Vayikra | ויקרא | “He Called”

Deu 6:4  שׁמע  ישׂראל  יהוה  אלהינו  יהוה  אחד׃  

Deu 6:4  “Hear, O Yisra’ĕl: יהוה our Elohim, יהוה is one!

Vayikra, VaYikra, Va-yikra, or Vayyiqra (וַיִּקְרָא‎ — Hebrew for “and He called,” the first word in the parashah) is the 24th weekly Torah portion (פָּרָשָׁה‎, parashah) in the annual cycle of Torah reading and the first in the Book of Leviticus. The parashah lays out the laws of sacrifices (קָרְבָּנוֹת‎, korbanot). It constitutes Leviticus 1:1–5:26 (1:1–6:7 in the King James Version). The parashah has the most letters and words of any of the weekly Torah portions in the Book of Leviticus (although not the most verses), and is made up of 6,222 Hebrew letters, 1,673 Hebrew words, and 111 verses, and can occupy about 215 lines in a Torah scroll (סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה‎, Sefer Torah). (Parashah Emor has the most verses of any Torah portion in Leviticus.) This Portion is read the 23rd or 24th Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in March or early April.

Torah: Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26 (6:7) 

1st reading (עליה, aliyah) Vayikra 1:1 – 1:13

Lev 1:1  And יהוה called to Mosheh, and spoke to him from the Tent of Appointment, saying,  2  “Speak to the children of Yisra’ěl, and say to them, ‘When anyone of you brings an offering to יהוה, you bring your offering of the livestock, of the herd or of the flock.  3  ‘If his offering is an ascending offering of the herd, let him bring a male, a perfect one. Let him bring it at the door of the Tent of Appointment, for his acceptance before יהוה. 

4  ‘And he shall lay his hand on the head of the ascending offering, and it shall be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.  5  ‘And he shall slay the bull before יהוה. And the sons of Aharon, the priests, shall bring the blood and sprinkle the blood all around on the slaughter-place which is at the door of the Tent of Appointment.  6  ‘And he shall skin the ascending offering and cut it into its pieces.  7  ‘And the sons of Aharon the priest shall put fire on the slaughter-place, and lay the wood in order on the fire.  8  ‘And the sons of Aharon, the priests, shall arrange the pieces, with the head and the fat on the wood which is on the fire on the slaughter-place.  9  ‘But its entrails and its legs he washes with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the slaughter-place as an ascending offering, an offering made by fire, a sweet fragrance to יהוה. 

10  ‘And if his offering is from the flock, from the sheep or from the goats as an ascending offering, let him bring a male, a perfect one.  11  ‘And he shall slay it on the north side of the slaughter-place before יהוה. And the sons of Aharon, the priests, shall sprinkle its blood on the slaughter-place all around.  12  ‘And he shall cut it into its pieces, with its head and its fat, and the priest shall arrange them on the wood which is on the fire on the slaughter-place.  13  ‘But the entrails and the legs he washes with water. And the priest shall bring it all and burn it on the slaughter-place. It is an ascending offering, an offering made by fire, a sweet fragrance to יהוה. 

2nd reading (עליה, aliyah) Vayikra 1:14 – 2:6

Lev 1:14  ‘And if the ascending offering of his offering to יהוה is of birds, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves or young pigeons.  15  ‘And the priest shall bring it to the slaughter-place, and shall wring off its head, and burn it on the slaughter-place, and its blood shall be drained out at the side of the slaughter-place.  16  ‘And he shall remove its crop with its feathers and throw it beside the slaughter-place on the east side, into the place for ashes.  17  ‘And he shall split it at its wings, but not sever it. And the priest shall burn it on the slaughter-place, on the wood that is on the fire. It is an ascending offering, an offering made by fire, a sweet fragrance to יהוה. 

