Tanakh 0827602529

Citation preview

T^e standard Jemdl?

Bible for

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TH] SCR Tl?e to

Englhb-speakjng world

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New JPS Translation According

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$23.95

A

landmark of Jewish religious scholarship

—TIME Magazine

.

The publication of this volume of Tanakh, the complete Jewish Bible, culminates the historic project undertaken three decades ago

by the

Jewish Publication Society: an entirely original translation rectly

of the Holy Scriptures, made

di-

Hebrew text into

the

from the

traditional

language of contemporary English speakers.

The

New

Jewish Translation represents the

collaborative efforts of academic scholars

and

rabbis representing the three largest branches

of organized Judaism

America. Not since the when seventy-two elders

in

third century b.c.e.,

of the tribes of lation

Israel created the

of Scriptures known

Greek

trans-

as the Septuagint,

has a broadly based committee of Jewish scholars

produced

a

major Bible translation.

In executing their translators lical

made

monumental

task,

interpretation, ancient

and modern, Jewish

and non-Jewish. They drew upon the findings of linguistics as the

the

use of the entire range of bib-

gamut of

and archaeology

early rabbinic

latest

as well

and medieval

commentators, grammarians, and philologians.

The

resulting text

and

biblical scholarship,

a

is

triumph of literary

style

unsurpassed for accu-

racy and clarity.

The

three parts of Tanakh were initially pub-

lished in three

main

Books of Moses) ets) in

in

stages:

Torah (The Five

1962, NeviHm (The Proph-

1978, and Kethuvim (The Writings) in

1982. These

texts,

sented for the

first

with revisions, are

now

pre-

time as a single volume, one

long awaited by scholars and general readers,

Jews and Christians, throughout the Englishspeaking world.

Jacket design by Adrianne Onderdonk

Dudden

TANAKH 3"*? THE HOLY SCRIPTURES The

New JPS

According

Translation

to the

Traditional

Hebrew Text

TORAH NEVTIM

flWl

^W

KETHUVIM WMtt

TANAKH

Y55"l

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES The

New JPS

According

Translation

to the

Traditional

Hebrew Text

THE JEWISH PUBLICATION SOCIETY Philadelphia

•

New

York

•

Jerusalem

5748

•

1988

Copyright

©

1985 by The Jewish Publication

Society

All rights reserved

No part

of this book

may

be reproduced

without written permission from the publisher.

Manufactured

in the

United States ofAmerica

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Bible.

Data

O.T. English. 1985.

Tanakh, a new translation of the Holy Scriptures according to the traditional I.

II.

Hebrew

text.

Jewish Publication Society. Title.

BS896A1P45 1985 ISBN 0-8276-0252-9 0-8276-0264-2

221.5' 2

85-10006

(cloth)

(leatherette)

25

24

23

22

21

20

19

18

17

16

15

14

13

12

11

10

9

8

Contents

Table of Scriptural Readings

Preface

ix

xv

Glossary for the Footnotes

Abbreviations

TORAH

and Terms

xxiii

xxv

THE FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES

rPU/K-Q

GENESIS

3

m»3U7

EXODUS

85

Kip-n

LEVITICUS

imnn

numbers

nm

DEUTERONOMY

153

203

273

For weekly Sabbath readings,

see

page

ix.

CONTENTS

NEVFIM

THE PROPHETS

ytznrp

JOSHUA

337

d^uqiu;

JUDGES

377

K

^Kl)3tt7

n

bmn\u

k 3

SAMUEL II SAMUEL

d'o'to

I

o^n rrw rnn-i

II

Twelve

469

515

KINGS

565

615

JEREMIAH

'

EZEKIEL

763 893

Minor Prophets

win ^Nl 1 D1BJ7

rrnny

mr

HOSEA -

JOEL

AMOS

981 1005 1015

OBADIAH

mrD

JONAH MICAH

Dim

NAHUM

1033

1037 1041 1055

pipnn

HABAKKUK

may

ZEPHANIAH

un

mat •ON^n

VI

KINGS

ISAIAH

1

^NpirP 277£

417

I

HAGGAI

1063

1079

ZECHARIAH

MALACHI

1071

1083

1101

CONTENTS

KETHUVIM D^Tin

^Wn n-pK

nn^n -p^ nn n^H

THE WRITINGS PSALMS

1109

PROVERBS JOB

1285

1339

the song of songs

RUTH

1419

lamentations

nbnp

ECCLESIASTES

-inDK

ESTHER

1457

bwn

DANIEL

1469

K-IU7

JTOm

KD^nnai 3 wwn nm

EZRA

11

1425 1441

1493

NEHEMIAH I

1405

1509

chronicles chronicles

1531

1573

Vll

Table of Scriptural Readings

TORAH

NEVFIM

Weekly Sabbath Readings GENESIS rptwrin

m

1.1-6.8

Isaiah 42.5-43.10 (42.5-21)*

6.9-11.32

Isaiah 54.1-55.5 (54.1-10)

1*1*

12.1-17.27

Isaiah 40.27-41.16

KTn tvvd "n

18.1-22.24

II

23.1-25.18

I

Kings 4.1-37 (4.1-23)

Kings 1.1-31

mVin

25.19-28.9

Malachi 1.1-2.7

K2T1

28.10-32.3

Hosea 12.13-14.10; 14.7 or Micah

n^ttni

32.4-36.43

Hosea 11.7-12.12 (Obadiah 1.1-21)

num

37.1-40.23

Amos

rpn u/n

41.1-44.17

I

44.18-47.27

Ezekiel 37.15-28

»rm

47.28-50.26

I

1.1-6.1

Isaiah 27.6-28.13;

7.18 (11.7-12.12)

2.6-3.8

Kings 3.15-4.1 Kings 2.1-12

EXODUS ninu;

29.22,23

(Jeremiah 1.1-2.3) k-iki

Ezekiel 28.25-29.21

10.1-13.16

Jeremiah 46.13-28

13.17-17.16

Judges 4.4-5.31 (5.1-31)

1

18.1-20.26

Isaiah 6.1-7.6; 9.5,

D^UD^n

21.1-24.18

Jeremiah 34.8-22; 33.25, 26

nnnn myn

25.1-27.19

I

27.20-30.10

Ezekiel 43.10-27

jo

r6un

nn

6 (6.1-13)

Kings 5.26-6.13

30.11-34.35

I

Kings 18.1-39 (18.20-39)

^np'i

35.1-38.20

I

Kings 7.40-50 (7.13-26)

mpa

38.21-40.38

I

Kings 7.51-8.21 (7.40-50)

Ku/n

a

6.2-9.35

'O

Parentheses indicate Sepbardi ritual.

IX

SCRIPTURAL READINGS

TORAH

NEVFIM

LEVITICUS Kip^n

1.1-5.26

Isaiah 43.21-44.23

1Y

6.1-8.36

Jeremiah 7.21-8.3; 9.22, 23

TBI?

9.1-11.47

II

j/niri

12.1-13.59

II

Samuel 6.1-7.17 (6.1-19) Kings 4.42-5.19

jm» mn nnK

14.1-15.33

II

Kings 7.3-20

16.1-18.30

Ezekiel 22.1-19 (22.1-16)

WMJlp

19.1-20.27

Amos

-inx

21.1-24.23

Ezekiel 44.15-31

inn

25.1-26.2

Jeremiah 32.6-27

26.3-27.34

Jeremiah 16.19-17.14

'J'D

Tipm

9.7-15 (Ezekiel 20.2-20)

NUMBERS 1.1-4.20

Hosea 2.1-22

4.21-7.89

Judges 13.2-25

131)33

KEN

in^ym *\b

8.1-12.16

Zechariah 2.14-4.7

nbu;

13.1-15.41

Joshua 2.1-24

mp

16.1-18.32

I

npn

19.1-22.1

Judges 11.1-33

pfe

22.2-25.9

Micah 5.6-6.8

„

Samuel 11.14-12.22

om'a

25.10-30.1

I

mun

30.2-32.42

Jeremiah 1.1-2.3

•VDKJ

33.1-36.13

Jeremiah 2.4-28; 3.4

Kings 18.46-19.21

(2.4-28; 4.1, 2)

DEUTERONOMY

nnm

1.1-3.22

Isaiah 1.1-27

3.23-7.11

Isaiah 40.1-26

npv

7.12-11.25

Isaiah 49.14-51.3

ilKI

11.26-16.17

Isaiah 54.11-55.5

16.18-21.9

Isaiah 51.12-52.12

[jnriKi

tl-'UDU/

KYn

'3

21.10-25.19

Isaiah 54.1-10

K13D

»3

26.1-29.8

Isaiah 60.1-22

29.9-30.20

Isaiah 61.10-63.9

t*i

31.1-30

Isaiah 55.6-56.8

irwn

32.1-52

II

33.1-34.12

Joshua 1.1-18 (1.1-9)

frnatt

n3i3n rwn

Samuel 22.1-51

SCRIPTURAL READINGS

TORAH

NEVFIM

Readings for Special Sabbaths Sabbath coinciding

Weekly portion and

with Rosh Hodesh

Numbers 28.9-15

Sabbath immediately

Weekly portion

I

Weekly portion and

II

Exodus 30.11-16

(11.17-12.17)

Weekly portion and Deuteronomy

I

preceding

Isaiah 66.1-24

Samuel 20.18-42

Rosh

Hodesh Shekalim

Zakhor

Kings 12.1-17

Samuel 15.2-34

(15.1-34)

25.17-19 Parah

Ha-Hodesh

Ha-Gadol First

Sabbath

Hanukkah

Weekly portion and

Ezekiel 36.16-38

Numbers 19.1-22

(36.16-36)

Weekly portion and Exodus 12.1-20

Ezekiel 45.16-46.18

Weekly portion

Malachi 3.4-24

Weekly portion and Numbers 7.1-11

Zechariah 2.14-4.7

(45.18-46.15)

plus the verses relating to the prince (nasi)

of the day

corresponding to the

day of Hanukkah

Second Sabbath

Hanukkah

Weekly portion and Hanukkah

I

Kings 7.40-50

portions as above

XI

SCRIPTURAL READINGS

TORAH

NEVTIM

Readings for the Days ofAwe Rosh Ha-Shanah First Day

Genesis 21.1-34;

I

Samuel 1.1-2.10

Numbers 29.1-6 Second Day

Genesis 22.1-24;

Jeremiah 31.1-19

Numbers 29.1-6 Sabbath Shuvah

Weekly portion

Hosea 14.2-10; Micah 7.18-20, or Hosea 14.2-10; Joel 2.15-17

(Hosea 14.2-10;

Micah 7.18-20)

Yom

Kippur

Morning

Leviticus 16.1-34;

Isaiah 57.14-58.14

Numbers 29.7-11 Afternoon

Leviticus 18.1-30

Jonah 1.1-4.11;

Micah 7.18-20

Readings for the

Festivals

Sukkoth (Tabernacles) First

Day

Leviticus 22.26-

Zechariah 14.1-21

23.44;

Numbers 29.12-16 Second Day

Leviticus 22.26-

I

Kings 8.2-21

23.44;

Numbers 29.12-16 Sabbath during

Exodus 33.12-34.26;

the Middle Days

Daily portion from

Ezekiel 38.18-39.16

Numbers 29 Eighth Day

Deuteronomy 14.22-

I

Kings 8.54-66

16.17;

Numbers 29.35-30.1 Simhat Torah

Deuteronomy

33.1-

34.12;

Genesis 1.1-2.3;

Numbers 29.35-30.1 xn

Joshua 1.1-18 (1.1-9)

SCRIPTURAL READINGS

TORAH

NEVTIM

Exodus 12.21-51;

Joshua 3.5-7; 5.2-6.1;

Numbers 28.16-25

6.27 (5.2-6.1)

Leviticus 22.26-

II

23.44;

21-25

Pesah (Passover) First

Day

Second Day

Kings 23.1-9;

Numbers 28.16-25 Sabbath during

Exodus 33.12-34.26;

Ezekiel 36.37-37.14

the Middle Days

Numbers 28.19-25

(37.1-14)

Exodus 13.17-15.26;

II

Seventh

Day

Samuel 22.1-51

Numbers 28.19-25 Eighth

Day

Deuteronomy 15.19-

Isaiah 10.32-12.6

16.17;

Numbers 28.19-25 Shavuoth (Pentecost) First

Day

Exodus 19.1-20.23;

Ezekiel 1.1-28; 3.12

Numbers 28.26-31 Second Day

Deuteronomy 15.19-

Habakkuk 3.1-19

16.17*

(2.20-3.19)

Numbers 28.26-31

Readings on Weekday Occasions Purim

Exodus 17.8-16

Ninth of Av

Morning

Deuteronomy 40

Afternoon

Exodus 32.11-14;

4.25-

34.1-10

Jeremiah 8.13-9.23

Isaiah 55.6-56.8

(Hosca 14.2-10;

Micah 7.18-20) Public Fast Days

On

Exodus 32.11-14;

Isaiah 55.6-56.8

34.1-10

(none)

Sabbath, 14.22-16.17

xm

SCRIPTURAL READINGS Readings of the Five Mejjilloth

xiv

The Song of Songs

Sabbath during Pesah (Passover)

Ruth

Shavuoth (Pentecost)

Lamentations

Ninth of Av

Ecclesiastes

Sabbath during Sukkoth (Tabernacles)

Esther

Purim

Preface

This translation of Tanakh, the Holy Scriptures, produced by the Jewish

made directly from the traditional Hebrew text modern English. It represents the collaboration of aca-

Publication Society, was into the idiom of

demic scholars with rabbis from the three Jewish religious

was published

life

in

largest branches

of organized

America. Begun in 1955, the ongoing translation

in three

main

stages:

The Torah

in 1962,

The Prophets

(NeviHm) in 1978, and The Writings (Kethuvim) in 1982. These three

volumes, with revisions, are

now

brought together

Tanakh (Torah-Nevi'im-Kethuvim) , the

in a

complete English

latest link in the

chain of Jewish

Bible translations.

On

the History of Bible Translation

Bible translation began about 2,200 years ago, in the third century B.C.E., as the large

Jewish population of Alexandria, Egypt, came under the

fluence of Hellenism.

When

the Greek language replaced

in-

Hebrew and

as their vernacular, and the Torah in its Hebrew original was no commonly understood, a translation into Greek was made for the Jewish community of Alexandria. This translation came to be known as

Aramaic longer

the Septuagint, Latin for "seventy," because of the legend that the

mittee of translators

twelve tribes of In the east their

last

numbered seventy-two,

six elders

com-

from each of the

Israel.

few centuries

B.C.E., the

Jews

of Judea also found the Hebrew Bible

who

lived to the north

difficult to

and

understand, for

spoken language had become largely Aramaic. Translations into Ar-

amaic, as the

first

of the Torah and then of the

rest

of the Bible, became known

Targums.

The Septuagint and

the

Targums

of the Bible but also the most

are not only the oldest translations

influential.

Down

to our

own

day, virtually

xv

PREFACE every Christian translation has followed the methods of the Jewish translators

who the

created the Septuagint, and generally followed their renderings of

Hebrew

The

as well.

Hebrew

interpretation of the in oral

form

Christian translators also were influenced by the

at the time)

interpreter Philo

text set forth in the

of Alexandria (died about 45

The forerunners and

Targums (much of

it

and by the writings of the Jewish philosopher-

leaders

(fourteenth-fifteenth centuries),

C.E.).

of the Renaissance and the Reformation

and

especially

Martin Luther and William

Tyndale (sixteenth century), made use of Latin translations of the

classic

Jewish commentators Rashi, Ibn Ezra, and Kimhi (eleventh-thirteenth

whose works were imbued with the direct knowledge of the Targums. Luther was greatly indebted to Nicholas of Lyre (1270—1349), who had adopted Rashi's exegesis for his Latin Bible commentary. Rashi's influence on all authorized and most unofficial English translations of the centuries),

Hebrew

Bible becomes evident

considered. Tyndale

when Tyndale's dependence on Luther is many subsequent English translations:

central to

is

King James Version of 1611, the (British) Revised Version of 1881—1885, the American Standard Version of 1901, and especially the

the

Revised Standard Version of 1952.

Alongside the

close, literal

method of

Bible translation, the earliest

Jewish translators were also influenced by the widely held view that, along

Law (torah she-biktav), God had given Moses on Mount Law (torah she-be'al peh) as well; so that to comprehend

with the Written Sinai an Oral

God's Torah Thus,

when

and

fully

vernacular was

deemed

the end of the

first

community

correctly,

a translation

it

was

essential to

make use of

both.

of the Hebrew Bible into the Judeo-Arabic

necessary for Jewry in

Moslem

countries toward

millennium, the noted philologian, philosopher, and

leader Saadia

Gaon (882—942) produced

a version that in-

corporated traditional Jewish interpretation but was not based on word-

for-word translation; stylistic

elegance.

The

at the

same time,

present version

With the growth of Christianity the Septuagint as

its

Bible,

is

it

was

a

model of

clarity

and

in the spirit of Saadia.

in the first century, the

Church adopted

and the Septuagint was translated into the

languages of the various Christian communities. As Greek began to give

way

to Latin in the

a Latin translation

Roman

Empire,

it

was only

a

matter of time before

of Scripture became the recognized Bible of the Church.

The Church father Jerome (c. 340-420) produced the official Latin version. Drawing on Jewish tradition and consulting Jewish teachers, he achieved what came to be known as the Vulgate, the Bible in the language

xvi

PREFACE common

of the

until the

people.

Reformation,

The Vulgate,

is

clearly the

the Bible of European Christianity

most

significant Bible translation after

the Septuagint.

With the rise of Protestantism in Europe, scholars within this movement set themselves the task of making the Bible available in the various vernaculars of the time. By 1526 the first parts of two notable translations began to appear: Martin Luther's in German and William Tyndale's in English. The latter, by way of several subsequent revisions, became the King James Version of 1611. The more modern English versions such as The Holy Scriptures by the American rabbi Isaac Leeser (1855), the (British) Revised Version (1881-1885), the American Standard Version (1901), the Jewish Publication Society's The Holy Scriptures (1917), and

—

the (American) Revised Standard Version (1952) the

—made extensive use of

King James.

On

the

After

World War

sider a

Making

new

translation

II,

of the

when

New

Translation

the Jewish Publication Society began to con-

edition of the Bible, the idea of a

met with

translation gradually

upon

a completely

new

took hold. The proposed translation would repro-

duce the Hebrew idiomatically and laying emphasis

modest revision of the 1917

and the concept of

resistance,

intelligibility

reflect

contemporary scholarship, thus

and correctness.

It

would make

critical

use of the early rabbinic and medieval Jewish commentators, grammarians,

and philologians and would

avoiding emendations.

The need

rely

on the

new

for this

traditional

translation

Hebrew

text,

was the focus of

the Jewish Publication Society's annual meeting in 1953. Later that year the Society

announced

its

intention to proceed with the project, and in

1955 the committee of translators began

Harry M.

Orlinsky,

Professor

lege-Jewish Institute of Religion itor-in-chief for the

of Bible

at the

new

their task.

of Bible

(New

at

Hebrew Union

Col-

York), was asked to serve as ed-

translation, along with

H.

L. Ginsberg, Professor

Jewish Theological Seminarv, and Ephraim A. Speiscr,

Professor of Semitic and Oriental Languages at the University of Pennsylvania, as fellow editors. Associated

Arzt, Bernard servative, life.

J.

with them were three rabbis:

Max

Bamberger, and Harrv Freedman, representing the Con-

Reform, and Orthodox branches of organized Jewish religious

Solomon

Grayzel, editor of the Jewish Publication Society, served as

secretary of the committee.

xvn

PREFACE The committee

profited

much from

the present rendering, however, its

is

work of previous

the

essentially a

new

translators;

translation.

A few of

may be noted. The committee undertook to follow faithtraditional Hebrew text, but there were certain points at which

characteristics

fully the

footnotes appeared necessary: (1) where the committee had to admit that it

did not understand a

word or

passage; (2) where an alternative ren-

no longer

dering was possible; (3) where an old rendering, so well

known

that

it

traditional translation

would very

likely

was

be missed, in which case the

was given in the name of "Others"

to the Society's version of 1917); (4)

retained,

(usually referring

where the understanding of a pas-

sage could be facilitated by reference to another passage elsewhere in the

and

Bible;

(5)

where important

textual variants are to be

found in some

of the ancient manuscripts or versions of the Bible.

The

translators avoided obsolete

words and phrases and, whenever pos-

Hebrew idioms by means of their normal English equivsingular, the modern "you" was used instead archaic "thou," even when referring to the Deity ("You"). A further

rendered

sible,

alents.

of the

For the second person

obvious difference between

this translation

and most of the older ones

is

of the Hebrew particle wow, which' is usually translated Hebrew demanded the frequent use of the waw, but in

in the rendering

"and." Biblical that style "yet,"

it

had the force not only of "and" but

also

of "however," "but,"

"when," and any number of other such words and

at all that

particles,

can be translated into English. Always to render

to misrepresent the

Hebrew

rather than be faithful to

it.

it

as

or none

"and"

is

Consequently,

the committee translated the particle as the sense required, or

left it

un-

translated.

The chapter and

verse divisions found in the printed Bible are indis-

pensable as a system of precise reference, but they

with the organic divisions of the is

text.

The

do not always coincide whose origin

chapter divisions,

neither ancient nor Jewish but medieval Christian, sometimes join or

separate the

wrong

verse divisions,

paragraphs, sentences, or even parts of sentences.

though considerably older and of Jewish

origin,

The

some-

times join together parts of different sentences or separate from each other parts

of the same sentence. The translation of Saadia Gaon often does not

correspond to our chapter divisions, which did not

noteworthy

is

exist in his day.

More

the readiness with which he joined separate verses of the

Hebrew text (whose authority he did not question) into single sentences when the sense required it. Thus, in joining Genesis 7.24 and 8.1 into a single sentence, or

xvin

combining the

last

part of

1

Kings 6.38 with 7.1, the

PREFACE present translation

is

following the example of Saadia.

which the

The

attentive reader

what meaning even when they considered to be the logical units of they did not coincide with the conventional chapters and verses. The latter, howwill discover other instances in

translators have followed

marked and numbered throughout. first edition of The Torah was dated September 25, 5723. A second edition, incorporating some Erev Rosh Ha-Shanah 1962, changes by the translators, came out five years later. The committee also produced translations of The Five MegiUoth and Jonah (1969), Isaiah (1973), and Jeremiah (1974). The latter two books and Jonah were incorporated, ever, are

The

preface to the

with some corrections and revisions, into the complete translation of The Prophets (Nevi'im). fessor

For

Ginsberg served

this

volume, which was published in 1978, Pro-

as editor, in association

Whereas Professor Orlinsky had

initially

with Professor Orlinsky.

prepared a draft translation of

members of the committee undertook prophetic book or part of a book; but, as

the entire Torah, individual

prepare a draft of an entire

translating the Torah, everyone

and to

had an opportunity to

offer detailed suggestions at periodic

to in

criticize the draft

committee

sessions,

which

were presided over by Rabbi Bamberger. Differences of opinion were settled

by majority vote.

In preparing the translation of The Prophets, the translators faced a recurring problem that deserves special mention.

contain

many

The prophetic books

whose meaning is uncertain. Thus, in order to modern scholars have resorted to emending Some of these emendations derive from the ancient

passages

provide an intelligible rendering, the

Hebrew

text.

translators, especially

of the Septuagint and the Targums,

who had

before

them a Hebrew text that sometimes differed from today's traditional text. Where these ancient versions provide no help, some scholars have made conjectural emendations of their own. Many modern English versions contain translations of emended texts, sometimes without citing any departure from the traditional Hebrew text. Like the translation of The Torah, the present translation of the prophetic books adheres strictly to the traditional

Hebrew

the text remains obscure and an alteration provides a footnote

is

emendation by name;

text;

marked

but where

clarification,

offered with a rendering of the suggested emendation. If the is

based on one or two ancient versions, they are mentioned

if more

than two versions agree, they are

versions." Conjectural emendations are introduced

Sometimes, however,

it

was deemed

summed up

as "ancient

by "Emendation

sufficient to offer onlv a

yields."

change of

xix

PREFACE vowels, and such modifications are indicated by "Change of vocalization yields." In

cases, the

all

readily disregarded

grounds.

emendation

by those

who

The only exceptions

such rare instances, the change

Hebrew

ditional

is

it

on

may be

either scholarly or religious

involve such changes in grammatical form

from second person

as those, say,

given in a footnote, which

is

reject

to third or

from singular to

incorporated in the

is

text,

plural. In

and the

tra-

translated in a footnote.

The committee of translators for The Writings (Kethuvim), the third part of the Hebrew Bible, was set up by the Jewish Publication Society in 1966. It consisted

Hebrew guages

now Professor of Bible at the now Professor of Semitic Lanand Nahum M. Sarna, Professor of

of Moshe Greenberg,

University, Jonas C. Greenfield,

at the

Hebrew

University,

Biblical Studies at Brandeis University, in association

Leeman, Martin

S.

with Rabbis Saul

Rozenberg, and David Shapiro of the Conservative,

Reform, and Orthodox movements. Chaim Potok, then editor of the Society, served as secretary

The

of the committee.

present English rendering of Kethuvim, like Torah and Nevi'im,

based on the traditional tactical divisions

—

Hebrew

—although the

text

is

consonants, vowels, and syn-

its

traditional accentuation occasionally has

been replaced by an alternative construction. Following the approach of the original committee, the entire

gamut of biblical

interpretation, ancient

and modern, Jewish and non- Jewish, has been consulted, and, whenever possible, the results of modern study of the languages and cultures of the ancient

Near East have been brought to bear on the

choosing between alternatives, however, just a disqualification, so

modernity was not in

biblical text.

as antiquity

itself a

was not

In

in itself

recommendation. Di-

vergences of the present translation from recent renderings reflect the

committee's judgment that certain innovations, though interesting, are

too speculative for adoption in the present

state

of knowledge. The

as yet

imperfect understanding of the language of the Bible, or what appears to

be some disorder in the

Hebrew

text,

makes sure

passages impossible. This uncertainty in Kethuvim

and, where the

Hebrew

is

translation of

many

indicated in a note;

text permits, alternative renderings

have been

—

However, emendations of the text of Kethuvim except for the five Megilloth were not proposed, and notes were kept to a minimum. Some passages in Kethuvim are identical or very similar to passages in Torah and NeviHm. The rendering of these passages in Kethuvim generally follows the wording in the earlier books; on occasion, however, owing offered.

—

to various considerations, divergences in style and translation will be found.

xx

PREFACE For example, fitting,

in the presentation

of the poetry of the Psalms,

appropriate indentation.

The

with extraordinary

translators

text

was deemed

of Kethuvim frequentiy presented the

difficulties, for it is

vey in English the fullness of the Hebrew, with tones,

it

because of their liturgical use, to indicate the thought units through

and the richness that

their goal to transmit

carries

it

hardly possible to con-

its

ambiguities,

from centuries of use.

something of the

over-

its

Still, it

directness, the simplicity,

was

and the

uniquely Israelite expressions of piety that are so essential to the sublimity

of the Hebrew Bible.

The committee's

translation

of The Psalms appeared

in

1973; of The

Book ofJob, in 1980. The two were incorporated, with revisions, into the complete translations of The Writings (Kethuvim), which appeared in 1982.

For first

this

one-volume edition of Ttmakh, the translation of The Tovah,

published twenty years

more

earlier,

has undergone

more

revision than the

recent publications of The Prophets and The Writings.

A number of

New

Translation of

the changes had already been projected in Notes on the

by Harry M. Orlinsky and published by the Society in 1969. Subsequent research on the text has led to further revisions in the

the Torah, edited

translations

Ephraim

of Torah and some revisions in NeviHm Speiser,

Arzt, also an active

when

the

as well.

of the original committee, died

member of

work of translating

in

June 1965.

Max

the original committee, died in 1975,

the prophetic books was almost complete.

Since the appearance of The Prophets and The Writings, Bernard

J.

Bam-

berger, Solomon Grayzel, and Harry Freedman have also passed on. Their memory, and their scholarship, will be for a blessing. The Jewish Publication Society joins the members of the committees of translators in the hope that the results of our labors will find favor with

God and man. The Jewish Publication

Society

September 15, 1985

XXI

Glossary for the Footnotes

Akkadian

An

ancient Semitic language spoken in Mesopotamia;

its

chief dialects were Babylonian and Assyrian.

Aquila

A

second-century convert to Judaism

who made

a literal

translation of the Bible into Greek.

Berakhot

Ibn Ezra

One of the

of the Mishnah and the Talmud.

Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra,

who

marian Kethib

treatises

The way

a

a Bible

commentator and gram-

lived in Spain in the twelfth century.

word, usually unvocalized,

is

written in the

Bible; see qere.

Kimhi

Rabbi David Kimhi (Radak), grammarian

Masorah

who

lived in

and

early thirteenth centuries.

The

text

of the Bible

a Bible

commentator and

Southern France in the

as transmitted,

late twelfth

with vowel signs and

accents.

Mishnah

The code of Jewish law prepared by Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi about 200 C.E. The word is usually followed by the name of the relevant

Peshitta

A

treatise.

translation of the Bible into Syriac, parts of

said to have been

made

Qere

The way the Masorah requires a word cially when it diverges from the kethib.

Qumran

The

site

are

to be read, espe-

of the caves where Bible manuscripts were found

in 1949/50.

bols as

which

in the first century C.E.

The manuscripts

4QSam"

(for

are identified

bv such svm-

manuscript a of Samuel, found

in the

fourth cave of Qumran); lQIs" (for manuscript a of Isaiah

found

in the first cave

of Qumran)

xxin

GLOSSARY Rashbam

Rabbi Shmuel ben Meir,

a

grandson of Rashi,

who com-

mented on the Torah. Rashi

Rabbi Shlomo tator

on

Yitzhaki, the best-known Jewish

the Bible.

He

lived in France at the

commen-

end of the

eleventh century.

Saadia

Kgaon,

i.e.,

a

head of a Babylonian talmudic academy, in

the early part of the tenth century. His works include the

famous translation of the Bible into Arabic. Septuagint

The

oldest Jewish translation of the Bible, into Greek.

Torah

translation dates

from the third century

books of the Bible were translated somewhat

The

B.C.E; other later.

Syriac

See Peshitta.

Targum

A Jewish translation of the Bible into Aramaic, a language once widely spoken

in

Western Asia, of which Syriac was

a later development.

Ugaritic

A

language of inscriptions found

at

Ras Shamra, on the

Syrian coast, in the second millennium B.C.E. Both the

language and

Hebrew Vulgate

The Latin father

literature

have shed

translation of the Bible

Jerome about the year 400

Bible of the

xxiv

its

much

light

on the

the

Church

Bible.

Roman

made by

C.E. It

Catholic Church.

became the

official

and Terms

Abbreviations

A

Cf.

reference to another version, or to a cognate lan-

guage, that

justifies

the translation adopted.

The Hebrew word or phrase in transliteration, especially when necessary to point out a pun, homonym,

Heb.

or the

like.

wording

Heb.

for

is

which

also

used to indicate the

a superior rendering

literal

was em-

ployed; see Genesis 46.23, note d, or 49.9, note

An example of a somewhat different type may at

Exodus 21.22, note

An

I.e.

words to the

in order to clarify the translation; see

text,

Exodus 22.29,

j.

For the

Lit.

be seen

e.

explanation, to avoid adding

note

a.

literal translation

of a word or phrase that was

given an idiomatic or somewhat free translation in the Genesis 30.27, note j, and 30.38, k; or 43.21,

text; see

note

and 43.34, note

b,

a (where the

c;

or Deuteronomy 18.1, note

Hebrew and

English cannot agree in

number)

Meaning uncertain

of Heb.

Where

the translation represents the best that the

committee could achieve with an elusive or text.

In

some

cases the text

may be

difficult

unintelligible be-

cause of corruption.

Moved up

Where

clarity required the shifting

of a word or phrase

within a verse or from one verse to another; see Genesis

Or

10.14, note d.

Indicates an alternative reading that the committee

found almost

as acceptable as the

one adopted

for the

text.

xxv

ABBREVIATIONS AND TERMS Others

Indicates a well-known traditional translation, especially if it

was used

in the older

(1917) JPS version,

that the committee does not find acceptable even as

an alternative reading. See

Frequently used in place of

cf.,

but usually intended

to begin a note attached to another passage in the Bible.

XXVI

^

TANAKH THE HOLY SCRIPTURES The

New JPS

According

Translation

to the

Traditional

Hebrew Text

mm

TORAH THE FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES GENESIS

rPtt7K-D

exodus

nine/

LEVITICUS

Kip^l

numbers

imon

DEUTERONOMY

Dnm

GENESIS A^ When God began

to create a heaven and earth

2 the

earth being un-

formed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and

God

from b

sweeping over the water light. 4

and there was

3

God

said,

a

wind

"Let there be light";

God saw that the light was good, and God separated 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He

the light from the darkness. called Night. 6

God

may

And

there

a first day. c

was evening and there was morning,

"Let there be an expanse in the midst of the water, that

said,

separate water

from water."

7

God made the

expanse, and

it

it

separated

the water which was below the expanse from the water which was above the expanse.

And

it

so. 8

was

God

And

called the expanse Sky.

there

was

evening and there was morning, a second day. 9

God

said,

the dry land

"Let the water below the sky be gathered into one area, that

may

And

appear."

and the gathering of waters

n And God

good.

plants, fruit trees it."

And

in

14

was

12

so.

was morning,

God

said,

The

upon

of every kind bearing 13

was good.

with the seed in

And

fruit

there

with the seed

was evening and

a third day.

"Let there be lights

15 and

fruit

earth brought forth vegetation: seed-bearing trees

that this

day from night; they the years;

God called the dry land Earth, And God saw that this was

called Seas.

of every kind on earth that bear

And God saw

it.

there

it

He

so. 10

"Let the earth sprout vegetation: seed-bearing

said,

of every kind, and

plants

was

it

in the

expanse of the sky to separate

shall serve as signs for the set times

—the days and

they shall serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to shine

the earth."

And

it

was

so.

16

God made

the

two great

lights, the

greater light to dominate the day and the lesser light to dominate the

and the

night,

stars.

17

And God

shine

upon

light

from darkness. And

the earth,

18 to

set

them

in the

God saw

that this

was good.

evening and there was morning, a fourth day. »

Others "In the beginning

b

Others "the

c

Others "one day."

spirit of."

God

expanse of the sky to

dominate the dav and the night, and to separate

created."

19

And

there

was

torah GENESIS

God

20

1.20

"Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and

said,

birds that fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." 21 God created

the great sea monsters, and

the living creatures of every kind that creep,

all

which the waters brought forth every kind.

"Be

fertile

and

increase,

fill

swarms, and 22

good.

winged

the

all

birds of

God blessed them,

the waters in the seas, and

earth." 23 And there

on the

in

And God saw that this was

saying,

the birds increase

let

was evening and there was morning,

a fifth

day.

God

24

said,

God made

25

"Let the earth bring forth every kind of living creature:

wild beasts of every kind and

And God

26

said,

"Let us make

shall rule the fish

man

He

and

in

all

of the

man

His image, in the image of God

increase,

fill

birds of the sky, 29

God

of the

all

it;

you every

the animals

and to everything that creeps on [I

give]

that

all

there

made, and found

was morning, the

ceased a

God

it

all

the

finished the

and

God created "Be

said to them,

rule the fish

fruit;

land, to

of the

fertile

sea,

the

it

very good.

was

And

is

upon

all

they shall be yours

the birds of the sky,

all

which there

And

finished,

work all

that

the

seventh day and declared

work of

They

whole

is

the breath of life,

so. 31

And God saw

there

was evening and

all

sixth day.

on the seventh day from

God blessed the from

on

earth, in

JmJ The heaven and the earth were seventh day

likeness.

seed- bearing plant that

the green plants for food."

He had

our

all

the living things that creep- on earth."

said, "See, I give

all

so.

created him; male and female

the earth, and every tree that has seed-bearing for food. 30And to

after

sky, the cattle, the

them and God

the earth and master

and

He

was

was good.

that this

earth." 27And

on

the creeping things that creep

created them. 28 God blessed

and

our image,

in

sea, the birds

it

of every kind, and

cattle

And God saw

kinds of creeping things of the earth.

earth,

And

creeping things, and wild beasts of every kind."

cattle,

creation that

He

and

work it

all

He had

their array. 2

that

He had

holy, because

had done.

On

the

He And

been doing, and

on

4 Such

is

done.

it

3

God ceased

the story of

heaven and earth when they were created.

When field

i

Or

the

Lord God made

earth and heaven

was yet on earth and no grasses of the "rested."

field

5

when no shrub of the

had yet sprouted, because

torah GENESIS

Lord God

the to

till

the

upon the earth and there was no man flow would well up from the ground and water the

had not sent

soil, 6 but a

7the

whole surface of the earth of the

earth. c

He

rain

blew into

Lord God

formed man b from the dust

man became

of life, and

his nostrils the breath

a living being.

The Lord God planted

8

the

man whom He had

a garden in

formed.

Eden, in the

And from

9

east,

and placed there

Lord God

ground the

the

caused to grow every tree that was pleasing to the sight and good for food, with the tree of

and the

in the middle of the garden,

life

tree

of

knowledge of good and bad.

A river issues from Eden to water the garden,

10

n The name

becomes four branches.

of the

and

first is

then divides and

it

Pishon, the one that

winds through the whole land of Havilah, where the gold of that land

is

good; bdellium

the second river

Cush.

14

Asshur.

The name of the

And

till it

"Of every

tree

and

there,

third river

the fourth river

and tend

is

it.

16

is

(

man and

the

And

the

placed

him

in the

Lord God commanded

of the garden you are

it, you shall die." The Lord God said,

one that flows

Tigris, the

is

east

of

garden of Eden, the

man, saying,

free to eat; 17but as for the tree

eat

of

it;

for as

soon

as

of

you

of

18

"It

is

not good for

a fitting helper for him." 19 And the all

13

the Euphrates.

knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat

The gold The name of 12

is.

Gihon, the one that winds through the whole land of

The Lord God took

15

to

is

lapis lazuli. d )

the wild beasts and

man

to see

all

call

would be

them; and whatever the

its

name.

20

And

the cattle and to the birds of the sky and to

Adam no

fitting helper

to be alone;

was found.

21 So

the

the

all

I will

make

formed out of the earth

the birds of the sky, and brought

what he would

living creature, that

man

LORD God

man

them

man

to the

called each

gave names to

all

the wild beasts; but for

Lord God

cast a

deep sleep

upon the man; and, while he slept, He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that spot. 22 And the Lord God fashioned the rib that He had taken from the man into a woman; and He brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, "This one at Is

last

bone of my bones

And

flesh

of my

flesh.

This one shall be called

For from b c

man was f

she taken."

Heb. 'adam. Heb. 'adamah.

A

Others ''onyx"; meaning of Heb.

c

Heb. 'ishshah. Heb. 'ish.

f

Woman, e

shoham

uncertain.

2.23

torah GENESIS 24 Hence a

2.24

man

they become one 25 The

3 say:

the

:

man and

the

his wife, yet they felt

shall

made.

He

woman, "Did God

said to the

not eat of any tree of the garden?" 2 The

"We may

the serpent,

of the

eat

fruit

of the other

trees

woman

'You

shall

to the as

you

beings

not eat of

it

woman, "You of

eat

it

or touch

are not

your eyes

going to

will be

who know good and 3

was good

and

for eating

desirable as a source of

lest

it,

5

bad."

When

but

the

wisdom, she took of ate. 7

said:

be

like a divine

woman saw

that the tree

a delight to the eyes,

gave some to her husband, and he

3 It

And the serpent said God knows that as soon

opened and you 6

God

die.' " 4

you

die,

really

replied to

of the garden.

only about fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that

is

no

Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild beasts that

Lord God had

You

clings to his wife, so that

flesh.

them were naked,s

two- of

shame.

and mother and

leaves his father

Then

will

and that the

tree

was

and

She

also

its fruit

ate.

the eyes of both of

them

were opened and they perceived that they were naked; and they sewed together fig leaves and 8

at

made

themselves loincloths.

They heard the sound of the Lord God moving about

the breezy time of day; and the

man and

his wife hid

in the

from the

garden

Lord

God among the trees of the garden. Lord God called out to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" 10 He replied, "I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid." n Then He asked, "Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat of 9 The

man said, "The woman You put at my side she gave me of the tree, and I ate." 13 And the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done!" The woman replied, "The serpent duped me, and I ate." 14Then the Lord God said to the serpent, the tree from which

I

had forbidden you to

—

"Because you did

More Than

And

On

all cattle

all

the wild beasts:

your

And

this,

cursed shall you be

All the days 15 I will

you crawl

belly shall

dirt shall

you

eat

of your

life.

put enmity

Between you and the woman, g

Heb. 'arummim, play on 'arum "shrewd"

a- a

Others "God, who knows."

in 3.1.

eat?" 12The

torah GENESIS And between your

offspring and hers;

They

your head,

shall strike at

And you shall strike at their 16 And to the woman He said,

heel."

make most severe Your pangs in childbearing; In pain shall you bear children. "I will

Yet your urge

be for your husband,

shall

And he shall rule over you." To Adam He said, "Because you did as your wife said and tree about which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' 17

ate

of the

Cursed be the ground because of you;

By

toil shall

you

eat

All the days of your 18 Thorns

and

By

life:

thistles shall it

But your food 19

of it

shall

be the grasses of the

you get bread to

field;

brow

the sweat of your

Shall

sprout for you.

eat,

Until you return to the ground

For from

it

you were

For dust you

And 20 The

to dust

taken.

are,

you

shall return."

man named his wife Eve, b because she was the mother of all the And the LORD God made garments of skins for Adam and his

living. c 21

wife, 22

and clothed them.

And

the

Lord God

said,

"Now that

the

man

has

become

like

one of

knowing good and bad, what if he should stretch out his hand and from the tree of life and eat, and live forever!" 23 So the Lord God banished him from the garden of Eden, to till the soil from which he was taken. 24 He drove the man out, and stationed east of the garden of Eden the cherubim and the fiery ever-turning sword, to guard the way

us,

take also

to the tree of

JL.

life.

Now the man

saying, "I have

knew a

gained b a

his wife Eve,

and she conceived and bore Cain,

male child with the help of the Lord."

2

Shc

then bore his brother Abel. Abel became a keeper of sheep, and Cain b c

3

b

Heb. hawwah. Heb. hay. Heb. yada', often in a sexual sense. Heb. qanithi, connected with "Cain."

4.2

torah GENESIS became to the

4.3

a tiller

LORD

soil. 3 In

of the

from the

fruit

the course of time, Cain brought an offering

of the

soil; 4 and

Abel, for his part, brought

The Lord paid heed to Abel offering He paid no heed. Cain

the choicest of the firstlings of his flock.

and

5 but

his offering,

was much

to Cain and his

and

distressed

his face

fell. 6

And

Lord

the

said to Cain,

"Why are you distressed, And why is your face fallen? 7c Surely, if

you do

right,

There

is uplift.

But

you do not do

if

right

Sin couches at the door;

urge

Its

is

toward you,

Yet you can be 8 Cain

Cain

upon

set

"Where

its

master."

said to his brother

is

his brother

Abeld

brother's keeper?"

Then He

brother's blood cries out to

.

.

and when they were

killed

And

your brother Abel?" 10

.

Abel and

he

him.

9 The

yield

its

"What have you done? Hark, your from the ground! n Therefore, you shall

from your hand.

said to the

this

its

12 If

mouth

to receive your

you till the no longer become a ceaseless wanderer on earth." soil, it shall

You shall LORD, "My punishment

You have banished me

Am I my

said,

Me

strength to you.

13 Cain

in the field,

said to Cain,

do not know.

said, "I

be more cursed than the ground, e which opened brother's blood

Lord

day from the

is

too great to bear!

soil,

and

I

14 Since

must avoid Your

—

become a restless wanderer on earth anyone who meets 15 The Lord said to him, "I promise, if anyone kills Cain, sevenfold vengeance shall be taken on him." And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest anyone who met him should kill him. 16 Cain left the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. presence and

me may

kill

17 Cain

me!"

knew

his wife,

And he then To Enoch was

and she conceived and bore Enoch.

and named the

18

founded a

city,

born

and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael f begot Methusael, and

Irad,

Methusael begot Lamech.

19

city after his

Lamech took

son Enoch.

to himself two wives: the

of the one was Adah, and the name of the other was Jabal; he was the ancestor of those 21

And

the

name of his brother was

play the lyre c

Meaning

d

Ancient

and the

bore

dwell in tents and amidst herds.

Jubal; he

who who forged

was the ancestor of all

pipe. 22 As for Zillah, she bore Tubal-cain,

of verse uncertain. including the Targum, read "Come,

versions,

-See 3.17. Heb. Mchijael. >'

who

name

Zillah. 20 Adah

let us go

out into the field."

torah GENESIS

all

implements of copper and iron.

And

the sister of Tubal-cain was Naa-

mah. 23

And Lamech

said to his wives,

"Adah and

wives of Lamech, 1

man

have slain a

And 24 If

for

is

Adam knew

speech.

wounding me,

a lad for bruising

Cain

me.

avenged sevenfold,

Then Lamech 25

my voice; give ear to my

Zillah, hear

seventy-sevenfold."

his wife again,

and she bore

a

son and named him Seth,

me with-s another offspring in place of Abel," for Cain had killed him. 26 And to Seth, in turn, a son was born, and he named him Enosh. It was then that men began to invoke the Lord by name. meaning, "God has ^-provided

kJ

This

him

in the likeness

the record of Adam's

is

they were created,

had

lived

130

named him

line.

—When God created man, He made

of God; 2 male and female

He

years,

blessed

them and

He created them. And when them Man. 3 When Adam

called

he begot a son in his likeness

after his

image, and he

Adam lived 800 years and that Adam lived came to 930

Seth. 4After the birth of Seth, 5 A11

begot sons and daughters.

the days

years; then he died. 6

When

Seth had lived 105 years, he begot Enosh.

7 After

the birth of

Enosh, Seth lived 807 years and begot sons and daughters. 8 A11 the days of Seth came to 912 years; then he died. 9

When Enosh had

lived

90

years,

he begot Kenan.

10 After

the birth of

Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and begot sons and daughters. n All the days of Enosh came to 905 years; then he died. 12

When Kenan had lived 70 years,

he begot Mahalalel.

13 Aftcr

the birth

of Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years and begot sons and daughters. the days of 15

When

Kenan came

to

910

years; then he died.

Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he begot Jared.

16 Aftcr

the birth

of Jared, Mahalalel lived 830 years and begot sons and daughters. the days of Mahalalel 18

g- g

When

Jared had

Q r "established for me";

came lived

to

895

162

14A11

17 A11

years; then he died.

years,

he begot Enoch.

Heb. shath, connected with "Seth."

19 Aftcr

the birth

5.19

torah GENESIS

5.20

of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and begot sons and daughters.

20 A11

the

days of Jared came to 962 years; then he died.

When Enoch had

21

65

lived

years,

he begot Methuselah.

22 After the

Enoch walked with God 300 years; and he begot the days of Enoch came to 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, for God took him. 25 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he begot Lamech. 26 After the birth of Methuselah,

sons and daughters.

birth of

23 A11

Lamech, Methuselah

ters. 27A11

When Lamech had

28

him Noah, from the under

lived

toil

182

one

saying, "This

782 years and begot sons and daughcame to 969 years; then he died.

lived

the days of Methuselah

years,

he begot a son.

will provide us relief

of our hands, out of the very

a curse." 30After

the birth of Noah, 31 A11

begot sons and daughters.

soil

1

29

And he named

from our work and

which the

Lord

placed

Lamech lived 595 years and Lamech came to 777 years;

the days of

then he died. 32

When Noah had

lived

500

years,

Noah begot Shem, Ham, and

Ja-

pheth.

KJ When men them,

2 the

began to increase on earth and daughters were born to

divine beings a

saw how

beautiful the daughters of

and took wives from among those that pleased them.

"My

breath shall not abide b in

man

forever, since

3

men were

The Lord

he too

is

said,

flesh; let the

him be one hundred and twenty years." 4 It was then, and Nephilim appeared on earth when the divine beings cohabited with the daughters of men, who bore them offspring. They days allowed

—

later too, that the

were the heroes of old, the 5

The Lord saw how

every plan devised by his the

Lord

saddened. I

created

sky; for

regretted that 7

The Lord

men of renown.

great

mind was nothing but

He had made man on

said, "I will blot

—men together with I

regret that

was man's wickedness on

I

•>

b

10

Others "the sons of God.

Meaning

of Heb. uncertain.

the time.

out from the earth the

cf.

9.20 ff.

6

men whom

and birds of the

made them." 8 But Noah found

Connecting Noah with Heb. niham "to comfort";

how And

and

and His heart was

beasts, creeping things,

Lord. 3

evil all

earth,

earth,

favor with die

torah GENESIS

7.6

m 9 This is

the line of Noah.

in his age;

Ham, and

n The

—Noah was

Noah walked with God.

man; he was blameless

a righteous 10

Noah begot

three sons:

Shem,

Japheth.

earth

became corrupt before God; the earth was

filled

with law-

When God saw how corrupt the earth was, for all flesh had its ways on earth, 13 God said to Noah, "I have decided to put

lessness. 12

corrupted

an end to I

am

for the earth

all flesh,

gopher wood; make out with pitch.

it

with lawlessness because of them: 14

15 This is

Make an opening

cubit of the top.

c

Make

yourself an ark of

an ark with compartments, and cover

how you

be three hundred cubits, 16

is filled

about to destroy them with the earth.

its

shall

width

make

it:

for daylight in the ark,

its

height thirty cubits.

and ^terminate

Put the entrance to the ark in

side;

its

it

—waters

—to destroy

everything

on

all

flesh

under the sky

earth shall perish.

which there

in

18 But I will

establish

is

My

within a

make

bottom, second, and third decks. 17 "For My part, I am about to bring the Flood earth

and

the length of the ark shall

and

fifty cubits,

inside

it

it

with

upon

the

breath of

life;

covenant with

you, and you shall enter the ark, with your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives. 19And

of all that

lives,

of all

flesh,

you

shall take

two of each

into the ark to keep alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 From birds of every kind, cattle of every kind, every kind of creeping thing earth,

two of each

of everything that

shall is

come

to

you

eaten and store

for them." 22 Noah did so; just as

it

on

to stay alive. 21 For your part, take

away, to serve

God commanded

as

food for you and

him, so he did.

7

Then the Lord said to Noah, "Go into the ark, with all your household, for you alone have I found righteous before Me in this generation. 2 Of every clean animal you shall take seven pairs, males and their mates, and of every animal that

is

not clean, two, a male and

birds of the sky also, seven pairs, male all the earth. 4 For in

forty days

that 6

said to Moses,

let

be darkness upon the land of Egypt,

descended upon see

said, "I stand

God and before you. 17 Forgive my offense with the Lord your God that He but remove

lifted the locusts

21

field,

your

and plead

just this once, this

left,

the land of Egypt.

25 But

Moses

said,

and burnt offerings to

Traditionally, but incorrectly,

shall

be

said, left

"Go, worship the Lord!

behind; even your children

"You yourself must provide us with up to the Lord our God; 26 our

offer

"Red Sea."

99

torah EXODUS own

10.27

—

go along with us not a hoof shall remain behind: for we must select from it for the worship of the Lord our God; and we shall not know with what we are to worship the LORD until we livestock, too, shall

Lord

arrive there." 27 But the

agree to

stiffened Pharaoh's heart

go. 28 Pharaoh said to him, "Be

them

let

and he would not

gone from me! Take

me again, for the moment you look upon my face you And Moses replied, "You have spoken rightly. I shall not see

care not to see shall die." 29

your face again!"

11 And

the

Lord

said to

Moses,

upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt; after indeed, when he lets you go, he will 2 Tell

the people to borrow, each

from

hers, objects

"I will bring

you go from here; you out of here one and all.

drive

man from his neighbor and

of silver and gold." 3 The

favorably toward the people. Moreover,

teemed

but one more plague

that he shall let

Lord

each

woman

disposed the Egyptians

Moses himself was much

es-

of Egypt, among Pharaoh's courtiers and among the

in the land

people. 4Moses said,

among

from the

And

who

says the 5

is

Lord: Toward midnight

and every

of Pharaoh

first-born

the slave girl cattle. 6

"Thus

the Egyptians,

first-born in the land

who

sits

on

never been or will ever be again;

—

7 but

all

go forth shall die,

I

his throne to the first-born

behind the millstones; and

there shall be a loud cry in

will

of Egypt

all

of

the first-born of the

the land of Egypt, such as has

not a dog

shall snarl a at

any of the

you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. 8 Then all these courtiers of yours shall come down to me and bow low to me, saying, 'Depart, you and all the people who follow you!' After that I will depart." And he Israelites, at

or beast

in order that

Pharaoh's presence in hot anger.

left 9

man

Now

the

order that

Lord

My

had

marvels

said to Moses,

may

and Aaron had performed had

stiffened the heart

go from

"Pharaoh

will

not heed you, in

be multiplied in the land of Egypt."

all

10

these marvels before Pharaoh, but the

of Pharaoh so that he would not

let

Moses

Lord

the Israelites

his land.

12

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: 2 This month shall mark for you the beginning of the months; it shall be the J

100

Others "more (or whet) his tongue."

torah EXODUS

a

3 Speak

of the months of the year for you.

first

of

whole community

to the

and say that on the tenth of this month each of them

Israel

lamb a

lamb to

to a family, a

4 But if the

a household.

12.19

shall take

household

too

is

him share one with a neighbor who dwells nearby, in proportion to the number of persons: you shall contribute for the lamb according to what each household will eat. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a yearling male; you may take it from the sheep or from the small for a lamb,

let

goats. 6You shall keep

and

all

watch over

it

twilight. 7 They shall take

some of the blood and put

posts and the lintel of the houses in

same night; they

eat the flesh that

which they

shall eat 9

unleavened bread and with bitter herbs.

cooked

in

over the it is left

n This

fire. 10

until is

You

the

and

beast;

Lord.

13

I will

And

Lord.

plague will destroy you 14This

day

Lord

institution for

time.

the very

first

eats leavened

all

day you

16

You

loins girded,

12 For

that night

the blood

any of

hurriedly:

I will

it is

a

go through the

all

the gods of Egypt,

I

are staying shall

will pass over you, so that

no

the land of Egypt.

I strike

shall celebrate

shall celebrate

it

as

it

an

days you shall eat unleavened bread; on

remove leaven from your houses, first

shall celebrate a sacred

is

for

whoever

day to the seventh day, that person

shall

occasion on the

work

at all shall

to eat, that alone

may

first

day, and a sacred

be done on them; only

be prepared for you.

17

You

observe the [Feast of] Unleavened Bread, for on this very dav

throughout the ages

as

an institution for

from the fourteenth day of the month

at

all

"kid." Heb. seh

time.

shall 18 In

I

observe this dav the

first

month,

evening, you shall eat unleavened

bread until the twenty-first day of the month

Or Or

it

on the houses where you

15 Seven

shall

if

your sandals on your

shall eat

brought your ranks out of the land of Egypt; vou

b

entrails

Israel.

what every person

a

and

raw, or

every first-born in the land of Egypt, both

occasion on the seventh day; no

shall

legs,

with

fire, it

it.

throughout the ages; you

bread from the

be cut off from

—head,

be to you one of remembrance: you

shall

as a festival to the

it.

not eat any of

mete out punishments to

the blood

when I see when

be a sign for you:

burn your

it:

down

land of Egypt and strike

I

Do

your hand; and you

passover offering b to the

man and

shall

shall eat

staff in

are to eat

at

it

two door8 They shall

the

not leave any of it over until morning;

shall

morning, you

how you

on

it

roasted over the

it

any way with water, but roasted

and your

feet,

day of this month;

until the fourteenth

the assembled congregation of the Israelites shall slaughter

means either "sheep" or "goat"; Heb. pesah.

cf.

v.

at evening. 19

No

leaven shall

5.

"protective offering";

101

torah EXODUS

12.20

be found in your houses for seven days. For whoever eats what that person shall be cut off a stranger or a citizen

in

all

21

of the country.

your settlements you

Moses then summoned

is

leavened,

from the community of Israel, whether he

shall eat

20 You shall eat

is

nothing leavened;

unleavened bread.

the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go,

all

pick out lambs for your families, and slaughter the passover offering. 22 Take a

bunch of hyssop, dip

apply some of the blood that

blood that

is

in the basin,

and

and to the two

23 For

will see the c

blood on the

lintel

the door and not

24 "You shall

He

let

and the two doorposts, and the

25

all

And when you enter the land

has promised, you shall observe this

children ask you, 'What

Lord

will

the Destroyer enter and smite your home.

observe this as an institution for

your descendants. you, as

in the

in the basin to the lintel

None of you shall go outside the door of his house until when the Lord goes through to smite the Egyptians, He

doorposts.

morning. pass over

it

is

do you mean by

time, for

you and

for

Lord will give 26 And when your

that the rite.

this rite?' 27you shall say, 'It

is

Lord, because He passed over the houses of Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but saved our

the passover sacrifice to the the Israelites in houses.'

The people then bowed low in homage. 28 And the Israelites went and did so; just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

Lord

down all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh who sat on the throne to the first-born of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the cattle. 30 And Pharaoh arose in the night, with all his courtiers 29 In

and

all

the middle of the night the

the Egyptians

—because there was

struck

a

loud cry in Egypt; for there

He summoned Moses my people, you and the Israelites with you! Go, worship the Lord as you said! 32 Take also your flocks and your herds, as you said, and begone! And may you bring a blessing upon me also!"

was no house where there was not someone dead. and Aaron

33

in the night

Thc Egyptians urged

country, for they said,

and

said,

31

"Up, depart from among

the people on, impatient to have

"We

shall all

be dead."

34 So the

them

leave the

people took their

dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls wrapped in their cloaks upon their shoulders. 35 The Israelites had done Moses' bidding and borrowed from the Egyptians objects of silver and gold, and clothing. c

102

Or

"protect";

cf.

v.

11, note

b.

torah EXODUS 36

And the Lord had disposed the

and they 37

The

them have

let

Israelites

thousand

Egyptians favorably toward the people,

their request; thus they stripped the Egyptians.

journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about

men on

foot, aside

from

tude went up with them, and very 39

And

13.3

children.

much

38

Moreover,

livestock,

a

six

hundred

mixed multi-

both flocks and herds.

they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that thev had taken out

of Egypt, for

it

was not leavened,

since they

had been driven out of Egypt

and could not delay; nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves. 40The length

and

of time that the

thirty years; 41 at the

the very day, 42 That

was

all

the ranks of the

for the

Lord

of Egypt; that same night of

throughout the

Israel

43 The

offering:

may

eat

Israelites lived in

Egypt was four hundred

end of the four hundred and

Lord

a night is

thirtieth year, to

departed from the land of Egypt.

of vigil to bring them out of the land

the Lord's, one of vigil for

all

the children

ages.

Lord said to Moses and Aaron: This is the law of the passover No foreigner shall eat of it. 44 But any slave a man has bought of it once he has been circumcised. 45 No bound or hired laborer

shall eat

of

it.

46 It shall be eaten in

one house: you

the flesh outside the house; nor shall

you break

then he shall be admitted to offer country. But

it;

all

he

who

his males

no uncircumcised person may

eat

of it.

47 The

whole

dwells with

vou

must be circumcised;

then be

shall

not take any of

bone of it.

a

48 If a stranger

community of Israel shall offer it. would offer the passover to the Lord,

shall

as a citizen

49 There shall

of the be one

who dwells among you. the Lord had commanded Moses

law for the citizen and for the stranger 50

And

all

the Israelites did so; as

and Aaron, so they 51 That

did.

very day the

Lord

freed the Israelites

from the land of Egypt,

troop by troop.

