Esnoga Bet Emunah
1101 Surrey Trce. SE, Tumwater, WA 98501
Telephone: 360-584-9352 - United States of America
© 2010
E-Mail: gkilli@aol.com
Triennial
Cycle (Triennial Torah Cycle) / Septennial Cycle (Septennial Torah Cycle)
|
Three and 1/2 year
Lectionary Readings |
Third Year of the Reading Cycle |
|
Kislev 20, 5771 – November
26/27, 2010 |
Third Year of the Shmita Cycle |
Hanuka
Sameach!
We take
this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a very happy Hanuka – a festival
of freedom and of consecration to the work of G-d. And even if we do not finish
the task before us, still we should do our very best in this life to radiate it
with the healing light of the Torah. For as the Psalmist wrote: “in Your light
do we see light” (Psalm 36:10).
Roll of Honor:
This Torah commentary comes to you courtesy of:
His Honor Rosh Paqid Adon Hillel ben David and beloved
wife HH Giberet Batsheva bat Sarah
His Honor Paqid Adon Mikha ben Hillel
His Honor Paqid Adon David ben Abraham
Her Excellency Giberet Sarai bat Sarah & beloved
family
His Excellency Adon Barth Lindemann & beloved
family
His Excellency Adon John Batchelor & beloved wife
His Excellency Adon Ezra ben Abraham and beloved wife
HE Giberet Karmela bat Sarah,
His Excellency Dr. Adon Yeshayahu ben Yosef and beloved
wife HE Giberet Tricia Foster
His Excellency Adon Yisrael ben Abraham and beloved
wife HE Giberet Elisheba bat Sarah
His Excellency Adon Eliyahu ben Abraham and beloved
wife HE Giberet Vardit bat Sarah
Her Excellency Giberet Laurie Taylor
His Excellency Dr. Adon Eliyahu ben Abraham and
beloved wife HE Giberet Dr. Elisheba bat Sarah
For their regular and sacrificial giving, providing
the best oil for the lamps, we pray that G-d’s 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 and 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 that
you never lose any of our commentaries, or would like your friends also to
receive this commentary, please do send me an E-Mail to benhaggai@GMail.com with
your E-Mail or the E-Mail addresses of your friends. Toda Rabba!
Hanuka First Day
Evening Wednesday Dec. 01 –
Evening Thursday Dec. 02, 2010
Torah: Numbers 7:1-17
Reader 1 - Num. 7:1-3
Reader 2 - Num. 7:4-11
Reader 3 - Num. 712-17
Yehudit (Judith) 1:1 – 2:28
1
Maccabees 1:1 – 2:48
Psalm 30:1-13
Nazareans add in their private
study and discussions: Genesis 1:1-5; & 1
John 1:1-10
Rashi & Targum
Pseudo Jonathan
for: B’Midbar (Numbers)
7:1-17
|
Rashi |
Targum Pseudo Jonathan |
|
1.
And it was that on the day that Moses finished erecting the Mishkan,
he anointed it, sanctified it, and all its vessels, and the altar and all its
vessels. |
1. And it was on the day which begins the month of
Nisan, when Mosheh had finished to rear up the tabernacle, he took it not in
pieces again, but anointed and consecrated it and all its vessels, the altar
and all the vessels thereof, and he anointed them and hallowed them; |
|
2.
The chieftains of Israel, the heads of their fathers' houses,
presented [their offerings]. They were the leaders of the tribes. They were
the ones who were present during the counting, |
2.
then the leaders of Israel, who were the chiefs of the house of their fathers,
brought their offerings. These were they who had been appointed in Mizraim
chiefs over the numbered, |
|
3.
They brought their offering before the Lord: six covered wagons and
twelve oxen, a wagon for each two chieftains, and an ox for each one; they
presented them in front of the Mishkan. |
3.
and they brought their offering before the LORD; six wagons covered
and fitted up, and twelve oxen; one wagon for two princes and one ox for
each. But Mosheh was not willing to receive them, and they brought them
before the tabernacle. |
|
4.
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: |
4.
And the Lord spoke with Mosheh, saying: |
|
5.
Take [it] from them, and let them be used in the service of the Tent
of Meeting. You shall give them to the Levites, in accordance with each man's
work. |
5.
Take them, and let them be used for the need of the appointed (work),
and let the oxen and the wagons be for the work of the service of the
tabernacle of ordinance, and give them to the Levites, to each according to
the measure of his work. |
|
6.
So Moses took the wagons and the cattle and gave them to the Levites. |
6.
And Mosheh took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. |
|
7.
He gave two wagons and four oxen to the sons of Gershon, according to
their work. |
7.
Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to
the amount of their service, |
|
8.
And he gave four wagons and eight oxen to the sons of Merari,
according to their work under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the
priest. |
8.
and four wagons and eight oxen gave he to the sons of Merari,
according to the measure of their service, by the hand of Ithamar bar Aharon
the priest. |
|
9.
But to the sons of Kohath he did not give, for incumbent upon
them was the work involving the holy [objects], which they were to carry on
their shoulders. |
9.
But to the sons of Kehath he gave neither wagons nor oxen, because
on them was laid the service of the sanctuary, to be carried on their
shoulders. |
|
10.
The chieftains brought [offerings for] the dedication of the altar on
the day it was anointed; the chieftains presented their offerings in front of
the altar. |
10.
And the princes offered at the dedication of the altar by anointing,
on the day that he anointed it did the princes present their oblations before
the altar. |
|
11.
The Lord said to Moses: One chieftain each day, one chieftain each
day, shall present his offering for the dedication of the altar. |
11.
And the LORD said unto Mosheh, Let the princes offer each, one prince
on one day, their oblations at the dedication of the altar by anointing. |
|
12.
The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nahshon the son
of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah. |
12. He who on the first day presented his oblation
was Nachshon bar Amminadab, prince of the house of the fathers of the tribe Jehudah: |
|
13.
And his offering was one silver bowl weighing one hundred and thirty
[shekels], one silver sprinkling basin [weighing] seventy shekels according
to the holy shekel, both filled with fine flour mixed with olive oil for a
meal offering. |
13. and his oblation which he offered was one silver
bowl, thickly embossed, (or, crusted,) in weight one hundred and thirty
shekels, in shekels of the sanctuary; one silver vase, slightly embossed, of
seventy shekels, in shekels of the sanctuary; both of these vessels he
brought filled with flour of the separation, sprinkled with olive oil for a
mincha; |
|
14.
One spoon [weighing] ten gold [shekels], filled with incense. |
14.
one pan (censer) weighing ten silver shekels, but it was itself of
good gold; and he brought it full of good sweet incense of the separation; |
|
15.
One young bull, one ram and one lamb in its first year for a burnt
offering. |
15.
one young bullock of three years, one ram of two years, and one lamb
of the year. These three did the chief of the tribe Jehudah bring for a burnt
offering; |
|
16.
One young he goat for a sin offering. |
16.
one kid of the goats he brought for a sin offering; |
|
17.
And for the peace offering: two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five
lambs in their first year; this was the offering of Nahshon the son of
Amminadab. |
17. and for consecrated victims, two oxen, five
rams, five goats, lambs of the year five: this is the order of the oblation
which Nachshon bar Amminadab offered of his wealth. |
|
|
|
Yehudit (Judith) 1:1 – 2:28
New Jerusalem Bible Version
Judith
1:1 It was the twelfth year of Nebuchadnezzar who reigned over the Assyrians in
the great city of Nineveh. Arphaxad was then reigning over the Medes in
Ecbatana.
2 He surrounded this
city with walls of dressed stones three cubits thick and six cubits long, making
the rampart seventy cubits high and fifty cubits wide.
3 At the gates he
placed towers one hundred cubits high and, at the foundations, sixty cubits wide,
4 the gates themselves
being seventy cubits high and forty wide to allow his forces to march out in
a body and his infantry to parade freely.
5 About this time King
Nebuchadnezzar gave battle to King Arphaxad in the great plain lying in the
territory of Ragae.
6 Supporting him were
all the peoples from the highlands, all from the Euphrates and Tigris and
Hydaspes, and those from the plains who were subject to Arioch, king of
the Elymaeans. Thus many nations had mustered to take part in the battle of the
Cheleoudites.
7 Nebuchadnezzar king
of the Assyrians sent a message to all the inhabitants of Persia, to all the
inhabitants of the western countries, Cilicia, Damascus, Lebanon, Anti-Lebanon, to all
those along the coast,
8 to the peoples of
Carmel, Gilead, Upper Galilee, the great plain of Esdraelon,
9 to the people of
Samaria and its outlying towns, to those beyond Jordan, as far away as Jerusalem,
Bethany, Chelous, Kadesh, the river of Egypt, Tahpanhes, Rameses and the whole territory
of Goshen,
10 beyond Tanis too
and Memphis, and to all the inhabitants of Egypt as far as the frontiers of
Ethiopia.
11 But the inhabitants
of these countries ignored the summons of Nebuchadnezzar king of the
Assyrians and did not rally to him to make war. They were not afraid of him, since in
their view he appeared isolated.
Hence they sent his ambassadors back with nothing achieved and in disgrace.
12 Nebuchadnezzar was
furious with all these countries. He swore by his throne and kingdom to take
revenge on all the territories of Cilicia, Damascus and Syria, of the
Moabites and of the Ammonites, of Judaea and Egypt as far as the limits of the two
seas, and to ravage them with the sword.
13 In the seventeenth
year, he gave battle with his whole army to King Arphaxad and in this battle
defeated him. He routed Arphaxad's entire army and all his cavalry and chariots;
14 he occupied his
towns and advanced on Ecbatana; he seized its towers and plundered its market
places, reducing its former magnificence to a
mockery.
15 He later captured
Arphaxad in the mountains of Ragae and, thrusting him through with his
spears, destroyed him once and for all.
16 He then retired
with his troops and all who had joined forces with him: a vast horde of armed men.
Then he and his army gave themselves up to
carefree feasting for a hundred and twenty days.
NJB Judith 2:1 In the eighteenth year, on the
twenty-second day of the first month, a
rumour ran through the palace that Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians was to have
his revenge on all the countries, as he had threatened.
2 Summoning his
general staff and senior officers, he held a secret conference with them, and with
his own lips pronounced utter destruction on the
entire area.
3 It was then decreed
that everyone should be put to death who had not answered the king's appeal.
4 When the council was
over, Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians sent for Holofernes,
general-in-chief of his armies and subordinate only to himself. He said to him,
5 'Thus speaks the
Great King, lord of the whole world, "Go; take men of proven valour, about a
hundred and twenty thousand foot soldiers and a strong company of horse with twelve
thousand cavalrymen;
6 then advance against
all the western lands, since these people have disregarded my call.
7 Bid them have earth
and water ready, because in my rage I am about to march on them; the feet
of my soldiers will cover the whole face of the earth, and I shall plunder it.
8 Their wounded will
fill the valleys and the torrents, and rivers, blocked with their dead, will
overflow.
9 I shall lead them
captive to the ends of the earth.
10 Now go! Begin by
conquering this whole region for me. If they surrender to you, hold them for
me until the time comes to punish them.
11 But if they resist,
look on no one with clemency, hand them over to slaughter and plunder
throughout the territory entrusted to you.
12 For by my life and
by the living power of my kingdom I have spoken. All this I shall do by my
power.
13 And you, neglect
none of your master's commands, act strictly according to my orders without
further delay." '
14 Leaving the
presence of his sovereign, Holofernes immediately summoned all the marshals,
generals and officers of the Assyrian army
15 and detailed the
picked troops as his master had ordered, about a hundred and twenty thousand men
and a further twelve thousand mounted archers.
16 He organised these
in the normal battle formation.
17 He then secured
vast numbers of camels, donkeys and mules to carry the baggage, and
innumerable sheep, oxen and goats for food supplies.
18 Every man received
full rations and a generous sum of gold and silver from the king's purse.
19 He then set out for
the campaign with his whole army, in advance of King Nebuchadnezzar, to
overwhelm the whole western region with his chariots, his horsemen and
his picked body of foot.
20 A motley gathering
followed in his rear, as numerous as locusts or the grains of sand on the ground;
there was no counting their multitude.
21 Thus they set out
from Nineveh and marched for three days towards the Plain of Bectileth.
From Bectileth they went on to pitch camp near the mountains that lie to the north of
Upper Cilicia.
22 From there
Holofernes advanced into the highlands with his whole army, infantry, horsemen,
chariots.
23 He cut his way
through Put and Lud, carried away captive all the sons of Rassis and sons of
Ishmael living on the verge of the desert south of Cheleon,
24 marched along the
Euphrates, crossed Mesopotamia, rased all the fortified towns controlling the
Wadi Abron and reached the sea.
25 Next he attacked
the territories of Cilicia, butchering all who offered him resistance, advanced
on the southern frontiers of Japheth, facing Arabia,
26 completely
encircled the Midianites, burned their tents and plundered their sheep-folds,
27 made his way down
to the Damascus plain at the time of the wheat harvest, set fire to the fields,
destroyed the flocks and herds, sacked the towns, laid the countryside
waste and put all the young men to the sword.
28 Fear and trembling
seized all the coastal peoples; those of Sidon and Tyre, those of Sur, Ocina and
Jamnia. The populations of Azotos and Ascalon were panic-stricken.
1 Maccabees 1:1 – 2:48
New Jerusalem Bible Version
NJB 1 Maccabees 1:1 Alexander of Macedon son of
Philip had come from the land of
Kittim and defeated Darius king of the Persians and Medes, whom he succeeded as
ruler, at first of Hellas.
2 He undertook many
campaigns, gained possession of many fortresses, and put the local kings to death.
3 So he advanced to
the ends of the earth, plundering nation after nation; the earth grew silent
before him, and his ambitious heart swelled with pride.
4 He assembled very
powerful forces and subdued provinces, nations and princes, and they became his
tributaries.
5 But the time came
when Alexander took to his bed, in the knowledge that he was dying.
6 He summoned his
officers, noblemen who had been brought up with him from his youth, and
divided his kingdom among them while he was still alive.
7 Alexander had
reigned twelve years when he died.
8 Each of his officers
established himself in his own region.
9 All assumed crowns
after his death, they and their heirs after them for many years, bringing
increasing evils on the world.
10 From these there
grew a wicked offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes son of King Antiochus; once a
hostage in Rome, he became king in the 107th year of the kingdom of the Greeks.
11 It was then that
there emerged from Israel a set of renegades who led many people astray. 'Come,'
they said, 'let us ally ourselves with the gentiles surrounding us, for
since we separated ourselves from them many misfortunes have overtaken us.'
12 This proposal
proved acceptable,
13 and a number of the
people eagerly approached the king, who authorised them to practise the
gentiles' observances.
14 So they built a
gymnasium in Jerusalem, such as the gentiles have,
15 disguised their
circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant, submitting to gentile rule as
willing slaves of impiety.
16 Once Antiochus had
seen his authority established, he determined to make himself king of Egypt and
the ruler of both kingdoms.
17 He invaded Egypt in
massive strength, with chariots and elephants (and cavalry) and a
large fleet.
18 He engaged Ptolemy
king of Egypt in battle, and Ptolemy turned back and fled before his advance,
leaving many casualties.
19 The fortified
cities of Egypt were captured, and Antiochus plundered the country.
20 After his conquest
of Egypt, in the year 143, Antiochus turned about and advanced on Israel and
Jerusalem in massive strength.
21 Insolently breaking
into the sanctuary, he removed the golden altar and the lamp-stand for the light
with all its fittings,
22 together with the
table for the loaves of permanent offering, the libation vessels, the cups, the
golden censers, the veil, the crowns, and the golden decoration on the
front of the Temple, which he stripped of everything.
23 He made off with
the silver and gold and precious vessels; he discovered the secret treasures
and seized them
24 and, removing all
these, he went back to his own country, having shed much blood and uttered words
of extreme arrogance.
25 There was deep
mourning for Israel throughout the country:
26 Rulers and elders
groaned; girls and young men wasted away; the women's beauty suffered a change;
27 every bridegroom
took up a dirge, the bride sat grief-stricken on her marriage-bed.
28 The earth quaked
because of its inhabitants and the whole House of Jacob was clothed with shame.
29 Two years later the
king sent the Mysarch through the cities of Judah. He came to Jerusalem with
an impressive force,
30 and addressing them
with what appeared to be peaceful words, he gained their confidence; then
suddenly he fell on the city, dealing it a terrible blow, and destroying
many of the people of Israel.
31 He pillaged the
city and set it on fire, tore down its houses and encircling wall,
32 took the women and
children captive and commandeered the cattle.
33 They then rebuilt
the City of David with a great strong wall and strong towers and made this their
Citadel.
34 There they
installed a brood of sinners, of renegades, who fortified themselves inside it,
35 storing arms and
provisions, and depositing there the loot they had collected from Jerusalem; they
were to prove a great trouble.
36 It became an ambush
for the sanctuary, an evil adversary for Israel at all times.
37 They shed innocent
blood all round the sanctuary and defiled the sanctuary itself.
38 The citizens of
Jerusalem fled because of them, she became a dwelling-place of strangers;
estranged from her own offspring, her children forsook her.
39 Her sanctuary
became as forsaken as a desert, her feasts were turned into mourning, her
Sabbaths into a mockery, her honour into reproach.
40 Her dishonour now
fully matched her former glory, her greatness was turned into grief.
41 The king then
issued a proclamation to his whole kingdom that all were to become a single people,
each nation renouncing its particular customs.
42 All the gentiles
conformed to the king's decree,
43 and many Israelites
chose to accept his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the Sabbath.
44 The king also sent
edicts by messenger to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, directing them to adopt
customs foreign to the country,
45 banning burnt
offerings, sacrifices and libations from the sanctuary, profaning Sabbaths and
feasts,
46 defiling the
sanctuary and everything holy,
47 building altars,
shrines and temples for idols, sacrificing pigs and unclean beasts,
48 leaving their sons
uncircumcised, and prostituting themselves to all kinds of impurity and
abomination,
49 so that they should
forget the Law and revoke all observance of it.
50 Anyone not obeying
the king's command was to be put to death.
51 Writing in such
terms to every part of his kingdom, the king appointed inspectors for the
whole people and directed all the towns of Judah to offer sacrifice city
by city.
52 Many of the people
-- that is, every apostate from the Law -- rallied to them and so committed
evil in the country,
53 forcing Israel into
hiding in any possible place of refuge.
54 On the fifteenth
day of Chislev in the year 145 the king built the appalling abomination on top of
the altar of burnt offering; and altars were built in the surrounding
towns of Judah
55 and incense offered
at the doors of houses and in the streets.
56 Any books of the
Law that came to light were torn up and burned.
57 Whenever anyone was
discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practising the Law, the king's decree
sentenced him to death.
58 Month after month
they took harsh action against any offenders they discovered in the towns of
Israel.
