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The Holy Bible
Douay-Rheims Version, Challoner Revision
The Old and New Testaments
December, 1998 [eBook #1581]
PGCC Collection: The Holy Bible, Douay-Rheims Version
eBook file: 0drvb10.htm or 0drvb10.pdf**
Corrected EDITIONS, 0drvb11.htm
Separate source VERSION, 0drvb10a.htm
eBook prepared by Dennis McCarthy, Atlanta, Georgia
and Tad Book, student, Pontifical North American College, Rome.
Ver.04.29.93*
eBook prepared by Dennis McCarthy, Atlanta, Georgia
and Tad Book, student, Pontifical North American College, Rome.
THE HOLY BIBLE
Translated from the Latin Vulgate
Diligently Compared with the Hebrew, Greek,
and Other Editions in Divers Languages
THE OLD TESTAMENT
First Published by the English College at Douay
A.D. 1609 & 1610
and
THE NEW TESTAMENT
First Published by the English College at Rheims
A.D. 1582
With Annotations
The Whole Revised and Diligently Compared with
the Latin Vulgate by Bishop Richard Challoner
A.D. 1749-1752
CREDITS
Without the assistance of many individuals and groups, this text of the
Douay-Rheims Version of the Holy Bible would not be available for the
Project Gutenberg collection. Our most grateful and sincere thanks goes
to those at 'Catholic Software' who have provided the electronic plain
texts of the 73 books of the Bible. 'Catholic Software' also produces a
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Rheims Bible, footnotes, Latin text and dictionary, topical index, maps,
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Additional production assistance has been provided by volunteers from
the Atlanta Council of the Knights of Columbus. Tad Book compiled and
reformatted the texts to Project Gutenberg standards. Dennis McCarthy
assisted Mr. Book and transcribed selections from the first editions
included as appendices.
HISTORY
This eBook comes from multiple editions of Challoner's revised Douay-
Rheims Version of the Holy Bible. In 1568 English exiles, many from
Oxford, established the English College of Douay (Douai/Doway), Flanders,
under William (later Cardinal) Allen. In October, 1578, Gregory Martin
began the work of preparing an English translation of the Bible for
Catholic readers, the first such translation into Modern English.
Assisting were William Allen, Richard Bristow, Thomas Worthington, and
William Reynolds who revised, criticized, and corrected Dr. Martin's
work. The college published the New Testament at Rheims (Reims/Rhemes),
France, in 1582 through John Fogny with a preface and explanatory notes,
authored chiefly by Bristol, Allen, and Worthington. Later the Old
Testament was published at Douay in two parts (1609 and 1610) by Laurence
Kellam through the efforts of Dr. Worthington, then superior of the
seminary. The translation had been prepared before the appearance of the
New Testament, but the publication was delayed due to financial
difficulties. The religious and scholarly adherence to the Latin Vulgate
text led to the less elegant and idiomatic words and phrases often found
in the translation. In some instances where no English word conveyed the
full meaning of the Latin, a Latin word was Anglicized and its meaning
defined in a glossary. Although ridiculed by critics, many of these
words later found common usage in the English language. Spellings of
proper names and the numbering of the Psalms are adopted from the Latin
Vulgate.
In 1749 Dr. Richard Challoner began a major revision of the Douay and
Rheims texts, the spellings and phrasing of which had become increasingly
archaic in the almost two centuries since the translations were first
produced. He modernized the diction and introduced a more fluid style,
while faithfully maintaining the accuracy of Dr. Martin's texts. This
revision became the 'de facto' standard text for English speaking
Catholics until the twentieth century. It is still highly regarded by
many for its style, although it is now rarely used for liturgical
purposes. The notes included in this electronic edition are generally
attributed to Bishop Challoner.
The 1610 printing of the second tome of the Old Testament includes an
appendix containing the non-canonical books 'Prayer of Manasses,' 'Third
Booke of Esdras,' and 'Fourth Booke of Esdras.' While not part of
Challoner's revision, the 1610 texts are placed in the appendices of
this eBook. Also included are the original texts of two short books,
'The Prophecie of Abdias' and 'The Catholike Epistle of Iude the
Apostle,' to give the reader a sense of the language of the first
editions in comparison to the Challoner revision. Further background on
the Douay-Rheims version may be found in a selection from the preface to
the 1582 edition and the original glossary included in the appendices.
CONTENTS
The Old Testament
Book of Genesis
Book of Exodus
Book of Leviticus
Book of Numbers
Book of Deuteronomy
Book of Josue
Book of Judges
Book of Ruth
First Book of Samuel, alias 1 Kings
Second Book of Samuel, alias 2 Kings
Third Book of Kings
Fourth Book of Kings
First Book of Paralipomenon
Second Book of Paralipomenon
First Book of Esdras
Book of Nehemias, alias 2 Esdras
Book of Tobias
Book of Judith
Book of Esther
Book of Job
Book of Psalms
Book of Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Solomon's Canticle of Canticles
Book of Wisdom
Ecclesiasticus
Prophecy of Isaias
Prophecy of Jeremias
Lamentations of Jeremias
Prophecy of Baruch
Prophecy of Ezechiel
Prophecy of Daniel
Prophecy of Osee
Prophecy of Joel
Prophecy of Amos
Prophecy of Abdias
Prophecy of Jonas
Prophecy of Micheas
Prophecy of Nahum
Prophecy of Habacuc
Prophecy of Sophonias
Prophecy of Aggeus
Prophecy of Zacharias
Prophecy of Malachias
First Book of Machabees
Second Book of Machabees
The New Testament
Gospel According to St. Matthew
Gospel According to St. Mark
Gospel According to St. Luke
Gospel According to St. John
Acts of the Apostles
Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans
First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians
Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians
Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians
Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians
Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians
Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians
First Epistle of St. Paul to the Thessalonians
Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Thessalonians
First Epistle of St. Paul to Timothy
Second Epistle of St. Paul to Timothy
Epistle of St. Paul to Titus
Epistle of St. Paul to Philemon
Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews
Catholic Epistle of St. James the Apostle
First Epistle of St. Peter the Apostle
Second Epistle of St. Peter the Apostle
First Epistle of St. John the Apostle
Second Epistle of St. John the Apostle
Third Epistle of St. John the Apostle
Catholic Epistle of St. Jude the Apostle
Apocalypse of St. John the Apostle
Appendices
The Prayer of Manasses
The Third Booke of Esdras
The Fourth Booke of Esdras
The Prophecie of Abdias
The Catholike Epistle of Iude the Apostle
The Preface to the Reader
Hard Vvordes Explicated
THE OLD TESTAMENT
THE BOOK OF GENESIS
This book is so called from its treating of the GENERATION, that is, of
the creation and the beginning of the world. The Hebrews call it
BERESITH, from the Word with which it begins. It contains not only the
history of the Creation of the world; but also an account of its
progress during the space of 2369 years, that is, until the death of
JOSEPH.
Genesis Chapter 1
God createth Heaven and Earth, and all things therein, in six days.
1:1. In the beginning God created heaven, and earth.
1:2. And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face
of the deep; and the spirit of God moved over the waters.
1:3. And God said: Be light made. And light was made.
1:4. And God saw the light that it was good; and he divided the light
from the darkness.
1:5. And he called the light Day, and the darkness Night; and there was
evening and morning one day.
1:6. And God said: Let there be a firmament made amidst the waters: and
let it divide the waters from the waters.
A firmament. . .By this name is here understood the whole space between
the earth, and the highest stars. The lower part of which divideth the
waters that are upon the earth, from those that are above in the
clouds.
1:7. And God made a firmament, and divided the waters that were under
the firmament, from those that were above the firmament, and it was so.
1:8. And God called the firmament, Heaven; and the evening and morning
were the second day.
1:9. God also said; Let the waters that are under the heaven, be
gathered together into one place: and let the dry land appear. And it
was so done.
1:10. And God called the dry land, Earth; and the gathering together of
the waters, he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
1:11. And he said: let the earth bring forth green herb, and such as
may seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after its kind, which may
have seed in itself upon the earth. And it was so done.
1:12. And the earth brought forth the green herb, and such as yieldeth
seed according to its kind, and the tree that beareth fruit, having
seed each one according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
1:13. And the evening and the morning were the third day.
1:14. And God said: Let there be lights made in the firmament of
heaven, to divide the day and the night, and let them be for signs, and
for seasons, and for days and years:
1:15. To shine in the firmament of heaven, and to give light upon the
earth, and it was so done.
1:16. And God made two great lights: a greater light to rule the day;
and a lesser light to rule the night: and the stars.
Two great lights. . .God created on the first day, light, which being
moved from east to west, by its rising and setting, made morning and
evening. But on the fourth day he ordered and distributed this light,
and made the sun, moon, and stars. The moon, though much less than the
stars, is here called a great light, from its giving a far greater
light to the earth than any of them.
1:17. And he set them in the firmament of heaven to shine upon the
earth.
1:18. And to rule the day and the night, and to divide the light and
the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
1:19. And the evening and morning were the fourth day.
1:20. God also said: let the waters bring forth the creeping creature
having life, and the fowl that may fly over the earth under the
firmament of heaven.
1:21. And God created the great whales, and every living and moving
creature, which the waters brought forth, according to their kinds, and
every winged fowl according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
1:22. And he blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the
waters of the sea: and let the birds be multiplied upon the earth.
1:23. And the evening and morning were the fifth day.
1:24. And God said: Let the earth bring forth the living creature in
its kind, cattle and creeping things, and beasts of the earth,
according to their kinds. And it was so done.
1:25. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds,
and cattle, and every thing that creepeth on the earth after its kind.
And God saw that it was good.
1:26. And he said: Let us make man to our image and likeness: and let
him have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air,
and the beasts, and the whole earth, and every creeping creature that
moveth upon the earth.
Let us make man to our image. . .This image of God in man, is not in the
body, but in the soul; which is a spiritual substance, endued with
understanding and free will. God speaketh here in the plural number, to
insinuate the plurality of persons in the Deity.
1:27. And God created man to his own image: to the image of God he
created him: male and female he created them.
1:28. And God blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the
earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fishes of the sea, and the
fowls of the air, and all living creatures that move upon the earth.
Increase and multiply. . .This is not a precept, as some Protestant
controvertists would have it, but a blessing, rendering them fruitful;
for God had said the same words to the fishes, and birds, (ver. 22) who
were incapable of receiving a precept.
1:29. And God said: Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed
upon the earth, and all trees that have in themselves seed of their own
kind, to be your meat:
1:30. And to all beasts of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and
to all that move upon the earth, and wherein there is life, that they
may have to feed upon. And it was so done.
1:31. And God saw all the things that he had made, and they were very
good. And the evening and morning were the sixth day.
Genesis Chapter 2
God resteth on the seventh day and blesseth it. The earthly paradise,
in which God placeth man. He commandeth him not to eat of the tree of
knowledge. And formeth a woman of his rib.
2:1. So the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the furniture
of them.
2:2. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made: and
he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done.
He rested, etc. . .That is, he ceased to make or create any new kinds of
things. Though, as our Lord tells us, John 5.17, "He still worketh",
viz., by conserving and governing all things, and creating souls.
2:3. And he blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because in it
he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
2:4. These are the generations of the heaven and the earth, when they
were created, in the day that the Lord God made the heaven and the
earth:
2:5. And every plant of the field before it sprung up in the earth, and
every herb of the ground before it grew: for the Lord God had not
rained upon the earth; and there was not a man to till the earth.
2:6. But a spring rose out of the earth, watering all the surface of
the earth.
2:7. And the Lord God formed man of the slime of the earth: and
breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living
soul.
2:8. And the Lord God had planted a paradise of pleasure from the
beginning: wherein he placed man whom he had formed.
2:9. And the Lord God brought forth of the ground all manner of trees,
fair to behold, and pleasant to eat of: the tree of life also in the
midst of paradise: and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
The tree of life. . .So called because it had that quality, that by
eating of the fruit of it, man would have been preserved in a constant
state of health, vigour, and strength, and would not have died at all.
The tree of knowledge. . .To which the deceitful serpent falsely
attributed the power of imparting a superior kind of knowledge, beyond
that which God was pleased to give.
2:10. And a river went out of the place of pleasure to water paradise,
which from thence is divided into four heads.
2:11. The name of the one is Phison: that is it which compasseth all
the land of Hevilath, where gold groweth.
2:12. And the gold of that land is very good: there is found bdellium,
and the onyx stone.
2:13. And the name of the second river is Gehon: the same is it that
compasseth all the land of Ethiopia.
2:14. And the name of the third river is Tigris: the same passeth along
by the Assyrians. And the fourth river is Euphrates.
2:15. And the Lord God took man, and put him into the paradise of
pleasure, to dress it, and to keep it.
2:16. And he commanded him, saying: Of every tree of paradise thou
shalt eat:
2:17. But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not
eat. For in what day soever thou shalt eat of it, thou shalt die the
death.
2:18. And the Lord God said: It is not good for man to be alone: let us
make him a help like unto himself.
2:19. And the Lord God having formed out of the ground all the beasts
of the earth, and all the fowls of the air, brought them to Adam to see
what he would call them: for whatsoever Adam called any living creature
the same is its name.
2:20. And Adam called all the beasts by their names, and all the fowls
of the air, and all the cattle of the field: but for Adam there was not
found a helper like himself.
2:21. Then the Lord God cast a deep sleep upon Adam: and when he was
fast asleep, he took one of his ribs, and filled up flesh for it.
2:22. And the Lord God built the rib which he took from Adam into a
woman: and brought her to Adam.
2:23. And Adam said: This now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my
flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man.
2:24. Wherefore a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave
to his wife: and they shall be two in one flesh.
2:25. And they were both naked: to wit, Adam and his wife: and were not
ashamed.
Genesis Chapter 3
The serpent's craft. The fall of our first parents. Their punishment.
The promise of a Redeemer.
3:1. Now the serpent was more subtle than any of the beasts of the
earth which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman: Why hath
God commanded you, that you should not eat of every tree of paradise?
3:2. And the woman answered him, saying: Of the fruit of the trees that
are in paradise we do eat:
3:3. But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of paradise,
God hath commanded us that we should not eat; and that we should not
touch it, lest perhaps we die.
3:4. And the serpent said to the woman: No, you shall not die the
death.
3:5. For God doth know that in what day soever you shall eat thereof,
your eyes shall be opened: and you shall be as Gods, knowing good and
evil.
3:6. And the woman saw that the tree was good to eat, and fair to the
eyes, and delightful to behold: and she took of the fruit thereof, and
did eat, and gave to her husband, who did eat.
3:7. And the eyes of them both were opened: and when they perceived
themselves to be naked, they sewed together fig leaves, and made
themselves aprons.
And the eyes, etc. . .Not that they were blind before, (for the woman
saw that the tree was fair to the eyes, ver. 6.) nor yet that their
eyes were opened to any more perfect knowledge of good; but only to the
unhappy experience of having lost the good of original grace and
innocence, and incurred the dreadful evil of sin. From whence followed
a shame of their being naked; which they minded not before; because
being now stript of original grace, they quickly began to be subject to
the shameful rebellions of the flesh.
3:8. And when they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in paradise
at the afternoon air, Adam and his wife hid themselves from the face of
the Lord God, amidst the trees of paradise.
3:9. And the Lord God called Adam, and said to him: Where art thou?
3:10. And he said: I heard thy voice in paradise; and I was afraid,
because I was naked, and I hid myself.
3:11. And he said to him: And who hath told thee that thou wast naked,
but that thou hast eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou
shouldst not eat?
3:12. And Adam said: The woman, whom thou gavest me to be my companion,
gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
3:13. And the Lord God said to the woman: Why hast thou done this? And
she answered: The serpent deceived me, and I did eat.
3:14. And the Lord God said to the serpent: Because thou hast done this
thing, thou art cursed among all cattle, and beasts of the earth: upon
thy breast shalt thou go, and earth shalt thou eat all the days of thy
life.
3:15. I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and
her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her
heel.
She shall crush. . .Ipsa, the woman; so divers of the fathers read this
place, conformably to the Latin: others read it ipsum, viz., the seed.
The sense is the same: for it is by her seed, Jesus Christ, that the
woman crushes the serpent's head.
3:16. To the woman also he said: I will multiply thy sorrows, and thy
conceptions: in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children, and thou shalt
be under thy husband's power, and he shall have dominion over thee.
3:17. And to Adam he said: Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of
thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee, that
thou shouldst not eat, cursed is the earth in thy work: with labour and
toil shalt thou eat thereof all the days of thy life.
3:18. Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt
eat the herbs of the earth.
3:19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return to
the earth out of which thou wast taken: for dust thou art, and into
dust thou shalt return.
3:20. And Adam called the name of his wife Eve: because she was the
mother of all the living.
3:21. And the Lord God made for Adam and his wife garments of skins,
and clothed them.
3:22. And he said: Behold Adam is become as one of us, knowing good and
evil: now therefore lest perhaps he put forth his hand and take also of
the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.
Behold Adam, etc. . .This was spoken by way of reproaching him with his
pride, in affecting a knowledge that might make him like to God.
3:23. And the Lord God sent him out of the paradise of pleasure, to
till the earth from which he was taken.
3:24. And he cast out Adam: and placed before the paradise of pleasure
Cherubims, and a flaming sword, turning every way, to keep the way of
the tree of life.
Genesis Chapter 4
The history of Cain and Abel.
4:1. And Adam knew Eve his wife; who conceived and brought forth Cain,
saying: I have gotten a man through God.
4:2. And again she brought forth his brother Abel. And Abel was a
shepherd, and Cain a husbandman.
4:3. And it came to pass after many days, that Cain offered, of the
fruits of the earth, gifts to the Lord.
4:4. Abel also offered of the firstlings of his flock, and of their
fat: and the Lord had respect to Abel, and to his offerings.
Had respect. . .That is, shewed his acceptance of his sacrifice (as
coming from a heart full of devotion): and that, as we may suppose, by
some visible token, such as sending fire from heaven upon his
offerings.
4:5. But to Cain and his offerings he had no respect: and Cain was
exceeding angry, and his countenance fell.
4:6. And the Lord said to him: Why art thou angry? and why is thy
countenance fallen?
4:7. If thou do well, shalt thou not receive? but if ill, shall not sin
forthwith be present at the door? but the lust thereof shall be under
thee, and thou shalt have dominion over it.
4:8. And Cain said to Abel his brother: Let us go forth abroad. And
when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and
slew him.
4:9. And the Lord said to Cain: Where is thy brother Abel? And he
answered: I know not: am I my brother's keeper?
4:10. And he said to him: What hast thou done? the voice of thy
brother's blood crieth to me from the earth.
4:11. Now therefore cursed shalt thou be upon the earth, which hath
opened her mouth and received the blood of thy brother at thy hand.
4:12. When thou shalt till it, it shall not yield to thee its fruit: a
fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be upon the earth.
4:13. And Cain said to the Lord: My iniquity is greater than that I may
deserve pardon.
4:14. Behold thou dost cast me out this day from the face of the earth,
and from thy face I shall be hid, and I shall be a vagabond and a
fugitive on the earth: every one therefore that findeth me, shall kill
me.
Every one that findeth me shall kill me. . .His guilty conscience made
him fear his own brothers and nephews; of whom, by this time, there
might be a good number upon the earth; which had now endured near 130
years; as may be gathered from Gen. 5.3, compared with chap. 4.25,
though in the compendious account given in the scriptures, only Cain
and Abel are mentioned.
4:15. And the Lord said to him: No, it shall not so be: but whosoever
shall kill Cain, shall be punished sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark
upon Cain, that whosoever found him should not kill him.
Set a mark, etc. . .The more common opinion of the interpreters of holy
writ supposes this mark to have been a trembling of the body; or a
horror and consternation in his countenance.
4:16. And Cain went out from the face of the Lord, and dwelt as a
fugitive on the earth at the east side of Eden.
4:17. And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived, and brought forth
Henoch: and he built a city, and called the name thereof by the name of
his son Henoch.
His wife. . .She was a daughter of Adam, and Cain's own sister; God
dispensing with such marriages in the beginning of the world, as
mankind could not otherwise be propagated. He built a city, viz. . .In
process of time, when his race was multiplied, so as to be numerous
enough to people it. For in the many hundred years he lived, his race
might be multiplied even to millions.
4:18. And Henoch begot Irad, and Irad begot Maviael, and Maviael begot
Mathusael, and Mathusael begot Lamech,
4:19. Who took two wives: the name of the one was Ada, and the name of
the other Sella.
4:20. And Ada brought forth Jabel: who was the father of such as dwell
in tents, and of herdsmen.
4:21. And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of them that
play upon the harp and the organs.
4:22. Sella also brought forth Tubalcain, who was a hammerer and
artificer in every work of brass and iron. And the sister of Tubalcain
was Noema.
4:23. And Lamech said to his wives Ada and Sella: Hear my voice, ye
wives of Lamech, hearken to my speech: for I have slain a man to the
wounding of myself, and a stripling to my own bruising.
I have slain a man, etc. . .It is the tradition of the Hebrews, that
Lamech in hunting slew Cain, mistaking him for a wild beast; and that
having discovered what he had done, he beat so unmercifully the youth,
by whom he was led into that mistake, that he died of the blows.
4:24. Sevenfold vengeance shall be taken for Cain: but for Lamech
seventy times sevenfold.
4:25. Adam also knew his wife again: and she brought forth a son, and
called his name Seth, saying: God hath given me another seed for Abel,
whom Cain slew.
4:26. But to Seth also was born a son, whom he called Enos: this man
began to call upon the name of the Lord.
Began to call upon, etc. . .Not that Adam and Seth had not called upon
God, before the birth of Enos; but that Enos used more solemnity in the
worship and invocation of God.
Genesis Chapter 5
The genealogy, age, and death of the Patriarchs, from Adam to Noe. The
translation of Henoch.
5:1. This is the book of the generation of Adam. In the day that God
created man, he made him to the likeness of God.
5:2. He created them male and female; and blessed them: and called
their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
5:3. And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begot a son to his
own image and likeness, and called his name Seth.
5:4. And the days of Adam, after he begot Seth, were eight hundred
years: and he begot sons and daughters.
5:5. And all the time that Adam lived, came to nine hundred and thirty
years, and he died.
5:6. Seth also lived a hundred and five years, and begot Enos.
5:7. And Seth lived after he begot Enos, eight hundred and seven years,
and begot sons and daughters.
5:8. And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years, and
he died.
5:9. And Enos lived ninety years, and begot Cainan.
5:10. After whose birth he lived eight hundred and fifteen years, and
begot sons and daughters.
5:11. And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years, and he
died.
5:12. And Cainan lived seventy years, and begot Malaleel.
5:13. And Cainan lived after he begot Malaleel, eight hundred and forty
years, and begot sons and daughters.
5:14. And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years, and
he died.
5:15. And Malaleel lived sixty-five years and begot Jared.
5:16. And Malaleel lived after he begot Jared, eight hundred and thirty
years, and begot sons and daughters.
5:17. And all the days of Malaleel were eight hundred and ninety-five
years, and he died.
5:18. And Jared lived a hundred and sixty-two years, and begot Henoch.
5:19. And Jared lived after he begot Henoch, eight hundred years, and
begot sons and daughters.
5:20. And all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years,
and he died.
5:21. And Henoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Mathusala.
5:22. And Henoch walked with God: and lived after he begot Mathusala,
three hundred years, and begot sons and daughters.
5:23. And all the days of Henoch were three hundred and sixty-five
years.
5:24. And he walked with God, and was seen no more: because God took
him.
5:25. And Mathusala lived a hundred and eighty-seven years, and begot
Lamech.
5:26. And Mathlusala lived after he begot Lamech, seven hundred and
eighty-two years, and begot sons and daughters.
5:27. And all the days of Mathusala were nine hundred and sixty-nine
years, and he died.
5:28. And Lamech lived a hundred and eighty-two years, and begot a son.
5:29. And he called his name Noe, saying: This same shall comfort us
from the works and labours of our hands on the earth, which the Lord
hath cursed.
5:30. And Lamech lived after he begot Noe, five hundred and ninety-five
years, and begot sons and daughters.
5:31. And all the days of Lamech came to seven hundred and
seventy-seven years, and he died. And Noe, when he was five hundred
years old, begot Sem, Cham, and Japheth.
Genesis Chapter 6
Man's sin is the cause of the deluge. Noe is commanded to build the
ark.
6:1. And after that men began to be multiplied upon the earth, and
daughters were born to them,
6:2. The sons of God seeing the daughters of men, that they were fair,
took to themselves wives of all which they chose.
The sons of God. . .The descendants of Seth and Enos are here called
sons of God from their religion and piety: whereas the ungodly race of
Cain, who by their carnal affections lay grovelling upon the earth, are
called the children of men. The unhappy consequence of the former
marrying with the latter, ought to be a warning to Christians to be
very circumspect in their marriages; and not to suffer themselves to be
determined in their choice by their carnal passion, to the prejudice of
virtue or religion.
6:3. And God said: My spirit shall not remain in man for ever, because
he is flesh, and his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.
His days shall be, etc. . .The meaning is, that man's days, which before
the flood were usually 900 years, should now be reduced to 120 years.
Or rather, that God would allow men this term of 120 years, for their
repentance and conversion, before he would send the deluge.
6:4. Now giants were upon the earth in those days. For after the sons
of God went in to the daughters of men, and they brought forth
children, these are the mighty men of old, men of renown.
Giants. . .It is likely the generality of men before the flood were of a
gigantic stature in comparison with what men now are. But these here
spoken of are called giants, as being not only tall in stature, but
violent and savage in their dispositions, and mere monsters of cruelty
and lust.
6:5. And God seeing that the wickedness of men was great on the earth,
and that all the thought of their heart was bent upon evil at all
times,
6:6. It repented him that he had made man on the earth. And being
touched inwardly with sorrow of heart,
It repented him, etc. . .God, who is unchangeable, is not capable of
repentance, grief, or any other passion. But these expressions are used
to declare the enormity of the sins of men, which was so provoking as
to determine their Creator to destroy these his creatures, whom before
he had so much favoured.
6:7. He said: I will destroy man, whom I have created, from the face of
the earth, from man even to beasts, from the creeping thing even to the
fowls of the air, for it repenteth me that I have made them.
6:8. But Noe found grace before the Lord.
6:9. These are the generations of Noe: Noe was a just and perfect man
in his generations, he walked with God.
6:10. And he begot three sons, Sem, Cham, and Japheth.
6:11. And the earth was corrupted before God, and was filled with
iniquity.
6:12. And when God had seen that the earth was corrupted (for all flesh
had corrupted its way upon the earth),
6:13. He said to Noe: The end of all flesh is come before me, the earth
is filled with iniquity through them, and I will destroy them with the
earth.
6:14. Make thee an ark of timber planks: thou shalt make little rooms
in the ark, and thou shalt pitch it within and without.
6:15. And thus shalt thou make it. The length of the ark shall be three
hundred cubits: the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it
thirty cubits.
Three hundred cubits, etc. . .The ark, according to the dimensions here
set down, contained four hundred and fifty thousand square cubits;
which was more than enough to contain all the kinds of living
creatures, with all necessary provisions: even supposing the cubits
here spoken of to have been only a foot and a half each, which was the
least kind of cubits.
6:16. Thou shalt make a window in the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou
finish the top of it: and the door of the ark thou shalt set in the
side: with lower, middle chambers, and third stories shalt thou make
it.
6:17. Behold, I will bring the waters of a great flood upon the earth,
to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life under heaven. All
things that are in the earth shall be consumed.
6:18. And I will establish my covenant with thee, and thou shalt enter
into the ark, thou and thy sons, and thy wife, and the wives of thy
sons with thee.
6:19. And of every living creature of all flesh, thou shalt bring two
of a sort into the ark, that they may live with thee: of the male sex,
and the female.
6:20. Of fowls according to their kind, and of beasts in their kind,
and of every thing that creepeth on the earth according to its kind:
two of every sort shall go in with thee, that they may live.
6:21. Thou shalt take unto thee of all food that may be eaten, and thou
shalt lay it up with thee: and it shall be food for thee and them.
6:22. And Noe did all things which God commanded him.
Genesis Chapter 7
Noe with his family go into the ark. The deluge overflows the earth.
7:1. And the Lord said to him: Go in, thou and all thy house, into the
ark: for thee I have seen just before me in this generation.
7:2. Of all clean beasts take seven and seven, the male and the female.
Of all clean. . .The distinction of clean and unclean beasts appears to
have been made before the law of Moses, which was not promulgated till
the year of the world 2514.
7:3. But of the beasts that are unclean two and two, the male and the
female. Of the fowls also of the air seven and seven, the male and the
female: that seed may be saved upon the face of the whole earth.
7:4. For yet a while, and after seven days, I will rain upon the earth
forty days and forty nights: and I will destroy every substance that I
have made, from the face of the earth.
7:5. And Noe did all things which the Lord had commanded him.
7:6. And he was six hundred years old, when the waters of the flood
overflowed the earth.
7:7. And Noe went in and his sons, his wife and the wives of his sons
with him into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.
7:8. And of beasts clean and unclean, and of fowls, and of every thing
that moveth upon the earth,
7:9. Two and two went in to Noe into the ark, male and female, as the
Lord had commanded Noe.
7:10. And after the seven days were passed, the waters of the flood
overflowed the earth.
7:11. In the six hundredth year of the life of Noe, in the second
month, in the seventeenth day of the month, all the fountains of the
great deep were broken up, and the floodgates of heaven were opened:
7:12. And the rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
7:13. In the selfsame day Noe, and Sem, and Cham, and Japheth, his
sons: his wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, went into
the ark.
7:14. They and every beast according to its kind, and all the cattle in
their kind, and every thing that moveth upon the earth, according to
its kind, and every fowl according to its kind, all birds, and all that
fly,
7:15. Went in to Noe into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein
was the breath of life.
7:16. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as
God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in on the outside.
7:17. And the flood was forty days upon the earth: and the waters
increased, and lifted up the ark on high from the earth.
7:18. For they overflowed exceedingly: and filled all on the face of
the earth: and the ark was carried upon the waters.
7:19. And the waters prevailed beyond measure upon the earth: and all
the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered.
7:20. The water was fifteen cubits higher than the mountains which it
covered.
7:21. And all flesh was destroyed that moved upon the earth, both of
fowl and of cattle, and of beasts, and of all creeping things that
creep upon the earth: and all men.
7:22. And all things wherein there is the breath of life on the earth,
died.
7:23. And he destroyed all the substance that was upon the earth, from
man even to beast, and the creeping things and fowls of the air: and
they were destroyed from the earth: and Noe only remained, and they
that were with him in the ark.
7:24. And the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days.
Genesis Chapter 8
The deluge ceaseth. Noe goeth out of the ark, and offereth a sacrifice.
God's covenant to him.
8:1. And God remembered Noe, and all the living creatures, and all the
cattle which were with him in the ark, and brought a wind upon the
earth, and the waters were abated:
8:2. The fountains also of the deep, and the floodgates of heaven, were
shut up, and the rain from heaven was restrained.
8:3. And the waters returned from off the earth going and coming: and
they began to be abated after a hundred and fifty days.
8:4. And the ark rested in the seventh month, the seven and twentieth
day of the month, upon the mountains of Armenia.
8:5. And the waters were going and decreasing until the tenth month:
for in the tenth month, the first day of the month, the tops of the
mountains appeared.
8:6. And after that forty days were passed, Noe opening the window of
the ark, which he had made, sent forth a raven:
8:7. Which went forth and did not return, till the waters were dried up
upon the earth.
Did not return. . .The raven did not return into the ark; but (as it may
be gathered from the Hebrew) went to and fro; sometimes going to the
mountains, where it found carcasses to feed on: and other times
returning, to rest upon the top of the ark.
8:8. He sent forth also a dove after him, to see if the waters had now
ceased upon the face of the earth.
8:9. But she not finding where her foot might rest, returned to him
into the ark: for the waters were upon the whole earth: and he put
forth his hand, and caught her, and brought her into the ark.
8:10. And having waited yet seven other days, he again sent forth the
dove out of the ark.
8:11. And she came to him in the evening carrying a bough of an olive
tree, with green leaves, in her mouth. Noe therefore understood that
the waters were ceased upon the earth.
8:12. And he stayed yet other seven days: and he sent forth the dove,
which returned not any more unto him.
8:13. Therefore in the six hundredth and first year, the first month,
the first day of the month, the waters were lessened upon the earth,
and Noe opening the covering of the ark, looked, and saw that the face
of the earth was dried.
8:14. In the second month, the seven and twentieth day of the month,
the earth was dried.
8:15. And God spoke to Noe, saying:
8:16. Go out of the ark, thou and thy wife, thy sons and the wives of
thy sons with thee.
8:17. All living things that are with thee of all flesh, as well in
fowls as in beasts, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth,
bring out with thee, and go ye upon the earth: increase and multiply
upon it.
8:18. So Noe went out, he and his sons: his wife, and the wives of his
sons with him.
8:19. And all living things, and cattle, and creeping things that creep
upon the earth, according to their kinds went out of the ark.
8:20. And Noe built an altar unto the Lord: and taking of all cattle
and fowls that were clean, offered holocausts upon the altar.
Holocausts,. . .or whole burnt offerings. In which the whole victim was
consumed by fire upon God's altar, and no part was reserved for the use
of priest or people.
8:21. And the Lord smelled a sweet savour, and said: I will no more
curse the earth for the sake of man: for the imagination and thought of
man's heart are prone to evil from his youth: therefore I will no more
destroy every living soul as I have done.
Smelled, etc. . .A figurative expression, denoting that God was well
pleased with the sacrifices which his servant offered.
8:22. All the days of the earth, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat,
summer and winter, night and day, shall not cease.
Genesis Chapter 9
God blesseth Noe: forbiddeth blood, and promiseth never more to destroy
the world by water. The blessing of Sem and Japheth.
9:1. And God blessed Noe and his sons. And he said to them: Increase,
and multiply, and fill the earth.
9:2. And let the fear and dread of you be upon all the beasts of the
earth, and upon all the fowls of the air, and all that move upon the
earth: all the fishes of the sea are delivered into your hand.
9:3. And every thing that moveth, and liveth shall be meat for you:
even as the green herbs have I delivered them all to you:
9:4. Saving that flesh with blood you shall not eat.
9:5. For I will require the blood of your lives at the hand of every
beast, and at the hand of man, at the hand of every man, and of his
brother, will I require the life of man.
9:6. Whosoever shall shed man's blood, his blood shall be shed: for man
was made to the image of God.
9:7. But increase you and multiply, and go upon the earth and fill it.
9:8. Thus also said God to Noe, and to his sons with him:
9:9. Behold I will establish my covenant with you, and with your seed
after you:
9:10. And with every living soul that is with you, as well in all
birds, as in cattle and beasts of the earth, that are come forth out of
the ark, and in all the beasts of the earth.
9:11. I will establish my covenant with you, and all flesh shall be no
more destroyed with the waters of a flood, neither shall there be from
henceforth a flood to waste the earth.
9:12. And God said: This is the sign of the covenant which I give
between me and you, and to every living soul that is with you, for
perpetual generations.
9:13. I will set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be the sign of a
covenant between me and between the earth.
9:14. And when I shall cover the sky with clouds, my bow shall appear
in the clouds:
9:15. And I will remember my covenant with you, and with every living
soul that beareth flesh: and there shall no more be waters of a flood
to destroy all flesh.
9:16. And the bow shall be in the clouds, and I shall see it, and shall
remember the everlasting covenant, that was made between God and every
living soul of all flesh which is upon the earth.
9:17. And God said to Noe: This shall be the sign of the covenant,
which I have established, between me and all flesh upon the earth.
9:18. And the sons of Noe, who came out of the ark, were Sem, Cham, and
Japheth: and Cham is the father of Chanaan.
9:19. These three are the sons of Noe: and from these was all mankind
spread over the whole earth.
9:20. And Noe a husbandman began to till the ground, and planted a
vineyard.
9:21. And drinking of the wine was made drunk, and was uncovered in his
tent.
Drunk. . .Noe by the judgment of the fathers was not guilty of sin, in
being overcome by wine: because he knew not the strength of it.
9:22. Which when Cham the father of Chanaan had seen, to wit, that his
father's nakedness was uncovered, he told it to his two brethren
without.
9:23. But Sem and Japheth put a cloak upon their shoulders, and going
backward, covered the nakedness of their father: and their faces were
turned away, and they saw not their father's nakedness.
Covered the nakedness. . .Thus, as St. Gregory takes notice L. 35;
Moral. c. 22, we ought to cover the nakedness, that is, the sins, of
our spiritual parents and superiors.
9:24. And Noe awaking from the wine, when he had learned what his
younger son had done to him,
9:25. He said: Cursed be Chanaan, a servant of servants shall he be
unto his brethren.
