Deu 6:4 שׁמע ישׂראל יהוה אלהינו יהוה אחד׃
Deu 6:4 “Hear, O Yisra’ĕl: יהוה our Elohim, יהוה is one!
Shemini, Sh’mini, or Shmini (שְּׁמִינִי – Hebrew for “eighth,” the third word, and the first distinctive word, in the parashah) is the 26th weekly Torah portion (פָּרָשָׁה, parashah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the third in the Book of Leviticus. It constitutes Leviticus 9:1–11:47. The parashah is made up of 4,670 Hebrew letters, 1,238 Hebrew words, and 91 verses, and can occupy about 157 lines in a Torah Scroll (סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה, Sefer Torah).
Read the 25th or 26th Sabbath after Simchat Torah, in late March or April. In years when the first day of Passover falls on a Sabbath (as it does in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019), Jews in Israel and Reform Jews read the parashah following Passover one week before Conservative and Orthodox Jews in the Diaspora. In such years, Jews in Israel and Reform Jews celebrate Passover for seven days and thus read the next parashah (in 2015 and 2018, Shemini) on the Sabbath one week after the first day of Passover, while Conservative and Orthodox Jews in the Diaspora celebrate Passover for eight days and read the next parashah (in 2015 and 2018, Shemini) one week later. In some such years (for example, 2015 and 2018), the two calendars realign when Conservative and Orthodox Jews in the Diaspora read Behar together with Bechukotai while Jews in Israel and Reform Jews read them separately.
Parashah Shemini tells of the consecration of the Tabernacle, the deaths of Nadab and Abihu, and the dietary laws of kashrut (כַּשְׁרוּת).
Lev 23:34 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the Festival of Booths for seven days to יהוה.
Lev 23:35 ‘On the first day is a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work.
Lev 23:36 ‘For seven days you bring an offering made by fire to יהוה. On the eighth day there shall be a set-apart gathering for you, and you shall bring an offering made by fire to יהוה. It is a closing festival, you do no servile work.
Num 29:12 ‘And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you have a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work. And you shall observe a festival to יהוה seven days,
Num 29:35 ‘On the eighth day you have an assembly, you do no servile work,
Torah: Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47
1st reading (עליה, aliyah) Vayikra 9:1 – 9:16
Lev 9:1 And on the eighth day it came to be that Mosheh called Aharon and his sons and the elders of Yisra’ĕl.
Lev 9:2 And he said to Aharon, “Take for yourself a young bull as a sin offering and a ram as a burnt offering, a perfect one, and bring them before יהוה.
Lev 9:3 “And speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘Take a male goat as a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both a year old, perfect ones, as a burnt offering,
Lev 9:4 and a bull and a ram as peace offerings, to slaughter before יהוה, and a grain offering mixed with oil. For today יהוה shall appear to you.’ ”
Lev 9:5 And they took את what Mosheh commanded before the Tent of Meeting, and all the congregation drew near and stood before יהוה.
Lev 9:6 And Mosheh said, “This is the word which יהוה commanded you to do, so that the esteem of יהוה appears to you.” ]
Lev 9:7 And Mosheh said to Aharon, “Go to the altar, and prepare את your sin offering את and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself and for the people. And make את the offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as יהוה has commanded.”
Lev 9:8 So Aharon came near to the altar and slaughtered את the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.
Lev 9:9 And the sons of Aharon brought את the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it on the horns of the altar and poured the blood at the base of the altar.
Lev 9:10 And the fat, and the kidneys, and the appendage on the liver of the sin offering he burned on the altar, as יהוה had commanded Mosheh.
Lev 9:11 And the flesh and the skin he burned with fire outside the camp.
Lev 9:12 And he slaughtered את the burnt offering, and the sons of Aharon presented to him את the blood, which he sprinkled on the altar all around.
Lev 9:13 And they presented the burnt offering to him, with its pieces and head, and he burned them on the altar.
Lev 9:14 And he washed את the entrails and the legs, and burned them with the burnt offering on the altar.
Lev 9:15 And he brought את the people’s offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slaughtered it and made it a sin offering, like the first one.
Lev 9:16 And he brought את the burnt offering and made it, according to the right-ruling.
2nd reading (עליה, aliyah) Vayikra 9:17 – 9:23
Lev 9:17 He also brought את the grain offering, and filled his hand with it, and burned it on the altar, besides the burnt offering of the morning.
