelomoh his son. were in their places, according to the com-
5 “And stand in the set-apart place by the mand of DawiÅ, and Asaph, and HÃman,
divisions of the fathers’ houses of your and YeÅuthun the seer of the sovereign.
brothers the lay people, and the portion of And the gatekeepers at each gate did not
the father’s house of the LÃwites. have to leave their position, because their
2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 35 912
brothers the LÃwites prepared for them. and the singing women speak of Yoshi-
16 And all the service of HWHY was yahu in their lamentations, and made it a
prepared that day, to perform the Passover law in Yisra’Ãl. And see, they are written
and to offer burnt offerings on the altar in the Laments.
of HWHY, according to the command of 26 And the rest of the acts of Yoshiyahu
time, and the Festival of Unleavened see, they are written in the book of the sov-
Bread for seven days. ereigns of Yisra’Ãl and YehuÅah.
18 There had not been a Passover per-
YehuÅah and Yisra’Ãl who were present, when he began to reign, and he reigned
and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim. three months in Yerushalayim.
19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of 3 And the sovereign of Mitsrayim turned
Yoshiyahu this Passover was performed. him aside in Yerushalayim, and imposed
20 After all this, when Yoshiyahu had on the land a levy of one hundred talents of
prepared the House, Ne¿o sovereign of silver and a talent of gold.
Mitsrayim came up to fight against Kar- 4 And the sovereign of Mitsrayim made
kemish by the Euphrates. And Yoshiyahu his brother Elyaqim sovereign over
went out against him. YehuÅah and Yerushalayim, and changed
21 And he sent messengers to him, saying, his name to Yehoyaqim. And Ne¿o took
“What have I to do with you, sovereign of Yeho’aÁaz his brother and brought him to
YehuÅah? I am not coming against you this Mitsrayim.
day, but against the house with which I am 5 Yehoyaqim was twenty-five years old
face from him, but disguised himself to came up against him, and bound him in
fight against him, and did not listen to the bronze shackles to take him away to BaÄel.
words of Ne¿o from the mouth of Elohim, 7 And NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar brought some of
and came to fight in the Valley of the utensils from the House of HWHY to
MeÍiddo. BaÄel, and put them in his hÿal at BaÄel.
23 And the archers shot at Sovereign 8 And the rest of the acts of Yehoyaqim,
Yoshiyahu. And the sovereign said to his the abominations which he did, and what
servants, “Take me away, for I am severely was found against him, see, they are writ-
wounded.” ten in the book of the sovereigns of
24 And his servants took him out of that Yisra’Ãl and YehuÅah. Then Yehoya¿in his
chariot and put him in the second chariot son reigned in his place.
that he had, and they brought him to 9 Yehoya¿in was eight years old when he
Yerushalayim. And he died, and was began to reign, and he reigned in Yeru-
buried in one of the tombs of his fathers. shalayim three months and ten days. And
And all YehuÅah and Yerushalayim were he did evil in the eyes of HWHY.
mourning for Yoshiyahu. 10 And at the turn of the year Sovereign
25 And Yirmeyahu lamented for Yoshi- NeÄu¿aÅnetstsar sent and brought him to
yahu. And to this day all the singing men BaÄel, with the valuable utensils from the
913 2 DIÉRE haYAMIM 36
MESSIANIC
SCRIPTURES
MATTITHYAHU
MATTHEW
a This is the precise meaning of the HeÄrew of His Name. 1 His mother was an Ammorite - 1 Mel. 14:21,31.
MATTITHYAHU 1 918
born Sovereign of the YehuÅim? For we His mother by night and departed for
saw His star in the East and have come to Mitsrayim,
15 and remained there until the death of
do reverence to Him.”
3 And Herodes the sovereign, having Herodes, to fill what was spoken by HWHY
heard, was troubled, and all Yerushalayim through the prophet, saying, “Out of
with him. Mitsrayim I have called My Son.” c
4 And having gathered all the chief 16 Then Herodes, having seen that he was
priests and scribes of the people together, fooled by the Magi, was greatly enraged,
he asked them where the Messiah was to and he sent forth and slew all the male
be born. children in BÃyth LeÁem and in all its bor-
5 And they said to him, “In BÃyth LeÁem ders, from two years old and under,
of YehuÅah, for thus it has been written by according to the time which he had exactly
the prophet, learnt from the Magi.
6 ‘But you, BÃyth LeÁem, in the land of 17 Then was filled what was spoken by
YehuÅah, you are by no means least among Yirmeyahu the prophet, saying,
the rulers of YehuÅah, for out of you shall 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing
come a Ruler who shall shepherd My peo- and weeping, and great mourning – RaÁÃl
ple Yisra’Ãl.’ ” b weeping for her children, refusing to be
7 Then Herodes, having called the Magi comforted, because they were no more.”
secretly, learned exactly from them what 19 And Herodes having died, see, a mes-
Child, and when you have found Him, His mother, and go into the land of
bring back word to me, so that I too might Yisra’Ãl, for those seeking the life of the
go and do reverence to Him.” Child are dead.”
9 And having heard the sovereign, they 21 And rising up, he took the Child and His
went. And see, the star which they had mother, and came into the land of Yisra’Ãl.
seen in the East went before them, until it 22 But hearing that Archelaos was reign-
came and stood over where the Child was. ing over YehuÅah instead of his father
10 And seeing the star, they rejoiced with Herodes, he was afraid to go there. And
exceedingly great joy. having been warned in a dream, he depart-
11 And coming into the house, they saw ed to the parts of Galil,
the Child with Miryam His mother, and 23 and came and dwelt in a city called
fell down and did reverence to Him, and Natsareth – thus to fill what was spoken
opening their treasures, they presented to by the prophets, “He shall be called a
Him gifts of gold, and frankincense, and Natsarene.”
myrrh.
12 And having been warned in a dream
that they should not return to Herodes, 3 And in those days YoÁanan the
Immerser came proclaiming in the
they departed for their own country by wilderness of YehuÅah,
another way. 2 and saying, “Repent, for the reign of
the heavens has come near!” 16 And having been immersed, aSWHY
3 For this is he who was spoken of by the
went up immediately from the water, and
prophet Yeshayahu, saying, “A voice of see, the heavens were opened, and He saw
one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the the Spirit of Elohim descending like a dove
way of HWHY, make His paths straight.’ ” d and coming upon Him,
4 And YoÁanan had a garment of camel’s 17 and see, a voice out of the heavens, say-
hair, and a leather girdle around his waist. ing, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in
And his food was locusts and wild honey. whom I did delight.”
5 Then Yerushalayim, and all YehuÅah,
nan at the YardÃn to be immersed by him. You if You fall down and worship me.”
14 But YoÁanan was hindering Him, say- 10 Then aSWHY said to him, “Go, Satan!
ing, “I need to be immersed by You, and For it has been written, ‘You shall worship
You come to me?” HWHY your Elohim, and Him alone you
15 But aSWHY answering, said to him, shall serve.’ ” h
“Permit it now, for thus it is fitting for us to 11 Then the devil left Him, and see, mes-
fill all righteousness.” Then he permitted sengers came and attended Him.
Him. 12 And aSWHY, having heard that YoÁanan
d Yesh. 40:3. e See Yn. 8:33-44, Rom. 9:8. It is futile to rely on your descendancy, your birth after the flesh. All
that counts is the new birth, to be born of the Spirit and water (Yn. 3:3-8). Sha’ul similarly reproves the YehuÅim
who rely on their physical birth and their circumcision, yet transgress the law, in Rom. 2:26-29. f DeÄ. 8:3.
g DeÄ. 6:16. h DeÄ. 6:13. Take note: aSWHY silenced the devil by the Word, the Words as written down in
DeÄarim, quoting three texts!
MATTITHYAHU 4 920
the way of the sea, beyond the YardÃn, they shall be comforted.
Galil of the gentiles – 5 “Blessed are the meek, because they
16 the people who sat in darkness saw a shall inherit the earth. j
great light, and upon those who sat in the 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and
land and shadow of death, light arose to thirst for righteousness, k because they
them.” i shall be filled.
17 From that time aSWHY began to pro- 7 “Blessed are the compassionate,
claim and to say, “Repent, for the reign of because they shall obtain compassion.
the heavens has drawn near.” 8 “Blessed are the clean in heart, l
18 And aSWHY, walking by the Sea of because they shall see Elohim.
Galil, saw two brothers, ShimÈon called 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, because
KÃpha, and Andri his brother, casting a net they shall be called sons of Elohim.
into the sea, for they were fishermen. 10 “Blessed are those persecuted for right-
19 And He said to them, “Follow Me, and eousness’ sake, m because theirs is the
I shall make you fishers of men.” reign of the heavens.
20 And immediately they left their nets 11 “Blessed are you when they reproach
and followed Him. and persecute you, and falsely say every
21 And going on from there, He saw two wicked word against you, for My sake.
other brothers, YaÈaqoÄ the son of ZaÄdai, 12 “Rejoice and be glad, because your
and YoÁanan his brother, in the boat with reward in the heavens is great. For in this
ZaÄdai their father, mending their nets. way they persecuted the prophets who
And He called them, were before you.
22 and immediately they left the boat and 13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if the
their father, and followed Him. salt becomes tasteless, how shall it be sea-
23 And aSWHY went about all Galil, teach- soned? For it is no longer of any use but to
ing in their congregations, and proclaiming be thrown out and to be trodden down by
the Good News of the reign, and healing men.
every disease and every bodily weakness 14 “You are the light of the world. It is
were sick, afflicted with various diseases under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it
and pains, and those who were demon-pos- shines to all those in the house.
sessed, and epileptics, and paralytics. And 16 “Let your light so shine before men, so
He healed them. that they see your good works and praise
25 And large crowds – from Galil, and your Father who is in the heavens.
Dekapolis, and Yerushalayim, and Yehu- 17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the
Åah, and beyond the YardÃn – followed Torah or the Prophets. n I did not come to
Him. destroy but to complete. o
i Yesh. 9:1-2. j Teh. 37:9, 11,22, 29, 34. k Yesh. 55:1-2, Mt. 4:4, Yn. 6:48-51. l Teh. 24:3-4. m 1 KÃpha 3:14.
n The Law and the Prophets is a term used for the pre-Messianic Scriptures. o Indeed, the Law and the Prophets
(pre-Messianic Scriptures) without Messiah is incomplete!
921 MATTITHYAHU 5
18 “For truly, I say to you, till the heaven of your members perish, than for your
and the earth pass away, one jot or one tit- entire body to be thrown into Gehenna.
tle shall by no means pass from the Torah 30 “And if your right hand causes you to
till all be done. p stumble, cut it off and throw it away from
19 “Whoever, then, breaks one of the least you. For it is better for you that one of your
of these commands, and teaches men so, members perish, than for your entire body
shall be called least in the reign of the to be thrown into Gehenna.
heavens; but whoever does and teaches 31 “And it has been said, ‘Whoever puts
them, he shall be called great in the reign away his wife, let him give her a certificate
of the heavens. q of divorce.’
20 “For I say to you, that unless your 32 “But I say to you that whoever puts
righteousness exceeds that of the scribes away his wife, except for the matter of
and Pharisees, r you shall by no means whoring, s makes her commit adultery.
enter into the reign of the heavens. And whoever marries a woman who has
21 “You heard that it was said to those of been put away commits adultery.
old, ‘You shall not murder,’ and whoever 33 “Again, you heard that it was said to
murders shall be liable to judgment. those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely,
22 “But I say to you that whoever is wroth but shall perform your oaths to HWHY.’
with his brother without a cause shall be 34 “But I say to you, do not swear at all,
holds whatever against you, are not able to make one hair white or
24 leave your gift there before the altar, black.
and go, first make peace with your brother, 37 “But let your word ‘Yea’ be ‘Yea,’ and
and then come and offer your gift. your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ And what goes beyond
25 “Be well-minded with your opponent, these is from the wicked one.
promptly, while you are on the way with 38 “You heard that it was said, ‘An eye for
him, lest your opponent deliver you to the an eye and a tooth for a tooth,’ t
judge, and the judge to the officer, and you 39 but I say to you, do not resist the
the last penny. take away your inner garment, let him
27 “You heard that it was said to those of have your outer garment as well.
old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 41 “And whoever compels you to go one
28 “But I say to you that everyone looking mile, go with him two.
at a woman to lust for her has already 42 “Give to him who asks of you, and
committed adultery with her in his heart. from him who wishes to borrow from you,
29 “And if your right eye causes you to do not turn away.
stumble, pluck it out and throw it away 43 “You heard that it was said, ‘You shall
from you. For it is better for you that one love your neighbour and hate your
p Lk. 16:17. q Our Messiah Himself sets the supreme example for us, for He ‘does and teaches them’ in a mighty
way! r Contrary to what is commonly preached, the scribes and the Pharisees were called “lawless” by Messiah
(Mt. 23:28). See also Mt. 15:3-9, Mk. 7:7-13, Yn. 7:19, Acts 7:53, Rom. 2:23-27, Gal. 6:13. s See also Mt. 19:9
and DeÄ. 24:1, where this is explained. t This was the principle for the judges to follow, while aSWHY speaks in
the next verse of our personal conduct.
MATTITHYAHU 5 922
you and persecuting you, ‘Our Father who is in the heavens, let Your
45 so that you become sons of your Father Name be set-apart,
in the heavens. Because He makes His sun 10 let Your reign come, let Your desire be
rise on the wicked and on the good, and done on earth as it is in heaven.
sends rain on the righteous and on the 11 ‘Give us today our daily bread.
not doing the same too? deliver us from the wicked one – because
47 “And if you greet your brothers only, Yours is the reign and the power and the
what do you do more than others? Are the esteem, forever. AmÃn.’
tax collectors not doing so too? 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses,
48 “Therefore, be perfect, w as your Father your heavenly Father shall also forgive you.
in the heavens is perfect. 15 “But if you do not forgive men
streets, to be praised by men. Truly, I say head and wash your face,
to you, they have their reward. 18 so that you do not appear to men to be
3 “But when you do a kind deed, do not fasting, but to your Father who is in the
let your left hand know what your right secret place. And your Father who sees in
hand is doing, secret shall reward you openly.
4 so that your kind deed shall be in 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures
secret. And your Father who sees in secret on earth, where moth and rust destroy and
shall Himself reward you openly. where thieves break in and steal,
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in
like the hypocrites. For they love to pray heaven, where neither moth nor rust
standing in the congregations and on the destroys and where thieves do not break in
corners of the streets, to be seen by men. and steal.
Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. 21 “For where your treasure is, there your
6 “But you, when you pray, go into your heart shall be also.
room, and having shut your door, pray to 22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If
your Father who is in the secret place. And therefore your eye is good, all your body
your Father who sees in secret shall reward shall be enlightened.
you openly. 23 “But if your eye is evil, y all your body
7 “And when praying, do not keep on bab- shall be darkened. If, then, the light that is
bling like the gentiles. For they think that within you is darkness, how great is that
they shall be heard for their many words. darkness!
u Hate your enemy was “said,” not “written.” On a few occasions Elohim did use His people to punish some gen-
tile nation for sinning in the extreme, or when they maltreated Yisra’Ãl, but sadly, many of the Yisra’Ãlites made a
standing rule of hating the enemy. v Lk. 6:35, Acts 14:16-17. w Ber. 17:1, Teh. 119:1, 1 Yn. 2:5, Heb. 6:1.
x See 26:41. y This is a HeÄrew idiom – a good eye means to be generous, while an evil eye means to be stingy.
923 MATTITHYAHU 7
24 “No one is able to serve two masters, plank in your own eye?
for either he shall hate the one and love the 4 “Or how is it that you say to your broth-
other, or else he shall cleave to the one and er, ‘Let me remove the splinter out of your
despise the other. You are not able to serve eye,’ and see, a plank is in your own eye?
Elohim and mammon. z 5 “Hypocrite! First remove the plank
25 “Because of this I say to you, do not from your own eye, and then you shall see
worry about your life, what you shall eat or clearly to remove the splinter out of your
drink, or about your body, what you shall brother’s eye.
put on. Is not life more than the food and 6 “Do not give what is set-apart to the
the body more than the clothing? dogs, nor throw your pearls before the
26 “Look at the birds of the heaven, for pigs, lest they trample them under their
they neither sow nor reap nor gather into feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
storehouses, yet your heavenly Father does 7 “Ask and it shall be given to you, seek
feed them. Are you not worth more than and you shall find, knock and it shall be
they? opened to you.
27 “And which of you by worrying is able 8 “For everyone who asks receives, and
to add one cubit to his life’s span? he who seeks finds, and to him who
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? knocks it shall be opened.
Note well the lilies of the field, how they 9 “Or is there a man among you who, if
grow. They neither toil nor spin, his son asks for bread, shall give him a
29 and I say to you that even Shelomoh in stone?
all his esteem was not dressed like one of 10 “Or if he asks for a fish, shall he give
the field, which exists today, and tomorrow to give good gifts to your children, how
is thrown into the furnace, how much more much more shall your Father who is in the
you, O you of little belief? heavens give what is good to those who
31 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What ask Him!
shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or 12 “Therefore, whatever you wish men to
you shall be judged. And with the same Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or
measure you use, it shall be measured to figs from thistles?
you. 17 “So every good tree yields good fruit,
3 “And why do you look at the splinter in but a rotten tree yields wicked fruit.
your brother’s eye, but do not notice the 18 “A good tree is unable to yield wicked
z Personification of wealth. a After finding the reign of Elohim by entering through the Door (aSWHY), one
should seek His righteousness as well. b Or the way is afflicted.
c aSWHY reveals unto us in v. 23 that they are those who work lawlessness!
MATTITHYAHU 7 924
fruit, and a rotten tree to yield good fruit. cleansed!” And immediately his leprosy
19 “Every tree that does not bear good was cleansed.
fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 4 And aSWHY said to him, “See, mention
20 “So then, by their fruits you shall know it to no one. But go your way, show your-
them – self to the priest, and offer the gift that
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, Mosheh commanded, as a witness to
‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign them.”
of the heavens, but he who is doing the 5 And when aSWHY had entered Kephar
Your Name, and cast out demons in Your the house paralysed, grievously tortured.”
Name, and done many mighty works in 7 And aSWHY said to him, “I shall come
never knew you, depart from Me, you who “Master, I am not worthy that You should
work lawlessness!’ d come under my roof. But only say a word,
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these and my servant shall be healed.
words of Mine, and does them, shall be 9 “For I too am a man under authority,
like a wise man who built his house on the having soldiers under me. And I say to this
rock, one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another,
25 and the rain came down, and the floods ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant,
came, and the winds blew and beat on that ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
house, and it did not fall, for it was found- 10 And when aSWHY heard, He marvelled,
the sand, from east and west, and sit down with
27 and the rain came down, and the floods AÄraham, and YitsÁaq, and YaÈaqoÄ in the
came, and the winds blew, and they beat on reign of the heavens,
that house, and it fell, and great was its 12 but the sons of the reign shall be cast
d Even though they are doing mighty works in His Name! See v. 15, and also Mt. 13:41-42 which says that those
doing lawlessness shall be cast into the furnace of fire!
e If we hear but don’t do, if we do not obey, it is all in vain. See Yn. 3:36.
925 MATTITHYAHU 9
a word, and healed all who were sick, And see, the entire herd of pigs rushed
17 that it might be filled what was spoken down the steep place into the sea, and died
by Yeshayahu the prophet, saying, “He in the water.
Himself took our weaknesses and bore our 33 And the herdsmen fled, and went away
to the other side. aSWHY. And when they saw Him, they
19 And a certain scribe, having come near, begged Him to leave their borders.
said to Him, “Teacher, I shall follow You
wherever You go.”
20 And aSWHY said to him, “The foxes 9 And entering into a boat, He passed
over, and came to His own city.
2 And see, they were bringing to Him a
have holes and the birds of the heaven
nests, but the Son of AÅam has nowhere to paralytic lying on a bed. And aSWHY,
lay His head.” seeing their belief, said to the paralytic,
21 And another of His taught ones said to “Take courage, son, your sins have been
Him, “Master, first let me go and bury my forgiven.”
father.” 3 And see, some of the scribes said to
22 But aSWHY said to him, “Follow Me, themselves, “This One blasphemes!”
and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” 4 And aSWHY, knowing their thoughts,
23 And when He entered into a boat, His said, “Why do you think wicked thoughts
taught ones followed Him. in your hearts?
24 And see, a great gale arose on the sea, 5 “For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins
so that the boat was covered by the waves. have been forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Arise and
But He was sleeping. walk’?
25 And His taught ones came to Him and 6 “But in order for you to know that the
woke Him up, saying, “Master, save us! Son of AÅam possesses authority on earth
We are perishing!” to forgive sins...” He then said to the para-
26 And He said to them, “Why are you lytic, “Rise, take up your bed, and go to
afraid, O you of little belief?” Then, your house.”
having risen, He rebuked the winds and the 7 And he rose and went to his house.
sea. And there was a great calm. 8 And when the crowds saw it, they mar-
27 And the men marvelled, saying, “What velled and praised Elohim who had given
is this, that even the winds and the sea such authority to men.
obey Him?” 9 And as aSWHY passed on from there, He
28 And when He came to the other side, to saw a man called Mattithyahu sitting at the
the country of the Girgashites, two demon- tax office. And He said to him, “Follow
possessed ones met Him, coming out of Me.” And he rose and followed Him.
the tombs, very fierce, so that no one was 10 And it came to be, as aSWHY sat at the
able to pass that way. table in the house, that see, many tax col-
29 And see, they cried out, saying, “What lectors and sinners came and sat down with
have we to do with You, aSWHY, Son of Him and His taught ones.
Elohim? Have You come here to torture us, 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they
before the appointed time?” said to His taught ones, “Why does your
30 And at a distance from them there was Teacher eat with tax collectors and
a herd of many pigs feeding, sinners?”
31 and the demons begged Him, saying, 12 And aSWHY hearing this, said to them,
“If You cast us out, send us into the herd “Those who are strong have no need of a
of pigs.” physician, but those who are sick.
32 And He said to them, “Go.” And they, 13 “But go and learn what this means, ‘I
coming out, went into the herd of pigs. desire compassion and not offering.’ For I
MATTITHYAHU 9 926
did not come to call the righteous to repen- 27 And as aSWHY passed on from there,
tance, but sinners.” two blind men followed Him, crying out
14 Then the taught ones of YoÁanan came
and saying, “Son of DawiÅ, have compas-
to Him, saying, “Why do we and the sion on us!”
Pharisees fast often, but Your taught ones 28 And when He came into the house,
do not fast?” the blind men came to Him. And aSWHY
15 And aSWHY said to them, “Are the
said to them, “Do you believe that I am
friends of the bridegroom able to mourn as able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yea,
long as the bridegroom is with them? But Master.”
the days shall come when the bridegroom 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying,
is taken away from them, and then they “According to your belief let it be to you.”
shall fast. 30 And their eyes were opened. And
16 “And no one puts a piece of unshrunk
aSWHY strictly ordered them, saying, “See,
cloth on an old garment, for the patch pulls let no one know.”
away from the garment, and the tear is 31 But when they went out, they made
made worse. Him known in all that land.
17 “Neither do they put new wine into 32 And as they were going out, see, they
old wineskins, or else the wineskins burst, brought to Him a man, dumb and demon-
and the wine is spilled, and the wineskins possessed.
are ruined. But they put new wine into 33 And when the demon was cast out,
fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.” the dumb one spoke. And the crowds mar-
18 While He was saying all this to them,
velled, saying, “It was never seen like this
see, a ruler came and bowed down to Him, in Yisra’Ãl!”
saying, “My daughter is dead by now, but 34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out
come and lay Your hand on her and she demons by the ruler of the demons.”
shall live.” 35 And aSWHY went about all the cities
19 And aSWHY rose and followed him, His
and villages, teaching in their congrega-
taught ones too. tions, and proclaiming the Good News of
20 And see, a woman who had a flow of
the reign, and healing every disease and
blood for twelve years came from behind every bodily weakness among the people.
and touched the tzitzit 1 of His garment. 36 And having seen the crowds, He was
21 For she said to herself, “If I only touch moved with compassion for them, because
His garment, I shall be healed.” they were weary and scattered, as sheep
22 But aSWHY turned, and when He saw having no shepherd.
her He said, “Take courage, daughter, your 37 Then He said to His taught ones, “The
belief has healed you.” And the woman harvest truly is great, but the workers are
was healed from that hour. few.
23 And when aSWHY came into the ruler’s 38 “Pray then that the Master of the harvest
house, and saw the flute players and the would send out workers to His harvest.”
crowd making a noise,
24 He said to them, “Go back, for the girl
is not dead, but sleeping.” And they 10 And having called His twelve
taught ones near, He gave them
laughed at Him. authority over unclean spirits, to cast them
25 But when the crowd was put outside, out, and to heal every disease and every
He went in and took her by the hand, and bodily weakness.
the girl arose. 2 And these are the names of the twelve
26 And this report went out into all that emissaries: first, ShimÈon, who is called
land. KÃpha, and Andri his brother; YaÈaqoÄ the
1 See “Tzitzit” - Explanatory notes and Bem. 15:37-41, DeÄ. 22:12
927 MATTITHYAHU 10
son of ZaÄdai, and YoÁanan his brother; worry about how or what you should
3 Philip and Bartholomi; T’oma and speak. For it shall be given to you in that
Mattithyahu the tax collector; YaÈaqoÄ the hour what you shall speak,
son of Alphai, and LaÄai whose last name 20 for it is not you who speak, but the
from Qerioth, who did also deliver Him up. death, and a father his child. And children
5 aSWHY sent these twelve out, having shall rise up against parents and shall put
commanded them, saying, “Do not go into them to death.
the way of the gentiles, and do not enter a 22 “And you shall be hated by all for My
for your moneybelts, become like his teacher, and a servant like
10 or a bag for the journey, or two under- his master. If they have called the master
garments, or sandals, or staffs, for the of the house BeÈelzebul, how much more
worker is worthy of his food. those of his household!
11 “And into whatever city or village you 26 “Therefore do not fear them. For what-
enter, ask who is worthy in it, and stay ever is covered shall be revealed, and
there until you leave. whatever is hidden shall be made known.
12 “And as you enter into a house, greet it. 27 “What I say to you in the dark, speak in
13 “And if the house is worthy, let your the light. And what you hear in the ear,
peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, proclaim on the house-tops.
let your peace return to you. 28 “And do not fear those who kill the
14 “And whoever does not receive you nor body but are unable to kill the being. But
hear your words, when you leave that rather fear Him who is able to destroy both
house or city, shake off the dust from your being and body in Gehenna.
feet. 29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a cop-
15 “Truly, I say to you, it shall be more per coin? And not one of them falls to the
bearable for the land of SeÅom and ground without your Father.
Amorah in the day of judgment than for 30 “And even the hairs of your head are all
governors and sovereigns for My sake, as men, him I shall also deny before My
a witness to them and to the gentiles. Father who is in the heavens.
19 “But when they deliver you up, do not 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring
f They have not “lost their identity,” no, they are wandering about. g See 24:13.
MATTITHYAHU 10 928
peace on earth. I did not come to bring 7 And as these were going, aSWHY began
peace but a sword, h to say to the crowds concerning YoÁanan,
35 for I have come to bring division, a
“What did you go out into the wilderness
man against his father, a daughter against to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
her mother, and a daughter-in-law against 8 “But what did you go out to see? A man
her mother-in-law – dressed in soft garments? Look, those
36 and a man’s enemies are those of his
wearing soft garments are in the houses of
own household. i sovereigns.
37 “He who loves father or mother more 9 “But what did you go out to see? A
than Me is not worthy of Me, and he who prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a
loves son or daughter more than Me is not prophet.
worthy of Me. j 10 “For this is he of whom it was written,
38 “And he who does not take up his stake
‘See, I send My messenger before Your
and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. face, who shall prepare Your way before
39 “He who has found his life shall lose it,
You.’
and he that has lost his life for My sake 11 “Truly, I say to you, among those born
shall find it. of women there has not risen one greater
40 “He who receives you receives Me, and
than YoÁanan the Immerser, yet the least
he who receives Me receives Him who one in the reign of the heavens is greater
sent Me. than he.
41 “He who receives a prophet in the name 12 “And from the days of YoÁanan the
of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s Immerser till now the reign of the heavens
reward. And he who receives a righteous is violated, and the violent seize it. k
one in the name of a righteous one shall 13 “For all the prophets and the Torah
receive a righteous one’s reward. prophesied till YoÁanan.
42 “And whoever gives one of these little 14 “And if you wish to accept it, he is
ones a cup of cold water only in the name Âliyahu who was about to come.
of a taught one, truly, I say to you, he shall 15 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
by no means lose his reward.” 16 “And to what shall I compare this
lepers are cleansed and deaf hear, dead are which most of His miracles had been done,
raised up and poor are brought the Good because they did not repent:
News. 21 “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you,
6 “And blessed is he who does not stum- BÃyth TsaiÅa! Because if the miracles
ble in Me.” which were done in you had been done in
h In Lk. 12:51 the word “division” is used, while “sword” has the same meaning here. i Lk. 12:53, Mi¿. 7:6.
j See 19:29, Lk. 14:26. k See Lk. 16:16-17 which explains it more clearly.
929 MATTITHYAHU 12
Tsor and TsiÅon, they would have repented for him to eat, nor for those who were with
long ago in sackcloth and ashes. him, but only for the priests?
22 “But I say to you, it shall be more bear- 5 “Or did you not read in the Torah that
able for Tsor and TsiÅon in the day of judg- on the Sabbath the priests in the Set-apart
ment than for you. Place profane the Sabbath, and are blame-
23 “And you, Kephar NaÁum, who were less?
exalted to the heaven, shall be brought 6 “But I say to you that in this place there
down to the grave! Because if the miracles is One greater than the Set-apart Place.
which were done in you had been done in 7 “And if you had known what this
SeÅom, it would have remained until this means, ‘I desire compassion and not offer-
day. ing,’ you would not have condemned the
24 “But I say to you that it shall be more blameless.
bearable for the land of SeÅom in the day 8 “For the Son of AÅam is Master of the
matters from clever and learned ones and withered hand. And they asked Him, say-
have revealed them to babes. l ing, “Is it right to heal on the Sabbath?” –
26 “Yea, Father, because so it was well- so as to accuse Him.
pleasing in Your sight. 11 And He said to them, “What man is
27 “All have been handed over to Me by there among you who has one sheep, and if
My Father, and no one knows the Son it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, shall not
except the Father. Nor does anyone know take hold of it and lift it out?
the Father except the Son, and he to whom 12 “How much more worth is a man than a
known,
And His taught ones were hungry, and 17 in order that what was spoken by
began to pluck heads of grain, to eat. Yeshayahu the prophet, might be filled,
2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they saying,
said to Him, “Look, Your taught ones are 18 “See, My Servant whom I have chosen,
l Lk. 10:21. m Yirm. 6:16. n See Ber. 2:2-3 where the pre-incarnate Son was involved too.
MATTITHYAHU 12 930
smoking flax He shall not quench, till He speak what is good – being wicked? For
brings forth right-ruling forever. o the mouth speaks from the overflow of the
21 “And the nations shall trust in His heart.
Name.” 35 “The good man brings forth what is
22 Then they brought to Him one who was good from the good treasures of his heart,
demon-possessed, blind and dumb. And and the wicked man brings forth what is
He healed him, so that the blind and dumb wicked from the wicked treasure.
man both spoke and saw. 36 “And I say to you that for every idle
23 And all the crowds were amazed and word men speak, they shall give an
said, “Is this the Son of DawiÅ?” account of it in the day of judgment.
24 But when the Pharisees heard it they 37 “For by your words you shall be
said, “This one does not cast out demons declared righteous, and by your words you
except by BeÈelzebul, the ruler of the shall be declared unrighteous.”
demons.” 38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees
25 And aSWHY knew their thoughts, and answered, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see
said to them, “Every reign divided against a sign from You.”
itself is laid waste, and every city or house 39 But He answering, said to them, “A
divided against itself shall not stand. wicked and adulterous generation seeks
26 “And if Satan casts out Satan, he is after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it
divided against himself. How then does his except the sign of the prophet Yonah.
reign stand? 40 “For as Yonah was three days and three
27 “And if I, by BeÈelzebul, do cast out nights in the stomach of the great fish, so
demons, by whom do your sons cast them shall the Son of AÅam be three days and
out? Because of this they shall be your three nights in the heart of the earth.
judges. 41 “Men of NinewÃh shall stand up in
28 “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit the judgment with this generation and
of Elohim, then the reign of Elohim has condemn it, because they repented at the
come upon you. preaching of Yonah, and look, a greater
29 “Or how is one able to enter a strong than Yonah is here.
man’s house and plunder his goods, unless 42 “The sovereigness of the South shall
he first binds the strong man? And then he rise up in the judgment with this genera-
shall plunder his house. tion and shall condemn it, for she came
30 “He who is not with Me is against Me, from the ends of the earth to hear the
and he who does not gather with Me scat- wisdom of Shelomoh, and look, a greater
ters abroad. than Shelomoh is here.
31 “Because of this I say to you, all sin 43 “Now when the unclean spirit goes out
and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but of a man, he goes through dry places, seek-
the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not ing rest, and finds none.
be forgiven men. 44 “Then it says, ‘I shall return to my
32 “And whoever speaks a word against house from which I came.’ And when it
the Son of AÅam, it shall be forgiven him, comes, it finds it empty, swept, and deco-
but whoever speaks against the Set-apart rated.
Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in 45 “Then it goes and takes with it seven
this age or in the age to come. other spirits more wicked than itself, and
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit they enter and dwell there. And the last of
good, or else make the tree rotten and its that man is worse than the first. So shall it
fruit rotten, for a tree is known by its fruit. also be with this wicked generation.”
34 “Brood of adders! How are you able to 46 And while He was still talking to the
o This is according to the Shem-Tob Hebrew text. However, this passage is a quote from Yesh. 42:1-3 where it
reads right-ruling unto truth.
931 MATTITHYAHU 13
crowds, see, His mother and brothers stood Him, “Why do You speak to them in para-
outside, seeking to speak with Him. bles?”
47 And one said to Him, “See, Your moth- 11 And He answering, said to them,
er and Your brothers are standing outside, “Because it has been given to you to know
seeking to speak with You.” the secrets of the reign of the heavens, r
48 But He answering, said to the one who but to them it has not been given. s
spoke to Him, “Who is My mother and 12 “For whoever possesses, to him more
Father who is in the heavens is My brother parables, because seeing they do not see,
and sister and mother.” p and hearing they do not hear, nor do they
understand.
13 And on that day aSWHY went out of
the house and sat by the sea.
2 And large crowds were gathered
14 “And in them the prophecy of Yesha-
they did not have much soil, and immedi- they see, and your ears because they hear,
ately they sprang up, because they had no 17 for truly I say to you, that many
p See Lk. 8:21 where the wording slightly differs. q In this all-important prophecy Messiah gives 7 parables
(and an 8th conclusive one which gives the solution to the problem, in v. 52) of what would become of the Word
which He sowed, and also shockingly, how it would become utterly mixed with the birds (representing the
wicked one), the darnel which the devil sowed (darnel being the counterfeit wheat = lawlessness, the lawless),
the leaven (representing evil and wickedness, as well as the hypocrisy and lawlessness of the Pharisees and other
religionists), and the rotten ones! r Mattithyahu uses the word “heaven(s)” as an euphemism for the Name or
designation of the Father, while Mk. 4:11 and Lk. 8:10 use the Father’s Name/designation. s How would we
know these secrets? Ask aSWHY– see Mk. 4:33-34. t See explanation of this important teaching in the two foot-
notes at Lk. 8:17 & 18. u A quote from Yesh. 6:9-10. It is quoted again 5x in the Messianic Scriptures, therefore
a total of 7x. The ultimate purpose of hearing the Word is to turn and then be healed of the greatest sickness: sin!
Mk. 4:12 clearly speaks of sin, the great sickness.
MATTITHYAHU 13 932
he who hears the word and immediately birds w of the heaven come and dwell in its
receives it with joy, branches.”
21 yet he has no root in himself, but 33 Another parable He spoke to them,
is short-lived, and when pressure or perse- “The reign of the heavens is like leaven,
cution arises because of the word, immedi- which a woman took and hid in three mea-
ately he stumbles. sures of meal until all was leavened.”
22 “And that sown among the thorns is he 34 aSWHY said all this to the crowds in
who hears the word, and the worry of this parables, and He did not speak to them
age and the deceit of riches choke the without a parable,
word, and it becomes fruitless. v 35 so that what was spoken by the prophet
23 “And that sown on the good soil is he might be filled, saying, “I shall open My
who hears the word and understands it, mouth in parables, I shall pour forth what
who indeed bears fruit and yields – some a has been hidden from the foundation of the
hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” world.”
24 Another parable He put before them, 36 Then, having sent the crowds away,
saying, “The reign of the heavens has aSWHY went into the house. And His taught
become like a man who sowed good seed ones came to Him, saying, “Explain to us
in his field, the parable of the darnel of the field.”
25 but while men slept, his enemy came 37 And He answering, said to them, “He
and sowed darnel among the wheat and who is sowing the good seed is the Son of
went away. AÅam,
26 “And when the blade sprouted and bore 38 and the field is the world. And the
fruit, then the darnel also appeared. good seed, these are the sons of the reign,
27 “And the servants of the master of the but the darnel are the sons of the wicked
house came and said to him, ‘Master, did one,
you not sow good seed in your field? From 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the
where then does it have the darnel?’ devil. And the harvest is the end of the age,
28 “And he said to them, ‘A man, an and the reapers are the messengers.
enemy did this.’ And the servants said to 40 “As the darnel, then, is gathered and
him, ‘Do you wish then, that we go and burned in the fire, so it shall be at the end
gather them up?’ of this age.
29 “But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather 41 “The Son of AÅam shall send out His
up the darnel you also uproot the wheat messengers, and they shall gather out of
with them. His reign x all the stumbling-blocks, y and
30 ‘Let both grow together until the har- those doing lawlessness, z
vest, and at the time of harvest I shall say 42 and shall throw them into the furnace of
to the reapers, “First gather the darnel and fire – there shall be wailing and gnashing
bind them in bundles to burn them, but of teeth.
gather the wheat into my granary.” ’ ” 43 “Then the righteous a shall shine forth
31 Another parable He put before them, as the sun in the reign of their Father. He
saying, “The reign of the heavens is like a who has ears to hear, let him hear!
mustard seed, which a man took and 44 “Again, the reign of the heavens is like
v Lk. 21:34, 2 Tim. 3:4. w Representing the wicked one – they who snatch away the Word sown by Messiah.
See also Rev. 18:2. x Note: “out of His reign,” not out of the world! y Or all the causes of sinning.
z Lawlessness is the darnel which the devil sowed, and sprouts and takes shape in the form of lawless “believers.”
a Teh. 37:29, Teh. 72:7, Teh. 75:10, Teh. 118:19-20, Teh. 146:8, Mal. 3:18, Rev. 22:11.
b Many commentators believe that this “man” refers to aSWHY.
933 MATTITHYAHU 14
45 “Again, the reign of the heavens is like 2 and said to his servants, “This is
a man, a merchant, seeking fine pearls, YoÁanan the Immerser. He has risen from
46 who, when he had found one pearl of the dead, and that is why these mighty
great price, went and sold all that he had powers are at work in him.”
and bought it. 3 For Herodes had arrested YoÁanan,
47 “Again, the reign of the heavens is like bound him and put him in prison because
a dragnet that was thrown into the sea and of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,
gathered some of every kind, 4 for YoÁanan had said to him, “It is not
48 which, when it was filled, they drew to right for you to have her.”
shore. And they sat down and gathered the 5 And wishing to kill him, he feared the
good into containers, but threw the rotten crowd, because they held him as a prophet.
away. 6 But as Herodes’ birthday was being
49 “Thus shall it be at the end of the age: held, the daughter of Herodias danced
the messengers shall come forth, and sepa- before them and pleased Herodes,
rate the wicked out of the midst of the 7 so he promised with an oath to give her
fire – there shall be wailing and gnashing said, “Give me here the head of YoÁanan
of teeth.” the Immerser on a dish.”
51 aSWHY said to them, “Have you under- 9 And the sovereign was sad, but because
stood all this?” They said to Him, “Yea, of the oaths and the guests he commanded
Master.” it to be given,
52 And He said to them, “Therefore every 10 and sent and beheaded YoÁanan in
brings out of his treasure matters, renewed, given to the girl, and she brought it to her
and old.” c mother.
53 And it came to be, when aSWHY had 12 And his taught ones came and took
ended these parables, that He left there. away the body and buried it, and went and
54 And when He had come to His own reported to aSWHY.
country, He taught them in their congrega- 13 Now when aSWHY heard it, He with-
tion, so that they were astonished and said, drew from there by boat to a deserted place,
“Where did this One get this wisdom and by Himself. And when the crowds heard it,
miracles? they followed Him on foot from the cities.
55 “Is this not the son of the carpenter? Is 14 And when aSWHY came out, He saw a
not His mother called Miryam? And His large crowd and was moved with compas-
brothers YaÈaqoÄ and YosÃph and ShimÈon sion for them, and healed their sick.
and YehuÅah? 15 And when evening came, His taught
56 “And His sisters, are they not all with ones came to Him, saying, “This is a
us? Where then did this One get all this?” deserted place, and the hour is already late.
57 And they stumbled at Him. But aSWHY Dismiss the crowds, so that they might go
said to them, “A prophet is not unappreci- into the villages and buy food for them-
ated except in his own country and in his selves.”
own house.” 16 But aSWHY said to them, “They do
58 And He did not do many miracles there not need to go away, give them to eat your-
because of their unbelief. selves.”
17 And they said to Him, “We have here
19 And commanding the crowds to sit bow to Him, saying, “Truly You are the
down on the grass, and taking the five Son of Elohim.”
loaves and the two fish, and looking up to 34 And having passed over, they came to
the heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the land of GennÃsar.
the loaves to the taught ones. And the 35 And when the men of that place recog-
taught ones gave to the crowds, nised Him, they sent out into all that sur-
20 and all ate and were satisfied. And they rounding country, and brought to Him all
picked up the pieces left over – twelve bas- who were sick,
kets, filled. 36 and begged Him to let them only touch
21 And those who ate were about five the tzitzit 1 of His garment. And as many as
thousand men, besides women and chil- touched it were completely healed.
dren.
22 And immediately aSWHY made His
taught ones enter into the boat and go 15 Then there came to aSWHY scribes
and Pharisees from Yerushalayim,
before Him to the other side, while He dis- saying,
missed the crowds. 2 “Why do Your taught ones transgress
23 And having dismissed the crowds, He the tradition of the elders? For they do not
went up to the mountain by Himself to wash their hands when they eat bread.”
pray. And when evening had come, He was 3 But He answering, said to them, “Why
walking on the sea, they were troubled, father or mother, “Whatever profit you
saying, “It is a phantom!” And from fear might have received from me has been
they cried. dedicated,”
27 But immediately aSWHY spoke to them, 6 is certainly released from respecting his
saying, “Take courage, it is I, do not be father or mother.’ So you have nullified the
afraid.” command of Elohim by your tradition.
28 And KÃpha answered Him and said, 7 “Hypocrites! Yeshayahu rightly proph-
His hand and took hold of him, and said to defiles the man, but that which comes out
him, “O you of little belief, why did you of the mouth, this defiles the man.”
doubt?” 12 Then His taught ones came and said to
32 And when they came into the boat, the Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees
wind ceased. stumbled when they heard this word?”
33 And those in the boat came and did 13 But He answering, said, “Every plant
1 See Explanatory notes - Tzitzit. d See footnote 5:20. e Yesh. 29:13, Mk. 7:7, 2 Mel. 17:19.
935 MATTITHYAHU 16
which My heavenly Father has not planted toward the Sea of Galil, and going up on
shall be uprooted. the mountain, He was sitting there.
14 “Leave them alone. They are blind 30 And large crowds came to Him, having
leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads with them those who were lame, blind,
the blind, both shall fall into a ditch.” dumb, crippled, and many others. And
15 And KÃpha answering, said to Him, they laid them down at the feet of aSWHY,
“Explain this parable to us.” and He healed them,
16 And aSWHY said, “Are you also still 31 so that the crowd marvelled when they
withdrew to the parts of Tsor and TsiÅon. loaves do you have?” And they said,
22 And see, a woman of KenaÈan came “Seven, and a few little fish.”
from those borders and cried out to Him, 35 And He commanded the crowd to sit
saying, “Master, help me!” into the boat, and came to the borders of
26 And He answering, said, “It is not good MaÍdala.
to take the children’s bread and throw it to
the little dogs.”
27 But she said, “Yea Master, for even the 16 And the Pharisees and Sadducees
came, and trying Him asked that
little dogs h eat the crumbs which fall from He would show them a sign from heaven.
their masters’ table.” 2 And He answering, said to them,
28 And aSWHY answering, said to her, “O “When it is evening you say, ‘Fair weather,
woman, your belief is great! Let it be to for the heaven is red,’
you as you desire.” And her daughter was 3 and in the morning, ‘Stormy weather
healed from that hour. today, for the heaven is red and overcast.’
29 And moving from there, aSWHY came You know how to discern the face of the
f The “unwashed hands” was the issue, not the eating of pork or other unclean meat. g See footnote 10:6.
h Gentiles were called “dogs,” not in an offensive way, but simply because the unconverted gentiles were outside
the covenant. See Rev. 22:15 where we again read about the “dogs” that are outside!
MATTITHYAHU 16 936
heaven, but you are unable to discern the 18 “And I also say to you that you are
sand and how many large baskets you to rebuke Him, saying, “Be kind to
picked up? Yourself, Master, this shall not be to You!”
11 “How is it that you do not understand 23 But He turned and said to KÃpha, “Get
that I did not speak to you concerning behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling-
bread, but to beware of the leaven of the block to Me, for your thoughts are not
Pharisees and Sadducees?” those of Elohim, but those of men.”
12 Then they understood that He did not 24 Then aSWHY said to His taught ones, “If
say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of anyone wishes to come after Me, let him
the teaching of the Pharisees and the deny himself, and take up his stake, and
Sadducees. follow Me.
13 Now when aSWHY came into the parts
25 “For whoever wishes to save his life
of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His taught shall lose it, and whoever loses his life for
ones, saying, “Who do men say the Son of My sake shall find it. k
AÅam is?” 26 “For what is a man profited if he gains
14 And they said, “Some say YoÁanan the
Immerser, and others Âliyahu, and others all the world, and loses his own life? Or
Yirmeyahu or one of the prophets.” what shall a man give in exchange for his
15 He said to them, “And you, who do you life?
27 “For the Son of AÅam is going to come
say I am?”
16 And ShimÈon KÃpha answering, said, in the esteem of His Father with His mes-
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living sengers, and then He shall reward each
Elohim.” i according to his works. l
17 And aSWHY answering, said to him, 28 “Truly, I say to you, there are some
“Blessed are you, ShimÈon Bar-Yonah, for standing here who shall not taste death at
flesh and blood has not revealed this to all until they see the Son of AÅam coming
you, but My Father in the heavens. in His reign:” m
i This confession of Belief is repeated in eight more places, identifying the True Messiah for us. j Binding and
loosening is HeÄrew idiom for exercising authority (to prohibit and permit). k See 21:44. l Teh. 62:12, Mish.
24:12, Yn. 5:29, Rom. 2:6, 2 Cor. 5:10, Eph. 2:10, Titus 2:7 & 14, YaÈaqoÄ 2:14-24, Rev. 22:12. m See 17:2-5.
937 MATTITHYAHU 17
“Master, it is good for us to be here. If You came out of him. And the child was healed
wish, let us make here three booths: one from that hour.
19 Then the taught ones came to aSWHY by
for You, one for Mosheh, and one for
Âliyahu.” n Himself and said, “Why were we unable to
5 While he was still speaking, see, a cast him out?”
20 And aSWHY said to them, “Because of
bright cloud overshadowed them. And see,
a voice came out of the cloud, saying, your unbelief, for truly, I say to you, if you
“This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I have belief as a mustard seed, you shall
did delight. Hear Him!” say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to
6 And when the taught ones heard, they there,’ and it shall move. And no matter
fell on their faces and were much afraid. shall be impossible for you.
7 But aSWHY came near and touched 21 “But this kind does not go out except
them and said, “Rise, and do not be through prayer and fasting.”
22 And while they were staying in Galil,
afraid.”
8 And having lifted up their eyes, they aSWHY said to them, “The Son of AÅam is
saw no one but aSWHY only. about to be delivered up into the hands of
9 And as they were coming down from men,
the mountain, aSWHY commanded them, 23 and they shall kill Him, and the third
saying, “Do not mention the vision to any- day He shall be raised up.” And they were
one until the Son of AÅam is raised from deeply grieved.
the dead.” 24 And when they came into Kephar
10 And His taught ones asked Him, NaÁum, those who received the tax came
saying, “Why then do the scribes say that to KÃpha and said, “Does your Teacher not
Âliyahu has to come first?” pay the tax?”
11 And aSWHY answering, said to them, 25 He said, “Yea.” And when he came into
“Âliyahu is indeed coming first, and shall the house, aSWHY spoke to him first, say-
restore all matters. o ing, “What do you think, ShimÈon? From
12 “But I say to you that Âliyahu has whom do the sovereigns of the earth take
already come, and they did not recognise toll or tax, from their own sons or from the
him but did to him whatever they wished. strangers?”
In this way the Son of AÅam is also about 26 KÃpha then said to Him, “From the
n See footnote Mark 9:4. o See Mk. 9:12, and Acts 3:21 in particular.
MATTITHYAHU 18 938
shall by no means enter into the reign of one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two
the heavens. or three witnesses every word might be
4 “Whoever then humbles himself as this established.’
little child is the greatest in the reign of the 17 “And if he refuses to hear them, say it
lame or crippled, rather than having two “Master, how often shall my brother sin
hands or two feet, to be thrown into the against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven
everlasting fire. times?”
9 “And if your eye causes you to stum- 22 aSWHY said to him, “I do not say to you,
ble, pluck it out and throw it away from up to seven times, but up to seventy times
you. It is better for you to enter into life seven.
with one eye, rather than having two eyes, 23 “Because of this the reign of the heav-
to be thrown into the fire of Gehenna. ens is like a certain man, a sovereign who
10 “See that you do not despise one of wished to settle accounts with his servants.
these little ones, for I say to you that in the 24 “And when he had begun to settle, one
heavens their messengers always see the was brought to him who owed him ten
face of My Father who is in the heavens. thousand talents,
11 “For the Son of AÅam has come to save 25 but as he was unable to pay, his master
on the mountains, going to seek the one him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with
that is straying? me, and I shall pay you all.’
13 “And if he should find it, truly, I say to 27 “And the master of that servant was
you, he rejoices more over that sheep than moved with compassion, released him, and
over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. forgave him the debt.
14 “Thus it is not the desire of your Father 28 “And that servant went out and found
one of his fellow servants who owed him a Mosheh command to give a certificate of
hundred pieces of money. And he laid divorce, and to put her away?”
hands on him and took him by the throat, 8 He said to them, “Because of the hard-
saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ ness of your hearts, Mosheh allowed you
29 “Then his fellow servant fell down at to put away your wives, but from the
his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have beginning it was not so.
patience with me, and I shall pay you all.’ 9 “And I say to you, whoever puts away
30 “But he would not, and went and threw his wife, except on the ground of whoring,
him into prison till he should pay the debt. and marries another, commits adultery.
31 “And when his fellow servants saw And whoever marries her who has been
what had been done, they were deeply put away commits adultery.” q
grieved, and came and reported to their 10 His taught ones said to Him, “If such is
master all that had taken place. the case of the man with his wife, it is good
32 “Then his master called him and said to not to marry.”
him, ‘Wicked servant! I forgave you all 11 And He said to them, “Not all receive
that debt seeing you begged me. this word, but only those to whom it has
33 ‘Should you not also have had compas- been given,
sion on your fellow servant, as I also had 12 for there are eunuchs who were so born
Galil and came to the borders of YehuÅah dren and do not stop them from coming to
beyond the YardÃn. Me, for of such is the reign of the heav-
2 And large crowds followed Him, and ens.”
He healed them there. 15 And having laid hands on them He
3 And the Pharisees came to Him, trying went from there.
Him, and saying to Him, “Is it right for a 16 And see, one came and said to Him,
man to put away his wife for every rea- “Good Teacher, what good shall I do to
son?” have everlasting life?”
4 And He answering, said to them, “Did 17 And He said to him, “Why do you call
you not read that He who made them at the Me good? No one is good except One –
beginning made them male and female, Elohim. But if you wish to enter into life,
5 and said, ‘For this cause a man shall guard the commands.” r
leave his father and mother and cleave to 18 He said to Him, “Which?” And aSWHY
his wife, and the two shall become one said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall
flesh’? not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’
6 “So that they are no longer two, but one ‘You shall not bear false witness,’
flesh. Therefore, what Elohim has joined 19 ‘Respect your father and your mother,’
together, let man not separate.” and ‘You shall love your neighbour as
7 They said to Him, “Why then did yourself.’ ”
q See footnote 5:32. r The ultimate proof of our love towards Elohim is this: Whether we obey aSWHY as He
commands us to keep the Father’s commands! See also Lk. 10:28, Yn. 12:50, Rev. 22:14. This is the same as the
command He twice gave: Go and sin no more!
MATTITHYAHU 19 940
the poor, and you shall have treasure in and the ninth hour, he did likewise.
heaven. And come, follow Me.” 6 “And about the eleventh hour, having
22 And when the young man heard the gone out, he found others standing idle,
word, he went away sad, because he had and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here
many possessions. idle all day?’
23 And aSWHY said to His taught ones, 7 “They said to him, ‘Because no one
“Truly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into
man to enter into the reign of the heavens. the vineyard, and whatever is right you
24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a shall receive.’
camel to go through the eye of a needle 8 “And when evening came, the master
than for a rich man to enter into the reign of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call
of Elohim.” the workers and pay them their wages,
25 And when His taught ones heard it, beginning with the last to the first.’
they were very astonished, saying, “Who 9 “And when those came who were hired
then is able to be saved?” about the eleventh hour, they each received
26 And looking intently aSWHY said to a silver piece.
them, “With men this is impossible, but 10 “And when the first came, they thought
with Elohim all is possible.” they would receive more. But they too
27 Then KÃpha answering, said to Him, received each a silver piece.
“See, we have left all and followed You. 11 “And when they received it, they grum-
to you, when the Son of AÅam sits on the one hour, and you made them equal to us
throne of His esteem, you who have who have borne the burden and the heat of
followed Me in the rebirth, shall also sit on the day.’
twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes 13 “But he answering, said to one of them,
wife or children or lands, for My Name’s to this last man as also to you.
sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall 15 ‘Is it not right for me to do what I wish
went out early in the morning to hire work- took the twelve taught ones aside on the
ers for his vineyard. way and said to them,
2 “And when he had agreed with the 18 “See, we are going up to Yerushalayim,
workers for a silver piece a day, he sent and the Son of AÅam shall be delivered up
them into his vineyard. to the chief priests and to the scribes. And
3 “And he went out about the third hour they shall condemn Him to death,
and saw others standing idle in the market- 19 and deliver Him to the gentiles to mock
s See 22:14.
941 MATTITHYAHU 21
and making a request of Him. sion, aSWHY touched their eyes. And
21 And He said to her, “What do you immediately their eyes received sight, and
wish?” She said to Him, “Command that they followed Him.
these two sons of mine might sit, one on
Your right hand and the other on the left, in
Your reign.” 21 And when they came near to
Yerushalayim, and came to BÃyth
22 But aSWHY answering, said, “You do PhaÍi, at the Mount of Olives, then aSWHY
not know what you ask. Are you able to sent two taught ones,
drink the cup that I am about to drink, and 2 saying to them, “Go into the village
to be immersed with the immersion that I opposite you, and straightaway you shall
am immersed with?” They said to Him, find a donkey tied, and a colt with her,
“We are able.” loosen them, and bring them to Me.
23 And He said to them, “You shall indeed 3 “And if anyone says whatever to you,
drink My cup, and you shall be immersed you shall say, ‘The Master needs them,’
with the immersion that I am immersed and immediately he shall send them.”
with. t But to sit on My right hand and on 4 And all this took place that it might be
My left is not Mine to give, but it is for filled what was spoken by the prophet,
those for whom it has been prepared by saying,
My Father.” 5 “Say to the daughter of Tsiyon, ‘See,
24 And when the ten heard it, they were your Sovereign is coming to you, meek,
displeased at the two brothers. and sitting on a donkey, even a colt, the
25 But aSWHY called them near and said, foal of a donkey.’ ”
“You know that the rulers of the gentiles 6 And the taught ones went, and having
are masters over them, and those who are done as aSWHY ordered them,
great exercise authority over them. 7 they brought the donkey and the colt,
26 “But it shall not be so among you, but and laid their garments on them, and He
whoever wishes to become great among sat on them.
you, let him be your servant. 8 And most of the crowd spread their
27 “And whoever wishes to be first among garments on the way, while others cut
you, let him be your servant, down branches from the trees and spread
28 even as the Son of AÅam did not come them on the way.
to be served, but to serve, u and to give His 9 And the crowds who went before and
life as a ransom for many.” those who followed cried out, saying,
29 And as they were leaving YeriÁo, a “Hoshia-na to the Son of DawiÅ! Blessed
large crowd followed Him. is He who is coming in the Name of HWHY!
30 And see, two blind men sitting by the Hoshia-na in the highest!”
way, having heard that aSWHY was passing 10 And as He entered into Yerushalayim,
by, cried out, saying, “Have compassion on all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is
us, O Master, Son of DawiÅ!” this?”
31 And the crowd rebuked them that they 11 And the crowds said, “This is aSWHY,
should be silent, but they cried out all the the prophet from Natsareth of Galil.”
more, saying, “Have compassion on us, O 12 And aSWHY went into the Set-apart
Master, Son of DawiÅ!” Place of Elohim and drove out all those
32 And aSWHY stopped and called them, buying and selling in the Set-apart Place,
and said, “What do you wish Me to do for and overturned the tables of the money-
t This is generally called “the immersion of suffering.” See also Mk. 10:39, Lk. 12:50. u Mk. 10:45, Yesh. 49:1-7.
MATTITHYAHU 21 942
changers and the seats of those who sold So they reasoned among themselves, say-
doves. ing, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He shall
13 And He said to them, “It has been writ- say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe
ten, ‘My House shall be called a house of him?’
prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of 26 “But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the
in the Set-apart Place, and He healed them. “We do not know.” And He said to them,
15 But when the chief priests and scribes “Neither do I say to you by what authority
saw the wonders which He did, and the I do these.
children crying out in the Set-apart Place 28 “But what do you think? A man had
and saying, “Hoshia-na to the Son of two sons, and he came to the first and said,
DawiÅ!” they were greatly displeased, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’
16 and said to Him, “Do You hear what 29 “And he answering, said, ‘I do not wish
these say?” And aSWHY said to them, “Yea, to,’ but afterwards he repented and went.
have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of 30 “And having come to the second, he
babes and nurslings You have perfected said similarly. And he answering, said, ‘I
praise’?” go, master,’ but he did not go.
17 And having left them He went out of 31 “Which of the two did the desire of the
the city to BÃyth Anyah, and spent the father?” They said to Him, “The first.”
night there. aSWHY said to them, “Truly, I say to you
18 And returning to the city early in the that tax collectors and whores are entering
morning, He became hungry. into the reign of Elohim before you,
19 And seeing a single fig tree by the way, 32 for YoÁanan came to you in the way of
He came to it and found naught on it but righteousness, and you did not believe
leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on him, but tax collectors and whores
you ever again.” And immediately the fig believed him. And when you saw it, you
tree withered. did not repent afterwards, to believe him.
20 And the taught ones, seeing it, mar- 33 “Hear another parable: There was a
velled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither certain man, a householder who planted a
so soon?” vineyard and placed a hedge around it, and
21 And aSWHY answering, said to them, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtow-
“Truly, I say to you, if you have belief and er. And he leased it to farmers and went
do not doubt, you shall not only do what abroad.
was done to the fig tree, but even if you 34 “And when the season of the fruits
say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be drew near, he sent his servants to the farm-
thrown into the sea,’ it shall be done. ers, to receive its fruit.
22 “And whatever you ask in prayer, 35 “And the farmers took his servants
believing, you shall receive.” and beat one, and they killed one, and they
23 And when He had come into the Set- stoned another.
apart Place, the chief priests and the elders 36 “Again he sent other servants, more
of the people came to Him as He was than the first, and they did likewise to
teaching, and said, “By what authority are them.
You doing these? And who gave You this 37 “And at last he sent his son to them,
shall ask you one question too, which if they said among themselves, ‘This is the
you answer Me, I also shall say to you by heir. Come, let us kill him, and let us pos-
what authority I do these: sess his inheritance.’
25 “The immersion of YoÁanan, where did 39 “And they took him, and threw him out
it come from? From heaven or from men?” of the vineyard, and killed him.