13 The Lord every first-born; Israelites

is

man and

beast, the first issue

to

Me

womb among

the

2 "Consecrate

of evcrv

Mine."

And Moses "Remember 3

spoke further to Moses, saving,

said to the people, this day,

on which you went

free

from Egvpt, the house

103

torah EXODUS

13.4

how

of bondage,

you from

freed

be eaten. 4 You

with a mighty hand: no

it

on this day, in the month 2 of when the Lord has brought you into the land of the Ca-

leavened bread 5 So,

Abib.

Lord

the

shall

go

free

naanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites,

He swore to your fathers to give you, you

observe in this

shall

6 "Seven

month

and the

a land flowing

Jebusites,

which

with milk and honey,

the following practice:

days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day

Lord. 7 Throughout the seven days unno leavened bread shall be found with you,

there shall be a festival of the

leavened bread shall be eaten;

And you shall explain on that day, 'It is because of what the Lord did for me when went free from Egypt.' 9 "And this shall serve you as a sign on your hand and as a reminder on

and no leaven

shall

be found in

your

all

territory. 8

to your son I

—

your forehead b

—

mouth

keep

shall

in order that the

that with a

this institution at its set

n "And when the Lord has ites, as He swore to you and 12

you

male

shall set apart for the

firstling that

ling ass

you

your

cattle

shall- redeem

Lord

freed

LORD may

be in your 10

you from Egypt.

You

time from year to year.

brought you into the land of the Canaanto your fathers, and has given

Lord drop

every shall

with a sheep;

first

issue

be the Lord's.

if you

it

to you,

of the womb: every 13 But

do not redeem

every

it,

first-

you must

children.

And you must redeem every first-born male among your 14And when, in time to come, your son asks you, saying, What

does

mean?' you

break

the

its

this

neck.

Lord

shall say to

in the land

16

"And

Lord among my

every

so

be

it

shall

Now when

Pharaoh

of the land of the people J

Or

b Lit. c

a

mighty hand that

let

us go, the

may have

a

"between your eyes."

male

as a sign

a

When

slew every first-born

man and

beast.

Therefore

I

of the womb, but redeem every

issue

upon your hand and

mighty hand the

let

the people go,

Philistines,

"on the new moon."

Others "frontlet."

first

Lord

15

sons.'

your forehead that with

17

was with

'It

of Egypt, the first-born of both

sacrifice to the

first-born

him,

brought us out from Egypt, the house of bondage.

Pharaoh stubbornly refused to

104

Teaching of the

mighty hand the

although

it

Lord

God

as a

freed us

symbol on

from Egypt."

did not lead them by

was nearer;

for

God

said,

way

"The

change of heart when they see war, and return to

torah EXODUS 18 So

Egypt." at the

God

led the people roundabout, bv

way of the

14.12

wilderness

Sea of Reeds.

Now

went up armedd out of the land of Egypt. 19And Moses took with him the bones of Joseph, who had exacted an oath from the Israelites

the children of Israel, saying,

mv

then you shall carrv up 20 They set

Lord went

them along the way, and

light, that

and the

will

be sure to take notice of vou:

out from Succoth, and encamped

the wilderness. 21 The to guide

"God

bones from here with you."

before

them

in a pillar

they might travel day and night.

pillar

of

fire

at

Etham,

at the

edge of

of cloud bv day,

in a pillar

of fire bv night, to give them 22 The pillar

of cloud by dav

by night did not depart from before the people.

14

The Lord said to Moses: 2 Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baalzephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. 3 Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, "They are astray in the land; the wilderness has closed in on them." 4Then I will stiffen Pharaoh's heart and he will pursue them, that

may gain glory through Pharaoh and shall know that I am the Lord. And they did so. I

5

When

and is

and took

his

and the

rest

chariots, 8

had

we have done,

chariot

his host;

and the Egyptians

the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh

his courtiers

this

all

The Lord

a

change of heart about the people and

releasing Israel

men

with him;

Israelites.

took

six

As the

his warriors

He

said,

"What

ordered a his

hundred of

his picked

officers b in all

of them.

of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he gave Israelites

Egyptians gave chase to them, and

horsemen, and

7 he

of the chariots of Egypt, with

stiffened the heart

chase to the

from our sendee?"

6

all

were departing

deriantlv,

c

9

the

the chariot horses of Pharoah, his

overtook them encamped bv the

sea,

near Pi-

hahiroth, before Baal-zephon. 10

As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites caught sight of the Egvptians advancing upon them. Greatly frightened, the Israelites cried out to the Lord. u And they said to Moses, "Was it for want of graves in Egvpt that you brought us to die in the wilderness? What have vou done to us, taking us out of Egypt? 12 Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, saying, 'Let us be,

and we

d

Meaning ofHeb. hamushim

*

See on Gen. 46.29.

b

Heb. shalish;

h

112

"Amalek and his people." "The Lord is my banner."

Meaning ofHeb.

kes uncertain.

Heb. ger. Lit.

"{My) God

is

help."

torah EXODUS

'

18.26

had befallen them on the way, and how the Lord had delivered And Jethro rejoiced over all the kindness that the Lord had shown when He delivered them from the Egyptians. 10 "Blessed be the

ships that 9

them. Israel

Lord," Jethro

said,

"who

you from the Egyptians and from

delivered

who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egypn Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, c ~yes, by the of their very schemes against [the people] ." c 12 And Jethro, Moses'

Pharaoh, and tians.

result

God; and Aaron

father-in-law,

brought a burnt offering and

came with

the elders of Israel to partake of the meal before

all

sacrifices for

God

with

Moses' father-in-law. 13 Next

Moses

day,

sat as magistrate

among the

stood about Moses from morning until evening. in-law saw

how much

16

When

Why do

you from morning

to his father-in-law, "It

God.

when Moses' fathersaid, "What is this

he had to do for the people, he

thing that you are doing to the people? the people stand about

people, while the people

14 But

is

they have a dispute,

it

I

actd alone, while

until evening?"

because the people

tween one person and another, and

you

come

to

15

me

Moses

replied

to inquire of

comes before me, and

make known

all

I

decide be-

the laws and teachings

of God." 17 But

Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing you are doing

not right;

18

you

For the task

is

will surely

wear yourself out, and these people

too heavy for you; you cannot do

it

alone. 19

is

as well.

Now

listen

you counsel, and God be with you! You represent the 20 and enjoin upon them the laws and the teachings, and make known to them the way they are to go and the practices they are to follow. 21 You shall also seek out from among all the people capable men who fear God, trustworthy men who spurn ill-gotten gain. Set these over them as chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and 22 let them judge the people at all times. Have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them decide every minor dispute themselves. Make it easier for yourself by letting them share the burden with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands you you will be able to bear up; and all these people too will go home unwearied." 24 Moses heeded his father-in-law and did just as he had said. 25 Moses chose capable men out of all Israel, and appointed them heads over the to me.

I will

give

people before God: you bring the disputes before God,

—

people

—

chiefs

the people at c- c

of thousands, hundreds,

all

Meaning ofHeb.

d Lit. "sit" as

fifties,

—

and

times: the difficult matters diey

tens; 26 and they

would bring

judged

to Moses,

uncertain.

magistrate;

cf.

v.

13.

113

torah EXODUS and

minor matters they would decide themselves. 27 Then Moses father-in-law farewell, and he went his way to his own land.

the

all

bade

18.27

his

19 On

new moon after the Israelites had gone forth from on that very day, they entered the wilderness of Sinai. 2 Having journeyed from Rephidim, they entered the wilderness of Sinai and encamped in the wilderness. Israel encamped there in front of the mountain, 3 and Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob and declare to the children of Israel: 4'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Me. 5 Now then, if you will obey Me faithfully and keep My covenant, you shall be the third

the land of Egypt,

My

treasured possession

Mine,

6 but

you

shall

among

be to

Me

These are the words that you

a

all

the peoples. Indeed,

all

kingdom of priests and

shall

the earth

is

a holy nation.'

speak to the children of

Israel."

came and summoned the elders of the people and put before them all that the Lord had commanded him. 8 A11 the people answered as one, saying, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do!" And Moses brought back the people's words to the Lord. ?And the Lord said to 7Moses

you in a thick cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you and so trust you ever after." Then Moses reported the people's words to the Lord, 10 and the Lord said to Moses, "Go to the people and warn them to stay pure a today and tomorrow. Let them wash their clothes. n Let them be ready for the third day; for on the third day the Lord will come down, in the sight of all the people, on Mount Sinai. 12 You shall set bounds for the people round about, saying, 'Beware of going up the mountain or touching the border of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death: 13 no hand shall touch him, but he shall be either stoned or shot; beast or man, he shall not live.' When the ram's horn b ~sounds a long blast, b they may go up on the mountain."

Moses, "I

14

will"

come

to

Moses came down from the mountain

to the people and

people to stay pure, and they washed their clothes. people, "Be ready for the third day:

16

•'

Cf.

On v.

the third day, as

15.

bb Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

114

do not go near

15

a

And

warned the

he said to the

woman."

morning dawned, there was thunder, and

light-

torah EXODUS upon

ning, and a dense cloud

horn; and

the mountain, and a very loud blast of the

who were

in the camp trembled. 17Moses led camp toward God, and they took their places at

the people

all

people out of the

20.11

the the

foot of the mountain.

Now Mount

was all in smoke, for the Lord had come down smoke rose like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled violently. 19 The blare of the horn grew louder and louder. As Moses spoke, God answered him in thunder. 20 The Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain, and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain and Moses went up. 21 The Lord said to Moses, "Go down, warn the people not to break through to the Lord to gaze, lest many of them perish. 22The priests also, who come near the Lord, must stay pure, lest the Lord break out against them." 23 But Moses said to the Lord, "The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us saying, 'Set bounds about the mountain and sanctify it.' " 24 So the Lord said to him, "Go down, and come back 18

upon

it

in

Sinai

the

fire;

together with Aaron; but to

come up

Lord,

to the

let

not the

lest

He

priests or the

people break through 25

break out against them."

And Moses

went down to the people and spoke to them.

20 God 2I

the

spoke

Lord am

these words, a saying:

all

the house of bondage: 4 You shall

what

is

God who

brought you out of the land of Egypt,

You

have no other gods besides Me.

your 3

shall

not make for yourself a sculptured image, or any likeness of

in the heavens above, or 5

You

on the

earth below, or in the waters

bow down

them or serve them. For I the Lord your God am an impassioned God, visiting the guilt of the parents upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generations of those who reject Me, 6 but showing kindness to the thousandth generation of those who love Me and keep My commandments. TYou shall not b_ swear falsely by~ b the name of the Lord your God; under the

for the 8

earth.

Lord

will

Remember

and do

not clear one

your work,

all

shall

male or female

slave,

settlements.

•>

not

who

n For

10 but

Tradition varies as

cattle,

in six days the

Some Hebrew manuscripts and

it

falsely

—

is

of the

vou

a sabbath

shall labor

of the

Lord

you, your son or daughter, vour

or the stranger

Lord made

Commandments

in

who

is

within your

heaven and earth and

the Greek read "all the people";

to the division

by His name.

holy. 9 Six davs

the seventh day

not do any work or your

to

swears

the sabbath day and keep

your God: you

c

shall

cf.

v.

sea,

16.

w. 2-14, and

as to the

numbering

of the verses f-om 13 on. bb Others "take in vain."

115

torah EXODUS and

all

Lord

that

is

20.12

in them,

and

He

rested

on

the seventh day; therefore the

blessed the sabbath day and hallowed

Honor your

it.

and your mother, that you may long endure on the land that the Lord your God is assigning to you. 12

father

You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 14 You shall not covet your neighbor's house: you shall not 13

covet your

neighbor's wife, or his male or female slave, or his ox or his

anything that 15 All

is

the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the blare of the

back and stood

we

at a distance.

will obey;

but

let

16

not

answered the people, "Be not test

or

your neighbor's.

horn and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw "and

ass,

"You speak

God

afraid; for

you do not go

astray." 18 So the people

approached the thick cloud where

God

has

may be

remained

God

they

fell

to us," they said to Moses,

speak to us,

you, and in order that the fear of Him

it,

lest

we

die." 17Moses

come only

in order to

ever with you, so that

at a distance,

while Moses

was.

The Lord said to Moses: Thus shall you say to the Israelites: You yourselves saw that I spoke to you from the very heavens: 20With Me, therefore, you shall not make any gods of silver, nor shall you make for yourselves any gods of gold. 21 Make for Me an altar of earth and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your sacrifices of well-being, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be mentioned I will come to you and bless you. 22 And if you make for Me an altar of stones, do not build it of hewn stones; for by wielding your tool upon them you have profaned them. 23 Do not ascend My altar by steps, that your nakedness may not be exposed upon 19

it.

Others "peace-offering."

116

Meaning o/shelamin

uncertain.

torah EXODUS

JmJ X^ These are the rules that you 2

When you

Hebrew

acquire a

seventh year he shall go shall leave single; if

free,

shall set before

he

slave,

21.21

them:

shall serve six years; in the 3 If

without payment.

he had a wife, his wife

he came

shall leave

single,

he

4 If his

with him.

master gave him a wife, and she has borne him children, the wife and her children shall belong to the master, and he shall leave alone. slave declares, "I love free," 6 his

go

to

my master,

master

5

But

if

the

my wife and children: I do not wish him before God. a He shall be brought

and

shall take

to the door or the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an

and he

awl; 7

then remain his slave for

shall

When a man selis his are. 8 If

slaves

daughter

sell

let

who

as

male

designated

her be redeemed; he shall not have the right

her to outsiders, since he broke faith with her.

her for his son, he shall deal with her as 10 If

not be freed

she proves to be displeasing to her master,

her for himself, he must to

life.

as a slave, she shall

is

And if he designated

9

the practice with free maidens.

he marries another, he must not withhold from

her clothing, or her conjugal rights. b

n If he

fails

one her food,

this

her in these three ways,

she shall go free, without payment. 12

He who

fatally strikes a

it

by design, but

to

which he can 14

16

came about by an

him from

He who He who

—

him

shall

be put to death.

act

of God,

I will

13 If

he did not do

assign

you

a place

flee.

When a man schemes

shall take 15

it

man

against another and

My very

altar to

strikes his father

kidnaps a

kills

him treacherously, you

be put to death.

or his mother shall be put to death.

—

man whether

he has sold him or

is still

holding

be put to death.

shall

He who insults c his father or his mother shall be put to death. When men quarrel and one strikes the other with stone or fist,

17 18

he does not die but has to take to outdoors upon his

must pay 20

When

there and

he 3

is

staff,

for his idleness a

man

then, d

his

bed

the assailant shall

and

19 if

and

he then gets up and walks

go unpunished, except

that he

his cure.

strikes his slave,

male or female, with a rod, and he dies

he must be avenged.

not to be avenged, since he

is

21 But if

he survives a day or two,

the other's property.

Others "to the judges."

b

Or

c

Qr "reviles."

d Lit.

"ointments."

"under

his

hand."

117

torah EXODUS

21.22

When men

22

and one of them pushes

fight,

woman and

a pregnant

a

no other damage ensues, the one responsible e shall be fined according as the woman's husband may exact from him, the payment to be based on reckoning/ 23 But if other damage ensues, the penalty shall be life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. miscarriage results, but

26 it,

When

he

man

a

shall let

strikes the eye

him go

free

of his

male or female, and destroys

slave,

on account of his

tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall

let

eye. 27If

him go

he knocks out the free

on account of

his tooth. 28

When

an ox gores a

man

woman to

or a

death, the ox shall be stoned

and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox is not to be punished. 29 If, however, that ox has been in the habit of goring, and its owner, though warned, has

woman 30 If

—the ox

ransom

redeem

its

guard

slave,

When

ox or an

shall

he

is

man

or a

be put to death.

upon him

laid

rule. 32 But if

pay thirty shekels of

shall

a pit, or digs a pit

ass falls into

restitution;

a

it kills

shall

to

the ox gores a

silver to

the master,

be stoned.

man opens

a

and

too, if it gores a minor, male or female, [the owner]

male or female, he

and the ox

it,

owner, too,

upon him, he must pay whatever

laid

life. 31 So,

his

failed to

be stoned and

be dealt with according to the same

shall

33

is

shall

34 the

it,

and does not cover it, and an pit must make

one responsible for the

pay the price to the owner, but

shall

shall

keep the dead

animal. 35

When

ox injures

a man's

the live ox and divide 36 If,

however,

owner has

known

it is

failed to

guard

his neighbor's

ox and

it

dies,

they shall

that the it,

sell

dead animal.

price; they shall also divide the

its

ox was in the habit of goring, and

he must restore ox for ox, but

shall

its

keep the

dead animal. 37

sWhen

^^ // •

is

•

shall

a

man

pay

found

tunneling, 3

a

and he

is

for

it

or

sells it,

the sheep. —

he *If

beaten to death, there

sun has risen on him, there

is

bloodguilt

b

must make restitution; if he lacks the means, he shall whether ox or ass or sheep theft. 3 But if what he stole

alive in his possession,

When

man

—

he

lets his livestock

«

Heb. "he."

f

Others "as the judges determine." This constitutes chap. 22.1 in some editions.

a

I.e,

under a wall for housebreaking. the thief of 21. 37.

shall

pay double.

loose to graze in another's land, and so

g

b I.e,

118

oxen for the ox, and four sheep

in his case. 2 If the

—He

be sold for his 4

five

an ox or a sheep, and slaughters

the thief is seized while

no bloodguilt

in that case.

is

steals

torah EXODUS must make

allows a field or a vineyard to be grazed bare, he

impairment of that

for the

When

5

a fire

who

consumed, he

is

restitution

or vineyard.

field

and spreads to thorns, so that stacked, standing,

started

is

or growing d grain

22.23

must make

started the fire

res-

titution. 6

When

man

a

gives

money

or goods to another for safekeeping, and

they are stolen from the man's house 7 if

double;

the thief

Gode

before

is

if

that he has not laid hands

charges of misappropriation

ment, or any other

of both

—

loss,

on

is

caught, he shall pay shall

depose

the other's property.

8 In all

—

pertaining to an ox, an

whereof one party

come

parties shall

the thief

not caught, the owner of the house

before God: he

alleges,

ass, a

"This

sheep, a gar-

is it"

—the

case

whom God declares guilty shall

pay double to the other. 9

When

man

a

gives to another an ass, an ox, a sheep or any other

animal to guard, and about,

10 an

it

one has not

that the

dies or

oath before the laid

must acquiesce, and no was stolen

from him, he

13

When

injured or

is

carried off, with

shall decide

no witness

between the two of them

hands on the property of the other; the owner restitution shall be shall

torn by beasts, he shall bring

been torn by

is

Lord

make

as evidence;

it

made.

restitution to

u But its

if [the

owner.

animal]

12 If it

was

he need not replace what has

beasts.

man borrows

a

[an animal]

from another and

it

dies or

is

owner not being with it, he must make restitution. 14 If its owner was with it, no restitution need be made; but if it was hired, he is injured,

its

entitled to the hire. 15 If

a

man seduces

a virgin for

whom the bride-price has not been paid/

with her, he must make her his wife by payment of a bride-price.

and

lies

16 If

her father refuses to give her to him, he must

still

weigh out

silver in

accordance with the bride-price for virgins.

You

17 18 19

not tolerates a sorceress.

shall

Whoever Whoever

lies

with a beast

sacrifices to a

shall

be put to death.

god other than

the

Lord

alone shall be pro-

scribed. 11 20

You

shall

in the land 21

You

them, c

I

not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers

of Egypt.

shall

will

not

heed

ill-treat

any

widow

or orphan.

soon

as they cry

their outcry as

22 If

you do mistreat

out to Me,

23 and

My

Lit. "excellence."

d Lit. "field." c

See note on 21.6.

f

So that she

is

unmarried;

cf.

Deut. 20.7; 22.23 ff.

s Lit. "let live." h

See Lev. 27.29.

119

torah EXODUS

22.24

anger shall blaze forth and

will put

I

you to the sword, and your own

wives shall become widows and your children orphans. 24 If you lend

toward them

money

My people,

to

no

as a creditor: exact

to the poor

neighbor's garment in pledge, you must return sets; 26 it is his

he

if

out to Me,

cries

you, do not act

25 If you take

your

him before the sun his skin. In what else

to

it

only clothing, the sole covering for

he sleep? Therefore,

shall

among

from them.

interest

pay heed, for

I will

I

am

compassionate. 27You shall

not

revile

God, nor put

upon

a curse

among

a chieftain

your people. 28

You

You

shall

not

i_

Me

shall give

same with your

put off the skimming of the the first-born

and your

cattle

mother; on the eighth day you 30

You

shall

in the field;

shall cast

must not carry

—

mightya to do wrong so as to pervert

4 it

do the

remain with

its

Me.

to

to the dogs.

it

false

rumors; you 2

the guilty to act as a malicious witness:

to a poor

it

shall

iti

vats. _i

be holy people to Me: you must not eat flesh torn by beasts

you

23 You

seven days

shall give

of your

sons. 29 You shall

among your

flocks:

yield

first

man

it

you

in favor

shall

You

not join hands with

shall

shall neither side

with the

not give perverse testimony in a dispute

of the mighty a

— nor 3

you show deference

shall

in his dispute.

When you encounter your enemy's ox or ass wandering, you must take

back to him.

When you see

enemy lying under its burden and would you must nevertheless raise it with him. 6 You shall not subvert the rights of your needy in their disputes. 7 Keep far from a false charge; do not bring death on those who are innocent 5

refrain

and

from

the ass of your

raising b

it,

in the right, for I will

8

not acquit the wrongdoer.

for bribes blind the clear-sighted

and upset the

pleas

Do not take

bribes,

who

of those

are in

the right. 9

You

shall

not oppress a stranger, for you

know

the feelings of the

stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt. 10 Six

years

you

seventh you shall

shall

sow your

let it rest

and

land and gather in lie

people eat of it, and what they leave the ''

i

120

fallow. Let the let

same with your vineyards and your

Meaning ofHeb. I.e.,

its

yield;

n but

the wild beasts eat.

You

olive groves.

uncertain.

the male first-born.

*

Others "multitude."

b

For

this use

of the verb 'zb,

cf.

Neh.

3.8, 34.

For the whole

verse see

in the

needy among your

Deut. 22.4.

shall

do

torah EXODUS 12 Six

days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall

from

cease

23.30

labor, in order that

your ox and your

may

ass

and that

rest,

your bondman and the stranger may be refreshed.

on guard concerning

13 Be

all

14Three

commanded you

have

as I

shall

not be heard on your

Me:

times a year you shall hold a festival for

the Feast of Unleavened Bread

—

Make no mention

that I have told you.

of the names of other gods; they

15

You shall observe

— eating unleavened bread

at the set

lips.

for seven days

month c of Abib,

time in the

for in

you went forth from Egypt; and none shall appear before Me emptyhanded; 16 and the Feast of the Harvest, of the first fruits of your work, of what you sow in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in the results of your work from the field. it

17 Three

times a year

all

your males

shall

appear before the Sovereign, the

Lord.

You

18

and the 19

The

Lord

not offer the blood of My

of My

choice

festal offering shall

first fruits

of your

soil

shall

am

you

left

shall

lying until morning.

bring to the house of the

not boil a kid in

its

mother's milk.

sending an angel before you to guard you on the way and to

bring you to the place that

obey him.

Do

My Name

is

I

have made ready.

in

When My

21 Pay

heed to him and

not defy him, for he will not pardon your offenses, since

him;

22 but if

you obey him and do

be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your 23

with anything leavened;

sacrifice

not be

your God.

You 20 I

shall fat

angel goes before

that

all

I say, I will

foes.

you and brings you

Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites,

to the Amorites, the

and the

Jebusites,

and

bow down to their gods in worship or them down and smash their pillars to bits. 25 You shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will remove sickness from your midst. 26 No woman I

annihilate them,

24you shall

not

follow their practices, but shall tear

in

your land

shall

miscarry or be barren.

I

will let

you enjoy the

full

count

of your days. 27I will all

send forth

the people

turn

My

and

terror before you,

among whom you come, and

I

tail d before you. 28 I will send a plague

drive out before

you the

I

will

throw into panic

will

make

all

your enemies

ahead of you, and

Hivites, the Canaanites,

and the

not drive them out before you in a single year,

lest

become them out

See note at 13.4.

d Lit. c

shall

the land

desolate and the wild beasts multiply to your hurt. 30 I will drive c

it

Hittites. 29 I will

"back."

Others "hornet"; meaning ofHeb. uncertain.

12 i

torah EXODUS you

before

23.31

you have increased and possess the land. your borders from the Sea of Reeds to the Sea of Philistia, by

little

31 I will set

until

little,

and from the wilderness to the Euphrates; for

I will

deliver the inhabitants

them out before you. 32 You shall make no covenant with them and their gods. 33 They shall not remain in your land, lest they cause you to sin against Me; for you will

of the land into your hands, and you

serve their

gods

—and

will

it

will drive

prove a snare to you.

24

Then He said to Moses, "Come up to the Lord, with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel, and bow low from afar. 2 Moses alone shall come near the Lord; but the others shall not come near, nor shall the people come up with him." 3 Moses went and repeated to the people all the commands of the Lord and

all

the rules; and

all

the

the people answered with one voice, saying, "All

Lord has commanded we will do!" 4Moses then wrote

the things that the

down

all

commands of the Lord. up an

Early in the morning, he set

with twelve

pillars for

Israelites,

and put

read a

it

we

it

altar. 7

will faithfully

do!"

people and said, "This

likeness

of

10 and

a

all

these

they saw the

God

"All that the

Lord

has spoken it

on the

Lord now

commands." seventy elders of Israel

of Israel: under His like the

feet there

very sky for purity.

did not raise His hand against the leaders'3 of the ate

took one

the record of the covenant and

the blood of the covenant that the

pavement of sapphire,

God, and they

6 Moses

and the other part of the blood he

Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and

ascended;

designated some

Moses took the blood and dashed

makes with you concerning 9

in basins,

And they said,

a 8

is

He

and they offered burnt offerings and

Then he took

aloud to the people.

5

of well-being to the Lord.

sacrificed bulls as offerings

dashed against the

the foot of the mountain,

the twelve tribes of Israel.

young men among the part of the blood

altar at

Israelites;

was the

n Yet He

they beheld

and drank.

"Come up to Me on the mountain and you the stone tablets with the teachings and commandments which I have inscribed to instruct them." 13 So Moses and his attendant Joshua arose, and Moses ascended the mountain of God. 12

The Lord

said to

wait there, and

a-a

b

122

Lit.

"we

will

do

Meaning ofHeb.

I

and

Moses,

will give

obey.

'asilim uncertain.

torah EXODUS 14

To

we

the elders he had said, "Wait here for us until

have Aaron and

Hur with you;

anyone

let

who has

25.19

You

return to you.

a legal matter approach

them." 15

When Moses had 16

mountain. cloud hid

it

ascended the mountain, the cloud covered the

The Presence of the Lord abode on Mount

On

for six days.

the seventh day

Now the Presence

the midst of the cloud. 17

consuming

He

of the

Lord

and the

Sinai,

called to

Moses from

appeared in the

on the top of the mountain. 18 Moses went inside the cloud and ascended the mountain; and Moses remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights. sight of the Israelites as a

fire

nnnn

25 The Lord

spoke to Moses, saying:

Me

bring

gifts; you shall accept moves him. 3 And these

heart so

them: gold,

linen, goats' hair,

5

tanned ram

6 oil for lighting, spices for 7lapis lazuli

Me

skins,

3

the Israelite people to

from every person whose

are the gifts that 4 blue, purple,

and copper;

silver,

gifts for

2 Tell

you

shall accept

and crimson

from

yarns, fine

dolphin b skins, and acacia wood;

the anointing oil and for the aromatic incense;

setting, for the ephod and for the breastthem make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. 9 Exactly as I show you the pattern of the Tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings so shall you make it. 10 They shall make an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a 8

piece.

and other stones for

And

let

—

—

cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.

—overlay

gold

12 Cast

about. rings

inside

it

four gold rings for

on one of its

wood and on the

overlay

side walls

in the rings in the

Ark

You

17

a cubit

side walls

them with

of the

of the

it,

shall

and

gold;

a cover

a

14 then insert

13

it

with pure

gold molding round

to be attached to

its

Make

four

feet,

not be removed from

at the

which

I will

two

poles of acacia

the poles into the rings

it.

16

And

remain deposit

give you.

of pure gold, two and

a half wide. 18 Make

—

n Overlay

ark, for carrying the ark. 15 The poles shall

ark: they shall

make

it

and two on the other.

[the tablets of] the Pact

hammered work •»

—and make upon

and out

a half cubits

long and

—make them of

two cherubim of gold

two ends of the

cover.

19

Make one cherub

at

one

Others "rams' skins dyed red."

b

Or

c

Cf. Gen. 2.12

"dugonq"; meaning of Hebrew tahash uncertain.

and

note.

123

torah EXODUS

25.20

end and the other cherub

the other end; of one piece with the cover

at

you make the cherubim

shall

at its

two

ends. 20The cherubim shall have

They

their

wings spread out above, shielding the cover with

shall

confront each other, the faces of the cherubim being turned toward

their wings.

the cover: 21 Place the cover

on top of the Ark, after depositing inside the Ark the Pact that I will give you. 22 There I will meet with you, and I will impart to you from above the cover, from between the two cherubim that are on top of the Ark of the Pact all that I will command you

—

concerning the 23

You

shall

—

Israelite people.

make

of acacia wood, two cubits long, one cubit

a table

wide, and a cubit and a half high. 24 Overlay

molding around

a gold

and make for

it,

a gold

it.

molding

the poles of acacia

be

shall

for

Make

a

rim round

its

it

about. 26Make four

it,

gold rings

at its four legs. 27 The rings

as holders for poles to carry the table. 28Make

wood, and overlay them with gold; by

carried. 29Make its

libations;

with pure gold, and make

rim of a hand's breadth around

and attach the rings to the four corners

be next to the rim,

shall

25

these the table

bowls, ladles, jars and jugs with which to offer

make them of pure

bread of display, to be before

gold. 30And

Me

on the

table

you

shall set the

always.

You shall make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be made of hammered work; its base and its shaft, its cups, calyxes, and 31

petals shall be

of one

piece. 32 Six branches shall issue

from

its

sides; three

branches from one side of the lampstand and three branches from the other side of the lampstand.

shaped

like

34

and

And on

On

one branch there

almond-blossoms, each with calyx and

branch there calyx

33

shall

petals;

be

tiiree

so for

cups shaped

all

six

pair

almond-blossoms, each with

the lampstand itself there shall be four cups shaped like almond-

of branches; and a

of branches, and a

branches; so for

and

be three cups

and on the next

branches issuing from the lampstand.

blossoms, each with calyx and petals: a pair

like

shall

petals,

all

six

calyx,

calyx,

35 a calyx,

of one piece with

of one piece with

of one piece with

it,

it,

under the

branches issuing from the lampstand.

their stems shall be

of one piece with

it,

it,

under

under the second last pair

of

36Their calyxes

the whole of

it

a single

—

hammered piece of pure gold. 37Make its seven lamps the lamps shall be so mounted as to give the light on its front side— 38 and its tongs and fire

of

pans of pure gold. a talent

of pure gold.

that are being

124

39 It shall

be made, with

40 Note well,

shown you on

all

these furnishings, out

and follow the patterns for them

the mountain.

torah EXODUS

26

for the tabernacle, 3

As

of fine twisted

make

it

of ten

strips

26.23

of cloth; make these

of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, with a design of

linen,

2

cherubim worked into them.

The length of each

cloth shall be twentv-

eight cubits, and the width of each cloth shall be four cubits,

all

the cloths

3 Five

same measurements. of the cloths shall be joined to one another, and the other five cloths shall be joined to one another. 4Make

to have the

loops of blue wool on the edge of the outermost cloth of the one

set;

and

on the edge of the outermost cloth of the other set: 5 make fifty loops on the one cloth, and fifty loops on the edge of the end cloth of the other set, the loops to be opposite one another. 6And make fifty do

likewise

gold

clasps,

and couple the

cloths to

one another with the

clasps, so that

the tabernacle becomes one whole.

TYou

make

shall

then make cloths of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle;

cubits,

and the width of each cloth

to have the

same measurements.

and the other

six cloths 10

the front of the tent. cloth of the set.

l

one

set,

and

copper

iJVIake fifty

fifty

it

of the cloths of the

of the tabernacle, tent cloth shall

The length of each shall

13 while

9 Join five

of the cloths bv themselves,

fifty

nacle

and cover

skins,

and

it.

a covering

sixth cloth at

loops on the edge of the outermost

loops on the edge of the cloth of the other

and

fit

the clasps into the loops, and couple

becomes one whole.

12

As

for the overlapping

tent, the extra half-cloth shall overlap die

back

the extra cubit at either end of each length of

hang down to the bottom of the two 14

cloth shall be thirtv

be four cubits, the eleven cloths

by themselves; and fold over the

Make

clasps,

the tent together so that excess

8

the cloths eleven in number.

And make

sides

of the Taber-

for the tent a covering of tanned

ram

of dolphin skins above.

You shall make the plartks for the Tabernacle of acacia wood, upright. The length of each plank shall be ten cubits and the width of each plank a cubit and a half. 17 Each plank shall have two tenons, parallel to each other; do the same with all the planks of the Tabernacle. 18 Of the planks of the Tabernacle, make twenty planks on the south c side: 19 making forty silver sockets under the twenty' planks, two sockets under the one plank for its two tenons and two sockets under each following plank for its two tenons; 20 and for the other side wall of the Tabernacle, on the north side, twenty planks, 21 with their forty silver sockets, two sockets under the one plank and two sockets under each following plank. 22 And for the rear of the Tabernacle, to die west, make six planks; 23 and make two planks for 15

16

•>

b c

Here

the lowest of the coven of the Tabernacle. uncertain. Heb. uses two terms for "south. "

Meaning ofHeb. mcshullaboth

125

torah EXODUS

26.24

the corners of the Tabernacle at the rear. 24 d

bottom, and terminate

alike at the

with both of them: they

shall

They

top inside one

form the two

26

You

shall

side wall

it

be

corners. 25 Thus there shall be

two

sockets under

and two sockets under each of the other planks.

plank,

first

the

at

ring; d thus shall

eight planks with their sockets of silver: sixteen sockets,

the

match

shall

make

bars of acacia

wood:

five for

the planks of the one

27five bars for the planks

of the Tabernacle,

of the other side

wall of the Tabernacle, and five bars for the planks of the wall of the

Tabernacle

at the rear to the west. 28 The center

bar halfway up the planks

to end. 29 Overlay the planks

with gold, and make their

run from end

shall

and overlay the bars with gold.

rings of gold, as holders for the bars; 30 Then set

up the Tabernacle according

shown on

the mountain.

31

You

shall

twisted linen; it

upon four

of gold,

make it

a curtain

shall

you

34 Place the

wood there,

as a partition

upon

cover

that

the

you were

of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and it.

32

fine

Hang

overlaid with gold and having hooks 33

four sockets of silver.

and carry the Ark of the Pact shall serve

manner of it

have a design of cherubim worked into

posts of acacia

[set] in

to the

Hang the

curtain under the clasps,

behind the curtain, so that the curtain

between the Holy and the Holy of Holies.

Ark of the Pact

Holy of Holies.

in the

35 Place

the table outside the curtain, and the lampstand by the south wall of the

Tabernacle opposite the table, which 36

You

shall

make

posts of acacia

their

fine twisted linen,

wood

97

cubits

You

wide

shall

—the

make

cast for

them

the altar of acacia

altar is to

be square

of the Tent, of blue, purple, in embroidery. 37Make

done

and overlay them with gold

for the screen

—and

hooks being of gold

±-J /

to be placed by the north wall.

a screen for the entrance

and crimson yarns, and five

is

five sockets

wood,

five cubits

—and three

with copper.

3

Make

the pails for removing

scrapers, basins, flesh hooks, 4

Makc

for

it

its

four corners.

dd Meaning ofHeb. uncertain.

126

fire

pans

—make

2

its

it;

five

Make

its

and overlay

ashes, as well as its

all its

utensils

of copper.

of mcshwork in copper; and on the mesh make

a grating

four copper rings at

and

long and

cubits high.

horns on the four corners, the horns to be of one piece with it

of copper.

5 Set

the

mesh below, under

the ledge

torah EXODUS of the

altar,

so that

it

extends to the middle of the

altar. 6

And make

27.21

poles 7

The poles shall be inserted into the rings, so that the poles remain on the two sides of the altar when it is carried. 8 Make it hollow, of boards. As you were shown on the mountain, so shall they be made. for the altar, poles

9

You

On

shall

make

the enclosure of the Tabernacle:

the south side, 3 a hundred cubits of hangings of fine twisted linen

for the length their

of acacia wood, and overlay them with copper.

10with its

of the enclosure on that side

twenty posts and

twenty sockets of copper, the hooks and bands of the posts to be of

silver. 11

Again a hundred cubits of hangings for

—with

side

its

its

length along the north

twenty posts and their twenty sockets of copper, the hooks

and bands of the posts to be of silver. 12 For

ings,

the width of the enclosure,

on the west

side, fifty cubits

of hang-

with their ten posts and their ten sockets.

13 For

on the front, or east side, fifty cubits: on the one flank, with their three posts and 15 fifteen cubits of hangings on the other flank, with

the width of the enclosure

14 fifteen

cubits of hangings

their three sockets; their three posts sure, a screen

and

their three sockets; 16 and for the gate

of twenty

fine twisted linen,

done

cubits,

of the enclo-

of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and

in embroidery,

with their four posts and their

four sockets. 17A11

hooks 18

shall

round the enclosure

be of

silver; their

The length of the

linen.

The

all its

shall

be banded with

silver

and

their

sockets shall be of copper.

enclosure shall be a hundred cubits, and the width

throughout; and the height

fifty

for

the posts

five cubits

sockets shall be of copper:

service, as well as

all its

— [with hangings] of

19 all

fine twisted

the utensils of the Tabernacle, b

pegs and

all

the pegs of the court, shall

be of copper.

rmn 20

You

shall further instruct the Israelites to

olives for lighting, for kindling

bring you clear

lamps regularly.

21 Aaron

and

oil

of beaten

his sons shall

them up in the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain which is over Ark of] the Pact, [to burn] from evening to morning before the Lord. It shall be a due from the Israelites for all time, throughout the

set

[the

ages.

a

Cf. note at 26.18.

b I.e.,

of the Tabernacle enclosure; the furnishings inside were ofgold.

127

torah EXODUS

28.1

28

You

among

the Israelites, to serve

bring forward your brother Aaron, with his sons, from

shall

Me

as priests:

Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron.

2

3

brother Aaron, for dignity and adornment.

who

are

a_

whom

skillful,

I

Aaron, Nadab and Abihu,

Make

sacral

vestments for your

Next you

have endowed with the

Aaron's vestments, for consecrating him to serve

gift

Me

shall instruct all

of skill,

"

a

to

make

as priest. 4These are

the vestments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a fringed b

and

tunic, a headdress,

a sash.

your brother Aaron and

They

shall

make those

sacral

his sons, for priestly sendee to

fore, shall receive the gold, the blue, purple,

vestments for

Me;

5 they,

there-

and crimson yarns, and the

fine linen. 6 They shall

make

ephod of gold, of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, worked into designs. 7 It shall have two shoulderpieces attached; they shall be attached at its two ends. 8 And the decorated band that is upon it shall be made like it, of one piece with it: of gold, of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen. 9 Then take two lazuli stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: 10 six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, in the order of their birth. n On the two stones you shall make seal engravings the work of a lapidary of the names of the sons of Israel. Having bordered them with frames of gold, 12 attach the two stones to the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, as stones for remembrance of the Israelite people, whose names Aaron shall carry upon his two shoulderpieces for remembrance before the Lord. 13 Then make frames of gold 14 and two chains of pure gold; braid these like corded work, and fasten the corded chains to the frames. 15 You shall make a breastpiece of decision, worked into a design; make it in the style of the ephod: make it of gold, of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen. 16 It shall be square and doubled, a span in length and a span in width. 17 Set in it mounted stones, in four rows of stones. The first row shall be a row of d carnelian, chrysolite, and emand of fine twisted

the

linen,

—

—

11

erald; 18 thc

second row: a turquoise, a sapphire, and an amethyst;

third row: a jacinth, an agate, a lapis lazuli,

and

a jasper.

ings. 2 'The stones shall

of

Israel: twelve,

like seals,

a -a

b

128

c

See

d

The

v.

30

They

a crystal; 20 and the fourth row: a beryl,

shall

correspond

be framed with gold in their mount-

[in

number] to the names of the sons

corresponding to their names. They

each with

Lit. "wise of heart, Others "checkered."

and

its

whom

name, for the twelve

I have filled with a

spirit

is

tribes.

of wisdom."

below; others "judgment."

identity of several of these twelve stones

19 the

uncertain.

shall

be engraved

torah EXODUS

On the

28.40

make braided chains of corded work in pure gold. on the breastpiece, and fasten the two rings at the two ends of the breastpiece, 24 attaching the two golden cords to the two rings at the ends of the breastpiece. 25 Then fasten the two ends of the cords to the two frames, which you shall attach to the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, at the front. 26 Make two rings of gold and attach them to the two ends of the breastpiece, at its inner edge, which faces the ephod. 27And make two other rings of gold and fasten them on the front of the ephod, low on the two shoulder-pieces, close to its seam above the decorated band. 28 The breastpiece shall be held in place by a cord of blue from its rings to the rings of the ephod, so that the breastpiece rests on the decorated band and does not come loose from the ephod. 29Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel on the breastpiece of decision over his heart, when he enters the sanctuary, for remembrance before the LORD at all times. 30 Inside the breastpiece of decision vou shall place the Urim and Thummim, e so that they are over Aaron's heart when he comes before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall carry the instrument of decision for 22

23

breastpiece

Make two

rings of gold

the Israelites over his heart before the

You

31

for the

shall

head

make

shall

the robe of the

—so that

purple,

them

it

does not

around:

pomegranate,

all

34 a

—

it

tear. 33

and crimson yarns,

all

at all times.

ephod of pure blue. f

be in the middle of it; the opening

of woven work round about mail

Lord

all

golden

around the

shall

On

its

be

and

hem

a

bells

of

of gold between

pomegranate, a golden

of the robe.

a coat

pomegranates of blue,

around the hem, with

bell

opening

have a binding

opening of

like the

hem make

shall

32 The

35 Aaron shall

bell

wear

it

and

a

while

when he comes into the sanctuary before the Lord and when he goes out that he may not die. 36 You shall make a frontlet of pure gold and engrave on it the seal inscription: "Holy to the Lord." 37 Suspend it on a cord of blue, so that it may remain on the headdress; it shall remain on the front of the headdress. 38 It shall be on Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may take away anv officiating, so that the

sound of it

is

heard

—

sin arising

from the holy things

their sacred donations;

it

shall

that the Israelites consecrate,

be on his forehead

from anv of

at all times, to

them before the Lord. 39 You shall make the fringed tunic of fine linen. You shall make the headdress of fine linen. You shall make the sash of embroidered work. 40 And for Aaron's sons also you shall make tunics, and make

win

acceptance for

e

f

of these Wo words uncertain. They designate a kind of oracle; Others "all of blue."

Meaning

cf.

Num.

sashes for 27.21.

129

torah EXODUS

28.41

them, and make turbans for them, for dignity and adornment.

41 Put these

on your brother Aaron and on his sons as well; anoint them, and ordain themg and consecrate them to serve Me as priests. 42 You shall also make for them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; they shall, extend from the hips to the thighs. 43 They shall be worn by Aaron and his sons when they enter the Tent of Meeting or when they approach the altar to officiate in the sanctuary, so that they do not incur punishment and die. It shall be a law for all time for him and for his offspring to come.

29 Me

This

is

as priests:

blemish;

2 also

what you shall do to them in consecrating them to serve Take a young bull of the herd and two rams without unleavened bread, unleavened cakes with

unleavened wafers spread with 3 Place

—make

oil

these in one basket and present

and the two

them

oil

mixed

these of choice

in,

wheat

in the basket, along

and

flour.

with the

rams. 4 Lead

Aaron and his sons up to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and wash them with water. 5Then take the vestments, and clothe Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, and the breastpiece, and gird him with the decorated band of the ephod. 6 Put the headdress on his head, and place the holy diadem upon the headdress. 7 Take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him. 8 Then bring his sons forward; clothe them with tunics 9 and wind turbans upon them. And gird both Aaron and his sons with sashes. And bull

so they shall have priesthood as their right for

You

shall

then ordain Aaron and his sons.

front of the Tent of Meeting, and

upon

the head of the bull.

x

put

it

on the horns of

entrails, the

it is

Aaron and

the bull

up

to the

hands

Slaughter the bull before the Lord,

at the

let

12 and

take

some of the

bull's

blood and

the altar with your finger; then pour out the rest

at the base

of the

altar.

13

Take

all

the fat that covers the

liver, and the two kidneys with the fat smoke upon the altar. 14The rest of the flesh dung shall be put to the fire outside the camp;

protuberance on the

on them, and turn them of the

time.

his sons lay their

entrance of the Tent of Meeting,

of the blood

all

10 Lead

bull, its hide,

and

into its

a sin offering.

15

Next take the one ram, and let Aaron and his sons lay their hands upon the ram's head. 16 Slaughter the ram, and take its blood and dash it against all sides of the altar. 17 Cut up the ram into sections, wash its g Lit.

130

"and fill

their hands."

torah EXODUS entrails

and

legs,

and put them with

of the ram into smoke upon the

its

quarters and

altar. It is

its

head.

18

Turn

29.33

all

Lord,

a burnt offering to the

by fire to the Lord. Then take the other ram, and let Aaron and his sons lay their hands upon the ram's head. 20 Slaughter the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the ridge a of Aaron's right ear and on the ridges of his sons' right ears, and on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes a pleasing odor, an offering 19

of their right

feet;

and dash the

rest

of the blood against every side of the

21 Take

some of the blood that is on the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle upon Aaron and his vestments, and also upon his sons and his sons' vestments. Thus shall he and his vestments altar

round about.

be holy, as well as his sons and his sons' vestments. 22

You

shall take

from the ram the

fat parts

—the broad

tail,

the fat that

two kidneys with the fat on them and the right thigh; for this is a ram of ordination. 23 Add one flat loaf of bread, one cake of oil bread, and one wafer, from the basket of unleavened bread that is before the Lord. 24 Place all these on the palms of Aaron and his sons, and offer them as an elevation offering before the Lord. 25 Take them from their hands and turn them into smoke upon the altar with the burnt offering, as a pleasing odor before the Lord; it is an offering by fire to the Lord. 26 Then take the breast of Aaron's ram of ordination and offer it as an covers the entrails, the protuberance

on the

liver,

the

—

elevation offering before the

Lord;

it

shall

be your portion. 27 You shall

consecrate the breast that was offered as an elevation offering and the

thigh that was offered as a gift offering from the that

which was Aaron's and from

parts shall be a

due for

all

descendants. For they are a Israelites, their gift

29 The sacral

them

to the

gift;

Lord

who

and so

shall pass in. 30

his sons'

Israelites to

shall

out of their

to be anointed and ordained

ram of ordination

which was

time from the

vestments of Aaron

priest in his stead,

that

those

Aaron and

his

they be a gift from the

sacrifices

on

—from

28 and

of well-being.

to his sons after him, for

He among

his sons

enters the Tent of Meeting to

who becomes

officiate

within the

them seven days. ram of ordination and boil its flesh in the sacred 32 and Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the

sanctuary, shall wear 31

You

shall take the

precinct;

bread that

is

in the basket, at the entrance

of the Tent of Meeting.

33 These

whom expiation was made with them when they were ordained and consecrated; they may not be eaten things shall be eaten only by those for

•>

Or

"lobe."

131

torah EXODUS

29.34

by a layman, for they are holy. any of the bread,

you.

You

until

not be eaten, for

fire; it shall

35 Thus

is left

you

do

shall

to

34

And

any of the

if

morning, you

put what

to the

is left

holy.

it is

Aaron and

his sons, just as I 36 and

ordain them through seven days,

shall

of ordination, or

flesh

shall

commanded

have

each day you shall

prepare a bull as a sin offering for expiation; you shall purge the altar by

performing purification upon 37 Seven

and the

become most

altar shall

become consecrated. 38 Now this is what you each day, regularly.

you

39

anoint

shall

to consecrate

it.

consecrate

it,

upon

the

two

yearling lambs

in the

morning, and

altar:

one lamb

shall offer the

other lamb at twilight. 40 There shall be a tenth of a

shall offer the

a libation

it

altar to

holy; whatever touches the altar shall

shall offer

You

measure of choice flour with

and

and you

it,

days you shall perform purification for the

of a hin of beaten

a quarter

of a quarter hin of wine for one lamb;

41 and

mixed

oil

you

in,

shall offer

the other lamb at twilight, repeating with it the meal offering of the morning with its libation an offering by fire for a pleasing odor to the

—

42 a regular

Lord,

For there there I will

burnt offering throughout the generations,

I will

meet with you, and there

meet with the

and

Israelites,

speak with you,

I will-

Aaron and

Lord am I

wood.

two for

it

its

make an

sides

its

the

Lord

And

45 I will

they shall

abide

know

a cubit

horns of one piece with

among

that

its

4

its

And make two

two

side walls,

—

on

of acacia

be square—and

make it

opposite 3 sides. 5

it

with pure gold:

horns; and

it.

that

shall

it

gold rings for

holders for poles with which to carry

the

I

3 Overlay it

wide it.

My

I will

God.

their

burning incense; make

altar for

round about, and

round about.

make them on

I

be a cubit long and

cubits high,

top,

its

shall

2 It shall

46

God.

and

altar,

God, who brought them out from the land of Egypt

their

might abide among them,

30 You

Me as priests.

his sons to serve

the Israelites, and I will be their

43 and

be sanctified by

shall

it

Presence. 44 I will sanctify the Tent of Meeting and the

consecrate

at the en-

Tent of Meeting before the Lord.

trance of the

Make

a

gold molding

under

They

its

molding;

shall serve as

the poles of acacia

wood,

and overlay them with gold. 6 Place it in

front of the curtain that

front of the cover that it

a

132

Aaron

shall

Lit. "its two."

is

is

—where

over the Pact

burn aromatic incense: he

—

over the Ark of the Pact

shall

I

will

burn

it

meet with you. every morning

7

in

On

when

torah EXODUS 8 and

he tends the lamps, the lamps—

Aaron

burn

shall

ages. 9 You shall

not offer alien incense on

when he

at twilight

it

Lord

a regular incense offering before the

30.26

lights

throughout the

or a burnt offering or a meal

it,

you pour a libation on it. 10 Once a year Aaron shall perform purification upon its horns with blood of the sin offering of purification; purification shall be performed upon it once a year throughoffering; neither shall

out the ages.

It is

n The Lord

most holy to the Lord.

12

spoke to Moses, saying:

When you

take a census of the

Israelite

people according to their enrollment, each shall pay the

ransom

for himself

them through

on being

their being enrolled. 13 This

—

who the

less

—twenty

and assign

15 the

offering:

it

Israelites as a

16

14 Everyone

You

not pay more and the poor

rich shall

when

money from

shall take the expiation

reminder before the Lord,

stand of copper for

Meeting and the hands and

to Moses, saying:

it,

of Meeting they

shall

for washing;

Put water

altar.

feet [in

shall

in

as expiation for

18

Make

and place 19 and let

it,

water drawn] from

wash with water,

it

it.

20

your persons.

of copper and

a laver it

the Israelites

shall serve the

Lord,

It shall

21 they shall

be a law for

all

wash

Aaron and

his sons

—

time for them

for

wash

When they enter the Tent may not

that they

hands and

their

a

between the Tent of

die;

feet, that

him and his

when

or

they approach the altar to serve, to turn into smoke an offering by the

not

giving the Lord's offering as expiation

to the service of the Tent of Meeting;

The Lord spoke

their

Lord.

a half-shekel as an offering to the

than half a shekel

your persons.

17

is

entered in the records, from the age of twenty years up, shall give

Lord's

pay for

is

a

by the sanctuary weight

in the records shall pay: a half-shekel £ferahs to the shekel

Lord

no plague may come upon what everyone who is entered

enrolled, that

fire

may not

they

to

die.

—diroughout

offspring

the ages.

22 The

Lord

spoke to Moses, saying:

hundred weight of

solidificd b

23 Next take

myrrh, half

as

much

— of fragrant cinnamon, two hundred and hundred—by the sanctuary weight—of and

fifty

fifty

cassia,

of this a sacred anointing

oil, a

to serve as sacred anointing b

choice spices:

—two

of aromatic cane,

a bin

of

compound of ingredients

oil. 26

With

it

five

hundred and

olive oil. 25

24 fivc

Make

expertly blended,

anoint the Tent of Meeting, the

Others "flowing."

133

torah EXODUS

30.27

fittings,

Pact, 27the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and all its the altar of incense, 28 the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils,

and the

laver

Ark of the

and

may be most

its

stand. 29 Thus

you

them so

shall consecrate

them

holy; whatever touches

shall

that they

be consecrated.

anoint Aaron and his sons, consecrating them to serve

shall also

30

You

Me

as

priests. 31

ing

And oil

speak to the

sacred to

Me

This shall be an anoint-

Israelite people, as follows:

throughout the

ages. 32 It

must not be rubbed on

any person's body, and you must not make anything proportions; its like,

34

it is

sacred, to be held sacred

or puts any of

And

Lord

the

galbanum

it

on

by you.

33

Take the herbs

from

equal part of

in the

same

his kin.

stacte,

—these herbs together with pure frankincense; each. 35

it

Whoever compounds

a layman, shall be cut off

said to Moses:

like

let

onycha, and there be an

Make them into incense, a compound expertly blended, some of it into powder, and put some before

refined, pure, sacred. 36 Beat

I will meet with you; it shall be most holy to you. 37But when you make this incense, you must not make any in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be held by you sacred

the Pact in the Tent of Meeting, where

Lord. Whoever makes any

to the

from

31

The Lord spoke

Bezalel son of Uri son of

him with

a divine spirit

make

craft; *to

for setting I

like

to smell of

it,

shall

it,

be cut off

his kin.

2 See, I

Hur, of the

of

designs for

and to carve

to Moses:

tribe

skill, ability,

work

wood

have singled out by name

of Judah.

3I

and knowledge

in gold, silver,

have endowed

in every kind

—to work in every kind of

craft. 6 Moreover,

have assigned to him Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan;

and

I

have also granted

everything that for the Pact 8 the

table

have

skill

to

its

altar

of incense;

laver

and

utensils, the 9 the altar

stand;

who

all

commanded

and the cover upon

and

its

I

10 the

it,

you:

and

are skillful, that they 7 the all

may make

Tent of Meeting, the Ark

the furnishings of the Tent;

pure lampstand 3 and

of burnt offering and

all its fittings,

all its

utensils,

service b vestments, the sacral vestments

and the and the

of Aaron

the priest and the vestments of his sons, for their service as priests; well as the anointing oil as I 12

134

of

and copper, 5 to cut stones

have

commanded

And

the

Lord

you, they shall do.

said to

"lampstand of pure gold ."

a

Or

b

Others "plaited."

n as

and the aromatic incense for the sanctuary. Just Moses:

13 Speak

to the Israelite people and say:

torah EXODUS Nevertheless,

You

consecrated you.

14

who

shall

profanes

person

shall

My sabbaths,

you must keep

and you throughout the

it

shall

between

Lord

keep the sabbath, for

it is

holv for you.

among

the

LORD; whoever does work on 16 The Israelite people shall keep as a

his kin. 15 Six days

may work

be a sabbath of complete

shall

the

Me

a sign I

but on the seventh day there

time between

is

that

be put to death: whoever does work on

be cut off from

throughout the ages

for this

you may know

ages, that

it,

32.9

Me

have

He that

be done,

rest,

holy to

the sabbath day shall be put to death.

the sabbath, observing the sabbath

covenant for

time: 17 it shall be a sign for

all

and the people of Israel. For

heaven and earth, and on the seventh day

He

in six days the

ceased from

all

Lord made

work and was

refreshed.

18

When He finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses

two

the

of the Pact, stone

tablets

tablets inscribed

with the finger of God.

32

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, the people gathered against Aaron and said to him, "Come, make us a god who shall go before us, for that man Moses, who brought us from the land of Egypt we do not know what has happened to him." 2 Aaron said to them, "Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to

—

me."

3

And

all

the people took off the gold rings that were in their ears

and brought them to Aaron. mold,~ a

god, b

saw shall

and made

it

4This

into a molten

he took from them and

calf.

And

a

xast in a

they exclaimed, b "This

is

your

O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!" When Aaron 5

this,

be a

he built an festival

altar

before

it;

and Aaron announced: "Tomorrow

of the Lord!" 6 Early next day, the people offered up

burnt offerings and brought

sacrifices

of well-being; they

sat

down

to eat

and drink, and then rose to dance. 7

The Lord spoke

to Moses,

"Hurry down,

for your people,

you brought out of the land of Egypt, have acted quick to turn aside from the

made themselves saying: 'This

is

a

molten

your god,

way

calf

O

that

I

Thcv have been upon them. Thev have

baselv.

enjoined

and bowed low to

Israel,

who

whom

8

it

and

sacrificed to

it,

brought vou out of the land of

Egypt!'" 9 The

Lord further said to Moses, "I see that this is a stiffnecked people.

Cf Zech. 11.13 (beth havyoser, "foundry3*); others "fashioned bb Others "These are your gods." a- a

it

with a graving tool."

135

torah EXODUS 10 I

32.10

Now, let Me be, that My anger may may destroy them, and make of you

plored the

Lord

his

God,

a great nation."

that

im-

Your anger, O Lord, blaze You delivered from the land of Egypt

saying, "Let not

Your people, whom power and with a mighty hand.

forth against

with great

them and

n But Moses

blaze forth against

He

12 Let

not the Egyptians

say,

them off in the mountains and annihilate them from the face of the earth.' Turn from Your blazing anger, and renounce the plan to punish Your people. 13 Remember Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, how You swore to them by Your Self and said to them: I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven, and I will give to your offspring this whole land of which I spoke, to possess forever." 14And the Lord renounced the punishment He had planned to bring upon His people. 15 Thereupon Moses turned and went down from the mountain bearing the two tablets of the Pact, tablets inscribed on both their surfaces: they were inscribed on the one side and on the other. 16The tablets were God's work, and the writing was God's writing, incised upon the tablets. 17When Joshua heard the sound of the people in its boisterousness, he said to Moses, "There is a cry of war in the camp." 18 But he answered, "It is not the sound of the tune of triumph, Or the sound of the tune of defeat; It is the sound of song that I hear!" 19 As soon as Moses came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he became enraged; and he hurled the tablets from his hands and shattered them at the foot of the mountain. 20 He took the calf that they had made and burned it; he ground it to powder and strewed it upon the water and so made the Israelites drink it. 21 Moses said to Aaron, "What did this people do to you that you have brought such great sin upon them?" 22Aaron said, "Let not my lord be enraged. You know that this people is bent on evil. 23 They said to me, 'Make us a god to lead us; for that man Moses, who brought us from the land of Egypt we do not know what has happened to him.' 24 So I said to them, 'Whoever has gold, take it off!' They gave it to me and I hurled it into the fire and out came this calf!" 25 Moses saw that the people were out of control since Aaron had let them get out of control so that they were a menace*-' to any who might oppose them. 26Moscs stood up in the gate of the camp and said, "Whoever 27 He said is for the Lord, come here!" And all the Levites rallied to him. 'It

was with

evil intent that

delivered them, only to

—

—

1

136

Others "an object of derision."