Lev 9:18 And he slaughtered את the bull and the ram as peace offerings, which were for the people. And Aharon’s sons presented to him את the blood, which he sprinkled on the altar all around,
Lev 9:19 and the fat from the bull and the ram, the fat tail, and the covering, and the kidneys, and the appendage on the liver,
Lev 9:20 and they placed את the fat on the breasts, and he burned the fat on the altar.
Lev 9:21 But the breasts and the right thigh Aharon waved as a wave offering before יהוה, as Mosheh had commanded.
Lev 9:22 Aharon then lifted up את his hand toward the people and blessed them, and came down from making the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings.
Lev 9:23 And Mosheh and Aharon went into the Tent of Meeting, and came out and blessed את the people. And the esteem of יהוה appeared to all the people,
3rd reading (עליה, aliyah) Vayikra 9:24 – 10:11
Lev 9:24 and fire came out from before יהוה and consumed את the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. And all the people saw and cried aloud and fell on their faces.
Lev 10:1 And Naḏaḇ and Aḇihu, the sons of Aharon, each took his fire holder and put fire in it, and put incense on it, and brought strange fire before יהוה, which He had not commanded them.
Lev 10:2 And fire came out from יהוה and consumed them, and they died before יהוה.
Lev 10:3 Then Mosheh said to Aharon, “This is what יהוה spoke, saying, ‘By those who come near Me let Me be set-apart! And before all the people let Me be esteemed!’ ” And Aharon was silent.
Lev 10:4 And Mosheh called to Misha’ĕl and to Eltsaphan, the sons of Uzzi’ĕl the uncle of Aharon, and said to them, “Come near, take את your brothers from before the set-apart place out of the camp.”
Lev 10:5 So they came near and took them by their long shirts out of the camp, as Mosheh had said.
Lev 10:6 And Mosheh said to Aharon, and to Elʽazar and to Ithamar, his sons, “Do not unbind your heads nor tear your garments, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the people. But let your brothers, all the house of Yisra’ĕl, bewail את the burning which יהוה has kindled.
Lev 10:7 “And do not go out from the door of the Tent of Meeting, lest you die, for the anointing oil of יהוה is upon you.” And they did according to the word of Mosheh.
Lev 10:8 And יהוה spoke to Aharon, saying,
Lev 10:9 “Do not drink wine or strong drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the Tent of Meeting, lest you die – a law forever throughout your generations,
Lev 10:10 so as to make a distinction between the set-apart and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean,
Lev 10:11 and to teach את the children of Yisra’ĕl את all the laws which יהוה has spoken to them by the hand of Mosheh.”
4th reading (עליה, aliyah) Vayikra 10:12 – 10:15
Lev 10:12 And Mosheh spoke to Aharon, and to Elʽazar and Ithamar, his sons who were left, “Take את the grain offering that is left over from the offerings made by fire to יהוה, and eat it without leaven beside the altar, for it is most set-apart.
Lev 10:13 “And you shall eat it in a set-apart place, because it is yours by law and your sons’ by law, of the offerings made by fire to יהוה, for so I have been commanded.
Lev 10:14 “And the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution you eat in a clean place, you, and your sons, and your daughters with you. For they are yours by law and your sons’ by law, which are given from the slaughterings of peace offerings of the children of Yisra’ĕl.
Lev 10:15 “The thigh of the contribution and the breast of the wave offering they bring with the offerings of fat made by fire, to bring as a wave offering before יהוה. And it shall be yours and your sons’ with you, by a law forever, as יהוה has commanded.”
5th reading (עליה, aliyah) Vayikra 10:16 – 10:20
Lev 10:16 And Mosheh diligently looked for the goat of the sin offering and saw it was burned up. And he was wroth with Elʽazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aharon who were left, saying,
Lev 10:17 “Why have you not eaten את the sin offering in a set-apart place, since it is most set-apart, and Elohim has given it to you to bear את the crookedness of the congregation, to make atonement for them before יהוה?
Lev 10:18 “See, את its blood was not brought inside the set-apart place. You should have eaten it without fail in a set-apart place, as I have commanded.”
Lev 10:19 And Aharon said to Mosheh, “See, today they have brought את their sin offering and their burnt offering before יהוה, and matters like these have come to me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been right in the eyes of יהוה?”
Lev 10:20 And when Mosheh heard that, it was good in his eyes.
6th reading (עליה, aliyah) Vayikra 11:1 – 11:32
Lev 11:1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon, saying to them,
Lev 11:2 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘These are the living creatures which you do eat among all the beasts that are on the earth:
Lev 11:3 ‘Whatever has a split hoof completely divided, chewing the cud, among the beasts, that you do eat.