Lev 2:1  ‘And when anyone brings a grain offering to יהוה, his offering is to be of fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it,  2  and he shall bring it to the sons of Aharon, the priests, and he shall take from it his hand filled with fine flour and oil with all the frankincense. And the priest shall burn it as a remembrance portion on the slaughter-place, an offering made by fire, a sweet fragrance to יהוה. 

3  ‘And the rest of the grain offering is for Aharon and his sons, most set-apart of the offerings to יהוה by fire.  4  ‘And when you bring as an offering a grain offering baked in the oven, it is of unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened thin cakes anointed with oil.  5  ‘But if your offering is a grain offering on the griddle, it is of fine flour, unleavened, mixed with oil.  6  ‘Divide it into bits and pour oil on it, it is a grain offering. 

3rd reading (עליה, aliyah) Vayikra 2:7 – 2:16

Lev 2:7  ‘And if your offering is a grain offering, in a stewing-pot, it is made of fine flour with oil. 8  ‘And you shall bring to יהוה the grain offering that is made of these, and shall present it to the priest, and he shall bring it to the slaughter-place.  9  ‘And the priest shall take from the grain offering a remembrance portion, and burn it on the slaughter-place, an offering made by fire, a sweet fragrance to יהוה. 

10  ‘And the rest of the grain offering is for Aharon and his sons, most set-apart of the offerings to יהוה made by fire.  11  ‘No grain offering which you bring to יהוה is made with leaven, for you do not burn any leaven or any honey in an offering to יהוה made by fire.  12  ‘Bring them to יהוה as an offering of the first-fruits, but they are not burned on the slaughter-place for a sweet fragrance.  13  ‘And season with salt every offering of your grain offering, and do not allow the salt of the covenant of your Elohim to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you bring salt.  14  ‘And if you bring a grain offering of your first-fruits to יהוה, bring for the grain offering of your first-fruits green heads of grain roasted on the fire, crushed heads of new grain.  15  ‘And you shall put oil on it, and lay frankincense on it. It is a grain offering.  16  ‘And the priest shall burn the remembrance portion, from its crushed grain and from its oil, with all the frankincense, an offering made by fire to יהוה. 

4th reading (עליה, aliyah) Vayikra 3:1 – 3:17

Lev 3:1  ‘And if that which he presents is a slaughtering of peace offerings, if he is bringing it of the herd, whether male or female, he brings a perfect one before יהוה. 

2  ‘And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and slay it at the door of the Tent of Appointment. And the sons of Aharon, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood on the slaughter-place all around.  3  ‘And from the slaughtering of peace offerings he shall bring a fire offering to יהוה, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails,  4  and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them by the loins, and the appendage on the liver which he removes with the kidneys.  5  ‘And the sons of Aharon shall burn it on the slaughter-place upon the ascending offering, which is on the wood, which is on the fire, as an offering made by fire, a sweet fragrance to יהוה. 

6  ‘And if that which he presents is from the flock, for a slaughtering of peace offerings to יהוה, male or female, he brings a perfect one.  7  ‘If he is bringing a lamb as his offering, then he shall bring it before יהוה, 

8  and shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and slay it in front of the Tent of Appointment, and the sons of Aharon shall sprinkle its blood on the slaughter-place round about.  9  ‘And from the slaughtering of peace offerings he shall bring near – as a fire offering to יהוה – its fat, all the fat tail which he removes close to the backbone, and the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails,  10  and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the loins, and the appendage on the liver, which he removes with the kidneys.  11  ‘And the priest shall burn them on the slaughter-place as food, an offering made by fire to יהוה. 

12  ‘And if his offering is a goat, then he shall bring it before יהוה,  13  and shall lay his hand on its head and slay it before the Tent of Appointment. And the sons of Aharon shall sprinkle its blood on the slaughter-place all around.  14  ‘And from it he shall bring his offering, as an offering made by fire to יהוה, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails,  15  and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the loins, and the appendage on the liver, which he removes with the kidneys.  16  ‘And the priest shall burn them on the slaughter-place as food, an offering made by fire for a sweet fragrance. All the fat belongs to יהוה. 