Cursed be Chanaan. . .The curses, as well as the blessings, of the
patriarchs, were prophetical: And this in particular is here recorded
by Moses, for the children of Israel, who were to possess the land of
Chanaan. But why should Chanaan be cursed for his father's faults? The
Hebrews answer, that he being then a boy, was the first that saw his
grandfather's nakedness, and told his father Cham of it; and joined
with him in laughing at it: which drew upon him, rather than upon the
rest of the children of Cham, this prophetical curse.
9:26. And he said: Blessed be the Lord God of Sem, be Chanaan his
servant.
9:27. May God enlarge Japheth, and may he dwell in the tents of Sem,
and Chanaan be his servant.
9:28. And Noe lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.
9:29. And all his days were in the whole nine hundred and fifty years:
and he died.
Genesis Chapter 10
The genealogy of the children of Noe, by whom the world was peopled
after the flood.
10:1. These are the generations of the sons of Noe: Sem, Cham, and
Japheth: and unto them sons were born after the flood.
10:2. The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and
Thubal, and Mosoch, and Thiras.
10:3. And the sons of Gomer: Ascenez and Riphath and Thogorma.
10:4. And the sons of Javan: Elisa and Tharsis, Cetthim and Dodanim.
10:5. By these were divided the islands of the Gentiles in their lands,
every one according to his tongue and their families in their nations.
The islands. . .So the Hebrews called all the remote countries, to which
they went by ships from Judea, to Greece, Italy, Spain, etc.
10:6. And the Sons of Cham: Chus, and Mesram, and Phuth, and Chanaan.
10:7. And the sons of Chus: Saba, and Hevila, and Sabatha, and Regma,
and Sabatacha. The sons of Regma: Saba, and Dadan.
10:8. Now Chus begot Nemrod: he began to be mighty on the earth.
10:9. And he was a stout hunter before the Lord. Hence came a proverb:
Even as Nemrod the stout hunter before the Lord.
A stout hunter. . .Not of beasts but of men: whom by violence and
tyranny he brought under his dominion. And such he was, not only in the
opinion of men, but before the Lord, that is, in his sight who cannot
be deceived.
10:10. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babylon, and Arach, and
Achad, and Chalanne in the land of Sennaar.
10:11. Out of that land came forth Assur, and built Ninive, and the
streets of the city, and Chale.
10:12. Resen also between Ninive and Chale: this is the great city.
10:13. And Mesraim begot Ludim, and Anamim and Laabim, Nephthuim.
10:14. And Phetrusim, and Chasluim; of whom came forth the Philistines,
and the Capthorim.
10:15. And Chanaan begot Sidon his firstborn, the Hethite,
10:16. And the Jebusite, and the Amorrhite, and the Gergesite.
10:17. The Hevite and Aracite: the Sinite,
10:18. And the Aradian, the Samarite, and the Hamathite: and afterwards
the families of the Chanaanites were spread abroad.
10:19. And the limits of Chanaan were from Sidon as one comes to Gerara
even to Gaza, until thou enter Sodom and Gomorrha, and Adama, and
Seboim even to Lesa.
10:20. These are the children of Cham in their kindreds and tongues,
and generations, and lands, and nations.
10:21. Of Sem also the father of all the children of Heber, the elder
brother of Japheth, sons were born.
10:22. The sons of Sem: Elam and Assur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and
Aram.
10:23. The sons of Aram: Us, and Hull, and Gether; and Mes.
10:24. But Arphaxad begot Sale, of whom was born Heber.
10:25. And to Heber were born two sons: the name of the one was Phaleg,
because in his days was the earth divided: and his brother's name
Jectan.
10:26. Which Jectan begot Elmodad, and Saleph, and Asarmoth, Jare,
10:27. And Aduram, and Uzal, and Decla,
10:28. And Ebal, and Abimael, Saba,
10:29. And Ophir, and Hevila, and Jobab. All these were the sons of
Jectan.
10:30. And their dwelling was from Messa as we go on as far as Sephar,
a mountain in the east.
10:31. These are the children of Sem according to their kindreds and
tongues, and countries in their nations.
10:32. These are the families of Noe, according to their people and
nations. By these were the nations divided on the earth after the
flood.
Genesis Chapter 11
The tower of Babel. The confusion of tongues. The genealogy of Sem down
to Abram.
11:1. And the earth was of one tongue, and of the same speech.
11:2. And when they removed from the east, they found a plain in the
land of Sennaar, and dwelt in it.
11:3. And each one said to his neighbour: Come let us make brick, and
bake them with fire. And they had brick instead of stones, and slime
instead of mortar:
11:4. And they said: Come, let us make a city and a tower, the top
whereof may reach to heaven; and let us make our name famous before we
be scattered abroad into all lands.
11:5. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the
children of Adam were building.
11:6. And he said: Behold, it is one people, and all have one tongue:
and they have begun to do this, neither will they leave off from their
designs, till they accomplish them in deed.
11:7. Come ye, therefore, let us go down, and there confound their
tongue, that they may not understand one another's speech.
11:8. And so the Lord scattered them from that place into all lands,
and they ceased to build the city.
11:9. And therefore the name thereof was called Babel, because there
the language of the whole earth was confounded: and from thence the
Lord scattered them abroad upon the face of all countries.
Babel. . .That is, confusion.
11:10. These are the generations of Sem: Sem was a hundred years old
when he begot Arphaxad, two years after the flood.
11:11. And Sem lived after he begot Arphaxad, five hundred years, and
begot sons and daughters.
11:12. And Arphaxad lived thirty-five years, and begot Sale.
11:13. And Arphaxad lived after he begot Sale, three hundred and three
years, and begot sons and daughters.
11:14. Sale also lived thirty years, and begot Heber.
11:15. And Sale lived after he begot Heber, four hundred and three
years: and begot sons and daughters.
11:16. And Heber lived thirty-four years, and begot Phaleg.
11:17. And Heber lived after he begot Phaleg, four hundred and thirty
years: and begot sons and daughters.
11:18. Phaleg also lived thirty years, and begot Reu.
11:19. And Phaleg lived after he begot Reu, two hundred and nine years,
and begot sons and daughters.
11:20. And Reu lived thirty-two years, and begot Sarug.
11:21. And Reu lived after he begot Sarug, two hundred and seven years,
and begot sons and daughters.
11:22. And Sarug lived thirty years, and begot Nachor.
11:23. And Sarug lived after he begot Nachor, two hundred years, and
begot sons and daughters.
11:24. And Nachor lived nine and twenty years, and begot Thare.
11:25. And Nachor lived after he begot Thare, a hundred and nineteen
years, and begot sons and daughters.
11:26. And Thare lived seventy years, and begot Abram, and Nachor, and
Aran.
11:27. And these are the generations of Thare: Thare begot Abram,
Nachor, and Aran. And Aran begot Lot.
11:28. And Aran died before Thare his father, in the land of his
nativity in Ur of the Chaldees.
11:29. And Abram and Nachor married wives: the name of Abram's wife was
Sarai: and the name of Nachor's wife, Melcha, the daughter of Aran,
father of Melcha and father of Jescha.
11:30. And Sarai was barren, and had no children.
11:31. And Thare took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Aran, his son's
son, and Sarai his daughter in law, the wife of Abram his son, and
brought them out of Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Chanaan:
and they came as far as Haran, and dwelt there.
11:32. And the days of Thare were two hundred and five years, and he
died in Haran.
Genesis Chapter 12
The call of Abram, and the promise made to him. He sojourneth in
Chanaan, and then by occasion of a famine, goeth down to Egypt.
12:1. And the Lord said to Abram: Go forth out of thy country, and from
thy kindred, and out of thy father's house, and come into the land
which I shall shew thee.
12:2. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee,
and magnify thy name, and thou shalt be blessed.
12:3. I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse
thee, and IN THEE shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
12:4. So Abram went out as the Lord had commanded him, and Lot went
with him: Abram was seventy-five years old when he went forth from
Haran.
12:5. And he took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all
the substance which they had gathered, and the souls which they had
gotten in Haran: and they went out to go into the land of Chanaan. And
when they were come into it,
12:6. Abram passed through the country unto the place of Sichem, as far
as the noble vale: now the Chanaanite was at that time in the land.
12:7. And the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him: To thy seed will
I give this land. And he built there an altar to the Lord, who had
appeared to him.
12:8. And passing on from thence to a mountain, that was on the east
side of Bethel, he there pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west,
and Hai on the east: he built there also an altar to the Lord, and
called upon his name.
12:9. And Abram went forward, going and proceeding on to the south.
12:10. And there came a famine in the country: and Abram went down into
Egypt, to sojourn there: for the famine was very grievous in the land.
12:11. And when he was near to enter into Egypt, he said to Sarai his
wife: I know that thou art a beautiful woman:
12:12. And that when the Egyptians shall see thee, they will say: She
is his wife: and they will kill me, and keep thee.
12:13. Say, therefore, I pray thee, that thou art my sister: that I may
be well used for thee, and that my soul may live for thy sake.
My sister. . .This was no lie; because she was his niece, being daughter
to his brother Aran, and therefore, in the style of the Hebrews, she
might truly be called his sister, as Lot is called Abram's brother,
Gen. 14.14. See Gen. 20.12.
12:14. And when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians saw the woman
that she was very beautiful.
12:15. And the princes told Pharao, and praised her before him: and the
woman was taken into the house of Pharao.
12:16. And they used Abram well for her sake. And he had sheep and oxen
and he asses, and men servants, and maid servants, and she asses, and
camels.
12:17. But the Lord scourged Pharao and his house with most grievous
stripes for Sarai, Abram's wife.
12:18. And Pharao called Abram, and said to him: What is this that thou
hast done to me? Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
12:19. For what cause didst thou say, she was thy sister, that I might
take her to my wife? Now therefore there is thy wife, take her, and go
thy way.
12:20. And Pharao gave his men orders concerning Abram: and they led
him away and his wife, and all that he had.
Genesis Chapter 13
Abram and Lot part from each other. God's promise to Abram.
13:1. And Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he
had, and Lot with him into the south.
13:2. And he was very rich in possession of gold and silver.
13:3. And he returned by the way, that he came, from the south to
Bethel, to the place where before he had pitched his tent between
Bethel and Hai,
13:4. In the place of the altar which he had made before, and there he
called upon the name of the Lord.
13:5. But Lot also, who was with Abram, had flocks of sheep, and herds
of beasts, and tents.
13:6. Neither was the land able to bear them, that they might dwell
together: for their substance was great, and they could not dwell
together.
13:7. Whereupon also there arose a strife between the herdsmen of Abram
and of Lot. And at that time the Chanaanite and the Pherezite dwelled
in that country.
13:8. Abram therefore said to Lot: Let there be no quarrel, I beseech
thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen:
for we are brethren.
13:9. Behold the whole land is before thee: depart from me, I pray
thee: if thou wilt go to the left hand, I will take the right: if thou
choose the right hand, I will pass to the left.
13:10. And Lot lifting up his eyes, saw all the country about the
Jordan, which was watered throughout, before the Lord destroyed Sodom
and Gomorrha, as the paradise of the Lord, and like Egypt as one comes
to Segor.
13:11. And Lot chose to himself the country about the Jordan, and he
departed from the east: and they were separated one brother from the
other.
13:12. Abram dwelt in the land of Chanaan: and Lot abode in the towns,
that were about the Jordan, and dwelt in Sodom.
13:13. And the men of Sodom were very wicked, and sinners before the
face of the Lord beyond measure.
13:14. And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him:
Lift up thy eyes, and look from the place wherein thou now art, to the
north and to the south, to the east and to the west.
13:15. All the land which thou seest, I will give to thee, and to thy
seed for ever.
13:16. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: if any man be
able to number the dust of the earth, he shall be able to number thy
seed also.
13:17. Arise and walk through the land in the length, and the breadth
thereof: for I will give it to thee.
13:18. So Abram removing his tent, came, and dwelt by the vale of
Mambre, which is in Hebron: and he built there an altar to the Lord.
Genesis Chapter 14
The expedition of the four kings; the victory of Abram; he is blessed
by Melchisedech.
14:1. And it came to pass at that time, that Amraphel, king of Sennaar,
and Arioch, king of Pontus, and Chodorlahomor, king of the Elamites,
and Thadal, king of nations,
14:2. Made war against Bara, king of Sodom, and against Bersa, king of
Gomorrha, and against Sennaab, king of Adama, and against Semeber, king
of Seboim, and against the king of Bala, which is Segor.
14:3. All these came together into the woodland vale, which now is the
salt sea.
14:4. For they had served Chodorlahomor twelve years, and in the
thirteenth year they revolted from him.
14:5. And in the fourteenth year came Chodorlahomor, and the kings that
were with him: and they smote the Raphaim in Astarothcarnaim, and the
Zuzim with them, and the Emim in Save of Cariathaim.
14:6. And the Chorreans in the mountains of Seir, even to the plains of
Pharan, which is in the wilderness.
14:7. And they returned, and came to the fountain of Misphat, the same
is Cades: and they smote all the country of the Amalecites, and the
Amorrhean that dwelt in Asasonthamar.
14:8. And the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrha, and the king of
Adama, and the king of Seboim, and the king of Bala, which is Segor,
went out: and they set themselves against them in battle array, in the
woodland vale:
14:9. To wit, against Chodorlahomor king of the Elamites, and Thadal
king of nations, and Amraphel king of Sennaar, and Arioch king of
Pontus: four kings against five.
14:10. Now the woodland vale had many pits of slime. And the king of
Sodom, and the king of Gomorrha turned their backs, and were overthrown
there: and they that remained, fled to the mountain.
Of slime. Bituminis. . .This was a kind of pitch, which served for
mortar in the building of Babel, Gen. 11.3, and was used by Noe in
pitching the ark.
14:11. And they took all the substance of the Sodomites, and
Gomorrhites, and all their victuals, and went their way:
14:12. And Lot also, the son of Abram's brother, who dwelt in Sodom,
and his substance.
14:13. And behold one, that had escaped, told Abram the Hebrew, who
dwelt in the vale of Mambre the Amorrhite, the brother of Escol, and
the brother of Aner: for these had made a league with Abram.
14:14. Which when Abram had heard, to wit, that his brother Lot was
taken, he numbered of the servants born in his house, three hundred and
eighteen, well appointed: and pursued them to Dan.
14:15. And dividing his company, he rushed upon them in the night, and
defeated them: and pursued them as far as Hoba, which is on the left
hand of Damascus.
14:16. And he brought back all the substance, and Lot his brother, with
his substance, the women also, and the people.
14:17. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after he returned
from the slaughter of Chodorlahomor, and of the kings that were with
him in the vale of Save, which is the king's vale.
14:18. But Melchisedech, the king of Salem, bringing forth bread and
wine, for he was the priest of the most high God,
14:19. Blessed him, and said: Blessed be Abram by the most high God,
who created heaven and earth.
14:20. And blessed be the most high God, by whose protection, the
enemies are in thy hands. And he gave him the tithes of all.
14:21. And the king of Sodom said to Abram: Give me the persons, and
the rest take to thyself.
14:22. And he answered him: I lift up my hand to the Lord God the most
high, the possessor of heaven and earth,
14:23. That from the very woof thread unto the shoe latchet, I will not
take of any things that are thine, lest thou say: I have enriched
Abram.
14:24. Except such things as the young men have eaten, and the shares
of the men that came with me, Aner, Escol, and Mambre: these shall take
their shares.
Genesis Chapter 15
God promiseth seed to Abram. His faith, sacrifice and vision.
15:1. Now when these things were done, the word of the Lord came to
Abram by a vision, saying: Fear not, Abram, I am thy protector, and thy
reward exceeding great.
15:2. And Abram said: Lord God, what wilt thou give me? I shall go
without children: and the son of the steward of my house is this
Damascus Eliezer.
15:3. And Abram added: But to me thou hast not given seed: and lo my
servant born in my house, shall be my heir.
15:4. And immediately the word of the Lord came to him, saying : He
shall not be thy heir: but he that shall come out of thy bowels, him
shalt thou have for thy heir.
15:5. And he brought him forth abroad, and said to him: Look up to
heaven and number the stars if thou canst. And he said to him: So shall
thy seed be.
15:6. Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.
15:7. And he said to him: I am the Lord who brought thee out from Ur of
the Chaldees, to give thee this land, and that thou mightest possess
it.
15:8. But he said: Lord God, whereby may I know that I shall possess
it?
15:9. And the Lord answered, and said: Take me a cow of three years
old, and a she-goat of three years. and a ram of three years, a turtle
also, and a pigeon.
15:10. And he took all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid
the two pieces of each one against the other: but the birds he divided
not.
15:11. And the fowls came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them
away.
15:12. And when the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and
a great and darksome horror seized upon him.
15:13. And it was said unto him: Know thou beforehand that thy seed
shall be a stranger in a land not their own, and they shall bring them
under bondage, and afflict them four hundred years.
15:14. But I will judge the nation which they shall serve, and after
this they shall come out with great substance.
15:15. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace, and be buried in a
good old age.
15:16. But in the fourth generation they shall return hither: for as
yet the iniquities of the Amorrhites are not at the full until this
present time.
15:17. And when the sun was set, there arose a dark mist, and there
appeared a smoking furnace, and a lamp of fire passing between those
divisions.
15:18. That day God made a covenant with Abram, saying: To thy seed
will I give this land, from the river to Egypt even to the great river
Euphrates.
15:19. The Cineans, and Cenezites, the Cedmonites,
15:20. And the Hethites, and the Pherezites, the Raphaim also,
15:21. And the Amorrhites, and the Chanaanites, and the Gergesites, and
the Jebusites.
Genesis Chapter 16
Abram marrieth Agar, who bringeth forth Ismael.
16:1. Now Sarai, the wife of Abram, had brought forth no children: but
having a handmaid, an Egyptian, named Agar,
16:2. She said to her husband: Behold, the Lord hath restrained me from
bearing: go in unto my handmaid, it may be I may have children of her
at least. And when he agreed to her request,
16:3. She took Agar the Egyptian her handmaid, ten years after they
first dwelt in the land of Chanaan, and gave her to her husband to
wife.
To wife. . .Plurality of wives, though contrary to the primitive
institution of marriage, Gen. 2.24, was by divine dispensation allowed
to the patriarchs: which allowance seems to have continued during the
time of the law of Moses. But Christ our Lord reduced marriage to its
primitive institution. Matt. 19.
16:4. And he went in to her. But she perceiving that she was with
child, despised her mistress.
16:5. And Sarai said to Abram: Thou dost unjustly with me: I gave my
handmaid into thy bosom, and she perceiving herself to be with child,
despiseth me. The Lord judge between me and thee.
16:6. And Abram made answer, and said to her: Behold thy handmaid is in
thy own hand, use her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai afflicted
her, she ran away.
16:7. And the angel of the Lord having found her, by a fountain of
water in the wilderness, which is in the way to Sur in the desert,
16:8. He said to her: Agar, handmaid of Sarai, whence comest thou? and
whither goest thou? And she answered: I flee from the face of Sarai, my
mistress.
16:9. And the angel of the Lord said to her: Return to thy mistress,
and humble thyself under her hand.
16:10. And again he said: I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, and it
shall not be numbered for multitude.
16:11. And again: Behold, said he, thou art with child, and thou shalt
bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Ismael, because the
Lord hath heard thy affliction.
16:12. He shall be a wild man: his hand will be against all men, and
all men's hands against him: and he shall pitch his tents over against
all his brethren.
16:13. And she called the name of the Lord that spoke unto her: Thou
the God who hast seen me. For she said: Verily, here have I seen the
hinder parts of him that seeth me.
16:14. Therefore she called that well, the well of him that liveth and
seeth me. The same is between Cades and Barad.
16:15. And Agar brought forth a son to Abram: who called his name
Ismael.
16:16. Abram was four score and six years old when Agar brought him
forth Ismael.
Genesis Chapter 17
The Covenant of circumcision.
17:1. And after he began to be ninety and nine years old, the Lord
appeared to him: and said unto him: I am the Almighty God: walk before
me, and be perfect.
17:2. And I will make my covenant between me and thee: and I will
multiply thee exceedingly.
17:3. Abram fell flat on his face.
17:4. And God said to him: I am, and my covenant is with thee, and thou
shalt be a father of many nations.
17:5. Neither shall thy name be called any more Abram: but thou shalt
be called Abraham: because I have made thee a father of many nations.
Abram. . .in the Hebrew, signifies a high father: but Abraham, the
father of the multitude; Sarai signifies my Lady, but Sara absolutely
Lady.
17:6. And I will make thee increase exceedingly, and I will make
nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
17:7. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and between
thy seed after thee in their generations, by a perpetual covenant: to
be a God to thee, and to thy seed after thee.
17:8. And I will give to thee, and to thy seed, the land of thy
sojournment, all the land of Chanaan, for a perpetual possession, and I
will be their God.
17:9. Again God said to Abraham: And thou therefore shalt keep my
covenant, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
17:10. This is my covenant which you shall observe between me and you,
and thy seed after thee: All the male-kind of you shall be circumcised.
17:11. And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, that it may
be for a sign of the covenant between me and you.
17:12. An infant of eight days old shall be circumcised among you,
every manchild in your generations: he that is born in the house, as
well as the bought servant, shall be circumcised, and whosoever is not
of your stock:
17:13. And my covenant shall be in your flesh for a perpetual covenant.
17:14. The male whose flesh of his foreskin shall not be circumcised,
that soul shall be destroyed out of his people: because he hath broken
my covenant.
17:15. God said also to Abraham: Sarai thy wife thou shalt not call
Sarai, but Sara.
17:16. And I will bless her, and of her I will give thee a son, whom I
will bless, and he shall become nations, and kings of people shall
spring from him.
17:17. Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, saying in his heart:
Shall a son, thinkest thou, be born to him that is a hundred years old?
and shall Sara that is ninety years old bring forth?
17:18. And he said to God: O that Ismael may live before thee.
17:19. And God said to Abraham: Sara thy wife shall bear thee a son,
and thou shalt call his name Isaac, and I will establish my covenant
with him for a perpetual covenant, and with his seed after him.
17:20. And as for Ismael I have also heard thee. Behold, I will bless
him, and increase, and multiply him exceedingly: he shall beget twelve
chiefs, and I will make him a great nation.
17:21. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sara shall
bring forth to thee at this time in the next year.
17:22. And when he had left off speaking with him, God went up from
Abraham.
17:23. And Abraham took Ismael his son, and all that were born in his
house: and all whom he had bought, every male among the men of his
house: and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskin forthwith the
very same day, as God had commanded him.
17:24. Abraham was ninety and nine years old, when he circumcised the
flesh of his foreskin.
17:25. And Ismael his son was full thirteen years old at the time of
his circumcision.
17:26. The self-same day was Abraham circumcised and Ismael his son.
17:27. And all the men of his house, as well they that were born in his
house, as the bought servants and strangers, were circumcised with him.
Genesis Chapter 18
Angels are entertained by Abraham. They foretell the birth of Isaac.
Abraham's prayer for the men of Sodom.
18:1. And the Lord appeared to him in the vale of Mambre as he was
sitting at the door of his tent, in the very heat of the day.
18:2. And when he had lifted up his eyes, there appeared to him three
men standing near to him: and as soon as he saw them, he ran to meet
them from the door of his tent, and adored down to the ground.
18:3. And he said: Lord, if I have found favour in thy sight, pass not
away from thy servant.
18:4. But I will fetch a little water, and wash ye your feet, and rest
ye under the tree.
18:5. And I will set a morsel of bread, and strengthen ye your heart,
afterwards you shall pass on: for therefore are you come aside to your
servant. And they said: Do as thou hast spoken.
18:6. Abraham made haste into the tent to Sara, and said to her: Make
haste, temper together three measures of flour, and make cakes upon the
hearth.
18:7. And he himself ran to the herd, and took from thence a calf, very
tender and very good, and gave it to a young man, who made haste and
boiled it.
18:8. He took also butter and milk, and the calf which he had boiled,
and set before them: but he stood by them under the tree.
18:9. And when they had eaten, they said to him: Where is Sara thy
wife? He answered: Lo she is in the tent.
18:10. And he said to him: I will return and come to thee at this time,
life accompanying, and Sara, thy wife, shall have a son. Which when
Sara heard, she laughed behind the door of the tent.
18:11. Now they were both old, and far advanced in years, and it had
ceased to be with Sara after the manner of women.
18:12. And she laughed secretly, saying: After I am grown old, and my
lord is an old man, shall I give myself to pleasure?
18:13. And the Lord said to Abraham: Why did Sara laugh, saying: Shall
I, who am an old woman, bear a child indeed?
18:14. Is there any thing hard to God? According to appointment I will
return to thee at this same time, life accompanying, and Sara shall
have a son.
18:15. Sara denied, saying: I did not laugh: for she was afraid. But
the Lord said: Nay; but thou didst laugh.
18:16. And when the men rose up from thence, they turned their eyes
towards Sodom: and Abraham walked with them, bringing them on the way.
18:17. And the Lord said: Can I hide from Abraham what I am about to
do:
18:18. Seeing he shall become a great and mighty nation, and in him all
the nations of the earth shall be blessed?
18:19. For I know that he will command his children, and his household
after him, to keep the way of the Lord, and do judgment and justice:
that for Abraham's sake, the Lord may bring to effect all the things he
hath spoken unto him.
18:20. And the Lord said: The cry of Sodom and Gomorrha is multiplied,
and their sin is become exceedingly grievous.
18:21. I will go down and see whether they have done according to the
cry that is come to me; or whether it be not so, that I may know.
I will go down, etc. . .The Lord here accommodates his discourse to the
way of speaking and acting amongst men; for he knoweth all things, and
needeth not to go anywhere for information. Note here, that two of the
three angels went away immediately for Sodom; whilst the third, who
represented the Lord, remained with Abraham.
18:22. And they turned themselves from thence, and went their way to
Sodom: but Abraham as yet stood before the Lord.
18:23. And drawing nigh, he said: Wilt thou destroy the just with the
wicked?
18:24. If there be fifty just men in the city, shall they perish
withal? and wilt thou not spare that place for the sake of the fifty
just, if they be therein?
18:25. Far be it from thee to do this thing, and to slay the just with
the wicked, and for the just to be in like case as the wicked; this is
not beseeming thee: thou who judgest all the earth, wilt not make this
judgment.
18:26. And the Lord said to him: If I find in Sodom fifty just within
the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.
18:27. And Abraham answered, and said: Seeing I have once begun, I will
speak to my Lord, whereas I am dust and ashes.
18:28. What if there be five less than fifty just persons? wilt thou
for five and forty destroy the whole city: And he said: I will not
destroy it, if I find five and forty.
18:29. And again he said to him: But if forty be found there, what wilt
thou do? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of forty.
18:30. Lord, saith he, be not angry, I beseech thee, if I speak: What
if thirty shall be found there? He answered: I will not do it, if I
find thirty there.
18:31. Seeing, saith he, I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord:
What if twenty be found there? He said: I will not destroy it for the
sake of twenty.
18:32. I beseech thee, saith he, be not angry, Lord, if I speak yet
once more: What if ten shall be found there? And he said: I will not
destroy it for the sake of ten.
18:33. And the Lord departed, after he had left speaking to Abraham:
and Abraham returned to his place.
Genesis Chapter 19
Lot, entertaining Angels in his house, is delivered from Sodom, which
is destroyed: his wife for looking back is turned into a statue of
salt.
19:1. And the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was
sitting in the gate of the city. And seeing them, he rose up and went
to meet them: and worshipped prostrate to the ground.
19:2. And said: I beseech you, my lords, turn in to the house of your
servant, and lodge there: wash your feet, and in the morning you shall
go on your way. And they said: No, but we will abide in the street.
19:3. He pressed them very much to turn in unto him: and when they were
come into his house, he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread,
and they ate:
19:4. But before they went to bed, the men of the city beset the house,
both young and old, all the people together.
19:5. And they called Lot, and said to him: Where are the men that came
in to thee at night? bring them out hither, that we may know them:
19:6. Lot went out to them, and shut the door after him, and said:
19:7. Do not so, I beseech you, my brethren, do not commit this evil.
19:8. I have two daughters who, as yet, have not known man; I will
bring them out to you, and abuse you them as it shall please you, so
that you do no evil to these men, because they are come in under the
shadow of my roof.
19:9. But they said: Get thee back thither. And again: Thou camest in,
said they, as a stranger, was it to be a judge? therefore we will
afflict thee more than them. And they pressed very violently upon Lot:
and they were even at the point of breaking open the doors.
19:10. And behold the men put out their hand, and drew in Lot unto
them, and shut the door.
19:11. And them, that were without, they struck with blindness from the
least to the greatest, so that they could not find the door.
19:12. And they said to Lot: Hast thou here any of thine? son in law,
or sons, or daughters, all that are thine bring them out of this city:
19:13. For we will destroy this place, because their cry is grown loud
before the Lord, who hath sent us to destroy them.
19:14. So Lot went out, and spoke to his sons in law that were to have
his daughters, and said: Arise: get you out of this place, because the
Lord will destroy this city. And he seemed to them to speak as it were
in jest.
19:15. And when it was morning, the angels pressed him, saying: Arise,
take thy wife, and the two daughters that thou hast: lest thou also
perish in the wickedness of the city.
19:16. And as he lingered, they took his hand, and the hand of his
wife, and of his two daughters, because the Lord spared him.
19:17. And they brought him forth, and set him without the city: and
there they spoke to him, saying: Save thy life: look not back, neither
stay thou in all the country about: but save thy self in the mountain,
lest thou be also consumed.
19:18. And Lot said to them: I beseech thee, my Lord,
19:19. Because thy servant hath found grace before thee, and thou hast
magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewn to me, in saving my life,
and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil seize me, and I
die.
19:20. There is this city here at hand, to which I may flee, it is a
little one, and I shall be saved in it: is it not a little one, and my
soul shall live?
19:21. And he said to him: Behold also in this, I have heard thy
prayers, not to destroy the city for which thou hast spoken.
19:22. Make haste, and be saved there: because I cannot do any thing
till thou go in thither. Therefore the name of that city was called
Segor.
Segor. . .That is, a little one.
19:23. The sun was risen upon the earth, and Lot entered into Segor.
19:24. And the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrha brimstone and fire
from the Lord out of heaven.
19:25. And he destroyed these cities, and all the country about, all
the inhabitants of the cities, and all things that spring from the
earth.
19:26. And his wife looking behind her, was turned into a statue of
salt.
And his wife. . .As a standing memorial to the servants of God to
proceed in virtue, and not to look back to vice or its allurements.
19:27. And Abraham got up early in the morning, and in the place where
he had stood before with the Lord:
19:28. He looked towards Sodom and Gomorrha, and the whole land of that
country: and he saw the ashes rise up from the earth as the smoke of a
furnace.
19:29. Now when God destroyed the cities of that country, remembering
Abraham, he delivered Lot out of the destruction of the cities wherein
he had dwelt.
19:30. And Lot went up out of Segor, and abode in the mountain, and his
two daughters with him (for he was afraid to stay in Segor) and he
dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters with him.
19:31. And the elder said to the younger: Our father is old, and there
is no man left on the earth, to come in unto us after the manner of the
whole earth.
19:32. Come, let us make him drunk with wine, and let us lie with him,
that we may preserve seed of our father.
19:33. And they made their father drink wine that night: and the elder
went in, and lay with her father: but he perceived not, neither when
his daughter lay down, nor when she rose up.
19:34. And the next day the elder said to the younger: Behold I lay
last night with my father, let us make him drink wine also to night,
and thou shalt lie with him, that we may save seed of our father.
19:35. They made their father drink wine that night also, and the
younger daughter went in, and lay with him: and neither then did he
perceive when she lay down, nor when she rose up.
19:36. So the two daughters of Lot were with child by their father.
19:37. And the elder bore a son, and she called his name Moab: he is
the father of the Moabites unto this day.
19:38. The younger also bore a son, and she called his name Ammon; that
is, the son of my people: he is the father of the Ammonites unto this
day.
Genesis Chapter 20
Abraham sojourned in Gerara: Sara is taken into king Abimelech's house,
but by God's commandment is restored untouched.
20:1. Abraham removed from thence to the south country, and dwelt
between Cades and Sur, and sojourned in Gerara.
20:2. And he said of Sara his wife: She is my sister. So Abimelech the
king of Gerara sent, and took her.
20:3. And God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and he said to
him: Lo thou shalt die for the woman that thou hast taken: for she hath
a husband.
20:4. Now Abimelech had not touched her, and he said: Lord, wilt thou
slay a nation that is ignorant and just?
20:5. Did not he say to me: She is my sister: and she say, He is my
brother? in the simplicity of my heart, and cleanness of my hands have
I done this.
20:6. And God said to him: And I know that thou didst it with a sincere
heart: and therefore I withheld thee from sinning against me, and I
suffered thee not to touch her.
20:7. Now therefore restore the man his wife, for he is a prophet: and
he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: but if thou wilt not
restore her, know that thou shalt surely die, thou and all that are
thine.
20:8. And Abimelech forthwith rising up in the night, called all his
servants: and spoke all these words in their hearing, and all the men
were exceedingly afraid.
20:9. And Abimelech called also for Abraham, and said to him: What hast
thou done to us? what have we offended thee in, that thou hast brought
upon me and upon my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done to us what thou
oughtest not to do.
20:10. And again he expostulated with him, and said: What sawest thou,
that thou hast done this?
20:11. Abraham answered: I thought with myself, saying: Perhaps there
is not the fear of God in this place: and they will kill me for the
sake of my wife:
20:12. Howbeit, otherwise also she is truly my sister, the daughter of
my father, and not the daughter of my mother, and I took her to wife.
20:13. And after God brought me out of my father's house, I said to
her: Thou shalt do me this kindness: In every place, to which we shall
come, thou shalt say that I am thy brother.
20:14. And Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and servants and handmaids,
and gave to Abraham: and restored to him Sara his wife,
20:15. And said: The land is before you, dwell wheresoever it shall
please thee.
20:16. And to Sara he said: Behold I have given thy brother a thousand
pieces of silver, this shall serve thee for a covering of thy eyes to
all that are with thee, and whithersoever thou shalt go: and remember
thou wast taken.
20:17. And when Abraham prayed, God healed Abimelech and his wife, and
his handmaids, and they bore children:
20:18. For the Lord had closed up every womb of the house of Abimelech,
on account of Sara, Abraham's wife.
Genesis Chapter 21
Isaac is born. Agar and Ismael are cast forth.
21:1. And the Lord visited Sara, as he had promised: and fulfilled what
he had spoken.
21:2. And she conceived and bore a son in her old age, at the time that
God had foretold her.
21:3. And Abraham called the name of his son, whom Sara bore him,
Isaac.
Isaac. . .This word signifies laughter.
21:4. And he circumcised him the eighth day, as God had commanded him,
21:5. When he was a hundred years old: for at this age of his father,
was Isaac born.
21:6. And Sara said: God hath made a laughter for me: whosoever shall
hear of it will laugh with me.
21:7. And again she said: Who would believe that Abraham should hear
that Sara gave suck to a son, whom she bore to him in his old age?
21:8. And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great
feast on the day of his weaning.
21:9. And when Sara had seen the son of Agar, the Egyptian, playing
with Isaac, her son, she said to Abraham:
21:10. Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of the
bondwoman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.
21:11. Abraham took this grievously for his son.
21:12. And God said to him: Let it not seem grievous to thee for the
boy, and for thy bondwoman: in all that Sara hath said to thee, hearken
to her voice: for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
21:13. But I will make the son also of the bondwoman a great nation,
because he is thy seed.
21:14. So Abraham rose up in the morning, and taking bread and a bottle
of water, put it upon her shoulder, and delivered the boy, and sent her
away. And she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Bersabee.
21:15. And when the water in the bottle was spent, she cast the boy
under one of the trees that were there.
21:16. And she went her way, and sat over against him a great way off,
as far as a bow can carry, for she said: I will not see the boy die:
and sitting over against, she lifted up her voice and wept.
21:17. And God heard the voice of the boy: and an angel of God called
to Agar from heaven, saying: What art thou doing, Agar? fear not; for
God hath heard the voice of the boy, from the place wherein he is.
21:18. Arise, take up the boy, and hold him by the hand, for I will
make him a great nation.
21:19. And God opened her eyes: and she saw a well of water, and went
and filled the bottle, and gave the boy to drink.
21:20. And God was with him: and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness,
and became a young man, an archer.
21:21. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Pharan, and his mother took a
wife for him out of the land of Egypt.
21:22. At the same time Abimelech, and Phicol the general of his army,
said to Abraham: God is with thee in all that thou dost.