Lev 11:4 ‘Only, these you do not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have a split hoof: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have a split hoof, it is unclean to you;
Lev 11:5 and the rabbit, because it chews the cud but does not have a split hoof, it is unclean to you;
Lev 11:6 and the hare, because it chews the cud but does not have a split hoof, it is unclean to you;
Lev 11:7 and the pig, though it has a split hoof, completely divided, yet does not chew the cud, it is unclean to you.
Lev 11:8 ‘Their flesh you do not eat, and their carcasses you do not touch. They are unclean to you.
Lev 11:9 ‘These you do eat of all that are in the waters: any one that has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas or in the rivers, that you do eat.
Lev 11:10 ‘But all that have not fins and scales in the seas and in the rivers, all that move in the waters or any living creature which is in the waters, they are an abomination to you.
Lev 11:11 ‘They are an abomination to you – of their flesh you do not eat, and their carcasses you abominate.
Lev 11:12 ‘All that have not fins or scales in the waters is an abomination to you.
Lev 11:13 ‘And these you do abominate among the birds, they are not eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the vulture, and the black vulture,
Lev 11:14 and the hawk, and the falcon after its kind,
Lev 11:15 every raven after its kind,
Lev 11:16 and the ostrich, and the nighthawk, and the seagull, and the hawk after its kind,
Lev 11:17 and the little owl, and the fisher owl, and the great owl,
Lev 11:18 and the white owl, and the pelican, and the carrion vulture,
Lev 11:19 and the stork, the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe, and the bat.
Lev 11:20 ‘All flying insects that creep on all fours is an abomination to you.
Lev 11:21 ‘Only, these you do eat of every flying insect that creeps on all fours: those which have jointed legs above their feet with which to leap on the earth.
Lev 11:22 ‘These of them you do eat: the locust after its kind, and the destroying locust after its kind, and the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind.
Lev 11:23 ‘But all other flying insects which have four feet is an abomination to you.
Lev 11:24 ‘And by these you are made unclean, anyone touching the carcass of any of them is unclean until evening,
Lev 11:25 and anyone picking up part of the carcass of any of them has to wash his garments, and shall be unclean until evening.
Lev 11:26 ‘Every beast that has a split hoof not completely divided, or does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. Anyone who touches their carcass is unclean.
Lev 11:27 ‘And whatever goes on its paws, among all the creatures that go on all fours, those are unclean to you. Anyone who touches their carcass is unclean until evening,
Lev 11:28 and he who picks up their carcass has to wash his garments, and shall be unclean until evening. They are unclean to you.
Lev 11:29 ‘And these are unclean to you among the creeping creatures that creep on the earth: the mole, and the mouse, and the tortoise after its kind,
Lev 11:30 and the gecko, and the land crocodile, and the sand reptile, and the sand lizard, and the chameleon.
Lev 11:31 ‘These are unclean to you among all that creep. Anyone who touches them when they are dead becomes unclean until evening.
Lev 11:32 ‘And whatever any of them in its dead state falls upon, becomes unclean, whether it is any wooden object or garment or skin or sack, any object in which work is done, it is put in water. And it shall be unclean until evening, then it shall be clean.
7th reading (עליה, aliyah) Vayikra 11:33 – 11:47
Lev 11:33 ‘Any earthen vessel into which any of them falls, whatever is in it becomes unclean, and you break it.
Lev 11:34 ‘Any of the food which might be eaten, on which water comes, becomes unclean, and any drink which might be drunk from it becomes unclean.
Lev 11:35 ‘And on whatever any of their carcass falls becomes unclean – an oven or cooking range – it is broken down. They are unclean, and are unclean to you.
Lev 11:36 ‘But a fountain or a well, a collection of water, is clean, but whatever touches their carcass is unclean.
Lev 11:37 ‘And when any of their carcass falls on any planting seed which is to be sown, it is clean.
Lev 11:38 ‘But when any water is put on the seed and any part of any such carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you.
Lev 11:39 ‘And when any of the beasts which are yours for food dies, he who touches its carcass becomes unclean until evening.
Lev 11:40 ‘And he who eats of its carcass has to wash his garments, and shall be unclean until evening. And he who picks up its carcass has to wash his garments, and shall be unclean until evening.
Lev 11:41 ‘And every creeping creature that creeps on the earth is an abomination, it is not eaten.
Lev 11:42 ‘Whatever crawls on its stomach, and whatever goes on all fours, and whatever has many feet among all creeping creatures that creep on the earth, these you do not eat, for they are an abomination.
Lev 11:43 ‘Do not make yourselves abominable with any creeping creature that creeps, and do not make yourselves unclean with them, lest you be defiled by them.