—

kill

torah EXODUS "Thus

to them,

says the

Lord,

the

God of Israel: Each

33.7

of you put sword

go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay brother, neighbor, and kin." 28The Levites did as Moses had bidden; and some three thousand of the people fell that day. 29And Moses said, "Dedicate yourselves d to the Lord this day for each of you has been

on

thigh,

—

—

and brother that He may bestow a blessing upon you today." 30 The next day Moses said to the people, "You have been guilty of a

against son

great sin. Yet I will

ness for your

people 32

Now,

if

You

to the

Lord; perhaps

34

and good] but

will forgive their sin [well

has sinned against

Go now,

you. But

may win

forgive-

Moses went back to the Lord and said, "Alas, this sin in making for themselves a god of gold. ;

from the record which You have written!"

"He who

I

of a great

guilty

is

now go up

sin." 31

lead the people

when

Me, him only

where

the

if

Lord

not, erase

said to

me

Moses,

from My record. My angel shall go before

will I erase

told you. See,

I

make an accounting,

I

33 But

I will

bring them to account for

their sins." 35

Then

Lord

the

sent a plague

with the calf that Aaron made.

33

\J\J Then

Lord

the

upon

e ~for

the people,

what they did

e

said to

Moses, "Set out from here, you and the

people that you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land of

which

I

swore to Abraham,

will I give

2 I will

it'

Isaac,

and Jacob, saying, 'To your offspring

send an angel before you, and

I

will drive

out the

Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites

3a

midst, since

When

4

The Lord

to

do

will

his finery.

said to Moses, "Say to the Israelite people, 'You are a

stiffnecked people. If I

destroy you.

I

are a stiffnecked people, lest I destroy

the people heard this

and none put on 5

not go in your you on the wav." harsh word, they went into mourning,

land flowing with milk and honey. But

you

Now,

were to go

in

your midst for one moment,

then, leave off your finery, and

I

to you.' " 6 So the Israelites remained stripped of the

Mount Horeb

would what finery from I

will consider

on.

TNow Moses would take the Tent and pitch it outside the camp, at some distance from the camp. It was called the Tent of Meeting, and whoever sought the Lord would go out to the Tent of Meeting that was d Lit. "fill

cc

your bands."

Meaning ofHeb.

uncertain.

137

torah EXODUS

33.8

8

outside the camp.

would Moses

and

rise

he had entered the Tent.

until

He

9

to the Tent,

And when Moses

would descend and stand

the pillar of cloud

while

Whenever Moses went out

10

spoke with Moses.

When

all

all

the people

and gaze

stand, each at the entrance of his tent,

after

entered the Tent,

entrance of the Tent,

at the

the people saw the pillar of cloud

all the people would rise and bow low, n The Lord would speak to Moses face another. And he would then return to the

poised at the entrance of the Tent,

each at the entrance of his tent. to face, as one

camp; but

man

speaks to

his attendant,

Joshua son of Nun, a youth, would not

stir

out

of the Tent.

Lord, "See, You say to me, 'Lead this people You have not made known to me whom You will send with me. Further, You have said, T have singled you out by name, and you have, indeed, gained My favor.' 13 Now, if I have truly gained Your favor, pray let me know Your ways, that I may know You and continue in Your favor. Consider, too, that this nation is Your people." 14And He said, 12

Moses

said to the

forward,' but

a

go

"I will

Him, "Unless You go

how

shall

and

in the lead

be

it

You go with

in the lead,

known

us, so that

And the Lord 18

name."

He

And

he said to

leave this place. 16 For

of the earth?"

face

Moses,

truly gained

"Oh,

said,

do not make us

15

Your people have gained Your favor unless we may be distinguished, Your people and I,

said to

you have

asked; for

your burden."

that

from every people on the 17

will _a lighten

me

let

"I will also

My favor

do

and

I

this thing that

you have

have singled you out by

behold Your Presence!"

19

And He

an-

make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim you the name Lord, b and the grace that I grant and the com-

swered, "I will before

passion that

may not

I

see

show.

Me

b 20 But,"

and

live." 21

He said, "you cannot see My face, for man And the Lord said, "See, there is a place

near Me. Station yourself on the rock 22 and, as will

put you in a

have passed by. back; but

34 first,

>-•>

Lit.

h - b Lit.

138

face

I

must not be

"My face "and I

said to

will inscribe

which you will go

My

Presence passes by,

of the rock and shield you with

23 Then I will take

The Lord

and

tablets,

My

cleft

My

hand away and you

upon

the tablets 2

hand

until

will see

I I

My

seen."

Moses: "Carve two

shattered.

My

tablets

the words

that

of stone

like

were on the

Be ready by morning, and

in the

the first

morning

and I mil."

will grant the grace that I will grant

and show

the compassion that I will show."

torah EXODUS come up

to

Mount 3

the mountain.

Sinai

No one

34.18

and present yourself there to Me, on the top of

else shall

come up with you, and no one

else shall

be seen anywhere on the mountain; neither shall the flocks and the herds graze at the foot of this mountain." 4 So

Moses carved two tablets of stone, like the first, and early in the morning he went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, taking the two stone tablets with him. 5 The Lord came down in a cloud; He stood with him there, and proclaimed the name Lord. 6The Lord passed before him a and proclaimed: "The Lord! the Lord! -3 a God compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and Extending kindness to the thousandth generation, forgiving

faithfulness,

iniquity, transgression,

but

visits

and

sin; yet

the iniquity of parents

He

upon

does not remit

punishment,

all

children and children's children,

upon the third and fourth generations." 8 Moses hastened to bow low to the ground in homage, 9 and said, "If I have gained Your favor, O Lord, pray, let the Lord go in our midst, even though

and take us 10

He

this

all

a stiffnecked people.

hereby make a covenant. Before as

have not been wrought on

the people b

Lord's deeds which you

Pardon our iniquity and our

who I

are with

will

you

all

your people

work

how awesome are the !Mark well what I command

b shall see

perform for you.

l

the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. a

I will

the earth or in any nation;

all

out before you the Amorites, the Canaanites,

this day. I will drive

making

sin,

Your own!"

for

said: I

such wonders

and

is

12 Beware

of

covenant with the inhabitants of the land against which you are

advancing,

lest

they be a snare in your midst.

smash

and cut down

13

No, you must

tear

down

their sacred posts; 14 for

vou must not worship any other god, because the Lord, whose name is their altars,

Impassioned,

is

their pillars,

an impassioned God.

15

You must not make

with the inhabitants of the land, for they will sacrifice to their 16

gods and

And when you

invite you,

take wives

and you

from among

their daughters will lust after their

covenant

lust after their

gods and

of their

sacrifices.

will eat

their daughters for

gods and

a

will cause

your sons,

vour sons to

lust

after their gods. 17 18

You You

shall

not make molten gods for yourselves.

shall

observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread

bread for seven days,

month c of Abib, a-a

for in the

Q r "and the Lord proclaimed:

—

—eating unleavened

commanded you at month of Abib you went

have

as I

The Lord! a God compassionate,"

the set time of the fordi

etc.; cf.

from Egvpt.

Num.

14.17-18.

h ~ b Lit. "in whose midst you are." c

Sec note at 13.4.

139

torah EXODUS

34.19

womb

19 Every first

is Mine, from all your livestock that issue of the d drop a male as firstling, whether cattle or sheep. 20 But the firstling of an

ass

you

break

shall

None 21 Six

labor;

shall

harvest; a year

of

Me

you do not redeem

every first-born

it,

you must

among your

sons.

empty-handed.

shall cease

from labor even

your males

all

no one

You

your

shall

and the

of the wheat 23 Three

Lord,

the

times

God

your land when you go up to appear before

three times a year.

not offer the blood of My

sacrifice

first fruits

of the year.

out nations from your path and enlarge your

will covet

God

at the turn

appear before the Sovereign

shall

24 I will drive

Lord

plowing time and harvest time.

at

observe the Feast of Weeks, of the

and the Feast of Ingathering

territory;

25

appear before

shall

Israel.

the

a sheep; if

And you must redeem

days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from

you

You

22

redeem with

neck.

its

with anything leavened;

sacrifice

of the Feast of Passover

not be

shall

left

lying until

morning. 26 The

Lord You

choice

first fruits

shall

not boil a kid in

And the Lord

27

in accordance

with

of your

soil

you

shall

bring to the house of the

your God. said to

its

mother's milk.

Moses: Write

with these commandments

down I

commandments, for covenant with you and

these

make

a

Israel.

28 And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he ate no bread and drank no water; and he wrote down on the tablets the terms of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

Moses came down from Mount Sinai. And as Moses came down from the mountain bearing the two tablets of the Pact, Moses was not aware that the skin of his face was radiant, since he had spoken with Him. 30 Aaron and all the Israelites saw that the skin of Moses' face was radiant; and they shrank from coming near him. 31 But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the chieftains in the assembly returned to him, and Moses spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he instructed them concerning all that the Lord had imparted to him on Mount Sinai. 33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over 29 So

his face. 34 Whcncver

would d

140

Moses went

in before the

leave the veil off until

Heb. tizzakhar, form uncertain.

Lord

to speak with

Him, he

he came out; and when he came out and

torah EXODUS told the Israelites

how

see

35 the Israelites would Moses would then put the speak with Him.

what he had been commanded,

radiant the skin of Moses' face was.

back over his face until he went in to

veil

35.21

^i

2i/*J Moses

then convoked the whole

Israelite

community and

said to

them:

Lord

These are the things that the

work may be done, but on

days

six

sabbath of complete it

shall

holy to the

rest,

be put to death.

3

You

has

commanded you

the seventh day

you

2

to do: shall

On

have a

Lord; whoever does any work on

shall kindle

no

throughout your

fire

settle-

ments on the sabbath day. 4 Moses said further to

community of Israelites: This is what the LORD has commanded: 5 Take from among you to the Lord; everyone whose heart so moves him shall bring them the whole

gifts

—

for the

wood;

8 oil

incense;

goats' hair; 7tanned

and

fine linen,

gifts

gold, silver, and copper; 6a blue, purple, and crimson yarns,

Lord:

ram

dolphin skins, and acacia

skins,

for lighting, spices for the anointing oil

9 lapis lazuli

and other stones for

and for the aromatic

setting, for the

ephod and the

breastpiece.

And let all among you who are skilled come and make all that the Lord has commanded: n the Tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its 10

and

clasps

its

planks,

poles, the cover,

and its

furnishings and

and

its

bars,

its

and the curtain

utensils;

all its

its

posts,

and

for the screen;

and the bread of display; its

lamps, and

poles; the anointing oil

17 the

its

poles,

and

of the court;

and

enclosure,

13 the table,

14 the

and

and

its

its

poles

lampstand for lighting,

of incense

and the aromatic incense; and the entrance

all its

hangings of the enclosure,

for the gate

sockets; 12 the ark

the oil for lighting; 15 the altar

screen for the entrance of the Tabernacle;

copper grating,

its

18 the

its

16 the altar

of burnt offering,

furnishings; the laver and

posts and

its

sockets,

its

its

stand;

and the screen

pegs for the Tabernacle, the pegs for the

their cords; 19 the service vestments for officiating in the

sanctuary, the sacral vestments of

Aaron the

priest

and the vestments of

his sons for priestly service. 20 So the

whole community of the

everyone

who

See 25.4

and

a

ff.

excelled in ability

Israelites left

Moses' presence.

and everyone whose

spirit

21

And

moved him

the notes there.

141

torah EXODUS

35.22

came, bringing to the

Meeting and for

women,

whose

all

Lord

work of

his offering for the

and

service

all its

the Tent of

for the sacral vestments. 22 Men

and

moved them, all who would make an elevation Lord, came bringing brooches, earrings, rings,

hearts

offering of gold to the

—gold objects of

and pendants b

all

kinds. 23 And everyone

who had

in his

possession blue, purple, and crimson yarns, fine linen, goats' hair, tanned

ram

and dolphin

skins,

skins,

brought them;

or copper brought them

gifts of silver

who would make Lord; and everyone

24 everyone

as gifts for the

who had in his possession acacia wood for any work of the service brought that. 25 And all the skilled women spun with their own hands, and brought what they had spun, 26

in blue, purple,

And all the women who

and crimson yarns, and

excelled in that

skill

in fine linen.

spun the goats'

hair. 27

And

the chieftains brought lapis lazuli and other stones for setting, for the

ephod and anointing

for the breastpiece; 28 and spices

and for the aromatic

oil,

and

oil for lighting, for

incense. 29 Thus the Israelites,

all

the the

men and women whose

hearts moved them to bring anything for the Lord, through Moses, had commanded to be done, brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord. 30 And Moses said to the Israelites: See, the Lord has singled out by name Bezalel, son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31 He has endowed him with a divine spirit of skill, ability, and knowledge in every kind of craft 32 and c ~has inspired hinr c to make designs for work in gold, silver, and copper, 33 to cut stones for setting and to carve wood to work

work

that the

—

in every

kind of designer's craft

son of Ahisamach of the

do any work

to

—of the

workers in

and Oholiab and with

skill

service 2

the

and

of Dan

tribe

all crafts all

and

as

ability to

Moses then

called Bezalel

142

all

all

skill,

it

out.

has

endowed

the tasks connected with the

that the

everyone 3

*Let, then, Bezalel

Lord

the

as

Lord

has

who

commanded.

skilled

person

whom

excelled in ability, to

They took over from Moses

all

the

the Israelites had brought, to carry out the tasks connected with

offerings to b

—

and of the weaver

and Oholiab, and every

had endowed with

the service of the sanctuary. But

cc

whom

skill

embroiderer in blue,

makers of designs.

perform expertly

undertake the task and carry gifts that

fine linen,

the skilled persons

He and Oholiab

been endowed with the

carver, the designer, the

of the sanctuary carry out

Lord

35 have

crimson yarns, and in

^5/^ purple,

OU

34 and to give directions.

him morning

after

Meaning ofHeb. kumaz uncertain. Moved up from v. 34 for clarity.

when

these continued to bring freewill

morning,

4 all the artisans

who were

en-

torah EXODUS gaged

in the tasks

36.24

of the sanctuary came, each from the task upon which

he was engaged, 5 and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than

work that the Lord has commanded made throughout "Let no man or woman make further effort toward gifts for the camp: 7 the sanctuary!" So the people stopped bringing: their efforts had been more than enough for all the tasks to be done. is

needed for the

tasks entailed in the

to be done." 6Moses thereupon had this proclamation

8

Then

all

the skilled

among

ernacle of ten strips of cloth,

those engaged in the

work made

which they made of fine twisted

purple, and crimson yarns; into these they

worked

the tab-

linen, blue,

a design of cherubim.

9 The

length of each cloth was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each

cloth

was four

cubits,

all

cloths having the

same measurements.

10 They

joined five of the cloths to one another, and they joined the other cloths to

one another.

n They made

the outermost cloth of the one

outermost cloth of the other

and they made

set,

and did the same on the edge of the

set: 12 they

made

fifty

loops

on the one

clotii,

loops on the edge of the end cloth of the other

fifty

the loops being opposite one another.

13

And

they

and coupled the units a to one another with the

became one whole. 14They made cloths of

five

loops of blue wool on the edge of

made

set,

gold clasps

fifty

clasps, so that the taber-

nacle

made

goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle; they

the cloths eleven in number.

cubits,

The length of each

and the width of each cloth was four

having the same measurements. selves,

15

and the other

six cloths

16

They joined

by themselves.

the edge of the outermost cloth of the one

on

the edge of the

end cloth of the other

clasps to couple the tent together so that 19

And

they

made

a covering

cloth

thirty

cubits, the eleven cloths

five

of the cloths by them-

17 They

made

fifty

set,

and they made

set.

18

it

was

They made

loops on

fifty

fifty

loops

copper

might become one whole.

of tanned ram skins for the

tent,

and a

covering of dolphin skins above. 20 They

made the planks for the Tabernacle of acacia wood, upright. The length of each plank was ten cubits, the width of each plank a cubit and a half. 22 Each plank had two tenons, parallel to each other; they did

21

the same with

all

Tabernacle, they silver sockets

the planks of the Tabernacle. 23 Of the planks of the

made twenty

planks for the south side, c 24 making forty

under die twenty planks, two sockets under one plank for

a

Lit. "strip of cloth," here used collectively.

b

See note at 26.17.

c

See note at 26.18.

143

torah EXODUS

36.25

its two tenons and two sockets under each following plank for its two tenons; 25 and for the other side wall of the Tabernacle, the north side,

twenty planks,

26 with their forty silver sockets,

two

sockets under one

plank and two sockets under each following plank. 27And for the rear of the Tabernacle, to the west, they

six planks; 28 and

made

planks for the corners of the Tabernacle at the rear. 29d

they made two They matched at

the bottom, but terminated as one at the top into one ring; d they did so

with both of them

with their sockets of 31

They made

corners. 30 Thus there

two

at the

silver: sixteen sockets,

bars of acacia

wood,

were eight planks

two under each

five for

plank.

the planks of the one side

wall of the Tabernacle, 32 five bars for the planks of the other side wall of

the Tabernacle, and five bars for the planks of the wall of the Tabernacle at the rear, to the west; 33 they made the center bar to run, halfway up the planks, from end to end. 34They overlaid the planks with gold, and

made

their rings

of gold,

as

holders for the bars; and they overlaid the

bars with gold. 35 They

made

the curtain of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and fine

twisted linen, working into

four posts of acacia

of gold; and they 37 They

it

a design

wood and

overlaid

cast for

made -the it

them with

kJ /

Bezalel

a cubit

and

He

fine twisted linen,

five sockets

made

done

in embroidery; 38 and five

were of copper.

the ark of acacia

a half wide,

cast four

overlaid

and

a cubit

6

wood, two and

and

gold,

a cover

a half wide.

hammered work,

7

5

for

a half high.

its

dd See note at 26.24.

four

2

a half cubits long,

He

and inserted the

it

it

with

round about.

two rings on one of its made poles of acacia wood, poles into the rings on the

ark.

of pure gold, two and the

overlaid

feet:

other. 4 He

He made two

at

and the other cherub

144

it,

of the ark for carrying the

He made

and

gold rings for

and two rings on the

them with

side walls

it

silver sockets.,

pure gold, inside and out; and he made a gold molding for

side walls

for

with their hooks. They overlaid their tops and their bands

with gold; but the

3

made

gold, with their hooks

screen for the entrance of the Tent, of blue, purple,

and crimson yarns, and posts for

them four

36They

of cherubim.

a half cubits

long and a cubit

cherubim of gold; he made them of the cover: 8 one cherub at one end

two ends of

at the

other end; he

made

the cherubim of one piece

torah EXODUS with the cover,

ends. 9 The cherubim

two

at its

had

37.29

wings spread

their

out above, shielding the cover with their wings. They faced each other; the faces of the cherubim were turned toward the cover.

He made

10

the table of acacia

wood, two

cubits long,

one cubit wide,

u he overlaid it with pure gold and made a 12 gold molding around He made a rim of a hand's breadth around it and made a gold molding for its rim round about. 13 He cast four gold and

and

a cubit

a half high; it.

rings for

and attached the rings to the four corners

it

14The rings

were next to the rim,

table. 15

He made

overlaid

them with

its

the poles of acacia

wood

upon

with which to offer libations

jars

four legs.

and

for carrying the table,

gold. 16The utensils that were to be

bowls, ladles, jugs, and

at its

as holders for the poles to carry the

the table

—he made of

pure gold.

He made

17

base and

its

—of hammered work;

of one piece with

from one

side

it.

18 Six

its

—

He made

the lampstand of pure gold.

shaft

the lampstand

cups, calyxes,

branches issued from

its sides:

and

petals

its

were

three branches

of the lampstand, and three branches from the other side

of the lampstand.

19 There

were three cups shaped

like

almond- blossoms,

each with calyx and petals, on one branch; and there were three cups

shaped

almond-blossoms, each with calyx and

like

branch; so for

stand calyx

and

itself

and

petals: 21 a calyx,

its

it,

of one piece with

25

it.

its

under the

it,

last pair

and

hammered

its fire

overlaid

horns; and he

gold rings for

of branches; so for

their stems

all six

were of one piece

piece of pure gold. 23 He

wood,

it

made it

cubits high;

with pure gold: a

under

its

its

made

made it

and

gold molding for its

molding, on

wood, and

anointing

oil

overlaid

and

a cubit

its

sides

round about, and

it.

its

round about. 27 He made two two walls on opposite sides

it

its

them with

a cubit long

horns were of one piece widi

top,

holders for the poles with which to carry

acacia

under a pair of branches;

pans of pure gold. 24 He

the incense altar of acacia

—square—and two

as

the next

On the lamp-

furnishings out of a talent of pure gold.

He made

He

20

under the second pair of branches; and

22 Their calyxes

tongs, and

wide 26

it,

it,

the whole of it a single

seven lamps,

all its

of one piece with

of one piece with

branches issuing from

with

on

petals,

branches issuing from the lampstand.

there were four cups shaped like almond-blossoms, each with

a calyx,

a calyx,

all six

—

it.

28

He made

the poles of

gold. 29 He prepared the sacred

and the pure aromatic incense, expertly blended.

145

torah EXODUS

38.1

OO He made long and for

five cubits

on

it

overlaid

it

—

wide

four corners,

its

wood, five cubits square and three cubits high. 2 He made horns the horns being of one piece with it; and he

the altar for burnt offering of acacia

3

with copper.

—

He made

rings, at the four corners 6

He made

made

extending below, under

in copper,

the utensils of the altar

hooks, and the

the scrapers, the basins, the flesh these utensils of copper. 4 He

all

for the altar a grating

its

ledge, to

its

of the copper grating,

the poles of acacia

wood and

overlaid

by them.

He made

it

pails,

made all of meshwork

5

middle.

He

cast four

as holders for the poles.

them with copper; 7and

he inserted the poles into the rings on the side walls of the it

—the

pans; he

fire

altar,

to carry

hollow, of boards.

He made the laver of copper and its stand of copper, from the mirrors of the women who performed tasks a at the entrance of the Tent of 8

Meeting.

He made the enclosure: On the south b side, a hundred

9

for the enclosure

10 with their

cubits of hangings of fine twisted linen

twenty posts and their twenty sockets of

copper, the hooks and bands of the posts being 11

On

their

the north side, a hundred cubits

—with

silver.

their

twenty posts and

twenty sockets of copper, the hooks and bands of the posts being

silver. 12

On

the west side,

their ten sockets, the 13

And on

flank,

16 All

The

their ten posts

fifty cubits:

—with

on the other

their three posts

14 fifteen cubits

— on each

flank

and

side

enclosure,

done

in

18

was of

The

silver; all

the posts

screen of the gate of the

—or width

was twenty cubits long. d Tts height that of d the hangings of the enclosure.

fine twisted linen. It

was

five cubits, like

were four;

silver.

embroidery, was of blue, purple, and crimson yarns,

and

their four sockets

were of copper,

their

19

hooks of

The

Meaning ofHeb.

uncertain.

Cf. note at 26.18.

Which accounts for the remaining 20 dd Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

c

146

cubits;

cf.

v.

18.

posts

silver;

the overlay of their tops was of silver, as were also their bands. 1

of the

their three sockets.

sockets for the posts were of copper, the hooks and bands of the

of the enclosure were banded with

b

of

the hangings around the enclosure were of fine twisted linen.

posts were of silver, the overlay of their tops

-

and

silver.

with their three posts and their three sockets,

cubits of hangings

gate of the enclosure

17

—with

cubits of hangings

the front side, to the east,

hangings on the one 15 and fifteen

fifty

hooks and bands of the posts being

and 20 A11

torah EXODUS

39.5

the pegs of the Tabernacle and of the enclosure round about were of

copper.

vnpa 21 These are

the records of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of the Pact,

which were drawn up

at

—

the work of the Levites under Aaron the priest. 22 Now Bezalel, son of of Judah, had made all that the Lord had

Moses' bidding

the direction of Ithamar son of

Uri son of Hur, of the tribe

commanded Moses; tribe

23 at his side

was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the

of Dan, carver and designer, and embroiderer

crimson yarns and in 24All the

in blue, purple,

and

fine linen.

work of the sanctuary the elevation offering of gold came to 29 talents e and 730 shekels by the sanctuary weight. 25 The silver of those of the community who were recorded came to 100 talents and 1,775 shekels by the sanctuary weight: gold that was used for the work, in

the

—

—

26 a half-shekel f a

who was men.

all

head, half a shekel by the sanctuary weight, for each one

entered in the records, from the age of twenty years up, 603,550

27 The

100

talents

of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanc-

tuary and the sockets for the curtain, 100 sockets to the 100 talents, a talent a socket. 28 And

of the 1,775 shekels he made hooks for the posts,

overlay for their tops, and bands around them. 29 The

copper from the elevation offering came to 70

shekels. 30

Of it

copper

ing; the

altar; 31 the

talents

and 2,400

he made the sockets for the entrance of the Tent of Meetaltar

and

its

copper grating and

sockets of the enclosure

gate of the enclosure; and

all

all

the utensils of the

round about and the sockets of the

the pegs of the Tabernacle and

all

the pegs

of the enclosure round about.

39 Of

vestments for officiating in the sanctuary; they

ments

—

made the sendee made Aaron's sacral vest-

the blue, purple, and crimson yarns thev also a

as the

Lord

had commanded Moses.

The ephod was madc b of gold, blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and fine twisted linen. 3 Thcy hammered out sheets of gold and cut threads to be worked into designs among the blue, the purple, and the crimson yarns, and the fine linen. 4They made for it attaching shoulder-pieces; they were attached at its two ends. 5 The decorated band that was upon it was made 2

c

A

F

Heb. bcqa\

b

Here and

talent here equals

3,000

shekels.

See 36.8. elsewhere in this chapter the singular active verb

(lit.

"he made")

is

used impersonally.

147

torah EXODUS like

it,

39.6

of one piece with

fine twisted linen 6 They

seal

—

it;

Lord

as the

bordered the

of gold, blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and

had commanded Moses.

lazuli stones

with frames of gold, engraved with

engravings of the names of the sons of

Israel. 7 They

were

set

on the

shoulder-pieces of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the Israel-

—

ites 8

as the

The

Lord

had commanded Moses.

breastpiece

was made

in the style

of the ephod: of gold, blue, 9 It

was square; they

a span in length

and

a span in width,

The

first

purple, and crimson yarns, and fine twisted linen.

made

the breastpiece doubled

doubled. c

10They set in it

carnelian, chrysolite,

—

four rows of stones.

and emerald; 12 the

u the

row was

phire,

and an amethyst;

13 and

the fourth row: a beryl, a lapis lazuli, and a jasper.

encircled in their

sponded

sponding to

third row: a jacinth, an agate,

their

14The

mountings with frames of gold.

number] to the names of the sons of

[in

names; engraved

a

row of

second row: a turquoise, a sap-

like seals,

and

a crystal;

They were

stones corre-

Israel: twelve, corre-

each with

its

name, for the

twelve tribes.

On

the breastpiece they made braided chains of corded work in pure They made two frames of gold and two rings of gold, and fastened the two rings at the two ends of the breastpiece, 17 attaching the two golden cords to-the two rings at the ends of the breastpiece. 18 They then fastened the two ends of the cords to the two frames, attaching them to the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, at the front. 19 They made two rings of gold and attached them to the two ends of the breastpiece, at its inner edge, which faced the ephod. 20 They made two other rings of gold and fastened them on the front of the ephod, low on the two shoulder-pieces, close to its seam above the decorated band. 21 The breastpiece was held in 15

gold.

16

place by a cord of blue

from

its

rings to the rings of the ephod, so that

on the decorated band and did not come loose from ephod as the Lord had commanded Moses. 22 The robe for the ephod was made of woven work, of pure blue. d 23 The opening of the robe, in the middle of it, was like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around the opening, so that it would not the breastpiece rested

the

tear. 24

—

On

the

hem of the

robe they made pomegranates of blue, purple,

and crimson yarns, twisted.

25 They also

made

attached the bells between the pomegranates, robe, between the pomegranates:

148

c

See note at 28.17.

d

See note at 28.31

26 a bell

and

bells

all

a

of pure gold, and

around the

hem of the

pomegranate, a

bell

and

torah EXODUS a pomegranate,

all

Lord had commanded 27 They

made

hem

around the

of

fine twisted linen, blue, purple,

Lord had commanded

30 They

upon

made

woven work,

for

Aaron and

fine twisted linen; 29 and sashes

and crimson yarns, done

of

embroidery

in

Moses.

the frontlet for the holy diadem of pure gold, and incised

"Holy

the seal inscription:

it

cord of blue to

as the

and the decorated turbans of

fine linen,

and the linen breeches of

fine linen,

—

Moses.

the tunics of fine linen, of

his sons; 28 and the headdress

as the

of the robe for officiating in

40.3

fix it

upon

Lord."

to the

the headdress above

—

31

Thev attached

as the

to

it

a

Lord had com-

manded Moses. 32 Thus

was completed

Meeting. The

Israelites

all

the

work of

did so; just

as the

the Tabernacle of the Tent of

Lord had commanded

Moses,

so they did. 33

34

Then they brought

furnishings:

its

its

the Tabernacle to Moses, with the Tent and

clasps, its planks, its bars, its posts,

the covering of tanned

ram

the curtain for the screen; cover; 36 the table and

lampstand, e

lamps

its

all its

—lamps

oil for lighting; 38 the altar

incense,

and the screen

with

copper grating,

its

Ark of

utensils,

in

due order

of gold, the

ments for priest,

its

—and

oil for

skins,

poles,

and

and the

37 the

all its fittings,

all

sockets;

pure

and the

anointing, the aromatic

for the entrance of the Tent; 39 the copper altar its

poles and

of the enclosure,

for the sendee

the Pact and

and the bread of display;

all its

stand; 40 the hangings of the enclosure, for the gate

its

of dolphin

skins, the covering

35 the

and

its

its

and the

utensils,

posts and

cords and

its

and

its

sockets, the screen

—

all

pegs

of the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting;

the furnishings

41 the

officiating in the sanctuary, the sacral vestments

and the vestments of

laver

its

sendee vest-

of Aaron the

his sons for priestly sendee. 42 Just as die

Lord

had commanded Moses, so the Israelites had done all the And when Moses saw that they had performed all the tasks Lord had commanded, so thev had done Moses blessed them.

—

43

work. as the

—

40 2

On

And the

the

first

Lord

spoke to Moses, saying:

dav of the

the Tent of Meeting.

first

3 Place

month vou shall set up the Tabernacle of Ark of the Pact, and screen off the

there the

See note at 31.8.

149

torah EXODUS

40.4

ark with the curtain. 4 Bring in the table and lay out in the

lampstand and light

before the

Ark of the

its

lamps;

5

Then put up

Pact.

due

its

and place the gold

setting; bring

altar

of incense

the screen for the entrance of

the Tabernacle. 6

You

of burnt offering before the entrance of the

shall place the altar

Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting.

Meeting and the

altar,

7 Place

and put water

in

the laver between the Tent of

it.

8 Set

up the enclosure round

about, and put in place the screen for the gate of the enclosure. 9

You

in

is

10

Then anoint

the its

anointing

shall take the

to consecrate

it

altar,

it

You

and anoint the Tabernacle and

oil

furnishings, so that

all its

the altar of burnt offering and

all its

it

shall

all

that

be holy.

utensils to consecrate

n And

so that the altar shall be most holy.

stand to consecrate 12

and

anoint the laver and

it.

bring Aaron and his sons forward to the entrance of the

shall

Tent of Meeting and wash them with the water.

13 Put

the sacral vestments

on Aaron, and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may serve Me as priest. 14Then bring his sons forward, put tunics on them, 15 and anoint them as you have anointed their father, that they may serve Me as priests. This their anointing shall serve them for everlasting priesthood throughout the ages. 16 This

17 In

Moses, did;

the

first

just as the

up

its

had commanded him, so he

18

Moses

planks, inserting

set

its

year, on the first of the month, the up the Tabernacle, placing its sockets,

bars,

and erecting

its

posts. 19

the tent over the Tabernacle, placing the covering of the tent it

—

just as the

20

He

Lord had commanded

took the Pact and placed

the

He

—

just as the

LORD

spread

on top of

he fixed the poles to the

brought the ark inside the

for screening,

and screened off

had commanded Moses.

placed the table in the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain,

the north side of the Tabernacle.

—

before the

Lord

lampstand

in the

as the

Lord

23

Upon

it

he

laid

And

he 26

25

lit

He

on

out the setting of bread

had commanded Moses.

Tent of Meeting opposite the

had commanded Moses.

of the Tabernacle.

150

in the ark;

cover on top of the Then he put up the curtain

Ark of the Pact

22

it

He

Moses.

ark, 21 and

ark, placed the

Tabernacle.

did.

month of the second

Tabernacle was set up. setting

Lord

table,

the lamps before the

24

He

placed the

on the south

LORD

—

as the

side

LORD

placed the altar of gold in the Tent of

TORAH Meeting, before the curtain.

Lord had commanded 28 Then

27

On

it

[Ol

—

he burned aromatic incense

as the

Moses.

he put up the screen for the entrance of the Tabernacle.

29 At

the entrance of the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting he placed the altar

On it he offered up the burnt Lord had commanded Moses.

of burnt offering. offering

—

as the

between the Tent of Meeting and the ing. 31

and

From

feet;

set

He

placed the laver

and put water

in

it

for wash-

Moses and Aaron and his sons would wash their hands 32 they washed when they entered the Tent of Meeting and when it

they approached the altar

he

altar,

and the meal

offering 30

—

as the

Lord

had commanded Moses.

up the enclosure around the Tabernacle and the

altar,

33

And

and put up

the screen for the gate of the enclosure.

When Moses had

finished the work, 34the cloud covered the

Meeting, and the Presence of the

Lord

filled

the Tabernacle.

Tent of 35 Moses

could not enter the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud had settled upon it

and the Presence of the

Lord

filled

the Tabernacle. 36 When the cloud

lifted from the Tabernacle, the Israelites would set out, on their various journeys; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they would not set out until such

time

as

it

did

by day, and of

Israel

lift.

fire

38 For

over the Tabernacle a cloud of the

would appear

in

a it

by night,

in the

Lord

rested

view of all the house

throughout their journeys.

pm

I.e.,

in the cloud.

151

LEVITICUS .A.

The Lord

called to

Moses and spoke

to

ing, saying: 2 Speak to the Israelite people,

When choose 3 If

mY

a

from the herd or from the

offering

a burnt offering

is

He

offering a male without blemish.

Tent of Meeting, for acceptance

shall

hand upon the head of the burnt

Lord; and Aaron's

the blood against

all

5

bring

it

shall

make

his

to the entrance of the

offering, that

The

shall

flock.

from the herd, he

in his behalf before the

in his behalf, in expiation for him.

the

the Tent of Meet-

any of you presents an offering of cattle to the LORD, a ~he

his offering

lay his

him from

and say to them:

it

Lord. 4 He

may be

shall

acceptable

bull shall be slaughtered before

sons, the priests, shall offer the blood, dashing

sides

of the

altar

which

is

entrance of the Tent

at the

6 The

burnt offering shall be flayed and cut up into sections. The sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and lay out wood upon the fire; 8 and Aaron's sons, the priests, shall lav out the sections, with the head and the suet, on the wood that is on the fire upon the altar.

of Meeting. 7

9 Its entrails

and

the whole into

legs shall be

washed with water, and the

smoke on the

altar as a

priest shall turn

burnt offering, an offering bv

fire

of pleasing odor to the Lord. 10 If his

offering for a burnt offering

goats, he shall

make

his offering a

slaughtered before the

Lord on

sons, the priests, shall dash

up

its

is

from the

flock,

of sheep or of

n It

male without blemish.

the north side of the

blood against

all

sides

altar,

of the

shall

be

and Aaron's

altar. 12

When

them out, with the head and the suet, on the wood that is on the fire upon the altar. 13 The entrails and the legs shall be washed with water; the priest shall offer up and turn the whole into smoke on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, of pleasing odor to the Lord. has been cut

it

14 If his

offering to the

his offering

1

Lit.

into sections, the priest shall lay

Lord

is

a burnt offering

from turtledoves or pigeons.

"you shall

offer

15

The

of birds, he

shall

priest shall bring

choose

it

to the

your."

153

torah LEVITICUS

pinch off its head, and turn

altar,

it

into

smoke on the

be drained out against the side of the

shall

crop with

severing

it,

and

contents, 13

its

of the

side

the

1.16

17

altar.

The

and turn

it

smoke on

He

open by

it

the

altar,

a burnt offering, an offering

fire. It is

altar.

altar;

and

shall

its

blood

remove

its

into the place of the ashes, at the east

priest shall tear

into

it

cast

16

by

upon

wings, without

its

wood

the

that

is

on

of pleasing odor to the

fire,

Lord.

Zj When a person presents an offering of meal to the Lord, his offering shall

be of choice flour; he

2 and

present

a handful

it

and by

this

shall

of

its

choice flour and

token portion he

shall

Aaron and

Lord's

fire.

offerings

When you

spread with

The

and turn and 11

in,

unleavened.

is

a

oil

mixed

in,

[it

shall

be

or unleavened wafers

shall be

it

6 Break it into bits

meal offering in a pan,

it

present to the shall

it

of choice

and pour

oil

on

it

shall

be

made of choice

10

his sons, a

And

a

meal offering that

who

is

made

shall take it

in

any of

up to the

remove the token portion from the meal offering

smoke on

into

Lord

be brought to the priest

priest shall

Lord.

No

an offering

most holy portion from the

meal offering on a griddle,

a

is

mixed

When you

to the

altar, as

the remainder of the meal

oil.

these ways, altar. 9

And

frankincense;

oil.

your offering

flour in

3

its

meal offering.

a

it; it is

of

all

smoke on the

his sons, a

unleavened cakes with

your offering

flour with oil

8

by

well as

present an offering of meal baked in the oven,

of] choice flour:

7 If

oil, as

turn into

offering shall be for

4

upon it, lay frankincense on it, The priest shall scoop out of

oil

of pleasing odor to the Lord.

fire,

5 If

pour

to Aaron's sons, the priests.

it

the altar as an offering by

fire,

of pleasing odor

the remainder of the meal offering shall be for

most holy portion from the Lord's

meal offering that you

offer to the

Lord

offerings by shall

be

Aaron

fire.

made with

no leaven or honey may be turned into smoke as an offering Lord. 12 You may bring them to the Lord as an offering of choice products;*1 but they shall not be offered up on the altar for a leaven, for

by

fire

to the

13

pleasing odor.

you

shall

shall

season your every offering of meal with

not omit from your meal offering the

God; with

154

You

all

your offerings you must offer

b

Others "feathers."

J

Exact meaning ofHeb. uncertain.

salt

salt.

salt;

of your covenant with

torah LEVITICUS

•

14 If

you bring

new

bring

meal offering of

a

parched with

ears

smoke: some of the

by

fire

O

16

meal offering.

a

If his offering

You shall add oil to it and lay frankincense on it; And the priest shall turn a token portion of it into

grits

and

oil,

with

a sacrifice

is

of the frankincense,

of well-being 3

Lord

one without blemish.

head of his offering and slaughter

and Aaron's sons, the

ing;

of the

altar. 3

offering by fat that is

that

He

shall

about the

at the loins;

is

altar,

fire, as

an offering

as

—

Lord,

shall lay his

of the Tent of Meet-

dash the blood against

two kidneys and the

5 Aaron's

sides

all

of well-being,

sacrifice

and the protuberance on the

fire,

bring

shall

hand upon the

the fat that covers the entrails and fat that is

liver,

as

all

an the

on them,

which he

shall

on on the

sons shall turn these into smoke

with the burnt offering which

if his

He

at the entrance

priests, shall

entrails; 4the

an offering by

And

it

2

then present from the

to the

fire

remove with the kidneys.

6

all

he offers of the herd, whether a male or a female, he

If

shall

your meal

as

Lord.

to the

before the

the

Lord, vou

of the fresh grain,

15

offering of first fruits. it is

to the

first fruits

fire, grits

3.15

is

upon

wood

the

that

is

of pleasing odor to the LORD.

offering for a sacrifice of well-being to the

LORD

is

from

the flock, whether a male or a female, he shall offer one without blemish. TIf

he presents a sheep

as his offering,

he

shall

bring

it

before the

Lord

hand upon the head of his offering. It shall be slaughtered before the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron's sons shall dash its blood against 8

and

all

lay his

sides

Lord, shall

of the

the fat

altar. 9

He

from the

shall

sacrifice

then present, as an offering by

fire

to the

of well-being: the whole broad

tail,

which

be removed close to the backbone; the

fat that

covers the entrails

entrails; 10 the

two kidneys and the fat that is on them, that is at the loins; and the protuberance on the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. n The priest shall turn these into smoke on the altar as food, an offering by fire to the Lord. and

12

all

the fat that

And

if his

is

about the

offering

is

a goat,

he

shall

bring

it

before the

LORD

13 and

hand upon its head. It shall be slaughtered before the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron's sons shall dash its blood against all sides of the lay his

altar. 14

to the

He

shall

Lord,

the entrails; a

then present as his offering from

the fat that covers the entrails and

15 the

two kidneys and

the fat that

is

it,

all

as

an offering by

the fat that

on them,

that

lire

is

about

is

at the

Others "peace offering." Exact meaning of shelamim uncertain.

155

torah LEVITICUS loins;

3.16

and the protuberance on the

kidnevs.

16

The

offering bv All fat

is

which he

liver,

smoke on the

priest shall turn these into

fire,

the Lord's.

Lord

JL The

altar as

food, an

of pleasing odor. 1_

It is a

law for

all

vour settlements: vou must not eat anv

all

remove with the

shall

time throughout the ages, in fat

or anv blood.

2 Speak

spoke to Moses, saving:

to the Israelite people

thus:

\Mien

3 If it is

upon

of the Lord's

a person unwittingly incurs guilt in regard to anv

commandments about

things not to be done, and does one of

the anointed priest

who

them

has incurred guilt, so that blame

the people, he shall offer for the sin of which he 1

the herd without blemish as a sin offering to the

falls

guiltv a bull

is

Lord. He 4

shall

of

bring

the bull to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, before the Lord, and lav

hand upon the head of the bull. The bull shall be slaughtered before Lord, 5 and the anointed priest shall take some of the bull's blood and bring it into the Tent of Meeting. 6The priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the Lord, in front of the curtain of the Shrine. "The priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of aromatic incense, which is in the Tent of

his

the

LORD; and

Meeting, before the

pour out

at the base

of the

of the Tent of Meeting.

s

altar

He

all

the rest of the bull's blood he shall

of burnt offering, which

shall

remove

all

the fat

is

at the entrance

from the

bull

of

sin

and all the fat that is about the two kidnevs and the fat that is on them, that is at the loins; and the protuberance on the liver, which he shall remove with the kid10 just as it is removed from the ox of the sacrifice of well-being. nevs The priest shall turn them into smoke on the altar of burnt offering. n But the hide of the bull, and all its flesh, as well as its head and legs, its entrails and its dung 12 all the rest of the bull he shall carrv to a clean place outside the camp, to the ash heap, and burn it up in a wood fire; it shall be burned on the ash heap. 13 If it is the whole community of Israel that has erred and the matter escapes the notice of the congregation, so that thev do anv of the things which bv the Lord's commandments ought not to be done, and thev offering: the fat that covers the entrails entrails; 9 the

—

realize their guilt

14

when

the sin through which thev incurred guilt be-

comes known, the congregation a

156

shall offer a bull

So traditionally; more precisely "offmnj] of purgation

."

of the herd

as a sin

torah LEVITICUS

4.31

The elders of the community shall lav their hands upon the head of the bull before the Lord, and the bull shall be slaughtered before the Lord. 16 The anointed priest shall bring some of the blood of the bull into the Tent of Meeting, and bring

offering,

17 and

it

before the Tent of Meeting.

the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle of

times before the

Lord,

of Meeting, and

altar

He 20 He

remove

which

is

Lord

before the

it

seven

of the blood he

Tent

in the

the rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of

all

the altar of burnt offering, which 19

curtain. 18 Some

of the

in front

put on the horns of the

shall

15

is

from

at the

entrance of the Tent of Meeting.

it into smoke on the altar. do with this bull just as is done with the [priest's] bull of sin offering; he shall do the same with it. Thus the priest shall make expiation for them, and thev shall be forgiven. 21 He shall carrv the bull outside the camp and burn it as he burned the first bull; it is the sin offering of the

shall

all its fat

it

and turn

shall

congregation. 22 In case it is a chieftain

the things which bv the

who

incurs guilt bv doing unwittingly anv of

commandment of the Lord 23 or

to be done, and he realizes his guilt

brought to

his

knowledge

without blemish. be slaughtered the

Lord;

it is

24

He

at the

—he

shall

shall lav his

God ought

bring

and

goat's head,

spot where the burnt offering

is

sin offering

burnt offering; and the

rest

of

and put

the altar of burnt offering. 26 A11

its fat

he

it

the fat of the sacrifice of well-being.

expiation

on

his behalf for his sin,

among

and he

some

die altar of

at the

base of

smoke on the Thus the priest shall make

shall

the populace

shall

turn into

shall

altar, like

anv person from

pour out

shall

is

slaughtered 13 before

on the horns of

it

blood he

its

not

guiltv

male goat

as his offering a

hand upon the

is

a sin offering. 25 The priest shall take with his finger

of the blood of the

27If

his

the sin of which he

be forgiven.

unwittinglv incurs guilt bv

doing anv of the things which bv the Lord's commandments ought not to be done, and he realizes his guilt

brought to

his

knowledge

—he

as his offering for the sin

upon

some of shall

c

Cf.

is

guilty

is

bring a female goat without blemish

of which he

of the burnt offering.

all

its

blood and put

the rest of

remove

its

is

guiltv. 29

He

shall lav his

hand

it

30 The priest shall take

with his finger

on the horns of the altar of burnt offering; shall pour out at the base of the altar. 31 He the fat is removed from the sacrifice of well-

blood he

all its fat,

just as

being; and the priest shall turn b

of which he

the head of the sin offering, and the sin offering shall be slaughtered

at the place

and

shall

28 or the sin

it

into

smoke on

the altar, for a pleasing

111.

Lit. "people

of the country:'

157

torah LEVITICUS

4.32

odor to the Lord. Thus the shall

32 If

make

the offering he brings as a sin offering 33

female without blemish.

and

offering,

it

shall

the burnt offering

is

expiation for him, and he

base of the

sheep of the

turn into smoke priest shall

and he

make

on

as a

is

he

a sheep,

shall

bring a

hand upon the head of the sin sin offering at the spot where

the rest of

all its fat

he

of well-being

the

and put

sin offering

all

And

sacrifice

shall lay his

be slaughtered

some of the blood of the altar. 35

He

slaughtered. 34The priest shall take with his finger

of burnt offering, and

\J

priest shall

be forgiven.

altar,

expiation

on

its

shall

is

it

on

the horns of the altar

blood he

pour out

at the

just as the fat

of the

shall

remove

removed; and

this the priest shall

over the Lord's offering by

fire.

of which he

his behalf for the sin

Thus the is

guilty,

be forgiven.

shall

If a person incurs guilt

When testify as

—although able to —he does

he has heard a public imprecation a and

one

who

has either seen or learned of the matter

not give information, so that he 2

Or when "a person

subject to punishment;

is

touches any unclean thing

an unclean beast or the carcass of unclean

—and the

unclean creeping thing

fact has

—be

cattle

it

the carcass of

or the carcass of an

escaped him, and then, being

unclean, he realizes his guilt; 3

Or when he

touches

uncleanness — any such uncleanness —and, though he has known the

human

whereby one becomes unclean

fact

it,

has escaped him, but later he realizes his guilt; 4Or

ever a

—

when a person utters b an oath to bad or good purpose whatman may utter in an oath and, though he has known it, the

fact has

—

escaped him, but later he realizes his guilt in any of these

matters 5

when he

realizes his guilt in

wherein he has sinned. for the sin

of which he

as a sin offering;

6

And

shall

priest shall

shall confess that

bring as his penalty to the

guilty, a female

is

and the

any of these matters, he he

make

from the expiation

flock,

on

Lord,

sheep or goat,

his behalf for his

sin. 7 But if his

means do not

as his penalty for that

•>

Namely, against one who withholds testimony.

b Lit.

158

suffice for a sheep,

of which he

"utters with his lips."

is

he

guilty,

Lord, two

shall

bring to the

two

turtledoves or

torah LEVITICUS pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. shall

bring them to the priest,

offering, pinching

head

its

some of the blood of the

sprinkle

what remains of the blood

one for the

shall offer first the

nape without severing

on

sin offering

be drained out

shall

a sin offering. 10And the

is

who

at the

second he

9

it.

the side of the

at the

8

He

He sin

shall

altar,

base of the

5.22

and

altar; it

prepare as a burnt offering,

shall

according to regulation. Thus the priest shall make expiation on his behalf for the sin

And

11

he

shall

of which he

guilty,

is

means do not

if his

and he

be forgiven.

shall

two turtledoves or two pigeons, of which he is guilty a tenth of an

suffice for

bring as his offering for that

ephah of choice flour for a sin offering; he shall not add frankincense

and the turn

it

on

it,

priest shall

into

for

it is

a sin offering. 12

He

scoop out of it a handful

smoke on the

altar,

is

guilty,

as a

bring

oil to it it

token portion of

make expiation on his

and he

shall

be forgiven.

or lay

to the priest,

with the Lord's offerings by

sin offering. 13 Thus the priest shall

ever of these sins he

shall

it

and

fire; it is

a

behalf for which-

belong to

It shall

the priest, like the meal offering.

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: When a person commits a trespass, being

14 15

any of the Lord's sacred things, he a

ram without blemish from

by the sanctuary weight, for that

unwittingly remiss about

bring as his penalty to the

his behalf

and give

it

it

The

to the priest.

He

make

shall

restitution

And when a person, without knowing Lord's commandments about things not he

shall

it,

make

priest shall

with the ram of the guilt offering, and he

17

his guilt,

Lord

the flock, convertible into payment in silver

as a guilt offering. 16

wherein he was remiss about the sacred things, and he

a fifth part to

on

shall

shall

shall

add

expiation

be forgiven.

sins in regard to

any of the

to be done, and then realizes

be subject to punishment.

18

He

shall

bring to the priest

ram without blemish from the flock, or the equivalent, as a guilt offering. The priest shall make expiation on his behalf for the error that he a

committed unwittingly, and he

shall

19 It is a guilt

be forgiven.

offering;

he has incurred guilt before the Lord. 20 The

Lord

spoke to Moses, saying:

mits a trespass against the

Lord

21

When

by dealing

a

person sins and com-

deceitfully

with his fellow

in

the matter of a deposit or a pledge, d or through robbery, or by defrauding his fellow, 22 or falsely

by finding something

lost

and lying about

regarding any one of the various things that one

c

I.e.,

d

Meaning ofHeb.

in currency;

cf.

v.

it;

if

he swears

may do and

sin

15.

uncertain.

159

torah LEVITICUS

5.23

when one

thereby

23

store that

which he got through robbery or

has thus sinned and, realizing his guilt, would fraud, or the deposit that

re-

was

entrusted to him, or the lost thing that he found, 24or anything else about

which he swore part to

he

it.

He

he

falsely,

shall

pay

it

shall

to

repay the principal amount and add a

owner when he

its

bring to the priest, as his penalty to the

shall

blemish from the flock, or the equivalent^

make

shall

on

expiation

forgiven for whatever he

vJ

The Lord spoke

Lord,

a

ram without

as a guilt offering. 26 The priest

LORD, and he

his behalf before the

may have done

fifth

realizes his guilt. 25 Then

to

shall

be

draw blame thereby.

to Moses, saying: 2 Command

Aaron and

his sons

thus:

This

is

the

burned upon the

it is

on the

fire

The burnt

the ritual of the burnt offering:

remain where

altar

altar all

kept going on

is

it.

3

offering itself shall

night until morning, while

The

priest shall dress in linen

raiment, with linen breeches next to his body; and he shall take

which the

ashes to place

fire

them beside the

has reduced the burnt offering

altar. 4

He

shall

on the

up the

altar

and

then take off his vestments and put

on other vestments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. 5 The fire on the altar shall be kept burning, not to go out: every morning the priest shall feed wood to it, lay out the burnt offering on it, and turn into smoke the fat parts of the offerings of well-being. 6A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar, not to go out.

And

7 it

this is the ritual

Lord,

before the

and

oil

of the meal offering: Aaron's sons of the

in front

of the meal offering

shall

altar. 8

A

shall present

handful of the choice flour

be taken from

it,

with

all

the frankincense

is on the meal offering, and this token portion shall be turned into smoke on the altar as a pleasing odor to the Lord. 9 What is left of it shall be eaten by Aaron and his sons; it shall be eaten as unleavened cakes,

that

in the sacred precinct; they shall eat

Meeting.

10 It shall

portion from

and the cat

of

as their

160

I.e.,

fire.

in currency;

cf.

in the enclosure

not be baked with leaven;

offerings by

guilt offering.

it,

offerings by e

My

it

n Only

due for

all

fire; it is

the males

most

15.

have given

it

as their

holy, like the sin offering

among

Aaron's descendants

may

time throughout the ages from the Lord's

Anything that touches these v.

I

of the Tent of

shall

become

holy.

torah LEVITICUS

'

12

The LORD spoke

and

his sons shall offer to the

a tenth

the

You

a griddle.

a law for

shall

slices, b

anointed from all

bring

well soaked, and offer

it

his sons to succeed

—to be turned

time

The Lord spoke

thus: This

is

most

19

of it;

it

shall

it

to

oil

on

meal offering

so shall the priest,

it; it is

16 So,

shall

18 Speak

as a

with

the

—

Lord's

too, every

meal

not be eaten.

Aaron and

his sons

the ritual of the sin offering: the sin offering shall be slaugh-

Lord,

it is

it

And

smoke.

offering:

to Moses, saying:

tered before the tered:

15

him, prepare

entirely into

whole

Aaron

meal offering, half of it in

as a regular

of pleasing odor to the Lord.

among

the offering that

the occasion of his a anointment:

in the evening, 14 shall be prepared

offering of a priest shall be a

17

Lord on

of an ephah of choice flour

morning and half of it

of baked

13 This is

to Moses, saying:

7.8

holy.

at

the spot c where the burnt offering

The

priest

who

offers

it

is

slaugh-

as a sin offering shall eat

be eaten in the sacred precinct, in the enclosure of the Tent 20 Anything that

become holy; and if any of its blood is spattered upon a garment, you shall wash the bespattered part in the sacred precinct. 21 An earthen vessel in which it was boiled shall be broken; if it was boiled in a copper vessel, [the vessel] shall be scoured and rinsed with water. 22 Only the males in the priestly line may eat of it: it is most holy. 23 But no sin offering may be eaten from which any blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting for expiation in the sanc-

of Meeting.

tuary; any such shall be

7

This

is

touches

consumed

in

fire.

the ritual of the guilt offering:

offering shall be slaughtered at the spot tered,

and the blood

kidneys and the the

shall

liver,

which

it

is

most

holy.

2

where the burnt offering

be dashed on

all

sides

of the

The is

guilt

slaugh-

altar. 3 A11 its fat

the fat that covers the entrails; 4 the

two on them at the loins; and the protuberance on be removed with the kidneys. 5 The priest shall turn

be offered: the broad

shall

flesh shall

its

tail;

fat that is

shall

smoke on the altar as an offering by fire to the LORD; it is a guilt offering. 6 Only the males in the priestly line may eat of it; it shall be eaten in the sacred precinct: it is most holy. 7 The guilt offering is like the sin offering. The same rule applies to them

into

both:

it

shall

the priest i

h *

Or

belong to the

who

offers a

priest

who makes

expiation thereby.

man's burnt offering

shall

8 So,

too,

keep the skin of the

"their.

Meaning ofHeb. tuphine

uncertain.

Cf. 1.11.

161

torah LEVITICUS

7.9

9 Further,

burnt offering that he offered. in

an oven, and any that

to the priest

who

the

it.

10 But

belong

all alike.

may

the ritual of the sacrifice of well-being that one

is

baked

is

shall

every other meal offering, with oil mixed

go to the sons of Aaron

in or drv, shall

n This

offers

any meal offering that

prepared in a pan or on a griddle,

is

offer to

Lord:

12 If he

offers

it

for thanksgiving, he shall offer together with the sacrifice

of thanksgiving unleavened cakes with spread with 13 This

with

and cakes of choice

oil,

offering, with cakes

unleavened wafers

in,

mixed

flour with oil

of leavened bread added, he of well-being.

his thanksgiving sacrifice

one of each kind a

mixed

oil

Lord;

as a gift to the

it

14

in,

well soaked.

Out of this he go to the

shall

15

dashes the blood of the offering of well-being.

along

shall offer

And

shall offer

priest

the flesh of his

thanksgiving sacrifice of well-being shall be eaten on the day that

none of it

offered; 16 If,

shall

however, the

be

set aside until

he

sacrifice

offers

a votive or a freewill offering,

is

shall

be eaten on the day that he offers his

be eaten on the morrow. be consumed in

sacrifice shall

of his

sacrifice

acceptable;

shall

it

19 Flesh

in

flesh. 20 But

fire.

who

a

As

eats

on the

of the 18 If

who

offered

shall

it

It is

it.

who,

it

of it

of the flesh

not be

an offensive

shall bear his guilt.

in a state

who

is

of uncleanness,

of well-being, that person

shall

person touches anything unclean, be

of well-being, that person

is left

flesh

any of the

third day,

shall

clean

shall

it

may

eats flesh

it

human flesh

be

eat such

from the

be cut off from his

an unclean animal or any unclean creature, b and eats sacrifices

and what

left

the third day.

eaten

of it

then

for other flesh, only he

the person

sacrifices

When

on

sacrifice,

is

that touches anything unclean shall not be eaten;

consumed Lord's

fire is

What

not count for him

and the person

thing,

21

of well-being

it is

morning.

shall

17

who

kin.

uncleanness or

from the Lord's

be cut off from his kin.

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 23 Speak to the Israelite people thus: You shall eat no fat c of ox or sheep or goat. 24 Fat from animals that 22

died or were torn by beasts it.

25 If

made 26

a

b

210

See note at Ex. 25:4

torah

lighting

—

oil

oil,

17 The

in

is

Lord

it

or in

whole Tabernacle and

let

may

live

Aaron and

Levites. 19

Do not let the group

Do this

with them, that

and not die when they approach the most sacred his sons

go

in

and assign each of them to

Lord

lest

their ancestral

house and by

census of the Gershonites also,

their clans. 23 Record

of thirty years up to the age of fifty,

all

who

the Gershonite clans as to labor and porterage:

of the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting with

on top of

is

Tent of Meeting;

26 the

it,

them from the age

are subject to service in the

performance of tasks for the Tent of Meeting.

dolphin skin that

and to

b ~witness the

they die.

22 Take a

spoke to Moses:

objects:

his duties

not [the Kohathites] go inside and

dismantling of the sanctuary,~ b

by

18

spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:

his porterage. 20 But let

21 The

for everything conse-

its vessels.

of Kohathite clans be cut off from the they

4.33

the aromatic incense, the regular meal offering, and the anointing

responsibility for the

crated that

NUMBERS

24These are the duties

25 they shall carry

its

of

the cloths

covering, the covering of

and the screen

for the entrance of the

hangings of the enclosure, the screen

at the en-

trance of the gate of the enclosure that surrounds the Tabernacle, the

cords thereof, and the accessories;

and they

Gershonites,

all

altar,

shall

and

their porterage

on orders from Aaron and

their service

all

and

all

their service, shall

you

his sons;

equipment and

shall

make them

their porterage. 28 Those are the duties

attending to

all

clans for the

Tent of Meeting; they

all

service. 27A11 the duties

perform the

shall attend to

their

of the

be performed

responsible for

of the Gershonite

them under the

direc-

tion of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 29 As for the Merarites,

you

to the age of fifty, duties for the

all

who

record them by the clans of their them from the age of thirty years up

shall

ancestral house; 30you shall record

are subject to service in the

Tent of Meeting.

