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Triennial
Cycle (Triennial Torah Cycle) / Septennial Cycle (Septennial Torah Cycle)
|
Three and 1/2 year
Lectionary Readings |
First Year
of the Reading Cycle |
|
Kislev 25
Tebet 02, 5769 December 21-29, 2008 |
First Year
of the Shmita Cycle |
We
wish you and loved ones together with all of our most noble and beloved people/nation
of Yisrael, a very happy Chanukah with many miracles as were done to our
forefathers at this season, amen ve amen!
Roll of Honor:
This Torah Lectionary for the Festival of Chanukah
comes to you courtesy of:
His
Honor Rosh Paqid Adon Hillel ben David and
beloved wife HH Giberet Batsehva bat Sarah,
His
Honor Paqid Adon Mikha ben Hillel
His
Honor Paqid Adon David ben Abraham,
Her
Excellency Giberet Sarai bat Sarah and
beloved family,
His
Excellency Adon Barth Lindemann and
beloved family,
His Excellency
Adon John Batchelor and
beloved wife,
His
Excellency Adon Ezra ben Abraham and
beloved wife HE Giberet Karmela bat Sarah,
Her Excellency Giberet Sandra Grenier
His Excellency Adon Stephen Legge and
beloved wife HE Giberet Angela Legge
For their regular and sacrificial giving, providing
the best oil for the lamps, we pray that G-ds richest blessings be upon their
lives and those of their loved ones, together with all Yisrael and her Torah
Scholars, amen ve amen!
Also a great thank you amd great blessings be upon
all who send comments to the list about the contents and commentary of the
weekly Torah Seder and allied topics.
If you want to subscribe to our list and ensure
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friends. Toda Rabba!
For
further study on this Festival of Chanukah please see:
http://www.betemunah.org/lapin.html; http://www.betemunah.org/connection.html; and
http://www.betemunah.org/chanukah.html
Lectionary
for Chanukah 5769
First
Day of Chanukah Kislev 25
Evening
Sunday December 21 Evening Monday December 22
Torah
Reading:
BMidbar (Numbers) 7:1-17
(1) Num. 7:1-3
(2) Num. 7:4-11
(3) Num. 712-17
1.
And it came to pass on the day that Moses had made an end of setting up the
tabernacle, and had anointed it and sanctified it, and all the furniture
thereof, and the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them and
sanctified them;
2.
that the princes of Israel, the heads of their fathers' houses, offered - these
were the princes of the tribes, these are they that were over them that were
numbered.
3.
And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve
oxen: a wagon for every two of the princes, and for each one an ox; and they
presented them before the tabernacle.
4.
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:
5.
Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tent of meeting;
and you will give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his
service.
6.
And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites.
7.
Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their
service.
8.
And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto
their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
9.
But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the holy
things belonged unto them: they bore them upon their shoulders.
10.
And the princes brought the dedication-offering of the altar in the day that it
was anointed, even the princes brought their offering before the altar.
11.
And the LORD said unto Moses: They will present their offering each prince on
his day, for the dedication of the altar.
12.
And he that presented his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of
Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah;
13.
and his offering was one silver dish, the weight thereof was a hundred and
thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the
sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a
meal-offering;
14.
one golden pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
15.
one young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb of the first year, for a
burnt-offering;
16.
one male of the goats for a sin-offering;
17.
and for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats,
five he-lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of
Amminadab.
Yehudit
(Judith) 1:1 - 2:28
Jdt
1:1 In
the twelfth year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, who reigned in Nineve, the
great city; in the days of Arphaxad, which reigned over the Medes in Ecbatane,
2.
And built in Ecbatane walls round about of stones hewn three cubits broad and
six cubits long, and made the height of the wall seventy cubits, and the
breadth thereof fifty cubits:
3.
And set the towers thereof upon the gates of it an hundred cubits high, and the
breadth thereof in the foundation threescore cubits:
4.
And he made the gates thereof, even gates that were raised to the height of
seventy cubits, and the breadth of them was forty cubits, for the going forth
of his mighty armies, and for the setting in array of his footmen:
5.
Even in those days king Nabuchodonosor made war with king Arphaxad in the great
plain, which is the plain in the borders of Ragau.
6.
And there came unto him all they that dwelt in the hill country, and all that
dwelt by Euphrates, and Tigris and Hydaspes, and the plain of Arioch the king
of the Elymeans, and very many nations of the sons of Chelod, assembled
themselves to the battle.
7.
Then Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians sent unto all that dwelt in Persia,
and to all that dwelt westward, and to those that dwelt in Cilicia, and
Damascus, and Libanus, and Antilibanus, and to all that dwelt upon the sea
coast,
8.
And to those among the nations that were of Carmel, and Galaad, and the higher
Galilee, and the great plain of Esdrelom,
9.
And to all that were in Samaria and the cities thereof, and beyond Jordan unto
Jerusalem, and Betane, and Chelus, and Kades, and the river of Egypt, and
Taphnes, and Ramesse, and all the land of Gesem,
10.
Until you come beyond Tanis and Memphis, and to all the inhabitants of Egypt,
until you come to the borders of Ethiopia.
11.
But all the inhabitants of the land made light of the commandment of
Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, neither went they with him to the battle;
for they were not afraid of him: yea, he was before them as one man, and they
sent away his ambassadors from them without effect, and with disgrace.
12.
Therefore Nabuchodonosor was very angry with all this country, and swore by his
throne and kingdom, that he would surely be avenged upon all those coasts of
Cilicia, and Damascus, and Syria, and that he would slay with the sword all the
inhabitants of the land of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and all Judea, and
all that were in Egypt, till you come to the borders of the two seas.
13.
Then he marched in battle array with his power against king Arphaxad in the
seventeenth year, and he prevailed in his battle: for he overthrew all the
power of Arphaxad, and all his horsemen, and all his chariots,
14.
And became lord of his cities, and came unto Ecbatane, and took the towers, and
spoiled the streets thereof, and turned the beauty thereof into shame.
15.
He took also Arphaxad in the mountains of Ragau, and smote him through with his
darts, and destroyed him utterly that day.
16.
So he returned afterward to Nineve, both he and all his company of sundry
nations being a very great multitude of men of war, and there he took his ease,
and banqueted, both he and his army, an hundred and twenty days.
Jdt
2:1
And in the eighteenth year, the two and twentieth day of the first month, there
was talk in the house of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians that he should,
as he said, avenge himself on all the earth.
2.
So he called unto him all his officers, and all his nobles, and communicated
with them his secret counsel, and concluded the afflicting of the whole earth
out of his own mouth.
3.
Then they decreed to destroy all flesh, that did not obey the commandment of
his mouth.
4.
And when he had ended his counsel, Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians called
Holofernes the chief captain of his army, which was next unto him, and said
unto him.
5.
Thus says the great king, the lord of the whole earth, Behold, you will go
forth from my presence, and take with you men that trust in their own strength,
of footmen an hundred and twenty thousand; and the number of horses with their
riders twelve thousand.
6.
And you will go against all the west country, because they disobeyed my
commandment.
7.
And you will declare unto that they prepare for me earth and water: for I will
go forth in my wrath against them and will cover the whole face of the earth with
the feet of mine army, and I will give them for a spoil unto them:
8.
So that their slain will fill their valleys and brooks and the river will be
filled with their dead, till it overflow:
9.
And I will lead them captives to the utmost parts of all the earth.
10.
You therefore will go forth and take beforehand for me all their coasts: and if
they will yield themselves unto you, you will reserve them for me till the day
of their punishment.
11.
But concerning them that rebel, let not your eye spare them; but put them to
the slaughter, and spoil them wheresoever you go.
12.
For as I live, and by the power of my kingdom, whatsoever I have spoken, that
will I do by my hand.
13.
And take heed that you transgress none of the commandments of your lord, but
accomplish them fully, as I have commanded you, and defer not to do them.
14.
Then Holofernes went forth from the presence of his lord, and called ail the
governors and captains, and the officers of the army of Assur;
15.
And he mustered the chosen men for the battle, as his lord had commanded him,
unto an hundred and twenty thousand, and twelve thousand archers on horseback;
16.
And he arranged them, as a great army is ordered for war.
17.
And he took camels and asses for their carriages, a very great number; and
sheep and oxen and goats without number for their provision:
18.
And plenty of victual for every man of the army, and very much gold and silver
out of the king's house.
19.
Then he went forth and all his power to go before king Nabuchodonosor in the voyage,
and to cover all the face of the earth westward with their chariots, and
horsemen, and their chosen footmen.
20.
A great number also sundry countries came with them like locusts, and like the
sand of the earth: for the multitude was without number.
21.
And they went forth of Nineve three days' journey toward the plain of
Bectileth, and pitched from Bectileth near the mountain which is at the left
hand of the upper Cilicia.
22.
Then he took all his army, his footmen, and horsemen and chariots, and went
from thence into the hill country;
23.
And destroyed Phud and Lud, and spoiled all the children of Rasses, and the
children of Israel, which were toward the wilderness at the south of the land
of the Chellians.
24.
Then he went over Euphrates, and went through Mesopotamia, and destroyed all
the high cities that were upon the river Arbonai, till you come to the sea.
25.
And he took the borders of Cilicia, and killed all that resisted him, and came
to the borders of Japheth, which were toward the south, over against Arabia.
26.
He compassed also all the children of Madian, and burned up their tabernacles,
and spoiled their sheep herds.
27.
Then he went down into the plain of Damascus in the time of wheat harvest, and
burnt up all their fields, and destroyed their flocks and herds, also he
spoiled their cities, and utterly wasted their countries, and smote all their
young men with the edge of the sword.
28.
Therefore the fear and dread of him fell upon all the inhabitants of the sea
coasts, which were in Sidon and Tyrus, and them that dwelt in Sur and Ocina,
and all that dwelt in Jemnaan; and they that dwelt in Azotus and Ascalon feared
him greatly.
1
Maccabees 1:1 2:48
1Ma
1:1
And it happened, after that Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came
out of the land of Chettiim, had smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes,
that he reigned in his stead, the first over Greece,
2.
And made many wars, and won many strong holds, and slew the kings of the earth,
3.
And went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of many nations,
insomuch that the earth was quiet before him; whereupon he was exalted and his
heart was lifted up.
4.
And he gathered a mighty strong host and ruled over countries, and nations, and
kings, who became tributaries unto him.
5.
And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should die.
6.
Wherefore he called his servants, such as were honourable, and had been brought
up with him from his youth, and parted his kingdom among them, while he was yet
alive.
7.
So Alexander reigned twelve years, and then died.
8.
And his servants bare rule everyone in his place.
9.
And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so did their sons
after them many years: and evils were multiplied in the earth.
10.
And there came out of them a wicked/Lawless root: Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes,
son of Antiochus the king, who had been a hostage at Rome, and he reigned in
the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.
11.
In those days went there out of Israel wicked/Lawless men, who persuaded many,
saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us:
for since we departed from them we have had much sorrow.
12.
So this device pleased them well.
13.
Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the king,
who gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the heathen:
14.
Whereupon they built a place of exercise [Gymnasium] at Jerusalem according to
the customs of the heathen:
15.
And made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant, and joined
themselves to the heathen, and were sold to do mischief.
16.
Now when the kingdom was established before Antiochus, he thought to reign over
Egypt that he might have the dominion of two realms.
17.
Wherefore he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, and
elephants, and horsemen, and a great navy,
18.
And made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt: but Ptolemee was afraid of him,
and fled; and many were wounded to death.
19.
Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt and he took the spoils
thereof.
20.
And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he returned again in the hundred
forty and third year, and went up against Israel and Jerusalem with a great
multitude,
21.
And entered proudly into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the
candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof,
22.
And the table of the shewbread, and the pouring vessels, and the vials. and the
censers of gold, and the veil, and the crown, and the golden ornaments that
were before the temple, all which he pulled off.
23.
He took also the silver and the gold, and the precious vessels: also he took
the hidden treasures which he found.
24.
And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land, having made a great
massacre, and spoken very proudly.
25.
Therefore there was a great mourning in Israel, in every place where they were;
26.
So that the princes and elders mourned, the virgins and young men were made
feeble, and the beauty of women was changed.
27.
Every bridegroom took up lamentation, and she that sat in the marriage chamber
was in heaviness,
28.
The land also was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob
was covered with confusion.
29.
And after two years fully expired the king sent his chief collector of tribute
unto the cities of Juda, who came unto Jerusalem with a great multitude,
30.
And spoke peaceable words unto them, but all was deceit: for when they had
given him credence, he fell suddenly upon the city, and smote it very sore, and
destroyed much people of Israel.
31.
And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on fire, and pulled
down the houses and walls thereof on every side.
32.
But the women and children took they captive, and possessed the cattle.
33.
Then built they the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with mighty
towers, and made it a stronghold for them.
34.
And they put therein a sinful nation, wicked/Lawless men, and fortified
themselves therein.
35.
They stored it also with armour and victuals, and when they had gathered
together the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up there, and so they became a
sore snare:
36.
For it was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary
to Israel.
37.
Thus they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled it:
38.
Insomuch that the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them: whereupon the
city was made an habitation of strangers, and became strange to those that were
born in her; and her own children left her.
39.
Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into
mourning, her Sabbaths into reproach her honour into contempt.
40.
As had been her glory, so was her dishonour increased, and her excellence was
turned into mourning.
41.
Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one
people,
42.
And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the
commandment of the king.
43.
Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed unto
idols, and profaned the Sabbath.
44.
For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of
Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land,
45.
And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple;
and that they should profane the Sabbaths and festival days:
46.
And pollute the sanctuary and holy people:
47.
Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine's flesh,
and unclean beasts:
48.
That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls
abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation:
49.
To the end they might forget the Law, and change all its ordinances.
50.
And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, he
said, he should die.
51.
In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and appointed overseers
over all the people, commanding the cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city.
52.
Then many of the people were gathered unto them, to wit every one that forsook
the Law; and so they committed evils in the land;
53.
And drove the Israelites into secret places, even wheresoever they could flee
for succour.
54.
Now the fifteenth day of the month Kislev, in the hundred forty and fifth year,
they set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and built idol altars
throughout the cities of Juda on every side;
55.
And burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the streets.
56.
And when they had rent in pieces the books of the Law which they found,
they burnt them with fire.
57.
And whosoever was found with any the book of the Scriptures, or if any
committed to the Law, the king's commandment was, that they should put him to
death.
58.
Thus did they by their authority unto the Israelites every month, to as many as
were found in the cities.
59.
Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol
altar, which was upon the altar of God.
60.
At which time according to the commandment they put to death certain women,
that had caused their children to be circumcised.
61.
And they hanged the infants about their necks, and rifled their houses, and
slew them that had circumcised them.
62.
Howbeit many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to
eat any unclean thing.
63.
Wherefore they resolved to rather die, that they might not be defiled with
meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: so then they died.
64.
And there was very great wrath upon Israel.
1Ma
2:1
In those days arose Mattathias the son of John, the son of Simeon, a priest of
the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem, and dwelt in Modin.
2.
And he had five sons, Joannan, called Caddis:
3.
Simon; called Thassi:
4.
Judas, who was called Maccabeus:
5.
Eleazar, called Avaran: and Jonathan, whose surname was Apphus.
6.
And when he saw the blasphemies that were committed in Juda and Jerusalem,
7.