Lev 11:44 ‘For I am יהוה your Elohim, and you shall set yourselves apart. And you shall be set-apart, for I am set-apart. And do not defile yourselves with any creeping creature that creeps on the earth.
Lev 11:45 ‘For I am יהוה who is bringing you up out of the land of Mitsrayim, to be your Elohim. And you shall be set-apart, for I am set-apart.
Lev 11:46 ‘This is the Torah of the beasts and the birds and every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth,
Lev 11:47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living creature that is eaten and the living creature that is not eaten.’ ”
Prophets: 2 Samuel 6:1 – 7:17
2Sa 6:1 Now Dawiḏ again gathered all the chosen men of Yisra’ĕl, thirty thousand.
2Sa 6:2 And Dawiḏ rose up and went with all the people who were with him from Baʽalĕ Yehuḏah, to bring up from there the ark of Elohim, that is called by the Name, the Name יהוה of Hosts, who dwells between the keruḇim.
2Sa 6:3 And they placed the ark of Elohim on a new wagon, and brought it from the house of Aḇinaḏaḇ, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Aḥyo, sons of Aḇinaḏaḇ, were leading the new wagon.
2Sa 6:4 And they brought it from the house of Aḇinaḏaḇ, which was on the hill, with the ark of Elohim. And Aḥyo was walking before the ark.
2Sa 6:5 And Dawiḏ and all the house of Yisra’ĕl were dancing before יהוה, with all instruments of fir wood, and with lyres, and with harps, and with tambourines, and with sistrums, and with cymbals.
2Sa 6:6 And when they came to the threshing-floor of Naḵon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of Elohim and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.
2Sa 6:7 And the wrath of יהוה burned against Uzzah, and Elohim smote him there for the fault. And he died there by the ark of Elohim.
2Sa 6:8 And Dawiḏ was displeased because יהוה had broken out against Uzzah. And he called the name of the place Perets Uzzah, until this day.
2Sa 6:9 And Dawiḏ was afraid of יהוה on that day, and said, “How shall the ark of יהוה come to me?”
2Sa 6:10 And Dawiḏ would not move the ark of יהוה with him into the City of Dawiḏ, but Dawiḏ turned it aside to the house of Oḇĕḏ-Eḏom the Gittite.
2Sa 6:11 And the ark of יהוה remained in the house of Oḇĕḏ-Eḏom the Gittite three months, and יהוה blessed Oḇĕḏ-Eḏom and all his house.
2Sa 6:12 And it was reported to Sovereign Dawiḏ, saying, “יהוה has blessed the house of Oḇĕḏ-Eḏom and all that he has, because of the ark of Elohim.” Dawiḏ then went and brought up the ark of Elohim from the house of Oḇĕḏ-Eḏom to the City of Dawiḏ with rejoicing.
2Sa 6:13 And it came to be, when those bearing the ark of יהוה had gone six steps, that he slaughtered bulls and fatted sheep.
2Sa 6:14 And Dawiḏ danced before יהוה with all his might. And Dawiḏ was wearing a linen shoulder garment.
2Sa 6:15 Thus Dawiḏ and all the house of Yisra’ĕl brought up the ark of יהוה with shouting and with the sound of the ram’s horn.
2Sa 6:16 And it came to be, when the ark of יהוה came into the City of Dawiḏ, that Miḵal, daughter of Sha’ul, looked through a window and saw Sovereign Dawiḏ leaping and dancing before יהוה, and she despised him in her heart.
2Sa 6:17 So they brought the ark of יהוה in, and set it in its place in the midst of the Tent that Dawiḏ had pitched for it. And Dawiḏ brought burnt offerings before יהוה, and peace offerings.
2Sa 6:18 And when Dawiḏ had finished bringing burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the Name of יהוה of hosts.
2Sa 6:19 And he apportioned to all the people, to all the crowd of Yisra’ĕl, from man even to women, to each one a loaf of bread, and a measure, and a cake of raisins. And all the people left, each one to his house.
2Sa 6:20 And Dawiḏ returned to bless his household, and Miḵal the daughter of Sha’ul came out to meet Dawiḏ, and said, “How esteemed was the sovereign of Yisra’ĕl today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the female servants of his servants, as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!”
2Sa 6:21 So Dawiḏ said to Miḵal, “Before יהוה, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of יהוה, over Yisra’ĕl, so I danced before יהוה.
2Sa 6:22 “And I shall be even more slight than this, and shall be humble in my own eyes. But as for the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I am esteemed.”