17  ‘An everlasting law throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you do not eat any fat or any blood.’ ” 

5th reading (עליה, aliyah) Vayikra 4:1 – 4:26

Lev 4:1  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,  2  “Speak to the children of Yisra’ěl, saying, ‘When a being sins by mistake against any of the commands of יהוה, which are not to be done, and shall do any of them:  3  ‘If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then he shall bring to יהוה for his sin which he has sinned a young bull, a perfect one, as a sin offering,  4  and he shall bring the bull to the door of the Tent of Appointment before יהוה, and shall lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slay the bull before יהוה. 

5  ‘And the anointed priest shall take some of the bull’s blood and bring it to the Tent of Appointment,  6  and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before יהוה, in front of the veil of the set-apart place.  7  ‘And the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the slaughter-place of sweet incense before יהוה, which is in the Tent of Appointment, and pour all the blood of the bull at the base of the slaughter-place of the ascending offering, which is at the door of the Tent of Appointment.  8  ‘Then he takes all the fat of the bull as the sin offering, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat which is on the entrails,  9  and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the loins, and the appendage on the liver, which he removes with the kidneys,  10  as it was taken from the bull of the slaughtering of peace offerings. And the priest shall burn them on the slaughter-place of the ascending offering.  11  ‘But the skin of the bull, and all its flesh, with its head and legs, its entrails and dung –  12  all of the bull – he shall bring outside the camp to a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire. Where the ashes are poured out it is burned.  13  ‘And if the entire congregation of Yisra’ěl strays by mistake, and the matter has been hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done against any of the commands of יהוה, which are not to be done, and shall be guilty,  14  when the sin which they have sinned becomes known, then the assembly shall bring a young bull for the sin, and bring it before the Tent of Appointment.  15  ‘And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before יהוה, and the bull shall be slain before יהוה. 

16  ‘And the anointed priest shall bring some of the bull’s blood to the Tent of Appointment,  17  and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before יהוה, in front of the veil,  18  and put some of the blood on the horns of the slaughter-place which is before יהוה, which is in the Tent of Appointment, and pour all the blood at the base of the slaughter-place of ascending offering, which is at the door of the Tent of Appointment.  19  ‘Then he takes all the fat from it and shall burn it on the slaughter-place.  20  ‘And he shall do with the bull as he did with the bull as a sin offering – so shall he do it. And the priest shall make atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.  21  ‘And he shall bring the bull outside the camp, and burn it as he burned the first bull. It is a sin offering for the assembly.  22  ‘When a ruler sins, and by mistake has done against any of the commands of יהוה his Elohim which are not to be done, and shall be guilty,  23  or if his sin which he has sinned is made known to him, then he shall bring as his offering a buck of the goats, a male, a perfect one.  24  ‘And he shall lay his hand on the head of the goat, and slay it at the place where they slay the ascending offering before יהוה. It is a sin offering.  25  ‘And the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and shall put it on the horns of the slaughter-place of ascending offering, and pour its blood at the base of the slaughter-place of ascending offering,  26  and burn all its fat on the slaughter-place, like the fat of the slaughtering of the peace offerings. And the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin, and it shall be forgiven him. 