He said, Woe is me! wherefore was I born to see this misery of my people, and
of the holy city, and to dwell there, when it was delivered into the hand of
the enemy, and the sanctuary into the hand of strangers?
8.
Her temple is become as a man without glory.
9.
Her glorious vessels are carried away into captivity, her infants are slain in
the streets, her young men with the sword of the enemy.
10.
What nation has not had a part in her kingdom and gotten of her spoils?
11.
All her ornaments are taken away; of a free woman she is become a bond-slave.
12.
And, behold, our sanctuary, even our beauty and our glory, is laid waste, and
the Gentiles have profaned it.
13.
To what end therefore will we live any longer?
14.
Then Mattathias and his sons rent their clothes, and put on sackcloth, and
mourned very sore.
15.
In the mean while the king's officers, such as compelled the people to revolt,
came into the city Modin, to make them sacrifice.
16.
And when many of Israel came unto them, Mattathias also and his sons came
together.
17.
Then answered the king's officers, and said to Mattathias on this wise, You are
a ruler, and an honourable and great man in this city, and strengthened with
sons and brethren:
18.
Now therefore come you first, and fulfil the king's commandment, like as all
the heathen have done, yea, and the men of Juda also, and such as remain at
Jerusalem: so will you and your house be in the number of the king's friends,
and you and your children will be honoured with silver and gold, and many
rewards.
19.
Then Mattathias answered and spoke with a loud voice, Though all the nations
that are under the king's dominion obey him, and fall away everyone from the religion
of their fathers, and give consent to his commandments:
20.
Yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers.
21.
God forbid that we should forsake the Law and its ordinances.
22.
We will not hearken to the king's words, to go from our religion, either on
the right hand, or the left.
23.
Now when he had left speaking these words, there came one of the Jews in the
sight of all to sacrifice on the altar which was at Modin, according to the
king's commandment.
24.
Which thing when Mattathias saw, he was inflamed with zeal, and his reins
trembled, neither could he forbear to show his anger according to judgment:
wherefore he ran, and slew him upon the altar.
25.
Also the king's commissioner, who compelled men to sacrifice, he killed at that
time, and the altar he pulled down.
26.
Thus dealt he zealously for the Law of God like as Phinehas did unto Zambri the
son of Salom.
27.
And Mattathias cried throughout the city with a loud voice, saying, Whosoever
is zealous of the Law, and maintains the covenant, let him follow me.
28.
So he and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that ever they had in
the city.
29.
Then many that sought after justice and judgment went down into the wilderness,
to dwell there:
30.
Both they, and their children, and their wives; and their cattle; because
afflictions increased sore upon them.
31.
Now when it was told the king's servants, and the host that was at Jerusalem,
in the city of David, that certain men, who had broken the king's commandment,
were gone down into the secret places in the wilderness,
32.
They pursued after them a great number, and having overtaken them, they camped
against them, and made war against them on the Sabbath day.
33.
And they said unto them, Let that which you have done hitherto suffice; come
forth, and do according to the commandment of the king, and you will live.
34.
But they said, We will not come forth, neither will we do the king's
commandment, to profane the Sabbath day.
35.
So then they gave them the battle with all speed.
36.
Howbeit they answered them not, neither cast they a stone at them, nor stopped
the places where they lay hid;
37.
But said, Let us die all in our innocence: heaven and earth will testify for
us, that you put us to death wrongfully.
38.
So they rose up against them in battle on the Sabbath, and they slew them, with
their wives and children and their cattle, to the number of a thousand people.
39.
Now when Mattathias and his friends understood hereof, they mourned for them
right sore.
40.
And one of them said to another, If we all do as our brethren have done, and
fight not for our lives and Laws against the heathen, they will now quickly
root us out of the earth.
41.
At that time therefore they decreed, saying, Whosoever will come to make battle
with us on the Sabbath day, we will fight against him; neither will we die all,
as our brethren that were murdered in the secret places.
42.
Then came there unto him a company of Assideans who were mighty men of Israel,
even all such as were voluntarily devoted unto the Law.
43.
Also all they that fled for persecution joined themselves unto them, and were a
stay unto them.
44.
So they joined their forces, and smote sinful men in their anger, and wicked/Lawless
men in their wrath: but the rest fled to the heathen for succour.
45.
Then Mattathias and his friends went round about, and pulled down the altars:
46.
And what children soever they found within the coast of Israel uncircumcised,
those they circumcised valiantly.
47.
They pursued also after the proud men, and the work prospered in their hand.
48.
So they recovered the Law out of the hand of the Gentiles, and out of the hand
of kings, neither suffered they the sinner to triumph.
Psalm
30
1.
A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication (Heb. חֲנֻכַּת
Chanukhat) of the House; of David.
2.
I will extol You, O LORD, for You have raised me up, and have not suffered my
enemies to rejoice over me.
3.
O LORD my God, I cried unto You, and You have healed me;
4.
O LORD, You brought up my soul from the nether-world (Heb. Sheol); You did keep
me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
5.
Sing praise unto the LORD, O you His godly ones (Heb. Chasidim - saints), and
give thanks to to the memory of His Holiness.
6.
For His anger is only for a moment, His favour is for a life-time; weeping may
endure for the [whole] night [of the exile], but joy comes in the morning [of
the Messianic Age].
7.
Now I said in my security/prosperity: I will never be moved [forever].
8.
O LORD, in Your favour You have made my strong mountain [government] to stand;
You hid Your face; I was frightened.
9.
Unto Thee, O LORD, did I call, and unto the LORD I made supplication:
10.
What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Will the dust
praise You? Will it declare Your truth [i.e. Your Torah]?
11.
Hear, O LORD, and be gracious unto me; LORD, be You my helper.
12.
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth,
and have clothed me with gladness;
13.
So that my glory may sing praise to You, and not be quiet; O LORD my God, I
will give thanks unto You forever!
Nazareans
add in their private study and discussions:
Genesis
1:1-5
1.
In the beginning [Or, With Chokhmah Torah Wisdom] God created
the heavens and the earth;
2.
And the earth was without form and empty, and darkness on the face of the deep,
and the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters,
3.
Then God said, Let light be! And there was light.
4.
And God saw the light, that it was good, and God divided between the light and
darkness.
5.
And God called the light, Day. And He called the darkness, Night. And there was
evening, and there was morning the day of oneness.
1
John 1:1-10
1.
That which was from the beginning [i.e. Gen. 1:1ff], that which
we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we did behold,
and our hands did handle, concerning the Word of Life;
2.
And the Life was manifested, and we have seen, and do testify, and declare to
you the Life Eternal, which was with the Father, and was manifested before us;
3.
That which we have seen and heard declare we to you, that you also may have
fellowship with us, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son
[i.e. King] Yeshua the Messiah;
4.
And these things we write to you, that your joy may be full.
5.
And this is the message that we have heard from him (Yeshua), and announce to
you, that God is light [the light of Torah Wisdom, Torah Knowledge, and Torah Understanding
i.e. Chokhmah, Binah, and Daat - ChaBaD], and darkness in Him is not at all;
6. If we may say that we have
fellowship with Him [G-d] and in the darkness may we walk, we are lying, and do
[perform] not the truth [i.e. the Torah, cf. Psalm 119:142];
7. And if in the light [of Gen.
1:3] we may walk, as He [G-d] is in the light, we have fellowship one with
another, and the blood [i.e. Life of Torah obedience] of Yeshua the Messiah His
Son [i.e. King] does cleanse us from every sin;
8. If we may say that we have not
sinned, ourselves we lead astray, and the truth [i.e. Torah cf. Psalm
119:142] is not in us;
9. If we may confess [i.e. make
TIKUN (reparation) for] our sins, reliable He [G-d] is and righteous/generous
that He may forgive us our sins, and may cleanse us from every
unrighteousness/injustice/stinginess;
10. If we may say that we have
not sinned, a liar we make Him [G-d], and His [G-ds] Torah is not [fully
indwelling] in us.
Second
Day of Chanukah Kislev 26
Evening
Monday December 22 Evening Tuesday December 23
Torah
Reading:
BMidbar (Numbers) 7:18-29
(1) Num. 7:18-20
(2) Num. 7:21-23
(3) Num. 7:24-29
18.
On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, did offer:
19.
He presented for his offering one silver dish, the weight thereof was a hundred
and thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of
the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a
meal-offering;
20.
One golden pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
21.
One young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering;
22.
One male of the goats for a sin-offering;
23.
And for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats,
five he-lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of
Zuar.
24.
On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun:
25.
His offering was one silver dish, the weight thereof was a hundred and thirty
shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the
sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a
meal-offering;
26.
One golden pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
27.
One young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb of the first year, for a
burnt-offering;
28.
One male of the goats for a sin-offering;
29.
And for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats,
five he-lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Eliab the son of
Helon.
Yehudit
(Judith) 3:1 5:17
Jdt
3:1 So
they sent ambassadors unto him to treat of peace, saying,
2.
Behold, we the servants of Nabuchodonosor the great king lie before you; use us
as will be good in your sight.
3.
Behold, our houses, and all our places, and all our fields of wheat, and
flocks, and herds, and all the lodges of our tents lie before your face; use
them as it pleases you.
4.
Behold, even our cities and the inhabitants thereof are your servants; come and
deal with them as seems good unto you.
5.
So the men came to Holofernes, and declared unto him after this manner.
6.
Then came he down toward the sea coast, both he and his army, and set garrisons
in the high cities, and took out of them chosen men for aid.
7.
So they and all the country round about received them with garlands, with
dances, and with timbrels.
8.
Yet he did cast down their frontiers, and cut down their groves: for he
had decreed to destroy all the gods of the land, that all nations should
worship Nabuchodonosor only, and that all tongues and tribes should call upon
him as god.
9.
Also he came over against Esdraelon near unto Judea, over against the great strait
of Judea.
10.
And he pitched between Geba and Scythopolis, and there he tarried a whole
month, that he might gather together all the carriages of his army.
Jdt
4:1 Now
the children of Israel, that dwelt in Judea, heard all that Holofernes the
chief captain of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians had done to the nations,
and after what manner he had spoiled all their temples, and brought them to
nought.
2.
Therefore they were exceedingly afraid of him, and were troubled for Jerusalem,
and for the Temple of the LORD their God:
3.
For they were newly returned from the captivity, and all the people of Judea
were lately gathered together: and the vessels, and the altar, and the house,
were sanctified after the profanation.
4.
Therefore they sent into all the coasts of Samaria, and the villages and to
Bethoron, and Belmen, and Jericho, and to Choba, and Esora, and to the valley
of Salem:
5.
And possessed themselves beforehand of all the tops of the high mountains, and
fortified the villages that were in them, and laid up victuals for the
provision of war: for their fields were of late reaped.
6.
Also Joakim the high priest, which was in those days in Jerusalem, wrote to
them that dwelt in Bethulia, and Betomestham, which is over against Esdraelon
toward the open country, near to Dothaim,
7.
Charging them to keep the passages of the hill country: for by them there was
an entrance into Judea, and it was easy to stop them that would come up,
because the passage was straight, for two men at the most.
8.
And the children of Israel did as Joakim the high priest had commanded them,
with the ancients of all the people of Israel, which dwelt at Jerusalem.
9.
Then every man of Israel cried to God with great fervency, and with great
vehemency did they humble their souls:
10.
Both they, and their wives and their children, and their cattle, and every
stranger and hireling, and their servants bought with money, put sackcloth upon
their loins.
11.
Thus every man and women, and the little children, and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, fell before the Temple, and cast ashes upon their heads, and spread
out their sackcloth before the face of the LORD: also they put sackcloth about
the altar,
12.
And cried to the God of Israel all with one consent earnestly, that He would
not give their children for a prey, and their wives for a spoil, and the cities
of their inheritance to destruction, and the sanctuary to profanation and
reproach, and for the Gentiles to rejoice at.
13.
So God heard their prayers, and looked upon their afflictions: for the people
fasted many days in all Judea and Jerusalem before the sanctuary of the LORD
Almighty.
14.
And Joakim the high priest, and all the priests that stood before the LORD, and
they which ministered unto the LORD, had their loins girt with sackcloth, and
offered the daily burnt offerings, with the vows and free gifts of the people,
15.
And had ashes on their mitres, and cried unto the LORD with all their power,
that He would look upon all the house of Israel graciously
Jdt
5:1 Then
was it declared to Holofernes, the chief captain of the army of Assur, that the
children of Israel had prepared for war, and had shut up the passages of the
hill country, and had fortified all the tops of the high hills and had laid
impediments in the low lands:
2.
Wherewith he was very angry, and called all the princes of Moab, and the
captains of Ammon, and all the governors of the sea coast,
3.
And he said unto them, Tell me now, yo sons of Canaan, who this people is, that
dwells in the hill country, and what are the cities that they inhabit, and what
is the multitude of their army, and wherein is their power and strength, and
what king is set over them, or captain of their army;
4.
And why have they determined not to come and meet me, more than all the
inhabitants of the west.
5.
Then said Achior, the captain of all the sons of Ammon, Let my lord now hear a
word from the mouth of your servant, and I will declare unto you the truth
concerning this people, which dwells near you, and inhabits the hill countries:
and there will no lie come out of the mouth of your servant.
6.
This people are descended of the Chaldeans:
7.
And they sojourned heretofore in Mesopotamia, because they would not follow the
gods of their fathers, which were in the land of Chaldea.
8.
For they left the way of their ancestors, and worshipped the God of heaven, the
God whom they knew: so they cast them out from the face of their gods, and they
fled into Mesopotamia, and sojourned there many days.
9.
Then their God commanded them to depart from the place where they sojourned,
and to go into the land of Canaan: where they dwelt, and were increased with
gold and silver, and with very much cattle.
10.
But when a famine covered all the land of Canaan, they went down into Egypt,
and sojourned there, while they were nourished, and became there a great
multitude, so that one could not number their nation.
11.
Therefore the king of Egypt rose up against them, and dealt subtly with them,
and brought them low with labouring in brick, and made them slaves.
12.
Then they cried unto their God, and he smote all the land of Egypt with
incurable plagues: so the Egyptians cast them out of their sight.
13.
And God dried the Red sea before them,
14.
And brought them to mount Sinai, and Kadesh-Barnea, and cast forth all that dwelt
in the wilderness.
15.
So they dwelt in the land of the Amorites, and they destroyed by their strength
all them of Esebon, and passing over Jordan they possessed all the hill
country.
16.
And they cast forth before them the Canaanite, the Perezite, the Jebusite, and
the Sychemite, and all the Gergesites, and they dwelt in that country many
days.
17.
And whilst they sinned not before their God, they prospered, because the
God that hates iniquity/Lawlessness was with them.
1
Maccab. 2:49 4:40
1Ma
2:49
Now when the time drew near that Mattathias should die, he said unto his sons,
Now has pride and rebuke gotten strength, and the time of destruction, and the
wrath of indignation:
50.
Now therefore, my sons, be you zealous for the Law, and give your lives for the
covenant of your fathers.
51.
Call to remembrance what acts our fathers did in their time; so will you
receive great honour and an everlasting name.
52.
Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was imputed unto him for
righteousness/ generosity?
53.
Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandments and was made lord of
Egypt.
54.
Phinehas our father in being zealous and fervent obtained the covenant of an
everlasting priesthood.
55.