2Sa 6:23 And Miḵal the daughter of Sha’ul had no children to the day of her death.
2Sa 7:1 And it came to be when the sovereign was dwelling in his house, and יהוה had given him rest from all his enemies all around,
2Sa 7:2 that the sovereign said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I am dwelling in a house of cedar, but the ark of Elohim dwells within curtains.”
2Sa 7:3 And Nathan said to the sovereign, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for יהוה is with you.”
2Sa 7:4 And it came to be that night that the word of יהוה came to Nathan, saying,
2Sa 7:5 “Go and say to My servant Dawiḏ, ‘Thus said יהוה, “Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?
2Sa 7:6 “For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Yisra’ĕl up from Mitsrayim, even to this day, but have moved about in a Tent and in a Dwelling Place.
2Sa 7:7 “Wherever I have walked with all the children of Yisra’ĕl, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Yisra’ĕl, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’
2Sa 7:8 “And now, say to My servant Dawiḏ, ‘Thus said יהוה of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be ruler over My people, over Yisra’ĕl.
2Sa 7:9 “And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are on the earth.
2Sa 7:10 “And I shall appoint a place for My people Yisra’ĕl, and shall plant them, and they shall dwell in a place of their own and no longer be afraid, neither shall the children of wickedness oppress them again, as at the first,
2Sa 7:11 even from the day I appointed rulers over My people Yisra’ĕl, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. And יהוה has declared to you that He would make you a house.
2Sa 7:12 “When your days are filled and you rest with your fathers, I shall raise up your seed after you, who comes from your inward parts, and shall establish his reign.
2Sa 7:13 “He does build a house for My Name, and I shall establish the throne of his reign forever.
2Sa 7:14 “I am to be his Father, and he is My son. If he does perversely, I shall reprove him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.
2Sa 7:15 “But My kindness does not turn aside from him, as I turned it aside from Sha’ul, whom I removed from before you.
2Sa 7:16 “And your house and your reign are to be steadfast forever before you – your throne is established forever.” ’ ”
2Sa 7:17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to Dawiḏ.
Eze 36:16 And the word of יהוה came to me, saying,
Eze 36:17 “Son of man, when the house of Yisra’ĕl dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds. To Me their way was like the uncleanness of a woman in her monthly period.
Eze 36:18 “So I poured out My wrath on them for the blood they had shed on the land, and for their idols they defiled it.
Eze 36:19 “And I scattered them among the gentiles, and they were dispersed throughout the lands. I have judged them according to their ways and their deeds.
Eze 36:20 “And when they came to the gentiles, wherever they went, they profaned My set-apart Name for it was said of them, ‘These are the people of יהוה, and yet they have gone out of His land.’
Eze 36:21 “But I had compassion on My set-apart Name, which the house of Yisra’ĕl had profaned among the gentiles wherever they went.
Eze 36:22 “Therefore say to the house of Yisra’ĕl, ‘Thus said the Master יהוה, “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Yisra’ĕl, but for My set-apart Name’s sake, which you have profaned among the gentiles wherever you went.
Eze 36:23 “And I shall set apart My great Name, which has been profaned among the gentiles, which you have profaned in their midst. And the gentiles shall know that I am יהוה,” declares the Master יהוה, “when I am set-apart in you before their eyes.
Eze 36:24 “And I shall take you from among the gentiles, and I shall gather you out of all lands, and I shall bring you into your own land.
Eze 36:25 “And I shall sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean – from all your filthiness and from all your idols I cleanse you.
Eze 36:26 “And I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. And I shall take the heart of stone out of your flesh, and I shall give you a heart of flesh,
Eze 36:27 and put My Spirit within you1. And I shall cause you to walk in My laws and guard My right-rulings and shall do them.
Footnote: 1See 11:19-20, 37:6-14, 39:29.
Eze 11:19 “And I shall give them one heart, and put a new spirit within you. And I shall take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh,
Eze 11:20 so that they walk in My laws, and guard My right-rulings, and shall do them. And they shall be My people and I shall be their Elohim.
Eze 37:6 “And I shall put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, and cover you with skin and put a spirit in you, and you shall live. And you shall know that I am יהוה.” ’ ”
Eze 37:7 And I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a noise, and there was a rattling. And the bones came together, bone to bone.
Eze 37:8 And I looked and saw sinews and flesh came upon them, and skin covered them, but there was no spirit in them.
Eze 37:9 He then said to me, “Prophesy to the spirit, prophesy, son of man, and you shall say to the spirit, ‘Thus said the Master יהוה, “Come from the four winds, O spirit, and breathe on these slain, so that they live.” ’ ”
Eze 37:10 And I prophesied as He commanded me, and the spirit came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, a very great army.