943 MATTITHYAHU 22
40 “Therefore, when the master of the who were invited were not worthy.
vineyard comes, what shall he do to those 9 ‘Therefore go into the street corners,
the vineyard to other farmers who shall street corners and gathered all whom they
give to him the fruits in their seasons.” found, both wicked and good. And the
42 aSWHY said to them, “Did you never wedding hall was filled with guests.
read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which 11 “And when the sovereign came in to
the builders rejected has become the chief view the guests, he saw there a man who
corner-stone. This was from HWHY, and it is had not put on a wedding garment,
marvellous in our eyes’? 12 and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did
43 “Because of this I say to you: the reign you come in here not having a wedding
of Elohim shall be taken from you and garment?’ And he was speechless.
given to a nation bringing forth the fruits 13 “Then the sovereign said to the ser-
who were invited to the wedding feast. But said, “Why do you try Me, you hypocrites?
they would not come. 19 “Show Me the coin of the tax.” And
4 “Again he sent out other servants, say- they brought Him a silver piece.
ing, ‘Say to those who are invited, “See, I 20 And He said to them, “Whose likeness
ready. Come to the wedding feast.” ’ said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is
5 “But they disregarded it and went their Caesar’s, and to Elohim what is Elohim’s.”
way – this one to his field, that one to his 22 And having heard, they marvelled, and
vants, insulted and killed them. is no resurrection, came to Him and asked
7 “But when the sovereign heard, he was Him,
wroth, and sent out his soldiers, destroyed 24 saying, “Teacher, Mosheh said that if
those murderers, and set their city on fire. anyone should die, having no children, his
8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The brother shall marry his wife and raise off-
wedding feast, indeed, is ready, but those spring for his brother.
and having no children, left his wife to his right hand, until I make Your enemies a
brother. footstool of Your feet” ’?
26 “In the same way the second also, and 45 “If then DawiÅ calls Him ‘Master,’ how
marry, nor are they given in marriage, but sit on the seat of Mosheh.
are as messengers of Elohim in heaven. 3 “Therefore, whatever they say to you to
31 “And concerning the resurrection of the guard, guard and do. But do not do accord-
dead, have you not read what was spoken ing to their works, for they say, and do not
to you by Elohim, saying, do.
32 ‘I am the Elohim of AÄraham, and the 4 “For they bind heavy burdens, hard to
Elohim of YitsÁaq, and the Elohim of bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders, but
YaÈaqoÄ’? Elohim is not the Elohim of the with their finger they do not wish to move
dead, but of the living.” them.
33 And when the crowds heard, they were 5 “And they do all their works to be seen
astonished at His teaching. by men, and they make their t’fillen wide
34 But the Pharisees, having heard that He and lengthen the tzitziyot 1 of their gar-
had silenced the Sadducees, were gathered ments,
together, 6 and they love the best place at feasts,
35 and one of them, one learned in the and the best seats in the congregations,
Torah, did question, trying Him, and say- 7 and the greetings in the market-places,
and with all your being, and with all your father, for One is your Father, He who is in
mind.’ the heavens.
38 “This is the first and great command. 10 “Neither be called leaders, for One is
39 “And the second is like it, ‘You shall your Leader, the Messiah.
love your neighbour as yourself.’ 11 “But the greatest among you shall be
40 “On these two commands hang all the your servant.
Torah and the Prophets.” 12 “And whoever exalts himself shall be
41 And when the Pharisees were gathered humbled, and whoever humbles himself
together, aSWHY asked them, shall be exalted.
42 saying, “What do you think concerning 13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
the Messiah? Whose Son is He?” They hypocrites! Because you shut up the reign
said to Him, “The Son of DawiÅ.” of the heavens before men, for you do not
43 He said to them, “Then how does go in, nor do you allow those who are
DawiÅ in the Spirit call Him ‘Master,’ say- entering to go in.
x Mk. 12:24. 1 Plural of Tzitzit - See Explanatory notes - “Tzitzit” and Bem. 15:37-41, DeÄ. 22:12.
945 MATTITHYAHU 24
14 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you are like white-
hypocrites! Because you eat up widows’ washed tombs which outwardly indeed
houses, and for a show make long prayers. look well, but inside are filled with dead
Because of this you shall receive greater men’s bones and all uncleanness.
judgment. 28 “So you too outwardly indeed appear
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
righteous to men, but inside you are filled
hypocrites! Because you go about the land with hypocrisy and lawlessness. z
and the sea to win one convert, and when 29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
he is won, you make him a son of Gehenna hypocrites! Because you build the tombs
twofold more than yourselves. of the prophets and decorate the monu-
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say,
ments of the righteous,
‘Whoever swears by the Dwelling Place, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of
it does not matter, but whoever swears by our fathers, we would not have taken part
the gold of the Dwelling Place, is bound with them in the blood of the prophets.’
by oath.’ 31 “Thus you bear witness against your-
17 “Fools and blind! For which is greater,
selves that you are sons of those who did
the gold or the Dwelling Place that sets the murder the prophets –
gold apart? 32 and you fill up the measure of your
18 “And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it
fathers!
does not matter, but whoever swears by the 33 “Serpents, brood of adders! How would
gift that is on it, is bound by oath.’ you escape the judgment of Gehenna?
19 “Fools and blind! For which is greater,
34 “Because of this, see, I send you
the gift or the altar that sets the gift apart?
20 “He, then, who swears by the altar, prophets, and wise men, and scholars of
Scripture. a Some of them you shall kill
swears by it and by all that is upon it.
21 “And he who swears by the Dwelling and impale, and some of them you shall
Place, swears by it and by Him who is flog in your congregations and persecute
dwelling in it. from city to city,
35 so that on you should come all the
22 “And he who swears by the heaven,
swears by the throne of Elohim and by righteous blood shed on the earth, from the
Him who is sitting upon it. blood of righteous HeÄel to the blood of
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, Ze¿aryah, son of Bere¿yah, whom you
hypocrites! Because you tithe the mint and murdered between the Dwelling Place and
the anise and the cumin, and have neglect- the altar.
36 “Truly, I say to you, all this shall come
ed the weightier matters of the Torah: the
right-ruling and the compassion and the upon this generation.
37 “Yerushalayim, Yerushalayim, killing
belief. y These need to have been done,
without neglecting the others. the prophets and stoning those who are
24 “Blind guides – straining out a gnat and sent to her! How often I wished to gather
swallowing a camel! your children together, the way a hen gath-
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, ers her chickens under her wings, but you
hypocrites! Because you clean the outside would not!
38 “See! Your house is left to you laid
of the cup and dish, but inside they are
filled with plunder and unrighteousness. waste,
26 “Blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of 39 for I say to you, from now on you shall
the cup and dish, so that the outside of by no means see Me, until you say,
them becomes clean too. ‘Blessed is He who is coming in the Name
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, of HWHY!’ ” b
y The wording in Lk. 11:42 is somewhat different. z See footnote 5:20. a See 13:52.
b See footnote Teh. 118:26. aSWHY shall not return until His followers believe what He said here, and do it!
MATTITHYAHU 24 946
see all these? Truly, I say to you, not one come down to take whatever out of his
stone shall be left here upon another, at all, house.
18 “And let him who is in the field not turn
which shall not be thrown down.”
3 And as He sat on the Mount of Olives, back to get his garments.
19 “And woe to those who are pregnant
the taught ones came to Him separately,
saying, “Say to us, when shall this be, and and to those who are nursing children in
what is the sign of Your coming, and of the those days!
20 “And pray that your flight does not take
end of the age?” c
4 And aSWHY answering, said to them, place in winter or on the Sabbath.
21 “For then there shall be great distress, f
“Take heed that no one leads you astray.
5 “For many shall come in My Name, such as has not been since the beginning of
saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they shall the world until this time, no, nor ever shall
lead many astray. be.
6 “And you shall begin to hear of fight- 22 “And if those days were not shortened,
ings and reports of fightings. See that you no flesh would be saved, but for the sake
are not troubled, for these have to take of the chosen ones those days shall be
place, but the end is not yet. shortened.
7 “For nation shall rise against nation, 23 “If anyone then says to you, ‘Look,
and reign against reign. And there shall be here is the Messiah!’ or ‘There!’ do not
scarcities of food, and deadly diseases, and believe.
earthquakes in places. 24 “For false messiahs and false prophets
8 “And all these are the beginning of shall arise, and they shall show great signs
birth pains. and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possi-
9 “Then they shall deliver you up to ble, even the chosen ones.
affliction and kill you, and you shall be 25 “See, I have forewarned you.
hated by all nations for My Name’s sake. 26 “So if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in
10 “And then many shall stumble, and the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is
they shall deliver up one another, and shall in the inner rooms!’ do not believe.
hate one another. 27 “For as the lightning comes from the
11 “And many false prophets shall rise up east and shines to the west, so also shall
and lead many astray. the coming of the Son of AÅam be.
12 “And because of the increase in law- 28 “For wherever the dead body is, there
lessness, the love of many shall become the eagles shall be gathered together. g
cold. 29 “And immediately after the distress h of
13 “But he who shall have endured to the those days the sun shall be darkened, and
end shall be saved. d the moon shall not give its light, and the
14 “And this Good News of the reign shall stars shall fall from the heaven, and the
be proclaimed in all the world as a witness powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
to all the nations, and then the end shall 30 “And then the sign of the Son of AÅam
c They asked Him three questions, and He answers them, some of His answers having a double reference.
However, the latter part of His reply pertains to the end-time. d See 10:22. e See Abomination that lays waste
in Explanatory Notes at the back. f Or great pressure, or great affliction. g Lk. 17:37. h Or pressure.
947 MATTITHYAHU 25
clouds of the heaven with power and much 47 “Truly, I say to you that he shall set him
with a great sound of a trumpet, and they heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’
shall gather together His chosen ones from 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants,
the four winds, from one end of the heav- and to eat and drink with the drunkards,
ens to the other. 50 the master of that servant shall come on
32 “And learn this parable from the fig a day when he does not expect it, and at an
tree: When its branch has already become hour he does not know,
tender and puts forth leaves, you know that 51 and shall cut him in two and appoint
the summer is near. him his portion with the hypocrites – there
33 “So you also, when you see all these, shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
know that He is near, at the doors.
34 “Truly, I say to you, this generation
shall by no means pass away until all this 25 “Then the reign of the heavens
shall be compared to ten maidens
takes place. who took their lamps and went out to meet
35 “The heaven and the earth shall pass the bridegroom.
away, but My words shall by no means 2 “And five of them were wise, and five
no one knows, not even the messengers of their lamps, took no oil with them,
the heavens, but My Father only. i 4 but the wise took oil in their containers
37 “And as the days of NoaÁ, so also shall with their lamps.
the coming of the Son of AÅam be. 5 “Now while the bridegroom took time,
38 “For as they were in the days before the they all slumbered and slept.
flood, eating and drinking, marrying and 6 “And at midnight a cry was heard, ‘See,
giving in marriage, until the day that NoaÁ the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet
entered into the ark, him!’
39 and they did not know until the flood 7 “Then all those maidens rose up and
came and took them all away, so also shall trimmed their lamps.
the coming of the Son of AÅam be. 8 “And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give
40 “Then two shall be in the field, the one us of your oil, because our lamps are going
is taken and the one is left. out.’
41 “Two shall be grinding at the mill, one 9 “But the wise answered, saying, ‘No,
is taken and one is left. indeed, there would not be enough for us
42 “Watch therefore, for you do not know and you. Instead, go to those who sell, and
what hour your Master is coming. buy for yourselves.’
43 “And know this, that if the master of 10 “And while they went to buy, the bride-
the house had known what hour the thief groom came, and those who were ready
would come, he would have watched and went in with him to the wedding feast, and
not allowed his house to be broken into. the door was shut.
44 “Because of this, be ready too, for the 11 “And later the other maidens also
Son of AÅam is coming at an hour when came, saying, ‘Master, Master, open up for
you do not expect Him. us!’
45 “Who then is a trustworthy and wise 12 “But he answering, said, ‘Truly, I say to
servant, whom his master set over his you, I do not know you.’
household, to give them food in season? 13 “Watch therefore, because you do not
46 “Blessed is that servant whom his mas- know the day nor the hour in which the
ter, having come, shall find so doing. Son of AÅam is coming,
i Mk. 13:32.
MATTITHYAHU 25 948
14 for it is like a man going from home, 27 ‘Then you should have put my silver
who called his own servants and delivered with the bankers, and at my coming I
his possessions to them. would have received back my own with
15 “And to one he gave five talents, and to interest.
another two, and to another one, to each 28 ‘Therefore take away the talent from
according to his own ability, and went him, and give it to him who possesses ten
from home. talents.
16 “And he who had received the five 29 ‘For to everyone who possesses, more
talents went and worked with them, and shall be given, and he shall have overflow-
made another five talents. ingly; but from him who does not possess,
17 “In the same way, he with the two also, even what he possesses shall be taken
he gained two more. away. j
18 “But he who had received the one went 30 ‘And throw the worthless servant out
away and dug in the ground, and hid the into the outer darkness – there shall be
silver of his master. weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
19 “And after a long time the master of 31 “And when the Son of AÅam comes in
those servants came and settled accounts His esteem, and all the set-apart messen-
with them. gers with Him, then He shall sit on the
20 “And he who had received five talents throne of His esteem.
came and brought five other talents, 32 “And all the nations shall be gathered
saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five before Him, and He shall separate them
talents. See, I have gained five more one from another, as a shepherd separates
talents besides them.’ his sheep from the goats.
21 “And his master said to him, ‘Well 33 “And He shall set the sheep on His
done, good and trustworthy servant. You right hand, but the goats on the left.
were trustworthy over a little, I shall set 34 “Then the Sovereign shall say to those
you over much. Enter into the joy of your on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of
master.’ My Father, inherit the reign prepared for
22 “Then he who had received two talents you from the foundation of the world –
came and said, ‘Master, you delivered to 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me
me two talents. See, I have gained two food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink,
more talents besides them.’ I was a stranger and you took Me in,
23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, 36 was naked and you clothed Me, I was
good and trustworthy servant. You were sick and you visited Me, I was in prison
trustworthy over a little, I shall set you and you came to Me.’
over much. Enter into the joy of your 37 “Then the righteous shall answer Him,
have not sown, and gathering where you and took You in, or naked and clothed You?
have not scattered seed, 39 ‘And when did we see You sick, or in
25 and being afraid, I went and hid your prison, and we came to You?’
talent in the ground. See, you have what is 40 “And the Sovereign shall answer and
and gather where I have not scattered seed. left hand, ‘Go away from Me, accursed
ones, into the everlasting fire prepared for 12 “For in pouring this perfume on My
the devil and his messengers – body, she did it for My burial.
42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no 13 “Truly, I say to you, wherever this
food, I was thirsty and you gave Me no Good News is proclaimed in all the world,
drink, what this woman has done shall be spoken
43 ‘I was a stranger and you did not take of also, to her remembrance.”
Me in, was naked and you did not clothe 14 Then one of the twelve, called YehuÅah
Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit from Qerioth, went to the chief priests,
Me.’ 15 and said, “What would you give me to
44 “Then they also shall answer Him, say- deliver Him to you?” And they counted out
ing, ‘Master, when did we see You hungry to him thirty pieces of silver.
or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or 16 And from then on he was seeking an
in prison, and did not serve You?’ occasion to deliver Him up.
45 “Then He shall answer them, saying, 17 And on the first day of Unleavened
‘Truly, I say to you, in so far as you did Bread the taught ones came to aSWHY,
not do it to one of the least of these, you saying to Him, “Where do You wish us to
did not do it to Me.’ prepare for You to eat the Passover?”
46 “And these shall go away into everlast- 18 And He said, “Go into the city to a cer-
ing punishment, but the righteous into tain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher
everlasting life.” says, “My time is near. I am to observe the
Passover at your house with My taught
26 And it came to be, when aSWHY
ended all these words, He said to
ones.” ’ ”
19 And the taught ones did as aSWHY had
His taught ones, ordered them, and prepared the Passover.
2 “You know that after two days the 20 And when evening came, He sat down
Passover takes place, and the Son of AÅam with the twelve.
is to be delivered up to be impaled.” 21 And while they were eating, He said,
3 Then the chief priests, and the scribes, “Truly, I say to you, one of you shall deliv-
and the elders of the people came together er Me up.”
at the court of the high priest, who was 22 And they were deeply grieved, and
at the house of ShimÈon the leper, been written concerning Him, but woe to
7 a woman came to Him, having an that man by whom the Son of AÅam is
alabaster flask of costly perfume, and she delivered up! It would have been good for
poured it on His head as He sat at the table. that man if he had not been born.”
8 And when His taught ones saw it, they 25 And YehuÅah – he who delivered Him
were much displeased saying, “To what up – answering, said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He
purpose is this waste? said to him, “You have said it.”
9 “For this perfume could have been sold 26 And as they were eating, aSWHY took
for much and given to the poor.” bread, and having blessed, broke and gave
10 However, when aSWHY noticed it, He it to the taught ones and said, “Take, eat,
said to them, “Why do you trouble the this is My body.”
woman? For she has done a good work 27 And taking the cup, and giving thanks,
renewed covenant, which is shed for many 43 And He came and found them asleep
for the forgiveness of sins. again, for their eyes were heavy.
29 “But I say to you, I shall certainly not 44 And He left them, went away again,
drink of this fruit of the vine from now on and prayed the third time, saying the same
till that day when I drink it anew with you words.
in the reign of My Father.” 45 Then He came to His taught ones and
30 And having sung a song, they went out said to them, “Still sleeping and taking
to the Mount of Olives. rest? See, the hour has come near, and the
31 Then aSWHY said to them, “All of you Son of AÅam is delivered up into the hands
shall stumble in Me this night, for it has been of sinners.
written, ‘I shall strike the Shepherd, and the 46 “Rise, let us go. See, he who delivers
before you into Galil.” YehuÅah, one of the twelve, with a large
33 And KÃpha answering, said to Him, crowd with swords and clubs, came from
“Even if all stumble in You, I shall never the chief priests and elders of the people.
stumble.” 48 And he who was delivering Him up
34 aSWHY said to him, “Truly, I say to you gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I
that this night, before the cock crows, you kiss, it is He, seize Him.”
shall deny Me three times.” 49 And going straight up to aSWHY he said,
35 KÃpha said to Him, “Even if I have to “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
die with You, I shall not deny You!” All 50 And aSWHY said to him, “Friend, why
the taught ones said the same too. have you come?” Then they came and laid
36 Then aSWHY came with them to a place hands on aSWHY and seized Him.
called Gethsemane, and said to the taught 51 And look, one of those with aSWHY
ones, “Sit here while I go over there and put out his hand and drew his sword, and
pray.” striking the servant of the high priest he cut
37 And He took with Him KÃpha and the off his ear.
two sons of ZaÄdai, and He began to be 52 Then aSWHY said to him, “Return your
grieved and deeply distressed. sword to its place, for all who take the
38 Then He said to them, “My being is sword shall die by the sword.
exceedingly grieved, even to death. Stay 53 “Or do you think that I am not able to
here and watch with Me.” pray to My Father now, and He shall pro-
39 And going forward a little, He fell on vide Me with more than twelve legions of
His face, and prayed, saying, “O My messengers?
Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass 54 “How then would the Scriptures be
from Me. Yet not as I desire, but as You filled that it has to be this way?”
desire.” 55 In that hour aSWHY said to the crowds,
40 And He came to the taught ones and “Have you come out, as against a robber,
found them asleep, and said to KÃpha, “So, with swords and clubs to arrest Me? Daily
were you not able to watch with Me one I sat with you, teaching in the Set-apart
hour? Place, and you did not seize Me.
41 “Watch and pray, lest you enter into 56 “But all this came to be, so that the
trial. The spirit indeed is eager, but the Scriptures of the prophets might be filled.”
flesh is weak.” Then all the taught ones left Him and fled.
42 Again He went away, a second time, 57 And those who had seized aSWHY led
and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is Him away to Qayapha the high priest,
impossible for this to pass unless I drink it, where the scribes and the elders were
let Your desire be done.” gathered together.
58 But KÃpha followed Him at a distance 74 Then he began to curse and to swear,
to the courtyard of the high priest, and he saying, “I do not know the Man!” And
went in and sat with the servants to see the immediately a cock crowed.
end. 75 And KÃpha remembered the word of
59 And the chief priests, and the elders, aSWHY who had said to him, “Before a
and all the council were seeking false cock crows, you shall deny Me three
witness against aSWHY to put Him to death, times.” And going out, he wept bitterly.
60 but found none. Although many false
hand of the Power, and coming on the in the Dwelling Place he left, and went and
clouds of the heaven.” hanged himself.
65 Then the high priest tore his garments, 6 And the chief priests took the silver
saying, “He has blasphemed! Why do we pieces and said, “It is not right to put them
need any more witnesses? See, now you into the treasury, seeing they are the price
have heard His blasphemy! of blood.”
66 “What do you think?” And they 7 So they took counsel and bought with
answering, said, “He is liable to death.” them the potter’s field, for the burial of
67 Then they spat in His face and beat strangers.
Him, and others slapped Him, 8 Therefore that field has been called the
68 saying, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who Field of Blood, until today.
is the one who struck You?” 9 Then was filled what was spoken by
69 And KÃpha sat outside in the courtyard, Yirmeyahu the prophet, saying, “And they
and a servant girl came to him, saying, took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of
“And you were with aSWHY of Galil.” Him who was pierced, on whom they of
70 But he denied it before them all, saying, the children of Yisra’Ãl set a price,
“I do not know what you say.” 10 and gave them for the potter’s field,
71 And as he was going out into the porch, as HWHY had ordered me.”
another girl saw him and said to those 11 And aSWHY stood before the governor,
there, “And this one was with aSWHY of and the governor asked Him, saying, “Are
Natsareth.” You the Sovereign of the YehuÅim?” And
72 But again he denied with an oath, “I do aSWHY said to him, “You say it.”
not know the Man!” 12 And as He was accused by the chief
73 And after a while those who stood by priests and the elders, He answered not.
came to him and said to KÃpha, “Truly you 13 Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not
are one of them too, for even your speech hear how much they witness against You?”
gives you away.” 14 And He did not answer him, not one
MATTITHYAHU 27 952
word, so that the governor wondered and mocked Him, saying, “Greetings,
much. Sovereign of the YehuÅim!”
15 And at the festival the governor used to 30 And spitting on Him they took the reed
release to the crowd one prisoner whom and struck Him on the head.
they wished. 31 And when they had mocked Him, they
16 And they had then a well-known pris- took the robe off Him, then put His own
oner called Barabba. garments on Him, and led Him away to be
17 So when they were assembled, Pilate impaled.
said to them, “Whom do you wish I release 32 And as they were going out, they found
to you? Barabba, or aSWHY who is called a man of Cyrene, ShimÈon by name – they
Messiah?” compelled him to bear His stake.
18 For he knew that because of envy they 33 And when they came to a place called
seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have drink. And after tasting, He would not
none at all to do with that righteous Man, drink it.
for I have suffered much today in a dream 35 And having impaled Him, they divided
out all the more, saying, “Let Him be ing Him, shaking their heads,
impaled!” 40 and saying, “You who destroy the
24 And when Pilate saw that he was get- Dwelling Place and build it in three days,
ting nowhere, but rather an uproar was save Yourself! If You are the Son of
starting, he took water and washed his Elohim, come down from the stake.”
hands before the crowd, saying, “I am 41 And likewise the chief priests, with the
innocent of the blood of this Righteous scribes and elders, mocking, said,
One. You shall see to it.” 42 “He saved others – He is unable to save
25 And all the people answering, said, Himself. If He is the Sovereign of Yisra’Ãl,
“His blood be on us and on our children.” let Him now come down from the stake,
26 Then he released Barabba to them, but and we shall believe Him.
having aSWHY whipped, he delivered Him 43 “He trusted in Elohim, let Him rescue
entire company of soldiers around Him. with Him reviled Him, saying the same.
28 And having stripped Him, they put a 45 And from the sixth hour there was
scarlet robe on Him. darkness over all the land, until the ninth
29 And plaiting a crown of thorns, they hour.
put it on His head, and a reed in His right 46 And about the ninth hour aSWHY cried
hand. And they kneeled down before Him out with a loud voice, saying, “Âli, Âli,
953 MATTITHYAHU 28
took a sponge, and filled it with sour wine He was still alive, how that deceiver said,
and put it on a reed, and gave it to Him to ‘After three days I am raised.’
drink. 64 “Command, then, that the tomb be safe-
49 But the rest said, “Leave it, let us see if guarded until the third day, lest His taught
Âliyahu comes to save Him.” ones come by night and steal Him away,
50 And aSWHY cried out again with a loud and should say to the people, ‘He was
voice, and gave up His spirit. raised from the dead.’ And the last decep-
51 And see, the veil of the Dwelling Place tion shall be worse than the first.”
was torn in two from top to bottom, and 65 So Pilate said to them, “You have a
the earth was shaken, and the rocks were watch, go, safeguard it as you know how.”
split, 66 And they went and safeguarded the
52 and the tombs were opened, and many tomb, sealing the stone and setting the
bodies of the set-apart ones who had fallen watch.
asleep were raised,
53 and coming out of the tombs after His
resurrection, they went into the set-apart 28 Now after the Sabbath, toward
dawn on the first day of the week 1,
city and appeared to many. Miryam from MaÍdala and the other
54 And when the captain and those with Miryam came to see the tomb.
him, who were guarding aSWHY, saw the 2 And see, there was a great earthquake,
earthquake and all that took place, they for a messenger of HWHY came down out of
feared exceedingly, saying, “Truly this was heaven, and came and rolled back the
the Son of Elohim!” stone from the door, and sat on it.
55 And many women who followed 3 And his appearance was like lightning,
aSWHY from Galil, attending Him, were and his garments as white as snow.
there, watching from a distance, 4 And the guards trembled for fear of
56 among whom were Miryam from him, and became like dead men.
MaÍdala, and Miryam the mother of 5 And the messenger responding, said to
YaÈaqoÄ and YosÃph, and the mother of the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know
ZaÄdai’s sons. that you seek aSWHY who was impaled.
57 And when evening came, there came 6 “He is not here, for He was raised, as
a rich man from Ramathayim, named He said. Come, see the place where the
YosÃph, who himself had also become a Master lay.
taught one of aSWHY. 7 “And go quickly, say to His taught ones
58 He went to Pilate and asked for the that He was raised from the dead, and see,
body of aSWHY. Then Pilate commanded He is going before you to Galil. There you
the body to be given. shall see Him. See, I have told you.”
59 And having taken the body, YosÃph 8 And they left the tomb quickly, with
wrapped it in clean linen, fear and great joy, and ran to report to His
60 and laid it in his new tomb which he taught ones.
had hewn out of the rock. And he rolled a 9 And as they were going to report to His
large stone against the door of the tomb, taught ones, see, aSWHY met them, saying,
and went away. “Greetings!” And they came and held Him
61 And Miryam from MaÍdala was there, by the feet and did bow to Him.
and the other Miryam, sitting opposite the 10 Then aSWHY said to them, “Do not be
1 See Explanatory notes - First Day of the Week. Also Luke 24:1 and YoÁanan 20:1.
MATTITHYAHU 28 954
afraid. Go, report to My brothers, to go to widely spread among the YehuÅim, to this
Galil, and they shall see Me there.” day.
11 And while they were going, see, some 16 And the eleven taught ones went away
of the watch having gone into the city, into Galil, to the mountain which aSWHY
reported to the chief priests all that took had appointed for them.
place. 17 And when they saw Him, they bowed
12 And when they came together with the to Him, but some doubted.
elders and taken counsel, they gave 18 And aSWHY came up and spoke to
enough silver to the soldiers, them, saying, “All authority has been
13 saying, “Say that His taught ones came given to Me in heaven and on earth.
at night and stole Him away while we 19 “Therefore, go and make taught ones of
1All the taught ones coming from all nations, not only from the YehuÅim, are to be taught to observe all that
aSWHY had commanded.
MARK
‘Prepare the way of HWHY, make His paths follow Me, and I shall make you become
straight.’ ” b fishers of men.”
4 YoÁanan came immersing in the 18 And immediately they left their nets
Good News of the reign of Elohim, they went straight to the house of ShimÈon
and Andri, with YaÈaqoÄ and YoÁanan. the city, but was outside in lonely places.
30 And the mother-in-law of ShimÈon lay Yet they came to Him from all directions.
sick with inflammation, and immediately
they spoke to Him about her.
31 And having come, He took her by the 2 And some days later He again entered
into Kephar NaÁum, and it was heard
hand and lifted her up, and immediately that He was in the house.
the inflammation left her, and she served 2 And so many gathered together, that
were sick and those who were demon- lytic, carried by four.
possessed. 4 And not being able to come near Him
33 And the entire city had gathered at the because of the crowd, they uncovered the
door. roof where He was. And when they had
34 And He healed many who were sick broken through, they let down the bed on
with various diseases, and cast out many which the paralytic was lying.
demons, and was not allowing the demons 5 And when aSWHY saw their belief, He
to speak, because they knew Him. said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are
35 And having risen very early in the forgiven you.”
morning, while still dark, He went out, and 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting
went away to a lonely place, and there He there, and reasoning in their hearts,
prayed. 7 “Why does this One talk like this? He is
36 And ShimÈon and those who were with blaspheming! Who is able to forgive sins
Him searched for Him, but Elohim alone?”
37 and when they found Him, they said to 8 And immediately aSWHY, knowing in
Him, “All are seeking You.” His spirit that they were reasoning that
38 And He said to them, “Let us go into way within themselves, said to them,
the neighbouring towns, so that I proclaim “Why do you reason about all this in your
there also, because for this I have come hearts?
forth.” 9 “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
39 And He was proclaiming in their con- ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise,
gregations, in all Galil, and casting out take up your bed and walk’?
demons. 10 “But in order for you to know that the
40 And a leper came to Him, calling upon Son of AÅam possesses authority on earth
Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic,
Him, “If You desire, You are able to make 11 “I say to you, rise, take up your bed,
stretched out His hand and touched him, the bed, and went out before all, so that all
and said to him, “I desire it. Be cleansed.” were amazed and praised Elohim, saying,
42 And immediately the leprosy left him, “We have never seen the like of it!”
and he was cleansed. 13 And He went out again by the sea, and
43 And having strictly warned him, He all the crowd was coming to Him, and He
immediately sent him away, taught them.
44 and said to him, “See, say none at all to 14 And passing by, He saw LÃwi the son
anyone, but go show yourself to the priest, of Alphai sitting at the tax office, and said
and offer for your cleansing what Mosheh to him, “Follow Me.” And having risen he
ordered, as a witness to them.” followed Him.
45 But he went out and began to publish it 15 And it came to be, as He sat at the table
so much, and to spread the word, that at his house, that many tax collectors and
aSWHY was no longer able to openly enter sinners also sat with aSWHY and His taught
957 MARK 3
ones, for there were many, and they fol- also to those who were with him?”
lowed Him. 27 And He said to them, “The Sabbath
16 And when the scribes and Pharisees was made for man, and not man for the
saw Him eating with the tax collectors and Sabbath.
sinners, they said to His taught ones, “Why 28 “So the Son of AÅam is also Master of
“Those who are strong have no need of a 3 And He went into the congregation
again, and a man who had a withered
physician, but those who are sick. I did not hand was there.
come to call the righteous to repentance, 2 And they were watching Him, whether
and said to Him, “Why do the taught ones withered hand, “Get up to the middle.”
of YoÁanan and of the Pharisees fast, but 4 And He said to them, “Is it right to do
Your taught ones do not fast?” good on the Sabbath, or to do evil, to save
19 And aSWHY said to them, “Are the life or to kill?” But they remained silent.
friends of the bridegroom able to fast while 5 And having looked around on them
the bridegroom is with them? As long as with displeasure, being grieved at the hard-
they have the bridegroom with them they ness of their hearts, He said to the man,
are not able to fast. “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched
20 “But the days shall come when the it out, and his hand was restored as healthy
bridegroom shall be taken away from as the other.
them, and then they shall fast in those 6 And the Pharisees went out and imme-
renewed piece pulls away from the old, ones to the sea. And a great crowd from
and the tear is made worse. Galil followed Him, and from YehuÅah.
22 “And no one puts new wine into old 8 Even from Yerushalayim, and from
wineskins, otherwise the new wine bursts EÅom and beyond the YardÃn, and those
the wineskins, and the wine runs out, and around Tsor and TsiÅon, a large crowd
the wineskins are ruined. But new wine is came to Him when they heard how much
to be put into fresh wineskins.” He was doing.
23 And it came to be that He went through 9 And He spoke to His taught ones, that a
the grainfields on the Sabbath. And as they small boat should be kept ready for Him
went His taught ones began to pluck heads because of the crowd, lest they should
of grain, press upon Him.
24 and the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, 10 For He healed many, so that as many as
why do they do what is not right on the had afflictions fell upon Him to touch Him.
Sabbath?” 11 And the unclean spirits, whenever they
25 And He said to them, “Have you never saw Him, fell down before Him and cried
read what DawiÅ did when he had need out, saying, “You are the Son of Elohim.”
and was hungry, he and those with him? 12 But He warned them many times that
26 “How he went into the House of they should not make Him known.
Elohim, while EÄyathar was high priest, 13 And He went up on the mountain and
and ate the showbread, which is not right called to Him whom He wished, and they
to eat, except for the priests, and he gave it came to Him.
14 And He appointed twelve to be with and standing outside they sent to Him,
Him, and to be sent out to proclaim, calling Him.
15 and to possess authority to heal sick- 32 And a crowd was sitting around Him.
nesses and to cast out demons. And they said to Him, “See, Your mother
16 And He appointed the twelve: ShimÈon, and Your brothers are outside seeking
to whom He added the name KÃpha; You.”
17 and YaÈaqoÄ the son of ZaÄdai, and 33 But He answered them, saying, “Who
son of Alphai, and Taddai, and ShimÈon the is My brother and My sister and mother.” d
KenaÈanite;
19 and YehuÅah from Qerioth, who did
also deliver Him up. And they went into 4 And He began to teach again by the
sea, and a large crowd was gathered to
a house, Him, so that He entered into a boat, to sit
20 and again the crowd came together, so in the sea. And all the crowd was on the
that they were unable even to eat bread. land facing the sea.
21 And when His relatives heard about 2 And He taught them much in parables,
this, they went out to seize Him, for they and said to them in His teaching:
said, “He is out of His mind.” 3 “Listen! See, a sower went out to sow. e
22 And the scribes who came down from 4 “And it came to be, as he sowed, some
Yerushalayim said, “He has BeÈelzebul,” fell by the wayside, and the birds of the
and, “He casts out demons by the ruler of heaven came and devoured it.
the demons.” 5 “And other fell on rocky places, where
23 And calling them near He said to them it had not much soil. And immediately it
in parables, “How is Satan able to cast out sprang up because it had no depth of soil.
Satan? 6 “But when the sun was up it was
24 “And if a reign is divided against itself, scorched, and because it had no root it
that reign is unable to stand. withered away.
25 “And if a house is divided against 7 “And other fell among thorns. And the
itself, that house is unable to stand. thorns grew up and choked it, and it yield-
26 “And if Satan has risen up against him- ed no crop.
self, and is divided, he is unable to stand, 8 “And other fell on good soil and yield-
but has an end. ed a crop that came up, grew and yielded a
27 “No one is able to enter a strong man’s crop, some thirtyfold, and some sixty, and
house and plunder his goods, unless he some a hundred.”
first binds the strong man, and then he 9 And He said to them, “He who has ears
forgiven the sons of men, and whatever Him, with the twelve, asked Him about the
blasphemies they speak, parable.
29 but he who blasphemes against the Set- 11 And He said to them, “To you it has
apart Spirit has no forgiveness forever, but been given to know the secret of the reign
is subject to everlasting judgment,” of Elohim, but to those who are outside, all
30 because they said, “He has an unclean are done in parables,
spirit.” 12 so that ‘seeing they see but do not
31 And His brothers and His mother came, perceive, and hearing they hear but do not
understand, lest they should turn and their 28 “For the soil yields crops by itself: first
sins be forgiven them.’ ” f the blade, then the head, after that the com-
13 And He said to them, “Do you not pleted grain in the head.
understand this parable? How then shall 29 “And when the crop is ready, immedi-
you understand all the parables? ately he puts in the sickle, because the
14 “The sower sows the word. harvest has come.”
15 “These, then, are the ones by the way- 30 And He said, “To what shall we com-
side where the word is sown. And when pare the reign of Elohim? Or with what
they hear, Satan comes immediately and parable shall we present it?
takes away the word that was sown in their 31 “Like a mustard seed, which, when it is
word, immediately receive it with joy, becomes greater than all plants, and forms
17 and they have no root in themselves, large branches, so that the birds of the
but are short-lived. Then when pressure or heaven are able to nest under its shade.”
persecution arises because of the word, 33 And with many such parables He was
bear fruit, some thirtyfold, and some sixty, Him along in the boat, as He was. And
and some a hundred.” other little boats were also with Him.
21 And He said to them, “Would a lamp be 37 And there came a great windstorm, and
brought to be put under a basket or under a the waves beat into the boat, so that it was
bed? Is it not to be put on a lampstand? already being filled.
22 “For whatever is hidden shall be reveal- 38 And He was in the stern, asleep on a
ed, and whatever has been kept secret, cushion. And they woke Him up and said
shall come to light. g to Him, “Teacher, is it no concern to You
23 “If anyone has ears to hear, let him that we perish?”
hear.” 39 And having been awakened He rebuked
24 And He said to them, “Take heed what the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be
you hear. With the same measure you use, still!” And the wind ceased and there was a
it shall be measured to you, and more shall great calm.
be added to you who hear. 40 And He said to them, “Why are you so
25 “For whoever possesses, to him more afraid? Have you not yet belief?”
shall be given; but whoever does not pos- 41 And they feared exceedingly, and asked
sess, even what he possesses shall be taken each other, “Who then is this, that even the
away from him.” h wind and the sea obey Him!”
26 And He said, “The reign of Elohim is
self does not know how. immediately there met Him out of the
f See footnote Mt. 13:15. g See footnote Lk. 8:17. h See footnote Lk. 8:18.
MARK 5 960
tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 19 And aSWHY did not allow him, but said
3 who had his dwelling among the tombs.
to him, “Go home to your friends, and
And no one was able to bind him, not even report to them what the Master has done for
with chains, you, and how He had compassion on you.”
4 because he had often been bound with 20 And he left and began to proclaim in
shackles and chains but the chains had Dekapolis all that aSWHY had done for him,
been pulled apart by him, and the shackles and all marvelled.
broken in pieces, and no one was able to 21 And when aSWHY had passed over
tame him. again by boat to the other side, a large
5 And continually, night and day, he was
crowd assembled to Him, and He was by
in the mountains and in the tombs, crying the sea.
out and cutting himself with stones. 22 And see, one of the rulers of the con-
6 And seeing aSWHY from a distance, he
gregation came, Ya’ir by name. And when
ran and bowed down to Him, he saw Him, he fell at His feet,
7 and having called out with a loud voice, 23 and begged Him strongly, saying, “My
said, “What have I to do with You, aSWHY, little daughter lies at the point of death.
Son of the Most High Âl? Swear to Elohim Come, lay Your hands on her to heal her,
not to torture me.” and she shall live.”
8 For He had said to him, “Come out of 24 And He went with him. And a large
the man, unclean spirit!” crowd was following Him, and they were
9 And He was asking him, “What is your
thronging Him.
name?” And he answered, saying, “My 25 And a certain woman had a flow of
name is Legion, because we are many.” blood for twelve years,
10 And he begged Him very much that He 26 and had suffered much from many
would not send them out of the country. physicians, and spent all that she had and
11 Now a great herd of pigs was there,
was no better, but rather became worse.
feeding near the mountains. 27 Having heard about aSWHY, she came
12 And all the demons begged Him, say- behind Him in the crowd and touched His
ing, “Send us to the pigs, so that we enter garment,
into them.” 28 for she said, “If I only touch His gar-
13 And He gave them permission. And the ments, I shall be made well.”
unclean spirits came out and entered into 29 And immediately the fountain of her
the pigs – they were about two thousand – blood was dried up, and she felt in her
and the herd rushed down the steep place body that she was healed of the affliction.
into the sea, and drowned in the sea. 30 And immediately aSWHY, knowing in
14 And those who fed the pigs fled, and Himself that power had gone out of Him,
reported it in the city and in the country. turned around in the crowd and said, “Who
And they went out to see what had taken touched My garments?”
place. 31 And His taught ones said to Him, “You
15 So they came to aSWHY, and saw the see the crowd is thronging You, and You
demon-possessed one, him who had the say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
legion, sitting, and dressed, and in his right 32 And He was looking around to see her
mind. And they were afraid. who did this.
16 And those who saw it related to them 33 And the woman, fearing and trembling,
what was done to the demon-possessed knowing what was done to her, came and
one, and about the pigs. fell down before Him and spoke to Him all
17 And they began to plead with Him to the truth.
leave their borders. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your
18 And as He was entering into the boat, belief has healed you. Go in peace, and be
he who had been demon-possessed begged relieved from your affliction.”
Him that he might be with Him. 35 As He was speaking, they came from
961 MARK 6
the ruler of the congregation’s house, say- few sick ones and healed them.
ing to him, “Your daughter is dead. Why 6 And He marvelled because of their
trouble the Teacher any further?” unbelief. And He was going around among
36 But having heard the word that was the villages, teaching.
spoken, aSWHY said to the ruler of the 7 And He called the twelve near, and
congregation, “Do not be afraid – only began to send them out two by two, and
believe.” gave them authority over unclean spirits.
37 And He allowed no one to follow Him 8 And He instructed them to take none at
except KÃpha, and YaÈaqoÄ, and YoÁanan all for the journey except a staff – no bag,
the brother of YaÈaqoÄ. no bread, no copper in their money belts,
38 So they came to the house of the ruler 9 but to wear sandals, and not to wear
was walking, for she was twelve years old. demons, and they were anointing with oil
And they were completely astonished. many who were sick, and they were heal-
43 But He ordered them many times that ing them.
no one should know it, and said that she 14 And Sovereign Herodes heard, for His
“Where did He get all this? And what wis- one is YoÁanan whom I beheaded, he has
dom is this which is given to Him, that been raised from the dead!”
such miracles are done through His hands? 17 For Herodes himself had sent and
3 “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of seized YoÁanan, and bound him in prison
Miryam, and brother of YaÈaqoÄ, and because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s
YosÃph, and YehuÅah, and ShimÈon? And wife, because he had married her,
are not His sisters here with us?” And they 18 for YoÁanan had said to Herodes, “It
country, and among his own relatives, and and wished to kill him, but was unable,
in his own house.” 20 for Herodes feared YoÁanan, knowing
5 And He was unable to do any miracle that he was a righteous and set-apart man,
there, except that He laid His hands on a and he protected him. And when he heard
MARK 6 962
him, he was much perplexed, yet heard large crowd and was moved with compas-
him gladly. sion for them because they were like sheep
21 And a suitable day came when Herodes not having a shepherd. And He began to
on his birthday gave a feast for his great teach them many matters.
men, and the high officers, and the chief 35 And as the hour grew late, His taught
Herodes and those who sat with him, the surrounding country and villages and
the sovereign said to the girl, “Ask me buy themselves bread, since they have no
whatever you wish, and I shall give it to food to eat.”
you.” 37 But He answering, said to them, “You
23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you give them to eat.” And they said to Him,
ask me, I shall give you, up to half of my “Should we go and buy two hundred silver
reign.” pieces worth of bread and give them to
24 And she went out and said to her moth- eat?”
er, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The 38 Then He said to them, “How many
head of YoÁanan the Immerser!” loaves do you have? Go and see.” And
25 And coming in immediately with haste when they found out they said, “Five, and
to the sovereign she asked, saying, “I wish two fishes.”
that you give me at once the head of 39 And He ordered them to make them all
YoÁanan the Immerser on a dish.” sit down in groups on the green grass.
26 And the sovereign, becoming deeply 40 And they sat down in groups, in hun-
gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to 43 And they picked up twelve baskets,
they came and took away his dead body about five thousand men.
and laid it in a tomb. 45 And immediately He made His taught
30 And the emissaries gathered to aSWHY ones enter into the boat, and to go before
and reported to Him all, both what they Him to the other side, to BÃyth TsaiÅa,
had done and what they had taught. while He was dismissing the crowd.
31 And He said to them, “Come aside by 46 And having sent them away, He went
going, and they did not even have time to in the middle of the sea. And He was alone
eat. on the land.
32 And they went away to a lonely place 48 And seeing them straining at rowing –
in the boat by themselves. for the wind was against them – at about
33 But they saw them going, and many the fourth watch of the night, He came to
recognised Him and ran there on foot from them walking on the sea, and He wished to
all the cities, and came before them and pass them by.
came together to Him. 49 And when they saw Him walking on
34 And having gone out, aSWHY saw a the sea, they thought it was a phantom, and
963 MARK 7
loaves, because their heart was hardened. aside the command of Elohim, in order to
53 And having passed over, they came to guard your tradition.
the land of GennÃsar and drew to shore. 10 “For Mosheh said, ‘Respect your father
54 And when they came out of the boat, and your mother,’ and, ‘He who curses
He was immediately recognised, father or mother, let him be put to death.’
55 and all that neighbourhood ran about, 11 “But you say, ‘If a man says to his
and began to carry about on beds those father or mother, “Whatever profit you
who were sick to wherever they heard He might have received from me, is Qorban
was. (that is, a gift),” ’
56 And wherever He went, into villages, 12 you no longer let him do any matter at
or cities, or the country, they were laying all for his father or his mother,
the sick in the market-places, and begged 13 nullifying the Word of Elohim through
Him to let them touch if only the tzitzit 1 of your tradition which you have handed
His garment. And as many as touched Him down. And many such traditions you do.”
were healed. 14 And calling the crowd to Him, He said
thoroughly, holding fast the tradition of the a house, His taught ones asked Him con-
elders, cerning the parable.
4 and coming from the market-place, 18 And He said to them, “Are you also
they do not eat unless they wash. And without understanding? Do you not per-
there are many other traditions which they ceive that whatever enters a man from
have received and hold fast – the washing outside is unable to defile him,
of cups and utensils and copper vessels and 19 because it does not enter his heart but
according to the tradition of the elders, but man, that defiles a man.
eat bread with unwashed hands?” 21 “For from within, out of the heart of
6 And He answering, said to them, men, proceed evil reasonings, adulteries,
1 See Explanatory notes - “Tzitzit” and Bem. 15:37-41; DeÄ. 22:12. i See Yesh. 29:13, 2 Mel. 17:19, and Mt. 15:3-
9. The religious leaders of Messiah’s day were guilty of lawlessness, replacing Elohim’s commands with man-made
commands. j See footnote Mt. 15:20.
MARK 7 964
within and defile a man.” 8 In those days, the crowd being very
great and not having any to eat,
24 And rising up from there He went to the aSWHY called His taught ones near and said
borders of Tsor and TsiÅon. And entering to them,
into a house He wished no one to know it, 2 “I have compassion on the crowd, for
but it was impossible to be hidden. they have now been with Me three days
25 For a woman whose young daughter and do not have food to eat.
had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and 3 “And if I dismiss them unfed to their
she came and fell at His feet. home, they shall faint on the way, for some
26 Now the woman was a Greek, a Syro- of them have come from far.”
Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking 4 And His taught ones answered Him,
Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. “How shall anyone be able to feed these
27 And aSWHY said to her, “Let the people with bread here in the desert?”
children be satisfied first, for it is not good 5 And He asked them, “How many loaves
to take the children’s bread and throw it to do you have?” And they said, “Seven.”
the little dogs.” k 6 And He commanded the crowd to sit
28 But she answering, said to Him, “Yea, down on the ground. And taking the seven
Master, for even the little dogs under the loaves, giving thanks, He broke them and
table eat from the children’s crumbs.” gave them to His taught ones to set before
29 And He said to her, “Because of this them. And they set them before the crowd.
word go, the demon has gone out of your 7 And they had a few small fishes. And
of Galil, through the midst of the borders sand, and He dismissed them.
of Dekapolis. 10 And immediately entering into the boat
32 And they brought to Him one who was with His taught ones, He came to the parts
deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they of Dalmanutha.
begged Him to lay His hand upon him. 11 And the Pharisees came out and began
33 And taking him away from the crowd, to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a
He put His fingers in his ears, and having sign from heaven, trying Him.
spit, He touched his tongue. 12 And sighing deeply in His spirit He
34 And looking up to the heaven, He said, “Why does this generation seek a
sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign shall be
is, “Be opened.” given to this generation.”
35 And immediately his ears were opened, 13 And leaving them, again entering into
and the binding of his tongue was loosed, the boat, He went away to the other side.
and he was speaking plainly. 14 And they had forgotten to take bread,
36 And He ordered them, that they should and they did not have more than one loaf
say it to no one, but the more He ordered with them in the boat.
them, the more they published it. 15 And He was warning them, saying,
37 And they were immeasurably aston- “Mind! Beware of the leaven of the
Pharisees and of the leaven of Herodes.” 31 And He began to teach them that the
16 And they were reasoning with one anoth- Son of AÅam has to suffer much, and be
er, saying, “Because we have no bread.” rejected by the elders and chief priests and
17 And aSWHY, being aware of it, said to scribes, and be killed, and after three days
them, “Why do you reason because you to rise again.
have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor 32 And He was speaking about this openly.
understand? Is your heart still hardened? Then KÃpha, taking Him aside, began to
18 “Having eyes, do you not see? And rebuke Him.
having ears, do you not hear? And do you 33 And turning around and seeing His
Him to touch him. gains all the world, and loses his own life?
23 And taking the blind man by the hand 37 “Or what shall a man give in exchange
He led him out of the village. And having for his life?
spit on his eyes, laying hands on him, He 38 “For whoever is ashamed of Me and
asked him, “Do you see at all?” My words in this adulterous and sinning
24 And he looked up and said, “I see men generation, of him the Son of AÅam also
like trees, walking.” shall be ashamed when He comes in the
25 Then He placed His hands on his eyes esteem of His Father with the set-apart
again and made him look up. And he was messengers.”
restored, and saw all clearly. l
26 And He sent him away to his home,
saying, “Do not go into the village.” 9 And He said to them, “Truly, I say to
you that there are some standing here
27 And aSWHY and His taught ones went who shall not taste of death at all until they
out to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. see m the reign of Elohim having come in
And on the way He asked His taught ones, power:”
saying to them, “Who do men say I am?” 2 And after six days aSWHY took KÃpha,
28 And they said to Him, “YoÁanan the and YaÈaqoÄ, and YoÁanan, and led them
Immerser, and others, Âliyahu, but others, up on a high mountain alone by them-
one of the prophets.” selves. And He was transformed before
29 And He asked them, “And you, who do them.
you say I am?” And KÃpha answering, said 3 And His garments became glittering,
to Him, “You are the Messiah.” exceedingly white, like snow, such as no
30 And He warned them that they should launderer on earth is able to whiten.
speak to no one about Him. 4 And there appeared to them Âliyahu
laSWHY often has to touch our eyes a second time before we clearly see all the vital teachings of the Messianic
Worship! m Then they saw it in vv. 2-7! n See Mt. 17:2-9, Lk. 9:28-35, Lk. 16:31, Yn. 5:47, Mal. 4:4-5. A pos-
sible explanation: Mosheh represents the Law and Eliyahu represents the Prophets, which is a term used for the
pre-Messianic Scriptures. So these two stand beside aSWHY, all three speaking in unity.
MARK 9 966
with Mosheh, n and they were talking with they were not able.”
aSWHY. 19 And He answered him and said, “O
5 And KÃpha responding, said to aSWHY, unbelieving generation, how long shall I
“Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. And let be with you? How long shall I put up with
us make three booths, one for You, and one you? Bring him to Me.”
for Mosheh, and one for Âliyahu,” 20 So they brought him to Him. And when
6 because he did not know what to say, he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw
for they were exceedingly afraid. him into convulsions. And falling on the
7 And there came a cloud overshadowing ground, he rolled about, foaming at the
them, and a voice came out of the cloud, mouth.
saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved. 21 And He asked his father, “How long
of AÅam had risen from the dead. able to believe, all is possible to him who
10 And they kept this matter to them- believes.”
selves, debating what the rising from the 24 And immediately the father of the child
and running near, greeted Him. for this kind to come out except through
16 And He asked the scribes, “What are prayer and fasting.”
you disputing with them?” 30 And going from there they passed
17 And one of the crowd answering, said, through Galil. And He did not wish anyone
“Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a to know,
dumb spirit. 31 for He was teaching His taught ones
18 “And wherever he seizes him, he and said to them, “The Son of AÅam is
throws him down, and he foams at the being delivered into the hands of men, and
mouth, and gnashes his teeth, and he they shall kill Him. And having been
wastes away. And I spoke to Your taught killed, He shall rise the third day.”
ones, that they should cast him out, but 32 But they did not understand the word,
having come in the house He asked them, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter into
“What was it you disputed among your- the reign of Elohim with one eye, than
selves on the way?” having two eyes, to be thrown into the fire
34 And they were silent, for on the way of Gehenna,
they had disputed with one another who 48 where ‘their worm does not die and the
and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be fire, and every offering shall be seasoned
first, he shall be last of all and servant of with salt.
all.” 50 “Salt is good, but if the salt becomes
36 And He took a little child and set him in tasteless, how shall you season it? Have
their midst, and taking him in His arms, He salt in yourselves, and be at peace among
said to them, one another.”
37 “Whoever receives one of such little
forbade him because he does not follow “Is it right for a man to put away his wife?”
us.” – trying Him.
39 And aSWHY said, “Do not forbid him, 3 And He answering, said to them, “What
Messiah, truly, I say to you, he shall by no the hardness of your heart he wrote you
means lose his reward. this command.
42 “And whoever causes one of these little 6 “However, from the beginning of the
ones who believe in Me to stumble, p it is creation, Elohim ‘made them male and
better for him if a millstone were hung female.’
around his neck, and he were thrown into 7 ‘For this cause a man shall leave his
cut it off. It is better for you to enter into that they are no longer two, but one flesh.
life crippled, than having two hands, to go 9 “Therefore what Elohim has joined
into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire, together, let man not separate.”
44 where ‘their worm does not die and the 10 And in the house His taught ones asked
cut it off. It is better for you to enter into away his wife and marries another com-
life crippled, than having two feet, to be mits adultery against her.
thrown into Gehenna, into the unquench- 12 “And if a woman puts away her hus-
13 And they were bringing little children ished, saying among themselves, “Who
for Him to touch them, but the taught ones then is able to be saved?”
were rebuking those who were bringing 27 And looking at them, aSWHY said,
children come to Me, and do not forbid we have left all and we have followed
them, for of such is the reign of Elohim. You.”
15 “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not 29 aSWHY said, “Truly, I say to you, there
receive the reign of Elohim as a little child, is no one who has left house or brothers
shall certainly not enter into it.” or sisters or father or mother or wife or
16 And taking them up in His arms, laying children or lands, for the sake of Me and
His hands on them, He blessed them. the Good News,
17 And as He was setting out on the way, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold
one came running, and knelt before Him, now in this time, houses and brothers and
and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall sisters and mothers and children and lands,
I do to inherit everlasting life?” with persecutions, and in the age to come,
18 And aSWHY said to him, “Why do you everlasting life.
call Me good? No one is good except One 31 “But many who are first shall be last,
commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do Yerushalayim, and aSWHY was going
not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ before them. And they were astonished,
‘Do not rob,’ ‘Respect your father and and those who followed were afraid. And
your mother.’ ” again He took the twelve aside and began
20 And he answering, said to Him, to say to them what was about to befall
“Teacher, all these I have watched over Him:
from my youth.” 33 “See, we are going up to Yerushalayim,
21 And aSWHY, looking at him, loved him, and the Son of AÅam shall be delivered to
and said to him, “One matter you lack: Go, the chief priests and to the scribes, and
sell all you possess and give to the poor, they shall condemn Him to death and shall
and you shall have treasure in heaven. And deliver Him to the gentiles,
come, follow Me, taking up the stake.” 34 and they shall mock Him, and flog
22 But he, being sad at this word, went Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And
away grieved, for he had many posses- the third day He shall rise again.”
sions. 35 And YaÈaqoÄ and YoÁanan, the sons of
23 And aSWHY, looking around, said to His ZaÄdai, came up to Him, saying, “Teacher,
taught ones, “How hard it is for those who we wish that You would do for us whatever
have riches to enter into the reign of we ask.”
Elohim!” 36 And He said to them, “What do you
24 And the taught ones were astonished at wish Me to do for you?”
His words. And aSWHY responding, said to 37 And they said to Him, “Grant us to be
them again, “Children, how hard it is for seated in Your esteem, one on Your right
those who trust in riches to enter into the hand and the other on Your left.”
reign of Elohim! 38 But aSWHY said to them, “You do not
25 “It is easier for a camel to enter through know what you ask. Are you able to drink
the eye of a needle than for a rich man to the cup that I drink, and be immersed with
enter into the reign of Elohim.” the immersion that I am immersed with?”
26 And they were immeasurably aston- 39 And they said to Him, “We are able.”
left is not Mine to give, but it is for those opposite you, and immediately entering
for whom it has been prepared.” into it, you shall find a colt tied, on which
41 And when the ten heard it, they began no one has sat. Loosen it and bring it.
3 “And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are
to be sorely displeased with YaÈaqoÄ and
YoÁanan. you doing this?’ say, ‘The Master needs it
42 And aSWHY, calling them near, said to and shall send it back straightaway.’ ”
4 So they went away, and found the colt
them, “You know that those who think to
rule the gentiles are masters over them, tied by the door outside on the street, and
and their great ones exercise authority over they loosened it.
5 And some of those standing there said
them.
43 “But it is not so among you, but who- to them, “What are you doing, loosening
ever wishes to become great among you the colt?”
6 And they said to them, as aSWHY had
shall be your servant.
44 “And whoever wishes to be first among said. So they let them go.
7 And they brought the colt to aSWHY and
you, shall be servant of all.
45 “For even the Son of AÅam did not threw their garments on it, and He sat on it.
8 And many spread their garments on the
come to be served, but to serve, and to give
way, and others were cutting down branch-
His life a ransom for many.” es from the trees and were spreading them
46 And they came to YeriÁo. And as He
on the way.
was leaving YeriÁo with His taught ones 9 And those going before and those
and a large crowd, blind Bartimai, the son following cried out, saying, “Hoshia-na!
of Timai, was sitting by the way begging. ‘Blessed is He who is coming in the Name
47 And when he heard that it was aSWHY
of HWHY!’
of Natsareth, he began to cry out and to 10 Blessed is the coming reign of our
say, “aSWHY, Son of DawiÅ, have compas- father DawiÅ – in the Name of HWHY!
sion on me!” Hoshia-na in the highest!”
48 And many were reprimanding him to 11 And aSWHY went into Yerushalayim
be silent, but he cried out all the more, and into the Set-apart Place. And having
“Son of DawiÅ, have compassion on me!” looked around on all, He went out to BÃyth
49 And aSWHY stopped and said, “Call
Anyah with the twelve, as the hour was
him.” And they called the blind man, say- already late.
ing to him, “Take courage, arise, He is call- 12 And on the next day, when they had
ing you.” come out from BÃyth Anyah, He was hun-
50 And he, throwing aside his garment,
gry.
rose and came to aSWHY. 13 And seeing at a distance a fig tree
51 And aSWHY responding, said to him,
having leaves, He went to see whether He
“What do you desire I do for you?” And would find any fruit on it. And when He
the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I came to it, He found none but leaves, for it
receive my sight.” was not the season for figs.
52 And aSWHY said to him, “Go, your 14 And aSWHY, responding, said to it, “Let
belief has healed you.” And immediately no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And
he saw again and followed aSWHY on the His taught ones heard it.
way. 15 And they came to Yerushalayim.
vessel through the Set-apart Place. feared the people, for all held that YoÁanan
17 And He was teaching, saying to them, was a prophet indeed.
33 And answering they said to aSWHY,
“Has it not been written, ‘My House shall
be called a house of prayer for all nations’? “We do not know.” And aSWHY answering,
But you have made it a ‘den of robbers.’ ” said to them, “Neither do I say to you by
18 And the scribes and the chief priests what authority I do these.”
heard it and they were seeking how to
destroy Him, for they feared Him, because
all the crowd was astonished at His teach- 12 And He began to speak to them in
parables, “A man planted a vine-
ing. yard and put a hedge around it, and dug
19 And when evening came, He went out a vat for the winepress and built a watch-
of the city. tower, and let it out to farmers and went
20 And in the morning, passing by, they away.
2 “And at harvest time he sent a servant
saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21 Then KÃpha, remembering, said to to the farmers, to receive some of the fruit
Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You of the vineyard from the farmers.
3 “And they seized him and beat him and
cursed has withered.”
22 And aSWHY answering, said to them, sent him away empty-handed.
4 “And again he sent them another
“Have belief in Elohim.
23 “For truly, I say to you, whoever says to servant, and throwing stones at him, they
this mountain, ‘Be removed and be thrown wounded him in the head, and sent him
into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his away, having insulted him.
heart, but believes that what he says, shall 5 “And again he sent another, and they
be done, he shall have whatever he says. killed him; and many others, beating some
24 “Because of this I say to you, whatever and killing some.
you ask when you pray, believe that you 6 “He had one more son, his beloved. He
receive them, and you shall have them. sent him last of all, saying, ‘They shall
25 “And whenever you stand praying, if respect my son.’
you hold whatever against anyone, forgive, 7 “But those farmers said among them-
so that your Father in the heavens shall selves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill
also forgive you your trespasses. him, and the inheritance shall be ours.’
26 “But if you do not forgive, neither shall 8 “So they took him and killed him and
your Father in the heavens forgive your threw him out of the vineyard.
trespasses.” 9 “What then shall the owner of the vine-
27 And they came again to Yerushalayim. yard do? He shall come and destroy the
And as He was walking in the Set-apart farmers, and give the vineyard to others.
Place, the chief priests, and the scribes, 10 “Have you not read this Scripture, ‘The
and the elders came to Him, stone which the builders rejected has
28 and they said to Him, “By what author- become the chief corner-stone.
ity are You doing these? And who gave 11 ‘This was from HWHY, and it is marvel-
shall ask you one question, and answer Me, but feared the crowd, for they knew He
and I shall say to you by what authority I do had spoken the parable against them. And
these: leaving Him, they went away.