31 These

performance of the

are their porterage tasks in con-

nection with their various duties for the Tent of Meeting: the planks, the bars, the posts,

and the sockets of the Tabernacle;

enclosure and their sockets, pegs, and cords

—

all

32 the

posts around the

these furnishings and

you shall list by name the objects that are their porterage tasks. 33 Those are the duties of the Merarite clans, pertaining to their various duties in the Tent of Meeting under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. their service:

bb Others

"look at the sacred objects even for

a moment."

211

NUMBERS

torah

34 So

4.34

Moses, Aaron, and the chieftains of the community recorded the 35 from

Kohathites by the clans of their ancestral house, years

up

to the age of fifty,

all

the age of thirty

who were subject to service for work relating

to the Tent of Meeting. 36 Those recorded by their clans

came

37 That

who performed

was the enrollment of the Kohathite clans,

duties relating to the

Tent of Meeting,

all

those

whom Moses

to 2,750.

and Aaron recorded

command of the Lord through Moses.

at the

The Gershonites who were recorded by the clans of their ancestral house, 39 from the age of thirty years up to the age of fifty, all who were subject to service for work relating to the Tent of Meeting 40those recorded by the clans of their ancestral house came to 2,630. 41 That was the en38

rollment of the Gershonite clans, the Tent of Meeting

whom

all

those performing duties relating to

Moses and Aaron recorded

at

command

the

of the Lord. 42The

enrollment of the Merarite clans by the clans of their ancestral house, 43 from the age of thirty years up to the age of fifty, all who were subject to service for

by

their clans

clans

work relating

came to 3,200.

44those recorded

to the Tent of Meeting

45 That

was the enrollment of the Merarite

which Moses and Aaron recorded

at

the

command of

the

Lord

through Moses. 46A11 the Levites

whom Moses, Aaron, and the chieftains of Israel recorded

by the clans of their ancestral houses, the age of

fifty, all

relating to the

who were

Lord

of thirty years up to

subject to duties of service and porterage

Tent of Meeting

one was given responsibility for of the

47from the age

48 those

recorded came to 8,580. 49 Each

his service

and porterage

through Moses, and each was recorded

at the

as the

command

Lord

had

commanded Moses.

%J The Lord

spoke to Moses, saying:

from camp anyone with an ^eruption or by a corpse. so that they

defiled

as the

Lord had

Israelites did.

to Moses, saying: 6 Speak to the Israelites:

woman commits

aa See Lev. 13, 15.

212

and anyone

did so, putting them outside the camp;

The Lord spoke or

3

Remove male and female alike; put them outside the camp do not defile the camp of those in whose midst I dwell.

spoken to Moses, so the

man

the Israelites to remove

a discharge

3

4The Israelites

5

2 Instruct

any wrong toward

a fellow'

When

a

man, thus breaking

NUMBERS

torah

faith

with the Lord, and that person

5.21

realizes his guilt, 7he shall confess

wrong that he has done. He shall make restitution in the principal amount and add one-fifth to it, giving it to him whom he has wronged. 8 If the man has no kinsman b to whom restitution can be made, the amount repaid shall go to the Lord for the priest in addition to the ram of expiation with which expiation is made on his behalf. c 9 So, too, any gift the

—

among 10

And

the sacred donations that the Israelites offer shall be the

priest's.

each shall retain his sacred donations: each priest shall keep what

given to him.

is

n The Lord

spoke to Moses, saying:

12 Speak

to the Israelite people

and say to them: If a

any man's wife has gone astray and broken

man

has had carnal relations with her

unbeknown

with him

13 in

that

to her husband,

and

faith

she keeps secret the fact that she has defiled herself without being forced,

no witness against her 14 but a fit of jealousy comes over him and he is wrought up about the wife who has defiled herself; or if a fit of jealousy comes over one and he is wrought up about his wife aland there

is

though she has not priest.

And

he

shall

defiled herself

15 the

man

shall

bring his wife to the

bring as an offering for her one-tenth of an ephah of

No oil shall be poured upon it and no frankincense shall be on it, for it is a meal offering of jealousy, a meal offering of remembrance which recalls wrongdoing. barley flour.

laid

16

The priest shall bring her forward and have her stand before the Lord. 17 The priest shall take sacral water in an earthen vessel and, taking some of the earth that is on the floor of the Tabernacle, the priest shall put it into the water. 18After he has made the woman stand before the Lord, the priest shall bare the woman's headd and place upon her hands the meal offering of remembrance, which

And the

in the priest's

spell. e 19

The

hands

if you

to your husband, be

meal offering of jealousy.

woman,

e

that induces

saying to her, "If no

man

have not gone astray in defilement while married

immune

to harm from this water of bitterness that you have gone astray while married to your yourself, if a man other than your husband has

defiled

relations

with you"

of adjuration to the woman, b Lit.

a

spell. 20 But if

husband and have had carnal

is

be the water of bitterness

priest shall adjure the

has lain with you,

induces the

shall

21 here

the priest shall administer the curse

as the priest

goes on to say to the

woman

"redeemer."

Cf. Lev. 5.15 f. d See note at Lev. 10.6.

«=

e-e

Meaning ofHeb.

uncertain.

213

NUMBERS

torah

5.22

"may the Lord make you the

as

Lord

a curse

causes your thigh to sag and your belly to distend; e 22 may

water that induces the

this

and an imprecation among your people,

spell enter

23 The priest shall

put

the water of bitterness.

your body, causing the

belly to

woman shall say, "Amen, amen!" these curses down in writing and rub it off into 24 He is to make the woman drink the water of

distend and the thigh to sag."

And

the

bitterness that induces the spell, so that the spell-inducing water

may enter

bitterness. 25 Then the priest shall take

from the

on

into her to bring

woman's hand the meal before the

Lord, and

offering of jealousy, elevate the meal offering

present

on the

it

altar. 26

of the meal offering a token part of it and turn

The it

priest shall

into

make the woman drink the water. 27 Once he has made her drink the water if she

scoop out

smoke on the

altar.

Last, he shall

—

has defiled herself by

breaking faith with her husband, the spell-inducing water shall enter into her to bring on bitterness, so that her belly shall distend and her thigh shall sag; if

the

and the

woman

and able to

woman

has not defiled

29 This is the ritual in cases

made

be

ritual

curse is

among

her people. 28 But

unharmed

pure, she shall be

retain seed.

a

man and

he

is

to stand before the

with her.

31

The man

woman goes

of jealousy, when a

married to her husband and

comes over

become a herself and

shall

when

defiles herself, 30 or

a

fit

astray while

of jealousy

wrought up over his wife: the woman shall Lord and the priest shall carry out all this

shall

be clear of

guilt;

but that

woman

shall

suffer for her guilt.

KJ

The Lord spoke

to them: If anyone, set

to Moses, saying:

man

himself apart for the

2 Speak

intoxicant; he shall not drink vinegar

neither shall he drink anything in

of wine or of any other intoxicant,

which grapes have been steeped, nor

cat grapes fresh or dried. 4Throughout his eat anything that

throughout head; irite

214

it

shall

is

and say

to the Israelites

woman, explicitly 3 utters a nazirite's vow, to Lord, 3 he shall abstain from wine and any other or

term

as nazirite,

he

may not

obtained from the grapevine, even seeds or skin. b

the term of his

vow

as nazirite,

no razor

shall

touch his

remain consecrated until the completion of his term

of the Lord, the hair of

a

See note at Lev. 22.21.

h

Meaning

of harsannim

and zag

his

uncertain.

head being

left

to

as naz-

grow untrimmed.

NUMBERS

torah 6 Throughout

go

brother or c

sister

is

should

9 If

he

is

a person dies suddenly near him, d defiling his consecrated hair, he

seventh day.

10

pigeons to the

make

On

on

the day he becomes clean; he shall shave

the eighth day he shall bring

expiation

as a sin offering

on

Lord

his

term

13 This is

was

and he

on

n The

the

two

priest

he incurred through the

head

shall bring a

The previous period

it

turtledoves or

burnt offering, and

as a

shall reconsecrate his

as nazirite;

as a penalty offering.

crated hair

and the other

his behalf for the guilt that

That same day he

corpse.

two

entrance of the Tent of Meeting.

priest, at the

one

shall offer

the

LORD.

consecrated to the

shave his head

shall

die,

God c

not

shall

7

Even if his father or mother, or his he must not defile himself for them, since is upon his head: 8 throughout his term as

dead person.

a

hair set apart for his

nazirite

Lord, he

the term that he has set apart for the

where there

in

6.20

12 and

lamb

rededicate to

in

its first

year

be void, since his conse-

shall

defiled.

the ritual for the nazirite:

On

the day that his term as nazirite

completed, he c shall be brought to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.

is

14As his

offering to the

LORD

without blemish, for

year,

he

shall present:

one male lamb

burnt offering; one ewe lamb in

a

in

its first

its first

year,

without blemish, for a sin offering; one ram without blemish for an fering of well-being; oil

mixed

offerings

The

16

fering

in,

and

15 a

and unleavened wafers spread with

oil;

and the proper meal

libations.

priest shall present

and the burnt

well-being to the

Lord,

LORD

and

shall offer the

ram

them before

offering. 17

He

the

offer the sin ofas a sacrifice

shall

then shave his consecrated hair,

ing,

and take the locks of

19

is

under the

The

sacrifice

of

together with the basket of unleavened cakes;

the priest shall also offer the meal offerings and the libations.

that

of-

basket of unleavened cakes of choice flour with

at the

18

The

nazirite

entrance of the Tent of Meet-

his consecrated hair

and put them on the

fire

of well-being.

priest shall take the shoulder

one unleavened cake from the

basket,

of the ram when

it

has been boiled,

and one unleavened wafer, and place

them on the hands of the nazirite after he has shaved his consecrated hair. 20 The priest shall elevate them as an elevation offering before the Lord; and

this shall

be a sacred donation for the

priest, in

of the elevation offering and the thigh of nazirite

c-c

d e

may

addition to the breast

gift offering.

After that the

drink wine.

Others "his consecration unto God." Num. 19.14-16.

Cf.

Or

"it,"

i.e.,

the consecrated hair;

cf.

v.

19.

215

NUMBERS

torah

21 Such is

6.21

the obligation of a nazirite; except that he

offering to the

Lord

of what he can afford, beyond

ments, must do exactly according to the

vow

who vows

an

his nazirite require-

made beyond

that he has

his obligation as a nazirite.

22 The

Lord

23 Speak to

Aaron and his sons: Thus you bless the people of Israel. Say to them: 24The Lord bless you and protect you! 25 The Lord f_ deal kindly and graciously with youK 26The Lord sbestow His favors upon you and grant you peace h 27 Thus they shall link My name with the people of Israel, and I will spoke to Moses:

shall

bless

them.

7.On the day that Moses finished setting up the Tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated sils.

it

and

all its

furnishings, as well as the altar

When he had anointed and consecrated them,

and

2 the chieftains

its

uten-

of Israel,

the heads of ancestral houses, namely, the chieftains of the tribes, those

who were

in charge

before the chieftains

When

Lord:

of enrollment, drew near a 3 and brought

six

draught

carts

and twelve oxen,

a cart for every

two

Lord

said

and an ox for each one.

they had brought them before the Tabernacle,

to Moses:

their offering

5

Accept these from them for use

4 the

in the service

of the Tent of

Meeting, and give them to the Levites according to their respective 6

Moses took

carts

the carts and the oxen and gave

and four oxen he gave to the Gershonites,

service, 8 and four carts

priest. 9 But to

service

its

The

chieftains also

brought the dedication offering for the

n the Lord

said to

Moses: Let them present

one

altar

upon

The one who presented

his offering

weighing 130 shekels and one weight, both

filled

with choice flour with

Cf. Exod. 14.10.

and

on

the

13 His

silver basin

Others "make His face to shine upon thee Others "lift up His countenance."

Q r "friendship."

their offerings for

chieftain each day.

son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah.

216

as re-

direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the

being anointed. As the chieftains were presenting their offerings before

12

h

Two

the Kohathites he did not give any; since theirs was the

the dedication of the altar,

f f

7

as required for their

of the [most] sacred objects, their porterage was by shoulder.

the altar,

g-g

services.

to the Levites.

and eight oxen he gave to the Merarites,

—under the

quired for their service

10

them

first

day was Nahshon

offering:

one

silver

bowl

of 70 shekels by the sanctuary

oil

mixed

in, for a

be gracious to thee."

meal offering;

•

14 one

gold ladle of 10 shekels,

one ram, and one lamb

in

with incense;

filled

15 one

NUMBERS

bull

7.41

of the herd,

year, for a burnt offering; 16 one goat

its first

for a sin offering; 17and for his sacrifice five

torah

of well-being: two oxen,

he-goats, and five yearling lambs. That

five

rams,

was the offering of Nahshon

son of Amminadab. 18

On the second day, Nethanel son of Zuar, chieftain of Issachar, made He presented as his offering: one silver bowl weighing 130

his offering. 19

and one

shekels filled

with choice flour with

of 10 shekels,

ladle

of 70 shekels by the sanctuary weight, both

silver basin

and one lamb

in

oil

and

20 one

meal offering;

21 one bull

gold

of the herd, one ram,

year, for a burnt offering; 22 one goat for a sin

its first

five yearling

in, for a

with incense;

filled

offering; 23 and for his sacrifice

goats,

mixed

of well-being: two oxen,

five

rams,

five he-

lambs. That was the offering of Nethanel son of

Zuar. 24

On

the third day,

of Helon. silver

first

was the one

chieftain

of the Zebulunites, Eliab son

bowl weighing 130

silver

basin of 70 shekels by the sanctuary weight, both

flour with oil filled

it

25 His offering:

mixed

with incense;

in, for a

meal offering;

27one bull

26 one

shekels

filled

and one

with choice

gold ladle of 10 shekels,

of the herd, one ram, and one lamb

in

its

year, for a burnt offering; 28 one goat for a sin offering; 29 and for his

sacrifice

of well-being: two oxen,

five

rams,

five he-goats,

and

five yearling

lambs. That was the offering of Eliab son of Helon. 30

On

the fourth day,

of Shedeur. silver basin

31 His

first

was the one

chieftain

silver

of the Reubenites, Elizur son

bowl weighing 130

of 70 shekels by the sanctuary weight, both

flour with oil filled

it

offering:

mixed

with incense;

in, for a

meal offering;

33 one bull

32 one

shekels

filled

and one

with choice

gold ladle of 10 shekels,

of the herd, one ram, and one lamb

in

its

year, for a burnt offering; 34one goat for a sin offering; 35 and for his

sacrifice

of well-being: two oxen,

five

rams,

five he-goats,

and

five yearling

lambs. That was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur. 36

On the fifth day,

of Zurishaddai.

one

silver

shekels, filled its first

was the

chieftain

one

of the Simeonites, Shelumiel son

silver

bowl weighing 130 shekels and

basin of 70 shekels by the sanctuary weight, both

choice flour with

in

it

37 His offering:

oil

mixed

with incense;

in, for a

meal offering;

39 one bull

38 one

filled

with

gold ladle of 10

of the herd, one ram, and one lamb

year, for a burnt offering; 40 one goat for a sin offering; 41 and

for his sacrifice

of well-being: two oxen,

yearling lambs.

That was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

five

rams,

five he-goats,

and

five

217

torah

NUMBERS 42

On

Deuel.

7.42

the sixth day,

was the

it

43 His offering:

one

chieftain of the Gadites, Eliasaph

bowl weighing 130

silver

basin of 70 shekels by the sanctuary weight, both

with

oil

mixed

^one gold

a meal offering;

in, for

45 one bull

with incense;

shekels

filled

ladle

son of

and one

silver

with choice flour

of 10 shekels,

of the herd, one ram, and one lamb in

filled

its first

year, for a burnt offering; 46 one goat for a sin offering; 47 and for his sacrifice

of well-being: two oxen,

five

rams, five he-goats, and five yearling

lambs. That was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel. 48

On the

seventh day,

son of Ammihud.

and one

with choice flour with

one lamb

in

filled

its first

one

oil

mixed

bowl weighing 130

silver

meal offering;

in, for a

51 one bull

with incense;

shekels

50 one

filled

gold ladle

of the herd, one ram, and

year, for a burnt offering; 52 one goat for a sin offering;

53 and for his sacrifice

and

of the Ephraimites, Elishama

chieftain

of 70 shekels by the sanctuary weight, both

silver basin

of 10 shekels,

was the

it

49 His offering:

of well-being: two oxen,

five

rams,

five he-goats,

Am-

lambs. That was the offering of Elishama son of

five yearling

mihud. 54

On

the eighth day,

son of Pedahzur.

and one

with choice flour with

one lamb

in

filled

its first

five yearling

oil

mixed

silver

in, for a

with incense;

of the Manassites, Gamaliel

bowl weighing 130

shekels

meal

57one bull

offering; 56

filled

one gold

ladle

of the herd, one ram, and

year, for a burnt offering; 58 one goat for a sin offering;

59 and for his sacrifice

and

chieftain

one

of 70 shekels by the sanctuary weight, both

silver basin

of 10 shekels,

was the

it

55 His offering:

of well-being: two oxen,

five

rams, five he-goats,

lambs. That was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedah-

zur. 60

On

the ninth day,

one

it

was the

61 His offering:

son of Gideoni. silver basin

with incense;

in its first year, for a

for his sacrifice

On

one

burnt

meal offering;

63 one bull

silver basin

62 one

with

filled

gold ladle of 10

of the herd, one ram, and one lamb

offering; 64 one

it

was the

67 His offering:

goat for a sin offering;

five

65 and

rams, five he-goats, and five

chieftain

one

silver

of the Danites, Ahiezer son of

bowl weighing 130

of 70 shekels by the sanctuary weight, both

choice flour with oil mixed

218

in, for a

was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

the tenth day,

Ammishaddai.

silver

of well-being: two oxen,

yearling lambs. That 66

one

Abidan

bowl weighing 130 shekels and

of 70 shekels by the sanctuary weight, both

choice flour with oil mixed shekels, filled

chieftain of the Benjaminites,

in, for a

meal offering;

68 one

shekels filled

and with

gold ladle of 10

torah shekels, filled

in

its first

with incense;

69 one bull

NUMBERS

7.89

of the herd, one ram, and one lamb

year, for a burnt offering; 70 one goat for a sin offering; 71 and

two oxen,

for his sacrifice of well-being:

five

rams,

five

he-goats, and five

yearling lambs. That was the offering of Ahiezer son of Arnmishaddai. 72 On the eleventh day, it was the chieftain of the Asherites, Pagiel son

of Ochran.

73 His offering:

silver basin

of 70 shekels by the sanctuary weight, both

flour with oil filled

mixed

one

in, for a

74 one

meal offering;

75 one bull

with incense;

bowl weighing 130

silver

shekels

filled

and one

with choice

gold ladle of 10 shekels,

of the herd, one ram, and one lamb in

its

year, for a burnt offering; 76 one goat for a sin offering; 77 and for his

first

sacrifice

of well-being: two oxen,

rams,

five

five he-goats,

and

five yearling

lambs. That was the offering of Pagiel son of Ochran. 78

On the

silver

twelfth day,

first

was the

one

chieftain

silver

of the Naphtalites, Ahira son

bowl weighing 130

basin of 70 shekels by the sanctuary weight, both

flour with oil filled

it

79 His offering:

of Enan.

mixed

with incense;

in, for a

meal offering;

81 one bull

80 one

shekels filled

and one

with choice

gold ladle of 10 shekels,

of the herd, one ram, and one lamb

in

its

year, for a burnt offering; 82 one goat for a sin offering; 83 and for his

sacrifice

of well-being: two oxen,

rams,

five

five he-goats,

and

five yearling

lambs. That was the offering of Ahira son of Enan. 84This

Israel

was the dedication offering

upon

its

being anointed:

ladles, 12. 85 Silver

silver

for the altar

from the

per bowl, 130; per basin, 70. Total

2,400 sanctuary shekels. tuary shekels per ladle

86 The

—

total

chieftains

of

bowls, 12; silver basins, 12; gold

12 gold ladles

gold of the

filled

ladles,

silver

with incense

of

vessels,

— 10

sanc-

120.

87 Total

of herd animals for burnt offerings, 12 bulls; of rams, 12; of yearling lambs, 12 with their proper meal offerings; of goats for sin

—

offerings, 12. 88 Total

of herd animals for

sacrifices

of well-being, 24

bulls;

of rams, 60; of he-goats, 60; of yearling lambs, 60. That was the dedication offering for the altar after

its

anointing.

89 When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with Him, he would hear the Voice addressing him from above the cover diat was on top of the Ark of the Pact between the two cherubim; thus He spoke to

him.

219

NUMBERS

torah

8.1

8-|r6ym

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 Speak to Aaron and say to him, "When you mount a the lamps, let the seven lamps give light at the front of the lampstand." 3 Aaron did so; he mounted the lamps at the front of 4 Now this is how the lampstand, as the Lord had commanded Moses. the lampstand was made: it was hammered work of gold, hammered from base to petal. According to the pattern that the Lord had shown Moses, so was the lampstand made.

5

The Lord spoke

Israelites

to Moses, saying: 6Take the Levites

and cleanse them.

7 This is

what you

shall

them: sprinkle on them water of purification, and

whole body with a 8 Let

them

razor,

and wash

mixed

and with

and you take

in,

offering. 9 You shall bring the Levites

Assemble the whole before the let

Israelite

Lord. Let the

a

community,

10 and

Israelites lay their

they

be cleansed.

a meal offering of choice

second bull of the herd for a sin

Aaron designate the Levites before the Israelites, that

it

forward before the Tent of Meeting.

13

from the

do to them to cleanse them go over their

let

their clothes; thus they shall

take a bull of the herd,

flour with oil

from among the

may perform

bring the Levites forward

hands upon the Levites,

Lord

as

u and

an elevation offering

the service of the

Lord.

12

The

now lay their hands upon the heads of the bulls; one shall offered to the Lord as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering,

Levites shall

be to

make

expiation for the Levites.

You

shall place the Levites in

13

and designate them

set the Levites apart 1

attendance

upon Aaron and his sons, 14Thus you shall

an elevation offering to the Lord.

as

from the

Thereafter the Levites

shall

Israelites,

and the Levites

shall

Meeting, once you have cleansed them and designated them 16 For

tion offering. Israelites: I

be Mine.

be qualified for the service of the Tent of

they are formally assigned to

Me

as

an eleva-

from among the

have taken them for Myself in place of all the

first

issue

womb, of all

the first-born of the Israelites. 17 For every first-born

the Israelites,

man

at

the time that

I

as well as beast,

smote every

is

Mine;

I

consecrated

first-born in the land

them

of Egypt.

take the Levites instead of every first-born of the Israelites;

among

the Israelites

I

of the

among

to Myself 18

Now

19 and

I

from

formally assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons,

to perform the service for the Israelites in the Tent of Meeting and to >

Cf. Exod. 25.37. "elevate."

b Lit.

220

torah

NUMBERS

9.10

make expiation for the Israelites, so that no plague may afflict the Israelites c_ for coming too near the sanctuary. 20 Moses, Aaron, and the whole Israelite community did with the Levites accordingly; just as the Lord had commanded Moses in regard to the Levites, so the Israelites did with them. 21 The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes; and Aaron designated them as an elevation offering before the Lord, and Aaron made expiation for them to cleanse them. 22 Thereafter the Levites were qualified to perform their service in the

Tent of Meeting, under Aaron and

had commanded Moses

Lord

23 The

From

spoke to Moses, saying:

twenty-five years of age

in the service

his sons.

As the Lord

in regard to the Levites, so they did to them.

up they

of the Tent of Meeting;

24This

is

the rule for the Levites.

work

shall participate in the 25 but at

the age of

fifty

force

they shall

from the work force and shall serve no more. 26They may assist Tent of Meeting by standing guard, but they

retire

their brother Levites at the

perform no labor. Thus you

shall

shall deal

with the Levites in regard to

their duties.

9

The Lord spoke

moon

2 Let

saying: 3

you

to

Moses

in the wilderness

of Sinai, on the

first

new

of the second year following the exodus from the land of Egypt, the Israelite people offer the passover sacrifice at

shall offer

set time;

you

it

on

shall offer

it

with

in accordance

all its

rules

and

offered the passover sacrifice in the

first

its

rites.

4Moses instructed the Israelites to offer the passover sacrifice;

5

and they

month, on the fourteenth day of

the month, at twilight, in the wilderness of Sinai. Just as the

commanded Moses,

set time:

its

the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, at

Lord

had

so the Israelites did.

some men who were unclean by reason of a corpse and could not offer the passover sacrifice on that day. Appearing that same day before Moses and Aaron, 7 those men said to them, 3 "Unclean though we are by reason of a corpse, why must we be debarred from presenting the Lord's offering at its set time with the rest of the Israelites?" 8 Moses said to them, "Stand by, and let me hear what instructions the Lord 6 But

there were

gives about you." 9

And

saying: cc Lit. 3

Lit.

Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 10 Speak to the Israelite people, When any of you or of your posterity who are defiled by a corpse the

"when the

Israelites

come."

"him."

221

torah

NUMBERS

9.11

or are on a long journey would offer a passover

u they

shall offer

month,

it

They

at twilight.

12 and

herbs,

not break a bone of it. They

refrains

from

shall offer

sacrifice. 13 But if

a

over until morning. They shall

it

in strict accord is

clean

with the law of

and not on

person

sacrifice, that

shall

he did not present the Lord's offering

man shall bear his guilt. 14 And when a stranger who

bitter

it

man who

from offering the passover

his kin, for

Lord,

with unleavened bread and

shall eat it

they shall not leave any of

the passover

sacrifice to the

in the second month, on the fourteenth day of the

a journey

be cut off

at its set time;

that

Lord, he must

sacrifice to the

of the passover

rites

resides

with you would offer a passover

offer

in accordance with the rules

it

There

sacrifice.

and

be one law for you, whether

shall

stranger or citizen of the country.

15

On

the day that the Tabernacle

was

cloud covered the

set up, the

Tabernacle, the Tent of the Pact; and in the evening

Tabernacle in the likeness of

cloud covered lifted

it,

appearing

from the Tent, the

fire until

as fire

Israelites

morning.

set

was always

And whenever

a

command

Lord

of;the

they

Lord

many ney

19

such times

as the

at a

command of the Lord.

from evening in the

until

was two days or

a

as

jour-

as the

lifted,

cloud

lifted

they would break

—however long

a year

Israelites

remained encamped

when it lifted did they break camp. 23 On a sign made camp and on a sign from the Lord they broke

only

set out;

Lord

soon

month or

—the

from the

cloud

command of the Lord, and broke And at such times as the cloud stayed

the cloud lingered over the Tabernacle

and did not

as the

at a 21

morning, they broke camp

22 Whether it

command of

long

Lord's mandate and did not

morning. Day or night, whenever the cloud

camp.

At

cloud rested over the Tabernacle for but a

few days, they remained encamped

camp

as

18

When the cloud lingered over the Tabernacle

days, the Israelites observed the

on. 20At

at the

make camp.

the Israelites broke camp, and at a

made camp: they remained encamped

stayed over the Tabernacle.

so: the

the cloud

out accordingly; and

spot where the cloud settled, there the Israelites would

the

rested over the

it

17

by night.

would

16 It

they

camp; they observed the Lord's mandate

at the

Lord's bidding through

Moses.

10 The Lord

spoke to Moses, saying:

made; make them of hammered work. They

222

2

Have two

shall serve

silver

trumpets

you to summon

NUMBERS

torah the

community and

to set the divisions in motion.

3

10.23

When both are blown

in long blasts, 3 the

whole community shall assemble before you at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting; 4 and if only one is blown, the chieftains, heads of

contingents, shall assemble before you.

Israel's

blasts, a

sound short

the divisions

encamped on the

when you sound short blasts south shall move forward. Thus

6 and

5

But when vou

east shall

move

for-

encamped short blasts shall be blown for on the setting them in motion, 7while to convoke the congregation you shall blow long blasts, not short ones. 8 The trumpets shall be blown by Aaron's sons, the priests; they shall be for you an institution for all time through-

ward;

a second time, those

out the ages. 9 a

"When you

are at

war a

in

your land against an aggressor

you, you shall sound short blasts on the trumpets, that you

who attacks may be re-

before the LORD your God and be delivered from your eneAnd on your joyous occasions your fixed festivals and new moon

membered mies.

days

10

—you

sacrifices I,

the

on

of well-being. They

shall

and your

offerings

be a reminder of you before your God:

Lord, am your God.

u In cloud

—

sound the trumpets over your burnt

shall

the second year, lifted

on the twentieth day of the second month, the

from the Tabernacle of the Pact

their journeys

12 and

the Israelites set out

from the wilderness of Sinai. The cloud came to

rest in

the wilderness of Paran. 13

When

Moses,

the march was to begin, at the

14 the first

Judah. In

17

Then The

troops was

Nahshon son of Amminadab;

tribal

troop of Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar;

tribal

troop of Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon.

the Tabernacle

the Merarites, 18

standard to set out, troop by troop, was the division of

command of its

command of the command of the

Lord's command through

who

would be taken

apart;

carried the Tabernacle,

16 and in

and the Gershonites and

would

set out.

next standard to set out, troop by troop, was the division of

Reuben. In

command of its

troop was Elizur son of Shedcur;

19 in

mand of the tribal troop of Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai; in command of the tribal troop of Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel. 21

Then

the Kohathites,

and by the time they 22 The

who

carried the sacred objects,

arrived, the Tabernacle

would be

com20 and

would set out; up again.

set

next standard to set out, troop by troop, was the division of

Ephraim. In

command of a

15 in

command of its

troop was Elishama son of Ammihud;

23 in

the tribal troop of Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;

Meaning ofHeb.

uncertain.

223

NUMBERS

torah

24 and in

command of the

25 Then, as

of

10.24

troop of Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni.

tribal

the rear guard of all the divisions, the standard of the division

Dan would

set out,

command of its troop was command of the tribal troop of Asher, command of the tribal troop of Naphtali,

troop by troop. In

Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;

26 in

Pagiel son of Ochran; 27 and in

Ahira son of Enan. 28 Such

was the order of march of the

Israelites, as

they marched troop

by troop. 29 Moses said to

law,

"We

give

it

Lord

to you.'

He

Come

we

will

not go," he replied to him, "but

Lord

has said,

'I

will

be generous with you; for the

should camp in

we

us,

will return to

my native land."

you know where we the wilderness and can be our guide. b So if you come

do not

said, "Please

with

with us and

the Midianite, Moses' father-in-

of which the

has promised to be generous to Israel."

30 "I will 31

Hobab son of Reuel

are setting out for the place

will extend to

inasmuch

leave us,

as

you the same bounty

that the

Lord

grants

us."

33 They

days.

marched from the mountain of the

The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord

Lord

a distance

of three

traveled in front of them

on

that three days' journey to seek out a resting place for them; 34 and the

Lord's cloud kept above them by day, as they moved on from camp. 35 When the Ark was to set out, Moses would say: Advance,

O

Lord!

May Your enemies be scattered, And may Your foes flee before You! 36And when it halted, he would say: c

Return,

You who

11 The Lord

O

Lord,

are Israel's myriads

prayed to the

Lord, and

Taberah, a because a b Lit. "eyes." cc Others "Return,

O

fire

the

fire

of the

Lord, unto

224

root b'r, "to

burn."

2

fire

of the

the

Lord

The people

Lord. The

broke out against them,

cried out to Moses.

died down.

Lord

ten thousands of the families of Israel!"

From

!

people took to complaining bitterly before the

heard and was incensed: a

ravaging the outskirts of the camp.

a

c

of thousands

3

Moses

That place was named

had broken out against them.

.

4The riffraff in their

wept and

raelites

we used

fish that

midst

a gluttonous craving;

we had meat

to eat!

5

and then the

We

11.20

Is-

remember the

to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the garlic. 6

and the

leeks, the onions,

felt

only

said, "If

NUMBERS

torah

Now our gullets

are shriveled.

There

is

Nothing but this manna to look to!" 7 Now the manna was like coriander seed, and in color it was like bdellium. 8 The people would go about and gather it, grind it between millnothing

at

all!

pound

stones or

it

in a mortar, boil

tasted like rich cream. b

manna would 10

upon

fall

Moses heard

9

When

it

and make it on the camp

in a pot,

dew

the

fell

into cakes. It at night, the

it.

the people weeping, every clan apart, each person at the

entrance of his tent.

The Lord was very

angry, and

Moses was

distressed.

And Moses said to the Lord, "Why have You dealt ill with Your servant, and why have I not enjoyed Your favor, that You have laid the burden 11

of

people upon me?

this

all

You should

them, that an

carries

12

Did

I

conceive

say to me, 'Carry

infant,' to the

land that

You

all

them

in

this people,

did

your bosom

I

as a

bear

nurse

have promised on oath to their

am I to get meat to give to all this people, when they me and say, 'Give us meat to eat!' 14 I cannot carry all this

fathers? 13 Where

whine before

people by myself, for

with me,

kill

me

much

too

it is

rather, I

for

15 If

me.

beg You, and

let

You would

me

see

deal thus

no more of

my

wretchedness!"

Lord said of whom you have

Then

16

elders

the

to Moses, "Gather for

Me

seventy of

Israel's

experience as elders and officers of the people,

and bring them to the Tent of Meeting and

upon the

let them take their place there come down and speak with you there, and I will draw that is on you and put it upon them; they shall share the

17 I will

with you.

spirit

burden of the people with you, and you to the people: for

c ~Purify

for

you have kept whining before the

meat to

eat!

Indeed,

you meat and you even

five

of your

we

b Lit.

we were

nostrils is

shall

not bear

it

Lord

shall eat. 19 You shall eat 20 but a

and saying,

'If

only

The Lord

ever leave Egypt!'

say

meat,

we had

will give

not one day, not two, not

whole month,

you, by whining before

And

shall eat

until

it

and becomes loathsome to you. For you have

among

18

alone.

tomorrow and you

better off in Egypt!'

days or ten or twenty,

Lord who did

yourselves~ c

Him

comes out

rejected the

and saying, 'Oh, why

"

"cream of oil {or, fat)." a sacrificial meal.

cc I.e., as for

225

NUMBERS

torah

21 But

Moses

11.21

said,

"The people d ~who

thousand men; yet You 22 Could

whole month.'

them? Or could

them?"

23

power?

e

say,

T

enough

flocks

me" d number six hundred them enough meat to eat for a

are with

will give

and herds be slaughtered to

the fish of the sea be gathered for

all

them

suffice

to suffice

And the Lord answered Moses, e "Is there a limit to the Lord's You shall soon see whether what I have said happens to you or

not!" 24Moses

He

went out and reported the words of the

Lord

to the people.

gathered seventy of the people's elders and stationed them around the 25 Then

Tent.

the

drew upon the

And when

Lord came down

in a cloud

was on him and put

spirit that

upon them, they

the spirit rested

it

and spoke to him;

upon

He

the seventy elders.

f~spoke in ecstasy,"*

but did

not continue. 26

Two

men, one named Eldad and the other Medad, had remained

in

—they were among those recorded, but they had not gone out to the Tent— and they ~spoke

camp; yet the

upon them

spirit rested

f

the camp.

A youth

27

are acting the

in ecstasy~ f in

Medad

ran out and told Moses, saying, "Eldad and

prophet in the camp!"

28

And

Joshua son of Nun, Moses'

attendant from his youth, spoke up and said,

"My

lord Moses, restrain

Moses said to him, "Are you wrought up on my account? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord put His spirit upon them!" 30 Moses then reentered the camp together with the them!"

elders

31

A

29 But

of Israel.

wind from

the

Lord

on

a day's journey

that side,

deep on the ground. night and

all

32

all

35

dd

to

Ibn Ezra,

this

Rashbam and Ibn Ezra;

phrase connects with the end of v. 1. see Zech. 14.9. Others "The Lord our God, the

Cf.

c

Others "frontlet"; cf. Exod. 13.16. Lit. "between your eyes"; cf. Exod. 13.9.

the voice of Judah

him

and Urim

faithful one,

Cf. Meribath-kadesh, 32.51.

Meaning ofHeb. mimino 'cshdath uncertain, perhaps a place name. The meaning ofw. 3-5 is uncertain. An alternative rendering, with v. 3 Then

O

apostrophizing Moses,

of the people, /All His worshipers in your care; /They followed your lead,/ Accepted your precepts. / 4Moses charged us with the TeachingIAs the heritage of the congregation is:

3

were,

loiter

ofJacob. I^Thus was he king in Jeshurun .... dd Better {vocalizing rab with pathah) 'Make his hands strong for him." Cf. rabbeh, J udg. 9.29.

330

torah

DEUTERONOMY

33.17

Whom You tested at Massah, Challenged

Who

9

waters of Meribah;

at the

of his father and mother,

said

"I consider

them

not."

His brothers he disregarded,

own

Ignored his

children.

Your precepts alone they observed, And kept Your covenant. 10 They shall teach Your laws to Jacob And Your instructions to Israel.

They shall offer You incense to savor e And whole-offerings on Your altar. n Bless, O Lord, his substance, e

And

favor his undertakings.

Smite the loins of his foes; Let his enemies 12

Of Benjamin

he

rise

no more.

said:

Beloved of the Lord,

He

rests securely beside

Ever does f"As

13

And

he

He

rests

of Joseph he

between His shoulders.

14

With

And 15

16

dews from heaven,

deep that couches below;

the bounteous yield of the sun,

best

from

the bounty of

With

f

be his land

the bounteous crop of the

With the

And

Lord

the bounty of

And of the

~

said:

Blessed of the

With

Him;

protect him,

moons;

the ancient mountains,

hills

immemorial;

the bounty of earth and

its

fullness,

And the favor of the Presence in the Bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph, 11

On

the

crown of the

elect

of his brodiers.

17 Like a firstling bull in his

majesty,

cc Lit. "They shall place incense in f.f

g

h

Tour nostril." amid his slopes." Targum Onkelos and two Hebrew manuscripts read: "With

Q r «j-fe

dwells

for mittal, cf Gen. 49.25). Lit. "Dweller"; cf. Exod. 3.1

the bounty of heaven above"

(

mc'al

ff.

331

DEUTERONOMY

torah

He

33.18

has thorns like the horns of the wild-ox;

With them he gores the peoples, The ends of the earth one and all. These' are the myriads of Ephraim,

Those' are the thousands of Manasseh. 18

And of Zebulun

And

he

O

Rejoice,

said:

Zebulun, on your journeys,

Issachar, in

your

tents.

19

They invite their kin to the mountain, Where they offer sacrifices of success. For they draw from the riches of the sea

And 20

the hidden hoards of the sand.

And of Gad

he

said:

He who

Blessed be

Poised

To

he

is

tear off

21 k

He

He

scalp.

is

the portion of the revered chieftain,

the heads of the people come.

executed the Lord's judgments

And His 22

like a lion

arm and

chose for himself the best,

For there

Where

enlarges Gad!

~ decisions for Israel. k

And of Dan he- said: Dan is a lion's whelp That leaps forth from Bashan.

23

And of Naphtali

O

he

said:

Naphtali, sated with favor

And

full

of the Lord's blessing,

Take possession on the west and south.

And of Asher

24

Most

May May 25

he

blessed of sons be Asher;

he be the favorite of his brothers, he dip his foot in

i

I.e.,

the one born.

I.e.,

the other horn.

^^

Meaning ofHeb.

1

332

security last

uncertain;

Heb. Meaning of Heb. uncertain. biblical

oil.

'May your doorbolts be iron and copper,

And your 1

said:

cf.

all

your days.

w. 3-5 (with note

c)

above,

and saphun "esteemed"

in post-

torah 26

Jeshurun, there

is

none

like

DEUTERONOMY

34.9

God,

Riding through the heavens to help you,

Through the skies in His majesty. 27 The ancient God is a refuge, [

A

support are the arms everlasting.

He

drove out the enemy before you

By His command: Destroy! 28 Thus Israel dwells in safety, Untroubled

is

Jacob's abode,"1

In a land of grain and wine,

Under heavens dripping dew. 29

happy

A people

Israel!

Who

is

like

you,

Lord, Your protecting Shield, your Sword triumphant! Your enemies shall come cringing before you, And you shall tread on their backs. delivered by the

34

Moses went up from the steppes of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the summit of Pisgah, opposite Jericho, and the Lord showed him the whole land: Gilead as far as Dan; 2 all Naphtali; the land of Ephraim and Manasseh; the whole land of Judah as far as the Western 3 Sea; 3 the Negeb; and the Plain the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees as far as

—

Zoar. 4And the

—

Lord

and Jacob, T

Abraham,

Isaac,

you

with your

5

see

it

said to him, "This

own

will assign

eyes, but

So Moses the servant of the

at the

you

Lord

command of the LORD. 6 He

is

the land of which

it

to your offspring.'

shall

swore to

I I

have

let

not cross there."

died there, in the land of

Moab,

buried him in the valley in the land

of Moab, near Beth-peor; and no one knows

his burial place to this day.

hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eyes were undimmed and his vigor unabated. 8 And the Israelites bewailed Moses in 7

Moses was

a

the steppes of

Moab

for thirty days.

The period of wailing and mourning Joshua son of

had

laid his

Lord

Nun was

filled

with the

hands upon him; and the

Moses came to an end. 9 Now spirit of wisdom because Moses

for

Israelites

heeded him, doing

as the

had commanded Moses.

m Others "fountain." 3

I.e.,

Mediterranean;

cf.

note at 11.24.

333

torah

DEUTERONOMY

34.10

—

again did there arise in Israel a prophet like Moses whom the Lord singled out, face to face, n for the various signs and portents that the Lord sent him to display in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and 10 Never

all

his courtiers

awesome power

and

his

that

whole country,

12 and

Moses displayed before

for

all

the great might and

all Israel.

pmn:n

334

pm pm

www

NEVFIM THE PROPHETS

I

II

JOSHUA

yunrr

JUDGES

d^ddiu/

SAMUEL SAMUEL

k ^kieu;

I

KINGS

k wzbin

II

KINGS

n

a bxMixv

w^bn

ISAIAH

rrw

JEREMIAH

rvryv

EZEKIEL

^Kptm

The Twelve Minor Prophets

HOSEA

win

JOEL

bxv

AMOS

Ditty

OBADIAH

nnny

JONAH MICAH

rav PD^E

NAHUM

mm

HABAKKUK

pipnn

ZEPHANIAH

n^sy

HAGGAI

un

ZECHARIAH

rp-DT

MALACHI

on^b

awn* JOSHUA ^L

After the death of Moses the servant of the

Lord,

the

Lord

said to

Joshua son of Nun, Moses' attendant: 2 all

"My servant Moses

this people, into the

is

dead. Prepare to cross the Jordan, together with

land that

I

am giving to

the Israelites.

3 Every

spot

4 Your

on which your foot

treads

territory shall extend

from the wilderness and the Lebanon to the Great

give to you, as

I

River, the River Euphrates [on the east]

I

—the whole

and up to the Mediterranean 3 Sea on the west. resist

you

I will

not

6 "Be

long

as

as

you

live.

As

I

5

No

Hittite country

one

was with Moses, so

you or forsake you. strong and resolute, for you

land that

promised Moses.

shall

I will

be able to

be with you;

fail

I

swore to

shall

apportion to this people the

their fathers to assign to them. 7 But

very strong and resolute to observe faithfully

all

you must be

the Teaching that

My

Moses enjoined upon you. Do not deviate from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Let not this Book of the Teaching cease from your lips, but recite it day and night, so that you may observe faithfully all that is written in it. Only then will you prosper in your undertakings and only then will you be successful. 9 "I charge you: Be strong and resolute; do not be terrified or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." servant

10 Joshua

thereupon gave orders to the

officials

of the people:

n "Go

through the camp and charge the people thus: Get provisions ready, for in three days'

time you are to cross the Jordan, in order to enter and

possess the land that the 12

Then Joshua

of Manasseh,

13

•i

your

God

is

giving you as a possession."

and the

""Remember what Moses the servant of the

upon you, when he

He

Lord

said to the Reubenites, the Gadites,

said:

'The

Lord

your

has assigned this territory to you.'

God

14 Let

is

half-tribe

Lord enjoined

granting you a haven;

your wives, children, and

Heb. "Great."

337

JOSHUA

nevi'im

1.15

you b on this side of b the Jordan; but every one of your fighting men shall go across armed c in the van of your kinsmen. And you shall assist them 15 until the Lord has given your kinsmen a haven, such as you have, and they too have livestock remain in the land that

Moses assigned

gained possession of the land that the

them. Then you

may

which Moses the servant of the and you may possess

Lord

return to the land

Lord

your

on the

assigned to

to

God

has assigned to

east side

you

as

of the Jordan,

your possession,

it."

They answered Joshua, "We will do everything you have commanded us and we will go wherever you send us. 17 We will obey you just as we obeyed Moses; let but the Lord your God be with you as He was with Moses! 18 Any man who flouts your commands and does not obey ever}'' order you give him shall be put to death. Only be strong and resolute!" 16

*J

Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, "Go,

reconnoiter the region of Jericho." So they set out, and they came to the

house of a harlot named Rahab and lodged

there. 2 The king

of Jericho

"Some men have come here tonight, Israelites, to spy out the The king of Jericho thereupon sent orders to Rahab: "Produce the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole country." 4The woman, however, had taken the two men and hidden them. "It is true," she said, "the men did come to me, but I didn't know where they were from. 5 And at dark, when the gate was about to be closed, the men left; and I don't know where the men was

told,

3

country."

went. Quick, go after them, for you can overtake them."

6

Now she had

taken them up to the roof and hidden them under some stalks of

which she had lying on the direction of the Jordan

roof.

down to

7 So

men pursued them

the

the fords; and

no sooner had

flax

in the

the pursuers

gone out than the gate was shut behind them. 8a

The

had not yet gone to sleep when she came up to them on the roof. 9 She said to the men, "I know that the Lord has given the spies

3

country to you, because dread of you has

fallen

inhabitants of the land are quaking before you.

Lord

upon

10 For

us,

and

all

the

we have heard how

up the waters of the Sea of Reeds for you when you left Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings across the Jordan, whom you doomed. b u When we heard about it, we lost heart, and no man had any more spirit left because of you; for the Lord your the

dried

h - b Lit. "across." c

Meaning ofHeb.

a-a

Heb. "They." placed under herem, which meant the annihilation of the inhabitants. Cf. Deut. 2.34 ff.

b I.e.,

338

uncertain.

JOSHUA

nevi'im

God I

God

the only

is

in

3.2

Now, since me by the LORD that you in turn Provide me with a reliable sign 13 that you

heaven above and on earth below.

12

have shown loyalty to you, swear to

will

show

all

who

her,

my family.

loyalty to

will spare the lives

of my father and mother,

"Our persons

we

will

show you

sisters,

and

The men answered death! If you do not 14

true loyalty

when

the

gives us the land."

15 She let

was

brothers and

are pledged for yours, even to

disclose this mission of ours,

Lord

my

belong to them, and save us from death."

at the

them down by

a rope

—

through the window

for her dwelling

outer side of the city wall and she lived in the actual wall.

said to them,

"Make

for the

hills,

so that the pursuers

16 She

may not come upon

you. Stay there in hiding three days, until the pursuers return; then go

your way." the men warned her, "We will be released from this oath which you have made us take 18 [unless,] when we invade the country, you tie this length of crimson cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your family together in your house; 19 and if anyone ventures outside the doors of your house, his blood will be on his head, and we shall be clear. But if a hand is laid on anyone who remains in the house with you, his blood shall be on our heads. 20And if you disclose this mission of ours, we shall 17 But

likewise be released

"Let

it

from the oath which you made us

take." 21 She replied,

be as you say."

She sent them on

their

way, and they

left;

and she

tied the

crimson

cord to the window. 22 They

went

straight to the hills

pursuers turned back.

And

and stayed there three days,

so the pursuers, searching

all

until the

along the road,

did not find them.

Then the two men came down again from the hills and crossed over. They came to Joshua son of Nun and reported to him all that had happened to them. 24They said to Joshua, "The Lord has delivered the whole 23

land into our power; in

fact, all

the inhabitants of the land are quaking

before us."

%J

Early next morning, Joshua and

all

the Israelites set out from Shittim

and marched to the Jordan. They did not cross immediately, but spent the night there.

2

Three days

later,

the officials

went through the camp

339

JOSHUA

nevi'im

3.3

"When you

Ark of the Covyou shall move forward. Follow it--4 but keep a distance of some two thousand cubits from it, never coming any closer to it so that you may know by what route to march, since it is a road you have not traveled before." 5 And Joshua said to the people, "Purify yourselves, a for tomorrow the Lord will perform wonders in your midst." 6 Then Joshua ordered the priests, "Take up the Ark of the Covenant and advance to the head of the people." And they took up the Ark of the Covenant and marched at the head of the people. 7 The Lord said to Joshua, "This day, for the first time, I will exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they shall know that I will be with you as I was with Moses. 8 For your part, command the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant as follows: When you reach the edge of the waters of the Jordan, make a halt in the Jordan." 9 And Joshua said to the Israelites, "Come closer and listen to the words of the Lord your God. 10 By this," Joshua continued, "you shall know that a living God is among you, and that He will dispossess for you the 3

and charged the people

enant of the

Lord

as follows:

your

God

see the

being borne by the

levitical priests,

—

Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jeb-

n the Ark

usites:

of the Covenant of the Sovereign of

advancing before you into the Jordan. tribes

of

Israel,

one

man from

bearing the Ark-of the in the waters

—

When

the earth

is

tribe. 13

When

the feet of the priests

the Sovereign of all the earth,

come

to rest

—the water coming

will

be cut off and will stand in a single heap."

the people set out from their

the priests bearing the 15

all

Now select twelve men from the

of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan

from upstream 14

Lord,

each

12

encampment

Ark of the Covenant were

to cross the Jordan,

at the

head of the people.

Now the Jordan keeps flowing over its entire bed throughout the harvest

of the Ark reached the Jordan, and the Ark dipped into the water at its edge, 16 the waters coming down from upstream piled up in a single heap a great way off, at b Adam, the town next to Zarethan; and those flowing away downstream to the Sea of the Arabah (the Dead Sea) ran out completely. So the people crossed near Jericho. 17 The priests who bore the Ark of the Lord's Covenant stood on dry land exactly in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed over on dry land, until the entire nation had finseason.

feet

But

of the

as

soon

as the bearers

priests bearing the

ished crossing the Jordan. •>

b

340

See Exod. 19.10, 15.

So kethib; qcrc "from."

nevi'im

When

A.

the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the

men from among

said to Joshua, 2 "Select twelve

each

3

tribe,

JOSHUA

and

instruct

them

4.16

LORD

the people, one from

Pick up twelve stones from the

as follows:

spot exactly in the middle of the Jordan, where the priests' feet are stand-

them along with you and deposit them

ing; take

in the place

where you

spend the night."

will

summoned

4 Joshua

men whom

the twelve

he had designated among

from each and Joshua said to them, "Walk up Ark of the Lord your God, in the middle of the Jordan, and each of you lift a stone onto his shoulder corresponding to the number of tribe; 5

the Israelites, one to the

—

come, when your children you?' 7you shall

symbol among you:

6 This shall serve as a

the tribes of Israel.

tell

ask,

'What

is

of the Ark of the Lord's Covenant; when off.'

people of Israel as a memorial for

all

The

meaning of these stones

the

passed through the Jordan,

it

And

so these stones shall serve the

time."

did as Joshua ordered. They picked up twelve stones,

Israelites

corresponding to the number of the tribes of

—

the Jordan

for

them, 'The waters of the Jordan were cut off because

the waters of the Jordan were cut

8

in time to

as the

Lord

Israel,

from the middle of

—and they took them along

had charged Joshua

with them to their night encampment and deposited them there. 9 Joshua also set

up twelve stones

in the

middle of the Jordan,

at the

spot where the feet of the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant had stood; and they have remained there to this day. 10

The

who

priests

Jordan until

all

bore the Ark remained standing in the middle of die

the instructions that the

Lord had ordered Joshua to And so the people speedily

convey to the people had been carried out. a

crossed over,

And when

11

just as

all

Moses had assured Joshua

the people finished crossing, the

in his charge to him." a

Ark of the

Lord

and

the priests advanced to the head of the people. 12

The Reubenites,

across

armed b

in the

Israelites, as

About forty thousand shock troops went Lord, to the steppes of Jericho for battle. 13

14

On

that day the

they revered 15

a -a

him

The Lord

all

Lord

Meaning ofHeb.

c

See

Num.

across, at the instance

of the

exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, so that

his days as they

said to Joshua,

Connection of clause uncertain;

b

went Moses had charged them. c

the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh

van of the

cf.

16

had revered Moses.

"Command

the priests

who

bear the Ark

Deut. 31.7-8.

uncertain.

32.20-22.

341

JOSHUA

nevi'im

4.17

priests,

the

"Come up

out of the Jordan."

18 As

commanded

17 So

Joshua

soon

as the priests

of the Pact to come up out of the Jordan."

who

Ark of the Lord's Covenant came up out of the Jordan, and

the

bore

the feet

of the priests stepped onto the dry ground, the waters of the Jordan

resumed

their course, flowing over

its

entire

bed

as before.

The people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. 20 And Joshua set up in Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan. 21 He charged the Israelites as follows: "In time to come, when your chil19

dren ask their fathers, 'What

is

the meaning of those stones?' 22 tell your

children: 'Here the Israelites crossed the Jordan

Lord

God

your

dried

crossed, just as the

dried

up

know how mighty is Lord your God always."

When all

all

your

we

shall

%>J

God

crossed. 24Thus

the

until

you

did to the Sea of Reeds, which

the kings of the Amorites

on

shall fear the

the western side of the Jordan,

the kings of the Canaanites near the Sea, heard for the sake

they crossed over, they lost heart, and no

He

the peoples of the earth

all

hand of the Lord, and you

had dried up the waters of the Jordan of the

land.' 23 For the

up the waters of the Jordan before you

Lord

before us until

and

on dry

spirit

how

of the

was

the

Lord

Israelites until

left in

them because

Israelites^

2 At that

time the

Lord

said to Joshua,

with a second circumcision of the

made, and the

Israelites

"Make

Israelites." 3

were circumcised

at

knives and proceed

flint

So Joshua had

flint

knives

Gibeath-haaraloth. a

the reason why Joshua had the circumcision performed: All the who had come out of Egypt, all the males of military age, had

4This is

people

died during the desert wanderings after leaving Egypt. the people

who came

5

Now, whereas

all

out of Egypt had been circumcised, none of the

people born after the exodus, during the desert wanderings, had been circumcised.

6 For

the Israelites had traveled in the wilderness forty years,

until the entire nation

—the men of

military age

perished; because they had not obeyed the

sworn never to

let

them

see the land that the

Lord

fathers to assign to us, a land flowing with milk

raised a

342

I.e.,

up

their sons in their stead;

"the Hill of Foreskins."

and

it

who had

Lord, and

left

—had

Egypt

the

Lord had

had sworn to

and honey. 7 But

was these

their

He had

that Joshua circum-

nevi'im

cised, for they

way.

8 After

JOSHUA

6.7

were uncircumcised, not having been circumcised on the

the circumcising of the whole nation was completed, they

remained where they were, in the camp, until they recovered.

And

9

the

Lord

said to Joshua,

the disgrace of Egypt." b 10

Encamped

So

"Today

that place

was

at Gilgal, in the steppes

have rolled away from you

I

called Gilgal, c as

of Jericho, the

it still is.

Israelites offered

on the fourteenth day of the month, toward evening. the day after the passover offering, on that very day, they ate of

the passover sacrifice 11

On

the produce of the country, unleavened bread and parched grain. that

same day, d when they

ceased.

The

Israelites

ate

12

On

of the produce of the land, the manna

got no more manna; that year they ate of the yield

of the land of Canaan. 13 Once,

when Joshua was

near Jericho, he looked up and saw a

man

standing before him, drawn sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and

He replied, "No, I Lord's host. Now I have come!" Joshua threw himself face down to the ground and, prostrating himself, said to him, "What does my lord command his servant?" 15 The captain of the Lord's host answered Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so. 14

asked him, "Are you one of us or of our enemies?"

am

captain of the

KJ Now Jericho was shut up tight because of the Israelites; no one could leave or enter. 2

The Lord

said to Joshua, "See,

[and her] warriors into your hands.

I will

the city and complete one circuit of the priests carrying seven ram's

march around the 5

And when

—

city.

and her

Icing

your troops march around

Do

this six days, 4 with seven

horns preceding the Ark.

On the seventh day,

seven times, with the priests blowing the horns.

city

a long blast

sound of the horn

deliver Jericho

3 Let all

all

is

sounded on the horn

—

as

soon

as

you hear

the people shall give a mighty shout.

the city wall will collapse, and the people shall advance, every

that

Thereupon

man

straight

ahead." 6 Joshua

son of Nun

summoned

the priests and said to them, "Take

up

Ark of the Covenant, and let seven priests carrying seven ram's horns Lord." 7And he instructed the people, "Go forward, march around the city, with the vanguard marching in front of the the

precede the Ark of the

b I.e., c

of the Egyptian bondage. Interpreted as "rolling."

d Lit.

"on the day after."

343

JOSHUA

nevi'im

6.8

Ark of the Lord." 8When Joshua had priests carrying seven ram's

and the Ark of the Lord's Covenant followed them.

their horns;

vanguard marched in front of the

and the

rear

shout,

your

priests

who were blowing

9

The

the horns,

guard marched behind the Ark, with the horns sounding

10 But

the time.

instructed the people, the seven

horns advanced before the Lord, blowing

do not

lips until

"Do

Joshua's orders to the rest of the people were,

your voices be heard, and do not

let

the

moment

that

I

command

sound

let a

you, 'Shout!'

issue

Then you

all

not

from shall

shout."

So he had the Ark of the

11

Lord go

around the

rose early the next day; and the priests took 13 while

and complete one 12 Joshua

up the Ark of the Lord,

the seven priests bearing the seven ram's horns marched in front

of the Ark of the Lord, blowing the horns

marched the

city

then they returned to camp and spent the night in camp.

circuit;

in front

Lord, with

around the did this

city

as

The vanguard

they marched.

of them, and the rear guard marched behind the Ark of

the horns sounding

all

the time.

14

And

so they marched

once on the second day and returned to the camp. They

six days.

On

the seventh day, they rose at daybreak and marched around the

city, in

the same manner, seven times; that was the only day that they

15

marched around the

city seven times.

16

On

the seventh round, as the

priests

blew the horns, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the

Lord

has given

you the

proscribed for the

who

city.

17 The city

Lord; only Rahab

and everything

the harlot

is

in

it

are to be

to be spared, and

are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers

we

all

sent.