Eze 37:11 And He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are all the house of Yisra’ĕl. See, they say, ‘Our bones are dry, our expectancy has perished, and we ourselves have been cut off!’
Eze 37:12 “Therefore prophesy, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus said the Master יהוה, “See, O My people, I am opening your graves, and shall bring you up from your graves, and shall bring you into the land of Yisra’ĕl.
Eze 37:13 “And you shall know that I am יהוה, when I open your graves, O My people, and bring you up from your graves.
Eze 37:14 “And I shall put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall settle you in your own land. And you shall know that I יהוה have spoken, and I have done it,” declares יהוה.’ ”
Eze 39:29 ‘And no longer do I hide My face from them, for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Yisra’ĕl,’ declares the Master יהוה.”
Eze 36:28 “And you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers. And you shall be My people, and I shall be your Elohim.
Eze 36:29 “And I shall save you from all your uncleannesses. And I shall call for the grain and increase it, and I shall bring no scarcity of food upon you.
Eze 36:30 “And I shall increase the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of scarcity of food among the gentiles.
Eze 36:31 “And you shall remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good. And you shall loathe yourselves in your own eyes, for your crookednesses and your abominations.
Eze 36:32 “Not for your sake am I acting,” declares the Master יהוה, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and blush for your ways, O house of Yisra’ĕl!”
Eze 36:33 ‘Thus said the Master יהוה, “On the day that I cleanse you from all your crookednesses, I shall cause the cities to be inhabited, and the ruined places shall be rebuilt,
Eze 36:34 and the land that was laid waste tilled instead of being a ruin before the eyes of all who pass by.
Eze 36:35 “And they shall say, ‘This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Ěḏen. And the wasted, the deserted, and the destroyed cities are now walled and inhabited.’
Eze 36:36 “Then the gentiles which are left all around you shall know that I, יהוה, have rebuilt the destroyed places and planted what was laid waste. I, יהוה, have spoken it, and I shall do it.”
Eze 36:37 ‘Thus said the Master יהוה, “Once again I shall let the house of Yisra’ĕl inquire of Me to do for them: I shall increase their men like a flock.
Eze 36:38 “As a set-apart flock, as the flock at Yerushalayim at her appointed times, so shall the wasted cities be filled with flocks of men. And they shall know that I am יהוה.” ’ ”
Brit Hadasha: Mark 9:1-13
Mar 9:1 And He said to them, “Truly, I say to you that there are some standing here who shall not taste of death at all until they see the reign of Elohim having come in power:”
Mar 9:2 And after six days יהושע took Kĕpha, and Yaʽaqoḇ, and Yoḥanan, and led them up on a high mountain alone by themselves. And He was transformed before them.
Mar 9:3 And His garments became glittering, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth is able to whiten.
Mar 9:4 And there appeared to them Ěliyahu with Mosheh,1 and they were talking with יהושע.
Footnote: 1See Mt. 17:2-9, Lk. 9:28-35, Lk. 16:31, John. 5:47, Mal. 4:4-5.
Mat 17:2 and He was transformed before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as the light.
Mat 17:3 And see, Mosheh and Ěliyahu appeared to them, talking with Him.
Mat 17:4 And Kĕpha answering, said to יהושע, “Master, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, let us make here three booths: one for You, one for Mosheh, and one for Ěliyahu.”
Mat 17:5 While he was still speaking, see, a bright cloud overshadowed them. And see, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I did delight. Hear Him!”
Mat 17:6 And when the taught ones heard, they fell on their faces and were much afraid.
Mat 17:7 But יהושע came near and touched them and said, “Rise, and do not be afraid.”
Mat 17:8 And having lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but יהושע only.
Mat 17:9 And as they were coming down from the mountain, יהושע commanded them, saying, “Do not mention the vision to anyone until the Son of Aḏam is raised from the dead.”
Luk 9:28 And it came to be, about eight days after these words, taking with Him Kĕpha and Yoḥanan and Yaʽaqoḇ, He went up to the mountain to pray.
Luk 9:29 And it came to be, as He prayed, the appearance of His face changed, and His garment dazzling white.
Luk 9:30 And see, two men were talking with Him, who were Mosheh and Ěliyahu,
Luk 9:31 who having appeared in esteem, spoke of His death which He was about to complete at Yerushalayim.
Luk 9:32 But Kĕpha and those with him were heavy with sleep. And having awakened, they saw His esteem and the two men standing with Him.