971 MARK 12
13 And they sent to Him some of the and the Elohim of YitsÁaq, and the Elohim
Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him of YaÈaqoÄ’?
in a word. 27 “He is not the Elohim of the dead, but
14 And when they came, they said to Him, Elohim of the living. You, then, go greatly
“Teacher, we know that You are true, and it astray.”
does not concern You about anyone, for 28 And one of the scribes coming near,
You are not partial to any, but teach the hearing them reasoning together, knowing
way of Elohim in truth. Is it right to pay that He had answered them well, asked
taxes to Caesar, or not? Him, “Which is the first command of all?”
15 “Should we pay, or should we not 29 And aSWHY answered him, “The first of
pay?” And He, knowing their hypocrisy, all the commands is, ‘Hear, O Yisra’Ãl,
said to them, “Why do you try Me? Bring HWHY our Elohim, HWHY is one.
Me a silver piece to look at.” 30 ‘And you shall love HWHY your Elohim
16 And they brought it, and He said to with all your heart, and with all your being,
them, “Whose likeness and inscription is and with all your mind, and with all your
this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” strength.’ This is the first command.
17 So aSWHY said to them, “Give to Caesar 31 “And the second, like it, is this, ‘You
what is Caesar’s, and to Elohim what is shall love your neighbour as yourself.’
Elohim’s.” And they marvelled at Him. There is no other command greater than
18 And Sadducees, who say there is no these.”
resurrection, came to Him. And they asked 32 And the scribe said to Him, “Well said,
should take his wife and raise up offspring and with all the understanding, and with all
for his brother. the being, and with all the strength, and to
20 “There were seven brothers, and the love one’s neighbour as oneself, is more
first took a wife, and died, leaving no off- than all the burnt offerings and offerings.”
spring. 34 And when aSWHY saw that he answered
21 “And the second took her, and he died, wisely, He said to him, “You are not far
leaving behind no offspring. And the third from the reign of Elohim.” And after that
likewise. no one was bold enough to question Him.
22 “And the seven left no offspring. Last 35 And aSWHY responding, said, while
of all the woman died too. teaching in the Set-apart Place, “How is it
23 “In the resurrection then, when they that the scribes say that the Messiah is the
rise, whose wife shall she be? For seven Son of DawiÅ?
had her as wife.” 36 “DawiÅ himself said by the Set-apart
24 And aSWHY answering, said to them, Spirit, ‘HWHY said to my Master, “Sit at My
“Is this not why you go astray, because you right hand, until I make Your enemies a
do not know the Scriptures s nor the power footstool of Your feet.” ’
of Elohim? 37 “DawiÅ himself calls Him ‘Master.’ In
25 “For when they rise from the dead, they what way then is He his Son?” And the
neither marry nor are given in marriage, large crowd heard Him gladly.
but are as messengers in the heavens. 38 And in His teaching He was saying to
26 “And concerning the dead, that they them, “Beware of the scribes, who like to
rise – have you not read in the book of walk around in long robes, and like greet-
Mosheh, at the bush, how Elohim spoke to ings in the market-places,
him, saying, ‘I am the Elohim of AÄraham, 39 and the best seats in the congregations,
s Mt.22:29.
MARK 12 972
and the best places at feasts, shall deliver you up to councils and to con-
40 who are devouring widows’ houses, gregations. You shall be beaten, and you
and for a show make long prayers. These shall be brought before rulers and sover-
shall receive greater judgment.” eigns for My sake, for a witness to them.
41 And sitting opposite the treasury He 10 “And the Good News has to be pro-
saw how the people put copper into the claimed first to all the nations.
treasury. And many rich ones put in much. 11 “And when they lead you away and
42 And a poor widow came and threw in deliver you up, do not worry beforehand
two small copper coins, which amount to a what you are to say. But whatever is given
cent. you in that hour, speak that, for it is not
43 And calling near His taught ones He you who are speaking, but the Set-apart
said to them, “Truly, I say to you that this Spirit.
poor widow has put in more than all those 12 “And brother shall deliver up brother to
putting into the treasury, death, and a father his child. And children
44 for they all put in out of their excess, shall rise up against parents and shall put
but she out of her poverty put in all that she them to death.
had, her entire livelihood.” 13 “And you shall be hated by all because
said to Him, “Teacher, see what stones! that lays waste,’ v spoken of by Dani’Ãl the
And what buildings!” prophet, set up where it should not be” – he
2 And aSWHY answering, said to him, who reads, let him understand – “then let
“Do you see these great buildings? Not one those who are in YehuÅah flee to the
stone shall be left upon another at all, mountains.
which shall not be thrown down.” t 15 “And he who is on the house-top, let
3 And as He sat on the Mount of Olives him not go down into the house, nor come
opposite the Set-apart Place, KÃpha, and in to take whatever out of his house.
YaÈaqoÄ, and YoÁanan, and Andri asked 16 “And he who is in the field, let him not
And what shall be the sign when all this is and to those nursing children in those days!
going to be accomplished?” 18 “And pray that your flight does not take
5 And aSWHY began to say to them, “Take place in winter.
heed that no one leads you astray, 19 “For in those days there shall be dis-
6 for many shall come in My Name, say- tress, such as has not been from the begin-
ing, ‘I am He,’ and they shall lead many ning of creation which Elohim created
astray. until this time, nor ever shall be.
7 “And when you hear of fightings and 20 “And if the Master had not shortened
reports of fightings, do not be troubled – it those days, no flesh would have been
has to take place, but the end is not yet. saved; but because of the chosen ones,
8 “For nation shall rise against nation, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
and reign against reign. And there shall be 21 “And if anyone then says to you, ‘Look,
earthquakes in various places, and there here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ do
shall be scarcities of food, and distur- not believe it.
bances. These are the beginnings of birth- 22 “For false messiahs and false prophets
warned you of it all. the house of ShimÈon the leper, and sitting
24 “But in those days, after that distress, at the table, a woman came having an
the sun shall be darkened, and the moon alabaster flask of perfume, genuine nard,
shall not give its light, very costly. And breaking the flask she
25 and the stars of heaven shall fall, and poured it on His head.
the powers in the heavens shall be shaken. 4 But there were some who were much
26 “And then they shall see the Son of displeased among themselves, and said,
AÅam coming in the clouds with much “Why was this perfume wasted?
power and esteem. 5 “For it could have been sold for more
27 “And then He shall send His messen- than three hundred pieces of silver and
gers, and assemble His chosen ones from given to the poor.” And they were scolding
the four winds, from the farthest part of her.
earth to the farthest part of heaven. 6 But aSWHY said, “Leave her alone. Why
28 “And learn this parable from the fig do you trouble her? She has done a good
tree: When its branch has already become work for Me.
tender, and puts forth leaves, you know 7 “For you have the poor with you
that the summer is near. always, and you are able do good to them,
29 “So you also, when you see these tak- whenever you wish. But you do not always
ing place, know that it is near, at the door. have Me.
30 “Truly, I say to you, this generation 8 “What she had, she used. She took it
shall by no means pass away till all this beforehand to anoint My body for the
takes place. burial.
31 “The heaven and the earth shall pass 9 “Truly, I say to you, wherever this
away, but My words shall by no means Good News is proclaimed in all the world,
pass away. what this woman did shall also be spoken
32 “But concerning that day and the hour of, to her remembrance.”
no one knows, not even the messengers in 10 And YehuÅah from Qerioth, one of the
heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. twelve, went to the chief priests to deliver
33 “Take heed, watch and pray, for you do Him up to them.
not know when the time is – 11 And when they heard it, they were glad,
34 as a man going abroad, having left his and promised to give him silver. And
house and given authority to his servants, he was seeking how to deliver Him up,
and to each his work, and commanded the conveniently.
doorkeeper to watch. 12 And on the first day of Unleavened
35 “Watch therefore, for you do not know Bread, when they were slaughtering the
when the master of the house is coming – Passover lamb, His taught ones said to
in the evening or at midnight, or at the Him, “Where do You wish us to go and
crowing of the cock, or in the morning, prepare, for You to eat the Passover?”
36 lest, coming suddenly, he should find 13 And He sent out two of His taught ones
you sleeping. and said to them, “Go into the city, and
37 “And what I say to you, I say to all: there a man bearing a jar of water shall
Watch!” meet you, follow him.
14 “And wherever he enters, say to the
treachery and put Him to death. room, furnished, ready. Prepare for us
2 And they said, “Not at the festival, lest there.”
MARK 14 974
16 And His taught ones went out and came 33 And He took with Him KÃpha, and
into the city, and found it as He said to YaÈaqoÄ, and YoÁanan, and He began to be
them, and they prepared the Passover. greatly amazed, and to be deeply distres-
17 And evening having come, He came sed.
with the twelve. 34 And He said to them, “My being is
18 And as they sat and ate, aSWHY said, exceedingly grieved, even to death. Stay
“Truly, I say to you, one of you who is here and watch.”
eating with Me shall deliver Me up.” 35 And He went on a little, and fell on the
19 And they began to be grieved, and to ground, and was praying that if it were
say to Him one by one, “Is it I?” And possible, the hour might pass from Him.
another, “Is it I?” 36 And He said, “Abba, Father, all is pos-
20 And He answering, said to them, “It is sible for You. Make this cup pass from Me.
one of the twelve, he who is dipping with Yet not what I desire, but what You
Me in the dish. desire.”
21 “The Son of AÅam is indeed going, as 37 And He came and found them sleeping,
it has been written of Him, but woe to that and said to KÃpha, “ShimÈon, are you
man by whom the Son of AÅam is deliv- sleeping? You were not able to watch one
ered up! It would have been good for that hour!
man if he had not been born.” 38 “Watch and pray, lest you enter into
22 And as they were eating, aSWHY took trial. The spirit indeed is eager, but the
bread, having blessed, broke it, gave it to flesh is weak.”
them and said, “Take, eat, this is My body.” 39 And again He went away and prayed,
23 And taking the cup, giving thanks, He and spoke the same words.
gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 40 And having returned, He found them
24 And He said to them, “This is My asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. And
blood, that of the renewed covenant, which they did not know what to answer Him.
is shed for many. 41 And He came the third time and said to
25 “Truly, I say to you, I shall certainly no them, “Are you still sleeping and resting?
more drink of the fruit of the vine till that It is enough! The hour has come. See, the
day when I drink it anew in the reign of Son of AÅam is being delivered up into the
Elohim.” hands of the sinners.
26 And having sung a song, they went out 42 “Rise up, let us go. See, he who is
shall stumble in Me this night, for it has speaking, YehuÅah, one of the twelve, with
been written, ‘I shall strike the shepherd, a large crowd with swords and clubs, came
and the sheep shall be scattered.’ from the chief priests and the scribes and
28 “But after I am raised, I shall go before the elders.
you to Galil.” 44 And the one who was delivering Him
29 And KÃpha said to Him, “Even if all up had given them a signal, saying,
shall stumble, yet not I.” “Whomever I kiss, it is He – seize Him and
30 And aSWHY said to him, “Truly, I say to lead Him away safely.”
you that today, this night, before the cock 45 And coming, going straight up to Him,
shall crow twice, you shall deny Me three he said to Him, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” and kissed
times.” Him.
31 But he spoke more strongly, “If I have 46 And they laid their hands on Him and
“Have you come out as against a robber, 65 And some began to spit on Him, and to
with swords and clubs, to take Me? blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say
49 “Daily I was with you in the Set-apart to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers
Place teaching, and you did not seize Me. struck Him with the palms of their hands.
But let the Scriptures be filled.” 66 And as KÃpha was below in the court-
50 And they all left Him and fled. yard, one of the servant girls of the high
51 And a certain young man was follow- priest came,
ing Him, having a linen cloth thrown 67 and seeing KÃpha warming himself, she
around his naked body. And when they looked at him and said, “And you were
seized him, with aSWHY of Natsareth.”
52 he left the linen cloth and fled from 68 But he denied it, saying, “I do not know
And he was sitting with the officers and a little while those who stood by again said
warming himself at the fire. to KÃpha, “Truly you are one of them, for
55 And the chief priests and all the council you are a Galilean too, and your speech is
were seeking witness against aSWHY to put alike.”
Him to death, and they were finding none. 71 And he began to curse and swear, “I do
56 For many bore false witness against not know this Man of whom you speak!”
Him, but their evidences did not agree. 72 And a second time the cock crowed.
57 And some rose up and bore false wit- And KÃpha remembered the word that
ness against Him, saying, aSWHY had said to him, “Before the cock
58 “We heard Him saying, ‘I shall destroy crows twice, you shall deny Me three
this Dwelling Place that is made with times.” And thinking on it, he wept.
hands, and within three days I shall build
another made without hands.’ ”
59 And not even then did their witness 15 And immediately, in the morning,
the chief priests had a council
agree. meeting with the elders and scribes and all
60 Then the high priest stood up in the the council. Having bound aSWHY, they led
centre and asked aSWHY, saying, “Have Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.
You no answer to make? What do these 2 And Pilate asked Him, “Are You the
saying to Him, “Are You the Messiah, the much, but He made no answer.
Son of the Blessed?” 4 And Pilate again asked Him, saying,
62 And aSWHY said, “I am, and you shall “Have You no answer? See how much they
see the Son of AÅam sitting at the right witness against You!”
hand of the Power, and coming with the 5 But aSWHY still gave no answer, so that
priest said, “What further need do we have one prisoner, whomever they were asking.
of witnesses? 7 And there was one called Barabba,
64 “You have heard the blasphemy! What chained with his fellow rebels, who had
do you think?” And they all condemned committed murder in the uprising.
Him to be liable to death. 8 And the crowd, crying aloud, began to
MARK 15 976
you wish me to release for you the was written above: THE SOVEREIGN OF
Sovereign of the YehuÅim?” THE YEHUÊIM.
10 For he knew that the chief priests had 27 And with Him they impaled two robbers,
handed Him over because of envy. one on His right and the other on His left.
11 And the chief priests stirred up the 28 And the Scripture was filled which
crowd, that he should rather release Barabba says, “And He was reckoned with the law-
to them. less.”
12 And Pilate answered and again said to 29 And those passing by were blasphem-
them, “What then do you wish me to do to ing Him, shaking their heads and saying,
Him whom you call the Sovereign of the “Ah! You who destroy the Dwelling Place
YehuÅim?” and build it in three days,
13 And again they cried out, “Impale 30 save Yourself, and come down from the
Him!” stake!”
14 And Pilate said to them, “Why, what 31 And likewise the chief priests and the
evil has He done?” And they vehemently scribes, mocking to one another said, “He
cried out, “Impale Him!” saved others, He is unable to save Himself.
15 And Pilate, wishing to satisfy the 32 “The Messiah? The Sovereign of
crowd, released Barabba to them, and hav- Yisra’Ãl? Come down now from the stake,
ing whipped Him, he delivered aSWHY over so that we see and believe.” And those who
to be impaled. were impaled with Him were reproaching
16 And the soldiers led Him away into the Him.
court, which is the palace, and they called 33 And when the sixth hour came, dark-
together the entire company of soldiers, ness came over all the land until the ninth
17 and decked Him with purple. And they hour.
plaited a crown of thorns, put it on Him, 34 And at the ninth hour aSWHY cried out
18 and they began to call out to Him, with a loud voice, saying, “Âli, Âli, lamah
“Greetings, Sovereign of the YehuÅim!” sheÄaqtani?” 1 which is translated, “My Âl,
19 And they kept beating Him on the head My Âl, why have You forsaken Me?”
with a reed and were spitting on Him. And 35 And some of those standing by, when
bending the knee, they were bowing down they heard it, said, “See, He is calling for
to Him. Âliyahu!”
20 And when they had mocked Him, they 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge
took the purple off Him, and put His own with sour wine, and put it on a reed, and
garments on Him, and led Him out to offered it to Him to drink, saying, “Leave
impale Him. Him, let us see if Âliyahu does come to
21 And they compelled a passer-by, take Him down.”
ShimÈon, a Cyrenian, coming from a field, 37 And aSWHY cried out with a loud voice,
the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear and breathed His last.
His stake. 38 And the veil of the Dwelling Place was
22 And they brought Him to the place Gol- torn in two from top to bottom.
gotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 39 And when the captain, who was stand-
23 And they were giving Him wine mixed ing opposite Him, saw that He cried out
with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. like this and breathed His last, he said,
24 And when they impaled Him, they “Truly this Man was the Son of Elohim!”
divided His garments, casting lots for 40 And there were also women watching
them, what each one should take. from a distance, among whom was also
25 And it was the third hour, and they Miryam from MaÍdala, and Miryam the
1 - In Hebrew - “Eli, Eli lamah azaÄtani” - as per Teh.22:1
977 MARK 16
mother of YaÈaqoÄ the Less and of YosÃph, 7 “And go, say to His taught ones, and
16
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the
And when the Sabbath was past,
Miryam from MaÍdala, and world and proclaim the Good News to
Miryam the mother of YaÈaqoÄ, and every creature.
16 “He who has believed and has been
Shelomah bought spices, to go and anoint
Him. immersed, shall be saved, but he who has
2 And very early on the first day of the not believed shall be condemned.
17 “And these signs shall accompany the
week, they came to the tomb when the sun
had risen. ones who believe: In My Name they shall
3 And they said among themselves, cast out demons, they shall speak with
“Who shall roll away the stone from the renewed tongues,
18 they shall take up snakes, and if they
entrance of the tomb for us?”
4 And looking up, they saw that the stone drink any deadly drink it shall by no means
had been rolled away, for it was extremely hurt them, they shall lay hands on the sick
large. and they shall get well.”
5 And having entered into the tomb, they 19 Then indeed, after the Master had spo-
saw a young man sitting on the right, wear- ken to them, He was received up into the
ing a white robe, and they were greatly heaven, and sat down at the right hand of
astonished. Elohim.
6 And he said to them, “Do not be much 20 And they went out and proclaimed it
astonished. You seek aSWHY of Natsareth, everywhere, while the Master worked with
who was impaled. He was raised – He is not them, and confirmed the word through the
here! See the place where they laid Him. accompanying signs. AmÃn.
LUKE
serving as priest before Elohim in the order and marvelled at his delay in the Dwelling
of his division, Place.
9 according to the institute of the priest- 22 And when he came out, he was unable
hood, he was chosen by lot to burn incense to speak to them. And they recognised that
when he went into the Dwelling Place of he had seen a vision in the Dwelling Place,
HWHY. for he was beckoning to them and
10 And the entire crowd of people was remained dumb.
praying outside at the hour of incense. 23 And it came to be, as soon as the days
11 And a messenger of HWHY appeared to of his service were completed, he went
him, standing on the right side of the altar away to his house.
of incense. 24 And after those days his wife ElisheÄa
12 And when Ze¿aryah saw him, he was conceived. And she hid herself five
troubled, and fear fell upon him. months, saying,
13 But the messenger said to him, “Do not 25 “HWHY has done this for me, in the days
be afraid, Ze¿aryah, for your prayer is when He looked upon me, to take away my
heard. And your wife ElisheÄa shall bear reproach among men.”
you a son, and you shall call his name 26 And in the sixth month the messenger
YoÁanan. GaÄri’Ãl was sent by Elohim to a city of
14 “And you shall have joy and gladness, Galil named Natsareth,
and many shall rejoice at his birth. 27 to a maiden engaged to a man whose
15 “For he shall be great before HWHY, and name was YosÃph, of the house of DawiÅ.
shall drink no wine and strong drink at all. And the maiden’s name was Miryam.
979 LUKE 1
28 And the messenger, coming to her, said, said, “Blessed are you among women, and
“Greetings, favoured one, the Master is blessed is the fruit of your womb!
with you. Blessed are you among women!” 43 “And who am I, that the mother of my
29 But she was greatly disturbed at his Master should come to me?
word, and wondered what kind of greeting 44 “For look, when the sound of your
favour with Elohim. which HWHY has said to her shall be accom-
31 “And see, you shall conceive in your plished!”
womb, and shall give birth to a Son, and 46 And Miryam said, “My being makes
“How shall this be, since I do not know a tion to generation, to those who fear Him.
man?” 51 “He did mightily with His arm, He
35 And the messenger answering, said to scattered the proud in the thought of their
her, “The Set-apart Spirit shall come upon hearts.
you, and the power of the Most High shall 52 “He brought down rulers from their
overshadow you. And for that reason the thrones, and exalted the lowly.
Set-apart One born of you shall be called: 53 “He has filled the hungry with good
And this is now the sixth month to her who remembrance of His compassion,
was called barren, 55 as He spoke to our fathers, to AÄraham
37 because with Elohim no matter shall be and to his seed, forever.”
impossible.” 56 And Miryam stayed with her about
38 And Miryam said, “See the female three months, and returned to her home.
servant of HWHY! Let it be to me according 57 And the time was filled for ElisheÄa to
to your word.” And the messenger went give birth, and she bore a son.
away from her. 58 And her neighbours and relatives heard
39 And Miryam arose in those days and how HWHY had shown great compassion to
went into the hill country with haste, to a her, and they rejoiced with her.
city of YehuÅah, 59 And it came to be, on the eighth day,
40 and entered into the house of Ze¿aryah that they came to circumcise the child.
and greeted ElisheÄa. And they were calling him by the name of
41 And it came to be, when ElisheÄa heard his father, Ze¿aryah.
the greeting of Miryam, that the baby 60 And his mother answering, said, “Not
leaped in her womb. And ElisheÄa was so, but he shall be called YoÁanan.”
filled with the Set-apart Spirit, 61 And they said to her, “There is no one
42 and called out with a loud voice and among your relatives who is called by this
aSee footnote Mt. 1:21. b These two verses confirm these prophecies: Teh. 2, Teh. 89:14-34, Yesh. 9:7, Yesh.
16:5, Yirm. 23:3-6, Yirm. 30:9, YeÁez. 37:24, Dan. 2:44, Dan. 7:18-27, Mi¿. 5:2-4, Acts 1:6-7, Rev. 11:15.
LUKE 1 980
around them, and all these matters were out of the city of Natsareth to YehuÅah, to
spoken of in all the hill country of Yehu- the city of DawiÅ, which is called BÃyth
Åah. LeÁem, because he was of the house and
66 And all who heard them kept them in lineage of DawiÅ,
their hearts, saying, “What then shall this 5 to be registered with Miryam, who was
child be?” And the hand of HWHY was with engaged to him – being pregnant.
him. 6 And it came to be, that while they were
67 And Ze¿aryah, his father, was filled there, the days were filled for her to give
with the Set-apart Spirit, and prophesied, birth.
saying, 7 And she gave birth to her first-born
68 “Blessed be HWHY Elohim of Yisra’Ãl, Son, and wrapped Him up, and laid Him
for He did look upon and worked redemp- down in a feeding trough, because there
tion for His people, was no room for them in a lodging place.
69 and has raised up a horn of deliverance 8 And in the same country there were
for us in the house of His servant DawiÅ, shepherds living out in the fields, keeping
70 as He spoke by the mouth of His set- watch over their flock by night.
apart prophets, from of old – 9 And look, a messenger of HWHY stood
71 deliverance from our enemies and from before them, and the esteem of HWHY shone
the hand of all those hating us, around them, and they were greatly afraid.
72 to show compassion toward our fathers 10 And the messenger said to them, “Do
and to remember His set-apart covenant, not be afraid, for look, I bring you good
73 an oath which He swore to our father news of great joy which shall be to all
AÄraham: people.
74 to give to us, being delivered from the 11 “Because there was born to you today
hand of our enemies, to serve Him without in the city of DawiÅ a Saviour, who is
fear, Messiah, the Master.
75 in set-apartness and righteousness 12 “And this is the sign to you: You shall
before Him all the days of our life. find a baby wrapped up, lying in a feeding
76 “And you, child, shall be called prophet trough.”
of the Most High, for you shall go before 13 And suddenly there was with the
the face of HWHY to prepare His ways, messenger a crowd of the heavenly host
77 to give knowledge of deliverance to His praising Elohim and saying,
people, by the forgiveness of their sins, 14 “Esteem to Elohim in the highest, and
78 through the tender compassion of our on earth peace among men with whom He
Elohim, with which the daybreak from on is pleased!”
high has looked upon us, 15 And it came to be, when the messen-
79 to give light to those who sit in dark- gers had gone away from them into the
ness and the shadow of death, to guide our heaven, that the shepherds said to each
feet into the way of peace.” other, “Indeed, let us go to BÃyth LeÁem
80 And the child grew and became strong and see this matter that has taken place,
in spirit, and was in the deserts until the which the Master has made known to us.”
981 LUKE 2
16 And they came in haste and found velling at what was said about Him.
Miryam and YosÃph, and the baby lying 34 And ShimÈon blessed them, and said to
for Him to be circumcised, His Name was four years, who did not leave the Set-apart
called aSWHY, the Name given by the Place, but served Elohim with fastings and
messenger before He was conceived in prayers night and day.
the womb. 38 And she, coming in at that moment,
22 And when the days of her cleansing gave thanks to HWHY, and spoke of Him to
according to the Torah of Mosheh were all who were waiting for redemption in
completed, they brought Him to Yerushalayim.
Yerushalayim to present Him to HWHY – 39 And when they had accomplished all
23 as it has been written in the Torah of matters according to the Torah of HWHY,
HWHY, “Every male who opens the womb they returned to Galil, to their city
shall be called set-apart to HWHY” – Natsareth.
24 and to give an offering according to 40 And the Child grew and became strong
what is said in the Torah of HWHY, “A pair in spirit, being filled with wisdom. And the
of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” favour of Elohim was upon Him.
25 And see, there was a man in Yeru- 41 And His parents went to Yerushalayim
shalayim whose name was ShimÈon, and every year at the Festival of the Passover.
this man was righteous and dedicated, 42 And when He was twelve years old,
looking for the comforting of Yisra’Ãl. And they went up to Yerushalayim according to
the Set-apart Spirit was upon him. the practice of the festival.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the 43 When they had accomplished the days,
Set-apart Spirit that he would not see death as they returned, the Child aSWHY stayed
before he sees the Messiah of HWHY. behind in Yerushalayim. And His parents
27 And he came in the Spirit into the Set- did not know it,
apart Place. And as the parents brought in 44 but thinking He was in the company,
the Child aSWHY, to do for Him according they went a day’s journey, and were seek-
to the usual practice of the Torah, ing Him among the relatives and friends.
28 then he took Him up in his arms and 45 And not having found Him, they
Master, according to Your word, they found Him in the Set-apart Place,
30 for my eyes have seen Your deliver- sitting in the midst of the teachers, both lis-
ance, tening to them and asking them questions.
31 which You have prepared before the 47 And all who heard Him were aston-
and the esteem of Your people Yisra’Ãl.” amazed. And His mother said to Him,
33 And YosÃph and His mother were mar- “Son, why have You done this to us? See,
LUKE 2 982
Your father and I have been anxiously root of the trees. Therefore every tree that
seeking You.” does not bear good fruit is cut down and
49 And He said to them, “Why were you thrown into the fire.”
seeking Me? Did you not know that I had 10 And the crowds asked him, saying,
brother Philip district ruler of Yetur and the and all were reasoning in their hearts about
country of Trachonitis, and Lusanias dis- YoÁanan, whether he was the Messiah or
trict ruler of AÄilene, not,
2 Àanan and Qayapha being high priests, 16 YoÁanan answered, saying to them all,
the word of Elohim came to YoÁanan the “I indeed immerse you in water, but One
son of Ze¿aryah in the wilderness. mightier than I is coming, whose sandal
3 And he went into all the neighbourhood straps I am not worthy to loosen. He shall
of the YardÃn, proclaiming an immersion immerse you in the Set-apart Spirit and
of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, fire.
4 as it has been written in the book of the 17 “His winnowing fork is in His hand,
words of Yeshayahu the prophet, c saying, and He shall thoroughly cleanse His
“A voice of one crying in the wilderness, threshing-floor, and gather the wheat into
‘Prepare the way of HWHY, make His paths His storehouse, but the chaff He shall burn
straight. with unquenchable fire.”
5 ‘Every valley shall be filled and every 18 And urging with many other words, he
mountain and hill shall be made low, and brought the Good News to the people.
the crooked shall become straight, and the 19 And Herodes the district ruler, being
For I say to you that Elohim is able to raise bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a
up children to AÄraham from these stones. voice came from heaven saying, “You are
9 “And even now the axe is laid to the My Son, the Beloved, in You I did
c Yesh. 40:3-5.
983 LUKE 4
was about thirty years of age, being, as mountain, showed Him all the reigns of the
reckoned by law, son of YosÃph, of Âli, world in a moment of time.
24 of Mattithyahu, of LÃwi, of Mele¿i, of 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this
ZerubbaÄel, of She’alti’Ãl, of Neri, behind Me, Satan! For it has been written,
28 of Mele¿i, of Addi, of Qosam, of ‘You shall worship HWHY your Elohim, and
ElmoÅam, of Âr, Him only you shall serve.’ ”
29 of Yehoshua, of EliÈezer, of Yorim, of 9 And he brought Him to Yerushalayim,
TeraÁ, of NaÁor, has been said, ‘You shall not try HWHY your
35 of SeruÍ, of ReÈu, of PeleÍ, of ÂÄer, of Elohim.’ ”
ShÃlaÁ, 13 And when the devil had ended every
36 of QÃynan, of Arpa¿shaÅ, of ShÃm, of trial, he went away from Him until a
NoaÁ, of Leme¿, convenient time.
37 of MethushelaÁ, of Àano¿, of YereÅ, of 14 And aSWHY returned in the power of the
And in those days He did not eat at all, and yahu was handed to Him. And having
afterward, when they had ended, He was unrolled the scroll, He found the place
hungry. where it was written:
3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are 18 “The Spirit of HWHY is upon Me, f
the Son of Elohim, command this stone to because He has anointed Me to bring the
become bread.” Good News to the poor. He has sent Me
4 But aSWHY answered him, saying, “It has to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim
been written, ‘Man shall not live by bread release to the captives and recovery of
d Mt. 4:4 and its footnote, DeÄ. 8:3. e See 2 Cor. 4:4, also: Yn. 12:31, Yn. 14:30, Yn. 16:11, 1 Yn. 5:19.
f The Spirit upon the Word, working in unity – see Yesh. 59:21 with its footnote, and Yesh. 61:1-3.
LUKE 4 984
sight to the blind, to send away crushed he cried out with a loud voice,
ones with a release, 34 saying, “Ha! What have we to do with
19 to proclaim the acceptable year of You, aSWHY of Natsareth? Did You come
HWHY.” g to destroy us? I know You, who You are,
20 And having rolled up the scroll, He the Set-apart One of Elohim!”
gave it back to the attendant and sat down. 35 And aSWHY rebuked him, saying, “Be
And the eyes of all in the congregation silenced, and come out of him!” And when
were fixed upon Him. the demon had thrown him in their midst,
21 And He began to say to them, “Today it came out of him without hurting him.
this Scripture has been filled in your 36 And astonishment came on all, and
heal yourself! Whatever we have heard He went into the house of ShimÈon. But the
being done in Kephar NaÁum, do also here mother-in-law of ShimÈon was sick with a
in Your country.’ ” severe inflammation, and they asked Him
24 And He said, “Truly, I say to you, no concerning her.
prophet is accepted in his own country. 39 And standing over her He rebuked the
25 “But truly I say to you, many widows inflammation, and it left her, and instantly
were in Yisra’Ãl in the days of Âliyahu, rising up she served them.
when the heaven was shut up for three 40 And when the sun was setting, all
years and six months, and there was a great who had any who were sick with various
scarcity of food in all the land, diseases brought them to Him. And He laid
26 and Âliyahu was sent to none of them, His hands on each one of them and healed
but to Tsarephath of TsiÅon, to a woman, a them.
widow. 41 And also demons were coming out of
27 “And many lepers were in Yisra’Ãl in many, crying out and saying, “You are the
the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of Messiah, the Son of Elohim!” And rebuk-
them was cleansed except NaÈaman the ing them, He did not allow them to speak,
Aramean.” for they knew that He was the Messiah.
28 And all those in the congregation, when 42 And when day came, He went out and
they heard this, were filled with wrath. proceeded to a lonely place, but the crowds
29 And rising up they drove Him out of were seeking Him and came to Him, and
the city, and brought Him to the brow of tried to keep Him from leaving them.
the hill on which their city was built, in 43 And He said to them, “To the other
order to throw Him down. cities I also have to bring the Good News:
30 But He, passing through the midst of the reign of Elohim, because for this I have
them, went away. been sent.”
31 And He came down to Kephar NaÁum, 44 And He was proclaiming in the congre-
a city of Galil, and was teaching them on gations of Galil.
the Sabbaths.
32 And they were astonished at His teach-
g Yesh. 61:1-2.
985 LUKE 5
2 and He saw two boats standing by the even more. And large crowds were coming
lake, but the fishermen had gone from together to hear, and to be healed by Him
them and were washing their nets. of their sicknesses.
3 And entering into one of the boats, 16 But He was often withdrawing Himself
sat down and was teaching the crowds was teaching, that there were Pharisees and
from the boat. teachers of the Torah sitting by, who had
4 And when He ceased speaking, He said come out of every village of Galil,
to ShimÈon, “Pull out into the deep and let YehuÅah, and Yerushalayim. And the power
down your nets for a catch.” of HWHY was there to heal them.
5 And ShimÈon answering, said to Him, 18 And see, men brought on a bed a man
“Master, we have toiled all night and who was paralysed. And they were seeking
caught none, but at Your word I shall let to bring him in and lay him before Him.
down the net.” 19 But having found no way to bring him
6 And when they did so, they caught a in because of the crowd, they went up on
great number of fish, and their net was the house-top and let him down with his
breaking, bed through the tiles into the midst before
7 and they motioned to their partners in aSWHY.
the other boat to come and help them. And 20 And having seen their belief, He said to
they came and filled both the boats, so that him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
they were sinking. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees
8 And when ShimÈon KÃpha saw it, he began to reason, saying, “Who is this who
fell down at the knees of aSWHY, saying, speaks blasphemies? Who is able to for-
“Depart from me, for I am a man, a sinner, give sins except Elohim alone?”
O Master!” 22 And aSWHY, knowing their thoughts,
9 For astonishment had seized him and answering, said to them, “Why are you
all those with him, at the catch of fish reasoning in your hearts?
which they took, 23 “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are
10 so too were YaÈaqoÄ and YoÁanan, the forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and
sons of ZaÄdai, who were partners with walk’?
ShimÈon. Then aSWHY said to ShimÈon, 24 “But in order for you to know that the
“Do not fear, from now on you shall catch Son of AÅam possesses authority on earth
men.” to forgive sins...” He said to the man who
11 And having brought the boats to land, was paralysed, “I say to you, rise, take up
they left all and followed Him. your bed, and go to your house.”
12 And it came to be when He was in a 25 And at once, having risen up before
certain city, that see, a man covered with them, he took up what he had been lying
leprosy saw aSWHY. And he fell on his face on, and went away to his house, praising
and begged Him, saying, “Master, if You Elohim.
desire, You are able to cleanse me.” 26 And astonishment seized them all, and
13 And He stretched out His hand and they praised Elohim and were filled with
touched him, saying, “I desire it. Be fear, saying, “We have seen extra-ordinary
cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy feats today!”
left him. 27 And after this He went out and saw a
14 And He ordered him to say it to no one, tax collector named LÃwi, sitting at the tax
“But go and show yourself to the priest, office, and said to him, “Follow Me.”
and make an offering for your cleansing, 28 And he, having left all, rose up and
of tax collectors and others who sat down 4 how he went into the House of Elohim,
with them. took and ate the showbread, and also gave
30 And the Pharisees and their scribes some to those with him, which is not right
grumbled against His taught ones, saying, for any but the priests to eat?”
“Why do You eat and drink with tax col- 5 And He said to them, “The Son of
“Those who are well do not need a physi- Sabbath, that He entered into the congre-
cian, but those who are sick. gation and taught, and there was a man
32 “I have not come to call the righteous, whose right hand was withered.
but sinners, to repentance.” 7 And the scribes and Pharisees were
33 And they said to Him, “Why do the watching Him closely, whether He would
taught ones of YoÁanan fast often and heal on the Sabbath, for them to find an
make prayers, and likewise those of the accusation against Him.
Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?” 8 And He knew their thoughts, and said
34 And He said to them, “Are you able to to the man who had the withered hand,
make the friends of the bridegroom fast “Rise and stand in the midst.” And he rose
while the bridegroom is with them? up and stood.
35 “But days shall come when the bride- 9 Then aSWHY said to them, “I ask you, is
groom is taken away from them, then they it right to do good on the Sabbath, or to do
shall fast in those days.” evil, to save life or to destroy it?”
36 And He also spoke a parable to them, 10 And looking around at them all, He
“No one puts a piece from a fresh garment said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”
on an old one, otherwise the fresh one And he did so, and his hand was restored
makes a tear, and also the piece that was sound as the other.
taken out of the fresh one does not match 11 But they were filled with folly, and
burst the wineskins and run out, and the went out to the mountain to pray, and was
wineskins shall be ruined. spending the night in prayer to Elohim.
38 “But new wine is put into fresh wine- 13 And when it became day, He called
skins, and both are preserved. near His taught ones and chose from them
39 “And no one, having drunk old wine, twelve, whom He also named emissaries:
immediately desires new wine, for he says, 14 ShimÈon whom He also named KÃpha,
‘The old is better.’ ” and his brother Andri, YaÈaqoÄ and YoÁa-
nan, Philip and Bartholomi,
6 And it came to be on a Sabbath that
He went through grainfields, and His
15 Mattithyahu and T’oma, YaÈaqoÄ the
taught ones, said, “Blessed are the poor, i good, and lend, expecting none in return.
because yours is the reign of Elohim. And your reward shall be great, and you
21 “Blessed are you who hunger now, shall be sons of the Most High. Because
because you shall be satisfied. Blessed are He is kind to the thankless and wicked
you who weep now, because you shall ones. j
laugh. 36 “Therefore be compassionate, as your
22 “Blessed are you when men shall hate Father also is compassionate.
you, and when they shall cut you off, and 37 “And do not judge, and you shall not
shall reproach you, and cast out your name be judged at all. Condemn not, and you
as wicked, for the sake of the Son of shall not be condemned at all. Forgive, and
AÅam. you shall be forgiven.
23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, 38 “Give, and it shall be given to you. A
for look, your reward is great in the heav- good measure, pressed down and shaken
en, for that is how their fathers treated the together and running over shall be put into
prophets. your lap. For with the same measure with
24 “But woe to you who are rich, because which you measure, it shall be measured
you are receiving your comfort. back to you.”
25 “Woe to you who have been filled, 39 And He spoke a parable to them, “Is a
because you shall hunger. Woe to you who blind able to lead a blind? Shall they not
are laughing now, because you shall mourn both fall into a pit?
and weep. 40 “A taught one is not above his teacher,
26 “Woe to you when all men speak well but everyone perfected shall be like his
of you, for thus their fathers did to the false teacher.
prophets. 41 “And why do you see the splinter in
27 “But I say to you who are hearing: your brother’s eye, but are not aware of the
Love your enemies, do good to those plank in your own eye?
hating you. 42 “Or how are you able to say to your
28 “Bless those cursing you, and pray for brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the splin-
those insulting you. ter that is in your eye,’ not seeing the plank
29 “And to him who hits you on the one in your own eye? Hypocrite, first take the
cheek, offer the other also. And from him plank out of your own eye, and then you
who takes away your outer garment, do not shall see clearly to take out the splinter that
withhold the inner garment either. is in your brother’s eye.
30 “And give to everyone who asks of 43 “For a good tree does not yield rotten
you. And from him who takes away what fruit, nor does a rotten tree yield good fruit.
is yours do not ask it back. 44 “For each tree is known by its own
31 “And as you wish men should do to fruit. For they do not gather figs from
you, you also do to them in the same way. thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a
32 “And if you love those loving you, bramble bush.
what favour have you? For sinners, too, 45 “The good man brings forth what is
love those loving them. good out of the good treasure of his heart,
33 “And if you do good to those doing and the wicked man brings forth what is
wicked out of the wicked treasure of his to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to
heart. For out of the overflow of the heart you, not even in Yisra’Ãl have I found such
his mouth speaks. great belief!”
46 “But why do you call Me ‘Master, 10 And those who were sent, returning to
Master,’ and do not do what I say? k the house, found the servant who had been
47 “Everyone who is coming to Me, and is sick in good health.
hearing My words and is doing them, I 11 And it came to be the next day, that He
shall show you whom he is like: went into a city called NaÈim. And many of
48 “He is like a man building a house, who His taught ones went with Him, and a large
dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock. crowd.
And when a flood came, the stream burst 12 And see, as He came near the gate of
against that house, but was unable to shake the city a dead man was being carried out,
it, for it was founded on the rock. the only son of his mother, and she was a
49 “But the one hearing and not doing, is widow. And a large crowd from the city
like a man who built a house on the earth was with her.
without a foundation, against which the 13 And when the Master saw her, He had
stream burst, and immediately it fell. And compassion on her and said to her, “Do not
the ruin of that house was great.” weep.”
14 And coming near He touched the bier,
thy for You to grant this to him, ed to him about all this.
5 for he loves our nation, and has built 19 And YoÁanan, calling two of his taught
the congregation for us.” ones near, sent to aSWHY, saying, “Are You
6 So aSWHY went with them. However, the Coming One, or should we look for
He was not far from the house when the another?”
captain sent friends to Him, saying to Him, 20 And coming to Him, the men said,
“Master, do not trouble Yourself, for I am “YoÁanan the Immerser has sent us to You,
not worthy that You should come under my saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or
roof. should we look for another?’ ”
7 “For this reason I did not even think 21 And in the same hour He healed many
myself worthy to come to You. But say a of diseases, and afflictions, and wicked
word, and my servant shall be healed. spirits. And He gave sight to many blind
8 “For I too am a man appointed under ones.
authority, having soldiers under me. And I 22 And aSWHY answering, said to them,
say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to “Go, report to YoÁanan what you have
another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my seen and heard: blind receive sight, lame
servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” do walk, lepers are cleansed, deaf do hear,
9 And when aSWHY heard this, He mar- dead are raised, the Good News is brought
velled at him, and turned around and said to the poor.
k Hearing, but not doing, is all in vain – see vv. 47-49, Mt. 7:24-28, Lk. 8:21, Yn. 3:36, YaÈaqoÄ 2:17-24.
989 LUKE 8
grew up, it withered because it had no Him, and were unable to get to Him
moisture. because of the crowd.
7 “And other fell among thorns, and the 20 And it was reported to Him, saying,
thorns grew up with it and choked it. “Your mother and Your brothers are stand-
8 “And other fell on the good soil, and ing outside, wishing to see You.”
grew up, and yielded a crop a hundred- 21 And He answering, said to them, “My
fold.” Having said this He cried, “He who mother and My brothers are those who are
has ears to hear, let him hear!” hearing the Word of Elohim and doing it.” o
9 And His taught ones were asking Him, 22 And on a certain day it came to be, that
saying, “What does this parable mean?” He entered into a boat with His taught
10 And He said, “To you it has been given ones, and He said to them, “Let us go over
to know the secrets of the reign of Elohim, to the other side of the lake.” And they set
but to the rest in parables, that ‘Seeing out.
they do not see, and hearing they do not 23 And as they were sailing He fell asleep.
who hear, then the devil comes and takes up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perish-
away the word from their hearts, lest ing!” And He awoke and rebuked the wind
having believed, they should be saved. and the raging of the water. And they
13 “And those on the rock are those who, ceased, and there came a calm.
when they hear, receive the word with joy. 25 And He said to them, “Where is your
And these have no root, who believe for a belief?” And they were afraid, and
while and in time of trial fall away. marvelled, saying to one another, “Who
14 “And that which fell among thorns are then is this, that He even commands the
those who, when they have heard, go out winds and water, and they obey Him?”
and are choked with worries, and riches, 26 And they sailed to the country of the
and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to GaÅarenes, which is opposite Galil.
lSee Mt. 13 with its footnotes, and Mk. 4. m In these last days aSWHY is indeed revealing much unto those who
obey Him! n Unto those who hear and obey whatever truth aSWHY brings to them, He brings more truth.
However, those who do not hold on to whatever truth He brings, they lose it all, even that which they think they
have. o Mt. 12:50, Mk. 3:35.
991 LUKE 8
what Elohim has done for you.” And he ing for her, and He said, “Do not weep, she
went away proclaiming through all the city is not dead, but sleeps.”
LUKE 8 992
53 And they were laughing at Him, know- 12 And as the day began to decline, the
ing that she was dead. twelve came and said to Him, “Send the
54 But taking her by the hand He called, crowd away, that going into the surround-
saying, “Child, arise.” ing villages and country, they might lodge
55 And her spirit returned, and she rose up and get food, because here we are in a
immediately. And He directed that she be lonely place.”
given food to eat. 13 But He said to them, “You give them to
56 And her parents were astonished, but eat.” And they said, “We have no more
He ordered them to say to no one what had than five loaves and two fishes, unless we
taken place. go and buy food for all these people.”
14 For there were about five thousand
diseases. down.
2 And He sent them to proclaim the reign 16 And taking the five loaves and the two
of Elohim and to heal the sick. fishes, having looked up to the heaven, He
3 And He said to them, “Take no matter blessed and broke them, and gave them to
at all for the journey, neither staffs nor bag the taught ones to set before the crowd.
nor bread nor money – neither have two 17 So they all ate and were satisfied, and
all that was done by Him, and was per- do you say I am?” And KÃpha answering,
plexed, because it was said by some that said, “The Messiah of Elohim.”
YoÁanan had been raised from the dead, 21 And strictly warning them, He com-
8 and by some that Âliyahu had appeared, manded them to say this to no one,
and by others that one of the old prophets 22 saying, “The Son of AÅam has to suffer
drew by themselves to a city called BÃyth shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for
TsaiÅa. My sake shall save it.
11 And when the crowds knew it, they 25 “For what is a man profited if he gains
followed Him. And having received them, all the world, and is himself destroyed or
He was speaking to them about the reign lost?
of Elohim, and healed those who had need 26 “For whoever is ashamed of Me and
be ashamed when He comes in His esteem, it out, but they were unable.”
and in His Father’s, and of the set-apart 41 And aSWHY answering, said, “O gener-
appearance of His face changed, and His ness of Elohim. And while all were
garment dazzling white. marvelling at all that aSWHY did, He said
30 And see, two men were talking with to His taught ones,
Him, who were Mosheh and Âliyahu, p 44 “Lay up in your ears these words, for
31 who having appeared in esteem, spoke the Son of AÅam is about to be delivered
of His death which He was about to com- into the hands of men.”
plete at Yerushalayim. 45 But they did not understand this saying,
32 But KÃpha and those with him were and it was veiled from them so that they
heavy with sleep. And having awakened, did not perceive it. And they were afraid to
they saw His esteem and the two men ask Him about this saying.
standing with Him. 46 And a reasoning arose among them,
33 And it came to be, as they were parting who might be the greater of them.
from Him, KÃpha said to aSWHY, “Master, 47 And aSWHY, having seen the reasoning
it is good for us to be here. And let us of their heart, took a little child and placed
make three booths: one for You, and one him by His side,
for Mosheh, and one for Âliyahu,” not 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives
ing, “This is My Son, the Beloved. Hear we saw someone casting out demons in
Him!” Your Name, and we forbade him because
36 And when the voice had spoken, aSWHY he does not follow with us.”
was found alone. And they were silent, and 50 But aSWHY said to him, “Do not forbid
reported to no one in those days any of him, for he who is not against us is for us.”
what they had seen. 51 And it came to be, when the days of His
37 And it came to be on the next day, taking up were being completed, even He
when they came down from the mountain, set His face to go to Yerushalayim,
that a large crowd met Him. 52 and He sent messengers ahead of Him.
38 And see, a man from the crowd cried And they went and entered into a village of
out, saying, “Teacher, I beg You, look at the Shomeronites, to prepare for Him.
my son, for he is my only child. 53 And they did not receive Him, because
39 “And see, a spirit seizes him, and he His face was set for the journey to Yeru-
suddenly cries out, and it convulses him, shalayim.
with foaming, and scarcely leaves him, 54 And His taught ones, YaÈaqoÄ and
from the heaven and destroy them, as also move from house to house.
Âliyahu did?” 8 “And into whatever city you enter, and
55 But having turned, He rebuked them they receive you, eat whatever is placed
and said, “You do not know of what spirit before you,
you are, 9 and heal the sick there, and say to them,
56 for the Son of AÅam did not come to ‘The reign of Elohim has come near to
destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And you.’
they went on to another village. 10 “And into whatever city you enter, and
57 And it came to be, as they journeyed on they do not receive you, go out into its
the way, that someone said to Him, streets and say,
“Master, I shall follow You wherever You 11 ‘Even the dust of your city which clings
lay His head.” bearable for SeÅom in that Day, than for
59 And He said to another, “Follow Me,” that city.
but he said, “Master, let me first go and 13 “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you,
follow You, but let me first say good-bye and TsiÅon at the judgment than for you.
to those in my house.” 15 “And you, Kephar NaÁum, who are
62 But aSWHY said to him, “No one, hav- exalted to the heaven, shall be brought
ing put his hand to the plough, and looking down to the grave.
back, is fit for the reign of Elohim.” q 16 “He who hears you hears Me, he who
by two ahead of Him into every city and ing, “Master, even the demons are subject
place where He Himself was about to go. to us in Your Name.”
2 Then He said to them, “The harvest 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan
indeed is great, but the workers are few, falling out of the heaven as lightning.
therefore pray the Master of the harvest to 19 “See, I give you the authority to tram-
send out workers into His harvest. ple on serpents and scorpions, and over all
3 “Go! See, I send you out as lambs into the power of the enemy, and none at all
the midst of wolves. shall hurt you.
4 “Do not take a purse, nor a bag, nor 20 “But do not rejoice in this, that the
sandals. And greet no one along the way. spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice
5 “And whatever house you enter, first because your names have been written in
say, ‘Peace to this house.’ the heavens.”
6 “And if indeed a son of peace is there, 21 In that hour aSWHY exulted in the Spirit
your peace shall rest on it; and if not, it and said, “I praise You, Father, Master of
shall return to you. the heaven and of the earth, that You have
7 “And stay in the same house, eating hidden these matters from clever and
and drinking whatever with them, for the learned ones, and did reveal them to babes.
labourer is worthy of his wages. Do not Yea, Father, because thus it was well-
pleasing in Your sight. 35 “And going out on the next day, he took
22 “All has been delivered to Me by My out two pieces of silver, gave them to the
Father, and no one knows who the Son is, innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Look after
except the Father, and who the Father is, him, and whatever more you spend I shall
except the Son, and he to whom the Son repay you when I return.’
wishes to reveal Him.” 36 “Who, then, of these three, do you
23 And turning to His taught ones He said, think, was neighbour s to him who fell
separately, “Blessed are the eyes that see among the robbers?”
what you see, 37 And he said, “He who showed compas-
24 for I say to you that many prophets and sion on him.” Then aSWHY said to him,
sovereigns have wished to see what you “Go and do likewise.”
see, and have not seen it, and to hear what 38 And it came to be as they went that He
you hear, and have not heard it.” entered into a certain village. And a certain
25 And see, a certain one learned in the woman named Martha received Him into
Torah stood up, trying Him, and saying, her house.
“Teacher, what shall I do to inherit ever- 39 And she had a sister called Miryam,
lasting life?” who also sat at the feet of aSWHY and heard
26 And He said to him, “What has been His word.
written in the Torah? How do you read it?” 40 But Martha was distracted with much
27 And he answering, said, “ ‘You shall serving, and coming up she said, “Master,
love HWHY your Elohim with all your heart, are You not concerned that my sister has
and with all your being, and with all your left me to serve alone? Speak to her then,
strength, and with all your mind,’ and to help me.”
‘your neighbour as yourself.’ ” 41 And aSWHY answering, said to her,
28 And He said to him, “You have “Martha, Martha, you are worried and
answered rightly. Do this and you shall troubled about many matters,
live.” r 42 but one only is necessary, and Miryam
29 But he, wishing to declare himself has chosen the good portion, which shall
righteous, said to aSWHY, “And who is my not be taken away from her.”
neighbour?”
30 And replying, aSWHY said, “A certain
man was going down from Yerushalayim 11 And it came to be while He was
praying in a certain place, as He
to YeriÁo, and fell among robbers, who, ceased, one of His taught ones said to Him,
both stripping and beating him, went away, “Master, teach us to pray, as YoÁanan also
leaving him half dead. taught his taught ones.”
31 “And by a coincidence a certain priest 2 And He said to them, “When you pray,
was going down that way. And when he say: Our Father in the heavens, let Your
saw him, he passed by on the other side. Name be set-apart, let Your reign come, let
32 “And likewise a LÃwite also, when he Your desire be done on earth as it is in
came to the place, and seeing, passed by on heaven.
the other side. 3 “Give us day by day our daily bread.
33 “But a certain Shomeronite, journey- 4 “And forgive us our sins, for we also
ing, came upon him. And when he saw forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
him, he had compassion on him, And do not lead us into trial, but rescue us
34 and he went to him and bandaged his from the wicked one.”
wounds, pouring on oil and wine. And 5 And He said to them, “Which of you
having placed him on his own beast, he shall have a friend, and go to him at mid-
brought him to an inn, and looked after night and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me
him. three loaves,
r See footnote Mt. 19:17. s “Neighbour” includes those of another race – see 17:18.
LUKE 11 996
locked, and my children with me are in armed, watches over his own court, his
bed. I am unable to get up and give to possessions are in peace.
you’? 22 “But when a stronger than he comes
8 “I say to you, if he does not get up and upon him and overcomes him, he takes
give to him because he is his friend, he from him all his armour in which he trust-
shall get up and give him as many as he ed, and divides his booty.
needs because of his persistence. 23 “He who is not with Me is against Me,
9 “And I say to you: ask and it shall be and he who does not gather with Me scat-
given to you, seek and you shall find, ters.
knock and it shall be opened to you. 24 “When the unclean spirit goes out of a
10 “For everyone asking receives, and he man, he goes through dry places, seeking
who is seeking finds, and to him who is rest. And finding none, he says, ‘I shall
knocking it shall be opened. return to my house from which I came.’
11 “And what father among you whose 25 “And when he comes, he finds it swept
son asks for bread shall give him a stone, and decorated,
or if he asks for a fish shall give him a 26 then he goes and takes with him seven
much more shall your Father from heaven this, a certain woman from the crowd
give the Set-apart Spirit to those asking raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed
Him!” is the womb that bore You, and the breasts
14 And He was casting out a demon, and it which You sucked!”
was dumb. And it came to be, when the 28 But He said, “Blessed rather are those
demon had gone out, that the dumb spoke. hearing the Word of Elohim and watching
And the crowds marvelled. over it!” t
15 But some of them said, “He casts out 29 And while the crowds were thronging,
to them, “Every reign divided against itself Ninewites, so also the Son of AÅam shall
is laid waste, and a house divided against a be to this generation.
house falls. 31 “The sovereigness of the South shall
18 “So if Satan also is divided against rise up in the judgment with the men of
himself, how shall his reign stand? this generation and shall condemn them,
Because you say I cast out demons by for she came from the ends of the earth to
BeÈelzebul. hear the wisdom of Shelomoh, and look, a
19 “Now if I cast out demons by greater than Shelomoh is here.
BeÈelzebul, by whom do your sons cast 32 “The men of NinewÃh shall rise up in
them out? Because of this they shall be the judgment with this generation and con-
t See 8:21.
997 LUKE 12
demn it, for they repented at the preaching selves do not touch the burdens with one of
of Yonah, and look, a greater than Yonah is your fingers.
here. 47 “Woe to you, because you build the
33 “And no one, when he has lit a lamp, tombs of the prophets, and your fathers
puts it in a hidden place or under a basket, killed them.
but on a lampstand, that those who come in 48 “So you bear witness that you approve
shall see the light. of the works of your fathers, because they
34 “The lamp of the body is the eye. indeed killed them, and you build their
Therefore, when your eye is good, all your tombs.
body also is enlightened. But when your 49 “And because of this the wisdom of
eye is evil, u your body also is darkened. Elohim said, ‘I shall send them prophets
35 “See to it therefore that the light which and emissaries, and some of them they
is in you is not darkness. shall kill and persecute,’
36 “If then all your body is enlightened, 50 so that the blood of all the prophets
having no part dark, all shall be enlight- which was shed from the foundation of the
ened, as when the bright shining of a lamp world shall be required of this generation,
gives you light.” 51 from the blood of HeÄel to the blood of
37 And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee Ze¿aryah who perished between the altar
asked Him to dine with him, so He went in and the Dwelling Place. Yea, I say to you,
and sat down to eat. it shall be required of this generation.
38 And when the Pharisee saw it, he mar- 52 “Woe to you learned in the Torah,
velled that He did not first wash before because you took away the key of knowl-
dinner. edge. You did not enter in yourselves, and
39 And the Master said to him, “Now you those who were entering in you hindered.”
Pharisees make the outside of the cup and 53 And as He was saying this to them, the
dish clean, but your inward part is filled scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose
with greed and wickedness. Him fiercely, and to draw Him out on
40 “Mindless ones! Did not He who made many subjects,
the outside make the inside also? 54 watching Him, and seeking to catch
41 “But give in kindness of that which is Him in whatever He says, so as to accuse
within, and see, all are clean to you. Him.
42 “But woe to you Pharisees, because
u This is Hebrew idiom – a good eye means to be generous, while an evil eye means to be stingy.
LUKE 12 998
should fear: Fear the One who, after what you have prepared?’
killing, possesses authority to cast into 21 “So is he who is storing up treasure for
Gehenna. Yea, I say to you, fear Him! himself, and is not rich toward Elohim.”
6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two 22 And He said to His taught ones, “For
copper coins? And not one of them is this reason I say to you, do not worry about
forgotten before Elohim. your life, what you shall eat; nor about the
7 “But even the hairs of your head have body, what you shall put on.
all been numbered. Do not fear, you are 23 “The life is more than the food, and the
worth more than many sparrows. body is more than the clothing.
8 “And I say to you, everyone who con- 24 “Look at the ravens, for they neither
fesses Me before men, the Son of AÅam sow nor reap, which have neither store-
shall also confess him before the messen- house nor granary, and Elohim feeds them.
gers of Elohim. How much more valuable are you than the
9 “But he that has denied Me before men birds?
shall be denied before the messengers of 25 “And which of you by worrying is able
against the Son of AÅam, it shall be forgiv- why do you worry about the rest?
en him, but to him who has blasphemed 27 “Look at the lilies, how they grow.
against the Set-apart Spirit, it shall not be They neither toil nor spin, and I say to you,
forgiven. even Shelomoh in all his esteem was not
11 “And when they bring you to the con- dressed like one of these.
gregations and rulers and authorities, do 28 “And if Elohim so clothes the grass,
not worry about how or what you should which today exists in the field and tomor-
answer, or what you should say, row is thrown into the furnace, how much
12 for the Set-apart Spirit shall teach you more you, O you of little belief?
in that very hour what you should say.” 29 “And do not seek what you shall eat
13 And someone from the crowd said to or what you shall drink, and do not keep
Him, “Teacher, speak to my brother, to worrying.
divide the inheritance with me.” 30 “For the gentiles of the world seek all
14 But He said to him, “Man, who made these, and your Father knows that you
Me a judge or divider over you?” need these.
15 And He said to them, “Mind, and 31 “But seek the reign of Elohim, and all
beware of greed, because one’s life does not these shall be added to you.
consist in the excess of his possessions.” 32 “Do not fear, little flock, because your
16 He then spoke a parable to them, Father did delight to give you the reign.
saying, “The land of a certain rich man 33 “Sell your possessions and give in
many goods laid up for many years, take ter, when he shall return from the wedding,
your ease, eat, drink, rejoice.” ’ that when he comes and knocks they open
20 “But Elohim said to him, ‘You mind- to him immediately.
less one! This night your life shall be 37 “Blessed are those servants whom the
demanded from you. And who shall own master, when he comes, shall find watch-
999 LUKE 13
ing. Truly, I say to you that he shall gird 51 “Do you think that I came to give peace
himself and make them sit down to eat, on earth? I say to you, no, but rather divi-
and shall come and serve them. sion.
38 “And if he comes in the second watch, 52 “For from now on five in one house
or in the third watch, and find them so, shall be divided, three against two, and two
blessed are those servants. against three –
39 “And know this, that if the master of 53 father shall be divided against son, and
the house had known what hour the thief son against father, mother against daugh-
comes, he would have watched and not ter, and daughter against mother, mother-
allowed his house to be broken into. in-law against her daughter-in-law, and
40 “And you, then, be ready, for the Son of daughter-in-law against her mother-in-
AÅam is coming at an hour you do not law.”
expect.” 54 And He also said to the crowds, “When
41 And KÃpha said to Him, “Master, do you see a cloud rising out of the west,
You speak this parable to us, or also to immediately you say, ‘A storm is coming,’
all?” and so it is.
42 And the Master said, “Who then is the 55 “And when you see the south wind
trustworthy and wise manager, whom his blow, you say, ‘There shall be hot weath-
master shall appoint over his household, to er,’ and it is.
give the portion of food in due season? 56 “Hypocrites! You know to discern the
43 “Blessed is that servant whom his mas- face of the heaven and of the earth, but
ter shall find so doing when he comes. how is it you do not discern this time?
44 “Truly, I say to you that he shall 57 “And why, also, do you not judge for
‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and ruler, try hard along the way to settle with
begins to beat the male servants and him, lest he drag you to the judge, and the
female servants, and to eat and drink and judge deliver you to the officer, and the
be drunk, officer throw you into prison.
46 the master of that servant shall come on 59 “I say to you, you shall certainly not
a day when he does not expect him, and at leave there until you have paid even the
an hour that he does not know, and shall last mite.”
cut him in two and appoint his portion with
the unbelievers.