18 But

you must beware of that which is proscribed, or else you will be proscribed a if you take anything from that which is proscribed, you will cause the camp of Israel to be proscribed; you will bring calamity upon 19 A11 the silver and gold and objects of copper and iron are consecrated it. to the Lord; they must go into the treasury of the Lord." 20 So the people shouted when the horns were sounded. When the people heard the sound of the horns, the people raised a mighty shout and the wall collapsed. The people rushed into the city, every man straight in front of him, and they captured the city. 21 They exterminated everything in the city with the sword: man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and ass. 22 But Joshua bade the two men who had spied out :

the land,

"Go

into the harlot's house and bring out the

that belong to her, as a

344

I.e.,

be

put

to

death;

cf.

you swore to

Lev. 27.28-29.

her." 23 So

the

woman and

all

went

in

young

spies

nevi'im

JOSHUA

and brought out Rahab, her father and her mother, her brothers and

—they brought out her whole family and

that belonged to her

outside the 24 They

left

7.9

all

them

camp of Israel.

burned

down

the city and everything in

it.

But the

silver

and

gold and the objects of copper and iron were deposited in the treasury of the

House of the Lord.

25 Only

Rahab

were spared by Joshua, along with

—

among

the Israelites

as is

still

all

the harlot and her father's family

that belonged to her,

and she dwelt

the case. For she had hidden the messen-

gers that Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. 26 At that

the

time Joshua pronounced this oath: "Cursed of the

man who

shall

undertake to fortify

this city

of Jericho: he

foundations at the cost of his first-born, and set up

its

Lord

be

shall lay its

gates at the cost

of his youngest." 27 The

Lord was

with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the

land.

7

The Israelites, however, violated the proscription: Achan son of Carmi

son of Zabdi son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of that which was proscribed, and the 2 Joshua

east

sent

of Bethel

Lord

men from

was incensed with the Jericho to Ai, which

Israelites.

lies

close to Beth-aven

—with orders to go up and spy out the country. So the men

They returned to Joshua and reported to him, go up. Let two or three thousand men go and attack Ai; do not trouble all the troops to go up there, for [the people] there are few." 4 So about three thousand of the troops marched up there; but they were routed by the men of Ai. 5 The men of Ai killed about

went up and spied out

"Not

all

Ai.

3

the troops need

of them, pursuing them outside the gate as far as Shebarim, and them down along the descent. And the heart of the troops a sank

thirty-six

cutting

in utter dismay. a 6 Joshua

thereupon rent

his clothes.

He

and the

elders

of Israel

lay until

evening with their faces to the ground in front of the Ark of the

and they strewed earth on

"Why

did

You

their heads. 7 "Ah,

Lord God!"

lead this people across the Jordan only to deliver us into

the hands of the Amorites, to be destroyed by them? If only

content to remain on the other side of the Jordan! say after Israel has turned

and

M

all

Lit.

tail

before

its

enemies?

9

s

O

and turned

to

we had been

Lord, what can

When

I

the Canaanites

the inhabitants of the land hear of this, they will turn

"melted

Lord;

cried Joshua.

upon

us and

water."

345

JOSHUA

nevi'im

7.10

earth. And what will You do about Your great name?" 10 But the LORD answered Joshua: "Arise! Why do you lie prostrate? Israel has sinned! They have broken the covenant by which I bound them. They have taken of the proscribed and put it in their vessels; they

wipe out our very name from the

I

have stolen; they have broken able to hold their

faith! l2 Therefore, the Israelites will

ground against

become

before their enemies, for they have

tail

proscribed.

Go

not be

I will

with you any more unless you root out from among you what scribed. 13

not be

their enemies; they will have to turn

pro-

is

and purify the people. Order them: Purify yourselves for

tomorrow. For thus

Lord,

says the

God

the

of

Israel:

Something pro-

O Israel, and you will not be able to stand up you have purged the proscribed from among you. 14Tomorrow morning you shall present yourselves by tribes. Whichever tribe the Lord indicates shall come forward by clans; the clan that the Lord indicates shall come forward by ancestral houses, and the ancestral house that the Lord indicates shall come forward man by man. 15 Then scribed

is

in

your midst,

to your enemies until

13

who

he the

is

and

^indicated for proscription,"

that

all

16 Early

his, shall

Lord

because he broke the Covenant of the

fire,

committed an outrage

is

be put to

and because he

in Israel."

next morning, Joshua had Israel 17

the tribe of Judah was indicated.

He

come forward by

tribes;

and

then had the clans of Judah come

Then he had the clan of Zerah come forward by d ~ancestral houses, d and Zabdi was indicated.

forward, and the clan of Zerah was indicated.

18 Finally

man by man, and Achan

he had his ancestral house come forward

son of Zerah son of Zabdi, of the tribe of Judah, was indicated. 19

Then Joshua

God

said to

"My

Achan,

son, pay

of Israel, and make confession to Him. Tell

saw among the

and took them. They

are buried in the

messengers,

buried in his tent, with the

346

who

two hundred and

I

my tent,

"It

what

is

I

shekels

coveted them

with the

silver

hurried to the tent; and there

underneath.

and brought them to Joshua and

them before the Lord. II

in

This

is

silver

it." c

22 Joshua sent

tent

of

Israel.

fifty shekels,

ground

have done;

answered Joshua,

spoil a fine Shinar mantle,

of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing

under

God

have sinned against the Lord, the

did: 21 I

me what you

20Achan

do not hold anything back from me." true, I

honor to the Lord, the

all

24Then Joshua,

23 They

Or

d-d

So some Heb. mss. and some ancient the mantle.

I.e.,

'

Meaning

of Heb. uncertain.

versions;

was,

the Israelites, and displayed f

and

all

Israel

with him, took

"caught in the net."

*

e

took them from the

Lit. "catches."

c-c

it

most mss. and editions have "men."

JOSHUA

nevi'im

—and the

Achan son of Zerah

and daughters, and

his sons

and

the mantle, and the

and

wedge of gold

his flock,

and

his tent,

and brought them up to the Valley of Achor.

his belongings,

all

silver,

his ox, his ass,

8.13

And Joshua said, "What calamity you have brought upon us! The Lord will bring calamity upon you this day." And all Israel pelted him with 25

They put them

stones.

to the

fire

26They raised a

and stoned them.

huge

mound of stones over him, which is still there. Then the anger of the Lord subsided. That is why that place was named the Valley of Achorg as is still

8

the case.

The Lord

deliver the king 2

"Do

not be frightened or dismayed. Take go and march against Ai. See, I will people, his city, and his land into your hands.

said to Joshua,

the fighting troops with you,

all

You

shall treat

however, you

Now 3

set

of Ai,

his

Ai and her king

may

as

you

treated Jericho and her king;

take the spoil and the cattle as booty for yourselves.

an ambush against the city behind

So Joshua and

all

it."

the fighting troops prepared for the

march on

Ai.

Joshua chose thirty thousand men, valiant warriors, and sent them ahead

by night.

4

He

behind the

instructed

city;

them

as follows:

"Mind, you

don't stay too far from the

city,

and

are to all

lie

in

ambush

of you be on the

and all the troops with me will approach the city; and when they come out against us, as they did the first time, we will flee from them. 6They will come rushing after us until we have drawn them away from the city. They will think, 'They are fleeing from us the same as last time'; but while we are fleeing before them, 7you will dash out from your amalert. 5 I

bush and hands.

8

seize the city,

And when you

commanded. Mind, 9 Joshua

I

and the

Lord

God

your

take the city, set

it

on

will deliver

fire.

Do

it

as the

into your

Lord

has

have given you your orders."

then sent them

off,

and uhey proceeded to the ambush; they

took up a position between Ai and Bethel

—west of Ai—while

Joshua

spent the night with the rest of the troops. 10 Early in

elders

of

the morning, Joshua mustered the troops; then he and the

Israel

marched upon Ai

head of the troops. n All the

at the

was with him advanced near the

city and encamped to 12 He selected them and Ai. about five thousand men and stationed them as an ambush between Bethel and Ai, west of the city. 13 Thus the main body of the army was disposed

fighting force that

the north of Ai, with a hollow between

g

Connected with 'akhar "to bring calamity upon";

cf.

v.

—

25.

347

JOSHUA

nevi'im

on

8.14

the north of the city, but the far end of

after

Joshua had

a

Ai saw them, he and

it

was on the west. (This was

in the valley. b )

a

spent the night

his people, the inhabitants

all

—

When

14

of the

the king of

rushed out

city,

morning to the ^meeting place,~ c facing the Arabah, to engage the Israelites in battle; for he was unaware that a force was lying in ambush behind the city. 15 Joshua and all Israel fled in the direction of the wilin the early

derness, as

16 A11

though routed by them.

a

man was

left

Ai or

in

left

who

in Bethel

the troops in the city gathered city. 17

Not

Israel;

they

were drawn out of the

to pursue them; pursuing Joshua, they

did not go out after

the city open while they pursued Israel.

The Lord then

"Hold out the javelin in your hand So Joshua held out the javelin in his hand toward the city. 19As soon as he held out his hand, the ambush came rushing out of their station. They entered the city and captured it; and they swiftly set fire to the city. 20 The men of Ai looked back and saw the smoke of the city rising to the sky; they had no room 18

toward Ai, for

said to Joshua,

I will deliver it

into your hands."

for flight in any direction.

The people who had been fleeing to the wilderness now became the 21 For when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had captured the city, and that smoke was rising from the city, they turned around pursuers.

and attacked the out of the

men of Ai.

city against

one on each

Israelites,

22

Now

the other [Israelites] were

coming

them, so that they were between two bodies of side

of them. They were slaughtered, so that no

23 The

one escaped or got away.

king of Ai was taken

alive

and brought

to Joshua. 24

When

them

Israel

into the

by the sword, 23 The total

had

killed all the inhabitants

open wilderness, and all

all

of Ai

of them, to the

who had last

the Israelites turned back to Ai and put

of those

who

fell

that day,

pursued

man, had it

fallen

to the sword.

men and women,

the entire

population of Ai, came to twelve thousand. 26 Joshua

until

all

did not draw back the hand with which he held out his javelin the inhabitants of Ai had been exterminated. 27 However, the spoil

of the

city as their booty, in ac-

cordance with the instructions that the

Lord

had given to Joshua.

Israelites

28 Then

for

on

all

took the

and the

cattle

Joshua burned

down

a stake until the evening.

aa So with some mss.

At

(cf. v. 9); most mss. Syriac reads "with the troops"; cf. v. 9. cc Emendation yields "descent"; 7.5.

h

cf.

348

Ai,

and turned

it

into a

mound

of ruins

time, a desolation to this day. 29 And the Icing of Ai was impaled sunset, Joshua

and

editions

had the corpse taken down

read "marched."

JOSHUA

nevi'im

from the stake and raised a great

30 At that

Mount

was

lying at the entrance to the city gate.

left

time Joshua built an

Ebal,

—

it

heap of stones over

31 as

it,

which

altar to the

Moses, the servant of the

9.7

They

there to this day.

is

Lord, the God of Israel, on Lord, had commanded the

—

Book of the Teaching of Moses d an altar of unhewn stone upon which no iron had been wielded. They offered on 32 And it burnt offerings to the Lord, and brought sacrifices of well-being. there, on the stones, he inscribed a copy of the Teaching that Moses had Israelites

as

is

written in the

written for the Israelites.

—stranger and

33 A11 Israel

and magistrates, stood on

their elders, officials,

citizen alike

either side

—with

of the Ark,

who carried the Ark of the Lord's Covenant. Half of them faced Mount Gerizim and half of them faced Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded them of old, in order facing the levitical priests

to bless the people of Israel. 34After that, he read

Teaching, the blessing and the curse, just as

Teachings

35 There

was not

a

word of

all

is

all

the words of the

Book of the Moses had commanded

written in the

that

that Joshua failed to read in the presence of the entire assembly of Israel,

including the

women

and children and the strangers

who accompanied

them.

y

When

all

the kings

a ~west

of a the Jordan

—

in the hill country, in the

Shephelah, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea up to the vicinity

of Lebanon, the [land of the]

Perizzites, Hivites,

one accord to 3

and Jebusites

fight against

Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites,

—learned of

Joshua and

this, 2 they

gathered with

Israel.

But when the inhabitants of Gibeon learned how Joshua had treated

Jericho and Ai, 4 they for their part resorted to cunning. b "in disguise

b they

took worn-out sacks for their

waterskins that were cracked and patched; sandals

on

their feet,

bread they took

5 they

and threadbare clothes on

as provision

asses,

They

set

out

and worn-out

had worn-out, patched

their bodies;

and

all

the

was dry and crumbly. 6 And so they went to

at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, "We come from a distant land; we propose that you make a pact with us." 7 The men of Israel replied to the Hivites, "But perhaps you live among us; how then can we make a pact with you?" c

Joshua in the camp

J

See Deut. 27.3-8.


"This

e-«

is

can Saul

"Do you think that becoming the son-in-law of a king is a small when I am but a poor man of no consequence?" 24 Saul's courtiers

replied,

matter,

this to

b ""You

one." b 22

nevi'im

19 "My

Saul urged his son Jonathan and

father Saul

my

stand next to

my father

SAMUEL

David. But

his courtiers to kill 2 and

19.17

Jonathan told David,

bent on killing you. Be on your guard tomorrow

is

morning; get to a to

all

son Jonathan was very fond of David,

Saul's

I

secret place

and remain

father in the field

where you

about you. If I learn anything,

go out and

will

and

speak you." 4 So Jonathan

will be,

I will tell

He

spoke well of David to his father Saul.

3I

in hiding.

I will

Your

said to him, "Let not

Majesty wrong his servant David, for he has not wronged you; indeed, his actions

all

in his

have been very

hands and

victory for

much

and the

killed the Philistine,

all Israel.

You saw

it

and

He took his life Lord wrought a great 5

to your advantage.

Why then should you incur

rejoiced.

the guilt of shedding the blood of an innocent man, killing

David without

cause?" 6 Saul heeded Jonathan's plea, and Saul swore, "As the

he

shall

him

Lord lives,

not be put to death!" 7 Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told

all this.

Then Jonathan brought David

him

to Saul, and he served

as

before. 8 Fighting

He an

broke out again. David went out and fought the

evil spirit

house with

of the

his spear in his hand,

tried to pin

That night

him and

to

n Saul

kill

him

13 Michal

let

wall.

spear, but

David

fled

in the

[the lyre]

.

10 Saul

he eluded Saul, so that

and got away.

sent messengers to David's

"Unless you run for your 12 Michal

and David was playing

David to the wall with the

he drove the spear into the

home

morning. But David's wife Michal told him, life

tonight,

then took the household at its

you

idol, laid

will be killed

it

on

tomorrow."

sent back the messengers to see

said,

David

"He

is

fled.

the bed, and covered

head she put a net of goat's

messengers to seize David; but she

14 Saul

hair.

sick." 15 Saul,

for themselves. "Bring

he ordered, "that he may be put to death."

in the bed,"

on

to keep watch

David down from the window and he escaped and

with a cloth; and

me

Philistines.

upon them and they fled before him. 9 Then Lord came upon Saul while he was sitting in his

inflicted a great defeat

it

sent

however,

him up

16

When

to

the

messengers came, they found the household idol in the bed, with the net

of goat's hair trick

Michal, "Why did you my enemy get away safely?" "Because," Michal me: 'Help me get away or I'll kill you.' "

at its head. 17 Saul said to

on me and

let

Saul, "he said to

play that

answered

449

nevi'im

I

SAMUEL

18 David

made good

him

that Saul

told

all

Naioth.

at

19.18

19 Saul

and he came to Samuel

his escape,

He

had done to him.

was told

David was

that

a

saw

with Samuel standing by

as their leader; _c

God came upon Saul's messengers and ecstasy. 21 When Saul was told about this, he spoke in

gers; but they too

and they

also d_ the

spoke in

ecstasy. Saul sent a third

ecstasy. 22 So

20 and

band of prophets

a

c_

the spirit of

speak in

Ramah and

Naioth in Ramah,

at

They

Saul sent messengers to seize David. b 'speaking in ecstasy, _b

at

and Samuel went and stayed

and

they too began to sent other messen-

group of messengers;

When

he himself went to Ramah.

he

great cistern at Secu,~ d he asked,

"Where are Samuel and David?" and was told that they were at Naioth in Ramah. 23 He was on his way there, to Naioth in Ramah, when the spirit of God came upon him too; and he walked on, speaking in ecstasy, until he reached Naioth in Ramah. 24Then he too stripped off his clothes and he too spoke in came to

ecstasy before Samuel;

why

is

lay

naked

among

David

in

20

"What have

I

that he seeks

My

and he

people say, "Is Saul too

fled

from Naioth

done, what

my

life?" 2

father does not

me; why should a

my

is

He

that day

Ramah; he came

crime and

my

"Heaven

replied,

do anything,

my

all

and

all

That

night.

the prophets?"

to Jonathan and said,

your

guilt against

forbid!

You

shall

father,

not

great or small, without disclosing

father conceal this matter

from me?

die. it

to

cannot be!"

It

further, *

"Your father knows well that you are fond of me and has decided: Jonathan must not learn of this or he will be grieved. But, as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me 3

David

swore

and death." 4Jonathan said to David, "Whatever you want,

I will

do

it

for you." 5

sit

David

with

"Tomorrow

said to Jonathan,

the king at the meal. Instead, let b 6 If

countryside until the thirdc evening.

you

say,

is

'David asked

my

resolved to

is

safe;

but

do [me] harm. 8 Deal

its

if his

I will

your father notes

annual

anger

faithfully

down

to his

flares

up,

Cf. note at 10.5.

cc

Meaning

d-d

Septuagint reads "replied to him." Septuagint reads "will not sit meal. Let. Septuagint lacks "third."

b-b

.

c

450

.

.

.

.

."

to

my

absence,

home town,

know

he says

that he

is

with your servant, since you

of Heb. uncertain. Septuagint reads "the cistern of the threshing floor on the bare height."

a-a

am

hide in the

sacrifice there.' 7 If

Heb. "He." b-b

I b

new moon, and

me go and

permission to run

Bethlehem, for the whole family has 'Good,' your servant

the

nevi'im

LORD

have taken your servant into a covenant of the

am

me

guilty, kill

yourself, but don't

9 Jonathan replied,

resolved to athan,

"Don't

you,

kill

I will

tell

SAMUEL

with you.

make me go back

my

it." 10 David

you about

And

20.26

if I

to your father."

talk like that! If I learn that

surely

I

father has

said to Jon-

answers you harshly?" u Jonathan go into the open"; and they both went out into

"Who will tell me ifd your father

said to David, "Let us

the open. 12e Then

Jonathan said to David, "By the Lord, the

will

sound out

and

if [his

at

my

response]

once and disclose

may

the

Lord do

tomorrow,

father at this time is

of

Israel! I

the third day;

favorable for David, I will send a message to 13 But if

to you.

it

God

on

[or]

my

thus to Jonathan and

father intends to

more

if I

do

you

do you harm,

[not] disclose

it

to

you and send you off to escape unharmed. May the Lord be with you, as He used to be with my father. 14Nor shall you fail to show me the ^Lord's faithfulness, while I am alive; nor, when I am dead, 15 shall you - *"

ever discontinue your faithfulness to

my house—not even

after the

Lord

has wiped out every one of David's enemies from the face of the earth. 16

Thus has Jonathan covenanted with the house of David; and may the

Lord

requite the enemies of David!"

17 Jonathan,

him

out of his love for David, adjureds him again, for he loved

as himself. 18 Jonathan said to

and you

will

tomorrow, go down to one side of

are is

"Tomorrow will be the new moon;

i-

all

the

way

1

to the place

stay close to the Ezel stone. 20

time,) and

the

him,

be missed when your seat remains vacant. h

it,

as

though

I

Now

were shooting

19 So

the day after

where you hid Jthe other I will

at a

shoot three arrows

mark,

21 and I will

order

boy to go and find the arrows. If I call to the boy, 'Hey! the arrows on this side of you,' be reassuredk and come, for you are safe and there

no danger

—

the arrows are 23 As for

as the

beyond

the promise

between you and 24 David

Lord

me

hid in the

lives! 22 But

if,

instead, I call to the lad, 'Hey!

you,' then leave, for the

we made

to each other,

1

Lord

may

the

has sent you away.

Lord

be [witness]

forever." field.

The new moon came, and

the king sat

to partake of the meal. 25 When the king took his usual place

by the

wall,

Jonathan rose"1 and Abner

sat

down at Saul's side;

on

down

the seat

but David's

place remained vacant. 26That day, however, Saul said nothing. "It's acd

Meaning ofHeb.

uncertain.

The meaning of several parts ofw. 12-16

e f- f

I.e.,

g

Septuagint reads "swore to."

h

At

uncertain.

Lord.

the festal meal.

'-'

Lit. "very

ii

Lit.

k

is

the faithfulness pledged in the covenant before the

much."

"on the day of the incident"; see 19.2 jf.

Lit. "accept it."

See above, w. 12-17. m ForceofHeb. uncertain; Septuagint "faced him." 1

451

nevi'im

SAMUEL

I

20.27

he thought. lv "He must be unclean and not yet cleansed.""" on the day after the new moon, the second day, David's place was vacant again. So Saul said to his son Jonathan, "Why didn't the son of Jesse come to the meal yesterday or today?" 28 Jonathan answered Saul, "David begged leave of me to go to Bethlehem. 29 He said, 'Please let me go, for we are going to have a family feast in our town and my brother has summoned me to it. Do me a favor, let me slip away to see my kinsmen.' That is why he has not come to the king's table." 30 Saul flew into a rage against Jonathan. "You son of a perverse, rebellious woman!" he shouted. "I know that you side with the son of to your shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness! 31 For Jesse as long as the son of Jesse lives on earth, neither you nor your kingship will be secure. Now then, have him brought to me, for he is marked for death." 32 But Jonathan spoke up and said to his father, "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?" 33 At that, Saul threwP his spear at him to strike him down; and Jonathan realized that his father was determined to do away with David. 34 Jonathan rose from the table in a rage. He ate no food on the second day of the new moon, because he was cidental,"

27But

—

grieved about David, and because his father had humiliated him. 35 In

the morning, Jonathan went out into the open for the meeting

with David, accompanied by a young boy.

ahead and find the arrows that 37

arrows past him.

When

shot by Jonathan had

the

fallen,

arrows are beyond you!"

38

I

shoot."

36

And

He

boy came to the

Jonathan

And

said to the boy,

as the

boy

ran,

where the arrows

place

called out to the boy,

Jonathan called

"Run

he shot the

"Hey, the

after the boy,

"Quick,

hurry up. Don't stop!" So Jonathan's boy gathered the arrows and came

back to his master.

39 The

boy suspected nothing; only Jonathan and 40 Jonathan handed the gear to his boy

David knew the arrangement.

and told him, "Take these back to the town."

David demerged from face

down on

the

his

concealment

ar°.

41

When

the Negeb.

ground and bowed low three

the 1"

times.

boy got

He

there,

flung himself

They

kissed each

other and wept together; David wept the longer. to David, "Go in peace! For we two have sworn to name of the Lord: 'May the Lord be [witness] between

42 Jonathan said

each other in the

^\

you and me, and between your offspring and mine, forever!' ^J JL David then went his way, and Jonathan returned to the town. "I

l

n-n

Heb. construction unclear.

o See note at 10.11. p

See 18.11

and

note.

q-qLz>. "rose upfront beside." '

452

Identical with the "Ezel Stone,"

v.

19.

nevi'im

2 David

went to the

priest

Ahimelech

at

alarm to meet David, and he said to him, 3

one with you?"

David answered the

SAMUEL

I

21.16

Nob. Ahimelech came out in "Why are you alone, and no

priest

Ahimelech, "The king has

me on a mission, and he said to me, 'No one must know anything about the mission on which I am sending you and for which I have given you orders.' So I have ^directed [my] young men to a such and such a place. 4 Now then, what have you got on hand? Anyb loaves of bread? Let me have them or whatever is available." 5 The priest answered David, "I ordered

—

have no ordinary bread on hand; there

men

vided the young

David

priest,

you

said, "I assure

Whenever

always.

I

is

—pro-

only consecrated bread 6 In

have kept away from women." that

women

reply to the

have been kept from

us, as

went on a mission, even if the journey was a common young men were consecrated; all the more then

one, the vessels of the c

~may consecrated food be put into

their vessels today.

"- c 7

So the

priest

gave him consecrated bread, because there was none there except the bread

of display, which had been removed from the presence of the LORD, to

warm

be replaced by

bread

was Doeg the Edomite, I

mission was urgent."

in a cloth,

give

it

was taken away.

8

Now one d his

you got

a spear or

10

The

priest said,

"There

is

whom you slew in the valley of Elah;

sword on hand?

because the king's

the sword of Goliath

it is

over there, wrapped

behind the ephod. If you want to take that one, take

none here but

of

name

Saul's e ~chief herdsman.- e

my sword or any of my weapons with me,

the Philistine

is

as it

said to Ahimelech, "Haven't

didn't take

there

soon

was there that day, d ~detained before the LORD;

Saul's officials

9 David

as

David

that one."

replied,

"There

is

none

it,

for

like

it;

to me."

n That

day David continued on

King Achish of Gath.

12

The

his flight

from Saul and he came to

courtiers of Achish said to him,

David, king of the land! That's the one of whom they sing

"Why,

as

that's

they dance:

Saul has slain his thousands;

David, his tens of thousands." 13

These words worried David and he became very much 14 So

Achish of Gath.

madness fTor and

"You aa

their benefit.^

let his saliva

see the

run

man

is

down

Meaning ofHeb.

uncertain. ."

.

.

He

scratched marks

his beard. 15 And

raving;

young men

at.

afraid

of King

he concealed his good sense from them; he feigned

why

4QSam h

(cf.

bring

him

on the doors of the gate

Achish said to to

Septuagint) reads

me?

16

Do

I

his courtiers,

lack

madmen

"made an appointment with [my]

b Lit. "five."

cc

Meaning ofHeb. uncertain in part. dd I.e., excluded from the shrine, perhaps because of ritual impurity. e- e Meaning ofHeb. uncertain. f f Lit. "in their hand"; meaning ofHeb. uncertain. -

453

nevi'im

SAMUEL

I

that

my

22.1

you have brought

this fellow to rave for

me? Should

this fellow enter

house?"

22

David departed from there and escaped to the cave a of Adullam;

and when

down

and

his brothers

and everyone

who was

house heard, they joined him

his father's

all

who was

there. 2 Everyone

in straits

and everyone

who was

hundred men with him.

there were about four

3

David went from there

to Mizpeh of Moab, and he said to the king of Moab, "Let

mother come [and

stay]

me." 4 So he b led them long

as

as

to David,

6

with you, until

to~ b the

David remained

"Do

I

left

my father and

know what God

will

do

for

king of Moab, and they stayed with him

in the stronghold. 3

5

not stay in the stronghold; go

Judah." So David

in debt

desperate joined him, and he became their leader;

and went to the

forest

But the prophet Gad

at

said

once to the territory of

of Hereth.

When Saul heard that David and the men with him had been located on the height, attendance upon him 7 Saul said

Saul was then in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree spear in hand, with

all

his courtiers in

to the courtiers standing about him, "Listen,

son of Jesse c give

make

all

fields

men of Benjamin! Will the And will he

and vineyards to every one of you?

of you captains of thousands or captains of hundreds?

8 Is

that

why all of you have conspired against me? For no one informs me when my own son makes a pact with the son of Jesse; no one is concerned for me and no one informs me when my own son has set my servant e in ambush _e against me, as is now the case." 9 Doeg the Edomite, who was standing among the courtiers of Saul, 01

spoke up: "I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub

Nob.

10

He

inquired of the

Lord on

his behalf

he also gave him the sword of Goliath the

l

Philistine."

thereupon

king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and for

belonging to his

father's

house

at

Nob. They

And

Saul said to him,

against

—

him

"Why

may

14Ahimelech

rise e in

a sword,

replied to the king,

The "cave"

in

v.

1

is

"But

referred to as "stronghold" in

23.13-14; 1 Chron. 11.15-16. bb Targum and Syriac read "left them

454

c

See note at 10.11.

d

For

this

meaning o/holeh,

cf.

Amos

-a

Lit.

"wherever you

may

sojourn.'"

577

nevi'im

KINGS

II

he

said, "Tell

8.5

me

the wonderful things that Elisha has done."

all

5

While

telling the king how [Elisha] had revived a dead person, in came woman whose son he had revived, complaining to the king about her house and farm. "My lord king," said Gehazi, "this is the woman and this

he was the

whom

her son

is

she told

him

Elisha revived." 6The king questioned the

[the story]; so the king assigned a

structed him: "Restore

from the time she

left

all

her property, and

the country until

all

woman, and

eunuch to her and

in-

the revenue from her farm

now."

Damascus at a time when King Ben-hadad of Aram told, "The man of God is on his way here," 8 and he said to Hazael, "Take a gift with you and go meet the man of God, and through him inquire of the Lord: Will I recover from this illness?" 9 Hazael went to meet him, taking with him as a gift forty camel-loads of all the bounty of Damascus. He came and stood before him and said, "Your son, King Ben-hadad of Aram, has sent me to you to ask: Will I recover from this illness?" 10 Elisha said to him, "Go and say to him, 'You will recover.' However, the Lord has revealed to me that he will die." n The man of God c "kept his face expressionless for a long time; and 7 Elisha

was

ill.

arrived in

b ~The king" b

was

-"

3

12

then he wept.

know," he

"Why

replied,

on

will set their fortresses

their

little

does

my

fire,

mighty deed?" Elisha

as

14

king of Aram."

it

He

left

the

The next

and spread

succeeded him 16 In

15

recover."

in water,

put their

it

I

do to the Israelite people: you young men to the sword, dash 13 "But

who is a mere dog, perform such LORD has shown me a vision of you Elisha and returned to his master, who asked to you?" He replied, "He told me that you

replied,

him, "What did Elisha say

would

will

ones in pieces, and rip open their pregnant women."

how," asked Hazael, "can your a

lord weep?" asked Hazael. "Because

"what harm you

servant,

"The

day, [Hazael] took

over his

face.

c

~a

piece of netting, _c clipped

So [Ben-hadad] died, and Hazael

as king.

—

King Joram d son of Ahab of Israel Jehoshaphat Joram son of King Jehoshaphat of Judah became was thirty-two years old when he became long, and he reigned year of

fifth

—

had been king of Judah king. 17 He

in Jerusalem eight years. 18

He

followed the practices of the kings of

Is-

daughter —whatever the House of Ahab he had married of Ahab — and he did what was displeasing to the Lord. However, the a

did, for

rael

e

19

Lord

refrained

bb Brought up from cc d

I.e.,

b

Cf. Jer. 52.6. Hoping to escape across the Jordan.

=

d-d

Meaning

of Heb. uncertain.

611

nevi'im

II

KINGS

25.11

dean force that was with the chief of the guard tore

on every

Jerusalem

side.

—were taken into

12 But

the walls of left in

the

—and the

over to the king of Babylon

remnant of the population chief of the guards.

down

remnant of the people that was

who had gone

the defectors

city,

u The

some of

exile

by Nebuzaradan, the

the poorest in the land were

left

by

the chief of the guards, to be vinedressers and field hands. 13

The Chaldeans broke up the bronze columns of the House of the Lord, the stands, and the bronze tank that was in the House of the Lord; and they carried the bronze away to Babylon. 14They also took all the pails, scrapers, snuffers, ladles, and in the service.

15

The

all

the other bronze vessels used

chief of the guards took whatever

was of gold and

16

The two columns, the one tank, and the stands that Solomon provided for the House of the Lord all these objects contained bronze beyond weighing. 17 The one column was eighteen cubits high. It had a bronze capital above it; the height of the capital was three cubits, and there was a meshwork [decorated] with pomegranates about the capital, all made of bronze. And the like was true of the other column with its meshwork.

whatever was of silver: firepans and sprinkling bowls.

—

18

The

chief of the guards also took Seraiah, the chief priest, Zephaniah, 19

the deputy priest, and the three guardians of the threshold.

the city he took a eunuch

who were

privy councillors

commander, who was sixty

of the

common

people

in

command of the

And from

soldiers; five royal

present in the city; the scribe of the army

in charge

of mustering the people of the land; and

who were

inside the city. 20 Nebuzaradan, the

them and brought them

chief of the guards, took at Riblah. 21 The

who was

king of Babylon had them struck

to the king of Babylon

down and

put to death

region of Hamath.

at Riblah, in the

Thus Judah was

exiled

from

its

land. 22 King

Nebuchadnezzar of Bab-

ylon put Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan in charge of the people

whom their

he

left in

men

the land of Judah. 23 When the officers of the troops and

heard that the king of Babylon had put Gedaliah in charge,

they came to Gedaliah at

Mizpah with Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan

son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maachite, together with their men.

and

their

men,

saying,

"Do

not be afraid

f

24 Gedaliah reassuredc

deans. _t Stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and

with you." e

Lit. "took

f-f

612

jer 40.9

an oath

to

them."

reads "to serve the Chaldeans."

them

of the servants of the Chalit

will

go well

nevi'im

25 In

KINGS

25.30

the seventh month, Ishmael son of Nethaniah son of Elishama,

who was of

royal descent,

came with ten men, and thev

Gedaliah and he died; [they also

who were old,

II

present with

and the

officers

him

at

killed] the

Mizpah.

of the troops

set

26

struck

down

Judeans and the Chaldeans

And

all

the people,

voung and

out and went to Egypt because thev

were afraid of the Chaldeans. 27In the thirty-seventh year

of the

of King Jehoiachin of Judah,

exile

on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month, King Evil-merodach of Babylon, in the vear he became king, stook note of? King Jehoiachin of Judah and released him from prison. 28 He spoke kindly to him, and gave him a throne above those of other kings who were with him in Babvlon. 29 His

prison garments were removed, and [Jehoiachin] received regular

rations

by

his favor for the rest

was given him all

at the instance

the davs of his

g-g Lit.

"raised the

head

of his

30

life.

A

regular allotment of food

—an allotment

of the king

for each dav

life.

of."

613

ISAIAH .A.

The prophecies of Isaiah son of Amoz, who prophesied concerning

Judah and Jerusalem in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

2 Hear,

O

For the

heavens, and give ear,

Lord

O

earth,

has spoken:

"I reared children

and brought them

up)

And they have rebelled against Me! 3 An ox knows its owner, An ass its master's crib: Israel

My

does not know,

people takes no thought."

4 Ah, sinful nation!

People laden with iniquity!

Brood of evildoers! Depraved children! They have forsaken

the

Lord,

Spurned the Holv One of

Turned 5

Whv

their backs [on

do you seek

Israel,

Him].

further beatings,

That you continue to offend? Every head

is

ailing,

And every heart is sick. 6 From head to foot

No

spot

is

All bruises,

And

sound:

and welts,

festering sores

615

nevi'im

ISAIAH Not Not

1.7

bound up,

pressed out, not

softened with

7 Your

Your

land

oil.

a waste,

is

burnt down;

cities

Before your eyes, the yield of your Is

consumed by

A wasteland a ~as 8 Fair b

Zion

soil

strangers

overthrown by strangers !~ a

is left

Like a booth in a vineyard, Like a hut in a cucumber

field,

Like a city beleaguered. 9

Had

We

Lord

not the

some

Left us

of Hosts

survivors,

should be

like

Sodom,

Another Gomorrah. 10 Hear

You

the

word of the Lord, of Sodom;

chieftains

Give ear to our God's instruction,

You

folk

of Gomorrah!

n "What

need have

Says the

Lord.

I

of

"I am sated with burnt And suet of fadings, And blood of bulls; And I have no delight

your

all

sacrifices?"

offerings of rams,

In lambs and he-goats. 12 That

Who

you come to appear before

asked that

Trample

c

Me

of you?

My courts

13

no more;

Bringing oblations Incense

is

is futile,

offensive to

New moon

-0

Me.

and sabbath,

Proclaiming of solemnities, d ~ Assemblies with iniquity,~ d I

a-a

cannot abide.

Emendation yields "like Sodom overthrown." "Daughter." Others "To trample My courts? l nBring no more vain

b Lit.

cc

dd Septuagint "Fast and assembly";

616

cf.

Joel 1.14.

oblations."

nevi'im

new moons and

14 Your

Fill

Me

They

become

are

15

And when you

My

turn

not

at length,

are stained with crime

yourselves clean;

Put your

evil

doings

Away from My Cease to do 17 Learn

away from you;

listen.

Your hands

Wash

up your hands,

lift

eyes

Though you pray

16

fixed seasons

burden to Me,

a

cannot endure them.

I will

1.22

with loathing;

I

I will

ISAIAH

to

sight.

evil;

do good.

Devote yourselves to

justice;

e

Aid the wronged.~ e Uphold the rights of the orphan; Defend the cause of the widow. 18

e let

"Come,

us reach an understanding,

—

says the

Lord.

Be your sins like crimson, They can turn snow-white; Be they red as dved wool, They can become like fleece." 19 If,

then,

You

will eat the

20 But if f

You

For 2

you

will

it

you agree and give heed, good things of the refuse

be devoured [by] the sword. 4

was the

'Alas, she has

The

Where

f-f

now

Meaning ofHeb.

o r uy

u

become

spoke.

a harlot,

filled

wiU

with

justice,

righteousness dwelt

murderers.

22 YourS silver

618

nevi'im

Aj

that Isaiah son of Amoz prophesied concerning

The word

ISAIAH

2.7

Judah and

Jerusalem.

2 In

the days to come,

The Mount of the Lord's House mountains

Shall stand firm above the

And tower above the And all the nations on

Shall gaze 3

And

it

manv

the

with

hills;

jov.

peoples shall go and sav:

"Come, Let us go up to the Mount of the Lord, To the House of the God of Jacob; That

He mav

And

that

instruct us in

we may walk

in

His ways,

His paths."

For instruction shall come forth a from Zion, The word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4Thus He will judge among the nations And arbitrate for the many peoples,

And And

they shall beat their swords into plowshares b their spears into

pruning hooks:

shall not take up Sword against nation; Thev shall never again know c war.

Nation

O House of Jacob! Come, let us walk By the light of the Lord.

s

6 For

O d

vou have forsaken

ways of] your people,

House of Jacob!

For they

arc full

[

of practices from the East,

And of soothsaying They abound 7 Their

There

land is

no

Their land

There 1

[the

I.e., oracles will

b

More

6

Cf. Judg. 3.2.

is

customs of the

is full

of

and gold,

full

of horses,

limit to their chariots.

be obtainable.

exactly, the iron points with

Jd Emendation

silver

aliens. d

limit to their treasures;

is

no

in

]

like the Philistines;

yields

which wooden plows

war

tipped.

"For thev are full of divination-'and have abundance of soothsaying, Like

Philistines/And like alien folk." c

Cf.

Targum;

lit.

"children."

619

nevi'im

ISAIAH 8

And

2.8

their land

is full

of

idols;

They bow down to the work of their hands, To what their own fingers have wrought. 9 But man shall be humbled, And mortal brought low f Oh, do not forgive themK

Go

10

deep into the rock,

Bury yourselves

in the

ground,

Before the terror of the Lord And His dread majesty! u Man's haughty look shall be brought low, And the pride of mortals shall be humbled. None but the Lord shall be Exalted in that day. 12 For

the

Lord

of Hosts has ready a day

Against

all

that

is

proud and arrogant,

Against

all

that

is

lofty

13 Against all

Tall

and

And

all

all

17

the high mountains

the lofty

hills;

every soaring tower

every mighty wall;

16 Against all

And

brought low:

stately,

15 Against

And

it is

the oaks of Bashan;

14Against all

And

—so that

the cedars of Lebanon,

all

the gships of Tarshishs

the gallant barks.

Then man's haughtiness

shall

And the pride of man brought None but the Lord shall be

be humbled low.

Exalted in that day. 18

As

for idols, they shall vanish completely.

And men shall enter caverns in the rock And hollows in the ground Before the terror of the Lord And His dread majesty, When He comes forth to overawe the earth. 19

620

f f

Meaning ofHeb.

g-g

Probably a type of large ship.

uncertain.

Emendation

yields

"And

their idols with them";

cf.

w. 17-21.

nevi'im

20

On

To

that day,

men

shall fling

the h -flying foxes _h

The

idols

And

the idols of gold

3.6

away,

and the

bats,

of silver

Which thev made

for worshiping.

And they shall enter the clefts in And the crevices in the cliffs, Before the terror of the Lord And His dread majesty, When He comes forth to overawe 21

22 Oh, cease

Who

ISAIAH

the rocks

the earth.

to glorify man,

has only a breath in his nostrils!

For bv what does he merit esteem?

%J

For

lo!

The Sovereign Lord of Hosts Will remove from Jerusalem and from Judah

Prop and

stav,

Every prop of food

And

every prop of water

2 Soldier

a :

and warrior,

Magistrate and prophet,

Augur and 3

elder;

Captain of

fifty,

Magnate and counselor, and expert enchanter; b

Skilled artisan

4 And He c will make boys their And babes shall govern them. 5

So the people

shall

Each oppressing

The young

And 6 For

d In

rulers.

oppress one another

his fellow:

shall bullv the old;

the despised [shall bullv] the honored.

should a

man

whose

father's

"Come, be

a chief

seize his brother,

house there

is

clothing: d

over us,

hh Exact meaning of'Heb. uncertain.

Emendation yields "clothing"; cf. Emendation yields "-craftsman." c Heb. "I." d-d Emendation yields "His father's 3

>>.

7; 4.1.

b

son, saving.

..."

621

nevi'im

ISAIAH

And

3.7

let this

7 The

ruin e be under your care,"

other will thereupon protest,

"I will

not be a dresser of wounds,

With no food or clothing in my own house. You shall not make me chief of a people!" 8 Ah,

Jerusalem has stumbled,

And Judah

has fallen,

Because by word and deed

They

insult the

Lord,

Defying His majestic glance. 9 Their partiality in

judgment accuses them; They avow their sins like Sodom, They do not conceal them.

Woe

to them! For

Have they 10 (Hails

ill

served themselves.

the just

man,

for he shall fare well;

He shall eat the fruit of his works. u Woe to the wicked man, for he shall As 12

his

hands have

My people's

dealt, so shall

it

fare

ill;

be done to him.)

rulers are babes,

governed by women. h

It is

O my people! Your leaders are misleaders; They have confused the course of your 13

The Lord

He 14

rises to

up to plead champion peoples.

The Lord

stands

paths.

a cause,

1

will bring this charge

Against the elders and

officers

of His people:

you who have ravaged the vineyard; That which was robbed from the poor is in your houses. 15 How dare you crush My people "It

is

And

grind the faces of the poor?"

— 16

The LORD

says

my Lord God

of Hosts.

said:

"Because the daughters of Zion e

Meaning ofHeb.

f

So

g h '

Targum;

cf.

uncertain.

Emendation

yields

"wound."

Deut. 1.17; 16.19.

Emendation yields "Happy is." Emendation yields "boys"; cf. v. 4 (and Septuagint "His people"; cf. w. 14, 15.

v.

5).

622 ,

nevi'im

ISAIAH

4.1

Are so vain

And walk

with iheads thrown

With roving

And

back,-)

eyes,

with mincing

gait,

Making a tinkling with their feet" 17 My Lord will bare k the pates

Of the

daughters of Zion,

The Lord 18 In

uncover their heads.

will

my Lord

that day,

19 of

and the crescents;

will strip off the finery 1

of the

anklets, the

fillets,

the eardrops, the bracelets, and the veils; 20 the

turbans, the armlets, and the sashes; of the talismans and the amulets; 21 the

signet rings and the nose rings; 22 of the festive robes, the mantles,

and the shawls; the purses,

23 the lace

gowns, and the linen

vests;

and the

and the capes.

kerchiefs

And

24

then

Instead of perfume, there shall be rot;

And

instead of an apron, a rope;

Instead of a diadem of beaten-work,

A shorn

head;

Instead of a rich robe,

A girding m "A

of sackcloth;

burn instead of beauty."1

men

25 Her"

Her

fighting

And her And °she 26

Shall

A. In

sit

shall fall

bv the sword,

manhood

in battle;

gates shall lament and

mourn,

be emptied,

shall

on the ground.

women shall We will eat our own food And wear our own clothes;

take hold of

Only

name

that day, seven

one man, saying,

u

let

us be called by your 11

Take awav our i-i

k

Lit. "throats bent back. So Saadia. To bare a woman's head in public was an intolerable humiliation;

Kamma 1

disgrace!

Many

cf.

Mishnah Baba

8.6.

of the articles

of beauty"; " I.e., Zion's;

""Meaning

cf.

cf

note

w.

in w. 18-24 cannot be identified with cert unity. from Qumran, hereafter lQIs", read* "For shame shall take the place

named

mmffjg complete Isaiah

scroll

k.

16, 17;

Heb. "your."

of Heb. uncertain. Emendation

yields

"her wall";

cf.

Lam.

2.8.

623

ISAIAH

nevi'im

4.2

2a In that day,

The

Lord

radiance of the

Will lend beauty and glory, the splendor of b the land b

And

[Will give] dignity

and majesty,

To the survivors of Israel. 3 And those who remain in Zion And are left in Jerusalem All who are inscribed for life in Jerusalem Shall be called holy.

4

When my Lord

The

And from

5 the

has washed away

of c the daughters of Zion,

filth

c

Jerusalem's midst

Has

rinsed out her infamy

In a

spirit

And

in a spirit

of judgment of purging

Lord will create d over the whole shrine and meeting place of Mount

Zion cloud by day and smoke with a glow of flaming fire by night. Indeed, e ~all the glory~ e shall hang a canopy, 6 which shall serve as a pavilion

over

for shade

from heat by day and

as a shelter for protection against

drench-

ing rain.

%J

Let

me

A song My a

sing for

my

beloved

of my lover about

his vineyard.

beloved had a vineyard

On

a fruitful

hill. a

He broke the ground, cleared it of stones, And planted it with choice vines. 2

He He

built a

watchtower inside

even hewed a wine press in

For he hoped Instead,

it

it

and for

"splendor,"

would

it;

yield grapes.

yielded wild grapes.

For the interpretation of this

a

it,

cf.

the

verse, cf.

28.5. For "radiance," cf. Septuagint

meaning of peri

and the Syriac semha,

in 10.12.

Emendation yields "my Lord"; cf. the parallelism {in reverse order) in 3.17. Emendation yields "Daughter Zion," i.e., Zion personified; cf. 1.8 and note. d Emendation yields "spread"; cf. Ps. 105.39. e c Emendation yields "His whole shrine." b- b

cc

-

aa

624

Meaning ofHeb.

uncertain.

nevi'im

3

"Now,

ISAIAH

5.9

then,

Dwellers of Jerusalem

And men of Judah, You be

the judges

Between 4

Me

What more

That

I

and

do in it? hoped it would

"Now

I

I

I will

remove it

may

will break

I

That 6

will

it

And

I

It shall

do

to

tell

you

My vineyard:

hedge,

be ravaged;

down

may be will

to

its

yield grapes,

grapes?

am going

What That

Mv vinevard

failed to

Why, when I Did it yield wild 5

Mv vinevard:

could have been done for

a

its

wall,

trampled.

~make

it

a desolation;

3

not be pruned or hoed,

And it shall be overgrown with briers and And I will command the clouds To drop no rain on it." 7 For

Is

the vineyard of the

the

And

Lord

thistles.

of Hosts

House of Israel,

the seedlings he lovingly tended

men of Judah. He hoped for justice,

Are the bAnd

But behold,

injustice;

For equity,

But behold,

iniquity!

«Ah,

Those who add house to house

And

join field to field,

Till there is

h

room

for

To

dwell in the land!

9 In

my

none but you

hearing [said] the

This sentence contains two word-plays:

Lord

"And He

meaning uncertain];/For sedaqah, But

there

is

of Hosts:

hoped for mishpat, se'aqah

[lit.

And

there

is

mispah

[exact

'outcry]"

625

nevi'im

ISAIAH

5.10

Surely, great houses

Shall

forlorn,

lie

Spacious and splendid ones

Without occupants. 10 For

ten acres of vineyard

Shall yield just

And

a field

one

bath, c

sown with

Shall yield a

a

homer of seed

mere ephah.

nAh, Those who chase liquor

From early in the morning, And till late in the evening Are inflamed by wine! 12d

Who,

Have

at their banquets, d lyre and lute,

Timbrel,

flute,

who

But

and wine;

never give a thought

To the plan of the Lord, And take no note Of what He is designing. 13 Assuredly,

My

people will suffer

exile

For not giving heed, Its

multitude victims of hunger

And

its

masses parched with

thirst.

14 Assuredly,

Sheol has opened wide

its

gullet

And parted its jaws in a measureless And down into it shall go,

gape;

That splendor and tumult, That din and 15 Yea,

And

revelry.

man

is

bowed,

mortal brought low;

Brought low

is

the pride of the haughty.

Lord of Hosts is exalted by judgment, The Holy God proved holy by retribution. 16

c

I.e.,

And

the

of wine. The bath was the liquid equivalent of the ephah;

and

the

homer was

ten bath*

or ephalif (Ezek 45.11). d-d

626

Emendation yields "whose

l

interests

are" (mish ehem,_/w« sha'ah "to turn to," 17.7, 8; 31.1).

nevi'im

17e

Then lambs

As

On

5.23

shall graze

meadows,

in their

And

ISAIAH

strangers shall feed

the ruins of the stout.

i«Ah,

Those who haul

And

sin

with cords of falsehood

iniquity as with cart ropes!

i9Who say/

Him

"Let If

we

speed,

let

Him

hasten His purpose,

are to give thought;

One of Israel

Let the plans of the Holy

Be quickly If

we

fulfilled,

are to give heed."

20AI1,

Those who

And good

Who And

good

present darkness as light light as darkness;

Who And

call evil

evil;

present bitter as sweet

sweet

as bitter!

2iAh,

Those who

So

are so wise

own

In their

opinion;

clever

In their

own

judgment!

22Ah,

Those who

are so

doughty

As drinkers of wine,

And

so valiant

As mixers of drink! 23 Who vindicate him who

is

in the

wrong

In return for a bribe,

And withhold vindication From him who is in the right. «

Meaning of verse [rams]JAnd

'

uncertain.

Emendation

yields

"The lambs

shall graze In the past are 1

the kids shall feedlOn the ranges of the stout bucks]." The lambs the rants and bucks are the rich oppressors (

Cf. 16.9.

Emendation

yields "tears";

Meaning ofw.

1

and 2

cf.

Ujjaritic 'dm't.

uncertain.

649

nevi'im

ISAIAH

16.2

2 "Like

fugitive birds,

Like nestlings driven away,

Moab's

By 3

villagers linger

the fords of the Arnon.

Give advice,

b Offer counsel." b

At high noon make Your shadow like night: Conceal the outcasts, Betray not the fugitives. 4 Let c "Moab's outcasts^

Find asylum in you;

Be

a shelter for

them

Against the despoiler."

For violence has vanished, Rapine

is

ended,

And marauders have perished from this land. 5 And a throne shall be established in goodness In the tent of David,

And on

it

shall sit in faithfulness

A ruler devoted to justice zealous for equity. d

And 6

"We

have heard of Moab's pride

Most haughty

is

he

Of his pride and haughtiness and And of the iniquity in him." e

arrogance,

Moab howl; in Moab howl!

7Ah, let

Let

all

For the

You 8

The

And b

c- c

of Kir-hareseth

moan most

vineyards of

are withered,

the vines of Sibmah;

Baale-goiim,- b

d

14.32, above, would read well here.

e

Baddaw

f

pitifully.

Heshbon

Meaning ofHeb. uncertain. Heb. "my outcasts, Moab."

Jer.

is

a

suffixed

form of the

Job 11.3, 41.4. 48.36 has "men."

suffixes,

650

shall

Their tendrils spread

To b-b

raisin-cakes f

preposition bede:

Nah. 2.13; Hab. 2.13; Job 39.25; with

ISAIAH

nevi'im

17.1

And reached to Jazer, And strayed to the desert; Their shoots spread out

And

crossed the sea.

9 Therefore,

weep for Jazer, weep for Sibmah's vines; Heshbon and Elealeh, drench you with my tears.

As So 1

I

I

sEnded

are the shouts

Over your

fig

10 Rejoicing

and grain

harvests.-g

and gladness

Are gone from the farm land; In the vineyards no shouting

Or

cheering

No more

Tread wine

in the presses

The shouts

h ~have

1

been

my

Like a lyre

And when

heart

moans

for

Moab,

very soul for Kir-heres.

it

has become apparent that

the outdoor shrine, he shall

14

silenced. _h

therefore,

And my 12

heard.

is

does the treader

come

Moab

has gained nothing in

to pray in his temple

Lord

—but

to

Moab

no

avail.

13 That is

the

word

that the

And now

the

Lord

has spoken: In three years, fixed like the years of a

spoke concerning

hired laborer, Moab's population, with

Only

remnant

a

17

shall

be

left,

all its

huge multitude,

long ago.

shall shrink.

of no consequence.

The "Damascus" Pronouncement. Behold,

Damascus It shall

g-gjer. i»-h

shall cease to

become

a

be a

heap of

city;

ruins.

48.32 reads "A ravager has come down/ Upon your fig and grape han'csts."

Lit. "I

have

silenced.

651

nevi'im

ISAIAH

17.2

The towns of Aroer shall be deserted; -3 They shall be a place for flocks 2a-

To

down, with none

lie

3 Fortresses

And

shall cease

disturbing.

from Ephraim, b

sovereignty from Damascus;

The remnant of Aram Like the mass of

shall

become

Israelites

—

declares the

Lord

of Hosts.

God

of Israel.

4In that day,

The mass of Jacob

And

shall

the fatness of his

5 After

being

like

dwindle,

body become

lean:

the standing grain

Harvested by the reaper

Who He

reaps ears by the armful

shall

be

gleaned

like the ears that are

In the Valley of Rephaim. 6 Only gleanings shall be left of him, As when one beats an olive tree: Two berries or three on the topmost branch, Four or five c ~on the boughs of the crown~ c declares the Lord,

—

7 In that

day,

One of Israel;

men

8 they

shall shall

the

turn to their Maker, their eyes look to the Holy

not turn to the

altars that their

own hands made, own fingers

or look to the sacred posts and incense stands that their

wrought. 9 In

d the

that day, their fortress cities shall be like the deserted sites

Horesh and the Amir d abandoned because of the

there shall be desolation.

10 Truly,

And That

you have forgotten the God who

have not remembered the Rock is

why, though you plant

What you sow proves 11

On

the day that

you

plant,

c-

you

see

Emendation yields (cf. Septuagint) "Its towns shall be Emendation yields "Aram." c Lit. "on her boughs, the many-branched one."

dd Septuagint reads "the Amorites and the Hivites." e Emendation yields "true." So Vulgate (cf. Septuagint);

652

saves

you

shelters you;

a delightfule sapling,

a disappointing

a-a

b

who

slip.

it

grow;

deserted forevermore."

cf.Jer. 2.21.

which

Israelites;

and

nevi'im

On

the morning you sow, vou But the branches wither away

On

see

it

ISAIAH

18.4

bud

day of sickness and mortal agony.

a

12 Ah,

many

the roar of

That roar

peoples

as roars the sea,

The rage of nations that rage As rage the mighty waters 13 Nations

He

But

Driven

raging

massive waters!

like

shouts at them, and they like chaff

And

like

14At

eventide, lo, terror!

tumbleweed before

By morning, Such

is

it is

awav,

hills,

a gale.

no more.

the lot of our despoilers,

The portion of them

18

flee far

before winds in the

that plunder us.

Ah, a "land

in the

Beyond the 2 Go,

To To

deep shadow of wings,

3

of Nubia!

rivers

swift messengers,

a nation b far

and remote,

people thrust forth and awav~ b

a

A nation of gibber and chatter —

—

Whose land is cut off bv streams; Which sends out envovs bv sea,

d

In papyrus vessels

upon

the water

M

3 [Say this:]

"All

you who

And

live in

When When

a flag

is

"I rest

raised in the

horn

a ram's

4For thus the

Lord

Or "Most sheltered land"; cf, bb Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Meaning

is

e.g.,

take note!

hills,

blown, give heed!"

said to

calm and confident

a-a

1

the world

inhabit the earth,

me: in

My

habitation

30.2, 3; Ps. 36.8; 57.2; 61.5.

of Heb. uncertain;

cf. 28.10. Biblical writers often characterize distant nations by thai33.19; Deut. 28.49; Jer. 5.15. dd Brought down from beginning of verse for clarity. The Hebrew verb for ''sends* agrees in gender with "nation," not with "land."

unintelligible speech;

c

cf.

Cf. hibbit "to rely" (Job 6.19). 20.5, 6.

The

related

noun mabbaf

occurs witlj similar

meaning

in lsa.

653

nevi'im

ISAIAH

18.5

Like a scorching heat upon sprouts, f

Like a rain-cloud in the heat of reaping time.' M

5

For before the harvest,? yet

after the

budding,

When the blossom has hardened into berries, He will trim away the twigs with pruning hooks, And lop off the trailing branches. 11

6They shall all

be

left

To the kites of the hills And to the beasts of the The

kites shall

And 7 In

earth;

summer on them

the beasts of the earth shall winter

all

on them.

that time,

Tribute shall be brought to the

[From] a people

From

far

Whose

land

is

of Hosts

and remote,

a people thrust forth

A nation of gibber

Lord

and

and away

chatter,

cut off by streams

At the place where the name of the Lord of Hosts At Mount Zion.

19 The

abides,

"Egypt" Pronouncement.

Mounted on a swift cloud, The Lord will come to Egypt; Egypt's idols shall tremble before

And

Him,

the heart of the Egyptians shall sink within them.

2 "I will incite

They

shall

Every

Egyptian against Egyptian:

war with each

man with

other,

his fellow,

City with city

And kingdom 3

Egypt

And

shall

I will

So they

with kingdom. 3

be drained of spirit,

confound

its

plans;

will consult the idols

and the shades

And the ghosts and the familiar 4And I will place the Egyptians ff I.e., like g

654

a threat of disaster; Emendation yields "vintage."

cf.

spirits.

Eccl. 11.4.

h

A figure of speech for the defeated enemy.

a

I.e.,

the various districts of Egypt, which

is

Isaiah's time were governed by hereditary princes.

nevi'im

ISAIAH

19.15

At the mere)' of a harsh master, And a ruthless king shall rule them"

— 5

Water

declares the Sovereign, the

from the

shall fail

Lord

of Hosts.

seas,

Rivers dry up and be parched, 6 Channcls

And

turn foul as thev ebb,

Egypt's canals run drv.

Reed and rush

shall decay,

7b "And the Nile papvrus

by the

And

the Nile

sown bv

evervthing

Shall wither,

blow away, and

The fishermen

8

shall

Nile-side- b

vanish.

lament;

who cast lines in the Nile shall mourn, And those who spread nets on the water shall

All

9

The

languish.

workers, too, shall be dismaved,

flax

Both carders and weavers chagrined. b 10c

Her foundations shall be crushed, And all who make dams shall be despondent.

n Utter The

fools are the nobles

of Tanis;

sagest of Pharaoh's advisers

[Have made] absurd predictions.

How

can you say to Pharaoh,

am

"I

a scion

A scion 12

of sages,

of Kcdemite kings"? d

Where, indeed,

Let them

tell

What

Lord

the

are

you,

your sages?

let

them discover

of Hosts has planned against Egvpt.

Thc nobles of Tanis have been fools, The nobles of Memphis deluded; 13

Egypt has been

led astray

By the chiefs of her tribes. ,4 The Lord has mixed within

A

spirit

Which As 15

a

Egypt

shall lead

astray in

vomiting drunkard goes

Nothing

By

her

of distortion,

cither

shall

be achieved

head or

Palm branch or

all

her undertakings

astrav;

in

Egypt

tail,

reed. e

bb Meaning of Heb. uncertain. c

Meaning

of verse uncertain; emendation

yields

"Her

drinkers shall be dejcctedJAnd all her

brewers despondent." d

Or

c I.e.,

The wisdom of the Kedemitcs was proverbial; of either high or low station; cf. 9.13, 14.