Luk 9:33 And it came to be, as they were parting from Him, Kĕpha said to יהושע, “Master, it is good for us to be here. And let us make three booths: one for You, and one for Mosheh, and one for Ěliyahu,” not knowing what he said.
Luk 9:34 And as he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them. And they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
Luk 9:35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved. Hear Him!”
Luk 16:31 “But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Mosheh and the prophets, neither would they be persuaded even if one should rise from the dead.’ ”
Joh 5:47 “But if you do not believe his writings,1 how shall you believe My words?”
Mal 4:4 “Remember the Torah of Mosheh, My servant, which I commanded him in Ḥorĕḇ for all Yisra’ĕl – laws and right-rulings.
Mal 4:5 “See, I am sending you Ěliyah1 the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of יהוה. Footnote: 1Lk. 1:17.
Luk 1:17 “And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Ěliyahu, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the insight of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for יהוה.”
Mar 9:5 And Kĕpha responding, said to יהושע, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. And let us make three booths, one for You, and one for Mosheh, and one for Ěliyahu,”
Mar 9:6 because he did not know what to say, for they were exceedingly afraid.
Mar 9:7 And there came a cloud overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved. Hear Him!”
Mar 9:8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them, but only יהושע.
Mar 9:9 And as they were coming down from the mountain, He ordered them not to relate to anyone what they saw, till the Son of Aḏam had risen from the dead.
Mar 9:10 And they kept this matter to themselves, debating what the rising from the dead meant.
Mar 9:11 And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Ěliyahu has to come first?”
Mar 9:12 And He said to them, “Ěliyahu indeed, having come first, restores all matters1. And how has it been written concerning the Son of Aḏam, that He is to suffer much and be despised?
Footnote: 1Mt. 17:11, Acts 3:21.
Mat 17:11 And יהושע answering, said to them, “Ěliyahu is indeed coming first, and shall restore all matters.
Act 3:21 whom heaven needs to receive until the times of restoration of all matters, of which Elohim spoke through the mouth of all His set-apart prophets since of old.
Mar 9:13 “But I say to you that even Ěliyahu has come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it has been written of him.”
Act 5:1 But a certain man named Ḥananyah, with Shappirah his wife, sold a possession.
Act 5:2 And he kept back from the price, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the feet of the emissaries.
Act 5:3 But Kĕpha said, “Ḥananyah, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Set-apart Spirit and keep back from the price of the land for yourself?
Act 5:4 “While it remained, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your authority? Why have you conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to Elohim.”
Act 5:5 Then Ḥananyah, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all those who heard of this.
Act 5:6 But the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out and buried him.
Act 5:7 And it came to be, about three hours later, that his wife came in, not knowing what had taken place.
Act 5:8 And Kĕpha responded to her, “Say to me whether you sold the land for so much?” And she said, “Yes, for so much.”
Act 5:9 So Kĕpha said to her, “Why have you agreed to try the Spirit of יהוה? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out.”
Act 5:10 And immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, they buried her beside her husband.
Act 5:11 And great fear came upon all the assembly and upon all who heard of this.
Verse 4
The point is that Khananyah did not have to dedicate all the proceeds to Yahweh, but claiming that he did and then lying about it brought his death. Interesting enough the name Khananyah means “grace of Yahweh”.
Acts 10:1-35
Act 10:1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a captain of what was called the Italian Regiment,
Act 10:2 dedicated, and fearing Elohim with all his household, doing many kind deeds to the people, and praying to Elohim always.
Act 10:3 He clearly saw in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, a messenger of Elohim coming to him, and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
Act 10:4 And looking intently at him, and becoming afraid, he said, “What is it, master?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your kind deeds have come up for a remembrance before Elohim.
Act 10:5 “And now send men to Yapho, and send for Shimʽon who is also called Kĕpha.
Act 10:6 “He is staying with Shimʽon, a leather-tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
Act 10:7 And when the messenger who spoke to him went away, Cornelius called two of his household servants, and a dedicated soldier from among those who waited on him continually.
Act 10:8 And having explained to them all, he sent them to Yapho.
Act 10:9 And on the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Kĕpha went up on the house-top to pray, about the sixth hour.
Act 10:10 And he became hungry and wished to eat. But while they were preparing, he fell into a trance,
Act 10:11 and he saw the heaven opened and a certain vessel like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth,
Act 10:12 in which were all kinds of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping creatures, and the birds of the heaven.
Act 10:13 And a voice came to him, “Rise up, Kĕpha, slay and eat.”
Act 10:14 But Kĕpha said, “Not at all, Master! Because I have never eaten whatever is common or unclean.”