6th reading (עליה, aliyah) Vayikra 4:27 – 5:10

27  ‘And if any being of the people of the land sins by mistake by doing against any of the commands of יהוה which are not to be done, and shall be guilty,  28  or if his sin which he has sinned shall be made known to him, then he shall bring as his offering a female goat, a perfect one, for his sin which he has sinned.  29  ‘And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering at the place of the ascending offering.  30  ‘And the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, and shall put it on the horns of the slaughter-place of ascending offering, and pour all the blood at the base of the slaughter-place,  31  then remove all its fat, as fat is removed from the slaughtering of the peace offerings. And the priest shall burn it on the slaughter-place for a sweet fragrance to יהוה. And the priest shall make atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.  32  ‘And if he brings a lamb as his sin offering, he brings a female, a perfect one.  33  ‘And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and slay it as a sin offering at the place where they slay the ascending offering.  34  ‘And the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and shall put it on the horns of the slaughter-place of ascending offering, and pour all the blood at the base of the slaughter-place.  35  ‘Then he removes all its fat, as the fat of the lamb is removed from the slaughtering of the peace offerings. And the priest shall burn it on the slaughter-place, according to the fire offerings to יהוה. So the priest shall make atonement for his sin that he has sinned, and it shall be forgiven him. 

Lev 5:1  ‘And when a being sins in that he has heard the voice of swearing, and is a witness, or has seen, or has known, but does not reveal it, he shall bear his crookedness.  2  ‘Or when a being touches any unclean matter, or the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping creatures, and it has been hidden from him, he is unclean and guilty.  3  ‘Or when he touches uncleanness of man, any of his uncleanness by which he is unclean, and it has been hidden from him, when he shall know it, then he shall be guilty.  4  ‘Or when a being swears, speaking rashly with his lips to do evil or to do good, whatever it is that a man swears rashly with an oath, and it has been hidden from him, when he shall know it, then he shall be guilty of one of these.  5  ‘And it shall be, when he is guilty of one of these, that he shall confess that in which he has sinned,  6  and shall bring his guilt offering to יהוה for his sin which he has sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a female goat as a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him, for his sin.  7  ‘And if he is unable to bring a lamb, then he shall bring to יהוה, he who has sinned, two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for an ascending offering.  8  ‘And he shall bring them to the priest, who shall bring near that which is for the sin offering first, and nib off its head from its neck, but not sever it.  9  ‘And he shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the slaughter-place, and the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the slaughter-place. It is a sin offering.  10  ‘And he shall prepare the second as an ascending offering according to the right-ruling, and the priest shall make atonement for him, for his sin which he has sinned, and it shall be forgiven him. 

7th reading (עליה, aliyah) Vayikra 5:11 – 6:7

Lev 5:11  ‘But if he is unable to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then he who sinned shall bring for his offering one-tenth of an ěphah of fine flour as a sin offering. He puts no oil on it, nor does he put any frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering.  12  ‘And he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his hand filled with it as a remembrance portion, and burn it on the slaughter-place according to the offerings made by fire to יהוה. It is a sin offering.  13  ‘And the priest shall make atonement for him, for his sin that he has sinned in any of these, and it shall be forgiven him. And it shall be the priest’s, like a grain offering.’ ”  14  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,  15  “When a being commits a trespass, and has sinned by mistake against the set-apart matters of יהוה, then he shall bring to יהוה as his guilt offering a ram, a perfect one, from the flock, with your valuation in sheqels of silver according to the sheqel of the set-apart place, as a guilt offering.  16  “And he shall make good for the sin that he has done against that which is set-apart, and shall add one-fifth to it and give it to the priest. And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and it shall be forgiven him.  17  “And when any being sins, and has done what is not to be done, against any of the commands of יהוה, though he knew it not, yet he shall be guilty and shall bear his crookedness.  18  “Then he shall bring to the priest a ram, a perfect one, from the flock, with your valuation, as a guilt offering. And the priest shall make atonement for his mistake he committed unintentionally, though he did not know it, and it shall be forgiven him –  19  it is a guilt offering, he was truly guilty before יהוה.” 