59 On the twenty-fifth
day of each month, sacrifice was offered on the altar erected on top of the
altar of burnt offering.
60 Women who had had
their children circumcised were put to death according to the edict
61 with their babies
hung round their necks, and the members of their household and those who had
performed the circumcision were executed with them.
62 Yet there were many
in Israel who stood firm and found the courage to refuse unclean food.
63 They chose death
rather than contamination by such fare or profanation of the holy covenant,
and they were executed.
64 It was a truly
dreadful retribution that visited Israel.
NJB 1 Maccabees 2:1 About then, Mattathias son of
John, son of Simeon, a priest of
the line of Joarib, left Jerusalem and settled in Modein.
2 He had five sons,
John known as Gaddi,
3 Simon called Thassi,
4 Judas called
Maccabaeus,
5 Eleazar, called
Avaran, and Jonathan called Apphus.
6 When he saw the
blasphemies being committed in Judah and Jerusalem,
7 he said, 'Alas that
I should have been born to witness the ruin of my people and the ruin of the Holy
City, and to sit by while she is delivered over to her enemies, and the sanctuary
into the hand of foreigners.
8 'Her Temple has
become like someone of no repute,
9 the vessels that
were her glory have been carried off as booty, her babies have been slaughtered in
her streets, her young men by the enemy's sword.
10 Is there a nation
that has not claimed a share of her royal prerogatives, that has not taken
some of her spoils?
11 All her ornaments
have been snatched from her, her former freedom has become slavery.
12 See how the Holy
Place, our beauty, our glory, is now laid waste, see how the gentiles have
profaned it!
13 What have we left
to live for?'
14 Mattathias and his
sons tore their garments, put on sackcloth, and observed deep mourning.
15 The king's
commissioners who were enforcing the apostasy came to the town of Modein for the
sacrifices.
16 Many Israelites
gathered round them, but Mattathias and his sons drew apart.
17 The king's
commissioners then addressed Mattathias as follows, 'You are a respected
leader, a great man in this town; you have sons and brothers to support you.
18 Be the first to
step forward and conform to the king's decree, as all the nations have done, and the
leaders of Judah and the survivors in Jerusalem; you and your sons shall be reckoned among
the Friends of the King, you and your
sons will be honoured with gold and silver and many presents.'
19 Raising his voice,
Mattathias retorted, 'Even if every nation living in the king's dominions obeys
him, each forsaking its ancestral religion to conform to his decrees,
20 I, my sons and my
brothers will still follow the covenant of our ancestors.
21 May Heaven preserve
us from forsaking the Law and its observances.
22 As for the king's
orders, we will not follow them: we shall not swerve from our own religion
either to right or to left.'
23 As he finished
speaking, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice on the altar in
Modein as the royal edict required.
24 When Mattathias saw
this, he was fired with zeal; stirred to the depth of his being, he gave vent
to his legitimate anger, threw himself on the man and slaughtered him on
the altar.
25 At the same time he
killed the king's commissioner who was there to enforce the sacrifice, and
tore down the altar.
26 In his zeal for the
Law he acted as Phinehas had against Zimri son of Salu.
27 Then Mattathias
went through the town, shouting at the top of his voice, 'Let everyone who has any
zeal for the Law and takes his stand on the covenant come out and follow me.'
28 Then he fled with
his sons into the hills, leaving all their possessions behind in the town.
29 Many people who
were concerned for virtue and justice went down to the desert and stayed
there,
30 taking with them
their sons, their wives and their cattle, so oppressive had their sufferings
become.
31 Word was brought to
the royal officials and forces stationed in Jerusalem, in the City of David,
that those who had repudiated the king's edict had gone down to the hiding places in
the desert.
32 A strong detachment
went after them, and when it came up with them ranged itself against them
in battle formation, preparing to attack them on the Sabbath day,
33 and said, 'Enough
of this! Come out and do as the king orders and you will be spared.'
34 The others,
however, replied, 'We refuse to come out, and we will not obey the king's orders and
profane the Sabbath day.'
35 The royal forces at
once went into action,
36 but the others
offered no opposition; not a stone was thrown, there was no barricading of the hiding
places.
37 They only said,
'Let us all die innocent; let heaven and earth bear witness that you are massacring
us with no pretence of justice.'
38 The attack was
pressed home on the Sabbath itself, and they were slaughtered, with their wives and
children and cattle, to the number of one thousand persons.
39 When the news
reached Mattathias and his friends, they mourned them bitterly
40 and said to one
another, 'If we all do as our brothers have done, and refuse to fight the gentiles
for our lives and institutions, they will only destroy us the sooner from
the earth.'
41 So then and there
they came to this decision, 'If anyone attacks us on the Sabbath day, whoever he
may be, we shall resist him; we must not all be killed, as our brothers were in the
hiding places.'
42 Soon they were
joined by the Hasidaean party, stout fighting men of Israel, each one a volunteer
on the side of the Law.
43 All the refugees
from the persecution rallied to them, giving them added support.
44 They organised
themselves into an armed force, striking down the sinners in their anger, and the
renegades in their fury, and those who escaped them fled to the gentiles
for safety.
45 Mattathias and his
friends made a tour, overthrowing the altars
46 and forcibly
circumcising all the boys they found uncircumcised in the territories of Israel.
47 They hunted down
the upstarts and managed their campaign to good effect.
48 They wrested the
Law out of the control of the gentiles and the kings and reduced the sinners to
impotence.
Tehillim - Psalm 30:1-13
|
Rashi |
Targum |
|
1.
A psalm; a song of dedication of the House, of David. |
1. A praise song for the dedication of the
sanctuary. Of David. |
|
2.
I will exalt You, O Lord, for You have raised me up, and You have not
allowed my enemies to rejoice over me. |
2. I will praise you, O LORD, for you made me stand
erect, and did not let my enemies rejoice over me. |
|
3.
O Lord, I have cried out to You, and You have healed me. |
3.
O LORD my God, I prayed in Your presence and You healed me. |
|
4.
O Lord, You have brought my soul from the grave; You have revived me
from my descent into the Pit. |
4.
O LORD, You raised my soul out of Sheol; You preserved me from going
down to the pit. |
|
5.
Sing to the Lord, His pious ones, and give thanks to His holy name. |
5.
Sing praise in the LORD's presence, you His devotees; and give thanks
at the invocation of His holy one. |
|
6.
For His wrath lasts but a moment; life results from His favor; in the
evening, weeping may tarry, but in the morning there is joyful singing. |
6.
For His anger is but a moment; eternal life is His good pleasure. In
the evening one goes to bed in tears, but in the morning one rises in praise. |
|
7.
And I said in my tranquility, "I will never falter." |
7.
And I said when I dwelt in trust, I will never be shaken. |
|
8.
O Lord, with Your will, You set up my mountain to be might, You hid
Your countenance and I became frightened. |
8.
O LORD, by Your will You prepared the mighty mountains; You removed
Your presence, I became afraid. |
|
9.
To You, O Lord, I would call, and to the Lord I would supplicate. |
9.
In Your presence, O LORD, I will cry out; and to You, O my God,
I will pray. |
|
10.
"What gain is there in my blood, in my descent to
the grave? Will dust thank You; will it recite Your truth? |
10.
And I said, What profit is there in my blood, when I
descend to the grave? Can those who descend to the dust praise You? Will they
tell of Your faithfulness? |
|
11.
Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me; O Lord, be my helper." |
11.
Accept, O LORD, my prayer, and have mercy on me; O LORD, be my helper. |
|
12.
You have turned my lament into dancing for me; You loosened my
sackcloth and girded me with joy. |
12.
You turned my lament into my celebration; You loosened my sackcloth and
girded me with joy. |
|
13.
So that my soul will sing praises to You and not be silent. O Lord, my
God, I will thank You forever. |
13.
Because the nobles of the world will give You praise and not be
silent, O LORD my God, I too will give You praise. |
|
|
|
Genesis 1:1-5 -
JPS
1.
When God began to create heaven and earth --
2.
the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep
and a wind from God sweeping over the water --
3.
God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
4.
God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.
5.
God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was
evening and there was morning, a first day.
Yochanan Alef (1
John) 1:1-10
Hakham’s
Rendition
1
What was from [the] beginning (i.e. B’resheet – Gen.1:1ff.), what we
have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our
hands have touched, concerning the Torah giving life,
2
and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and announce to you the
eternal life which was with the Father and was revealed to us;
3
what we have seen and heard, we announce to you also, in order that you also
may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and
with His son (the anointed King of Israel) Yeshua the Messiah.
4
And these things we write, in order that our joy may be complete.
5
And this is the message which we have heard from him (i.e. the Master) and
announce to you, that God is light and there is no darkness in Him (God) at
all.
6
If we say that we have fellowship with Him (i.e. God) and walk in the
darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth (i.e. the Torah – cf. Ps.
119:142).
7
But if we walk in the light as he (the Master) is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the life of Yeshua His son (anointed King
of Israel) purify us from every sin.
8
If we say that we do not have sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth (i.e.
the Torah – cf. Ps. 119:142) is not in us.
9
If we confess our sins [to God and repent], He (God) is faithful
and just, so that He will forgive us our sins and will purify us from all
injustices [that we have committed].
10
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him (i.e. God) a liar, and His
word (i.e. Torah) is not in us.
END OF THE READINGS FOR THE FIRST
DAY OF HANUKA
Hanuka Second
Day
Evening Thursday Dec. 02 –
Evening Friday Dec. 03, 2010
Torah: Numbers 7:18-29
Reader 1 - Num. 7:18-20
Reader 2 - Num. 7:21-23
Reader 3 - Num. 7:24-29
Yehudit (Judith) 3:1 – 5:17
1 Maccab. 2:49 – 4:40
Psalm 30:1-13
Nazareans add in their private
study and discussions: Isaiah 5:20-24; &
1 John 2:1-11
Rashi & Targum
Pseudo Jonathan
for: B’Midbar (Numbers)
7:18-29
|
Rashi |
Targum Pseudo Jonathan |
|
18.
On the second day, Nethanel the son of Zu'ar, the chieftain of
Issachar brought [his offering]. |
18. On the second day, Nethanel bar Zuar, chief of
the house of the fathers of the tribe Issakar, brought his oblation. |
|
19.
He brought his offering of one silver bowl weighing one hundred and
thirty [shekels], one silver sprinkling basin [weighing] seventy shekels
according to the holy shekel, both filled with fine flour mixed with olive
oil for a meal offering. |
19.
He brought his oblation after Jehudah by commandment of the Holy: one
silver dish thickly embossed, one hundred and thirty shekels, &c., as the
first. |
|
20.
One spoon [weighing] ten gold [shekels] filled with incense. |
20.
|
|
21.
One young bull, one ram and one lamb in its first year for a burnt
offering. |
21.
|
|
22.
One young he goat for a sin offering. |
22.
|
|
23.
And for the peace offering: two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five
lambs in their first year; this was the offering of Nethanel the son of
Zu'ar. |
23.
|
|
24.
On the third day, the chieftain was of the sons of Zebulun, Eliab the
son of Helon. |
24.
On the third day, Eliab bar Helon, prince of the Beni Zebulon,
offered. |
|
25.
His offering was one silver bowl weighing one hundred and thirty
[shekels], one silver sprinkling basin [weighing] seventy shekels according
to the holy shekel, both filled with fine flour mixed with olive oil for a
meal offering. |
25.
|
|
26.
One spoon [weighing] ten gold [shekels] filled with incense. |
26.
|
|
27.
One young bull, one ram and one lamb in its first year for a burnt
offering. |
27.
|
|
28.
One young he goat for a sin offering. |
28.
|
|
29.
And for the peace offering: two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five
lambs in their first year; this was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon. |
29. |
|
|
|
Yehudit (Judith) 3:1 – 5:17
New Jerusalem Bible Version
NJB Judith 3:1 They therefore sent envoys to him
to sue for peace, to say,
2 'We are servants of
the great King Nebuchadnezzar; we lie prostrate before you. Treat us as you think
fit.
3 Our cattle-farms,
all our land, all our wheat fields, our flocks and herds, all the sheep-folds in our
encampments are at your disposal. Do with them as you please.
4 Our towns and their
inhabitants too are at your service; go and treat them as you think fit.'
5 These men came to
Holofernes and delivered the message as above.
6 He then made his way
down to the coast with his army and stationed garrisons in all the fortified towns, levying
outstanding men there as auxiliaries.
7 The people of these
cities and of all the other towns in the neighbourhood welcomed him,
wearing garlands and dancing to the sound of tambourines.
8 But he demolished
their shrines and cut down their sacred trees, carrying out his commission to
destroy all local gods so that the nations should worship Nebuchadnezzar alone and
people of every language and
nationality should hail him as a god.
9 Thus he reached the
edge of Esdraelon, in the neighbourhood of Dothan, a village facing the
great ridge of Judaea.
10 He pitched camp
between Geba and Scythopolis and stayed there a full month to re-provision his
forces.
NJB Judith 4:1 When the Israelites living in
Judaea heard how Holofernes, general-in-chief
of Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians, had treated
the various nations, plundering their temples and destroying them,
2 they were thoroughly
alarmed at his approach and trembled for Jerusalem and the Temple of the
Lord their God.
3 They had returned
from captivity only a short time before, and the resettlement of the people in
Judaea and the reconsecration of the sacred furnishings, of the altar, and of the Temple,
which had been profaned, were of
recent date.
4 They therefore
alerted the whole of Samaria, Kona, Beth-Horon, Belmain, Jericho, Choba, Aesora
and the Salem valley.
5 They occupied the
summits of the highest mountains and fortified the villages on them; they laid
in supplies for the coming war, as the fields had just been harvested.
6 Joakim the high
priest, resident in Jerusalem at the time, wrote to the inhabitants of Bethulia and
of Betomesthaim, two towns facing Esdraelon, towards the plain of Dothan.
7 He ordered them to
occupy the mountain passes, the only means of access to Judaea, for there it
would be easy for them to halt an attacking force, the narrowness of the approach not
allowing men to advance more than two
abreast.
8 The Israelites
carried out the orders of Joakim the high priest and of the people's Council
of Elders in session at Jerusalem.
9 All the men of
Israel cried most fervently to God and humbled themselves before him.
10 They, their wives,
their children, their cattle, all their resident aliens, hired or slave, wrapped
sackcloth round their loins.
11 All the Israelites
in Jerusalem, including women and children, lay prostrate in front of the Temple,
and with ashes on their heads stretched out their
hands before the Lord.
12 They draped the
altar itself in sackcloth and fervently joined together in begging the God of
Israel not to let their children be carried off, their wives distributed as
booty, the towns of their heritage destroyed, the Temple profaned and desecrated for
the heathen to gloat over.
13 The Lord heard them
and looked kindly on their distress. The people fasted for many days
throughout Judaea as well as in Jerusalem before the sanctuary of the Lord Almighty.
14 Joakim the high
priest and all who stood before the Lord, the Lord's priests and ministers,
wore sackcloth round their loins as they offered the perpetual burnt
offering and the votive and voluntary offerings of the people.
15 With ashes on their
turbans they earnestly called on the Lord to look kindly on the House of
Israel.
NJB Judith 5:1 Holofernes, general-in-chief of
the Assyrian army, received the
intelligence that the Israelites were preparing for war, that they had closed the
mountain passes, fortified all the high peaks and laid obstructions in the plains.
2 Holofernes was furious.
He summoned all the princes of Moab, all the generals of Ammon and all the
satraps of the coastal regions.
3 'Men of Canaan,' he
said, 'tell me: what people is this that occupies the hill-country? What towns does
it inhabit? How large is its army? What are the sources of its power and strength? Who
is the king who rules it and commands
its army?
4 Why have they
disdained to wait on me, as all the western peoples have?'
5 Achior, leader of
all the Ammonites, replied, 'May my lord be pleased to listen to what your
servant is going to say. I shall give you the facts about these mountain
folk whose home lies close to you. You will hear no lie from the mouth of your servant.
6 These people are
descended from the Chaldaeans.
7 They once came to
live in Mesopotamia, because they did not want to follow the gods of their
ancestors who lived in Chaldaea.
8 They abandoned the
way of their ancestors to worship the God of heaven, the God they learnt to
acknowledge. Banished from the presence of their own
gods, they fled to Mesopotamia where they lived for a long time.
9 When God told them
to leave their home and set out for Canaan, they settled there and
accumulated gold and silver and great herds of cattle.
10 Next, famine having
overwhelmed the land of Canaan, they went down to Egypt where they stayed
till they were well nourished. There they became a great multitude, a race beyond
counting.
11 But the king of
Egypt turned against them and exploited them by forcing them to make bricks; he
degraded them, reducing them to slavery.
12 They cried to their
God, who struck the entire land of Egypt with incurable plagues, and the
Egyptians expelled them.
13 God dried up the
Red Sea before them
14 and led them
forward by way of Sinai and Kadesh-Barnea. Having driven off all the inhabitants of
the desert,
15 they settled in the
land of the Amorites and in their strength exterminated the entire
population of Heshbon. Then, having crossed the Jordan, they took possession
of all the hill-country,
16 driving out the
Canaanites before them and the Perizzites, Jebusites, Shechemites and all
the Girgashites, and lived there for many years.
17 All the while they
did not sin before their God, prosperity was theirs, for they have a God who
hates wickedness.
1 Maccabees 2:49 – 4:40
New Jerusalem Bible Version
49
As the days of Mattathias were drawing to a close, he said to his sons,
'Arrogance and outrage are now in the ascendant; it is a period of turmoil and
bitter hatred.
50
This is the time, my children, for you to have a burning zeal for the Law and
to give your lives for the covenant of our ancestors.
51
Remember the deeds performed by our ancestors, each in his generation, and you
will win great honour and everlasting renown.
52
Was not Abraham tested and found faithful, was that not considered as
justifying him?
53
Joseph in the time of his distress maintained the Law, and so became lord of
Egypt.
54
Phinehas, our father, in return for his burning zeal, received the covenant of
everlasting priesthood.
55
Joshua, for carrying out his task, became judge of Israel.
56
Caleb, for his testimony before the assembled people, received an inheritance
in the land.
57
David for his generous heart inherited the throne of an everlasting kingdom.
58
Elijah for his consuming fervour for the Law was caught up to heaven itself.
59
Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael, for their fidelity, were saved from the flame.
60
Daniel for his singleness of heart was rescued from the lion's jaws.
61
Know then that, generation after generation, no one who hopes in him will be
overcome.
62
Do not fear the threats of the sinner, all his brave show must come to the
dunghill and the worms.
63
Exalted today, tomorrow he is nowhere to be found, for he has returned to the
dust he came from and his scheming is brought to nothing.
64
My children, be resolute and courageous for the Law, for it will bring you
glory.
65
'Here is your brother Simeon, I know he is a man of sound judgement. Listen to
him all your lives; let him take your father's place.