21:23. Swear therefore by God, that thou wilt not hurt me, nor my
posterity, nor my stock: but according to the kindness that I have done
to thee, thou shalt do to me, and to the land wherein thou hast lived a
stranger.
21:24. And Abraham said: I will swear.
21:25. And he reproved Abimelech for a well of water, which his
servants had taken away by force.
21:26. And Abimelech answered: I knew not who did this thing: and thou
didst not tell me, and I heard not of it till today.
21:27. Then Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them to Abimelech:
and both of them made a league.
21:28. And Abraham set apart seven ewelambs of the flock.
21:29. And Abimelech said to him: What mean these seven ewelambs which
thou hast set apart?
21:30. But he said: Thou shalt take seven ewelambs at my hand: that
they may be a testimony for me, that I dug this well.
21:31. Therefore that place was called Bersabee; because there both of
them did swear.
Bersabee. . .That is, the well of oath.
21:32. And they made a league for the well of oath.
21:33. And Abimelech and Phicol, the general of his army, arose and
returned to the land of the Palestines. But Abraham planted a grove in
Bersabee, and there called upon the name of the Lord God eternal.
21:34. And he was a sojourner in the land of the Palestines many days.
Genesis Chapter 22
The faith and obedience of Abraham is proved in his readiness to
sacrifice his son Isaac. He is stayed from the act by an angel. Former
promises are renewed to him. His brother Nachor's issue.
22:1. After these things, God tempted Abraham, and said to him:
Abraham, Abraham. And he answered: Here I am.
God tempted, etc. . .God tempteth no man to evil, James 1.13; but by
trial and experiment maketh known to the world, and to ourselves, what
we are, as here by this trial the singular faith and obedience of
Abraham was made manifest.
22:2. He said to him: Take thy only begotten son Isaac, whom thou
lovest, and go into the land of vision; and there thou shalt offer him
for an holocaust upon one of the mountains which I will shew thee.
22:3. So Abraham rising up in the night, saddled his ass, and took with
him two young men, and Isaac his son: and when he had cut wood for the
holocaust, he went his way to the place which God had commanded him.
22:4. And on the third day, lifting up his eyes, he saw the place afar
off.
22:5. And he said to his young men: Stay you here with the ass; I and
the boy will go with speed as far as yonder, and after we have
worshipped, will return to you.
22:6. And he took the wood for the holocaust, and laid it upon Isaac
his son; and he himself carried in his hands fire and a sword. And as
they two went on together,
22:7. Isaac said to his father: My father. And he answered: What wilt
thou, son? Behold, saith he, fire and wood: where is the victim for the
holocaust?
22:8. And Abraham said: God will provide himself a victim for an
holocaust, my son. So they went on together.
22:9. And they came to the place which God had shewn him, where he
built an altar, and laid the wood in order upon it; and when he had
bound Isaac his son, he laid him on the altar upon the pile of wood.
22:10. And he put forth his hand, and took the sword, to sacrifice his
son.
22:11. And behold, an angel of the Lord from heaven called to him,
saying: Abraham, Abraham. And he answered: Here I am.
22:12. And he said to him: Lay not thy hand upon the boy, neither do
thou any thing to him: now I know that thou fearest God, and hast not
spared thy only begotten son for my sake.
22:13. Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw behind his back a ram,
amongst the briers, sticking fast by the horns, which he took and
offered for a holocaust instead of his son.
22:14. And he called the name of that place, The Lord seeth. Whereupon,
even to this day, it is said: In the mountain the Lord will see.
22:15. And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from
heaven, saying:
22:16. By my own self have I sworn, saith the Lord: because thou hast
done this thing, and hast not spared thy only begotten son for my sake:
22:17. I will bless thee, and I will multiply thy seed as the stars of
heaven, and as the sand that is by the sea shore; thy seed shall
possess the gates of their enemies.
22:18. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed,
because thou hast obeyed my voice.
22:19. Abraham returned to his young men, and they went to Bersabee
together, and he dwelt there.
22:20. After these things, it was told Abraham, that Melcha also had
borne children to Nachor his brother.
22:21. Hus, the firstborn, and Buz, his brother, and Camuel the father
of the Syrians,
22:22. And Cased, and Azau, and Pheldas, and Jedlaph,
22:23. And Bathuel, of whom was born Rebecca: these eight did Melcha
bear to Nachor, Abraham's brother.
22:24. And his concubine, named Roma, bore Tabee, and Gaham, and Tahas,
and Maacha.
Genesis Chapter 23
Sara's death and burial in the field bought of Ephron.
23:1. And Sara lived a hundred and twenty-seven years.
23:2. And she died in the city of Arbee which is Hebron, in the land of
Chanaan: and Abraham came to mourn and weep for her.
23:3. And after he rose up from the funeral obsequies, he spoke to the
children of Heth, saying:
23:4. I am a stranger and sojourner among you: give me the right of a
burying place with you, that I may bury my dead.
23:5. The children of Heth answered, saying:
23:6. My lord, hear us, thou art a prince of God among us: bury thy
dead in our principal sepulchres: and no man shall have power to hinder
thee from burying thy dead in his sepulchre.
23:7. Abraham rose up, and bowed down to the people of the land, to
wit, the children of Heth:
Bowed down to the people. . .Adoravit, literally adored. But this word
here, as well as in many other places in the Latin scriptures, is used
to signify only an inferior honour and reverence paid to men, expressed
by a bowing down of the body.
23:8. And said to them: If it please your soul that I should bury my
dead, hear me, and intercede for me to Ephron the son of Seor.
23:9. That he may give me the double cave, which he hath in the end of
his field: For as much money as it is worth he shall give it me before
you, for a possession of a burying place.
23:10. Now Ephron dwelt in the midst of the children of Heth. And
Ephron made answer to Abraham in the hearing of all that went in at the
gate of the city, saying:
23:11. Let it not be so, my lord, but do thou rather hearken to what I
say: The field I deliver to thee, and the cave that is therein; in the
presence of the children of my people, bury thy dead.
23:12. Abraham bowed down before the people of the land.
23:13. And he spoke to Ephron, in the presence of the people: I beseech
thee to hear me: I will give money for the field; take it, and so will
I bury my dead in it.
23:14. And Ephron answered:
23:15. My lord, hear me. The ground which thou desirest, is worth four
hundred sicles of silver: this is the price between me and thee: but
what is this? bury thy dead.
23:16. And when Abraham had heard this, he weighed out the money that
Ephron had asked, in the hearing of the children of Heth, four hundred
sicles of silver, of common current money.
23:17. And the field that before was Ephron's, wherein was the double
cave, looking towards Mambre, both it and the cave, and all the trees
thereof, in all its limits round about,
23:18. Was made sure to Abraham for a possession, in the sight of the
children of Heth, and of all that went in at the gate of his city.
23:19. And so Abraham buried Sara, his wife, in the double cave of the
field, that looked towards Mambre, this is Hebron in the land of
Chanaan.
23:20. And the field was made sure to Abraham, and the cave that was in
it, for a possession to bury in, by the children of Heth.
Genesis Chapter 24
Abraham's servant, sent by him into Mesopotamia, bringeth from thence
Rebecca, who is married to Isaac.
24:1. Now Abraham was old, and advanced in age; and the Lord had
blessed him in all things.
24:2. And he said to the elder servant of his house, who was ruler over
all he had: Put thy hand under my thigh,
24:3. That I may make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and
earth, that thou take not a wife for my son, of the daughters of the
Chanaanites, among whom I dwell:
24:4. But that thou go to my own country and kindred, and take a wife
from thence for my son Isaac.
24:5. The servant answered: If the woman will not come with me into
this land, must I bring thy son back again to the place from whence
thou camest out?
24:6. And Abraham said: Beware thou never bring my son back again
thither.
24:7. The Lord God of heaven, who took me out of my father's house, and
out of my native country, who spoke to me, and swore to me, saying: To
thy seed will I give this land: he will send his angel before thee, and
thou shalt take from thence a wife for my son.
He will send his angel before thee. . .This shows that the Hebrews
believed that God gave them guardian angels for their protection.
24:8. But if the woman will not follow thee, thou shalt not be bound by
the oath: only bring not my son back thither again.
24:9. The servant, therefore, put his hand under the thigh of Abraham,
his lord, and swore to him upon his word.
24:10. And he took ten camels of his master's herd, and departed,
carrying something of all his goods with him, and he set forward and
went on to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nachor.
24:11. And when he had made the camels lie down without the town, near
a well of water, in the evening, at the time when women are wont to
come out to draw water, he said:
24:12. O Lord, the God of my master, Abraham, meet me today, I beseech
thee, and shew kindness to my master, Abraham.
24:13. Behold, I stand nigh the spring of water, and the daughters of
the inhabitants of this city will come out to draw water:
24:14. Now, therefore, the maid to whom I shall say: Let down thy
pitcher that I may drink: and she shall answer, Drink, and I will give
thy camels drink also: let it be the same whom thou hast provided for
thy servant Isaac: and by this, I shall understand that thou hast shewn
kindness to my master.
24:15. He had not yet ended these words within himself, and behold
Rebecca came out, the daughter of Bathuel, son of Melcha, wife to
Nachor the brother of Abraham, having a pitcher on her shoulder:
24:16. An exceeding comely maid, and a most beautiful virgin, and not
known to man: and she went down to the spring, and filled her pitcher,
and was coming back.
24:17. And the servant ran to meet her, and said: Give me a little
water to drink of thy pitcher.
24:18. And she answered: Drink, my lord. And quickly she let down the
pitcher upon her arm, and gave him drink.
24:19. And when he had drunk, she said: I will draw water for thy
camels also, till they all drink.
24:20. And pouring out the pitcher into the troughs, she ran back to
the well to draw water; and having drawn, she gave to all the camels.
24:21. But he musing, beheld her with silence, desirous to know whether
the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.
24:22. And after that the camels had drunk, the man took out golden
earrings, weighing two sicles; and as many bracelets, of ten sicles
weight.
24:23. And he said to her: Whose daughter art thou? tell me: is there
any place in thy father's house to lodge?
24:24. And she answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the son of
Melcha, whom she bore to Nachor.
24:25. And she said, moreover, to him: We have good store of both straw
and hay, and a large place to lodge in.
24:26. The man bowed himself down, and adored the Lord,
24:27. Saying: Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath
not taken away his mercy and truth from my master, and hath brought me
the straight way into the house of my master's brother.
24:28. Then the maid ran, and told in her mother's house all that she
had heard.
24:29. And Rebecca had a brother, named Laban, who went out in haste to
the man, to the well.
24:30. And when he had seen the earrings and bracelets in his sister's
hands, and had heard all that she related, saying, Thus and thus the
man spoke to me: he came to the man who stood by the camels, and near
to the spring of water,
24:31. And said to him: Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; why standest
thou without? I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.
24:32. And he brought him into his lodging; and he unharnessed the
camels, and gave straw and hay, and water to wash his feet, and the
feet of the men that were come with him.
24:33. And bread was set before him. But he said: I will not eat, till
I tell my message. He answered him: Speak.
24:34. And he said: I am the servant of Abraham:
24:35. And the Lord hath blessed my master wonderfully, and he is
become great: and he hath given him sheep and oxen, silver and gold,
men servants and women servants, camels and asses.
24:36. And Sara, my master's wife, hath borne my master a son in her
old age, and he hath given him all that he had.
24:37. And my master made me swear, saying: Thou shalt not take a wife
for my son of the Chanaanites, in whose land I dwell:
24:38. But thou shalt go to my father's house, and shalt take a wife of
my own kindred for my son:
24:39. But I answered my master: What if the woman will not come with
me?
24:40. The Lord, said he, in whose sight I walk, will send his angel
with thee, and will direct thy way: and thou shalt take a wife for my
son of my own kindred, and of my father's house.
24:41. But thou shalt be clear from my curse, when thou shalt come to
my kindred, if they will not give thee one.
24:42. And I came today to the well of water, and said: O Lord God of
my master, Abraham, if thou hast prospered my way, wherein I now walk,
24:43. Behold, I stand by the well of water, and the virgin, that shall
come out to draw water, who shall hear me say: Give me a little water
to drink of thy pitcher:
24:44. And shall say to me: Both drink thou, and I will also draw for
thy camels: let the same be the woman, whom the Lord hath prepared for
my master's son.
24:45. And whilst I pondered these things secretly with myself, Rebecca
appeared, coming with a pitcher, which she carried on her shoulder: and
she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her: Give me a
little to drink.
24:46. And she speedily let down the pitcher from her shoulder, and
said to me: Both drink thou, and to thy camels I will give drink. I
drank, and she watered the camels.
24:47. And I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou? And she
answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the son of Nachor, whom Melcha
bore to him. So I put earrings on her to adorn her face, and I put
bracelets on her hands.
24:48. And falling down, I adored the Lord, blessing the Lord God of my
master, Abraham, who hath brought me the straight way to take the
daughter of my master's brother for his son.
24:49. Wherefore, if you do according to mercy and truth with my
master, tell me: but if it please you otherwise, tell me that also,
that I may go to the right hand, or to the left.
24:50. And Laban and Bathuel answered: The word hath proceeded from the
Lord: we cannot speak any other thing to thee but his pleasure.
24:51. Behold, Rebecca is before thee, take her and go thy way, and let
her be the wife of thy master's son, as the Lord hath spoken.
24:52. Which when Abraham's servant heard, falling down to the ground,
he adored the Lord.
24:53. And bringing forth vessels of silver and gold, and garments, he
gave them to Rebecca, for a present. He offered gifts also to her
brothers, and to her mother.
24:54. And a banquet was made, and they ate and drank together, and
lodged there. And in the morning, the servant arose, and said: Let me
depart, that I may go to my master.
24:55. And her brother and mother answered: Let the maid stay, at
least, ten days with us, and afterwards she shall depart.
24:56. Stay me not, said he, because the Lord hath prospered my way:
send me away, that I may go to my master.
24:57. And they said: Let us call the maid, and ask her will.
Let us call the maid, and ask her will. . .Not as to her marriage, as
she had already consented, but of her quitting her parents and going to
her husband.
24:58. And they called her, and when she was come, they asked: Wilt
thou go with this man? She said: I will go.
24:59. So they sent her away, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and
his company.
24:60. Wishing prosperity to their sister, and saying: Thou art our
sister, mayst thou increase to thousands of thousands; and may thy seed
possess the gates of their enemies.
24:61. So Rebecca and her maids, being set upon camels, followed the
man: who with speed returned to his master.
24:62. At the same time, Isaac was walking along the way to the well
which is called Of the living and the seeing: for he dwelt in the south
country:
24:63. And he was gone forth to meditate in the field, the day being
now well spent: and when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw camels
coming afar off.
24:64. Rebecca also, when she saw Isaac, lighted off the camel,
24:65. And said to the servant: Who is that man who cometh towards us
along the field? And he said to her: That man is my master. But she
quickly took her cloak, and covered herself.
24:66. And the servant told Isaac all that he had done.
24:67. Who brought her into the tent of Sara his mother, and took her
to wife: and he loved her so much, that it moderated the sorrow which
was occasioned by his mother's death.
Genesis Chapter 25
Abraham's children by Cetura; his death and that of Ismael. Isaac hath
Esau and Jacob twins. Esau selleth his first birthright to Jacob.
25:1. And Abraham married another wife named Cetura:
25:2. Who bore him Zamram, and Jecsan, and Madan, and Madian, and
Jesboc, and Sue.
25:3. Jecsan also begot Saba, and Dadan. The children of Dadan were
Assurim, and Latusim, and Loomim.
25:4. But of Madian was born Epha, and Opher, and Henoch, and Abida,
and Eldaa: all these were the children of Cetura.
25:5. And Abraham gave all his possessions to Isaac:
25:6. And to the children of the concubines he gave gifts, and
separated them from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, to the east
country.
Concubines. . .Agar and Cetura are here called concubines, (though they
were lawful wives, and in other places are so called,) because they
were of an inferior degree, and such in scripture are usually called
concubines.
25:7. And the days of Abraham's life were a hundred and seventy-five
years.
25:8. And decaying he died in a good old age, and having lived a long
time, and being full of days: and was gathered to his people.
25:9. And Isaac and Ismael his sons buried him in the double cave,
which was situated in the field of Ephron the son of Seor the Hethite,
over against Mambre,
25:10. Which he had bought of the children of Heth: there was he
buried, and Sara his wife.
25:11. And after his death, God blessed Isaac his son, who dwelt by the
well named Of the living and seeing.
25:12. These are the generations of Ismael the son of Abraham, whom
Agar the Egyptian, Sara's servant, bore unto him:
25:13. And these are the names of his children according to their
calling and generations. The firstborn of Ismael was Nabajoth, then
Cedar, and Adbeel, and Mabsam,
25:14. And Masma, and Duma, and Massa,
25:15. Hadar, and Thema, and Jethur, and Naphis, and Cedma.
25:16. These are the sons of Ismael: and these are their names by their
castles and towns, twelve princes of their tribes.
25:17. And the years of Ismael's life were a hundred and thirty-seven,
and decaying he died, and was gathered unto his people.
25:18. And he dwelt from Hevila as far as Sur, which looketh towards
Egypt, to them that go towards the Assyrians. He died in the presence
of all his brethren.
25:19. These also are the generations of Isaac the son of Abraham:
Abraham begot Isaac:
25:20. Who when he was forty years old, took to wife Rebecca the
daughter of Bathuel the Syrian of Mesopotamia, sister to Laban.
25:21. And Isaac besought the Lord for his wife, because she was
barren: and he heard him, and made Rebecca to conceive.
25:22. But the children struggled in her womb, and she said: If it were
to be so with me, what need was there to conceive? And she went to
consult the Lord.
25:23. And he answering, said: Two nations are in thy womb, and two
peoples shall be divided out of thy womb, and one people shall overcome
the other, and the elder shall serve the younger.
25:24. And when her time was come to be delivered, behold twins were
found in her womb.
25:25. He that came forth first was red, and hairy like a skin: and his
name was called Esau. Immediately the other coming forth, held his
brother's foot in his hand: and therefore he was called Jacob.
25:26. Isaac was threescore years old when the children were born unto
him.
25:27. And when they were grown up, Esau became a skilful hunter, and a
husbandman: but Jacob, a plain man, dwelt in tents.
25:28. Isaac loved Esau, because he ate of his hunting: and Rebecca
loved Jacob.
25:29. And Jacob boiled pottage: to whom Esau, coming faint out of the
field,
25:30. Said: Give me of this red pottage, for I am exceeding faint. For
which reason his name was called Edom.
25:31. And Jacob said to him: Sell me thy first birthright.
25:32. He answered: Lo I die, what will the first birthright avail me?
25:33. Jacob said: Swear therefore to me. Esau swore to him, and sold
his first birthright.
25:34. And so taking bread and the pottage of lentils, he ate, and
drank, and went on his way; making little account of having sold his
first birthright.
Genesis Chapter 26
Isaac sojourneth in Gerara, where God reneweth to him the promise made
to Abraham. King Abimelech maketh league with him.
26:1. And when a famine came in the land, after that barrenness which
had happened in the days of Abraham, Isaac went to Abimelech, king of
the Palestines, to Gerara.
26:2. And the Lord appeared to him, and said: Go not down into Egypt,
but stay in the land that I shall tell thee.
26:3. And sojourn in it, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee:
for to thee and to thy seed I will give all these countries, to fulfil
the oath which I swore to Abraham thy father.
26:4. And I will multiply thy seed like the stars of heaven: and I will
give to thy posterity all these countries: and in thy seed shall all
the nations of the earth be blessed.
26:5. Because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my precepts and
commandments, and observed my ceremonies and laws.
26:6. So Isaac abode in Gerara.
26:7. And when he was asked by the men of that place, concerning his
wife, he answered: She is my sister: for he was afraid to confess that
she was his wife, thinking lest perhaps they would kill him because of
her beauty.
26:8. And when very many days were passed, and he abode there,
Abimelech, king of the Palestines, looking out through a window, saw
him playing with Rebecca, his wife.
26:9. And calling for him, he said: It is evident she is thy wife: why
didst thou feign her to be thy sister? He answered: I feared lest I
should die for her sake.
26:10. And Abimelech said: Why hast thou deceived us? Some man of the
people might have lain with thy wife, and thou hadst brought upon us a
great sin. And he commanded all the people, saying:
26:11. He that shall touch this man's wife, shall surely be put to
death.
26:12. And Isaac sowed in that land, and he found that same year a
hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him.
26:13. And the man was enriched, and he went on prospering and
increasing, till he became exceeding great.
26:14. And he had possessions of sheep and of herds, and a very great
family. Wherefore the Palestines envying him,
26:15. Stopped up at that time all the wells, that the servants of his
father, Abraham, had digged, filling them up with earth:
26:16. Insomuch that Abimelech himself said to Isaac: Depart from us,
for thou art become much mightier than we.
26:17. So he departed, and came to the torrent of Gerara, to dwell
there:
26:18. And he digged again other wells, which the servants of his
father, Abraham, had digged, and which, after his death, the
Philistines had of old stopped up: and he called them by the same
names, by which his father before had called them.
26:19. And they digged in the torrent, and found living water:
Torrent. . .That is, a channel where sometimes a torrent or violent
stream had run.
26:20. But there also the herdsmen of Gerara strove against the
herdsmen of Isaac, saying: It is our water. Wherefore he called the
name of the well, on occasion of that which had happened, Calumny.
26:21. And they digged also another; and for that they quarrelled
likewise, and he called the name of it, Enmity.
26:22. Going forward from thence, he digged another well, for which
they contended not; therefore he called the name thereof, Latitude,
saying: Now hath the Lord given us room, and made us to increase upon
the earth.
Latitude. . .That is, wideness, or room.
26:23. And he went up from that place to Bersabee,
26:24. Where the Lord appeared to him that same night, saying: I am the
God of Abraham thy father, do not fear, for I am with thee: I will
bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.
26:25. And he built there an altar: and called upon the name of the
Lord, and pitched his tent; and commanded his servants to dig a well.
26:26. To which place when Abimelech, and Ochozath his friend, and
Phicol chief captain of his soldiers, came from Gerara,
26:27. Isaac said to them: Why are ye come to me, a man whom you hate,
and have thrust out from you?
26:28. And they answered: We saw that the Lord is with thee, and
therefore we said: Let there be an oath between us, and let us make a
covenant,
26:29. That thou do us no harm, as we on our part have touched nothing
of thine, nor have done any thing to hurt thee; but with peace have
sent thee away, increased with the blessing of the Lord.
26:30. And he made them a feast, and after they had eaten and drunk:
26:31. Arising in the morning, they swore one to another: and Isaac
sent them away peaceably to their own home.
26:32. And behold, the same day the servants of Isaac came, telling him
of a well which they had digged, and saying: We have found water.
26:33. Whereupon he called it Abundance: and the name of the city was
called Bersabee, even to this day.
26:34. And Esau being forty years old, married wives, Judith, the
daughter of Beeri, the Hethite, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon, of
the same place.
26:35. And they both offended the mind of Isaac and Rebecca.
Genesis Chapter 27
Jacob, by him mother's counsel, obtaineth his father's blessing instead
of Esau. And by her is advised to fly to his uncle Laban.
27:1. Now Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, and he could not see:
and he called Esau, his elder son, and said to him: My son? And he
answered: Here I am.
27:2. And his father said to him, Thou seest that I am old, and know
not the day of my death.
27:3. Take thy arms, thy quiver, and bow, and go abroad; and when thou
hast taken something by hunting,
27:4. Make me a savoury meat thereof, as thou knowest I like, and bring
it that I may eat: and my soul may bless thee, before I die.
27:5. And when Rebecca had heard this, and he was gone into the field
to fulfil his father's commandment,
27:6. She said to her son Jacob: I heard thy father talking with Esau,
thy brother, and saying to him:
27:7. Bring me of thy hunting, and make me meats that I may eat, and
bless thee in the sight of the Lord, before I die.
27:8. Now therefore, my son, follow my counsel:
27:9. And go thy way to the flock, bring me two kids of the best, that
I may make of them meat for thy father, such as he gladly eateth.
27:10. Which when thou hast brought in, and he hath eaten, he may bless
thee before he die.
27:11. And he answered her: Thou knowest that Esau, my brother, is a
hairy man, and I am smooth:
27:12. If my father should feel me, and perceive it, I fear lest he
will think I would have mocked him, and I shall bring upon me a curse
instead of a blessing.
27:13. And his mother said to him: Upon me be this curse, my son: only
hear thou my voice, and go, fetch me the things which I have said.
27:14. He went, and brought, and gave them to his mother. She dressed
meats, such as she knew his father liked.
27:15. And she put on him very good garments of Esau, which she had at
home with her:
27:16. And the little skins of the kids she put about his hands, and
covered the bare of his neck.
27:17. And she gave him the savoury meat, and delivered him bread that
she had baked.
27:18. Which when he had carried in, he said: My father? But he
answered: I hear. Who art thou, my son?
27:19. And Jacob said: I am Esau, thy firstborn: I have done as thou
didst command me: arise, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may
bless me.
I am Esau thy firstborn. . .St. Augustine (L. Contra mendacium, c. 10),
treating at large upon this place, excuseth Jacob from a lie, because
this whole passage was mysterious, as relating to the preference which
was afterwards to be given to the Gentiles before the carnal Jews,
which Jacob by prophetic light might understand. So far is certain,
that the first birthright, both by divine election and by Esau's free
cession belonged to Jacob: so that if there were any lie in the case,
it could be no more than an officious and venial one.
27:20. And Isaac said to his son: How couldst thou find it so quickly,
my son? He answered: It was the will of God, that what I sought came
quickly in my way:
27:21. And Isaac said: Come hither, that I may feel thee, my son, and
may prove whether thou be my son Esau, or no.
27:22. He came near to his father, and when he had felt him, Isaac
said: The voice indeed is the voice of Jacob; but the hands, are the
hands of Esau.
27:23. And he knew him not, because his hairy hands made him like to
the elder. Then blessing him,
27:24. He said: Art thou my son Esau? He answered: I am.
27:25. Then he said: Bring me the meats of thy hunting, my son, that my
soul may bless thee. And when they were brought, and he had eaten, he
offered him wine also, which after he had drunk,
27:26. He said to him: Come near me, and give me a kiss, my son.
27:27. He came near, and kissed him. And immediately as he smelled the
fragrant smell of his garments, blessing him, he said: Behold, the
smell of my son is as the smell of a plentiful field, which the Lord
hath blessed.
27:28. God give thee of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the
earth, abundance of corn and wine.
27:29. And let peoples serve thee, and tribes worship thee: be thou
lord of thy brethren, and let thy mother's children bow down before
thee. Cursed be he that curseth thee: and let him that blesseth thee be
filled with blessings.
27:30. Isaac had scarce ended his words, when, Jacob being now gone out
abroad, Esau came,
27:31. And brought in to his father meats, made of what he had taken in
hunting, saying: Arise, my father, and eat of thy son's venison; that
thy soul may bless me.
27:32. And Isaac said to him: Why! who art thou? He answered: I am thy
firstborn son, Esau.
27:33. Isaac was struck with fear, and astonished exceedingly; and
wondering beyond what can be believed, said: Who is he then that even
now brought me venison that he had taken, and I ate of all before thou
camest? and I have blessed him, and he shall be blessed.
27:34. Esau having heard his father's words, roared out with a great
cry; and, being in a consternation, said: Bless me also, my father.
27:35. And he said: Thy brother came deceitfully and got thy blessing.
27:36. But he said again: Rightly is his name called Jacob; for he hath
supplanted me lo this second time: My birthright he took away before,
and now this second time he hath stolen away my blessing. And again he
said to his father: Hast thou not reserved me also a blessing?
Jacob. . .That is, a supplanter.
27:37. Isaac answered: I have appointed him thy lord, and have made all
his brethren his servants: I have established him with corn and wine,
and after this, what shall I do more for thee, my son?
27:38. And Esau said to him: Hast thou only one blessing, father? I
beseech thee bless me also. And when he wept with a loud cry,
27:39. Isaac being moved, said to him: In the fat of the earth, and in
the dew of heaven from above,
27:40. Shall thy blessing be. Thou shalt live by the sword, and shalt
serve thy brother: and the time shall come, when thou shalt shake off
and loose his yoke from thy neck.
27:41. Esau therefore always hated Jacob, for the blessing wherewith
his father had blessed him; and he said in his heart: The days will
come of the mourning for my father, and I will kill my brother Jacob.
27:42. These things were told to Rebecca: and she sent and called
Jacob, her son, and said to him: Behold Esau, thy brother, threateneth
to kill thee.
27:43. Now therefore, my son, hear my voice, arise and flee to Laban,
my brother, to Haran:
27:44. And thou shalt dwell with him a few days, till the wrath of thy
brother be assuaged,
27:45. And his indignation cease, and he forget the things thou hast
done to him: afterwards I will send, and bring thee from thence hither.
Why shall I be deprived of both my sons in one day?
27:46. And Rebecca said to Isaac: I am weary of my life, because of the
daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the stock of this land, I
choose not to live.
Genesis Chapter 28
Jacob's journey to Mesopotamia: his vision and vow.
28:1. And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, saying:
Take not a wife of the stock of Chanaan:
28:2. But go, and take a journey to Mesopotamia of Syria, to the house
of Bathuel, thy mother's father, and take thee a wife thence of the
daughters of Laban, thy uncle.
28:3. And God almighty bless thee, and make thee to increase and
multiply thee: that thou mayst be a multitude of people.
28:4. And give the blessings of Araham to thee, and to thy seed after
thee: that thou mayst possess the land of thy sojournment, which he
promised to thy grandfather.
28:5. And when Isaac had sent him away, he took his journey and went to
Mesopotamia of Syria, to Laban, the son of Bathuel, the Syrian, brother
to Rebecca, his mother.
28:6. And Esau seeing that his father had blessed Jacob, and had sent
him into Mesopotamia of Syria, to marry a wife thence; and that after
the blessing he had charged him, saying: Thou shalt not take a wife of
the daughters of Chanaan:
28:7. And that Jacob obeying his parents, was gone into Syria:
28:8. Experiencing also, that his father was not well pleased with the
daughters of Chanaan:
28:9. He went to Ismael, and took to wife, besides them he had before,
Maheleth, the daughter of Ismael, Abraham's son, the sister of
Nabajoth.
28:10. But Jacob being departed from Bersabee, went on to Haran.
28:11. And when he was come to a certain place, and would rest in it
after sunset, he took of the stones that lay there, and putting under
his head, slept in the same place.
28:12. And he saw in his sleep a ladder standing upon the earth, and
the top thereof touching heaven: the angels also of God ascending and
descending by it.
28:13. And the Lord leaning upon the ladder saying to him: I am the
Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: The land, wherein
thou sleepest, I will give to thee and to thy seed.
28:14. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth: thou shalt
spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to
the south: and IN THEE and thy seed, all the tribes of the earth SHALL
BE BLESSED.
28:15. And I will be thy keeper whithersoever thou goest, and will
bring thee back into this land: neither will I leave thee, till I shall
have accomplished all that I have said.
28:16. And when Jacob awaked out of sleep, he said: Indeed the Lord is
in this place, and I knew it not.
28:17. And trembling, he said: How terrible is this place? this is no
other but the house of God, and the gate of heaven.
28:18. And Jacob arising in the morning, took the stone which he had
laid under his head, and set it up for a title, pouring oil upon the
top of it.
28:19. And he called the name of the city Bethel, which before was
called Luza.
Bethel. . .This name signifies the house of God.
28:20. And he made a vow, saying: If God shall be with me, and shall
keep me in the way, by which I walk, and shall give me bread to eat,
and raiment to put on,
28:21. And I shall return prosperously to my father's house: the Lord
shall be my God:
28:22. And this stone, which I have set up for a title, shall be called
the house of God: and of all things that thou shalt give to me, I will
offer tithes to thee.
Genesis Chapter 29
Jacob serveth Laban seven years for Rachel: but is deceived with Lia:
he afterwards marrieth Rachel. Lia bears him four sons.
29:1. Then Jacob went on in his journey, and came into the east
country.
29:2. And he saw a well in the field, and three flocks of sheep lying
by it: for the beasts were watered out of it, and the mouth thereof was
closed with a great stone.
29:3. And the custom was, when all the sheep were gathered together, to
roll away the stone, and after the sheep were watered, to put it on the
mouth of the well again.
29:4. And he said to the shepherds: Brethren, whence are you? They
answered: Of Haran.
29:5. And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban, the son of Nachor?
They said: We know him.
29:6. He said: Is he in health? He is in health, say they: and behold,
Rachel, his daughter, cometh with his flock.
29:7. And Jacob said: There is yet much day remaining, neither is it
time to bring the flocks into the folds again: first give the sheep
drink, and so lead them back to feed.
29:8. They answered: We cannot, till all the cattle be gathered
together, and we remove the stone from the well's mouth, that we may
water the flocks.
29:9. They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her father's
sheep; for she fed the flock.
29:10. And when Jacob saw her, and knew her to be his cousin german,
and that they were the sheep of Laban, his uncle: he removed the stone
wherewith the well was closed.
29:11. And having watered the flock, he kissed her: and lifting up his
voice wept.
29:12. And he told her that he was her father's brother, and the son of
Rebecca: but she went in haste and told her father.
29:13. Who, when he heard that Jacob his sister's son was come, ran
forth to meet him: and embracing him, and heartily kissing him, brought
him into his house. And when he had heard the causes of his journey,
29:14. He answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the days
of one month were expired,
29:15. He said to him: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou serve me
without wages? Tell me what wages thou wilt have.
29:16. Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia; and the
younger was called Rachel.
29:17. But Lia was blear-eyed: Rachel was well favoured, and of a
beautiful countenance.
29:18. And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven
years for Rachel, thy younger daughter.
29:19. Laban answered: It is better that I give her to thee than to
another man; stay with me.
29:20. So Jacob served seven years for Rachel: and they seemed but a
few days, because of the greatness of his love.
29:21. And he said to Laban: Give me my wife; for now the time is
fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
29:22. And he, having invited a great number of his friends to the
feast, made the marriage.
29:23. And at night he brought in Lia, his daughter, to him,
29:24. Giving his daughter a handmaid, named Zelpha. Now when Jacob had
gone in to her according to custom, when morning was come he saw it was
Lia.
29:25. And he said to his father-in-law: What is it that thou didst
mean to do? did not I serve thee for Rachel? why hast thou deceived me?
29:26. Laban answered: It is not the custom in this place, to give the
younger in marriage first.
29:27. Make up the week of days of this match: and I will give thee her
also, for the service that thou shalt render me other seven years.
29:28. He yielded to his pleasure: and after the week was past, he
married Rachel:
29:29. To whom her father gave Bala, for her servant.
29:30. And having at length obtained the marriage he wished for, he
preferred the love of the latter before the former, and served with him
other seven years.
29:31. And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but
her sister remained barren.
29:32. And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Ruben,
saying: The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me.
29:33. And again she conceived and bore a son, and said: Because the
Lord heard that I was despised, he hath given this also to me: and she
called his name Simeon.
29:34. And she conceived the third time, and bore another son, and
said: Now also my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne
him three sons: and therefore she called his name Levi.
29:35. The fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and said: Now will
I praise the Lord: and for this she called him Juda. And she left
bearing.
Genesis Chapter 30
Rachel, being barren, delivereth her handmaid to Jacob; she beareth two
sons. Lia ceasing to bear, giveth also her handmaid, and she beareth
two more. Then Lia beareth other two sons and one daughter. Rachel
beareth Joseph. Jacob, desirous to return home, is hired to stay for a
certain part of the flock's increase, whereby he becometh exceeding
rich.
30:1. And Rachel seeing herself without children, envied her sister,
and said to her husband: Give me children, otherwise I shall die.
30:2. And Jacob being angry with her, answered: Am I as God, who hath
deprived thee of the fruit of thy womb?
30:3. But she said: I have here my servant Bala: go in unto her, that
she may bear upon my knees, and I may have children by her.
30:4. And she gave him Bala in marriage: who,
30:5. When her husband had gone in unto her, conceived and bore a son.
30:6. And Rachel said: The Lord hath judged for me, and hath heard my
voice, giving me a son; and therefore she called his name Dan.
30:7. And again Bala conceived, and bore another,
30:8. For whom Rachel said: God hath compared me with my sister, and I
have prevailed: and she called him Nephthali.
30:9. Lia perceiving that she had left of bearing, gave Zelpha, her
handmaid, to her husband.
30:10. And when she had conceived, and brought forth a son,
30:11. She said: Happily. And therefore called his name Gad.
30:12. Zelpha also bore another.
30:13. And Lia said: This is for my happiness: for women will call me
blessed. Therefore she called him Aser.
30:14. And Ruben going out in the time of the wheat harvest into the
field, found mandrakes: which he brought to his mother Lia. And Rachel
said: Give me part of thy son's mandrakes.