47 “And that servant who knew his mas- 13 And some were present at that
time, reporting to Him about the
ter’s desire, and did not prepare, nor did Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed
according to his desire, shall be beaten with their offerings.
with many stripes. 2 And aSWHY answering, said to them,
48 “But he who did not know, yet did what “Do you think that these Galileans were
deserved flogging, shall be beaten with worse sinners than all other Galileans,
few. v And everyone to whom much is because they have suffered like this?
given, from him much shall be demanded. 3 “I say to you, no! But unless you repent
And to whom much has been entrusted, you shall all perish in the same way.
from him much more shall be asked. 4 “Or those eighteen on whom the tower
49 “I came to send fire on the earth, and in ShiloaÁ fell and killed them, do you
how I wish it were already kindled! think that they were greater offenders than
50 “But I have an immersion to be all other men who dwelt in Yerushalayim?
immersed with, and how distressed I am 5 “I say to you, no! But unless you repent
6 And He spoke this parable, “A certain took and threw into his garden. And it
man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, grew and became a large tree, and the birds
and he came seeking fruit on it and found of the heavens nested in its branches.”
none. 20 And again He said, “To what shall I
7 “And he said to the gardener, ‘Look, compare the reign of Elohim?
for three years I have come seeking 21 “It is like leaven, which a woman took
fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it and hid in three measures of flour until it
down, why does it even make the ground was all leavened.”
useless?’ 22 And He was going through the cities
8 “And he answering, said to him, and villages, teaching, and journeying
‘Master, leave it this year too, until I dig toward Yerushalayim,
around it and throw manure. 23 and someone said to Him, “Master, are
9 ‘And if indeed it bears fruit, good. But there few who are being saved?” And He
if not so, you shall cut it down.’ ” said to them,
10 And He was teaching in one of the con- 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow
gregations on the Sabbath, gate, because many, I say to you, shall seek
11 and see, there was a woman having a to enter in and shall not be able.
weakening spirit for eighteen years, and 25 “When once the Master of the house
was bent over and was unable to straighten has risen up and shut the door, and you
up at all. begin to stand outside and knock at the
12 And aSWHY, seeing her, called her near door, saying, ‘Master, Master, open for us,’
and said to her, “Woman, you are loosened and He shall answer and say to you, ‘I do
from your weakness.” not know you, where you are from,’
13 And He laid His hands on her, and 26 then you shall begin to say, ‘We ate and
immediately she was straightened up, and drank in Your presence, and You taught in
praised Elohim. our streets.’
14 But the ruler of the congregation, 27 “But He shall say, ‘I say to you I do not
responding, much displeased that aSWHY know you, where you are from. Depart
had healed on the Sabbath, said to the from Me, all you workers of unrighteous-
crowd, “There are six days on which men ness.’
should work, so come and be healed on 28 “There shall be weeping and gnashing
them, and not on the Sabbath day.” of teeth, when you see AÄraham and
15 Then the Master answered him and YitsÁaq and YaÈaqoÄ w and all the prophets
said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you in the reign of Elohim, and yourselves
on the Sabbath loosen his ox or his donkey thrown outside.
from the stall, and lead it away to water it? 29 “And they shall come from the east and
16 “And this one, being a daughter of the west, and from the north and the south,
AÄraham, whom Satan has bound, look, and sit down in the reign of Elohim.
for eighteen years, should she not be loos- 30 “And see, there are last who shall be
ened from this bond on the Sabbath?” first, and there are first who shall be last.”
17 And when He said this, all His oppo- 31 On the same day there came certain
nents were put to shame. And all the crowd Pharisees, saying to Him, “Get out and go
rejoiced for all the splendid works being from here, for Herodes wishes to kill You.”
done by Him. 32 And He said to them, “Go, say to that
18 Therefore He said, “What is the reign fox, ‘See, I cast out demons and perform
of Elohim like? And to what shall I com- healings today and tomorrow, and the third
pare it? day I shall be perfected.’
19 “It is like a mustard seed, which a man 33 “But I have to journey today, and
w These three are in the reign of Elohim, as well as Mosheh and Âliyahu (according to the transfiguration on the
mount). Every sincere believer should ask himself: Do I believe, and do I obey, like they did?
1001 LUKE 14
tomorrow, and the day following, because 11 “For everyone who is exalting himself
it is not fitting for a prophet to perish shall be humbled, and he who is humbling
outside of Yerushalayim. himself shall be exalted.”
34 “Yerushalayim, Yerushalayim, killing 12 And He also said to him who invited
the prophets and stoning those who are Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper,
sent to her! How often I wished to gather do not ask your friends, nor your brothers,
your children together, the way a hen gath- nor your relatives, nor your rich neigh-
ers her chickens under her wings, but you bours, lest they also invite you back, and
would not! you be repaid.
35 “See, your House is left to you laid 13 “But when you give a feast, invite poor
waste. And truly I say to you, you shall by ones, crippled ones, lame ones, blind ones,
no means see Me until the time comes 14 and you shall be blessed, because they
when you say, ‘Blessed is He who is com- do not have to repay you. For you shall be
ing in the Name of HWHY!’ ” x repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
15 And when one of those who sat at the
into a pit, shall not immediately pull him yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them
out on the Sabbath day?” out. I ask you to have me excused.’
6 And they were unable to answer Him 20 “And another said, ‘I have married a
chose the best places, saying to them: this to his master. Then the master of the
8 “When you are invited by anyone to a house, being wroth, said to his servant,
wedding feast, do not sit down in the best ‘Hurry out into the streets and lanes of
place, lest one more distinguished than you the city, and bring in here the poor, and
be invited by him, crippled, and lame, and blind.’
9 and he who invited you and him come 22 “And the servant said, ‘Master, it is
and say to you, ‘Give this one place,’ and done as you commanded, and still there is
then you begin with shame to take the last room.’
place. 23 “And the master said to the servant,
10 “Rather, when you are invited, go and ‘Go out into the street corners and hedges,
sit down in the last place, so that when he and compel them to come in, so that my
who invited you comes he shall say to you, house is filled.
‘Friend, come up higher.’ Then you shall 24 ‘For I say to you that none of those men
have esteem in the presence of those who who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”
sit at the table with you. 25 And large crowds were going with
Him, and turning, He said to them, 5 “And having found it, he lays it on his
26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not shoulders, rejoicing.
hate y his father and mother, and wife, and 6 “And having come home, he calls
children, and brothers, and sisters, and his together his friends and neighbours, saying
own life too, he is unable to be My taught to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found
one. my sheep which was lost!’
27 “And whoever does not bear his stake 7 “I say to you that in the same way there
and come after Me is unable to be My shall be more joy in the heaven over one
taught one. sinner repenting, than over ninety-nine
28 “For who of you, wishing to build a righteous ones who need no repentance.
tower, does not sit down first and count the 8 “Or what woman, having ten silver
cost, whether he has enough to complete coins, if she loses one coin, does not light
it? a lamp and sweep the house, and seek
29 “Otherwise, when he has laid the foun- diligently till she finds it?
dation, and is unable to finish it, all who 9 “And having found it, she calls friends
against another sovereign, does not sit joy in the presence of the messengers of
down first and take counsel whether he is Elohim over one sinner repenting.”
able with ten thousand to meet him who 11 And He said, “A certain man had two
away, he sends a delegation and asks con- father, ‘Father, give me the portion of
ditions of peace. goods falling to me.’ And he divided his
33 “So, then, everyone of you who does livelihood between them.
not give up all that he has, is unable to be 13 “And not many days after, the younger
hear Him. with the pods which the pigs were eating,
2 And the Pharisees and scribes grum- and no one gave to him.
bled, saying, “This One receives sinners 17 “But having come to himself, he said,
dred sheep, and having lost one of them, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned
does not leave the ninety-nine in the against the heaven, and before you,
wilderness and go after the one which is 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called
lost until he finds it? your son. Make me like one of your hired
y Meaning love less. He should be our first love. z See 9:62, Yn. 12:24-26, Phil. 3:7, Heb. 11:26. a Or unbridled.
1003 LUKE 16
father. And while he was still a long way ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an
off, his father saw him and was moved account of your management, for you are
with compassion, and ran and fell on his no longer able to be manager.’
neck and kissed him. 3 “And the manager said within himself,
21 “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking
have sinned against the heaven, and before the managership away from me. I am
you, and I am no longer worthy to be unable to dig, I am ashamed to beg.
called your son.’ 4 ‘I know what I shall do, that, when I am
22 “But the father said to his servants, removed from the managership, they
‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, might receive me into their houses.’
and put a ring on his hand and sandals on 5 “And calling every one of his master’s
‘See, these many years I have been serving is trustworthy also in much. And he who is
you, and I have never transgressed a com- unrighteous in what is least is unrighteous
mand of yours, but to me you have never also in much.
given a young goat, so I could rejoice with 11 “If, therefore, you have not been trust-
you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ in what is another man’s, who shall give
31 “Then he said to him, ‘Son, you are you what is your own?
always with me, and all I have is yours. 13 “No servant is able to serve two mas-
32 ‘And we had to rejoice and be glad, for ters, for either he shall hate the one and
your brother was dead and is alive, and love the other, or else he shall cling to the
was lost and is found.’ ” one and despise the other. You are not able
to serve Elohim and mammon.”
16 And He also said to His taught
ones, “There was a certain rich
14 And the Pharisees, who loved silver,
b Personification of wealth.
LUKE 16 1004
but Elohim knows your hearts, because that you would send him to my father’s
what is highly thought of among men is an house,
abomination in the sight of Elohim. 28 for I have five brothers, let him warn
16 “The Torah and the prophets are until them, lest they also come to this place of
YoÁanan. Since then the reign of Elohim is torture.’
being announced, and everyone is doing 29 “AÄraham said to him, ‘They have
violence c upon it. Mosheh and the prophets, let them hear
17 “And it is easier for the heaven and the them.’
earth to pass away than for one tittle of the 30 “And he said, ‘No, father AÄraham, but
everyone marrying her who is put away Mosheh and the prophets, f neither would
from her husband commits adultery. e they be persuaded even if one should rise
19 “But there was a certain rich man who from the dead.’ ”
used to dress in purple and fine linen and
lived luxuriously every day.
20 “And there was a certain beggar named 17 And He said to the taught ones, “It
is inevitable that stumbling-blocks
ElÈazar, being covered with sores, who was should come, but woe to him through
placed at his gate, whom they come!
21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs 2 “It would be better for him if a mill-
which fell from the rich man’s table. stone is put around his neck, and he were
Indeed, even the dogs came and licked his thrown into the sea, than that he should
sores. cause one of these little ones to stumble.
22 “And it came to be that the beggar died, 3 “Take heed to yourselves. If your broth-
and was carried by the messengers to the er sins against you, rebuke him, and if he
bosom of AÄraham. And the rich man also repents, forgive him.
died and was buried. 4 “And if he sins against you seven times
23 “And while suffering tortures in the in a day, and seven times in a day comes
grave, having lifted up his eyes, he saw back to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall
AÄraham far away, and ElÈazar in his forgive him.”
bosom. 5 And the emissaries said to the Master,
24 “And crying out he said, ‘Father AÄra- “Give us more belief.”
ham, have compassion on me, and send 6 And the Master said, “If you have
ElÈazar to dip the tip of his finger in water belief as a mustard seed, you would say to
and cool my tongue, for I am suffering in this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the
this flame.’ roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it
25 “But AÄraham said, ‘Son, remember would obey you.
that in your life you received your good, 7 “But who of you, having a servant
and likewise ElÈazar the evil, but now he is ploughing or shepherding, would say to
comforted and you are suffering. him when he has come in from the field,
26 ‘And besides all this, between us and ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’?
you a great chasm has been set, so that 8 “But would he not rather say to him,
those who wish to pass from here to you ‘Prepare somewhat for my supper, and gird
are unable, nor do those from there pass yourself and serve me while I eat and
c See YeÁez. 22:26, Tseph. 3:4. This is still being done to the True Worship, the Reign of Elohim, especially to
the Law of His Reign! d If we say we believe in Messiah, why don’t we believe what He said about the Law?
See Law in Explanatory Notes. e See footnote Mt. 5:32. f See 9:33, Mal. 4:4-5.
1005 LUKE 18
drink, and afterward you shall eat and one part under heaven shines to the other
drink’? part under heaven, so also the Son of
9 “Would he thank that servant because he AÅam shall be in His day.
did what he was commanded? I think not. 25 “But first He has to suffer much and be
10 “So also you, when you have done all rejected by this generation.
that you were commanded, say, ‘We are 26 “And as it came to be in the days of
unworthy servants, we have done what NoaÁ, so also shall it be in the days of the
was our duty to do.’ ” Son of AÅam:
11 And it came to be, as He went to 27 “They were eating, they were drinking,
Yerushalayim, that He passed through the they were marrying, they were given in
midst of Shomeron and Galil. marriage, until the day that NoaÁ went into
12 And as He was entering into a certain the ark, and the flood came and destroyed
village, He was met by ten leprous men, them all.
who stood at a distance. 28 “And likewise, as it came to be in the
13 And they lifted up their voices, saying, days of Lot: They were eating, they were
“aSWHY, Master, have compassion on us!” drinking, they were buying, they were sell-
14 And having seen them, He said to them, ing, they were planting, they were building,
“Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And 29 but on the day Lot went out of SeÅom it
it came to be, that as they were going, they rained fire and sulphur from heaven and
were cleansed. destroyed all.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he 30 “It shall be the same in the day the Son
way. Your belief has made you well.” two in one bed, the one shall be taken and
20 And having been asked by the Pharisees the other shall be left.
when the reign of Elohim would come, He 35 “Two shall be grinding together, the one
answered them and said, “The reign of shall be taken and the other shall be left.
Elohim does not come with intent watching, 36 “Two shall be in the field, the one shall
21 nor shall they say, ‘Look here!’ or be taken and the other shall be left.”
‘Look there!’ For look, the reign of Elohim 37 And they answering, said to Him,
g The Greek word referring to this Shomeronite is allogenes, which means “of another race.”
h aSWHY is the embodiment of the Reign of Elohim, for He is the Sovereign of this Reign.
LUKE 18 1006
crying out day and night to Him, and being over from my youth.”
patient over them? 22 And hearing this, aSWHY said to him,
8 “I say to you that He shall do right to “Yet one you lack: Sell all that you have
them speedily. But when the Son of AÅam and distribute to the poor, and you shall
comes, shall He find the belief on the have treasure in heaven. And come, follow
earth?” Me.”
9 And He also spoke this parable to some 23 But when he heard this, he became
who relied on themselves that they were intensely sad, for he was extremely rich.
righteous, and looking down on others: 24 And when aSWHY saw that he became
10 “Two men went up to the Set-apart intensely sad, He said, “How hard it is for
Place to pray – the one a Pharisee and the those who have riches to enter into the
other a tax collector. reign of Elohim!
11 “The Pharisee stood and began to pray 25 “For it is easier for a camel to enter
with himself this way, ‘Elohim, I thank through a needle’s eye than for a rich man
You that I am not like the rest of men, to enter into the reign of Elohim.”
swindlers, unrighteous, adulterers, or even 26 And those who heard it said, “And who
tance would not even raise his eyes to the and followed You.”
heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 29 And He said to them, “Truly, I say to
‘Elohim, show favour unto me, a sinner!’ you, there is no one who has left house or
14 “I say to you, this man went down parents or brothers or wife or children, for
to his house declared right, rather than the the sake of the reign of Elohim,
other. For everyone who is exalting him- 30 who shall not receive many times more
self shall be humbled, and he who is hum- in this present time, and in the age to come
bling himself shall be exalted.” everlasting life.” i
15 And they also brought infants to Him to 31 And taking the twelve aside, He said to
touch them, but His taught ones seeing it, them, “See, we are going up to Yerusha-
rebuked them. layim, and all that have been written by the
16 But aSWHY called them to Him and prophets about the Son of AÅam shall be
said, “Let the little children come to Me, accomplished.
and do not forbid them, for of such is the 32 “For He shall be delivered up to the
Him. And on the third day He shall rise Master, “Look, Master, I give half of my
again.” possessions to the poor. And if I have
34 But they understood none of this, and taken whatever from anyone by false accu-
this word was hidden from them, and they sation, I repay fourfold.”
did not know what was being said. 9 And aSWHY said to him, “Today deliv-
35 And it came to be, that as He was com- erance has come to this house – since he
ing near YeriÁo, that a certain blind man also is a son of AÄraham.
was sitting by the way begging. 10 “For the Son of AÅam has come to seek
36 And hearing a crowd passing by, he and to save what was lost.”
asked what it meant. 11 And as they were hearing this, He
37 And they reported to him that aSWHY of spoke another parable, because He was
Natsareth was passing by. near Yerushalayim and they thought the
38 And he cried out, saying, “aSWHY, Son reign of Elohim was about to be manifest-
of DawiÅ, have compassion on me!” ed straightaway.
39 And those going before were rebuking 12 He therefore said, “A certain nobleman
him that he should be silent, but he was went to a distant country to receive for
crying out much more, “Son of DawiÅ, himself a reign and to return.
have compassion on me!” 13 “And calling ten of his servants, He
40 And aSWHY stopped and commanded gave them ten minas, and said to them,
him to be brought to Him. And when he ‘Trade until I come.’
had come near, He asked him, 14 “But his subjects were hating him, and
41 saying, “What do you wish Me to do sent a delegation after him, to say, ‘We do
for you?” And he said, “Master, to receive not wish this one to reign over us.’
my sight.” 15 “And it came to be, when he came
42 And aSWHY said to him, “Receive your back, having received the reign, that he
sight! Your belief has saved you.” sent for these servants to whom he had
43 And immediately he received his sight, given the silver, in order to know what
and was following Him, praising Elohim. each had gained by trading.
And all the people, seeing it, gave praise to 16 “And the first came, saying, ‘Master,
into a sycamore tree to see Him, because here is your mina, which I kept laid up in a
He was about to pass by. handkerchief.
5 And as aSWHY came to the place, He 21 ‘For I was afraid of you, because you are
looked up and saw him, and said to him, a hard man. You take up what you did not
“Zakkai, hurry and come down, for I have lay down, and reap what you did not sow.’
to stay at your house today.” 22 “And he said to him, ‘Out of your own
6 And he hurried and came down, and mouth I shall judge you, you wicked
received Him, rejoicing. servant. You knew that I was a hard man,
7 And seeing it, they all grumbled, say- taking up what I did not lay down and
ing, “He has gone in to stay with a man reaping what I did not sow.
LUKE 19 1008
already possesses ten minas.’ the matters for your peace! But now they
26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who are hidden from your eyes.
possesses shall be given; and from him 43 “Because days shall come upon you
who does not possess, even what he pos- when your enemies shall build a rampart
sesses shall be taken away from him. around you, and surround you and press
27 ‘But those enemies of mine who did not you on all sides,
wish me to reign over them, bring them 44 and dash you to the ground, and your
here and slay them before me.’ ” j children within you. And they shall not
28 And having said this, He went on leave in you one stone upon another,
ahead, going up to Yerushalayim. because you did not know the time of your
29 And it came to be, when He came near visitation.”
to BÃyth PhaÍi and BÃyth Anyah, at the 45 And having entered into the Set-apart
mountain of Olives, that He sent two of Place, He began to drive out those selling
His taught ones, and buying in it,
30 saying, “Go into the village opposite 46 saying to them, “It has been written,
you, in which, as you enter, you shall find ‘My House is a house of prayer,’ but you
a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. have made it a ‘den of robbers.’ ”
Loosen it and bring it here. 47 And He was teaching daily in the Set-
31 “And if anyone asks you, ‘Why do you apart Place. But the chief priests, and the
loosen it?’ thus you shall say to him, scribes, and the leaders of the people were
‘Because the Master has need of it.’ ” seeking to destroy Him,
32 And those who were sent went away 48 but they did not find what they might
and found it as He had said to them. do, for all the people were hanging upon
33 And as they were loosing the colt, the Him, listening.
owners of it said to them, “Why do you
loosen the colt?”
34 And they said, “The Master needs it.” 20 And it came to be, on one of those
days, as He was teaching the peo-
35 So they brought it to aSWHY. And ple in the Set-apart Place and bringing the
throwing their garments on the colt, they Good News, that the chief priests and the
set aSWHY on it. scribes, together with the elders, came up
36 And as He went, they were spreading 2 and spoke to Him, saying, “Say to us,
their garments on the way. by what authority are You doing these? Or
37 And as He was coming near, already at who is he who gave You this authority?”
the descent of the Mount of Olives, the 3 And He answering, said to them, “I
entire crowd of the taught ones began, to shall ask you one question too, and answer
praise Elohim, rejoicing with a loud voice Me:
for all the miracles they had seen, 4 “The immersion of YoÁanan – was it
38 saying, “ ‘Blessed is the Sovereign who from heaven or from men?”
is coming in the Name of HWHY!’ k Peace in 5 And they debated among themselves,
heaven and esteem in the highest!” saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He shall
39 And some of the Pharisees from the say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’
crowd, said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your 6 “But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the peo-
j Are we allowing aSWHY, the Sovereign, to reign over us? k See footnote Mt. 23:39.
1009 LUKE 20
ple shall stone us, for they are persuaded we know that You say and teach rightly,
that YoÁanan was a prophet.” and You are not partial to any, but teach the
7 And they answered that they did not way of Elohim truly,
know from where it was. 22 “Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar
8 And aSWHY said to them, “Neither do I or not?”
say to you by what authority I do these.” 23 But perceiving their craftiness, He said
9 And He began to speak this parable to to them, “Why do you try Me?
the people, “A certain man planted a vine- 24 “Show Me a silver piece. Whose like-
yard, and leased it to farmers, and went ness and inscription does it have?” And
away for a long time. they answering, said, “Caesar’s.”
10 “And at harvest time he sent a servant 25 And He said to them, “Then give to
to the farmers, to give him some of the Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to Elohim
fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat what is Elohim’s.”
him and sent him away empty-handed. 26 And they were unable to catch Him in a
11 “And again he sent another servant. saying in the presence of the people, and
And they beat him too and maltreated him, marvelling at His answer, they were silent.
and sent him away empty-handed. 27 And some of the Sadducees, who deny
12 “And again he sent a third. And they that there is a resurrection, came to Him
wounded him too and cast him out. and asked Him,
13 “And the owner of the vineyard said, 28 saying, “Teacher, Mosheh wrote to us
‘What shall I do? I shall send my son, the that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife,
beloved. They might respect him when and he dies childless, his brother should
they see him.’ take his wife and raise up offspring for his
14 “But when the farmers saw him, they brother.
reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This 29 “Now, there were seven brothers, and
is the heir. Come, let us kill him, so that the the first took a wife, and died childless.
inheritance becomes ours.’ 30 “And the second took her as wife, and
15 “And they cast him out of the vineyard he died childless.
and killed him. What, then, shall the owner 31 “And the third took her, and in the same
of the vineyard do to them? way the seven also. And they left no chil-
16 “He shall come and destroy those farm- dren, and died.
ers and give the vineyard to others.” And 32 “And last of all the woman died too.
having heard, they said, “Let it not be!” 33 “At the resurrection, then, whose wife
17 But He looked at them and said, “What does she become? For the seven had her as
then is this that has been written, ‘The wife.”
stone which the builders rejected has 34 And aSWHY answering, said to them,
become the chief corner-stone’? “The sons of this age marry and are given
18 “Everyone who falls on that stone shall in marriage,
be broken, but on whomever it falls, he 35 but those who are counted worthy of
knew that He had spoken this parable any more, because they are like messen-
against them. gers and are sons of Elohim, being sons of
20 And keeping a close watch on Him, the resurrection.
they sent spies who pretended to be right- 37 “But that the dead are raised, even
eous, to catch Him in a word, in order to Mosheh showed at the bush when he called
deliver Him to the rule and to the authority HWHY ‘the Elohim of AÄraham, and the
of the governor. Elohim of YitsÁaq, and the Elohim of
21 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, YaÈaqoÄ.’
LUKE 20 1010
38 “Now He is not the Elohim of the dead, 9 “But when you hear of fightings and
but of the living, for all live to Him.” unrests, do not be alarmed, for these have
39 And some of the scribes answering, to take place first, but the end is not imme-
said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” diately.”
40 And they were not bold enough to 10 Then He said to them, “Nation l shall
question Him any more. rise against nation, and reign against reign.
41 And He said to them, “How do they say 11 “And there shall be great earthquakes
that the Messiah is the Son of DawiÅ? in various places, and scarcities of food
42 “For DawiÅ himself said in the Book of and deadly diseases. And there shall be
Psalms, ‘HWHY said to my Master, “sit at horrors, and great signs from heaven.
My right hand, 12 “But before all this, they shall lay
43 until I make Your enemies a footstool their hands on you and persecute you,
of Your feet.” ’ delivering you up to the congregations and
44 “DawiÅ then calls Him ‘Master,’ how is prisons, and be brought before sovereigns
He then his Son?” and rulers for My Name’s sake.
45 And in the hearing of all the people, He 13 “And it shall turn out to you for a
congregations, and the best places at feasts, wisdom which all your adversaries shall
47 who devour widows’ houses, and for not be able to refute or resist.
a show make long prayers. They shall 16 “And you shall also be betrayed by par-
receive greater judgment.” ents and brothers and relatives and friends.
And some of you shall be put to death.
21 And looking up He saw the rich
putting their gifts into the treasury,
2 and He saw a certain poor widow
17 “And you shall be hated by all because
of My Name.
18 “But not a hair of your head shall be
this poor widow has put in more than all. 20 “And when you see Yerushalayim
4 “For all these out of their excess have surrounded by armies, then know that its
put in offerings for Elohim, but she out of laying waste is near.
her poverty has put in all that she had to 21 “Then let those in YehuÅah flee to the
another that shall not be thrown down.” and to those who are nursing children in
7 And they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, those days! For there shall be great distress
but when shall this be? And what is the in the earth and wrath upon this people.
sign when this is about to take place?” 24 “And they shall fall by the edge of the
8 And He said, “See that you are not led sword, and be led away captive into all
astray, for many shall come in My Name, nations. And Yerushalayim shall be tram-
saying, ‘I am,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ pled underfoot by the gentiles m until the
Then do not go after them. times of the gentiles are filled.
l The Greek word for nation is ethnos which could also mean “ethnic group.”
m This trampling down is not only literally, but figuratively too – see footnote at Teh. 79:1.
1011 LUKE 22
25 “And there shall be signs in the sun, was called man from Qerioth, who was
and moon, and stars, and on the earth numbered among the twelve.
anxiety of nations, in bewilderment at the 4 And he went and spoke with the chief
roaring of the sea, and agitation, priests and captains, how he might deliver
26 men fainting from fear and the expecta- Him up to them.
tion of what is coming on the earth, for the 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give
AÅam coming in a cloud with power and occasion to deliver Him up to them, away
much esteem. from the crowd.
28 “And when these matters begin to take 7 And the Day of Unleavened Bread
place, look up and lift up your heads, came when the Passover had to be slaugh-
because your redemption draws near.” tered.
29 And He spoke a parable to them, “Look 8 And He sent KÃpha and YoÁanan,
at the fig tree, and all the trees. saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for
30 “When they have already budded, us to eat.”
observing it, you shall know for yourselves 9 And they said to Him, “Where do You
ters take place, know that the reign of into the city, a man shall meet you carrying
Elohim is near. a jar of water. Follow him into the house
32 “Truly, I say to you, this generation he enters.
shall by no means pass away till all shall 11 “And you shall say to the master of the
drunkenness, and worries of this life, and to them, and they prepared the Passover.
that day come on you suddenly. 14 And when the hour had come, He sat
35 “For it shall come as a snare on all down, and the twelve emissaries with Him.
those dwelling on the face of all the earth. 15 And He said to them, “With desire I
36 “Watch then at all times, and pray that have desired to eat this Passover with you
you be counted worthy to escape all this before My suffering,
about to take place, and to stand before the 16 for I say to you, I shall certainly not eat
stayed on the mountain of Olives, said, “Take this and divide it among your-
38 and early in the morning all the people selves,
came to Him in the Set-apart Place to hear 18 for I say to you, I shall certainly not
21 “But see, the hand of him delivering 37 “For I say to you that what has been
selves, which of them it could be who was two swords.” But He said to them, “That is
about to do this. enough!” n
24 And there also took place a dispute 39 And coming out, He went to the Mount
among them, as to which of them seemed of Olives, according to usage, and His
to be greater. taught ones also followed Him.
25 And He said to them, “The sovereigns 40 And coming to the place, He said to
of the gentiles rule over them, and those them, “Pray that you do not enter into
who control them are called ‘workers of trial.”
good.’ 41 And He withdrew from them about a
26 “But not so with you, but let him who is stone’s throw, and falling on His knees He
greatest among you be as the youngest, was praying,
and the leader as one who serves. 42 saying, “Father, if it be Your counsel,
27 “For who is greater, the one who sits at remove this cup from Me. Yet not My
the table, or the one who serves? Is it not desire, but let Yours be done.”
the one who sits at the table? But I am in 43 And there appeared a messenger from
your midst as the One who serves. heaven to Him, strengthening Him.
28 “But you are those who have remained 44 And being in agony, He was praying
reign, and to sit on thrones, judging the to His taught ones, He found them sleeping
twelve tribes of Yisra’Ãl.” from grief.
31 And the Master said, “ShimÈon, 46 And He said to them, “Why do you
ShimÈon! See, Satan has asked for you to sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into
sift you as wheat. trial.”
32 “But I have prayed for you, that your 47 And while He was still speaking, see: a
belief should not fail. And when you have crowd! And he who was called YehuÅah,
turned, strengthen your brothers.” one of the twelve, was going before them
33 And he said to Him, “Master, I am pre- and came near to aSWHY to kiss Him.
pared to go with You, both to prison and to 48 And aSWHY said to him, “YehuÅah, do
have denied three times that you know was about to take place, said to Him,
Me.” “Master, shall we strike with the sword?”
35 And He said to them, “When I sent you 50 And one of them struck the servant of
without purse and bag and sandals, did you the high priest and cut off his right ear.
lack any?” And they said, “None at all.” 51 But aSWHY answering, said, “Allow it
36 And He said to them, “But now, let him this far.” And touching his ear He healed
who has a purse take it, likewise also a him.
bag. And let him who has no sword sell his 52 And aSWHY said to those who had come
garment and buy one. against Him, the chief priests and captains
of the Set-apart Place and the elders, 69 “From now on the Son of AÅam shall
“Have you come out as against a robber, sit on the right hand of the power of
with swords and clubs? Elohim.”
53 “While I was with you daily in the Set- 70 And they all said, “Are You then the
apart Place, you did not lay hands on Me. Son of Elohim?” And He said to them,
But this is your hour and the authority of “You say that I am.”
darkness.” 71 And they said, “Why do we need fur-
54 And having seized Him, they led Him ther witness? For we heard it ourselves
and brought Him to the house of the high from His mouth.”
priest. And KÃpha was following at a dis-
tance.
55 And when they had lit a fire in the 23 And the entire assembly of them,
having risen up, led Him to Pilate,
2 and began to accuse Him, saying, “We
midst of the courtyard, and sat down
together, KÃpha sat among them. found this one perverting the nation, and
56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying
as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him that He Himself is Messiah, a Sovereign.”
and said, “And this one was with Him.” 3 And Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are
57 But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I You the Sovereign of the YehuÅim?” And
do not know Him.” answering him He said, “You say it.”
58 And after a little while another saw him 4 And Pilate said to the chief priests and
and said, “You are one of them too.” But the crowd, “I find no guilt in this Man.”
KÃpha said, “Man, I am not!” 5 But they were insisting, saying, “He
59 And about an hour later, another insist- stirs up the people, teaching through all
ed, saying, “Truly, this one was with Him YehuÅah, beginning from Galil unto this
too, for he is a Galilean too.” place.”
60 But KÃpha said, “Man, I do not know 6 And when Pilate heard of Galil, he
what you are saying!” And immediately, asked if the Man were a Galilean.
while he was still speaking, a cock crowed. 7 And when he learned that He was under
61 And the Master turned and looked at the authority of Herodes, he sent Him to
KÃpha, and KÃpha remembered the word Herodes, who was also in Yerushalayim in
of the Master, how He had said to him, those days.
“Before a cock crows, you shall deny Me 8 And seeing aSWHY, Herodes rejoiced
were striking Him on the face and were words, but He gave him no answer.
asking Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is it 10 And the chief priests and the scribes
me, as one who turns away the people. 29 “For look, days are coming in which
And look, I have examined Him in your they shall say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and
presence and have found no guilt in this wombs that never bore, and the breasts
Man regarding the charges which you which never nursed!’
make against Him, 30 “Then they shall begin ‘to say to the
15 and neither did Herodes, for I sent you mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills,
back to him. And look, He has done none “Cover us!” ’
at all deserving death. 31 “Because if they do this to the green
16 “Having disciplined Him, then, I shall tree, what is going to be done to the dry
release Him” – tree?”
17 for he had to release one to them at the 32 And two others also, evil-doers, were
“Away with this One, and release to us called Golgotha, they impaled Him there,
Barabba” and the evil-doers, one on the right and the
19 (who had been thrown into prison for a other on the left.
certain uprising made in the city, and for 34 And aSWHY said, “Father, forgive them,
disciplined Him then, I shall release Him.” too, coming and offering Him sour wine,
23 But with loud voices they insisted, 37 and saying, “If You are the Sovereign
asking for Him to be impaled. And the of the YehuÅim, save Yourself.”
voices of these men and of the chief priests 38 And there was also an inscription
who for uprising and murder had been hanged, was speaking evil of Him, saying,
thrown into prison, but he handed aSWHY “If You are the Messiah, save Yourself and
over to their wishes. us.”
26 And as they led Him away, they laid 40 But the other, responding, rebuked him,
hold of a certain man, ShimÈon a Cyrenian, saying, “Do you not even fear Elohim,
who was coming from the field, and they since you are under the same judgment?
put the stake on him, to bear it behind 41 “And we, indeed, rightly so, for we
mourning and lamenting Him. ber me when You come into Your reign.”
28 But aSWHY, turning to them, said, 43 And aSWHY said to him, “Truly, I say to
o This is a Hebrew idiom, a solemn idiom, used for greater emphasis, used no less than 42 times in the book of
DeÄarim!
1015 LUKE 24
aSWHY said, “Father, into Your hands I delivered into the hands of sinners, and be
commit My spirit.” And having said this, impaled, and the third day rise again.’ ”
He breathed His last. 8 And they remembered His words.
47 And the captain, seeing what took 9 And having returned from the tomb
place, praised Elohim, saying, “Truly, this they reported all this to the eleven and to all
Man was righteous!” the rest.
48 And when all the crowds who had gath- 10 And it was Miryam from MaÍdala, and
ered to that sight saw what took place, they YoÁanah, and Miryam the mother of
beat their breasts and went away. YaÈaqoÄ, and the rest with them, who told
49 And all those who knew Him, and the this to the emissaries.
women who followed Him from Galil, 11 And their words appeared to them to be
stood at a distance, watching this. nonsense, and they did not believe them.
50 And see, a man named YosÃph, a coun- 12 But KÃpha arose and ran to the tomb.
cil member, a good and righteous man – And stooping down, he saw the linen wrap-
51 he was not agreeing with their counsel pings lying by themselves. And he went
and deed – from Ramathayim, a city of the away home, marvelling at what took place.
YehuÅim, who himself was also waiting 13 And see, two of them were going that
linen, and laid it in a tomb hewn out of the all this which had taken place.
rock, where no one was yet laid. 15 And it came to be, as they were talking
54 And it was Preparation day, and the and reasoning, that aSWHY Himself drew
Sabbath was approaching. near and went with them.
55 And the women who had come with 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that
Him from Galil followed after, and saw the they did not know Him.
tomb and how His body was laid. 17 And He said to them, “What are these
56 And having returned, they prepared words you are exchanging with each other
spices and perfumes. And they rested on as you are walking – and you are sad?”
the Sabbath according to the command. 18 And the one whose name was Qleophas
22 “But certain women of ours, who 37 And being startled and frightened, they
arrived at the tomb early, also astonished thought they had seen a spirit.
us, 38 And He said to them, “Why are you
23 when they did not find His body, they troubled? And why do doubts arise in your
came saying that they had also seen a hearts?
vision of messengers who said He was 39 “See My hands and My feet, that it is I
alive. Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit
24 “And some of those with us went to the
does not have flesh and bones as you see I
tomb and found it, as also the women had have.”
said, but they did not see Him.” 40 And saying this, He showed them His
25 And He said to them, “O thoughtless
hands and His feet.
ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that 41 And while they were still not believing
the prophets have spoken! for joy, and marvelling, He said to them,
26 “Was it not necessary for the Messiah to
“Have you any food here?”
suffer these and to enter into His esteem?” 42 And they gave Him a piece of a broiled
27 And beginning at Mosheh and all the
fish and some honeycomb.
Prophets, He was explaining to them in all 43 And taking it He ate in their presence.
the Scriptures the matters concerning 44 And He said to them, “These are the
Himself.
28 And they approached the village where
words which I spoke to you while I was
still with you, that all have to be filled that
they were going, and He seemed to be were written in the Torah of Mosheh and
going on. the Prophets and the Psalms concerning
29 But they urged Him strongly, saying,
Me.”
“Stay with us, for it is toward evening, and 45 Then He opened their minds to under-
the day has declined.” And He went in to
stand the Scriptures, p
stay with them. 46 and said to them, “Thus it has been writ-
30 And it came to be, when He sat at the
table with them, having taken the bread, He ten, and so it was necessary for the Messiah
blessed, and having broken, He was giving to suffer and to rise again from the dead the
it to them. third day,
47 and that repentance and forgiveness of
31 And their eyes were opened and they
recognised Him. And He disappeared from sins should be proclaimed in His Name to
their sight. all nations, beginning at Yerushalayim.
48 “And you are witnesses of these mat-
32 And they said to each other, “Was not
said to them, “Peace to you.” Place praising and blessing Elohim. AmÃn.
p aSWHY is the One who truly opens our minds to understand the Scriptures! q Acts 1:4-8.
YOÀANAN
JOHN
without Him not even one came to be that only brought-forth Son, who is in the
came to be. bosom of the Father, He did declare. d
4 In Him was life, and the life was the 19 Now this was the witness of YoÁanan
light of men. when the YehuÅim sent from Yerushala-
5 And the light shines in the darkness, yim priests and LÃwites to ask him, “Who
and the darkness has not overcome it. are you?”
6 There was a man sent from Elohim, 20 And he confessed, and did not deny, but
witness of the Light, that all might believe you Âliyahu?” So he said, “I am not.” “Are
through him. you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
8 He was not that Light, but that he might 22 Therefore they said to him, “Who are
came to be through Him, and the world did the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of
not know Him. HWHY,’ as the prophet Yeshayahu said.”
11 He came to His own, and His own did 24 And those sent were of the Pharisees,
not receive Him. 25 and they asked him, saying, “Why then
12 But as many as received Him, to them do you immerse if you are not the Messiah,
He gave the authority to become children nor Âliyahu, nor the Prophet?”
of Elohim, to those believing in His Name, 26 YoÁanan answered them, saying, “I
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the immerse in water, but in your midst stands
desire of flesh nor of the desire of man, but One whom you do not know,
of Elohim. 27 the One coming after me, who has
14 And the Word became flesh and become before me, whose sandal strap I
pitched His tent b among us, and we saw am not worthy to loosen.”
His esteem, esteem as of an only brought- 28 This took place in BÃyth Anyah beyond
forth of a father, complete in favour and the YardÃn, where YoÁanan was immers-
truth. ing.
15 YoÁanan bore witness of Him and cried 29 On the next day YoÁanan saw aSWHY
out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, coming toward him, and said, “See, the
‘He who comes after me has become Lamb of Elohim who takes away the sin of
before me, because He was before me.’ ” the world! e
16 And out of His completeness we all did 30 “This is He of whom I said, ‘After me
a Eph. 3:9, Col. 1:16, Heb. 1:2, Heb. 11:3, 2 KÃpha 3:5, Teh. 33:6. b An indication that His birth was during the
Festival of Booths. c 5:37, 6:46, 1 Yn. 4:12. d The pre-existent Son declared, and was the One who appeared
to men. e Mt. 1:21, Titus 2:14, 1 Yn. 3:5 & 8.
YOÀANAN 1 1018
comes a Man who has become before me, 46 And NethanÃ’l said to him, “Is it possi-
for He was before me.’ f ble for any good matter to come out of
31 “And I did not know Him, but that He Natsareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and
might be revealed to Yisra’Ãl, therefore I see.”
came immersing in water.” 47 aSWHY saw NethanÃ’l coming toward
32 And YoÁanan bore witness, saying, “I Him, and said of him, “See, truly a
have seen the Spirit coming down from Yisra’Ãlite, in whom is no deceit!”
heaven like a dove and remain on Him. 48 NethanÃ’l said to Him, “From where do
33 “And I did not know Him, but He who You know me?” aSWHY answered and said
sent me to immerse in water said to me, to him, “Before Philip called you, when
‘Upon whom you see the Spirit coming you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
down and remaining on Him, this is He 49 NethanÃ’l answered and said to Him,
who immerses in the Set-apart Spirit.’ “Rabbi, You are the Son of Elohim! You
34 “And I have seen and have witnessed are the Sovereign of Yisra’Ãl!”
that this is the Son of Elohim.” 50 aSWHY answered and said to him,
35 Again the following day, YoÁanan was “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under
standing with two of his taught ones, the fig tree,’ do you believe? Greater than
36 and looking at aSWHY walking, he said, that you shall see.”
“See the Lamb of Elohim!” 51 And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say
37 And the two taught ones heard him to you, from now on you shall see the
speaking, and they followed aSWHY. heaven opened, and the messengers of
38 And aSWHY turning, and seeing them Elohim ascending and descending upon
following, said to them, “What do you the Son of AÅam.”
seek?” And they said to Him, “Rabbi”
(which means Teacher), “where are You
staying?” 2 And on the third day there was a
wedding in Qanah of Galil, and the
39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They mother of aSWHY was there.
went and saw where He was staying, and 2 And both aSWHY and His taught ones
remained with Him that day. Now it was were invited to the wedding.
about the tenth hour. 3 And when they were short of wine, the
40 Andri, the brother of ShimÈon KÃpha, mother of aSWHY said to Him, “They have
was one of the two who heard from no wine.”
YoÁanan, and followed Him. 4 aSWHY said to her, “Woman, what is
41 First he found his own brother ShimÈon, that to Me and to you? My hour has not yet
and said to him, “We have found the come.”
Messiah” (which means the Anointed). 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do
42 And he brought him to aSWHY. And whatever He says to you.”
looking at him, aSWHY said, “You are 6 And there were six stone water-jugs
ShimÈon the son of Yonah, you shall be standing there, according to the mode of
called KÃpha” (which means A Stone). cleansing of the YehuÅim, each holding
43 On the following day aSWHY wished to two or three measures.
go to Galil, and He found Philip and said 7 aSWHY said to them, “Fill the water-
to him, “Follow Me.” jugs with water.” And they filled them up
44 And Philip was from BÃyth TsaiÅa, the to the brim.
city of Andri and KÃpha. 8 And He said to them, “Now draw out
45 Philip found NethanÃ’l and said to him, and take it to the master of the feast.” So
“We have found Him whom Mosheh wrote they took it.
of in the Torah, and the prophets: aSWHY of 9 But when the master of the feast had
Natsareth – the son of YosÃph.” tasted the water that had become wine, and
f See v. 15.
1019 YOÀANAN 3
did not know where it came from – though 23 And when He was in Yerushalayim at
the servants who had drawn the water the Passover, at the festival, many believed
knew – the master of the feast called the in His Name when they saw the signs
bridegroom, which He was doing.
10 and said to him, “Every man at the 24 But aSWHY was not entrusting Himself
beginning sets out the good wine, and to them, because He knew all men,
when they have drunk, then that which is 25 and had no need that anyone should wit-
poorer. You have kept the good wine until ness of man, for He knew what was in man.
now.”
11 This, the beginning of the signs, aSWHY
did in Qanah of Galil, and manifested His 3 And there was a man of the Pharisees,
Na¿dimon was his name, a ruler of
esteem. And His taught ones believed in the YehuÅim.
Him. 2 This one came to aSWHY by night and
12 After this He went down to Kephar said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are
NaÁum, He and His mother, and His broth- a teacher come from Elohim, for no one is
ers, and His taught ones. And there they able to do these signs You do if Elohim is
stayed not many days. not with him.”
13 And the Passover of the YehuÅim was 3 aSWHY answered and said to him,
near, and aSWHY went up to Yerushalayim. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is
14 And He found in the Set-apart Place born from above, he is unable to see g the
those selling oxen and sheep and doves, reign of Elohim.”
and the moneychangers sitting. 4 Na¿dimon said to Him, “How is a man
15 And having made a whip of cords, He able to be born when he is old? Is he able
drove them all out of the Set-apart Place, to enter into his mother’s womb a second
with the sheep and the oxen, and poured time and be born?”
out the moneychangers’ coins and over- 5 aSWHY answered, “Truly, truly, I say to
turned the tables. you, unless one is born of water and the
16 And He said to those selling doves, Spirit, he is unable to enter into the reign
“Take these away! Do not make the house of Elohim.
of My Father a house of merchandise!” 6 “That which has been born of the flesh
17 And His taught ones remembered that it is flesh, and that which has been born of
was written, “The ardour for Your house the Spirit is spirit.
has eaten Me up.” 7 “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You
18 And the YehuÅim answered and said to have to be born from above.’
Him, “What sign do You show to us, since 8 “The Spirit h breathes where it wishes,
You are doing these?” and you hear the sound of it, but do not
19 aSWHY answered and said to them, know where it comes from and where it
“Destroy this Dwelling Place, and in three goes. So is everyone who has been born of
days I shall raise it.” the Spirit.”
20 Then the YehuÅim said, “It took forty- 9 Na¿dimon answered and said to Him,
six years to build this Dwelling Place, and “How is it possible for this to take place?”
You are going to raise it in three days?” 10 aSWHY answered and said to him, “Are
21 But He spoke about the Dwelling Place you the teacher of Yisra’Ãl, and do not
of His body. know this?
22 So, when He was raised from the dead, 11 “Truly, truly, I say to you, We speak
His taught ones remembered that He said what We know and witness what We have
this to them. And they believed the seen, and you do not receive Our witness.
Scripture and the word which aSWHY had 12 “If you do not believe when I spoke to
g Or perceive. h Or wind.
YOÀANAN 3 1020
going to believe when I speak to you about 26 and they came to YoÁanan and said to
the heavenly matters? him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond
13 “And no one has gone up into the heav- the YardÃn, to whom you have witnessed,
en except He who came down from the see, He is immersing, and all are coming to
heaven – the Son of AÅam. Him!”
14 “And as Mosheh lifted up the serpent in 27 YoÁanan answered and said, “No man
the wilderness, even so the Son of AÅam is able to receive any matter unless it is
has to be lifted up, given to him from the heaven.
15 so that whoever is believing in Him 28 “You yourselves are witnesses for me
should not perish but possess everlasting that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but I am
life. sent ahead of Him.’
16 “For Elohim so loved the world that 29 “He that has the bride is the bride-
He gave His only brought-forth Son, so groom, but the friend of the bridegroom,
that everyone who believes in Him should who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly
not perish but possess everlasting life. because of the voice of the bridegroom.
17 “For Elohim did not send His Son into So this joy of mine is complete.
the world to judge the world, but that the 30 “It is right for Him to increase, but me
but he who does not believe is judged he who is from the earth is of the earth and
already, because he has not believed in the speaks of the earth. He who comes from
Name of the only brought-forth Son of the heaven is over all.
Elohim. 32 “And what He has seen and heard, that
19 “And this is the judgment, that the light He witnesses. And no one receives His
has come into the world, and men loved witness.
the darkness rather than the light, for their 33 “He who receives His witness has set
matters hates the light and does not come the Words of Elohim, for Elohim does not
to the light, lest his works should be give the Spirit i by measure.
exposed. 35 “The Father loves the Son, and has
21 “But the one doing the truth comes to given all into His hand.
the light, so that his works are clearly 36 “He who believes in the Son possesses
seen, that they have been wrought in everlasting life, but he who does not obey
Elohim.” the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of
22 After this, aSWHY and His taught ones Elohim remains on him.” j
came into the land of YehuÅah, and He
remained there with them, and was im-
mersing. 4 So when the Master knew that the
Pharisees had heard that aSWHY made
23 And YoÁanan was also immersing in and immersed more taught ones than
Ayin near Salim, because there was plenty YoÁanan –
of water there. And they were coming and 2 although aSWHY Himself did not
were being immersed, immerse, but His taught ones –
24 for YoÁanan had not yet been put into 3 He left YehuÅah and went away again
prison. to Galil.
25 Then a dispute arose between some of 4 And He had to pass through Shomeron.
i Word and Spirit work together, speak unanimously. j We are declared right through belief in the Son, but the
final proof of our belief is whether we subsequently obey Him – or not! k So, according to the latest discoveries.
1021 YOÀANAN 4
aSWHY, being wearied from the journey, tain, but you people say that in Yeru-
was sitting thus at the fountain. It was shalayim is the place where one needs to
about the sixth hour. worship.”
7 A woman of Shomeron came to draw 21 aSWHY said to her, “Woman, believe
water. aSWHY said to her, “Give Me to Me, the hour is coming when you shall
drink.” neither on this mountain, nor in Yerushala-
8 For His taught ones had gone off into yim, worship the Father.
the city to buy food. 22 “You worship what you do not know.
9 The woman of Shomeron therefore said We worship what we know, because the
to Him, “How is it that You, being a deliverance is of the YehuÅim. n
YehuÅite, ask a drink from me, a woman of 23 “But the hour is coming, and now is,
Shomeron?” For YehuÅim do not associate when the true worshippers shall worship
with Shomeronites. the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father
10 aSWHY answered and said to her, “If also does seek such to worship Him.
you knew the gift of Elohim, and who it is 24 “Elohim is Spirit, and those who wor-
who says to you, ‘Give Me to drink,’ you ship Him need to worship in spirit and
would have asked Him, and He would truth.”
have given you living water.” l 25 The woman said to Him, “I know that
11 The woman said to Him, “Master, You Messiah is coming, the One who is called
have no vessel, and the well is deep. From Anointed. When that One comes, He shall
where, then, do You have living water? announce to us all.”
12 “Are You greater than our father 26 aSWHY said to her, “I who am speaking
him shall certainly never thirst. And the went away to the city, and said to the men,
water that I give him shall become in him a 29 “Come, see a Man who told me all that
fountain of water springing up into ever- I have done. Is this not the Messiah?”
lasting life.” 30 They went out of the city and were
15 The woman said to Him, “Master, give coming to Him.
me this water, so that I do not thirst, nor 31 But in the meantime His taught ones
no husband.” aSWHY said to her, “You have “Did anyone bring Him food to eat?”
well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 34 aSWHY said to them, “My food is to do
18 for you have had five husbands, and the the desire of Him who sent Me, and to
one whom you now have is not your hus- accomplish His work.
band. What you have said is true.” 35 “Do you not say, ‘There are still four
19 The woman said to Him, “Master, I see months, and the harvest comes’? See, I say
l Yirm. 2:13, Yirm. 17:13, Ze¿. 14:8, Yn. 7:37-39. m He knows our past, and He reads our thoughts!
n Teh. 147:19, Yesh. 2:3, Yesh. 14:1, Yesh. 56:6-8, YeÁez. 47:22-23, Ze¿. 2:10-11, Ze¿. 8:23, Rom. 2:20, Rom.
3:2, Rom. 9:4, Rev. 21:12 & 24.
YOÀANAN 4 1022
to you, lift up your eyes and see the fields, servants met him and reported, saying,
for they are white for harvest – already! “Your son lives!”
36 “He who is reaping receives a reward, 52 He then asked from them the hour in
and gathers fruit for everlasting life, so that which he became better, and they said to
both he who is sowing and he who is reap- him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the
ing rejoice together. inflammation left him.”
37 “For in this the word is true, ‘One sows 53 Then the father knew that it was at the
longer believe because of what you said, of those who were sick, blind, crippled,
for we ourselves have heard, and we know paralysed, waiting for the stirring of the
that this is truly the Messiah, the Saviour water.
of the world.” 4 For a messenger was going down at a
43 And after the two days He left there and certain time into the pool and was stirring
went to Galil. the water. Whoever stepped in first, then,
44 For aSWHY Himself witnessed that a after the stirring of the water, became well
prophet is without appreciation in his own of whatever disease he had.
country. 5 And a certain man was there who had a
45 Therefore when He came to Galil, the sickness thirty-eight years.
Galileans received Him, having seen all 6 When aSWHY saw him lying there, and
that He had done in Yerushalayim at the knowing that he already had been a long
festival, for they also went to the festival. time, He said to him, “Do you wish to
46 Then aSWHY came again to Qanah of become well?”
Galil where He had made the water wine. 7 The sick man answered Him, “Master, I
And there was a certain nobleman whose have no man to put me into the pool when
son was sick at Kephar NaÁum. the water is stirred, but while I am coming,
47 When he heard that aSWHY had come another steps down before me.”
from YehuÅah into Galil, he went to Him 8 aSWHY said to him, “Rise, take up your
and was asking Him to come down and bed and walk.”
heal his son, for he was about to die. 9 And immediately the man became well,
48 aSWHY then said to him, “If you people and he took up his bed and was walking.
do not see signs and wonders, you do not Now it was Sabbath on that day.
believe at all.” 10 The YehuÅim therefore said to him who
49 The nobleman said to Him, “Master, had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, it is not
come down before my child dies!” right for you to take up the bed.”
50 aSWHY said to him, “Go, your son 11 He answered them, “He who made me
lives.” And the man believed the word that well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and
aSWHY spoke to him, and went. walk.’ ”
51 And while he was going down, his 12 Therefore they asked him, “Who is the
1023 YOÀANAN 5
Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed 25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is
and walk’?” coming, and now is, when the dead shall
13 But the one who was healed did not hear the voice of the Son of Elohim. And
know who it was, for aSWHY had moved those having heard shall live.
away, a crowd being in that place. 26 “For as the Father possesses life in
14 Afterward aSWHY found him in the Set- Himself, so He gave also to the Son to pos-
apart Place, and said to him, “See, you sess life in Himself,
have been made well. Sin no more, o so 27 and He has given Him authority also to
Him, because He was doing these healings done good, to the resurrection of life, and
on the Sabbath. those who have practised evil matters, to a
17 But aSWHY answered them, “My Father resurrection of judgment. p
works until now, and I work.” 30 “Of Myself I am unable to do any mat-
18 Because of this, then, the YehuÅim ter. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is
were seeking all the more to kill Him, righteous, because I do not seek My own
‘because not only was He breaking the desire, but the desire of the Father who
Sabbath, but He also called Elohim His sent Me.
own Father, making Himself equal with 31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My wit-
them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son is Me, and I know that the witness which He
able to do none at all by Himself, but only witnesses of Me is true.
that which He sees the Father doing, 33 “You have sent to YoÁanan, and he
because whatever He does, the Son also bore witness to the truth.
likewise does. 34 “But I do not receive witness from
20 “For the Father loves the Son, and man, but I say this in order that you might
shows Him all that He Himself does. And be saved.
greater works than these He is going to 35 “He was the burning and shining lamp,
show Him, in order that you marvel. and for a while you wished to rejoice in his
21 “For as the Father raises the dead and light.
makes alive, even so the Son makes alive 36 “But I have a greater witness than that
value the Son does not value the Father witness of Me. You have neither heard His
who sent Him. voice at any time, nor seen His form. q
24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears 38 “And you do not have His Word
My word and believes in Him who sent Me staying in you, because you do not believe
possesses everlasting life, and does not Him whom He sent.
come into judgment, but has passed from 39 “You search the Scriptures, because
oSee footnote 8:11. p The ultimate judgment is this: Have we overcome sin, through aSWHY, or not? Belief
without bearing good fruit, the fruit of righteousness, is all in vain! q See footnote 1:18.
YOÀANAN 5 1024
them. And these are the ones that bear loaves and two fishes, but what are these
witness of Me. for so many?”
40 “But you do not desire to come to Me 10 And aSWHY said, “Make the people sit
in order to possess life. down.” Now there was much grass in the
41 “I do not receive esteem from men, place, and the men, numbering about five
42 but I know you, that you do not have thousand, sat down.
the love of Elohim in you. 11 And aSWHY took the loaves, and having
43 “I have come in My Father’s Name given thanks He distributed them to the
and you do not receive Me, if another r taught ones, and the taught ones to those
comes in his own name, him you would sitting down. And the same with the fish,
receive. as much as they wished.
44 “How are you able to believe, when 12 And when they were filled, He said
you are receiving esteem from one another, to His taught ones, “Gather the broken
and the esteem that is from the only pieces that are left over, so that none gets
Elohim you do not seek? wasted.”
45 “Do not think that I shall accuse you to 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve
the Father. There is one who accuses you: baskets with broken pieces of the five
Mosheh, in whom you have set your barley loaves which were left over by
expectation. those who had eaten.
46 “For if you believed Mosheh, you 14 Then the men, having seen the sign that
would have believed Me, since he wrote aSWHY did, said, “This is truly the Prophet
about Me. who is coming to the world.”
47 “But if you do not believe his writings, s 15 Then aSWHY, knowing that they were
how shall you believe My words?” about to come and seize Him, that they
might make Him sovereign, withdrew
6 After this aSWHY went away to the
other side of the Sea of Galil, that is
again to the mountain, alone by Himself.
16 And when evening came, His taught
because they saw His signs which He did going over the sea toward Kephar NaÁum.
on those who were sick. And it had already become dark, and
3 And aSWHY went up on a mountain, and aSWHY had not yet come to them.
there He sat down with His taught ones. 18 And the sea was rising because a great
4 And the Passover was near, the festival wind was blowing.
of the YehuÅim. 19 When they had rowed about five or six
5 Then aSWHY, lifting up His eyes and kilometres, they saw aSWHY walking on
seeing a large crowd coming toward Him, the sea and coming near the boat, and they
said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread were afraid.
for them to eat?” 20 And He said to them, “It is I, do not be
6 And this He said, trying him, for He afraid.”
Himself knew what He would do. 21 They wished therefore to take Him into
7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred the boat, and at once the boat was at the
pieces of silver worth of bread is not land where they were going.
sufficient for them, for every one of them 22 On the next day, the crowd that was
r “Another,” another one, was indeed a prophecy by aSWHY of another one, probably the same one we read of in
2 Thess. 2:4. See Anti-Messiah in Explanatory Notes at the back. s Lk. 9:33, Lk. 16:31, Mal. 4:4-5.
1025 YOÀANAN 6
the boat with His taught ones, but His 37 “All that the Father gives Me shall
taught ones went away alone – come to Me, and the one who comes to Me
23 but other boats came from Kinnereth, I shall by no means cast out.
near the place where they ate bread after 38 “Because I have come down out of the
the Master had given thanks – heaven, not to do My own desire, but the
24 therefore when the crowd saw that desire of Him who sent Me.
aSWHY was not there, nor His taught ones, 39 “This is the desire of the Father who
they themselves also entered into the boats sent Me, that all He has given Me I should
and came to Kephar NaÁum, seeking not lose of it, but should raise it in the last
aSWHY. day.
25 And having found Him on the other 40 “And this is the desire of Him who sent
side of the sea, they asked Him, “Rabbi, Me, that everyone who sees the Son and
when did You come here?” believes in Him should possess everlasting
26 aSWHY answered them and said, “Truly, life. And I shall raise him up in the last
truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not day.”
because you saw signs, but because you 41 Therefore the YehuÅim were grumbling
ate of the loaves and were satisfied. against Him, because He said, “I am the
27 “Do not labour for the food that is per- bread which came down out of the heaven.”
ishing, but for the food that is remaining to 42 And they said, “Is not this aSWHY, the
everlasting life, which the Son of AÅam son of YosÃph, whose father and mother
shall give you, t for the Father, Elohim, has we know? How is it then that He says,
set His seal on Him.” ‘I have come down out of the heaven’?”
28 So they said to Him, “What should we 43 Then aSWHY answered and said to
do to work the works of Elohim?” them, “Do not grumble with one another.
29 aSWHY answered and said to them, 44 “No one is able to come to Me unless
“This is the work of Elohim, that you the Father who sent Me draws him. And I
believe in Him whom He sent.” shall raise him up in the last day.
30 So they said to Him, “What sign then 45 “It has been written in the prophets,
would You do, so that we see and believe ‘And they shall all be taught by HWHY.’
You? What would You do? Everyone, then, who has heard from the
31 “Our fathers ate the manna in the Father, and learned, comes to Me.
wilderness, as it has been written, ‘He gave 46 “Not that anyone has seen the Father,
them bread out of the heaven to eat.’ ” except He who is from Elohim – He has
32 Therefore aSWHY said to them, “Truly, seen the Father.
truly, I say to you, Mosheh did not give 47 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who
you the bread out of the heaven, but My believes in Me possesses everlasting life.
Father gives you the true bread out of the 48 “I am the bread of life.
life to the world.” out of the heaven, so that anyone might eat
34 So they said to Him, “Master, give us of it, and not die.
this bread always.” 51 “I am the living bread which came
35 And aSWHY said to them, “I am the down out of the heaven. If anyone eats of
bread of life. He who comes to Me shall this bread, he shall live forever. And
not get hungry at all, and he who believes indeed, the bread that I shall give is My
in Me shall not get thirsty at all. flesh, which I shall give for the life of the
36 “But I said to you that you have seen world.”