Joshua for fulfilling the Word was made a judge in Israel.
56.
Caleb for bearing witness before the congregation received the heritage of the
land.
57.
David for being merciful possessed the throne of an everlasting kingdom.
58.
Elias for being zealous and fervent for the Law was taken up into heaven.
59.
Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, by believing were saved out of the flame.
60.
Daniel for his innocence was delivered from the mouth of lions.
61.
And thus consider you throughout all ages, that none that put their trust in
Him will be overcome.
62.
Fear not then the words of a sinful man: for his glory will be dung and worms.
63.
Today he will be lifted up and to morrow he will not be found, because he is
returned into his dust, and his thought is come to nothing.
64.
Wherefore, you my sons, be valiant and show yourselves men in behalf of the
Law; for by it will you obtain glory.
65.
And behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man of counsel, give ear unto
him always: he will be a father unto you.
66.
As for Judas Maccabeus, he has been mighty and strong, even from his youth up:
let him be your captain, and fight the battle of the people.
67.
Take also unto you all those that observe the Law, and avenge you the wrong of
your people.
68.
Recompense fully the heathen, and take heed to do the commandments of the Law.
69.
So he blessed them, and was gathered to his fathers.
70.
And he died in the hundred forty and sixth year, and his sons buried him in the
sepulchres of his fathers at Modin, and all Israel made great lamentation for
him.
1Ma
3:1 Then
his son Judas, called Maccabeus, rose up in his stead.
2.
And all his brethren helped him, and so did all they that held with his father,
and they fought with cheerfulness the battle of Israel.
3.
So he brought his people great honour, and put on a breastplate as a giant, and
girt his warlike harness about him, and he made battles, protecting the host
with his sword.
4.
In his acts he was like a lion, and like a lion's whelp roaring for his prey.
5.
For He pursued the wicked/Lawless, and sought them out, and burnt up those that
vexed his people.
6.
Wherefore the wicked/Lawless shrunk for fear of him, and all the workers of
iniquity/Lawlessness were troubled, because salvation prospered in his hand.
7.
He grieved also many kings, and made Jacob glad with his acts, and his memorial
is blessed forever.
8.
Moreover he went through the cities of Juda, destroying the ungodly out of
them, and turning away wrath from Israel:
9.
So that he was renowned unto the utmost part of the earth, and he received unto
him such as were ready to perish.
10.
Then Apollonius gathered the Gentiles together, and a great host out of
Samaria, to fight against Israel.
11.
Which thing when Judas perceived, he went forth to meet him, and so he smote
him, and slew him: many also fell down slain, but the rest fled.
12.
Wherefore Judas took their spoils, and Apollonius' sword also, and therewith he
fought all his life long.
13.
Now when Seron, a prince of the army of Syria, heard say that Judas had
gathered unto him a multitude and company of the faithful to go out with him to
war;
14.
He said, I will get me a name and honour in the kingdom; for I will go fight
with Judas and them that are with him, who despise the king's commandment.
15.
So he made him ready to go up, and there went with him a mighty host of the
ungodly to help him, and to be avenged of the children of Israel.
16.
And when he came near to the going up of Bethhoron, Judas went forth to meet
him with a small company:
17.
Who, when they saw the host coming to meet them, said unto Judas, How will we
be able, being so few, to fight against so great a multitude and so strong,
seeing we are ready to faint with fasting all this day?
18.
Unto whom Judas answered, It is no hard matter for many to be shut up in the
hands of a few; and with the God of heaven it is all one, to deliver with a
great multitude, or a small company:
19.
For the victory of battle stands not in the multitude of a host; but strength
comes from heaven.
20.
They come against us in much pride and iniquity/Lawlessness to destroy us, and
our wives and children, and to spoil us:
21.
But we fight for our lives and our Laws.
22.
Wherefore the LORD Himself will overthrow them before our face: and as for you,
be you not afraid of them.
23.
Now as soon as he had left off speaking, he leapt suddenly upon them, and so
Seron and his host was overthrown before him.
24.
And they pursued them from the going down of Bethhoron unto the plain, where
were slain about eight hundred men of them; and the residue fled into the land
of the Philistines.
25.
Then began the fear of Judas and his brethren, and an exceeding great dread, to
fall upon the nations round about them:
26.
Insomuch as his fame came unto the king, and all Gentiles talked of the battles
of Judas.
27.
Now when king Antiochus heard these things, he was full of indignation:
wherefore he sent and gathered together all the forces of his realm, even a
very strong army.
28.
He opened also his treasure, and gave his soldiers pay for a year, commanding
them to be ready whensoever he should need them.
29.
Nevertheless, when he saw that the money of his treasures failed and that the
tributes in the country were small, because of the dissension and plague, which
he had brought upon the land in taking away the Laws which had been of old
time;
30.
He feared that he should not be able to bear the charges any longer, nor to
have such gifts to give so liberally as he did before: for he had abounded
above the kings that were before him.
31.
Wherefore, being greatly perplexed in his mind, he determined to go into
Persia, there to take the tributes of the countries, and to gather much money.
32.
So he left Lysias, a nobleman, and one of the blood royal, to oversee the
affairs of the king from the river Euphrates unto the borders of Egypt:
33.
And to bring up his son Antiochus, until he came again.
34.
Moreover he delivered unto him the half of his forces, and the elephants, and
gave him charge of all things that he would have done, as also concerning them
that dwelt in Juda and Jerusalem:
35.
To wit, that he should send an army against them, to destroy and root out the
strength of Israel, and the remnant of Jerusalem, and to take away their
memorial from that place;
36.
And that he should place strangers in all their quarters, and divide their land
by lot.
37.
So the king took the half of the forces that remained, and departed from
Antioch, his royal city, the hundred forty and seventh year; and having passed
the river Euphrates, he went through the high countries.
38.
Then Lysias chose Ptolemee the son of Dorymenes, Nicanor, and Gorgias, mighty
men of the king's friends:
39.
And with them he sent forty thousand footmen, and seven thousand horsemen, to
go into the land of Juda, and to destroy it, as the king commanded.
40.
So they went forth with all their power, and came and pitched by Emmaus in the
plain country.
41.
And the merchants of the country, hearing the fame of them, took silver and
gold very much, with servants, and came into the camp to buy the children of
Israel for slaves: a power also of Syria and of the land of the Philistines
joined themselves unto them.
42.
Now when Judas and his brethren saw that miseries were multiplied, and that the
forces did encamp themselves in their borders: for they knew how the king had
given commandment to destroy the people, and utterly abolish them;
43.
They said one to another, Let us restore the decayed fortune of our people, and
let us fight for our people and the sanctuary.
44.
Then was the congregation gathered together, that they might be ready for
battle, and that they might pray, and ask mercy and compassion.
45.
Now Jerusalem lay void as a wilderness, there was none of her children that
went in or out: the sanctuary also was trodden down, and aliens kept the strong
hold; the heathen had their habitation in that place; and joy was taken from
Jacob, and the pipe with the harp ceased.
46.
Wherefore the Israelites assembled themselves together, and came to Maspha,
over against Jerusalem; for in Maspha was the place where they prayed aforetime
in Israel.
47.
Then they fasted that day, and put on sackcloth, and cast ashes upon their
heads, and rent their clothes,
48.
And laid open the Scroll of the Law, wherein the heathen had sought to paint
the likeness of their images.
49.
They brought also the priests' garments, and the first-fruits, and the tithes:
and the Nazarites they stirred up, who had accomplished their days.
50.
Then cried they with a loud voice toward heaven, saying, What will we do with
these, and where will we carry them away?
51.
For thy sanctuary is trodden down and profaned, and your priests are in
heaviness, and brought low.
52.
And lo, the heathen are assembled together against us to destroy us: what things
they imagine against us, You know.
53.
How will we be able to stand against them, except You, O God, be our help?
54.
Then sounded they with trumpets [Shofarot-Ram Horns], and cried with a loud
voice.
55.
And after this Judas ordained captains over the people, even captains over
thousands, and over hundreds, and over fifties, and over tens.
56.
But as for such as were building houses, or had betrothed wives, or were
planting vineyards, or were fearful, those he commanded that they should
return, every man to his own house, according to the Law.
57.
So the camp removed, and pitched upon the south side of Emmaus.
58.
And Judas said, arm yourselves, and be valiant men, and see that you be in
readiness against the morning, that you may fight against these Gentiles, that
are assembled together against us to destroy us and our sanctuary:
59.
For it is better for us to die in battle, than to behold the calamities of our
people and our sanctuary.
60.
Nevertheless, as the will of God is in heaven, so let Him do.
1Ma
4:1 Then
took Gorgias five thousand footmen, and a thousand of the best horsemen, and
removed out of the camp by night;
2.
To the end he might rush in upon the camp of the Jews, and smite them suddenly.
And the men of the fortress were his guides.
3.
Now when Judas heard thereof he himself removed, and the valiant men with him,
that he might smite the king's army which was at Emmaus,
4.
While as yet the forces were dispersed from the camp.
5.
In the mean time came Gorgias by night into the camp of Judas: and when he
found no man there, he sought them in the mountains: for said he, These fellows
flee from us
6.
But as soon as it was day, Judas showed himself in the plain with three
thousand men, who nevertheless had neither armour nor swords to their minds.
7.
And they saw the camp of the heathen, that it was strong and well harnessed,
and compassed round about with horsemen; and these were expert of war.
8.
Then said Judas to the men that were with him, Fear you not their multitude,
neither be you afraid of their assault.
9.
Remember how our fathers were delivered in the Red sea, when Pharaoh pursued
them with an army.
10.
Now therefore let us cry unto heaven, if peradventure the LORD will have mercy
upon us, and remember the covenant of our fathers, and destroy this host before
our face this day:
11.
That so all the heathen may know that there is One who delivers and saves
Israel.
12.
Then the strangers lifted up their eyes, and saw them coming over against them.
13.
Wherefore they went out of the camp to battle; but they that were with Judas
sounded their trumpets.
14.
So they joined battle, and the heathen being discomfited fled into the plain.
15.
Howbeit all the hindmost of them were slain with the sword: for they pursued
them unto Gazera, and unto the plains of Idumea, and Azotus, and Jamnia, so
that there were slain of them upon a three thousand men.
16.
This done, Judas returned again with his host from pursuing them,
17.
And said to the people, Be not greedy of the spoil inasmuch as there is a
battle before us,
18.
And Gorgias and his host are here by us in the mountain: but stand you now
against our enemies, and overcome them, and after this you may boldly take the
spoils.
19.
As Judas was yet speaking these words, there appeared a part of them looking
out of the mountain:
20.
Who when they perceived that the Jews had put their host to flight and were
burning the tents; for the smoke that was seen declared what was done:
21.
When therefore they perceived these things, they were sore afraid, and seeing
also the host of Judas in the plain ready to fight,
22.
They fled every one into the land of strangers.
23.
Then Judas returned to spoil the tents, where they got much gold, and silver,
and blue silk, and purple of the sea, and great riches.
24.
After this they went home, and sung a song of thanksgiving, and praised the
LORD in the heavens: because He is good, because His mercy endures forever.
25.
Thus Israel had a great deliverance that day.
26.
Now all the strangers that had escaped came and told Lysias what had happened:
27.
Who, when he heard thereof, was confounded and discouraged, because neither
such things as he would were done unto Israel, nor such things as the king
commanded him were come to pass.
28.
The next year therefore following Lysias gathered together threescore thousand
choice men of foot, and five thousand horsemen, that he might subdue them.
29.
So they came into Idumea, and pitched their tents at Bethsura, and Judas met
them with ten thousand men.
30.
And when he saw that mighty army, he prayed and said, Blessed are You, O
Saviour of Israel, who did quell the violence of the mighty man by the hand of
Your servant David, and gave the host of strangers into the hands of Jonathan
the son of Saul, and his armour-bearer;
31.
Shut up this army in the hand of Your people Israel, and let them be confounded
in their power and horsemen:
32.
Make them to be of no courage, and cause the boldness of their strength to fall
away, and let them quake at their destruction:
33.
Cast them down with the sword of them that love You, and let all those that
know Your name praise You with thanksgiving.
34.
So they joined battle; and there were slain of the host of Lysias about five
thousand men, even before them were they slain.
35.
Now when Lysias saw his army put to flight, and the manliness of Judas'
soldiers, and how they were ready either to live or die valiantly, he went into
Antiochia, and gathered together a company of strangers, and having made his
army greater than it was, he purposed to come again into Judea.
36.
Then said Judas and his brethren, Behold, our enemies are discomfited: let us
go up to cleanse and dedicate the sanctuary.
37.
Upon this all the host assembled themselves together, and went up into mount Zion.
38.
And when they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar profaned, and the gates
burned up, and shrubs growing in the courts as in a forest, or in one of the
mountains, yes, and the priests' chambers pulled down;
39.
They rent their clothes, and made great lamentation, and cast ashes upon their
heads,
40.
And fell down flat to the ground upon their faces, and blew an alarm with the
trumpets, and cried towards heaven.
Psalm
30
1.
A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication (Heb. חֲנֻכַּת
Chanukhat) of the House; of David.
2.
I will extol You, O LORD, for You have raised me up, and have not suffered my
enemies to rejoice over me.
3.
O LORD my God, I cried unto You, and You have healed me;
4.
O LORD, You brought up my soul from the nether-world (Heb. Sheol); You did keep
me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
5.
Sing praise unto the LORD, O you His godly ones (Heb. Chasidim - saints), and
give thanks to to the memory of His Holiness.
6.
For His anger is only for a moment, His favour is for a life-time; weeping may
endure for the [whole] night [of the exile], but joy comes in the morning [of
the Messianic Age].
7.
Now I said in my security/prosperity: I will never be moved [forever].
8.
O LORD, in Your favour You have made my strong mountain [government] to stand;
You hid Your face; I was frightened.
9.
Unto Thee, O LORD, did I call, and unto the LORD I made supplication:
10.
What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Will the dust
praise You? Will it declare Your truth [i.e. Your Torah]?
11.
Hear, O LORD, and be gracious unto me; LORD, be You my helper.
12.
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth,
and have clothed me with gladness;
13.
So that my glory may sing praise to You, and not be quiet; O LORD my God, I
will give thanks unto You forever!
Nazareans
add in their private study and discussions:
Isaiah
5:20-24
20. Woe unto them that call evil
good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that
put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
21. Woe unto them that are wise
in their own eyes, and discerning in their own sight!
22. Woe unto them that are mighty
to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink;
23. That justify the wicked/Lawless
for a bribe, and take away the righteousness/generosity of the righteous/generous
from him!
24. Therefore as the tongue of
fire devours the stubble, and as the chaff is consumed in the flame, so their
root will be as rottenness, and their blossom will go up as dust; because they
have rejected the Law of the LORD of Hosts, and despised the Word of the Holy
One of Israel.
1 John 2:1-11
1. My little children, these
things I write to you, that you may not sin: and if any one may sin, an
advocate we have with the Father, Yeshua the Messiah, a righteous/generous one,
2. And he is a propitiation for
our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world,
3. And in this we know that we
know Him (G-d), if His commandments we may keep/observe;
4. He who is saying, I known Him
(G-d), and His commandments is not keeping/observing, a liar he is, and in Him
(G-d) the truth (i.e. the Torah, cf. Psalm 119:142) is not [dwelling in him];
5. And whoever may keep/observe
His Word (Torah), truly in him the love of G-d has been perfected; in this we
know that in him (Messiah) we are/dwell.