30:15. She answered: Dost thou think it a small matter, that thou hast
taken my husband from me, unless thou take also my son's mandrakes?
Rachel said: He shall sleep with thee this night, for thy son's
mandrakes.
30:16. And when Jacob returned at even from the field, Lia went out to
meet him, and said: Thou shalt come in unto me, because I have hired
thee for my son's mandrakes. And he slept with her that night.
30:17. And God heard her prayers; and she conceived: and bore a fifth
son:
30:18. And said: God hath given me a reward, because I gave my handmaid
to my husband. And she called his name Issachar.
30:19. And Lia conceived again, and bore the sixth son,
30:20. And said: God hath endowed me with a good dowry; this turn also
my husband will be with me, because I have borne him six sons: and
therefore she called his name Zabulon.
30:21. After whom she bore a daughter, named Dina.
30:22. The Lord also remembering Rachel, heard her, and opened her
womb.
30:23. And she conceived, and bore a son, saying: God hath taken away
my reproach.
30:24. And she called his name Joseph: saying: The Lord give me also
another son.
30:25. And when Joseph was born, Jacob said to his father-in-law: Send
me away, that I may return into my country, and to my land.
30:26. Give me my wives, and my children, for whom I have served thee,
that I may depart: thou knowest the service that I have rendered thee.
30:27. Laban said to him: Let me find favour in thy sight: I have
learned, by experience, that God hath blessed me for thy sake.
30:28. Appoint thy wages which I shall give thee.
30:29. But he answered: Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how
great thy possession hath been in my hands.
30:30. Thou hadst but little before I came to thee, and now thou art
become rich: and the Lord hath blessed thee at my coming. It is
reasonable, therefore, that I should now provide also for my own house.
30:31. And Laban said: What shall I give thee? But he said: I require
nothing; but if thou wilt do what I demand, I will feed and keep thy
sheep again.
30:32. Go round through all thy flocks, and separate all the sheep of
divers colours, and speckled; and all that is brown and spotted, and of
divers colours, as well among the sheep as among the goats, shall be my
wages.
30:33. And my justice shall answer for me tomorrow before thee, when
the time of the bargain shall come; and all that is not of divers
colours, and spotted, and brown, as well among the sheep as among the
goats, shall accuse me of theft.
30:34. And Laban said: I like well what thou demandest.
30:35. And he separated the same day the she-goats, and the sheep, and
the he-goats, and the rams of divers colours, and spotted; and all the
flock of one colour, that is, of white and black fleece, he delivered
into the hands of his sons.
30:36. And he set the space of three days journey betwixt himself and
his son-in-law, who fed the rest of his flock.
30:37. And Jacob took green rods of poplar, and of almond, and of
plane-trees, and pilled them in part: so when the bark was taken off,
in the parts that were pilled, there appeared whiteness: but the parts
that were whole, remained green: and by this means the colour was
divers.
30:38. And he put them in the troughs, where the water was poured out;
that when the flocks should come to drink, they might have the rods
before their eyes, and in the sight of them might conceive.
30:39. And it came to pass, that in the very heat of coition, the sheep
beheld the rods, and brought forth spotted, and of divers colours, and
speckled.
30:40. And Jacob separated the flock, and put the rods in the troughs
before the eyes of the rams; and all the white and the black were
Laban's, and the rest were Jacob's, when the flocks were separated one
from the other.
30:41. So when the ewes went first to ram, Jacob put the rods in the
troughs of water before the eyes of the rams, and of the ewes, that
they might conceive while they were looking upon them.
30:42. But when the later coming was, and the last conceiving, he did
not put them. And those that were lateward, became Laban's; and they of
the first time, Jacob's.
30:43. And the man was enriched exceedingly, and he had many flocks,
maid-servants and men-servants, camels and asses.
Genesis Chapter 31
Jacob's departure: he is pursued and overtaken by Laban. They make a
covenant.
31:1. But after that he had heard the words of the sons of Laban,
saying: Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's, and being
enriched by his substance is become great.
31:2. And perceiving also, that Laban's countenance was not towards him
as yesterday and the other day.
31:3. Especially the Lord saying to him: Return into the land of thy
fathers and to thy kindred, and I will be with thee.
31:4. He sent, and called Rachel and Lia into the field, where he fed
the flocks,
31:5. And said to them: I see your father's countenance is not towards
me as yesterday and the other day: but the God of my father hath been
with me.
31:6. And you know that I have served your father to the uttermost of
my power.
31:7. Yea your father hath also overreached me, and hath changed my
wages ten times: and yet God hath not suffered him to hurt me.
31:8. If at any time, he said: The speckled shall be thy wages: all the
sheep brought forth speckled: but when he said on the contrary: Thou
shalt take all the white one for thy wages: all the flocks brought
forth white ones.
31:9. And God hath taken your father's substance, and given it to me.
31:10. For after the time came of the ewes conceiving, I lifted up my
eyes, and saw in my sleep, that the males which leaped upon the females
were of divers colours, and spotted, and speckled.
31:11. And the angel of God said to me in my sleep: Jacob. And I
answered: Here I am.
31:12. And he said: Lift up thy eyes, and see that all the males
leaping upon the females, are of divers colours, spotted and speckled.
For I have seen all that Laban hath done to thee.
31:13. I am the God of Bethel, where thou didst anoint the stone, and
make a vow to me. Now therefore arise, and go out of this land, and
return into thy native country.
31:14. And Rachel and Lia answered: Have we any thing left among the
goods and inheritance of our father's house?
31:15. Hath he not counted us as strangers, and sold us, and eaten up
the price of us?
31:16. But God hath taken our father's riches, and delivered them to
us, and to our children: wherefore, do all that God hath commanded
thee.
31:17. Then Jacob rose up, and having set his children and wives upon
camels, went his way.
31:18. And he took all his substance, and flocks, and whatsoever he had
gotten in Mesopotamia, and went forward to Isaac, his father, to the
land of Chanaan.
31:19. At that time Laban was gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole
away her father's idols.
Her father's idols. . .By this it appears that Laban was an idolater;
and some of the fathers are of opinion that Rachel stole away these
idols to withdraw him from idolatry, removing the occasion of his sin.
31:20. And Jacob would not confess to his father-in-law that he was
flying away.
31:21. And when he was gone, together with all that belonged to him,
and having passed the river, was going on towards mount Galaad,
31:22. It was told Laban on the third day, that Jacob fled.
31:23. And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven
days; and overtook him in the mount of Galaad.
31:24. And he saw in a dream God, saying to him: Take heed thou speak
not any thing harshly against Jacob.
31:25. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain: and when he,
with his brethren, had overtaken him, he pitched his tent in the same
mount of Galaad.
31:26. And he said to Jacob: Why hast thou done thus, to carry away,
without my knowledge, my daughters as captives taken with the sword?
31:27. Why wouldst thou run away privately, and not acquaint me, that I
might have brought thee on the way with joy, and with songs, and with
timbrels, and with harps?
31:28. Thou hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and daughters; thou
hast done foolishly; and now indeed,
31:29. It is in my power to return thee evil; but the God of your
father said to me yesterday: Take heed thou speak not any thing harshly
against Jacob.
31:30. Suppose thou didst desire to go to thy friends, and hadst a
longing after thy father's house: why hast thou stolen away my gods?
31:31. Jacob answered: That I departed unknown to thee, it was for fear
lest thou wouldst take away thy daughters by force.
31:32. But, whereas, thou chargest me with theft: with whomsoever thou
shalt find thy gods, let him be slain before our brethren. Search, and
if thou find any of thy things with me, take them away. Now when he
said this, he knew not that Rachel had stolen the idols.
31:33. So Laban went into the tent of Jacob, and of Lia, and of both
the handmaids, and found them not. And when he was entered into
Rachel's tent,
31:34. She, in haste, hid the idols under the camel's furniture, and
sat upon them: and when he had searched all the tent, and found
nothing,
31:35. She said: Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise up before
thee, because it has now happened to me according to the custom of
women. So his careful search was in vain.
31:36. And Jacob being angry, said in a chiding manner: For what fault
of mine, and for what offence on my part hast thou so hotly pursued me,
31:37. And searched all my household stuff? What hast thou found of all
the substance of thy house? lay it here before my brethren, and thy
brethren, and let them judge between me and thee.
31:38. Have I, therefore, been with thee twenty years? thy ewes and
goats were not barren, the rams of thy flocks I did not eat:
31:39. Neither did I shew thee that which the beast had torn; I made
good all the damage: whatsoever was lost by theft, thou didst exact it
of me:
31:40. Day and night was I parched with heat, and with frost, and sleep
departed from my eyes.
31:41. And in this manner have I served thee in thy house twenty years,
fourteen for thy daughters, and six for thy flocks: thou hast changed
also my wages ten times.
31:42. Unless the God of my father, Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had
stood by me, peradventure now thou hadst sent me away naked: God beheld
my affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesterday.
31:43. Laban answered him: The daughters are mine, and the children,
and thy flocks, and all things that thou seest are mine: what can I do
to my children, and grandchildren?
31:44. Come, therefore, let us enter into a league; that it may be for
a testimony between me and thee.
31:45. And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a title.
31:46. And he said to his brethren: Bring hither stones. And they,
gathering stones together, made a heap, and they ate upon it.
31:47. And Laban called it, The witness heap; and Jacob, The hillock of
testimony: each of them according to the propriety of his language.
31:48. And Laban said: This heap shall be a witness between me and thee
this day, and therefore the name thereof was called Galaad, that is,
The witness heap.
31:49. The Lord behold and judge between us, when we shall be gone one
from the other.
31:50. If thou afflict my daughters, and if thou bring in other wives
over them: none is witness of our speech but God, who is present and
beholdeth.
31:51. And he said again to Jacob: Behold this heap, and the stone
which I have set up between me and thee,
31:52. Shall be a witness: this heap, I say, and the stone, be they for
a testimony, if either I shall pass beyond it going towards thee, or
thou shalt pass beyond it thinking harm to me.
31:53. The God of Abraham, and the God of Nachor, the God of their
father, judge between us. And Jacob swore by the fear of his father
Isaac:
31:54. And after he had offered sacrifices in the mountain, he called
his brethren to eat bread. And when they had eaten, they lodged there:
31:55. But Laban arose in the night, and kissed his sons and daughters,
and blessed them: and returned to his place.
Genesis Chapter 32
Jacob's vision of angels; his message and presents to Esau; his
wrestling with an angel.
32:1. Jacob also went on the journey he had begun: and the angels of
God met him.
32:2. And when he saw them, he said: These are the camps of God, and he
called the name of that place Mahanaim, that is, Camps.
32:3. And he sent messengers before him to Esau, his brother, to the
land of Seir, to the country of Edom:
32:4. And he commanded them, saying: Thus shall ye speak to my lord
Esau: Thus saith thy brother Jacob: I have sojourned with Laban, and
have been with him until this day:
32:5. I have oxen, and asses, and sheep, and menservants, and
womenservants: and now I send a message to my lord, that I may find
favour in thy sight.
32:6. And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying: We came to Esau,
thy brother, and behold he cometh with speed to meet thee with four
hundred men.
32:7. Then Jacob was greatly afraid; and in his fear divided the people
that was with him, and the flocks, and the sheep, and the oxen, and the
camels, into two companies,
32:8. Saying: If Esau come to one company, and destroy it, the other
company that is left, shall escape.
32:9. And Jacob said: O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father
Isaac: O Lord who saidst to me, Return to thy land, and to the place of
thy birth, and I will do well for thee.
32:10. I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies, and of thy
truth which thou hast fulfilled to thy servant. With my staff I passed
over this Jordan; and now I return with two companies.
32:11. Deliver me from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am greatly
afraid of him; lest perhaps he come, and kill the mother with the
children.
32:12. Thou didst say, that thou wouldst do well by me, and multiply my
seed like the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
32:13. And when he had slept there that night, he set apart, of the
things which he had, presents for his brother Esau,
32:14. Two hundred she-goats, twenty he-goats, two hundred ewes, and
twenty rams,
32:15. Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and twenty
bulls, twenty she-asses, and ten of their foals.
32:16. And he sent them by the hands of his servants, every drove by
itself, and he said to his servants: Go before me, and let there be a
space between drove and drove.
32:17. And he commanded the first, saying: If thou meet my brother
Esau, and he ask thee: Whose art thou? or whither goest thou? or whose
are these before thee?
32:18. Thou shalt answer: Thy servant Jacob's: he hath sent them as a
present to my lord Esau; and he cometh after us.
32:19. In like manner he commanded the second, and the third, and all
that followed the droves, saying: Speak ye the same words to Esau, when
ye find him.
32:20. And ye shall add: Thy servant Jacob himself also followeth after
us; for he said: I will appease him with the presents that go before,
and afterwards I will see him, perhaps he will be gracious to me.
32:21. So the presents went before him, but himself lodged that night
in the camp.
32:22. And rising early, he took his two wives and his two handmaids,
with his eleven sons, and passed over the ford of Jaboc.
32:23. And when all things were brought over that belonged to him,
32:24. He remained alone; and behold, a man wrestled with him till
morning.
A man, etc. . .This was an angel in human shape, as we learn from Osee
12.4. He is called God, ver. 28 and 30, because he represented the
person of the Son of God. This wrestling, in which Jacob, assisted by
God, was a match for an angel, was so ordered (ver. 28,) that he might
learn by this experiment of the divine assistance, that neither Esau,
nor any other man, should have power to hurt him.--It was also
spiritual, as appeareth by his earnest prayer, urging and at last
obtaining the angel's blessing.
32:25. And when he saw that he could not overcome him, he touched the
sinew of his thigh, and forthwith it shrank.
32:26. And he said to him: Let me go, for it is break of day. He
answered: I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
32:27. And he said: What is thy name? He answered: Jacob.
32:28. But he said: Thy name shall not be called Jacob, but Israel; for
if thou hast been strong against God, how much more shalt thou prevail
against men?
32:29. Jacob asked him: Tell me by what name art thou called? He
answered: Why dost thou ask my name? And he blessed him in the same
place.
32:30. And Jacob called the name of the place Phanuel, saying: I have
seen God face to face, and my soul has been saved.
Phanuel. . .This word signifies the face of God, or the sight, or seeing
of God.
32:31. And immediately the sun rose upon him, after he was past
Phanuel; but he halted on his foot.
32:32. Therefore the children of Israel, unto this day, eat not the
sinew, that shrank in Jacob's thigh: because he touched the sinew of
his thigh and it shrank.
Genesis Chapter 33
Jacob and Esau meet: Jacob goeth to Salem, where he raiseth an altar.
33:1. And Jacob lifting up his eyes, saw Esau coming, and with him four
hundred men: and he divided the children of Lia and of Rachel, and of
the two handmaids.
33:2. And he put both the handmaids and their children foremost: and
Lia and her children in the second place: and Rachel and Joseph last.
33:3. And he went forward and bowed down with his face to the ground
seven times, until his brother came near.
33:4. Then Esau ran to meet his brother, and embraced him: and clasping
him fast about the neck, and kissing him, wept.
33:5. And lifting up his eyes, he saw the women and their children, and
said: What mean these? And do they belong to thee? He answered: They
are the children which God hath given to me, thy servant.
33:6. Then the handmaids and their children came near and bowed
themselves.
33:7. Lia also, with her children, came near and bowed down in like
manner; and last of all, Joseph and Rachel bowed down.
33:8. And Esau said: What are the droves that I met? He answered: That
I might find favour before my lord.
33:9. But he said: I have plenty, my brother, keep what is thine for
thyself.
33:10. And Jacob said: Do not so I beseech thee, but if I have found
favour in thy eyes, receive a little present at my hands: for I have
seen thy face, as if I should have seen the countenance of God: be
gracious to me,
33:11. And take the blessing which I have brought thee, and which God
hath given me, who giveth all things. He took it with much ado at his
brother's earnest pressing him,
33:12. And said: Let us go on together, and I will accompany thee in
thy journey.
33:13. And Jacob said: My lord, thou knowest that I have with me tender
children, and sheep, and kine with young: which if I should cause to be
overdriven, in one day all the flocks will die.
33:14. May it please my lord to go before his servant: and I will
follow softly after him, as I shall see my children to be able, until I
come to my lord in Seir.
33:15. Esau answered: I beseech thee, that some of the people, at
least, who are with me, may stay to accompany thee in the way. And he
said: There is no necessity: I want nothing else but only to find
favour, my lord, in thy sight.
33:16. So Esau returned that day, the way that he came, to Seir.
33:17. And Jacob came to Socoth: where having built a house, and
pitched tents, he called the name of the place Socoth, that is, Tents.
33:18. And he passed over to Salem, a city of the Sichemites, which is
in the land of Chanaan, after he returned from Mesopotamia of Syria:
and he dwelt by the town.
33:19. And he bought that part of the field, in which he pitched his
tents, of the children of Hemor, the father of Sichem, for a hundred
lambs.
33:20. And raising an altar there, he invoked upon it the most mighty
God of Israel.
Genesis Chapter 34
Dina is ravished, for which the Sichemites are destroyed.
34:1. And Dina the daughter of Lia went out to see the women of that
country.
34:2. And when Sichem the son of Hemor the Hevite, the prince of that
land, saw her, he was in love with her: and took her away, and lay with
her, ravishing the virgin.
34:3. And his soul was fast knit unto her; and whereas she was sad, he
comforted her with sweet words.
34:4. And going to Hemor his father, he said: Get me this damsel to
wife.
34:5. But when Jacob had heard this, his sons being absent, and
employed in feeding the cattle, he held his peace till they came back.
34:6. And when Hemor the father of Sichem was come out to speak to
Jacob,
34:7. Behold his sons came from the field: and hearing what had passed,
they were exceeding angry, because he had done a foul thing in Israel,
and committed an unlawful act, in ravishing Jacob's daughter.
34:8. And Hemor spoke to them: The soul of my son Sichem has a longing
for your daughter: give her him to wife:
34:9. And let us contract marriages one with another: give us your
daughters, and take you our daughters.
34:10. And dwell with us: the land is at your command, till, trade, and
possess it.
34:11. Sichem also said to her father and to her brethren: Let me find
favour in your sight, and whatsoever you shall appoint I will give:
34:12. Raise the dowry, and ask gifts, and I will gladly give what you
shall demand: only give me this damsel to wife.
34:13. The sons of Jacob answered Sichem and his father deceitfully,
being enraged at the deflowering of their sister:
Deceitfully. . .The sons of Jacob, on this occasion, were guilty of a
grievous sin, as well by falsely pretending religion, as by excess of
revenge: though otherwise their zeal against so foul a crime was
commendable.
34:14. We cannot do what you demand, nor give our sister to one that is
uncircumcised; which with us is unlawful and abominable.
34:15. But in this we may be allied with you, if you will be like us,
and all the male sex among you be circumcised:
34:16. Then will we mutually give and take your daughters, and ours;
and we will dwell with you, and will be one people:
34:17. But if you will not be circumcised, we will take our daughter
and depart.
34:18. Their offer pleased Hemor, and Sichem, his son:
34:19. And the young man made no delay, but forthwith fulfilled what
was required: for he loved the damsel exceedingly, and he was the
greatest man in all his father's house.
34:20. And going into the gate of the city, they spoke to the people:
34:21. These men are peaceable, and are willing to dwell with us: let
them trade in the land, and till it, which being large and wide wanteth
men to till it: we shall take their daughters for wives, and we will
give them ours.
34:22. One thing there is for which so great a good is deferred: We
must circumcise every male among us, following the manner of the
nation.
34:23. And their substance, and cattle, and all that they possess,
shall be ours; only in this let us condescend, and by dwelling
together, we shall make one people.
34:24. And they all agreed, and circumcised all the males.
34:25. And behold the third day, when the pain of the wound was
greatest: two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, the brothers of
Dina, taking their swords, entered boldly into the city and slew all
the men.
34:26. And they killed also Hemor and Sichem, and took away their
sister Dina out of Sichem's house.
34:27. And when they were gone out, the other sons of Jacob came upon
the slain; and plundered the city in revenge of the rape.
34:28. And they took their sheep, and their herds, and their asses,
wasting all they had in their houses and in their fields.
34:29. And their children and wives they took captive.
34:30. And when they had boldly perpetrated these things, Jacob said to
Simeon and Levi: You have troubled me, and made me hateful to the
Chanaanites and Pherezites, the inhabitants of this land. We are few:
they will gather themselves together and kill me; and both I, and my
house shall be destroyed.
34:31. They answered: Should they abuse our sister as a strumpet?
Genesis Chapter 35
Jacob purgeth his family from idols: goeth by God's commandment to
Bethel, and there buildeth an altar. God appearing again to Jacob
blesseth him, and changeth his name into Israel. Rachel dieth in
childbirth. Isaac also dieth.
35:1. In the mean time God said to Jacob: Arise and go up to Bethel,
and dwell there, and make there an altar to God, who appeared to thee
when thou didst flee from Esau, thy brother.
35:2. And Jacob having called together all his household, said: Cast
away the strange gods that are among you, and be cleansed, and change
your garments.
35:3. Arise, and let us go up to Bethel, that we may make there an
altar to God; who heard me in the day of my affliction, and accompained
me in my journey.
35:4. So they gave him all the strange gods they had, and the earrings
which were in their ears: and he buried them under the turpentine tree,
that is behind the city of Sichem.
35:5. And when they were departed, the terror of God fell upon all the
cities round about, and they durst not pursue after them as they went
away.
35:6. And Jacob came to Luza, which is in the land of Chanaan, surnamed
Bethel: he and all the people that were with him.
35:7. And he built there an altar, and called the name of that place,
The house of God: for there God appeared to him when he fled from his
brother.
35:8. At the same time Debora, the nurse of Rebecca, died, and was
buried at the foot of Bethel, under an oak, and the name of that place
was called, The oak of weeping.
35:9. And God appeared again to Jacob, after he returned from
Mesopotamia of Syria, and he blessed him,
35:10. Saying: Thou shalt not be called any more Jacob, but Israel
shall be thy name. And he called him Israel.
Israel. . .This name signifieth one that prevaileth with God.
35:11. And said to him: I am God almighty, increase thou and be
multiplied. Nations and peoples of nations shall be from thee, and
kings shall come out of thy loins.
35:12. And the land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give to
thee, and to thy seed after thee.
35:13. And he departed from him.
35:14. But he set up a monument of stone, in the place where God had
spoken to him: pouring drink-offerings upon it, and pouring oil
thereon:
35:15. And calling the name of that place Bethel.
35:16. And going forth from thence, he came in the spring time to the
land which leadeth to Ephrata: wherein when Rachel was in travail,
35:17. By reason of her hard labour, she began to be in danger, and the
midwife said to her: Fear not, for thou shalt have this son also.
35:18. And when her soul was departing for pain, and death was now at
hand, she called the name of her son Benoni, that is, the son of my
pain: but his father called him Benjamin, that is, the son of the right
hand.
35:19. So Rachel died, and was buried in the highway that leadeth to
Ephrata, this is Bethlehem.
35:20. And Jacob erected a pillar over her sepulchre: this is the
pillar of Rachel's monument, to this day.
35:21. Departing thence, he pitched his tent beyond the Flock tower.
35:22. And when he dwelt in that country, Ruben went, and slept with
Bala the concubine of his father: which he was not ignorant of. Now the
sons of Jacob were twelve.
The concubine. . .She was his lawful wife; but, according to the style
of the Hebrews, is called concubine, because of her servile extraction.
35:23. The sons of Lia: Ruben the first born, and Simeon, and Levi, and
Juda, and Issachar, and Zabulon.
35:24. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
35:25. The sons of Bala, Rachel's handmaid: Dan and Nephthali.
35:26. The sons of Zelpha, Lia's handmaid: Gad and Aser: these are the
sons of Jacob, that were born to him in Mesopotamia of Syria.
35:27. And he came to Isaac his father in Mambre, the city of Arbee,
this is Hebron: wherein Abraham and Isaac sojourned.
35:28. And the days of Isaac were a hundred and eighty years.
35:29. And being spent with age he died, and was gathered to his
people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried
him.
Genesis Chapter 36
Esau with his wives and children parteth from Jacob. An account of his
descendants, and of the first kings of Edom.
36:1. And these are the generations of Esau, the same is Edom.
36:2. Esau took wives of the daughters of Chanaan: Ada the daughter of
Elon the Hethite, and Oolibama the daughter of Ana, the daughter of
Sebeon the Hevite:
Ada. . .These wives of Esau are called by other names, Gen. 26. But it
was very common amongst the ancients for the same persons to have two
names, as Esau himself was also called Edom.
36:3. And Basemath, the daughter of Ismael, sister of Nabajoth.
36:4. And Ada bore Eliphaz: Basemath bore Rahuel.
36:5. Oolibama bore Jehus, and Ihelon, and Core. These are the sons of
Esau, that were born to him in the land of Chanaan.
36:6. And Esau took his wives, and his sons and daughters, and every
soul of his house, and his substance, and cattle, and all that he was
able to acquire in the land of Chanaan: and went into another country,
and departed from his brother Jacob.
36:7. For they were exceeding rich, and could not dwell together:
neither was the land in which they sojourned able to bear them, for the
multitude of their flocks.
36:8. And Esau dwelt in mount Seir: he is Edom.
36:9. And these are the generations of Esau, the father of Edom, in
mount Seir.
36:10. And these the names of his sons: Eliphaz the son of Ada, the
wife of Esau: and Rahuel, the son of Basemath, his wife.
36:11. And Eliphaz had sons: Theman, Omar, Sepho, and Gatham and Cenez.
36:12. And Thamna was the concubine of Eliphaz, the son of Esau: and
she bore him Amalech. These are the sons of Ada, the wife of Esau.
36:13. And the sons of Rahuel were Nahath and Zara, Samma and Meza.
These were the sons of Basemath, the wife of Esau.
36:14. And these were the sons of Oolibama, the daughter of Ana, the
daughter of Sebeon, the wife of Esau, whom she bore to him, Jehus, and
Ihelon, and Core.
36:15. These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz, the
firstborn of Esau: duke Theman, duke Omar, duke Sepho, duke Cenez,
36:16. Duke Core, duke Gatham, duke Amalech: these are the sons of
Eliphaz, in the land of Edom, and these the sons of Ada.
36:17. And these were the sons of Rahuel, the son of Esau: duke Nahath,
duke Zara, duke Samma, duke Meza. And these are the dukes of Rahuel, in
the land of Edom: these the sons of Basemath, the wife of Esau.
36:18. And these the sons of Oolibama, the wife of Esau: duke Jehus,
duke Ihelon, duke Core. These are the dukes of Oolibama, the daughter
of Ana, and wife of Esau.
36:19. These are the sons of Esau, and these the dukes of them: the
same is Edom.
36:20. These are the sons of Seir, the Horrite, the inhabitants of the
land: Lotan, and Sobal, and Sebeon, and Ana,
36:21. And Dison, and Eser, and Disan. These are dukes of the Horrites,
the sons of Seir, in the land of Edom.
36:22. And Lotan had sons: Hori and Heman. And the sister of Lotan was
Thamna.
36:23. And these the sons of Sobal: Alvan, and Manahat, and Ebal, and
Sepho, and Onam.
36:24. And these the sons of Sebeon: Aia and Ana. This is Ana that
found the hot waters in the wilderness, when he fed the asses of
Sebeon, his father:
36:25. And he had a son Dison, and a daughter Oolibama.
36:26. And these were the sons of Dison: Hamdan, and Eseban, and
Jethram, and Charan.
36:27. These also were the sons of Eser: Balaan, and Zavan, and Acan.
36:28. And Dison had sons: Hus and Aram.
36:29. These were dukes of the Horrites: duke Lotan, duke Sobal, duke
Sebeon, duke Ana,
36:30. Duke Dison, duke Eser, duke Disan: these were dukes of the
Horrites that ruled in the land of Seir.
36:31. And the kings that ruled in the land of Edom, before the
children of Israel had a king, were these:
36:32. Bela the son of Beor, and the name of his city Denaba.
36:33. And Bela died, and Jobab, the son of Zara, of Bosra, reigned in
his stead.
36:34. And when Jobab was dead, Husam, of the land of the Themanites,
reigned in his stead.
36:35. And after his death, Adad, the son of Badad, reigned in his
stead, who defeated the Madianites in the country of Boab; and the name
of his city was Avith.
36:36. And when Adad was dead, there reigned in his stead, Semla, of
Masreca.
36:37. And he being dead, Saul, of the river Rohoboth, reigned in his
stead.
36:38. And when he also was dead, Balanan, the son of Achobor,
succeeded to the kingdom.
36:39. This man also being dead, Adar reigned in his place; and the
name of his city was Phau: and his wife was called Meetabel, the
daughter of Matred, daughter of Mezaab.
36:40. And these are the names of the dukes of Esau in their kindreds,
and places, and callings: duke Thamna, duke Alva, duke Jetheth,
36:41. Duke Oolibama, duke Ela, duke Phinon,
36:42. Duke Cenez, duke Theman, duke Mabsar,
36:43. Duke Magdiel, duke Hiram: these are the dukes of Edom dwelling
in the land of their government; the same is Esau, the father of the
Edomites.
Genesis Chapter 37
Joseph's dreams: he is sold by his brethren, and carried into Egypt.
37:1. And Jacob dwelt in the land of Chanaan, wherein his father
sojourned.
37:2. And these are his generations: Joseph, when he was sixteen years
old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, being but a boy: and he
was with the sons of Bala and of Zelpha his father's wives: and he
accused his brethren to his father of a most wicked crime.
37:3. Now Israel loved Joseph above all his sons, because he had him in
his old age: and he made him a coat of divers colours.
37:4. And his brethren seeing that he was loved by his father, more
than all his sons, hated hem, and could not speak peaceably to him.
37:5. Now it fell out also that he told his brethren a dream, that he
had dreamed: which occasioned them to hate him the more.
A dream. . .These dreams of Joseph were prophetical, and sent from God;
as were also those which he interpreted, Gen. 40. and 41.; otherwise
generally speaking, the observing of dreams is condemned in the
Scripture, as superstitious and sinful. See Deut. 18.10; Eccli. 34.2,3.
37:6. And he said to them: Hear my dream which I dreamed.
37:7. I thought we were binding sheaves in the field: and my sheaf
arose as it were, and stood, and your sheaves standing about bowed down
before my sheaf.
37:8. His brethren answered: Shalt thou be our king? or shall we be
subject to thy dominion? Therefore this matter of his dreams and words
ministered nourishment to their envy and hatred.
37:9. He dreamed also another dream, which he told his brethren,
saying: I saw in a dream, as it were the sun, and the moon, and eleven
stars worshipping me.
37:10. And when he had told this to his father, and brethren, his
father rebuked him and said: What meaneth this dream that thou hast
dreamed? shall I and thy mother, and thy brethren worship thee upon the
earth?
Worship. . .This word is not used here to signify divine worship, but an
inferior veneration, expressed by the bowing of the body, and that,
according to the manner of the eastern nations, down to the ground.
37:11. His brethren therefore envied him: but his father considered the
thing with himself.
37:12. And when his brethren abode in Sechem, feeding their father's
flocks,
37:13. Israel said to him: Thy brethren feed the sheep in Sichem: come,
I will send thee to them. And when he answered:
37:14. I am ready: he said to him: Go, and see if all things be well
with thy brethren, and the cattle: and bring me word again what is
doing. So being sent from the vale of Hebron, he came to Sichem:
37:15. And a man found him there wandering in the field, and asked what
he sought.
37:16. But he answered: I seek my brethren, tell me where they feed the
flocks.
37:17. And the man said to him: They are departed from this place: for
I heard them say: Let us go to Dothain. And Joseph went forward after
his brethren, and found them in Dothain.
37:18. And when they saw him afar off, before he came nigh them, they
thought to kill him:
37:19. And said one to another: Behold the dreamer cometh.
37:20. Come, let us kill him, and cast him into some old pit: and we
will say: Some evil beast hath devoured him: and then it shall appear
what his dreams avail him:
37:21. And Ruben hearing this, endeavoured to deliver him out of their
hands, and said:
37:22. Do not take away his life, nor shed his blood: but cast him into
this pit, that is in the wilderness, and keep your hands harmless: now
he said this, being desirous to deliver him out of their hands and to
restore him to his father.
37:23. And as soon as he came to his brethren, they forthwith stript
him of his outside coat, that was of divers colours:
37:24. And cast him into an old pit where there was not water.
37:25. And sitting down to eat bread, they saw some Ismaelites on their
way coming from Galaad, with their camels, carrying spices, and balm,
and myrrh to Egypt.
37:26. And Juda said to his brethren: What will it profit us to kill
our brother, and conceal his blood?
37:27. It is better that he be sold to the Ismaelites, and that our
hands be not defiled: for he is our brother and our flesh. His brethren
agreed to his words.
37:28. And when the Madianite merchants passed by, they drew him out of
the pit, and sold him to the Ismaelites, for twenty pieces of silver:
and they led him into Egypt.
37:29. And Ruben returning to the pit, found not the boy:
37:30. And rending his garments he went to his brethren, and said: The
boy doth not appear, and whither shall I go?
37:31. And they took his coat, and dipped it in the blood of a kid,
which they had killed:
37:32. Sending some to carry it to their father, and to say: This we
have found: see whether it be thy son's coat, or not.
37:33. And the father acknowledging it, said: It is my son's coat, an
evil wild beast hath eaten him, a beast hath devoured Joseph.
37:34. And tearing his garments, he put on sackcloth, mourning for his
son a long time.
37:35. And all his children being gathered together to comfort their
father in his sorrow, he would not receive comfort, but said: I will go
down to my son into hell, mourning. And whilst he continued weeping,
Into hell. . .That is, into limbo, the place where the souls of the just
were received before the death of our Redeemer. For allowing that the
word hell sometimes is taken for the grave, it cannot be so taken in
this place; since Jacob did not believe his son to be in the grave,
(whom he supposed to be devoured by a wild beast,) and therefore could
not mean to go down to him thither: but certainly meant the place of
rest where he believed his soul to be.
37:36. The Madianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Putiphar, an eunuch of
Pharao, captain of the soldiers.
An eunuch. . .This word sometimes signifies a chamberlain, courtier, or
officer of the king: and so it is taken in this place.
Genesis Chapter 38
The sons of Juda: the death of Her and Onan: the birth of Phares and
Zara.
38:1. At that time Juda went down from his brethren, and turned in to a
certain Odollamite, named Hiras.
38:2. And he saw there the daughter of a man of Chanaan, called Sue:
and taking her to wife, he went in unto her.
38:3. And she conceived, and bore a son, and called his name Her.
38:4. And conceiving again, she bore a son, and called him Onan.
38:5. She bore also a third: whom she called Sela. After whose birth,
she ceased to bear any more.
38:6. And Juda took a wife for Her, his first born, whose name was
Thamar.
38:7. And Her, the first born of Juda, was wicked in the sight of the
Lord: and was slain by him.
38:8. Juda, therefore, said to Onan his son: Go in to thy brother's
wife and marry her, that thou mayst raise seed to thy brother.
38:9. He knowing that the children should not be his, when he went in
to his brother's wife, he spilled his seed upon the ground, lest
children should be born in his brother's name.
38:10. And therefore the Lord slew him, because he did a detestable
thing:
38:11. Wherefore Juda said to Thamar his daughter-in-law: Remain a
widow in thy father's house, till Sela my son grow up: for he was
afraid lest he also might die, as his brethren did. She went her way,
and dwelt in her father's house.
38:12. And after many days were past: the daughter of Sue the wife of
Juda died: and when he had taken comfort after his mourning, he went up
to Thamnas, to the shearers of his sheep, he and Hiras the Odollamite,
the shepherd of his flock.
38:13. And it was told Thamar that her father-in-law was come up to
Thamnas to shear his sheep.
38:14. And she put off the garments of her widowhood, and took a veil:
and changing her dress, sat in the cross way, that leadeth to Thamnas:
because Sela was grown up, and she had not been married to him.
38:15. When Juda saw her, he thought she was a harlot: for she had
covered her face, lest she should be known.
38:16. And going to her, he said: Suffer me to lie with thee: for he
knew her not to be his daughter-in-law. And she answered: What wilt
thou give me to enjoy my company?
38:17. He said: I will send thee a kid out of the flock. And when she
said again: I will suffer what thou wilt, if thou give me a pledge,
till thou send what thou promisest.
38:18. Juda said: What wilt thou have for a pledge? She answered: Thy
ring and bracelet, and the staff which thou holdest in thy hand. The
woman therefore at one copulation conceived.
38:19. And she arose and went her way: and putting off the apparel
which she had taken, put on the garments of her widowhood.