Act 10:15 And a voice came to him again the second time, “What Elohim has cleansed you do not consider common.”
Act 10:16 And this took place three times, and the vessel was taken back to the heaven.
Act 10:17 And while Kĕpha was doubting within himself about what the vision might mean, look, the men who had been sent from Cornelius, having asked for the house of Shimʽon, stood at the gate,
Act 10:18 and calling out, they enquired whether Shimʽon, also known as Kĕpha, was staying there.
Act 10:19 And as Kĕpha was thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “See, three men seek you.
Act 10:20 “But rise up, go down and go with them, not doubting at all, for I have sent them.”
Act 10:21 So Kĕpha went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Look, I am the one you seek. Why have you come?”
Act 10:22 And they said, “Cornelius the captain, a righteous man and one who fears Elohim and well spoken of by the entire nation of the Yehuḏim, was instructed by a set-apart messenger to send for you to his house, and to hear words from you.”
Act 10:23 So inviting them in, he housed them. And on the next day Kĕpha went away with them, and some brothers from Yapho went with him.
Act 10:24 And the following day they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and close friends.
Act 10:25 And it came to be, that when Kĕpha entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and bowed before him.
Act 10:26 But Kĕpha raised him up, saying, “Stand up, I myself am also a man.”
Act 10:27 And talking with him, he went in and found many who had come together.
Act 10:28 And he said to them, “You know that a Yehuḏite man is not allowed to associate with, or go to one of another race. But Elohim has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.1 Footnote: 1See v. 35.
Act 10:29 “That is why I came without hesitation when I was sent for. So I ask, why have you sent for me?”
Act 10:30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour. And at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and see, a man stood before me in shining garments,
Act 10:31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your kind deeds were remembered before Elohim.
Act 10:32 ‘Now send to Yapho and call Shimʽon here, who is also called Kĕpha. He is staying in the house of Shimʽon, a leather-tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he shall speak to you.’
Act 10:33 “So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. And now, we are all present before Elohim, to hear all that you have been commanded by Elohim.”
Act 10:34 And opening his mouth, Kĕpha said, “Truly I see that Elohim shows no partiality,
Act 10:35 but in every nation, he who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.
In verse 12, there are clean and unclean animals on the sheet. Peter could have eaten a clean animal as all that was said to him was to eat. However, according to the Jewish oral law of the Rabbis, if something clean was on the same sheet or table as something unclean, then it became common and could not be touched or eaten. There is one word for “unclean” meaning defiled and another word for “common”, meaning used by everyone. If a gentile touched something of a Jew, then it became common and could not be used ever again. Jews in the 1st century would not even use olive oil that was crushed by a gentile. YHWH is using the analogy with food to tell Peter not to call people who were now in the New Covenant common (vs 28,34,36)
Verse 28 : This was unlawful according to the Rabbinical tradition but not according to Torah. The whole vision is about changing from the old rigid way that the Jewish tradition of the rabbis looked at non Jewish proselytes, but nowhere does it ever condone the eating of unclean food according to the 11th chapter of Leviticus. This whole incident is taking place around 10 years after the resurrection and Peter clearly said in chapter 10:14, that “he never ate anything unclean”.
2Co 6:14 Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 And what agreement has Messiah with Beliyaʽal? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever?
2Co 6:16 And what union has the Dwelling Place of Elohim with idols? For you are a Dwelling Place of the living Elohim, as Elohim has said, “I shall dwell in them and walk among them, and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.”
2Co 6:17 Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate, says יהוה, and do not touch what is unclean, and I shall receive you.
2Co 6:18 “And I shall be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says יהוה the Almighty.”
2Co 7:1 Having, then, these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, perfecting set-apartness in the fear of Elohim.
1 Peter 1:13-16
1Pe 1:13 Therefore, having girded up the loins of your mind, being sober, set your expectation perfectly upon the favour that is to be brought to you at the revelation of יהושע Messiah,
1Pe 1:14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts in your ignorance,
1Pe 1:15 instead, as the One who called you is set-apart, so you also should become set-apart in all behaviour,
1Pe 1:16 because it has been written, “Be set-apart, for I am set-apart.”
Aharonic Blessing
Num 6:22 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 6:23 “Speak to Aharon and his sons, saying, ‘This is how you bless the children of Yisra’ĕl. Say to them:
Num 6:24 “יהוה bless you and guard you;
Num 6:25 יהוה make His face shine upon you, and show favour to you;
Num 6:26 יהוה lift up His face upon you, and give you peace.” ’
Num 6:27 “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׃