Me, and still do not believe. 52 The YehuÅim, therefore, were striving
with one another, saying, “How is this One possess words of everlasting life.
able to give us His flesh to eat?” 69 “And we have believed, and we know
53 aSWHY therefore said to them, “Truly, that You are the Messiah, the Son of the
truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh living Elohim.”
of the Son of AÅam and drink His blood, 70 aSWHY answered them, “Have I not
you possess no life in yourselves. chosen you, the twelve, and one of you is a
54 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My devil?”
blood possesses everlasting life, and I shall 71 He was now speaking of YehuÅah from
raise him up in the last day. Qerioth, the son of ShimÈon, for he, one of
55 “For My flesh is truly food, and My the twelve, was about to deliver Him up.
blood is truly drink.
56 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My
blood stays in Me, and I in him. 7 And after this aSWHY was walking in
Galil, for He did not wish to walk in
57 “As the living Father sent Me, and I YehuÅah, because the YehuÅim were seek-
live because of the Father, so he who feeds ing to kill Him.
on Me shall live because of Me. 2 And the festival of the YehuÅim was
58 “This is the bread which came down near, the Festival of Booths.
out of the heaven, not as your fathers ate 3 So His brothers said to Him, ‘Get away
the manna and died. He who eats this from here and go into YehuÅah, so that
bread shall live forever.” Your taught ones also see the works that
59 He said this in a congregation, teaching You are doing.
in Kephar NaÁum. 4 “For no one acts in secret while he him-
60 Therefore many of His taught ones self seeks to be known openly. If You do
having heard, said, “This word is hard, these works, show Yourself to the world.”
who is able to hear it?” 5 For even His brothers did not believe in
61 But aSWHY knowing within Himself Him.
that His taught ones were grumbling about 6 aSWHY therefore said to them, “My
this, said to them, “Does this make you time has not yet come, but your time is
stumble? always ready.
62 “What if you see the Son of AÅam 7 “It is impossible for the world to hate
going up where He was before? u you, but it hates Me because I bear witness
63 “It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh of it, that its works are wicked.
does not profit at all. The words that I 8 “You go up to this festival. I am not yet
speak to you are Spirit and are life. v going up to this festival, for My time has
64 “But there are some of you who do not not yet been filled.”
believe.” For aSWHY knew from the begin- 9 And having said this to them, He stayed
u More proof of His pre-existence. v See v. 68, and 1 Cor. 15:45. Word and Spirit are in unity.
1027 YOÀANAN 7
14 And about the middle of the festival apart Place, teaching and saying, “You
aSWHY went up into the Set-apart Place, both know Me, and you know where I am
and He was teaching. from. And I have not come of Myself, but
15 And the YehuÅim were marvelling, He who sent Me is true, whom you do not
saying, “How does this Man know letters, know.
not having learned?” 29 “But I know Him, because I am from
16 aSWHY answered them and said, “My Him, and He sent Me.”
teaching is not Mine, but His who sent 30 So they were seeking to seize Him, but
whether it is from Elohim, or whether I Him, and said, “When the Messiah comes,
speak from Myself. shall He do more signs than these which
18 “He who speaks from himself is seek- this One did?”
ing his own esteem, but He who seeks the 32 The Pharisees heard the crowd mutter-
esteem of the One who sent Him is true, ing these matters concerning Him, and the
and no unrighteousness is in Him. Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers
19 “Did not Mosheh give you the Torah? to seize Him.
Yet not one of you does the Torah!x Why 33 Therefore aSWHY said to them, “Yet a
do you seek to kill Me?” little while I am with you, then I go to Him
20 The crowd answered and said, “You who sent Me.
have a demon, who seeks to kill You?” 34 “You shall seek Me and you shall not
21 aSWHY answered and said to them, find Me, and where I am you are unable to
“I did one work, and you all marvel. come.”
22 “Because of this Mosheh has given you 35 The YehuÅim, therefore, said to them-
should not be broken, are you wroth with shall seek Me and you shall not find Me,
Me because I made a man entirely well on and where I am you are unable to come’?”
the Sabbath? 37 And on the last day, the great day of the
24 “Do not judge according to appearance, festival, aSWHY stood and cried out, say-
but judge with righteous judgment.” ing, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me,
25 Therefore some of them from Yerusha- and let him who believes in Me drink.
layim said, “Is this not He whom they are 38 “As the Scripture said, out of His inner-
say none at all to Him. Could it be that the which those believing in Him were about
rulers truly know that this is truly the to receive, for the Set-apart Spirit was not
Messiah? yet given, z because aSWHY was not yet
27 “But we know where this One is from. esteemed.
And when the Messiah comes, no one 40 Many from the crowd, when they heard
knows where He is from.” the word, then said, “This truly is the
28 aSWHY therefore cried out in the Set- Prophet.”
w aSWHY says this in seven places in the Book of YoÁanan: 3:34, 7:16, 8:28, 8:40, 12:49, 14:24, 17:8. This is
proof that aSWHY is the True Messiah, the True Prophet, according to the promise and the proofs given by HWHY in
DeÄ. 18:15-20. x See footnote Mt. 5:20. y Yesh. 44:3, Yirm 2:13, Yirm. 17:13, Ze¿. 14:8, Teh. 36:8,9, Mish.
14:27, Yn. 4:10, Yn. 6:63, 1 Cor. 10:4, Rev. 7:17, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:1 & 17. z YeÁez. 36:26-27, Yo’Ãl 2:28-32,
Acts 1:4-8, Acts 2:4 & 33, Acts 10:44-47, Acts 11:15-16, Eph. 5:18.
YOÀANAN 7 1028
41 Others said, “This is the Messiah,” but ing down, wrote on the ground with the
others said, “Does the Messiah then come finger, as though He did not hear.
out of Galil? 7 But as they kept on questioning Him,
42 “Did not the Scripture say that the He straightened up and said to them, “He
Messiah comes from the seed of DawiÅ who is without sin among you, let him be
and from the village of BÃyth LeÁem, the first to throw a stone at her.”
where DawiÅ was?” 8 And bending down again, He wrote on
43 So a division came about among the the ground.
people because of Him. 9 And when they heard it, being reproved
44 And some of them wished to take Him, by their conscience, went out one by one,
but no one laid hands on Him. beginning from the older ones until the
45 The officers therefore came to the chief last. And aSWHY was left alone, and the
priests and Pharisees. And they said to woman standing in the middle.
them, “Why did you not bring Him?” 10 And aSWHY, straightening up and see-
46 The officers answered, “Never has any ing no one but the woman, said to her,
man spoken like this Man!” “Woman, where are those accusers of
47 The Pharisees, therefore, answered yours? Did no one condemn you?”
them, “Have you also been led astray? 11 And she said, “No one, Master.” And
48 “Has anyone of the rulers or of the aSWHY said to her, “Neither do I condemn
Pharisees believed in Him? you. Go and sin no more.” a
49 “But this crowd that does not know the 12 Therefore aSWHY spoke to them again,
it hears first from him and knows what he “You bear witness about Yourself, Your
is doing?” witness is not true.”
52 They answered and said to him, “Are 14 aSWHY answered and said to them,
you also from Galil? Search and see that “Even if I witness concerning Myself, My
no prophet has arisen out of Galil.” witness is true, for I know where I came
53 And each one went to his own house. from and where I am going. But you do not
know from where I come, or where I go.
8 And aSWHY went to the Mount of
Olives.
2 And at dawn He came again into the
15 “You judge according to the flesh,
I judge no one.
16 “But even if I do judge, My judgment
Set-apart Place, and all the people were is true, because I am not alone in it, but I
coming to Him. And having sat down, He and the Father who sent Me.
was teaching them. 17 “And in your Torah also, it has been
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought written that the witness of two men is true.
to Him a woman caught in adultery. And 18 “I am One who witnesses concerning
having set her in the midst, Myself, and the Father who sent Me wit-
4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman nesses concerning Me.”
was caught in the act of adultery. 19 Therefore they said to Him, “Where is
5 “And in the Torah Mosheh commanded Your Father?” aSWHY answered, “You
us that such should be stoned. What then know neither Me nor My Father. If you
do You say?” knew Me, you would have known My
6 And this they said, trying Him, so that Father also.”
they might accuse Him. But aSWHY, bend- 20 These words aSWHY spoke in the trea-
a After a sinner is saved by aSWHY, He then gives this simple command: “Go and sin no more.” See also Yn.
5:14, Rom. 6:16-20, 1 Cor. 15:34, 1 KÃpha 2:24, 1 KÃpha 4:1-2, 1 Yn. 3:4-10, 1 Yn. 5:18. b See also 11:9-10.
1029 YOÀANAN 8
sury, teaching in the Set-apart Place. And house forever – a son stays forever.
no one laid hands on Him, because His 36 “If, then, the Son makes you free, you
am going away, and you shall seek Me, ham, but you seek to kill Me, because My
and you shall die in your sin. Where I go word has no place in you.
you are unable to come.” 38 “I speak what I have seen with My
22 Then the YehuÅim said, “Shall He kill Father, and you do what you have heard
Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you from your father.”
are unable to come’?” 39 They answered and said to Him,
23 And He said to them, “You are from “AÄraham is our father d.” aSWHY said to
below, I am from above. You are of this them, “If you were AÄraham’s children,
world, I am not of this world. you would do the works of AÄraham.
24 “Therefore I said to you that you shall 40 “But now you seek to kill Me, a Man
die in your sins. For if you do not believe who has spoken to you the truth which I
that I am He, you shall die in your sins.” heard from Elohim. AÄraham did not do
25 Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” this.
And aSWHY said to them, “Altogether that 41 “You do the works of your father.”
which I even say to you! Then they said to Him, “We were not born
26 “I have much to say and to judge con- of whoring, we have one Father: Elohim.”
cerning you. But He who sent Me is true, 42 aSWHY said to them, “If Elohim were
and what I heard from Him, these Words I your Father, you would love Me, for I
speak to the world.” came forth from Elohim, and am here. For
27 They did not know that He spoke to I have not come of Myself, but He sent
them of the Father. Me.
28 So aSWHY said to them, “When you lift 43 “Why do you not know what I say?
up the Son of AÅam, then you shall know Because you are unable to hear My Word.
that I am He, and that I do none at all of 44 “You are of your father the devil, and
Myself, but as My Father taught Me, these the desires of your father you wish to do.
words I speak. He was a murderer from the beginning,
29 “And He who sent Me is with Me. The and has not stood in the truth, because
Father has not left Me alone, for I always there is no truth in him. When he speaks
do what pleases Him.” the lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar
30 As He was speaking these words, many and the father of it.
believed in Him. 45 “And because I speak the truth, you do
31 So aSWHY said to those YehuÅim who not believe Me.
believed Him, “If you stay in My Word, 46 “Who of you proves Me wrong con-
you are truly My taught ones, cerning sin? And if I speak the truth, why
32 and you shall know the truth, and the do you not believe Me?
truth shall make you free.” 47 “He who is of Elohim hears the Words
33 They answered Him, “We are the seed of Elohim, therefore you do not hear
of AÄraham, and have been servants to no because you are not of Elohim.”
one at any time. How do you say, ‘You 48 The YehuÅim answered and said to
shall become free’?” Him, “Do we not say well that You are a
34 aSWHY answered them, “Truly, truly, I Shomeronite and have a demon?”
say to you, everyone doing sin is a servant 49 aSWHY answered, “I do not have a
c aSWHY came to set us free from sin, to deliver us from being in bondage to sin. This is the Good News, this is all
that eventually matters! d See footnote Mt. 3:9, Rom. 9:8.
YOÀANAN 8 1030
anyone guards My Word he shall never who saw him before, that he was blind,
taste death at all.’ said, “Is not this he who was sitting and
53 “Are You greater than our father begging?”
AÄraham, who died? And the prophets 9 Others said, “This is he.” Others said,
died. Whom do You make Yourself?” “He is like him.” He said, “I am.”
54 aSWHY answered, “If I esteem Myself, 10 So they said to him, “How were your
“You are not yet fifty years old, and have made the clay and opened his eyes.
You seen AÄraham?” 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him
58 aSWHY said to them, “Truly, truly, I say again how he had received his sight. He
to you, before AÄraham came to be, I said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and
am.” f I washed, and I see.”
59 Therefore they picked up stones to 16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said,
throw at Him, but aSWHY was hidden and “This Man is not from Elohim, because He
went out of the Set-apart Place, going does not guard the Sabbath.” Others said,
through the midst of them, and so passed “How is a man who is a sinner able to do
by. such miracles?” And there was a division
among them.
9 And passing by, He saw a man, blind
from birth.
2 And His taught ones asked Him, say-
17 So they said to the blind one again,
works of Him who sent Me while it is day your son, who you say was born blind?
– night is coming, when no one is able to How then does he now see?”
work. 20 His parents answered them and said,
5 “While I am in the world, I am the light “We know that this is our son, and that he
e See also 15:10. f Proof of His pre-existence. See also 1:1, 6:62, 17:5.
1031 YOÀANAN 10
afraid of the YehuÅim, for the YehuÅim both seen Him and He who speaks with
had already agreed that if anyone confes- you is He.”
sed that He was Messiah, he should be put 38 And he said, “Master, I believe,” and
of age, ask him.” come into this world, that those not seeing
24 So for the second time they called the might see, and those seeing might become
man who was blind, and said to him, “Give blind.”
esteem to Elohim, we know that this Man 40 And those of the Pharisees who were
that I was blind, now I see.” you would have no sin, but now you say,
26 And they asked him once more, “What ‘We see,’ therefore your sin remains.
did He do to you? How did He open your
eyes?”
27 He answered them, “I have told you 10 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who
does not enter through the door
already, and you did not hear. Why do you into the sheepfold, but climbs up by anoth-
wish to hear it again? Do you wish to er way, that one is a thief and a robber.
become His taught ones too?” 2 “But he who enters through the door is
28 Then they abused him and said, “You the shepherd of the sheep.
are His taught one, but we are taught ones 3 “The doorkeeper opens for him, and the
where He is from, yet He opened my eyes! stranger, but shall flee from him, because
31 “And we know that Elohim does not they do not know the voice of strangers.”
hear sinners. But if anyone fears Elohim 6 aSWHY used this figure of speech, but
and does His desire, He hears him. g they did not know what He had been say-
32 “From of old it has never been heard ing to them.
that anyone opened the eyes of one who 7 aSWHY therefore said to them again,
g See footnote Mish. 28:9. h Obviously referring to the post-exilic religious leaders who had supplanted and
ousted the LÃwitical priesthood, and who were lawless, and lovers of money (Mt. 23:25-28, Mk. 7:11, Lk.
16:14). That is why He spoke of thieves, robbers, hirelings in this passage.
YOÀANAN 10 1032
shall go out and find pasture. suspense? If You are the Messiah, say to us
10 “The thief does not come except to plainly.”
steal, and to slaughter, and to destroy. I 25 aSWHY answered them, “I have told
have come that they might possess life, you, and you do not believe. The works
and that they might possess it beyond mea- that I do in My Father’s Name, they bear
sure. witness concerning Me.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good 26 “But you do not believe, because you
shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. are not of My sheep, as I said to you.
12 “But the hireling, and not being a shep- 27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know
herd, one who does not own the sheep, them, and they follow Me. k
sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep 28 “And I give them everlasting life, and
and flees. And the wolf snatches the sheep they shall by no means ever perish, and no
and scatters them. one shall snatch them out of My hand.
13 “Now the hireling flees because he is a 29 “My Father, who has given them to Me,
hireling and is not concerned about the is greater than all. And no one is able to
sheep. snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
14 “I am the good shepherd. i And I know 30 “I and My Father are one.” l
Mine, and Mine know Me, 31 Again the YehuÅim picked up stones to
15 even as the Father knows Me, and I stone Him.
know the Father. And I lay down My life 32 aSWHY answered them, “Many good
shall be one flock, one shepherd. j “We do not stone You for a good work, but
17 “Because of this the Father loves Me, for blasphemy, and because You, being a
because I lay down My life, in order to Man, make Yourself Elohim.”
receive it again. 34 aSWHY answered them, “Is it not
18 “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it written in your own Torah, ‘I said, “You
down of Myself. I have authority to lay it are elohim” ’?
down, and I have authority to receive it 35 “If He called them elohim, to whom the
again. This command I have received from word of Elohim came – and it is impossi-
My Father.” ble for the Scripture to be broken –
19 Again there came a division among the 36 do you say of Him whom the Father set
YehuÅim because of these words, apart and sent into the world, ‘You are
20 and many of them said, “He has a blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the
demon and is mad, why do you listen to Son of Elohim’?
Him?” 37 “If I do not do the works of My Father,
21 Others said, “These are not the words do not believe Me;
of one possessed by a demon. Is a demon 38 but if I do, though you do not believe
able to open the eyes of the blind?” Me, believe the works, so that you know
22 At that time the Àanukkah came to be and believe that the Father is in Me, and I
in Yerushalayim, and it was winter. in Him.”
23 And aSWHY was walking in the Set- 39 Therefore they were seeking again to
apart Place, in the porch of Shelomoh. seize Him, but He went forth out of their
24 So the YehuÅim surrounded Him and hand,
said to Him, “How long do You keep us in 40 and went once more to the other side of
i Heb. 13:20, 1 KÃpha 2:25, 1 KÃpha 5:4. j YeÁez. 34:23, YeÁez. 37:24.
k These three steps explains the Way See also Rev. 14:4-5.
l This has the meaning of “unity,” as is clearly explained in 17:11, and 17:21-23.
1033 YOÀANAN 11
the YardÃn to the place where YoÁanan 15 “And for your sake I am glad I was not
was immersing at first, and there He there, in order for you to believe. But let us
stayed. go to him.”
41 And many came to Him and said, 16 T’oma, who is called the Twin, then
“YoÁanan indeed did no sign, m yet all that said to his fellow taught ones, “Let us also
YoÁanan said about this Man was true.” go, so that we die with Him.”
42 And many believed in Him there. 17 Therefore, when aSWHY arrived, He
Elohim might be esteemed by it.” You might ask of Elohim, Elohim shall
5 Now aSWHY loved Martha and her give You.”
sister and ElÈazar . 23 aSWHY said to her, “Your brother shall
6 Therefore, when He heard that he was rise again.”
sick, then indeed He stayed at the place 24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he
where He was, two more days. shall rise again in the resurrection at the
7 Then after this He said to the taught last day.”
ones, “Let us go back to YehuÅah.” 25 aSWHY said to her, “I am the resurrec-
8 The taught ones said to Him, “Rabbi, tion and the life. He who believes in Me,
the YehuÅim were but now seeking to stone though he dies, he shall live.
You, and are You going back there?” 26 “And everyone that is living and
9 aSWHY answered, “Are there not twelve believing in Me shall never die at all. Do
hours in the day? If anyone walks in the you believe this?”
day, he does not stumble, because he sees 27 She said to Him, “Yea, Master, I
the light of this world. believe that You are the Messiah, the Son
10 “But if anyone walks in the night, he of Elohim, who is coming into the world.”
stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 28 And having said this she went away
11 He said this, and after that He said to and called her sister Miryam secretly, say-
them, “Our friend ElÈazar has fallen asleep, ing, “The Teacher is here and calls you.”
but I am going there, to wake him up.” 29 When she heard, she rose up quickly
12 Therefore the taught ones said to Him, and came to Him.
“Master, if he has fallen asleep he shall 30 And aSWHY had not yet come into the
taking rest in sleep. her in the house, and were comforting her,
14 So then aSWHY said to them plainly, when they saw that Miryam rose up quick-
“ElÈazar has died. ly and went out, followed her, saying, “She
m Or miracle.
YOÀANAN 11 1034
is going to the tomb to weep there.” shall believe in Him, and the Romans shall
32 Miryam, therefore, when she came come and take away from us both our
where aSWHY was, and saw Him, she fell place and nation.”
down at His feet, saying to Him, “Master, 49 And one of them, Qayapha, being high
if You had been here, my brother would priest that year, said to them, “You know
not have died.” naught,
33 aSWHY, therefore, when He saw her 50 neither do you consider that it is better
weeping, and the YehuÅim who came with for us that one man die for the people than
her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and that the entire nation should perish.”
was troubled, 51 But he did not say this from himself,
34 and said, “Where have you laid him?” but being high priest that year he prophe-
They said to Him, “Master, come and see.” sied that aSWHY was about to die for the
35 aSWHY wept. nation,
36 The YehuÅim therefore said, “See how 52 and not for the nation only, but to gath-
Himself, came to the tomb. Now it was a among the YehuÅim, but went from there
cave, and a stone lay against it. into the country near the wilderness, to a
39 aSWHY said, “Take away the stone.” city called Ephrayim, and remained there
Martha, the sister of him who had died, with His taught ones.
said to Him, “Master, already he smells, 55 Now the Passover of the YehuÅim was
for it is four days.” near, and many went from the country up
40 aSWHY said to her, “Did I not say to you to Yerushalayim before the Passover, to set
that if you believe, you shall see the themselves apart.
esteem of Elohim?” 56 And so they were seeking aSWHY, and
41 So they took away the stone where the spoke among one another, standing in the
dead man was laid. And aSWHY lifted up Set-apart Place, “What do you think? Is He
His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that not coming to the festival at all?”
You have heard Me. 57 And both the chief priests and the
42 “And I know that You always hear Me, Pharisees had given a command, that if
but because of the crowd standing by I said anyone knew where He was, he should
this, in order that they believe that You disclose it, in order for them to seize Him.
sent Me.”
43 And when He had said this, He cried
with a loud voice, “ElÈazar, come out!” 12 Accordingly aSWHY, six days
before the Passover, came to BÃyth
44 And he who died came out bound feet Anyah, where ElÈazar was, who had died,
and hands with wrappings, and his face whom He raised from the dead.
was wrapped with a cloth. aSWHY said to 2 So they made Him a supper there, and
them, “Loosen him, and let him go.” Martha served, while ElÈazar was one of
45 Therefore many of the YehuÅim who those who sat at the table with Him.
had come to Miryam, and had seen what 3 Then Miryam took a pound of costly
we do? Because this Man does many signs. from Qerioth, son of ShimÈon, who was
48 “If we let Him alone like this, they all about to deliver Him up, said,
1035 YOÀANAN 12
concerned about the poor, but because he from BÃyth TsaiÅa of Galil, and were ask-
was a thief, and had the bag, and he used to ing him, saying, “Master, we wish to see
take what was put in it. aSWHY.”
7 aSWHY then said, “Let her alone, she 22 Philip came and told Andri, and in turn
has kept this for the day of My burial. Andri and Philip told aSWHY.
8 “For the poor you have with you 23 And aSWHY answered them, saying,
always, but Me you do not have always.” “The hour has come for the Son of AÅam
9 Then a great crowd of the YehuÅim to be esteemed.
learned that He was there. And they came, 24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a
not on account of aSWHY only, but also to grain of wheat falls into the ground and
see ElÈazar, whom He had raised from the dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it bears
dead. much fruit.
10 And the chief priests resolved to kill 25 “He who loves his life shall lose it, and
about Him and that they had done this to now the ruler of this world o shall be cast
Him. out.
17 Therefore the crowd, who were with 32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth,
Him when He called ElÈazar out of his shall draw all men unto Myself.”
tomb and raised him from the dead, were 33 This He said, signifying by what death
Him, because they heard that He had done heard out of the Torah that the Messiah
this sign. remains forever. And how do You say,
19 The Pharisees then said among them- ‘The Son of AÅam has to be lifted up’?
selves, “You see how you are getting Who is this Son of AÅam?”
nowhere at all. Look, the world has gone 35 aSWHY, therefore, said to them, “Yet a
overtake you. And he who walks in dark- lasting life. s Therefore, whatever I speak,
ness does not know where he is going. as the Father has said to Me, so I speak.”
36 “While you have the light, believe in
who has believed our report? And to whom ing already put it into the heart of YehuÅah
has the arm of HWHY been revealed?” from Qerioth, son of ShimÈon, to deliver
39 Because of this they were unable to Him up,
believe, because again Yeshayahu said: 3 aSWHY, knowing that the Father had
40 “He has blinded their eyes and hard- given all into His hands, and that He had
ened their heart, so that they should not see come from Elohim and was going to
with their eyes and understand with their Elohim,
heart, and turn, and I should heal them.” p 4 rose from supper and laid aside His
41 Yeshayahu said this when he saw His garments, and having taken a towel, He
esteem and spoke of Him. girded Himself.
42 Still, even among the rulers many did 5 After that He put water into a basin and
believe in Him, but because of the began to wash the feet of the taught ones,
Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest and to wipe them with the towel with
they should be put out of the congregation, which He was girded.
43 for they loved the praise of men more 6 And so He came to ShimÈon KÃpha,
than the praise of Elohim. and he said to Him, “Master, do You wash
44 Then aSWHY cried out and said, “He my feet?”
who believes in Me, believes not in Me but 7 aSWHY answered and said to him, “You
in Him who sent Me. do not know what I am doing now, but you
45 “And he who sees Me sees Him who shall know after this.”
sent Me. 8 KÃpha said to Him, “By no means shall
46 “I have come as a light into the world, You wash my feet, ever!” aSWHY answered
so that no one who believes in Me should him, “If I do not wash you, you have no
stay in darkness. part with Me.”
47 “And if anyone hears My Words but 9 ShimÈon KÃpha said to Him, “Master,
does not watch over them, I do not judge not my feet only, but also my hands and
him. For I did not come to judge the world my head!”
but to save the world. 10 aSWHY said to him, “He who has had a
48 “He who rejects Me, and does not bath does not need to wash, except his feet,
receive My Words, has one who judges but is clean altogether. And you are clean,
him: the Word that I have spoken shall but not all of you.”
judge him in the last day. q 11 For He knew who would deliver Him
49 “Because I spoke not from Myself, but up, so He said, “You are not all clean.”
the Father who sent Me has given Me a 12 So when He had washed their feet and
command, r what I should say and what I taken His garments, and sat down again,
p See footnote Mt. 13:15. q See also 3:36 – we are going to be judged according to the Words aSWHY spoke, nil
else! His Words (teachings, commands) are the same as His Father’s – see 7:16 and its footnote. r See 7:16.
s See Mt. 19:17 and its footnote.
1037 YOÀANAN 14
not greater than his master, nor is an emis- said, “Now the Son of AÅam has been
sary greater than he who sent him. esteemed, and Elohim has been esteemed
17 “If you know these teachings, blessed in Him.
are you if you do them. 32 “If Elohim has been esteemed in Him,
18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I Elohim shall also esteem Him in Himself,
know whom I have chosen, but that the and straightaway esteem Him.
Scripture might be filled, ‘He who eats 33 “Little children, yet a little while I am
bread with Me has lifted up his heel with you. You shall seek Me, and as I said
against Me.’ to the YehuÅim, ‘Where I am going, you
19 “Now I say to you, before it takes are unable to come,’ I now also say to you.
place, that when it does take place, you 34 “A renewed command I give to you,
shall believe that I am. that you love one another, as I have loved
20 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who you, t that you also love one another.
receives whomever I send, receives Me. 35 “By this shall all know that you are My
And he who receives Me, receives Him taught ones, if you have love for one
who sent Me.” another.”
21 When aSWHY had said this He was trou- 36 ShimÈon KÃpha said to Him, “Master,
bled in spirit, and witnessed and said, where are You going?” aSWHY answered
“Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you shall him, “Where I am going you are unable to
deliver Me up.” follow Me now, but afterwards you shall
22 The taught ones looked at one another, follow Me.”
doubting of whom He spoke. 37 KÃpha said to Him, “Master, why am I
23 And one of His taught ones, whom unable to follow You now? I shall lay
aSWHY loved, was reclining on the bosom down my life for You.”
of aSWHY. 38 aSWHY answered him, “Shall you lay
24 ShimÈon KÃpha then motioned to him down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say
to ask who it was of whom He spoke. to you, the cock shall not crow at all until
25 And leaning back on the breast of you have denied Me three times.
aSWHY he said to Him, “Master, who is it?”
26 aSWHY answered, “It is he to whom I
shall give a piece of bread when I have 14 “Let not your heart be troubled.
Believe in Elohim, believe also in
dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, Me.
He gave it to YehuÅah from Qerioth, son of 2 “In My Father’s house are many stay-
him, “What you do, do quickly.” you, I shall come again and receive you to
28 But no one at the table knew why He Myself, that where I am, you might be too.
t This is the supreme example He gave us, that the brothers and sisters should love one another as much as He
loved us, even to lay down our lives for each other.
YOÀANAN 14 1038
4 “And where I go you know, and the 19 “Yet a little while, and the world no
way you know.” longer sees Me, but you shall see Me,
5 T’oma said to Him, “Master, we do not because I live, and you shall live.
know where You are going, and how are 20 “In that day you shall know that I am in
we able to know the way?” My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
6 aSWHY said to him, “I am the Way, and 21 “He who possesses My commands and
the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to guards them, it is he who loves Me. And he
the Father except through Me. who loves Me shall be loved by My Father,
7 “If you had known Me, you would have and I shall love him and manifest Myself
known My Father too. From now on you to him.”
know Him, and have seen.” 22 YehuÅah – not the one from Qerioth –
8 Philip said to Him, “Master, show us said to Him, “Master, what has come about
the Father, and it is enough for us.” that You are about to manifest Yourself to
9 aSWHY said to him, “Have I been with us, and not to the world?”
you so long, and you have not known Me, 23 aSWHY answered him, “If anyone loves
Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Me, he shall guard My Word. And My
Father, and how do you say, ‘Show us the Father shall love him, and We shall come
Father’? to him and make Our stay with him. v
10 “Do you not believe that I am in the 24 “He who does not love Me does not
Father, and the Father is in Me? The words guard My Words. And the Word which you
that I speak to you I do not speak from hear is not Mine but of the Father Who
Myself. But the Father who stays in Me sent Me.
does His works. 25 “These Words I have spoken to you
11 “Believe Me that I am in the Father and while still with you.
the Father in Me, otherwise believe Me 26 “But the Helper, the Set-apart Spirit,
because of the works themselves. whom the Father shall send in My Name,
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who He shall teach you all, and remind you of
believes in Me, the works that I do he shall all that I said to you.
do also. And greater works than these he 27 “Peace I leave with you – My peace I
shall do, because I go to My Father. give to you. I do not give to you as the
13 “And whatever you ask in My Name, world gives. Do not let your heart be
that I shall do, in order that the Father troubled, neither let it be afraid.
might be esteemed in the Son. 28 “You heard that I said to you, ‘I am
14 “If you ask whatever in My Name, I going away and I am coming to you.’ If
shall do it. you did love Me, you would have rejoiced
15 “If you love Me, you shall guard My that I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for
commands. u My Father is greater than I.
16 “And I shall ask the Father, and He 29 “And now I have told you before it
shall give you another Helper, to stay with takes place, that when it does take place,
you forever – you shall believe.
17 the Spirit of the Truth, whom the 30 “I shall no longer talk much with you,
world is unable to receive, because it for the ruler of this world w is coming, and
does not see Him or know Him. But you he possesses none at all in Me,
know Him, for He stays with you and 31 but, in order for the world to know that
uThe perfect sequence: first love, then obedience. See also vv. 21 & 23. This has been so ever since Shem. 20:6,
and repeated throughout Scripture, down to 1 Yn. 5:2-3 and 2 Yn. v. 6. v This single verse summarises the
entire Messianic Scriptures! w See footnote Lk. 4:6.
1039 YOÀANAN 16
bears fruit He prunes, so that it bears more you love one another. z
fruit. 18 “If the world hates you, you know that
3 “You are already clean because of the it hated Me before it hated you.
Word which I have spoken to you. 19 “If you were of the world, the world
4 “Stay in Me, and I stay in you. As the would love its own. But because you are
branch is unable to bear fruit of itself, not of the world, but I chose you out of
unless it stays in the vine, so neither you, the world, for that reason the world hates
unless you stay in Me. you.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. 20 “Remember the word that I said to you,
He who stays in Me, and I in him, he bears ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’
much fruit. Because without Me you are If they persecuted Me, they shall persecute
able to do naught! you too. If they have guarded My Word,
6 “If anyone does not stay in Me, he is they would guard yours too.
thrown away as a branch and dries up. And 21 “But all this they shall do to you
they gather them and throw them into the because of My Name, because they do not
fire, and they are burned. know Him who sent Me.
7 “If you stay in Me, and My Words stay 22 “If I had not come and spoken to them,
in you, you shall ask whatever you wish, they would have no sin, but now they have
and it shall be done for you. no excuse for their sin.
8 “In this My Father is esteemed, that 23 “He who hates Me hates My Father as
My Father’s commands and stay in His which was written in their Torah, ‘They
love. hated Me without a cause.’
11 “These words I have spoken to you, so 26 “And when the Helper comes, whom I
that My joy might be in you, and that your shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit
joy might be complete. of the Truth, who comes from the Father,
12 “This is My command, that you love He shall bear witness of Me,
one another, as I have loved you. y 27 but you also bear witness, because you
13 “No one has greater love than this: that have been with Me from the beginning.
one should lay down his life for his
friends.
14 “You are My friends if you do whatever 16 “These words I have spoken to
you, so that you do not stumble.
2 “They shall put you out of the con-
I command you.
15 “No longer do I call you servants, for a gregations, but an hour is coming when
servant does not know what his master is everyone who kills you shall think he is
doing. But I have called you friends, for all rendering service to Elohim.
teachings which I heard from My Father 3 “And this they shall do to you because
I have made known to you. they did not know the Father, nor Me.
16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose 4 “But I have said these words to you, so
you and appointed you that you should go that when the hour comes you remember
x See footnote 14:15. y See 13:34 and 15:17. z See 13:34, and 15:12.
YOÀANAN 16 1040
that I told them to you. And these words I said, ‘A little while, and you do not see
did not say to you at the beginning, for I Me, and again a little while, and you shall
was with you. see Me’?
5 “But now I go away to Him who sent 20 “Truly, truly, I say to you that you shall
Me, and not one of you asks Me, ‘Where weep and lament, but the world shall
are You going?’ rejoice. And you shall be grieved, but your
6 “But because I have said these words to grief shall become joy.
you, grief has filled your heart. 21 “The woman has grief when she is in
7 “But I say the truth to you. It is better labour, because her hour has come, but as
for you that I go away, for if I do not go soon as she has given birth to the child, she
away, the Helper shall not come to you at no longer remembers the affliction, for joy
all, but if I go, I shall send Him to you. that a man was born into the world.
8 “And having come, He shall reprove a 22 “And you, therefore, have grief now,
the world concerning sin, b and concerning but I shall see you again and your heart
righteousness, and concerning judgment – shall rejoice, and no one takes your joy
9 concerning sin because they do not away from you.
believe in Me, 23 “And in that day you shall ask Me none
10 concerning righteousness because I go at all. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever
to My Father and you see Me no more, you ask the Father in My Name He shall
11 concerning judgment because the ruler give you.
of this world c is judged. 24 “Until now you have asked naught in
12 “I still have many words to say to you, My Name. Ask, and you shall receive, in
but you are not able to bear them now. order that your joy might be complete.
13 “But when He comes, the Spirit of the 25 “These words I have spoken to you in
Truth, He shall guide you into all the truth. figures of speech, but an hour is coming
For He shall not speak from Himself, but when I shall no longer speak to you in
whatever He hears He shall speak, and He figures of speech, but I shall declare the
shall announce to you what is to come. Father plainly to you.
14 “He shall esteem Me, for He shall take 26 “In that day you shall ask in My Name,
of what is Mine and announce it to you. and I do not say to you that I shall pray the
15 “All that the Father has is Mine. That is Father on your behalf,
why I said that He takes from what is Mine 27 for the Father Himself does love you,
and announces it to you. because you have loved Me, and have
16 “A little while, and you do not see Me, believed that I came forth from Elohim.
and again a little while, and you shall see 28 “I came forth from the Father and have
to us, ‘A little while, and you do not see You are speaking plainly, and not using
Me, and again a little while, and you shall figure of speech!
see Me,’ and, ‘because I am going to the 30 “Now we know that You know all, and
“Are you asking one another about what I come, that you are scattered, each to his
a Rather: confute, or prove wrong. b 2 DiÄre. 24:20, NeÁ. 9:30, YeÁez. 36:27, Mi¿. 3:8, Acts 28:25-27.
c See footnote Lk. 4:6.
1041 YOÀANAN 17
own, and leave Me alone. Yet I am not was guarding them in Your Name which
alone, because the Father is with Me. You have given Me, and I watched over
33 “These words I have spoken to you, them, and not one of them perished except
that in Me you might have peace. In the the son of destruction, that the Scripture
world you have pressure, but take courage, might be filled.
I have overcome the world.” 13 “And now I come to You. And I speak
You before the world was. also for those believing in Me through
6 “I have revealed Your Name to the men their word,
whom You gave Me out of the world. They 21 so that they all might be one, as You,
were Yours, and You gave them to Me, and Father, are in Me, and I in You, so that they
they have guarded Your Word. d too might be one in Us, so that the world
7 “Now they have come to know that all might believe that You have sent Me.
You gave to Me, is from You. 22 “And the esteem which You gave Me I
8 “Because the Words which You gave to have given them, so that they might be one
Me, I have given to them. And they have as We are one,
received them, and have truly known that I 23 “I in them, and You in Me, so that they
came forth from You, and they believed might be perfected into one, so that the
that You sent Me. world knows that You have sent Me, and
9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the have loved them as You have loved Me.
world but for those whom You have given 24 “Father, I desire that those whom You
Me, for they are Yours. have given Me, might be with Me where I
10 “And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are am, so that they see My esteem which You
Mine, and I have been esteemed in them. have given Me, because You loved Me
11 “And I am no more in the world, but before the foundation of the world.
these are in the world, and I come to You. 25 “O righteous Father, indeed the world
Set-apart Father, guard them in Your Name did not know You, but I knew You, and
which You have given Me, so that they these knew that You sent Me.
might be one, e as We are. 26 “And I have made Your Name known
12 “When I was with them in the world, I to them, g and shall make it known, h so
d In this High Priestly prayer of aSWHY He repeatedly emphasises the Name and the Word of HWHY – see also Teh.
138:2. e He also pleads for unity among His taught ones, His flock. f aSWHY is the embodiment of the Word,
and of the Truth, and the Word is the truth. Elohim sets us apart if we read the Word, the Truth, and do it! g See
also v. 6, as well as Teh. 22:22, Heb. 2:12. Although the religious leaders were avoiding the Father’s Name,
because of a man-made tradition, aSWHY was making it known! h He is again making it known, in our day!
YOÀANAN 17 1042
that the love with which You loved Me one was known to the high priest, and went
might be in them, and I in them.” with aSWHY into the courtyard of the high
priest.
18 Having said these words, aSWHY
went out with His taught ones
16 But KÃpha was standing outside at the
them, “Whom do you seek?” His taught ones and His teaching.
5 They answered Him, “aSWHY of 20 aSWHY answered him, “I spoke openly
Natsareth.” aSWHY said to them, “I am.” to the world. I always taught in the congre-
And YehuÅah, who delivered Him up, was gation and in the Set-apart Place, where
also standing with them. the YehuÅim always meet, and I spoke no
6 When, therefore, He said to them, “I word in secret.
am,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 21 “Why do you ask Me? Ask those who
7 Once more He asked them, “Whom do have heard Me what I said to them. See,
you seek?” And they said, “aSWHY of they know what I said.”
Natsareth.” 22 And when He had said this, one of the
8 aSWHY answered, “I said to you that I officers who stood by slapped aSWHY in
am. If, then, you seek Me, allow these to the face, saying, “Do You answer the high
go,” priest this way?”
9 in order that the word might be filled 23 aSWHY answered him, “If I have spoken
which He spoke, “Of those whom You evilly, bear witness of the evil, but if well,
have given Me, I have lost none.” why do you strike Me?”
10 Then ShimÈon KÃpha, having a sword, 24 Then Àanan sent Him bound to the
drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, high priest, Qayapha.
and cut off his right ear. And the servant’s 25 And ShimÈon KÃpha was standing and
said, “What accusation do you bring thorns and placed it on His head, and they
against this Man?” put a purple robe on Him,
30 They answered and said to him, “If He 3 and came to Him and said, “Greetings,
were not an evil-doer, we would not have Sovereign of the YehuÅim!” And they
delivered Him up to you.” slapped Him in the face.
31 Then Pilate said to them, “You take 4 And Pilate went outside again, and said
Him and judge Him according to your to them, “See, I am bringing Him out to
law.” The YehuÅim said to him, “It is not you, to let you know that I find no guilt in
right for us to put anyone to death,” Him.”
32 in order that the word of aSWHY might 5 Then aSWHY came outside, wearing the
be filled which He spoke, signifying by crown of thorns and the purple robe. And
what death He was about to die. Pilate said to them, “See the Man!”
33 Then Pilate went back into the palace, 6 So when the chief priests and officers
and called aSWHY, and said to Him, “Are saw Him, they shouted, saying, “Impale!
You the Sovereign of the YehuÅim?” i Impale!” Pilate said to them, “You take
34 aSWHY answered him, “Do you say this Him and impale Him, for I find no guilt in
from yourself, or did others talk to you Him.”
about Me?” 7 The YehuÅim answered him, “We have
35 Pilate answered, “Am I a YehuÅite? a law, and according to our law He ought
Your own nation and the chief priests have to die, for He has made Himself the Son of
delivered You to me. What did You do?” Elohim.”
36 aSWHY answered, “My reign is not of 8 So when Pilate heard this word, he was
not be delivered to the YehuÅim. But now asked aSWHY, “Where are You from?” But
My reign is not from here.” aSWHY gave him no answer.
37 Then Pilate said to Him, “You are a 10 Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not
sovereign, then?” aSWHY answered, “You speak to me? Do You not know that I pos-
say it, because I am a sovereign. For this I sess authority to impale You, and I possess
was born, and for this I have come into the authority to release You?”
world, that I should bear witness to the 11 aSWHY answered, “You would possess
truth. j Everyone who is of the truth hears no authority against Me if it were not given
My voice.” you from above. Because of this, he who
38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” delivered Me to you has greater sin.”
And when he had said this, he went out 12 From then on Pilate was seeking to
again to the YehuÅim, and said to them, “I release Him, but the YehuÅim shouted,
find no guilt in Him. saying, “If you release this One, you are
39 “But you have a habit that I shall not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes
release someone to you at the Passover. Do himself a sovereign, does speak against
you wish, then, that I release to you the Caesar.”
Sovereign of the YehuÅim?” 13 Therefore, when Pilate heard these
40 Then they all shouted again, saying, words, he brought aSWHY out and sat down
“Not this One, but Barabba!” And Barabba in the judgment seat in a place that is
was a robber. called Pavement, but in HeÄrew, Gabbatha.
14 And it was the Preparation Day of
i This fact is given no less than 23 times in the Messianic Scriptures!j He is the embodiment of the Word, of the
Truth, therefore He bears witness to the Truth, to the Word of His Father.
YOÀANAN 19 1044
15 But they shouted, “Away, away, impale taught one took her to his own home.
Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I impale 28 After this, aSWHY, knowing that all had
your Sovereign?” The chief priests been accomplished, in order that the Scrip-
answered, “We have no sovereign except ture might be accomplished, said, “I thirst!”
Caesar!” 29 A bowl of sour wine stood there, and
16 At that time, then, he delivered Him to they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it
them to be impaled. And they took aSWHY on hyssop, and held it to His mouth.
and led Him away. 30 So when aSWHY took the sour wine He
17 And bearing His stake, He went out to said, “It has been accomplished!” And
the so-called Place of a Skull, which is bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
called in HeÄrew, Golgotha, 31 Therefore, since it was the Preparation
18 where they impaled Him, and two oth- Day, that the bodies should not remain on
ers with Him, one on this side and one on the stake on the Sabbath – for that Sabbath
that side, and aSWHY in the middle. was a high one – the YehuÅim asked Pilate
19 And Pilate wrote a title too, and put it to have their legs broken, and that they be
on the stake, and it was written: aSWHY OF taken away.
NATSARETH, THE SOVEREIGN OF 32 Therefore the soldiers came and broke
THE YEHUÊIM. the legs of the first, and of the other who
20 Many of the YehuÅim therefore read was impaled with Him,
this title, for the place where aSWHY was 33 but when they came to aSWHY and saw
impaled was near the city, and it was writ- that He was already dead, they did not
ten in HeÄrew, in Greek, in Roman. break His legs.
21 So the chief priests of the YehuÅim said 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side
to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The Sovereign of with a spear, and instantly blood and water
the YehuÅim,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the came out.
Sovereign of the YehuÅim.” ’ ” 35 And he who has seen has witnessed,
22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, and his witness is true. And he knows that
I have written.” he is speaking the truth, in order that you
23 Then the soldiers, when they had might believe.
impaled aSWHY, took His outer garments 36 For this took place in order for the
and made four parts, to each soldier a part, Scripture to be filled: “Not one of His
and the inner garment. But the inner bones shall be broken.”
garment was without seam, woven from 37 And again another Scripture says,
the top in one piece. “They shall look on Him whom they
24 So they said to each other, “Let us not pierced.”
tear it, but cast lots for it – whose it shall 38 And after this, YosÃph of Ramathayim,
be,” in order that the Scripture might be being a taught one of aSWHY, but secretly,
filled which says, “They divided My gar- for fear of the YehuÅim, asked Pilate that
ments among them, and for My clothing he might take the body of aSWHY, and
they cast lots.” The soldiers therefore Pilate gave permission. Therefore he came
indeed did this. and took the body of aSWHY.
25 And by the stake of aSWHY stood His 39 And Na¿dimon, who at first came to
mother, and His mother’s sister, Miryam aSWHY by night, also came, bringing a
the wife of Qlophah, and Miryam from mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hun-
MaÍdala. dred pounds.
26 Then aSWHY, seeing His mother and the 40 Then they took the body of aSWHY, and
taught one whom He loved standing by, He bound it in linen wrappings with the
said to His mother, “Woman, see your spices, as was the habit of the YehuÅim for
son!” burial.
27 Then to the taught one He said, “See, 41 And at the place where He was impaled
your mother!” And from that hour that there was a garden, and in the garden a
1045 YOÀANAN 20
fresh tomb in which no one had yet been know that it was aSWHY.
laid. 15 aSWHY said to her, “Woman, why do
42 There, then, because of the Preparation
you weep? Whom do you seek?” Thinking
Day of the YehuÅim, they laid aSWHY, He was the gardener, she said to Him,
because the tomb was near. “Master, if You have carried Him away,
say to me where You put Him, and I shall
20 And on the k first day of the week
Miryam from MaÍdala came early
take Him away.”
16 aSWHY said to her, “Miryam!” She
to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which
that the stone had been removed from the means Teacher).
tomb. 17 aSWHY said to her, “Do not hold on to
2 So she ran and came to ShimÈon KÃpha,
Me, for I have not yet ascended to My
and to the other taught one whom aSWHY Father. But go to My brothers and say to
loved, and said to them, “They have taken them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and
the Master out of the tomb, and we do not your Father, and to My Elohim and your
know where they laid Him.” Elohim.’ ”
3 Then KÃpha and the other taught one
18 Miryam from MaÍdala came announc-
went out, and they were going to the tomb, ing to the taught ones that she had seen the
4 and the two were running together, but
Master, and that He had told her this.
the other taught one outran KÃpha and 19 When therefore it was evening on that
came to the tomb first.
5 And stooping down he saw the linen day, the first day of the week, and when
wrappings lying, but he did not go in. the doors were shut where the taught ones
6 Then ShimÈon KÃpha came, following met, for fear of the YehuÅim, aSWHY came
him, and went into the tomb. And he saw and stood in the midst, and said to them,
the linen wrappings lying, “Peace to you.”
20 And having said this, He showed them
7 and the cloth which had been on His
head, not lying with the linen wrappings, His hands and His side. The taught ones
but folded up in a place by itself. therefore rejoiced when they saw the
8 So, then, the other taught one, who Master.
21 Then aSWHY said to them again, “Peace
came to the tomb first, also went in. And
he saw and believed. to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also
9 For they did not yet know the Scripture, send you.”
22 And having said this, He breathed on
that He has to rise again from the dead.
10 Therefore the taught ones went away them, and said to them, “Receive the Set-
again, by themselves. apart Spirit.
11 But Miryam was standing outside by 23 “If you forgive the sins of any, they are
the tomb weeping. Then as she wept, she forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any,
stooped down to the tomb, they have been retained.”
12 and saw two messengers in white sit- 24 But T’oma, called the Twin, one of the
ting, one at the head and the other at the twelve, was not with them when aSWHY
feet, where the body of aSWHY had been came,
25 so the other taught ones said to him,
laid.
13 And they said to her, “Woman, why do “We have seen the Master.” But he said to
you weep?” She said to them, “Because them, “Unless I see in His hands the mark
they took away my Master, and I do not of the nails, and put my finger into the
know where they laid Him.” imprint of the nails, and put my hand into
14 And having said this, she turned around His side, I shall by no means believe.”
and saw aSWHY standing, but she did not 26 And after eight days His taught ones
were again inside, and T’oma with them. 7 That taught one whom aSWHY loved
aSWHY came, the doors having been shut, then said to KÃpha, “It is the Master!”
and He stood in the midst, and said, “Peace Then ShimÈon KÃpha, hearing that it was
to you!” the Master, put on his outer garment – for
27 Then He said to T’oma, “Bring your
he was stripped – and plunged into the sea.
finger here, and see My hands. And bring 8 And the other taught ones came in the
your hand and put it into My side – and do little boat – for they were not far from
not be unbelieving, but believing.” land, but about two hundred cubits – drag-
28 And T’oma answered and said to Him,
ging the net with fish.
“My Master and my Elohim!” l 9 So when they had come to land, they
29 aSWHY said to him, “T’oma, because
saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it,
you have seen Me, you have believed. and bread.
Blessed are those who have not seen and 10 aSWHY said to them, “Bring some of the
have believed.” fish which you have now caught.”
30 There were indeed many other signs 11 ShimÈon KÃpha went up and dragged
that aSWHY did in the presence of His the net to land, filled with one hundred and
taught ones, which are not written in this fifty-three big fishes. And though there
book, were so many, the net was not broken.
31 but these have been written so that you 12 aSWHY said to them, “Come, have
believe that aSWHY is the Messiah, the Son breakfast.” And not one of the taught ones
of Elohim, m and that, believing, you might had the courage to ask Him, “Who are
possess life in His Name. You?,” knowing that it was the Master.
13 aSWHY came and took the bread and
longer able to draw it in because of the were younger you girded yourself and
large number of fish. walked where you wished, but when you
l aSWHY is also Elohim – see Heb. 1:8-9, but only His Father is Âl Shaddai, and Âl Elyon.
m See footnote Mt. 16:16.
1047 YOÀANAN 21
are old you shall stretch out your hands, You follow Me.”
and another shall gird you and bring you 23 Therefore this word went out among
where you do not wish.” the brothers that this taught one would not
19 Now this He said, signifying by what
die. However, aSWHY did not say to him
death he would esteem Elohim. And hav- that he would not die, but, “If I desire him
ing said this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” to remain until I come, what is it to you?”
20 And KÃpha, turning around, saw the
24 This is the taught one who bears wit-
taught one whom aSWHY loved following,
who also had leaned on His breast at the ness about these matters, and wrote these
supper, and said, “Master, who is the one matters. And we know that his witness is
who is delivering You up?” true.
21 Seeing him, KÃpha said to aSWHY, “But 25 Now there is much else that aSWHY did.
Master, what about this one?” If every one of them were written down, I
22 aSWHY said to him, “If I wish him to think that the world itself would not con-
remain till I come, what is that to you? tain the written books. AmÃn.
ACTS
to know times or seasons which the Father did receive his share in this service.”
has put in His own authority. 18 (This one, therefore, purchased a field
8 “But you shall receive power when the with the wages of unrighteousness, and
Set-apart Spirit has come upon you, and falling forward, he burst open in the mid-
you shall be My witnesses in Yeru- dle and all his intestines gushed out.
shalayim, and in all YehuÅah and 19 And it became known to all those
Shomeron, and to the end of the earth.” dwelling in Yerushalayim, so that in their
9 And having said this, while they were own language that field was called, Àaqal
looking on, He was taken up, and a cloud Dema, that is, Field of Blood).
hid Him from their sight. 20 “For it has been written in the Book of
10 And as they were gazing into the heav- Psalms, ‘Let his dwelling lie waste, and let
en as He went up, see, two men stood by no one live in it,’ and, ‘Let another take his
them dressed in white, office.’
11 who also said, “Men of Galil, why do 21 “It is therefore necessary that of the
you stand looking up into the heaven? This men who have been with us all the time
same aSWHY, who was taken up from you that the Master aSWHY went in and out
into the heaven, shall come in the same among us,
way c as you saw Him go into the heaven.” 22 beginning from the immersion of
12 Then they went back to Yerushalayim YoÁanan to that day when He was taken up
from the Mount of Olives, which is near from us, that one of these should become a
a Lk. 24:49, Yn. 14:16 & 26. b See footnote Lk. 1:33. Note well: In his reply to this question, aSWHY did not
deny this fact, rather, His reply merely was that the time for the physical setting up of His Reign is only known to
the Father. c See Ze¿. 14:4. Note: these men were standing on the Mount of Olives (v. 12).
1049 ACTS 2
witness with us of His resurrection.” speaking in our own tongues the great
23 And they put forward two: YosÃph deeds of Elohim.”
called Barsabba, who was also called 12 And they were all amazed, and were
one of these two You have chosen been filled with sweet wine.”
25 to receive the share in this service and 14 But KÃpha, standing up with the
office of the emissary from which YehuÅah eleven, lifted up his voice and said to them,
by transgression fell, to go to his own “Men of YehuÅah and all those dwelling in
place.” Yerushalayim, let this be known to you,
26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell and listen closely to my words.
on Mattithyahu. And he was numbered 15 “For these men are not drunk, as you
with the eleven emissaries. imagine, since it is only the third hour of
the day.
2 And when the Day of the Festival of
Weeks had come, they were all with
16 “But this is what was spoken by the
prophet Yo’Ãl:
one mind in one place. 17 ‘And it shall be in the last days, says
2 And suddenly there came a sound from Elohim, that I shall pour out of My Spirit
the heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, on all flesh. And your sons and your
and it filled all the house where they were daughters shall prophesy, and your young
sitting. men shall see visions, and your old men
3 And there appeared to them divided shall dream dreams,
tongues, as of fire, and settled on each one 18 and also on My male servants and
velled, saying to each other, “Look, are not aSWHY of Natsareth, a Man from Elohim,
all these who speak Galileans? having been pointed out to you by mighty
8 “And how do we hear, each one in our works, and wonders, and signs which
own language in which we were born? Elohim did through Him in your midst,
9 “Parthians and Medes and Âylamites, as you yourselves also know,
and those dwelling in Aram Naharayim, 23 this One, given up by the set purpose
both YehuÅah and Kappadokia, Pontos and and foreknowledge of Elohim, you have
Asia, impaled and put to death through the hands
10 both Phrygia and Pamphulia, Mits- of lawless men –
rayim and the parts of Libya around 24 “Him Elohim raised up, having loosed
Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Yehu- the pangs of death, because it was impossi-
Åim and converts, ble that He could be held in its grip.
11 “Cretans and AraÄs, we hear them 25 “For DawiÅ says concerning Him, ‘I
d Yo’Ãl 2:28-32.
ACTS 2 1050
saw HWHY before me continually, because Name of aSWHY Messiah for the forgive-
He is at my right hand, in order that I ness of sins. h And you shall receive the
should not be shaken. gift of the Set-apart Spirit.
26 ‘For this reason my heart rejoiced, and 39 “For the promise is to you and to your
my tongue was glad, and now my flesh children, and to all who are far off, as
shall also rest in expectation, many as HWHY our Elohim shall call.”
27 because You shall not leave my being 40 And with many other words he earnest-
in the grave, nor shall You give Your Kind ly witnessed and urged them, saying, “Be
One to see corruption. saved from this crooked generation.” i
28 ‘You have made known to me the ways 41 Then those, indeed, who gladly received
of life, You shall fill me with joy in Your his word, were immersed. And on that day
presence.’ e about three thousand beings were added to
29 “Men and brothers, let me speak boldly them.
to you of the ancestor DawiÅ, that he died 42 And they were continuing steadfastly in
and was buried, f and his tomb is with us to the teaching of the emissaries, and in the
this day. fellowship, and in the breaking of bread,
30 “Being a prophet, then, and knowing and in the prayers.
that Elohim had sworn with an oath to him: 43 And fear came upon every being, and
of the fruit of his loins, according to the many wonders and signs were being done
flesh, to raise up the Messiah to sit on his through the emissaries.
throne, 44 And all those who believed were
31 foreseeing this he spoke concerning the together, and had all in common,
resurrection of the Messiah, that His being 45 and sold their possessions and property,
was neither left in the grave, nor did His and divided them among all, as anyone
flesh see corruption. might have need.
32 “Elohim has raised up this aSWHY, of 46 And day by day, continuing with one
which we are all witnesses. mind in the Set-apart Place, and breaking
33 “Therefore, having been exalted to the bread from house to house, they ate their
right hand of Elohim, and having received food with gladness and simplicity of
from the Father the promise of the Set- heart,
apart Spirit, He poured out this which you 47 praising Elohim and having favour with
now see and hear. all the people. And the Master added to the
34 “For DawiÅ did not ascend into the assembly those who were being saved, day
heavens, but he himself said, ‘HWHY said to by day.
my Master, “Sit at My right hand,
35 until I make Your enemies a footstool
aSWHY, whom you impaled, both Master was carried, whom they laid daily at the
and Messiah.” gate of the Set-apart Place which is called
37 And having heard this, they were Yaphah,1 to ask alms from those entering
pierced to the heart, and said to KÃpha and into the Set-apart Place,
the rest of the emissaries, “Men, brothers, 3 who, seeing KÃpha and YoÁanan about
e Teh. 16:8-11. f See v. 34. g Teh. 110:1. h The purpose of being Spirit-filled is to proclaim this: Repent, and
receive forgiveness of sin through aSWHY, then to be immersed, then receive the gift of the Set-apart Spirit. Now
read further what this entails, in 2:40, 3:19, 3:26. i Yirm. 51:6, Phil. 2:15, Rev. 18:4. 1 Beautiful or Lovely.
1051 ACTS 4
steadfastly at him, said, “Look at us.” made strong, and the belief which comes
5 And he gave heed to them, expecting to through Him has given him this perfect
receive whatever from them. healing before all of you.
6 But KÃpha said, “I do not have silver 17 “And now, brothers, I know that you
and gold, but what I do possess, this I give did it in ignorance, as your rulers did too.
you: In the Name of aSWHY Messiah of 18 “But this is how Elohim has filled what
whom Elohim raised from the dead, of 4 And as they were speaking to the
people, the priests and the captain of
which we are witnesses. the Set-apart Place, and the Sadducees,
16 “And by the belief in His Name, this came upon them,
one whom you see and know, His Name 2 being annoyed because they taught the
j Or Prince. k We are indeed living in exciting times. aSWHY is preparing His Bride, setting her apart and cleans-
ing her by the washing of water by the Word (Rev.19:7-8, Eph. 5:26-27). He is restoring the True Worship which
has been mixed with leaven, evil birds, the rotten, the darnel (lawlessness), as aSWHY prophesied and warned us
about in Mt. 13:1-52. Indeed, He is opening our eyes and our understanding to see it all clearly (Mk. 8:25).
l DeÄ. 18:18-20, and note the importance of hearing (obeying) Messiah, as we see in Yn. 3:36.
m See footnote 2:38.
ACTS 4 1052
people and announced the resurrection men? For, indeed, that an outstanding mir-
from the dead in aSWHY. acle has been done through them is appar-
3 And they arrested them, and put them ent to all those dwelling in Yerushalayim,
in jail until the next day, for it was already and we are unable to deny it.
evening. 17 “But in order that it spreads no further
4 But many of those who had heard the among the people, let us strongly threaten
word believed, and the number of the men them, to speak no more to anyone in this
became about five thousand. Name.”
5 And it came to be, on the next day, that 18 And they called them and commanded
their rulers and elders and scribes assem- them not to speak at all nor to teach in the
bled in Yerushalayim, Name of aSWHY.
6 as well as Àanan the high priest, and 19 But KÃpha and YoÁanan answering
Qayapha, and YoÁanan, and Alexander, them, said, “Whether it is right in the sight
and as many as were of high priestly of Elohim to listen to you more than to
descent. Elohim, n you judge.
7 And having placed them in the middle, 20 “For it is impossible for us not to speak
they asked, “By what power or in what of what we saw and heard.”
Name did you do this?” 21 And having threatened them further,
8 Then KÃpha, filled with the Set-apart they released them, finding no way of
Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people punishing them, because of the people,
and elders of Yisra’Ãl: because they were all praising Elohim
9 “If today we are called to account for a for what had been done.
good deed towards a sick man, by whom 22 For the man was over forty years old on
aSWHY Messiah of Natsareth, whom you their own people and reported all that the
impaled, whom Elohim raised from the chief priests and elders said to them.
dead, by Him this one stands before you, 24 And having heard that, they lifted up
else, for there is no other Name under the DawiÅ have said, ‘Why did the gentiles
heaven given among men by which we rage, and the people plot in vain?
need to be saved.” 26 ‘The sovereigns of the earth stood
13 And seeing the boldness of KÃpha and up, and the rulers were gathered together
YoÁanan, and perceiving that they were against HWHY and against His Messiah.’ o
unlearned and ordinary men, they mar- 27 “For truly, in this city there were gath-
velled. And they recognised that they had ered together against Your set-apart
been with aSWHY. Servant aSWHY, whom You anointed, both
14 And seeing the man who had been Herodes and Pontius Pilate, with the gen-
healed standing with them, they could not tiles and the people of Yisra’Ãl
contradict it. 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your
15 But when they had commanded them to purpose decided before to be done.
go aside out of the council, they consulted 29 “And now, HWHY, look on their threats,
30 by stretching out Your hand for healing, 6 But the young men arose and wrapped
and signs, and wonders to take place him up, carried him out and buried him.
through the Name of Your set-apart 7 And it came to be, about three hours
Servant aSWHY.” later, that his wife came in, not knowing
31 And when they had prayed, the place what had taken place.
where they came together was shaken. 8 And KÃpha responded to her, “Say to
And they were all filled with the Set-apart me whether you sold the land for so
Spirit, and they spoke the word of Elohim much?” And she said, “Yes, for so much.”
with boldness. 9 So KÃpha said to her, “Why have you
32 And the group of those who believed agreed to try the Spirit of HWHY? Look, the
were of one heart and one being. And no feet of those who have buried your hus-
one claimed that any of his possessions band are at the door, and they shall carry
was his own, but they had all in common. you out.”