"advisers."

a

man

cf.

1

Kings 5.10.

655

nevi'im

ISAIAH 16 In

19.16

that day, the Egyptians shall be like

because the

Lord

of Hosts

will raise

women, trembling and terrified

His hand against them.

And

17

the

land of Judah shall also be the dread of the Egyptians; they shall quake

whenever anybody mentions Hosts

in the land

to the

18 In

what the

Lord

of

that day, there shall be severalf towns

of Egypt speaking the language of Canaan and swearing loyalty

Lord

19 In

to them, because of

it

planning against them.

is

of Hosts; ones

shall

be called

that day, there shall be an altar to

Town of Heres. h the Lord inside the

land of

Lord at its border. 20 They shall serve as a symbol and reminder of the Lord of Hosts in the land of Egypt, so that when [the Egyptians] cry out to the Lord against oppressors, He will send them a savior and champion to deliver them. 21 For the LORD will Egypt and

a pillar to the

make Himself known edge the

LORD

1

to the Egyptians,

and they

in that day,

oblation and shall

make vows

to the

and the Egyptians

shall serve

Lord

and

shall

[Him] with fulfill

them.

acknowl-

sacrifice 22 The

and

Lord

will first afflict

and then heal the Egyptians; when they turn back to the

Lord, He

respond to their entreaties and heal them.

will

23 In that day, there shall

be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The

Assyrians shall join with the Egyptians and Egyptians with the Assyrians,

and then the Egyptians together with the Assyrians 24 In that day, Israel shall

on

a blessing)

"Blessed be

Lord].

be a third partner with Egypt and Assyria

earth; 25 for the

My people

shall serve [the

Egypt,

Lord

of Hosts will

bless

My handiwork Assyria,

and

as

them, saying,

My very own

Israel."

20

It

was the year that the Tartan 3 came to Ashdod

—

—being sent by

King Sargon of Assyria and attacked Ashdod and took it. 2 Previously, b the Lord had spoken to Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, "Go, untie the sackcloth from your loins and take your sandals off your feet," which he had done, going naked and barefoot. 3 And now the Lord said, "It is a sign and a portent for Egypt and Nubia. Just as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years, 4 so shall the Icing of Assyria f

Lit. "five."

g

Or

h

Meaning

"each one."

i

i

a

As a I.e.,

656

symbol of the Lord's sovereignty over Egypt.

a standard by which

An Assyrian

b Lit.

Many Heb. mss. read heres, "sun," which may refer to Heliopolis, Targum's "Beth Shemesh" {offer. 43.13) has the same meaning.

uncertain.

City, in Egypt.

title

blessing

is

invoked; cf Gen. 12.2 with note.

meaning "General";

"At that time."

cf.

2 Kings 18.17 and

note.

i.e.,

Sun

nevi'im

drive off the captives of

Egypt and the

5

And

21.5

of Nubia, voung and old,

exiles

naked and barefoot and with bared buttocks

ISAIAH

—to the shame

of Egypt!

they shall be dismaved and chagrined because of Nubia their hope their boast. 6 In that dav, the dwellers

and Egypt

could happen to those

say, 'If this

we looked

help and rescue from the king of Assyria,

21

a "The

how

of

to, to

can

we

"Desert of the Sea" Pronouncement.

~

this coastland shall

whom we

fled for "

ourselves escape?'

a

Like the gales

That race through the Negeb,

comes from the

It

The 2

A

desert,

terrible land.

harsh prophecy

Has been announced "The betrayer

The

is

to me:

b_ betraying,

ravager ravaging.

13

Advance, Elam!

Lay

Media!

siege,

T have put an end To all her sighing." C

3 Therefore

my

loins

Are seized with trembling; I

am

gripped by pangs

Like a

woman

in travail,

Too anguished to hear, Too frightened to see. 4 I

My

shudder

in panic.

He

has turned to terror:

"Set the table!"

To

"Let the watchman watch!"

Emendation on in the

b-b

confused,

night of pleasure

s

cc

is

My •

a-a

mind

yields

"The 'From

the Desert*

Pronouncement," agreeing with the phrase farther

verse.

Emendation Emendation

yields

"betrayed

yields

"Put an end

.

.

.

ravaged"; to all

cf.

33.1.

her merrymaking!"

657

nevi'im

ISAIAH

21.6

"Eat and drink!" officers! grease d

To "Up, 6 For

thus

"Go,

set

my Lord

up

the shields!"

Let him announce what he 7

He

me:

said to

a sentry;

will see

sees.

mounted men,

Horsemen in pairs Riders on asses, Riders on camels

And

he will

Most 8

listen closely,

attentively."

And

e [like]

my

f-"On

a lion he" e called out:

Lord's lookout

- *"

I

stand

Ever by day,

And

my

at

post

I

watch

Every night. 9

And

there they come,

Horsemen in pairs!" Then he spoke up and "Fallen, fallen

And

all

is

mounted men said,

Babylon,

the images of her gods

Have crashed

to the ground!" lOg-My threshing, the product of my threshing

What I have heard from The God of Israel That

I

the

Lord

have told to you.

n The "Dumah" h Pronouncement.

A call

comes to me from Seir: "Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?" 12 The watchman replied,

"Morning came, and so did night. you would inquire, inquire.

If

Come d

Emendation

back again."

yields "grasp."

IQIs" reads "The watcher." f-f Or "On a lookout, my lord." g-g Connection ofHeb. uncertain. h Name of a people; cf. Gen. 25.14.

e-e

658

of Hosts,

floor:

nevi'im

The "In

13

ISAIAH

22.5

the Steppe" Pronouncement.

In the scrub, in the steppe, you will lodge,

O 14

caravans of the Dedanites!

Meet

the thirsty with water,

You who

dwell in the land of Tema;

Greet the fugitive with bread. 15

For they have

fled before swords:

Before the whetted sword, Before the

bow

that

was drawn,

Before the stress of war. 16 For

my Lord

thus

has said to me: "In another year, fixed like the

years of a hired laborer,

the multitude of Kedar shall vanish;

all

remaining bows of Kedar's warriors the

God

22

of

Israel,

The

a

b What

in

number;

for the

17 the

Lord,

has spoken.

"Valley of Vision"~ a Pronouncement.

can have happened to you

That you have gone,

you who were

2

shall

be few

all

full

of you, up on the

roofs,

of tumult,

You clamorous town, You city so gav? Your

Nor

not the

slain are

slain

of the sword

the dead of battle. c

3

Your officers have all departed, They fled far away; Your survivors were all taken captive, a "Taken

captive without their bows." a

4That

why

I

will

is

weep

I

say,

"Let

me

be,

bitterly.

Press not to comfort

me

For the ruin of d

poor people.

mv

5 For my Lord God of Hosts had Of tumult and din and confusion

*•»

h

Meaning ofHeb.

d

a

day

uncertain.

Vv. 1-3 describe a scene of mourning to take plate in Jerusalem in the near future. In the ancient Near East, public weeping took place on the low flat roofs as well as in the streets ami squares;

c I.e.,

cf.

above, 15.3; Jer. 48.38.

executed, instead of dying in battle.

dd Lit "the young woman, .

my people.

659

ISAIAH

nevi'im

e

22.6

Kir raged in the Valley of Vision,

And Shoa on

hill; e

the

6 While

Elam bore the quiver In troops of mounted men,

And Kir bared the shield 7And your choicest lowlands Were filled with chariots and horsemen: They stormed at Judah's f gateway 8

And

pressed beyond

screen.s

its

You gave thought on that day To the arms in the Forest House,* 9 And you took note of the many breaches 1

In the City of David. 10l

"And you

collected the water of the

Lower

down

the houses of Jerusalem and pulled houses

you constructed

Pool; _i and you counted to fortify the wall;

n and

between the two walls for the water of the old

a basin

pool.

But you gave no thought to

You took no

note of

My Lord God

12

Him who

Him who

there

Killing of cattle

designed

it

it,

long before.

of Hosts summoned on that day

To weeping and lamenting, To tonsuring and girding with 13 Instead,

planned

sackcloth.

was rejoicing and merriment, and slaughtering of sheep,

Eating of meat and drinking of wine: "Eat and drink, for tomorrow 14

Then

the

Lord

we

die!"

of Hosts revealed Himself to

my

ears:

"This iniquity shall never be forgiven you Until you die," said

15

Thus

said

my Lord God

my Lord God

of Hosts:

of Hosts.

Go

in to see that steward, that

Shebna, in charge of the palace: 16

What have you

here,

and

That you have hewn out

whom

have you here,

tomb for yourself here? you who have hewn your) tomb on high;

O O you who

a

have hollowed out for yourself) an abode in the

cliff!

ee

Meaning

of Heb. uncertain.

On

Kir

see

2 Kings

16.9;

Amos

1.5; 9.7; on

Shoa

see Ezek.

23.23. f

Brought up from 8a for

g

Judah's gateway

'-'

i

660

clarity.

the upper course of the Valley ofElah.

mouth of the gateway, which was captured by See 1 Kings 7.2-5; 10.16-17. the

h

is

This clause would read well after the prose part of v. 11a.

Heb. "his,"

The

the Assyrians.

screen

is

the fortress

Azekah, at

ISAIAH

nevi'im

Lord

17 The

is

about to shake vou

k "Severely, fellow,~ k

He

18 Indeed,

23.3

will

and then wrap you around Himself.

wind vou about Him m

1

as a headdress, a

turban. _m

Off to There

a

broad land!

vou

shall

and there

die,

shall

be the "chariots bearing

vour body,"

O

shame of your

19 For I will

And you 20

And

shall

summon My

in that day, I will

21 and I will

deliver

master's house!

vou from your station be torn down from vour

hurl

him with vour

invest

your authority into

his

habitants of Jerusalem and the

stand.

servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah,

tunic, gird

hand; and he

him with vour

shall

men of Judah.

sash,

be a father to the

22 I will place the

and in-

kevs of

on his shoulders; and what he unlocks none mav shut, and none may open. 23 He shall be a seat of honor to his father's will fix him as a peg in a firm place, 24on which all the

David's palace

what he

locks

household.

I

substance of his father's leaves

3

—

all

25 Pln that

household

be hung:

the small vessels, from bowls to

day

—

declares the

place shall give way:

it

LORD

be cut

shall

supports shall be destroyed. For

23

shall

all

of Hosts

down and

it is

the

a_

sorts

the sprouts and the

of jars.

—the peg

shall fall,

Lord who

fixed in a firm

and the Weight

it

has spoken.

The "Tyre" Pronouncement. Howl, you

a

ships of Tarshish!

3

For havoc has been wrought, not

As they came from the land of This was revealed to them.

a

house

is left;

Kittim,

Moan, you coastland dwellers, You traders of Sidon, Once thronged by seafarers, 3 Ovcr many waters 2

Your b revenue came: kk Emendation yields "as a jjatment 1

I.e.,

and walk

mm Emendation

off with you; yields "as

cf.

is

shaken out.

Jer. 43.12.

a turban

is

wound about."

°

Emendation yields "abode [cf. v. 16] of your body" Emendation yields "master's"; cf. p. 18 end.

p

Apparently continues

"•"

v.

[cf.

10.3, 16}.

19.

aa See note at 2.16. *

Heb. "her."

661

nevi'im

ISAIAH

23.4

From From

the trade of nations, the grain of Shihor,

The

harvest of the Nile.

4 Be

ashamed,

For the sea C

"I

am

as

—

one

Never given Never

Or 5

O this

Sidon!

stronghold of the sea

who

has

c

—

declares,

never labored,

birth,

raised youths

reared maidens!"

When

the Egyptians heard

it,

they quailed

As when they heard about Tyre. 6 Pass

on to Tarshish Howl, you coastland 7

Was

dwellers!

such your merry

city

In former times, of yore?

Did her

To 8

feet carry her off

sojourn far away?

Who

was

it

that planned this

For crown-wearing Tyre,

Whose merchants were nobles, Whose traders the world honored? 9

The Lord of Hosts planned

it

To defile all glorious beauty, To shame all the honored of the 10d "Traverse

your land

like

world.

the Nile,

Fair Tarshish; _d

This

is

a harbor e

no more.

The Lord poised His arm o'er And made kingdoms quake; It was He decreed destruction 1 :

the sea

For Phoenicia's f strongholds, 12

And

"You

O c" c

said,

shall

be gay no more,

plundered one, Fair Maiden Sidon.

Lit. "I have."

dd Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation

yields

"Pass on to the land of KittimJTou ships of

Tarshish." c f

662

Meaning

of Heb. uncertain; taking mezah as a by-form o/mahoz: cf Heb. "Canaan's."

Ps.

107.30.

nevi'im

Up, cross over to Kittim Even there vou shall have no 13

rest."

the people that has ceased to be.

is

which founded

Assyria,

Which

raised

Erected

O

Howl,

it

for ships,

watchtowers,

its

ramparts,

its

Has turned

it

into a ruin.

ships of Tarshish,

For your stronghold 15 In

is

destroyed!

that day, Tyre shall remain forgotten for seventy years, equaling

the lifetime of one king. After a lapse of seventy years,

Tyre

24.2

gBehold the land of Chaldea—

This

14

ISAIAH

with the harlot in the

as

16

Take

a lyre,

it

shall

go with

ditty:

go about the town,

Harlot long forgotten; Sweetly play, make

To

17 For after a

and she the

much

music,

bring you back to mind.

of seventy

lapse

resume her

shall

years, the

lv "fee-taking"

kingdoms of the world, on the

"hire" shall be consecrated to the stored; rather shall her profits that they

24

may

eat their

will take

of the earth.

Lord. They to those

note of Tvre,

""play the harlot"

shall

who

and clothe themselves

18 But

11

with

all

her profits and

not be treasured or

abide before the

Lord,

elegantly.

Behold,

The Lord

And And And 2

fill

go

face

Lord

and

lay

it

twist

will strip the earth bare,

waste, its

scatter

surface,

its

Lavman and

inhabitants.

priest shall fare alike.

Slave and master, p

Meaning of verse people

uncertain. Emendation yields "The land of Kittim itself— /Which the Stdonian foundedJWhose watchtowers they raisedJWhose citadels they erected /Exists no more;/

—

Assyria has turned

hh

I.e.,

"trading

.

.

.

it

° into a ruin.

trade."

663

nevi'im

ISAIAH

24.3

Handmaid and Buyer and

mistress,

seller,

Lender and borrower, Creditor and debtor. 3

The

earth shall be bare, bare;

be plundered, plundered;

It shall

For

Lord who

the

it is

4The earth

spoke

this

withered, sear;

is

The world languishes, it is sear; a_ The most exalted people of the 5

For the earth was

Under

word.

eartrr a languish.

defiled

inhabitants;

its

Because they transgressed teachings, Violated laws,

Broke the ancient covenant. 6That is

And That

And

its is

why

a curse

15

consumes the

earth,

inhabitants pay the penalty;

why

earth's dwellers

men

but few

are

have dwindled,

left.

7

The new wine fails, The vine languishes;

And

all

the merry-hearted sigh.

8 Stilled is

Ended

the merriment of timbrels,

the clamor of revelers,

Stilled the 9

merriment of lyres.

They drink

Liquor 10

their

Towns

are broken,

Every house

n Even

wine without song;

tastes bitter to the drinker.

is

shut,

empty;

none

enters;

over wine, a cry goes up in the

streets:

The sun has set on all joy, The gladness of the earth is banished. 12 Desolation is left in the town

And 13

the gate

For thus

is

shall

battered to ruins. it

be

among

the peoples

In the midst of the earth: a-a

Change of vocalization

b I.e., c

664

yields

the moral law, which

Emendation

yields "left."

is

"both sky

binding on

and earth." all men (cf. Gen. 9.4-6).

nevi'im

As when the

olive tree

Like gleanings

when

14These shall lift

up

shall

is

over.

their voices,

shout from the

15 Therefore,

24.21

beaten out,

is

the vintage

Lord.

Exult in the majesty of the

They

ISAIAH

honor the

sea:

Lord

with

lights

In the coastlands of the sea

The name of the Lord, 16

From

We

the

God

the

of

Israel.

end of the earth

hear singing:

Glory to the righteous! d e

And I said: d T waste away!

The The

have acted

faithless

have broken

17f_ Terror,

and

Woe

waste away!

I

faithless

pit,

faith

And

fall

he

me!

and trap

-

e !

*

Upon you who dwell on earth! 18 He who flees at the report of the Shall

is

faithlessly;

terror

into the pit;

who

climbs out of the pit

Shall be caught in the trap.

For

And

sluices are

opened on high,

earth's foundations tremble.

19

Thc earth is breaking, breaking; The earth is crumbling, crumbling. The earth is tottering, tottering; 20 Thc earth is swaving like a drunkard; It is

Its

And 21

d d -

rocking to and fro

it

shall

fall,

like a hut.

down,

weigh

it

to rise

no more.

iniquity shall

In that day, the

Lord

will

The

host of heaven in heaven

And

the kings of the earth

Change of vocalization

yields

"They

^Meaning

punish

on

shall say.

earth.

"

of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields "Villain [Arabic faithless who acted faithlessly/ Have been betrayed in turn."

11

i\i/.7l|,

foolish villain.'/The

Heb. pahad wa-paharii, wa-pah.

665

nevi'im

ISAIAH 24.22 22 Thev shall

As

be gathered in a dungeon

captives are gathered;

And

shall

But

after

23 Then

And

be locked up in a prison.

many

the

days they shall be remembered.

moon

be ashamed,

shall

the sun shall be abashed.

For the Lord of Hosts On Mount Zion and in

And

25

will reign

Jerusalem,

the Presence will be revealed to His elders.

Lord, You extol

1 will

are

You,

my God; praise

I will

Your name.

For You planned graciousness a of old, Counsels of steadfast faithfulness. 2

For You have turned

A

The

of strangers b into rubble, c

citadel

Never to be 3 Therefore

rebuilt.

a fierce people

A city of cruel 4 For

Shelter

When The

a refuge for the

needy

heat.

the fury of tyrants was like a winter rainstorm,

the heat with the shade of clouds, tyrants

The Lord of Hosts

For

poor man,

in his distress

rage of strangers b like heat in the desert,

You subdued

A A

man

from rainstorm, shade from

The singing d of the 6

must honor You,

nations must fear You.

You have been

A shelter for the

5

a city into a stone heap,

walled town into a ruin,

all

will

was vanquished.

make on

this

mounte

the peoples

banquet of c ~rich viands,

banquet of choice wines

Of rich viands seasoned with marrow, Of choice wines~ c well refined. -

See 9.5.

b

Emendation yields "arrogant men." Meaning ofHeb. uncertain. Meaning ofHeb. uncertain. Emendation

c

d

666

yields "rainstorm";

cf.

4d.

nevi'im

And He

7

That

the covering that

Over

He

8

drawn over the

is

And

mount e

this

faces

of

26.2

the shroud

the peoples

all

spread

is

the nations:

all

will destroy death* forever.

Mv

God

Lord

will

wipe the

From all faces And will put an end Over For 9 In

on

will destroy

ISAIAH

away

tears

to the reproach of

sHis people?

the earth

all

the

it is

Lord who

has spoken.

that dav thev shall sav:

This

We

our God;

is

Him, and He delivered us. the Lord, in whom we trusted;

trusted in

This

is

Let us rejoice and exult in His deliverance! 10 For

Lord

hand of the Upon this mount, e the

And Moab h As straw

is

n Then He

shall

descend

be trampled under

shall

Him

threshed to bits at Madmenah.' will spread

out His hands in their homeland,'

swimmer spreads his hands out to swim, will humble their pride Along with k thc emblems of their powcr.~ k As

a

And He 12 Yea,

He

the secure fortification of their walls 1

will lay

low and humble,

Will raze to the ground, to the very dust.

26

In that day, this song shall be sung

In the land of Judah:

Ours

is

mightv

a

He makes 2

Open

A

the gates, and

let

righteous nation enter,

[A nation the

citv;

victory our inner and outer wall.

Holy Land,

«

I.e.,

'

Perhaps an allusion

|

that keeps faith.

as in 11.9; 14.25; 57.13. to the

mass

killings

committed by the Assyrians;

cf.

10. ~; 14.20.

"

Emendation yields "peoples. Emendation yields "Assyria";

g p h

lo

ll

.

llili

noon, a

sunny day.

festivals into

rtwished"; if

mourning

yields "slurp

Lam

breeder";

tf.

tin-

next verse

nml II.

5 11.

mill note

i

"summer

///

"

fruit

cs

They enlarge And leave by

it

to a gate

it.

Their king marches before them.

The LORD Weaning

Meaning 12 I

1044

/.?

oj I

lib

at

their head.

uncertain; emendation

yield*

"you arise

//>

enemies against.

Heb uncertain; emendation fields "offpeaceful folk." may be an example of */«/< "acceptable" preaching.

oj

mendation

yields "in

n fold [Arabic sTrah]."

nevi'im

O

MICAH

3.7

I said:

you

Listen,

You

rulers

of Jacob,

of the House of

chiefs

Israel!

For you ought to know what 2a But

you hate good and love

is

right,

evil.

You have devoured My people's flesh; You have flayed the skin off them, And their flesh off their bones. 3

b

And after tearing their skins off them, And their flesh off their bones, b And breaking their bones to bits, You have cut it up c as into~ c a pot, Like meat in a caldron. 4 Someday they shall cry

out to the

Lord,

But He will not answer them; At that time He will hide His face from them, In accordance with the wrongs they have done. 5

Thus

Who Who

said the

lead

My

Lord

to the prophets

people astray,

cry "Peace!"

When

they have something to chew,

But launch

Who

fails

a

to

war on him fill

their

mouths:

6 Assuredly,

It shall

be night for you

you cannot prophesy, be dark for you So that you cannot divine; The sun shall set on the prophets, So

that

And

it

And

the dav shall be darkened for them.

7

The

And They •»

seers shall be

shamed

the diviners confounded; shall

cover their upper

Syntax of in'. 2-3 uncertain. Brought down from v. 2 for

b-b

lips, d

clarity.

Meaning ofHeb. uncertain; Septuagint and Svriac read As a sign of mourning; cf Ezelt. 24.17, 22; Lev. 13.45.

c-c

d

shall

"like flesh in."

1045

mvmm MR

All

3.8

Because mi response comes from God.

BBut

I,

am filled with strength by the spirit of the Lord, And with judgment and courage, To declare to Jacob his transgressions And to Israel his sin. I

*]

you

[ear this,

You

chiefs

Who

Israel,

detest justice

And make crooked lu

of the House of Jacob,

rulers

of the House of

that

all

straight,

is

\Yho build Zion with crime,

Jerusalem with iniquity! II Her rulers judge for gifts. Her priests give rulings for a

And

her prophets divine for pay;

Yet they rely

Lord

"The

No

Zion

And And

X

upon

is

in

the

LORD,

saving,

our midst;

calamitv shall overtake us."

12 Assuredly,

A

fee.

shall

because of you

be plowed

as a field,

Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, the

Temple Mount

shrine in the woods.

*In the daws to

come.

The Mount of the Lord's House

shall

stand

Firm above the mountains;

And

shall

it

The peoples

And

2

the

tower above the shall ga/.e

many

on

hills.

with

it

joy,

nations shall go and shall say:

"Come, go up to the Mount of the LORD, House of the God of Jacob;

Lei us

To

the

That

And

I

le

th.u

may instruct us in lis ways, we may walk in His paths." I

For instruction l,n- it /

046

-

/

orada


thi

butity

«/ //"

reamd-penon lingular feminine\

/

2 20, at

I In-

linn in which thr Bethlehemita belonged,

\et

I

Sam

17 12. Ruth

t

—

Lord

foundations of the earth!

Lord

For the I

midst

Lord

nevi'im

"My

5

MICAH

6.12

people,

Balak king of Moab

Remember what

Plotted against vou,

And how Balaam Responded

son of Beor

to him.

[Recall your passage]

And you The

—

Shittim to Gilgal b

From

will recognize

gracious acts of the

6 With

what

shall I

Do homage

approach the Lord,

God on

to

approach

Him

I

calves a year old?

Would

Lord

the

high?

with burnt offerings,

Shall

With 7

Lord."

be pleased with thousands of rams,

With myriads of streams of oil? Shall

The 8

"He

And And 9d

first-born for

of my body for

has told you,

And what Only

mv

give

I

fruit

the

do

to

LORD

c

man, what

will

good,

requires of vou:

your name achieve wisdom.

Lord the city:

Hear,

O

who

"~ d

scepter;

can direct her

10

e

but you?

overlook, 1 in the wicked man's house,

Will

I

The

granaries of wickedness

And

the accursed short epbabls

]

is

to walk modestlv with vour God;~ c

Summons

1

transgression,

sins?

to love goodness,

Then

For

my

justice

Hark! The e

O

my

Shall hc h be acquitted despite

wicked balances

And a bag of fraudulent weights? 12l Whosc rich men are full of lawlessness, 11

I.e.,

Or

In da\

Heb / I

/

gone

In

,

7/ .

the land west

"t

the Jordan, which

mendation yieUt "possea I mendation fittdt "Show

Hib

1054

s

to out fathers

'thin

"

ui

/>

represented n> far lea

fertile

than adjacent regions.

NAHUM .A.

A pronouncement on Nineveh: The Book of the Prophecy of Nahum

the Elkoshite.

The Lord is a passionate, avenging God; The Lord is vengeful and fierce in wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on His enemies, 2

He 3

rages against His foes.

The Lord

But the

slow to anger and of great forbearance,

is

LORD

does not remit

all

punishment.

He travels in whirlwind and storm, And clouds are the dust on His feet. 4He rebukes the sea and dries it up, And He makes all rivers fail; Bashan and Carmel languish,

And

the blossoms a of

Lebanon

wither.

The mountains quake because of Him, The earth heaves b before Him, 5

And

the

hills

melt.

The world and

all

that dwell therein.

Who can stand before His Who can resist His fury? 6

His anger pours out

And 7

wrath?

like fire,

Him. who hope

rocks are shattered because of

The Lord on

A haven

is

a

good

to [those

in

Him],

day of distress;

He is mindful of those who seek 8 And with a sweeping flood

refuge in

Him.

"bud."

'

Lit.

b

Meaning ofHeb.

uncertain.

1055

NAHl'M

MYfi.M

1.9

He makes an end of '< her place. And chases lis enemies into darkness. 'Why will you plot against the Lord? He wreaks ntrer destruction: No adversary* opposes Him twice! lub For like men besotted with drink. (

I

1

They

are

burned up

Like straw that

like

tangled thorns.

thoroughly dried.

is

h

IUThe base plotter

Who I

designed

las left

12

lv

I

Even so

as

they were 1

full

are they over

surely as

will afflict

I

Lord

Lord:

"hus said the

"Even

As

evil against the

you.

afflicted

I

and many,

and gone; vou,

you no more.""

11

'Wnd now break

will

I

And 14

oft" his

yoke bar from vou

burst your cords apart.

Thc Lord

commanded concerning

has

b

No

posterity shall continue your name.

I

will

do away with

him:*1 b

The caned and graven images In the temples will

I

of your gods;

make your grave

Accord with your worthlcssness."b

Aj

Behold on the

hills

The toot steps of Announcing good .1

(

fortune!

elebrate your festivals,

af I

lib

uncertain, emendation

qaritu mi

I

>

.

Heb

O.Sn

would read

wM

//

/•/

tin-

dayi ofyour affliction >••
i

burden

Siptuagmt mul

Syriot

nevi'im

Shall bring offerings to 11 In

Me

3.17

in Fair Puzai. h

that day,

You will no longer By which you have For then

I will

And you

be shamed for

the deeds

exultant within you,

be haughty no more

will

On My

sacred mount.

12 But I

will leave within

A poor,

all

Me.

defied

remove

The proud and

And

ZEPHANIAH

humble

1

you

folk,

they shall find refuge

name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel Shall do no wrong And speak no falsehood; In the 13

A

deceitful

tongue

Shall not be in their mouths.

Only such as these shall graze and With none to trouble them. 14 Shout

lie

down,

for joy, Fair Zion,

O

Cry aloud,

Israel!

Rejoice and be glad with

all

your

heart,

Fair Jerusalem! 15

The Lord

He

has annulled the judgment against you,

has swept away your foes.

Israel's

Sovereign the

You need 16 In

Lord

fear misfortune

is

within you;

no more.

that day,

This shall be said to Jerusalem:

Have no

fear,

O

Zion;

Let not your hands droop! 17

A

Your God the warrior

He He 11

'

will rejoice will

Emendation I.e.,

in

My

who

yields

Lord

is

in

your midst,

brings triumph.

over you and be glad,

shout over you with jubilation. "Zion." For the thought,

holy land;

cf.

Isa. 11.9;

cf.

ha. 18.1,

7.

57.13; 65.25.

1077

mvmm XHPHANIAH I

Ic

\\ ill

3.18

soothe with

i

I

lis

tove

Thosc long disconsolate. w ill take away from you b

l8

I

woe

the

Over which you endured mockery. b '"At that time will make [an end] I

Of all

who

And And And

will rescue the

I

vou.

afflicted

lame [sheep]

gather the strayed; will

I

exchange

their disgrace

For tame and renown 20 At that

And For

at I

|

time

that] time

will

Among When I

will

I

all

I

in all

the earth.

gather vou. will bring

vou (home);

make you renowned and famous the peoples

restore

on

earth.

your fortunes

Before their* very eyes

—

Mniiiuiii

1078

at

Hih

uncertain

Emendation yieUb "renew

///» love

At

m

said the

tin-

its

—

upon the land upon the hills, upon the new grain and wine upon all that the ground produces, upon man and beast, and

heat

summons of

and to the words of the prophet Haggai, when the

the

Lord

not time for the coming of the time."

7-8 would read well after v. 11. cc Emendation yields "glorify if; see 2.7-9. d Meaning, perhaps, cast a curse on. b

Vv.

1079

HAGGAI

M-vn.M

God

then

1.13

Lord's messenger,

am

with you

Then

14

—

fulfilling the

Jcho/adak. and the

work on

to

to the people. "I

And the of

spirit

all

Mouse of

the

of Zerubbabel son o\

spirit

of the high

spirit

priest

Shealtiel,

Joshua son of

They came and of Hosts, their God, ls on the

the rest of the people:

Lord

the

day of the sixth month.

twenty-fourth

2

Haggai, the

Lord's mission, spoke

roused the

the governor of Judah,

set

l3

Lord."

declares the

Lord

the

And

Lord.

sent him; the people feared the

year of

the second

In

Darius, 'on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the

Lord came

the

through the prophet Haggai:

Zerubbabel son of

-\Spcak to

King

word of

governor of Judah, and to

Shealtiel, the

the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and to the rest of the people:

"Who

How

there

is

docs

be strong,

it

O

left

among vou who saw

look to you now?

Zerubbabel

—

says the

son of Jehozadak; be strong,

and

For

act!

I

am

—

House

Lord

—be

savs the

Mv

you when you came out of Egypt, and

4 But

nothing to you;

strong,

Lord

former splendor?

in its

like

O

vou people of die land

all

with vou

this

must seem

It

high priest Joshua

—savs the Lord—

of Hosts.

spirit

is still

5

So in

I

promised

vour midst.

Fear not! ''For thus said the

Lord

of Hosts: In

just a little

while longer

shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the drv land; all

the nations.

And

the precious things of all the nations shall

7 I will

come

I

will

shake

[here],

will fill this House with glory, said the Lord of Hosts. Mine and gold is Mine savs the Lord of Hosts. 9 The glorv of this latter House shall be greater than that of the former one, said the Lord of

and

8 Silver is

I

—

Hosts; and

in this place

will

I

grant prosperity

—

declares the

Lord

of

Hosts.

On

l0

the twenty-fourth day of the ninth

Lord came

of Darius, the word of the

"Thus and with

It

filed?"

0X0

If a

man

that fold

is

of Hosts: Seek

earning

And

month

a

in the

second year

ruling from the priests, as

oil,

reply, the priests said, a

|,

sacrificial flesh in a fold

touches bread, stew, wine,

become holy? In someone defiled by

the latter

on.

Lord

said the l2

follows:

[

to the prophet Haggai:

corpse touches

the priests responded, "Yes."

am

of

his

garment,

or anv other food, will

"No." '-'Haggai went of these, will

it

be de-

nevi'im

2.23

is how this people and that is how this Lord and so, too, the work of their Whatever they offer there is defiled. 15 And now take thought, from

14Thereupon

nation looks to hands:

HAGGAI

Haggai

said:

That

Me—declares

—

the

day backward: a As long

as no stone had been laid on another in the House of the Lord, 16 if one came to a heap of twenty measures, b it would yield only ten; and if one came to a wine vat to skim off fifty measures, the press would yield only twenty. 17 I struck you all the works

this

—with blight and mildew and but to Me— the Lord. Take note, from

of your hands turn

hail,

18

declares

—

c

~you did not

this

re-

day forward

from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day when the foundation was laid for the Lord's Temple take note 19 while the seed

—

is still

20

and the

in the granary,

have not yet borne

And

the

fruit.

word of

vine, fig tree, pomegranate,

For from

the

Lord came

twenty-fourth day of the month:

Judah:

am

I

day on

this

I

will

and

olive tree

send blessings.

to Haggai a second time

21 Speak

on the

to Zerubbabel the governor of

going to shake the heavens and the

earth. 22 And I will over-

turn the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the might of the kingdoms of the nations. riders shall

the

Lord

—

Or

b I.e.,

«

—

declares

take you,

O My

—

23

On

—

that day

declares

servant Zerubbabel son of

Lord and make you the Lord of Hosts.

as a signet; d for I

have

"forward." ofgrain.

Lit. "there

d I.e.,

I will

declares the

chosen you

3

overturn chariots and their drivers. Horses and their

each by the sword of his fellow.

of Hosts

—

Shealtiel

I will

fall,

was not with you

bring you

close to

Me;

to

Me";

contrast

cf.

Amos

4.9.

J er. 22.24-30.

1081

ZECHARIAH .A. In the eighth

month of the second

word of the

year of Darius, this

Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah son of Iddo: a 2 The LORD was very angry with your fathers. 3 Sav to them further: Thus said the Lord of Hosts: Turn back to me says the Lord of Hosts and I will turn back to you said the Lord of Hosts. 4 Do not

—

be

like

fathers!

Lord

For when the

earlier

Where

are

your fathers now?

And

overtook your fathers

The Lord has dealt as He purposed.'

On

I

charged

—did they not? — and

ways and vour

evil

Me—declares

did the prophets

warnings and the decrees with which

7

prophets called to them, "Thus

of Hosts: Come, turn back from your

deeds, they did not obey or give heed to

evil 5

—

your

said the

—

live forever?

My servants

in the

the

Lord.

6 But

the

the prophets

end they had to admit,

with us according to our wavs and our deeds,

just

month of the second vear word of the Lord came to the

the twentv-fourth day of the eleventh

of Darius

—the month of Shebat—

this

prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah son of Iddo: the night, I had a vision. I saw a man, mounted on a bay horse, standing b ~among the myrtles -15 in the Deep, and behind him were bav, c 8 In

sorrel, d

angel 10

who

Then

said,

11

and white horses. the

me man who was

talked with

9I

asked,

in fact, they

let

my

Lord

to

"We

roam

"O Lord of Hosts! How

11

the

are."

spoke up and

Lord who was standing

'Thereupon long will

And

the earth."

have roamed the earth, and

the earth dwelling in tranquility."

lord?"

you know what thcv

standing b ~among the myrtles

reported to the angel of the

b ~among the myrtles,~ b

exclaimed,

are those,

answered, "I will

"These were sent out by the

And

"What

have:

found

the angel of the

all

Lord

You withhold pardon from

A clause like "Say to the people" is here understood; cf. 7.5. hb Scptuaijint reads "between the mountains"; cf. 6.1. In 6.1 leave the ff. four tennis of horses LORD'S abode to roam the four quarters of the earth; in 1.8 If they are about to reenter His abode after such a reconnaisance.

•'

c

Septnaaint adds "dappled";

>'

Meaning ofHcb.

ucti

CUM

trmmemoratirtfl, respectively, tin

or bltSSi

eventi

of

and


'". Meaning ofHeb uncertain,

1096

of Judah

'-'The land shall wail, each family

1

Emendation / I

Jerusalem.

of pity and compassion; and they

bitter grief as

Megiddon.

it

are a I

sticks .\nd like a

its site, in

divine being

Jerusalem shall be as great as the wailing
w

RUTH

nn

LAMENTATIONS

PD^N

ECCLESIASTES

nbnp

ESTHER

"inDK

DANIEL

^jon

EZRA

k-itv

NEHEMIAH

mam

I

CHRONICLES

KW13 Tinm

II

CHRONICLES

mm Tinm

PSALMS BOOK ONE Happy

the

is

man who

has not followed the counsel of the

wicked, or taken the path of sinners, or joined the 2 rather,

company of the

the teaching of the

insolent;

Lord

is

his delight,

and he studies 3 that teaching day and 3

He

a tree planted beside streams

is like

which

yields

its

thrives. b

so the wicked;

rather, they are like chaff that 5

wind blows away.

Therefore the wicked will not survive judgment,

nor 6 For

will sinners, in the

the

Lord

but the

^J

of water,

fruit in season,

whose foliage never fades, and whatever b_ it produces 4 Not

night.

Why

assembly of the righteous.

way of the righteous, way of the wicked is doomed. cherishes the

do nations assemble,

and peoples plot a vain things; 2 kings

of the earth take

their stand,

and regents intrigue together against the 3 "Let

Lord

and against His anointed?

us break the cords of their yoke,

shake off their ropes from us!" a

o r "recites";

b-b

a

Or

lit.

"utters."

"he does prospers.

Lit. "utter."

1109

MS

KETHL'VIM PSA]

4

2.4

Hc who

enthroned

is

Lord mocks

the

sThen

speaks to them in anger,

le

1

them

terrifying

°"But

me

My

said to

My

king

me,

b

"You

I

have lathered you

«Ask

My

holy mountain!"

of the decree:

tell

Lord

the

His rage,

in

have installed

I

on Xion, "Let

heaven laughs;

in

them.

at

are

son, this

daw

h

of Me,

it

and

make

will

I

your

the nations your domain;

of the

estate, the limits

earth.

"You can smash them with an iron mace,

them

shatter

10

O

So now,

ware."

like potter's

kings, be prudent;

accept discipline, you rulers of the earth! ll Serve

Lord

the

12d -pav

He

lest

Happv

A

awe;

fright,

homage

in

4

-"

faith, d

good

be angered, and your wav be

mere

the

in

in

with

•-'-tremble

are

flash

who

all

doomed

of His anger.

take refuge in

psalm of David when he

Him.

from

fled

his

son Absalom.

Lord, my foes are so many! Main are those who attack me; main say of me, 2

"There

But my

You,

I

lie

-

>...

'

A

Lord,

glory,

m at

1

le

I

[e

answers

the L( >ki //

wnd

him through Clod." about me,

my

head high.

holds

me from

1

lis

wake

holv mountain.

again,

sustains me.

R 9927$.

>am

?

Hil)

uncertain, others "rejoice with trembling."

a/ 1

hi/

uncertain

liturgical direction

»/

Srlnh.-

1

LORD,

sleep and >

for

are a shield

who

to the

down and

lot

Meaning Meaning

no deliverance

u\ aloud and

'•I

is

()

uncertain meaning

Sclah.

KETHUVIM PSALMS

71

have no fear of the myriad forces

me on

arrayed against

8 Rise,

O

O my

For You slap

You

all

JL

a ~For

God!

my

enemies in the

face; b

break the teeth of the wicked.

9 Deliverance is

Your

every side.

Lord!

Deliver me,

A

5.2

the Lord's;

blessing be

upon Your

people!

the leader; with instrumental music.

Answer me when I call, O God, my vindicator! You freed me from distress; have mercy on me and hear

a

Selah.

A psalm

of David.

2

3

You men, how long you love

will

will

my

my

prayer.

glory be mocked,

illusions,

have recourse to frauds?

Lord

4

Know

5

So tremble, and

the

that the

Lord

ponder

it

hears

7 c

Many

I call

"O

to

faithful for Himself;

Him.

no more; sigh. b

righteousness

trust in the

say,

out the

on your bed, and

6 Offer sacrifices in

and

when

sin

Selah.

singles

for

Lord. good

Bestow Your favor on

days!" us, c

O

Lord.

You put joy into my heart when their grain and wine show increase. 9 Safe and sound, I lie down and sleep, d for You alone, O Lord, keep me secure. 8

d

EC

sJ

a

For the 2

leader;

Givc car to consider

b Lit.

b

nehilothr*

A

psalm of David.

my speech, O LORD; my utterance.

"cheek."

Meaning ofHeb.

»-»

on

Others "be

cc Lit. "Lift

uncertain.

still."

up the light of Tour countenance upon us"; cf

O Lord,

d-d

Or

>-•>

Meaninq ofHeb.

"for Tou,

keep

mt alone and

Num.

6.25

f.

secure."

uncertain.

1111

KETHUVTM PSALMS 3

Heed my

the sound of

my

voice, C)

daybreak

at

You

5 For

Lord,

at

daybreak;

plead before You, and wait.

I

are not a

God who

desires wickedness;

cannot abide with You;

evil f,

pray to You.

I

[car

I

my ay,

king and Clod.

for 4

5.3

w anton men cannot endure

in

You detest all evildoers; "You doom those who speak murderous, deceitful

men

sight.

lies;

the

through Your abundant

8 But I,

Your

Lord

abhors.

love, enter Y'our house;

r

bow down in at \ our holy temple. Lord, Head mc along Your righteous [path] awe

I

9

because of

my

b

watchful foes;

make Your way straight before mc. 10 For there is no sincerity on their lips; c their heart

their

let

them

cast

slippery.

O

them, fall

with] malice;

an open grave;

is

tongue

"Condemn

[filled

is

their throat

God;

bv their

them out

own

for their

devices;

many

crimes,

for they defy You. 12

But

let all

who

You rejoice, You shelter them; who love Your name exult take refuge in

ever jubilant as

and l3 For

let

You

those

surely bless the righteous

encompassing him with favor

V>l of

'

for the leader; with instrumental music on the

'(

)

LORD, do not punish me d

>

/ ;/

a

/

not chastise

me

on hi, righteous, lead me.

"mouth." Uiiiniiii

112

()

>ij

iiih

uncertain

in

in fury. "

You.

Lord,

like a shield.

>.ivid.

I

(

man,

in

anger,

sbniiinith.

a

A

psalm

KETHUVIM PSALMS Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I languish; heal me, O Lord, for my bones shake with

3

4

My whole

being

O

Lord,

Deliver

—O, how

6 For

turn!

me

there

in Sheol,

7I

am weary

no

My eyes

8

faithfulness.

of You among the dead;

can acclaim You?

with groaning;

my

melt

Your

praise

who

every night I

long!

Rescue me!

as befits is

terror.

stricken with terror,

Lord

while You, s

is

7.6

are

I

drench

couch in

my

bed,

tears.

wasted by vexation,

worn out because of all my

Away from me,

9

all

you

foes.

evildoers,

Lord heeds the sound of my weeping. The Lord heeds my plea, the Lord accepts my prayer. 11 All my enemies will be frustrated and stricken with for the

10

terror;

they will turn back in an instant, frustrated.

7

Shiggaion of David,

a

which he sang to the Lord, concerning Cush,

a Benjaminite.

2

Lord, my God, deliver 3 lest,

me from

like a lion,

in all

You

my

I

seek refuge;

pursuers and save me,

they tear

me

apart,

rending in pieces, and no one save me. 4

Lord, my God, if

my

5 if I

—

b I

if I

hands bear the

have dealt

who

have done such things, guilt

evil to

rescued

my

my

of wrongdoing, ally,

—

foe without reward b

6 then let

the enemy pursue and overtake me; him trample my life to the ground, and lay my body in the dust.

let

Meaning ofHeb. uncertain. bb Meaning ofHeb, uncertain; others "or stripped

Selah.

a-a

my foe

clean."

1113

KETHIVIM PSALMS LORD,

"Rise. C)

ill

Your anger;

Yourself* against the tun of my toes; -

assert

my

bestir Yourself on

behalf;

You have ordained judgment. Ba Let the assembly of peoples gather about You,

You enthroned above, on

with

LORD

"The

high.

a

judges the peoples;

Lord,

vindicate me. C)

tor the righteousness

and blamelessness that are mine.

"'Let the evil of the wicked

come

to an end,

but establish the righteous;

who

he

probes the mind and conseience d

is

God

the

righteous. llc

look to

I

God

the deliverer 12

to shield

me;

c

of the upright.

God vindicates the righteous; God 'pronounces doom* each

l38

day.

one does not turn back, but whets

If

bends

bow and

his

14then

aims

his

sword,

it,

against himself he readies deadly weapons,

and makes

his

arrows sharp, g

'\Scc, he hatches evil, conceives mischief,

and gives birth to fraud. k,

He

dug

has

and

a pit

and deepened

will fall into the trap

it,

he made.

upon his own head; come down upon his skull.

'"His mischief will recoil his lawlessness will 1H

I

will praise the

and smg

8

1

)

I

I


RD, our Lord,

low majestic

Tour fun againsl my

i

Ihn

Otken

I

.in mill Kniiln, In

is

Your name throughout the

earth.

" foes.

"My

Shield

ii

upon God

"

" '/'.S

Lord

But the

He

C

He who

judges the world with righteousness,

with equity.

rules the peoples

LORD

'"The a 1

haven

•Those for

l2 Sing

who know Your name

14

the righteous man accomfdisbedi

tin

"li tin

psalm of David.

Lord!

faithful are

the loyal have vanished from

Meaning

A

"the portion cf their in/>

KETHUVIM PSALMS 3

Men

speak

to one another;

lies

their speech

13.6

smooth;

is

they talk with duplicity.

May

4

Lord

the

cut off

all

flattering lips,

every tongue that speaks arrogance. 5

They

lips

6 "Because I will a

7

"By our tongues we

say,

with

such

shall prevail;

can be our master?"

of the groans of the plundered poor and needy

now

act," says the

"I will give help,"

The words of the silver

who

as ours,

purged

in

Lord.

He affirms to him." a Lord are pure words, an earthen crucible,

refined sevenfold. 8

O

You,

Lord,

will

keep them,

guarding each a "from 9

On

a "when

13

this

every side the wicked

For the

baseness

leader.

is

age _a evermore.

roam

exalted

among men.~ a

A psalm of David.

How long, O Lord; will You ignore me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 3 How long will I have cares on my mind, 2

grief in

How

my

long will

4 Look at

heart

lest I sleep

my my

Lord, my God!

eyes,

foes exult

say, "I

when

Your

have overcome him,"

I totter.

faithfulness,

heart will exult in

Lord, been good

Your

deliverance.

sing to the

for

»-»

my

have the upper hand?

O

the sleep of death;

my enemy

6 But I trust in

I will

day?

me, answer me,

Restore the luster to

5 lest

all

my enemy

He

Meaning ofHeb.

has

to me.

uncertain.

1119

PSALMS

KF.THIYIM

14

14.1

David

'For the leader. Ot"

man

The benighted b

"God does

Man\

thinks.

not care."

deeds are corrupt

h

-\\k\

loathsome;

HO one does good. 2

The LORD

down from

looks

heaven on mankind

a man of understanding, man mindful of God.

to find a

•Wll have turned bad.

altogether foul; there

who

none

is

does good,

not even one.

Are they so witless, all those who devour my people as

evildoers,

they devour food,

and do not invoke the LORD? •There they 6 You

may

present

is

in

Lord

his refuge.

is

of

that the deliverance

When

the

Jacob

15 A

fright,

the circle of the righteous.

naught the counsel of the lowly,

set at

but the

7

be seized with

will

God

for

Lord

Israel

might come from Zion!

restores the fortunes

of His people,

will exult, Israel will rejoice.

psalm of David.

Lord, who may sojourn in Your tent, who may dwell on Your holy mountain? I

who lives without blame, who does what is right.

[e

Mid 3

•'

acknowledges the truth;

heart

in his

whose tongue

who

has nevet

is

not given to

done harm

evil;

'

to his fellow,

OI borne reproach tor |his acts tow aid

Mm whom

I ii

I

20

Then

iimmi

"/

u no Hiii

God nun

tf

a

contemptible man

ft

>t, mi,

10 or

is

|

his

I

"who

/'

iii)

tutnder

neighbor;

abhorrent,

ii/'oii

hi tongue

KETHUVIM PSALMS

16.11

but who honors those who fear the Lord; who stands by his oath even to his hurt; 5 who has never lent money at interest, or accepted a bribe against the innocent.

The man who

16A

acts thus shall

never be shaken.

michtam & of David.

O

Protect me, 2I

say to the

"You

are

God,

for I seek refuge in You.

Lord,

my

Lord, b 'my benefactor;

none above You." b to the holy and mighty ones that are in the my whole desire concerning them is that there

is

3 c "As

^those

who

espouse another [god]

may have many I will

sorrows!

_c

have no part of their bloody libations;

names

their 5

land,

not pass

will

my allotted You control my fate.

The Lord

6 Delightful

is

country has

lovely indeed 71 bless

the

is

my

Lord who

my

lips.

share and portion; d

fallen to

my

lot;

estate.

has guided me;

my admonishes me at night. am ever mindful of the Lord's presence; He is at my right hand; I shall never be shaken. 9 So my heart rejoices, my whole being exults, and my body rests secure. iopor You will not abandon me to Sheol, conscience e

8I

or II

You

In

let

Your

faithful

will teach

Your presence

me is

one

see the Pit.

the path of

life.

perfect joy;

delights are ever in

Your

right hand.

Meaning ofHeb. uncertain. bh Others "I have no good but in You." cc Meaning of Heb. uncertain; "holy and mighty ones" taken as •>

qedoshim

in Ps. 89.6, 8,

Lord, grant

Tour anger."

victory to the king;

may He answer

us

when wt

"

coll

KETHUVIM PSALMS consumes them.

fire 11

You wipe

their offspring

from the

earth,

from among men.

their issue 12 For

22.

they schemed against You;

they laid plans,

but could not succeed. i3b-p or

turn backr b

You make them

by Your bows aimed

O

14 Be exalted,

we

22

will sing

For the 2

My

God,

why why

my

have

My I

of Your mightv deeds.

-

A psalm

of David.

God,

You abandoned me;

my

me

anguished roaring?

God,

—You answer not;

cry by day

by night, and have no 4b

praises

^ayyeleth ha-shaharr 2

so far from delivering

and from 3

strength;

and chant the

on

leader;

at their face.

Lord, through Your

But You

are the

respite.

Holy One,

enthroned, the Praise of Israel. b

You our

5 In

fathers trusted;

they trusted, and 6

To You

You

rescued them.

they cried out

and they escaped; in

You

they trusted

and were not disappointed. 7 But I

am

a

worm,

less

than human;

scorned by men, despised by people. 8 All c

who

see

me mock me;

they curl their

lips,~ c

they shake their heads. bb Meaning ofHeb. uncertain. aa

Meaning ofHeb.

b-b

Or "But Ton

«

uncertain.

are holy, enthroned upon the praises of Israel." Lit. "they open wide with a lip."

1129

khTurvi.M PSA

Ms 22»

I

""Let him commit himself to the let

I

Lord;

Iim rescue him,

Him save him, He is pleased with him." 10 You * drew me a from the womb, made me secure at mv mother's breast. let

for

"I became Your charge

mv

from

Do

l2

not be

tor trouble

mv

ChkI.

near.

is

none to

is

have been

from me,

tar

and there

at birth;

womb You

mother's

help.

surround me,

'•\\lanv bulls

mighty ones of Bashan encircle me. 14

Thcv open

My

l5d

life

my

ebbs away:

heart

at

me

roaring lions.

my bones

all

mouths

their

like tearing,

are disjointed;

wax,

like

is

d

melting within me;

mv vigor my tongue ,6

dries

up

like lions [they

palate;

the dust of death.

pack of evil ones closes

a

18 I

mv

cleaves to

You commit me to 17 Dogs surround me; t

shard;

like a

in

on me,

my hands and my bones

maul]

take the count of

all

feet.

while they look on and gloat. l9

They

divide

my

clothes

listing lots for

20 But

You,

my 21

Save

my I

()

my

Lord, be nor

strength, hasten to

mv

lite

themselves,

tar off;

mv

aid.

from the sword,

precious

deliver

among

garments.

lite

me from

1

from the clutches of a dog.

a lion's

mouth;

from the horns ot wild oxen rescue^ me. 2V I'hen will proclaim Your tame to my brethren, I

/ it

I

"/ urn

praise

You

pound

mil hki

WithBjubi, a mil:

./

Isa

in

the congregation.

unit)

"

)8 13

I it

M)

-

kethuvim PSALMS

23.3

who fear the Lord, praise Him! you offspring of Jacob, honor Him! Be in dread of Him, all you offspring of Israel! 25 For He did not scorn, He did not spurn 24You

All

the pleah of the lowly;

He

did not hide His face from him;

when he I

cried out to

of You

26 i-Because

my vows

pay

27 Let the let all

I

Him, He

offer praise

in the presence

lowly eat and be

who

-1

in the great congregation;

of His worshipers.

satisfied;

Lord

seek the

listened.

praise

Him.

Always be of good cheer! 28 Let all the

ends of the earth pay heed and turn to the

Lord,

and the peoples of all nations prostrate themselves before You; 29 for

30 J-A11

kingship

He

and

is

the

Lord's

rules the nations.

those in

full

vigor shall eat and prostrate themselves;

those at death's door, whose

all

shall

spirits flag,

bend the knee before Him.J

31 Offspring shall

serve

Lord's fame 32 to come;

the

they shall

tell

Him;

shall

be proclaimed to the generation

of His beneficence

to people yet to be born, for

23 A

He

has acted.

psalm of David.

The Lord I lack 2

'-'

i-i

Or

my

shepherd;

He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me to a_ water in places of repose; 3 He renews my life; He guides me in right paths as befits

11

is

nothing.

3

His name.

"plight."

From You is my praise." Meaning ofHeb. uncertain; others "All the fat ones of the earth shall eat and worship;!All they that go down to the dust shall kneel before HimJEven he that cannot keep his soul alive." Lit.

aa Others

"still

waters."

1131

kktiuvim PSALMS

23.4

Though

4

I

h a valley

walk through

I

no harm,

tear

tor

Your rod and Your 5You spread

You

mc

my

drink

for

24 Of

many long

A

David.

The

dwell

shall

I

earth

is

mc

lite,

in

the house of the

LORD

years.

psalm.

the

LORD'S and

the world and 2

steadfast love shall pursue

my

the days of

and

oil;

abundant.

is

Only goodness and all

me.

view of my enemies;

in hill

You anoint my head with

b

mc;

— they comfort

start"

tabic tor

a

of deepest darkness,

arc with

all

that

it

holds,

inhabitants.

its

For He founded it upon the ocean, set it on the nether-streams.

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? ;

4

Hc w ho has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not taken a false oath by My8 life or sworn deceitfully.

*He

earn away

shall

'Such

'

is

the circle

who

Jacob,

7

gates,

Up

a blessing

reward from God,

a just

lift

1

1

seek

of those

Your

"Who the the )

Lift

A iu / it

1132

turn to

is

the

lifi

them

"the valley

n in version*

Hi minium

may come m!

King of glory?

Lord, mighty and valiant, Lord, valiant in battle.

gates,

up your heads!

up. VOVJ everlasting doors.

n\

and

the \hiuio\v >»»/
*

i'l

ill

mac come

nth"

rtiut "///>

Him, Sclab.

up your heads'

so the King ot glory Othen

who

presence.

high, you everlasting doors,

so the King of glory

''(

from the Lord,

his deliverer.

in!

kethuvim PSALMS 25.14

Who

10

25 Of K

O

A

Lord

He

is

O

1

King of glory!

I set

my God,

Selah.

my

in

hope on You;

You

I trust;

may I not be disappointed, may my enemies not exult over me. let none who look to You be disappointed; let

"I

of hosts,

David.

2

s

the

Lord,

D

King of glory?

the

is

the

the faithless be disappointed, empty-handed.

me know Your paths, O Lord; teach me Your ways; 5 guide me in Your true way and teach for You are God, my deliverer;

4Let

n

me,

You I look to at all times. Lord, be mindful of Your compassion

it is T

6

and Your

faithfulness;

they are old as time,

n

7g e not mindful of my youthful sins and transgressions;

keeping with Your faithfulness consider what

in

is

in

my

favor, as befits

U

8

1

9

Good and

therefore

He

O Lord. Lord;

Your goodness, upright

He

is

the

shows sinners the way.

guides the lowly in the right path,

and teaches the lowly His way.

3

10 A11

the

LORD'S paths

for those s

n As

befits

pardon )3

12

J

13

Whoever he

He

shall

a

Or

14

are steadfast love

keep the decrees of His covenant.

Your name,

O

my

though

iniquity

Lord, it

Lord, be shown what path

be great.

fears the

shall live a

and

D

who

happy

to choose.

life,

his children shall inherit the land.

The counsel* of the Lord

is

for those

who

fear

Him;

"secret."

1133

Ms

kKlHl'VIM PSA]

them He makes known His covenant

to

y

l5

My

eves are ever toward the

He

for

D

lf1

Turn

rb

am

1

My

m\

will loose

to me, have

tor

Y

26.15

LORD,

from the

feel

net.

mercy on me,

alone .\nd afflicted

deep

distress

!i

increases;

deliver me from my straits. l8 Look at my affliction and suffering, and forgive all my sins. '"See how numerous my enemies are,

"l

and how unjustly they hate me!

W

me and

^Protect

me

let

for

n

21

I

Ma\

22

have sought refuge

integrity

for

I

26 Of

Israel

David.

tor

I

O

Lord,

have walked without blame; in the

I

have trusted

I

have not faltered.

Probe me,

Lord;

Lord, and

C)

me,

try

my heart and mind; b for mv eves are on Your steadfast b have set my course by -1

test 3

-

1

low;

it.

I

4I

and uprightness watch over me,

distress.

all its

Vindicate me,

2

You.

in

look to You.

God, redeem from

save me;

not be disappointed,

do not consort with

scoundrels,

or mix with hypocrites; 5I

detest the

company of evil men,

and do not consort with the wicked; "I

wash

a\k\

raising

and / ;/

" I in

distrea

my

1134

'

/

inn innnr

m

mnoeenee, altar,

mj voice all Your wonders. in

thanksgiving,

telling

"/

my

ml Inml '

hands

walk around Your

o\

btart "

ToUf

foithfidttOS,

mni

ftlVHVjfi

null; in

)

our Inn

\/«itl>\

kethuvim PSALMS Lord,

27.6

Your temple abode, the dwelling-place of Your glory. 9 Do not sweep me away with sinners, 8

I

love

my

or [snuff out] 10

who

and hands 11

But

12

My feet

full

of

with murderers,

life

have schemes

at their fingertips,

bribes.

walk without blame;

I

redeem me, have mercy on me!

on

are

In assemblies

level

ground.

I will bless

Lord.

the

27

Of David.

is my light and my help; whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, whom should I dread?

The Lord

2

When a

evil

they,

it is

who 3

assail me my flesh* my foes and my

men

to devour

stumble and

enemies,

fall.

Should an army besiege me,

my

heart

would have no

fear;

should war beset me, still

4

One

would

thing

I

I

be confident.

ask of the

only that do

Lord,

seek:

I

to live in the house of the all

the days of

to gaze

upon

He

will shelter

on an

life,

the beauty of the

b to frequcnt b 5

my

LORD Lord,

His temple.

me

in

His pavilion

evil day,

me the protection of His me high upon a rock. 6 Now is my head high grant

tent,

raise

Or "to slander me"; cf. Dan. 3.8; 6.25. hb Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

a-a

1135

KETHl'VIM

PSALMS

2

over m\ enemies roundabout; I

sacrifice in

His rent with shouts of joy,

singing and chanting

O

Hear.