6. He who is saying in him (Messiah)
he does remain/dwell, ought accordingly as he walked (obeyed/observed the Law) also
himself so to walk (obey/observe the Law).
7. Brethren, a new commandment I
write not to you, but an old commandment, that you had from the beginning
(i.e. Genesis 1:1ff.) the old commandment is the Word (Torah) that you heard
from the beginning (i.e. Genesis 1:1ff.);
8. Again, a renewed commandment I
write to you, which thing is true in him and in you, because the darkness does
pass away, and the true light does now shine;
9. He who is saying, in the light
he is/dwells, and his brother is hating, in the darkness he is until now;
10. He who is loving his brother,
in the light he does remain/dwell, and a stumbling-block in him there is not;
11. And he who is hating his
brother, in the darkness he is, and in the darkness he does walk, and he does
not know to where he does go, because the darkness did blind his eyes.
Third
Day of Chanukah Kislev 27
Evening
Tuesday December 23 Evening Wednesday December 24
Torah
Reading:
BMidbar (Numbers) 7:24-35
(1) Num. 7:24-26
(2) Num. 7:27-29
(3) Num. 7:30-35
24.
On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun:
25.
His offering was one silver dish, the weight thereof was a hundred and thirty
shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the
sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a
meal-offering;
26.
One golden pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
27.
One young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering;
28.
One male of the goats for a sin-offering;
29.
And for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats,
five he-lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Eliab the son of
Helon.
30.
On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben:
31.
His offering was one silver dish, the weight thereof was a hundred and thirty
shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the
sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a
meal-offering;
32.
One golden pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
33.
One young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb of the first year, for a
burnt-offering;
34.
One male of the goats for a sin-offering;
35.
And for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats,
five he-lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Elizur the son of
Shedeur.
Yehudit
(Judith) 5:18 7:16
Jdt
5:18 But
when they (the Israelites) departed from the way which He (G-d) appointed them,
they were destroyed in many battles very sore, and were led captives into a
land that was not theirs, and the Temple of their God was cast to the ground,
and their cities were taken by the enemies.
19.
But now are they returned to their God, and are come up from the places where
they were scattered, and have possessed Jerusalem, where their sanctuary is,
and are seated in the hill country; for it was desolate.
20.
Now therefore, my lord and governor, if there be any error against this people,
and they sin against their God, let us consider that this will be their ruin,
and let us go up, and we will overcome them.
21.
But if there be no iniquity/Lawlessness in their nation, let my lord now pass
by, lest their LORD defend them, and their God be for them, and we become a reproach
before all the world.
22.
And when Achior had finished these sayings, all the people standing round about
the tent murmured, and the chief men of Holofernes, and all that dwelt by the
sea side, and in Moab, spoke that he should kill him.
23.
For, say they, we will not be afraid of the face of the children of Israel:
for, lo, it is a people that have no strength nor power for a strong battle
24.
Now therefore, lord Holofernes, we will go up, and they will be a prey to be
devoured of all your army.
Jdt
6:1 And
when the tumult of men that were about the council was ceased, Holofernes the
chief captain of the army of Assur said unto Achior and all the Moabites before
all the company of other nations,
2.
And who art you, Achior, and the hirelings of Ephraim, that you have prophesied
against us as today, and have said, that we should not make war with the people
of Israel, because their God will defend them? And who is God but
Nabuchodonosor?
3.
He will send his power, and will destroy them from the face of the earth, and
their God will not deliver them: but we his servants will destroy them as one
man; for they are not able to sustain the power of our horses.
4.
For with them we will tread them under foot, and their mountains will be drunk
with their blood, and their fields will be filled with their dead bodies, and
their footsteps will not be able to stand before us, for they will utterly
perish, says king Nabuchodonosor, lord of all the earth: for he said, None of
my words will be in vain.
5.
And you, Achior, an hireling of Ammon, which has spoken these words in the day
of your iniquity, will see my face no more from this day, until I take
vengeance of this nation that came out of Egypt.
6.
And then will the sword of my army, and the multitude of them that serve me,
pass through your sides, and you will fall among their slain, when I return.
7.
Now therefore my servants will bring you back into the hill country, and will
set you in one of the cities of the passages:
8.
And you will not perish, till you be destroyed with them.
9.
And if you persuade yourself in your mind that they will be taken, let not your
countenance fall: I have spoken it, and none of my words will be in vain.
10.
Then Holofernes commanded his servants, that waited in his tent, to take Achior,
and bring him to Bethulia, and deliver him into the hands of the children of
Israel.
11.
So his servants took him, and brought him out of the camp into the plain, and
they went from the midst of the plain into the hill country, and came unto the
fountains that were under Bethulia.
12.
And when the men of the city saw them, they took up their weapons, and went out
of the city to the top of the hill: and every man that used a sling kept them
from coming up by casting of stones against them.
13.
Nevertheless having gotten privily under the hill, they bound Achior, and cast
him down, and left him at the foot of the hill, and returned to their lord.
14.
But the Israelites descended from their city, and came unto him, and loosed
him, and brought him to Bethulia, and presented him to the governors of the
city:
15.
Which were in those days Ozias the son of Mikha, of the tribe of Simeon, and
Chabris the son of Gothoniel, and Charmis the son of Melchiel.
16.
And they called together all the ancients of the city, and all their youth ran
together, and their women, to the assembly, and they set Achior in the midst of
all their people. Then Ozias asked him of that which was done.
17.
And he answered and declared unto them the words of the council of Holofernes,
and all the words that he had spoken in the midst of the princes of Assur, and
whatsoever Holofernes had spoken proudly against the house of Israel.
18.
Then the people fell down and worshipped God, and cried unto God. saying,
19.
O LORD God of heaven, behold their pride, and pity the low estate of our
nation, and look upon the face of those that are sanctified unto You this day.
20.
Then they comforted Achior, and praised him greatly.
21.
And Ozias took him out of the assembly unto his house, and made a feast to the
elders; and they called on the God of Israel all that night for help.
Jdt
7:1 The
next day Holofernes commanded all his army, and all his people which were come
to take his part, that they should remove their camp against Bethulia, to take
afore hand the ascents of the hill country, and to make war against the
children of Israel.
2.
Then their strong men removed their camps in that day, and the army of the men
of war was an hundred and seventy thousand footmen, and twelve thousand
horsemen, beside the baggage, and other men that were afoot among them, a very
great multitude.
3. And they camped in the valley near unto
Bethulia, by the fountain, and they spread themselves in breadth over Dothaim
even to Belmaim, and in length from Bethulia unto Cynamon, which is over
against Esdraelon.
4.
Now the children of Israel, when they saw the multitude of them, were greatly
troubled, and said everyone to his neighbour, Now will these men lick up the
face of the earth; for neither the high mountains, nor the valleys, nor the
hills, are able to bear their weight.
5.
Then every man took up his weapons of war, and when they had kindled fires upon
their towers, they remained and watched all that night.
6.
But in the second day Holofernes brought forth all his horsemen in the sight of
the children of Israel which were in Bethulia,
7.
And viewed the passages up to the city, and came to the fountains of their
waters, and took them, and set garrisons of men of war over them, and he
himself removed toward his people.
8.
Then came unto him all the chief of the children of Esau, and all the governors
of the people of Moab, and the captains of the sea coast, and said,
9.
Let our lord now hear a word, that there be not an overthrow in your army.
10.
For this people of the children of Israel do not trust in their spears, but in
the height of the mountains wherein they dwell, because it is not easy to come
up to the tops of their mountains.
11.
Now therefore, my lord, fight not against them in battle array, and there will
not so much as one man of your people perish.
12.
Remain in your camp, and keep all the men of your army, and let your servants
get into their hands the fountain of water, which issues forth of the foot of
the mountain:
13.
For all the inhabitants of Bethulia have their water thence; so will thirst
kill them, and they will give up their city, and we and our people will go up
to the tops of the mountains that are near, and will camp upon them, to watch
that none go out of the city.
14.
So they and their wives and their children will be consumed with fire, and
before the sword come against them, they will be overthrown in the streets
where they dwell.
15.
Thus will you render them an evil reward; because they rebelled, and met not your
person peaceably.
16.
And these words pleased Holofernes and all his servants, and he appointed to do
as they had spoken.
1
Maccab. 4:41 6:27
1Ma
4:41 Then
Judas appointed certain men to fight against those that were in the fortress,
until he had cleansed the sanctuary.
42.
So he chose priests of blameless conversation, such as had pleasure in
the Law:
43.
Who cleansed the sanctuary, and bore out the defiled stones into an unclean
place.
44.
And when as they consulted what to do with the altar of burnt offerings, which
was profaned;
45.
They thought it best to pull it down, lest it should be a reproach to them,
because the heathen had defiled it: wherefore they pulled it down,
46.
And laid up the stones in the mountain of the temple in a convenient place,
until there should come a prophet to show what should be done with them.
47.
Then they took whole stones according to the Law, and built a new altar
according to the former;
48.
And made up the sanctuary, and the things that were within the Temple, and
sanctified the courts.
49.
They made also new holy vessels, and into the Temple they brought the
candlestick, and the altar of burnt offerings, and of incense, and the table.
50.
And upon the altar they burned incense, and the lamps that were upon the
candlestick they lighted, that they might give light in the Temple.
51.
Furthermore they set the loaves upon the table, and spread out the veils, and
finished all the works which they had begun to make.
52.
Now on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month, which is called the month
Kislev, in the hundred forty and eighth year, they rose up betimes in the
morning,
53.
And offered sacrifice according to the Law upon the new altar of burnt
offerings, which they had made.
54.
Look, at what time and what day the heathen had profaned it, even in that was
it dedicated with songs, and citherns, and harps, and cymbals.
55.
Then all the people fell upon their faces, worshipping and praising the God of
heaven, who had given them good success.
56.
And so they kept the dedication of the altar eight days and offered burnt
offerings with gladness, and sacrificed the sacrifice of deliverance and
praise.
57.
They decked also the forefront of the Temple with crowns of gold, and with
shields; and the gates and the chambers they renewed, and hanged doors upon them.
58.
Thus was there very great gladness among the people, for that the reproach of
the heathen was put away.
59.
Moreover Judas and his brethren with the whole congregation of Israel
ordained, that the days of the dedication of the altar should be kept in their
season from year to year by the space of eight days, from the five and
twentieth day of the month Kislev, with mirth and gladness.
60.
At that time also they built up the mount Zion with high walls and strong
towers round about, lest the Gentiles should come and tread it down as they had
done before.
61.
And they set there a garrison to keep it, and fortified Bethsura to preserve
it; that the people might have a defence against Idumea.
1Ma
5:1 Now
when the nations round about heard that the altar was built and the sanctuary
renewed as before, it displeased them very much.
2.
Wherefore they thought to destroy the generation of Jacob that was among them,
and thereupon they began to slay and destroy the people.
3.
Then Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea at Arabattine, because
they besieged Gael: and he gave them a great overthrow, and abated their
courage, and took their spoils.
4.
Also he remembered the injury of the children of Bean, who had been a snare and
an offence unto the people, in that they lay in wait for them in the ways.
5.
He shut them up therefore in the towers, and encamped against them, and
destroyed them utterly, and burned the towers of that place with fire, and all
that were therein.
6.
Afterward he passed over to the children of Ammon, where he found a mighty
power, and much people, with Timotheus their captain.
7.
So he fought many battles with them, till at length they were discomfited
before him; and he smote them.
8.
And when he had taken Jazar, with the towns belonging thereto, he returned into
Judea.
9.
Then the heathen that were at Galaad assembled themselves together against the
Israelites that were in their quarters, to destroy them; but they fled to the
fortress of Dathema.
10.
And sent letters unto Judas and his brethren, The heathen that are round about
us are assembled together against us to destroy us:
11.
And they are preparing to come and take the fortress whereunto we are fled,
Timotheus being captain of their host.
12.
Come now therefore, and deliver us from their hands, for many of us are slain:
13.
Yes, all our brethren that were in the places of Tobie are put to death: their
wives and their children also they have carried away captives, and borne away
our stuff; and they have destroyed there about a thousand men.
14.
While these letters were yet reading, behold, there came other messengers from
Galilee with their clothes rent, who reported on this wise,
15.
And said, They of Ptolemais, and of Tyrus, and Sidon, and all Galilee of the
Gentiles, are assembled together against us to consume us.
16.
Now when Judas and the people heard these words, there assembled a great
congregation together, to consult what they should do for their brethren, that
were in trouble, and assaulted of them.
17.
Then said Judas unto Simon his brother, Choose you out men, and go and deliver your
brethren that are in Galilee, for I and Jonathan my brother will go into the
country of Galaad.
18.
So he left Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the people,
with the remnant of the host in Judea to keep it.
19.
Unto whom he gave commandment, saying, Take you the charge of this people, and
see that you make not war against the heathen until the time that we come
again.
20.
Now unto Simon were given three thousand men to go into Galilee, and unto Judas
eight thousand men for the country of Galaad.
21.
Then went Simon into Galilee, where he fought many battles with the heathen, so
that the heathen were discomfited by him.
22.
And he pursued them unto the gate of Ptolemais; and there were slain of the
heathen about three thousand men, whose spoils he took.
23.
And those that were in Galilee, and in Arbattis, with their wives and their
children, and all that they had, took he away with him, and brought them into
Judea with great joy.
24.
Judas Maccabeus also and his brother Jonathan went over Jordan, and travelled
three days' journey in the wilderness,
25.
Where they met with the Nabathites, who came unto them in a peaceable manner,
and told them everything that had happened to their brethren in the land of
Galaad:
26.
And how that many of them were shut up in Bosra, and Bosor, and Alema, Casphor,
Maked, and Carnaim; all these cities are strong and great:
27.
And that they were shut up in the rest of the cities of the country of Galaad,
and that against tomorrow they had appointed to bring their host against the
forts, and to take them, and to destroy them all in one day.
28.
Hereupon Judas and his host turned suddenly by the way of the wilderness unto
Bosra; and when he had won the city, he slew all the males with the edge of the
sword, and took all their spoils, and burned the city with fire,
29.
From whence he removed by night, and went till he came to the fortress.
30.
And betimes in the morning they looked up, and, behold, there was an
innumerable people bearing ladders and other engines of war, to take the
fortress: for they assaulted them.
31.
When Judas therefore saw that the battle was begun, and that the cry of the
city went up to heaven, with trumpets, and a great sound,
32.
He said unto his host, Fight this day for your brethren.
33.
So he went forth behind them in three companies, who sounded their trumpets,
and cried with prayer.
34.
Then the host of Timotheus, knowing that it was Maccabeus, fled from him:
wherefore he smote them with a great slaughter; so that there were killed of
them that day about eight thousand men.
35.
This done, Judas turned aside to Maspha; and after he had assaulted it he took
and slew all the males therein, and received the spoils thereof and burnt it
with fire.
36
From thence went he, and took Casphon, Maged, Bosor, and the other cities of
the country of Galaad.
37.
After these things gathered Timotheus another host and encamped against Raphon
beyond the brook.
38.
So Judas sent men to espy the host, who brought him word, saying, All the
heathen that be round about us are assembled unto them, even a very great host.
39.