33 And with great power the emissaries 10 And immediately she fell down at his
gave witness to the resurrection of the feet and breathed her last. And the young
Master aSWHY, and great favour was upon men came in and found her dead, and
them all. carrying her out, they buried her beside her
34 For there was not anyone needy among husband.
them, for all who were possessors of lands 11 And great fear came upon all the
or houses sold them, and brought the assembly and upon all who heard of this.
prices of what was sold, 12 And through the hands of the emis-
35 and laid them at the feet of the emis- saries many signs and wonders were done
saries, and they distributed to each as any- among the people. And they were all with
one had need. one mind in Shelomoh’s Porch.
36 And YosÃph, who was also called 13 But of the rest no one had the courage
BarnaÄah by the emissaries (which means to join them, however, the people made
Son of Encouragement), a LÃwite, a native much of them.
of Cyprus, 14 And more believers were added to the
37 having land, sold it, and brought the Master, large numbers of both men and
proceeds and laid it at the feet of the emis- women,
saries. 15 so that they brought the sick out into
wife also being aware of it, and brought a surrounding cities to Yerushalayim, bring-
certain part and laid it at the feet of the ing sick ones and those who were troubled
emissaries. by unclean spirits, and they were all
3 But KÃpha said, “Àananyah, why has healed.
Satan filled your heart to lie to the Set- 17 But the high priest rose up, and all
apart Spirit and keep back from the price those with him, which is the sect of the
of the land for yourself? Sadducees, and they were filled with
4 “While it remained, did it not remain jealousy,
your own? And after it was sold, was it not 18 and seized the emissaries and put them
not lied to men but to Elohim.” prison doors at night and brought them out,
5 Then Àananyah, hearing these words, and said,
fell down and breathed his last. And great 20 “Go and stand in the Set-apart Place
fear came upon all those who heard of this. and speak to the people all the words of
ACTS 5 1054
and were teaching. But the high priest and up, a Pharisee named Gamli’Ãl, a teacher
those with him came and called the council of the Torah, respected by all the people,
together, with all the elders of the children and ordered them to put the emissaries out-
of Yisra’Ãl, and sent to the prison for them side for a little while,
to be brought. 35 and said to them, “Men of Yisra’Ãl, take
22 But having come, the officers did not heed to yourselves what you intend to do
find them in the prison, and they went back to these men.
and reported it, 36 “For before these days ToÅah rose up,
23 saying, “We found the prison shut in all claiming to be somebody. A number of
safety, and the watches standing outside men, about four hundred, did join him. He
before the doors. But having opened them, was slain, and all who obeyed him were
we found no one inside!” dispersed, and came to naught.
24 And as the high priest and the captain 37 “After him, YehuÅah of Galil rose up in
of the Set-apart Place and the chief priests the days of the census, and drew away
heard these words, they were puzzled and many people after him. He also perished,
wondered what this might be. and all who obeyed him were scattered.
25 But one came and reported to them, 38 “And now I say to you, stay away from
saying, “Look, the men whom you put in these men and leave them alone, because if
prison are standing in the Set-apart Place this plan or this work is of men, it shall be
and teaching the people!” overthrown,
26 Then the captain went with the officers 39 but if it is of Elohim, you are unable to
and brought them, not with force, for they overthrow it, lest you even be found to
feared the people, lest they should be fight against Elohim.”
stoned. 40 And they heeded his advice, and having
27 And having brought them, they set called for the emissaries, beating them,
them before the council and the high priest they commanded that they should not
asked them, speak in the Name of aSWHY, and let them
28 saying, “Did we not strictly command go.
you not to teach in this Name? And look, 41 Then indeed they went rejoicing from
you have filled Yerushalayim with your the presence of the council, because they
teaching, and intend to bring the blood of were counted worthy to suffer shame for
this Man upon us!” His Name.
29 And KÃpha and the other emissaries 42 And daily in the Set-apart Place, and in
answering, said, “We have to obey Elohim every house, they did not cease teaching
rather than men. p and bringing the Good News: aSWHY the
30 “The Elohim of our fathers raised up Messiah!
aSWHY whom you laid hands on, hanging
Him on a timber.
31 “Him, a Prince and a Saviour, Elohim 6 And in those days, when the taught
ones were increasing, there arose a
has exalted to His right hand, to give grumbling against the HeÄrews by the
repentance to Yisra’Ãl and forgiveness of Hellenists, because their widows were
sins. overlooked in the daily serving.
32 “And we are His witnesses to these 2 So the twelve summoned the group of
matters, and so also is the Set-apart Spirit the taught ones and said, “It is not pleasing
whom Elohim has given to those who obey for us to leave the Word of Elohim and
Him.” q serve tables.
3 “Therefore, brothers, seek out from was in Aram Naharayim, before he dwelt
among you seven men who are known to in Àaran,
be filled with the Set-apart Spirit and wis- 3 and said to him, ‘Come out of your land
dom, whom we shall appoint for this duty, and from your relatives, and come here,
4 but we shall give ourselves continually into a land that I shall show you.’
to prayer and to serving the Word.” 4 “Then he came out of the land of the
5 And the word pleased the entire group. Chaldeans and dwelt in Àaran. And from
And they chose Stephanos, a man filled there, after the death of his father, He
with belief and the Set-apart Spirit, and removed him to this land in which you
Philip, and Prochoros, and Nikanor, and now dwell.
Timon, and Parmenas, and Nikolaos, a 5 “And He gave him no inheritance in it,
have heard him speak blasphemous words sold YosÃph into Mitsrayim. But Elohim
against Mosheh and Elohim.” was with him,
12 And they stirred up the people, and the 10 and delivered him out of all his afflic-
elders, and the scribes, so they came upon tions, and gave him favour and wisdom
him, seized him, and brought him to the before Pharaoh, sovereign of Mitsrayim.
council. And he appointed him governor over
13 And they set up false witnesses who Mitsrayim and all his house.
said, “This man does not cease to speak 11 “Then a scarcity of food and great
blasphemous words against this set-apart distress came over all the land of Mits-
place and the Torah, rayim and Kena‘an, and our fathers found
14 for we have heard him saying that this no food.
aSWHY of Natsareth shall overthrow this 12 “But YaÈaqoÄ heard that there was grain
place and change the institutes which in Mitsrayim, and he sent out our fathers
Mosheh delivered unto us.” the first time,
15 And all who sat in the council, looking 13 and at the second time YosÃph was
steadily at him, saw his face was like the made known to his brothers, and YosÃph’s
face of a heavenly messenger. race became known to the Pharaoh.
14 “And YosÃph sent and called his father
appeared to our father AÄraham when he rayim, and died, he and our fathers,
ACTS 7 1056
for a price of silver from the sons of the sight, and coming near to look, the
Àamor, the father of She¿em. voice of HWHY came to him,
17 “But as the time of the promise drew 32 saying, ‘I am the Elohim of your
near which Elohim had sworn to AÄraham, fathers, the Elohim of AÄraham and the
the people increased and multiplied in Elohim of YitsÁaq and the Elohim of
Mitsrayim YaÈaqoÄ.’ And Mosheh trembled and did
18 until another sovereign arose who did not have the courage to look.
not know YosÃph. 33 ‘But HWHY said to him, “Take your san-
19 “Having dealt treacherously with our dals off your feet, for the place where you
race, this one mistreated our fathers, mak- stand is set-apart ground.
ing them expose their babies, so that they 34 “I have certainly seen the evil treatment
wronged, he defended and revenged him children of Yisra’Ãl, ‘HWHY your Elohim
who was oppressed, smiting the Mitsrite. shall raise up for you a Prophet like me
25 “And he thought that his brothers from your brothers. Him you shall hear.’
would have understood that Elohim would 38 “This is he who was in the assembly in
give deliverance to them by his hand, but the wilderness with the Messenger who
they did not understand. spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our
26 “And the next day he appeared to two fathers, who received the living Words r to
of them as they were fighting, and urged give to us,
them to peace, saying, ‘Men, you are 39 unto whom our fathers would not
brothers, why do you wrong one another?’ become obedient, but thrust away, and in
27 “But he who was wronging his neigh- their hearts they turned back to Mits-
bour pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made rayim,
you a ruler and a judge over us? 40 saying to Aharon, ‘Make us mighty
28 ‘Do you wish to kill me as you killed ones to go before us, for this Mosheh who
the Mitsrite yesterday?’ led us out of the land of Mitsrayim, we do
29 “And at this saying, Mosheh fled and not know what has become of him.’
became a sojourner in the land of MiÅyan, 41 “And they made a calf in those days,
where he fathered two sons. and brought an offering to the idol, and
30 “And after forty years were completed, were rejoicing in the works of their own
a Messenger of HWHY appeared to him in a hands.
flame of fire in a bush, in the wilderness of 42 “So Elohim turned and gave them up to
r Note: this Spirit-filled Stephanos calls the Ten Words “living Words”!
1057 ACTS 8
worship the host of the heaven, s as it has standing at the right hand of Elohim,
been written in the book of the Prophets, 56 and he said, “Look! I see the heavens
‘Did you bring slaughtered beasts and opened and the Son of AÅam standing at
offerings unto Me during forty years in the the right hand of Elohim!”
wilderness, O house of Yisra’Ãl? 57 And crying out with a loud voice, they
43 ‘And you took up the tent of Mole¿, stopped their ears, and rushed upon him
and the star of your mighty one Kiyyun, with one mind,
images which you made to bow before 58 and threw him out of the city and
them. Therefore I shall remove you stoned him. And the witnesses laid down
beyond BaÄel.’ their garments at the feet of a young man
44 “The Tent of Witness was with our named Sha’ul.
fathers in the wilderness, as He appointed, 59 And they were stoning Stephanos as he
instructing Mosheh to make it according was calling and saying, “Master aSWHY,
to the pattern that he had seen, receive my spirit.”
45 which our fathers, having received it in 60 And kneeling down he cried out with a
turn, also brought with Yehoshua into the loud voice, “Master, do not hold this sin
land possessed by the gentiles, whom against them.” And having said this, he fell
Elohim drove out before the face of our asleep.
fathers until the days of DawiÅ,
46 who found favour before Elohim and
asked to find a dwelling for the Elohim of 8 And Sha’ul was giving approval to his
death. And on that day there was a
YaÈaqoÄ, great persecution against the assembly
47 but Shelomoh built Him a house. which was at Yerushalayim, and they were
48 “However, the Most High does not all scattered throughout the countries of
dwell in dwellings made with hands, t as YehuÅah and Shomeron, except the emis-
the prophet says: saries.
49 ‘The heaven is My throne, and earth is 2 And dedicated men buried Stephanos,
My footstool. What house shall you build and made great lamentation over him.
for Me? says HWHY, or what is the place of 3 But Sha’ul was ravaging the assembly,
heart and ears! You always resist the Set- went everywhere bringing the Good News:
apart Spirit, as your fathers did, you also the Word!
do. 5 And going down to the city of Sho-
52 “Which of the prophets did your fathers meron Philip proclaimed Messiah to them.
not persecute? And they killed those who 6 And the crowds with one mind heeded
before announced the coming of the what Philip said, hearing and seeing the
Righteous One, of whom you now have miracles which he did.
become the betrayers and murderers, 7 For unclean spirits came out of many
53 who received the Torah as it was who were possessed, crying with a loud
ordained by messengers, but did not watch voice, and many who were paralysed and
over u it.” lame were healed.
54 And hearing this they were cut to the 8 And there came to be great joy in that
Spirit, looked steadily into the heaven and ShimÈon, who formerly was practising
saw the esteem of Elohim, and aSWHY magic in the city and astonishing the peo-
s Because they would not obey Mosheh who had received the living Words – v. 39.
t See also 17:24. u See footnote Mt. 5:20.
ACTS 8 1058
ple of Shomeron, claiming to be someone what you had said shall come upon me.”
great, 25 Then after they had earnestly witnessed
10 to whom they all were giving heed, and spoken the Word of HWHY, they
from the least to the greatest, saying, “This returned to Yerushalayim, bringing the
one is the power of Elohim, which is Good News in many villages of the
great.” Shomeronites.
11 And they were giving heed to him 26 But a messenger of HWHY spoke to
because for a long time he had amazed Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the
them with his magic. south along the way which goes down
12 And when they believed Philip as he from Yerushalayim to Azzah.” This is
brought the Good News about the reign of desert.
Elohim and the Name of aSWHY Messiah, 27 And he arose and went, and saw, a man
both men and women were immersed. of Kush, a eunuch of great authority under
13 And ShimÈon himself also believed. Kandake the sovereigness of the Kushites,
And when he was immersed he continued who was in charge of all her treasury, and
with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the had come to Yerushalayim to worship,
miracles and signs which took place. 28 and was returning. And sitting in his
14 And when the emissaries who were at chariot, he was reading the prophet Yesha-
Yerushalayim heard that Shomeron had yahu.
received the Word of Elohim, they sent 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near
prayed for them to receive the Set-apart ing the prophet Yeshayahu, and said, “Do
Spirit, you know what you are reading?”
16 for He had not yet fallen on any of 31 And he said, “How am I able, unless
them, but they had only been immersed in someone guides me?” And he called Philip
the Name of the Master aSWHY. near, to come up and sit with him.
17 Then they laid hands on them, and they 32 And the passage of the Scripture which
received the Set-apart Spirit. he was reading was this, “He was led as a
18 And ShimÈon, seeing that through the sheep to slaughter, and like a lamb silent
laying on of the hands of the emissaries the before its shearer, so He opened not His
Set-apart Spirit was given, he offered them mouth.
money, 33 “In His humiliation He was deprived of
19 saying, “Give me this authority too, so right-ruling. And who shall declare His
that anyone I lay hands on shall receive the generation? Because His life was taken
Set-apart Spirit.” from the earth.” v
20 But KÃpha said to him, “Let your silver 34 And the eunuch, answering Philip, said,
perish with you, because you thought to “I ask you, about whom does the prophet
buy the gift of Elohim through money! say this, about himself or about some
21 “You have neither part nor lot in this other?”
matter, for your heart is not right before 35 And Philip opening his mouth, and
intention of your heart. they came to some water. And the eunuch
23 “For I see that you are poisoned by said, “Look, water! What hinders me from
bitterness and bound by unrighteousness.” being immersed?”
24 But ShimÈon answering, said, “Plead 37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all
with the Master for me, so that none of your heart, it is permitted.” And he
v Yesh. 53:7-8.
1059 ACTS 9
answering, said, “I believe that aSWHY “Àananyah!” And he said, “Here I am,
Messiah is the Son of Elohim.” w Master.”
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand 11 And the Master said to him, “Arise and
still. And both Philip and the eunuch went go to the street called Straight, and seek in
down into the water, and he immersed him. the house of YehuÅah for one called Sha’ul
39 And when they came up out of the of Tarsos, for look, he is praying,
12 and has seen in a vision a man named
water, the Spirit of HWHY caught Philip
away, and the eunuch saw him no more, Àananyah coming in and laying his hand
for he went his way, rejoicing. on him, so as to see again.”
40 Philip, however, was found at AshdoÅ. 13 And Àananyah answered, “Master, I
And passing through, he brought the Good have heard from many about this man,
News in all the cities until he came to how many evils he did to Your set-apart
Caesarea. ones in Yerushalayim,
14 and here he has authority from the chief
he came near Damascus, and suddenly a into the house. And laying his hands on
light flashed around him from the heaven. him he said, “Brother Sha’ul, the Master
4 And he fell to the ground, and heard a aSWHY, who appeared to you on the way as
voice saying to him, “Sha’ul, Sha’ul, why you came, has sent me, so that you might
do you persecute Me?” see again and be filled with the Set-apart
5 And he said, “Who are You, Master?” Spirit.”
And the Master said, “I am aSWHY, whom 18 And immediately there fell from his
you persecute. It is hard for you to kick eyes, as it were scales, and he received his
against the prods.” sight. And rising up, he was immersed.
6 Both trembling, and being astonished, 19 And having received food, he was
he said, “Master, what do You wish me to strengthened. And Sha’ul was with the
do?” And the Master said to him, “Arise taught ones at Damascus some days.
and go into the city, and you shall be told 20 And immediately he proclaimed the
24 But their plot became known to Sha’ul. taught ones having heard that KÃpha was
And they were watching the gates day and there, they sent two men to him, urging
night, to kill him. him not to delay in coming to them.
25 But taking him by night, the taught 39 And having risen up, KÃpha went with
ones let him down through the wall, lower- them. And when he arrived, they brought
ing him in a basket. him to the upper room. And all the widows
26 And having arrived at Yerushalayim, stood beside him weeping, showing the
Sha’ul tried to join the taught ones, but inner garments and outer garments which
they were all afraid of him, not believing Dorkas had made while she was with
that he was a taught one. them.
27 But BarnaÄah took him and brought 40 But KÃpha sent them all out, and knelt
him to the emissaries, and told them how down and prayed. And turning to the body
he had seen the Master on the way, and he said, “TaÄitha, arise.” And she opened
that He had spoken to him, and how he her eyes, and seeing KÃpha, she sat up.
was speaking boldly at Damascus in the 41 And giving her his hand, he lifted her
Name of aSWHY. up. And calling the set-apart ones and wid-
28 And he was with them at Yerushalayim, ows, he presented her alive.
coming in and going out, 42 And it became known throughout all
29 and speaking boldly in the Name of the Yapho, and many believed on the Master.
Master aSWHY and disputed with the 43 And it came to be that he stayed for
Hellenists, but they undertook to kill him. many days in Yapho with ShimÈon, a
30 And when the brothers learned of this, leather-tanner.
they brought him down to Caesarea and
sent him out to Tarsos.
31 Then indeed the assemblies throughout 10 Now there was a certain man in
Caesarea called Cornelius, a captain
all YehuÅah, and Galil, and Shomeron had of what was called the Italian Regiment,
peace and were built up, and walking in 2 dedicated, and fearing Elohim with all
the fear of HWHY and in the encouragement his household, doing many kind deeds to
of the Set-apart Spirit, they were being the people, and praying to Elohim always.
increased. 3 He clearly saw in a vision, about the
32 And it came to be, as KÃpha was pass- ninth hour of the day, a messenger of
ing through all places, that he also came Elohim coming to him, and saying to him,
down to the set-apart ones who were “Cornelius!”
dwelling at Lod. 4 And looking intently at him, and
33 And there he found a certain man becoming afraid, he said, “What is it, mas-
named Aeneas, who had been bedridden ter?” And he said to him, “Your prayers
for eight years, being paralytic. and your kind deeds have come up for a
34 And KÃpha said to him, “Aeneas, remembrance before Elohim.
aSWHY the Messiah heals you! Rise up and 5 “And now send men to Yapho, and
make your bed.” And immediately he rose send for ShimÈon who is also called KÃpha.
up. 6 “He is staying with ShimÈon, a leather-
35 And all those dwelling at Lod and tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
Sharon saw him and did turn to the Master. 7 And when the messenger who spoke to
36 And in Yapho there was a certain taught him went away, Cornelius called two of his
one named TaÄitha, which means Dorkas. household servants, and a dedicated sol-
This woman was filled with good works dier from among those who waited on him
and kind deeds which she did. continually.
37 And it came to be in those days that she 8 And having explained to them all, he
became sick and died. And having washed sent them to Yapho.
her, they laid her in an upper room. 9 And on the next day, as they were on
38 And Lod being near to Yapho, and the their way and approaching the city, KÃpha
1061 ACTS 10
went up on the house-top to pray, about the And on the next day KÃpha went away
sixth hour. with them, and some brothers from Yapho
10 And he became hungry and wished to went with him.
eat. But while they were preparing, he fell 24 And the following day they entered into
down to the earth, entered, Cornelius met him and fell down
12 in which were all kinds of four-footed at his feet and bowed before him.
beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and 26 But KÃpha raised him up, saying,
creeping creatures, and the birds of the “Stand up, I myself am also a man.”
heaven. 27 And talking with him, he went in and
13 And a voice came to him, “Rise up, found many who had come together.
KÃpha, slay and eat.” 28 And he said to them, “You know that a
14 But KÃpha said, “Not at all, Master! YehuÅite man is not allowed to associate
Because I have never eaten whatever is with, or go to one of another race. But
common or unclean.” Elohim has shown me that I should not call
15 And a voice came to him again the sec- any man common or unclean. y
ond time, “What Elohim has cleansed you 29 “That is why I came without hesitation
do not consider common.” when I was sent for. So I ask, why have
16 And this took place three times, and the you sent for me?”
vessel was taken back to the heaven. 30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago I
17 And while KÃpha was doubting within was fasting until this hour. And at the ninth
himself about what the vision might mean, hour I prayed in my house, and see, a man
look, the men who had been sent from stood before me in shining garments,
Cornelius, having asked for the house of 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has
ShimÈon, stood at the gate, been heard, and your kind deeds were
18 and calling out, they enquired whether remembered before Elohim.
ShimÈon, also known as KÃpha, was stay- 32 ‘Now send to Yapho and call ShimÈon
them, not doubting at all, for I have sent have done well to come. And now, we are
them.” all present before Elohim, to hear all that
21 So KÃpha went down to the men who you have been commanded by Elohim.”
had been sent to him from Cornelius, and 34 And opening his mouth, KÃpha said,
said, “Look, I am the one you seek. Why “Truly I see that Elohim shows no
have you come?” partiality,
22 And they said, “Cornelius the captain, a 35 but in every nation, he who fears Him
righteous man and one who fears Elohim and works righteousness is accepted by
and well spoken of by the entire nation of Him.
the YehuÅim, was instructed by a set-apart 36 “He sent the word to the children of
messenger to send for you to his house, Yisra’Ãl, bringing the Good News: peace
and to hear words from you.” through aSWHY Messiah! He is Master of
23 So inviting them in, he housed them. all.
y KÃpha clearly states what the vision meant: No man, no gentile (not speaking about animals at all) should be
called unclean. See also v. 35.
ACTS 10 1062
37 “You know what word came to be 2 And when KÃpha went up to Yeru-
throughout all YehuÅah, beginning from shalayim, those of the circumcision were
Galil after the immersion which YoÁanan contending with him,
proclaimed: 3 saying, “You went in to uncircumcised
38 how Elohim did anoint aSWHY of men and ate with them!”
Natsareth with the Set-apart Spirit and 4 But KÃpha began and set it forth in
devil, for Elohim was with Him. And in a trance I saw a vision, a certain
39 “And we are witnesses of all He did, vessel descending like a great sheet, let
both in the country of the YehuÅim and down from the heaven by four corners, and
in Yerushalayim, whom they even killed it came to me.
by hanging on a timber. 6 “Having looked into it, I perceived and
40 “Elohim raised up this One on the third I saw four-footed beasts of the earth, and
day, and let Him be seen, wild beasts, and creeping creatures, and
41 not to all the people, but to witnesses, the birds of heaven.
those having been chosen before by 7 “And I heard a voice saying to me,
Elohim – to us who ate and drank with ‘Rise up, KÃpha, slay and eat.’
Him after He arose from the dead. 8 “But I said, ‘Not at all, Master! Because
42 “And He commanded us to proclaim to whatever is common or unclean has never
the people, and to witness that it is He who entered into my mouth.’
was appointed by Elohim to be Judge of 9 “And the voice answered me again
the living and the dead. z from the heaven, ‘What Elohim has
43 “To this One all the prophets bear wit- cleansed you do not consider common.’
ness, that through His Name, everyone 10 “And this took place three times, and
believing in Him does receive forgiveness all were drawn up again into the heaven.
of sins.” 11 “And see, immediately three men stood
44 While KÃpha was still speaking these before the house where I was, having been
words, the Set-apart Spirit fell upon all sent to me from Caesarea.
those hearing the word. 12 “And the Spirit said to me to go with
45 And those of the circumcision who them, not doubting at all. And these six
believed were astonished, as many as came brothers also went with me, and we went
with KÃpha, because the gift of the Set- into the man’s house.
apart Spirit had been poured out on the 13 “And he told us how he had seen a mes-
Then they asked him to remain a few days. Master, how He said, ‘YoÁanan indeed
immersed in water, but you shall be
11 And the emissaries and brothers
who were in YehuÅah heard that the
immersed in the Set-apart Spirit.’
17 “So if Elohim gave them the same gift
gentiles also received the word of Elohim. as He gave us when we believed on the
z See also 17:31, Yn. 5:29, Teh. 96:13, Teh. 98:9, Rev. 19:11.
1063 ACTS 12
Master aSWHY Messiah, how was I able to elders by the hands of BarnaÄah and
withstand Elohim?” Sha’ul.
18 And having heard this, they were silent,
because of the pressure that arose over YoÁanan with the sword.
3 And seeing that it was pleasing to the
Stephanos passed through to Phoenicia,
and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the YehuÅim, he proceeded further to arrest
word to no one except the YehuÅim only. KÃpha as well – and they were the Days of
20 But some of them were men from Unleavened Bread.
4 So when he had seized him, he put him
Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had
come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, in prison, and delivered him to four squads
bringing the Good News: the Master of soldiers to watch over him, intending to
aSWHY! bring him before the people after Passover.
21 And the hand of the Master was with 5 So KÃpha was indeed kept in prison,
them, and a great number having believed but prayer was earnestly made to Elohim
turned to the Master. on his behalf by the assembly.
22 And word of it came to the ears of the 6 And when Herodes was about to bring
assembly in Yerushalayim, and they sent him out, that night KÃpha was sleeping,
out BarnaÄah to go as far as Antioch, bound with two chains between two sol-
23 who, having come, and seeing the diers. And the guards before the door were
favour of Elohim, was glad, and encour- keeping the prison.
7 And see, a messenger of HWHY stood by,
aged them all with purpose of heart to
cleave to the Master. and a light shone in the building. And
24 Because he was a good man, and filled smiting the side of KÃpha he raised him up,
with the Set-apart Spirit and with belief. saying, “Get up quickly!” And his chains
And large numbers were added to the fell off his hands.
Master. 8 And the messenger said to him, “Gird
25 Then BarnaÄah went to Tarsos to seek yourself and bind on your sandals,” and he
Sha’ul, did so. And he said to him, “Put on your
26 and having found him, he brought him garment and follow me.”
to Antioch. And it came to be that for an 9 And coming out he followed him, and
entire year they came together in the knew not that what was done by the mes-
assembly and taught large numbers. And senger was true, but thought he was seeing
the taught ones were called ‘Messianites’ a vision.
first in Antioch. 10 And when they had passed the first and
27 And in those days prophets came from the second guard posts, they came to the
Yerushalayim to Antioch. iron gate that leads to the city, which
28 And one of them, named ÀaÍaÄ, stood opened to them by itself. And they went
up and indicated by the Spirit that there out and went down one street, and the mes-
was going to be a great scarcity of food senger instantly withdrew from him.
over all the world – which also took place 11 And when KÃpha had come to himself,
under Claudius Caesar. he said, “Now I truly know that HWHY has
29 So the taught ones, each according to sent His messenger, and delivered me from
his ability, decided to send relief to the the hand of Herodes and from all the
brothers dwelling in YehuÅah. YehuÅite people were anticipating.”
30 This they also did, and sent it to the 12 And having realised this, he went to the
a See 10:35.
ACTS 12 1064
house of Miryam, the mother of YoÁanan YoÁanan who was also called Mark.
who was also called Mark, where many
had gathered to pray.
13 And when KÃpha knocked at the door 13 And in the assembly that was at
Antioch there were certain prophets
of the gate, a girl named Rhode came to and teachers: both BarnaÄah and ShimÈon
answer. who was called Niger, and Lucius of
14 And when she recognised KÃpha’s Cyrene, and ManaÁÃm who had been
voice, she did not open the gate because of brought up with Herodes the district ruler,
her joy, but ran in and reported that KÃpha and Sha’ul.
stood before the gate. 2 And as they were doing service to the
15 And they said to her, “You are mad!” Master and fasted, the Set-apart Spirit said,
But she kept insisting that it was so, and “Separate unto Me BarnaÄah and Sha’ul
they said, “It is his messenger.” for the work to which I have called them.”
16 And KÃpha continued knocking, and 3 Then having fasted and prayed, and
having opened they saw him and were having laid hands on them, they sent them
amazed. away.
17 And motioning to them with his hand to 4 So they, having been sent out by the
be silent, he told them how the Master Set-apart Spirit, went down to Seleukeia,
brought him out of the prison. And he said, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
“Report this to YaÈaqoÄ and to the broth- 5 And having come into Salamis, they
ers.” And he left and went to another place. proclaimed the word of Elohim in the
18 Now when day came, there was no congregations of the YehuÅim. And they
small stir among the soldiers about what also had YoÁanan as an attendant.
had become of KÃpha. 6 And having passed through all the
19 And when Herodes had searched for island to Paphos, they found a certain
him and did not find him, he examined the magician, a false prophet, a YehuÅite
guards and ordered them to be led away. whose name was Bar-Yehoshua,
And he went down from YehuÅah to 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius
eign’s eunuch their friend, they were name is translated – withstood them, seek-
asking for peace, because their country ing to turn the proconsul away from the
was supplied with food by the sovereign’s belief.
country. 9 Then Sha’ul, filled with the Set-apart
21 And on an appointed day Herodes, Spirit, looked intently at him,
having put on his royal clothes, sat on his 10 and said, “O son of the devil, filled with
throne and gave an address to them. all deceit and all recklessness, you enemy
22 And the people kept shouting, “The of all righteousness, shall you not cease
voice of a mighty one and not of a man!” perverting the straight ways of HWHY?
23 And instantly a messenger of HWHY 11 “And now, see, the hand of HWHY is
smote him, because he did not give the upon you, and you shall be blind, not see-
esteem to Elohim. And becoming worm- ing the sun for a time.” And instantly a
eaten, he died. dark mist fell on him, and he went around
24 And the word of Elohim went on grow- seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
ing and spreading. 12 And having seen what took place, the
25 And BarnaÄah and Sha’ul returned proconsul believed, being astonished at the
from Yerushalayim, having completed the teaching of the Master.
service, and having taken with them 13 And having put out from Paphos,
1065 ACTS 13
Sha’ul and those with him came to Perge Elohim, to you the word of this deliver-
in Pamphulia. And YoÁanan, having left ance has been sent,
them, returned to Yerushalayim. 27 for those dwelling in Yerushalayim,
14 But passing through from Perge, they and their rulers, because they did not know
came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets
the congregation on the Sabbath day and which are read every Sabbath, have filled
sat down. them in having judged Him.
15 And after the reading of the Torah and 28 “And having found not one cause for
the Prophets, the rulers of the congregation death, they asked Pilate that He should be
sent to them, saying, “Men, brothers, if put to death.
you have any word of encouragement for 29 “And when they had accomplished all
choose our fathers, and exalted the people those who came up with Him from Galil to
in their sojourning in the land of Mits- Yerushalayim, who are His witnesses to
rayim, and with a high arm He brought the people.
them out of it. 32 “And we bring you the Good News, the
18 “Now for a time of about forty years He promise made to the fathers,
sustained them in the wilderness. 33 that Elohim has filled this for us, their
19 “And having destroyed seven nations in children, having raised up aSWHY, as it has
the land of Kena‘an, He gave their land to also been written in the second Psalm,
them as an inheritance. ‘You are My Son, today I have brought
20 “And after that He gave judges for You forth.’
about four hundred and fifty years, until 34 “And that He raised Him out of the
forty years. Psalm, ‘You shall not give Your Kind One
22 “And having removed him, He raised to see corruption.’
up for them DawiÅ as sovereign, to whom 36 “For DawiÅ, indeed, having served his
also He gave witness and said, ‘I have own generation by the counsel of Elohim,
found DawiÅ the son of Yishai, a man after fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and
My own heart, who shall do all My saw corruption,
desires.’ 37 but He whom Elohim raised up saw no
23 “From this one’s seed, according to the corruption.
promise, Elohim raised up for Yisra’Ãl a 38 “Let it therefore be known to you,
of Yisra’Ãl, before His coming. declared right from all sins from which
25 “And as YoÁanan was completing his you were not able to be declared right by
mission, he said, ‘Who do you suppose I the Torah of Mosheh.
am? I am not He. But see, there comes One 40 “Watch then that what was said in the
after me, the sandals of whose feet I am prophets does not come upon you:
not worthy to loose.’ 41 “See, you despisers, marvel and perish,
26 “Men, brothers, sons of the race of for I work a work in your days, a work
AÄraham, and those among you fearing which you would in no way believe if
ACTS 13 1066
someone were to declare it to you.’ ” 2 But the YehuÅim who would not obey
42 And when the YehuÅim went out of the stirred up the gentiles and evilly influenced
congregation, the gentiles begged to have their beings against the brothers.
these words spoken to them the next 3 So they remained a long time, speaking
them, were urging them to continue in the and some sided with the YehuÅim, and
favour of Elohim. some with the emissaries.
44 And on the next Sabbath almost all the 5 But when a move took place by both
city came together to hear the Word of the gentiles and YehuÅim, with their rulers,
Elohim. to mistreat and stone them,
45 But when the YehuÅim saw the crowds, 6 they became aware of it and fled to
they were filled with jealousy. And contra- Lustra and Derbe, cities of Lukaonia, and
dicting and speaking evil, they opposed the country round about.
what Sha’ul was saying. 7 And they were bringing the Good News
46 But speaking boldly, Sha’ul and Bar- there.
naÄah said, “It was necessary that the word 8 And in Lustra there was sitting a certain
of Elohim should be spoken to you first, man, disabled in his feet, a cripple from his
but since you thrust it away, and judge mother’s womb, who had never walked.
yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, 9 This one heard Sha’ul speaking, who,
see, we turn to the gentiles. looking intently at him and seeing that he
47 “For so the Master has commanded us, had belief to be healed,
‘I have set you to be a light to the gentiles, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand upright
that you should be for deliverance to the on your feet!” And he sprang up and began
ends of the earth.’ ” to walk.
48 And when the gentiles heard this, they 11 And when the crowds saw what Sha’ul
were glad and praised the Word of HWHY. had done, they lifted up their voices, say-
And as many as had been appointed to ing in Lukaonian, “The mighty ones have
everlasting life believed. become like men and come down to us!”
49 And the Word of HWHY was being spread 12 And they called BarnaÄah Zeus, and
throughout the entire country. Sha’ul Hermes, since he was the chief
50 But the YehuÅim stirred up the wor- speaker.
shipping and noble women and the chief 13 And the priest of Zeus, being in front of
men of the city, and raised up persecution their city, brought oxen and wreaths to the
against Sha’ul and BarnaÄah, and threw gates, and wished to offer with the crowds.
them out of their borders. 14 And when the emissaries BarnaÄah and
51 And shaking off the dust from their feet Sha’ul heard this, they tore their garments
against them, they came to Ikonion. and ran in among the crowd, crying out
52 And the taught ones were filled with 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing
joy and the Set-apart Spirit. this? We also are men with the same nature
as you, bringing to you the Good News: to
14 And it came to be in Ikonion that
they went together into the congre-
turn from these worthless matters to the liv-
ing Elohim, who made the heaven, and the
gation of the YehuÅim, and spoke in such a earth, and the sea, and all that is in them,
way that a great number of both YehuÅim 16 who in past generations allowed all the
b 17:30.
1067 ACTS 15
17 though, indeed, He did not leave 2 So when Sha’ul and BarnaÄah had no
Himself without witness, doing good – small dissension and dispute with them,
giving us rain from heaven and fruit- they arranged for Sha’ul and BarnaÄah and
bearing seasons, filling our hearts with certain others of them to go up to Yerusha-
food and gladness.” c layim, to the emissaries and elders, about
18 Even with these words they still had this question.
difficulty in stopping the crowds from 3 So, being sent on their way by the
that city, and having made many taught longed to the sect of the Pharisees, rose up,
ones, they returned to Lustra, and Ikonion, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them,
and Antioch, and to command them to keep the Torah of
22 strengthening the beings of the taught Mosheh.”
ones, encouraging them to continue in the 6 And the emissaries and elders came
belief, and that through many pressures we together to look into this matter.
have to enter the reign of Elohim. 7 And when there had been much dis-
23 And having appointed elders in every pute, KÃpha rose up and said to them,
assembly, having prayed with fasting, they “Men, brothers, you know that a good
committed them to the Master in whom while ago Elohim chose among us, that by
they had believed. my mouth the gentiles should hear the
24 And having passed through Pisidia, word of the Good News and believe.
they came to Pamphulia. 8 “And Elohim, who knows the heart,
25 And having spoken the word in Perge, bore witness to them, by giving them the
they went down to Attaleia, Set-apart Spirit, as also to us,
26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, 9 and made no distinction between us and
where they had been committed to the them, cleansing their hearts by belief.
favour of Elohim for the work which they 10 “Now then, why do you try Elohim by
He had opened the door of belief to the aSWHY Messiah we trust to be saved, in the
gentiles. same way as they.”
28 And they remained there a long time 12 And all the crowd was silent and were
brothers, “Unless you are circumcised, answered, saying, “Men, brothers, listen to
according to the practice of Mosheh, you me:
are unable to be saved.” 14 “ShimÈon has declared how Elohim
first visited the gentiles to take out of them burden than these necessities:
a people for His Name. 29 that you abstain from what is offered to
15 “And the words of the prophets agree idols, and blood, and what is strangled, and
with this, as it has been written: whoring. e If you keep yourselves from
16 ‘After this I shall return and rebuild the these, you shall do well. Be strong!
Booth of DawiÅ which has fallen down. 30 They, therefore, being sent off, went to
And I shall rebuild its ruins, and I shall set Antioch. And having gathered the crowd
it up, together, they delivered the letter.
17 so that the remnant of mankind shall 31 And having read it, they rejoiced over
are turning to Elohim, sent back in peace from the brothers to the
20 but that we write to them to abstain emissaries.
from the defilements of idols, and from 34 But it seemed good to Sila to remain.
whoring, and from what is strangled, and 35 And Sha’ul and BarnaÄah continued in
called Barsabba, and Sila, leading men them YoÁanan called Mark.
among the brothers, 38 But Sha’ul thought it not fit to take with
23 having written by their hand this: The them the one who withdrew from them in
emissaries and the elders and the brothers, Pamphulia, and had not gone with them to
To the brothers who are of the gentiles in the work.
Antioch, and Syria, and Kilikia: Greetings. 39 A sharp feeling therefore came to be, so
24 Since we have heard that some who that they parted from one another. And so
went out from us have troubled you with BarnaÄah took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.
words, unsettling your lives, to whom we 40 And Sha’ul chose Sila and went off,
dIt seems that these common habits of the gentiles were so repulsive to the Messianic YehuÅim, that these four
habits of the gentiles had to be repented of from the start, therefore called necessities in v. 28. e See v. 20.
1069 ACTS 16
who were at Lustra and Ikonion. Master, come to my house and stay.” And
3 Sha’ul wished to have this one go with she urged us.
him. And he took him and circumcised 16 And it came to be, as we went to
him because of the YehuÅim who were in prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed
those places, for they all knew that his with a spirit of Puthon, did meet us, who
father was Greek. brought her masters much profit by fore-
4 And as they went through the cities, telling.
they delivered to them the regulations to 17 Having followed Sha’ul and us, she
keep, which were decided by the emis- cried out, saying, “These men are the
saries and elders at Yerushalayim. servants of the Most High Elohim, who
5 Then, indeed, the assemblies were proclaim to us the way of deliverance.”
strengthened in the belief, and increased in 18 And she was doing this for many days.
ing, begging him and saying, “Come over not right for us to receive nor to do, being
to Makedonia and help us.” Romans.”
10 And when he saw the vision, immedi- 22 And the crowd rose up together against
ately we sought to go to Makedonia, con- them. And the captains tore off their gar-
cluding that the Master had called us to ments and commanded them to be beaten
bring the Good News to them. with rods.
11 Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a 23 And having laid many blows upon
straight course to Samothrake, and the next them, they threw them into prison, com-
day came to Neapolis, manding the jailer to keep them safely,
12 and from there to Philippi, which is the 24 who, having received such a command,
principal city of that part of Makedonia, a put them into the inner prison and fastened
colony. And we were staying in that city their feet in the stocks.
for some days. 25 And at midnight Sha’ul and Sila were
13 And on the Sabbath day we went out- praying and singing songs to Elohim, and
side the city by a river, where there used to the prisoners were listening to them.
be prayer. And having sat down we were 26 And suddenly a great earthquake took
speaking to the women who met there. place, so that the foundations of the prison
14 And a certain woman named Ludia, f a were shaken, and immediately all the
seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, doors were opened and all the chains came
worshipping Elohim, was hearing, whose loose.
heart the Master did open to pay attention 27 And the jailer, awaking from sleep and
to what Sha’ul said. seeing the prison doors open, thinking the
15 And when she was immersed, and her prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was
household, she begged us, saying, “If you about to kill himself.
have judged me to be believing in the 28 But Sha’ul called with a loud voice,
you and your household.” having become envious, took some of the
32 And they spoke the Word of HWHY to wicked men from the market-place, and
him and to all who were in his house. gathering a mob, set all the city in an
33 And taking them in that hour of the uproar and came upon the house of Jason,
night, he washed their wounds, and imme- and were seeking to bring them out to the
diately he was immersed, he and all that people.
were his. 6 But not finding them, they dragged
34 And having brought them into his Jason and some of the brothers to the city
house, he set food before them. And he rulers, crying out, “They who have turned
rejoiced with all his household, having the world upside down have come here
believed in Elohim. too,
35 And when day came, the authorities 7 whom Jason has received. And all of
sent the officers, saying, “Let these men them are acting contrary to the dogmas of
go.” Caesar, saying there is another sovereign,
36 And the jailer reported these words to aSWHY.”
Sha’ul, saying, “The captains have sent to 8 And they troubled the crowd and the
let you go. Now then, come out and go in city rulers when they heard this.
peace.” 9 And when they had received a pledge
37 But Sha’ul said to them, “They have from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
beaten us publicly, uncondemned, being 10 And the brothers immediately sent
Romans. They have thrown us into prison, Sha’ul and Sila away by night to Beroia,
and now, do they throw us out secretly? No who, having come, went into the congrega-
indeed! Let them come themselves and tion of the YehuÅim.
bring us out.” 11 Now these were more noble than those
38 And the officers reported these words in Thessalonike, who received the word
to the authorities, and they were afraid with great eagerness, and searched the
when they heard that they were Romans. Scriptures daily, if these words were so.
39 And having come, they pleaded with 12 Then many of them truly believed, and
them and brought them out, and asked also not a few of the Greeks, decent
them to leave the city. women as well as men.
40 So coming out of the prison they went 13 And when the YehuÅim from Thes-
to Ludia, and seeing the brothers, they salonike came to know that the word of
encouraged them, and went forth. Elohim was proclaimed by Sha’ul at
Beroia, they came there also and stirred up
17 And having passed through
Amphipolis and Apollonia, they
the crowds.
14 And then immediately the brothers sent
came to Thessalonike, where there was a Sha’ul away, to go to the sea, but both Sila
congregation of the YehuÅim. and Timothy stayed there.
2 And according to his practice, Sha’ul 15 And those who arranged for Sha’ul
went in unto them, and for three Sabbaths brought him to Athens. And receiving a
was reasoning with them from the command for Sila and Timothy to join him
1071 ACTS 18
at Athens, his spirit was stirred up within would reach out for Him and find Him,
him when he saw that the city was utterly though He is not far from each one of us.
idolatrous. 28 “For in Him we live and move and are,
17 Therefore, indeed, he was reasoning in as also some of your own poets have said,
the congregation with the YehuÅim and ‘For we are also His offspring.’
with the gentile worshippers, and in the 29 “Now then, since we are the offspring
market-place daily with those who met of Elohim, we should not think that the
there. Elohim is like gold or silver or stone, an
18 And some of the Epicurean and Stoic image made by the skill and thought of
philosophers encountered him. And some man.
were saying, “What does this babbler wish 30 “Truly, then, having overlooked these
to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a times of ignorance, Elohim now com-
proclaimer of strange mighty ones” – mands all men everywhere to repent,
because to them he brought the Good 31 because He has set a day on which He
News: aSWHY and the resurrection! is going to judge the world in righteous-
19 So they laid hold of him and brought ness by a Man whom He has appointed, h
him to the Areopagus, saying, “Are we having given proof of this to all by raising
able to know what this fresh teaching is of Him from the dead.”
which you speak? 32 And hearing of the resurrection of the
20 “For you are bringing some strange dead, some indeed mocked, while others
matters to our ears. We wish, then, to know said, “We shall hear you again concerning
what these mean.” this.”
21 For all the Athenians and the strangers 33 And so Sha’ul went out from among
and earth, does not dwell in dwellings he stayed with them and was working, for
made with hands. g they were tentmakers by trade.
25 “Nor is He served with men’s hands – 4 And he was reasoning in the congrega-
as if needing any – Himself giving to all tion every Sabbath, and won over both
life, and breath, and all else. YehuÅim and Greeks.
26 “And He has made from one blood 5 And when Sila and Timothy came
every nation of men to dwell on all the face down from Makedonia, Sha’ul was
of the earth, having ordained beforehand pressed by the Spirit, and earnestly wit-
the times and the boundaries of their nessed to the YehuÅim that aSWHY is the
phemed, he shook his garments and said to longer time with them, he declined,
them, “Your blood is upon your head, I 21 but took leave of them, saying, “I have
am clean. From now on I shall go to the to keep this coming festival in Yeru-
gentiles.” shalayim by all means, but I shall come
7 And having left there he came to the back to you, Elohim desiring so.” And he
house of a certain man named Justus, who sailed from Ephesos.
worshipped Elohim, whose house was next 22 And having come to Caesarea, going
household. And many of the Corinthians, went forth, passing through the country of
hearing, believed and were immersed. Galatia and on through Phrygia, strength-
9 And the Master spoke to Sha’ul in the ening all the taught ones.
night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but 24 And a certain YehuÅite named Apollos,
much people in this city.” of the Master. And being fervent in spirit,
11 And he remained a year and six he was speaking and teaching the matters
months, teaching the Word of HWHY among about the Master exactly, though he knew
them. only the immersion of YoÁanan.
12 And when Gallion was proconsul of 26 And he began to speak boldly in the
Achaia, the YehuÅim with one mind rose congregation. And when Aqulas and
up against Sha’ul and brought him to the Priscilla heard him, they took him aside
judgment seat, and explained to him the way of Elohim
13 saying, “This one does seduce men to more exactly.
worship Elohim contrary to the Torah.” 27 And when he intended to pass through
14 And as Sha’ul was about to open his to Achaia, the brothers, having encouraged
mouth, Gallion said to the YehuÅim, “If it him, wrote to the taught ones to receive
were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked him, who, having arrived, greatly helped
recklessness, O YehuÅim, there would be those who believed through favour,
reason why I should bear with you. 28 for with power he refuted the YehuÅim
15 “But if it is a question of words and publicly, showing from the Scriptures that
names and a law which is among you, see aSWHY is the Messiah.
to it yourselves, for I do not wish to be a
judge of these matters.”
16 And he drove them away from the 19 And it came to be, while Apollos
was at Corinth, that Sha’ul, having
judgment seat. passed through the upper parts, came to
17 And all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the Ephesos. And having found some taught
ruler of the congregation, and beat him ones,
before the judgment seat. But Gallion 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the
Aqulas were with him, having shaved his were you immersed?” And they said, “Into
hair at KenÁrea, for he had taken a vow. YoÁanan’s immersion.”
19 And he came to Ephesos, and left them 4 And Sha’ul said, “YoÁanan indeed
there, but he himself went into the congre- immersed with an immersion of repen-
1073 ACTS 19
tance, saying to the people that they should 19 And many of those who had practised
believe in the One who is coming after magic brought their books together, burn-
him, that is, in Messiah aSWHY.” ing them before all. And they reckoned up
5 And when they heard this, they were the value of them, and found it to be fifty
immersed in the Name of the Master thousand pieces of silver.
aSWHY. 20 So the word of the Master was growing
6 And when Sha’ul had laid hands on mightily and prevailing.
them, the Set-apart Spirit came upon them, 21 Now when these matters had been
and they were speaking in tongues and completed, Sha’ul purposed in the Spirit,
prophesying. when he had passed through Makedonia
7 And all the men were about twelve. and Achaia, to go to Yerushalayim, saying,
8 And having gone into the congregation “After I have been there, I have to see
he spoke boldly for three months, reason- Rome too.”
ing and persuading concerning the reign of 22 And having sent into Makedonia two of
before the crowd, he withdrew from them great commotion about the Way.
and separated the taught ones, reasoning 24 For a certain man named Demetrios, a
were brought from his body to the sick, Ephesos, but throughout almost all Asia,
and the diseases left them and the wicked this Sha’ul has persuaded and turned away
spirits went out of them. a large number, saying that they are not
13 But certain roving YehuÅite exorcists mighty ones which are made with hands.
took it upon themselves to call the Name 27 “And not only is this trade of ours in
of the Master aSWHY over those who had danger of coming to rejection, but also that
wicked spirits, saying, “We exorcise you the temple of the great female mighty one
by aSWHY whom Sha’ul proclaims.” Artemis whom all Asia and the world wor-
14 And there were seven sons of a certain ship, shall be regarded as worthless and
Skeua, a YehuÅite chief priest, who were her greatness diminished.”
doing this. 28 And having heard this, they were filled
15 And the wicked spirit answering, said, with rage and cried out, saying, “Great is
“aSWHY I know, and Sha’ul I know, but Artemis of the Ephesians!”
who are you?” 29 And the entire city was filled with
16 And the man in whom the wicked spirit confusion, and they rushed with one mind
was leaped on them, overpowered them, into the theatre, having seized Gaios and
and prevailed against them, so that they Aristarchos, Makedonians, Sha’ul’s fellow
fled out of that house naked and wounded. travellers.
17 And this became known to all, both 30 And Sha’ul, intending to go in among
YehuÅim and Greeks dwelling in Ephesos. the mob, the taught ones did not allow him.
And fear fell on them all, and the Name of 31 And some of the officials of Asia,
the Master aSWHY was made great. being his friends, sent to him begging him
18 And many who had believed came con- not to risk himself into the theatre.
fessing and declaring their deeds. 32 Then others indeed shouted this and
ACTS 19 1074
others that, for the assembly was confused, made against him by the YehuÅim.
and most of them did not know why they 4 And he was accompanied by Sopater of
YehuÅite, all with one voice cried out for the Days of Unleavened Bread, and came
about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the to them at Troas in five days, where we
Ephesians!” stayed seven days.
35 And the city clerk, having calmed the 7 And on the first day of the week, the
crowd, said, “Men of Ephesos, what man taught ones having gathered together to
is there who does not know that the city of break bread, Sha’ul, intending to depart the
the Ephesians is the guardian of the temple next day, was reasoning with them and was
of the great female mighty one Artemis, extending the word till midnight.
and of that which fell down from Zeus? 8 And there were many lamps in the
36 “Therefore, if these matters are undeni- upper room where they were assembled.
able, you need to be calm, and do not act 9 And a certain young man, by name
courts are open and there are proconsuls. him, and embracing him said, “Do not be
Let them accuse one another. upset, for his life is in him.”
39 “And if you have any further com- 11 Then going up again, and having
plaint, it shall be settled in the regular broken bread and eaten, he talked a long
assembly. while, even till daybreak, and so went
40 “For we are in danger of being accused forth.
of riot concerning today, there being no 12 And they brought the young man in
reason which we could give to account for alive, and were encouraged, not a little.
this disorderly gathering.” 13 And we, going ahead to the ship, sailed
41 And having said this, he dismissed the to Assos, intending to take Sha’ul on board
assembly. there, for so he had arranged, intending
himself to go on foot.
20 After the uproar had ceased, Sha’ul
called the taught ones to him, and
14 And when he met us at Assos, we took
was about to sail to Syria, he decided to Ephesos, so that he might lose no time in
return through Makedonia, as a plot was Asia, for he was hurrying to be at
i Counted from the day on which the sheaf of the first-fruits is waved during the Feast of Unleavened Bread - See
Way. 23:10-21. (The morrow after the sabbath.)
1075 ACTS 21
said to them, “You know, from the first day Elohim and to the word of His favour,
that I came to Asia, how I was with you all which is able to build you up and give you
the time, an inheritance among all those having been
19 serving the Master with all humility, set apart.
with many tears and trials which befell me 33 “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold
itable, but proclaimed it to you, and taught hands supplied my needs, and for those
you publicly and from house to house, who were with me.
21 witnessing to YehuÅim, and also to 35 “All this I did show you, by labouring
Greeks: repentance toward Elohim and like this, that you ought to help the weak.
belief in our Master aSWHY Messiah. And remember the words of the Master
22 “And now see, I go bound in the spirit aSWHY, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to
to Yerushalayim, not knowing what is give than to receive.’ ”
going to meet me there, 36 And having said this, he knelt down
23 except that the Set-apart Spirit witness- and prayed with them all.
es in every city, saying that chains and 37 And there was much weeping among
pressures await me. them all, and falling on Sha’ul’s neck, they
24 “But I do not count my life of any value kissed him,
to me, so that I might accomplish my mis- 38 distressed most of all because of the
sion with joy, and the service which I word which he had said, that they would
received from the Master aSWHY, to bear see his face no more. And they went with
witness to the Good News of the favour of him to the ship.
Elohim.
25 “And now see, I know that you all,
among whom I went about proclaiming the 21 And it came to be, when we had
torn ourselves away from them,
reign of Elohim, shall see my face no and had set sail, we ran a straight course
more. and came to Cos, and the next day to
26 “Therefore I witness to you this day Rhodes, and from there to Patara.
that I am clear from the blood of all. 2 And having found a ship passing over
27 “For I kept not back from declaring to to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.
you all the counsel of Elohim. 3 And having sighted Cyprus, and having
28 “Therefore take heed to yourselves and passed it on the left, we sailed to Syria, and
to all the flock, among which the Set-apart landed at Tsor, for the ship was to unload
Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd her cargo there.
the assembly of Elohim which He has 4 And having found taught ones, we
purchased with His own blood. remained there seven days. And they told
29 “For I know this, that after my depar- Sha’ul through the Spirit not to go up to
ture savage wolves j shall come in among Yerushalayim.
you, not sparing the flock. 5 And when it came to be that our days
30 “Also from among yourselves men there were ended, we left and went on, all
shall arise, speaking distorted teachings, to of them accompanying us, with wives and
draw away the taught ones after them- children, till we were out of the city. And
j Messiah reveals to us in Mt. 7:15-23 that “savage wolves” represent false prophets, those who “work
lawlessness.” Also see Mt. 10:16, Lk. 10:3 and Yn. 10:12.
ACTS 21 1076
kneeling down on the beach, we prayed. 20 And when they heard it, they praised
6 And having embraced one another, we the Master. And they said to him, “You
boarded the ship, and they returned to their see, brother, how many thousands of
homes. YehuÅim there are who have believed, and
7 And when we had completed our voy- all are ardent for the Torah.
age from Tsor, we came to Ptolemais. And 21 “And they have been informed about
having greeted the brothers we stayed with you that you teach all the YehuÅim who
them one day. are among the gentiles to forsake Mosheh,
8 And on the next day we left and came saying not to circumcise the children nor
to Caesarea, and went into the house of to walk according to the practices.
Philip the evangelist, who was one of the 22 “What then is it? They shall certainly
seven, and stayed with him. hear that you have come.
9 Now this one had four maiden daugh- 23 “So do this, what we say to you: We
ters who prophesied. have four men who have taken a vow.
10 And as we were staying many days, a 24 “Take them and be cleansed with them,
certain prophet named ÀaÍaÄ came down and pay their expenses so that they shave
from YehuÅah, their heads. And all shall know that what
11 and having come to us, he took the gir- they have been informed about you is not
dle of Sha’ul, bound his own hands and so, but that you yourself also walk orderly,
feet, and said, “Thus says the Set-apart keeping the Torah.
Spirit, ‘Thus shall the YehuÅim at Yeru- 25 “But concerning the gentiles who
shalayim bind the man who owns this gir- believe, we have written and decided that
dle, and deliver him into the hands of the they should keep themselves from what is
gentiles.’ ” offered to idols, and blood, and what is
12 And when we heard this, both we and strangled, and whoring.” k
those from that place begged him not to go 26 Then Sha’ul took the men on the next
ready, we went up to Yerushalayim. is the man who is teaching all men every-
16 And also some of the taught ones from where against the people, and the Torah,
Caesarea went with us and brought with and this place. And besides, he also
them one, Mnason of Cyprus, an early brought Greeks into the Set-apart Place
taught one, with whom we were to lodge. and has profaned this Set-apart Place.”
17 And when we had arrived in Yeru- 29 Because they had previously seen
shalayim, the brothers received us gladly. Trophimos the Ephesian with him in the
18 And on the following day Sha’ul went city, whom they thought that Sha’ul had
in with us to YaÈaqoÄ, and all the elders brought into the Set-apart Place.
came. 30 And the entire city was moved, and the
19 And having greeted them, he was relat- people rushed together, seized Sha’ul, and
ing one by one what Elohim had done dragged him out of the Set-apart Place.
among the gentiles through his service. And immediately the doors were shut.
k See 15:20.
1077 ACTS 22
31 And while they were seeking to kill of the Torah of our fathers, being ardent for
him, a report came to the commander of Elohim, as you all are today,
the company of soldiers that all Yerusha- 4 who persecuted this Way to the death,
seen the commander and the soldiers, stop- and all the eldership, from whom I also
ped beating Sha’ul. received letters to the brothers, and went to
33 Then the commander came near and Damascus to bring in chains even those
took him, and commanded him to be who were there to Yerushalayim to be pun-
bound with two chains, and was asking ished.
who he was and what he had done. 6 “And it came to be, as I was journeying
34 And in the crowd some were shouting and coming near Damascus, about noon,
this and others that. And not being able to suddenly a great light shone around me out
ascertain the truth because of the uproar, of the heaven,
he commanded him to be taken into the 7 and I fell to the ground and heard a
And he said, “Do you know Greek? And the Master said to me, ‘Rise up, go
38 “Are you not the Mitsrite who some into Damascus, and there you shall be told
time ago stirred up a revolt and led the four all that you have been appointed to do.’
thousand assassins out into the wilder- 11 “And as I could not see because of the
there was a great silence, he spoke in the me, ‘Brother Sha’ul, look up.’ And at that
HeÄrew language, l saying, same hour I looked up at him.
14 “And he said, ‘The Elohim of our
greater silence. And he said: men of what you have seen and heard.
3 “I am indeed a YehuÅite, having been 16 ‘And now, why do you delay? Rise up,
born in Tarsos of Kilikia, but brought up in be immersed, and wash away your sins,
this city at the feet of Gamli’Ãl, having calling on the Name of HWHY.’
been instructed according to the exactness 17 “And it came to be, when I returned to
l See 22:2, 26:14. m See 21:40, 26:14. n See 9:10 & 17. So this Spirit-filled taught one kept the law!
ACTS 22 1078
Yerushalayim, and while I was praying in for certain why he was accused by the
the Set-apart Place, I came to be in a YehuÅim, he released him, and command-
trance, ed the chief priests and all their council to
18 and I saw Him saying to me, ‘Hurry come, and brought Sha’ul down and set
and get out of Yerushalayim, speedily, him before them.
because they shall not accept your witness
concerning Me.’
19 “And I said, ‘Master, they know that in 23 And Sha’ul, looking intently at the
council, said, “Men, brothers, I
every congregation I was imprisoning and have lived in all good conscience before
beating those who believe on You. Elohim until this day.”
20 ‘And when the blood of Your witness 2 And the high priest Àananyah com-
Stephanos was shed, I also was standing manded those who stood by him to strike
by giving my approval to his death, and him on the mouth.
keeping the garments of those who were 3 Then Sha’ul said to him, “Elohim is
this word, and then they lifted up their revile the high priest of Elohim?”
voice, saying, “Away with such a one from 5 And Sha’ul said, “I did not know,
the earth, for it is not fit that he should brothers, that he was the high priest, for it
live!” has been written, ‘You shall not speak evil
23 As they were shouting and tearing their of the ruler of your people.’ ”
garments, and throwing dust into the air, 6 Now Sha’ul, perceiving that one part
24 the commander ordered him to be were Sadducees and the other Pharisees,
brought into the barracks, and said that he cried out in the council, “Men, brothers, I
should be examined by flogging, in order am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee, I am
to find out why they were shouting so being judged concerning the expectation
against him. and resurrection of the dead!”
25 And as they were stretching him out 7 And when he had said this, there came
with straps, Sha’ul said to the captain who a dissension between the Pharisees and the
was standing by, “Is it permitted for you to Sadducees. And the crowd was divided.
whip a man who is a Roman, and uncon- 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no
“Watch what you are about to do, for this tain of the scribes of the party of Pharisees
man is a Roman.” were earnestly contending, saying, “We
27 And having come, the commander said find no evil in this man. And if a spirit or a
to him, “Say to me, are you a Roman?” messenger has spoken to him, let us not
And he said, “Yes.” fight against Elohim.”