Lev 6:1  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,  2  “When any being sins, and committed a trespass against יהוה, and has lied to his neighbour about a deposit, or about a pledge, or about a robbery, or shall extort from his neighbour,  3  or has found what was lost and has lied concerning it, or did swear falsely, so that he sins in regard to any one of all these that a man does,  4  then it shall be, when he sins, and shall be guilty, that he shall return what he took by robbery, or what he has extorted, or the deposit which was deposited with him, or the lost item which he found,  5  or all that about which he swore falsely. He shall repay its total value, add one-fifth more to it, and give it to whom it belongs, on the day of his guilt offering.  6  “Then he brings his guilt offering to יהוה, a ram, a perfect one, from the flock, with your valuation, as a guilt offering, to the priest.  7  “And the priest shall make atonement for him before יהוה, and he shall be forgiven for whatever he did that made him guilty.” 

Prophets: 1 Samuel 15:2-34

1Sa 15:2  “Thus said יהוה of hosts, ‘I shall punish Amalěq for what he did to Yisra’ěl, how he set himself against him on the way when he came up from Mitsrayim.  3  Now go, and you shall strike Amalěq and put under the ban all that he has, and you shall not spare them, and put to death from man to woman, from infant to nursing child, from ox to sheep, from camel to donkey.’ ”  4  Then Sha’ul summoned the people and mustered them in Tela’im, two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Yehuḏah.  5  And Sha’ul came to a city of Amalěq, and lay in wait in the wadi.  6  And Sha’ul said to the Qěynites, “Go, turn aside, come down from among the Amalěqites, lest I destroy you with them. For you did show loving-commitment to all the children of Yisra’ěl when they came up out of Mitsrayim.” So the Qěynites turned aside from the midst of the Amalěqites.  7  And Sha’ul struck the Amalěqites, from Ḥawilah all the way to Shur, which is before Mitsrayim.  8  And he caught Aḡaḡ sovereign of the Amalěqites alive, and put under the ban all the people with the edge of the sword.  9  But Sha’ul and the people spared Aḡaḡ and the best of the sheep, and the cattle, and the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not put them under the ban. But all goods despised and worthless, that they put under the ban.  10  And the word of יהוה came to Shemu’ěl, saying,  11  “I am grieved that I have set up Sha’ul as sovereign, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My words.” And it displeased Shemu’ěl, and he cried to יהוה all night.  12  And Shemu’ěl rose early in the morning to meet Sha’ul, and it was told to Shemu’ěl, saying, “Sha’ul went to Karmel, and see, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and passed over, and went down to Gilgal.”  13  And Shemu’ěl came to Sha’ul, and Sha’ul said to him, “Blessed are you of יהוה! I have performed the word of יהוה.” 

1Sa 15:14  But Shemu’ěl said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the cattle which I hear?”  15  And Sha’ul said, “They have brought them from Amalěq, because the people spared the best of the sheep and the cattle, to slaughter to יהוה your Elohim. And the rest we have put under the ban.”  16  And Shemu’ěl said to Sha’ul, “Wait, and let me declare to you what יהוה said to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak.”  17  And Shemu’ěl said, “Though you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Yisra’ěl? And did not יהוה anoint you sovereign over Yisra’ěl?  18  “And יהוה sent you on the way, and said, ‘Go, and you shall put under the ban the sinners, the Amalěqites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’  19  “And why did you not obey the voice of יהוה, but swooped down on the spoil, and did evil in the eyes of יהוה?” 

20  And Sha’ul said to Shemu’ěl, “I did obey the voice of יהוה, and I went on the way on which יהוה sent me, and brought back Aḡaḡ sovereign of Amalěq, and I put Amalěq under the ban.  21  “But the people took of the spoil, of the sheep and cattle, the best of that which should have been put under the ban, to slaughter to יהוה your Elohim in Gilgal.”  22  Then Shemu’ěl said, “Does יהוה delight in ascending offerings and slaughterings, as in obeying the voice of יהוה? Look, to obey is better than a slaughtering, to heed is better than the fat of rams.  23  “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of יהוה, He also does reject you as sovereign.”  24  And Sha’ul said to Shemu’ěl, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the mouth of יהוה and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.  25  “And now, please pardon my sin, and return with me, and let me bow myself to יהוה.” 