He has also hired the Arabians to help them and they have pitched their tents
beyond the brook, ready to come and fight against you. Upon this Judas went to
meet them.
40.
Then Timotheus said unto the captains of his host, When Judas and his host come
near the brook, if he pass over first unto us, we will not be able to withstand
him; for he will mightily prevail against us:
41.
But if he be afraid, and camp beyond the river, we will go over unto him, and
prevail against him.
42.
Now when Judas came near the brook, he caused the scribes of the people to
remain by the brook: unto whom he gave commandment, saying, Suffer no man to remain
in the camp, but let all come to the battle.
43.
So he went first over unto them, and all the people after him: then all the
heathen, being discomfited before him, cast away their weapons, and fled unto
the temple that was at Carnaim.
44.
But they took the city, and burned the temple with all that were therein. Thus
was Carnaim subdued, neither could they stand any longer before Judas.
45.
Then Judas gathered together all the Israelites that were in the country of
Galaad, from the least unto the greatest, even their wives, and their children,
and their stuff, a very great host, to the end they might come into the land of
Judea.
46.
Now when they came unto Ephron, (this was a great city in the way as they
should go, very well fortified) they could not turn from it, either on the
right hand or the left, but must needs pass through the midst of it.
47.
Then they of the city shut them out, and stopped up the gates with stones.
48.
Whereupon Judas sent unto them in peaceable manner, saying, Let us pass through
your land to go into our own country, and none will do you any hurt; we will
only pass through on foot: howbeit they would not open unto him.
49.
Wherefore Judas commanded a proclamation to be made throughout the host, that
every man should pitch his tent in the place where he was.
50.
So the soldiers pitched, and assaulted the city all that day and all that
night, till at the length the city was delivered into his hands:
51.
Who then slew all the males with the edge of the sword, and razed the city, and
took the spoils thereof, and passed through the city over them that were slain.
52.
After this went they over Jordan into the great plain before Bethshan.
53.
And Judas gathered together those that came behind, and exhorted the people all
the way through, till they came into the land of Judea.
54.
So they went up to mount Zion with joy and gladness, where they offered burnt
offerings, because not one of them were slain until they had returned in peace.
55.
Now what time as Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Galaad, and Simon his
brother in Galilee before Ptolemais,
56.
Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the garrisons, heard of
the valiant acts and warlike deeds which they had done.
57.
Wherefore they said, Let us also get us a name, and go fight against the
heathen that are round about us.
58.
So when they had given charge unto the garrison that was with them, they went
toward Jamnia.
59.
Then came Gorgias and his men out of the city to fight against them.
60.
And so it was, that Joseph and Azaras were put to flight, and pursued unto the
borders of Judea: and there were slain that day of the people of Israel about
two thousand men.
61.
Thus was there a great overthrow among the children of Israel, because they
were not obedient unto Judas and his brethren, but thought to do some valiant
act.
62.
Moreover these men came not of the seed of those, by whose hand deliverance was
given unto Israel.
63.
Howbeit the man Judas and his brethren were greatly renowned in the sight of
all Israel, and of all the heathen, wheresoever their name was heard of;
64.
Insomuch as the people assembled unto them with joyful acclamations.
65.
Afterward went Judas forth with his brethren, and fought against the children
of Esau in the land toward the south, where he smote Hebron, and the towns
thereof, and pulled down the fortress of it, and burned the towers thereof
round about.
66.
From thence he removed to go into the land of the Philistines, and passed
through Samaria.
67.
At that time certain priests, desirous to show their valour, were slain in
battle, for that they went out to fight unadvisedly.
68.
So Judas turned to Azotus in the land of the Philistines, and when he had
pulled down their altars, and burned their carved images with fire, and spoiled
their cities, he returned into the land of Judea.
1Ma
6:1 About
that time king Antiochus travelling through the high countries heard say, that
Elymais in the country of Persia was a city greatly renowned for riches,
silver, and gold;
2.
And that there was in it a very rich temple, wherein were coverings of gold,
and breastplates, and shields, which Alexander, son of Philip, the Macedonian
king, who reigned first among the Grecians, had left there.
3.
Wherefore he came and sought to take the city, and to spoil it; but he was not
able, because they of the city, having had warning thereof,
4.
Rose up against him in battle: so he fled, and departed thence with great
heaviness, and returned to Babylon.
5.
Moreover there came one who brought him tidings into Persia, that the armies,
which went against the land of Judea, were put to flight:
6.
And that Lysias, who went forth first with a great power was driven away of the
Jews; and that they were made strong by the armour, and power, and store of
spoils, which they had gotten of the armies, whom they had destroyed:
7.
Also that they had pulled down the abomination, which he had set up upon the
altar in Jerusalem, and that they had compassed about the sanctuary with high
walls, as before, and his city Bethsura.
8.
Now when the king heard these words, he was astonished and sore moved:
whereupon he laid him down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it
had not befallen him as he looked for.
9.
And there he continued many days: for his grief was ever more and more, and he
made account that he should die.
10.
Wherefore he called for all his friends, and said unto them, The sleep is gone
from my eyes, and my heart fails for every care.
11.
And I thought with myself, Into what tribulation am I come, and how great a
flood of misery is it, wherein now I am! for I was bountiful and beloved in my
power.
12.
But now I remember the evils that I did at Jerusalem, and that I took all the
vessels of gold and silver that were therein, and sent to destroy the
inhabitants of Judea without a cause.
13.
I perceive therefore that for this cause these troubles are come upon me, and,
behold, I perish through great grief in a strange land.
14.
Then called he for Philip, one of his friends, who he made ruler over all his
realm,
15.
And gave him the crown, and his robe, and his signet, to the end he should
bring up his son Antiochus, and nourish him up for the kingdom.
16.
So king Antiochus died there in the hundred forty and ninth year.
17.
Now when Lysias knew that the king was dead, he set up Antiochus his son, whom
he had brought up being young, to reign in his stead, and his name he called
Eupator.
18.
About this time they that were in the tower shut up the Israelites round about
the sanctuary, and sought always their hurt, and the strengthening of the
heathen.
19.
Wherefore Judas, purposing to destroy them, called all the people together to
besiege them.
20.
So they came together, and besieged them in the hundred and fiftieth year, and
he made mounts for shot against them, and other engines.
21.
Howbeit certain of them that were besieged got forth, unto whom some ungodly
men of Israel joined themselves:
22.
And they went unto the king, and said, How long will it be before you execute
judgment, and avenge our brethren?
23.
We have been willing to serve your father, and to do as he would have us, and
to obey his commandments;
24.
For which cause they of our nation besiege the tower, and are alienated from
us: moreover as many of us as they could light on they slew, and spoiled our
inheritance.
25.
Neither have they stretched out their hand against us only, but also against
their borders.
26.
And, behold, this day are they besieging the tower at Jerusalem, to take it:
the sanctuary also and Bethsura have they fortified.
27.
Wherefore if you do not prevent them quickly, they will do the greater things
than these, neither will you be able to rule them.
Psalm
30
1.
A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication (Heb. חֲנֻכַּת
Chanukhat) of the House; of David.
2.
I will extol You, O LORD, for You have raised me up, and have not suffered my
enemies to rejoice over me.
3.
O LORD my God, I cried unto You, and You have healed me;
4.
O LORD, You brought up my soul from the nether-world (Heb. Sheol); You did keep
me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
5.
Sing praise unto the LORD, O you His godly ones (Heb. Chasidim - saints), and
give thanks to to the memory of His Holiness.
6.
For His anger is only for a moment, His favour is for a life-time; weeping may
endure for the [whole] night [of the exile], but joy comes in the morning [of
the Messianic Age].
7.
Now I said in my security/prosperity: I will never be moved [forever].
8.
O LORD, in Your favour You have made my strong mountain [government] to stand;
You hid Your face; I was frightened.
9.
Unto Thee, O LORD, did I call, and unto the LORD I made supplication:
10.
What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Will the dust
praise You? Will it declare Your truth [i.e. Your Torah]?
11.
Hear, O LORD, and be gracious unto me; LORD, be You my helper.
12.
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth,
and have clothed me with gladness;
13.
So that my glory may sing praise to You, and not be quiet; O LORD my God, I
will give thanks unto You forever!
Nazareans
add in their private study and discussions:
Isaiah
42:18
18.
Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see.
1
John 2:12-29
12.
I write to you, little children, because the sins have been forgiven you
through His (G-ds) name/authority;
13.
I write to you, fathers, because you have known him (Messiah) who is from the beginning
(i.e. Gen. 1:1ff.); I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the
evil. I write to you, little youths, because you have known the Father:
14.
I did write to you, fathers, because you have known him (Messiah) who is from
the beginning (i.e. Gen. 1:1ff.); I did write to you, young men,
because you are strong, and the Word of G-d in you does remain/dwell, and you
have overcome evil.
15.
Love not the world, nor the things in the world; if any one does love the
world, the love of the Father is/dwells not in him,
16.
Because all that is in the world--the desire of the flesh, and the desire of
the eyes, and the ostentations of life--is not of the Father, but of the world;
17.
And the world does pass away, and the desire of it, and he who is doing the
will of G-d (i.e. observing His commandments), he does remain forever.
18.
Little youths, it is the end hour (time); and even as you heard that the
anti-Messiah does come, even now anti-Messiahs have become many, whence we know
that it is the end hour (time);
19.
Out of us they went forth, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us,
they would have remained with us; but--that they might be manifested that all
they are not of us.
20
And you have an anointing from the Holy One, and have known all things;
21.
I did not write to you because you have not known the truth (i.e. the Law, cf.
Psalm 119:142), but because you have known it, and because no lie is of the
truth (Law).
22.
Who is the liar, except he who is denying that Yeshua is the Messiah? This one
is the anti-Messiah who is denying the Father and the Son (King of Israel);
23.
Everyone who is denying the Son (King of Israel), neither has the Father.
24.
You, then, that which you heard from the beginning (i.e. Genesis
1:1ff.), in you let it remain; if in you may remain that which from the beginning
(i.e. Gen. 1:1ff.) you did hear, you also in the Son (King of Israel) and in
the Father will remain,
25.
And this is the promise that He did promise us--the life eternal.
26.
These things I did write to you concerning those leading you astray;
27.
And you, the anointing that you did receive from him (Messiah), in you it does
remain, and you have no need that any one may teach you, but as the same
anointing does teach you concerning all, and is true, and is not a lie, and
even as was taught you, you will remain in him (Messiah).
28. And now, little children,
remain in him (Messiah), that when he (Messiah) may be manifested, we may have
boldness, and may not be ashamed before him (Messiah), in his (Messiahs)
presence;
29. If you know that He (G-d) is
righteous/generous, know you that everyone doing the righteousness/generosity,
of Him (G-d) has been begotten.
Fourth
Day of Chanukah Kislev 28
Evening
Wednesday December 24 Evening Thursday December 25
Torah
Reading:
BMidbar (Numbers) 7:30-41
(1) Num. 7:30-32
(2) Num. 7:33-35
(3) Num. 7:36-41
30.
On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben:
31.
His offering was one silver dish, the weight thereof was a hundred and thirty
shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the
sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a
meal-offering;
32.
One golden pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
33.
One young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb of the first year, for a
burnt-offering;
34.
One male of the goats for a sin-offering;
35.
And for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats,
five he-lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Elizur the son of
Shedeur.
36.
On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of
Simeon:
37.
His offering was one silver dish, the weight thereof was a hundred and thirty
shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the
sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering;
38.
One golden pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
39.
One young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb of the first year, for a
burnt-offering;
40.
One male of the goats for a sin-offering;
41.
And for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats,
five he-lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of
Zurishaddai.
Yehudit
(Judith) 7:17 8:27
Jdt
7:17
So the camp of the children of Ammon departed, and with them five thousand of
the Assyrians, and they pitched in the valley, and took the waters, and the
fountains of the waters of the children of Israel.
18.
Then the children of Esau went up with the children of Ammon, and camped in the
hill country over against Dothaim: and they sent some of them toward the south,
and toward the east over against Ekrebel, which is near unto Chusi, that is
upon the brook Mochmur; and the rest of the army of the Assyrians camped in the
plain, and covered the face of the whole land; and their tents and carriages
were pitched to a very great multitude.
19.
Then the children of Israel cried unto the LORD their God, because their heart
failed, for all their enemies had compassed them round about, and there was no
way to escape out from among them.
20.
Thus all the company of Assur remained about them, both their footmen,
chariots, and horsemen, four and thirty days, so that all their vessels of
water failed all the inhabitants of Bethulia.
21.
And the cisterns were emptied, and they had not water to drink their fill for
one day; for they gave them drink by measure.
22.
Therefore their young children were out of heart, and their women and young men
fainted for thirst, and fell down in the streets of the city, and by the
passages of the gates, and there was no longer any strength in them.
23.
Then all the people assembled to Ozias, and to the chief of the city, both
young men, and women, and children, and cried with a loud voice, and said
before all the elders,
24.
God be judge between us and you: for you have done us great injury, in that you
have not required peace of the children of Assur.
25.
For now we have no helper: but God hath sold us into their hands, that we
should be thrown down before them with thirst and great destruction.
26.
Now therefore call them unto you, and deliver the whole city for a spoil to the
people of Holofernes, and to all his army.
27.
For it is better for us to be made a spoil unto them, than to die for thirst:
for we will be his servants, that our souls may live, and not see the death of
our infants before our eyes, nor our wives nor our children to die.
28.
We take to witness against you the heaven and the earth, and our God and Lord
of our fathers, which punishes us according to our sins and the sins of our
fathers, that He do not according as we have said this day.
29.
Then there was great weeping with one consent in the midst of the assembly; and
they cried unto the LORD God with a loud voice.
30.
Then said Ozias to them, Brethren, be of good courage, let us yet endure five days,
in the which space the LORD our God may turn His mercy toward us; for He will
not forsake us utterly.
31.
And if these days pass, and there come no help unto us, I will do according to
your word.
32.
And he dispersed the people, every one to their own charge; and they went unto
the walls and towers of their city, and sent the women and children into their
houses: and they were very low of water in the city.
Jdt
8:1 Now
at that time Judith heard thereof, which was the daughter of Merari, the son of
Ox, the son of Joseph, the son of Ozel, the son of Elcia, the son of Ananias,
the son of Gideon, the son of Raphaim, the son of Acitho, the son of Eliu, the
son of Eliab, the son of Nathanael, the son of Samael, the son of Salasadal,
the son of Israel.
2.
And Manasses was her husband, of her tribe and kindred, who died in the barley
harvest.
3.
For as he stood overseeing them that bound sheaves in the field, the heat came
upon his head, and he fell on his bed, and died in the city of Bethulia: and
they buried him with his fathers in the field between Dothaim and Balamo.
4.
So Judith was a widow in her house three years and four months.
5.
And she made her a tent upon the top of her house, and put on sackcloth upon
her loins and wore her widow's apparel.
6.
And she fasted all the days of her widowhood, save the eves of the Sabbaths,
and the Sabbaths, and the eves of the New Moons, and the New Moons and the Feasts
and solemn days of the house of Israel.
7.
She was also of a goodly countenance, and very beautiful to behold: and her
husband Manasses had left her gold, and silver, and menservants and
maidservants, and cattle, and lands; and she remained upon them.
8.
And there was none that gave her an ill word; as she feared God greatly.