66
Judas Maccabaeus, strong and brave from his youth, let him be your general and
conduct the war against the gentiles.
67
The rest of you are to enrol in your ranks all those who keep the Law, and to
assure the vengeance of your people.
68
Pay back the gentiles to the full, and hold fast to the ordinance of the Law.'
69
Then he blessed them and was joined to his ancestors.
70
He died in the year 146 and was buried in his ancestral tomb at Modein, and all
Israel mourned him deeply.
NJB 1 Maccabees 3:1 His son, Judas, known as
Maccabaeus, then took his place.
2
All his brothers, and all who had attached themselves to his father, supported
him, and they fought for Israel with a will.
3
He extended the fame of his people. Like a giant, he put on the breastplate and
buckled on his war harness; he engaged in battle after battle, protecting the
ranks with his sword.
4
He was like a lion in his exploits, like a young lion roaring over its prey.
5
He pursued and tracked down the renegades, he consigned those who troubled his
people to the flames.
6
The renegades quailed with the terror he inspired, all evil-doers were utterly
confounded, and deliverance went forward under his leadership.
7
He brought bitterness to many a king and rejoicing to Jacob by his deeds, his
memory is blessed for ever and ever.
8
He went through the towns of Judah eliminating the irreligious from them, and
diverted the Retribution from Israel.
9
His name resounded to the ends of the earth, he rallied those who were on the
point of perishing.
10
Next, Apollonius mustered the gentiles and a large force from Samaria to make
war on Israel.
11
When Judas learned of it, he went out to meet him and routed and killed him.
Many fell wounded, and the survivors took to flight.
12
Their spoils were seized and the sword of Apollonius was taken by Judas, who
used it to fight with throughout his life.
13
On hearing that Judas had raised a mixed force of believers and seasoned
fighters,
14
Seron, commander of the Syrian troops, said, 'I shall make a name for myself
and gain honour in the kingdom if I fight Judas and those supporters of his who
are so contemptuous of the king's orders.'
15
He therefore launched another expedition, with a strong army of unbelievers to
support him in taking revenge on the Israelites.
16
He had nearly reached the descent of Beth-Horon when Judas went out to confront
him with a handful of men.
17
But as soon as these saw the force advancing to meet them, they said to Judas,
'How can we, few as we are, engage such overwhelming numbers? We are exhausted
as it is, not having had anything to eat today.'
18
'It is easy', Judas answered, 'for a great number to be defeated by a few;
indeed, in the sight of Heaven, deliverance, whether by many or by few, is all
one;
19
for victory in war does not depend on the size of the fighting force: Heaven
accords the strength.
20
They are coming against us in full-blown insolence and lawlessness to destroy
us, our wives and our children, and to plunder us;
21
but we are fighting for our lives and our laws,
22
and he will crush them before our eyes; do not be afraid of them.'
23
When he had finished speaking, he made a sudden sally against Seron and his
force and overwhelmed them.
24
Judas pursued them down from Beth-Horon as far as the plain. About eight
hundred of their men fell, and the rest took refuge in the country of the
Philistines.
25
Judas and his brothers began to be feared, and alarm seized the surrounding
peoples.
26
His name even reached the king's ears, and among the nations there was talk of
Judas and his battles.
27
The news of these events infuriated Antiochus, and he ordered mobilisation of
all the forces in his kingdom, a very powerful army.
28
Opening his treasury, he distributed a year's pay to his troops, telling them
to be prepared for any eventuality.
29
He then found that the money in his coffers had run short and that the tribute
of the province had decreased, as a result of the dissension and disaster
brought on the country by his own abrogation of laws that had been in force
from antiquity.
30
He began to fear that, as had happened more than once, he would not have enough
to cover the expenses and the lavish bounties he had previously been accustomed
to make on a larger scale than his predecessors on the throne.
31
In this grave quandary he resolved to invade Persia, there to levy tribute on
the provinces and so accumulate substantial funds.
32
He therefore left Lysias, a nobleman and member of the royal family, to manage
the royal affairs between the River Euphrates and the Egyptian frontier,
33
making him responsible for the education of his son Antiochus, until he should
come back.
34
To him Antiochus made over half his forces, with the elephants, giving him
instructions about what he wanted done, particularly with regard to the
inhabitants of Judaea and Jerusalem,
35
against whom he was to send a force, to crush and destroy the power of Israel
and the remnant of Jerusalem, to wipe out their very memory from the place,
36
to settle foreigners in all parts of their territory and to distribute their
land into lots.
37
The king took the remaining half of his troops with him and set out from
Antioch, the capital of his kingdom, in the year 147; he crossed the River
Euphrates and made his way through the Upper Provinces.
38
Lysias chose Ptolemy son of Dorymenes, with Nicanor and Gorgias, influential
men from among the Friends of the King,
39
and, under their command, despatched forty thousand foot and seven thousand
horse to invade the land of Judah and devastate it, as the king had ordered.
40
The entire force set out and reached the neighbourhood of Emmaus in the
lowlands, where they pitched camp.
41
The local merchants, hearing the news of this, arrived at the camp, bringing
with them a large amount of gold and silver, and fetters as well, proposing to
buy the Israelites as slaves; they were accompanied by a company from Idumaea
and the Philistine country.
42
Judas and his brothers saw that the situation was going from bad to worse and
that armies were camping in their territory; they were also well aware that the
king had ordered the people's total destruction.
43
So they said to each other, 'Let us restore the ruins of our people and fight
for our people and our sanctuary.'
44
The Assembly was summoned, to prepare for war, to offer prayer and to implore
compassion and mercy.
45
Jerusalem was as empty as a desert, none of her children to go in and out. The
sanctuary was trodden underfoot, men of an alien race held the Citadel, which
had become a lodging for gentiles. There was no more rejoicing for Jacob, the
flute and lyre were mute.
46
After mustering, they made their way to Mizpah, opposite Jerusalem, since
Mizpah was traditionally a place of prayer for Israel.
47
That day they fasted and put on sackcloth, covering their heads with ashes and
tearing their garments.
48
For the guidance that the gentiles would have sought from the images of their
false gods, they opened the Book of the Law.
49
They also brought out the priestly vestments, with first-fruits and tithes, and
marshalled the Nazirites who had completed the period of their vow.
50
Then, raising their voices to Heaven, they cried, 'What shall we do with these
people, and where are we to take them?
51
Your holy place has been trampled underfoot and defiled, your priests mourn in
their humiliation,
52
and now the gentiles are in alliance to destroy us: you know what they have in
mind for us.
53
How can we stand up and face them if you do not come to our aid?'
54
Then they sounded the trumpets and raised a great shout.
55
Next, Judas appointed leaders for the people, to command a thousand, a hundred,
fifty or ten men.
56
Those who were in the middle of building a house, or were about to be married,
or were planting a vineyard, or were afraid, he told to go home again, as the
Law allowed.
57
The column then marched off and took up a position south of Emmaus.
58
'Stand to your arms,' Judas told them, 'acquit yourselves bravely, in the
morning be ready to fight these gentiles massed against us to destroy us and our
sanctuary.
59
Better for us to die in battle than to watch the ruin of our nation and our
Holy Place.
60
Whatever be the will of Heaven, he will perform it.'
NJB 1 Maccabees 4:1 Gorgias took with him five
thousand foot and a thousand picked cavalry, and the force moved off by night
2
with the object of attacking the Jewish position and dealing them an unexpected
blow; the men from the Citadel were there to guide him.
3
Judas got wind of it and himself moved off with his fighters to strike at the
royal army at Emmaus,
4
while its fighting troops were still dispersed outside the camp.
5
Hence, when Gorgias reached Judas' camp, he found no one and began looking for
the Jews in the mountains. 'For', he said, 'we have got them on the run.'
6
First light found Judas in the plain with three thousand men, although these
lacked the armour and swords they would have wished.
7
They could now see the gentile encampment with its strong fortifications and
cavalry surrounding it, clearly people who understood warfare.
8
Judas said to his men, 'Do not be afraid of their numbers, and do not flinch at
their attack.
9
Remember how our ancestors were delivered at the Red Sea when Pharaoh was
pursuing them in force.
10
And now let us call on Heaven: if he cares for us, he will remember his
covenant with our ancestors and will destroy this army confronting us today;
11
then all the nations will know for certain that there is One who ransoms and
saves Israel.'
12
The foreigners looked up and, seeing the Jews advancing against them,
13
came out of the camp to join battle. Judas' men sounded the trumpet
14
and engaged them. The gentiles were defeated and fled towards the plain
15
and all the stragglers fell by the sword. The pursuit continued as far as Gezer
and the plains of Idumaea, Azotus and Jamnia, and the enemy lost about three
thousand men.
16
Breaking off the pursuit, Judas returned with his men
17
and said to the people, 'Never mind the booty, for we have another battle ahead
of us.
18
Gorgias and his troops are still near us in the mountains. First stand up to
our enemies and fight them, and then you can safely collect the booty.'
19
The words were hardly out of Judas' mouth, when a detachment came into view,
peering down from the mountain.
20
Observing that their own troops had been routed and that the camp had been
fired -- since the smoke, which they could see, attested the fact-
21
they were panic-stricken at the sight; and when, furthermore, they saw Judas'
troops drawn up for battle on the plain,
22
they all fled into Philistine territory.
23
Judas then turned back to plunder the camp, and a large sum in gold and silver,
with violet and sea-purple stuffs, and many other valuables were carried off.
24
On their return, the Jews chanted praises to Heaven, singing, 'He is kind and
his love is everlasting!'
25
That day had seen a remarkable deliverance in Israel.
26
Those of the foreigners who had escaped came and gave Lysias an account of all
that had happened.
27
The news shocked and dismayed him, for affairs in Israel had not gone as he
intended, and the result was quite the opposite to what the king had ordered.
28
The next year he mobilised sixty thousand picked troops and five thousand
cavalry with the intention of finishing off the Jews.
29
They advanced into Idumaea and made their base at Beth-Zur, where Judas met
them with ten thousand men.
30
When he saw their military strength he offered this prayer, 'Blessed are you,
Saviour of Israel, who shattered the mighty warrior's attack at the hand of
your servant David, and delivered the Philistine camp into the hands of
Jonathan son of Saul, and his armour-bearer.
31
Crush this expedition in the same way at the hands of your people Israel; let
their troops and cavalry bring them nothing but shame.
32
Sow panic in their ranks, confound the confidence they put in their numbers and
send them reeling in defeat.
33
Overthrow them by the sword of those who love you, and all who acknowledge your
name will sing your praises.'
34
The two forces engaged, and five thousand men of Lysias' troops fell in
hand-to-hand fighting.
35
Seeing the rout of his army and the courage of Judas' troops and their
readiness to live or die nobly, Lysias withdrew to Antioch, where he recruited
mercenaries for a further invasion of Judaea in even greater strength.
36
Judas and his brothers then said, 'Now that our enemies have been defeated, let
us go up to purify the sanctuary and dedicate it.'
37
So they marshalled the whole army, and went up to Mount Zion.
38
There they found the sanctuary deserted, the altar desecrated, the gates burnt
down, and vegetation growing in the courts as it might in a wood or on some
mountain, while the storerooms were in ruins.
39
They tore their garments and mourned bitterly, putting dust on their heads.
40
They prostrated themselves on the ground, and when the trumpets gave the signal
they cried aloud to Heaven.
Tehillim - Psalm 30:1-13
|
Rashi |
Targum |
|
1.
A psalm; a song of dedication of the House, of David. |
1. A praise song for the dedication of the
sanctuary. Of David. |
|
2.
I will exalt You, O Lord, for You have raised me up, and You have not
allowed my enemies to rejoice over me. |
2. I will praise you, O LORD, for you made me stand
erect, and did not let my enemies rejoice over me. |
|
3.
O Lord, I have cried out to You, and You have healed me. |
3.
O LORD my God, I prayed in Your presence and You healed me. |
|
4.
O Lord, You have brought my soul from the grave; You have revived me
from my descent into the Pit. |
4.
O LORD, You raised my soul out of Sheol; You preserved me from going down
to the pit. |
|
5.
Sing to the Lord, His pious ones, and give thanks to His holy name. |
5.
Sing praise in the LORD's presence, you His devotees; and give thanks
at the invocation of His holy one. |
|
6.
For His wrath lasts but a moment; life results from His favor; in the
evening, weeping may tarry, but in the morning there is joyful singing. |
6.
For His anger is but a moment; eternal life is His good pleasure. In
the evening one goes to bed in tears, but in the morning one rises in praise. |
|
7.
And I said in my tranquility, "I will never falter." |
7.
And I said when I dwelt in trust, I will never be shaken. |
|
8.
O Lord, with Your will, You set up my mountain to be might, You hid
Your countenance and I became frightened. |
8.
O LORD, by Your will You prepared the mighty mountains; You removed
Your presence, I became afraid. |
|
9.
To You, O Lord, I would call, and to the Lord I would supplicate. |
9.
In Your presence, O LORD, I will cry out; and to You, O my God,
I will pray. |
|
10.
"What gain is there in my blood, in my descent to
the grave? Will dust thank You; will it recite Your truth? |
10.
And I said, What profit is there in my blood, when I
descend to the grave? Can those who descend to the dust praise You? Will they
tell of Your faithfulness? |
|
11.
Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me; O Lord, be my helper." |
11.
Accept, O LORD, my prayer, and have mercy on me; O LORD, be my helper. |
|
12.
You have turned my lament into dancing for me; You loosened my
sackcloth and girded me with joy. |
12.
You turned my lament into my celebration; You loosened my sackcloth and
girded me with joy. |
|
13.
So that my soul will sing praises to You and not be silent. O Lord, my
God, I will thank You forever. |
13.
Because the nobles of the world will give You praise and not be
silent, O LORD my God, I too will give You praise. |
|
|
|
Isaiah 5:20-24
JPS
20 Ah, Those who call evil good
And good evil;
Who present darkness as light
And light as darkness;
Who present bitter as sweet
And sweet as bitter!
21 Ah, Those who are so wise -- In
their own opinion;
So clever -- In their own
judgment!
22 Ah, Those who are so doughty --
As drinkers of wine,
And so valiant -- As mixers of
drink!
23 Who vindicate him who is in the
wrong
In return for a bribe,
And withhold vindication
From him who is in the right.
24 Assuredly,
As straw is consumed by a tongue
of fire
And hay shrivels as it burns,
Their stock shall become like
rot,
And their buds shall blow away
like dust.
For they have rejected the
instruction in the Torah of the LORD of Hosts,
Spurned the word of the Holy One
of Israel.
Yochanan Alef (1
John) 2:1-11
Hakham’s
Rendition
1
My sons, I am writing these things to you in order that you may not sin. And if
anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Yeshua the Messiah the
righteous/generous one,
2
and he was made the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also
for the sins of the whole [Gentile] world.
3
And by this we know that we have come to have intimate knowledge of him (the
Master), if we keep His (God’s) commandments.
4
The one who says "I have come to intimately know him," and does not
keep His (God’s) commandments is a liar, and the truth (i.e. the Torah – cf.
Psalm 119:142) is not [dwelling] in this person.
5
But whoever puts in practice God’s Torah, truly in this person the love of God
has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him (Messiah).
6
The one who says that he resides in him (Messiah) ought also to
walk just as he walked [in submissive obedience to the Torah and to the
Torah Sages].
7
Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment
which you have had from the beginning (i.e. B’resheet = Gen. 1:1ff). The
old commandment is the message which you have heard [from the Torah].
8
Again, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in him (Messiah)
and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light already is
shining.
9
The one who says he is in the light and hates/belittles his [Jewish] brother
is in the darkness even now.
10
The one who loves his [Jewish] brother resides in the light, and there
is no cause for stumbling in him.
11
But the one who hates/belittles his [Jewish] brother is in the darkness,
and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the
darkness has blinded his eyes.
END OF THE READINGS FOR THE
SECOND DAY OF HANUKA
Shabbat “Third
Day of Hanuka” & Mevar’chim HaChodesh Tebet
Sabbath of
Hanukah & Proclamation of the New Moon for the Month of Tebet
(Tuesday Evening December 7 –
Wednesday Evening December 8, 2010)
Candle Lighting
and Havdalah Times:
|
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Fri. Nov. 26, 2010 – Candles at 5:11 PM Sat. Nov. 27, 2010 – Havdalah 6:09 PM |
Brisbane, Australia Fri. Nov. 26, 2010 – Candles at 6:12 PM Sat. Nov. 27, 2010 – Havdalah 7:10 PM |
Bucharest, Romania Fri Nov. 26, 2010 – Candles at 4:19 PM Sat. Nov.27, 2010 – Havdalah 5:25 PM |
|
Chattanooga, & Cleveland, TN, U.S. Fri. Nov. 26, 2010 – Candles at 5:11 PM Sat. Nov. 27, 2010 – Havdalah 6:10 PM |
Jakarta,
Indonesia Fri. Nov. 26, 2010 – Candles at 5:38 PM Sat. Nov. 27, 2010 – Havdalah 6:30 PM |
Manila & Cebu, Philippines Fri. Nov. 26, 2010 – Candles at 5:07 PM Sat. Nov. 27, 2010 – Havdalah 5:50 PM |
|
Miami,
FL, U.S. Fri. Nov. 26, 2010 – Candles at 5:11 PM Sat. Nov. 27, 2010 – Havdalah 6:06 PM |
Olympia, WA, U.S. Fri. Nov. 26, 2010 – Candles at 4:06 PM Sat. Nov. 27, 2010 – Havdalah 5:15 PM |
Murray, KY, & Paris,
TN. U.S. Fri. Oct. 26, 2010 – Candles at 4:19 PM Sat. Oct. 27, 2010 – Havdalah 5:20 PM |
|
Conroe, TX, U.S. Fri. Nov. 26, 2010 – Candles at 5:12 PM Sat. Nov. 27, 2010 – Havdalah 6:09 PM |
Sheboygan & Manitowoc, WI, US Fri. Nov. 26, 2010 – Candles at 3:57 PM Sat. Nov. 27, 2010 – Havdalah 5:02 PM |
Singapore, Singapore Fri. Nov. 26, 2010 – Candles at 6:38 PM Sat. Nov. 27, 2010 – Havdalah 7:29 PM |
For other places see: http://chabad.org/calendar/candlelighting.asp
|
Shabbat |
Torah Reading: |
Weekday Torah Reading: |
|
בְּיוֹם
כַּלּוֹת
מֹשֶׁה |
|
|
|
“B’Yom Khalot Mosheh” |
Reader
1 – B’Midbar 7:1-11 |
Reader 1 – Vayiqra 24:1-4 |
|
“And
on the day Mosheh finished” |
Reader
2 – B’Midbar 7:12-23 |
Reader 2 – Vayiqra 24:5-9 |
|
“En el día Moisés hubo acabado” |
Reader
3 – B’Midbar 7:24-29 |
Reader 3 – Vayiqra 24:1-9 |
|
B’Midbar (Num.) 7:1-59 & 28:9-15 |
Reader
4 – B’Midbar 7:30-35 |
|
|
Ashlamatah: Zechariah 2:14 – 4:7 |
Reader
5 – B’Midbar 7:36-41 |
|
|
Special:
I Samuel 20:18,42 |
Reader
6 – B’Midbar 7:42-47 |
Reader 1 – Vayiqra 24:1-4 |
|
Psalm 30:1-13 |
Reader
7 – B’Midbar 7:48-59 |
Reader 2 – Vayiqra 24:5-9 |
|
Yehudit
(Judith) 5:18 – 7:16 1
Maccab. 4:41 – 6:27 |
Maftir – B’Midbar 28:9-15 |
Reader 3 – Vayiqra 24:1-9 |
|
N.C.: 2
John 1-13 + 3 John 1-14 |
Zechariah 2:14 - 4:7 I Samuel
20:18 &42 |
|
Rashi & Targum
Pseudo Jonathan
for: B’Midbar (Numbers)
7:1-59
|
Rashi |
Targum Pseudo Jonathan |
|
1.