26  But Shemu’ěl said to Sha’ul, “I do not return with you, for you have rejected the word of יהוה, and יהוה does reject you from being sovereign over Yisra’ěl.”  27  And as Shemu’ěl turned around to go away, Sha’ul took hold of the edge of his robe, and it tore.  28  And Shemu’ěl said to him, “יהוה has torn the reign of Yisra’ěl from you today, and has given it to a neighbour of yours, better than you.  29  “Moreover, the Eminence of Yisra’ěl does not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.”  30  Then he said, “I have sinned. But esteem me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Yisra’ěl, and return with me, and I shall bow myself to יהוה your Elohim.”  31  And Shemu’ěl turned back after Sha’ul, and Sha’ul bowed himself to יהוה. 

32  And Shemu’ěl said, “Bring Aḡaḡ sovereign of the Amalěqites here to me.” So Aḡaḡ came to him delightedly, and Aḡaḡ said, “Truly, the bitterness of death has turned aside.”  33  And Shemu’ěl said, “As your sword bereaved women, let your mother be bereaved among women too.” Shemu’ěl then hewed Aḡaḡ to pieces before יהוה in Gilgal.  34  And Shemu’ěl went to Ramah, while Sha’ul went up to his house at Giḇ‛ah of Sha’ul. 

Isaiah 43:21 – 44:23

Isa 43:21  this people I have formed for Myself, let them relate My praise.  22  “But you have not called on Me, O Ya‛aqoḇ, for you have been weary of Me, O Yisra’ěl.  23  “You have not brought Me the sheep for your ascending offerings, nor have you esteemed Me with your slaughterings. I have not caused you to serve with grain offerings, nor wearied you with incense.  24  “You have not bought Me sweet cane with silver, nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your slaughterings. You have only burdened Me with your sins, you have wearied Me with your crookednesses.  25  “I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and remember your sins no more. 26  “Remind Me, let us enter into judgment, together; relate, that you might be declared right.  27  “Your first father sinned, and your interpreters have transgressed against Me.  28  “So I have profaned the chief ones of the set-apart place, and I have delivered up Ya‛aqoḇ to the curse, and Yisra’ěl to scorn. 

Isa 44:1  “But now hear, O Ya‛aqoḇ My servant, and Yisra’ěl whom I have chosen.  2  Thus said יהוה who made you and formed you from the womb, who helps you, ‘Do not fear, O Ya‛aqoḇ My servant, and Yeshurun,a whom I have chosen. Footnote: aA poetical title for Yisra’ěl, meaning the Straight One or the Upright One. This poetical title is also found in Deu_32:15, Deu_33:5 and Deu_33:26.  3  For I pour water on the thirsty, and floods on the dry ground. I pour My Spirit on your seed, and My blessing on your offspring,  4  and they shall spring up among the grass like willows by streams of water.’  5  “One says, ‘I belong to יהוה; another calls himself by the name of Ya‛aqoḇ; another writes with his hand, ‘Unto יהוה,’ and names himself by the name of Yisra’ěl.  6  “Thus said יהוה, Sovereign of Yisra’ěl, and his Redeemer, יהוה of hosts, ‘I am the First and I am the Last, besides Me there is no Elohim.  7  And who is like Me? Let him call and declare it, and lay it before Me, since I appointed the everlasting people. And the events that are coming and those that do come, let them declare these to them.  8  Do not fear, nor be afraid. Have I not since made you hear, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there an Eloah besides Me? There is no other Rock, I know not one.’ ”  9  Those who make an idol, all of them are emptiness, and their delights do not profit. And they are their own witnesses; they neither see nor know, so that they are put to shame.  10  Who would form a mighty one or cast an idol that is of no value?  11  See, all his companions are ashamed, and the workmen, they are but men. Let them all be gathered together, let them stand up, let them fear, let them be put to shame, altogether.  12  The craftsman in iron with the tools works one in the coals, and fashions it with hammers, and works it with the strength of his arms. Even so, he shall be hungry, and has no strength; he drinks no water and is weary.  13  The carpenter stretches out his rule, he outlines it with chalk; he fashions it with a plane, and he outlines it with the compass, and makes it like the figure of a man, according to the comeliness of a man, to remain in the house.  14  He cuts down cedars for himself, and takes cypress and oak, which he raised among the trees of the forest. He has planted a pine, and the rain nourishes it.  15  And it shall be for a man to burn, for he takes some of it and warms himself. He also kindles it and shall bake bread. He also makes a mighty one and bows himself to it – has made it a carved image and falls down before it.  16  Half of it he shall burn in the fire; with this half he eats meat. He roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire.”  17  And the rest of it he makes into a mighty one, his carved image. He falls down before it and worships, prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my mighty one.”  18  They do not know nor understand, for He has smeared their eyes from seeing, and their hearts from understanding.  19  And no one recalls it to his heart, nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire, and I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Should I fall down before a log of wood?”  20  Feeding on ashes, a deceived heart turns him aside, and he does not deliver his being, nor says, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”  21  “Remember these matters, O Ya‛aqoḇ, and Yisra’ěl, for you are My servant! I have formed you, you are My servant, O Yisra’ěl, do not forget Me!  22  “I shall wipe out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I shall redeem you.”  23  Sing, O heavens, for יהוה shall do it! Shout, O depths of the earth! Break forth into singing, O mountains, forest, and every tree in it! For יהוה shall redeem Ya‛aqoḇ, and make Himself clear in Yisra’ěl. 