9.
Now when she heard the evil words of the people against the governor, that they
fainted for lack of water; for Judith had heard all the words that Ozias had
spoken unto them, and that he had sworn to deliver the city unto the Assyrians
after five days;
10.
Then she sent her waiting-woman, that had the government of all things that she
had, to call Ozias and Chabris and Charmis, the elders of the city.
11.
And they came unto her, and she said unto them, Hear me now, O you governors of
the inhabitants of Bethulia: for your words that you have spoken before the
people this day are not right, touching this oath which you made and pronounced
between God and you, and have promised to deliver the city to our enemies, unless
within these days the LORD turn to help you.
12.
And now who are you that have tempted God this day, and stand instead of God
among the children of men?
13.
And now try the LORD Almighty, but you will never know anything.
14.
For you cannot find the depth of the heart of man, neither can you perceive the
things that he thinks: then how can you search out God, that has made all these
things, and know His mind, or comprehend His purpose? Nay, my brethren, provoke
not the LORD our God to anger.
15.
For if He will not help us within these five days, He has power to defend us
when He will, even every day, or to destroy us before our enemies.
16.
Do not bind the counsels of the LORD our God: for God is not as man, that He
may be threatened; neither is He as the son of man, that He should be wavering.
17.
Therefore let us wait for salvation of Him, and call upon Him to help us, and He
will hear our voice, if it please Him.
18.
For there arose none in our age, neither is there any now in these days neither
tribe, nor family, nor people, nor city among us, which worship gods made with
hands, as has been aforetime.
19.
For the which cause our fathers were given to the sword, and for a spoil, and
had a great fall before our enemies.
20.
But we know none other god, therefore we trust that He will not despise us, nor
any of our nation.
21.
For if we be taken so, all Judea will lie waste, and our sanctuary will be
spoiled; and He will require the profanation thereof at our mouth.
22.
And the slaughter of our brethren, and the captivity of the country, and the
desolation of our inheritance, will He turn upon our heads among the Gentiles,
wheresoever we will be in bondage; and we will be an offence and a reproach to
all them that possess us.
23.
For our servitude will not be directed to favour: but the LORD our God will
turn it to dishonour.
24.
Now therefore, O brethren, let us show an example to our brethren,
because their hearts depend upon us, and the sanctuary, and the house, and the
altar, rest upon us.
25.
Moreover let us give thanks to the LORD our God, which tries us, even as He did
our fathers.
26.
Remember what things He did to Abraham, and how He tried Isaac, and what
happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia of Syria, when he kept the sheep of Laban his
mother's brother.
27.
For He has not tried us in the fire, as He did them, for the examination
of their hearts, neither has He taken vengeance on us: but the
LORD does scourge them that come near unto Him, to admonish them.
1
Maccab. 6:28 8:32
1Ma
6:28 Now
when the king heard this, he was angry, and gathered together all his friends,
and the captains of his army, and those that had charge of the horse.
29.
There came also unto him from other kingdoms, and from isles of the sea, bands
of hired soldiers.
30.
So that the number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen, and twenty
thousand horsemen, and two and thirty elephants exercised in battle.
31.
These went through Idumea, and pitched against Bethsura, which they assaulted
many days, making engines of war; but they of Bethsura came out, and burned
them with fire, and fought valiantly.
32.
Upon this Judas removed from the tower, and pitched in Bathzacharias, over
against the king's camp.
33.
Then the king rising very early marched fiercely with his host toward
Bathzacharias, where his armies made them ready to battle, and sounded the
trumpets.
34.
And to the end they might provoke the elephants to fight, they showed them the
blood of grapes and mulberries.
35.
Moreover they divided the beasts among the armies, and for every elephant they
appointed a thousand men, armed with coats of mail, and with helmets of brass
on their heads; and beside this, for every beast were ordained five hundred
horsemen of the best.
36.
These were ready at every occasion: wheresoever the beast was, and
whithersoever the beast went, they went also, neither departed they from him.
37.
And upon the beasts were there strong towers of wood, which covered every one
of them, and were girt fast unto them with devices: there were also upon every
one two and thirty strong men, that fought upon them, beside the Indian that
ruled him.
38.
As for the remnant of the horsemen, they set them on this side and that side at
the two parts of the host giving them signs what to do, and being harnessed all
over amidst the ranks.
39.
Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold and brass, the mountains glistered
therewith, and shined like lamps of fire.
40.
So part of the king's army being spread upon the high mountains, and part on
the valleys below, they marched on safely and in order.
41.
Wherefore all that heard the noise of their multitude, and the marching of the
company, and the rattling of the harness, were moved: for the army was very
great and mighty.
42.
Then Judas and his host drew near, and entered into battle, and there were
slain of the king's army six hundred men.
43.
Eleazar also, surnamed Savaran, perceiving that one of the beasts, armed with
royal harness, was higher than all the rest, and supposing that the king was
upon him,
44.
Put himself in jeopardy, to the end he might deliver his people, and get him a
perpetual name:
45.
Wherefore he ran upon him courageously through the midst of the battle, slaying
on the right hand and on the left, so that they were divided from him on both
sides.
46.
Which done, he crept under the elephant, and thrust him under, and slew him:
whereupon the elephant fell down upon him, and there he died.
47.
Howbeit the rest of the Jews seeing the strength of the king, and the violence
of his forces, turned away from them.
48.
Then the king's army went up to Jerusalem to meet them, and the king pitched
his tents against Judea, and against mount Zion.
49.
But with them that were in Bethsura he made peace: for they came out of the
city, because they had no victuals there to endure the siege, it being a year
of rest (Sabbatical) to the land.
50.
So the king took Bethsura, and set a garrison there to keep it.
51.
As for the sanctuary, he besieged it many days: and set there artillery with
engines and instruments to cast fire and stones, and pieces to cast darts and
slings.
52.
Whereupon they also made engines against their engines, and held them battle a
long season.
53.
Yet at the last, their vessels being without victuals, (for that it was the
seventh year, and they in Judea that were delivered from the Gentiles, had
eaten up the residue of the store;)
54.
There were but a few left in the sanctuary, because the famine did so prevail
against them, that they were faint to disperse themselves, every man to his own
place.
55.
At that time Lysias heard say, that Philip, whom Antiochus the king, while he
lived, had appointed to bring up his son Antiochus, that he might be king,
56.
Was returned out of Persia and Media, and the king's host also that went with
him, and that he sought to take unto him the ruling of the affairs.
57.
Wherefore he went in all haste, and said to the king and the captains of the
host and the company, We decay daily, and our victuals are but small, and the
place we lay siege unto is strong, and the affairs of the kingdom lie upon us:
58.
Now therefore let us be friends with these men, and make peace with them, and
with all their nation;
59.
And covenant with them, that they will live after their Laws, as they did
before: for they are therefore displeased, and have done all these things,
because we abolished their Laws.
60.
So the king and the princes were content: wherefore he sent unto them to make
peace; and they accepted thereof.
61.
Also the king and the princes made an oath unto them: whereupon they went out
of the stronghold.
62.
Then the king entered into mount Zion; but when he saw the strength of the place,
he broke his oath that he had made, and gave commandment to pull down the wall
round about.
63.
Afterward departed he in all haste, and returned unto Antiochia, where he found
Philip to be master of the city: so he fought against him, and took the city by
force.
1Ma
7:1 In
the hundred and one and fiftieth year Demetrius the son of Seleucus departed
from Rome, and came up with a few men unto a city of the sea coast, and reigned
there.
2.
And as he entered into the palace of his ancestors, so it was, that his forces
had taken Antiochus and Lysias, to bring them unto him.
3.
Wherefore, when he knew it, he said, Let me not see their faces.
4.
So his host slew them. Now when Demetrius was set upon the throne of his
kingdom,
5.
There came unto him all the wicked/Lawless and ungodly men of Israel, having
Alcimus, who was desirous to be high priest, for their captain:
6.
And they accused the people to the king, saying, Judas and his brethren have
slain all your friends, and driven us out of our own land.
7.
Now therefore send some man whom you trust, and let him go and see what havoc
he has made among us, and in the king's land, and let him punish them with all
them that aid them.
8.
Then the king chose Bacchides, a friend of the king, who ruled beyond the flood,
and was a great man in the kingdom, and faithful to the king,
9.
And him he sent with that wicked/Lawless Alcimus, whom he made high priest, and
commanded that he should take vengeance of the children of Israel.
10.
So they departed, and came with a great power into the land of Judea, where
they sent messengers to Judas and his brethren with peaceable words
deceitfully.
11.
But they gave no heed to their words; for they saw that they were come with a
great power.
12.
Then did there assemble unto Alcimus and Bacchides a company of scribes, to
require justice.
13.
Now the Assideans were the first among the children of Israel that sought peace
of them:
14.
For said they, One that is a priest of the seed of Aaron is come with this
army, and he will do us no wrong.
15.
So he spoke unto them, peaceably, and sware unto them, saying, we will procure
the harm neither of you nor your friends.
16.
Whereupon they believed him: howbeit he took of them threescore men, and slew
them in one day, according to the words which he wrote,
17.
The flesh of your saints have they cast out, and their blood have they shed
round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them.
18.
Wherefore the fear and dread of them fell upon all the people, who said, There
is neither truth (Law) nor righteousness/generosity in them; for they have
broken the covenant and oath that they made.
19.
After this, removed Bacchides from Jerusalem, and pitched his tents in Bezeth,
where he sent and took many of the men that had forsaken him, and certain of the
people also, and when he had slain them, he cast them into the great pit.
20.
Then committed he the country to Alcimus, and left with him a power to aid him:
so Bacchides went to the king.
21.
But Alcimus contended for the high priesthood.
22.
And unto him resorted all such as troubled the people, who, after they had
gotten the land of Juda into their power, did much hurt in Israel.
23.
Now when Judas saw all the mischief that Alcimus and his company had done among
the Israelites, even above the heathen,
24.
He went out into all the coasts of Judea round about, and took vengeance of
them that had revolted from him, so that they durst no more go forth into the
country.
25.
On the other side, when Alcimus saw that Judas and his company had gotten the
upper hand, and knew that he was not able to abide their force, he went again
to the king, and said all the worst of them that he could.
26.
Then the king sent Nicanor, one of his honourable princes, a man that bare
deadly hate unto Israel, with commandment to destroy the people.
27.
So Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a great force; and sent unto Judas and his
brethren deceitfully with friendly words, saying,
28.
Let there be no battle between me and you; I will come with a few men, that I
may see you in peace.
29.
He came therefore to Judas, and they saluted one another peaceably. Howbeit the
enemies were prepared to take away Judas by violence.
30.
Which thing after it was known to Judas, to wit, that he came unto him with
deceit, he was sore afraid of him, and would see his face no more.
31.
Nicanor also, when he saw that his counsel was discovered, went out to fight
against Judas beside Capharsalama:
32.
Where there were slain of Nicanor's side about five thousand men, and the rest
fled into the city of David.
33.
After this went Nicanor up to mount Zion, and there came out of the sanctuary
certain of the priests and certain of the elders of the people, to salute him
peaceably, and to show him the burnt sacrifice that was offered for the king.
34.
But he mocked them, and laughed at them, and abused them shamefully, and spoke
proudly,
35.
And swore in his wrath, saying, Unless Judas and his host be now delivered into
my hands, if ever I come again in safety, I will burn up this house: and with
that he went out in a great rage.
36.
Then the priests entered in, and stood before the altar and the temple,
weeping, and saying,
37.
You, O LORD, did choose this house to be called by Your name, and to be a house
of prayer and petition for Your people:
38.
Be avenged of this man and his host, and let them fall by the sword: remember
their blasphemies, and suffer them not to continue any longer.
39.
So Nicanor went out of Jerusalem, and pitched his tents in Bethhoron, where an
host out of Syria met him.
40.
But Judas pitched in Hadasa with three thousand men, and there he prayed,
saying,
41.
O Lord, when they that were sent from the king of the Assyrians blasphemed,
Your angel went out, and smote an hundred fourscore and five thousand of them.
42.
Even so destroy You this host before us this day, that the rest may know that
he has spoken blasphemously against Your sanctuary, and judge You him according
to his wickedness/Lawlessness.
43.
So the thirteenth day of the month Adar the hosts joined battle: but Nicanor's
host was discomfited, and he himself was first slain in the battle.
44.
Now when Nicanor's host saw that he was slain, they cast away their weapons,
and fled.
45.
Then they pursued after them a day's journey, from Hadasa unto Gazera, sounding
an alarm after them with their trumpets.
46.
Whereupon they came forth out of all the towns of Judea round about, and closed
them in; so that they, turning back upon them that pursued them, were all slain
with the sword, and not one of them was left.
47.
Afterwards they took the spoils, and the prey, and smote off Nicanors head, and
his right hand, which he stretched out so proudly, and brought them away, and
hanged them up toward Jerusalem.
48.
For this cause the people rejoiced greatly, and they kept that day a day of
great gladness.
49.
Moreover they ordained to keep yearly this day, being the thirteenth of Adar.
50.
Thus the land of Juda was in rest a little while.
1Ma
8:1
Now Judas had heard of the Romans, that they were mighty and valiant men, and
such as would lovingly accept all that joined themselves unto them, and make a
league of amity with all that came unto them;
2.
And that they were men of great valour. It was told him also of their wars and
noble acts which they had done among the Galatians, and how they had conquered
them, and brought them under tribute;
3.
And what they had done in the country of Spain, for the winning of the mines of
the silver and gold which are there;
4.
And that by their policy and patience they had conquered all the place, though
it were very far from them; and the kings also that came against them from the
uttermost part of the earth, till they had discomfited them, and given them a
great overthrow, so that the rest did give them tribute every year:
5.
Beside this, how they had discomfited in battle Philip, and Perseus, king of
the Citims, with others that lifted up themselves against them, and had
overcome them:
6.
How also Antiochus the great king of Asia, that came against them in battle,
having an hundred and twenty elephants, with horsemen, and chariots, and a very
great army, was discomfited by them;
7.
And how they took him alive, and covenanted that he and such as reigned after
him should pay a great tribute, and give hostages, and that which was agreed
upon,
8.
And the country of India, and Media and Lydia and of the goodliest countries,
which they took of him, and gave to king Eumenes:
9.
Moreover how the Grecians had determined to come and destroy them;
10.
And that they, having knowledge thereof sent against them a certain captain,
and fighting with them slew many of them, and carried away captives their wives
and their children, and spoiled them, and took possession of their lands, and
pulled down their strong holds, and brought them to be their servants unto this
day:
11.
It was told him besides, how they destroyed and brought under their dominion
all other kingdoms and isles that at any time resisted them;
12.
But with their friends and such as relied upon them they kept amity: and that
they had conquered kingdoms both far and nigh, insomuch as all that heard of
their name were afraid of them:
13.
Also that, whom they would help to a kingdom, those reign; and whom again they
would, they displace: finally, that they were greatly exalted:
14.
Yet for all this none of them wore a crown or was clothed in purple, to be
magnified thereby:
15.
Moreover how they had made for themselves a senate house, wherein three hundred
and twenty men sat in council daily, consulting always for the people, to the
end they might be well ordered:
16.
And that they committed their government to one man every year, who ruled over
all their country, and that all were obedient to that one, and that there was
neither envy nor emulation among them.
17.