LORD, when

I

hymn

a

to the

Lord.

cry aloud;

have mercy on me, answer me. b In

8

Your

behalf b

My

"Seek

O

my

heart says;

race!"

Lord, seek your race. "Do not hide Your taee from me; I

dn not

thrust aside

You have

Do

my

ever been

in

anger;

help.

not forsake me, do not abandon me,

O 10

Your servant

God, my

Though my

deliverer.

father

and mother abandon me,

the Lord will take me in. Show me Your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my watchful foes. 12 Do not subjeet me to the will of my

11

for false witnesses

foes,

and unjust aceuscrs

have appeared against me. 13

Had

not the assurance

I

that

,4

I

would enjoy

the goodness of the

the land of the living

in

Look

to the

.

.

LORD

.

Lord;

be strong and of good courage! (

28,

)

)t

()

look to the

David.

Lord,

1136

I

eall

to

You;

do not disregard me, You hold aloof from me. shall be like those gone down

my

rock,

for

it

I

I

Lord!

isten lo

my

plea tor met

w

into the

Lit.

kethuvim PSALMS when when

I

29.5

cry out to You,

my

I lift

hands

toward Your inner sanctuary. 3

Do

not

who

a_

with the wicked and evildoers

profess goodwill toward their fellows

while malice 4 Pay

me _a

count

in their heart.

is

them according

to their deeds,

their malicious acts;

according to their handiwork pay them, give 5

them

their deserts.

For they do not consider the Lord's deeds,

work of His hands. May He tear them down, the

never to rebuild them! 6 Blessed is

Lord,

the

He listens to my plea for mercy. 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him. I was helped, b and my heart exulted, so I will glorify Him with my song. 8 The Lord is c their strength; He is a stronghold for the deliverance of His 9 Deliver and bless Your very own people; for

anointed.

tend them and sustain them forever.

29A

psalm of David.

O

Lord,

Ascribe to the

divine beings,

Lord glory and strength. Lord the glory of His name;

ascribe to the 2 Ascribe

to the

bow down 3

The

to the

voice of the

Lord,

LORD

the

God

the

Lord, over

is

majestic in holiness.

over the waters;

of glory thunders, the mighty waters.

Lord is power; the voice of the Lord is majesty; 5 the voice of the Lord breaks cedars;

4 The

voice of the

w b

Or "drag me off"; meaning ofHeb. Or "strengthened."

cc Septuagint, Saadia,

and

uncertain.

others render,

and some

mss. read, 'oz

le'ammo, "the strength of His

people."

1137

PSALMS

KhiHi-vi.M

Lord

the 1

29.6

makes Lebanon skip

fc

of Lebanon.

shatters the cedars

like a calf.

young wild

Sirion, like a

•'

ox.

LORD kindles flames of rire; of the Lord convulses the wilderness;

"The voice of the s

the voice

Lord

the

convulses the wilderness ofKadesh;

LORD

"the voice of the b

and snips

while

'"The the

in

causes hinds to calve.

forests bare;

His temple

all

1,

sav "Glory!"

LORD sat enthroned at the Flood; LORD sits enthroned, king forever.

"May

LORD grant strength to His people; may the Lord bestow on His people wellbeing.

30 A :

the

A

psalm of David

Vou,

extol

I

O

Lord,

You have

for

and not

me

lifted

my

let

song for the dedication of the House.

up,

enemies rejoice aver me.

KD Lord, my God, cried out to

I

You,

and Yon healed me.

Lord, You brought me up from

4 ()

preserved

s

O

von

me from going down

Sheol,

into the Pit.

of the Lord, sing to Him,

faithful

and praise His holy name. '

For

I

is

[e

angry but

and w hen

I

moment,

toi

Vou.

"I shall

()

/

1 1

1




maket them Hop

h

n


i

\

ni

/ ""

Hili

\um 23 19

"Know, David

uncertain

/'>

waskil

of David, 2whcn

is

in

hiding

name

lor

u

among

indicate me.

uncertain; othen "I will wait lor Your

unknown God >i

A

by Your name;

n

Miiimiiii I

of His people,

Israel will rejoice.

told Saul,

by Your power

R

might come from Zion!

lor the leader; with instrumental music.

the Ziphites




a\k\ lies thev utter.

put an end to them;

put an end to that

mouths,

lips.

them be trapped by

Let

shield, the Lord,

Selah.

kethuvim PSALMS 15

They come each evening growling

16

They wander

roaming the and whine 17 But I will

city.

in search

of food;

they are not

if

satisfied.

sing of

You have been my

haven,

of trouble.

a refuge in time

my strength, to You I sing hymns; for God is my haven, my faithful God.

18

60

dogs,

like

Your strength, each morning Your faithfulness;

extol

for

60.9

For the

on z shushan eduthr 3

leader;

-

A

michtam of David

(to be

when he fought with Aram-Naharaim and Aram-Zobah, and Joab returned and defeated Edom [an army] of twelve thousand men taught),

2

—

3

Salt. b

of

in the Valley

God, You have

rejected us,

You have made a breach You have been angry;

in us;

restore us! 4You

have made the land quake;

You have

Mend

torn

it

open.

its fissures,

for

it is

collapsing.

You have made Your people suffer hardship; c You have given us wine that makes us reel.~ c 6a Give those who fear You because of Your truth 5

a

banner for

7d That those

whom You

deliver with

8

God

promised

that

rallying.

Your e

would

I

in

3

Selab.

love might be rescued,

right

hand and answer me.

His sanctuary

exultingly divide

up Shechem,

and measure the Valley of Sukkoth; 9 Gilead

and Manasseh would be mine,

my chief stronghold, my scepter;

Ephraim Judah aa *>

c-c

Meaning ofHeb.

uncertain.

2 Sam. 8; 1 Chron. 18. Q r

at

Hih

uncertain

kethuvim PSALMS 77.13

who are around Him Awesome One. a

a all

shall

bring tribute to

the 13

He

curbs the spirit of princes,

inspires

77 / /

For the

2I

awe

leader;

cry aloud to I

3 In

cry to

my [my

hand

God

I

give ear to me.

turn to the Lord,

[uplifted]; all

night without respite;~ a

to mind, I

complain,

You have

6

My thoughts

am

A psalm.

not be comforted.

5

I

He may

that

eyes] flow

I will

I

earth.

God;

God

my

of the

on Jeduthun. Of Asaph.

time of distress

a ~with

4I call

in the kings

held

my

moan, Selah.

spirit fails.

my

eyelids open;

overwrought,

I

cannot speak.

turn to days of old,

to years long past. 71 recall at I

night their jibes at me;

commune with

my

myself;

spirit inquires,

8 "Will

the

Lord

reject forever

and never again show favor? 9 Has

His faithfulness disappeared forever?

Will His promise be unfulfilled for

all

time?

Has God forgotten how to pity? Has He in anger stifled His compassion?" 10

11

And

I said,

a

"It

that the right

12 I recall

aa

recount

Meaning ofHeb.

my

fault

hand of the Most High has changed."

the deeds of the

yes, I recall 13 I

is

Selah.

3

Lord;

Your wonders of old; Your works;

all

uncertain.

1197

KETHL'VIM

PSALMS ".14 I

speak of Your

acts.

u O God, Your ways what god

is

God?

God who works

'"You are the

lf1

arc holiness;

as great as

wonders;

You have manifested Your strength among Bv Your arm You redeemed Your people,

the peoples.

the children of Jacob and Joseph.

'The

waters saw You,

O

Seldh.

God.

You And were convulsed;

the waters saw

the very deep quaked as well. 18 Clouds

streamed water;

die heavens rumbled; Y'our arrows flew about;

'"Your thunder rumbled

like

wheels;

up the world; the earth quaked and trembled. 20 \ our wav was through the sea, lightning

lit

r

Y'our path, through the mighty waters;

Your 21

You

tracks could not be seen.

led Y'our people like a flock

in the care

78 A

of Moses and Aaron.

maskil of Asaph.

Give

ear,

mv

people, to

mv

turn vour ear to what 2

1

will

expound

a

I

teaching,

saw

theme,

hold forth on the lessons of the past, •^things

that 4

Wc

we have heard and known,

our fathers have told

will

us.

not withhold them from their children,

telling the

coming generation

Lord and His wonders He performed.

the praises of the

and the I

[e

established a decree in Jacob,

Ordained

a

teaching

charging our lathers

L198

in Israel,

might,

kethuvim PSALMS 78.20

to

make them known

6 that a future

to their children,

generation might

know

— children yet to be born and

in turn tell their children

7that

they might put their confidence in God,

and not forget God's great deeds, but observe His commandments, 8 and

not be

like their fathers,

wayward and defiant generation, a generation whose heart was inconstant, whose spirit was not true to God. a

9 Like

the Ephraimite

who

played

10 they

bowmen

false in

the day of battle,

did not keep God's covenant,

they refused to follow His instruction; 11 they

forgot His deeds

and the wonders that 12

He

He showed

them.

performed marvels in the sight of their

in the land

He split the sea and took them through He made the waters stand like a wall. 14 He led them with a cloud by day, 13

and throughout the night by the 15

He

split

He

as if

of fire.

from the great deep.

brought forth streams from a rock

and made them flow down 17 But

light

it;

rocks in the wilderness

and gave them drink 16

fathers,

of Egypt, the plain of Zoan.

like a river.

on sinning against Him, defying the Most High in the parched land. 18 To test God was in their mind when they demanded food for themselves. 19 They spoke against God, saying, "Can God spread a feast in the wilderness? they went

20 True,

He

struck the rock and waters flowed,

streams gushed forth;

1199

K.ETHI-YIM

PSALMS

"8.21

He

but can

provide bread?

Can He supply His people with meat?" 21 The Lord heard and He raged; tire

broke out against Jacob.

anger tiared up

at Israel,

—because they did not put

their trust in

God,

did not relv on His deliverance.

He commanded the He opened the doors

2, So

:4 and

giving

manna upon them them heavenly grain.

for food.

rained

man

2S Each

skies above,

of heaven

ate a hero's meal;

He sent them provision in plenty. 26 He set the east wind moving in heaven, and drove the south wind bv His might. 2

~He

rained meat

winged birds 28 making

on them

like dust,

the sands of the sea,

like

them come down

inside

His camp,

around His dwelling-place. 29 Thev ate

He

till

they were sated;

gave them what thev craved.

30 Thev

had not vet wearied of what they craved,

the food

was

He

struck

down

at

them.

33

He made

,4

\Vhcn

the youth of Israel.

faith in

their davs

their years in

He

end

in futility,

sudden death.

God once

remembered

God Most

High,

Yct they deceived lied to

His wonders.

struck' them, they turned to

and sought 3STney

on sinning

thev went

and had no

,f,

mouths

anger flared up

slew their sturdiest,

32 Nonctheless,

•

in their

still

when God's

31

Him

that

God was

their

Him

their rock,

Redeemer.

with their speech,

with their words;

then hearts were inconstant toward -

1200

l.u

"lolled*

Him

again.

Him;

kethuvim PSALMS 78.53 they were untrue to His covenant. 38 But

He, being merciful, forgave

iniquity

and would not destroy;

He

restrained His wrath time

and did not give

full

He remembered

39 for

and again

vent to His fury; that they

were but

flesh,

a passing breath that does not return.

How often

40

did they defy

Him

did they grieve 41 Again

He

how He

45

redeemed them from the

foe;

displayed His signs in Egypt,

His wonders

^He

One of Israel.

did not remember His strength,

or the day 43

in the wilderness,

and again they tested God,

vexed b the Holy 42 They

Him

in the wasteland!

of Zoan.

in the plain

turned their rivers into blood;

He made their waters undrinkable. He inflicted upon them swarms of insects

to devour them,

frogs to destroy them.

^He

gave their crops over to grubs,

their 47

He

produce to

killed their vines

their sycamores 48

locusts.

He

c

with

with

hail,

frost. c

gave their beasts over to

hail,

their cattle to lightning bolts. 49

He

inflicted

His burning anger upon them,

wrath, indignation, trouble, a 50

band of deadly messengers.

He cleared a path for His anger; He did not stop short of slaying

them,

but gave them over to pestilence. 51

He

struck every first-born in Egypt,

the 52

He

first fruits

set

b

Or

c"c

"set

He

a limit

led

their vigor in the tents

His people moving

drove them 53

of

them

of Ham.

like sheep,

like a flock in the wilderness.

in safety; they

were unafraid;

to."

Meaning ofHeb.

uncertain.

1201

KETHl/YIM

PSALMS

8.54

enemies, the sea covered them.

as for their

5*Hc brought them to His holv realm,*the mountain His right hand had acquired. 1

He

??

expelled nations before them, settled the tribes

them

allotting

of

Israel in their tents.

their portion

line. c

by the

God Most High,

s^Yet they defiantly tested

and did not observe His decrees.

"Thev

fell

away, disloyal

thev played

60

He

bow

vexed

thev

God

treacherous

false like a

Him with their high places; incensed Him with their idols.

58 Thev

59

like their fathers;

heard

and was enraged;

it

lie Utterly rejected Israel.

forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh,

the tent

M He

He

had

set

among men.

His might* go into

let

captivity,

His glorv into the hands of the 62

63 Firc

consumed

^Their and ,s

priests

their

^Hc

?

remained unwed. ~g

bv the sword,

fell

widows could not weep.

Thc Lord awoke like a

young men,

their

and their maidens

'

foe.

He gave His people over to the sword; He was enraged at His Very own.

as

from

sleep,

warrior ^shaking off c wine.

beat back His foes,

dealing them lasting disgrace. 1

[e rejected I

f,s I

le

le

the clan of Joseph;

did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.

did choose the tribe of Judah,

Mount

Zion, which

He

loved.

'''He built His Sanctuary like the heavens, like the earth that

1

Ic

established forever.

~"Hc chose David, His servant, and took him from the shcepfolds.
,

let

my

man when

>ki).

hear

my

prayer;

CTJ

come

before You.

)d noi hide

Your

face

in in\

from

me

lime ot trouble;

turn Ymii eai to me;

when

1226

house.

know nothing of evil.

will

He who I

my

eyes anything base;

I

I

Lord.

blameless;

without blame within

Perverse thoughts 5

justice;

co You, c)

way of the

study the

will live

I

psalm.

of faithfulness and

will sing

I

A

I

CTV,

answer

me

speedily.

he

is

faint

>\\^\

pours forth his

kethuvim PSALMS 102.21

my days have vanished like smoke my bones are charred like a hearth.

4 For

and 5

My

body

a "too

6 on

7I

am

b ~show

bones

among

awake;

day long

my

1

me;

revile

my name

to curse.

bread

like

drink with

tears,

because of Your wrath and Your

You have

for 12

my

skin.~ b

a roof.

have eaten ashes

and mixed

my

in the wilderness,

enemies

deriders use

10 For I

vehement groaning

like

upon

my

like grass;

food;

the ruins.

am

I

a lone bird 9 All

my

through

owl

like a great

an owl 8 I lie

my

account of

my

and withered

stricken

is

wasted" a to eat

My days I

You,

me

far

fury;

away.

shadow;

are like a lengthening

wither

13 But

cast

like grass.

O

Lord,

are

enthroned forever;

Your fame endures throughout the ages. 14 You will surely arise and take pity on Zion, for

it is

time to be gracious to her;

the appointed time has come. 15

Your

16

The

servants take delight in

and cherish

18

name of the Lord, Your glory.

the kings of the earth, the

Lord

has built Zion;

He has appeared in He has turned to the

all

May

this

be written

His glory.

prayer

and has not spurned 19

c

of the destitute

their prayer.

down

for a

that people yet to be created 20 For

stones,

dust.

nations will fear the

all

17 For

its

its

coming generation, praise the Lord.

may

He looks down from His holy height; Lord beholds the earth from heaven

the 21

to hear the groans of the prisoner,

to release those

M

Others "I forget."

M>

Lit. "cling to

c

condemned

to death;

my flesh."

< Meaning ofHeb. uncertain.

1227

kethuvim PSALMS

102.22

LORD may

—that the fame of the

be recounted

in

Zion,

praises in Jerusalem,

lis

1

when

23

the nations gather together,

the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.

He drained my strength in mid-course. He shortened my davs. 25] say, "O my God, do not take me away in the midst of my days,

:4

You whose

on

years ^.o

on end.

for generations

-"Of old You established the earth;

work of Your hands.

the heavens are the 27They shall perish,

they shall

all

but You

wear out

endure;

shall

like a

garment;

You change them like clothing and they pass away. You are the same, and Y'our years never end.

28 But

May

29

the children of

and

103 Of 2

soul,

O mv

Lord,

forget

le forgives all

He

securely

in Y'our presence."

being. His holy name.

and do not

heals

O mv

Lord,

mv

Bless the

"I

endure

David.

Bless the all

Your servants dwell

their offspring

all

soul

His bounties.

all

your sms,

your diseases.

redeems your

life

from the

Pit,

surrounds you with steadfast lave mk\ mercy. 5 ] le satisfies

vou with good things

so that your youth

''The

Lord

le I

M

deeds

Thc LORD

Mtiiiiiwi

I22.X

made known lis

nj

'

iiiii

•'

the prime of

like the eagle's.

executes righteous acts

and judgments I

renewed

is

in

is

t

for I

lis

all

w

who

a\

s

are

wronged.

to Moses,

the children Of Israel.

compassionate and gracious,

uncertain

lite,

•'

KETHUVIM PSALMS

104.1

slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. 9

He

will

not contend forever,

or nurse His anger for 10

He

nor has

u For

He

As

east

As

requited us according to our iniquities.

is

His steadfast love toward those

from west, has He removed our

a father has

so the

who

fear

Him.

far

is

so far 13

sins,

heavens are high above the earth,

as the

so great 12

time.

all

has not dealt with us according to our

Lord

sins

compassion for

from

us.

his children,

has compassion for those

who

fear

Him.

He knows how we are formed; He is mindful that we are dust.

14 For

15

Man,

his days are like those

he blooms 16 a its

17 But

wind

own

like a

field;

no more, no longer knows it.

passes by and

place

of grass;

flower of the it is

Lord's steadfast love is for all eternity toward those who fear Him, and His beneficence is for the children's children the

18 of

who

those

keep His covenant

and remember to observe His precepts. 19

The Lord has

established His throne in heaven,

and His sovereign 20 Bless

the

Lord,

O

mighty creatures

rule

is

over

all.

His angels,

who do His

bidding,

ever obedient to His bidding; 21 bless

the

Lord,

His servants 22 bless

the

all

His hosts,

who do His

Lord,

all

will;

His works,

through the length and breadth of His realm; bless the

104

Bless the

O

Lord,

O my soul.

Lord,

O my

Lord, my God, You

soul;

arc verv great;

1229

ki

mi aim PSALMS

104.2

You arc clothed in glory and majesty, wrapped in a robe of light; You spread the heavens like a tent cloth.

2

He

3

of His

sets the ratters

lofts in the waters,

makes the clouds His chariot, moves on the wings of the wind.

*Hc makes fiery s

Hc

the winds His messengers,

flames His servants.

established the earth

so that

shall

it

on

its

foundations,

never totter.

"You made the deep cover

it

as a

garment;

the waters stood above the mountains.

"Thev

Your

fled at

rushed away 8

—mountains

to the place 9 You set

blast,

at the

sound of Your thunder,

rising, valleys sinking

You

established for them.

bounds they must not pass

so that they never again cover the earth.

"'You make springs gush forth they 1

make

their

in torrents;

way between

'giving drink to

all

the

hills,

the wild beasts;

the wild asses slake their thirst. 12

The

them

birds of the skv dwell beside

and smg among the l3

You water

14

You make

foliage.

the mountains from

the earth

sated

is

from the

Your

fruit

1

lofts;

of Your work.

the grass grow for the cattle,

and herbage for man's labor

may

that he

l5wine that 11

makes the

oil that

and bread

"The

trees

get food

t

out of the earth

cheers the hearts of

that sustains

the

LORD

1

where buds make

In I

230

stork has her

to »ml;t

tin

jut

i

thine front oil."

lite.

I

lis

own

fill,

planting,

their nests;

home

II

a

man's

drink their

the cedars of Lebanon,

tin-

men

face shine, b

in

the jumpers.

kethuvim PSALMS 104.32 18

The high mountains

are for wild goats;

the crags are a refuge for rock-badgers.

19

He made

20

the sun knows when to set. You bring on darkness and it is night, when all the beasts of the forests stir.

21 The lions

the

moon

to

mark

the seasons;

roar for prey,

seeking their food from God. 22

When

the sun

and couch 23

Man

they

rises,

come home

in their dens.

then goes out to his work,

to his labor until the evening.

24

How many the earth

is full

its

creatures

go the

Lord;

and wide,

beyond number, and

living things, small 26 There

O

with wisdom;

all

of Your creations.

25 There is the sea, vast

with

You have made,

are the things

You have made them

great.

ships,

and Leviathan that You formed to sport with. 27A11

of them look to You

to give 28 Give it

them

their

food when

to them, they gather

open Your hand, they

it

it is

due.

up;

are well satisfied;

29 hide

take

Your face, they are terrified; away their breath, thev perish

and turn again into dust; 30 send

back Your breath, they are created,

and You renew the

face

of the

earth.

31

May

32

may the Lord rejoice in His works! He looks at the earth and it trembles; He touches the mountains and they smoke.

the glory of the

Lord

endure forever;

1231

MS

KETHUVIM PSA1

104.33

Lord

33 1 will sing to the

long

as

as

I

live;

my lift will chant hymns re my 'May my prayer be pleasing to Him; all

I

35

I

will rejoice in the

May

clod.

LORD.

sinners disappear from the earth,

and the wicked be no more, Bless the

O my

Lord,

soul.

Halleluiah.

105

LORD;

Praise the

on His name;

call

proclaim His deeds

among

the peoples.

Sing praises to Him;

2

speak of 3 Exult in let all

4 Turn

His wondrous

all

acts.

His holy name;

who

to the

seek the

Lord,

LORD

rejoice.

to His might;-1

seek His presence constantly.

Remember

5

wonders

the

He

has done.

His portents and the judgments

He

has pronounced,

of Abraham, His servant,

"() offspring

descendants of Jacob, His chosen ones.

"He 1

,X

I

le

is

lis is

the

Lord

ever mindful of

the promise ''that

our God;

judgments are throughout the

He made

swore to

He

I

lis

earth.

covenant,

gave for

a

thousand generations,

with Abraham,

[saac,

'"and confirmed in a decree for Jacob, for Israel, as an eternal covenant,

"saving, as

1

'

I

"To you

hcv were then few a

I

will give the land

voui allotted heritage.

m

number,

mere handful, sojourning

there,

'^wandering from nation to nation, /.

1232

.

ih,

Ad-.

,1

ft

78.6li

\

ofCanaaij

kethuvim PSALMS

105.31

from one kingdom to another. 14

He allowed no one to oppress them; He reproved Icings on their account, 15

"Do

My

do not harm 16

He

My

not touch

called

down

anointed ones;

prophets."

on the

a famine

land,

destroyed every staff of bread. 17

He

sent ahead of

them

a

man,

Joseph, sold into slavery. 18 His feet

were subjected to

fetters;

an iron collar was put on his neck. 19 Until his

prediction

20 The

came

Lord

the decree of the

true

purged him.

king sent to have him freed;

the ruler of nations released him.

He made him

21

the lord of his household,

empowered him over

all

his possessions,

22 to discipline his princes at will,

to teach his elders 23

Then

Israel

came

wisdom.

to Egypt;

Jacob sojourned in the land of 24

He made

His people very

more numerous than 2Sb

He

changed

their

Ham.

fruitful,

their foes.

hearr b to hate His people,

to plot against His servants. 26

He

sent His servant Moses,

and Aaron, 27 They

whom He

had chosen.

performed His signs among them,

His wonders, against the land of Ham. 28

Hc c

29

Hc

sent darkness;

it

was very dark;

did they not defy His word?

c

turned their waters into blood

and

killed their fish.

30 Their

land teemed with frogs,

even the rooms of their king. 3

'Swarms of

b-b

Or

«

Meaning ofHeb.

insects

came

at

His command,

"Their heart changed." uncertain.

1233

kethuvim PSALMS

throughout

lice, :; 1

[c

105.32

gave them

and flaming ;; 1

le

their country,

hail far rain,

their land.

fire in

struck their vines and

broke

down

•^Locusts came

rig trees.

the trees of their country.

His command,

at

grasshoppers without number. 35They

devoured every green thing

they ;

'i le

consumed

down

struck

the 1

le led Israel*

none among

39

Hc

when

they

left,

Israel d

had

fallen

40They

and

fire

to light

asked and satisfied

He opened it

upon them.

spread a cloud for a cover,

and

41

of

and gold;

silver

their tribes faltered.

38 Egypt rejoiced

for dread

their vigor.

out with

1

soil.

every first-born in the land,

of

first fruit

;_

in the land;

the produce of the

flowed

42 Mindful

up the

He

night.

brought them

quail,

them with food from heaven.

a rock so that

water gushed forth;

stream

parched land.

as a

in the

of His sacred promise

to His servant 4;ile led

Abraham,

His people out

in gladness,

His chosen ones with joyous song. 44

He

gave them the lands of nations;

they inherited the wealth of peoples, ^Sthat they a\k\ I

106

might keep His laws

observe

1

lis

teachings.

[allclujah.

Hallelujah.

Praise the l.oi tor 1

" / it

1234

them

lis

steadfast love

He is

is

good;

eternal.

kethuvim PSALMS 106.17 2

Who

can

tell

proclaim

3

Happy

6

all

His

right at

Lord,

praises?

who

are those

who do 4 Be

the mighty acts of the

all

act justly,

times.

O

Lord, when You favor Your people; take note of me when You deliver them, 5 that I may enjoy the prosperity of Your chosen ones, share the joy of Your nation, glow in Your very own people. mindful of me,

We

have sinned

like

our forefathers;

we have gone astray, done evil. 7 Our forefathers in Egypt did not perceive Your wonders; they did not remember Your abundant love,

but rebelled

He

8 Yet

He

befits

Sea of Reeds.

His name,

make known His might.

to 9

at the sea, at the

saved them, as

sent His blast against the Sea of Reeds;

it

became

dry;

He led them through the deep 10 He delivered them from the foe,

as

through a wilderness.

redeemed them from the enemy. 11

Water covered their adversaries; not one of them was left.

12

Then they

believed His promise,

and sang His 13 But

praises.

they soon forgot His deeds;

they would not wait to learn His plan. They were seized with craving in the wilderness,

14

and put 15

He

God

to the test in the wasteland.

gave them what they asked

then 16 There

for,

made them waste away. was envy of Moses

in the

camp,

and of Aaron, the holy one of the Lord. 17

Thc

earth

opened up and swallowed Dathan,

closed over the party of Abiram.

1235

KETHUVTM PSALMS

A

1S

among

blazed

fire

a

106.18

flame that

They made a and bowed down

l9

2(l

The\ exchanged tor the

21

their party,

consumed the wicked. calf at Horcb to a molten image.

their glorv

image of

a bull that feeds

on

grass.

Thev forgot God who saved them,

who performed

great deeds in Egypt,

—wondrous deeds in the land of Ham. awesome deeds at the Sea of Reeds. ^He would have destroyed them had not Moses His chosen one

Him

confronted

in the

breach

to avert His destructive wrath. 24 Thev rejected

25

the desirable land,

and put no faith Thev grumbled in

in

His promise.

their tents

and disobeyed the Lord. 26 So

He

to

raised

His hand

make them

fall in

in

oath

the wilderness,

27to disperse-1 their offspring

and 28Thev

scatter

them through the

among

the nations

lands.

attached themselves to Baal Peor,

ate sacrifices offered to the dead. 2>/

rhev provoked anger by their deeds,

and

a

plague broke out

among them.

sophinehas stepped forth and intervened, .\\k\

the plague ceased.

was reckoned to

31 It

tor 32They

all

his merit

generations, to eternity.

provoked wrath

at

and Moses suffered on

the waters of their account,

"because thev rebelled against llim and he spoke

;

I

hey did not destroy the nations as the

liiniiiiii.

236

rashly.

Ktmln

I.

oki> had commanded them,

Meribah

kethuvim PSALMS 106.48 35 but

mingled with the nations

and learned 36 They

their ways.

worshiped their

which became 37 Their

own

idols,

a snare for them.

sons and daughters

they sacrificed to demons. 38 They

shed innocent blood,

the blood of their sons and daughters,

whom

they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;

so the land was polluted with bloodguilt. 39 Thus

they became defiled by their

debauched through

acts,

their deeds.

Lord was angry with His people and He abhorred His inheritance. 41 He handed them over to the nations; 40The

their foes ruled them. 42 Their

enemies oppressed them

and they were subject to 43

He

their

power.

saved them time and again,

but they were deliberately rebellious,

and so they were brought low by

their iniquity.

^When He saw that they were in distress, when He heard their cry, 45 He was mindful of His covenant and 46

in

His great

He made

all

47 Deliver us,

faithfulness relented.

their captors kindly disposed

toward them.

O Lord our God,

and gather us from among the nations, to acclaim to glory in

Your holy name, Your praise.

48 Blessed is the

From Let

all

Lord, God of Israel,

eternity to eternity.

the people say,

"Amen."

Hallelujah.

1237

KM HI AIM PSALMS HOC) K

107

107.1

IV E

F

Praise the

Lord,

His steadfast love

Thus

2

He

far is

the redeemed of the

let

good;

is

eternal!"

Lord

say,

He redeemed from adversity, 'whom He gathered in from the lands,

those

from

east

and west,

from the north and from the 4

Some

lost their

way

in the

w

sea.

ilderness,

in the wasteland;

they found no settled plaee. s

Hungry and

thirsty,

their spirit failed. 6In their adversity they eried to die

and 7

He

LORD,

reseued them from their troubles.

He showed them

way

a direct

to reach a settled place. 8 Let

them

praise the

Lord

for

His steadfast

Love,

His wondrous deeds for mankind;

He

9 for

the hungry with

filled

1()

Some

has satisfied the thirsty, all

good

things.

lived in deepest darkness,

bound

in cruel irons,

"because they defied the word of God, spurned the counsel of the Most High. 12

He humbled

their hearts

through suffering;

they stumbled with no one to help. l3 In

then adversity they cried to the

and

He

Lord,

rescued them from their troubles.

"Ik' brought them out of deepest darkness, broke their bonds asunder. 1

In them

praise-

the

Lord

for

I

lis

steadfast love,

His wondrous deeds lor mankind, "•for I

1238

le

I

le

shattered gates of bronze,

broke then iron

bars.

kethuvim PSALMS 107.34 17 There

and 18 A11

were fools

who

suffered for their sinful way,

for their iniquities.

food was loathsome to them;

they reached the gates of death. 19 In

Lord

their adversity they cried to the

and

He

saved them from their troubles.

He gave an order and healed them; He delivered them from the pits. a 21 Let them praise the Lord for His steadfast 20

love,

His wondrous deeds for mankind. 22 Let

them

and

tell

23 Others

offer thanksgiving sacrifices,

His deeds in joyful song.

go down to the

sea in ships,

ply their trade in the mighty waters; 24 they

LORD

have seen the works of the

and His wonders

in the deep.

By His word He raised a storm wind that made the waves surge. 26 Mounting up to the heaven, plunging down to the depths, 25

disgorging in their misery, 27they reeled all

and staggered

their skill to

28 In their adversity

and 29

He

He

drunken man,

like a

avail.

they cried to the

Lord,

saved them from their troubles.

reduced the storm to a whisper;

the waves were 30 They rejoiced

and 31 Let

no

He

them

stilled.

when

all

was

quiet,

brought them to the port they desired. praise the

Lord

for

His steadfast

love,

His wondrous deeds for mankind.

them

exalt

Him

acclaim

Him

in the assembly

32 Let

33

He

in the congregation

of the

of the people,

elders.

turns the rivers into a wilderness,

springs of water into thirsty land, 34fruitful land into a salt

marsh,

because of the wickedness of

its

inhabitants.

Viz., of death.

1239

kethi-vim

PSALMS

^Hc

107.35

turns the wilderness into pools,

parched land into springs of water. ;

He

°There

hungry;

settles the

they build a place to settle •

~Thev sow

;

in.

and plant vineyards

fields

that yield a fruitful harvest. 38

He

blesses

He

and

them and thev

does not

^'after they

increase greatly;

their cattle decrease,

let

had been few and crushed

by oppression, misery, and sorrow. 4l,

He

pours contempt on great

and makes them 4 'but

and increases 42 The

I

3

song.

A

it

and

rejoice;

heart

is

stopped.

Lord.

firm,

O

God;

and chant

a

hymn

with

all

my

soul.

O

will

4 I will

is

note of these things;

will take

psalm of David.

will sing

Awake, I

suffering,

consider the steadfast love of the

will

'My

2

man

in trackless deserts;

from

mouth of all wrongdoers

4VThe wise

108 A

secures

their families like flocks.

upright see

the

he

way

lose their

He

the needy

men

harp and lyre! wake the dawn.

You among the peoples, O Lord, hymn to You among the nations;

praise

sing

a

Hot Your faithfulness is higher than the heavens; Your steadfastness reaches to the skv. '

>Exall let

Yourself over the heavens,

Your glory be over

7bTha(

those

whom You Your

deliver with

"Clod promised that

With n Wnl> it

1240

I

II.

,/

in

I

love

light

lis

O

God;

the earth!

may

be rescued,

hand and answer me.

sanctuary

'

would cxultinglv divide up Shcchcm, ,7.8

7

i

all

/'
u>it

to

meaning ofHeb

Bed

5.1.

uncertain

kethuvim PROVERBS

u Honest

and balances

scales

bag

All the weights in the 12

Wicked deeds

For the throne 13 Truthful

are is

are the

16.28

Lord's;

His work.

are

an abomination to kings,

established

by righteousness.

speech wins the favor of kings;

They love those who speak honestly. 14The king's wrath is a messenger of death, But a wise man can appease it. 15 The king's smile means life; His favor 16

like a rain

is

How much

To

better to acquire

acquire understanding

17 The

18 Pride

preserve his

gold;

life

evil;

watches his way.

goes before ruin,

Arrogance, before 19 Better

Than

wisdom than

preferable to silver.

is

highway of the upright avoids

He who would

to be

failure.

humble and among the lowly

to share spoils with the proud.

He who

20

cloud in spring.

Happy

is

adept in a matter will attain success;

who

trusts in the Lord. The wise-hearted is called discerning; One whose speech is pleasing gains wisdom.

he

is

21

Good sense is a fountain of life to those who have it, And folly is the punishment of fools. 23 The mind of the wise man makes his speech effective And increases the wisdom on his lips. 22

24 Pleasant

words

are like a

Sweet to the palate and 25

A

But

road

may seem

in the

end

26 The appetite

it is

Because

his

h Lit.

on

a

c

"forces

him

on.~ c

plots c evil;

his lips

A shifty man

And p

men;

evil

not desire to be with them;

2For their hearts- talk violence, 1

And

A

their lips speak mischief.

house

3

And

built

is

by wisdom,

established by understanding;

is

By

know ledge are its rooms rilled With all precious and beautiful things.

A

5

A

man

wise

is

strength;

knowledgeable man exerts power;

6 For

by stratagems yOU wage war.

And

victory

comes with much planning.

Wisdom is too loth' tor a tool; He does not open his mouth in "He who lays plans to do harm 7

called by

Is

men

a

the gate.

schemer.

''The schemes offolly are sin.

And

a scoffer is

an abomination to men.

vou showed yourself slack in power,

'"If

in

time of trouble.

Wanting

"It 'vou retrained from rescuing those taken oil to death.

Those condemned It

Surely I

Ic

And nctt

to

Mainiwi Set noli to

1324

h
ur hie

man

as

w

ill

kn< >w

he deserves.

it.

kethuvim PROVERBS 24.27

My son,

13

Let 14

its

eat honey, for

it is

good;

sweet drops be on your palate.

Know: such

wisdom

is

for vour soul;

you attain it, there is a future; Your hope will not be cut off. If

Do

Wicked man! Do no violence 15

16 Seven

If

your enemy

he

trips, let

18 Lest

And

the

avert

home of the

righteous man;

to his dwelling.

times the righteous

While the wicked 17If

not lurk by the

man

are tripped

do not

falls,

see

it

and gets up,

exult;

your heart not

Lord

falls

by one misfortune.

rejoice,

and be displeased,

His wrath from him.

Do not be vexed by evildoers; Do not be incensed by the wicked; 19

20 For there

is

no

future for the evil

The lamp of the wicked goes 21 Fear

the

And do

Lord, my

son, and the king,

comes from them suddenly;

The doom both

decree

23 These also are

by the sages:

24

out.

not mix with dissenters,

22 For disaster

It is

man;

who

can foreknow?

not right to be partial in judgment.

He who

says to the guilty,

Shall be cursed

Damned by

"You

are innocent,"

by peoples,

nations;

go well with them who decide justly; good things will light upon them.

25 But it shall

Blessings of

26 Giving a Is like

27 Put

straightforward reply

giving a

kiss.

your external

affairs in order,

1325

KhmrviM PROVERBS

24.28

ready what you have

cict

in the field,

Then build yourself a home.

Od

:s

not be

Would you

^Do w

I

M] l

a

witness against your fellow without

do

not say, "I will

pay the

ill

good

cause;

mislead with your speech?

man what

to

him what he did

to

me;

he deserves."

passed by the held of a lazy man.

By the vineyard of a man lacking sense. ;i It was all overgrown with thorns;

-

surface

Its

And

was covered with duckweed,

stone fence lay

its

&1 observed and took saw it and learned a

it

A

to heart;

lesson.

I

33

in ruins.

more sleep, a bit more slumber, more A bit hugging yourself in bed, u And poverty will come b calling upon vou, bit

•

And

?q

^jkJ ot

want,

man

like a

b

with a shield.

These too are proverbs ot Solomon, which die

men

ot

-It

the glory of

is

And

God

Is

A

mind of kings

the

4 The

plumb

le/ekiah

a matter. like

the earth in

— unfathomable.

dross having been separated from the

vessel

emerged

silver,

for the smith.

^Remove the wicked from the king's presence. And his throne will be established in justice. "Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence;

Do

not stand in the place ot nobles.

For

Than

Do H

ii

is

i

not

better to be told, "Step

be degraded

let

w

hat

of 1

lib

uncertain

in

up here,"

the presence of the great.

vour eves have seen

Be vented rashly

Meaning

32f>

I

to conceal a matter.

the glory of a king to

'Like the heavens in their height,

1

King

fudah copied:

in

.1

quarrel;

its

depth.

kethuvim PROVERBS 25.23 Thinka of what

When

it

will effect in the end,

your fellow puts you to shame.

9 Defend

vour right against your fellow,

But do not give away the 10 Lest

who

he

And your bad 11 Like

repute never end.

13 Like

a ring

of gold, a golden ornament,

the coldness of

Is a trusty

one

snow

clouds,

who

harvesttime

who

send him;

wind

—but no

you

rain

boasts of gifts not given.

Through forbearance

A gentle

a ruler

may

be

won

over;

tongue can break bones.

what you need, you throw it up.

find honey, eat only

Lest, surfeiting yourself, 17 Visit

at

messenger to those

ear.

his master's spirits.

lifts

14 Like

16 If

showpieces b

silver

wise man's reproof in a receptive

Is a

15

of another,

secrets

reproach you,

golden apples in

12 Like

Is

it

phrase well turned.

Is a

He

hears

your neighbor sparingly,

Lest he have his surfeit of you and loathe you. 18 Like a

Is a

club, a sword, a sharpened arrow,

man who

19 Like a

Is a

testifies falsely

against his fellow.

loose tooth and an unsteady leg,

treacherous support in time of trouble.

20 Disrobing

on

a chilly day,

Like vinegar on natron,

one

Is

21 If

he

22

You

23

sings songs to a sorrowful soul.

your enemy

If

And

who

is

will

the

b

hungry, give him bread to

A north

him water

be heaping

Lord

will

eat;

to drink.

live coals

on

his head,

reward you.

wind produces

And whispered »

is

thirsty, give

rain,

words, a glowering

face.

Lit. "Lest."

Meaning ofHeb.

uncertain.

1327

PROYl-RKs

kethi-vim

^Dwelling Than

25.24

corner of a root'

in the

woman

contentious

a

h

in

a

better

is

spacious house. b

^Like cold water to a parched throat Is ^i>od news from a distant land. :

:

~Ir is

b

Nor

is

:

As

So ;

not

uncurbed.

.\nd rain at harvesttime.

for a horse

must

and

swallow

a

backfire.

fly.

a

a bridle for a

donkey,

rod for the back of dullards.

a

Do

b

fitting tor a dullard.

a gratuitous curse

A whip

And 4

summer

in is

is

sparrow must Hit and

a

wicked one.

an open city without walls

honor

i

a

much honey,

honorable to search tor honor.

it

snow

Like

before

fallen

nor good to eat

man whose temper

Is a

Si

spring, a ruined fountain.

man

righteous

:s I.ikc

26

muddied

°I.ikc a

Is a

not answer

Else you ^Answer

become

will a

dullard in accord with his

a

like

folly,

him.

dullard in accord with his folk',

Else he will think himself wise.

who

"I le

sends

a

message by

Will wear out legs and

As Si

H

legs

Like

S.

a

pebble

in the

dullard

a cripple.

mouth of dullards. a dullard.

thorn comes to the hand of a drunkard,

''As a

So

a

"K

A master

proverb to the mouth of

a

dullard.

can produce anything,

*

But he who hires a dullard is as one M As a dog returns to his vomit,

So

dullard repeals his

a

\ou

It

I

Ik e t

\

/ //

see a

man who

more hope

man

says,

"

tlnul;

Mnnitiitf

1328

is

lazy

Kcthib afiti at

b lawlessness

in a sling.

paying honor to

is

.

hang limp on

proverb

a

is

i

a

must put up with

ll

Ihli

uncertain

who

lures transients.

folly. t

h inks himself wise,

tor a dullard than tor him.

kethuvim PROVERBS 26.28 "There's a cub 14The

And

He

road, a lion in the squares."

hinge,

its

man on his bed. man buries his hand

the lazv

The

15

on the

door turns on lazv

will

not even bring

it

in the

bowl;

to his mouth.

The lazy man thinks himself wiser Than seven men who give good advice. 16

A passerby who

17

one

18 Like

a

19 Is

20 For lack

And

of wood a

And They

man

for kindling

words of a querulous man

Are ardent

lips

An enemy

24

are bruising;

with an

evil

deceit.

may be

his evil will be

He who

trust

him,

are in his mind.

concealed by dissimulation,

exposed to public view.

digs a pit will

And whoever

do not

fair-spoken

For seven abominations hatred

mind.

dissembles with his speech,

Though he be

A

strife.

over earthenware

Inwardly he harbors

28

stilled.

penetrate one's inmost parts.

23 Base silver laid

26 His

man contention is wood for a fire

embers and

for

a contentious

22 The

27

quarrel

goes out,

fire

without a querulous

21 Charcoal

But

else's

who seizes a dog by its ears. madman scattering deadlv firebrands, arrows, one who cheats his fellow and says, "I was only joking."

Is like

25

someone

gets embroiled in

fall

rolls a stone,

lying tongue hates

c

it

in

it,

will roll

back on him.

those crushed by

it;~

c

Smooth speech throws one down.

1329

PROVERBS

ki-mrvi.M

17

£j / Do

27.1

nor boast CM tomorrow.

For you do nor know what the day

will bring.

I.ct

the

mouth of another

The

lips

of a stranger, nor your own.

:

;

A

praise you, nor yours,

stone has weight, sand

Bur

a tool's

heavy,

is

vexation outweighs them both.

There is the cruelty of fury, the overflowing of anger, Rut who can withstand jealousy? 5 Open reproof is better than concealed love. ^Wounds by a loved one are long lasting; The kisses of an enemy are profuse. "A sated person disdains honey, Rut to 8 Like

a

a

hungry man anything

man who wanders from

Is a

bitter

sparrow wandering from his

9 Oil

and incense gladden the

And

the sweetness of a friend

its

seems sweet.

nest

home.

heart. is

better than one's

own

counsel.

Do not desert vour friend and your father's friend; Do not enter your brother's house in your rime of misfortune; A close neighbor is better than a distant brother. 1(l

"Get wisdom, my son, and gladden mv heart, That I may have what to answer those who taunt me. 12 The shrewd man saw trouble and took cover; The simple kept going and paid the penalty. 13 Sei/.e

his

Take

as a pledge, [for

ir

garment, for he stood surety for another;-

he stood surety] for an unfamiliar woman.

le

who

greers his fellow loudly early in the

Shall

have

ir

I4 1

An

ls

reckoned to him

endless dripping on

a

morning

as a curse.

rainy day

And a contentious wife are alike; "As soon repress her as repress the wind, (

)i

declare one's right hand to be

oil.

'"As iron sharpens iron

So

.1

man

sharpens the wit

who tends a And he who cares IN

IIe

'''As face

1:1

1330

"Jk

answers

1,

of his friend.

fig tree will

for his i


Meaning ofHeb.

b-b

Or "make

•>-•>

Meaning ofHeb.

that

many

God

sides to sagacity;

has overlooked for you

some of your

3

uncertain.

sport of";

cf.

Pal.

Aram.

'afli.

uncertain.

1353

KKTHIVIM JOB

L.7

1

Would vmi discover the mystery of God? Would you discover the limit of the Almighty? S

[ighcr than heaven

I

Deeper than Sheol measure

"Its

And 1(M

Or ll

— what

— what can you know?

longer than the earth

is

broader than the

Should

k

knows

lie

sea.

pass by, or confine.

an assembly,

call

For

I

can you dor

who

deceitful

can stop

Him?

•'

men;

When He sees iniquity, docs He not discern 1: A hollow man will get understanding. When a wild ass is bom a man. »

it?

-'

l3

But

And

if

you

direct

your mind.

spread forth your hands toward

l4If there

And do

is

not

reside in

let injustice

Him

remove

iniquity with you,

it.

your tent

Then, free of blemish, you will hold your head high. And, b when in straits, h be unafraid. ls

'"You (

'"•'

then put vour misery out of mind,

will

bnsider

it

water that has flowed

as

Life will be brighter than

noon;

past. a

You will shine, you will be like the morning. ls You will be secure, for there is hope. And, entrenched, '''You will

lie

The great

will

:,,

you

will rest secure;

undisturbed;

court your favor.

But the eyes of the wicked pine away;

Escape

is

cut off

Thcv have onlv

12

•'

down

Then Job

said

from them;

their last breath to look forward to.

m

reply:

Indeed, inn are the [voice o\

And w isdom w Bui ili'n

1

354

:mr..i.|

I.

like

other

ill

you, have

Heb

|

the people.

die with vou.

editions

a

mind,

mu?faq, "you

will be firm."

KETHUVIM JOB

And am

Who 4I

not

less

than you.

know

does not

such things?

have become a laughingstock to

"One who

to

calls

God and

Blamelessly innocent" 5a

Tn

12.19

—

my

friend

answered,

is

a laughingstock.

the thought of the complacent there

contempt for

is

calamity;

ready for those whose foot

It is

6 Robbers live

And a

those

7 But

The 8

Or

The 9

untroubled in their

who

whom

Those

provoke

and they

fish

tents,

are secure,

of the

sea,

all

His hand

is

it

a

will teach you;

birds of the sky, they will

speak to the earth,

tell

you,

will teach you;

they will inform you.

these does not

That the hand of the 10 In

God

God's hands have produced.

ask the beasts,

Who among

~ slips. a

Lord

know

has done this?

every living soul

And the breath of all mankind. n Truly, the ear tests arguments As the palate tastes foods. 12 Is wisdom in the aged

And 13

understanding in the long-lived?

With

Him

wisdom and

are

courage;

His are counsel and understanding. 14Whatever

He

Whomever He

tears

down

cannot be

rebuilt;

imprisons cannot be set

free.

When He holds back the waters, they dry up; When He lets them loose, they tear up the land. 16 With Him are strength and resourcefulness; 15

Erring and causing to err are from Him. 17

He makes

And

counselors go about naked b

causes judges to

go mad.

He undoes the belts of kings, And fastens loincloths on them. 19 He makes priests go about naked, b 18

And "•>

h c

leads tcmple-servants c astray.

Meaning ofHeb.

A

uncertain.

sign of madness.

Cf. Ufjaritic

ytnm, a

class

of temple servants; others "the mighty"

1355

KMiirviM JOB

And

men of

deprives trusty

[e

1

2l

L2.20

away the reason of elders.

takes

He

speech.

pours disgrace upon great men.

And loosens the belt of the mighty. :: Hc draws mysteries OUt of the darkness. And brings obscurities to light. ;

-

I

le exalts

nations, then destroys them;

He expands nations, then leads them away. :4 He deranges the leaders of the people. And makes them wander 25Thej

grope without

He makes them wander

13 My My

eve has seen

I

"Indeed, I

All

know

I

it.

also;

you. to the Almighty;

on arguing with God.

insist

4 But

drunk.

as if

and understood

would speak

I

waste.

this;

all

ear has heard

What you know, am not less than

2

in a trackless

light in the darkness;

you invent

lies;

of you are quacks.

Ifyou would only keep quiet It would be considered wisdom on your Hear now my arguments,

5

part.

fl

listen to

my

pleading.

"Will von speak unjustly on God's behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for

you be

'Will

partial

Him?

toward Him?

Will you plead God's cause? ''Will

it

go

well

Will you tool lu

He

[fin

Him

•'

your heart

•

lis

Vour

Lit

In lavry

1356

"

one

tools

men?

you

'

are partial

toward Him.

threat will terrify you, I

tear

u

ill

briefs .ue

Your responses "

as

reprove you

will surely

"His And 1

when He examines you?

seize vou.

empty4

.ire

'

platitudes;

iinsubst.inti.il/

KETHUVIM JOB 13

Keep

14

How long!

15d

I will

my

take

I will

life

He may well

Yet

my

quiet; I will have

Come what may upon

my

teeth;

me;

I

may have no hope;

d

my case before Him. my salvation:

too

is

That no impious

man

17 Listen closely to

Give ear to

my

18 See

I

now,

know

flesh in

hands.

argue

I will

16 In this

my

my

slay

say,

me.

take

in

14.2

can come into His presence.

my words;

discourse.

have prepared a case;

win it. would challenge me? then 1 should keep silent and expire. 20 But two things do not do to me, So that I need not hide from You: 2 Remove Your hand from me, And let not Your terror frighten me. 22 Then summon me and I will respond, Or I will speak and You reply to me. I

23

I will

is it

How many

Advise 24

that

who

19 For

Why

And

me

that

are

my

iniquities

do You hide Your

treat

and

of my transgression and

me

like

sins? sin.

face,

an enemy?

You harass a driven leaf, You pursue dried-up straw, 26 That You decree for me bitter things And make me e answer for e the iniquities of my 27 That You put my feet in the stocks And watch all my ways, f~Hemming in my footsteps?* 25 Will

Will

~

28

Man

wastes away

youth,

like a rotten thing,

Like a garment eaten by moths.

14 Man 2

He

born of woman blossoms

dd So with kcthib;

« Lit. f- f

like a

others with qcrc

is

short-lived

and sated with trouble.

flower and withers; "Though

He

slay me, yet will I trust in

Him."

"inherit."

Meaning ofHeb.

uncertain.

1357

KFIHI'YIM JOB

He

14.3

vanishes

like a

shadow and docs not endure.

*Do You fix Your gaze on such Will You go to law with me?

Who

4a

a

oner

can produce a clean thing out of an unclean one?

one!

days are determined;

"1 lis

You know the number of his months; You have set him limits that he cannot pass. 6Turn away from him. that he may be at ease Until, like a hireling, he finishes out his daw "There If Its

hope

is

for a tree;

down

cut

it is

it

And

roots are old in the earth,

stump

its

dies in the

9 At the scent

of water

And produce

branches

10 But

Man

where

like a sapling.

he?

is

down

lies

fail,

up and

the river dries

So man

He

bud

mortals languish and die;

expires;

And

ground,

will

it

'The waters of the sea

12

is

never to

that

me

Set

l4 If a

a fixed

man

my

Until

You

no more,

in Sheol,

passes.

time to attend to me.

dies,

can he

of my

All the time

are

his sleep.

You would hide me Conceal me until Your anger 13

parched. rise;

awake only when the heavens

will

Onlv then be aroused from

ls

itself;

shoots will not cease.

BIf its

1

renew

will

again?

live

service

I

wait

replacement comes.

WOllld

call

mk\

I

would answer You;

You would set Your heart on Your handiwork. "'Then You would not count mv steps, (

)r

17

keep watch over

Mv

Y< hi

Mainmii

U5X

nf

transgression

would Hih

mv

coal over

1111,1

rtniii

sin.

would be

my

sealed

iniquity

up

in a

pouch;

No

KETHUVTM JOB 18 Mountains

Rocks

collapse

are dislodged

15.12

and crumble;

from

their place.

wears away stone;

19 Water

Torrents wash away earth;

So you destroy man's hope, You overpower him forever and he perishes; You alter his visage and dispatch him. 21 His sons attain honor and he does not know 20

They 22

He

And

15

are

humbled and he

feels

is

not aware of

only the pain of his

his spirit

mourns

it;

it.

flesh,

in him.

Eliphaz the Temanite said in reply:

2

Does

And 3

a wise

fill

answer with windy opinions,

with the east wind?

Should he argue with

With words 4

man

his belly

You

that are of

useless talk,

no worth?

subvert piety

And

restrain prayer to God. Your sinfulness dictates your speech, So you choose crafty language. 6 Your own mouth condemns you not Your lips testify against you. 5

—

I;

7 Were you the first man born? Were you created before the hills? 8 Have you listened in on the council of God? Have you sole possession of wisdom? 9 What do you know that we do not know, Or understand that we do not? 10

Among

Older by 11

than your father.

Are God's consolations not enough

And His 12

us are gray-haired old men, far

How

gentle

for you,

words to you?

your heart has carried you away,

1359

kimrvi.M JOB

I

15.13

low your eyes

•'

have

failed

you,

•'

l3

That you could vent your anger on clod. And let micIi words our oi your mouth!

What 1^ man that he can be cleared or guilt. One born of woman, that he be in the right? l4

ls

Hc

puts no trust in His holy ones;

The heavens

His sight;

are not guiltless in

What then of one loathsome and Man, who drinks wrongdoing like l6

'"I will

hold forth;

What

have seen,

18

I

listen to I

foul,

water!

me;

will declare

That which wise men have transmitted from

And have not withheld, ,9 To whom alone the land was given, No stranger passing among them: 20 The wicked man writhes in torment Pew 2

all

his days;

years are reserved for the ruthless.

'Frightening sounds

rill

his ears;

When he is at ease a robber falls upon him. 22 He is never sure he will come back from the

A

sword

23

He

him

stares

wanders about

for bread

— where

is it?

that the day of darkness has been readied for him.

^Troubles

terrify

king

a

2S For

And 2,, \

•'

runs

le

Him

at

his thickly

face

lis

dwells

defiantly13

in cities

houses that

1

[e will

lis

1

1

shall

Mtiomiii 'ifitli

ill

produce lib

at l

link

"

•'

doomed

to ruin.

not be lived

in.

become heaps

ot rubble.

not be rich;

wealth w

lis

fat

with blubber.

That are destined to 'I

a

bossed shield.

covered with

is

his loins

2K I Ic

In

him, anxiety overpowers him.

expecting a siege.

he has raised his arm against Clod

With I

a

played the hero against the Almighty.

And

1360

dark;

in the face.

He knows Like

I il

their fathers.

not endure;

shall not

uncertain

bend to the

earth.

•'

KETHUVIM JOB 30

He

will never get

Flames a

"He

16.9

away from the darkness;

will sear his shoots;

will pass

away by the breath of His mouth.

He will not be trusted; He will be misled by falsehood, 31

And 32

falsehood will be his recompense. _a

He

will wither before his time,

His boughs never having flourished.

He will drop his unripe grapes like a vine; He will shed his blossoms like an olive tree. 33

34 For the

consumes the

Fire

35 For

And

16

is

desolate;

of the briber;

tents

they have conceived mischief, given birth to

their

Job said 2I

company of the impious

womb

evil,

has produced deceit.

in reply:

have often heard such things;

You

are

all

mischievous comforters.

Have windy words no limit? What afflicts you that you speak on? 4 I would also talk like you If you were in my place; I would barrage you with words, I would wag my head over you. 5 1 would encourage you with words, 3 My moving lips would bring relief. 3

6 If I

speak,

my

pain will not be relieved,

—

And if I do not what have I lost? TNow He has truly worn me out; You have destroyed my whole community. 8 You have shriveled me;

My

gauntness serves as a witness,

And

J

Lit.

testifies

against me.

He

9 In

His anger

He

gnashes His teeth at me;

Mv

foe stabs

me

tears

and persecutes me;

with his eves.

"my mouth."

1361

KEIHUVIM JOB

lfi.ll)

open wide

10 Thc\

mouths

their

me;

at

Reviling me, they strike

my

They inflame themselves

against me.

"God

me

Thrusts 12 I

me

hands

over to an

checks;

evil

He

had been untroubled, and

He He

man.

into the clutches of the wicked.

me

broke

in pieces;

me b\ the scruff and shattered me; me up as His target; l3 His bowmen surrounded me; He pierced my kidneys; He showed no mercy; 1

set

my

le spilled

14

I

took

He

rushed

le

15

I

onto the ground.

bile

breached me, breach at

me

like a

sewed sackcloth oxer

I

b

my

buried

"\\lv lace

is

For no

And

my

skin;

glorv~ b in the dust.

red with weeping;

Darkness covers l7c

alter breach;

w arrior.

my

on my

injustice

lor the purity

eves part

of my pra\er!

c

do not cover my blood; Let there be no resting place for my outcry! ,9 Surelv now my witness is in heaven; He who can testify for me is on high. 18 Earth,

2n

O my

Before 21

God my

Him

Let

—For And

more

I

is

man and God

a

his fellow

years will pass.

go the way of no

shall

spirit

between

man and

a

a few

fellows.

eyes shed tears;

arbitrate

As between

17 'My

my

advocates,

crushed,

my

return.

days run out;

The graveyard waits tor me.

it

eh mocking men keep

And

one now.

Who You / it < >i

1

362

imiiii I

me company,

with their provocations st.nui surety tor

will give his

hand on

close

I

m\

eyes.

me!

mv

behalf?

have hidden understanding from then minds; m\ hum

hiiiuih I

did

(;//i

niln

injustice,

Ami my prayer

"

Lit.

my

wife;

I

am

18

Evcn youngsters disdain me;

loathsome to

children.

"Ten times."

1365

KhlHlVIM JOB

l°.l

n

When rise, they speak 10 A11 my bosom friends

against me.

I

Those

stick to ray skin

my

escape with the skin of

1

me, pin- me! You are

2l Pity

me;

lave have turned against me.

I

"Mv bones

:

detest

and

flesh;

teeth.

my

friends;

For the hand of God has struck me!

—Why b

do you pursue me

Maligning

like

God,

insatiably: b

me

2 *0 that my words were written down; Would they were inscribed in a record,

24 Incised

on

With iron 2?

But

know

I

In the

a rock forever

stylus

and

that

lead!

my

Vindicator

lives;

He will testify on earth my skin will have been would behold God while still end

26 This, after

peeled

But

in

:

I

Would

My

my own

see with

oft'.

Mesh,

would behold Him;

myself, not another,

~I

my

eyes:

heart* pines within me.