Brit Hadasha: Mark 7:1-30

Mar 7:1  And the Pharisees and some of the scribes assembled to Him, having come from Yerushalayim.  2  And seeing some of His taught ones eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.  3  For the Pharisees, and all the Yehuḏim, do not eat unless they wash their hands thoroughly, holding fast the tradition of the elders,  4  and coming from the market-place, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions which they have received and hold fast – the washing of cups and utensils and copper vessels and couches.  5  Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your taught ones not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”  6  And He answering, said to them, “Well did Yeshayahu prophesy concerning you hypocrites, as it has been written, ‘This people respect Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  7  And in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commands of men.’a Isa_29:13. Footnote: aAlso see 2Ki_17:19 and Mat_15:3-9.  8  “Forsaking the command of Elohim, you hold fast the tradition of men.”  9  And He said to them, “Well do you set aside the command of Elohim, in order to guard your tradition.  10  “For Mosheh said, ‘Respect your father and your mother,’ Exo_20:12, Deu_5:16 and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ Exo_21:17, Lev_20:9. 11  “But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me, is Qorban (that is, a gift),” ’  12  you no longer let him do any matter at all for his father or his mother,  13  nullifying the Word of Elohim through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such traditions you do.”  14  And calling the crowd to Him, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand:  15  “There is no matter that enters a man from outside which is able to defile him, but it is what comes out of him that defiles the man.  16  “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”  17  And when He went from the crowd into a house, His taught ones asked Him concerning the parable.  18  And He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside is unable to defile him,  19  because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purging all the foods?”b Footnote: bSee footnote Mat_15:20.  20  And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  21  “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil reasonings, adulteries, whorings, murders,  22  thefts, greedy desires, wickednesses, deceit, indecency, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  23  “All these wicked matters come from within and defile a man.”  24  And rising up from there He went to the borders of Tsor and Tsiḏon. And entering into a house He wished no one to know it, but it was impossible to be hidden.  25  For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet.  26  Now the woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.  27  And יהושע said to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”c Footnote: cAlso see Mat_15:27.  28  But she answering, said to Him, “Yes, Master, for even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.”  29  And He said to her, “Because of this word go, the demon has gone out of your daughter.”  30  And having come into her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed. 