28 And the commander answered, “With a 10 And a great dissension having come,
large sum I obtained this citizenship.” And the commander, fearing lest Sha’ul would
Sha’ul said, “But I was even born so.” be pulled to pieces by them, commanded
29 Then at once those who were about to the body of soldiers to go down and seize
examine him withdrew from him. And the him from their midst, and bring him into
commander was also afraid after he found the barracks.
out that he was a Roman, and because he 11 And on the following night the Master
in Yerushalayim, so you have to bear wit- diers ready to go to Caesarea, and seventy
ness at Rome too.” horsemen, and two hundred spearmen,
12 And when it became day, some of the after the third hour of the night,
YehuÅim made a conspiracy and bound 24 and provide beasts, on which to place
themselves under an oath, saying that they Sha’ul, and bring him safely to Felix the
would neither eat nor drink until they had governor,”
killed Sha’ul. 25 having written a letter in this form:
13 And those making this conspiracy were 26 Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent
and elders, said, “We have bound our- YehuÅim, and being about to be killed by
selves under a great oath not to eat at all them, I rescued, having come with the
until we have killed Sha’ul. body of soldiers, having learned that he
15 “Now, then, you, with the council, was a Roman.
inform the commander to have him 28 And, desiring to know the reason they
brought down to you tomorrow, as intend- accused him, I brought him before their
ing to examine more exactly all about him. council.
And we are ready to kill him before he 29 I found out that he was accused con-
Sha’ul called me to him and asked me to ed, took Sha’ul and brought him by night
bring this young man to you, having some- to Antipatris.
what to say to you.” 32 And on the next day they left the horse-
19 And the commander, having taken him men to go on with him, and returned to the
by the hand, went aside by themselves and barracks,
asked, “What is it that you have to report 33 who, having come to Caesarea, and
to the council tomorrow, as intending to having asked of what province he was, and
inquire more exactly about him. being informed that he was from Kilikia,
21 “Therefore, do not let them persuade 35 said, “I shall hear you when your
you, for more than forty of them lie in wait accusers arrive also.” And he commanded
for him, men who have bound themselves him to be kept in Herodes’ palace.
by an oath neither to eat nor to drink until
they have killed him. And now they are
ready, waiting for the promise from you.” 24 And after five days the high priest
Àananyah came down, with the
22 Then the commander dismissed the elders, and a certain speaker – Tertullus.
young man, having commanded him, And they brought charges against Sha’ul
“Inform no one that you reported this to before the governor.
me.” 2 And when he was called upon,
23 And having called near a certain two Tertullus began to accuse him, saying,
captains, he said, “Get two hundred sol- “Having obtained great peace through you,
ACTS 24 1080
and reforms being brought to this nation by Asia found me cleansed in the Set-apart
your forethought, Place, neither with a crowd nor with
3 we accept it always and in all places, disturbance,
most excellent Felix, with all thanks. 19 who ought to be present before you to
4 “But in order not to hinder you any bring charges if they have any matter
further, I beg you to hear us briefly in your against me.
gentleness. 20 “Or else let these themselves say if they
5 “For having found this man a plague, found any wrongdoing in me while I stood
who stirs up dissension among all the before the council,
YehuÅim throughout the world, and a ring- 21 other than for this one declaration
leader of the sect of the Natsarenes, which I cried out, standing among them,
6 who also tried to profane the Set-apart ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I
Place, and whom we seized, and wished to am being judged by you today.’ ”
judge him according to our law, 22 And having heard this, having known
7 but the commander Lysias came along more exactly about the Way, Felix put them
and with much violence took him out of off, saying, “When Lysias the commander
our hands, comes down, I shall decide your case.”
8 commanding his accusers to come to 23 And he ordered the captain to keep
you. And by examining him yourself you Sha’ul and to have ease, and not to forbid
shall be able to know all these matters of any of his friends to attend to him.
which we accuse him.” 24 And after some days, when Felix came
9 And the YehuÅim also agreed, main- with his wife Drusilla, who was a female
taining that these matters were so. YehuÅite, he sent for Sha’ul and heard him
10 And when the governor had motioned concerning the belief in Messiah.
him to speak, Sha’ul answered, “Knowing 25 And as he reasoned about righteous-
that for many years you have been a judge ness, and self-control, and the judgment to
of this nation, I gladly defend myself, come, Felix became frightened and said,
11 seeing you are able to know that it is “For the present, go. And when I find time
not more than twelve days since I went up I shall send for you.”
to Yerushalayim to worship. 26 At the same time too he was anticipat-
12 “And they neither found me in the ing that silver would be given him by
Set-apart Place disputing with anyone nor Sha’ul, that he might release him.
stirring up the crowd, either in the congre- Therefore he sent for him more often and
gations or in the city. conversed with him.
13 “Nor are they able to prove the charges 27 But after two years had passed Porcius
of which they now accuse me. Festus succeeded Felix. And wishing to do
14 “And this I confess to you, that accord- the YehuÅim a favour, Felix left Sha’ul
ing to the Way which they call a sect, so I bound.
worship the Elohim of my fathers, believ-
ing all that has been written in the Torah
and in the Prophets, 25 Festus therefore, having come to
the province, three days later went
15 having an expectation in Elohim, which up from Caesarea to Yerushalayim.
they themselves also wait for, that there is 2 And the high priest and the chief men of
to be a resurrection of the dead, both of the the YehuÅim informed him against Sha’ul,
righteous and the unrighteous. and they begged him,
16 “And in this I exercise myself to have a 3 asking a favour against him, that he
clear conscience toward Elohim and men would send him to Yerushalayim – making
always. a plot along the way to kill him.
17 “And after many years I came to bring 4 Then, indeed, Festus answered that
kind deeds to my nation and offerings, Sha’ul should be kept at Caesarea, and that
18 at which time certain YehuÅim from he himself was about to set out shortly.
1081 ACTS 26
5 “Therefore,” he said, “let those who answer for himself concerning the charge
have authority among you go down with against him.’
me and accuse this man, to see if there is 17 “They, therefore, having come together,
who had come down from Yerushalayim about their own worship and about a certain
stood about, bringing many and heavy aSWHY, who had died, whom Sha’ul was
charges against Sha’ul, which they were claiming to be alive.
unable to prove, 20 “And being uncertain how to investi-
8 while Sha’ul said in his own defence, gate these matters, I asked whether he
“Neither against the Torah of the YehuÅim, wished to go to Yerushalayim and there be
nor against the Set-apart Place, nor against judged concerning these matters.
Caesar did I commit any sin.” 21 “But when Sha’ul appealed to be kept
9 But Festus, wishing to do the YehuÅim for the decision of Augustus, I ordered him
a favour, answering Sha’ul, said, “Do you to be kept until I send him to Caesar.”
wish to go up to Yerushalayim and be 22 And Agrippa said to Festus, “I was
judged before me there concerning these wishing also to hear the man myself.” And
matters?” he said, “Tomorrow, you shall hear him.”
10 And Sha’ul said, “I am standing at 23 Therefore, on the next day, Agrippa and
Caesar’s judgment seat, where I should be Bernike having come with great show, and
judged. To the YehuÅim I have done no having entered the place of hearing with the
wrong, as you know well enough. commanders and the eminent men of the
11 “For if indeed I do wrong, or have com- city, Sha’ul was brought in at the order of
mitted whatever deserving death, I do not Festus.
refuse to die. But if there is none at all in 24 And Festus said, “Sovereign Agrippa
these matters of which these men accuse and all the men present here with us, you
me, no one is able to give me up to them. I see this one about whom all the community
appeal to Caesar.” of the YehuÅim pleaded with me, both at
12 Then Festus, having talked with the Yerushalayim and here, shouting that he
council, answered, “You have appealed to ought not to be living any longer.
Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!” 25 “But I, having found that he had com-
13 And certain days having passed, mitted none at all deserving death, and that
Sovereign Agrippa and Bernike came to he himself had appealed to Augustus, I
Caesarea to greet Festus. decided to send him.
14 And when they had spent many days 26 “I have no definite matter to write to my
there, Festus laid Sha’ul’s case before the master concerning him. Therefore I have
sovereign, saying, “There is a man here brought him out before you, and most of all
whom Felix left as a prisoner, before you, Sovereign Agrippa, so that
15 about whom the chief priests and the after the examination has taken place I
elders of the YehuÅim informed me, when I might have somewhat to write.
was in Yerushalayim, asking for a judg- 27 “For it seems to me unreasonable to
ment against him. send a prisoner and not to signify the
16 “To them I answered, ‘It is not the charges against him.”
Roman practice to give up any man to
destruction before the accused meets the
accusers face to face, and has a chance to 26 And Agrippa said to Sha’ul, “You
are allowed to speak for yourself.”
ACTS 26 1082
Then Sha’ul stretched out his hand and ground, I heard a voice speaking to me,
made his defence: and saying in the HeÄrew language, o
2 “I think myself blessed, Sovereign ‘Sha’ul, Sha’ul, why do you persecute Me?
Agrippa, because today I shall make my It is hard for you to kick against the prods.’
defence before you concerning all of 15 “And I said, ‘Who are You, Master?’
have to do with the YehuÅim. So, please I have appeared to you for this purpose, to
hear me patiently. appoint you a servant and a witness both of
4 “Truly, then, all the YehuÅim know my what you saw and of those which I shall
way of life from youth, which I led from reveal to you,
the beginning among my own nation at 17 delivering you from the people, and the
first, if they wish to witness, that I lived as darkness to light, p and the authority of
a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of Satan to Elohim, in order for them to
our observance. receive forgiveness of sins and an inheri-
6 “And now I stand and am judged for tance among those who are set-apart by
the expectation of the promise made by belief in Me.’
Elohim to our fathers, 19 “Therefore, Sovereign Agrippa, I was
7 to which our twelve tribes, earnestly not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
serving Elohim night and day, expect to 20 but declared first to those in Damascus
attain. Concerning this expectation, O and in Yerushalayim, and in all the country
Sovereign Agrippa, I am accused by the of YehuÅah, and to the gentiles, that they
YehuÅim. should repent, and turn to Elohim, and do
8 “Why is it considered ‘unbelievable’ works worthy of repentance. q
among you if Elohim raises the dead? 21 “That is why the YehuÅim seized me in
9 “Therefore, indeed, I thought within the Set-apart Place and tried to kill me.
myself that I ought to do much against the 22 “Therefore, having obtained help from
death, I gave my vote against them. be the first to rise from the dead, He would
11 “And punishing them often in all the proclaim light to the people and to the gen-
congregations, I compelled them to blas- tiles.”
pheme. And being exceedingly enraged 24 And while saying this in his defence,
against them, I persecuted them even to Festus said with a loud voice, “Sha’ul, you
foreign cities. are mad! Much learning is turning you to
12 “While thus engaged, as I was journey- madness!”
ing to Damascus with authority and com- 25 But Sha’ul said, “I am not mad, most
mission from the chief priests, excellent Festus, but I speak words of truth
13 at midday along the highway, O and sense.
sovereign, I saw a light from heaven, 26 “For the sovereign, before whom I also
brighter than the sun, shining around me speak boldly, knows these matters. For I
and those who journeyed with me. am persuaded that none of these are hidden
14 “And when we had all fallen to the from him, for this has not been done in a
o See 21:40, 22:2. p Yesh. 42:6-7, Yesh. 60:2-3, Rev. 21:24. q See footnote Mt. 16:27.
1083 ACTS 27
prophets? I know that you do believe.” going to end with damage and great loss,
28 And Agrippa said to Sha’ul, “With a lit- not only of the cargo and ship, but also our
tle you might persuade me to become a lives.”
Messianite!” 11 But the captain was persuaded by the
29 And Sha’ul said, “Much or little, I pray pilot and the owner of the ship, rather than
to Elohim that not only you, but also all what Sha’ul said.
who hear me today, might become such as 12 And because the harbour was unsuit-
I also am, except for these chains.” able to winter in, the greater part advised
30 And having said this, the sovereign to set sail from there too, if somehow they
stood up, as well as the governor and were able to reach Phoenix, a harbour of
Bernike and those sitting with them, Crete facing southwest and northwest, to
31 and having withdrawn, they spoke to pass the winter.
each other, saying, “This man is doing 13 And a south wind blowing softly, think-
none at all deserving death or chains.” ing they had obtained their purpose, hav-
32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man ing lifted anchor, they sailed along Crete,
could have been released if he had not close inshore.
appealed to Caesar.” 14 And not long after, a stormy head wind
coasts of Asia, did set sail. Aristarchos, a to undergird the ship. And fearing lest they
Makedonian of Thessalonike, was with us. should run aground on Surtis, they lowered
3 And on the next day we landed at the tackle and so were driven.
TsiÅon. And Julius treated Sha’ul kindly 18 And because we were exceedingly
and allowed him to go to his friends to storm-tossed, the next day they began to
receive attention. throw overboard.
4 And from there we put out to sea and 19 And on the third day we threw out the
sailed close to Cyprus, because the winds ship’s tackle with our own hands.
were against us. 20 When, now, neither sun nor stars
5 And having sailed over the sea along appeared for many days, and no small
Kilikia and Pamphulia, we came to Mura, storm beat on us, all expectancy that we
of Lukia. would be saved was taken away.
6 And there the captain, having found an 21 And when there had been a long absti-
Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, did put us nence from food, then Sha’ul, standing in
on board. the midst of them, said, “Truly, men, you
7 And having sailed slowly many days, should have listened to me not to have
and arriving with difficulty off Knidos, the sailed from Crete and sustained this dam-
wind not allowing us to proceed, we sailed age and loss.
close to Crete, off Salmone. 22 “And now I urge you to take courage,
8 And passing it with difficulty, we came for there shall be no loss of life among
to a place called Fair Havens, near the city you, but only of the ship.
of Lasea. 23 “For tonight a messenger of the Elohim
9 And much time having passed, and the to whom I belong and whom I serve, stood
sailing now being dangerous, because the by me,
ACTS 27 1084
24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Sha’ul, you bay with a beach, onto which they planned
have to be brought before Caesar. And to run the ship if possible.
look, Elohim has favourably given you all 40 And having cast off the anchors, they
those who sail with you.’ left them in the sea, meanwhile untying the
25 “Therefore take courage, men, for I rudder ropes. And they hoisted the foresail
believe Elohim that it shall be according to to the wind and made for the beach.
the way it was spoken to me. 41 But coming upon a place where two
26 “However, we need to run aground on seas met, they grounded the ship, and the
some island.” prow stuck fast and remained immovable,
27 And when the fourteenth night came, as but the stern was broken by the pounding
we were driven up and down in the of the surf.
Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors 42 And the soldiers intended to kill the
suspected that they were drawing near prisoners, lest any of them should swim
some land. away and escape.
28 So, taking soundings, they found it to 43 But the captain, intending to save
be twenty fathoms. And a little farther on Sha’ul, kept them from their intention, and
they took soundings again and found it to commanded those able to swim to jump
be fifteen fathoms. first and get to land,
29 And, fearing lest we should run 44 and the rest, some indeed on boards,
aground on the rocks, they dropped four and some on items of the ship. And so
anchors from the stern, and were praying it came to be that all reached the land in
for day to come. safety.
30 But when the sailors were seeking to
soldiers, “If these do not remain in the nary kindness, for they kindled a fire and
ship, it is impossible for you to be saved.” received us all, because of the rain that was
32 Then the soldiers did cut the ropes of falling and because of the cold.
the boat and let it fall off. 3 But Sha’ul, having gathered a bundle of
33 And when day was about to come, sticks, and having laid them on the fire, an
Sha’ul urged them all to take food, saying, adder came out because of the heat, and
“Today is the fourteenth day you have con- fastened itself on his hand.
tinued without food, and eaten none at all. 4 And when the foreigners saw the crea-
34 “So I urge you to take food, for this ture hanging from his hand, they said to
concerns your safety, since not a hair shall each other, “This man is certainly a mur-
fall from the head of any of you.” derer, whom, though saved from the sea,
35 And having said this, he took bread and still right-ruling does not allow to live.”
gave thanks to Elohim in the presence of 5 Then, indeed, he shook off the creature
them all. And when he had broken it he into the fire and suffered no evil.
began to eat. 6 And expecting that he would swell up
36 And they were all encouraged, and also or suddenly fall down dead, they waited for
took food themselves. a long time and saw no harm come to him,
37 And all of us were two hundred and changing their minds they said that he was
seventy-six beings in the ship. a mighty one.
38 And being satisfied with food, they 7 And in the neighbourhood of that place
were lightening the ship, throwing out the there were lands of the chief of the island,
wheat into the sea. whose name was Poplius, who received us
39 And when day came, they did not and housed us in a friendly way for three
recognise the land, but they noted a certain days.
1085 ACTS 28
8 And it came to be that the father of because of the expectation of Yisra’Ãl that I
Poplius lay sick with inflammation and am bound with this chain.”
dysentery. Sha’ul went in to him, and hav- 21 And they said to him, “We neither
ing prayed he laid his hands on him and received letters from YehuÅah concerning
healed him. you, nor have any of the brothers who came
9 And when this took place, the rest of
reported or spoken whatever wicked about
those on the island who had diseases also you.
came and were healed, 22 “And we think it right to hear from you
10 who also respected us in many ways.
what you think, for indeed, concerning this
And when we were setting sail, they pro- sect, we know that it is spoken against
vided us with our needs. everywhere.”
11 And after three months we set sail in an 23 And having appointed him a day, many
Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the came to him where he was staying, to
island, and whose figurehead was “Twin whom he was explaining, earnestly wit-
Brothers.” r nessing about the reign of Elohim, and per-
12 And having landed at Syracuse, we
suading them concerning aSWHY from both
stayed three days, the Torah of Mosheh and the Prophets,
13 from which place we went round and
from morning until evening.
arrived at Rhegium. And after one day the 24 And some indeed were persuaded by
south wind blew, and the second day we what was said, but some believed not.
came to Puteoli, 25 And disagreeing with one another, they
14 where we found brothers, and were
began to leave, after Sha’ul had spoken one
invited to stay with them seven days. And word, “The Set-apart Spirit rightly spoke
so we went toward Rome. through Yeshayahu the prophet to our
15 And when the brothers there heard
fathers,
about us, they came to meet us as far as 26 saying, ‘Go to this people and say,
Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. When
“Hearing you shall hear but by no means
Sha’ul saw them, he thanked Elohim and
understand, and seeing you shall see but by
took courage.
16 And when we came to Rome, the cap- no means perceive,
27 for the heart of this people has become
tain delivered the prisoners to the captain of
the guard, but Sha’ul was allowed to stay thickened, and with their ears they heard
by himself with the soldier guarding him. heavily, and they have closed their eyes,
17 And it came to be after three days that lest they should see with their eyes and hear
Sha’ul called the leaders of the YehuÅim with their ears, and understand with their
together. And when they had come togeth- heart, and turn back, and I should heal
er, he said to them, “Men, brothers, though them.” ’ s
28 “Therefore let it be known to you that
I have done none at all against our people
or the practices of our fathers, I was deliv- the deliverance of Elohim has been sent
ered as a prisoner from Yerushalayim into to the gentiles, and they shall hear!”
29 And when he had said these words,
the hands of the Romans,
18 who, when they had examined me, the YehuÅim went away and had a great
intended to let me go, because there was no dispute among themselves.
cause for putting me to death. 30 And Sha’ul stayed two entire years in
19 “But the YehuÅim spoke against it, and his own rented house, and was receiving all
I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not who came to him,
that I had any accusation against my nation. 31 proclaiming the reign of Elohim and
20 “This therefore is the reason I called for teaching about the Master aSWHY Messiah
you, to see you and speak with you. It is with all boldness, unhindered.
with power, according to the Set-apart revealed from belief to belief, as it has
Spirit, by the resurrection from the dead: been written, “But the righteous shall live
aSWHY Messiah, the Master of us, by belief.” a
5 through whom we have received 18 For the wrath of Elohim is revealed
favour and office of the emissary for from heaven against all wickedness and
belief-obedience among all the nations on unrighteousness of men, who suppress the
behalf of His Name, truth in unrighteousness,
6 among whom you also are the called 19 because that which is known of Elohim
among you, each by the other’s belief – uncleanness in the lust of their hearts, to
both yours and mine. disrespect their bodies among themselves,
13 And I do not wish you to be unaware, 25 who changed the truth of Elohim into
brothers, that I often purposed to come to the falsehood, and worshipped and served
you, but was hindered until now, in order what was created rather than the Creator,
to have some fruit among you, as also who is blessed forever. AmÃn.
among the other gentiles. 26 Because of this Elohim gave them over
14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to to degrading passions. For even their
foreigners, both to wise and to foolish. women exchanged natural relations for
a ÀaÄ. 2:4.
1087 ROMANS 2
committing indecency, and receiving back are self-seeking and do not obey the truth,
the reward which was due for their stray- but obey unrighteousness;
ing. 9 affliction and distress on every human
28 And even as they did not think it worth- being working what is evil, of the YehuÅite
while to possess the knowledge of Elohim, first, and also of the Greek;
Elohim gave them over to a worthless 10 but esteem, respect, and peace to every-
filled with envy, murder, fighting, deceit, 12 For as many as sinned without Torah
ness of Elohim, that those who practise Torah, by nature do what is in the Torah,
such deserve death, not only do the same although not having the Torah, they are a
but also approve of those who practise Torah to themselves,
them. 15 who show the work of the Torah writ-
yourself, since you who judge practise the secrets of men through aSWHY Messiah,
same wrongs. according to my Good News.
2 And we know that the judgment of 17 See, you are called a YehuÅite, and rest
Elohim is according to truth against those on the Torah, and make your boast in
who practise such wrongs. Elohim,
3 And do you think, O man, you who 18 and know the desire of Elohim, and
judge those practising such wrongs, and approve what is superior, being instructed
doing the same, that you shall escape the out of the Torah,
judgment of Elohim? 19 and are trusting that you yourself are a
4 Or do you despise the riches of His guide to the blind, a light to those who are
kindness, and tolerance, and patience, b not in darkness,
knowing that the kindness of Elohim leads 20 an instructor of foolish ones, a teacher
up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath not teach yourself? You who proclaim that
and revelation of the righteous judgment of a man should not steal, do you steal?
Elohim, 22 You who say, “Do not commit adul-
6 who “shall render to each one accord- tery,” do you commit adultery? You who
ing to his works”: c abominate idols, do you rob temples?
b 2 KÃpha 3:9. c See footnote Mt. 16:27. d Mt. 7:21-27, YaÈaqoÄ 2:14-24. e Teh. 147:19, Rom. 3:2, Rom. 9:4.
ROMANS 2 1088
23 You who make your boast in the Torah, 8 And why not say, “Let us do evil so that
through the transgression of the Torah do the good might come”? – as we are wrong-
you disrespect Elohim? ly accused and as some claim that we say.
24 For “The Name of Elohim is blas- Their judgment is in the right.
phemed among the gentiles because of 9 What then? Are we better than they?
you,” as it has been written. Not at all, for we have previously accused
25 For circumcision indeed profits if you both YehuÅim and Greeks that they are all
practise the Torah, but if you are a trans- under sin.
gressor of the Torah, your circumcision has 10 As it has been written, “There is none
over the righteousnesses of the Torah, shall there is none who is seeking Elohim.
not his uncircumcision be reckoned as 12 “They all have turned aside, they have
notwithstanding letter and circumcision their tongues they have deceived,” “The
are a transgressor of the Torah! poison of adders is under their lips,”
28 For he is not a YehuÅite who is so out- 14 “Whose mouth is filled with cursing
their unbelief nullify the trustworthiness of shall be declared right before Him, for by
Elohim? the Torah is the knowledge of sin. h
4 Let it not be! But let Elohim be true, 21 But now, apart from the Torah, a right-
and every man a liar, as it has been written, eousness of Elohim has been revealed,
“That You should be declared right in Your being witnessed by the Torah and the
words, and prevail in Your judging.” Prophets,
5 But if our unrighteousness establishes 22 and the righteousness of Elohim is
the righteousness of Elohim, what shall we through belief in aSWHY Messiah to all
say? Is Elohim unrighteous who is inflict- and on all who believe. For there is no
ing wrath? I speak as a man. difference,
6 Let it not be! Otherwise how shall 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the
through my lie, to His esteem, why am I by His favour through the redemption
also still judged as a sinner? which is in Messiah aSWHY,
f The true YehuÅite is he whose heart is circumcised, who guards the law – 1 Cor. 7:19, Shem. 19:5, DeÄ. 10:12-
16, DeÄ. 30:6-8. g See 2:20. h Shem. 20:20, Rom. 4:15, Rom. 7:7.
1089 ROMANS 4
the Torah of belief. who not only are of the circumcision, but
28 For we reckon that a man is declared who also walk in the steps of the belief
right by belief without works of Torah. which our father AÄraham had in uncir-
29 Or is He the Elohim of the YehuÅim cumcision.
only, and not also of the gentiles? Yea, 13 For the promise that he should be the
right the wicked, his belief is reckoned for in expectation, so that he should become
righteousness, father of many nations, according to what
6 even as DawiÅ also says of the blessed- was said, “So shall your seed be.”
ness of the man to whom Elohim reckons 19 And not having grown weak in belief,
righteousness without works: he did not consider his own body, already
7 “Blessed are those whose lawlessnesses dead, being about a hundred years old, and
are forgiven, and whose sins are covered, the deadness of Sarah’s womb,
8 blessed is the man to whom HWHY shall 20 he did not hesitate about the promise of
cised? For we affirm: Belief was reckoned what He had promised He was also able to
i See 7:12. j That was the first step, as we read in Ber. 15:6, but continue, and read Ber. 17:1 and 26:5!
ROMANS 4 1090
kThe message in ch. 6 is so clear: Having died to sin, live unto righteousness! See also Rom. 8:13, Col. 3:3, 1
KÃpha 2:24.
1091 ROMANS 7
as were immersed into Messiah aSWHY vants of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart
were immersed into His death? that form of teaching to which you were
4 We were therefore buried with Him entrusted.
18 And having been set free from sin, you
through immersion into death, that as
Messiah was raised from the dead by the became servants of righteousness.
19 I speak as a man, because of the weak-
esteem of the Father, so also we should
walk in newness of life. ness of your flesh. For even as you did
5 For if we have come to be grown present your members as servants of
together in the likeness of His death, we uncleanness, and of lawlessness resulting
shall be also of the resurrection, in lawlessness, so now present your mem-
6 knowing this, that our old man was bers as servants of righteousness resulting
impaled with Him, so that the body of sin in set-apartness.
20 For when you were servants of sin, you
might be rendered powerless, to serve sin
no longer. were free from righteousness.
7 For he who has died has been made 21 What fruit, therefore, were you having
right from sin. then, over which you are now ashamed?
8 And if we died with Messiah, we For the end thereof is death.
22 But now, having been set free from sin,
believe that we shall also live with Him,
9 knowing that Messiah, having been and having become servants of Elohim,
raised from the dead, dies no more – death you have your fruit resulting in set-apart-
no longer rules over Him. ness, and the end, everlasting life.
10 For in that He died, He died to sin once 23 For the wages of sin is death, n but the
for all; but in that He lives, He lives to favourable gift of Elohim is everlasting life
Elohim. in Messiah aSWHY our Master.
11 So you also, reckon yourselves to be
ments of unrighteousness to sin, but pre- bound by Torah to the living husband, but
sent yourselves to Elohim as being alive if the husband dies, she is released from
from the dead, and your members as the Torah concerning her husband.
instruments of righteousness to Elohim. 3 So then, while her husband lives, she
14 For sin shall not rule over you, for you shall be called an adulteress if she becomes
are not under the law l but under favour. another man’s. But if her husband dies, she
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are is free from that part of the Torah, so that
not under Torah but under favour? Let it not she is not an adulteress, having become
be! another man’s.
16 Do you not know that to whom you 4 So my brothers, you also were put to
present yourselves servants for obedience, death to the Torah through the body of
you are servants of the one whom you Messiah, for you to become another’s, the
obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedi- One who was raised from the dead, that we
ence to righteousness? m should bear fruit to Elohim.
17 But thanks to Elohim that you were ser- 5 For when we were in the flesh, the
l This means one of two: (1) under the condemnation of the law, or (2) that this law refers to the law of sin, of
which we read in 7:23, 7:25, 8:2, which means the principle of sin-doing, the AÅamic carnal nature. m Down to
v. 23: We were formerly servants of sin, but now we have become servants of righteousness, unto set-apartness.
n See 8:13. o Down to Rom. 8:17, Sha’ul now uses the analogy of marriage: We were formerly married to sin,
the law of sin, the principle of sin-doing, but now we are married to Messiah, having been set free from sin-doing
by the law of the Spirit, for the law of Elohim is Spiritual (7:14)!
ROMANS 7 1092
passions of sins, through the Torah, were 19 For the good that I wish to do, I do not
working in our members to bear fruit to do; but the evil I do not wish to do, this I
death. practise.
6 But now we have been released from the 20 And if I do that which I do not wish, it
Torah, having died to what we were held by, is no longer I who work it, but the sin
so that we should serve in newness of Spirit dwelling in me.
and not in oldness of letter. 21 I find therefore this law, that when I
7 What, then, shall we say? Is the Torah wish to do the good, that the evil is present
sin? Let it not be! However, I did not know with me.
sin except through the Torah. For also the 22 For I delight in the Torah of Elohim q
covetousness I knew not if the Torah had according to the inward man,
not said, “You shall not covet.” 23 but I see another law in my members,
8 But sin, having taken the occasion battling against the Torah of my mind, and
through the command, did work in me all bringing me into captivity to the law of sin
sorts of covetousness. For apart from which is in my members.
Torah sin is dead. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who shall
9 And I was alive apart from the Torah deliver me from this body of death?
once, but when the command came, the sin 25 Thanks to Elohim, through aSWHY
revived, and I died. Messiah our Master! So then, with the
10 And the command which was to result mind I myself truly serve the Torah of
in life, this I found to result in death. Elohim, but with the flesh the law of sin.
11 For sin, having taken the occasion
ing death in me through what is good, so it was weak through the flesh, Elohim,
that sin through the command might having His own Son in the likeness of flesh
become an exceedingly great Sinner. of sin, and concerning sin, condemned sin
14 For we know that the Torah is Spiritual, in the flesh,
but I p am fleshly, sold under sin. 4 so that the righteousness of the Torah
15 For what I work, I know not. For what I should be completed in us who do not walk
wish, that I do not practise, but what I hate, according to the flesh but according to the
that I do. Spirit.
16 But if I do what I do not wish, I agree 5 For those who live according to the
with the Torah that it is good. flesh set their minds on the matters of the
17 And now, it is no longer I that work it, flesh, but those who live according to the
but the sin dwelling in me. Spirit, the matters of the Spirit.
18 For I know that in me, that is in my 6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but
flesh, dwells no good. For to wish is present the mind of the Spirit is life and peace.
with me, but to work the good I do not find. 7 Because the mind of the flesh is
p Sha’ul uses the personal “I” to illustrate the battle that rages before conversion, and at conversion, when aSWHY
finally performs the miracle of transforming a sinner (the old man) into one who is set-apart (the new man).
q See footnote Teh. 119:16. r This chapter continues from the previous two chapters, and clearly emphasises
what takes place at rebirth: Those who have only been born of the flesh are fleshly, while those who have been
born of the Spirit are new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17), Messiah now lives in them (Gal. 2:20), they no longer sin, wish
to sin (1 Yn. 3:4-10), they delight in the law of Elohim which is Spiritual (Rom. 7:22 & 14).
1093 ROMANS 8
enmity towards Elohim, for it does 22 For we know that all the creation
not subject itself to s the Torah of groans together, and suffers the pains of
Elohim, t neither indeed is it able, childbirth together until now.
8 and those who are in the flesh are 23 And not only so, but even we ourselves
aSWHY from the dead dwells in you, He we eagerly wait for it with endurance.
who raised Messiah from the dead shall 26 And in the same way the Spirit does
also give life to your mortal bodies through help in our weaknesses. For we do not
His Spirit dwelling in you. know what we should pray, but the Spirit
12 So then, brothers, we are not debtors to Himself pleads our case for us with groan-
the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ings unutterable.
13 For if you live according to the flesh, 27 And He who searches the hearts knows
you are going to die; but if by the Spirit what the mind of the Spirit is, because He
you put to death the deeds of the body, you makes intercession for the set-apart ones
shall live. according to Elohim.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of 28 And we know that all matters work
Elohim, these are sons of Elohim. together for good to those who love
15 For you did not receive the spirit of Elohim, to those who are called according
bondage again to fear, but you received the to His purpose.
Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 29 Because those whom He knew before-
indeed we suffer with Him, in order that these He also called, and whom He called,
we also be exalted together. these He also declared right. And whom
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this He declared right, these He also esteemed.
present time are not worth comparing with 31 What then shall we say to this? If
the esteem that is to be revealed in us. Elohim is for us, who is against us?
19 For the intense longing u of the creation 32 Truly, He who did not spare His own
eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons Son, but delivered Him up on behalf of us
of Elohim. all – how shall He not, along with Him,
20 For the creation was subjected to futili- freely give us all else?
ty, not from choice, but because of Him 33 Who shall bring any charge against
into the esteemed freedom of the children Messiah who died, and furthermore is also
of Elohim. raised up, who is also at the right hand
s Or does not obey. t Carnal man is unable! But he who is born again is able – see Yn. 15:5, 1 Yn. 4:4, 1 Yn. 3:9,
1 Yn. 5:18. u Lit. anxiously looking with outstretched head.
ROMANS 8 1094
persecution, or scarcity of food, or naked- any good or evil – in order that the purpose
ness, or danger, or sword? of Elohim, according to choice, might
36 As it has been written, “For Your sake stand, not of works but of Him who calls –
we are killed all day long, we are reckoned 12 it was said to her, “The greater shall
comers through Him who loved us. loved, but Âsaw I have hated.”
38 For I am persuaded that neither death 14 What, then, shall we say? Is there
nor life, nor messengers nor principalities unrighteousness with Elohim? Let it not
nor powers, neither the present nor the be!
future, 15 For He says to Mosheh, “I shall favour
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other whomever I favour, and I shall have com-
creature, shall be able to separate us from passion on whomever I have compassion.”
the love of Elohim which is in Messiah 16 So, then, it is not of him who is wish-
brothers, my relatives according to the He still find fault? For who has resisted
flesh, His counsel?”
4 who are Yisra’Ãlites, whose is the adop- 20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to
tion, and the esteem, and the covenants, Elohim? Shall that which is formed say to
and the giving of the Torah, and the wor- him who formed it, “Why have you made
ship, and the promises, me like this?”
5 whose are the fathers, and from whom 21 Does not the potter have authority over
is the Messiah according to the flesh, who the clay, from the same lump to make one
is over all, Elohim-blessed forever. AmÃn. vessel for value and another not for value?
6 However, it is not as though the word 22 And if Elohim, desiring to show wrath,
of Elohim has failed. For they are not all and to make His power known, with much
Yisra’Ãl who are of Yisra’Ãl, v patience tolerated the vessels of wrath pre-
7 neither are they all children because pared for destruction,
they are the seed of AÄraham, but, “In 23 and that He might make known the
YitsÁaq your seed shall be called.” riches of His esteem on vessels of compas-
8 That is, those who are the children of sion, which He had prepared beforehand
the flesh, these are not the children of for esteem,
Elohim, but the children of the promise are 24 even whom He called, not only us of
time I shall come and Sarah shall have them My people, who were not My people,
v Scholars explain it: There is a true Yisra’Ãl, a Yisra’Ãl that is Spiritual within the greater Yisra’Ãl after the flesh.
This true Yisra’Ãl is probably the same as the term often used in Scripture: the remnant.
1095 ROMANS 10
and her beloved, who was not beloved.” 6 But the righteousness of belief speaks
26 “And it shall be in the place where it in this way, “Do not say in your heart,
was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ ‘Who shall ascend into the heavens?’ ” –
there they shall be called sons of the living that is, to bring Messiah down; or,
Elohim.” 7 “ ‘Who shall descend into the abyss?’ ”
27 And Yeshayahu cries out on behalf of – that is, to bring Messiah up from the
Yisra’Ãl, “Though the number of the dead.
children of Yisra’Ãl be as the sand of the 8 But what does it say? “The word is near
sea, the remnant shall be saved. you, in your mouth and in your heart” –
28 For He is bringing a matter to an end, that is, the word of belief which we are
and is cutting it short in righteousness, proclaiming:
because HWHY shall cut short a matter on the 9 That if you confess with your mouth
have been made like Amorah.” righteousness, and one confesses with the
30 What shall we say then? That gentiles mouth, and so is saved.
not following after righteousness, have 11 Because the Scripture says, “Whoever
obtained righteousness, even the right- puts his trust in Him shall not be put to
eousness of belief, shame.”
31 but Yisra’Ãl following after the Torah 12 Because there is no distinction between
of righteousness, has not arrived at the YehuÅite and Greek, for the same Master
Torah of righteousness. of all is rich to all those calling upon Him.
32 Why? Because it was not of belief, but 13 For “everyone who calls on the Name
an ardour for Elohim, but not according to News. For Yeshayahu says, “HWHY, who
knowledge. has believed our report?”
3 For not knowing the righteousness of 17 So then belief comes by hearing, and
Elohim, and seeking to establish their own hearing by the word of Elohim.
righteousness, they did not subject them- 18 But I ask, Did they not hear? Yea
selves to w the righteousness of Elohim. indeed, “Their voice went out to all the
4 For Messiah is the goal 1 of the ‘Torah earth, and their words to the ends of the
unto righteousness’ to everyone who world.”
believes. 19 But I ask, Did Yisra’Ãl not know?
5 For Mosheh writes about the righteous- First Mosheh says, “I shall provoke you to
ness which is of the Torah, “The man who jealousy by those who are not a nation, I
does these shall live by them.” shall enrage you by an unwise nation.”
20 And Yeshayahu boldly says, “I was how much more their completeness!
found by those not seeking Me, I was 13 For I speak to you, the gentiles, inas-
made manifest to those not asking for Me.” much as I am an emissary to the gentiles,
21 And to Yisra’Ãl He says, “All day long I esteem my service,
I have stretched out My hands to a disobe- 14 if somehow I might provoke to jealousy
dient and back-talking people.” those who are my flesh and save some of
them.
11 I say then, has Elohim rejected His
people? Let it not be! For I also am
15 For if their casting away is the restora-
yahu, how he pleads with Elohim against ken off, and you, being a wild olive tree,
Yisra’Ãl, saying, have been grafted in among them, and
3 “HWHY, they have killed Your prophets came to share the root and fatness of the
and overthrown Your altars, and I alone am olive tree, z
left, and they seek my life”? 18 do not boast against the branches. And
4 But what does the answer of Elohim say if you boast, remember: you do not bear
to him? “I have left for Myself seven thou- the root, but the root bears you!
sand men who have not bowed the knee to 19 You shall say then, “The branches were
remnant according to the choice of favour off, and you stand by belief. Do not be
has come to be. arrogant, but fear.
6 And if by favour, it is no longer of 21 For if Elohim did not spare the natural
works, otherwise favour is no longer branches, He might not spare you either.
favour. And if it is of works, it is no longer 22 See then the kindness and sharpness of
favour, otherwise work is no longer work. Elohim: on those who fell sharpness, but
7 What then? Yisra’Ãl has not obtained toward you kindness, if you continue in
what it seeks, but the chosen did obtain it, His kindness, otherwise you also shall be
and the rest were hardened. cut off.
8 As it has been written, “HWHY has given 23 And they also, if they do not continue
them a spirit of deep sleep, eyes not to see in unbelief, shall be grafted in, for Elohim
and ears not to hear, unto this day.” is able to graft them in again.
9 DawiÅ also says, “Let their table 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree
become for a snare, and for a trap, and for which is wild by nature, and were grafted
a stumbling-block and a recompense to contrary to nature into a good olive tree,
them, how much more shall these who are the
10 let their eyes be darkened, not to see, natural branches, be grafted into their own
and bow down their back always.” olive tree?
11 I say then, have they stumbled that they 25 For I do not wish you to be ignorant of
should fall? Let it not be! But by their fall this secret, brothers, lest you should be
deliverance has come to the gentiles, to wise in your own estimation, that harden-
provoke them to jealousy. ing in part has come over Yisra’Ãl, until the
12 And if their fall is riches for the world, completeness of the gentiles 1 has come in.
and their failure riches for the gentiles, 26 And so all Yisra’Ãl shall be saved, as it
yTeh. 94:14. z Down to v.24: The true believers (also being obedient) from among the gentiles, are grafted in
among the true Yisra’Ãlites after the flesh – those who are true because they believe and obey. 1 Ber. 48:19.
1097 ROMANS 13
has been written, “The Deliverer shall body, but all members do not have the
come out of Tsiyon, and He shall turn same function,
away wickedness from YaÈaqoÄ, 5 so we, the many, are one body in
27 and this is My covenant with them, Messiah, and members each one of one
when I take away their sins.” a another.
28 Truly, as regards the Good News they 6 Now having different gifts, according
are enemies for your sake, but concerning to the favour which was given to us, let us
the choice they are beloved for the sake of use them accordingly: if prophecy, accord-
the fathers. ing to the proportion of belief;
29 For the gifts and the calling of Elohim 7 if serving, in the serving; or he who is
Elohim, but now have obtained compas- agement; or he who is sharing, in sincerity;
sion through their disobedience, he who is leading, in diligence; he who
31 so also these have now disobeyed, that shows compassion, joyously.
through the compassion shown you they 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Shrink
also might obtain compassion. from what is wicked, cling to what is good.
32 For Elohim has shut them all up to 10 In brotherly love, tenderly loving
good and well-pleasing and perfect desire but give place to the wrath, for it has been
of Elohim. written, “Vengeance is Mine, I shall
3 For I say, through the favour which has repay,” says HWHY.
been given to me, to everyone who is 20 “Instead, if your enemy hungers, feed
among you, not to think of himself more him; if he thirsts, give him a drink, for in
highly than he should think, but to think so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his
soberly, as Elohim has given to each a head.”
measure of belief. 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but over-
4 For as we have many members in one come evil with good.
a Yesh. 59:20-21. b Note the repeated use of the word “disobedience” in these three verses.
ROMANS 13 1098
is no authority except from Elohim, and and make no provision for the lusts of the
the authorities that exist are appointed by flesh.
Elohim.
2 So he who opposes the authority with-
stands the institution of Elohim, and those 14 And receive him who is weak in
the belief, not criticising his
who withstand shall bring judgment on thoughts.
themselves. 2 One indeed believes to eat all food, but
3 For those ruling are an object of fear, he who is weak eats only vegetables.
not to good works, but to evil. Do you wish 3 He that eats, let him not despise him
to be not afraid of the authority? Do the who does not eat, and he that does not eat,
good, and you shall have praise from it, let him not judge him who eats, for Elohim
4 for it is a servant of Elohim to you for received him.
good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for it 4 Who are you that judges another’s ser-
does not bear the sword in vain. For it is a vant? To his own master he stands or falls.
servant of Elohim, a revenger to execute But he shall be made to stand, for Elohim
wrath on him who practises evil. is able to make him stand.
5 Therefore, it is necessary to be subject, 5 One indeed judges one day above
not only because of wrath but also because another, another judges every day alike.
of the conscience. Let each one be completely persuaded in
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, his own mind.
for they are servants of Elohim attending 6 He who minds the day, minds it to
continually to these duties. HWHY. And he who does not mind the day,
7 Render therefore to all what is due to to HWHY he does not mind it. He who eats,
them: tax to whom tax is due, toll to whom eats to HWHY, for he gives Elohim thanks.
toll, fear to whom fear, respect to whom And he who does not eat, to HWHY he does
respect. not eat, and gives Elohim thanks.
8 Owe no one any matter except to love 7 For not one of us lives to himself, and
one another, for he who loves another has not one dies to himself.
filled the Torah. 8 For both, if we live, we live unto the
9 For this, “You shall not commit adul- Master, and if we die, we die unto the
tery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall Master. Therefore, whether we live or die,
not steal,” “You shall not bear false wit- we are the Master’s.
ness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there 9 For unto this Messiah died and rose and
is any other command, is summed up in lived again, to rule over both the dead and
this word, “You shall love your neighbour the living.
as yourself.” 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or
10 Love does no evil to a neighbour. why do you despise your brother? For we
Therefore, love is completion of the Torah. shall all stand before the judgment seat of
11 And do this, knowing the time, that it is Messiah.
already the hour for us to wake up from 11 For it has been written, “As I live, says
sleep, for now our deliverance is nearer HWHY, every knee shall bow to Me, and
than when we did believe. every tongue shall confess to Elohim.”
12 The night is far advanced, the day has 12 Each one of us, therefore, shall give
come near. So let us put off the works of account of himself to Elohim.
darkness, and let us put on the armour of 13 Therefore let us not judge one another
of your food, you are no longer walking in did accept us, to the esteem of Elohim.
8 And I say that aSWHY Messiah has
love. Do not by your food ruin the one for
whom Messiah died. become a servant of the circumcised for
16 Do not then allow your good to be spo- the truth of Elohim, to confirm the promis-
ken of as evil. es made to the fathers,
17 For the reign of Elohim is not eating 9 and for the gentiles to praise Elohim for
and drinking, but righteousness and peace His compassion, as it has been written,
and joy in the Set-apart Spirit. “Because of this I shall confess to You
18 For he who is serving Messiah in these among the gentiles, and I shall sing to Your
matters is well-pleasing to Elohim and Name.”
10 And again it says, “Rejoice, O gentiles,
approved by men.
19 So, then, let us pursue the matters of with His people!”
11 And again, “Praise HWHY, all you
peace and the matters for building up one
another. gentiles! Praise Him, all you peoples!”
20 Do not destroy the work of Elohim for 12 And again, Yeshayahu says, “There
the sake of food. All indeed are clean, but shall be a root of Yishai, and He who shall
evil to that man who eats so as to cause rise to reign over the gentiles, on Him the
stumbling. gentiles shall set their expectation.”
21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine, 13 And the Elohim of expectation fill you
nor to do whatever by which your brother with all joy and peace in believing, that
stumbles. you overflow with expectation by the
22 Do you have belief? Have it to yourself power of the Set-apart Spirit.
14 Now I myself am persuaded concerning
before Elohim. Blessed is he who does not
condemn himself in what he approves. you, my brothers, that you too are filled
23 But he who doubts, if he eats, is con- with goodness, complete in all knowledge,
demned, because it is not of belief, and all able also to admonish one another.
that is not of belief is sin. 15 But I have written more boldly to you,
and not to please ourselves. gentiles, with the priestly duty of bringing
2 Let each one of us please his neighbour the Good News of Elohim, so that the
for his good, to build him up. offering of the gentiles becomes accept-
3 For even the Messiah did not please able, set apart by the Set-apart Spirit.
Himself, but, as it has been written, “The 17 Therefore I have cause for boasting in
reproaches of those who reproached You Messiah aSWHY in the matters pertaining to
fell upon Me.” Elohim.
4 For whatever was written before was 18 For I shall not presume to speak of any
written for our instruction, c that through matter except what Messiah has worked
endurance and encouragement of the out through me, in word and deed, to make
Scriptures we might have the expectation. the gentiles obedient,
5 And the Elohim of endurance and 19 in power of signs and wonders, in
encouragement give you to be of the same power of the Spirit of Elohim, so that from
mind toward one another, according to Yerushalayim and round about to Illurikon
Messiah aSWHY, I have completed the preaching of the
Good News where Messiah had not been the set-apart ones, and assist her in what-
named, lest I should build on another ever matter she has need of you. For she
man’s foundation, has been a great help to many, including
21 but as it has been written, “To whom it me.
was not announced concerning Him, they 3 Greet Priscilla and Aqulas, my fellow
shall see, and those that have not heard workers in Messiah aSWHY,
shall understand.” 4 who risked their own necks for my life,
22 This is why I was often hindered from to whom not only I give thanks, but also all
coming to you. the assemblies of the gentiles,
23 But now, no longer having a place in 5 and the assembly that is in their house.
these parts, and having a longing to come Greet my beloved Epainetos, who is the
to you for many years, first-fruits of Achaia to Messiah.
24 I shall come to you when I go to Spain. 6 Greet Miryam, who worked very hard
if first I be somewhat filled with your tives and my fellow prisoners, who are
company. eminent among the emissaries, who also
25 But now I am going to Yerushalayim to were in Messiah before me.
serve the set-apart ones. 8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in HWHY.
26 For it pleased those from Makedonia 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in
and Achaia to make some contribution for Messiah, and Stachus, my beloved.
the poor among the set-apart ones who are 10 Greet Apelles, the approved in Messiah.
their debtors. For if the gentiles have those who are of Narcissus who are in
shared in their spiritual matters, their duty HWHY.
is also to serve them in material matters. 12 Greet Truphaina and Truphosa, who
28 Having completed this, then, and hav- work in HWHY. Greet the beloved Persis,
ing put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I who worked very hard in HWHY.
shall return through you to Spain. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in HWHY and his
29 And I know that when I come to you, I mother and mine.
shall come in the completeness of the 14 Greet Asugritos, Phlegon, Hermas,
blessing of the Good News of Messiah. Patrobas, Hermes, and the brothers who
30 But I urge you, brothers, through our are with them.
Master aSWHY Messiah, and through the 15 Greet Philologos and Julia, Nereus and
love of the Spirit, to strive together with his sister, and Olumpas, and all the set-
me in prayers for me, unto Elohim, apart ones who are with them.
31 that I might be delivered from those in 16 Greet one another with a set-apart kiss.
YehuÅah who do not believe, and that my The assemblies of Messiah greet you.
service for Yerushalayim be well received 17 Now I call upon you, brothers, watch
by the set-apart ones, out for those who cause divisions and
32 that I might come to you with joy, stumbling, contrary to the teaching which
through the desire of Elohim, and be you learned, and turn away from them.
refreshed together with you. 18 For such ones do not serve our Master
33 And the Elohim of peace be with you aSWHY Messiah, but their own stomach,
all. AmÃn. and by smooth words and flattering speech
they deceive the hearts of the innocent.
16 And I commend to you Phoebe our
sister, who is a servant of the
19 Your obedience, indeed, is reported to
I wish you to be wise indeed as to the 24 The favour of our Master aSWHY
good, and simple toward the evil. Messiah be with you all. AmÃn.
20 And the Elohim of peace shall crush 25 And to Him who is able to establish
Satan under your feet shortly. The favour you according to my Good News and the
of our Master aSWHY Messiah be with you. preaching of aSWHY Messiah, according to
AmÃn. the revelation of the secret which was kept
21 Timothy, my fellow worker, and silent since times of old,
Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my rela- 26 but now has been made manifest, and
tives, greet you. by the prophetic Scriptures has been made
22 I, Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet known to all nations, according to the
you in HWHY. command of the everlasting Elohim, for
23 Gaios, the host of all the assembly and belief-obedience.
me, greets you. Ârastos, the treasurer of the 27 To Elohim, wise alone, be the esteem,
city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. through aSWHY Messiah forever. AmÃn.
1 CORINTHIANS
Corinth, to those who are set-apart in of Stephanas. For the rest, I do not know
Messiah aSWHY, called set-apart ones, with whether I immersed anyone else.
all those calling on the Name of aSWHY 17 For Messiah did not send me to
Messiah our Master in every place, theirs immerse, but to bring the Good News, not
and ours: with wisdom of words, that the stake of
3 Favour to you and peace from Elohim Messiah should not be nullified.
our Father and the Master aSWHY Messiah. 18 For the word of the stake is indeed fool-
4 I thank my Elohim always concerning ishness to those who are perishing, but to
you for the favour of Elohim which was us who are being saved it is the power of
given to you by Messiah aSWHY, Elohim.
5 that in Him you were enriched in all – 19 For it has been written, “I shall destroy
in every word and all knowledge – the wisdom of the wise, and set aside the
6 as the witness of Messiah was con- learning of the learned ones.” a
firmed in you, 20 Where is the wise? Where is the schol-
7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, ar? Where is the debater of this age? Has
eagerly waiting for the revelation of our not Elohim made foolish the wisdom of
Master aSWHY Messiah, this world?
8 who shall also confirm you to the end, 21 For since, in the wisdom of Elohim, the
unreprovable in the day of our Master world through wisdom did not know
aSWHY Messiah. Elohim, it pleased Elohim through the
9 Elohim is trustworthy, by whom you foolishness of preaching to save those who
were called into the fellowship of His Son, believe.
aSWHY Messiah our Master. 22 And since YehuÅim ask a sign, and
10 And I appeal to you, brothers, by the Greeks seek wisdom,
Name of our Master aSWHY Messiah, that 23 yet we proclaim Messiah impaled, to
you all agree, and that there be no divi- the YehuÅim a stumbling-block and to the
sions among you, but that you be knit Greeks foolishness,
together in the same mind and in the same 24 but to those who are called – both
Chloe, that there are strifes among you. than men, and the weakness of Elohim is
12 What I mean is this, that each one of stronger than men.
you says, “I am of Sha’ul,” or “I am of 26 For look at your calling, brothers, that
Apollos,” or “I am of KÃpha,” or “I am of there were not many wise according to the
Messiah.” flesh, not many mighty, not many noble.
13 Has the Messiah been divided? Was 27 But Elohim has chosen the foolish mat-
Sha’ul impaled for you? Or were you ters of the world to put to shame the wise,
immersed in the name of Sha’ul? and Elohim has chosen the weak of the
14 I thank Elohim that I immersed not one world to put to shame the strong.
28 And Elohim has chosen the low-born of man that is in him? So also, the thoughts of
the world and the despised, and the ones Elohim no one has known, except the
that are not, that He might bring to naught Spirit of Elohim.
the ones that are, 12 And we have received, not the spirit of
29 so that no flesh should boast in His the world, but the Spirit that is from
presence. Elohim, in order to know what Elohim has
30 And of Him you are in Messiah aSWHY, favourably given us,
who became for us wisdom from Elohim, 13 which we also speak, not in words
righteousness also, and set-apartness and which man’s wisdom teaches but which
redemption, b the Set-apart Spirit teaches, comparing
31 that, as it has been written, “He who spiritual matters with spiritual matters.
boasts, let him boast in HWHY.” 14 But the natural man does not receive
in the wisdom of men but in the power of food, for until now you were not able to
Elohim. receive it, and even now you are still not
6 Yet we speak wisdom among those able,
who are perfect, and not the wisdom of this 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there
age, nor of the rulers of this age that are is envy, and strife, and divisions among
being brought to naught. you, are you not fleshly and walking
7 But we speak the wisdom of Elohim, according to man?
which was hidden in a secret, and which 4 For when one says, “I am of Sha’ul,”
Elohim ordained before the ages for our and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not
esteem, fleshly?
8 which no one of the rulers of this age 5 What then is Apollos, and what is
knew, for if they had known, they would Sha’ul, but servants through whom you
not have impaled the Master of esteem. believed, as the Master assigned to each?
9 But as it has been written, “Eye has not 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but Elohim
seen, and ear has not heard, nor have was giving growth.
entered into the heart of man what Elohim 7 So neither he who plants nor he who
has prepared for those who love Him.” c waters is any at all, but Elohim who gives
10 But Elohim has revealed them to us the increase.
through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches 8 And he who plants and he who waters
all matters, even the depths of Elohim. are one, and each one shall receive his own
11 For who among men knows the reward according to his own labour.
thoughts of a man except the spirit of the 9 For we are fellow workers of Elohim,
b He is ever ready to save and set apart and redeem entirely! c Yesh. 64:4.
1 CORINTHIANS 3 1104
you are the field of Elohim, the building of 2 For the rest, it is sought in trustees, that
which was given to me, as a wise master should be judged by you or by a man’s
builder I have laid the foundation, and court. But not even myself I judge.
another builds on it. But each one should 4 For I am not conscious of any matter
look how he builds on it. against myself, yet I am not declared right
11 For no one is able to lay any other foun- by this, but He who judges me is HWHY.
dation except that which is laid, which is 5 So do not judge any at all before the
revealed by fire. And the fire shall prove applied in a figure to myself and Apollos
the work of each one, what sort it is. for your sakes, so that in us you might
14 If anyone’s work remains, which he has learn not to think beyond what is written, d
built on, he shall receive a reward. so that none of you be puffed up on behalf
15 If anyone’s work is burned, he shall of one against the other.
suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, 7 For who makes you to differ? And what
but so as through fire. do you have that you did not receive? And
16 Do you not know that you are a if you did indeed receive it, why do you
Dwelling Place of Elohim and that the boast as if you had not received it?
Spirit of Elohim dwells in you? 8 You are already satisfied! You are
17 If anyone destroys the Dwelling Place already enriched! You have reigned as sov-
of Elohim, Elohim shall destroy him. For ereigns, apart from us! And I wish, indeed,
the Dwelling Place of Elohim is set-apart, you did reign, that we also might reign
which you are. with you!
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone 9 For I think that Elohim has exhibited
among you seems to be wise in this age, let us, the emissaries, last, as appointed to
him become foolish, so that he might death, because we became a spectacle to
become wise. the world, both to messengers and to men.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolish- 10 We are fools for the sake of Messiah,
ness with Elohim. For it has been written, but you are wise in Messiah! We are weak,
“He catches the wise in their craftiness,” but you are strong! You are in esteem, but
20 and again, “HWHY knows the thoughts of we are not appreciated!
the wise, that they are worthless.” 11 Until the present hour we both hunger
21 So then, let no one boast in men, for all and thirst, and we are scantily clad, and
belongs to you, beaten, and homeless,
22 whether Sha’ul or Apollos or KÃpha, or 12 and labour, working with our own
the world, or life, or death, or the present hands. Being cursed, we bless; being
or the future – all belongs to you. persecuted, we suffer;
23 And you belong to Messiah, and 13 being insulted, we help. We have been
Messiah belongs to Elohim. made as the filth of the world – dirt wiped
off by all until now.
4 Let a man regard us as servants of
Messiah and trustees of the secrets of
14 I do not write this to shame you, but to
instructors in Messiah, yet not many company with those who whore.
fathers, for in Messiah aSWHY I have 10 And I certainly did not mean with those
brought you forth through the Good News. of this world who whore, or with the
16 Therefore I appeal to you, to become greedy of gain, or swindlers, or idolaters,
imitators of me. since then you would need to go out of the
17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to world.
you, who is my beloved and trustworthy 11 But now I have written to you not to
son in the Master, who shall remind you of keep company with anyone called ‘a broth-
my ways in Messiah, as I teach every- er,’ if he is one who whores, or greedy of
where in every assembly. gain, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunk-
18 Now some are puffed up, as though I ard, or a swindler – not even to eat with
were not coming to you. such a one.
19 But I shall come to you shortly, if the 12 For what have I to do with judging out-
Master desires, and I shall know, not the siders? Do you not judge those who are
word of those who are puffed up, but the inside?
power. 13 But Elohim judges those who are out-
20 For the reign of Elohim is not in side. And put away the wicked one from
speech, but in power. among you!
21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you
ing as is not even named among the gen- shall judge the world? And if the world is
tiles, so as one to have his father’s wife! judged by you, are you unworthy to judge
2 And you have been puffed up, and did the smallest matters?
not rather mourn, so that he who has done 3 Do you not know that we shall judge
this deed, be removed from among you! messengers? How much more, matters of
3 For I indeed, as absent in body but this life?
present in spirit, have already judged the 4 If then you truly have judgments of this
one who did this, as though I were present. life, do you appoint them as judges who
4 In the Name of our Master aSWHY are least esteemed by the assembly?
Messiah, when you are gathered together, 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that
and my spirit, with the power of our there is not a wise one among you, not
Master aSWHY Messiah, even one, who shall be able to judge
5 deliver such a one to Satan for destruc- between his brothers?
tion of the flesh, in order that his spirit be 6 But brother against brother goes to be
saved in the day of the Master aSWHY. judged and that before unbelievers!
6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not 7 Already, then, there is a failure with
know that a little leaven leavens the entire you, that you have lawsuits among you.
lump? Why not rather be wronged? Why not
7 Therefore cleanse out the old leaven, so rather be cheated?
that you are a new lump, as you are 8 But you yourselves do wrong and
unleavened. For also Messiah our Passover cheat, and that to your brothers!
was offered for us. 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous
8 So then let us observe the festival, not shall not inherit the reign of Elohim? Do
with old leaven, nor with the leaven of evil not be deceived. Neither those who whore,
and wickedness, but with the unleavened nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effemi-
bread of sincerity and truth. nate, nor homosexuals,
9 I wrote to you in my letter not to keep 10 nor thieves, nor greedy of gain, nor
1 CORINTHIANS 6 1106
drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers shall ity over his own body, but the wife does.
inherit the reign of Elohim. e 5 Do not deprive one another except with
11 And such were some of you. But you agreement for a time, to give yourselves to
were washed, but you were set apart, but fasting and prayer. And come together
you were declared right in the Name of the again so that Satan does not try you
Master aSWHY and by the Spirit of our because of your lack of self-control.
Elohim. 6 And I say this as a concession, not as a
12 All is permitted me, but not all do command.
profit. All is permitted me, but I shall not 7 For I wish that all men were even as I
be under authority of any. myself. But each one has his own gift from
13 Foods for the stomach and the stomach Elohim, one in this way and another in
for foods – but Elohim shall destroy both it that.
and them. And the body is not for whoring 8 And I say to the unmarried and to the
but for the Master, and the Master for the widows: It is good for them if they remain
body. even as I am,
14 And Elohim, who raised up the Master, 9 but if they do not have self-control, let
shall also raise us up through His power. them marry, for it is better to marry than to
15 Do you not know that your bodies are burn.
members of Messiah? Shall I then take the 10 And to the married I command, not I,
members of Messiah and make them mem- but the Master: A wife should not separate
bers of a whore? Let it not be! from a husband.
16 Or do you not know that he who is 11 But if she is indeed separated, let her
the Dwelling Place of the Set-apart Spirit husband, and he thinks well to live with
who is in you, which you have from her, let her not send him away.