And it was that on the day that Moses finished erecting the Mishkan,
he anointed it, sanctified it, and all its vessels, and the altar and all its
vessels. |
1. And it was on the day which begins the month of
Nisan, when Mosheh had finished to rear up the tabernacle, he took it not in
pieces again, but anointed and consecrated it and all its vessels, the altar
and all the vessels thereof, and he anointed them and hallowed them; |
|
2.
The chieftains of Israel, the heads of their fathers' houses,
presented [their offerings]. They were the leaders of the tribes. They were
the ones who were present during the counting, |
2.
then the leaders of Israel, who were the chiefs of the house of their
fathers, brought their offerings. These were they who had been appointed in
Mizraim chiefs over the numbered, |
|
3.
They brought their offering before the Lord: six covered wagons and
twelve oxen, a wagon for each two chieftains, and an ox for each one; they
presented them in front of the Mishkan. |
3.
and they brought their offering before the LORD; six wagons covered
and fitted up, and twelve oxen; one wagon for two princes and one ox for
each. But Mosheh was not willing to receive them, and they brought them
before the tabernacle. |
|
4.
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: |
4.
And the Lord spoke with Mosheh, saying: |
|
5.
Take [it] from them, and let them be used in the service of the Tent
of Meeting. You shall give them to the Levites, in accordance with each man's
work. |
5.
Take them, and let them be used for the need of the appointed (work),
and let the oxen and the wagons be for the work of the service of the
tabernacle of ordinance, and give them to the Levites, to each according to
the measure of his work. |
|
6.
So Moses took the wagons and the cattle and gave them to the Levites. |
6.
And Mosheh took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. |
|
7.
He gave two wagons and four oxen to the sons of Gershon, according to
their work. |
7.
Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to
the amount of their service, |
|
8.
And he gave four wagons and eight oxen to the sons of Merari,
according to their work under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the
priest. |
8.
and four wagons and eight oxen gave he to the sons of Merari,
according to the measure of their service, by the hand of Ithamar bar Aharon
the priest. |
|
9.
But to the sons of Kohath he did not give, for incumbent upon
them was the work involving the holy [objects], which they were to carry on
their shoulders. |
9.
But to the sons of Kehath he gave neither wagons nor oxen, because
on them was laid the service of the sanctuary, to be carried on their
shoulders. |
|
10.
The chieftains brought [offerings for] the dedication of the altar on
the day it was anointed; the chieftains presented their offerings in front of
the altar. |
10.
And the princes offered at the dedication of the altar by anointing,
on the day that he anointed it did the princes present their oblations before
the altar. |
|
11.
The Lord said to Moses: One chieftain each day, one chieftain each
day, shall present his offering for the dedication of the altar. |
11.
And the LORD said unto Mosheh, Let the princes offer each, one prince
on one day, their oblations at the dedication of the altar by anointing. |
|
12.
The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nahshon the son
of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah. |
12. He who on the first day presented his oblation
was Nachshon bar Amminadab, prince of the house of the fathers of the tribe
Jehudah: |
|
13.
And his offering was one silver bowl weighing one hundred and thirty
[shekels], one silver sprinkling basin [weighing] seventy shekels according
to the holy shekel, both filled with fine flour mixed with olive oil for a
meal offering. |
13. and his oblation which he offered was one silver
bowl, thickly embossed, (or, crusted,) in weight one hundred and thirty
shekels, in shekels of the sanctuary; one silver vase, slightly embossed, of
seventy shekels, in shekels of the sanctuary; both of these vessels he
brought filled with flour of the separation, sprinkled with olive oil for a
mincha; |
|
14.
One spoon [weighing] ten gold [shekels], filled with incense. |
14.
one pan (censer) weighing ten silver shekels, but it was itself of
good gold; and he brought it full of good sweet incense of the separation; |
|
15.
One young bull, one ram and one lamb in its first year for a burnt
offering. |
15.
one young bullock of three years, one ram of two years, and one lamb
of the year. These three did the chief of the tribe Jehudah bring for a burnt
offering; |
|
16.
One young he goat for a sin offering. |
16.
one kid of the goats he brought for a sin offering; |
|
17.
And for the peace offering: two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five
lambs in their first year; this was the offering of Nahshon the son of
Amminadab. |
17. and for consecrated victims, two oxen, five
rams, five goats, lambs of the year five: this is the order of the oblation
which Nachshon bar Amminadab offered of his wealth. |
|
18.
On the second day, Nethanel the son of Zu'ar, the chieftain of
Issachar brought [his offering]. |
18. On the second day, Nethanel bar Zuar, chief of
the house of the fathers of the tribe Issakar, brought his oblation. |
|
19.
He brought his offering of one silver bowl weighing one hundred and
thirty [shekels], one silver sprinkling basin [weighing] seventy shekels
according to the holy shekel, both filled with fine flour mixed with olive
oil for a meal offering. |
19.
He brought his oblation after Jehudah by commandment of the Holy: one
silver dish thickly embossed, one hundred and thirty shekels, &c., as the
first. |
|
20.
One spoon [weighing] ten gold [shekels] filled with incense. |
20.
|
|
21.
One young bull, one ram and one lamb in its first year for a burnt
offering. |
21.
|
|
22.
One young he goat for a sin offering. |
22.
|
|
23.
And for the peace offering: two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five
lambs in their first year; this was the offering of Nethanel the son of
Zu'ar. |
23.
|
|
24.
On the third day, the chieftain was of the sons of Zebulun, Eliab the
son of Helon. |
24.
On the third day, Eliab bar Helon, prince of the Benei Zebulon,
offered. |
|
25.
His offering was one silver bowl weighing one hundred and thirty
[shekels], one silver sprinkling basin [weighing] seventy shekels according
to the holy shekel, both filled with fine flour mixed with olive oil for a
meal offering. |
25.
|
|
26.
One spoon [weighing] ten gold [shekels] filled with incense. |
26.
|
|
27.
One young bull, one ram and one lamb in its first year for a burnt
offering. |
27.
|
|
28.
One young he goat for a sin offering. |
28.
|
|
29.
And for the peace offering: two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five
lambs in their first year; this was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon. |
29. |
|
30.
On the fourth day, the chieftain was of the sons of Reuben, Elitzur
the son of Shedeur. |
30. On the fourth, Elizur bar Shedeur, prince of the
Benei Reuben; |
|
31.
His offering was one silver bowl weighing one hundred and thirty
[shekels], one silver sprinkling basin [weighing] seventy shekels according
to the holy shekel, both filled with fine flour mixed with olive oil for a
meal offering. |
31.
|
|
32.
One spoon [weighing] ten gold [shekels] filled with incense. |
32.
|
|
33.
One young bull, one ram and one lamb in its first year for a burnt
offering. |
33.
|
|
34.
One young he goat for a sin offering. |
34.
|
|
35.
And for the peace offering: two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five
lambs in their first year; this was the offering of Elitzur the son of
Shedeur. |
35.
|
|
36.
On the fifth day, the chieftain was of the sons of Simeon, Shelumiel
the son of Zurishaddai. |
36.
on the fifth, Shelumiel bar Zurishaddai, prince of Shemeon; |
|
37.
His offering was one silver bowl weighing one hundred and thirty
[shekels], one silver sprinkling basin [weighing] seventy shekels according
to the holy shekel, both filled with fine flour mixed with olive oil for a
meal offering. |
37.
|
|
38.
One spoon [weighing] ten gold [shekels] filled with incense. |
38.
|
|
39.
One young bull, one ram and one lamb in its first year for a burnt
offering. |
39.
|
|
40.
One young he goat for a sin offering. |
40.
|
|
41.
And for the peace offering: two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five
lambs in their first year; this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of
Zurishaddai. |
41.
|
|
42.
On the sixth day, the chieftain was of the sons of Gad, Eliasaph the
son of De'uel. |
42.
on the sixth, Eljasaph bar Dehuel, prince of the Benei Gad; |
|
43.
His offering was one silver bowl weighing one hundred and thirty
[shekels], one silver sprinkling basin [weighing] seventy shekels according
to the holy shekel, both filled with fine flour mixed with olive oil for a
meal offering. |
43.
|
|
44.
One spoon [weighing] ten gold [shekels] filled with incense. |
44.
|
|
45.
One young bull, one ram and one lamb in its first year for a burnt
offering. |
45.
|
|
46.
One young he goat for a sin offering. |
46.
|
|
47.
And for the peace offering: two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five
lambs in their first year; this was the offering of Eliasaph the son of
De'uel. |
47.
|
|
48.
On the seventh day, the chieftain was of the sons of Ephraim, Elishama
the son of Ammihud. |
48.
on the seventh, Elishama bar Ammihud, prince of the Benei Ephraim; |
|
49.
His offering was one silver bowl weighing one hundred and thirty
[shekels], one silver sprinkling basin [weighing] seventy shekels according
to the holy shekel, both filled with fine flour mixed with olive oil for a
meal offering. |
49.
|
|
50.
One spoon [weighing] ten gold [shekels] filled with incense. |
50.
|
|
51.
One young bull, one ram and one lamb in its first year for a burnt
offering. |
51.
|
|
52.
One young he goat for a sin offering. |
52.
|
|
53.
And for the peace offering: two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five
lambs in their first year; this was the offering of Elishama the son of
Ammihud; |
43.
|
|
54.
On the eighth day, the chieftain was of the sons of Manasseh, Gamliel
the son of Pedazhur. |
54.
on the eighth, Gamaliel bar Pedazur, prince of Menasheh; |
|
55.
His offering was one silver bowl weighing one hundred and thirty
[shekels], one silver sprinkling basin [weighing] seventy shekels according
to the holy shekel, both filled with fine flour mixed with olive oil for a
meal offering. |
55.
|
|
56.
One spoon [weighing] ten gold [shekels] filled with incense. |
56.
|
|
57.
One young bull, one ram and one lamb in its first year for a burnt
offering. |
57.
|
|
58.
One young he goat for a sin offering. |
58.
|
|
59.
And for the peace offering: two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five
lambs in their first year; this was the offering of Gamliel the son of
Pedazhur. |
59.
|
|
|
|
Rashi & Targum
Pseudo Jonathan
for: B’Midbar (Numbers)
28:9-15
|
Rashi |
Targum Pseudo Jonathan |
|
9.
And on the Sabbath day, two unblemished lambs in the first year, and
two tenths fine flour as a meal offering, mixed with oil, and its libation. |
9. but on the day of Shabbat two lambs of the year
without blemish, and two-tenths of flour mixed with olive oil for the mincha
and its libation. |
|
10.
[This is] the burnt offering of each Sabbath on its Sabbath, in
addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation. |
10.
On the Sabbath you will make a Sabbath burnt sacrifice in addition to
the perpetual burnt sacrifice and its libation. |
|
11.
And on the beginning of your months, you shall offer up a burnt
offering to the Lord: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs in the first
year, [all] unblemished. |
11.
And at the beginning of your months you will offer a burnt sacrifice
before the LORD; two young bullocks, without mixture, one ram, lambs of the
year seven, unblemished; |
|
12.
Three tenths fine flour as a meal offering, mixed with oil for each
bull, and two tenths fine flour as a meal offering, mixed with oil for each
ram. |
12.
and three tenths of flour mingled with oil for the mincha for one
bullock; two tenths of flour with olive oil for the mincha of the one ram; |
|
13.
And one tenth of fine flour mixed with oil as a meal offering for each
lamb. A burnt offering with a spirit of satisfaction, a fire offering to the
Lord. |
13. and
one tenth of flour with olive oil for the mincha for each lamb of the burnt
offering, an oblation to be received with favor before the LORD. |
|
14.
And their libations: a half of a hin for each bull, a third of a hin
for each ram, and a quarter of a hin for each lamb; this is the burnt
offering of each new month in its month, throughout the months of the year. |
14.
And for their libation to be offered with them, the half of a bin for
a bullock, the third of a bin for the ram, and the fourth of a hin for a
lamb, of the wine of grapes. This burnt sacrifice will be offered at the
beginning of every month in the time of the removal of the beginning of every
month in the year; |
|
15.
And one young male goat for a sin offering to the Lord; it shall be
offered up in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation. |
15.
and one kid of the goats, for a sin offering before the LORD at the
disappearing (failure) of the moon, with the perpetual burnt sacrifice will
you perform with its libation. |
|
|
|
Welcome to the
World of P’shat Exegesis
In
order to understand the finished work of the P’shat mode of interpretation of
the Torah, one needs to take into account that the P’shat is intended to
produce a catechetical output, whereby a question/s is/are raised and an
answer/a is/are given using the seven Hermeneutic Laws of R. Hillel and as well
as the laws of Hebrew Grammar and Hebrew expression.
The
Seven Hermeneutic Laws of R. Hillel are as follows
[cf.
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=472&letter=R]:
1.
Ḳal va-ḥomer:
"Argumentum a minori ad majus" or "a majori ad minus";
corresponding to the scholastic proof a fortiori.
2.
Gezerah shavah:
Argument from analogy. Biblical passages containing synonyms or homonyms are
subject, however much they differ in other respects, to identical definitions
and applications.
3.
Binyan ab mi-katub eḥad: Application of a provision found in one passage
only to passages which are related to the first in content but do not contain
the provision in question.
4.
Binyan ab mi-shene ketubim:
The same as the preceding, except that the provision is generalized from two
Biblical passages.
5.
Kelal u-Peraṭ and Peraṭ u-kelal: Definition of the general by the
particular, and of the particular by the general.
6.
Ka-yoẓe bo mi-maḳom aḥer: Similarity in content to another
Scriptural passage.
7.
Dabar ha-lamed me-'inyano:
Interpretation deduced from the context.
Rashi Commentary for:
B’Midbar (Numbers) 7:1-59
1 And it was that on the day that Moses finished Heb. כַּלּוֹת . The text כַּלּוֹת on the day the Mishkan was erected, the Israelites
were like a bride (כַּלּוֹת) entering the nuptial canopy.-[Tanchuma Naso 20,
26, Pesikta Rabbathi 5:5, Pesikta d’Rav Kahana p. 6a, and other sources]
[According to Tanchuma, the derash is based on the spelling כַּלַּת , which differs from the spelling in all extant sifrei Torah.
Some believe that the derash is based on the vowelization כַּלוֹת , instead כְּלוֹת , which would clearly mean “finishing.” Heidenheim
believes that the choice of the word כַּלוֹת , the root of which is ambiguous, indicates the
intention of the Torah to include both meanings: finishing and nuptials. See
fn. 104, to Pesikta d’Rav Kahana.
Moses finished Bezalel, Oholiab, and all the
wise-hearted [men] assembled the Mishkan, yet Scripture credits Moses with it,
because he utterly devoted himself to it, overseeing that the design of each
article conformed with what he was shown on the mount [Sinai], to instruct the
craftsmen, and he did not err in any design. Similarly, we find with David,
that since he devoted himself to the building of the Temple, as it says, “O
Lord, remember for David all his affliction, that he swore to the Lord...” (Ps.
132:1-2), therefore, it [the Temple] was called by his name, as it says, “See
your House, David” (I Kings 12:16). -[See Midrash Tanchuma Naso 21]
[On the day] that Moses finished erecting It does not
say: “On the day he erected.” This teaches us that throughout the seven days of
investitures, Moses erected it and dismantled it, but on that day he erected it
but did not dismantle it. Therefore, it says, "Moses finished
erecting"—that day marked the end of his erecting [the Mishkan]. It was
the New Moon of Nissan. On the second [day], the red cow was burned; on the
third [day], they sprinkled the first sprinkling (See below ch. 19); and on the
seventh [day], they [the Levites] were shaved (see below 5:7). -[Sifrei 1:145]
2 They were the leaders of the tribes They were the
officers [appointed] over them in Egypt, and they were beaten on account of
them, as it says, “The officers of the children of Israel were beaten” (Exod.
5:14). [Rashi interprets הַמַּטּֽת as “the sticks.” Hence, נְשִׂיאֵי הַמַּטּֽת means “the chieftains who were beaten with
sticks.”] -[Sifrei 1:145]
who were present during the counting They stood with
Moses and Aaron when they counted the Israelites, as it says, “With you [Moses
and Aaron] there shall be [a man from each tribe]” (Num. 1:4).
3 six covered wagons The word צָב can denote only “covered.” Similarly, “In covered
wagons (בַּצַּבִּים) and on mules” (Isa. 66:20). Covered wagons are
called צַבִּים . [Some expound the word צָב in the sense of הַצְבִי
יִשְׂרָאֵל , “O beauty of Israel” (II Sam. 1:19), (meaning)
that they were elegant.] - [Sifrei Naso 1:148, Num. Rabbah 12:17. See
Maharzav.]
they presented them in front of the Mishkan for Moses
did not accept them from their hands until he was instructed to do so by the
Omnipresent. Rabbi Nathan says: Why did the chieftains see fit to be the first
to contribute here, whereas concerning the work of the Mishkan, they were not
the first to contribute [but the last]? However, the chieftains said as
follows, “Let the people contribute what they can, and then we will complement
whatever is missing.” When they saw that the people had supplied everything—as
it says, “And the work was sufficient for them” (Exod. 36:7)—they said, “What
is left for us to do now?” So they brought the shoham stones and the filling
[stones] for the ephod and the choshen. Therefore, [in order to make amends,]
here they were first to contribute.-[Sifrei Naso 1:150]
7 according to their work Because the burden of the
sons of Gershon was lighter than that of [the sons of] Merari, who carried the
planks, the pillars, and the sockets.
9 for incumbent upon them was the work involving the
holy [objects] [I.e.,] the burden of the holy objects [such as] the ark and the
table, etc. [was incumbent upon them]. Therefore “they were to carry on their
shoulders” [and not in wagons].