Romans 8:1-13

Rom 8:1  There is, then, now no condemnation to those who are in Messiah יהושע, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  2  For the torah of the Spirit of the life in Messiah יהושע has set me free from the torah of sin and of death.  3  For the Torah being powerless, in that it was weak through the flesh, Elohim, having sent His own Son in the likeness of flesh of sin, and concerning sin, condemned sin in the flesh,  4  so that the righteousness of the Torah should be completed in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  5  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the matters of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the matters of the Spirit. 6  For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace.  7  Because the mind of the flesh is enmity towards Elohim, for it does not subject itself to the Torah of Elohim, neither indeed is it able,  8  and those who are in the flesh are unable to please Elohim.  9  But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of Elohim dwells in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Messiah, this one is not His.  10  And if Messiah is in you, the body is truly dead on account of sin, but the Spirit is life on account of righteousness.  11  And if the Spirit of Him who raised יהושע from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Messiah from the dead shall also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit dwelling in you. 12  So then, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.  13  For if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live. 

Hebrews 10:1-18

Heb 10:1  For the Torah, having a shadow of the good matters to come, and not the image itself of the matters, was never able to make perfect those who draw near with the same slaughter offerings which they offer continually year by year.  2  Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered? Because those who served, once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins.  3  But in those offerings is a reminder of sins year by year.  4  For it is impossible for blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.  5  Therefore, coming into the world, He says, “Slaughtering and meal offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.  6  “In ascending offerings and offerings for sin You did not delight.  7  “Then I said, ‘See, I come – in the roll of the book it has been written concerning Me – to do Your desire, O Elohim.’ ” Psa_40:6-8.  8  Saying above, “Slaughter and meal offering, and ascending offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor delighted in,” Psa_40:6 which are offered according to the Torah,  9  then He said, “See, I come to do Your desire, O Elohim.” Psa_40:8 He takes away the first to establish the second.  10  By that desire we have been set apart through the offering of the body of יהושע Messiah once for all.  11  And indeed every priest stands day by day doing service, and repeatedly offering the same slaughter offerings which are never able to take away sins.  12  But He, having offered one slaughter offering for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of Elohim,  13  waiting from that time onward until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. Psa_110:1.  14  For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being set apart.  15  And the Set-apart Spirit also witnesses to us, for after having said before,  16  “This is the covenant that I shall make with them after those days, says יהוה, giving My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I shall write them,”a Jer_31:33. Footnote: aSee also Heb_8:8-12.  17  and, “Their sins and their lawlessnesses I shall remember no more.” Jer_31:34.  18  Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer a slaughter offering for sin. 

Hebrews 13:10-16

Heb 13:10  We have a slaughter-place from which those serving the Tent have no authority to eat.  11  For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the Set-apart Place by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.  12  And so יהושע also suffered outside the gate, to set apart the people with His own blood.  13  Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.  14  For we have no lasting city here, but we seek the one coming.  15  Through Him then, let us continually offer up a slaughter offering of praise to Elohim, that is, the fruitc of our lips, giving thanks to His Name. Footnote: cOr “bulls of our lips” – See Hos_14:2.  16  And do not forget to do good and to share, for with such slaughter offerings Elohim is well pleased. 

Aharonic Blessing

Num 6:22  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, 23  “Speak to Aharon and his sons, saying, ‘This is how you bless the children of Yisra’ĕl. Say to them: 24  “יהוה bless you and guard you; 25  יהוה make His face shine upon you, and show favour to you; 26  יהוה lift up His face upon you, and give you peace.” ’ 27  “Thus they shall put My Name on the children of Yisra’ĕl, and I Myself shall bless them.”

Num 6:24          יברכך  יהוה  וישׁמרך׃  

Num 6:25          יאר  יהוה  פניו  אליך  ויחנך׃  

Num 6:26          ישׂא  יהוה  פניו  אליך  וישׂם  לך  שׁלום׃