38:20. And Juda sent a kid by his shepherd, the Odollamite, that he
might receive the pledge again, which he had given to the woman: but
he, not finding her,
38:21. Asked the men of that place: Where is the woman that sat in the
cross way? And when they all made answer: There was no harlot in this
place,
38:22. He returned to Juda, and said to him: I have not found her;
moreover, the men of that place said to me, that there never sat a
harlot there.
38:23. Juda said: Let her take it to herself, surely she cannot charge
us with a lie, I sent the kid which I promised: and thou didst not find
her.
38:24. And behold, after three months, they told Juda, saying: Thamar,
thy daughter-in-law, hath played the harlot, and she appeareth to have
a big belly. And Juda said: Bring her out that she may be burnt.
38:25. But when she was led to execution, she sent to her father in
law, saying: By the man, to whom these things belong, I am with child.
See whose ring, and bracelet, and staff this is.
38:26. But he acknowledging the gifts, said: She is juster than I:
because I did not give her to Sela, my son. However he knew her no
more.
38:27. And when she was ready to be brought to bed, there appeared
twins in her womb: and in the very delivery of the infants, one put
forth a hand, whereon the midwife tied a scarlet thread, saying:
38:28. This shall come forth the first.
38:29. But he drawing back his hand, the other came forth: and the
woman said: Why is the partition divided for thee? and therefore called
his name Phares.
Phares. . .That is, a breach or division.
38:30. Afterwards his brother came out, on whose hand was the scarlet
thread: and she called his name Zara.
Genesis Chapter 39
Joseph hath charge of his master's house: rejecteth his mistress's
solicitations: is falsely accused by her, and cast into prison, where
he hath the charge of all the prisoners.
39:1. And Joseph was brought into Egypt, and Putiphar, an eunuch of
Pharao, chief captain of the army, an Egyptian, bought him of the
Ismaelites, by whom he was brought.
39:2. And the Lord was with him, and he was a prosperous man in all
things: and he dwelt in his master's house:
39:3. Who knew very well that the Lord was with him, and made all that
he did to prosper in his hand.
39:4. And Joseph found favour in the sight of his master, and
ministered to him: and being set over all by him, he governed the house
committed to him, and all things that were delivered to him:
39:5. And the Lord blessed the house of the Egyptian for Joseph's sake,
and multiplied all his substance, both at home and in the fields.
39:6. Neither knew he any other thing, but the bread which he ate. And
Joseph was of a beautiful countenance, and comely to behold.
39:7. And after many days, his mistress cast her eyes on Joseph, and
said: Lie with me.
39:8. But he in no wise consenting to that wicked act said to her:
Behold, my master hath delivered all things to me, and knoweth not what
he hath in his own house:
39:9. Neither is there any thing which is not in my power, or that he
hath not delivered to me, but thee, who art his wife; how then can I do
this wicked thing, and sin against my God?
39:10. With such words as these day by day, both the woman was
importunate with the young man, and he refused the adultery.
39:11. Now it happened on a certain day, that Joseph went into the
house, and was doing some business, without any man with him:
39:12. And she catching the skirt of his garment, said: Lie with me.
But he leaving the garment in her hand, fled, and went out.
39:13. And when the woman saw the garment in her hands, and herself
disregarded,
39:14. She called to her the men of her house, and said to them: See,
he hath brought in a Hebrew, to abuse us: he came in to me, to lie with
me; and when I cried out,
39:15. And he heard my voice, he left the garment that I held, and got
him out.
39:16. For a proof therefore of her fidelity, she kept the garment, and
shewed it to her husband when he returned home:
A proof of her fidelity. . .or an argument to gain credit, argumentum
fidei.
39:17. And said: The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought, came to me
to abuse me.
39:18. And when he heard me cry, he left the garment which I held, and
fled out.
39:19. His master hearing these things, and giving too much credit to
his wife's words, was very angry,
39:20. And cast Joseph into the prison, where the king's prisoners were
kept, and he was there shut up.
39:21. But the Lord was with Joseph, and having mercy upon him gave him
favour in the sight of the chief keeper of the prison:
39:22. Who delivered into his hand all the prisoners that were kept in
custody: and whatsoever was done, was under him.
39:23. Neither did he himself know any thing, having committed all
things to him: for the Lord was with him, and made all that he did to
prosper.
Genesis Chapter 40
Joseph interpreteth the dreams of two of Pharao's servants in prison:
the event declareth the interpretations to be true, but Joseph is
forgotten.
40:1. After this, it came to pass, that two eunuchs, the butler and the
baker of the king of Egypt, offended their lord.
40:2. And Pharao being angry with them, (now the one was chief butler,
the other chief baker,)
40:3. He sent them to the prison of the commander of the soldiers, in
which Joseph also was prisoner.
40:4. But the keeper of the prison delivered them to Joseph, and he
served them. Some little time passed, and they were kept in custody.
40:5. And they both dreamed a dream the same night, according to the
interpretation agreeing to themselves:
40:6. And when Joseph was come into them in the morning, and saw them
sad,
40:7. He asked them, saying: Why is your countenance sadder today than
usual?
40:8. They answered: We have dreamed a dream, and there is nobody to
interpret it to us. And Joseph said to them: Doth not interpretation
belong to God? Tell me what you have dreamed:
Doth not interpretation belong to God?. . .When dreams are from God, as
these were, the interpretation of them is a gift of God. But the
generality of dreams are not of this sort; but either proceed from the
natural complexions and dispositions of persons, or the roving of their
imaginations in the day on such objects as they are much affected with,
or from their mind being disturbed with cares and troubles, and
oppressed with bodily infirmities: or they are suggested by evil
spirits, to flatter, or to terrify weak minds, in order to gain belief,
and so draw them into error or superstition; or at least to trouble
them in their sleep, whom they cannot move when they are awake: so that
the general rule, with regard to dreams, is not to observe them, nor to
give any credit to them.
40:9. The chief butler first told his dream: I saw before me a vine,
40:10. On which were three branches, which by little and little sent
out buds, and after the blossoms brought forth ripe grapes:
40:11. And the cup of Pharao was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and
pressed them into the cup which I held, and I gave the cup to Pharao.
40:12. Joseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dream: The
three branches, are yet three days:
40:13. After which Pharao will remember thy service, and will restore
thee to thy former place: and thou shalt present him the cup according
to thy office, as before thou was wont to do.
40:14. Only remember me when it shall be well with thee, and do me this
kindness: to put Pharao in mind to take me out of this prison:
40:15. For I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here
without any fault was cast into the dungeon.
40:16. The chief baker seeing that he had wisely interpreted the dream,
said: I also dreamed a dream, That I had three baskets of meal upon my
head:
40:17. And that in one basket which was uppermost, I carried all meats
that are made by the art of baking, and that the birds ate out of it.
40:18. Joseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dream: The
three baskets, are yet three days:
40:19. After which Pharao will take thy head from thee, and hang thee
on a cross, and the birds shall tear thy flesh.
40:20. The third day after this was the birthday of Pharao: and he made
a great feast for his servants, and at the banquet remembered the chief
butler, and the chief baker.
40:21. And he restored the one to his place, to present him the cup:
40:22. The other he hanged on a gibbet, that the truth of the
interpreter might be shewn.
40:23. But the chief butler, when things prospered with him, forgot his
interpreter.
Genesis Chapter 41
Joseph interpreteth the two dreams of Pharao: he is made ruler over all
Egypt.
41:1. After two years Pharao had a dream. He thought he stood by the
river,
41:2. Out of which came up seven kine, very beautiful and fat: and they
fed in marshy places.
41:3. Other seven also came up out of the river, ill-favoured, and lean
fleshed: and they fed on the very bank of the river, in green places:
41:4. And they devoured them, whose bodies were very beautiful and well
conditioned. So Pharao awoke.
41:5. He slept again, and dreamed another dream: Seven ears of corn
came up upon one stalk full and fair:
41:6. Then seven other ears sprung up thin and blasted,
41:7. And devoured all the beauty of the former. Pharao awaked after
his rest:
41:8. And when morning was come, being struck with fear, he sent to all
the interpreters of Egypt, and to all the wise men: and they being
called for, he told them his dream, and there was not any one that
could interpret it.
41:9. Then at length the chief butler remembering, said: I confess my
sin:
41:10. The king being angry with his servants, commanded me and the
chief baker to be cast into the prison of the captain of the soldiers.
41:11. Where in one night both of us dreamed a dream foreboding things
to come.
41:12. There was there a young man a Hebrew, servant to the same
captain of the soldiers: to whom we told our dreams,
41:13. And we heard what afterwards the event of the thing proved to be
so. For I was restored to my office: and he was hanged upon a gibbet.
41:14. Forthwith at the king's command Joseph was brought out of the
prison, and they shaved him: and changing his apparel brought him in to
him.
41:15. And he said to him: I have dreamed dreams, and there is no one
that can expound them: Now I have heard that thou art very wise at
interpreting them:
41:16. Joseph answered: Without me, God shall give Pharao a prosperous
answer.
41:17. So Pharao told what he had dreamed: Methought I stood upon the
bank of the river,
41:18. And seven kine came up out of the river, exceeding beautiful and
full of flesh: and they grazed on green places in a marshy pasture.
41:19. And behold, there followed these, other seven kine, so very
ill-favoured and lean, that I never saw the like in the land of Egypt:
41:20. And they devoured and consumed the former,
41:21. And yet gave no mark of their being full: but were as lean and
ill-favoured as before. I awoke, and then fell asleep again,
41:22. And dreamed a dream: Seven ears of corn grew up upon one stalk,
full and very fair.
41:23. Other seven also thin and blasted, sprung of the stalk:
41:24. And they devoured the beauty of the former: I told this dream to
the conjecturers, and there is no man that can expound it.
41:25. Joseph answered: The king's dream is one: God hath shewn to
Pharao what he is about to do.
41:26. The seven beautiful kine, and the seven full ears, are seven
years of plenty: and both contain the same meaning of the dream.
41:27. And the seven lean and thin kine that came up after them, and
the seven thin ears that were blasted with the burning wind, are seven
years of famine to come:
41:28. Which shall be fulfilled in this order.
41:29. Behold, there shall come seven years of great plenty in the
whole land of Egypt:
41:30. After which shall follow other seven years of so great scarcity,
that all the abundance before shall be forgotten: for the famine shall
consume all the land,
41:31. And the greatness of the scarcity shall destroy the greatness of
the plenty.
41:32. And for that thou didst see the second time a dream pertaining
to the same thing: it is a token of the certainty, and that the word of
God cometh to pass, and is fulfilled speedily.
41:33. Now therefore let the king provide a wise and industrious man,
and make him ruler over the land of Egypt:
41:34. That he may appoint overseers over all the countries: and gather
into barns the fifth part of the fruits, during the seven fruitful
years,
41:35. That shall now presently ensue: and let all the corn be laid up,
under Pharao's hands, and be reserved in the cities.
41:36. And let it be in readiness, against the famine of seven years to
come, which shall oppress Egypt, and the land shall not be consumed
with scarcity.
41:37. The counsel pleased Pharao, and all his servants.
41:38. And he said to them: Can we find such another man, that is full
of the spirit of God?
41:39. He said therefore to Joseph: Seeing God hath shewn thee all that
thou hast said, can I find one wiser and one like unto thee?
41:40. Thou shalt be over my house, and at the commandment of thy mouth
all the people shall obey: only in the kingly throne will I be above
thee.
41:41. And again Pharao said to Joseph: Behold, I have appointed thee
over the whole land of Egypt.
41:42. And he took his ring from his own hand, and gave it into his
hand: and he put upon him a robe of silk, and put a chain of gold about
his neck.
41:43. And he made him go up into his second chariot, the crier
proclaiming that all should bow their knee before him, and that they
should know he was made governor over the whole land of Egypt.
41:44. And the king said to Joseph: I am Pharao: without thy
commandment no man shall move hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
41:45. And he turned his name, and called him in the Egyptian tongue
the saviour of the world. And he gave him to wife Aseneth, the daughter
of Putiphare, priest of Heliopolis. Then Joseph went out to the land of
Egypt.
The saviour of the world. . .Zaphnah paaneah.
41:46. (Now he was thirty years old when he stood before king Pharao),
and he went round all the countries of Egypt.
41:47. And the fruitfulness of the seven years came: and the corn being
bound up into sheaves, was gathered together into the barns of Egypt.
41:48. And all the abundance of grain was laid up in every city.
41:49. And there was so great abundance of wheat, that it was equal to
the sand of the sea, and the plenty exceeded measure.
41:50. And before the famine came, Joseph had two sons born: whom
Aseneth, the daughter of Putiphare, priest of Heliopolis, bore unto
him.
41:51. And he called the name of the firstborn Manasses, saying: God
hath made me to forget all my labours, and my father's house.
Manasses. . .That is, oblivion, or forgetting.
41:52. And he named the second Ephraim, saying: God hath made me to
grow in the land of my poverty.
Ephraim. . .That is, fruitful, or growing.
41:53. Now when the seven years of plenty that had been in Egypt were
passed:
41:54. The seven years of scarcity, which Joseph had foretold, began to
come: and the famine prevailed in the whole world, but there was bread
in all the land of Egypt.
41:55. And when there also they began to be famished, the people cried
to Pharao, for food. And he said to them: Go to Joseph: and do all
that he shall say to you.
41:56. And the famine increased daily in all the land: and Joseph
opened all the barns, and sold to the Egyptians: for the famine had
oppressed them also.
41:57. And all provinces came into Egypt, to buy food, and to seek some
relief of their want.
Genesis Chapter 42
Jacob sendeth his ten sons to buy corn in Egypt. Their treatment by
Joseph.
42:1. And Jacob hearing that food was sold in Egypt, said to his sons:
Why are ye careless?
42:2. I have heard that wheat is sold in Egypt: Go ye down, and buy us
necessaries, that we may live, and not be consumed with want.
42:3. So the ten brethren of Joseph went down, to buy corn in Egypt:
42:4. Whilst Benjamin was kept at home by Jacob, who said to his
brethren: Lest perhaps he take any harm in the journey.
42:5. And they entered into the land of Egypt with others that went to
buy. For the famine was in the land of Chanaan.
42:6. And Joseph was governor in the land of Egypt, and corn was sold
by his direction to the people. And when his brethren had bowed down to
him,
42:7. And he knew them, he spoke as it were to strangers, somewhat
roughly, asking them: Whence came you? They answered: From the land of
Chanaan, to buy necessaries of life.
42:8. And though he knew his brethren, he was not known by them.
42:9. And remembering the dreams, which formerly he had dreamed, he
said to them: You are spies. You are come to view the weaker parts of
the land.
You are spies. . .This he said by way of examining them, to see what
they would answer.
42:10. But they said: It is not so, my lord; but thy servants are come
to buy food.
42:11. We are all the sons of one man: we are come as peaceable men,
neither do thy servants go about any evil.
42:12. And he answered them: It is otherwise: you are come to consider
the unfenced parts of this land.
42:13. But they said: We thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of
one man in the land of Chanaan: the youngest is with our father, the
other is not living.
42:14. He saith, This is it that I said: You are spies.
42:15. I shall now presently try what you are: by the health of Pharao,
you shall not depart hence, until your youngest brother come.
42:16. Send one of you to fetch him: and you shall be in prison, till
what you have said be proved, whether it be true or false: or else by
the health of Pharao you are spies.
Or else by the health of Pharao you are spies. . .That is, if these
things you say be proved false, you are to be held for spies for your
lying, and shall be treated as such. Joseph dealt in this manner with
his brethren, to bring them by the means of affliction to a sense of
their former sin, and a sincere repentance for it.
42:17. So he put them in prison three days.
42:18. And the third day he brought them out of prison, and said: Do as
I have said, and you shall live: for I fear God.
42:19. If you be peaceable men, let one of your brethren be bound in
prison: and go ye your ways, and carry the corn that you have bought,
unto your houses.
42:20. And bring your youngest brother to me, that I may find your
words to be true, and you may not die. They did as he had said.
42:21. And they talked one to another: We deserve to suffer these
things, because we have sinned against our brother, seeing the anguish
of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear: therefore is
this affliction come upon us.
42:22. And Ruben, one of them, said: Did not I say to you: Do not sin
against the boy; and you would not hear me? Behold his blood is
required.
42:23. And they knew not that Joseph understood, because he spoke to
them by an interpreter.
42:24. And he turned himself away a little while, and wept: and
returning, he spoke to them.
42:25. And taking Simeon, and binding him in their presence, he
commanded his servants to fill their sacks with wheat, and to put every
man's money again in their sacks, and to give them besides provisions
for the way: and they did so.
42:26. But they having loaded their asses with the corn went their way.
42:27. And one of them opening his sack, to give his beast provender in
the inn, saw the money in the sack's mouth,
42:28. And said to his brethren: My money is given me again; behold it
is in the sack. And they were astonished, and troubled, and said to one
another: What is this that God hath done unto us?
42:29. And they came to Jacob their father in the land of Chanaan, and
they told him all things that had befallen them, saying:
42:30. The lord of the land spoke roughly to us, and took us to be
spies of the country.
42:31. And we answered him: We are peaceable men, and we mean no plot.
42:32. We are twelve brethren born of one father: one is not living,
the youngest is with our father in the land of Chanaan.
42:33. And he said to us: Hereby shall I know that you are peaceable
men: Leave one of your brethren with me, and take ye necessary
provision for your houses, and go your ways,
42:34. And bring your youngest brother to me, that I may know you are
not spies: and you may receive this man again, that is kept in prison:
and afterwards may have leave to buy what you will.
42:35. When they had told this, they poured out their corn, and every
man found his money tied in the mouth of his sack: and all being
astonished together,
42:36. Their father Jacob said: You have made me to be without
children: Joseph is not living, Simeon is kept in bonds, and Benjamin
you will take away: all these evils are fallen upon me.
42:37. And Ruben answered him: Kill my two sons, if I bring him not
again to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will restore him to
thee.
42:38. But he said: My son shall not go down with you: his brother is
dead, and he is left alone: if any mischief befall him in the land to
which you go, you will bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to hell.
To hell. . .That is, to that place, where the souls then remained, as
above, chapter 37. ver. 35.
Genesis Chapter 43
The sons of Jacob go again into Egypt with Benjamin. They are
entertained by Joseph.
43:1. In the mean time the famine was heavy upon all the land.
43:2. And when they had eaten up all the corn, which they had brought
out of Egypt, Jacob said to his sons: Go again, and buy us a little
food.
43:3. Juda answered: The man declared unto us with the attestation of
an oath, saying: You shall not see my face, unless you bring your
youngest brother with you.
43:4. If therefore thou wilt send him with us, we will set out
together, and will buy necessaries for thee.
43:5. But if thou wilt not, we will not go: for the man, as we have
often said, declared unto us, saying: You shall not see my face without
your youngest brother.
43:6. Israel said to them: You have done this for my misery, in that
you told him you had also another brother.
43:7. But they answered: The man asked us in order concerning our
kindred: if our father lived: if we had a brother: and we answered him
regularly, according to what he demanded: could we know that he would
say: Bring hither your brother with you?
43:8. And Juda said to his father: Send the boy with me, that we may
set forward, and may live: lest both we and our children perish.
43:9. I take the boy upon me, require him at my hand: unless I bring
him again, and restore him to thee, I will be guilty of sin against
thee for ever.
43:10. If delay had not been made, we had been here again the second
time.
43:11. Then Israel said to them: If it must needs be so, do what you
will: take of the best fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry
down presents to the man, a little balm, and honey, and storax, myrrh,
turpentine, and almonds.
Balm. . .Literally rosin, resinae; but here by that name is meant balm.
43:12. And take with you double money, and carry back what you found in
your sacks, lest perhaps it was done by mistake.
43:13. And take also your brother, and go to the man.
43:14. And may my almighty God make him favourable to you: and send
back with you your brother, whom he keepeth, and this Benjamin: and as
for me I shall be desolate without children.
43:15. So the men took the presents, and double money, and Benjamin:
and went down into Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
43:16. And when he had seen them, and Benjamin with them, he commanded
the steward of his house, saying: Bring in the men into the house, and
kill victims, and prepare a feast: because they shall eat with me at
noon.
43:17. He did as he was commanded, and brought the men into the house.
43:18. And they being much afraid, said there one to another: Because
of the money, which we carried back the first time in our sacks, we are
brought in: that he may bring upon us a false accusation, and by
violence make slaves of us and our asses.
43:19. Wherefore, going up to the steward of the house, at the door,
43:20. They said: Sir, we desire thee to hear us. We came down once
before to buy food:
43:21. And when we had bought, and were come to the inn, we opened our
sacks, and found our money in the mouths of the sacks: which we have
now brought again in the same weight.
43:22. And we have brought other money besides, to buy what we want: we
cannot tell who put it in our bags.
43:23. But he answered: Peace be with you, fear not: your God, and the
God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks. For the
money, which you gave me, I have for good. And he brought Simeon out to
them.
43:24. And having brought them into the house, he fetched water, and
they washed their feet, and he gave provender to their asses.
43:25. But they made ready the presents, against Joseph came at noon:
for they had heard that they should eat bread there.
43:26. Then Joseph came in to his house, and they offered him the
presents, holding them in their hands; and they bowed down with their
face to the ground.
43:27. But he courteously saluting them again, asked them, saying: Is
the old man your father in health, of whom you told me? Is he yet
living?
43:28. And they answered: Thy servant our father, is in health; he is
yet living. And bowing themselves, they made obeisance to him.
43:29. And Joseph lifting up his eyes, saw Benjamin, his brother by the
same mother, and said: Is this your young brother, of whom you told me?
And he said: God be gracious to thee, my son.
43:30. And he made haste, because his heart was moved upon his brother,
and tears gushed out: and going into his chamber, he wept.
43:31. And when he had washed his face, coming out again, he refrained
himself, and said: Set bread on the table.
43:32. And when it was set on, for Joseph apart, and for his brethren
apart, for the Egyptians also that ate with him apart, (for it is
unlawful for the Egyptians to eat with the Hebrews, and they think such
a feast profane):
43:33. They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright,
and the youngest according to his age. And they wondered very much;
43:34. Taking the messes which they received of him: and the greater
mess came to Benjamin, so that it exceeded by five parts. And they
drank, and were merry with him.
Genesis Chapter 44
Joseph's contrivance to stop his brethren. The humble supplication of
Juda.
44:1. And Joseph commanded the steward of his house, saying: Fill their
sacks with corn, as much as they can hold: and put the money of every
one in the top of his sack.
44:2. And in the mouth of the younger's sack put my silver cup, and the
price which he gave for the wheat. And it was so done.
44:3. And when the morning arose, they were sent away with their asses.
44:4. And when they were now departed out of the city, and had gone
forward a little way: Joseph sending for the steward of his house,
said: Arise, and pursue after the men: and when thou hast overtaken
them, say to them: Why have you returned evil for good?
44:5. The cup which you have stolen, is that in which my lord drinketh,
and in which he is wont to divine: you have done a very evil thing.
44:6. He did as he had commanded him. And having overtaken them, he
spoke to them the same words.
44:7. And they answered: Why doth our lord speak so, as though thy
servants had committed so heinous a fact?
44:8. The money, that we found in the top of our sacks, we brought back
to thee from the land of Chanaan: how then should it be that we should
steal out of thy lord's house, gold or silver?
44:9. With whomsoever of thy servants shall be found that which thou
seekest, let him die, and we will be the bondmen of my lord.
44:10. And he said to them: Let it be according to your sentence: with
whomsoever it shall be found, let him be my servant, and you shall be
blameless.
44:11. Then they speedily took down their sacks to the ground, and
every man opened his sack.
44:12. Which when he had searched, beginning at the eldest, and ending
at the youngest, he found the cup in Benjamin's sack.
44:13. Then they rent their garments, and loading their asses again,
returned into the town.
44:14. And Juda at the head of his brethren went in to Joseph (for he
was not yet gone out of the place) and they all together fell down
before him on the ground.
44:15. And he said to them: Why would you do so? know you not that
there is no one like me in the science of divining.
The science of divining. . .He speaks of himself according to what he
was esteemed in that kingdom. And indeed, he being truly a prophet,
knew more without comparison than any of the Egyptian sorcerers.
44:16. And Juda said to him: What shall we answer my lord? or what
shall we say, or be able justly to allege? God hath found out the
iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are all bondmen to my lord, both
we, and he with whom the cup was found.
44:17. Joseph answered: God forbid that I should do so: he that stole
the cup, he shall be my bondman: and go you away free to your father.
44:18. Then Juda coming nearer, said boldly: I beseech thee, my lord,
let thy servant speak a word in thy ears, and be not angry with thy
servant: for after Pharao thou art.
44:19. My lord. Thou didst ask thy servants the first time: Have you a
father or a brother.
44:20. And we answered thee, my lord: We have a father an old man, and
a young boy, that was born in his old age; whose brother by the mother
is dead; and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him
tenderly.
44:21. And thou saidst to thy servants: Bring him hither to me, and I
will set my eyes on him.
44:22. We suggested to my lord: The boy cannot leave his father: for if
he leave him, he will die.
44:23. And thou saidst to thy servants: Except your youngest brother
come with you, you shall see my face no more.
44:24. Therefore when we were gone up to thy servant our father, we
told him all that my lord had said.
44:25. And our father said: Go again, and buy us a little wheat.
44:26. And we said to him: We cannot go: if our youngest brother go
down with us, we will set out together: otherwise, without him we dare
not see the man's face.
44:27. Whereunto he answered: You know that my wife bore me two.
44:28. One went out, and you said: A beast devoured him; and hitherto
he appeareth not.
44:29. If you take this also, and any thing befall him in the way, you
will bring down my grey hairs with sorrow unto hell.
44:30. Therefore, if I shall go to thy servant, our father, and the boy
be wanting, (whereas his life dependeth upon the life of him,)
44:31. And he shall see that he is not with us, he will die, and thy
servants shall bring down his grey hairs with sorrow unto hell.
His gray hairs. . .That is, his person, now far advanced in years.--With
sorrow unto hell. . .The Hebrew word for hell is here sheol, the Greek
hades: it is not taken for the hell of the damned; but for that place
of souls below where the servants of God were kept before the coming of
Christ. Which place, both in the Scripture and in the creed, is named
hell.
44:32. Let me be thy proper servant, who took him into my trust, and
promised, saying: If I bring him not again, I will be guilty of sin
against my father for ever.
44:33. Therefore I, thy servant, will stay instead of the boy in the
service of my lord, and let the boy go up with his brethren.
44:34. For I cannot return to my father without the boy, lest I be a
witness of the calamity that will oppress my father.
Genesis Chapter 45
Joseph maketh himself known to his brethren: and sendeth for his
father.
45:1. Joseph could no longer refrain himself before many that stood by:
whereupon he commanded that all should go out, and no stranger be
present at their knowing one another.
45:2. And he lifted up his voice with weeping, which the Egyptians, and
all the house of Pharao heard.
45:3. And he said to his brethren: I am Joseph: Is my father yet
living? His brethren could not answer him, being struck with exceeding
great fear.
45:4. And he said mildly to them: Come nearer to me. And when they were
come near him, he said: I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into
Egypt.
45:5. Be not afraid, and let it not seem to you a hard case that you
sold me into these countries: for God sent me before you into Egypt for
your preservation.
45:6. For it is two years since the famine began to be upon the land,
and five years more remain, wherein there can be neither ploughing nor
reaping.
45:7. And God sent me before, that you may be preserved upon the earth,
and may have food to live.
45:8. Not by your counsel was I sent hither, but by the will of God:
who hath made me as it were a father to Pharao, and lord of his whole
house, and governor in all the land of Egypt.
45:9. Make haste, and go ye up to my father, and say to him: Thus saith
thy son Joseph: God hath made me lord of the whole land of Egypt; come
down to me, linger not.
45:10. And thou shalt dwell in the land of Gessen: and thou shalt be
near me, thou and thy sons, and thy sons' sons, thy sheep, and thy
herds, and all things that thou hast.
45:11. And there I will feed thee, (for there are yet five years of
famine remaining) lest both thou perish, and thy house, and all things
that thou hast.
45:12. Behold, your eyes, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, see that
it is my mouth that speaketh to you.
45:13. You shall tell my father of all my glory, and all things that
you have seen in Egypt: make haste and bring him to me.
45:14. And falling upon the neck of his brother Benjamin, he embraced
him and wept: and Benjamin in like manner wept also on his neck.
45:15. And Joseph kissed all his brethren, and wept upon every one of
them: after which they were emboldened to speak to him.
45:16. And it was heard, and the fame was spread abroad in the king's
court: The brethren of Joseph are come; and Pharao with all his family
was glad.
45:17. And he spoke to Joseph that he should give orders to his
brethren, saying: Load your beasts, and go into the land of Chanaan,
45:18. And bring away from thence your father and kindred, and come to
me; and I will give you all the good things of Egypt, that you may eat
the marrow of the land.
45:19. Give orders also that they take wagons out of the land of Egypt,
for the carriage of their children and their wives; and say: Take up
your father, and make haste to come with all speed:
45:20. And leave nothing of your household stuff; for all the riches of
Egypt shall be yours.
45:21. And the sons of Israel did as they were bid. And Joseph gave
them wagons according to Pharao's commandment: and provisions for the
way.
45:22. He ordered also to be brought out for every one of them two
robes: but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, with
five robes of the best:
45:23. Sending to his father as much money and raiment; adding besides,
ten he-asses, to carry off all the riches of Egypt, and as many
she-asses, carrying wheat and bread for the journey.
45:24. So he sent away his brethren, and at their departing said to
them: Be not angry in the way.
45:25. And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of
Chanaan, to their father Jacob.
45:26. And they told him, saying: Joseph, thy son, is living; and he is
ruler in all the land of Egypt. Which when Jacob heard, he awaked as it
were out of a deep sleep, yet did not believe them.
45:27. They, on the other side, told the whole order of the thing. And
when he saw the wagons, and all that he had sent, his spirit revived,
45:28. And he said: It is enough for me if Joseph, my son, be yet
living: I will go and see him before I die.
Genesis Chapter 46
Israel, warranted by a vision from God, goeth down into Egypt with all
his family.
46:1. And Israel taking his journey, with all that he had, came to the
well of the oath, and killing victims there to the God of his father
Isaac,
The well of the oath. . .Bersabee.
46:2. He heard him, by a vision in the night, calling him, and saying
to him: Jacob, Jacob. And he answered him: Lo, here I am.
46:3. God said to him: I am the most mighty God of thy father; fear
not, go down into Egypt, for I will make a great nation of thee there.
46:4. I will go down with thee thither, and will bring thee back again
from thence: Joseph also shall put his hands upon thy eyes.
46:5. And Jacob rose up from the well of the oath: and his sons took
him up, with their children and wives in the wagons, which Pharao had
sent to carry the old man,
46:6. And all that he had in the land of Chanaan: and he came into
Egypt with all his seed;
46:7. His sons, and grandsons, daughters, and all his offspring
together.
46:8. And these are the names of the children of Israel, that entered
into Egypt, he and his children. His firstborn Ruben,
46:9. The sons of Ruben: Henoch and Phallu, and Hesron and Charmi.
46:10. The sons of Simeon: Jamuel and Jamin and Ahod, and Jachin and
Sohar, and Saul, the son of a woman of Chanaan.
46:11. The sons of Levi: Gerson and Caath, and Merari.
46:12. The sons of Juda: Her and Onan, and Sela, and Phares and Zara.
And Her and Onan died in the land of Chanaan. And sons were born to
Phares: Hesron and Hamul.
46:13. The sons of Issachar: Thola and Phua, and Job and Semron.
46:14. The sons of Zabulon: Sared, and Elon, and Jahelel.
46:15. These are the sons of Lia, whom she bore in Mesopotamia of
Syria, with Dina, his daughter. All the souls of her sons and
daughters, thirty-three.
46:16. The sons of Gad: Sephion and Haggi, and Suni and Esebon, and
Heri and Arodi, and Areli.
46:17. The sons of Aser: Jamne and Jesua, and Jessuri and Beria, and
Sara their sister. The sons of Beria: Heber and Melchiel.
46:18. These are the sons of Zelpha, whom Laban gave to Lia, his
daughter. And these she bore to Jacob, sixteen souls.
46:19. The sons of Rachel, Jacob's wife: Joseph and Benjamin.
46:20. And sons were born to Joseph, in the land of Egypt, whom
Aseneth, the daughter of Putiphare, priest of Heliopolis, bore him:
Manasses and Ephraim.
46:21. The sons of Benjamin: Bela and Bechor, and Asbel and Gera, and
Naaman and Echi, and Ross and Mophim, and Ophim and Ared.
46:22. These are the sons of Rachel, whom she bore to Jacob: all the
souls, fourteen.
46:23. The sons of Dan: Husim.
46:24. The sons of Nephthali: Jaziel and Guni, and Jeser and Sallem.
46:25. These are the sons of Bala, whom Laban gave to Rachel, his
daughter: and these she bore to Jacob: all the souls, seven.
46:26. All the souls that went with Jacob into Egypt, and that came out
of his thigh, besides his sons' wives, sixty-six.
46:27. And the sons of Joseph, that were born to him in the land of
Egypt, two souls. All the souls of the house of Jacob, that entered
into Egypt, were seventy.
46:28. And he sent Juda before him to Joseph, to tell him; and that he
should meet him in Gessen.
46:29. And when he was come thither, Joseph made ready his chariot, and
went up to meet his father in the same place: and seeing him, he fell
upon his neck, and embracing him, wept.
46:30. And the father said to Joseph: Now shall I die with joy, because
I have seen thy face, and leave thee alive.
46:31. And Joseph said to his brethren, and to all his father's house:
I will go up, and will tell Pharao, and will say to him: My brethren,
and my father's house, that were in the land of Chanaan, are come to
me:
46:32. And the men are shepherds, and their occupation is to feed
cattle; their flocks, and herds, and all they have, they have brought
with them.
46:33. And when he shall call you, and shall say: What is your
occupation?
46:34. You shall answer: We, thy servants, are shepherds, from our
infancy until now, both we and our fathers. And this you shall say,
that you may dwell in the land of Gessen, because the Egyptians have
all shepherds in abomination.
Genesis Chapter 47
Jacob and his sons are presented before Pharao: he giveth them the land
of Gessen. The famine forceth the Egyptians to sell all their
possessions to the king.
47:1. Then Joseph went in and told Pharao, saying: My father and
brethren, their sheep and their herds, and all that they possess, are
come out of the land of Chanaan: and behold they stay in the land of
Gessen.
47:2. Five men also, the last of his brethren, he presented before the
king:
The last. . .xtremos. Some interpret this word of the chiefest, and most
rightly: but Joseph seems rather to have chosen out such as had the
meanest appearance, that Pharao might not think of employing them at
court, with danger of their morals and religion.
47:3. And he asked them: What is your occupation? They answered: We,
thy servants, are shepherds, both we and our fathers.
47:4. We are come to sojourn in thy land, because there is no grass for
the flocks of thy servants, the famine being very grievous in the land
of Chanaan: and we pray thee to give orders that we thy servants may be
in the land of Gessen.
47:5. The king therefore said to Joseph: Thy father and thy brethren
are come to thee.
47:6. The land of Egypt is before thee: and make them dwell in the best
place, and give them the land of Gessen. And if thou knowest that there
are industrious men among them, make them rulers over my cattle.
47:7. After this Joseph brought in his father to the king, and
presented him before him: and he blessed him.
47:8. And being asked by him: How many are the days of the years of thy
life?
47:9. He answered: The days of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty
years, few, and evil, and they are not come up to the days of the
pilgrimage of my fathers.
47:10. And blessing the king, he went out.
47:11. But Joseph gave a possession to his father and his brethren in
Egypt, in the best place of the land, in Ramesses, as Pharao had
commanded.
47:12. And he nourished them, and all his father's house, allowing food
to every one.
47:13. For in the whole world there was want of bread, and a famine had
oppressed the land, more especially of Egypt and Chanaan;
47:14. Out of which he gathered up all the money for the corn which
they bought, and brought it in to the king's treasure.
47:15. And when the buyers wanted money, all Egypt came to Joseph,
saying: Give us bread: why should we die in thy presence, having now no
money?
47:16. And he answered them: Bring me your cattle, and for them I will
give you food, if you have no money.
47:17. And when they had brought them, he gave them food in exchange
for their horses, and sheep, and oxen, and asses: and he maintained
them that year for the exchange of their cattle.
47:18. And they came the second year, and said to him: We will not hide
from our lord, how that our money is spent, and our cattle also are
gone: neither art thou ignorant that we have nothing now left but our
bodies and our lands.
47:19. Why therefore shall we die before thy eyes? we will be thine,
both we and our lands: buy us to be the king's servants, and give us
seed, lest for want of tillers the land be turned into a wilderness.