In consideration of these things, Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, the
son of Accos, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome, to make a
league of amity and confederacy with them,
18.
And to entreat them that they would take the yoke from them; for they saw that
the kingdom of the Grecians did oppress Israel with servitude.
19.
They went therefore to Rome, which was a very great journey, and came into the
senate, where they spoke and said.
20.
Judas Maccabeus with his brethren, and the people of the Jews, have sent us
unto you, to make a confederacy and peace with you, and that we might be
registered as your confederates and friends.
21.
So that matter pleased the Romans well.
22.
And this is the copy of the epistle which the senate wrote back again in tables
of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that there they might have by them a memorial
of peace and confederacy:
23.
Good success be to the Romans, and to the people of the Jews, by sea and by
land forever: the sword also and enemy be far from them,
24.
If there come first any war upon the Romans or any of their confederates
throughout all their dominion,
25.
The people of the Jews will help them, as the time will be appointed, with all
their heart:
26.
Neither will they give anything unto them that make war upon them, or aid them
with victuals, weapons, money, or ships, as it has seemed good unto the Romans;
but they will keep their covenants without taking anything therefore.
27.
In the same manner also, if war comes first upon the nation of the Jews, the
Romans will help them with all their heart, according as the time will be
appointed them:
28.
Neither will victuals be given to them that take part against them, or weapons,
or money, or ships, as it has seemed good to the Romans; but they will keep
their covenants, and that without deceit.
29.
According to these articles did the Romans make a covenant with the people of
the Jews.
30.
Howbeit if hereafter the one party or the other will think to meet to add or
diminish anything, they may do it at their pleasures, and whatsoever they will
add or take away will be ratified.
31.
And as touching the evils that Demetrius does to the Jews, we have written unto
him, saying, Wherefore you made your yoke heavy upon our friends and
confederates the Jews?
32.
If therefore they complain any more against you, we will do them justice, and
fight with you by sea and by land.
Psalm
30
1.
A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication (Heb. חֲנֻכַּת
Chanukhat) of the House; of David.
2.
I will extol You, O LORD, for You have raised me up, and have not suffered my
enemies to rejoice over me.
3.
O LORD my God, I cried unto You, and You have healed me;
4.
O LORD, You brought up my soul from the nether-world (Heb. Sheol); You did keep
me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
5.
Sing praise unto the LORD, O you His godly ones (Heb. Chasidim - saints), and
give thanks to to the memory of His Holiness.
6.
For His anger is only for a moment, His favour is for a life-time; weeping may
endure for the [whole] night [of the exile], but joy comes in the morning [of
the Messianic Age].
7.
Now I said in my security/prosperity: I will never be moved [forever].
8.
O LORD, in Your favour You have made my strong mountain [government] to stand;
You hid Your face; I was frightened.
9.
Unto Thee, O LORD, did I call, and unto the LORD I made supplication:
10.
What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Will the dust
praise You? Will it declare Your truth [i.e. Your Torah]?
11.
Hear, O LORD, and be gracious unto me; LORD, be You my helper.
12.
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth,
and have clothed me with gladness;
13.
So that my glory may sing praise to You, and not be quiet; O LORD my God, I
will give thanks unto You forever!
Nazareans
add in their private study and discussions:
Isaiah
42:16
16.
And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not, in paths that they knew
not will I lead them; I will make darkness light before them, and rugged places
plain. These things will I do, and I will not leave them undone.
1
John 3:1-24
1.
See what love the Father has given to us, that Sons of G-d
[Hakhamim/Rabbis] we are called to be [have the given solemn vocation to be];
because of this the world does not know us, because it did not know Him (G-d);
2.
Beloved, now, Sons of G-d [Hakhamim/Rabbis] are we, and it was not yet
manifested what we will be, and we have known that if he (Messiah) may be
manifested, like him (Messiah i.e. a Hakham) we will be, because we will see
him as he (Messiah) is [i.e. a Hakham/Rabbi];
3.
And everyone who is having this hope [and vocation/calling] upon him
(Messiah) [i.e. to become a Son of G-d, that is, a Hakham/Rabbi], does purify
himself, even as he (Messiah) is pure.
4.
Every one who is practicing sin, Lawlessness also he does do, and sin is transgression
of the Law;
5.
And you have known that he (Messiah) was manifested that our sins he may take
away, and sin is not in him (Messiah);
6.
Everyone who is remaining/tabernacling in him [Messiah] does not [habitually] sin;
everyone who is [habitually] sinning, has not seen him [Messiah], nor has known
him [Messiah].
7.
Little children, let no one lead you astray; he who is doing righteousness/generosity
is righteous/ generous, even as he (Messiah) is righteous/generous,
8.
He who is doing [habitual] sin [transgression of G-ds Laws], of the Satan he
is, because from the beginning the Satan does sin [transgresses G-ds Laws]; and
for this was the Son of God (i.e. the Messiah) manifested, that he may break up
the works of the Satan;
9.
Everyone who has been born of G-d, sin [habitually] he does not, because his
[Messiahs] sperm [i.e. Torah which is likened to sperm] in him does remain/tabernacle,
and he is not able to sin habitually, because of G-d he has been born [anew].
10.
In this are manifest the children of G-d, and the children of the Satan; everyone
who is not doing righteousness/generosity, is not of G-d, as well as he who is
not loving his [Jewish] brother,
11.
Because this is the message that you did hear from the beginning
(i.e. Gen. 1:1ff.), that we may love one another,
12.
Not as Cain, [who] of the evil one he was, and he did murder his brother, and
wherefore did he murdered him? Because his works were evil, and those of his
brother righteous/generous.
13.
Do not wonder, my [Jewish] brethren, if the world does hate you;
14.
We have known that we have passed out of the death [eternal] unto the
life [eternal], because we love the [Jewish] brethren; he who is not loving his
[Jewish] brother does remain in the death [eternal].
15.
Everyone who is hating his [Jewish] brother, a murderer he is, and you
have known that no murderer has life eternal in him remaining/tabernacling;
16.
In this we have known the love [of G-d], because he [Messiah ben Yosef] for us
his life did lay down, and we ought for our [Jewish] brethren our lives to lay
down;
17.
And whoever may have the goods of the world, and may see his [Jewish] brother
having need, and may shut up his bowels of compassion from him, how does the
love of G-d remain/tabernacle in him?
18.
My little children, may we not love in [empty] promises nor in tongue, but in
actions and in truth [i.e. according to Torah cf. Psalm 119:142]!
19.
And in this we know that of the truth [i.e. of the Torah (cf. Psalm 119:142)]
we are, and before Him [G-d] we will assure our hearts,
20.
Because if our heart may condemn, greater is G-d than our heart, and He does know
all things.
21.
Beloved, if our heart may not condemn us, we have boldness toward G-d,
22.
And whatever we may ask, we receive from Him, because His [Torah] commandments
we keep/observe, and the things pleasing before Him we do,
23.
And this is His [G-ds] commandment, that we may believe/faithfully obey in the
name/authority of His [G-ds] Son [King] Yeshua the Messiah, and may love one
another, even as He [G-d] did give command to us [to do so],
24.
And he who is keeping/practicing His [G-ds] commandments, in Him [G-d]
he does remain/tabernacle, and He [G-d] in him; and by this we know that He [G-d]
does remain in us, from the Spirit of Holiness/Separation that He [G-d] has given
us.
Fifth
Day of Chanukah Kislev 29
Evening
Thursday December 25 Evening Friday December 26
Torah
Reading:
BMidbar (Numbers) 7:36-47
(1) Num. 7:36-38
(2) Num. 7:39-41
(3) Num. 7:42-47
36.
On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of
Simeon:
37.
His offering was one silver dish, the weight thereof was a hundred and thirty
shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the
sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a
meal-offering;
38.
One golden pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
39.
One young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb of the first year, for a
burnt-offering;
40.
One male of the goats for a sin-offering;
41.
And for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats,
five he-lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of
Zurishaddai.
42.
On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad:
43.
His offering was one silver dish, the weight thereof was a hundred and thirty
shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the
sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a
meal-offering;
44.
One golden pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
45.
One young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb of the first year, for a
burnt-offering;
46.
One male of the goats for a sin-offering;
47.
And for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats,
five he-lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of
Deuel.
Yehudit
(Judith) 8:28 10:23
Jdt
8:28
Then said Ozias to her, All that you have spoken have you spoken with a good
heart, and there is none that may gainsay your words.
29.
For this is not the first day wherein your wisdom is manifested;
but from the beginning of your days all the people have known your
understanding, because the disposition of your heart is good.
30.
But the people were very thirsty, and compelled us to do unto them as we have
spoken, and to bring an oath upon ourselves, which we will not break.
31.
Therefore now pray you for us, because you are a G-dly woman, and the LORD will
send us rain to fill our cisterns, and we will faint no more.
32.
Then said Judith unto them, Hear me, and I will do a thing, which will go
throughout all generations to the children of our nation.
33.
You will stand this night in the gate, and I will go forth with my waiting-woman:
and within the days that you have promised to deliver the city to our enemies
the LORD will visit Israel by my hand.
34.
But enquire not you of my act: for I will not declare it unto you, till the
things be finished that I do.
35.
Then said Ozias and the princes said unto her, Go in peace, and the LORD God be
before you, to take vengeance on our enemies.
36.
So they returned from the tent, and went to their wards.
Jdt
9:1
Judith fell upon her face, and put ashes upon her head, and uncovered the
sackcloth wherewith she was clothed; and about the time that the incense of
that evening was offered in Jerusalem in the house of the LORD Judith cried
with a loud voice, and said,
2.
O LORD God of my father Simeon, to whom you gave a sword to take vengeance of
the strangers, who loosened the girdle of a maid to defile her, and discovered
the thigh to her shame, and polluted her virginity to her reproach; for you
said, It will not be so; and yet they did so:
3.
Wherefore You gave their rulers to be slain, so that they dyed in their bed in
blood, being deceived, and smote the servants with their lords, and the lords
upon their thrones;
4.
And has given their wives for a prey, and their daughters to be captives, and
all their spoils to be divided among Your dear children; which were moved with
Your zeal, and abhorred the pollution of their blood, and called upon You for
aid: O God, O my God, hear me also a widow.
5.
For You have wrought not only those things, but also the things which fell out
before, and which ensued after; You have thought upon the things which are now,
and which are to come.
6.
Yes, what things You did determine were ready at hand, and said, Lo, we are
here: for all Your ways are prepared, and Your judgments are in Your
foreknowledge.
7.
For, behold, the Assyrians are multiplied in their power; they are exalted with
horse and man; they glory in the strength of their footmen; they trust in
shield, and spear, and bow, and sling; and know not that You are the LORD that
brakes the battles: the LORD is Your name.
8.
Throw down their strength in Your power, and bring down their force in Your
wrath: for they have purposed to defile Your sanctuary, and to pollute the
Tabernacle where Your glorious name rests and to cast down with the sword the
horns of Your altar.
9.
Behold their pride, and send Your wrath upon their heads: give into my hand, which
am a widow, the power to do what I have conceived.
10.
Smite by the deceit of my lips the servant with the prince, and the prince with
the servant: break down their stateliness by the hand of a woman.
11.
For Your power stands not in multitude nor Your might in strong men: for You
are a God of the afflicted, a helper of the oppressed, an upholder of the weak,
a protector of the forlorn, a saviour of them that are without hope.
12.
I pray to You, I pray to You, O God of my father, and God of the inheritance of
Israel, Lord of the heavens and earth, Creator of the waters, king of every
creature, hear You my prayer:
13.
And make my speech and deceit to be their wound and stripe, who have purposed
cruel things against Your covenant, and Your hallowed house, and against the
chief of Zion, and against the house of the possession of Your children.
14.
And make every nation and tribe to acknowledge that You are the God of all
power and might, and that there is none other that protects the people of
Israel but You.
Jdt
10:1 Now
after that she had ceased to cry unto the God of Israel, and had made an end of
all these words.
2.
She rose where she had fallen down, and called her maid, and went down into the
house in which she abode on the Sabbath days, and on the Feast days,
3.
And pulled off the sackcloth which she had on, and put off the garments of her
widowhood, and washed her body all over with water, and anointed herself with
precious ointment, and braided the hair of her head, and put on a tire upon it,
and put on her garments of gladness, wherewith she was clad during the life of
Manasses her husband.
4.
And she took sandals upon her feet, and put about her bracelets, and her
chains, and her rings, and her earrings, and all her ornaments, and decked
herself bravely, to allure the eyes of all men that should see her.
5.
Then she gave her maid a bottle of wine, and a cruse of oil, and filled a bag
with parched corn, and lumps of figs, and with fine bread; so she folded all
these things together, and laid them upon her.
6.
Thus they went forth to the gate of the city of Bethulia, and found standing
there Ozias and the elders of the city, Chabris and Charmis.
7.
And when they saw her, that her countenance was altered, and her apparel was
changed, they wondered at her beauty very greatly, and said unto her.
8.
God, the God of our fathers give you favour, and accomplish your enterprises to
the glory of the children of Israel, and to the exaltation of Jerusalem. Then
they worshipped God.
9.
And she said unto them, Command the gates of the city to be opened unto me,
that I may go forth to accomplish the things whereof you have spoken with me.
So they commanded the young men to open unto her, as she had spoken.
10.
And when they had done so, Judith went out, she, and her maid with her; and the
men of the city looked after her, until she was gone down the mountain, and
till she had passed the valley, and could see her no more.
11.
Thus they went straight forth in the valley: and the first watch of the
Assyrians met her,
12.
And took her, and asked her, Of what people art you? And from where do you
comes? And where are you going? And she said, I am a woman of the Hebrews, and
am fled from them: for they will be given you to be consumed:
13.
And I am coming before Holofernes the chief captain of your army, to declare
words of truth; and I will show him a way, whereby he will go, and win all the
hill country, without losing the body or life of any one of his men.
14.
Now when the men heard her words, and beheld her countenance, they wondered
greatly at her beauty, and said unto her,
15.
You have saved your life, in that you have hastened to come down to the
presence of our lord: now therefore come to his tent, and some of us will
escort you, until they have delivered you to his hands.
16.
And when you stand before him, be not afraid in your heart, but show unto him
according to your word; and he will treat you well.
17.
Then they chose out of them an hundred men to accompany her and her maid; and
they brought her to the tent of Holofernes.
18.
Then was there a concourse throughout all the camp: for her coming was noised
among the tents, and they came about her, as she stood without the tent of
Holofernes, till they told him of her.
19.
And they wondered at her beauty, and admired the children of Israel because of
her, and every one said to his neighbour, Who would despise this people, that
have among them such women? Surely it is not good that one man of them be left
who being let go might deceive the whole earth.
20.
And they that lay near and Holofernes went out, and all his servants and they
brought her into the tent.
21.
Now Holofernes rested upon his bed under a canopy, which was woven with purple,
and gold, and emeralds, and precious stones.
22.
So they showed her to him; and he came out before his tent with silver lamps
going before him.
23.
And when Judith was come before him and his servants they all marvelled at the
beauty of her countenance; and she fell down upon her face, and did reverence
unto him: and his servants lifted her up.
1
Maccabees 9:1 10:32
1Ma
9:1
Furthermore, when Demetrius heard the Nicanor and his host were slain in
battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Judea the second time,
and with them the chief strength of his host:
2.