10 The chieftains brought [offerings for] the
dedication of the altar After they had contributed the wagons and the oxen for
carrying the Mishkan, they were inspired to contribute offerings for the altar
to dedicate it.
the chieftains presented their offerings in front of
the altar For Moses did not accept it from their hands until instructed to do
so by the Almighty.-[Sifrei Naso 1:152]
11 shall present his offering for the dedication of
the altar But Moses still did not know how they should bring [the offerings],
whether in the order of their births [namely, the order in which Jacob’s sons
were born] or according to the order in which they traveled—until he was
instructed by the Holy One, blessed is He, that they should bring the offerings
according to the order in which they traveled, each one in his day.-[Sifrei
Naso 1:152]
12 on the first day That day acquired ten crowns; it
was the first day of Creation, the first day of the [offerings of the]
chieftains, etc., as it is stated in Seder Olam.
of the tribe of Judah Scripture traces his kinship to
his tribe, but not that he solicited [the offering] from his tribe and then
offered it up. Or perhaps it says, “of the tribe of Judah” to teach that he
indeed solicited [the offering] from his tribe and then brought [it]? Scripture
therefore states, “This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab”
(verse 17), [to teach us that] he brought from his own [resources].-[Sifrei
Naso 1:153, 157]
13 both filled with fine flour for a voluntary meal
offering.-[Sifrei Naso 1:155]
14 ten gold [shekels] Heb. עֲשָָׂרָה זָהָב . As Targum [Onkelos] renders: it contained the
weight of ten [shekels of] gold according to the holy shekel.
filled with incense We never find incense brought by
an individual or on the outer [i.e., copper] altar except in this case; this
was a temporary order.- [Men. 50a]
15 One young bull The choice of the herd.-[Sifrei Naso
1:146]
16 One young he-goat for a sin-offering to atone for
[uncleanness caused by] a grave in the depths [i.e., an unknown grave which may
lie in the earth over which people unknowingly pass, rendering them
unclean],which is a [case of] uncertain contamination. -[Sifrei Naso 1:156]
18 Nethanel the son of Zu’ar... brought...
19 He brought his offering Why is the word הִקְרִב , “brought [his offering],” used in connection with the tribe
of Issachar, but is not used in connection with any of the [other] tribes?
Because [the tribe of] Reuben came and complained, “Is it not enough that my
brother Judah has preceded me? Let me [at least] offer up after him.” Moses
said to him, “I was told by the Almighty that they should offer up in the order
in which they travel, according to their divisions.” This is why it says: אֶת־קָרְבָּנוֹ הִקְרִב , [in which the word הִקְרִב is] missing a “yud,” [thus] giving it the meaning
of הַקְרִב , in the imperative—for he was commanded by the
Almighty, “Bring the offering!” (Sifrei Naso 1:158) What is the meaning of הִקְרִב ... הִקְרִב , twice? For because of two
reasons he [Issachar] merited to be the second of the tribes to offer their
sacrifices: One, because they were [well] versed in the Torah, as it says, “And
of the sons of Issachar, those who had understanding of the times” (I Chron.
12:32). Another, because they advised the chieftains to contribute these
offerings (Sifrei). In the writings of Rabbi Moses Hadarshan ["the
preacher"], I found [the following]: Rabbi Phinehas the son of Yair says
[that] Nethaniel the son of Zu’ar gave them this idea.
one silver bowl Heb. קַעֲרַתכֶּסֶף . The numerical value of [the two words] in
gematria amounts to nine hundred and thirty, corresponding to the years of
Adam, the first man (Gen. 5:5). ק = 100 ע = 70 ר = 200 ת =400 כ = 20 ס = 60 פ = 80 - = 930
weighing one hundred and thirty shekels Alluding to
the fact that when he [Adam] began to raise a family to maintain the existence
of the world, he was one hundred and thirty years old, as it says, “Adam lived
one hundred and thirty years, and he begot...” (Gen. 5:3).
one silver sprinkling basin Heb. מִזְרָק
אֶחָד כֶּסֶף . The gematria of these[three words] is five
hundred and twenty- מ = 40 ז = 7 ר = 200 ק = 100 א = 1 ח = 8 ד = 4 כ = 20 ס = 60 פ = 80 - =520 alluding to Noah, who began raising a family at the
age of five hundred, and alluding to the twenty years before his children were
born in which the decree of the [Great] Flood was enacted, as I explained [to
be the meaning of the verse], “His days shall be one hundred and twenty years”
(Gen. 6:3). This is why it says מִזְרָק
אֶחָד כֶּסֶף rather than מִזְרָק כֶּסֶף
אֶחָד , as it says in the case of the [silver] bowl [i.e., קַעֲרַתכֶּסֶף אַַחַת ], to tell us that even the letters of [the word] אֶחָד are included in the calculation.
seventy shekels Corresponding to the seventy nations
who emanated from his [Noah’s] sons.
20 One spoon Corresponding to the Torah, which was
given by the hand of the Holy One, blessed is He. [ כַּף also means “hand.”]
ten gold [shekels] Corresponding to the Ten
Commandments.
filled with incense - קְטֽרֶת . The gematria of קְטֽרֶת [i.e., 613] corresponds to the six hundred and
thirteen commandments—provided that you convert the “chaph” into a “daleth” in
accordance with the cipher known as, ק “ ד ר ” ג ש “ ב ת ” א [in which the first and last letters of the alphabet are
interchangeable, the second and the second-to-last letters, etc. Thus, ד = 4 ט = 9 ר =200 ת = 400 totalling 613].
21 One young bull Corresponding to Abraham, of whom it
says, “He took a young bull” (Gen. 18:7).
one ram Corresponding to Isaac [of whom it says,] “and
took the ram [and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son]...”
(Gen. 22:13).
one lamb Corresponding to Jacob, [about whom it says,]
“Jacob separated the lambs” (Gen. 30:40).
22 One young he-goat to atone for the sale of Joseph,
about which it says, “and they slaughtered a kid” (Gen. 37:31).
23 And for the peace-offering: two oxen Corresponding
to Moses and Aaron, who established peace between Israel and their Father in
heaven.
Rams...he-goats...lambs Three types, corresponding to
kohanim, Levites, and Israelites, and corresponding to the Torah, the Prophets,
and the Holy Writings. The three fives [in this verse] correspond to the five
books of the Pentateuch, to the five commandments inscribed on the first tablet,
and the five commandments inscribed on the second one. Until this point, [my
comments were] in the name of Rabbi Moses Hadarshan [the preacher].
24 On the third day, the chieftain... On the
third day, the chieftain who brought the offering was from the sons of Zebulun,
and so with all of them. However, regarding Nethanel, about whom it states, הִקְרִיב
נְתַנְאֵל , “Nethanel... brought,” it is appropriate to
follow it with the phrase “the chieftain of Issachar” [unlike the other
instances, where the verse refers to the chieftain as “the chieftain of the
sons of so-and- so,” followed by his name], since his name and what he had
offered has already been mentioned. Concerning the others, where it does not
say: הִקְרִיב , “he offered,” the appropriate wording is this,
"the chieftain was of the sons of so-and-so"—that day, the chieftain
who brought his offering was from such-and-such a tribe. [Why the word הִקְרִיב is written only in reference to Nethanel is
discussed above on verses 18 and 19.]
Tehillim - Psalm 30:1-13
|
Rashi |
Targum |
|
1.
A psalm; a song of dedication of the House, of David. |
1. A praise song for the dedication of the
sanctuary. Of David. |
|
2.
I will exalt You, O Lord, for You have raised me up, and You have not
allowed my enemies to rejoice over me. |
2. I will praise you, O LORD, for you made me stand
erect, and did not let my enemies rejoice over me. |
|
3.
O Lord, I have cried out to You, and You have healed me. |
3.
O LORD my God, I prayed in Your presence and You healed me. |
|
4.
O Lord, You have brought my soul from the grave; You have revived me
from my descent into the Pit. |
4.
O LORD, You raised my soul out of Sheol; You preserved me from going
down to the pit. |
|
5.
Sing to the Lord, His pious ones, and give thanks to His holy name. |
5.
Sing praise in the LORD's presence, you His devotees; and give thanks
at the invocation of His holy one. |
|
6.
For His wrath lasts but a moment; life results from His favor; in the
evening, weeping may tarry, but in the morning there is joyful singing. |
6.
For His anger is but a moment; eternal life is His good pleasure. In
the evening one goes to bed in tears, but in the morning one rises in praise. |
|
7.
And I said in my tranquility, "I will never falter." |
7.
And I said when I dwelt in trust, I will never be shaken. |
|
8.
O Lord, with Your will, You set up my mountain to be might, You hid
Your countenance and I became frightened. |
8.
O LORD, by Your will You prepared the mighty mountains; You removed
Your presence, I became afraid. |
|
9.
To You, O Lord, I would call, and to the Lord I would supplicate. |
9.
In Your presence, O LORD, I will cry out; and to You, O my God,
I will pray. |
|
10.
"What gain is there in my blood, in my descent to
the grave? Will dust thank You; will it recite Your truth? |
10.
And I said, What profit is there in my blood, when I
descend to the grave? Can those who descend to the dust praise You? Will they
tell of Your faithfulness? |
|
11.
Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me; O Lord, be my helper." |
11.
Accept, O LORD, my prayer, and have mercy on me; O LORD, be my helper. |
|
12.
You have turned my lament into dancing for me; You loosened my
sackcloth and girded me with joy. |
12.
You turned my lament into my celebration; You loosened my sackcloth and
girded me with joy. |
|
13.
So that my soul will sing praises to You and not be silent. O Lord, my
God, I will thank You forever. |
13.
Because the nobles of the world will give You praise and not be
silent, O LORD my God, I too will give You praise. |
|
|
|
Rashi’s Commentary for: Psalm 30:1-13
1 A song of dedication of the House which
the Levites will say at the dedication of the House in the days of Solomon.
2 I will exalt You, O Lord, for You have raised me up Heb. דליתני , You have lifted me on high.
and You have not allowed my enemies to rejoice over me Heb. לי , like עלי , over
me, for they would say, “David has no share in the world to come,” but when
they saw that the doors opened for the Ark because of me, then they knew that
the Holy One, blessed be He, had forgiven me for that sin, and the faces of
David’s enemies became as black as the bottom of a pot.
3 and You have healed me That is
the forgiving of iniquity, as (in Isa. 6:10), “and he repent and be healed.”
4 from my descent into the Pit, etc.
Heb. מירדי , like מִיְרִדָתִי , from my descent into the Pit, that I should not
descend into Gehinnom.
5 Sing to the Lord, His pious ones about
what He did for me, because you can take refuge in Him, and He will benefit
you; and even if you are experiencing pain, have no fear.
6 For...but a moment [For] His wrath lasts but a
short [moment]; life results from His favor, there is long life in appeasing
and placating Him.
7 And I said in my tranquility In my
tranquility, I thought that I would never falter. However, the matter is not in
my power, but in the power of the Holy One, blessed be He. With His will, He
set up my mountain, my greatness to be [my] mightbut when He hid His
countenance from me, I was immediately frightened.
9 To You, O Lord, I would call I would
call to You and supplicate constantly, saying before You: “What gain is there
in my blood, etc.,” and You heard my voice and turned my lament into dancing
for me.
12 You loosened Heb. פתחת , alachas in Old French, to release, like (Gen.
24:32): “and he untied (ויפתח) the camels.” Our Sages, however, explained the entire psalm as
referring to Mordecai, Esther, and Haman, in Pesikta Zuta.
and I said in my tranquility Haman
said this.
To You, O Lord, I would call Esther
said this etc. until “be my helper.”
You turned my lament into dancing for me Mordecai
and all Israel said this.
Ashlamatah: Zechariah
2:14 – 4:7
|
Rashi |
Targum |
|
14.
Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for, behold! I will come and
dwell in your midst, says the Lord. |
14. “Rejoice and be glad, O congregation of Zion,
for behold, I will reveal Myself and I will make My Shekhinah dwell in your
midst” says the LORD. |
|
15.
And many nations shall join the Lord on that day, and they shall be My
people; and I will dwell in your midst and you shall know that the Lord of
Hosts sent me to you. |
15. And many Gentiles will be added to the people of
the LORD at that time, and they will be for a people before Me, and I will
make My Shekhinah dwell in your midst; and you will know that the LORD of
Hosts has sent me to prophesy to you. |
|
16.
And the Lord shall inherit Judah as His share on the Holy Land, and He
shall again choose Jerusalem. |
16. And the LORD will make the people of the house
of Judah to inherit their portion in the holy land and will again take
pleasure in Jerusalem. |
|
17.
Silence all flesh from before the Lord, for He is aroused out of His
holy habitation. |
17. All the wicked/Lawless have perished from before
the LORD, for He has revealed Himself from His holy abode. |
|
|
|
|
1.
And He showed me Joshua, the High Priest, standing before the angel of
the Lord. And Satan was standing on his right, to accuse him. |
1. And He showed me Joshua the high priest standing
before the angel of the LORD and the Accuser standing at His right hand to
accuse him. |
|
2. And the Lord said to Satan: The Lord shall rebuke
you, O Satan; and the Lord shall rebuke you, He who chose Jerusalem. Is this
one not a brand plucked from fire? |
2. And the LORD said to the Accuser, “The LORD
rebuke you, O Accuser! May the LORD who has been pleased to make His
Shekhinah dwell in Jerusalem rebuke you. Is this not a brand rescued from the
burning?” |
|
3. Now Joshua was wearing filthy garments and
standing before the angel. |
3. And Joshua had sons who had married wives who
were unsuitable for priests, and he was standing before the angel. |
|
4.
And he [the angel] raised his voice and said to those standing before
him, saying, "Take the filthy garments off him." And he said to
him, "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I have clad you
with clean garments." |
4. And he answered and spoke to those in attendance
before him, saying, Speak to him and let him drive out from his house the
wives who are unsuitable for priests, and he said to him, Look, for I have
removed your sins from you and have clothed you with righteous/generous
deeds. |
|
5. And I said, "Let them put a pure miter on
his head," and they put the pure miter on his head. And they had clothed
him with garments while the angel of the Lord was standing. |
5. And he said, “Set a clean turban upon his head.”
And they set a clean turban upon his head, and made him marry a wife who was
suitable for a priest; and the angel of the LORD was standing by. |
|
6. And the angel of the Lord warned Joshua, saying, |
6. And the angel of the LORD charged Joshua, saying: |
|
7. So said the Lord of Hosts: If you walk in My
ways, and if you keep My charge, you, too, shall judge My house, and you,
too, shall guard My courtyards, and I will give you free access among these
who stand by. |
7.
“Thus says the LORD of Hosts, ‘If you walk in paths which are good before Me,
and if you keep the charge of My Memra, then you will judge those who serve
in My Sanctuary, and you will have charge of My courts, and at the
resurrection of the dead I will raise you to life and will give you feet to
walk among the Seraphim. |
|
8.
Hearken, now, O Joshua the High Priest-you and your companions who sit
before you, for they are men worthy of a miracle-for, behold! I bring My
servant, the Shoot. |
8. Hear now, Joshua the high priest, you and your
companions who sit before you, for they are men who are worthy that a sign be
performed for them; for behold I will bring My servant the anointed One
(Messiah), and he will be revealed. |
|
9.
For, behold the stone that I have placed before Joshua. Seven eyes are
directed to one stone. Behold! I untie its knots, says the Lord of Hosts, and
I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. |
9. For behold, the stone which I have set before
Joshua, upon one stone are seven facets; behold I will reveal its facets’,
says the LORD of Hosts, ‘and I will remove the sin of that land in one day.’ |
|
10. On that day, says the Lord of Hosts, you shall
call-each man to his neighbor-to come under his vine and under his fig tree. |
10. ‘At that time’, says the LORD of Hosts, ‘you
will call each to his neighbor under the fruit of his vines and under the
fruit of his fig trees.’” |
|
|
|
|
1. And the angel who spoke with me returned, and he
awakened me as a man who wakes up from his sleep. |
1. And the angel who was speaking with me returned
and roused me like a man that is roused from his sleep. |
|
2. And he said to me, "What do you see?"
And I said, "I saw, and behold [there was] a candelabrum all of gold,
with its oil-bowl on top of it, and its seven lamps thereon; seven tubes each
to the lamps that were on top of it. |
2. And he said to me, “What do you see?” And I said,
“I see, and behold, a menorah all of gold and a bowl on the top of it, and
its seven lamps which are upon it, seven, and seven pipes which pour oil from
them to the lamps which are on top of it; |
|
3. And [there were] two olive trees near it; one on
the right of the bowl, and one on its left. |
3. and two olive trees which are beside it, one on
the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” |
|
4. So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked
with me, saying, "What are these, my lord?" |
4. And I answered and spoke to the angel who was
talking with me, saying, “What are these my lord?” |
|
5.
And the angel who spoke with me answered, and he said to me, "Do
you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." |
5. And the angel who was speaking with me, answered
and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” |
|
6.
And he answered and spoke to me, saying, "This is the word of the
Lord to Zerubbabel, saying: 'Not by military force and not by physical
strength, but by My spirit,' says the Lord of Hosts. |
6. And he answers and spoke to me, saying, “This is
the Word of the LORD with Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by strength, nor by might,
but by My Memra’, says the LORD of Hosts. |
|
7.
Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you sink to a plain!
He will bring out the stone of the main architect, with shouts of grace,
grace to it." |
7. What are you reckoned, O foolish kingdom? Are you
not like a plain before Zerubbabel? And He will reveal His anointed One
(Messiah), whose name was told from old, and he will rule over all kingdoms.” |
|
|
|
Rashi’s Commentary for: Zechariah 2:14 – 4:7
15 And many nations shall join many Gentiles will join.
16 And the Lord shall inherit Judah as His
inheritance and His share.
17 Silence all flesh All the rest of the
nations.
for He is
aroused An expression [denoting] arousal and awakening.
Chapter 3
1 to accuse him To accuse him because his
sons were married to gentile women, as it is written in the Book of Ezra
(10:18): “And it was found of the sons of the priests who had taken foreign
wives, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, etc.”
2 The Lord shall rebuke you, O Satan The
Holy One, blessed be He, shall rebuke you, O you Satan (and then he repeated
and said: The Lord shall rebuke you, He who chose Jerusalem Moharaz Margolioth); and He Who rebukes
you is the One Who chose Jerusalem, that you shall not enter before Him to
accuse this righteous man. Is he not fit, and has he not merited this? For he
was saved from the consuming fire.
Is this
one not a brand plucked from fire? It is related in the Aggadah of [chapter] Helek Helek (Sanh. 93a) that he [Joshua] was cast into the fire with Ahab son of
Kolaiah and his colleague.