47:20. So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt, every man selling his
possessions, because of the greatness of the famine. And he brought it
into Pharao's hands:
47:21. And all its people from one end of the borders of Egypt, even to
the other end thereof,
47:22. Except the land of the priests, which had been given them by the
king: to whom also a certain allowance of food was given out of the
public stores, and therefore they were not forced to sell their
possessions.
47:23. Then Joseph said to the people: Behold, as you see, both you and
your lands belong to Pharao; take seed and sow the fields,
47:24. That you may have corn. The fifth part you shall give to the
king; the other four you shall have for seed, and for food for your
families and children.
47:25. And they answered: our life is in thy hand; only let my lord
look favourably upon us, and we will gladly serve the king.
47:26. From that time unto this day, in the whole land of Egypt, the
fifth part is paid to the kings, and it is become as a law, except the
land of the priests, which was free from this covenant.
47:27. So Israel dwelt in Egypt, that is, in the land of Gessen, and
possessed it; and grew, and was multiplied exceedingly.
47:28. And he lived in it seventeen years: and all the days of his life
came to a hundred and forty-seven years.
47:29. And when he saw that the day of his death drew nigh, he called
his son Joseph, and said to him: If I have found favour in thy sight,
put thy hand under my thigh; and thou shalt shew me this kindness and
truth, not to bury me in Egypt.
47:30. But I will sleep with my fathers, and thou shalt take me away
out of this land, and bury me in the burying place of my ancestors. And
Joseph answered him: I will do what thou hast commanded.
47:31. And he said: Swear then to me. And as he was swearing, Israel
adored God, turning to the bed's head.
To the bed's head. . .St. Paul, Heb. 11.21, following the Greek
translation of the Septuagint, reads adored the top of his rod. Where
note, that the same word in the Hebrew, according to the different
pointing of it, signifies both a bed and a rod. And to verify both
these sentences, we must understand that Jacob leaning on Joseph's rod
adored, turning towards the head of his bed: which adoration, inasmuch
as it was referred to God, was an absolute and sovereign worship: but
inasmuch as it was referred to the rod of Joseph, as a figure of the
sceptre, that is, of the royal dignity of Christ, was only an inferior
and relative honour.
Genesis Chapter 48
Joseph visiteth his father in his sickness, who adopteth his two sons
Manasses and Ephraim, and blesseth them, preferring the younger before
the elder.
48:1. After these things, it was told Joseph that his father was sick;
and he set out to go to him, taking his two sons Manasses and Ephraim.
48:2. And it was told the old man: Behold thy son Joseph cometh to
thee. And being strengthened, he sat on his bed.
48:3. And when Joseph was come in to him, he said: God almighty
appeared to me at Luza, which is in the land of Chanaan, and he blessed
me,
48:4. And said: I will cause thee to increase and multiply, and I will
make of thee a multitude of people: and I will give this land to thee,
and to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.
48:5. So thy two sons, who were born to thee in the land of Egypt
before I came hither to thee, shall be mine: Ephraim and Manasses shall
be reputed to me as Ruben and Simeon.
48:6. But the rest whom thou shalt have after them, shall be thine, and
shall be called by the name of their brethren in their possessions.
48:7. For, when I came out of Mesopotamia, Rachel died from me in the
land of Chanaan in the very journey, and it was spring time: and I was
going to Ephrata, and I buried her near the way of Ephrata, which by
another name is called Bethlehem.
48:8. Then seeing his sons, he said to him: Who are these?
48:9. He answered: They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this
place. And he said: Bring them to me, that I may bless them.
48:10. For Israel's eyes were dim by reason of his great age, and he
could not see clearly. And when they were brought to him, he kissed and
embraced them,
48:11. And said to his son: I am not deprived of seeing thee; moreover
God hath shewn me thy seed.
48:12. And when Joseph had taken them from his father's lap, he bowed
down with his face to the ground.
48:13. And he set Ephraim on his right hand, that is, towards the left
hand of Israel; but Manasses on his left hand, to wit, towards his
father's right hand, and brought them near to him.
48:14. But he, stretching forth his right hand, put it upon the head of
Ephraim, the younger brother; and the left upon the head of Manasses,
who was the elder, changing his hands.
48:15. And Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph, and said: God, in whose
sight my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, God that feedeth me from my
youth until this day:
48:16. The angel that delivereth me from all evils, bless these boys:
and let my name be called upon them, and the names of my fathers
Abraham and Isaac; and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.
48:17. And Joseph seeing that his father had put his right hand upon
the head of Ephraim, was much displeased: and taking his father's hand,
he tried to lift it from Ephraim's head, and to remove it to the head
of Manasses.
48:18. And he said to his father: It should not be so, my father; for
this is the firstborn, put thy right hand upon his head.
48:19. But he refusing, said: I know, my son, I know: and this also
shall become a people, and shall be multiplied; but his younger brother
shall be greater than he; and his seed shall grow into nations.
48:20. And he blessed them at that time, saying: In thee shall Israel
be blessed, and it shall be said: God do to thee as to Ephraim, and as
to Manasses. And he set Ephraim before Manasses.
48:21. And he said to Joseph, his son: Behold I die, and God will be
with you, and will bring you back into the land of your fathers.
48:22. I give thee a portion above thy brethren, which I took out of
the hand of the Amorrhite with my sword and bow.
Genesis Chapter 49
Jacob's prophetical blessings of his twelve sons: his death.
49:1. And Jacob called his sons, and said to them: Gather yourselves
together, that I may tell you the things that shall befall you in the
last days.
49:2. Gather yourselves together, and hear, O ye sons of Jacob, hearken
to Israel, your father:
49:3. Ruben, my firstborn, thou art my strength, and the beginning of
my sorrow; excelling in gifts, greater in command.
My strength, etc. . .He calls him his strength, as being born whilst his
father was in his full strength and vigour: he calls him the beginning
of his sorrow, because cares and sorrows usually come on with the birth
of children. Excelling in gifts, etc., because the firstborn had a
title to a double portion, and to have the command over his brethren,
which Ruben forfeited by his sin; being poured out as water, that is,
spilt and lost.
49:4. Thou art poured out as water, grow thou not; because thou wentest
up to thy father's bed, and didst defile his couch.
Grow thou not. . .This was not meant by way of a curse or imprecation;
but by way of a prophecy foretelling that the tribe of Ruben should not
inherit the pre-eminences usually annexed to the first birthright,
viz., the double portion, the being prince or lord over the other
brethren, and the priesthood: of which the double portion was given to
Joseph, the princely office to Juda, and the priesthood to Levi.
49:5. Simeon and Levi brethren: vessels of iniquity waging war.
49:6. Let not my soul go into their counsel, nor my glory be in their
assembly: because in their fury they slew a man, and in their self-will
they undermined a wall.
Slew a man,. . .viz., Sichem the son of Hemor, with all his people, Gen.
34.; mystically and prophetically it alludes to Christ, whom their
posterity, viz., the priests and the scribes, put to death.
49:7. Cursed be their fury, because it was stubborn: and their wrath,
because it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and will scatter
them in Israel.
49:8. Juda, thee shall thy brethren praise: thy hand shall be on the
necks of thy enemies; the sons of thy father shall bow down to thee.
49:9. Juda is a lion's whelp: to the prey, my son, thou art gone up:
resting thou hast couched as a lion, and as a lioness, who shall rouse
him?
A lion's whelp, etc. . .This blessing of Juda foretelleth the strength
of his tribe, the fertility of his inheritance; and principally that
the sceptre and legislative power should not be utterly taken away from
his race till about the time of the coming of Christ: as in effect it
never was: which is a demonstration against the modern Jews, that the
Messiah is long since come; for the sceptre has long since been utterly
taken away from Juda.
49:10. The sceptre shall not be taken away from Juda, nor a ruler from
his thigh, till he come that is to be sent, and he shall be the
expectation of nations.
49:11. Tying his foal to the vineyard, and his ass, O my son, to the
vine. He shall wash his robe in wine, and his garment in the blood of
the grape.
49:12. His eyes are more beautiful than wine, and his teeth whiter than
milk.
49:13. Zabulon shall dwell on the seashore, and in the road of ships,
reaching as far as Sidon.
49:14. Issachar shall be a strong ass, lying down between the borders.
49:15. He saw rest that it was good: and the land that it was
excellent: and he bowed his shoulder to carry, and became a servant
under tribute.
49:16. Dan shall judge his people like another tribe in Israel.
Dan shall judge, etc. . .This was verified in Samson, who was of the
tribe of Dan, and began to deliver Israel. Judges 13.5. But as this
deliverance was but temporal and very imperfect, the holy patriarch
(ver. 18) aspires after another kind of deliverer, saying: I will look
for thy salvation, O Lord.
49:17. Let Dan be a snake in the way, a serpent in the path, that
biteth the horse's heels, that his rider may fall backward.
49:18. I will look for thy salvation, O Lord.
49:19. Gad, being girded, shall fight before him: and he himself shall
be girded backward.
Gad being girded, etc. . .It seems to allude to the tribe of Gad; when
after they had received for their lot the land of Galaad, they marched
in arms before the rest of the Israelites, to the conquest of the land
of Chanaan: from whence they afterwards returned loaded with spoils.
See Jos. 4. and 12.
49:20. Aser, his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield dainties to
kings.
49:21. Nephthali, a hart let loose, and giving words of beauty.
49:22. Joseph is a growing son, a growing son and comely to behold: the
daughters run to and fro upon the wall;
Run to and fro, etc. . .To behold his beauty; whilst his envious
brethren turned their darts against him, etc.
49:23. But they that held darts, provoked him, and quarrelled with him,
and envied him.
49:24. His bow rested upon the strong, and the bands of his arms and
his hands were loosed, by the hands of the mighty one of Jacob: thence
he came forth a pastor, the stone of Israel.
His bow rested upon the strong, etc. . .That is, upon God, who was his
strength: who also loosed his bands, and brought him out of prison to
be the pastor, that is, the feeder and ruler of Egypt, and the stone,
that is, the rock and support of Israel.
49:25. The God of thy father shall be thy helper, and the Almighty
shall bless thee with the blessings of heaven above, with the blessings
of the deep that lieth beneath, with the blessings of the breasts and
of the womb.
49:26. The blessings of thy father are strengthened with the blessings
of his fathers: until the desire of the everlasting hills should come:
may they be upon the head of Joseph, and upon the crown of the Nazarite
among his brethren.
The blessings of thy father, etc. . .That is, thy father's blessings are
made more prevalent and effectual in thy regard, by the additional
strength they receive from his inheriting the blessings of his
progenitors Abraham and Isaac. The desire of the everlasting hills,
etc. . .These blessings all looked forward towards Christ, called the
desire of the everlasting hills, as being longed for, as it were, by
the whole creation. Mystically, the patriarchs and prophets are called
the everlasting hills, by reason of the eminence of their wisdom and
holiness. The Nazarite. . .This word signifies one separated; and agrees
to Joseph, as being separated from, and more eminent than, his
brethren. As the ancient Nazarites were so called from their being set
aside for God, and vowed to him.
49:27. Benjamin a ravenous wolf, in the morning shall eat the prey, and
in the evening shall divide the spoil.
49:28. All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: these things their
father spoke to them, and he blessed every one with their proper
blessings.
49:29. And he charged them, saying: I am now going to be gathered to my
people: bury me with my fathers in the double cave, which is in the
field of Ephron the Hethite,
To be gathered to my people. . .That is, I am going to die, and so to
follow my ancestors that are gone before me, and to join their company
in another world.
49:30. Over against Mambre, in the land of Chanaan, which Abraham
bought together with the field, of Ephron the Hethite, for a possession
to bury in.
49:31. There they buried him, and Sara his wife: there was Isaac buried
with Rebecca, his wife: there also Lia doth lie buried.
49:32. And when he had ended the commandments, wherewith he instructed
his sons, he drew up his feet upon the bed, and died: and he was
gathered to his people.
Genesis Chapter 50
The mourning for Jacob, and his interment. Joseph's kindness towards
his brethren. His death.
50:1. And when Joseph saw this, he fell upon his father's face, weeping
and kissing him.
50:2. And he commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his
father.
50:3. And while they were fulfilling his commands, there passed forty
days: for this was the manner with bodies that were embalmed, and Egypt
mourned for him seventy days.
50:4. And the time of the mourning being expired, Joseph spoke to the
family of Pharao: If I have found favour in your sight, speak in the
ears of Pharao:
50:5. For my father made me swear to him, saying: Behold I die; thou
shalt bury me in my sepulchre which I have digged for myself in the
land of Chanaan. So I will go up and bury my father, and return.
50:6. And Pharao said to him: Go up and bury thy father according as he
made thee swear.
50:7. So he went up, and there went with him all the ancients of
Pharao's house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt.
50:8. And the house of Joseph with his brethren, except their children,
and their flocks and herds, which they left in the land of Gessen.
50:9. He had also in his train chariots and horsemen: and it was a
great company.
50:10. And they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is situated
beyond the Jordan: where celebrating the exequies with a great and
vehement lamentation, they spent full seven days.
50:11. And when the inhabitants of Chanaan saw this, they said: This is
a great mourning to the Egyptians. And therefore the name of that place
was called, The mourning of Egypt.
50:12. So the sons of Jacob did as he had commanded them.
50:13. And carrying him into the land of Chanaan, they buried him in
the double cave, which Abraham had bought together with the field for a
possession of a burying place, of Ehpron, the Hethite, over against
Mambre.
50:14. And Joseph returned into Egypt with his brethren, and all that
were in his company, after he had buried his father.
50:15. Now he being dead, his brethren were afraid, and talked one with
another: Lest perhaps he should remember the wrong he suffered, and
requite us all the evil that we did to him.
50:16. And they sent a message to him, saying: Thy father commanded us
before he died,
50:17. That we should say thus much to thee from him: I beseech thee to
forget the wickedness of thy brethren, and the sin and malice they
practised against thee: we also pray thee, to forgive the servants of
the God of thy father this wickedness. And when Joseph heard this, he
wept.
50:18. And his brethren came to him; and worshipping prostrate on the
ground, they said: We are thy servants.
50:19. And he answered them: Fear not: can we resist the will of God?
50:20. You thought evil against me: but God turned it into good, that
he might exalt me, as at present you see, and might save many people.
50:21. Fear not: I will feed you and your children. And he comforted
them, and spoke gently and mildly.
50:22. And he dwelt in Egypt with all his father's house; and lived a
hundred and ten years. And he saw the children of Ephraim to the third
generation. The children also of Machir, the sons of Manasses, were
born on Joseph's knees.
50:23. After which he told his brethren: God will visit you after my
death, and will make you go up out of this land, to the land which he
swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
50:24. And he made them swear to him, saying: God will visit you, carry
my bones with you out of this place:
50:25. And he died, being a hundred and ten years old. And being
embalmed, he was laid in a coffin in Egypt.
THE BOOK OF EXODUS
The Second Book of Moses is called EXODUS, from the Greek word EXODOS,
which signifies going out: because it contains the history of the going
out of the children of Israel out of Egypt. The Hebrews, from the words
with which it begins, call it VEELLE SEMOTH: These are the names. It
contains transactions for 145 years; that is, from the death of Joseph
to the erecting of the tabernacle.
Exodus Chapter 1
The Israelites are multiplied in Egypt. They are oppressed by a new
king, who commandeth all their male children to be killed.
1:1. These are the names of the children of Israel, that went into
Egypt with Jacob: they went in every man with his household:
1:2. Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda,
1:3. Issachar, Zabulon, and Benjamin,
1:4. Dan, and Nephthali, Gad and Aser.
1:5. And all the souls that came out of Jacob's thigh, were seventy:
but Joseph was in Egypt.
1:6. After he was dead, and all his brethren, and all that generation,
1:7. The children of Israel increased, and sprung up into multitudes,
and growing exceedingly strong they filled the land.
1:8. In the mean time there arose a new king over Egypt, that knew not
Joseph:
1:9. And he said to his people: Behold the people of the children of
Israel are numerous and stronger than we.
1:10. Come let us wisely oppress them, lest they multiply: and if any
war shall rise against us, join with our enemies, and having overcome
us, depart out of the land.
1:11. Therefore he set over them masters of the works, to afflict them
with burdens: and they built for Pharao cities of tabernacles, Phithom,
and Ramesses.
Of tabernacles. . .Or, of storehouses.
1:12. But the more they oppressed them, the more they were multiplied
and increased.
1:13. And the Egyptians hated the children of Israel, and afflicted
them and mocked them:
1:14. And they made their life bitter with hard works in clay and
brick, and with all manner of service, wherewith they were overcharged
in the works of the earth.
1:15. And the king of Egypt spoke to the midwives of the Hebrews: of
whom one was called Sephora, the other Phua,
1:16. Commanding them: When you shall do the office of midwives to the
Hebrew women, and the time of delivery is come: if it be a man child,
kill it: if a woman, keep it alive.
1:17. But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt
had commanded, but saved the men children.
1:18: And the king called for them and said: What is it that you meant
to do, that you would save the men children?
1:19. They answered: The Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women:
for they themselves are skilful in the office of a midwife; and they
are delivered before we come to them.
1:20. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people
multiplied and grew exceedingly strong.
1:21. And because the midwives feared God, he built them houses.
Because the midwives feared God, etc. . .The midwives were rewarded, not
for their lie, which was a venial sin; but for their fear of God, and
their humanity: but this reward was only temporal, in building them
houses, that is, in establishing and enriching their families.
1:22. Pharao therefore charged all his people, saying: Whatsoever shall
be born of the male sex, ye shall cast into the river: whatsoever of
the female, ye shall save alive.
Exodus Chapter 2
Moses is born and exposed on the bank of the river; where he is taken
up by the daughter of Pharao, and adopted for her son. He killeth an
Egyptian, and fleeth into Madian; where he marrieth a wife.
2:1. After this there went a man of the house of Levi; and took a wife
of his own kindred.
2:2. And she conceived, and bore a son: and seeing him a goodly child,
hid him three months.
2:3. And when she could hide him no longer, she took a basket made of
bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and pitch: and put the little babe
therein, and laid him in the sedges by the river's brink,
2:4. His sister standing afar off, and taking notice what would be
done.
2:5. And behold the daughter of Pharao came down to wash herself in the
river: and her maids walked by the river's brink. And when she saw the
basket in the sedges she sent one of her maids for it: and when it was
brought,
2:6. She opened it, and seeing within it an infant crying, having
compassion on it, she said: This is one of the babes of the Hebrews.
2:7. And the child's sister said to her: Shall I go, and call to thee a
Hebrew woman, to nurse the babe?
2:8. She answered: Go. The maid went and called her mother.
2:9. And Pharao's daughter said to her: Take this child, and nurse him
for me: I will give thee thy wages. The woman took and nursed the
child: and when he was grown up, she delivered him to Pharao's
daughter.
2:10. And she adopted him for a son, and called him Moses, saying:
Because I took him out of the water.
Moses. . .Or Moyses, in the Egyptian tongue, signifies one taken or
saved out of the water.
2:11. In those days, after Moses was grown up, he went out to his
brethren: and saw their affliction, and an Egyptian striking one of the
Hebrews, his brethren.
2:12. And when he had looked about this way and that way, and saw no
one there, he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
He slew the Egyptian. . .This he did by a particular inspiration of God;
as a prelude to his delivering the people from their oppression and
bondage. He thought, says St. Stephen, Acts 7.25, that his brethren
understood that God by his hand would save them. But such particular
and extraordinary examples are not to be imitated.
2:13. And going out the next day, he saw two Hebrews quarrelling: and
he said to him that did the wrong: Why strikest thou thy neighbour?
2:14. But he answered: Who hath appointed thee prince and judge over
us? wilt thou kill me, as thou didst yesterday kill the Egyptian? Moses
feared, and said: How is this come to be known?
2:15. And Pharao heard of this word, and sought to kill Moses: but he
fled from his sight, and abode in the land of Madian, and he sat down
by a well.
Madian. . .A city and country of Arabia, which took its name from Madian
the son of Abraham, by Cetura, and was peopled by his posterity.
2:16. And the priest of Madian had seven daughters, who came to draw
water: and when the troughs were filled, desired to water their
father's flocks.
2:17. And the shepherds came and drove them away: and Moses arose, and
defending the maids, watered their sheep.
2:18: And when they returned to Raguel their father, he said to them:
Why are ye come sooner than usual?
Raguel. . .He had two names, being also called Jethro, as appears from
the first verse of the following chapter.
2:19. They answered: A man of Egypt delivered us from the hands of the
shepherds: and he drew water also with us, and gave the sheep to drink.
2:20. But he said: Where is he? why have you let the man go? call him
that he may eat bread.
2:21. And Moses swore that he would dwell with him. And he took Sephora
his daughter to wife:
2:22. And she bore him a son, whom he called Gersam, saying: I have
been a stranger in a foreign country. And she bore another, whom he
called Eliezer, saying: For the God of my father, my helper, hath
delivered me out of the hand of Pharao.
Gersam. . .Or Gershom. This name signifies a stranger there: as Eliezer
signifies the help of God.
2:23. Now after a long time the king of Egypt died: and the children of
Israel groaning, cried out because of the works: and their cry went up
unto God from the works.
2:24. And he heard their groaning, and remembered the covenant which he
made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
2:25. And the Lord looked upon the children of Israel, and he knew
them.
Knew them. . .That is, he had respect to them, he cast a merciful eye
upon them.
Exodus Chapter 3
God appeareth to Moses in a bush, and sendeth him to deliver Israel.
3:1. Now Moses fed the sheep of Jethro, his father in law, the priest
of Madian: and he drove the flock to the inner parts of the desert, and
came to the mountain of God, Horeb.
3:2. And the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst
of a bush: and he saw that the bush was on fire, and was not burnt.
The Lord appeared. . .That is, an angel representing God, and speaking
in his name.
3:3. And Moses said: I will go, and see this great sight, why the bush
is not burnt.
3:4. And when the Lord saw that he went forward to see, he called to
him out of the midst of the bush. and said: Moses, Moses. And he
answered: Here I am.
3:5. And he said: Come not nigh hither, put off the shoes from thy
feet; for the place, whereon thou standest, is holy ground.
3:6. And he said: I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the
God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Moses hid his face: for he durst
not look at God.
3:7. And the Lord said to him: I have seen the affliction of my people
in Egypt, and I have heard their cry because of the rigour of them that
are over the works;
3:8. And knowing their sorrow, I am come down to deliver them out of
the hands of the Egyptians, and to bring them out of that land into a
good and spacious land, into a land that floweth with milk and honey,
to the places of the Chanaanite, and Hethite, and Amorrhite, and
Pherezite, and Hevite, and Jebusite.
3:9. For the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have
seen their affliction, wherewith they are oppressed by the Egyptians.
3:10. But come, and I will send thee to Pharao, that thou mayst bring
forth my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.
3:11. And Moses said to God: Who am I that I should go to Pharao, and
should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
3:12. And he said to him: I will be with thee; and this thou shalt have
for a sign that I have sent thee: When thou shalt have brought my
people out of Egypt, thou shalt offer sacrifice to God upon this
mountain.
3:13. Moses said to God: Lo, I shall go to the children of Israel, and
say to them: The God of your fathers hath sent me to you. If they shall
say to me: What is his name? What shall I say to them?
3:14. God said to Moses: I AM WHO AM. He said: Thus shalt thou say to
the children of Israel: HE WHO IS, hath sent me to you.
I am who am. . .That is, I am being itself, eternal, self-existent,
independent, infinite; without beginning, end, or change; and the
source of all other beings.
3:15. And God said again to Moses: Thus shalt thou say to the children
of Israel: The Lord God of your fathers the God of Abraham, the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob hath sent me to you; this is my name for
ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
3:16. Go and gather together the ancients of Israel, and thou shalt say
to them: The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared to me, saying: Visiting I
have visited you; and I have seen all that hath befallen you in Egypt.
3:17. And I have said the word to bring you forth out of the affliction
of Egypt, into the land of the Chanaanite, and Hethite, and Amorrhite,
and Pherezite, and Hevite, and Jebusite, to a land that floweth with
milk and honey.
3:18: And they shall hear thy voice; and thou shalt go in, thou and the
ancients of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and thou shalt say to him:
The Lord God of the Hebrews hath called us; we will go three days'
journey into the wilderness, to sacrifice unto the Lord our God.
3:19. But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, but by a
mighty hand.
3:20. For I will stretch forth my hand, and will strike Egypt with all
my wonders which I will do in the midst of them: after these he will
let you go.
3:21. And I will give favour to this people, in the sight of the
Egyptians: and when you go forth, you shall not depart empty:
3:22. But every woman shall ask of her neighbour, and of her that is in
her house, vessels of silver and of gold, and raiment: and you shall
put them on your sons and daughters, and shall spoil Egypt.
Shall spoil, etc. . .That is, you shall strip, and take away the goods
of the Egyptians. This was not authorizing theft or injustice; but was
a just disposal made by Him, who is the great lord and master of all
things, in order to pay the children of Israel some part of what was
due to them from the Egyptians for their labours.
Exodus Chapter 4
Moses is empowered to confirm his mission with miracles: his brother
Aaron is appointed to assist him.
4:1. Moses answered, and said: They will not believe me, nor hear my
voice, but they will say: The Lord hath not appeared to thee.
4:2. Then he said to him: What is that thou holdest in thy hand? He
answered: A rod.
4:3. And the Lord said: Cast it down upon the ground. He cast it down,
and it was turned into a serpent, so that Moses fled from it.
4:4. And the Lord said: Put out thy hand, and take it by the tail. He
put forth his hand, and took hold of it, and it was turned into a rod.
4:5. That they may believe, saith he, that the Lord God of their
fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,
hath appeared to thee.
4:6. And the Lord said again: Put thy hand into thy bosom. And when he
had put it into his bosom, he brought it forth leprous as snow.
4:7. And he said: Put back thy hand into thy bosom. He put it back, and
brought it out again, and it was like the other flesh.
4:8. If they will not believe thee, saith he, nor hear the voice of the
former sign, they will believe the word of the latter sign.
4:9. But if they will not even believe these two signs, nor hear thy
voice: take of the river water, and pour it out upon the dry land, and
whatsoever thou drawest out of the river, shall be turned into blood.
4:10. Moses said: I beseech thee, Lord, I am not eloquent from
yesterday and the day before; and since thou hast spoken to thy
servant, I have more impediment and slowness of tongue.
4:11. The Lord said to him: Who made man's mouth? or who made the dumb
and the deaf, the seeing and the blind? did not I?
4:12. Go therefore, and I will be in thy mouth; and I will teach thee
what thou shalt speak.
4:13. But he said: I beseech thee, Lord, send whom thou wilt send.
4:14. The Lord being angry at Moses, said: Aaron the Levite is thy
brother, I know that he is eloquent: behold he cometh forth to meet
thee, and seeing thee, shall be glad at heart.
4:15. Speak to him, and put my words in his mouth: and I will be in thy
mouth, and in his month, and will shew you what you must do.
4:16. He shall speak in thy stead to the people, and shall be thy
mouth: but thou shalt be to him in those things that pertain to God.
4:17. And take this rod in thy hand. wherewith thou shalt do the signs.
4:18: Moses went his way, and returned to Jethro his father in law, and
said to him; I will go and return to my brethren into Egypt, that I may
see if they be yet alive. And Jethro said to him: Go in peace.
4:19. And the Lord said to Moses, in Madian: Go, and return into Egypt;
for they are all dead that sought thy life.
4:20. Moses therefore took his wife, and his sons, and set them upon an
ass; and returned into Egypt, carrying the rod of God in his hand.
4:21. And the Lord said to him as he was returning into Egypt: See that
thou do all the wonders before Pharao, which I have put in thy hand: I
shall harden his heart, and he will not let the people go.
I shall harden, etc. . .Not by being the efficient cause of his sin; but
by withdrawing from him, for his just punishment, the dew of grace that
might have softened his heart; and so suffering him to grow harder and
harder.
4:22. And thou shalt say to him: Thus saith the Lord: Israel is my son,
my firstborn.
4:23. I have said to thee: Let my son go, that he may serve me, and
thou wouldst not let him go: behold I will kill thy son, thy firstborn.
4:24. And when he was in his journey, in the inn, the Lord met him, and
would have killed him.
The Lord met him, and would have killed him. . .This was an angel
representing the Lord, who treated Moses in this manner, for having
neglected the circumcision of his younger son; which his wife
understanding, circumcised her child upon the spot, upon which the
angel let Moses go.
4:25. Immediately Sephora took a very sharp stone, and circumcised the
foreskin of her son, and touched his feet, and said: A bloody spouse
art thou to me.
4:26. And he let him go after she had said: A bloody spouse art thou to
me, because of the circumcision.
4:27. And the Lord said to Aaron: Go into the desert to meet Moses. And
he went forth to meet him in the mountain of God, and kissed him.
4:28. And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord, by which he had
sent him, and the signs that he had commanded.
4:29. And they came together, and they assembled all the ancients of
the children of Israel.
4:30. And Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had said to Moses:
and he wrought the signs before the people.
4:31. And the people believed. And they heard that the Lord had visited
the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction:
and falling down they adored.
Exodus Chapter 5
Pharao refuseth to let the people go. They are more oppressed.
5:1. After these things, Moses and Aaron went in, and said to Pharao:
Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: Let my people go, that they may
sacrifice to me in the desert.
5:2. But he answered: Who is the Lord, that I should hear his voice,
and let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.
5:3. And they said: The God of the Hebrews hath called us, to go three
days' journey into the wilderness, and to sacrifice to the Lord our
God; lest a pestilence or the sword fall upon us.
5:4. The king of Egypt said to them: Why do you Moses and Aaron draw
off the people from their works? Get you gone to your burdens.
5:5. And Pharao said: The people of the land are numerous; you see that
the multitude is increased; how much more if you give them rest from
their works?
5:6. Therefore he commanded the same day the overseers of the works,
and the task-masters of the people, saying:
5:7. You shall give straw no more to the people to make brick, as
before; but let them go and gather straw.
5:8. And you shall lay upon them the task of bricks, which they did
before; neither shall you diminish any thing thereof, for they are
idle, and therefore they cry. saying: Let us go and sacrifice to our
God.
5:9. Let them be oppressed with works, and let them fulfil them; that
they may not regard lying words.
5:10. And the overseers of the works, and the taskmasters, went out and
said to the people: Thus saith Pharao: I allow you no straw;
5:11. Go, and gather it where you can find it; neither shall any thing
of your work be diminished.
5:12. And the people was scattered through all the land of Egypt to
gather straw.
5:13. And the overseers of the works pressed them, saying: Fulfil your
work every day, as before ye were wont to do, when straw was given you.
5:14. And they that were over the works of the children of Israel, were
scourged by Pharao's taskmasters, saying: Why have you not made up the
task of bricks, both yesterday and to day, as before?
5:15. And the officers of the children of Israel came, and cried out to
Pharao, saying: Why dealest thou so with thy servants?
5:16. Straw is not given us, and bricks are required of us as before;
behold we, thy servants, are beaten with whips, and thy people is
unjustly dealt withal.
5:17. And he said: You are idle, and therefore you say: Let us go and
sacrifice to the Lord.
5:18: Go therefore and work: straw shall not be given you, and you
shall deliver the accustomed number of bricks.
5:19. And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in
evil case, because it was said to them: There shall not a whit be
diminished of the bricks for every day.
5:20. And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood over against them as they
came out from Pharao:
5:21. And they said to them: The Lord see and judge, because you have,
made our savour to stink before Pharao and his servants, and you have
given him a sword, to kill us.
5:22. And Moses returned to the Lord, and said: Lord, why hast thou
afflicted this people? wherefore hast thou sent me?
5:23. For since the time that I went in to Pharao to speak in thy name,
he hath afflicted thy people: and thou hast not delivered them.
Exodus Chapter 6
God reneweth his promise. The genealogies of Ruben, Simon and Levi,
down to Moses and Aaron.
6;1. And the Lord said to Moses: Now thou shalt see what I will do to
Pharao: for by a mighty hand shall he let them go, and with a strong
hand shall he cast them out of his land.
6:2. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: I am the Lord
6:3. That appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, by the name of
God Almighty: and my name ADONAI I did not shew them.
My name Adonai. . .The name, which is in the Hebrew text, is that most
proper name of God, which signifieth his eternal, self-existent being,
Ex. 3.14, which the Jews out of reverence never pronounce; but, instead
of it, whenever it occurs in the Bible, they read Adonai, which
signifies the Lord; and, therefore, they put the points or vowels,
which belong to the name Adonai, to the four letters of that other
ineffable name Jod, He, Vau, He. Hence some moderns have framed the
name Jehovah, unknown to all the ancients, whether Jews or Christians;
for the true pronunciation of the name, which is in the Hebrew text, by
long disuse, is now quite lost.
6:4. And I made a covenant with them, to give them the land of Chanaan,
the land of their pilgrimage wherein they were strangers.
6:5. I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, wherewith the
Egyptians have oppressed them: and I have remembered my covenant.
6:6. Therefore say to the children of Israel: I am the Lord who will
bring you out from the work-prison of the Egyptians, and will deliver
you from bondage: and redeem you with a high arm, and great judgments.
6:7. And I will take you to myself for my people, I will be your God:
and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out
from the work-prison of the Egyptians:
6:8. And brought you into the land, concerning which I lifted up my
hand to give it to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: and I will give it you to
possess: I am the Lord.
6:9. And Moses told all this to the children of Israel: but they did
not hearken to him, for anguish of spirit, and most painful work.
6:10. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
6:11. Go in, and speak to Pharao king of Egypt, that he let the
children of Israel go out of his land.
6:12. Moses answered before the Lord: Behold the children of Israel do
not hearken to me: and how will Pharao hear me, especially as I am of
uncircumcised lips?
Uncircumcised lips. . .So he calls the defect he had in his words, or
utterance.
6:13. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and he gave them a charge
unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharao the king of Egypt, that
they should bring forth the children of Israel out of the land of
Egypt.
6:14. These are the heads of their houses by their families. The sons
of Ruben the firstborn of Israel: Henoch and Phallu, Hesron and Charmi.
6:15. These are the kindreds of Ruben. The sons of Simeon, Jamuel and
Jamin, and Ahod, and Jachin, and Soar, and Saul the son of a
Chanaanitess: these are the families of Simeon.
6:16. And these are the names of the sons of Levi by their kindreds:
Gerson, and Caath, and Merari. And the years of the life of Levi were a
hundred and thirty-seven.
6:17. The sons of Gerson: Lobni and Semei, by their kindreds.
6:18: The sons of Caath: Amram, and Isaar, and Hebron and Oziel. And
the years of Caath's life, were a hundred and thirty-three.
6:19. The sons of Merari: Moholi and Musi. These are the kindreds of
Levi by their families.
6:20. And Amram took to wife Jochabed his aunt by the father's side:
and she bore him Aaron and Moses. And the years of Amram's life, were a
hundred and thirty-seven.
6:21. The sons also of Isaar: Core, and Nepheg, and Zechri.
6:22. The sons also of Oziel: Mizael, and Elizaphan, and Sethri.
6:23. And Aaron took to wife Elizabeth the daughter of Aminadab, sister
of Nahason, who bore him Nadab, and Abiu, and Eleazar, and Ithamar.
6:24. The sons also of Core: Aser, and Elcana, and Abiasaph. These are
the kindreds of the Corites.
6:25. But Eleazar the son of Aaron took a wife of the daughters of
Phutiel: and she bore him Phinees. These are the heads of the Levitical
families by their kindreds.
6:26. These are Aaron and Moses, whom the Lord commanded to bring forth
the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their companies.
6:27. These are they that speak to Pharao, king of Egypt, in order to
bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: these are that Moses and
Aaron,
6:28. In the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt.
6:29. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: I am the Lord; speak thou to
Pharao, king of Egypt, all that I say to thee.
6:30. And Moses said before the Lord: Lo I am of uncircumcised lips,
how will Pharao hear me?
Exodus Chapter 7
Moses and Aaron go into Pharao: they turn the rod into a serpent; and
the waters of Egypt into blood, which was the first plague. The
magicians do the like, and Pharao's heart is hardened.
7:1. And the Lord said to Moses: Behold, I have appointed thee the god
of Pharao; and Aaron, thy brother, shall be thy prophet.
The god of Pharao. . .Viz., to be his judge; and to exercise a divine
power, as God's instrument, over him and his people.
7:2. Thou shalt speak to him all that I command thee; and he shall
speak to Pharao, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.
7:3. But I shall harden his heart, and shall multiply my signs and
wonders in the land of Egypt.
I shall harden, etc. . .not by being the efficient cause of his hardness
of heart, but by permitting it; and by withdrawing grace from him, in
punishment of his malice; which alone was the proper cause of his being
hardened.