Who went forth by the way that leads to Galgala, and pitched their tents before
Masaloth, which is in Arbela, and after they had won it, they slew much people.
3.
Also the first month of the hundred fifty and second year they encamped before
Jerusalem:
4.
From whence they removed, and went to Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and
two thousand horsemen.
5.
Now Judas had pitched his tents at Eleasa, and three thousand chosen men with
him:
6.
Who seeing the multitude of the other army to be so great were sore afraid;
whereupon many conveyed themselves out of the host, insomuch as abode of them
no more but eight hundred men.
7.
When Judas therefore saw that his host slip away, and that the battle pressed
upon him, he was sore troubled in mind, and much distressed, for that he had no
time to gather them together.
8.
Nevertheless unto them that remained he said, Let us arise and go up against
our enemies, if peradventure we may be able to fight with them.
9.
But they answered him, saying, We will never be able: let us now rather save
our lives, and hereafter we will return with our brethren, and fight against
them: for we are but few.
10.
Then Judas said, God forbid that I should do this thing, and flee away from
them: if our time has come, let us die manly for our brethren, and let us not
stain our honour.
11.
With that the host of Bacchides removed out of their tents, and stood over
against them, their horsemen being divided into two troops, and their slingers
and archers going before the host and they that marched in the fore-ward were
all mighty men.
12.
As for Bacchides, he was in the right wing: so the host drew near on the two
parts, and sounded their trumpets.
13.
They also of Judas' side, even they sounded their trumpets also, so that the
earth shook at the noise of the armies, and the battle continued from morning
till night.
14.
Now when Judas perceived that Bacchides and the strength of his army were on
the right side, he took with him all the hardy men,
15.
Who discomfited the right wing, and pursued them unto the mount Azotus.
16.
But when they of the left wing saw that they of the right wing were
discomfited, they followed upon Judas and those that were with him hard at the
heels from behind:
17.
Whereupon there was a sore battle, insomuch as many were slain on both parts.
18.
Judas also was killed, and the remnant fled.
19.
Then Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the
sepulchre of his fathers in Modin.
20.
Moreover they bewailed him, and all Israel made great lamentation for him, and
mourned many days, saying,
21.
How is the valiant man fallen, that delivered Israel!
22.
As for the other things concerning Judas and his wars, and the most noble acts
which he did, and his greatness, they are not written: for they were very many.
23.
Now after the death of Judas the wicked/Lawless began to put forth their heads
in all the coasts of Israel, and there arose up all such as wrought iniquity/Lawlessness.
24.
In those days also was there a very great famine, by reason whereof the country
revolted, and went with them.
25.
Then Bacchides chose the wicked/Lawless men, and made them lords of the
country.
26.
And they made enquiry and search for Judas' friends, and brought them unto
Bacchides, who took vengeance of them, and abused them despitefully.
27.
So was there a great affliction in Israel, the like whereof was not since the
time that a prophet was not seen among them.
28.
For this cause all Judas' friends came together, and said unto Jonathan,
29.
Since your brother Judas died, we have no man like him to go forth against our
enemies, and Bacchides, and against them of our nation that are adversaries to
us.
30.
Now therefore we have chosen you this day to be our prince and captain in his
stead, that you may fight our battles.
31.
Upon this Jonathan took the governance upon him at that time, and rose up
instead of his brother Judas.
32.
But when Bacchides got knowledge thereof, he sought for to murder him
33.
Then Jonathan, and Simon his brother, and all that were with him, perceiving
that, fled into the wilderness of Thecoe, and pitched their tents by the water
of the pool Asphar.
34.
Which when Bacchides understood, he came near to Jordan with all his host upon
the Sabbath day.
35.
Now Jonathan had sent his brother John, a captain of the people, to ask his
friends the Nabathites, that they might leave with them their carriage, which
was much.
36.
But the children of Jambri came out of Medaba, and took John, and all that he
had, and went their way with it.
37.
After this came word to Jonathan and Simon his brother, that the children of
Jambri made a great marriage, and were bringing the bride from Nadabatha with a
great train, as being the daughter of one of the great princes of Canaan.
38.
Therefore they remembered John their brother, and went up, and hid themselves
under the covert of the mountain:
39.
Where they lifted up their eyes, and looked, and, behold, there was much ado
and great carriage: and the bridegroom came forth, and his friends and
brethren, to meet them with drums, and instruments of music, and many weapons.
40.
Then Jonathan and they that were with him rose up against them from the place
where they lay in ambush, and made a slaughter of them in such sort, as many
fell down dead, and the remnant fled into the mountain, and they took all their
spoils.
41.
Thus was the marriage turned into mourning, and the noise of their melody into
lamentation.
42.
So when they had avenged fully the blood of their brother, they turned again to
the marsh of Jordan.
43.
Now when Bacchides heard hereof, he came on the Sabbath day unto the banks of
Jordan with a great power.
44.
Then Jonathan said to his company, Let us go up now and fight for our lives,
for it stands not with us to day, as in time past:
45.
For, behold, the battle is before us and behind us, and the water of Jordan on
this side and that side, the marsh likewise and wood, neither is there place
for us to turn aside.
46.
Wherefore cry you now unto heaven, that you may be delivered from the hand of
your enemies.
47.
With that they joined battle, and Jonathan stretched forth his hand to smote
Bacchides, but he turned back from him.
48.
Then Jonathan and they that were with him leapt into Jordan, and swam over unto
the other bank: howbeit the other passed not over Jordan unto them.
49.
So there were slain of Bacchides' side that day about a thousand men.
50.
Afterward returned Bacchides to Jerusalem and repaired the strong cities in
Judea; the fort in Jericho, and Emmaus, and Bethhoron, and Bethel, and
Thamnatha, Pharathoni, and Taphon, these did he strengthen with high walls,
with gates and with bars.
51.
And in them he set a garrison, that they might work malice upon Israel.
52.
He fortified also the city Bethsura, and Gazera, and the tower, and put forces
in them, and provision of victuals.
53.
Besides, he took the chief men's sons in the country for hostages, and put them
into the tower at Jerusalem to be kept.
54.
Moreover in the hundred fifty and third year, in the second month, Alcimus
commanded that the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary should be pulled
down; he pulled down also the works of the prophets
55.
And as he began to pull down, even at that time was Alcimus plagued, and his
enterprises hindered: for his mouth was stopped, and he was taken with a palsy,
so that he could no more speak anything, nor give order concerning his house.
56.
So Alcimus died at that time with great torment.
57.
Now when Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, he returned to the king:
whereupon the land of Judea was in rest two years.
58.
Then all the ungodly men held a council, saying, Behold, Jonathan and his
company are at ease, and dwell without care: now therefore we will bring
Bacchides hither, who will take them all in one night.
59.
So they went and consulted with him.
60.
Then removed he, and came with a great host, and sent letters privily to his
adherents in Judea, that they should take Jonathan and those that were with
him: howbeit they could not, because their counsel was known unto them.
61.
Wherefore they took of the men of the country, that were authors of that
mischief, about fifty persons, and slew them.
62.
Afterward Jonathan, and Simon, and they that were with him, got them away to
Bethbasi, which is in the wilderness, and they repaired the decays thereof, and
made it strong.
63.
Which thing when Bacchides knew, he gathered together all his host, and sent
word to them that were of Judea.
64.
Then went he and laid siege against Bethbasi; and they fought against it a long
season and made engines of war.
65.
But Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and went forth himself into
the country, and with a certain number went he forth.
66.
And he smote Odonarkes and his brethren, and the children of Phasiron in their
tent.
67.
And when he began to smite them, and came up with his forces, Simon and his
company went out of the city, and burned up the engines of war,
68.
And fought against Bacchides, who was discomfited by them, and they afflicted
him sore: for his counsel and travail was in vain.
69.
Wherefore he was very wroth at the wicked/Lawless men that gave him counsel to
come into the country, inasmuch as he slew many of them, and purposed to return
into his own country.
70.
Whereof when Jonathan had knowledge, he sent ambassadors unto him, to the end
he should make peace with him, and deliver them the prisoners.
71.
Which thing he accepted, and did according to his demands, and swore unto him
that he would never do him harm all the days of his life.
72.
When therefore he had restored unto him the prisoners that he had taken before
out of the land of Judea, he returned and went his way into his own land,
neither came he any more into their borders.
73.
Thus the sword ceased from Israel: but Jonathan dwelt at Machmas, and began to
govern the people; and he destroyed the ungodly men out of Israel.
1Ma
10:1
In the hundred and sixtieth year Alexander, the son of Antiochus surnamed
Epiphanes, went up and took Ptolemais: for the people had received him, by
means whereof he reigned there,
2.
Now when king Demetrius heard thereof, he gathered together an exceeding great
host, and went forth against him to fight.
3.
Moreover Demetrius sent letters unto Jonathan with loving words, so as he
magnified him.
4.
For said he, Let us first make peace with him, before he joins with Alexander
against us:
5.
Else he will remember all the evils that we have done against him, and against
his brethren and his people.
6.
Wherefore he gave him authority to gather together an host, and to provide
weapons, that he might aid him in battle: he commanded also that the hostages
that were in the tower should be delivered him.
7.
Then came Jonathan to Jerusalem, and read the letters in the audience of all
the people, and of them that were in the tower:
8.
Who were sore afraid, when they heard that the king had given him authority to
gather together an host.
9.
Whereupon they of the tower delivered their hostages unto Jonathan, and he delivered
them unto their parents.
10.
This done, Jonathan settled himself in Jerusalem, and began to build and repair
the city.
11.
And he commanded the workmen to build the walls and the mount Zion and about
with square stones for fortification; and they did so.
12.
Then the strangers, that were in the fortresses which Bacchides had built, fled
away;
13.
Insomuch as every man left his place, and went into his own country.
14.
Only at Bethsura certain of those that had forsaken the Law and the
commandments remained still: for it was their place of refuge.
15.
Now when king Alexander had heard what promises Demetrius had sent unto
Jonathan: when also it was told him of the battles and most noble acts which he
and his brethren had done, and of the pains that they had endured,
16.
He said, Will we find such another man? Now, therefore we will make him our
friend and confederate.
17.
Upon this he wrote a letter, and sent it unto him, according to these words,
saying,
18.
King Alexander to his brother Jonathan sends greetings:
19.
We have heard of you, that you are a man of great power, and suitable to be our
friend.
20.
Wherefore now this day we ordain you to be the High Priest of your nation, and
to be called the king's friend; (and therewithal he sent him a purple robe and
a crown of gold) and require you to take our side, and keep friendship with us.
21.
So in the seventh month of the hundred and sixtieth year, at the feast of the
tabernacles, Jonathan put on the holy robe, and gathered together forces, and
provided much armour.
22.
Whereof when Demetrius heard, he was very sorry, and said,
23.
What have we done, that Alexander has prevented us in making friendship with
the Jews to strengthen himself?
24.
I also will write unto them words of encouragement, and promise them dignities
and gifts, that I may have their aid.
25.
He sent unto them therefore to this effect: King Demetrius unto the people of
the Jews sends greetings:
26.
Whereas you have kept covenants with us, and continued in our friendship, not
joining yourselves with our enemies, we have heard thereof, and are glad.
27.
Wherefore now you continue still to be faithful unto us, and we will well recompense
you for the things you do on our behalf,
28.
And will grant you many immunities, and give you rewards.
29.
And now do I free you, and for your sake I release all the Jews, from tributes,
and from the customs of salt, and from crown taxes,
30.
And from that which appertains unto me to receive for the third part or the
seed, and the half of the fruit of the trees, I release it from this day forth,
so that they will not be taken of the land of Judea, nor of the three
governments which are added thereunto out of the country of Samaria and Galilee,
from this day forth forevermore.
31.
Let Jerusalem also be holy and free, with the borders thereof, both from tenths
and tributes.
32.
And as for the tower which is at Jerusalem, I yield up authority over it, and
give it to the High Priest, that he may set in it such men as he will choose to
keep it
Psalm
30
1.
A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication (Heb. חֲנֻכַּת
Chanukhat) of the House; of David.
2.
I will extol You, O LORD, for You have raised me up, and have not suffered my
enemies to rejoice over me.
3.
O LORD my God, I cried unto You, and You have healed me;
4.
O LORD, You brought up my soul from the nether-world (Heb. Sheol); You did keep
me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
5.
Sing praise unto the LORD, O you His godly ones (Heb. Chasidim - saints), and
give thanks to to the memory of His Holiness.
6.
For His anger is only for a moment, His favour is for a life-time; weeping may
endure for the [whole] night [of the exile], but joy comes in the morning [of
the Messianic Age].
7.
Now I said in my security/prosperity: I will never be moved [forever].
8.
O LORD, in Your favour You have made my strong mountain [government] to stand;
You hid Your face; I was frightened.
9.
Unto Thee, O LORD, did I call, and unto the LORD I made supplication:
10.
What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Will the dust
praise You? Will it declare Your truth [i.e. Your Torah]?
11.
Hear, O LORD, and be gracious unto me; LORD, be You my helper.
12.
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth,
and have clothed me with gladness;
13.
So that my glory may sing praise to You, and not be quiet; O LORD my God, I
will give thanks unto You forever!
Nazareans
add in their private study and discussions:
Psalm
43:3
3.
O send out Your light and Your truth [i.e. Your Torah]; let them lead me; let
them bring me unto Your holy mountain, and to Your dwelling-places.
Proverbs
20:27
27.
The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts.
1
John 4:1-13
1.
Beloved, every spirit believe/obey not, but prove the spirits, if of G-d they
are, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world;
2.
In this know you the Spirit of G-d; every spirit that does confess Yeshua the
Messiah in the flesh has come [and obeys the Torah as he did], of G-d it is,
3.
And every spirit that does not confess Yeshua the Messiah in the flesh has come
[and does not obey the Torah as he did], of G-d it is not; and this is that of
the anti-Messiah, which you heard that it will come, and now in the world it is
already.
4.
You of G-d are, little children, and you have overcome them; because greater is
He (G-d) who is [tabernacling] in you, than he [the Satan] who is in the world.
5.
They of the world are; because of this from the world they speak, and the world
does hear them;
6.
We--of G-d we are; he who is knowing G-d does hear us; he who is not of G-d,
does not hear us; from this we know the spirit of the truth [i.e. of the
Torah], from the spirit of the error.
7.
Beloved, may we love one another, because love is of G-d, and everyone
who is loving [Torah and the Jewish brethren], of G-d he has been begotten, and
does know G-d;
8. He who is not loving [Torah
and the Jewish brethren] does not know G-d, because G-d is love.
9. In this is manifested
the love of G-d in us, because His Son [King], the first begotten. has G-d sent
to the world, that we may live through, in, and for him [Messiah];
10. In this is the love, not that
we loved G-d, but that He did love us, and did send His Son [King] to be a
propitiation for our sins.
11. Beloved, if thus did G-d love
us, we also ought one another to love;
12. G-d no one has ever seen; if
we may love one another, G-d in us does remain/tabernacle, and His love is
perfecting us;
13. In this we know that in Him
we do remain/tabernacle, and He in us, because of His Spirit of Holiness
[Separation] He has given us.
Note: For the readings of
the Sixth to the Eighth days of Chanukah see Part II to be sent this coming
Friday.
Shalom
UBrakhot ve Chanukah Sameach!
Hakham
Dr. Yosef ben Haggai