3 was wearing filthy garments This is to
be explained according to the Targum: He had sons who had married women who
were unfit [to marry into] the priesthood, and he was punished because he did
not interfere with the [sons’ marriages].
4 “Take the filthy garments off him.” Let
his sons separate from their wives, and he will be forgiven.
clean
garments A change of beautiful garments; i.e., merits. Since
he compared the iniquity to filthy garments, he compares the merit to clean
garments; beautiful, white garments.
5 And I said I, Zechariah.
“Let them
put a pure miter, etc.” I begged mercy for him.
6 warned an expression of warning, as in
(Deut. 31:28): “And I will warn them before the heaven and the earth.”
7 If you walk in My ways, etc. Then I,
too, will do this for you.
you, too,
shall judge My house You shall judge and be the officer over My Temple.
and I
will give you free access According to the Targum: and when the dead will be
resurrected, I will resurrect you; and I will give you walkers who walk among
these seraphim. According to its simple meaning, he brings him tidings that his
sons will be meritorious in the future.
who stand
by Seraphim and ministering angels, who never sit.
8 you and your companions They were
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
for they
are men worthy of a miracle [Jonathan
renders:] Men worthy to have miracles performed for them, for a miracle was
performed for them, too.
for,
behold! I bring My servant, the Shoot For now Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, is
insignificant in the king’s court, but I will make his greatness burgeon. I
will also give him favor in the eyes of the king, so that he will grant
[Zerubbabel’s] request for the building of the Temple and the city, as
explained in Nehemiah (1:1): “The words of Nehemiah, the son of Hachaliah.”
Nehemiah was identical with Zerubbabel, as we say in Sanhedrin (38a).
9 For, behold the stone The foundation of
the house that you laid in the days of Cyrus - they stopped you, and that
foundation and the thickness of the wall appeared little in your sight, as
explained in Ezra (3:12f.) and in the prophecy of Haggai (2:2f.).
Seven
eyes are directed to one stone It will eventually be widened seven times as much.
And so did Jonathan render: On one
stone, seven eyes see it. The expression of עינים is an expression of appearances. It appears to me
that the seven eyes are because of the eyes of the Holy One, blessed be He in
Whose eyes and heart it is [planned] to add seven times as much because of the
prophecy similar to this one (4:10): “And they shall see the plummet in the
hand of Zerubbabel these seven times; the eyes of the Lord they are roving to
and fro throughout the land.” This is but to say that He directed His eyes to
increase the glory of the Temple in its building.
Behold! I
untie its knots I untie its knots I thwart the plot of the enemies
who wrote an accusation to stop the work.
and I
will remove Heb. ומשתי.
in one
day I do not know what day.
Chapter 4
2 with its oil - bowl on top of it as in
(Josh. 15:19): “The upper springs”. This is an expression for a spring, [hence]
a sort of large round bowl.
and its
seven lamps A type of vessel into which oil and wicks are
inserted.
seven
tubes each Seven small tubes come to every lamp, for the oil
flows from the bowl through those tubes into each lamp.
3 And [there were] two olive trees near it
Beside it were two trees upon which olives were growing, one on the right of
the bowl, one on the its left, etc. Here [the prophet] does not explain about
the two golden vats mentioned below in the chapter, which are the sorts of
bowls or vats of the oil press. [These vats] stand beside the olive trees. The
olives beat themselves into the vats and are heated there as [if] in a vat or
pit where olives are generally packed. There they are pressed in the oil press,
and the oil falls into the vats, and from the vats into the bowl, and from the
bowl into the tubes, and from the tubes into the lamps. The tubes and the lamps
number forty-nine, an allusion to the light, for in the future the light of the
sun will be sevenfold the light of the seven days forty-nine times the light of
a day of Creation.
4 “What are these, my Lord?” What is
this, that the olive trees are picked by themselves, and the oil comes into the
lamps by itself?
6 “This is the word of the Lord to
Zerubbabel” This is a sign for you to promise Zerubbabel that just as the
olives and this oil are finished by themselves in all respects, so will you not
build My house with your [own] power or with your [own] strength.
but by My
spirit I will place My spirit upon Darius, and he will command you to build
and to pay all the building expenses from his [treasury]; and [he will] help
you with wheat, wine, oil, and wood, as is explained in Ezra (6, 7): They
required no aid from any man.
7 Who are you, O great mountain? You, the
princes of the other side of the river Tattenai, the governor of the other side
of the river; Shethar Bozenai, and their companions (Ezra 6:6), who have
stopped the work until now - from now on you shall be before Zerubbabel as a
plain; you have no more ruling power or superiority over him.
He will
bring out the stone of the main architect The main architect will
take the plummet in his hand to be the main architect at the head of the
builders, and they will build everything according to his words [everything]
that he will order concerning a beautiful and glorious building.
with
shouts of grace, grace to it To that stone, for everyone will say, “How beautiful
is this building that was made with this plummet.” [The expression] “shouts of
grace” is as (Job 39:7) “the shouts of a driver,” and (Isa. 66:6) “a sound of
stirring” both of which are expressions of making a voice heard.
Yehudit (Judith) 5:18 – 7:16
New Jerusalem Bible Version
18
But when they turned from the path he had marked out for them some were
exterminated in a series of battles, others were taken captive to a foreign
land. The Temple of their God was rased to the ground and their towns were
seized by their enemies.
19
Then having turned once again to their God, they came back from the places to
which they had been dispersed and scattered, regained possession of Jerusalem,
where they have their Temple, and reoccupied the hill-country which had been
left deserted.
20
So, now, master and lord, if this people has committed any fault, if they have
sinned against their God, let us first be sure that they really have this reason
to fail, then advance and attack them.
21
But if their nation is guiltless, my lord would do better to abstain, for fear
that their Lord and God should protect them. We should then become the
laughing-stock of the whole world.'
22
When Achior had ended this speech, all the people crowding round the tent began
protesting. Holofernes' own senior officers, as well as all the coastal peoples
and the Moabites, threatened to tear him limb from limb.
23
'Why should we be afraid of the Israelites? They are a weak and powerless
people, quite unable to stand a stiff attack.
24
Forward! Advance! Your army, Holofernes our master, will swallow them in one
mouthful!'
NJB Judith 6:1 When the uproar of those crowding
round the council had subsided, Holofernes, general-in-chief of the Assyrian
army, reprimanded Achior in front of the whole crowd of foreigners and
Ammonites.
2
'Achior, who do you think you are, you and the Ephraimite mercenaries, playing
the prophet like this with us today, and trying to dissuade us from making war
on the people of Israel? You claim their God will protect them. And who is God
if not Nebuchadnezzar? He himself will display his power and wipe them off the
face of the earth, and their God will certainly not save them.
3
But we, his servants, shall destroy them as easily as a single individual. They
can never resist the strength of our cavalry.
4
We shall burn them all. Their mountains will be drunk with their blood and
their plains filled with their corpses. Far from being able to resist us, every
one of them will die; thus says King Nebuchadnezzar, lord of the whole world.
For he has spoken, and his words will not prove empty.
5
As for you, Achior, you Ammonite mercenary, who in a rash moment said these
words, you will not see my face again until the day when I have taken my
revenge on this brood from Egypt.
6
And then the swords of my soldiers and the spears of my officers will pierce
your sides. You will fall among their wounded, the moment I turn on Israel.
7
My servants will now take you into the hill-country and leave you near one of
the towns in the passes;
8
you will not die, until you share their ruin.
9
No need to look so sad if you cherish the secret hope that they will not be
captured! I have spoken; none of my words will prove idle.'
10
Holofernes having commanded his tent-orderlies to seize Achior, to take him to
Bethulia and to hand him over to the Israelites,
11
the orderlies took him, escorted him out of the camp and across the plain, and
then, making for the hill-country, reached the springs below Bethulia.
12
As soon as the men of the town sighted them, they snatched up their weapons,
left the town and made for the mountain tops, while all the slingers pelted
them with stones to prevent them from coming up.
13
However, they managed to take cover at the foot of the slope, where they bound
Achior and left him lying at the bottom of the mountain and returned to their
master.
14
The Israelites then came down from their town, stopped by him, unbound him and
took him to Bethulia, where they brought him before the chief men of the town,
15
who at that time were Uzziah son of Micah of the tribe of Simeon, Chabris son
of Gothoniel and Charmis son of Melchiel.
16
These summoned all the elders of the town. The young men and the women also hurried
to the assembly. Achior was made to stand with all the people surrounding him,
and Uzziah questioned him about what had happened.
17
He answered by telling them what had been said at Holofernes' council, and what
he himself had said in the presence of the Assyrian leaders, and how Holofernes
had bragged of what he would do to the House of Israel.
18
At this the people fell to the ground and worshipped God.
19
'Lord God of heaven,' they cried, 'take notice of their arrogance and have pity
on the humiliation of our race. Look kindly today on those who are consecrated
to you.'
20
They then spoke reassuringly to Achior and praised him warmly.
21
After the assembly Uzziah took him home and gave a banquet for the elders; all
that night they called on the God of Israel for help.
NJB Judith 7:1 The following day Holofernes
issued orders to his whole army and to the whole host of auxiliaries who had
joined him, to break camp and march on Bethulia, to occupy the mountain passes
and so open the campaign against the Israelites.
2
The troops broke camp that same day. The actual fighting force numbered one
hundred and twenty thousand infantry and twelve thousand cavalry, not to
mention the baggage train with the vast number of men on foot concerned with
that.
3
They penetrated the valley in the neighbourhood of Bethulia, near the spring,
and deployed on a wide front from Dothan to Balbaim and, in depth, from
Bethulia to Cyamon, which faces Esdraelon.
4
When the Israelites saw this horde, they were all appalled and said to each
other, 'Now they will lick the whole country clean. Not even the loftiest
peaks, the gorges or the hills will be able to stand the weight of them.'
5
Each man snatched up his arms; they lit beacons on their towers and spent the
whole night on watch.
6
On the second day Holofernes deployed his entire cavalry in sight of the
Israelites in Bethulia.
7
He reconnoitred the slopes leading up to the town, located the water-points,
seized them and posted pickets over them and returned to the main body.
8
The chieftains of the sons of Esau, all the leaders of the Moabites and the
generals of the coastal district then came to him and said,
9
'If our master will be pleased to listen to us, his forces will not sustain a
single wound.
10
These Israelites do not rely so much on their spears as on the height of the
mountains where they live. And admittedly it is not at all easy to scale these
heights of theirs.
11
'This being the case, master, avoid engaging them in a pitched battle and then
you will not lose a single man.
12
Stay in camp, keep all your troops there too, while your servants seize the
spring which rises at the foot of the mountain,
13
since that is what provides the population of Bethulia with their water supply.
Thirst will then force them to surrender their town. Meanwhile, we and our men
will climb the nearest mountain tops and form advance posts there to prevent
anyone from leaving the town.
14
Hunger will waste them, with their wives and children, and before the sword can
reach them they will already be lying in the streets outside their houses.
15
And you will make them pay dearly for their defiance and their refusal to meet
you peaceably.'
16
Their words pleased Holofernes as well as all his officers, and he decided to
do as they suggested.
1 Maccabees 4:41 – 6:27
New Jerusalem Bible Version
41 Judas then ordered
his men to keep the Citadel garrison engaged until he had purified the
sanctuary.
42 Next, he selected
priests who were blameless and zealous for the Law
43 to purify the sanctuary
and remove the stones of the 'Pollution' to some unclean place.
44 They discussed what
should be done about the altar of burnt offering which had been profaned,
45 and very properly
decided to pull it down, rather than later be embarrassed about it since it had
been defiled by the gentiles. They therefore demolished it
46 and deposited the
stones in a suitable place on the hill of the Dwelling to await the appearance
of a prophet who should give a ruling about them.
47 They took unhewn stones,
as the Law prescribed, and built a new altar on the lines of the old
one.
48 They restored the
Holy Place and the interior of the Dwelling, and purified the courts.
49 They made new
sacred vessels, and brought the lamp-stand, the altar of incense, and the table
into the Temple.
50 They burned incense
on the altar and lit the lamps on the lamp-stand, and these shone inside the
Temple.
51 They placed the
loaves on the table and hung the curtains and completed all the tasks they had
undertaken.
52 On the twenty-fifth
of the ninth month, Chislev, in the year 148 they rose at dawn
53 and offered a
lawful sacrifice on the new altar of burnt offering which they had made.
54 The altar was
dedicated, to the sound of hymns, zithers, lyres and cymbals, at the same time of year
and on the same day on which the gentiles had originally profaned it.
55 The whole people
fell prostrate in adoration and then praised Heaven who had granted them
success.
56 For eight days they
celebrated the dedication of the altar, joyfully offering burnt offerings,
communion and thanksgiving sacrifices.
57 They ornamented the
front of the Temple with crowns and bosses of gold, renovated the gates and
storerooms, providing the latter with doors.
58 There was no end to
the rejoicing among the people, since the disgrace inflicted by the
gentiles had been effaced.
59 Judas, with his
brothers and the whole assembly of Israel, made it a law that the days of the
dedication of the altar should be celebrated yearly at the proper season, for
eight days beginning on the twenty-fifth of the month of Chislev, with rejoicing and
gladness.
60 They then proceeded
to build high walls with strong towers round Mount Zion, to prevent the
gentiles from coming and riding roughshod over it as in the past.
61 Judas stationed a
garrison there to guard it; he also fortified Beth-Zur, so that the people would
have a fortress confronting Idumaea.
NJB 1 Maccabees 5:1 When the surrounding nations
heard that the altar had been rebuilt
and the sanctuary restored to what it had been before, they became very angry
2 and decided to
destroy the descendants of Jacob living among them; they began to murder and
evict our people.
3 Judas made war on
the sons of Esau in Idumaea, in the region of Acrabattene where they were
besieging the Israelites. He dealt them a serious blow, drove them off and
despoiled them.
4 He also remembered
the wickedness of the sons of Baean, who were a menace and a trap for the
people with their ambushes on the roads.
5 Having blockaded
them in their town and besieged them, he put them under the curse of
destruction; he then set fire to their towers and burned them down with
everyone inside.
6 Next, he crossed
over to the Ammonites where he found a strong fighting force and a numerous
people, commanded by Timotheus.
7 He fought many
battles with them, defeated them and cut them to pieces.
8 Having captured
Jazer and its dependent villages, he retired to Judaea.
9 Next, the gentiles
of Gilead banded together to destroy the Israelites living in their territory. The
latter, however, took refuge in the fortress of Dathema,
10 and sent the
following letter to Judas and his brothers: 'The gentiles round us have banded
themselves together against us to destroy us,
11 and they are
preparing to storm the fortress in which we have taken refuge; Timotheus is in
command of their forces.
12 Come at once and
rescue us from their clutches, for we have already suffered great losses.
13 All our countrymen
living in Tobias' country have been killed, their women and children have
been taken into captivity, their property has been seized, and about a thousand men
have been destroyed there.'
14 While the letter
was being read, other messengers arrived from Galilee with their garments torn,
bearing similar news,
15 'The people of
Ptolemais, Tyre and Sidon have joined forces with the whole of gentile Galilee to
destroy us!'
16 When Judas and the
people heard this, they held a great assembly to decide what should be done for
their oppressed countrymen who were under attack from
their enemies.
17 Judas said to his
brother Simon, 'Pick your men and go and relieve your countrymen in Galilee, while
my brother Jonathan and I make our way into Gilead.'
18 He left Joseph son
of Zechariah and the people's leader Azariah with the remainder of the army in
Judaea to keep guard, and gave them these orders,
19 'You are to be
responsible for our people. Do not engage the gentiles until we return.'
20 Simon was allotted
three thousand men for the expedition into Galilee, Judas eight thousand for
Gilead.
21 Simon advanced into
Galilee, engaged the gentiles in several battles and swept all before him;
22 he pursued them to
the gate of Ptolemais, and they lost about three thousand men, whose spoils he
collected.
23 With him, he took
away the Jews of Galilee and Arbatta, with their wives and children and all their
possessions, and brought them into Judaea with great rejoicing.
24 Meanwhile Judas
Maccabaeus and his brother Jonathan crossed the Jordan and made a three-days'
march through the desert,
25 where they
encountered the Nabataeans, who gave them a friendly reception and told them
everything that had been happening to their brothers in Gilead,
26 many of whom, they
said, were shut up in Bozrah and Bosor, Alema, Chaspho, Maked and
Carnaim, all large fortified towns.
27 Others were
blockaded in the other towns of Gilead, and the enemy planned to attack and
capture these strongholds the very next day, and destroy all the people
inside them on one day.
28 Judas and his army
at once turned off by the desert road to Bozrah. He took the town and,
having put all the males to the sword and collected the booty, burned it down.
29 When night came, he
left the place, and they continued their march until they reached the
fortress.
30 In the light of
dawn they looked, and there was an innumerable horde, setting up ladders and
engines to capture the fortress; the assault was just beginning.
31 When Judas saw that
the attack had begun and that the war cry was rising to heaven from the
city, mingled with trumpet calls and a great clamour,
32 he said to the men
of his army, 'Into battle today for your brothers!'
33 Dividing them into
three commands, he advanced on the enemy's rear, with trumpets sounding and
prayers shouted aloud.
34 The troops of
Timotheus, recognising that this was Maccabaeus, fled before his advance;
Maccabaeus dealt them a crushing defeat; about eight thousand of their men
fell that day.
35 Then, wheeling on
Alema, he attacked and captured it and, having killed all the males and
collected the booty, burned the place down.
36 From there he moved
on and took Chaspho, Maked, Bosor and the remaining towns of Gilead.
37 After these events,
Timotheus mustered another force and pitched camp opposite Raphon, on the far
side of the stream-bed.
38 Judas sent men to
reconnoitre the camp, and these reported back as follows, 'With him are massed
all the gentiles surrounding us, making a very numerous army,
39 with Arab
mercenaries as auxiliaries; they are encamped on the far side of the
stream-bed, and ready to launch an attack on you.' Judas then advanced to
engage them,
40 and was approaching
the watercourse with his troops when Timotheus told the commanders of his army, 'If he
crosses first we shall not be able to
resist him, because he will have a great advantage over us;
41 but if he is afraid
and camps on the other side of the stream, we shall cross over to him and the
advantage will then be ours.'
42 As soon as Judas
reached the watercourse, he posted people's scribes along it, giving them
this order: 'Do not let anyone pitch his tent; all are to go into battle!'
43 He was himself the
first across to the enemy side, with all the people following. He defeated all
the opposing gentiles, who threw down their arms and ran for refuge in the sanctuary
of Carnaim.
44 The Jews first
captured the town and then burned down the temple with everyone inside. And so
Carnaim was overthrown, and the enemy could offer no further resistance to Judas.
45 Next, Judas
assembled all the Israelites living in Gilead, from the least to the greatest,
with their wives, children and belongings, an enormous muster, to take them to
Judaea.