7:4. And he will not hear you: and I will lay my hand upon Egypt, and
will bring forth my army and my people, the children of Israel, out of
the land of Egypt, by very great judgments.
7:5. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, who have
stretched forth my hand upon Egypt, and have brought forth the children
of Israel out of the midst of them.
7:6. And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord had commanded; so did they.
7:7. And Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three, when they
spoke to Pharao.
7:8. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron:
7:9. When Pharao shall say to you, Shew signs; thou shalt say to Aaron:
Take thy rod, and cast it down before Pharao, and it shall be turned
into a serpent.
7:10. So Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharao, and did as the Lord had
commanded. And Aaron took the rod before Pharao and his servants, and
it was turned into a serpent.
7:11. And Pharao called the wise men and the magicians; and they also
by Egyptian enchantments and certain secrets, did in like manner.
Magicians. . .Jannes, and Mambres, or Jambres, 2 Tim. 3.8.
7:12. And they every one cast down their rods, and they were turned
into serpents: but Aaron's rod devoured their rods.
7:13. And Pharao's heart was hardened, and he did not hearken to them,
as the Lord had commanded.
7:14. And the Lord said to Moses: Pharao's heart is hardened, he will
not let the people go.
7:15. Go to him in the morning, behold he will go out to the waters:
and thou shalt stand to meet him on the ' bank of the river: and thou
shalt take in thy hand the rod that was turned into a serpent.
7:16. And thou shalt say to him: The Lord God of the Hebrews sent me to
thee, saying: Let my people go to sacrifice to me in the desert: and
hitherto thou wouldst not hear.
7:17. Thus therefore saith the Lord: In this thou shalt know that I am
the Lord: behold I will strike with the rod, that is in my hand, the
water of the river, and it shall be turned into blood.
7:18: And the fishes that are in the river, shall die, and the waters
shall be corrupted, and the Egyptians shall be afflicted when they
drink the water of the river.
7:19. The Lord also said to Moses: Say to Aaron, Take thy rod; and
stretch forth thy hand upon the waters of Egypt, and upon their rivers,
and streams and pools, and all the ponds of waters, that they may be
turned into blood: and let blood be in all the land of Egypt, both in
vessels of wood and of stone.
7:20. And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord had commanded: and lifting up
the rod, he struck the water of the river before Pharao and his
servants: and it was turned into blood.
7:21. And the fishes that were in the river died; and the river
corrupted, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river,
and there was blood in all the land of Egypt.
7:22. And the magicians of the Egyptians with their enchantments did in
like manner; and Pharao's heart was hardened, neither did he hear them,
as the Lord had commanded.
7:23. And he turned himself away, and went into his house, neither did
he set his heart to it this time also.
7:24. And all the Egyptians dug round about the river for water to
drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.
7:25. And seven days were fully ended, after that the Lord struck the
river.
Exodus Chapter 8
The second plague is of frogs: Pharao promiseth to let the Israelites
go, but breaketh his promise. The third plague is of sciniphs. The
fourth is of flies. Pharao again promiseth to dismiss the people, but
doth it not.
8:1. And the Lord said to Moses: Go in to Pharao, and thou shalt say to
him: Thus saith the Lord: Let my people go to sacrifice to me.
8:2. But if thou wilt not let them go, behold I will strike all thy
coasts with frogs.
8:3. And the river shall bring forth an abundance of frogs; which shall
come up and enter into thy house, and thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed,
and into the houses of thy servants, and to thy people, and into thy
ovens, and into the remains of thy meats:
8:4. And the frogs shall come in to thee, and to thy people, and to all
thy servants.
8:5. And the Lord said to Moses: Say to Aaron: Stretch forth thy hand
upon the streams, and upon the rivers and the pools, and bring forth
frogs upon the land of Egypt.
8:6. And Aaron stretched forth his hand upon the waters of Egypt, and
the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.
8:7. And the magicians also, by their enchantments, did in like manner,
and they brought forth frogs upon the land of Egypt.
8:8. But Pharao called Moses and Aaron, and said to them: Pray ye to
the Lord to take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will
let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.
Pray ye to the Lord, etc. . .By this it appears, that though the
magicians, by the help of the devil, could bring frogs, yet they could
not take them away: God being pleased to abridge in this the power of
Satan. So we see they could not afterwards produce the lesser insects;
and in this restraint of the power of the devil, were forced to
acknowledge the finger of God.
8:9. And Moses said to Pharao: Set me a time when I shall pray for
thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, that the frogs may be
driven away from thee and from thy house, and from thy servants, and
from thy people; and may remain only in the river.
8:10. And he answered: To morrow. But he said: I will do according to
thy word; that thou mayest know that there is none like to the Lord our
God.
8:11. And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy house, and
from thy servants, and from thy people; and shall remain only in the
river.
8:12. And Moses and Aaron went forth from Pharao: and Moses cried to
the Lord for the promise, which he had made to Pharao concerning the
frogs.
8:13. And the Lord did according to the word of Moses: and the frogs
died out of the houses, and out of the villages, and out of the fields:
8:14. And they gathered them together into immense heaps, and the land
was corrupted.
8:15. And Pharao seeing that rest was given, hardened his own heart,
and did not hear them, as the Lord had commanded.
Pharao hardened his own heart. . .By this we see that Pharao was himself
the efficient cause of his heart being hardened, and not God.--See the
same repeated in ver. 32. Pharao hardened his heart at this time also:
likewise chap. 9.7, 35, and chap. 13.15.
8:16. And the Lord said to Moses: Say to Aaron: Stretch forth thy rod,
and strike the dust of the earth; and may there be sciniphs in all the
land of Egypt.
Sciniphs. . .Or Cinifs, Hebrew Chinnim, small flying insects, very
troublesome both to men and beast.
8:17. And they did so. And Aaron stretched forth his hand, holding the
rod; and he struck the dust of the earth, and there came sciniphs on
men and on beasts: all the dust of the earth was turned into sciniphs
through all the land of Egypt.
8:18: And the magicians with their enchantments practised in like
manner, to bring forth sciniphs, and they could not: and there were
sciniphs as well on men as on beasts.
8:19. And the magicians said to Pharao: This is the finger of God. And
Pharao's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them, as the
Lord had commanded.
8:20. The Lord also said to Moses: Arise early, and stand before
Pharao; for he will go forth to the waters: and thou shalt say to him:
Thus saith the Lord: Let my people go to sacrifice to me.
8:21. But if thou wilt not let them go, behold I will send in upon
thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy houses, all kind of flies:
and the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with flies of divers
kinds, and the whole land wherein they shall be.
8:22. And I will make the land of Gessen wonderful in that day, so that
flies shall not be there: and thou shalt know that I am the Lord in the
midst of the earth.
8:23. And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to
morrow shall this sign be.
8:24. And the Lord did so. And there came a very grievous swarm of
flies into the houses of Pharao and of his servants, and into all the
land of Egypt: and the land was corrupted by this kind of flies.
8:25. And Pharao called Moses and Aaron, and said to them: Go and
sacrifice to your God in this land.
8:26. And Moses said: It cannot be so: for we shall sacrifice the
abominations of the Egyptians to the Lord our God: now if we kill those
things which the Egyptians worship, in their presence, they will stone
us.
The abominations, etc. . .That is, the things they worship for Gods:
oxen, rams, etc. It is the usual style of the scriptures to call all
idols and false gods, abominations, to signify how much the people of
God ought to detest and abhor them.
8:27. We will go three days' journey into the wilderness; and we will
sacrifice to the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.
8:28. And Pharao said: I will let you go to sacrifice to the Lord your
God in the wilderness, but go no farther: pray for me.
8:29. And Moses said: I will go out from thee, and will pray to the
Lord: and the flies shall depart from Pharao, and from his servants,
and from his people to morrow: but do not deceive any more, in not
letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.
8:30. So Moses went out from Pharao, and prayed to the Lord.
8:31. And he did according to his word: and he took away the flies from
Pharao, and from his servants, and from his people: there was not left
so much as one.
8:32. And Pharao's heart was hardened, so that neither this time would
he let the people go.
Exodus Chapter 9
The fifth plague is a murrain among the cattle. The sixth, of boils in
men and beasts. The seventh, of hail. Pharao promiseth again to let the
people go, and breaketh his word.
9:1. And the Lord said to Moses: Go in to Pharao, and speak to him:
Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews: Let my people go to sacrifice
to me.
9:2. But if thou refuse, and withhold them still:
9:3. Behold my hand shall be upon thy fields; and a very grievous
murrain upon thy horses, and asses, and camels, and oxen, and sheep.
9:4. And the Lord will make a wonderful difference between the
possessions of Israel and the possessions of the Egyptians, that
nothing at all shall die of those things that belong to the children of
Israel.
9:5. And the Lord appointed a time, saying: To morrow will the Lord do
this thing in the land.
9:6. The Lord therefore did this thing the next day: and all the beasts
of the Egyptians died, but of the beasts of the children of Israel
there died not one.
All the beasts. . .That is, many of all kinds.
9:7. And Pharao sent to see; and there was not any thing dead of that
which Israel possessed. And Pharao's heart was hardened, and he did not
let the people go.
9:8. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: Take to you handfuls of
ashes out of the chimney, and let Moses sprinkle it in the air in the
presence of Pharao.
9:9. And be there dust upon all the land of Egypt: for there shall be
boils and swelling blains both in men and beasts, in the whole land of
Egypt.
9:10. And they took ashes out of the chimney, and stood before Pharao,
and Moses sprinkled it in the air; and there came boils with swelling
blains in men and beasts.
9:11. Neither could the magicians stand before Moses, for the boils
that were upon them, and in all the land of Egypt.
9:12. And the Lord hardened Pharao's heart, and he hearkened not unto
them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses.
Hardened, etc. . .See the annotations above, chap. 4.21, chap. 7.3, and
chap. 8.15.
9:13. And the Lord said to Moses: Arise in the morning, and stand
before Pharao, and thou shalt say to him: Thus saith the Lord, the God
of the Hebrews: Let my people go to sacrifice to me.
9:14. For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thy heart, and
upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayst know that there
is none like me in all the earth.
9:15. For now I will stretch out my hand to strike thee, and thy
people, with pestilence, and thou shalt perish from the earth.
9:16. And therefore have I raised thee, that I may shew my power in
thee, and my name may be spoken of throughout all the earth.
9:17. Dost thou yet hold back my people; and wilt thou not let them go?
9:18: Behold I will cause it to rain to morrow at this same hour, an
exceeding great hail; such as hath not been in Egypt from the day that
it was founded, until this present time.
9:19. Send therefore now presently, and gather together thy cattle, and
all that thou hast in the field; for men and beasts, and all things
that shall be found abroad, and not gathered together out of the fields
which the hail shall fall upon, shall die.
9:20. He that feared the word of the Lord among Pharao's servants, made
his servants and his cattle flee into houses:
9:21. But he that regarded not the word of the Lord, left his servants,
and his cattle in the fields.
9:22. And the Lord said to Moses: Stretch forth thy hand towards
heaven, that there may be hail in the whole land of Egypt upon men, and
upon beasts, and upon every herb of the field in the land of Egypt.
9:23. And Moses stretched forth his rod towards heaven, and the Lord
sent thunder and hail, and lightnings running along the ground: and the
Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt.
9:24. And the hail and fire mixt with it drove on together: and it was
of so great bigness, as never before was seen in the whole land of
Egypt since that nation was founded.
9:25. And the hail destroyed through all the land of Egypt all things
that were in the fields, both man and beast: and the hail smote every
herb of the field, and it broke every tree of the country.
9:26. Only in the land of Gessen, where the children of Israel were,
the hail fell not.
9:27. And Pharao sent and called Moses and Aaron, saying to them: I
have sinned this time also, the Lord is just: I and my people, are
wicked.
9:28. Pray ye to the Lord that the thunderings of God and the hail may
cease: that I may let you go, and that ye may stay here no longer.
9:29. Moses said: As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will stretch
forth my hands to the Lord, and the thunders shall cease, and the hail
shall be no more: that thou mayst know that the earth is the Lord's:
9:30. But I know that neither thou, nor thy servants do yet fear the
Lord God.
9:31. The flax therefore, and the barley were hurt, because the barley
was green, and the flax was now bolled;
9:32. But the wheat, and other winter corn were not hurt, because they
were lateward.
9:33. And when Moses was gone from Pharao out of the city, he stretched
forth his hands to the Lord: and the thunders and the hail ceased,
neither did there drop any more rain upon the earth.
9:34. And Pharao seeing that the rain, and the hail, and the thunders
were ceased, increased his sin:
9:35. And his heart was hardened, and the heart of his servants, and it
was made exceeding hard: neither did he let the children of Israel go,
as the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses.
Exodus Chapter 10
The eighth plague of the locusts. The ninth, of darkness: Pharao is
still hardened.
10:1. And the Lord said to Moses: Go in to Pharao; for I have hardened
his heart, and the heart of his servants: that I may work these my
signs in him,
10:2. And thou mayst tell in the ears of thy sons, and of thy
grandsons, how often I have plagued the Egyptians, and wrought my signs
amongst them: and you may know that I am the Lord.
10:3. Therefore Moses and Aaron went in to Pharao, and said to him:
Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews: How long refusest thou to
submit to me? let my people go, to sacrifice to me.
10:4. But if thou resist, and wilt not let them go, behold I will bring
in to-morrow the locusts into thy coasts;
10:5. To cover the face of the earth, that nothing thereof may appear,
but that which the hail hath left may be eaten: for they shall feed
upon all the trees that spring in the fields.
10:6. And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of thy servants,
and of all the Egyptians: such a number as thy fathers have not seen,
nor thy grandfathers, from the time they were first upon the earth,
until this present day. And he turned himself away, and went forth from
Pharao.
10:7. And Pharao's servants said to him: How long shall we endure this
scandal? Iet the men go to sacrifice to the Lord their God. Dost thou
not see that Egypt is undone?
10:8. And they called back Moses, and Aaron, to Pharao; and he said to
them: Go, sacrifice to the Lord your God: who are they that shall go?
10:9. Moses said: We will go with our young and old, with our sons and
daughters, with our sheep and herds: for it is the solemnity of the
Lord our God.
10:10. And Pharao answered: So be the Lord with you, as I shall let you
and your children go: who can doubt but that you intend some great
evil?
10:11. It shall not be so. but go ye men only, and sacrifice to the
Lord: for this yourselves also desired. And immediately they were cast
out from Pharao's presence.
10:12. And the Lord said to Moses: Stretch forth thy hand upon the land
of Egypt unto the locust, that it come upon it, and devour every herb
that is left after the hail.
10:13. And Moses stretched forth his rod upon the land of Egypt: and
the Lord brought a burning wind all that day, and night; and when it
was morning, the burning wind raised the locusts.
10:14. And they came up over the whole land of Egypt; and rested in all
the coasts of the Egyptians, innumerable, the like as had not been
before that time, nor shall be hereafter.
10:15. And they covered the whole face of the earth, wasting all
things. And the grass of the earth was devoured, and what fruits soever
were on the trees, which the hail had left; and there remained not any
thing that was green on the trees, or in the herbs of the earth, in all
Egypt.
10:16. Wherefore Pharao in haste called Moses and Aaron, and said to
them: I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you.
10:17. But now forgive me my sin this time also, and pray to the Lord
your God, that he take away from me this death.
10:18: And Moses going forth from the presence of Pharao, prayed to the
Lord:
10:19. And he made a very strong wind to blow from the west, and it
took the locusts and cast them into the Red Sea: there remained not so
much as one in all the coasts of Egypt.
10:20. And the Lord hardened Pharao's heart, neither did he let the
children of Israel go.
10:21. And the Lord said to Moses: Stretch out thy hand towards heaven:
and may there be darkness upon the land of Egypt so thick that it may
be felt.
Darkness upon the land of Egypt, so thick that it may be felt. . .By
means of the gross exhalations, which were to cause and accompany the
darkness.
10:22. And Moses stretched forth his hand towards heaven: and there
came horrible darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.
10:23. No man saw his brother, nor moved himself out of the place where
he was: but wheresoever the children of Israel dwelt, there was light.
10:24. And Pharao called Moses and Aaron, and said to them: Go,
sacrifice to the Lord: let your sheep only, and herds remain, let your
children go with you.
10:25. Moses said: Thou shalt give us also sacrifices and
burnt-offerings, to the Lord our God.
10:26. All the flocks shall go with us; there shall not a hoof remain
of them: for they are necessary for the service of the Lord our God:
especially as we know not what must be offered, till we come to the
very place.
10:27. And the Lord hardened Pharao's heart, and he would not let them
go.
10:28. And Pharao said to Moses: Get thee from me, and beware thou see
not my face any more: in what day soever thou shalt come in my sight,
thou shalt die.
10:29. Moses answered: So shall it be as thou hast spoken, I will not
see thy face anymore.
Exodus Chapter 11
Pharao and his people are threatened with the death of their firstborn.
11:1. And the Lord said to Moses: Yet one plague more will I bring upon
Pharao and Egypt, and after that he shall let you go, and thrust you
out.
11:2. Therefore thou shalt tell all the people, that every man ask of
his friend, and every woman of her neighbour, vessels of silver and of
gold.
11:3. And the Lord will give favour to his people in the sight of the
Egyptians. And Moses was a very great man in the land of Egypt, in the
sight of Pharao's servants, and of all the people.
11:4. And he said: Thus saith the Lord: At midnight I will enter into
Egypt:
11:5. And every firstborn in the land of the Egyptians shall die, from
the firstborn of Pharao who sitteth on his throne, even to the
firstborn of the handmaid that is at the mill, and all the firstborn of
beasts.
11:6. And there shall be a great cry in all the land of Egypt, such as
neither hath been before, nor shall be hereafter.
11:7. But with all the children of Israel there shall not a dog make
the least noise, from man even to beast; that you may know how
wonderful a difference the Lord maketh between the Egyptians and
Israel.
11:8. And all these thy servants shall come down to me, and shall
worship me, saying: Go forth thou, and all the people that is under
thee: after that we will go out.
11:9. And he went out from Pharao exceeding angry. But the Lord said to
Moses: Pharao will not hear you, that many signs may be done in the
land of Egypt.
11:10. And Moses and Aaron did all the wonders that are written, before
Pharao. And the Lord hardened Pharao's heart, neither did he let the
children of Israel go out of his land.
The Lord hardened, etc. . .See the annotations above, chap. 4.21, and
chap. 7.3.
Exodus Chapter 12
The manner of preparing, and eating the paschal lamb: the firstborn of
Egypt are all slain: the Israelites depart.
12:1. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt:
12:2. This month shall be to you the beginning of months; it shall be
the first in the months of the year.
12:3. Speak ye to the whole assembly of the children of Israel, and say
to them: On the tenth day of this month let every man take a lamb by
their families and houses.
12:4. But if the number be less than may suffice to eat the lamb, he
shall take unto him his neighbour that joineth to his house, according
to the number of souls which may be enough to eat the lamb.
12:5. And it shall be a lamb without blemish, a male, of one year;
according to which rite also you shall take a kid.
A kid. . .The phase might be performed, either with a lamb or with a
kid: and all the same rites and ceremonies were to be used with the one
as with the other.
12:6. And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; and
the whole multitude of the children of Israel shall sacrifice it in the
evening.
12:7. And they shall take of the blood thereof, and put it upon both
the side posts, and on the upper door posts of the houses, wherein they
shall eat it.
12:8. And they shall eat the flesh that night roasted at the fire, and
unleavened bread with wild lettuce.
12:9. You shall not eat thereof any thing raw, nor boiled in water, but
only roasted at the fire; you shall eat the head with the feet and
entrails thereof.
12:10. Neither shall there remain any thing of it until morning. If
there be any thing left, you shall burn it with fire.
12:11. And thus you shall eat it: you shall gird your reins, and you
shall have shoes on your feet, holding staves in your hands, and you
shall eat in haste; for it is the Phase (that is the Passage) of the
Lord.
12:12. And I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and will
kill every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast: and
against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments; I am the Lord.
12:13. And the blood shall be unto you for a sign in the houses where
you shall be; and I shall see the blood, and shall pass over you; and
the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I shall strike
the land of Egypt.
12:14. And this day shall be for a memorial to you; and you shall keep
it a feast to the Lord in your generations, with an everlasting
observance.
12:15. Seven days shall you eat unleavened bread: in the first day
there shall be no leaven in your houses; whosoever shall eat any thing
leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall
perish out of Israel.
12:16. The first day shall be holy and solemn, and the seventh day
shall be kept with the like solemnity: you shall do no work in them,
except those things that belong to eating.
12:17. And you shall observe the feast of the unleavened bread: for in
this same day I will bring forth your army out of the land of Egypt,
and you shall keep this day in your generations by a perpetual
observance.
12:18: The first month, the fourteenth day of the month, in the
evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth
day of the same month, in the evening.
Unleavened bread. . .By this it appears, that our Saviour made use of
unleavened bread, in the institution of the blessed sacrament, which
was on the evening of the paschal solemnity, at which time there was no
leavened bread to be found in Israel.
12:19. Seven days there shall not be found any leaven in your houses:
he that shall eat leavened bread, his soul shall perish out of the
assembly of Israel, whether he be a stranger or born in the land.
12:20. You shall not eat any thing leavened: in all your habitations
you shall eat unleavened bread.
12:21. And Moses called all the ancients of the children of Israel, and
said to them: Go take a lamb by your families, and sacrifice the Phase.
12:22. And dip a bunch of hyssop in the blood that is at the door, and
sprinkle the transom of the door therewith, and both the door cheeks:
let none of you go out of the door of his house till morning.
Sprinkle, etc. . .This sprinkling the doors of the Israelites with the
blood of the paschal lamb, in order to their being delivered from the
sword of the destroying angel, was a lively figure of our redemption by
the blood of Christ.
12:23. For the Lord will pass through striking the Egyptians: and when
he shall see the blood on the transom, and on both the posts, he will
pass over the door of the house, and not suffer the destroyer to come
into your houses and to hurt you.
12:24. Thou shalt keep this thing as a law for thee and thy children
for ever.
12:25. And when you have entered into the land which the Lord will give
you, as he hath promised, you shall observe these ceremonies.
12:26. And when your children shall say to you: What is the meaning of
this service?
12:27. You shall say to them: It is the victim of the passage of the
Lord, when he passed over the houses of the children of Israel in
Egypt, striking the Egyptians, and saving our houses. And the people
bowing themselves, adored.
12:28. And the children of Israel going forth, did as the Lord had
commanded Moses and Aaron.
12:29. And it came to pass at midnight, the Lord slew every firstborn
in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharao, who sat on his
throne, unto the firstborn of the captive woman that was in the prison,
and all the firstborn of cattle.
12:30. And Pharao arose in the night, and all his servants, and all
Egypt: and there arose a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house
wherein there lay not one dead.
12:31. And Pharao calling Moses and Aaron, in the night, said: Arise
and go forth from among my people, you and the children of Israel: go,
sacrifice to the Lord as you say.
12:32. Your sheep and herds take along with you, as you demanded, and
departing bless me.
12:33. And the Egyptians pressed the people to go forth out of the land
speedily, saying: We shall all die.
12:34. The people therefore took dough before it was leavened; and
tying it in their cloaks, put it on their shoulders.
12:35. And the children of Israel did as Moses had commanded: and they
asked of the Egyptians vessels of silver and gold, and very much
raiment.
12:36. And the Lord gave favour to the people in the sight of the
Egyptians, so that they lent unto them: and they stripped the
Egyptians.
12:37. And the children of Israel set forward from Ramesse to Socoth,
being about six hundred thousand men on foot, beside children.
12:38. And a mixed multitude, without number, went up also with them,
sheep and herds, and beasts of divers kinds, exceeding many.
12:39. And they baked the meal, which a little before they had brought
out of Egypt in dough: and they made hearth cakes unleavened: for it
could not be leavened, the Egyptians pressing them to depart, and not
suffering them to make any stay; neither did they think of preparing
any meat.
12:40. And the abode of the children of Israel that they made in Egypt,
was four hundred and thirty years.
12:41. Which being expired, the same day all the army of the Lord went
forth out of the land of Egypt.
12:42. This is the observable night of the Lord, when he brought them
forth out of the land of Egypt: this night all the children of Israel
must observe in their generations.
12:43. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: This is the service of the
Phase; no foreigner shall eat of it.
12:44. But every bought servant shall be circumcised, and so shall eat.
12:45. The stranger and the hireling shall not eat thereof.
12:46. In one house shall it be eaten, neither shall you carry forth of
the flesh thereof out of the house, neither shall you break a bone
thereof.
12:47. All the assembly of the children of Israel shall keep it.
12:48. And if any stranger be willing to dwell among you, and to keep
the Phase of the Lord, all his males shall first be circumcised, and
then shall he celebrate it according to the manner: and he shall be as
he that is born in the land: but if any man be uncircumcised, he shall
not eat thereof.
12:49. The same law shall be to him that is born in the land, and to
the proselyte that sojourneth with you.
12:50. And all the children of Israel did as the Lord had commanded
Moses and Aaron.
12:51. And the same day the Lord brought forth the children of Israel
out of the land of Egypt by their companies.
Exodus Chapter 13
The paschal solemnity is to be observed; and the firstborn are to be
consecrated to God. The people are conducted through the desert by a
pillar of fire in the night, and a cloud in the day.
13:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
13:2. Sanctify unto me every firstborn that openeth the womb among the
children of Israel, as well of men as of beasts: for they are all mine.
Sanctify unto me every firstborn. . .Sanctification in this place means
that the firstborn males of the Hebrews should be deputed to the
ministry in the divine worship; and the firstborn of beasts to be given
for a sacrifice.
13:3. And Moses said to the people: Remember this day in which you came
forth out of Egypt, and out of the house of bondage, for with a strong
hand hath the Lord brought you forth out of this place: that you eat no
leavened bread.
13:4. This day you go forth in the month of new corn.
13:5. And when the Lord shall have brought thee into the land of the
Chanaanite, and the Hethite, and the Amorrhite, and the Hevite, and the
Jebusite, which he swore to thy fathers that he would give thee, a land
that floweth with milk and honey, thou shalt celebrate this manner of
sacred rites in this month.
13:6. Seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh
day shall be the solemnity of the Lord.
13:7. Unleavened bread shall you eat seven days: there shall not be
seen any thing leavened with thee, nor in all thy coasts.
13:8. And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying: This is what the
Lord did to me when I came forth out of Egypt.
13:9. And it shall be as a sign in thy hand, and as a memorial before
thy eyes; and that the law of the Lord be always in thy mouth, for with
a strong hand the Lord hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt.
13:10. Thou shalt keep this observance at the set time from days to
days.
13:11. And when the Lord shall have brought thee into the land of the
Chanaanite, as he swore to thee and thy fathers, and shall give it
thee:
13:12. Thou shalt set apart all that openeth the womb for the Lord, and
all that is first brought forth of thy cattle: whatsoever thou shalt
have of the male sex, thou shalt consecrate to the Lord.
13:13. The firstborn of an ass thou shalt change for a sheep: and if
thou do not redeem it, thou shalt kill it. And every firstborn of men
thou shalt redeem with a price.
13:14. And when thy son shall ask thee to morrow, saying: What is this?
thou shalt answer him: With a strong hand did the Lord bring us forth
out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
13:15. For when Pharao was hardened, and would not let us go, the Lord
slew every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of man to
the firstborn of beasts: therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all that
openeth the womb of the male sex, and all the firstborn of my sons I
redeem.
13:16. And it shall be as a sign in thy hand, and as a thing hung
between thy eyes, for a remembrance: because the Lord hath brought us
forth out of Egypt by a strong hand.
13:17. And when Pharao had sent out the people, the Lord led them not
by the way of the land of the Philistines, which is near; thinking lest
perhaps they would repent, if they should see wars arise against them,
and would return into Egypt.
13:18: But he led them about by the way of the desert, which is by the
Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of
Egypt.
13:19. And Moses took Joseph's bones with him: because he had adjured
the children of Israel, saying: God shall visit you, carry out my bones
from hence with you.
13:20. And marching from Socoth, they encamped in Etham, in the utmost
coasts of the wilderness.
13:21. And the Lord went before them to shew the way, by day in a
pillar of a cloud, and by night in a pillar of fire; that he might be
the guide of their journey at both times.
13:22. There never failed the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the
pillar of fire by night, before the people.
Exodus Chapter 14
Pharao pursueth the children of Israel. They murmur against Moses, but
are encouraged by him, and pass through the Red Sea. Pharao and his
army following them are drowned.
14:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
14:2. Speak to the children of Israel: Let them turn and encamp over
against Phihahiroth, which is between Magdal and the sea over against
Beelsephon: you shall encamp before it upon the sea.
14:3. And Pharao will say of the children of Israel: They are
straitened in the land, the desert hath shut them in.
14:4. And I shall harden his heart and he will pursue you: and I shall
be glorified in Pharao, and in all his army: and the Egyptians shall
know that I am the Lord. And they did so.
14:5. And it was told the king of the Egyptians that the people was
fled: and the heart of Pharao and of his servants was changed with
regard to the people, and they said: What meant we to do, that we let
Israel go from serving us?
14:6. So he made ready his chariot, and took all his people with him.
14:7. And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots
that were in Egypt: and the captains of the whole army.
14:8. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharao, king of Egypt, and he
pursued the children of Israel; but they were gone forth in a mighty
hand.
14:9. And when the Egyptians followed the steps of them who were gone
before, they found them encamped at the sea side: all Pharao's horse
and chariots and the whole army were in Phihahiroth, before Beelsephon.
14:10. And when Pharao drew near, the children of Israel lifting up
their eyes, saw the Egyptians behind them: and they feared exceedingly,
and cried to the Lord.
14:11. And they said to Moses: Perhaps there were no graves in Egypt,
therefore thou hast brought us to die in the wilderness: why wouldst
thou do this, to lead us out of Egypt?
14:12. Is not this the word that we spoke to thee in Egypt, saying:
Depart from us, that we may serve the Egyptians? for it was much better
to serve them, than to die in the wilderness.
14:13. And Moses said to the people: Fear not: stand, and see the great
wonders of the Lord, which he will do this day; for the Egyptians, whom
you see now, you shall see no more for ever.
14:14. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.
14:15. And the Lord said to Moses: Why criest thou to me? Speak to the
children of Israel to go forward.
14:16. But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch forth thy hand over the
sea, and divide it: that the children of Israel may go through the
midst of the sea on dry ground.
14:17. And I will harden the heart of the Egyptians to pursue you: and
I will be glorified in Pharao, and in all his host, and in his chariots
and in his horsemen.
14:18: And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall be
glorified in Pharao, and in his chariots, and in his horsemen.
14:19. And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel,
removing, went behind them: and together with him the pillar of the
cloud, leaving the forepart,
14:20. Stood behind, between the Egyptians' camp and the camp of
Israel: and it was a dark cloud, and enlightening the night, so that
they could not come at one another all the night.
A dark cloud, and enlightening the night. . .It was a dark cloud to the
Egyptians; but enlightened the night to the Israelites by giving them a
great light.
14:21. And when Moses had stretched forth his hand over the sea, the
Lord took it away by a strong and burning wind blowing all the night,
and turned it into dry ground: and the water was divided.
14:22. And the children of Israel went in through the midst of the sea
dried up; for the water was as a wall on their right hand and on their
left.
14:23. And the Egyptians pursuing went in after them, and all Pharao's
horses, his chariots and horsemen, through the midst of the sea.
14:24. And now the morning watch was come, and behold the Lord looking
upon the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and of the cloud,
slew their host.
14:25. And overthrew the wheels of the chariots, and they were carried
into the deep. And the Egyptians said: Let us flee from Israel; for the
Lord fighteth for them against us.
14:26. And the Lord said to Moses: Stretch forth thy hand over the sea,
that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots
and horsemen.
14:27. And when Moses had stretched forth his hand towards the sea, it
returned at the first break of day to the former place: and as the
Egyptians were fleeing away, the waters came upon them, and the Lord
shut them up in the middle of the waves.
14:28. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots and the
horsemen of all the army of Pharao, who had come into the sea after
them, neither did there so much as one of them remain.
14:29. But the children of Israel marched through the midst of the sea
upon dry land, and the waters were to them as a wall on the right hand
and on the left:
14:30. And the Lord delivered Israel in that day out of the hands of
the Egyptians.
14:31. And they saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore, and the
mighty hand that the Lord had used against them: and the people feared
the Lord, and they believed the Lord, and Moses his servant.
Exodus Chapter 15
The canticle of Moses. The bitter waters of Mara are made sweet.
15:1. Then Moses and the children of Israel sung this canticle to the
Lord, and said: Let us sing to the Lord: for he is gloriously
magnified, the horse and the rider he hath thrown into the sea.
15:2. The Lord is my strength and my praise, and he is become salvation
to me: he is my God, and I will glorify him: the God of my father, and
I will exalt him.
15:3. The Lord is as a man of war, Almighty is his name.
15:4. Pharao's chariots and his army he hath cast into the sea: his
chosen captains are drowned in the Red Sea.
15:5. The depths have covered them, they are sunk to the bottom like a
stone.
15:6. Thy right hand, O Lord, is magnified in strength: thy right hand,
O Lord, hath slain the enemy.
15:7. And in the multitude of thy glory thou hast put down thy
adversaries: thou hast sent thy wrath, which hath devoured them like
stubble.
15:8. And with the blast of thy anger the waters were gathered
together: the flowing water stood, the depths were gathered together in
the midst of the sea.
15:9. The enemy said: I will pursue and overtake, I will divide the
spoils, my soul shall have its fill: I will draw my sword, my hand
shall slay them.
15:10. Thy wind blew and the sea covered them: they sunk as lead in the
mighty waters.
15:11. Who is like to thee, among the strong, O Lord? who is like to
thee, glorious in holiness, terrible and praise-worthy, doing wonders?
15:12. Thou stretchedst forth thy hand, and the earth swallowed them.
15:13. In thy mercy thou hast been a leader to the people which thou
hast redeemed: and in thy strength thou hast carried them to thy holy
habitation.
15:14. Nations rose up, and were angry: sorrows took hold on the
inhabitants of Philisthiim.
15:15. Then were the princes of Edom troubled, trembling seized on the
stout men of Moab: all the inhabitants of Chanaan became stiff.
15:16. Let fear and dread fall upon them, in the greatness of thy arm:
let them become immoveable as a stone, until thy people, O Lord, pass
by: until this thy people pass by, which thou hast possessed.
15:17. Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thy
inheritance, in thy most firm habitation, which thou hast made, O Lord;
thy sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.
15:18: The Lord shall reign for ever and ever.
15:19. For Pharao went in on horseback with his chariots and horsemen
into the sea: and the Lord brought back upon them the waters of the
sea: but the children of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst
thereof.
15:20. So Mary the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in
her hand: and all the women went forth after her with timbrels and with
dances.
15:21. And she began the song to them, saying: Let us sing to the Lord,
for he is gloriously magnified, the horse and his rider he hath thrown
into the sea.
15:22. And Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went forth
into the wilderness of Sur: and they marched three days through the
wilderness, and found no water.
15:23. And they came into Mara, and they could not drink the waters of
Mara because they were bitter: whereupon he gave a name also agreeable
to the place, calling it Mara, that is, bitterness.
15:24. And the people murmured against Moses, saying: What shall we
drink?
15:25. But he cried to the Lord, and he shewed him a tree, which when
he had cast into the waters, they were turned into sweetness. There he
appointed him ordinances, and judgments, and there he proved him,
15:26. Saying: If thou wilt hear the voice of the Lord thy God, and do
what is right before him, and obey his commandments, and keep all his
precepts, none of the evils that I laid upon Egypt, will I bring upon
thee: for I am the Lord thy healer.
15:27. And the children of Israel came into Elim, where there were
twelve fountains of water, and seventy palm trees: and they encamped by
the waters.
Exodus Chapter 16
The people murmur for want of meat: God giveth them quails and manna.
16:1. And they set forward from Elim, and all the multitude of the
children of Israel came into the desert of Sin, which is between Elim
and Sinai: the fifteenth day of the second month, after they came out
of the land of Egypt.
16:2. And all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured
against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.
16:3. And the children of Israel said to them: Would to God we had died
by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat over the
fleshpots, and ate bread to the full: Why have you brought us into this
desert, that you might destroy all the multitude with famine?
16:4. And the Lord said to Moses: Behold I will rain bread from heaven
for you; let the people go forth, and gather what is sufficient for
every day: that I may prove them whether they will walk in my law, or
not.
16:5. But the sixth day let them provide for to bring in: and let it be
double to that they were wont to gather every day.
16:6. And Moses and Aaron said to the children of Israel In the evening
you shall know that the Lord hath brought you forth out of the land of
Egypt:
16:7. And in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord: for he
hath heard your murmuring against the Lord: but as for us, what are we,
that you mutter against us?