28 You say, "How do we persecute him? The root of the matter is in him.** 1

2lJ

Bc

in fear

of the sword,

For [your] fury

Know

20

there

is

is

a

Zophar the Xaamathitc 2

;

is

I

spirit

The

thoughts urge

me

to

answer

hear reproof that insults me);

out of my understanding makes

l)o you not

Since

said in reply:

because of my feelings

\\'hen

A 4

my

In truth,

(It

worthy of the sword;

iniquity

judgment!

man |o\

know

w.is set

of the

this, that

on

/ ;/

'

.s//
ok

And

wicked man's portion from God,

that be

after

a flood,

in reply:

with

my

be cast forth b\

the day of His wrath.

well to

let

will

his iniquity;

a

man?

patience?

be appalled.

hand to your mouth.

think of is

my

it I

am

terrified;

seized with shuddering.

do the wicked

live

on,

Prosper and grow wealthy?

"Their children are with them always,

And they see their children's children. Their homes arc secure, without tear; They do not feel the rod of God. '"Their bull breeds and does not

tail;

Their cow calves and never miscarries; 1

'Thcv Id their infants run loose

And

1

368

their children skip about

like

sheep.

KETHUVIM JOB 21.29 12

They

And

sing to the music of timbrel and lute,

of the pipe;

revel to the tune

They spend their days in happiness, And go down to Sheol in peace. 14 They say to God, "Leave us alone, We do not want to learn Your ways; 13

What is Shaddai that we should serve Him? What will we gain by praying to Him?" 16 Their happiness is not their own doing. 15

(The thoughts of the wicked are beyond me!) 17

How seldom does

the lamp of the wicked

fail,

Does the calamity they deserve befall them, Does He apportion [their] lot in anger! 18 Let them become like straw in the wind, Like chaff carried off by a storm. 19 [You say,]

Let

it

"God

is

reserving his punishment for his sons";

be paid back to him that he

may

feel

it,

20 Let his eyes see his ruin,

And

let

21 For

When

him drink

the wrath of Shaddai!

what does he his

care about the fate

number of months runs

of his family,

out?

God be instructed in knowledge, He who judges from such heights? 23 One man dies in robust health, 22 Can

All tranquil

and untroubled;

24 His pails are full

of milk;

The marrow of his bones 25 Another dies

is

juicy.

embittered,

Never having tasted happiness. 26 They

And

lie

in the dust

are covered with

27 Oh,

And

both

I

know your

worms.

thoughts,

you will devise against me. 28 You will say, "Where is the house of the great man And where the tent in which the wicked dwelled?" 29 You must have consulted the wayfarers; You cannot deny their evidence. the tactics

1369

KETHUVIM JOB

21.30

;

man is spared on the day of calamity, day when wrath is led forth.

the evil

m

[ow Can

How >.»)i

that

am wrong.

I

m

imposes peace

.in

(

/

shrivel like mallows.

in reply:

l)ominion and dread ate

He (

them be gone;

the heads of grain.

like

Bildad the Shuhitc said

2

end

1

lis;

His heights.

troops be numbered? d< >es

man

I

lis light

be

in

"I il»

chapter

not shine?

the right before Clod-

can one born of

in tin

relies.

affairs.

no one can confute me.

Or prove

no

widow deprived of good.

his

woman

iln

be cleared ol guilt?

translation

/

oundrds, nobodies.

Stricken from the earth.

'N

asjnm

a

pll

unctrtam

byword 4 '""

f

to them. s

1

among my

KETHUVIM JOB 30.26 10They abhor me; they keep their distance from me; They do not withhold spittle from mv face. n Because God b has disarmed and humbled me, They have thrown off restraint in my presence. 12 Mere striplings assail me at my right hand: They put me to flight; They build their roads for my ruin. 13They tear up my path; They promote my fall, Although it does them no good. 14They come as through a wide breach; They roll in a "like raging billows. a 15 Terror tumbles upon me; It sweeps away my honor like the wind;

My dignity1 vanishes now my

16 So

life

like a cloud.

runs out;

Days of misery have taken hold of me. 17 By night my bones feel gnawed;

My

sinews never

18a "With

great effort

The neck of my

He

19

regarded

have become

I

20 I cry

21

I

tunic

me

change clothing;

my

fits

waist." a

as clay,

like

dust and ashes.

out to You, but

wait, but

I

rest.

You do

You do not answer me;

[not] consider

You have become

cruel to

me.

me;

With Your powerful hand You harass me. 22 You lift me up and mount me on the wind; You make my courage melt. 23 I

know You

The house Surely

If,

in calamity,

Did 26 I I

b Lit.

He would

24a

25 Did I I

will bring

assigned for

me

all

to death.

the living.

not strike

at a ruin

one cried out to Him.~ a

not weep for the unfortunate?

not grieve for the needy?

looked forward to good fortune, but

hoped

evil

came;

for light, but darkness came.

"He."

my

[bow] string."

c

Lit. "loosened

d

Heb. veshu'athi taken as related

to shoa', "noble."

1381

RETHIVIM JOB

30.2;

My

27

bowels arc

turmoil without respite;

in

Days of misery confront me. :s I

walk about

have become

2 ^l

A companion ;

M\

My 31

gloom;

in sunless

the assembly and cry out.

rise in

I

brother to lackals,

a

to ostriches.

skin, blackened,

peeling off me;

is

bones are charred bv the

heat.

So my lvre is given over to mourning. pipe to accompany weepers.

My

31

Not :

mv

have covenanted with

I

to gaze

\Vhat fete

What

on

decreed bv

is

bv Shaddai

lot.

•sCalamitv

is

eves

maiden.

a

God

above?

in the heights?

surely for the iniquitous;

Misfortune, for the worker of mischief.

He

4 Surelv

observes

Takes account of 5

Ha\c

I

Or my 6 Lct

Let

My And

ways,

every step.

walked with worthless men.

feet hurried to deceit?

Him God

Hf my

mv

mv

weigh me on the

ascertain

scale

of righteousness;

mv ntegrity. i

have strayed from their course.

feet

heart followed after a stain sullied

my

my

eyes,

hands,

Mav sow. but another reap. May the growth of my field be uprooted! If my heart was ravished bv the wife of mv And lay in wait at his door. l°May my wife grind fix another. s

I

I

M.i\ others kneel over her!

"For

A

that

re (

13X2

would have been debauchery,

criminal offense,

burning

onsuming

down

to

Abaddon.

the roots of all

my

increase.

neighbor.

KETHUVIM JOB Did

13

When

I

ever brush aside the case of

thev

made

mv

a complaint against

man

servants,

31.31

or maid,

me?

I do when God arises; me to account, what should I answer Him? 15 Did not He who made me in mv mother's bellv make him? Did not One form us both in the womb?

What

14

then should

When He

Did

16

Or 17Bv

I

denv the poor

let a a

The 18

calls

widow

mv

eating

their needs,

pine away,

food alone,

not eating of

fatherless

it

also?

Why, from mv youth he grew up with me

as

though

I

were

his father;

Since 19 I

I left

my

womb

mother's

I

was her b guide.

never saw an unclad wretch,

A needy man without clothing, 20

Whose

not

loins did

me

bless

As he warmed himself with the shearings of mv 21 If I raised mv hand against the fatherless, Looking to mv supporters in the gate, 22Mav mv arm drop off mv shoulder;

Mv

forearm break off c

23 For I I

am

in

Or

mv

put

elbow.

c

dread of God-sent calamity;

cannot bear His

24Did I

at the

sheep.

threat.

reliance

regard fine gold as

25 Did I rejoice in

my

on

my

gold,

bulwark?

great wealth,

In having attained plenty? 26 If ever I

saw the

The moon on

its

light shining,

course in

full glory,

And I secretiv succumbed, And mv hand touched mv mouth 27

in a kiss,

28 That, too,

For

I

would have been a criminal would have denied God above.

29 Did I rejoice

Did 30 I

I thrill

never

let

By wishing 31

a

over

because

mv his

(Indeed, the

my

offense,

enemv's misfortune?

evil befell

him?

mouth d sin

death in a curse.

men of mv

clan said,

of a." widows.

Lit. "the eyes

b Viz., the

cc Lit. "from d Lit.

its

shaft,"

i.e.,

the humerus.

"palate."

1383

KHTHIVIM JOB

31.32

"We would consume ;:

my

opened

I

33 Did

Bun;4

transgressions like in

my bosom,

shattered by the contempt of families,

keep

I

that

silent

and do not step outdoors?

had someone to give

I

C) that

Shaddai would reply to

Or my

accuser

,(,

I

would

Tie

me a hearing; my writ.

draw up a true bill! it on mv shoulder;

carry

around

it

Adam,

should |no\v] fear the great multitude.

I

that

O

my

my wrongdoing

That

So

doors to the road.

hide

I

And am

,s

his flesh insatiably!")

N\> sojourner spent the night in the open;

me

for a wreath.

would give him an account of mv Offer it as to a commander. a7I

,8 If

Its

mv

steps,

land cries out against me.

furrows weep together;

39If

I

have eaten

And made *°May

its

nettles

its

produce without payment.

[rightful]

grow

owners despair,

there instead of wheat;

Instead of barlcv, stinkweed!

The words of Job

32 right.

angr\

2

These three

men

are at an end.

ceased replying to Job, for he considered himself

Then Klihu son of Barachel angry

was angry

at

the Bu/.itc, of the family of

Job because he thought himself light against God.

as well at his three friends,

all

men had nothing

to

reply,

5 But

when

Klihu saw that the three

he was angrj

'Then klihu son of Barachel the Bu/ite

3X4

•''He

because thev found no reply, but

merely condemned Job. *Elihu waited out Job's speech, for they were older than he.

1

Ram, was

said in reply:

KETHUVIM JOB 32.22 have but few years, while you are old;

I

Therefore

To

was too awestruck and

I

among

hold forth

fearful

you.

thought, "Let age speak;

71

Let advanced years declare wise things." 8

But

truly

the spirit in men,

it is

The breath of Shaddai, 9 It is

The

who

elders,

that gives

who

not the aged

understand

10 Therefore I say,

them understanding.

are wise,

how

to judge.

"Listen to me;

too would hold forth."

I

n Here

I

have waited out your speeches,

have given ear to your insights,

I

While you probed the

issues;

12

But

as I

attended to you,

I

saw

that

none of you could argue with Job,

Or

offer replies to his statements.

13 I

fear

you

God will 14 He did Nor

will say,

"We

have found the wise course;

defeat him, not man."

not

shall I

set

out his case against me,

use your reasons to reply to him.

15

They have been broken and can no longer Words fail them. 16 I

Till 17

I

have waited

they stopped speakings

they ended and no longer replied.

Now

I

also

too would

18 For I

am

The wind 19

till

reply;

My

like to

full

in

belly

would have my

is

say;

hold forth,

of words;

my like

belly presses

me.

wine not yet opened,

new wine ready to burst. me speak, then, and get relief; me open my lips and reply.

Like jugs of 20 Let

Let 21 I

would not show regard

Or temper my

for any

man,

speech for anyone's sake;

do not know how to temper my speech Maker would soon carry me off!

22 For I

My

1385

m

mi'vi.M JOB

33.1

33

i^J*^JBut now. fob, Give car ro :

Now

listen to

that

all

open mv

I

mv

say.

I

lips;

M\ tongue tonus words

mv mouth.

in

words bespeak the uprightness of my

\\lv

Mv

words.

lips utter insight

heart;

honestly.

4 The spirit of God formed me; The breath of Shaddai sustains me.

5Ifyou

can. answer

me;

Argue against me, take your stand. °Vou and I are the same before God; I

too was nipped from claw

"You

My

are not

8 Indccd,

^T am

you have

am

of me;

stated in

my

hearing,

guiltless, free

He

'"But

He

II

puts

me

His enemy.

mv feet in stocks, my ways.* 3

all

12

you

In this

are not right;

answer vou:

ill

Why

l3

Thai

I

14 For

God

greater than any man.

is

do you complain le

oppose me.

finds reasons to

Watches

w

from transgression;

innocent, without iniquity.

Considers

I

fear

heard the words spoken,

I

I

overwhelmed by

pressure does not weigh heavily on vou.

against

Him

does not rcplv to any of man's charges?

Ciod speaks

•>

rime and again

—Though man does not ls Ill a

dream,

When

deep sleep

a

perceive

'

it

night vision, falls

on men.

While they slumber on then beds. "'

1

hen lie opens men's understanding.

And I

I

I

1

.s.Xo

>

->

they are not obedient,

shall perish

Meaning ofHeb.

by the sword,

uncertain.

1391

ki-thiyim FOB

36.13

Die for lack of understanding. l

3But the

impious

become enraged;

in heart

They do not cry for help when u Thev die in their youth; Expire]

|

He

among

1

Ie afflicts

them.

the depraved.

rescues the lowly from their affliction.

ls

And opens their understanding through distress. l6Indeed, He draws you away from the brink of distress To a broad place where there is no constraint; Your

table

laid

is

out with rich food.

'"You arc obsessed with the case of the wicked man.

But the ls

of the case

justice

be upheld.

will

Lct anger at his affluence not mislead you;

much

Let

bribery not turn you aside.

I9a

Will your limitless wealth avail vou," a

All

your powerful

20

Do

not long for the night

When 2

efforts?

peoples vanish where they

'Beware!

Do

arc.

not turn to mischief;

Because of that vou have been tried bv

God

—Sec,

Who

governs

-'Who

Who

is

beyond reach like

Him?

ever reproached

ever said,

24 Rcmcmbcr,

affliction.

His power;

in

Him

for

His conduct?

"You have done wrong"?

then, to magnify His work.

Of which men have sung, 2S Which all men have beheld, Men have seen, trom a distance. See, Clod

is

greater than

we

can know;

The number of His years cannot be counted.

He forms

the droplets of water.

Which cluster into ram, from 2K Thc skies rain; They pour down on I

all

1

lis

mist.

mankind.

.m one, indeed, contemplate the expanse of clouds.

The thundenngs from His pavilion? I

liiDiDin

1

392

til

llih

Ie

spreads

inn irl mil

1

lis

lightning over

it;

KETHUVIM JOB 37.13

It 31

the bed of the sea.

fills

By

He

these things

32 Lightning

He

orders

33 Its a

%J /

He

noise

The

His hands;

fills

it

to hit the mark.

tells

of Him.

kindling of anger against iniquity.

Because of this, too,

And

leaps

2 Just listen

To 3

controls peoples;

gives food in abundance.

its

my

heart quakes,

place.

to the noise of His rumbling,

sound that comes out of His mouth.

the

He

from

lets it

loose beneath the entire heavens

His lightning, to the ends of the 4After

3

it,

He

lets

earth.

out a roar;

He

thunders in His majestic voice.

No

one can find a

trace

of it by the time His voice

God thunders marvelously with His voice; He works wonders that we cannot understand. 6 He commands the snow, "Fall to the ground!" And the downpour of rain, His mighty downpour

is

heard.

5

7 Is as a

sign

That

men may know His

8

Then

And 9

all

rain,

on every man's hand,

the beast enters

remains in

its

doings.

its lair,

den.

The storm wind comes from

And

of

its

chamber,

the cold from the constellations.

10 By the breath of God ice is formed, And the expanse of water becomes solid. 11 He also loads the clouds with moisture And scatters His lightning-clouds.

12a 'He

keeps turning events by His stratagems," 3

That they might accomplish

all

that

He commands them

Throughout the inhabited earth, 13 Causing each of them to happen to His Whether as a scourge or as a blessing. aa

Meaning ofHeb.

land,

uncertain.

1393

KHIUVIM JOB 14

14

.>

Gi\c car to

lob;

this,

Stop to consider the marvels of God. ls

Do

you know what charge God

upon them

lays

When His lightning-clouds shine? u> Po you know the man els worked upon Bj Him whose understanding is perfect, r

>

the land

Can you

l8

Firm

becalmed by the south wind?

i^

help

him

stretch out the heavens,

mirror of cast metal:

as a

l9Inform us.

We

ofdouds

your clothes become hot

\\"h\

When

the expanse

then,

what we may

say to

cannot argue because [we are

in]

Him;

darkness

"K anything conveyed to Him when speak? Can a man say anything when he is confused? :

I

M Now, Though

be bright

it

the north

\Shaddai Ic

1

m

38

Who

is

awesome.

justice

righteousness; are in

awe of

none of the wise can

Then the

l

God

power and

And abundant in :4 Thcrctorc, men

Whom

LORD

this

is

them [ofdouds].

gt^lden rays emerge;

— we cannot attain to Him;

great

is

heavens. clears

,\r.:,i:,i,i'.:.i!

I

wake or rouse

until

it

please

i; ".

imartam 1

1

I

140-S

in

,i

d

figUl •,/,,/;;;,."

lilt!

I

Jtf 6.4

jn

>nnt.

Ji,, mi .

,

1

till

f>

8

I

It rtath

besamim,

"spite

kethuvim 6

Who

is

she that comes

up from the

THE SONG OF SONGS

4.3

desert

Like columns of smoke, In clouds of mvrrh and frankincense,

Of all

the powders of the merchant?

7 There is

Solomon's couch,

Encircled by sixty warriors

Of the

warriors of Israel,

of them trained in warfare,

8 A11

Skilled in battle,

Each with sword on thigh Because of terror bv night.

Solomon made him

9 King

a palanquin

Of wood from Lebanon. 10 He made its posts of silver, Its

backd of gold,

Its seat

of purple wool.

Within,

Bv

was decked with

it

e "love e

the maidens of Jerusalem.

u O maidens of Zion, go forth And gaze upon King Solomon Wearing the crown that his mother Gave him on his wedding day,

On

I

his

dav of

bliss.

Ah, vou

are fair,

Ah, you

are

Your

hair

Your

veil.

is like

Streaming 2

darling,

eyes are like doves

Behind vour

Your

my

fair.

a flock

down Mount

of goats Gilead.

teeth are like a flock of ewes a

Climbing up from the washing pool; All

of them bear twins,

And

not one loses her young.

Your lips are like a crimson Your mouth is lovely. 3

Akkadian ahazu,

c

Cf.

d

Meaning ofHeb.

cc a

Emendation

Cf. 6.6; exact

thread,

"to learn."

uncertain.

yields "ebony,

I

O

maidens ofJerusalem!"

nuance o/'qcsuboth uncertain, perhaps "shorn

"

ours.

1409

kethuvim

THE SONG OF SONGS

4.4

Your brow behind your veil Gleams like a pomegranate |

|

*Your neck

split

open.

Tower of David,

the

like

is

Built h to hold weapons,-*1

Hung

with

thousand shields

a

of warriors.

All the quivers

Your breasts are like two fawns, Twins of a gazelle. 5

Browsing among the ,w \Yhen

And I

the

shadows

me

will betake

To

the

7 Everv

There

lilies.

the day blows gently

mount of myrrh,

of frankincense.

hill

vou

part of is

flee,

to the

is fair,

no blemish

in

mv

darling.

vou

From Lebanon come with me; From Lebanon, my bride, with me! Trip down from Amana's peak, From the peak of Scnir d and Hermon, From the dens of lions, From the hills*-" of leopards. 8

9 You

My

have captured

my

own,'

mv

You have captured my With one With one l0 l

heart,

bride,

heart

[glance] of vour eves,

of vour necklace.

coil

low sweet

vour love,

is

Mv

own, my bride! much more delightful your Your ointments more fragrant I

low

Than anv 1

spice!

'Sweetness drops

In >m your I

love than wine,

O

lips,

bride;

Innev and milk

Are under vour tongue;

And

.

the scent of

[pparently « poetu figure

Set

I ::

/«>

I

.ebanon.

jewelry^

meaning

nota at 2,17.

Emendation

1410

ofyour robes

the scent

Is like

yields

u

>:,! ui

M

la*rs

i

>t

Nab

J 13

frequently below

«i

Heb. uncertain.

kethuvim

THE SONG OF SONGS

5.2

A garden locked

12

my

Is

own,

my

bride,

A fountain locked, A sealed-up spring. 13

Your limbs

are an orchard

of pomegranates

And of all luscious fruits, Of henna and of nard 14 Nard

and

saffron,

Fragrant reed and cinnamon,

With all aromatic woods, Myrrh and aloes All the choice perfumes. 15 §-[You are]

A A

a

garden spring,

well of fresh water,s

of Lebanon.

rill

16 Awake,

O north wind,

Come, O south wind! Blow upon my garden, That Let

And

\J

I

its

my

perfume may spread. beloved come to his garden

enjoy

its

luscious fruits!

have come to

my

garden,

My own, my bride; my myrrh and spice, my honey and honeycomb, Drunk my wine and my milk.

I

have plucked

Eaten

Eat, lovers,

and drink:

Drink deep of love! 2a I

was

asleep,

my heart was wakeful. Hark, my beloved knocks! "Let me in, my own, My darling, my faultless dove! But

;-g

Emendation

yields

"The spring

In w. 2-8 the maiden

relates

in

my garden

I

Is

a well offresh water."

a dream.

1411

KEIHUVTM

THE

SONV- OF SONGS

For

my

Mv

locks with the

head

drenched with dew.

is

damp

of night."

had taken off my robe

•^1

Was

don

to

I

Was

I

My

beloved

My My

b

again? latch. b

took his hand off the

was

heart

rose to

feet

them

to soil

And my 5I

again?

it

my

had bathed

I

5.3

stirred

my

let in

c

for him.

c

beloved;

hands dripped myrrh flowing myrrh

ringers,

Upon

the handles of the bolt.

opened the door for my beloved, But my beloved had turned and gone.

ft

I

I

was

I

sought, but found him not;

I

called,

^because of what he

faint

said. d

but he did not answer.

met the watchmen6

"I

Who

town;

patrol the

They struck me, they bruised me. The guards of the walls Stripped 8I

me of my

If you

meet

That

am

9

I

How low

is

my

mantle.

maidens of Jerusalem!

beloved,

tell

him

this:

with love.

faint

your beloved better than another,'

is

fairest 1

O

adjure you,

of women?

your beloved better than another*

That you adjure us so?

"'Mv beloved Preeminent 1

I

head

'I lis

among is

finest

ten thousand.

gold,

locks are curled

lis

And I

clear-skinned and ruddy,

is

black as

a

raven.

eyCS are like doves

lis

By watercourses, Meaning ofHeb utusurtuin. Mum mantuenpu mut tditiom read (

iuniin

nan

of

at

vocalization yieldi "because i

i

ln»i

I

117'/// tori "I

1412

"within

beloved

heart.

vour hand.

fierce as death,

mighty

darts are

uuiuiiunm wcliU

I It

roused vou;

bore vou conceived vou.

Like the seal up


wisdom, he ton will he forgotten;

A good

is

the day of birth. b 2 It is

better to

for that

is

a

to a house of

the end of every

"Vexation

may be

go

is

man, and

better than rcvclrv;

4 \Visc

glad.

men

mourning than

are

c

drawn

a living

to a house of feasting;

one should take

though the

for

to heart.

it

face be sad, the heart

to a house of mourning, and fools to

house of merrymaking. 5 It is

better to listen to

of fools,

a

a kettle. c But that

too

wise man's reproof than to listen to the praise

of the fool

''for the levity*1

is

like the crackling

illusory; "for cheating'

is

may rob

of

under

nettles

the wise

man of

reason and destroy the prudence of the cautious. u H

Thc end of a matter

Better

a

is

Stillbirth were cast into pits or hidden (

Meaning

of

bat tin wise '

a

8

l

I

iu

Imli

r o)

tin-

fool,

In-

yietdi

"And

who knows bow

m

no recognizable

if thegullet

to get on

graves',

v.

cf.

4 end.

m

/>

lift

not toted, s wbat advantage

over the pauper?"

verse uncertain.

shadow that";

cf.

Qumran Aranutu

iiu lulu!

In*

gj

practical

maxims

,

n man dies, then >• always danger that he may empty revelry precludes real happiness; cf. 2 2

I

/

around

betel

mid

Syriat

meffol;

and

tet

which, however, he conclude!

i

w. 23

limited value

in

l

oiir tin

author now offen « tUtmber

I

I

tin-

it.

spirit.

i

i

.44.X

man

'according to

mi of mil

•

Heb, uncertain; emendation

Meaning offirst I

m

haughty

1626

Prov

i

better than the beginning of

patient spirit than a

end

oj verse

name.

.liMi

urn yitldl 'finiiu'

tectum, to

forfeit bis good

~.

»
J

but

The sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel. (He was the first-born; when he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given to the sons

of Joseph son of Israel, so he

is

not reckoned

as first-born in the

genealogy;

2 though

Judah became more powerful than his brothers and a leader came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph.) 3The sons of Reuben, the first-born of Israel: Enoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 4The sons of Joel: his

son Shemaiah,

son Gog, his son Shimei,

5 his

son Micah,

his

son Beerah—whom King Tillegath-pilneser —was chieftain of the Reubenites. And kinsmen, by

son Reaiah, his son

of Assyria exiled

his

Baal, 6 his

7

his

their families, according to their lines in the genealogy: the head, Jeiel,

and Zechariah, 8 and Bela son of Azaz son of Shema son of Joel; he dwelt in

Aroer

as far as

had increased

made war on

n The 13

all

this side

He

fell

by

also dwelt to the east as far

of the Euphrates, because 10

of Gilead.

who

the Hagrites,

9

And

in the days

their hand;

their

of Saul they

and they occupied

the region east of Gilead.

Gad dwelt facing them in the land of Bashan as far as the chief, Shapham the second, Janai, and Shaphat in Ba-

sons of

Salcah: 12 Joel

shan.

in the land

throughout

their tents

Baal-meon.

of the wilderness

as the fringe cattle

Nebo and

And by

—seven.

Eber

clans: Michael,

14These

Meshullam, Sheba,

Jorai, Jacan, Zia,

and

were the sons of Abihail son of Huri son of Jaroah

son of Gilead son of Michael son of Jeshishai son of Jahdo son of Buz; 15

Ahi son of Abdiel son of Guni was chief of their

in Gilead, in

Bashan, and in

of Sharon, to their in the days

of

clan, 16 and they

dependencies, and in

limits. 17 AJ1

all

dwelt

the pasturelands

of them were registered by genealogies

of King Jotham of Judah, and

in the days

of King Jeroboam

Israel. 18

The Reubenites,

riors at

its

who

the Gadites, and the half- tribe of Manasseh had war-

carried shield

— 44,760, ready

war

Jetur,

and

and sword, drew the bow, and were experienced for service. 19 They

Naphish, and Nodab.

all

cried to

who were with them were God in the battle, and He

they trusted in

Him.

21

made war on

20They prevailed against

They

the Hagrites

them; the Hagrites

delivered into their hands, for they

responded to

their entreaty because

carried off their livestock:

50,000 of

their

1537

kuhl-vim

I

CHRONICLES

^.22

camcK. 250,000 sheep. 2.000 asses, and 100.000 people. --For many tell slain, because it was God's battle. And they dwelt in their plaee until the exile.

:v rhe

members

ot the half-tribe

ofManasseh dwelt

in the land;

they

were very numerous from Bashan to Baal-hermon. Senir. .md Mount :4 Thcse

Hermon.

were the

of their

chiefs

leremiah. Hodaviah, and Jahdicl,

of their

after the

Pul of Assyria

— the

2(

\So the

God

of

Ishi, Eliel, A/riel,

substance, famous men. chiefs

God of their

gods of the peoples of the

destroyed before them.

carried

men of

25But they trespassed against the

clans.

going astray

Epher,

clans:

land,

roused the

Israel

fathers by

whom

Clod had

spirit

of King Tillegath-pilneser of Assyria

spirit

them away, namely,

of King

— and

he

the Rcubcnites, the Gaditcs, and the half-tribe

of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river

Gozan, to

this da)

27aThe sons

of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.

Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

2s The

29 The children

sons of

of Amram:

Aaron. Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, .\nd Ithamar.

^Eleazar begot Phinehas, Phinehas begot Abishua,

begot Bukki, Bukki begot Uzzi, Meraioth,

33Meraioth

32 Uzzi

begot Zerahiah, Zerahiah begot

begot Amariah, Amariah begot Ahitub, -^Ahitub

begot Zadok, Zadok begot Ahimaaz,

35Ahimaaz

begot Johanan. ^and lohanan begot Azariah priest in the

House

31Abishua

that

Solomon

(it

begot A/.ariah, Azariah

was he who served

as

built in Jerusalem). 37 Azariah begot

Amariah. Amariah begot Ahitub, -^Ahitub begot Zadok, Zadok begot Shallum, 39 Shallum begot Hilkiah, Hilkiah begot Azariah, 40 Azariah begot Seraiah, Seraiah begot Jehozadak;

when

the

LORD

exiled Judah

4l .m(.\

Jehozadak went into

exile

and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchad-

nezzar.

V-l The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. -And these are the names of the sons ol Gershom: l.ibni and Shimei. The sons ol Kohath:

Amram, shi.

Izhar.

Gershom: his

son

1

Iebroii,

These were the his

son

ami Uzziel.

l.ibni, his

son Iddo, his son Zerah,

Amminadab,

his

1538

«m, nlitimn. dm/i

(>

he sons of Merari: Mahli mk\ Mil-

son Jahath, his son his

son Koran,

Ebiasaph, Ins son Assir, hi

H

H)f Zimmah, "his son Joah, The sons ol Kohath: his

families ot the Levites according to their clans.

hiillin

''Ins

Inn

son leatherai. his

son Assir,

son Tahath,

his

8 his

son Elkanah, his son

son Uriel, his son Uzziah,

kethuvim and

his

10

son Shaul.

The

son Elkanah, his son Zophai, 13

his

a

14

Abijah.

The sons of Samuel:

The sons of Merari: Mahli, 15 his

son Uzzah,

16 These

son Nahath,

his

12 his

son Eliab,

his first-born a

son Libni,

his

son Shimea, his son Haggiah, and

his

his

6.44

n his

sons of Elkanah: Amasai and Ahimoth,

Jeroham, his son Elkanah.

and

CHRONICLES

I

son

his

Vashni,

son Shimei,

son Asaiah.

were appointed by David to be in charge of song in the House rest. 17

of the Lord, from the time the Ark came to

They served

at the

Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting with song until Solomon built the

House of

the

Lord

in Jerusalem;

prescribed for them.

18 Those

were: the Kohathites:

Heman

and they carried out

son of Toah

Eliel

of Elkanah son of Mahath son of Amasai son of Azariah son of Zephaniah Ebiasaph son of Korah Israel; 24 and his

Malchijah

Zimmah

of 29

On

the

were

Hilkiah

who

stood on his right, namely, Asaph

of Michael son of Baaseiah son of

28 son

their kinsmen: the sons

Mushi son of Merari son of

27 son

of Ethan son

of Jahath son of Gershom son of Levi.

30 son

of Merari: Ethan son of Kishi

of Hashabiah son of Amaziah son of

of Amzi son of Bani son of Shemer

31 son

of Zuph son

of Tahath son of Assir son of

of Ethni son of Zerah son of Adaiah

son of Abdi son of Malluch

20 son

of Elkanah son of Joel

25 son

kinsman Asaph,

son of Shimei

left

22 son

21 son

19 son

of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi son of

son of Berechiah son of Shimea 26 son

their sons

the singer, son of Joel son of Samuel

of Elkanah son of Jeroham son of

23 son

their duties as

were the appointed men; and

Levi;

33 and their

32 son

of Mahli son of

kinsmen the Levites were

all the service of the Tabernacle of the House of God. Aaron and his sons made offerings upon the altar of burnt ofand upon the altar of incense, performing all the tasks of the most

appointed for 34 But

fering

holy place, to make atonement for servant of

God had commanded.

according to

Israel,

35 These are

all

that

Moses

the

the sons of Aaron: his son

Eleazar, his son Phinehas, his son Abishua, 36 his son Bukki, his son Uzzi, his

son Zerahiah,

38 his

son Zadok,

37 his

his

son Meraioth, his son Amariah, his son Ahitub, son Ahimaaz. 39bThese are their dwelling-places

according to their settlements within their borders: to the sons of Aaron

of the families of Kohathites, for

them Hebron

in the land

the fields of the city and nch. 42 To the sons of

theirs

of Judah and its

its

was the

pasturelands, Jattir and

43 Hilcn

its

pasturelands, Dcbir with

b '

gave 41

but

gave to Caleb son of Jcphun-

Aaron they gave the cities of refuge: Hebron and Eshtemoa with its pasturelands,

its

aa

lot; 40 they

surrounding pasturelands,

villages they

Libnah with with

[first]

Some ancient pp. read "Joel, and the With w. 24-51, cf.Josh. 21.3-A2.

second";

cf.

1

its

Sam.

pasturelands,

^Ashan with

8.2.

Josh. 21.13, "city."

1539

[CHRONICLES

kethuvim

6.45

pasturelands, and Beth-shemesh with

its

of Benjamin. Geba with

and Anathoth with

were

ilies 4

"To

pasturdands. All their

its

sFrom

pasturelands.

its

pasturelands, Alemeth with

its

throughout their fam-

cities

thirteen.

the remaining Kohathites were given by lot out of the family of

the tribe, out of the half-tribe, the half of Manasseh, ten

Gershomites according to

of the

the tribe

pasturelands,

its

their families

were

tribes oflssachar, Asher, Naphtali,

eities. 4

"To the

allotted thirteen eities

and Manasseh

Bashan.

in

out

4S

To

the Merarites according to their families were allotted twelve eities out of the tribes of

Reuben. Gad, and Zebulun.

4 "So

the people of Israel gave

the Levites the eities with their pasturelands. S0 Thev gave

of the tribe of the Judahites these

and out of the

them by lot out mentioned by name,

eities that are

of the Simeonites, and out of the

tribe

tribe

of the Ben-

jamin ites.

And some

51

refuge:

Shechem with

Gezer with with its

of the families of the sons of Kohath had 52 Thev

out of the tribe of Ephraim.

territory

its

pasturelands in the

its

pasturelands, 53 Jokmeam with

54 Aijalon its pasturelands,

pasturelands;

^and out of

pasturelands, and Bileam with

with

of

pasturelands, Beth-horon

its

Gath-rimmon with

the half-tribe of Manasseh: its

eities

eountrv of Ephraim,

hill

pasturelands,

its

of their

eities

gave them the

Aner with

its

pasturelands, for the rest of the families

of the Kohathites. S6

To

the Gershomites; out of the half-tribe of Manasseh:

Bashan with

its

pasturelands and Ashtaroth with

out of the tribe of Issaehar: Kedesh with its

pasturelands,

ss

Ramoth with

its

its

its

with its

its

pasturelands,

pasturelands; its

(>i

MM.\

pasturelands;

''"I

pasturelands, and

lukok with

Rimmono

beyond

with

the Jordan

its

at

tube of Reuben: Be/er

with

its

its

pas-

pasturelands, Ab-

pasturelands, and

Rehob with in Galilee

pasturelands, and Kinathaim with

pasturelands.

[ericho, in

on the

Tabor with east side

the wilderness with

MKedemoth

its

its

pasturelands; '"and out ot the tube of Gad:

Mahanaim

pasturelands; "'and

p.isturelands, Jaha/ with

with us pasturdands, and Mephaath with

pasturelands,

pasturelands,

its

of the Jordan, out of the

its

with us pasturelands,

turelands, and fazei with us pasturelands.

1540

its

with

pasturelands. " 2 To the rest of the Merarites, out of the tribe of Zeb-

ulun:

its

Anem

out of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh

lammon

I

its

in

pasturelands, Dobrath with

turelands; 59out of the tribe of Asher: Mashal with

don with

Golan

pasturelands; -"and

its

Ramoth ""I

m

Gilead with

leshbon with us pas*

kethuvim

7

The sons of Issachar:

men of substance

days of David was 22,600.

3

And

according to their

The sons of Uzzi: and Isshiah

together with them, by their

were units of the fighting sons.

5 Their

87,000

men

6 [The

lines; their

Izrahiah.

—

all

of substance; they were

2

four.

number

And

All

five.

The

in the

the sons of

of them were

according to their clans,

lines,

had many wives and

force, 36,000, for they

kinsmen belonging to

—

7.23

Jahmai, Ibsam, Shemuel, chiefs of

Jeriel,

Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel, chiefs. 4

CHRONICLES

Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron

sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, their clans,

I

the families of Issachar were in

all

registered

all

bv genealogy.

—

sons of] Benjamin: Bela, Becher, and Jediael

three. 7 The sons

— of men —22,034. The sons of Becher: Ze-

of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and

five, chiefs

Iri

clans,

8

of substance, registered by genealogy

mirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and

Alemeth. All these were the sons of Becher; genealogy according to their stance

—20,200.

Jeush, Benjamin, 11 All

14

Bilhan.

And

clans,

men of

sub-

the sons of Bilhan:

Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar.

who made up

were the sons of ants

The sons of Jediael:

they were registered bv

of their

lines, as chiefs

men of substance And Shuppim and Huppim

these were the sons of Jediael, chiefs of the clans,

17,200,

13

10

9 and

Ir;

the fighting force.

Hushim

The sons of Naphtali:

12

the sons of Aher.

Jahziel,

Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, the descend-

of Bilhah.

The sons of Manasseh:

Asriel,

whom

she bore Machir the father of Gilead.

pim and

for

15

Shuppim. The name of his

Aramean concubine bore; took wives for Hupwas Maacah. And the name

his

And Machir sister

of the second was Zelophehad; and Zelophehad had daughters.

16

And

Maacah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she named him Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rekem. 17 The sons of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh. 18 And his sister Hammolecheth bore Ishhod, Abiczer, and Mahlah. 19 The sons of Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam. 20 The

sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, his son Bcred, his son Tahath, his

son Eleadah, his son Tahath,

21 his

son Zabad,

his

son Shuthelah, also

men of Gath, born in the land, killed them because they had gone down to take their cattle. 22And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him. 23 He cohabEzer and Elead. The

1541

KEIHUVIM

CHRONIC

I

who

with his wife,

iced

Beriah. because

it

is

I

:?

l"//en-sheerah. :t,

conceived and bore

who

its

1

His son Rephah, his son Rcshcph,

son Non. his son [oshua.

and

named him

son; and she in his

house. 24 His

both Lower and Upper Beth-horon, and

built

son I.adan, his son

his

a

occurred w hen there was misfortune'

daughter was Shccrah,

son Tahan,

7.24

28Their

Ammihud,

his

his

son Telah,

son Elishama,

his

2 ~his

possessions and settlements were Bethel

dependencies, and on the east Xaaran, and on the west Ge/.er and

its

dependencies, Shechem and

its

dependencies, and Aiah and

its

de-

pendencies; *9 also along die borders of the Manassites, Beth-shean and its

dependencies, Taanach and

Dor and

encies.

of

its

its

dependencies,

Mcgiddo and

its

depend-

dependencies. In these dwelt the sons of Joseph son

Israel.

The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister 31 The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel, who was the lather of Birzaith. 32 Heber begot Japhiet, Shomer, Hotham, and their sister, Shua. 3(,

Serah.

-"The sons of Japhiet: Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were the sons of Japhiet.

34 The

sons of Shemer: Ahi, Rohgah, Hubbah, and Aram.

35 The

sons of

36 The

sons of Zophah: Suah, Hamepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, 37 Be/er,

Helem

his brother:

3y The

phunneh, Pispa, and Ara.

men of Asher,

of these

stance, heads

Irnna, Shelesh,

of the

sons of Ulla: Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia.

chiefs

chieftains.

of the

And

clans, select

8

Benjamin begot Bela

Ciera.

Nohah

ot Cicha.

Ashbel the second, Aharah the

his first-born,

the fourth, and

— they were

chiefs

and they were exiled to Manahath:

he exiled them the country

.\nd

begot

ofMoab

wives. ''lie had sons bv '"Jen/. Sachiah,

I

'//a

alter

7

I

1542

hh

Beriah and Ik

i.i

.ih

Sherm

s

his wile: Jobab, Xibia,

and Mirrnah. These were

Misham, and Shemed, who

Ahijah, and Ciera

And Shaharaim had sons awav Hushim mk\ Baara his

he had sent

Hodesh

of clans of the inhabitants

Naaman,

and Ahihud.

built

Ono

Mesha, Malcam,

his sons, chiefs

also lugot In Hushim: Abitub and Elpaal

.ind

men was 26,000 men.

Rapha the fifth, \-\nd Bela had sons: Addar, 4 Abihud, Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, s Cicra, Shephuphan, and Huram. :

'These were the sons of Ehud

in

men, men of sub-

they were registered bv genealogy

according to righting force; the number of the

third.

and Amal.

Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera. 38The sons of Jether: Je-

Hod, Shamma, 4 "A1I

Zophah,

\nf

the Merantes had sons:

but

his

lather designated

him

chief).

kethuvim

u Hilkiah

CHRONICLES

26.32

the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth. All the

sons and brothers of 12 These

worked

I

Hosah

are the divisions

in] shifts

of the Lord.

13

—

13.

of the gatekeepers, by

their chief

men, [who

corresponding to their kinsmen, ministering in the House

They

cast lots, small

and great

by

alike,

clans, for

each

gate.

The

14

lot for the east [gate] fell to Shelemiah.

Then they

cast lots [for]

Zechariah his son, a prudent counselor, and his lot came out to be the 15 For

lecheth gate

Obed-edom, the south [gate], and for his sons, the Shuppim and for Hosah, the west [gate], with the Shalon the ascending highway. Watch corresponded to watch:

17 At

—

north [gate].

vestibule. 16 For

the east

six Levites; at the

daily; at the vestibule at the

north

—two by two;

causeway and two

at the

18 at

—four

—four the colonnade on the west—four daily; at the

19 These

colonnade.

south

were the divisions of

Korah and the sons of Merari. 20And the Levites: Ahijah over the treasuries of the House of God and the treasuries of the dedicated things. 21 The sons of Ladan: the sons of

the gatekeepers of the sons of

the Gershonites belonging to Ladan; the chiefs of the clans of Ladan, the

Gershonite

—

Jehieli. 22 The

was over the 23

Of

sons of

Zetham and

Jehieli:

Joel; his brother

of the House of the Lord.

the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, the Uzzielites:

24 Shebuel

son of Gershom son of Moses was the chief

treasuries. 25

his

treasuries

And

his brothers: Eliezer, his

son Joram, his son Zichri, his son Shelomith

his brothers

were over

all

officer

over the

son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, 26 that

Shelomith and

the treasuries of dedicated things that were

dedicated by King David and the chiefs of the clans, and the officers of

thousands and hundreds and the other army

officers; 27 they

dedicated

some of the booty of the wars to maintain the House of the Lord. 28 A11 that Samuel the seer had dedicated, and Saul son of Kish, and Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah

— or [what] any other man had dedicated,

was under the charge of Shelomith and 29 The Izharites:

Chenaniah and

his brothers.

his sons

were over

magistrates for affairs outside [the sanctuary].

Israel as clerks

30 Thc

and

Hebronites: Ha-

shabiah and his brothers, capable men, 1,700, supervising Israel on the

west side of the Jordan in

all

matters of the

king. 31 The Hebronites: Jeriah, the chief

Lord

and the

service

of the Hebronites

of the

—they were

investigated in the fortieth year of David's reign by clans of all their lines,

and men of substance were found among them

in Jazer-gilcad. 32 His

1567

[CHRONICLES

kethuvim

men.

brothers, able

2.

27.1

"00. chiefs of clans—David put them

the Reubenites. the Gadites, and the half-tribe

ofManasseh

chargc of

in

l

in all matters

of God mu\ matters of the king.

97

Aj /

he

I

number of

hundreds and \

lsions,

Israelites

their clerks,

who worked

in

—

who

monthly

chiefs or clans, officers or thousands

served the king in shifts

each division, 24,000. 2Over the

shobeam son of Zabdiel; he. the chief 4

0\ er

of

all

his division

was chief officer of his division;

month

officer for the third

and [over]

thirtv;

fourth, for the fourth

10

The

Shamhut

month,

month

— Dodai

—

Ja-

his division

first

month.

the Ahohite; Mikloth

had 24,000. s The third army priest; his

Benaiah, one of the warriors of the thirtv

his division

was Ammizabad

month, Asahel brother of Joab, and

The

fifth,

son of Ikkesh the Tekoite;

his son.

his

9

Thc

his division

"The

son Zeba-

for the fifth

the Izrahite; his division had 24,000.

Ira

month

first

had 24,000. "Of the sons of Perez,

diah after him; his division had 24,000.

the sixth

months of the vear

the

— Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the chief

That was

division had 24,000.

the offieer

all

division for the

the officers of the army, [served] for the

the division of the second

and over the

during

first

and

matters of the di-

all

month,

sixth, for

had 24,000.

seventh, for the seventh month, Helez the Pelonite, of the Ephraim-

ites; his

division

the Hushathite,

had 24,000. n The eighth,

of Zerah;

for the eighth

had 24,000.

his division

12

month, Sibbeeai

The

ninth, for the

ninth month, Abiezer the Anathothite, of Benjamin; his division had

24,000.

ls

Thc

tenth, for the tenth

Zerah; his division had 24,000.

month, Mahrai the Netophathite. of

The

14

eleventh, for the eleventh

month,

Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the Ephraimires; his division had 24,000. ISThe twelfth, for the twelfth month, Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; his

division had 24,000.

"•Over the tribes of

Reuben: the chief

Israel:

Xkhn. Simeon: Nhephatiah son muel. Aaron: Zadok.

Omri son

of

l8Judah:

Azriel.

ofManasseh:

Joel

Elihu,

MEphraimitCS: son ofPedaiah.

son of Zechahah. Benjamin:

Jaasiel

1

Ioshea son of A/a/iah. The half21 Half

Manassch

son of Abner.

[eroham. These were the officers of the tubes of I

1568

>.i\

id

son of Ke-

of the brothers of David, [ssachar: Michael. l9 Zebulun: [shmaiah son ofObadiah. Naphtali:

Jenmoth son of tribe

Hlie/er son o\

offieer,

ofMaaca. r I.evi: Hashabiah

dul not

t.ike

.1

in

M Dart:

Gilead: lddo

A/arel son of

Israel.

census of those under twenty years of

.i«j,e.

for

kethuvim

the

CHRONICLES

I

28.7

LORD had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars of heaven.

24Joab

son of Zeruiah did begin to count them, but he did not

wrath struck

on account of

Israel

this,

finish;

and the census was not entered

King David. Azmaveth son of Adiel. Over the

into the account of the chronicles of 25 Over

in the

the royal treasuries:

country

of Uzziah.

—

and the

in the towns, the hamlets,

citadels:

26 Over the field laborers in agricultural

work: Ezri son of

And

Chelub. 27 Over the vineyards: Shimei the Ramathite.

duce in the vineyards for wine olive trees

and the sycamores

the Sharonite.

And

over the

31 Over

cattle in the valleys:

And

and

king's sons. 33 Ahitophel

was the

Sharon: Shirtai

Shaphat son of Adlai.

over the she-asses: Jehdeiah

the flocks: Jaziz the Hagrite. All these were

stewards of the property of King David. a counselor, a master,

28 Over the

in the Shephelah: Baal-hanan the Gederite.

the camels: Obil the Ishmaelite.

the Meronothite.

over the pro-

Zabdi the Shiphmite.

oil-stores: Joash. 29 Over the cattle pasturing in

Over the 30 Over

cellars:

treasuries

Jonathan son

32 Jonathan,

was

a counselor to the king.

king's friend. 34After Ahitophel

David's uncle, was

of Hachmoni was with the

a scribe: Jehiel son

Hushai the Archite

were Jehoiada son of Benaiah

and Abiathar. The commander of the king's army was Joab.

28

David assembled

who

divisional officers

all

—the

the officers of Israel

captains of hundreds, and the stewards of

the king

and

substance

me,

my

his sons,

my

all

the property and cattle of

with the eunuchs and the warriors,

—to Jerusalem.

brothers,

tribal officers, the

served the king, the captains of thousands and the

2

King David rose to his people! I wanted to build a

feet

all

and

the

men of

said,

"Hear

resting-place for the

Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I laid aside material for building. 3 But God said to me, 'You will not build a house for My name, for you are a man of battles and have shed blood.' 4The Lord God of Israel chose me of all my father's house to be king over Israel forever. For Judah,

me

my

father's

king over

all

He

chose Judah to be

house; and of

Israel; 5 and

—

of

my father's my sons

all

ruler,

sons,

—

for

and of the family of

He

preferred to

manv

make

are the sons die

Lord gave me He chose my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. 6 He said to me, 'It will be your son Solomon who will build My House and My courts, for I have chosen him to be a son to Mc, and I will be a father to him. 7 I will establish his

1569

ki iHi-vi.M

CHRONICLES

I

kingdom ments

forever, if

28.

he keeps firmly to the observance of My command-

he does now.'

m\.i\id

it:

do

you; lie

L570

9 "All this that the

give you in writing

I

said to his son

all

LORD

for

kinds

(

is

)|

fail

understand by His hand on

the works.

Solomon, "Be strong and of good courage

not be afraid or dismayed, for the will not

of the all

Lord made me

— the plan of

you or forsake you

till

LORD God mv God all

the

work on

the

is

,\ud

with

House

done. ''Here are the divisions of the priests and Levites

sen

ice ol the

I

louse of God, and with vou

in all

the

work

kethuvim

are willing

men,

skilled in

sorts

all

of

CHRONICLES

I

tasks; also the officers

and

29.15

all

the

has chosen

my

people are at your command."

29

King David

for the temple a

no

is

silver for silver,

not for a

up

effort to lay

"God

said to the entire assemblage,

son Solomon alone, an untried

although the work to be done

lad,

man

Lord

but for the

God.

House of my God gold

for the

copper for copper, iron for iron,

2I

is

have spared

for golden objects,

wood for wooden,

stone and inlay- stone, stone of antimony and variegated colors

much

kind of precious stone and for the

House of my God, House of my God

—

to the

House:

4 3,000

silver for

all

officers

the work)

in addition to

freewill offering

that

holv

laid aside for the

I

5 (gold

for golden objects, silver

Now who

is

and devote himself today to the Lord?" officers

of the

tribes

of Israel and the

king's work work of the House of God: 5,000

and hundreds and the supervisors of the

freewill offerings, 7 giving for the

talents

all

—into the hands of craftsmen.

of the clans and the

captains of thousands

made

3 Besides, out of my solicitude my private hoard of gold and silver

gold talents of Ophir gold, and 7,000 talents of refined

going to make a

The

onyx-

—everv

marble.

gave over

covering the walls of the houses

for silver for

6

I

vast

of gold, 10,000

darics,

10,000

copper, 100,000 talents of iron.

8

gave them to the treasury of the

talents

of

18,000

silver,

Whoever had stones House of the Lord

talents

of

in his possession in the charge

of

Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 The people rejoiced over the freewill offerings

they made, for with a whole heart they

Lord; King David 10 David

esty

yes,

much.

Lord in front of all the assemblage; David Lord, God of Israel our father, from eternity to

n Yours, Lord,

—

freewill offerings to the

blessed the

"Blessed are You, nity.

also rejoiced very

made

all

that

is

in

are greatness, might, splendor, triumph,

eter-

and maj-

heaven and on earth; to You, Lord, belong king-

ship and preeminence above

You have dominion

said,

over

all.

all;

12 Riches

with

You

and honor

are

are strength

Yours to dispense;

and might, and

it is

in Your power to make anyone great and strong. Now, God, we praise You and extol Your glorious name. 14Who am I and who are mv people, that we should have the means to make such a freewill offering; but all is from You, and it is Your gift that we have given to You. 15 For we are 13

sojourners with You, mere transients like our fathers; our davs a

on

earth

Lit. "fortress."

1571

KEIHUVTM

I

CHRONICLES

shadow, with nothing

arc like a

great mass that

name

is

29.16

we have

from You. and

in prospect. U, C)

laid aside to build

Yours.

all

is

it

the heart and desire uprightness; these things;

making

Olisl)

now Your

I

LORD a

our God,

House

know, God,

all

You

that

this

Your holy

tor

search

with upright heart, freely offered

I.

who

people,

I_

You

are present here

LORD God

freewill offerings. l8

—

I

all

saw them jov-

of Abraham,

Isaac,

and

remember this to the eternal credit of the thoughts oi and make their hearts constant toward You. 19 As to my son Solomon, give him a whole heart to observe Your commandments. Your admonitions, and Your laws, and to fulfill them all, and to our

Israel,

fathers,

Your people's

hearts,

build this temple- for which 1

20David

said to the

have made provision."

I

"Now bless the Loan your Lord God of their fathers, and

whole assemblage,

God."

All the assemblage blessed the

bowed

their heads low to the

to the

LORD

Lord

Thev offered sacrifices Lord on the morrow of

and the king.

and made burnt offerings to the

21

that day: 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, 1,000 lambs, with their libations; [they

made in

number

sacrifices in great

|

the presence of the

for

Lord on

all Israel, 22

and they

ate

that day with great joy.

and drank

They again

proclaimed Solomon son of David king, and they anointed him before the

as

high

Lord

as

king instead of his father David, and

over the throne of the

went well with him. All

Israel

warriors, and the sons of

King David

Israel,

all

priest.

^Solomon

accepted him; as well,

24 all

successfully took

the officials and the

gave their hand

26 Thus

David son of Jesse reigned over

all

Israel;

2

thirty-three years in Jerusalem. lite,

w Thc

riches ^

*

Lit.

"my father."

With

pp.

2-17,

cf.

1

Kings

6; 7.1-22.

1575

KF.THrvi.M

CHRONICLES

II

3.11

in the Holy of Holies, and they were overlaid with gold. n Thc outspread wings of the cherubim were 20 cubits across: one wing

tuned cherubim

5 cubits long touching

one wall of the House, and the other wing 5 cubits 12 one wing of the other

long touching the wing of the other cherub;

[cherub] 5 cubits long extending to the other wall of the House, and

other wing 5 cubits long touching the wing of the

w ingsprcad ot these cherubim was thus 20 cubits 14

standing up facing the House.

yam and

crimson

fine linen,

Hc made

first

across,

l3

cherub.

its

The

and they were

the curtain of blue, purple, and

and he worked cherubim into

it.

15

At the

House he made two columns 35 cubits high; the capitals on top of them were 5 cubits high. 16 He made chainwork in the inner Sanctuary and set it on the top of the columns; he made a hundred pomegranates and set them into the chainwork. 17 Hc erected the columns front of the

in front

of the Great Hall, one to

the right

X

11

was

called Jachin,

He made

a

an

its

and one to

right

and the one to the

left,

its left;

the

one to

Boaz.

of bronze 20 cubits long, 20 cubits wide, and 10

altar

cubits high.

Hc made

2

the sea b of cast metal 10 cubits across from brim to brim,

perfectly round;

it

was 5

cubits high, and

•^Beneath were figures of oxen set

oxen were

the sea; the

upon twelve oxen: and three faced

like that 6

of

on the

it,

of 10

was

a

handbreadth

of a

lily.

thick,

and

its

stood

brim was made

on the

right

and

thev would rinse off in them the parts of the burnt

left;

stands of gold as prescribed, and placed the right mk\ five five

4 It

it.

held 3,000 bath.

It

ten bron/x lavers for washing; he set five

ottering; but the sea served the priests for washing.

Great Hall,

cubits, encircling

one piece with

cast in

with the sea resting upon them; their haunches were

5 It

a cup, like the petals

He made

five

two rows,

circumference was 30 cubits.

its

around

three faced north, three faced west, three faced south,

east,

turned inward.

all

in

all

on the

on the

left. K

right

Hc made

and

five

them

in

7

He made

ten lamp-

the Great Hall, five

on

them in the He made one hundred

ten tables and placed

on the

left.

gold basins. ''He built the court of the priests and the great eourt, and

doors for the great court; he overlaid the doors with bronze.

on the

sea

M

right side,

hiram made the

I

at

(

1

IS 76

f

1

I

n

a/ 1 iil>

hu,,, liuitt

723

pails,

basin,

uncertain SO.

l

le set

the

the southeast corner.

With that Huram Solomon louse in the King

the shovels, and the basins.

completed the work he had undertaken Mitiiiiuii

1(l

for

I

kethuvim 12 the

of God:

two columns, the globes, and two pieces of network

the columns; and the

the

II

two

CHRONICLES

5.

on top of two globes of

capitals

to cover the

on top of the columns; 13 the four hundred pomegranates for the two pieces of network, two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two globes of the capitals on top of the columns; 14he made the stands and the lavers upon the stands; 15 one sea with the twelve oxen the capitals

beneath

made

16 the pails,

it;

for

the shovels, and the bowls. c

King Solomon

were of burnished bronze. of the earth, 18

in the plain

Solomon made

display; 20 the lampstands

number of vessels; the weight of the bronze And Solomon made all the furnishings that

the altar of gold; the tables for the bread of

and

their lamps, to

of the inner Sanctuary, of solid gold;

of purest gold;

the vessels

19

House of God:

in the

all

of the Jordan between Succoth and Zeredah.

a very large

used could not be reckoned.

were

And

House of the Lord by Huram his master 17 The king had them cast in molds dug out

for the

21 and

burn

as prescribed in front

the petals, lamps, and tongs,

22 the snuffers, basins, ladles,

and

fire

pans, of solid gold;

and the entrance to the House: the doors of the innermost part of the House, the Holy of Holies, and the doors of the Great Hall of the House, of gold.

kJ aWhen all the work that King Solomon undertook for the House of the Lord was completed, Solomon brought the things that his father David had consecrated

—the

silver,

the gold, and the utensils

—and de-

them in the treasury of the House of God. 2 Then Solomon convoked the elders of Israel all the heads of the

posited

and the

ancestral chiefs

of the

Israelites

Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from 3 All

the

men of Israel

seventh month. 4When the Ark.

5

all

—

—

the City of David, that

assembled before the king

tribes

up the

in Jerusalem, to bring

is,

Zion.

at the Feast, b in die

the elders of Israel had come, the Levites carried

They brought up the Ark and

holy vessels that were in the Tent

the Tent of Meeting and

all

the

—the Levite

priests brought them up. King Solomon and the whole community of Israel, who had him before the Ark, were sacrificing sheep and oxen in such

6 Meanwhile,

gathered to

abundance that they could not be numbered or counted. 7

The

priests

brought the Ark of the Lord's Covenant to

the inner Sanctuary of the House, in the

Holy of

its

place in

Holies, beneath the

wings of the cherubim; 8 for the cherubim had their wings spread out over c

-

Or

"forks."

Cf.l Kings 7.51-8.11.

b I.e.,

of Tabernacles.

1577

KHTHiviM

CHRONICLES

II

5.9

Ark so that the cherubim covered the Ark and its poles from above. "The poles projected beyond the Ark and the ends of the the place of the

poles were visible

from the front of the inner Sanctuary, but thev could

not be seen from the outside; and there they remain to this

was nothing inside the Ark but the two

Lord made [a Egypt. "When

Horcb, when the

at

their departure

arv

—

all

from

tablets that

daw '"There

Moses placed

Covenant] with the

|

there]

Israelites after

came out of the Sanctu-

the priests

the priests present had sanctified themselves, without keeping to 12 all

the set divisions

Heman, leduthun,

die Levite singers, Asaph,

sons and their brothers, dressed

in fine linen,

their

holding cymbals, harps, and

altar, and with them were 120 The trumpeters and die singers joined in priests unison to praise and extol the Lord; and as the sound of the trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments, and the praise of the Lord, "For

were standing to the east of the

lyres,

who

blew trumpets.

He

is

the

House of the Lord, was

stav

good, for His steadfast love

and perform the

Lord

\J

a

Then Solomon

To

Lord

priests

could not

declared:

abide in a thick cloud;

A

stately

blessed the

h

You

House, where You

a place

dwell forever."

lor

whole congregation of

Israel, h

He

Egypt,

I

leader

5