46 They reached
Ephron, a large town straddling the road and strongly fortified. As it was
impossible to by-pass it either to right or to left, there was nothing for it
but to march straight through.
47 But the people of
the town denied them passage and barricaded the gates with stones.
48 Judas sent them a
conciliatory message in these terms, 'We want to pass through your territory to
reach our own; no one will do you any harm, we only want to go through on foot.' But they
would not open up for him.
49 So Judas sent an
order down the column for everyone to halt where he stood.
50 The fighting men
took up their positions; Judas attacked the town all day and night, and the town
fell to him.
51 He put all the
males to the sword, rased the town to the ground, plundered it and marched through
the town square over the bodies of the dead.
52 They then crossed
the Jordan into the Great Plain, opposite Beth-Shean,
53 Judas all the time
rallying the stragglers and encouraging the people the whole way until they
reached Judaea.
54 They climbed Mount
Zion in joy and gladness and presented burnt offerings because they had
returned safe and sound without having lost a single man.
55 While Judas and
Jonathan were in Gilead and Simon his brother in Galilee outside Ptolemais,
56 Joseph son of
Zechariah, and Azariah, who were in command of the army, heard of their valiant
deeds and of the battles they had been fighting,
57 and said, 'Let us
make a name for ourselves too and go and fight the nations around us.'
58 So they issued
orders to the men under their command and marched on Jamnia.
59 Gorgias and his men
came out of the town and gave battle.
60 Joseph and Azariah
were routed and pursued as far as the frontiers of Judaea. That day about two
thousand Israelites lost their lives.
61 Our people thus met
with a great reverse, because they had not listened to Judas and his
brothers, thinking that they would do something equally valiant.
62 They were not,
however, of the same breed of men as those to whom the deliverance of Israel
was entrusted.
63 The noble Judas and
his brothers, however, were held in high honour throughout Israel and
among all the nations wherever their name was heard,
64 and people thronged
round to acclaim them.
65 Judas marched out
with his brothers to fight the Edomites in the country towards the south; he
stormed Hebron and its dependent villages, threw down its fortifications and burned
down its encircling towers.
66 Leaving there, he
made for the country of the Philistines and passed through Marisa.
67 Among the fallen in
that day's fighting were some priests who sought to prove their courage
there by joining in the battle, a foolhardy venture.
68 Judas next turned
on Azotus, which belonged to the Philistines; he overthrew their altars, burned
the statues of their gods and, having pillaged their towns, withdrew to Judaea.
NJB 1 Maccabees 6:1 King Antiochus, meanwhile,
was making his way through the Upper
Provinces; he had heard that in Persia there was a city called Elymais,
renowned for its riches, its silver and gold,
2 and its very wealthy
temple containing golden armour, breastplates and weapons, left there by
Alexander son of Philip, the king of Macedon, the first to reign over the Greeks.
3 He therefore went
and attempted to take the city and pillage it, but without success, the citizens
having been forewarned.
4 They resisted him by
force of arms. He was routed, and began retreating, very gloomily,
towards Babylon.
5 But, while he was
still in Persia, news reached him that the armies which had invaded Judaea had been
routed,
6 and that Lysias in
particular had advanced in massive strength, only to be forced to turn and flee
before the Jews; that the latter were now stronger than ever, thanks to the
arms, supplies and abundant spoils acquired from the armies they had cut to pieces,
7 and that they had
pulled down the abomination which he had erected on the altar in
Jerusalem, had encircled the sanctuary with high walls as in the past, and had
fortified Beth-Zur, one of his cities.
8 When the king heard
this news he was amazed and profoundly shaken; he threw himself on his
bed and fell sick with grief, since things had not turned out for him as he had planned.
9 And there he
remained for many days, subject to deep and recurrent fits of melancholy,
until he realised that he was dying.
10 Then, summoning all
his Friends, he said to them, 'Sleep evades my eyes, and my heart is cowed by
anxiety.
11 I have been
wondering how I could have come to such a pitch of distress, so great a flood as
that which now engulfs me -- I who was so generous and well-loved in my
heyday.
12 But now I recall
how wrongly I acted in Jerusalem when I seized all the vessels of silver and
gold there and ordered the extermination of the inhabitants of Judah for
no reason at all.
13 This, I am
convinced, is why these misfortunes have overtaken me, and why I am dying of
melancholy in a foreign land.'
14 He summoned Philip,
one of his Friends, and made him regent of the whole kingdom.
15 He entrusted him
with his diadem, his robe and his signet, on the understanding that he was to
educate his son Antiochus and train him for the throne.
16 King Antiochus then
died, in the year 149.
17 Lysias, learning
that the king was dead, established on the throne in succession to him his son
Antiochus, whom he had brought up from childhood -- and styled him Eupator.
18 The people in the
Citadel at the time were blockading Israel round the sanctuary and were taking
every opportunity to harm them and to support the gentiles.
19 Judas decided that
they must be destroyed, and he mobilised the whole people to besiege them.
20 They assembled and
laid siege to the Citadel in the year 150, building batteries and
siege-engines.
21 But some of the
besieged broke through the blockade, and to these a number of renegades from Israel
attached themselves.
22 They made their way
to the king and said, 'How much longer are you going to wait before you see
justice done and avenge our fellows?
23 We were content to
serve your father, to comply with his orders, and to obey his edicts.
24 As a result our own
people will have nothing to do with us; what is more, they have killed all those
of us they could catch, and looted our family property.
25 Nor is it on us
alone that their blows have fallen, but on all your territories.
26 At this moment,
they are laying siege to the Citadel of Jerusalem, to capture it, and they have
fortified the sanctuary and Beth-Zur.
27 Unless you
forestall them at once, they will go on to even bigger things, and then you will never
be able to control them.'
Yochanan Bet (2
John) 1-13 + Yochanan Gimel (3 John) 1-14
Hakham’s
Rendition
1. The elder, to the chosen (i.e. Jewish) Lady and her
children, whom I love in the truth (i.e. the Torah – cf. Psalm 119:142),
and not I alone, but also all those who intimately know the truth (i.e. the
Torah – cf. Psalm 119:142),
2. because of the truth (i.e. the Torah – Psalm
119:142) that resides in us and will be with us forever.
3. [The] blessing Mercy and peace will be with
us from God the Father and from Yeshua the Messiah the son (i.e. the
anointed King of Israel) of the Father in truth (i.e. Torah – cf. Psalm
119:142) and love.
4. I was very glad because I found [some] of
your children walking in [the] truth (i.e. Torah – cf. Psalm 119:142),
just as the Father commanded us.
5. And now I ask you, Lady not [as if I were]
writing a new commandment to you, but [one] that we have had from
the beginning (i.e. B’resheet – Gen. 1:1ff)], that we should love one
another.
6. And this is love: that we walk according to His (God’s)
commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the
beginning (B’resheet – Gen. 1:1ff), so that you should walk in it.
7. For many deceivers have gone out into the [pagan]
world, those who do not profess that Yeshua the Messiah came in (or,
according to) [the] flesh. This person is the deceiver and the
anti-Messiah!
8. Watch yourselves that you do not lose what we have
worked for, but receive a full reward.
9. Everyone who [continually and intentionally] transgresses
the [Written and Oral] Law and does not remain in the teachings of
Messiah does not have God. The one who remains in the teachings [of the
Written and Oral Law], this person has both the Father and the son (i.e.
the anointed King of Israel).
10. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this [Torah]
teaching, do not receive him into [your] house and do not speak a
greeting to him,
11. because the one who speaks a greeting to him
shares in his evil deeds.
12. [Although] I have many [things] to
write to you, I do not want [to do so] by means of paper and ink, but I
hope to be with you and to speak face to face, so that your joy may be
complete.
13. The children of your chosen (i.e. Jewish)
sister greet you.
1. The elder, to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in the
truth (i.e. the Torah – cf. Psalm 119:142).
2. Beloved, I pray [that] you may prosper
concerning everything and be healthy, just as your soul prospers [in the
Torah].
3. For I rejoiced exceedingly [when the] brothers
came and testified [to] your truth, just as you are walking in [the] truth
(i.e. Torah – cf. Psalm 119:142).
4. I have no greater joy than this: that I hear [that]
my children are walking in the truth (i.e. Torah – cf. Psalm 119:142).
5. Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your
efforts for the [Jewish] brothers, and especially those who are strangers.
6. They have testified [concerning] your love before all the congregation; to whom you are
doing well, because you supply them according to what is proper to God.
7. For they have gone out on behalf of God’s name, accepting
nothing from the Gentiles.
8. Therefore we ought to support such [people],
so that we become fellow workers in [the proclamation of the] truth (i.e.
Torah – f. Psalm 119:142).
9. I wrote something to the congregation, but Diotrephes,
who wants to have the preeminence [among] them, does not [want to]
receive our [Jewish] authority.
10. Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the
[evil] deeds he is doing, disparaging us [Jews] with Lashon HaRa (evil
words and calumniating gossip). And not being content with these, he does
not receive the authority of the [Jewish] brothers himself, and he
prevents those wanting [to accept Rabbinical authority] and throws [them]
out of the congregation.
11. Beloved, do not imitate [what is] evil, but
[what is] good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil
has not seen God.
12. About Demetrius there is a [good] testimony
from everyone and from the congregation and from the Torah. And also we bear [him]
testimony and you know that our testimony is true.
13. I have many things to write to you, but I do not
want to write to you by means of ink and pen.
14. But I hope to see you right away, and to speak [with
you] face to face.
15, Shalom [be] with you! The friends greet
you. Greet the friends by name.
END OF THE READINGS FOR THE THIRD
DAY OF HANUKA
BEING THIS YEAR THE INTERMEDIATE
SABBATH OF HANUKA
Hanuka Fourth
Day
Evening Saturday Dec. 04 –
Evening Sunday Dec. 05, 2010
Torah: Numbers 7:30-41
Reader 1 - Num. 7:30-32
Reader 2 - Num. 7:33-35
Reader 3 - Num. 7:36-41
Yehudit (Judith) 7:17 – 8:27
1
Maccabees 6:28-8:32
Psalm 30:1-13
Nazareans add in their private
study and discussions: Isaiah 42:18; & 1
John 2:12-29
Rashi & Targum
Pseudo Jonathan
for: B’Midbar (Numbers)
7:24-35
|
Rashi |
Targum Pseudo Jonathan |
|
30.
On the fourth day, the chieftain was of the sons of Reuben, Elitzur
the son of Shedeur. |
30. On the fourth, Elizur bar Shedeur, prince of the
Benei Reuben; |
|
31.
His offering was one silver bowl weighing one hundred and thirty
[shekels], one silver sprinkling basin [weighing] seventy shekels according
to the holy shekel, both filled with fine flour mixed with olive oil for a
meal offering. |
31.
|
|
32.
One spoon [weighing] ten gold [shekels] filled with incense. |
32.
|
|
33.
One young bull, one ram and one lamb in its first year for a burnt
offering. |
33.
|
|
34.
One young he goat for a sin offering. |
34.
|
|
35.
And for the peace offering: two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five
lambs in their first year; this was the offering of Elitzur the son of
Shedeur. |
35.
|
|
36.
On the fifth day, the chieftain was of the sons of Simeon, Shelumiel
the son of Zurishaddai. |
36.
on the fifth, Shelumiel bar Zurishaddai, prince of Shemeon; |
|
37.
His offering was one silver bowl weighing one hundred and thirty
[shekels], one silver sprinkling basin [weighing] seventy shekels according
to the holy shekel, both filled with fine flour mixed with olive oil for a
meal offering. |
37.
|
|
38.
One spoon [weighing] ten gold [shekels] filled with incense. |
38.
|
|
39.
One young bull, one ram and one lamb in its first year for a burnt
offering. |
39.
|
|
40.
One young he goat for a sin offering. |
40.
|
|
41.
And for the peace offering: two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five
lambs in their first year; this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of
Zurishaddai. |
41.
|
|
|
|
Yehudit (Judith) 7:17 – 8:27
New Jerusalem Bible Version
17 Accordingly, a
troop of Moabites moved forward with a further five thousand Assyrians. They
penetrated the valley and seized the Israelites' waterpoints and springs.
18 Meanwhile the
Edomites and Ammonites went and took up positions in the highlands
opposite Dothan, sending some of their men to the south-east opposite
Egrebel near Chous on the Wadi Mochmur. The rest of the Assyrian army
took up positions in the plain, covering every inch of the ground; their
tents and equipment made an immense encampment, so vast were their numbers.
19 The Israelites
called on the Lord their God, dispirited because the enemy had surrounded them and cut
all line of retreat.
20 For thirty-four days
the Assyrian army, infantry, chariots, cavalrymen, had them surrounded.
Every water-jar the inhabitants of Bethulia had was empty,
21 their storage-wells
were drying up; on no day could a man drink his fill, since their water was
rationed.
22 Their little
children pined away, the women and young men grew weak with thirst; they collapsed
in the streets and gateways of the town; they had no strength left.
23 Young men, women,
children, the whole people thronged clamouring round Uzziah and the chief men of the
town, shouting in the presence of the
assembled elders,
24 'May God be judge
between you and us! For you have done us great harm, by not suing for
peace with the Assyrians.
25 And now there is no
one to help us. God has delivered us into their hands to be prostrated
before them in thirst and utter helplessness.
26 Call them in at
once; hand the whole town over to be sacked by Holofernes' men and all his army.
27 After all, we
should be much better off as their booty than we are now; no doubt we shall be
enslaved, but at least we shall be alive and not see our little ones dying
before our eyes or our wives and children perishing.
28 By heaven and earth
and by our God, the Lord of our fathers, who is punishing us for our sins and
the sins of our ancestors, we implore you to take this course now, today.'
29 Bitter lamentations
rose from the whole assembly, and they all cried loudly to the Lord God.
30 Then Uzziah spoke
to them, 'Take heart, brothers! Let us hold out five days more. By then the Lord
our God will take pity on us, for he will not desert us altogether.
31 At the end of this
time, if no help is forthcoming, I shall do as you have said.'
32 With that he
dismissed the people to their various quarters. The men went to man the walls and
towers of the town, sending the women and children home. The town was full of
despondency.
NJB Judith 8:1 Judith was informed at the time of
what had happened. She was the
daughter of Merari son of Ox, son of Joseph, son of Oziel, son of Elkiah, son
of Ananias, son of Gideon, son of Raphaim, son of Ahitub, son of Elijah, son of
Hilkiah, son of Eliab, son of Nathanael, son
of Salamiel, son of Sarasadai, son of Israel.
2 Her husband
Manasseh, of her own tribe and family, had died at the time of the barley harvest.
3 He was supervising
the men as they bound up the sheaves in the field when he caught sunstroke
and had to take to his bed. He died in Bethulia, his home town, and was
buried with his ancestors in the field that lies between Dothan and
Balamon.
4 As a widow, Judith
stayed inside her home for three years and four months.
5 She had had an upper
room built for herself on the roof. She wore sackcloth next to the skin and
dressed in widow's weeds.
6 She fasted every day
of her widowhood except for the Sabbath eve, the Sabbath itself, the eve of
New Moon, the feast of New Moon and the joyful festivals of the House of Israel.
7 Now she was very
beautiful, charming to see. Her husband Manasseh had left her gold and
silver, menservants and maidservants, herds and land; and she lived among all her
possessions
8 without anyone
finding a word to say against her, so devoutly did she fear God.
9 Hearing how the
water shortage had demoralised the people and how they had complained bitterly
to the headman of the town, and being also told what Uzziah had said to them and how
he had given them his oath to
surrender the town to the Assyrians in five days' time,
10 Judith immediately
sent the serving-woman who ran her household to summon Chabris and Charmis, two elders
of the town.
11 When these came in
she said: 'Listen to me, leaders of the people of Bethulia. You were wrong to
speak to the people as you did today and to bind yourself by oath, in defiance of God, to
surrender the town to our enemies if
the Lord did not come to your help within a set number of days.
12 Who are you, to put
God to the test today, you, of all people, to set yourselves above him?
13 You put the Lord
Almighty to the test! You do not understand anything, and never will.
14 If you cannot sound
the depths of the human heart or unravel the arguments of the human mind, how
can you fathom the God who made all things, or
sound his mind or unravel his purposes? No, brothers, do not provoke the
anger of the Lord our God.
15 Although it may not
be his will to help us within the next five days, he has the power to protect
us for as many days as he pleases, just as he has the power to destroy us before our
enemies.
16 But you have no
right to demand guarantees where the designs of the Lord our God are concerned.
For God is not to be threatened as a human being is, nor is he, like a mere human, to be
cajoled.
17 Rather, as we wait
patiently for him to save, let us plead with him to help us. He will hear our
voice if such is his good pleasure.
18 'And indeed of
recent times and still today there is not one tribe of ours, or family, or village, or
town that has worshipped gods made by human hand, as once was done,
19 which was the
reason why our ancestors were delivered over to sword and sack, and perished in
misery at the hands of our enemies.
20 We for our part
acknowledge no other God but him; and so we may hope he will not look on us
disdainfully or desert our nation.
21 'If indeed they
capture us, as you expect, then all Judaea will be captured too, and our holy places
plundered, and we shall answer with our blood for their profanation.
22 The slaughter of
our brothers, the captivity of our country, the unpeopling of our heritage, will
recoil on our own heads among the nations whose slaves we shall become, and our new
masters will look down on us as an
outrage and a disgrace;
23 for our surrender
will not reinstate us in their favour; no, the Lord our God will make it a thing to
be ashamed of.
24 So now, brothers,
let us set an example to our brothers, since their lives depend on us, and the
sanctuary -- Temple and altar -- rests on us.
25 'All this being so,
let us rather give thanks to the Lord our God who, as he tested our ancestors,
is now testing us.
26 Remember how he
treated Abraham, all the ordeals of Isaac, all that happened to Jacob in Syrian
Mesopotamia while he kept the sheep of Laban, his
mother's brother.
27 For as these
ordeals were intended by him to search their hearts, so now this is not
vengeance that God is exacting on us, but a warning inflicted by the Lord on those
who are near his heart.'
1 Maccabees 6:28-8:32
New Jerusalem Bible Version
28 The king was
furious when he heard this and summoned all his Friends, the generals of his
forces and the marshals of horse.
29 He recruited
mercenaries from other kingdoms and the Mediterranean islands.
30 His forces numbered
a hundred thousand foot soldiers, twenty thousand cavalry and thirty-two
elephants with experience of battle conditions.
31 They advanced
through Idumaea and besieged Beth-Zur, pressing the attack for days on end; they
also constructed siege-engines, but the defenders made a sortie and set
these on fire, putting up a brave resistance.
32 At this, Judas left
the Citadel and pitched camp at Beth-Zechariah opposite the royal encampment.
33 The king rose at
daybreak and marched his army at top speed down the road to Beth-Zechariah,
where his forces took up their battle formations and sounded the trumpets.