Elohim, and you are not your own? 14 For the unbelieving husband has been
20 For you were bought with a price, set-apart in the wife, and the unbelieving
therefore esteem Elohim in your body and wife has been set-apart in the husband.
in your spirit, f which are of Elohim. Otherwise your children would be unclean,
but now they are set-apart.
7 And concerning the matters you wrote
to me: It is good for a man not to
15 And, if the unbelieving one separates,
have her own husband. you shall save your husband? Or how do
3 Let the husband render to his wife what you know, O husband, whether you shall
is her due, and likewise also the wife to her save your wife?
husband. 17 Only, as Elohim has distributed to each
4 The wife does not have authority over one, as the Master has called each one, so
her own body, but the husband does. And let him walk. And so I order in all the
likewise the husband does not have author- assemblies.
e This declaration is repeated in Gal. 5:19-21, Eph. 5:3-5. f See 7:23, 1 KÃpha 1:18-19.
1107 1 CORINTHIANS 8
18 Was anyone called while circumcised? the matters of the Master – how to please
Let him not become uncircumcised. Was the Master.
anyone called while uncircumcised? Let 33 But he who is married is concerned
of the commands of Elohim does matter! g and a maiden. The unmarried woman is
20 Let each one remain in the same calling concerned about the matters of the Master,
in which he was called. that she might be set-apart both in body
21 Were you called while a slave? It mat- and in spirit. But she who is married is
ters not to you, but if you are able to concerned about the matters of the world –
become free too, rather use it. how to please her husband.
22 For he who is called in the Master 35 And this I say for your own good, not
while a slave is the Master’s freed man. to put a restraint on you, but for what is
Likewise he who is called while free is a proper, and to attend to the Master without
slave of Messiah. h distraction.
23 You were bought with a price, do not 36 And if anyone thinks he is behaving
command from the Master, but I give heart, having no necessity, and has authori-
judgment as one whom the Master in His ty over his own desire, and has so decided
compassion has made trustworthy. in his heart to guard his own maiden, does
26 I think then that this is good because of well.
the present necessity, that it is good for a 38 So then he who gives her in marriage
man to remain as he is. does well, but he who does not give her in
27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek marriage does better.
to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? 39 A wife is bound by Torah as long as her
Do not seek a wife. husband lives, and if her husband dies, she
28 But even if you should marry, you have is free to be married to whom she desires,
not sinned. And if a maiden should marry, only in the Master.
she has not sinned. But such shall have 40 But she is better off if she remains as
pressure in the flesh, but I would spare she is, according to my opinion. And I
you. think I also have the Spirit of Elohim.
29 And this I say, brothers, the time is
not weep, and those who rejoice as though what, he does not yet know as he should
they did not rejoice, and those who buy as know.
though they did not possess, 3 But if anyone loves Elohim, this one is
31 and those who use this world as not known by Him.
misusing it. For the scene of this world is 4 So then, concerning the eating of food
5 For even if there are so-called mighty right to refrain from working?
ones, whether in heaven or on earth – as 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own
there are many mighty ones and many expense? Who plants a vineyard and does
masters – not eat of its fruit? Or who shepherds a
6 for us there is one Elohim, i the Father, flock and does not feed on the milk of the
from whom all came and for whom we flock?
live, and one Master aSWHY Messiah, 8 Do I say this as a man? Or does not the
through whom all came and through whom Torah say the same too?
we live. 9 For it has been written in the Torah of
7 However, not all have this knowledge. Mosheh, “You shall not muzzle an ox
But some, being aware of the idol, until while it treads out the grain.” Is it about
now eat it as having been offered to an oxen Elohim is concerned?
idol, so their conscience, being weak, is 10 Or does He say it because of us all? For
brothers, and wounding their weak con- announcing the Good News should live
science, you sin against Messiah. from the Good News.
13 Therefore, if food makes my brother 15 But I have used none of these, nor have
stumble, I am never again going to eat I written this that it should be done so to
meat, lest I make my brother stumble. me. For it would be better for me to die
than that anyone should make my boasting
9 Am I not an emissary? Am I not free?
Have I not seen aSWHY Messiah our
empty.
16 For if I bring the Good News, it is no
Master? Are you not my work in the boasting for me, for necessity is laid on
Master? me, and it is woe to me if I do not bring the
2 If to others I am not an emissary, I Good News!
certainly am to you. For you are the seal of 17 For if I do this voluntarily I have a
my office of the emissary in the Master. reward, but if not voluntarily, I am entrust-
3 My defence to those who examine me ed with a management.
is this: 18 What then is my reward? That in bring-
4 Do we not have a right to eat and drink? ing the Good News, I should offer the
5 Do we not have a right to take along a Good News of Messiah without cost, so as
sister – a wife – as do also the other emis- not to abuse my authority in the Good
saries, and the brothers of the Master, and News.
KÃpha? 19 For though I am free from all, I made
6 Or do only BarnaÄah and I have no myself a servant to all, in order to win
more, up to play.”
20 and to the YehuÅim I became as a 8 Neither should we commit whoring, as
YehuÅite, that I might win YehuÅim; to some of them did, and in one day twenty-
those who are under Torah, as under Torah, three thousand fell,
so as to win those who are under Torah; 9 neither let us try Messiah, as some of
21 to those without Torah, as without them also tried, and were destroyed by
Torah – not being without Torah toward serpents,
Elohim, but under Torah of Messiah – so 10 neither grumble, as some of them also
as to win those who are without Torah. grumbled, and were destroyed by the
22 To the weak I became as weak, so as to destroyer.
win the weak. To all men I have become 11 And all these came upon them as
all, so as to save some, by all means. examples, and they were written as a warn-
23 And I do this because of the Good ing to us, on whom the ends of the ages
News, so as to become a fellow-partaker have come,
with it. 12 so that he who thinks he stands, let him
24 Do you not know that those who run in take heed lest he fall.
a race indeed all run, but one receives the 13 No trial has overtaken you except such
prize? Run in such a way as to obtain it. as is common to man, and Elohim is trust-
25 And everyone who competes controls worthy, who shall not allow you to be tried
himself in every way. Now they do it to beyond what you are able, but with the
receive a corruptible crown, but we for an trial shall also make the way of escape,
incorruptible crown. enabling you to bear it.
26 Therefore I run accordingly, not with 14 Therefore, my beloved ones, flee from
that we should not lust after evil, as those Master and the cup of demons, you are not
indeed lusted. able to partake of the table of the Master
7 And do not become idolaters as some and of the table of demons.
of them, as it has been written, “The peo- 22 Do we provoke the Master to jealousy?
ple sat down to eat and to drink, and stood Are we stronger than He?
1 See Way. 17:7
1 CORINTHIANS 10 1110
23 All is permitted me, but not all do prof- woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be
it. All is permitted me, but not all build up. covered.
24 Let no one seek his own, but each one 7 For a man indeed should not cover his
you, and you wish to go, you eat whatever have a symbol of authority on her head,
is set before you, asking no question on because of the messengers.
account of the conscience. 11 However, man is not independent of
28 And if anyone says to you, “This was woman, nor woman independent of man,
offered to idols,” do not eat it because of in the Master.
the one pointing it out to you, and on 12 For as the woman was from the man,
account of the conscience, for “The earth even so the man also is through the
belongs to HWHY, and all that fills it.” woman. But all are from Elohim.
29 Now I say conscience, not your own, 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a
but that of the other. For why is my free- woman to pray to Elohim with her head
dom judged by another’s conscience? uncovered?
30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a
evil spoken of for what I give thanks? man indeed has long hair, it is a disrespect
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or to him?
whatever you do, do all to the esteem of 15 And if a woman has long hair, it is an
the many, that they might be saved. you, since you come together not for the
better but for the worse.
11 Become imitators of me, as I also
am of Messiah.
2 And I praise you, brothers, that you
18 For in the first place, I hear that when
having his head covered, brings shame to own supper first, and one is hungry and
his Head. another is drunk.
5 And every woman praying or proph- 22 Have you not houses to eat and drink
esying with her head uncovered brings in? Or do you despise the assembly of
shame to her head, for that is one and the Elohim and shame those who have not?
same as if her head were shaved. What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you
6 For if a woman is not covered, let her in this? I do not praise!
also be shorn. But if it is a shame for a 23 For I received from the Master that
1111 1 CORINTHIANS 12
and said, “Take, eat, this is My body which but the same Master.
is broken for you; do this in remembrance 6 And there are different kinds of work-
unworthily, eats and drinks judgment to these, distributing to each one individually
himself, not discerning the body of the as He intends.
Master. 12 For as the body is one and has many
30 Because of this many are weak and sick members, but all the members of that one
among you, and many sleep. body, being many, are one body, so also is
31 For if we were to examine ourselves, the Messiah.
we would not be judged. 13 For indeed by one Spirit we were all
32 But when we are judged, we are disci- immersed into one body, whether YehuÅim
plined by the Master, that we should not be or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we
condemned with the world. were all made to drink into one Spirit.
33 So then, my brothers, when you come 14 For indeed the body is not one member
at home, lest you come together for hand, I do not belong to the body,” does it
judgment. And the rest I shall set in order therefore not belong to the body?
when I come. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not
aSWHY is a curse, and no one is able to say where would the body be?
that aSWHY is Master except by the Set- 20 And now, there are indeed many
j Notice the past tense: “were” – see also Eph. 2:11, Eph. 4:17, 1 KÃpha 4:3, 1 Thess. 4:5.
1 CORINTHIANS 12 1112
members, but one body. 5 does not behave indecently, does not
21 And an eye is unable to say to the hand, seek its own, is not provoked, reckons not
“I have no need of you,” or again the head the evil,
to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 6 does not rejoice over the unrighteous-
22 But much rather, those members of the ness, but rejoices in the truth,
body which are thought to be weaker are 7 it covers all, believes all, expects all,
member which lacks it, come, then that which is in part shall be
25 that there should be no division in the inactive.
body, but that the members should have the 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I
assembly: firstly emissaries, secondly remain – these three. But the greatest of
prophets, thirdly teachers, after that mira- these is love.
cles, then gifts of healings, helps, ministra-
tions, kinds of tongues.
29 Are all emissaries? Are all prophets? 14 Pursue love, and earnestly seek the
spiritual gifts, but rather that you
Are all teachers? Are all workers of mira- prophesy.
cles? 2 For he who is speaking in a tongue does
30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all not speak to men but to Elohim, for no one
speak with tongues? Do all interpret? understands, but in the Spirit he speaks
31 But earnestly seek the better gifts. And secrets.
yet I show you a more excellent way. 3 But he who is prophesying speaks
secrets and all knowledge, and if I have all but rather that you might prophesy, for he
belief, so as to remove mountains, but do who is prophesying is greater than he who
not have love, I am none at all. is speaking with tongues, unless he inter-
3 And if I give out all my possessions to prets, so that the assembly might receive
feed the poor, and if I give my body to be upbuilding.
burned, but do not have love, I am not 6 But now, brothers, if I come to you
do not make a distinction in the sound, those who believe but to unbelievers, and
how shall it be known what is played on prophesying is not for unbelievers but for
the flute or on the harp? those who believe.
8 For indeed, if the trumpet makes an 23 If then all the assembly comes together
indistinct sound, who shall prepare himself in one place, and all speak with tongues,
for battle? and there come in those who are unlearned
9 So also you, if you do not give speech or unbelievers, shall they not say that you
by the tongue that is clear, how shall it be are mad?
known what is spoken? For you shall be 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever
without distinct sound. revealed. And so, falling down on his face,
11 If then I do not know the power of the he shall worship Elohim, declaring that
voice, I shall be a foreigner to him who Elohim is truly among you.
speaks, and he who speaks be a foreigner 26 What then is it, brothers? Whenever
tongue, let him pray that he might inter- be two or at the most three, each in turn,
pret. and let one interpret.
14 For if I am praying in a tongue, my 28 And if there is no interpreter, let him be
spirit is praying, but my understanding is silent in an assembly, and let him speak to
without fruit. himself and to Elohim.
15 What then is it? I shall pray with the 29 And let two or three prophets speak,
spirit, and I shall also pray with the under- and let the others discern.
standing. I shall sing with the spirit, and I 30 And if there should be a revelation to
shall also sing with the understanding. another who sits by, let the first be silent.
16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, 31 For you are all able to prophesy one by
how shall he who fills up the place of the one, so that all learn and all be encouraged.
unlearned say “AmÃn” at your giving of 32 And the spirits of the prophets are
thanks, since he does not know what you subject to the prophets.
say? 33 For Elohim is not Elohim of disorder
17 For you truly give thanks well, but the but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the
other is not built up. set-apart ones.
18 I thank my Elohim I speak with tongues 34 Let your women be silent in the assem-
more than you all, blies, for they are not allowed to speak, but
19 but in an assembly I wish to speak five let them subject themselves, as the Torah
words with my understanding that I might also says.
instruct others also, than ten thousand 35 And if they wish to learn whatever, let
or spiritual, let him acknowledge what I 14 And if Messiah has not been raised,
write to you, that they are a command of then our proclaiming is empty, and your
the Master. belief also empty,
38 And if anyone is ignorant, let him be 15 and we are also found false witnesses
all, yet not I, but the favour of Elohim with then the Son Himself shall also be subject
me. to Him who put all under Him, in order
11 Whether, then, it was I or they, so we that Elohim be all in all.
proclaimed and so you believed. 29 Otherwise, what shall they do who are
12 And if Messiah is proclaimed that He immersed for the dead, if the dead are not
has been raised from the dead, how do raised at all? Why indeed are they
some among you say that there is no resur- immersed for the dead?
rection of the dead? 30 And why do we stand in danger every
13 And if there is no resurrection of the hour?
dead, then Messiah has not been raised. 31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I
1115 1 CORINTHIANS 16
dead raised up? And with what body do at the last trumpet. For the trumpet shall
they come?” sound, and the dead shall be raised incor-
36 Senseless one! What you sow is not ruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible has to put on incor-
made alive unless it dies.
37 And as to what you sow: you do not ruption, and this mortal to put on immor-
sow the body which is to be, but a bare tality.
54 And when this corruptible has put on
grain, it might be wheat or some other
grain. incorruption, and this mortal has put on
38 But Elohim gives it a body as He wish- immortality, then shall come to be the
es, and to each seed a body of its own. word that has been written, “Death is swal-
39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there lowed up in overcoming.”
is one flesh of men, and another flesh of 55 “O Death, where is your sting? O
beasts, and another of fishes, and another grave, where is your overcoming?”
of birds. 56 And the sting of death is the sin, and
40 And there are heavenly bodies and the power of the sin is the Torah.
earthly bodies, but the esteem of the heav- 57 But thanks to Elohim who gives us the
enly is truly one, and the esteem of the overcoming through our Master aSWHY
earthly is another, Messiah.
41 one esteem of the sun, and another 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be
esteem of the moon, and another esteem of steadfast, immovable, always excelling in
the stars – for star differs from star in the work of the Master, knowing that your
esteem. labour is not in vain in the Master.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead:
6 And possibly I shall stay with you, or fruit of Achaia, and that they have
even spend the winter, so that you send me assigned themselves for service to the set-
forward, wherever I go. apart ones,
7 For I do not wish to see you now on the 16 that you also be subject to such, and to
way, but I expect to stay a while with you, everyone who works and labours with us.
if the Master permits. 17 And I rejoice about the coming of
8 And I shall remain in Ephesos until the
Stephanas, and Fortunatos, and Achaikos,
Festival of Weeks. for what was lacking on your part they
9 For a great and effective door has
supplied.
opened to me, and many are opposing. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours,
10 And if Timothy comes, see that he is
therefore give recognition to such ones.
with you without fear, for he does the work 19 The assemblies of Asia greet you.
of the Master, even as I. Aqulas and Priscilla greet you heartily in
11 Therefore let no one despise him. And
the Master, with the assembly that is in
send him forward in peace, so that he their house.
comes to me, for I am waiting for him with 20 All the brothers greet you. Greet one
the brothers.
12 And concerning our brother Apollos, I another with a set-apart kiss.
21 The greeting with my own hand –
strongly urged him to come to you with the
brothers, but he had no desire at all to Sha’ul.
22 If anyone does not love the Master
come at this time; however, he shall come
when it is convenient. aSWHY Messiah, let him be a curse.
13 Watch, stand fast in the belief, be men, Maranatha!
23 The favour of our Master aSWHY
be strong.
14 Let all that you do be done in love. Messiah be with you.
15 And I urge you, brothers, you know the 24 My love be with you all in Messiah
comfort and deliverance, being worked out Or what I plan, do I plan according to the
in enduring the same sufferings which we flesh, that with me there should be Yea,
also suffer. If we are comforted, it is for Yea, and No, No?
18 But Elohim is trustworthy, that our
your comfort and deliverance.
7 And our expectation for you is stead- word to you was not Yea and No.
fast, because we know that as you are shar- 19 For the Son of Elohim, aSWHY Messiah,
ing in the sufferings – so also in the com- who was proclaimed among you by us – by
fort. me, Sila, and Timothy – was not Yea and
8 For we do not wish you to be ignorant, No, but in Him was Yea.
brothers, of our pressure which came to us 20 For as many promises as are of Elohim,
in Asia, that we were weighed down, in Him they are Yea, and in Him AmÃn, to
exceedingly, a beyond ability, so that we the esteem of Elohim through us.
despaired even of life. 21 But He who establishes us with you in
9 Indeed, we had the sentence of death in Messiah and has anointed us is Elohim,
ourselves, that we should not trust in our- 22 who also sealed us, and gave the Spirit
selves but in Elohim who raises the dead, in our hearts as a pledge.
10 who rescued us from so great a death, 23 And I call Elohim as witness against
and does rescue, in whom we trust that He my being, that to spare you I came no more
shall still rescue us, to Corinth.
11 you also helping together in prayer for 24 Not that we rule over your belief, but
us, that thanks shall be given by many on we are fellow workers for your joy, for you
our behalf for the favour bestowed upon us stand by belief.
through many.
12 For our boasting is this: the witness of
our conscience that we behaved ourselves 2 And I decided this within myself, not
to come to you again in sadness.
not that you should be sad, but that you of Messiah, served by us, written not with
might know the love which I so richly have ink but by the Spirit of the living Elohim,
for you. not on tablets of stone but on fleshly
5 But if anyone has caused sadness, he tablets of the heart.
has not made me sad, but in some degree 4 And such trust we have toward Elohim,
such a one be swallowed up with too much vants of a renewed covenant, not of the let-
sadness. ter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills but
8 So I appeal to you to confirm your love the Spirit gives life.
to him. 7 But if the administering of death in
9 Besides, I wrote for this purpose also, letters, engraved on stones, was esteemed,
that I might know the proof of you, if you so that the children of Yisra’Ãl were unable
are obedient in all matters. to look steadily at the face of Mosheh
10 And whom you forgive any matter, I do because of the esteem of his face, which
also. For indeed, if I have forgiven any was passing away,
matter, I have forgiven that one for your 8 how much more esteemed shall the
for we are not ignorant of his thoughts. tion had esteem, the administering of right-
12 And when I came to Troas for the Good eousness exceeds much more in esteem.
News of Messiah, and a door was opened 10 For indeed what was made esteemed
leave of them, I went on to Makedonia. esteemed, much more that which remains
14 But thanks be to Elohim who always in esteem.
leads us on, to overcome in Messiah, and 12 Having then such expectation, we use
death, and to the other the fragrance of life this day, when the old covenant is being
to life. And who is competent for these? read, that same veil remains, not lifted,
17 For we are not, as so many, adulterating because in Messiah it is taken away.
the Word of Elohim for gain – but as of 15 But to this day, when Mosheh is being
sincerity, but as from Elohim, in the sight read, a veil lies on their heart.
1119 2 CORINTHIANS 5
aSWHY might also be manifested in our courage, and knowing that while we are at
body. home in the body we are absent from the
11 For we, the living, are always delivered Master –
b Verses 17 and 18 make it clear: HWHY is the Spirit! c See footnote Lk. 4:6. d See 1:8.
e See 5:7, and Rom. 8:24, Heb. 11:1 & 13.
2 CORINTHIANS 5 1120
7 for
we walk by belief, not by sight f – 20 Therefore we are envoys on behalf of
8 weare of good courage, and are well Messiah, as though Elohim were pleading
pleased rather to be absent from the body through us. We beg, on behalf of Messiah:
and to be present with the Master. Be restored to favour with Elohim.
9 So we also make it our aim to be well- 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to
pleasing to Him, whether being at home, or be sin for us, so that in Him we might
being away from home. become the righteousness of Elohim.
10 For we all have to appear before the
selves to you, but give you an occasion to ever, so that the service is not blamed.
boast on our behalf, in order that you have 4 Rather, we commend ourselves as ser-
an answer for those who take pride in vants of Elohim in every way: in much
appearance and not in heart. endurance, in pressures, in hardships, in
13 For whether we are beside ourselves, it distresses,
was for Elohim, or whether we are of 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in distur-
having judged this: that if One died for all, in kindness, in the Set-apart Spirit, in love
then all died; unfeigned,
15 and He died for all, that those who live 7 in the word of truth, in the power of
should no longer live for themselves, h but Elohim, through the weapons of righteous-
for Him who died for them, and was ness, on the right and on the left,
raised. 8 through esteem and disrespect, through
16 So from now onwards we know no one evil report and good report; regarded as
according to the flesh. And if we have deceivers, and yet true;
known Messiah according to the flesh, yet 9 as unknown, and yet well-known; as
now we no longer know Him thus. dying, and see, we live; as disciplined, and
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Messiah, he yet not killed;
is a renewed creature – the old matters 10 as sad, yet always rejoicing; as poor,
have passed away, see, all matters have yet enriching many; as having none, and
become renewed! i yet possessing all.
18 And all matters are from Elohim, who 11 Our mouth has spoken openly to you, O
has restored us to favour with Himself Corinthians, our heart is wide open.
through aSWHY Messiah, and has given us 12 You are not restrained by us, but you
restoring the world to favour unto Himself, children – open wide your hearts too.
not reckoning their trespasses to them, and 14 Do not become unevenly yoked with
has committed to us the word of restora- unbelievers. For what partnership have
tion to favour. righteousness and lawlessness? And what
f See 4:18, and 1 Cor. 2:14. g See Mt. 16:27, Yn. 5:29. h Rom 14:7-8, Gal. 2:20.
i Rom. 6:2-22, Gal. 2:20, Eph. 4:22-24, Col. 3:10, 1 Yn. 3:9-10.
1121 2 CORINTHIANS 8
fellowship has light with darkness? you sad, even if for an hour.
15 And what agreement has Messiah with 9 I now rejoice, not that you were made
BeliyaÈal? Or what part does a believer sad, but that you were saddened into
have with an unbeliever? repenting. For you were made sad accord-
16 And what union has the Dwelling Place ing to Elohim, so that you suffered no loss
of Elohim with idols? For you are a from us.
Dwelling Place of the living Elohim, as 10 For sadness according to Elohim works
Elohim has said, “I shall dwell in them and repentance to deliverance, not to be regret-
walk among them, and I shall be their ted, but the sadness of the world works
Elohim, and they shall be My people.” death.
17 Therefore, “Come out from among 11 For see how you have been saddened
them and be separate, says HWHY, and do according to Elohim – how much it
not touch what is unclean, and I shall worked out in you eagerness; indeed,
receive you. clearing of yourselves; indeed, displeasure;
18 “And I shall be a Father to you, and you indeed, fear; indeed, longing; indeed,
shall be sons and daughters to Me, says ardour; indeed, righting of wrong! In every
HWHY the Almighty.” way you proved yourselves to be clear in
the matter.
7 Having, then, these promises,
beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from
12 So although I wrote to you, it was not
the encouragement with which he was 8 Now brothers, we make known to you
the favour of Elohim which has been
encouraged over you, when he reported to given in the assemblies of Makedonia:
us your longing, your mourning, your 2 that in much trial of pressure the over-
ardour for me, so that I greatly rejoiced. flowing of their joy and their deep poverty
8 For even if I made you sad with my overflowed into the riches of their generos-
letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret ity.
it. For I perceive that the same letter made 3 Because I bear witness that according
jThis passage from 6:14 up to 7:1 again repeats the essence of the High Calling: To come out of this world of sin
in which we are living – HWHY calling out a people for Himself, through His Son. It started in Ber. 12:1, again we
read it in Shem. 19:5-6, and aSWHY gives the final call in Rev. 18:4.
2 CORINTHIANS 8 1122
to their ability, and beyond their ability, 19 and not only so, but who was also cho-
themselves first to the Master, and then to us in this generous gift which is adminis-
us by the desire of Elohim, tered by us.
6 that we should urge Titus, that as he 21 For we provide what is right, not only
had begun, so he would also complete this in the sight of HWHY, but also in the sight of
kind gift in you as well. men.
7 But as you excel in every way – in 22 And we sent with them our brother
belief, and speech, and knowledge, and all whom we have often proved eager in many
diligence, and in your love for us – that ways, but now much more eager, because
you should excel in this kind gift as well. of the great reliance which we have in you.
8 I speak not by command, but I am 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and
proving the genuineness of your love by fellow worker for you. As for our brothers,
the eagerness of others. they are messengers of the assemblies,
9 For you know the favour of our Master the esteem of Messiah.
aSWHY Messiah, that being rich, He 24 Therefore show to them the proof of
became poor for your sake, so that you your love and of our boasting on your
might become rich through His poverty. behalf, and in the presence of the assem-
10 And in this I give an opinion: It is to blies.
your advantage not only to be doing what
you began and were desiring to do a year
ago, 9 Indeed, concerning the service to the
set-apart ones, it is unnecessary for
11 and now also complete the work, that me to write to you;
as there was a readiness in desiring it, so 2 for I know your eagerness, about which
there also should be a completion out of I boast of you to the Makedonians, that
what you have. Achaia was ready a year ago. And your
12 For if the readiness is present, it is well ardour has stirred up most of them.
received according to what one has, not 3 But I sent the brothers, lest our boasting
according to what he does not have – on behalf of you should be made empty in
13 not, however, that others should be this part, in order that, as I said, you were
eased and you hard pressed, ready,
14 but by fair sharing, that now at this time 4 lest if some Makedonians come with
your plenty for their need, so that their me and find you not ready, we – not to
plenty might also be for your need – that speak of you – should be put to shame
there might be fair sharing. because of our belief.
15 As it has been written, “He who gath- 5 So I thought it necessary to appeal to
ered much did not have too much, and he the brothers to come to you in advance,
who gathered little had not less.” and arrange your promised blessing
16 But thanks be to Elohim who puts the beforehand – this to be ready as a blessing
same eagerness for you into the heart of and not as greediness.
Titus. 6 And this: He who sows sparingly shall
17 Because he received the appeal, indeed, also reap sparingly, and he who sows on
but being more eager, he went to you of his blessing shall also reap on blessing.
own accord. 7 Let each one give as he purposes in his
18 And we sent with him the brother heart, not of grief or of necessity, for
whose praise is in the Good News through Elohim loves a joyous giver.
all the assemblies, 8 And Elohim is able to make all favour
1123 2 CORINTHIANS 11
overflow toward you, that you, always 7 Take a look at what you are facing. If
having all you need in every way, have anyone seems to trust in himself that he is
plenty for every good work. of Messiah, let him reckon again for him-
9 As it has been written, “He scattered self, that as he is of Messiah, so also are
abroad, He gave to the poor, His righteous- we.
ness remains forever.” 8 For even if I should boast somewhat
10 And He who supplies seed to the sower, more about our authority, which the Master
and bread for food, shall supply and gave us for building up, and not for over-
increase the seed you have sown and throwing you, I shall not be put to shame,
increase the fruit of your righteousness, 9 lest I seem to frighten you away by
11 being enriched in every way for all letters.
simplicity, which works out thanksgiving 10 Because they say, “His letters are truly
to Elohim through us. weighty and strong, but his bodily pres-
12 Because the rendering of this service ence is weak, and his speech amounts to
not only supplies the needs of the set-apart naught.”
ones, but also is overflowing through 11 Let such a one take this into account,
and generosity in sharing with them and all selves or compare ourselves with those
men, who commend themselves. But they,
14 and by their prayer for you, who long measuring themselves by themselves, and
for you because of the exceeding favour of comparing themselves among themselves,
Elohim in you. are not wise.
15 Thanks also to Elohim for His unspeak- 13 But we shall not boast beyond measure,
ence, when your obedience is complete. k 11 I wish that you would bear with me
in a little folly. But indeed, you are
k In these two verses the vital necessity for obedience to aSWHY is again stressed – see Yn. 3:36. l Yirm. 9:24.
2 CORINTHIANS 11 1124
deceived Àawwah by his trickery, so your fool. And if otherwise, at least receive me
minds should be corrupted from the as a fool, for me to also boast a little.
simplicity that is in Messiah. 17 What I speak, I speak not according to
4 For, indeed, if he who is coming the Master, but as in foolishness, in this
proclaims another aSWHY, m whom we boldness of boasting.
have not proclaimed, or if you receive a 18 Since many boast according to the
different spirit which you have not flesh, I too shall boast.
received, or a different Good News which 19 For you, being wise, put up with fools
have been manifested among you in all weak for that! But in whatever anyone is
matters. bold – I say it in foolishness – I am bold
7 Or did I commit sin in humbling myself also.
in order to exalt you, because I brought 22 Are they HeÄrews? So am I. Are they
good news, the Good News of Elohim to Yisra’Ãlites? So am I. Are they the seed of
you without being paid? AÄraham? So am I.
8 Other assemblies I robbed, by receiving 23 Are they servants of Messiah? – I speak
every way I kept myself – and shall keep – forty stripes less one.
from being a burden to you. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods,
10 It is a truth of Messiah in me, that this once I was stoned, three times I was ship-
boasting in me shall not be stopped in the wrecked, a night and a day I have been in
districts of Achaia. the deep,
11 Why? Is it that I do not love you? 26 in many travels, in dangers of waters, in
m Mt. 24:5 & 23-24, Yn. 5:43. n Or speech. See also 2 KÃpha 3: 15-17 where KÃpha warns us that Sha’ul
writes about matters that are hard to understand, which the lawless ones indeed twist!
o See Mt. 7:15-23, 2 KÃpha 2:1-22. p See Mt. 13:41-42.
1125 2 CORINTHIANS 13
comes upon me daily: the anxiety for all of Messiah rests on me.
the assemblies. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in weakness-
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who
es, in insults, in needs, in persecutions, in
is made to stumble, and I do not burn distresses, for the sake of Messiah. For
inwardly? when I am weak, then I am strong.
30 If I have to boast, I shall boast of mat- 11 I have become a fool – you have com-
ters that show up my weakness. pelled me. For I should have been com-
31 The Elohim and Father of our Master
mended by you, for in no respect was I
aSWHY Messiah, who is blessed forever, behind the most eminent emissaries,
knows that I am not lying. though I am a nobody.
32 In Damascus the governor, under
12 Indeed, the signs of an emissary were
Aretas the sovereign, was guarding the city wrought among you with all endurance, in
of the Damascenes, wishing to seize me,
33 but through a window I was let down in signs and wonders and powers.
13 For what is there in which you were
a basket by the wall, and escaped from his
hands. inferior to other assemblies, except that I
myself was not a burden to you? Forgive
because of the exceeding greatness of the find you such as I wish, and I be found by
revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given you such as you do not wish – lest there
to me, a messenger of Satan to hit me, to be strife, jealousies, outbursts of wrath,
keep me from exalting myself. selfish ambitions, slander, gossip, puffings
8 Concerning this I pleaded with the up, unrests,
21 and lest, when I come again, my
Master three times to take it away from
me. Elohim should humble me among you, and
9 And He said to me, “My favour is suffi- I shall mourn for many who have sinned
cient for you, for My power is perfected in before and have not repented of the
weakness.” Most gladly, then, I shall rather uncleanness, and whoring, and indecency
boast in my weaknesses, so that the power which they have practised.
2 CORINTHIANS 13 1126
beforehand, as being present the second truth, but for the truth.
time, and now being absent I write to those 9 For we rejoice when we are weak and
who have sinned before, and to all the rest, you are strong. And this also we pray for:
that if I come again I shall not spare, your perfection. s
3 since you are seeking for proof of 10 For this reason I write this in my
Messiah speaking in me, who is not weak absence, so that, being present I should not
toward you, but mighty in you. use sharpness, according to the authority
4 For though He was impaled in weak- which the Master has given me for
ness, yet He lives by the power of Elohim. upbuilding and not for overthrowing.
For we also are weak in Him, but we shall 11 For the rest, brothers, rejoice. Be made
live with Him by the power of Elohim perfect, t be encouraged, be of one mind,
toward you. live in peace. And the Elohim of love and
5 Examine yourselves whether you are in peace shall be with you.
the belief – prove yourselves. Or do you 12 Greet one another with a set-apart kiss.
not know yourselves, that aSWHY Messiah 13 All the set-apart ones greet you.
is in r you, unless you are disapproved. 14 The favour of the Master aSWHY
6 And I trust that you shall know that we Messiah, and the love of Elohim, and the
are not disapproved. fellowship of the Set-apart Spirit be with
7 And we pray to Elohim that you do no all of you. AmÃn.
q See DeÄ. 19:15. r Rom. 8:10, Gal. 2:20, Eph. 3:17, Col. 1:27, 1 Yn. 4:4. s Mt. 5:48.
t See v. 9, Mt. 5:48.
GALATIANS
the Father and our Master aSWHY Messiah, bring Him, the Good News, to the gentiles,
4 who gave Himself for our sins, to I did not immediately consult with flesh
deliver us out of this present wicked age, and blood,
according to the desire of our Elohim and 17 neither did I go up to Yerushalayim,
away from Him who called you in the Yerushalayim to learn from KÃpha, and
favour of Messiah, to a different ‘Good remained with him for fifteen days.
News,’ a 19 And I saw no other of the emissaries
7 which is not another, only there are except YaÈaqoÄ, the brother of the Master.
some who are troubling you and wishing to 20 And what I write to you, see, before
secuted the assembly of Elohim, and rav- though a Greek, was compelled to be cir-
aged it. cumcised.
14 And I progressed in YehuÅaism beyond 4 But as for the false brothers, sneakingly
a 2 Cor. 11:4.
GALATIANS 2 1128
brought in, who sneaked in to spy out our right by belief in Messiah and not by
freedom which we have in Messiah aSWHY works of Torah, because by works of Torah
in order to enslave us, no flesh shall be declared right.
5 to these we did not yield in subjection, 17 “And if, while seeking to be declared
not even for an hour, so that the truth of the right by Messiah, we ourselves also are
Good News remains with you. found sinners, is Messiah then a servant of
6 But from those who were esteemed to sin? Let it not be!
be whatever – what they were, it makes no 18 “For if I rebuild what I once overthrew,
the Good News to the uncircumcised had and I no longer live, but Messiah lives in
been entrusted to me, even as KÃpha to the me. b And that which I now live in the
circumcised – flesh I live by belief in the Son of Elohim,
8 for He who worked in KÃpha to make who loved me and gave Himself for me.
him an emissary to the circumcised also 21 “I do not set aside the favour of
which I myself was eager to do. you receive the Spirit by works of Torah,
11 And when KÃpha had come to Antioch, or by the hearing of belief?
I withstood him to his face, because he was 3 Are you so senseless? Having begun in
separate himself, in fear of those of the to you and working miracles among you,
circumcision. doing it by works of Torah, or by hearing
13 And the rest of the YehuÅim joined him of belief?
in hypocrisy, so that even BarnaÄah was 6 Even so AÄraham “did believe Elohim,
led away by their hypocrisy. and it was reckoned unto him as righteous-
14 But when I saw that they are not walk- ness.”
ing straight according to the truth of the 7 Know, then, that those who are of belief
tile and not as the YehuÅim, why do you Elohim would declare right the nations by
compel gentiles to live as YehuÅim? belief, announced the Good News to
15 “We, YehuÅim by nature, and not of the AÄraham beforehand, saying, “All the
gentiles, sinners, nations shall be blessed in you,”
16 knowing that a man is not declared 9 so that those who are of belief are
right by works of Torah, but through belief blessed with AÄraham, the believer.
in aSWHY Messiah, even we have believed 10 For as many as are of works of Torah
in Messiah aSWHY, in order to be declared are under the curse, for it has been written,
1 See Rom. 7. b Rom. 8:10, 2 Cor. 6:16, 2 Cor. 13:5, Eph. 3:17, Col. 1:27, 1 Yn. 4:4.
1129 GALATIANS 4
“Cursed is everyone who does not contin- guarded under Torah, having been shut up
ue in all that has been written in the book for the belief being about to be revealed.
of the Torah, to do them.” 24 Therefore the Torah became our trainer
11 And that no one is declared right by unto Messiah, in order to be declared right
Torah before Elohim is clear, for “The by belief.
righteous shall live by belief.” 25 And after belief has come, we are no
12 And the Torah is not of belief, but “The longer under a trainer.
man who does them shall live by them.” 26 For you are all sons of Elohim through
13 Messiah redeemed us from the curse of belief in Messiah aSWHY.
the Torah, having become a curse for us – 27 For as many of you as were immersed
for it has been written, “Cursed is every- into Messiah have put on Messiah.
one who hangs upon a tree.1 ” – 28 There is not YehuÅite nor Greek, there
14 in order that the blessing of AÄraham is not slave nor free, there is not male and
might come upon the nations in Messiah female, for you are all one in Messiah
aSWHY, to receive the promise of the Spirit aSWHY.
through belief. 29 And if you are of Messiah, then you are
15 Brothers, as a man I say it: a covenant, seed of AÄraham, and heirs according to
even though it is man’s, yet if it is con- promise.
firmed, no one sets it aside, or adds to it.
16 But the promises were spoken to
AÄraham, and to his Seed. He does not say, 4 And I say, for as long as the heir is a
child, he is no different from a slave,
“And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, though he is master of all,
“And to your Seed,” who is Messiah. 2 but is under guardians and trustees till
17 Now this I say, Torah, that came four the time prearranged by the father.
hundred and thirty years later, does not 3 So we also, when we were children,
annul a covenant previously confirmed by were under the elementary matters of the
Elohim in Messiah, so as to do away with world, being enslaved.
the promise. 4 But when the completion of the time
18 For if the inheritance is by Torah, it is came, Elohim sent forth His Son, born of a
no longer by promise, but Elohim gave it woman, born under Torah,
to AÄraham through a promise. 5 to redeem those who were under Torah,
19 Why, then, the Torah? It was added in order to receive the adoption as sons.
because of transgressions, until the Seed 6 And because you are sons, Elohim has
should come to whom the promise was sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your
made. And it was ordained through mes- hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
sengers in the hand of a mediator. 7 So you are no longer a slave but a son,
20 The Mediator, however, is not of one, and if a son, also an heir of Elohim through
but Elohim is one. Messiah.
21 Is the Torah then against the promises 8 But then, indeed, not knowing Elohim,
of Elohim? Let it not be! For if a law had you served those which by nature are not
been given that was able to make alive, mighty ones.
truly righteousness would have been by 9 But now after you have known Elohim,
1 DeÄ.21:23. c See v.3, Col. 2:8 & 20 – Sha’ul was speaking to ex-gentiles, who previously served other mighty
ones and were in bondage to the sins and weak and poor elementary matters of the gentiles. d Gentile practices.
GALATIANS 4 1130
11 I fear for you, lest by any means I have 28 And we, brothers, as YitsÁaq was, are
because I am as you are. You did not the flesh then persecuted him born accord-
wrong me at all. ing to the Spirit, so also now.
13 But you know that through weakness of 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast
the flesh I brought the Good News to you out the female servant and her son, for the
before. son of the female servant shall by no
14 And my trial which was in my flesh means be heir with the son of the free
you did not despise or reject, but you woman.”
received me as a messenger of Elohim, as 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children
good, but they wish to shut you out, that become circumcised, Messiah shall be of
you might be ardent towards them. no use to you.
18 And it is good always to be ardent 3 And I witness again to every man being
in what is good, and not only when I am circumcised that he is a debtor to do the
present with you. entire Torah.
19 My little children, for whom I am again 4 You who are declared right by Torah
in birth pains until Messiah is formed in have severed yourselves from Messiah,
you, you have fallen from favour.
20 even now I wish to be present with you 5 For we, in Spirit, by belief, eagerly wait
now and to change my voice, for I have for the expectation of righteousness.
doubts about you. 6 For in Messiah aSWHY neither circum-
21 Say to me, you who wish to be under cision nor uncircumcision has any
Torah, do you not hear the Torah? strength, but belief working through love.
22 For it has been written that AÄraham 7 You were running well, who held you
had two sons, one by a female servant, the back from obeying the truth?
other by a free woman. 8 That persuasion does not come from
23 But he who was of the female servant Him who calls you.
was born according to the flesh, and he of 9 A little leaven leavens all the lump.
the free woman through promise. 10 I trust in you, in the Master, that you
24 This is allegorical, for these are the two shall have no other mind. And he who is
covenants: one indeed from Mount Sinai troubling you shall bear his judgment,
which brings forth slavery, which is HaÍar, whoever he is.
25 for this HaÍar is Mount Sinai in AraÄia, 11 And I, brothers, if I still proclaim
and shout, you who do not have birth freedom, only do not use freedom as an
pains! For the deserted one has many more occasion for the flesh, but through love
children than she who has a husband.” serve one another.
1131 GALATIANS 6
ing one another, envying one another. cision nor uncircumcision has any
strength, but a renewed creature. g
6 Brothers, if a man is overtaken in
some trespass, you the spiritual ones,
16 And as many as walk according to this
eOf course, Sha’ul is only speaking of the Second Table of the Ten Words, the horizontal love. 1 Only Textus
Receptus contains adultery. f See 1 Cor. 6:10 and its footnote. g See 1 Cor. 7:19 (one who keeps the
commands!), and also Rom. 2:26-29, as well as 2 Cor. 5:17.
EPHESIANS
our Father and the Master aSWHY Messiah. your belief in the Master aSWHY and your
3 Blessed be the Elohim and Father of love for all the set-apart ones,
our Master aSWHY Messiah, who has 16 do not cease giving thanks for you,
tion as sons through aSWHY Messiah to enlightened, so that you know what is the
Himself, according to the good pleasure of expectation of His calling, and what are
His desire, the riches of the esteem of His inheritance
6 to the praise of the esteem of His favour in the set-apart ones,
with which He favoured us in the Beloved, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of
7 in whom we have redemption through His power toward us who are believing,
His blood, the forgiveness of trespasses, according to the working of His mighty
according to the riches of His favour, strength,
8 which He has lavished on us in all 20 which He wrought in the Messiah when
wisdom and insight, He raised Him from the dead and seated
9 having made known to us the secret of Him at His right hand in the heavenlies,
His desire, according to His good pleasure 21 far above all rule and authority and
which He purposed in Him, power and mastery, and every name that is
10 to administer at the completion of time, named, not only in this age but also in that
to gather together in one all in Messiah, which is to come.
both which are in the heavens and which 22 And He put all under His feet, and gave
tance, being previously ordained according Him who fills all in all.
to the purpose of Him working all matters
according to the counsel of His desire,
12 for us to be the praise of His esteem – 2 And you were dead in trespasses and
sins, d
those having first trusted in Messiah, 2 in which you once walked according
13 in whom you also, having heard the to the course of this world, according to
word of the truth, b the Good News of your the ruler of the authority of the air, of the
deliverance, in whom also, having spirit that is now working in the sons of
believed, you were sealed with the Set- disobedience, e
a He chose us in Messiah “that we should be set-apart and blameless before Him in love” – which is the purpose
of His election! See also 2 Thess. 2:13. b This term is used synonymously with “the Good News.” c Lk. 24:45.
d If someone still sins, he is Spiritually “dead” – see also v.5 and 5:14, as well as Mt. 8:22, Rom. 8:6, Col. 2:13,
1 Tim. 5:6, 1 Yn. 3:14, Rev. 3:1. e Eph. 5:6, Col. 3:6.
1133 EPHESIANS 3
3 among whom also we all once lived in through the stake, having destroyed the
the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of enmity by it.
the flesh and of the mind, and were by 17 And having come, He brought as Good
nature children of wrath, as also the rest. News peace to you who were far off, and
4 But Elohim, who is rich in compassion, peace to those near.
because of His great love with which He 18 Because through Him we both have
made us alive together with Messiah – by foreigners, but fellow citizens with the set-
favour you have been saved – apart ones and members of the household
6 and raised us up together, and made us of Elohim, i
sit together in the heavenlies in Messiah 20 having been built upon the foundation
in Messiah aSWHY unto good works, f 3 Because of this I, Sha’ul, am the pris-
oner of aSWHY Messiah on behalf of
which Elohim prepared beforehand that we you gentiles –
should walk in them. 2 if indeed you have heard of the admin-
11 Therefore remember that you, once istration of the favour of Elohim that was
gentiles g in the flesh, who are called ‘the given to me for you,
uncircumcision’ by what is called ‘the cir- 3 that by revelation was made known to
cumcision’ made in the flesh by hands, me the secret, as I wrote before briefly.
12 that at that time you were without 4 In reading this, then, you are able to
Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of understand my insight into the secret of
Yisra’Ãl and strangers from the covenants Messiah,
of promise, having no expectation and 5 which was not made known to the sons
enmity h – the Torah of the commands in to the gift of the favour of Elohim given to
dogma – so as to create in Himself one me, according to the working of His power.
renewed man from the two, thus making 8 To me, the very least of all the set-apart
f We are saved by favour, through belief, unto good works – to bear the fruits worthy of repentance, the fruit of
righteousness! g See 1 Cor. 12:2 and its footnote. h The enmity has been done away with – not the commands
of HWHY! i See Rom. 11:17-24, and footnote at Yesh. 14:1. j See Rom. 11:17-24, and footnote at Yesh. 14:1.
EPHESIANS 3 1134
9 and to make all see how this secret is 3 being eager to guard the unity of the
administered, which for ages past has been Spirit in the bond of peace –
hidden in Elohim who created all through 4 one body and one Spirit, as you also
known to the principalities and authorities 6 one Elohim and Father of all, who is
in the heavenlies, above all, o and through all, and in you all.
11 according to the everlasting purpose 7 But to each one of us favour was given
which He made in Messiah aSWHY our according to the measure of the gift of
Master, Messiah.
12 in whom we have boldness and access, 8 That is why it says, “When He went up
with reliance, through belief in Him. on high, He led captivity captive, and gave
13 I pray therefore, that you do not lose gifts to men.”
heart at my pressures on your behalf, 9 But what does “He went up” mean,
which is your esteem. except that He also first went down into
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the the lower parts of the earth?
Father of our Master aSWHY Messiah, 10 He who went down is also the One who
15 from whom all fatherhood l in the went up far above all the heavens, to fill all.
heavens and earth is named, m 11 And He Himself gave some as emis-
16 in order that He might give you, saries, and some as prophets, and some as
according to the riches of His esteem by evangelists, and some as shepherds and
power, to be strengthened in the inner man, teachers
through His Spirit, 12 for the perfecting of the set-apart ones,
17 that the Messiah might dwell in your to the work of service to a building up of
hearts n through belief – having become the body of the Messiah,
rooted and grounded in love, 13 until we all come to the unity of the
18 in order that you might be strengthened belief and of the knowledge of the Son of
to firmly grasp, with all the set-apart ones, Elohim, to a perfect man, to the measure of
what is the width and length and depth and the stature of the completeness of Messiah,
height, 14 so that we should no longer be children,
19 to know the love of Messiah which sur- tossed and borne about by every wind of
passes knowledge, in order that you might teaching, by the trickery of men, in clever-
be filled to all the completeness of Elohim. ness, unto the craftiness of leading astray, p
20 And to Him who is able to do exceed- 15 but, maintaining the truth in love, we
ingly above what we ask or think, accord- grow up in all respects into Him who is the
ing to the power that is working in us, head, Messiah,
21 to Him be esteem in the assembly by 16 from whom the entire body, joined and
Messiah aSWHY unto all generations, for knit together by what every joint supplies,
ever and ever. AmÃn. according to the working by which each
part does its share, causes growth of the
4 I call upon you therefore, I the prison-
er of the Master, to walk worthily of
body for the building up of itself in love.
17 So this I say, and witness in the Master,
the calling with which you were called, that you should no longer walk as the
2 with all humility and meekness, with gentiles walk, q in the futility of their mind,
patience, bearing with one another in love, 18 having been darkened in their under-
k See footnote Yn. 1:3. l Or lineage, or paternal descent. m Would we not then expect to see the Father’s
Name in His Son’s Name, and also in the name of His chosen ones, His covenant people? n See footnote Gal.
2:20. o See Mk. 12:32,34, 1 Cor. 8:6, 1 Tim. 2:5, Mk. 12:29-34. p See 5:6, also 2 Cor. 10:5, 2 Cor. 11:3-14, Gal.
1:6-9, 2 Tim. 3:1-8, 2 Tim. 4:2-4, 2 KÃpha 2:2-22, YehuÅ. vv. 10-19. q See footnote 1 Cor. 12:2, and Yirm. 10:2.
1135 EPHESIANS 5
standing, having been estranged from the and an offering to Elohim for a sweet-
life of Elohim, because of the ignorance smelling fragrance.
that is in them, because of the hardness of 3 But whoring and all uncleanness, or
rather let him labour, working with his less works of darkness, but rather reprove v
hands what is good, so that he has some- them.
what to share with those in need. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of what
29 Let no corrupt word come out of your is done by them in secret.
mouth, but only such as is good for the use 13 But all matters being reproved w are
of Elohim, by whom you were sealed for who sleep, and arise from the dead, and
the day of redemption. Messiah shall shine on you.”
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and dis- 15 See then that you walk exactly, not as
Elohim also forgave you in Messiah. stand what the desire of HWHY is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in
loved us, and gave Himself for us, a gift songs of praise and spiritual songs, singing
r See footnote Rom. 8:1. s See 4:14 and its footnote. t See 2:2, 4:18, Col. 3:7.
u See Philip. 1:11 and its footnote. v Or confute, or expose. w Or confuted, or exposed.
EPHESIANS 5 1136
and striking the strings in your heart to the children, but bring them up in the instruc-
Master, tion and admonition of the Master.
20 giving thanks always for all to Elohim 5 Servants, obey your masters according
the Father, in the Name of our Master to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in
aSWHY Messiah, sincerity of heart, as to Messiah;
21 subjecting yourselves to each other in 6 not with eye-service as men-pleasers,
assembly, and He is Saviour of the body. does, he shall receive the same from the
24 But as the assembly is subject to Master, whether he is slave or free.
Messiah, so also let the wives be to their 9 And, masters, do the same to them,
splendid assembly, not having spot or for you to have power to stand against the
wrinkle or any of this sort, but that it might schemes of the devil.
be set-apart and blameless. z 12 Because we do not wrestle against flesh
28 In this way husbands ought to love their and blood, but against principalities,
own wives as their own bodies. He who against authorities, against the world-rulers
loves his wife loves himself. of the darkness of this age, against spiritual
29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, matters of wickedness in the heavenlies.
but feeds and cherishes it, as also the 13 Because of this, take up the complete
Master does the assembly. armour of Elohim, so that you have power
30 Because we are members of His body, to withstand in the wicked day, and having
of His flesh and of His bones. done all, to stand.
31 “For this cause a man shall leave his 14 Stand, then, having girded your waist
father and mother and be joined to his with truth, and having put on the breast-
wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” plate of righteousness,
32 This secret is great, but I speak con- 15 and having fitted your feet with the
cerning Messiah and the assembly. preparation of the Good News of peace;
33 However, you too, everyone, let each 16 above all, having taken up the shield of
one love his own wife as himself, and let belief with which you shall have power to
the wife see that she fears her husband. quench all the burning arrows of the
wicked one.
6 Children, obey your parents in the
Master, for this is right.
2 “Respect your father and mother,”
17 Take also the helmet of deliverance,
x See Shem. 20:20. y Rev. 19:8-9. z This is what the purpose of our calling is, why we have been chosen!
a Rom. 6:16-26. b Spirit and Word working in unity – see Yesh. 59:21.
1137 EPHESIANS 6
from envy and strife, but some also out of those who oppose, which to them truly is a
proof of destruction, but to you of deliver- both to desire and to work for His good
ance, and that from Elohim. pleasure.
29 Because to you it has been given as a 14 Do all matters without grumblings and
obedient unto death, death even of a stake. shall also come shortly.
9 Elohim, therefore, has highly exalted 25 But I thought it necessary to send
Him and given Him the Name c which is to you Epaphroditos, my brother, fellow
above every name, worker, and fellow soldier, and your emis-
10 that at the Name of aSWHY every knee sary and servant to my need,
should bow, of those in heaven, and of 26 since he was longing for you all, and
those on earth, and of those under the being troubled because you had heard that
earth, he was sick.
11 and every tongue should confess that 27 For indeed he was sick, near to death,
aSWHY Messiah is Master, to the esteem of but Elohim had compassion on him, and
Elohim the Father. not only on him but on me as well, lest I
12 So that, my beloved, as you always should have sadness upon sadness.
obeyed – not only in my presence, but now 28 Therefore I sent him more eagerly, so
much rather in my absence – work out that on seeing him again you might rejoice,
your own deliverance with fear and trem- and I be less sad.
bling, 29 Receive him therefore in the Master
13 for it is Elohim who is working in you d with all joy, and hold such as he in esteem,
c Note the definite article: the Name, not a Name. d See Messiah in you in Explanatory Notes at the back.
PHILIPPIANS 2 1140
30 because for the work of Messiah he was of the high calling of Elohim in Messiah
near death, risking his life, to fill up what aSWHY.
was lacking in your service toward me. 15 As many, then, as are perfect, should
HeÄrew of HeÄrews, according to Torah a from which we also eagerly wait for the
Pharisee, Saviour, the Master aSWHY Messiah,
6 according to ardour, persecuting the 21 who shall change our lowly body, to be
assembly; according to righteousness that conformed to His esteemed body, accord-
is in the law, having become blameless. ing to the working by which He is able
7 But what might have been a gain to me, even to bring all under His control.
I have counted as loss, because of Messiah.
8 What is more, I even count all to be
and count them as refuse, in order to gain Suntuche to be of the same mind in the
Messiah, Master.
9 and be found in Him, not having my 3 And I also ask you, true companion,
own righteousness, which is of the law, but help these women who laboured with me
that which is through belief in Messiah, the in the Good News, with Qlemes also, and
righteousness which is from Elohim on the the rest of my fellow workers, whose
basis of belief, names are in the Book of Life.
10 to know Him, and the power of His 4 Rejoice in HWHY always, again I say,
whatever is of good report, if there is any the beginning of the Good News, when I
uprightness and if there is any praise – went out from Makedonia, no assembly
think on these. shared with me concerning giving and
9 And what you have learned and receiving, except you only,
received and heard and saw in me, practise 16 because, even in Thessalonike you sent
these, and the Elohim of peace shall be to my need, once and twice.
with you. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the
10 And I rejoiced in HWHY greatly that now fruit that is multiplying to your account.
at last your concern for me has revived 18 Indeed I have all and more than
again – though you were concerned, but enough. I have been filled, having received
had no chance. from Epaphroditos what you sent, a sweet-
11 Not that I speak concerning need, for I smelling fragrance, an acceptable offering,
have learned to be content in whatever well-pleasing to Elohim.
state I am. 19 And my Elohim shall fill all your need
12 I know what it is to be humbled, and I according to His riches in esteem by
know what it is to have in excess. In any Messiah aSWHY.
and every situation I have learned both to 20 And to our Elohim and Father be
be filled, and to be hungry, both to have in esteem forever and ever. AmÃn.
excess, and to be in need. 21 Greet every set-apart one in Messiah
13 I have strength to do all, through aSWHY. The brothers with me greet you.
Messiah e who empowers me. 22 All the set-apart ones greet you, but
14 Yet you did well in sharing in my most of all those of Caesar’s household.
pressure. 23 The favour of our Master aSWHY
15 And you know too, Philippians, that in Messiah be with you all. AmÃn.
e Yn. 15:5, 2 Cor. 3:5-6, 2 Cor. 12:9, Eph. 3:20, Philip. 2:13, Heb. 13:20-21, 1 Yn. 4:4.
COLOSSIANS
aSWHY and of your love for all the set-apart hold together.
ones, 18 And He is the Head of the body, the
5 because of the expectation that is laid assembly, who is the beginning, the first-
up for you in the heavens, of which you born from the dead, that He might become
heard before in the word of the truth of the the One who is first in all.
Good News, 19 Because in Him all the completeness
6 which has come to you, as also in all was well pleased to dwell,
the world it is bearing fruit and growing, as 20 and through Him to completely restore
also among you, since the day you heard to favour all unto Himself, whether on
and knew the favour of Elohim in truth, earth or in the heavens, having made peace
7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our through the blood of His stake.
beloved fellow servant, who is a true ser- 21 And you, who once were estranged and
vant of Messiah on your behalf, enemies in the mind by wicked works, but
8 who also declared to us your love in the now He has completely restored to favour
Spirit. 22 in the body of His flesh through death,
9 That is also why we, from the day we to present you set-apart, and blameless,
heard, have not ceased praying for you, and unreprovable before Him,
and asking that you be filled with the 23 if indeed you continue in the belief,
knowledge of His desire in all wisdom and founded and steadfast, and are not moved
spiritual understanding, away from the expectation of the Good
10 to walk worthily of the Master, pleasing News which you heard, which was pro-
all, bearing fruit in every good work and claimed to every creature under the heav-
increasing in the knowledge of Elohim, en, of which I, Sha’ul, became a servant,
11 being empowered with all power, 24 who now rejoice in my sufferings for
according to the might of His esteem, for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking
all endurance and patience with joy, in Messiah’s afflictions, for the sake of His
12 giving thanks to the Father who has Body, c which is the assembly,
made us fit to share in the inheritance of 25 of which I became a servant according
the set-apart ones in the light, to the administration of Elohim which was
13 who has delivered us from the authority given to me for you, to fill the word of
of darkness a and transferred us into the Elohim,
reign of the Son of His love, 26 the secret which has been hidden from
a Lk. 11:35, Yn. 8:12, Yn. 12:46-50, Acts 26:18, Eph. 5:8. b Heb. 1:6, Rev. 3:14. c The central theme of
chs. 1, 2, 3 is: the Head (Messiah) and His Body (the assembly). Read these chapters in this context.
1143 COLOSSIANS 2
ages and from generations, but now has 11 In Him you were also circumcised with
been revealed to His set-apart ones, a circumcision not made with hands, in the
27 to whom Elohim desired to make putting off of the body of the sins of the
known what are the riches of the esteem of flesh, by the circumcision of Messiah,
this secret among the gentiles: which is 12 having been buried with Him in immer-
Messiah in you, d the expectancy of esteem, sion, in which you also were raised with
28 whom we announce, warning every Him through the belief in the working of
man and teaching every man in all wis- Elohim, who raised Him from the dead.
dom, in order to present every man perfect 13 And you, being dead in your tres-
your good order and the steadfastness of whom all the Body – nourished and knit
your belief in Messiah. together by joints and ligaments – grows
6 Therefore, as you accepted Messiah with the growth of Elohim.
aSWHY the Master, walk in Him, 20 If, then, you died with Messiah from
7 having been rooted and built up in Him, the elementary matters j of the world, why,
and established in the belief, as you were as though living in the world, do you sub-
taught, overflowing in it with thanksgiving. ject yourselves to regulations:
8 See to it that no one makes a prey of 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not
ing to the elementary matters of the according to the commands and teachings
world, f and not according to Messiah. of men? k
9 Because in Him dwells all the com- 23 These indeed have an appearance of
dSee Messiah in you in Explanatory Notes at the back. e Yesh. 11:2, Col. 2:9. f See v. 20, and Gal. 4:3 & 9.
gEph. 2:1. h The record of all the sins we did. i The Body of Messiah, the assembly, is to give ruling on all
matters, not the outsiders! j See v. 8, and Gal. 4:3 & 9. k Note: commands and teachings of men, not of Elohim.
COLOSSIANS 3 1144
ness, passion, evil desire and greed of gain, lest they become discouraged.
which is idolatry. 22 Servants, obey your masters according
6 Because of these the wrath of Elohim is to the flesh in all respects, not with eye-
coming upon the sons of disobedience, m service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of
7 in which you also once walked when heart, fearing Elohim.
you lived in them. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as
8 But now, also put off all these: displea- to the Master and not to men,
sure, wrath, evil, blasphemy, filthy talk 24 knowing that from the Master you shall
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, that Elohim would open to us a door for
patience, the word, to speak the secret of Messiah,
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving for which I am also in chains,
each other if anyone has a complaint 4 so that I make it clear, as I should
l The old man of sin has died – died to sin. m Eph. 2:2, Eph. 5:6. n Rom. 6:6, Eph. 4:22.
o Not the word of men! See Yn. 12:48, DeÄ. 18:19, Rev. 19:13.
1145 COLOSSIANS 4
pose, to know your circumstances and to 13 For I bear him witness that he has a
encourage your hearts, deep concern for you, and for those who
9 with Onesimos, a true and beloved are in Laodikeia and those in Hierapolis.
brother, who is one of you. They shall let 14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas
you, with Mark the relative of BarnaÄah Numpha and the assembly that is in his
about whom you received instructions: if house.
he comes to you, welcome him, 16 And when this letter is read among you,
11 also Yeshua who is called Justus. These see that it is read also in the assembly of
are my only fellow workers for the reign of the Laodikeians, and that you likewise
Elohim who are of the circumcision, who read the letter from Laodikeia.
were to me a comfort. 17 And say to Archippos, “See to the
12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant service which you have received in the
of Messiah, greets you, always wrestling Master, so that you complete it.”
for you in prayers, so that you stand 18 This greeting is in my own hand –
perfect p and complete in all the desire of Sha’ul. Remember my chains. Favour be
Elohim. with you. AmÃn.
p Mt. 5:48.
1 THESSALONIANS