34 The elephants were
given a syrup of grapes and mulberries to prepare them for the battle.
35 These animals were
distributed among the phalanxes, to each elephant being allocated a
thousand men dressed in coats of mail with bronze helmets on their heads;
five hundred picked horsemen were also assigned to each beast.
36 The horsemen
anticipated every move their elephant made; wherever it went they went with
it, never quitting it.
37 On each elephant,
to protect it, was a stout wooden tower, kept in position by girths, each with its
three combatants, as well as its mahout.
38 The remainder of
the cavalry was stationed on one or other of the two flanks of the army, to harass
the enemy and cover the phalanxes.
39 When the sun
glinted on the bronze and golden shields, the mountains caught the glint and
gleamed like fiery torches.
40 One part of the
royal army was deployed on the upper slopes of the mountain and the other in the
valley below; they advanced in solid,
well-disciplined formation.
41 Everyone trembled
at the noise made by this vast multitude, the thunder of the troops on the
march and the clanking of their armour, for it was an immense and mighty army.
42 Judas and his army
advanced to give battle, and six hundred of the king's army were killed.
43 Eleazar, called
Avaran, noticing that one of the elephants was royally caparisoned and was also
taller than all the others, and supposing that the king was mounted on it,
44 sacrificed himself
to save his people and win an imperishable name.
45 Boldly charging
towards the creature through the thick of the phalanx, dealing death to right
and left, so that the enemy scattered on either side at his onslaught,
46 he darted in under
the elephant, thrust at it from underneath, and killed it. The beast collapsed on
top of him, and he died on the spot.
47 The Jews however
realising how strong the king was and how ferocious his army, retreated ahead
of them.
48 The royal army
moved up to encounter them outside Jerusalem, and the king began to blockade
Judaea and Mount Zion.
49 He granted peace
terms to the people of Beth-Zur, who evacuated the town; it lacked store of
provisions to withstand a siege, since the land was enjoying a sabbatical
year.
50 Having occupied
Beth-Zur, the king stationed a garrison there to hold it.
51 He besieged the
sanctuary for a long time, erecting batteries and siege-engines, flame-throwers and
ballistas, scorpions to discharge arrows, and catapults.
52 The defenders
countered these by constructing their own engines and were thus able to prolong
their resistance.
53 But they had no
food in their stores since it was the seventh year, and because those who had taken
refuge in Judaea from the gentiles had eaten up the last of their reserves.
54 Only a few men were
left in the Holy Place, owing to the severity of the famine; the rest had
dispersed and gone home.
55 Meanwhile Philip,
whom King Antiochus before his death had appointed to train his son
Antiochus for the throne,
56 had returned from
Persia and Media with the forces that had accompanied the king, and was
planning to seize control of affairs.
57 On hearing this,
Lysias at once decided to leave, and said to the king, the generals of the army
and the men, 'We are growing weaker every day, we are short of food, and the place we
are besieging is well fortified; moreover
the affairs of the kingdom demand our attention.
58 Let us offer the
hand of friendship to these men and make peace with them and with their whole
nation.
59 Let us grant them
permission to follow their own customs as before, since it is our abolition
of these customs that has provoked them into acting like this.'
60 The king and his
commanders approved this argument, and he offered the Jews peace terms,
which they accepted.
61 The king and the
generals ratified the treaty by oath, and the besieged accordingly left the
fortress.
62 The king then
entered Mount Zion, but on seeing how impregnable the place was, he broke the oath
he had sworn and gave orders for the encircling wall to be demolished.
63 He then hurriedly
withdrew, making off for Antioch, where he found Philip already master of
the city. Antiochus gave battle and captured the city by force of arms.
NJB 1 Maccabees 7:1 In the year 151, Demetrius
son of Seleucus left Rome and arrived with
a few men at a town on the coast, where he inaugurated his reign.
2 It so happened that,
as he was entering the royal residence of his ancestors, the army captured
Antiochus and Lysias, and intended to bring them to him.
3 On hearing this, he
said, 'Keep them out of my sight.'
4 The army put them to
death, and Demetrius ascended his throne.
5 Next, all those
Israelites without law or piety, led by Alcimus, whose ambition was to become high
priest,
6 approached the king
and denounced our people to him. 'Judas and his brothers', they said, 'have
killed all your friends, and he has driven us out of our country.
7 Send someone now
whom you can trust; let him go and see the wholesale ruin Judas has brought
on us and on the king's dominions, and let him punish the wretches and all who assist
them.'
8 The king chose
Bacchides, one of the Friends of the King, governor of Transeuphrates, an important
personage in the kingdom and loyal to the king.
9 He sent him with the
godless Alcimus, whom he confirmed in the high priesthood, with orders to
exact retribution from the Israelites.
10 So they set out
with a large force and, on reaching Judaea, sent emissaries to Judas and his
brothers with proposals peaceable yet treacherous.
11 The latter,
however, did not put any faith in their words, aware that they had come with a large
force.
12 Nevertheless, a
commission of scribes presented themselves before Alcimus and Bacchides, to
sue for just terms.
13 The first among the
Israelites to ask them for peace terms were the Hasidaeans,
14 who reasoned thus,
'This is a priest of Aaron's line who has come with the armed forces; he will
not wrong us.'
15 He did in fact
discuss peace terms with them and gave them his oath, 'We shall not attempt to
injure you or your friends.'
16 They believed him,
but he arrested sixty of them and put them to death on one day, fulfilling the
words of scripture:
17 They have scattered
the bodies of your faithful, and shed their blood all round Jerusalem,
leaving no one to bury them!
18 At this, fear and
dread gripped the whole people. 'There is no truth or virtue in them,' they said,
'they have broken their agreement and their sworn oath.'
19 Bacchides then left
Jerusalem and encamped at Beth-Zeth, and from there sent and arrested many
of the men who had deserted him and a few of our people too; he had them killed and
thrown down the great well.
20 He then put Alcimus
in charge of the province, leaving an army with him to support him;
Bacchides himself returned to the king.
21 Alcimus continued
his struggle to become high priest,
22 and all who were
disturbing the peace of their own people rallied to him, and, having won control
of Judaea, did much harm in Israel.
23 Seeing that all the
wrongs done to the Israelites by Alcimus and his supporters exceeded what the
gentiles had done,
24 Judas went right
round the whole territory of Judaea to take vengeance on those who had
deserted him and to prevent their free movement about the country.
25 When Alcimus saw
how strong Judas and his supporters had grown and realised that he was
powerless to resist them, he went back to the king, to whom he made
malicious accusations against them.
26 The king sent
Nicanor, one of his generals ranking as Illustrious and a bitter enemy of Israel,
with orders to exterminate the people.
27 Reaching Jerusalem
with a large force, Nicanor sent a friendly, yet treacherous, message to Judas and
his brothers, as follows:
28 'Let us have no
fighting between you and me; I shall come with a small escort for a peaceful
meeting with you.'
29 He met Judas and
they exchanged friendly greetings; the enemy, however, had made preparations to
abduct Judas.
30 When Judas became
aware of Nicanor's treacherous purpose in coming to see him, he took fright
and refused any further meeting.
31 Nicanor then
realised that his plan had been discovered, and took the field against Judas, to give
battle near Caphar-Salama.
32 About five hundred
of Nicanor's men fell; the rest took refuge in the City of David.
33 After these events
Nicanor went up to Mount Zion. Some of the priests came out of the Holy
Place with some elders, to give him a friendly welcome and show him the burnt offering
being presented for the king.
34 But he ridiculed
them, laughed at them, defiled them and used insolent language, swearing in
his rage,
35 'Unless Judas is
handed over to me this time with his army, as soon as I am safely back, I
promise you, I shall burn this building down!'
36 Then he went off in
a fury. At this, the priests went in again, and stood weeping in front of the
altar and the Temple, saying,
37 'You have chosen
this house to be called by your name, to be a house of prayer and petition for
your people.
38 Take vengeance on
this man and on his army, and let them fall by the sword; remember their
blasphemies and give them no respite.'
39 Nicanor left
Jerusalem and encamped at Beth-Horon, where he was joined by an army from Syria.
40 Judas, meanwhile,
camped at Adasa with three thousand men, and offered this prayer,
41 'When the king's
envoys blasphemed, your angel went out and struck down one hundred and
eighty-five thousand of his men.
42 In the same way let
us see you crush this army today, so that everyone else may know that this
man has spoken blasphemously against your
sanctuary: pass judgement on him as his wickedness deserves!'
43 The armies met in
battle on the thirteenth of the month Adar, and Nicanor's army was crushed, he
himself being the first to fall in the battle.
44 When Nicanor's
soldiers saw him fall, they threw down their arms and fled.
45 The Jews pursued
them a day's journey, from Adasa to the approaches of Gezer; they sounded
their trumpets in warning as they followed them,
46 and people came out
of all the surrounding Judaean villages to encircle the fugitives, who then
turned back on their own men. All fell by the sword, not one being left
alive.
47 Having collected
the spoils and booty, they cut off Nicanor's head and the right hand he had
stretched out in a display of insolence; these were taken and displayed within
sight of Jerusalem.
48 The people were
overjoyed and kept that day as a great holiday:
49 indeed they decided
to celebrate it annually on the thirteenth of Adar.
50 For a short while
Judaea enjoyed peace.
NJB 1 Maccabees 8:1 Now Judas had heard of the
reputation of the Romans: how strong
they were, and how well disposed towards any who made common cause with them,
making a treaty of friendship with anyone who
approached them.
2 (And, indeed, they
were extremely powerful.) He had been told of their wars and of their prowess
among the Gauls, whom they had conquered and put
under tribute;
3 and of all they had
done in the province of Spain to gain possession of the silver and gold mines
there,
4 making themselves
masters of the whole country by their determination and perseverance, despite its great
distance from their own; of the kings who
came from the ends of the earth to attack them, only to be crushed by them and
overwhelmed with disaster, and of others who paid them annual tribute;
5 Philip, Perseus king
of the Kittim, and others who had dared to make war on them, had been
defeated and reduced to subjection,
6 while Antiochus the
Great, king of Asia, who had advanced to attack them with a hundred and
twenty elephants, cavalry, chariots and a very large army, had also suffered defeat at
their hands;
7 they had taken him
alive and imposed on him and his successors, on agreed terms, the payment of
an enormous tribute, the surrender of hostages, and the cession
8 of the Indian
territory, with Media, Lydia, and some of their best provinces, which they took from
him and gave to King Eumenes.
9 Judas had also heard
how, when the Greeks planned an expedition to destroy the Romans,
10 the latter had got
wind of it and, sending a single general against them, had fought a campaign in
which they inflicted heavy casualties, carried their women and children
away into captivity, pillaged their goods, subdued their country, tore down their
fortresses and reduced them to a slavery
lasting to the present day;
11 and how they had
destroyed and subjugated all the other kingdoms and islands that resisted them.
12 But where their
friends and those who relied on them were concerned, they had always stood
by their friendship. They had subdued kings far and
near, and all who heard their name went in terror of them.
13 One man, if they
determined to help him and advance him to a throne, would certainly occupy
it, while another, if they so determined, would find
himself deposed; their influence was paramount.
14 In spite of all
this, no single one of them had assumed a crown or put on the purple for his own
aggrandisement.
15 They had set up a
senate, where three hundred and twenty councillors deliberated daily,
constantly debating how best to regulate public affairs.
16 They entrusted
their government to one man for a year at a time, with absolute power over their
whole empire, and this man was obeyed by all without
envy or jealousy.
17 Having chosen Eupolemus
son of John, of the family of Accos, and Jason son of Eleazar, Judas sent them to Rome to
make a treaty of friendship and
alliance with these people,
18 in the hope of
being rid of the yoke, for they could see that Greek rule was reducing Israel to
slavery.
19 The envoys made the
lengthy journey to Rome and presented themselves before the Senate with their formal
proposal:
20 'Judas Maccabaeus
and his brothers, with the Jewish people, have sent us to you to conclude a
treaty of alliance and peace with you, and to enrol ourselves as your allies
and friends.'
21 The proposal met
with the approval of the senators.
22 Here is a copy of
the rescript which they engraved on bronze tablets and sent to Jerusalem to
be kept there by the Jews as a record of peace and alliance:
23 'Good fortune
attend the Romans and the Jewish nation by sea and land for ever; may sword or enemy
be far from them!
24 'If war comes first
to Rome or any of her allies throughout her dominions,
25 the Jewish nation
will take action as her ally, as occasion may require, and do it
wholeheartedly.
26 They will not give
or supply to the enemy any grain, arms, money or ships: thus has Rome decided,
and they are to honour their obligations without
guarantees.
27 In the same way, if
war comes first to the Jewish nation, the Romans will support them
energetically as occasion may offer,
28 and the aggressor
will not be furnished with grain, arms, money or ships: such is the Roman
decision, and they will honour these obligations without treachery.
29 Such are the
articles under which the Romans have concluded their treaty with the Jewish
people.
30 If, later, either
party should decide to make any addition or deletion, they will be free to do
so, and any such addition or deletion will be binding.
31 'As regards the
wrongs done to them by King Demetrius, we have written to him in these terms:
Why have you made your yoke lie heavy on our friends and allies the Jews?
32 If they appeal
against you again, we shall uphold their rights and make war on you by sea and land.'
Tehillim - Psalm 30:1-13
|
Rashi |
Targum |
|
1.
A psalm; a song of dedication of the House, of David. |
1. A praise song for the dedication of the
sanctuary. Of David. |
|
2.
I will exalt You, O Lord, for You have raised me up, and You have not
allowed my enemies to rejoice over me. |
2. I will praise you, O LORD, for you made me stand
erect, and did not let my enemies rejoice over me. |
|
3.
O Lord, I have cried out to You, and You have healed me. |
3.
O LORD my God, I prayed in Your presence and You healed me. |
|
4.
O Lord, You have brought my soul from the grave; You have revived me
from my descent into the Pit. |
4.
O LORD, You raised my soul out of Sheol; You preserved me from going
down to the pit. |
|
5.
Sing to the Lord, His pious ones, and give thanks to His holy name. |
5.
Sing praise in the LORD's presence, you His devotees; and give thanks
at the invocation of His holy one. |
|
6.
For His wrath lasts but a moment; life results from His favor; in the
evening, weeping may tarry, but in the morning there is joyful singing. |
6.
For His anger is but a moment; eternal life is His good pleasure. In
the evening one goes to bed in tears, but in the morning one rises in praise. |
|
7.
And I said in my tranquility, "I will never falter." |
7.
And I said when I dwelt in trust, I will never be shaken. |
|
8.
O Lord, with Your will, You set up my mountain to be might, You hid
Your countenance and I became frightened. |
8.
O LORD, by Your will You prepared the mighty mountains; You removed
Your presence, I became afraid. |
|
9.
To You, O Lord, I would call, and to the Lord I would supplicate. |
9.
In Your presence, O LORD, I will cry out; and to You, O my God,
I will pray. |
|
10.
"What gain is there in my blood, in my descent to
the grave? Will dust thank You; will it recite Your truth? |
10.
And I said, What profit is there in my blood, when I
descend to the grave? Can those who descend to the dust praise You? Will they
tell of Your faithfulness? |
|
11.
Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me; O Lord, be my helper." |
11.
Accept, O LORD, my prayer, and have mercy on me; O LORD, be my helper. |
|
12.
You have turned my lament into dancing for me; You loosened my
sackcloth and girded me with joy. |
12.
You turned my lament into my celebration; You loosened my sackcloth and
girded me with joy. |
|
13.
So that my soul will sing praises to You and not be silent. O Lord, my
God, I will thank You forever. |
13.
Because the nobles of the world will give You praise and not be
silent, O LORD my God, I too will give You praise. |
|
|
|
Isaiah 42:18 -
JPS
18. Listen, you who are deaf; You
blind ones, look up and see!
Yochanan Alef (1
John) 2:12-29
Hakham’s
Rendition
12
I am writing to you, sons, because your sins have been forgiven you on account
of His (God’s) name (i.e. authority).
13
I am writing to you, fathers, because you have known him who [is] from [the]
beginning (i.e. Genesis 1:1ff). I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome wickednes/Lawlessness. I have written to you, young
boys, because you have known the Father.
14
I have written to you, fathers, because you have known him who [is] from [the]
beginning (i.e. Genesis 1:1ff). I have written to you, young men, because
you are strong, and the Word of God resides in you, and you have overcome wickedness/Lawlessness.
15
Love not the [pagan] world nor the things in the [pagan] world.
If anyone should love the [pagan] world, the love of the Father is not
in him,
16
because all that is in the [pagan] world, the desire of the Yetser Hara (Heb.
for “The Evil Inclination”) and the desire of the eyes, and the boasting of
life (material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the [pagan]
world.
17
And the [pagan] world and its desire is passing away, but the one who
does the will of God abides forever.
18
My sons, it is the last time, and according to what you have heard that the antimessiah
(false messiah) is coming, even now many antimessiahs (false
messiahs) have arisen, by which we know that it is the last time.
19
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us,
they would have remained with us. But they went out, in order that it might be
known that all of them were not of us.
20
And you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.
21
I have not written to you because you do not know the truth (i.e. Torah –
Psalm 119:142), but because you do know it, and because any lie is not of
the truth (i.e. Torah – Psalm 119:142).
22
Who is the liar except the one who denies that Yeshua is the Messiah? This
person is the antimesiah (false messiah) the one who denies the Father
and the son (anointed King of Israel).
23
Everyone who denies the son (i.e. the anointed King of Israel) does not
has the Father either; the one who agrees with the son (i.e. the anointed
King of Israel) has the Father also.
24
As for you, what you have heard from the beginning (i.e. Gen. 1:1ff) let
it be established in you. If what you have heard from the beginning (i.e.
Gen. 1:1ff) is established in you, you also will be established in the [knowledge
of the] son (i.e. the anointed King of Israel) and in the Father.
25
And this is the promise which He (i.e. God) Himself promised us: eternal
life.
26
These things I have written to you concerning the ones who are trying to lead you
astray.
27
And as for you, the anointing (Smikha – ordination) which you received
from Him (i.e. God) is established in you, and you do not have need that
anyone teach you [anything different]. But as His anointing (Smikha –
ordination) teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and
just as it has taught you, you are established in Him (i.e. God).
28
And now, my sons, be established in him (i.e. the Master), so that
whenever he is revealed we may have confidence and not be put to shame before
him (i.e. the Master) at his coming.
29
If you know that He (i.e. God) is righteous/generous, you know that
everyone who practices righteousness/ generosity has been fathered by Him (i.e.
God).
END OF THE READINGS FOR THE
FOURTH DAY OF HANUKA
For further information please
read and study:
http://www.betemunah.org/lapin.html, http://www.betemunah.org/connection.html,
http://www.betemunah.org/chanukah.html, & http://www.betemunah.org/lights.html