16:8. And Moses said: In the evening the Lord will give you flesh to
eat, and in the morning bread to the full: for he hath heard your
murmurings, with which you have murmured against him, for what are we?
your murmuring is not against us, but against the Lord.
16:9. Moses also said to Aaron: Say to the whole congregation of the
children of Israel: Come before the Lord; for he hath heard your
murmuring.
16:10. And when Aaron spoke to all the assembly of the children of
Israel, they looked towards the wilderness; and behold the glory of the
Lord appeared in a cloud.
16:11. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
16:12. I have heard the murmuring of the children of Israel, say to
them: In the evening you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall
have your fill of bread; and you shall know that I am the Lord your
God.
16:13. So it came to pass in the evening, that quails coming up,
covered the camp: and in the morning a dew lay round about the camp.
16:14. And when it had covered the face of the earth, it appeared in
the wilderness small, and as it were beaten with a pestle, like unto
the hoar frost on the ground.
16:15. And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to
another: Manhu! which signifieth: What is this! for they knew not what
it was. And Moses said to them: This is the bread which the Lord hath
given you to eat.
16:16. This is the word that the Lord hath commanded: Let every one
gather of it as much as is enough to eat; a gomor for every man,
according to the number of your souls that dwell in a tent, so shall
you take of it.
16:17. And the children of Israel did so: and they gathered, one more,
another less.
16:18: And they measured by the measure of a gomor: neither had he more
that had gathered more; nor did he find less that had provided less:
but every one had gathered, according to what they were able to eat.
16:19. And Moses said to them: Let no man leave thereof till the
morning.
16:20. And they hearkened not to him, but some of them left until the
morning, and it began to be full of worms, and it putrified, and Moses
was angry with them.
16:21. Now every one of them gathered in the morning, as much as might
suffice to eat: and after the sun grew hot, it melted.
16:22. But on the sixth day they gathered twice as much, that is, two
gomors every man: and all the rulers of the multitude came, and told
Moses.
16:23. And he said to them: This is what the Lord hath spoken: To
morrow is the rest of the sabbath sanctified to the Lord. Whatsoever
work is to be done, do it; and the meats that are to be dressed, dress
them; and whatsoever shall remain, lay it up until the morning.
16:24. And they did so as Moses had commanded, and it did not putrify,
neither was there worm found in it.
16:25. And Moses said: Eat it to day, because it is the sabbath of the
Lord: to day it shall not be found in the field.
16:26. Gather it six days; but on the seventh day is the sabbath of the
Lord, therefore it shall not be found.
16:27. And the seventh day came; and some of the people going forth to
gather, found none.
16:28. And the Lord said to Moses: How long will you refuse to keep my
commandments, and my law?
16:29. See that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, and for this
reason on the sixth day he giveth you a double provision: let each man
stay at home, and let none go forth out of his place the seventh day.
16:30. And the people kept the sabbath on the seventh day.
16:31. And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it
was like coriander seed, white, and the taste thereof like to flour
with honey.
16:32. And Moses said: This is the word which the Lord hath commanded:
Fill a gomor of it, and let it be kept unto generations to come
hereafter; that they may know the bread, wherewith I fed you in the
wilderness when you were brought forth out of the land of Egypt.
16:33. And Moses said to Aaron: Take a vessel, and put manna into it,
as much as a gomor can hold; and lay it up before the Lord, to keep
unto your generations,
16:34. As the Lord commanded Moses. And Aaron put it in the tabernacle
to be kept.
16:35. And the children of Israel ate manna forty years, till they came
to a habitable land: with this meat were they fed, until they reached
the borders of the land of Chanaan.
16:36. Now a gomor is the tenth part of an ephi.
Exodus Chapter 17
The people murmur again for want of drink; the Lord giveth them water
out of a rock. Moses lifting up his hand in prayer, Amalec is overcome.
17:1. Then all the multitude of the children of Israel setting forward
from the desert of Sin, by their mansions, according to the word of the
Lord, encamped in Raphidim, where there was no water for the people to
drink.
17:2. And they chode with Moses, and said: Give us water, that we may
drink. And Moses answered them: Why chide you with me? Wherefore do
you tempt the Lord?
17:3. So the people were thirsty there for want of water, and murmured
against Moses, saying: Why didst thou make us go forth out of Egypt, to
kill us and our children, and our beasts with thirst?
17:4. And Moses cried to the Lord, saying: What shall I do to this
people? Yet a little more and they will stone me.
17:5. And the Lord said to Moses: Go before the people, and take with
thee of the ancients of Israel: and take in thy hand the rod wherewith
thou didst strike the river, and go.
17:6. Behold I will stand there before thee, upon the rock Horeb, and
thou shalt strike the rock, and water shall come out of it that the
people may drink. Moses did so before the ancients of Israel:
17:7. And he called the name of that place Temptation, because of the
chiding of the children of Israel, and for that they tempted the Lord,
saying: Is the Lord amongst us or not?
17:8. And Amalec came, and fought against Israel in Raphidim.
17:9. And Moses said to Josue: Choose out men; and go out and fight
against Amalec: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill, having
the rod of God in my hand.
17:10. Josue did as Moses had spoken, and he fought against Amalec; but
Moses, and Aaron, and Hur, went up upon the top of the hill.
17:11. And when Moses lifted up his hands, Israel overcame; but if he
let them down a little, Amalec overcame.
17:12. And Moses's hands were heavy: so they took a stone, and put
under him, and he sat on it: and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands on
both sides. And it came to pass, that his hands were not weary until
sunset.
17:13. And Josue put Amalec and his people to flight, by the edge of
the sword.
17:14. And the Lord said to Moses: Write this for a memorial in a book,
and deliver it to the ears of Josue; for I will destroy the memory of
Amalec from under heaven.
17:15. And Moses built an altar; and called the name thereof, The Lord,
my exaltation, saying:
17:16. Because the hand of the throne of the Lord, and the war of the
Lord shall be against Amalec, from generation to generation.
Exodus Chapter 18
Jethro bringeth to Moses his wife and children. His counsel.
18:1. And when Jethro the priest of Madian, the kinsman of Moses, had
heard all the things that God had done to Moses, and to Israel his
people, and that the Lord had brought forth Israel out of Egypt:
18:2. He took Sephora, the wife of Moses, whom he had sent back:
18:3. And her two sons, of whom one was called Gersam: his father
saying, I have been a stranger in a foreign country.
18:4. And the other Eliezer: For the God of my father, said he, is my
helper, and hath delivered me from the sword of Pharao.
18:5. And Jethro, the kinsman of Moses, came with his sons, and his
wife to Moses into the desert, where he was camped by the mountain of
God.
18:6. And he sent word to Moses, saying: I Jethro, thy kinsman, come to
thee, and thy wife, and thy two sons with her.
18:7. And he went out to meet his kinsman, and worshipped and kissed
him: and they saluted one another with words of peace. And when he was
come into the tent,
18:8. Moses told his kinsman all that the Lord had done to Pharao, and
the Egyptians in favour of Israel: and all the labour which had
befallen them in the journey, and that the Lord had delivered them.
18:9. And Jethro rejoiced for all the good things that the Lord had
done to Israel, because he had delivered them out of the hands of the
Egyptians.
18:10. And he said: Blessed is the Lord, who hath delivered his people
out of the hand of Egypt.
18:11. Now I know, that the Lord is great above all gods; because they
dealt proudly against them.
18:12. So Jethro, the kinsman of Moses, offered holocausts and
sacrifices to God: and Aaron and all the ancients of Israel came, to
eat bread with him before God.
18:13. And the next day Moses sat to judge the people, who stood by
Moses from morning until night.
18:14. And when his kinsman had seen all things that he did among the
people, he said: What is it that thou dost among the people? Why
sittest thou alone, and all the people wait from morning till night?
18:15. And Moses answered him: The people come to me to seek the
judgment of God?
18:16. And when any controversy falleth out among them, they come to me
to judge between them, and to shew the precepts of God, and his laws.
18:17. But he said: The thing thou dost is not good.
18:18: Thou art spent with foolish labour, both thou, and this people
that is with thee; the business is above thy strength, thou alone canst
not bear it.
18:19. But hear my words and counsels, and God shall be with thee. Be
thou to the people in those things that pertain to God, to bring their
words to him:
18:20. And to shew the people the ceremonies, and the manner of
worshipping; and the way wherein they ought to walk, and the work that
they ought to do.
18:21. And provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, in
whom there is truth, and that hate avarice, and appoint of them rulers
of thousands, and of hundreds, and of fifties, and of tens,
18:22. Who may judge the people at all times: and when any great matter
soever shall fall out, let them refer it to thee, and let them judge
the lesser matters only: that so it may be lighter for thee, the burden
being shared out unto others.
18:23. If thou dost this, thou shalt fulfil the commandment of God, and
shalt be able to bear his precepts: and all this people shall return to
their places with peace.
18:24. And when Moses heard this, he did all things that he had
suggested unto him.
18:25. And choosing able men out of all Israel, he appointed them
rulers of the people, rulers over thousands, and over hundreds, and
over fifties, and over tens.
18:26. And they judged the people at all times: and whatsoever was of
greater difficulty they referred to him, and they judged the easier
cases only.
18:27. And he let his kinsman depart: and he returned and went into his
own country.
Exodus Chapter 19
They come to Sinai: the people are commanded to be sanctified. The
Lord, coming in thunder and lightning, speaketh with Moses.
19:1. In the third month of the departure of Israel out of the land of
Egypt, on this day they came into the wilderness of Sinai:
19:2. For departing out of Raphidim, and coming to the desert of Sinai,
they camped in the same place, and there Israel pitched their tents
over against the mountain.
19:3. And Moses went up to God; and the Lord called unto him from the
mountain, and said: Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell
the children of Israel:
And Moses went up to God. . .Moses went up to mount Sinai, where God
spoke to him.
19:4. You have seen what I have done to the Egyptians, how I have
carried you upon the wings of eagles, and have taken you to myself.
19:5. If therefore you will hear my voice, and keep my covenant, you
shall be my peculiar possession above all people: for all the earth is
mine.
19:6. And you shall be to me a priestly kingdom, and a holy nation.
These are the words thou shalt speak to the children of Israel.
19:7. Moses came; and calling together the elders of the people, he
declared all the words which the Lord had commanded.
19:8. And all the people answered together: All that the Lord hath
spoken, we will do. And when Moses had related the people's words to
the Lord,
19:9. The Lord said to him: Lo, now will I come to thee in the darkness
of a cloud, that the people may hear me speaking to thee, and may
believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people to the
Lord.
19:10. And he said to him: Go to the people, and sanctify them to day,
and to morrow, and let them wash their garments.
19:11. And let them be ready against the third day; for on the third
day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people, upon Mount
Sinai.
19:12. And thou shalt appoint certain limits to the people round about,
and thou shalt say to them: Take heed ye go not up into the mount, and
that ye touch not the borders thereof: every one that toucheth the
mount, dying he shall die.
19:13. No hands shall touch him, but he shall be stoned to death, or he
shall be shot through with arrows: whether it be beast, or man, he
shall not live. When the trumpet shall begin to sound, then let them go
up into the mount.
19:14. And Moses came down from the mount to the people, and sanctified
them. And when they had washed their garments,
19:15. He said to them: Be ready against the third day, and come not
near your wives.
19:16. And now the third day was come, and the morning appeared: and
behold thunders began to be heard, and lightning to flash, and a very
thick cloud to cover the mount, and the noise of the trumpet sounded
exceeding loud; and the people that was in the camp, feared.
19:17. And when Moses had brought them forth to meet God, from the
place of the camp, they stood at the bottom of the mount.
19:18. And all Mount Sinai was on a smoke: because the Lord was come
down upon it in fire, and the smoke arose from it as out of a furnace:
and all the mount was terrible.
19:19. And the sound of the trumpet grew by degrees louder and louder,
and was drawn out to a greater length: Moses spoke, and God answered
him.
19:20. And the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, in the very top of the
mount, and he called Moses unto the top thereof. And when he was gone
up thither,
19:21. He said unto him: Go down, and charge the people; lest they
should have a mind to pass the limits to see the Lord, and a very great
multitude of them should perish.
19:22. The priests also that come to the Lord, let them be sanctified,
lest he strike them.
19:23. And Moses said to the Lord: The people cannot come up to Mount
Sinai: for thou didst charge, and command, saying: Set limits about the
mount, and sanctify it.
19:24. And the Lord said to him: Go, get thee down; and thou shalt come
up, thou and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people
pass the limits, nor come up to the Lord, lest he kill them.
19:25. And Moses went down to the people and told them all.
Exodus Chapter 20
The ten commandments.
20:1. And the Lord spoke all these words:
20:2. I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt,
out of the house of bondage.
20:3. Thou shalt not have strange gods before me.
20:4. Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness
of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor of
those things that are in the waters under the earth.
A graven thing, nor the likeness of any thing, etc. . .All such images,
or likenesses, are forbidden by this commandment, as are made to be
adored and served; according to that which immediately follows, thou
shalt not adore them, nor serve them. That is, all such as are designed
for idols or image-gods, or are worshipped with divine honour. But
otherwise images, pictures, or representations, even in the house of
God, and in the very sanctuary so far from being forbidden, are
expressly authorized by the word of God. See Ex. 25.15, and etc.; chap.
38.7; Num. 21.8, 9; 1 Chron. or Paralip. 28.18, 19; 2 Chron. or
Paralip. 3.10.
20:5. Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them: I am the Lord thy God,
mighty, jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the
children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me:
20:6. And shewing mercy unto thousands to them that love me, and keep
my commandments.
20:7. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the
Lord will not hold him guiltless that shall take the name of the Lord
his God in vain.
20:8. Remember that thou keep holy the sabbath day.
20:9. Six days shalt thou labour, and shalt do all thy works.
20:10. But on the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: thou
shalt do no work on it, thou nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy
manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy beast, nor the stranger that
is within thy gates.
20:11. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and the sea, and
all things that are in them, and rested on the seventh day: therefore
the Lord blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.
20:12. Honour thy father and thy mother, that thou mayst be longlived
upon the land which the Lord thy God will give thee.
20:13. Thou shalt not kill.
20:14. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
20:15. Thou shalt not steal.
20:16. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
20:17. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house; neither shalt thou
desire his wife, nor his servant, nor his handmaid, nor his ox, nor his
ass, nor any thing that is his.
20:18. And all the people saw the voices and the flames, and the sound
of the trumpet, and the mount smoking; and being terrified and struck
with fear, they stood afar off,
20:19. Saying to Moses: Speak thou to us, and we will hear: let not the
Lord speak to us, lest we die.
20:20. And Moses said to the people: Fear not; for God is come to prove
you, and that the dread of him might be in you, and you should not sin.
20:21. And the people stood afar off. But Moses went to the dark cloud
wherein God was.
20:22. And the Lord said to Moses: Thus shalt thou say to the children
of Israel: You have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven.
20:23. You shall not make gods of silver, nor shall you make to
yourselves gods of gold.
20:24. You shall make an altar of earth unto me, and you shall offer
upon it your holocausts and peace offerings, your sheep and oxen, in
every place where the memory of my name shall be: I will come to thee,
and will bless thee.
20:25. And if thou make an altar of stone unto me, thou shalt not build
it of hewn stones; for if thou lift up a tool upon it, it shall be
defiled.
20:26. Thou shalt not go up by steps unto my altar, lest thy nakedness
be discovered.
Exodus Chapter 21
Laws relating to Justice.
21:1. These are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.
21:2. If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years shall he serve thee; in
the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.
21:3. With what raiment he came in, with the like let him go out: if
having a wife, his wife also shall go out with him.
21:4. But if his master gave him a wife, and she hath borne sons and
daughters; the woman and her children shall be her master's: but he
himself shall go out with his raiment.
21:5. And if the servant shall say: I love my master and my wife and
children, I will not go out free:
21:6. His master shall bring him to the gods, and he shall be set to
the door and the posts, and he shall bore his ear through with an awl:
and he shall be his servant for ever.
To the gods. . .Elohim. That is, to the judges, or magistrates,
authorized by God.
21:7. If any man sell his daughter to be a servant, she shall not go
out as bondwomen are wont to go out.
21:8. If she displease the eyes of her master to whom she was
delivered, he shall let her go: but he shall have no power to sell her
to a foreign nation, if he despise her.
21:9. But if he have betrothed her to his son, he shall deal with her
after the manner of daughters.
21:10. And if he take another wife for him, he shall provide her a
marriage, and raiment, neither shall he refuse the price of her
chastity.
21:11. If he do not these three things, she shall go out free without
money.
21:12. He that striketh a man with a will to kill him, shall be put to
death.
21:13. But he that did not lie in wait for him, but God delivered him
into his hands: I will appoint thee a place to which he must flee.
21:14. If a man kill his neighbour on set purpose, and by lying in wait
for him: thou shalt take him away from my altar that he may die.
21:15. He that striketh his father or mother, shall be put to death.
21:16. He that shall steal a man, and sell him, being convicted of the
guilt, shall be put to death.
21:17. He that curseth his father or mother, shall die the death.
21:18. If men quarrel, and the one strike his neighbour with a stone,
or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed:
21:19. If he rise again and walk abroad upon his staff, he that struck
him shall be quit, yet so that he make restitution for his work, and
for his expenses upon the physicians.
21:20. He that striketh his bondman, or bondwoman, with a rod, and they
die under his hands, shall be guilty of the crime.
21:21. But if the party remain alive a day or two, he shall not be
subject to the punishment, because it is his money.
21:22. If men quarrel, and one strike a woman with child and she
miscarry indeed, but live herself: he shall be answerable for so much
damage as the woman's husband shall require, and as arbiters shall
award.
21:23. But if her death ensue thereupon, he shall render life for life,
21:24. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
21:25. Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
21:26. If any man strike the eye of his manservant or maidservant, and
leave them but one eye, he shall let them go free for the eye which he
put out.
21:27. Also if he strike out a tooth of his manservant or maidservant,
he shall in like manner make them free.
21:28. If an ox gore a man or a woman, and they die, he shall be
stoned: and his flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall
be quit.
21:29. But if the ox was wont to push with his horn yesterday, and the
day before, and they warned his master, and he did not shut him up, and
he shall kill a man or a woman: then the ox shall be stoned, and his
owner also shall be put to death.
21:30. And if they set a price upon him, he shall give for his life
whatsoever is laid upon him.
21:31. If he have gored a son, or a daughter, he shall fall under the
like sentence.
21:32. If he assault a bondman or bondwoman, he shall give thirty
sicles of silver to their master, and the ox shall be stoned.
21:33. If a man open a pit, and dig one, and cover it not, and an ox or
an ass fall into it,
21:34. The owner of the pit shall pay the price of the beasts: and that
which is dead shall be his own.
21:35. If one man's ox gore another man's ox, and he die: they shall
sell the live ox, and shall divide the price, and the carcass of that
which died they shall part between them:
21:36. But if he knew that his ox was wont to push yesterday, and the
day before, and his master did not keep him in; he shall pay ox for ox,
and shall take the whole carcass.
Exodus Chapter 22
The punishment of theft, and other trespasses. The law of lending
without usury, of taking pledges of reverences to superiors, and of
paying tithes.
22:1. If any man steal an ox or a sheep, and kill or sell it: he shall
restore five oxen for one ox, and four sheep for one sheep.
22:2. If a thief be found breaking open a house or undermining it, and
be wounded so as to die: he that slew him shall not be guilty of blood.
22:3. But if he did this when the sun is risen, he hath committed
murder, and he shall die. If he have not wherewith to make restitution
for the theft, he shall be sold.
22:4. If that which he stole be found with him, alive, either ox, or
ass, or sheep: he shall restore double.
22:5. If any man hurt a field or a vineyard, and put in his beast to
feed upon that which is other men's: he shall restore the best of
whatsoever he hath in his own field, or in his vineyard, according to
the estimation of the damage.
22:6. If a fire breaking out light upon thorns, and catch stacks of
corn, or corn standing in the fields, he that kindled the fire shall
make good the loss.
22:7. If a man deliver money, or any vessel unto his friend to keep,
and they be stolen away from him that received them: if the thief be
found, he shall restore double:
22:8. If the thief be not known, the master of the house shall be
brought to the gods, and shall swear that he did not lay his hand upon
his neighbour's goods,
22:9. To do any fraud, either in ox, or in ass, or sheep, or raiment,
or any thing that may bring damage: the cause of both parties shall
come to the gods: and if they give judgment, he shall restore double to
his neighbour.
22:10. If a man deliver ass, ox, sheep, or any beast, to his
neighbour's custody, and it die, or be hurt, or be taken by enemies,
and no man saw it:
22:11. There shall be an oath between them, that he did not put forth
his hand to his neighbour's goods: and the owner shall accept of the
oath, and he shall not be compelled to make restitution.
22:12. But if it were taken away by stealth, he shall make the loss
good to the owner.
22:13. If it were eaten by a beast, let him bring to him that which was
slain, and he shall not make restitution.
22:14. If a man borrow of his neighbour any of these things, and it be
hurt or die, the owner not being present, he shall be obliged to make
restitution.
22:15. But if the owner be present, he shall not make restitution,
especially if it were hired, and came for the hire of his work.
22:16. If a man seduce a virgin not yet espoused, and lie with her: he
shall endow her, and have her to wife.
22:17. If the maid's father will not give her to him, he shall give
money according to the dowry, which virgins are wont to receive.
22:18. Wizards thou shalt not suffer to live.
22:19. Whosoever copulateth with a beast; shall be put to death.
22:20. He that sacrificeth to gods, shall be put to death, save only to
the Lord.
22:21. Thou shalt not molest a stranger, nor afflict him: for
yourselves also were strangers in the land of Egypt.
22:22. You shall not hurt a widow or an orphan.
22:23. If you hurt them, they will cry out to me, and I will hear their
cry:
22:24. And my rage shall be enkindled, and I will strike you with the
sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
22:25. If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor, that
dwelleth with thee, thou shalt not be hard upon them as an extortioner,
nor oppress them with usuries.
22:26. If thou take of thy neighbour a garment in pledge, thou shalt
give it him again before sunset.
22:27. For that same is the only thing, wherewith he is covered, the
clothing of his body, neither hath he any other to sleep in: if he cry
to me, I will hear him, because I am compassionate.
22:28. Thou shalt not speak ill of the gods, and the prince of thy
people thou shalt not curse.
22:29. Thou shalt not delay to pay thy tithes and thy firstfruits: thou
shalt give the firstborn of thy sons to me.
22:30. Thou shalt do the same with the firstborn of thy oxen also and
sheep: seven days let it be with its dam: the eighth day thou shalt
give it to me.
22:31. You shall be holy men to me: the flesh that beasts have tasted
of before, you shall not eat, but shall cast it to the dogs.
Exodus Chapter 23
Laws for judges; the rest of the seventh year, and day: three principal
feasts to be solemnized every year; the promise of an angel, to conduct
and protect them: idols are to be destroyed.
23:1. Thou shalt not receive the voice of a lie: neither shalt thou
join thy hand to bear false witness for a wicked person.
23:2. Thou shalt not follow the multitude to do evil: neither shalt
thou yield in judgment, to the opinion of the most part, to stray from
the truth.
23:3. Neither shalt thou favour a poor man in judgment.
23:4. If thou meet thy enemy's ox or ass going astray, bring it back to
him.
23:5. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lie underneath his
burden, thou shalt not pass by, but shalt lift him up with him.
23:6. Thou shalt not go aside in the poor man's judgment.
23:7. Thou shalt fly lying. The innocent and just person thou shalt not
put to death: because I abhor the wicked.
23:8. Neither shalt thou take bribes, which even blind the wise, and
pervert the words of the just.
23:9. Thou shalt not molest a stranger, for you know the hearts of
strangers: for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt.
23:10. Six years thou shalt sow thy ground, and shalt gather the corn
thereof.
23:11. But the seventh year thou shalt let it alone, and suffer it to
rest, that the poor of thy people may eat, and whatsoever shall be
left, let the beasts of the field eat it: so shalt thou do with thy
vineyard and thy oliveyard.
23:12. Six days thou shalt work: the seventh day thou shalt cease, that
thy ox and thy ass may rest: and the son of thy handmaid and the
stranger may be refreshed.
23:13. Keep all things that I have said to you. And by the name of
strange gods you shall not swear, neither shall it be heard out of your
mouth.
23:14. Three times every year you shall celebrate feasts to me.
23:15. Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread. Seven days shalt
thou eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the
month of new corn, when thou didst come forth out of Egypt: thou shalt
not appear empty before me.
23:16. And the feast of the harvest of the firstfruits of thy work,
whatsoever thou hast sown in the field. The feast also in the end of
the year, when thou hast gathered in all thy corn out of the field.
23:17. Thrice a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy
God.
23:18. Thou shalt not sacrifice the blood of my victim upon leaven,
neither shall the fat of my solemnity remain until the morning.
23:19. Thou shalt carry the first-fruits of the corn of thy ground to
the house of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not boil a kid in the milk of
his dam.
23:20. Behold I will send my angel, who shall go before thee, and keep
thee in thy journey, and bring thee into the place that I have
prepared.
23:21. Take notice of him, and hear his voice, and do not think him one
to be contemned: for he will not forgive when thou hast sinned, and my
name is in him.
23:22. But if thou wilt hear hi voice, and do all that I speak, I will
be an enemy to thy enemies, and will afflict them that afflict thee.
23:23. And my angel shall go before thee, and shall bring thee in unto
the Amorrhite, and the Hethite, and the Pherexite, and the Chanaanite,
and the Hevite, and the Jebuzite, whom I will destroy.
23:24. Thou shalt not adore their gods, nor serve them. Thou shalt not
do their works, but shalt destroy them, and break their statues.
23:25. And you shall serve the Lord your God, that I may bless your
bread and your waters, and may take away sickness from the midst of
thee.
23:26. There shall not be one fruitless nor barren in thy land: I will
fill the number of thy days.
23:27. I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people
to whom thou shalt come: and will turn the backs of all thy enemies
before thee:
23:28. Sending out hornets before, that shall drive away the Hevite,
and the Chanaanite, and the Hethite, before thou come in.
23:29. I will not cast them out from thy face in one year; lest the
land be brought into a wilderness, and the beasts multiply against
thee.
23:30. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee,
till thou be increased, and dost possess the land.
23:31. And I will set thy bounds from the Red Sea to the sea of the
Palestines, and from the desert to the river: I will deliver the
inhabitants of the land into your hands, and will drive them out from
before you.
23:32. Thou shalt not enter into league with them, nor with their gods.
23:33. Let them not dwell in thy land, lest perhaps they make thee sin
against me, if thou serve their gods; which, undoubtedly, will be a
scandal to thee.
Exodus Chapter 24
Moses writeth his law; and after offering sacrifices, sprinkleth the
blood of the testament upon the people: then goeth up the mountain
which God covereth with a fiery cloud.
24:1. And he said to Moses: Come up to the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab
and Abiu, and seventy of the ancients of Israel, and you shall adore
afar off.
24:2. And Moses alone shall come up to the Lord, but they shall not
come nigh; neither shall the people come up with him.
24:3. So Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and
all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice: We will
do all the words of the Lord, which he hath spoken.
24:4. And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord: and rising in the
morning, he built an altar at the foot of the mount, and twelve titles
according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
Titles. . .That is, pillars.
24:5. And he sent young men of the children of Israel, and they offered
holocausts, and sacrificed pacific victims of calves to the Lord.
Holocausts. . .Whole burnt offerings, in which the whole sacrifice was
consumed with fire upon the altar.
24:6. Then Moses took half of the blood, and put it into bowls; and the
rest he poured upon the altar.
24:7. And taking the book of the covenant, he read it in the hearing of
the people: and they said: All things that the Lord hath spoken, we
will do, we will be obedient.
24:8. And he took the blood and sprinkled it upon the people, and he
said: This is the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with
you concerning all these words.
24:9. Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abiu, and seventy of the ancients
of Israel went up:
24:10. And they saw the God of Israel: and under his feet as it were a
work of sapphire stone, and as the heaven, when clear.
24:11. Neither did he lay his hand upon those of the children of
Israel, that retired afar off, and they saw God, and they did eat and
drink.
24:12. And the Lord said to Moses: Come up to me into the mount, and be
there; and I will give thee tables of stone, and the law, and the
commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.
24:13. Moses rose up, and his minister Josue: and Moses going up into
the mount of God,
24:14. Said to the ancients: Wait ye here till we return to you. You
have Aaron and Hur with you: if any question shall arise, you shall
refer it to them.
24:15. And when Moses was gone up, a cloud covered the mount.
24:16. And the glory of the Lord dwelt upon Sinai, covering it with a
cloud six days: and the seventh day he called him out of the midst of
the cloud.
24:17. And the sight of the glory of the Lord, was like a burning fire
upon the top of the mount, in the eyes of the children of Israel.
24:18. And Moses entering into the midst of the cloud, went up into the
mountain: And he was there forty days and forty nights.
Exodus Chapter 25
Offerings prescribed for making the tabernacle, the ark, the
candlestick, etc.
25:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
25:2. Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring firstfruits to
me: of every man that offereth of his own accord, you shall take them.
Firstfruits. . .Offerings of some of the best and choicest of their
goods.
25:3. And these are the things you must take: Gold, and silver, and
brass,
25:4. Violet and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine linen, and
goats' hair,
25:5. And rams' skins dyed red, and violet skins, and setim wood:
Setim wood. . .The wood of a tree that grows in the wilderness, which is
said to be incorruptible.
25:6. Oil to make lights: spices for ointment, and for sweetsmelling
incense:
25:7. Onyx stones, and precious stones to adorn the ephod and the
rational.
The ephod and the rational. . .The ephod was the high priest's upper
vestment; and the rational his breastplate, in which were twelve gems,
etc.
25:8. And they shall make me a sanctuary, and I will dwell in the midst
of them:
25:9. According to all the likeness of the tabernacle which I will shew
thee, and of all the vessels for the service thereof: and thus you
shall make it:
25:10. Frame an ark of setim wood, the length whereof shall be of two
cubits and a half; the breadth, a cubit and a half; the height,
likewise, a cubit and a half.
25:11. And thou shalt overlay it with the purest gold, within and
without; and over it thou shalt make a golden crown round about:
25:12. And four golden rings, which thou shalt put at the four corners
of the ark: let two rings be on the one side, and two on the other.
25:13. Thou shalt make bars also of setim wood, and shalt overlay them
with gold.
25:14. And thou shalt put them in through the rings that are in the
sides of the ark, that it may be carried on them:
25:15. And they shall be always in the rings, neither shall they at any
time be drawn out of them.
25:16. And thou shalt put in the ark the testimony which I will give
thee.
25:17. Thou shalt make also a propitiatory of the purest gold: the
length thereof shall be two cubits and a half, and the breadth a cubit
and a half.
A propitiatory. . .a covering for the ark: called a propitiatory, or
mercy seat, because the Lord, who was supposed to sit there upon the
wings of the cherubims, with the ark for his footstool, from thence
shewed mercy. It is also called the oracle, ver. 18 and 20; because
from thence God gave his orders and his answers.
25:18. Thou shalt make also two cherubims of beaten gold, on the two
sides of the oracle.
25:19. Let one cherub be on the one side, and the other on the other.
25:20. Let them cover both sides of the propitiatory, spreading their
wings, and covering the oracle, and let them look one towards the
other, their faces being turned towards the propitiatory wherewith the
ark is to be covered.
25:21. In which thou shalt put the testimony that I will give thee.
25:22. Thence will I give orders, and will speak to thee over the
propitiatory, and from the midst of the two cherubims, which shall be
upon the ark of the testimony, all things which I will command the
children of Israel by thee.
25:23. Thou shalt make a table also of setim wood, of two cubits in
length, and a cubit in breadth, and a cubit and a half in height.
A table. . .On which were to be placed the twelve loaves of proposition:
or, as they are called in the Hebrew, the face bread, because they were
always to stand before the face of the Lord in his temple: as a figure
of the eucharistic sacrifice and sacrament, in the church of Christ.
25:24. And thou shalt overlay it with the purest gold: and thou shalt
make to it a golden ledge round about.
25:25. And to the ledge itself a polished crown, four inches high; and
over the same another little golden crown.
25:26. Thou shalt prepare also four golden rings, and shalt put them in
the four corners of the same table, over each foot.
25:27. Under the crown shall the golden rings be, that the bars may be
put through them, and the table may be carried.
25:28. The bars also themselves thou shalt make of setim wood, and
shalt overlay them with gold, to bear up the table.
25:29. Thou shalt prepare also dishes, and bowls, censers, and cups,
wherein the libations are to be offered, of the purest gold.
Libations. . .That is, drink offerings.
25:30. And thou shalt set upon the table loaves of proposition in my
sight always.
25:31. Thou shalt make also a candlestick of beaten work, of the finest
gold, the shaft thereof, and the branches, the cups, and the bowls, and
the lilies going forth from it.
A candlestick. . .This candlestick, with its seven lamps, which was
always to give light in the house of God, was a figure of the light of
the Holy Ghost, and his sevenfold grace, in the sanctuary of the church
of Christ.
25:32. Six branches shall come out of the sides, three out of one side,
and three out of the other.
25:33. Three cups as it were nuts to every branch, and a bowl withal,
and a lily: and three cups likewise of the fashion of nuts in the other
branch, and a bowl withal, and a lily. Such shall be the work of the
six branches, that are to come out from the shaft:
25:34. And in the candlestick itself shall be four cups in the manner
of a nut, and at every one bowls and lilies.
25:35. Bowls under two branches in three places, which together make
six, coming forth out of one shaft.
25:36. And both the bowls and the branches shall be of the same beaten
work of the purest gold.
25:37. Thou shalt make also seven lamps, and shalt set them upon the
candlestick, to give light over against.
25:38. The snuffers also, and where the snuffings shall be put out,
shall be made of the purest gold.
25:39. The whole weight of the candlestick, with all the furniture
thereof, shall be a talent of the purest gold.
25:40. Look, and make it according to the pattern that was shewn thee
in the mount.
Exodus Chapter 26
The form of the tabernacle with its appurtenances.
26:1. And thou shalt make the tabernacle in this manner: Thou shalt
make ten curtains of fine twisted linen, and violet and purple, and
scarlet twice dyed, diversified with embroidery.
26:2. The length of one curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits; the
breadth shall be four cubits. All the curtains shall be of one measure.
26:3. Five curtains shall be joined one to another, and the other five
shall be coupled together in like manner.
26:4. Thou shalt make loops of violet in the sides and tops of the
curtains, that they may be joined one to another.
26:5. Every curtain shall have fifty loops on both sides, so set on,
that one loop may be against another loop, and one may be fitted to the
other.
26:6. Thou shalt make also fifty rings of gold, wherewith the veils of
the curtains are to be joined, that it may be made one tabernacle.
26:7. Thou shalt make also eleven curtains of goats' hair, to cover the
top of the tabernacle.
26:8. The length of one hair-curtain shall be thirty cubits; and the
breadth, four: the measure of all the curtains shall be equal.
26:9. Five of which thou shalt couple by themselves, and the six others
thou shalt couple one to another, so as to double the sixth curtain in
the front of the roof.
26:10. Thou shalt make also fifty loops in the edge of one curtain,
that it may be joined with the other: and fifty loops in the edge of
the other curtain, that it may be coupled with its fellow.
26:11. Thou shalt make also fifty buckles of brass, wherewith the loops
may be joined, that of all there may be made one covering.
26:12. And that which shall remain of the curtains, that are prepared
for the roof, to wit, one curtain that is over and above, with the half
thereof thou shalt cover the back parts of the tabernacle.
26:13. And there shall hang down a cubit on the one side, and another
on the other side, which is over and above in the length of the
curtains, fencing both sides of the tabernacle.
26:14. Thou shalt make also another cover to the roof of rams' skins
dyed red: and over that again another cover of violet coloured skins.
26:15. Thou shalt make also the boards of the tabernacle standing
upright of setim wood.
26:16. Let every one of them be ten cubits in length, and in breadth
one cubit and a half.
26:17. In the sides of the boards shall be made two mortises, whereby
one board may be joined to another board: and after this manner shall
all the boards be prepared.
26:18. Of which twenty shall be in the south side southward.
26:19. For which thou shalt cast forty sockets of silver, that under
every board may be put two sockets at the two corners.
26:20. In the second side also of the tabernacle that looketh to the
north, there shall be twenty boards,
26:21. Having forty sockets of silver, two sockets shall be put under
each board.
26:22. But on the west side of the tabernacle thou shalt make six
boards.
26:23. And again other two which shall be erected in the corners at the
back of the tabernacle.
26:24. And they shall be joined together from beneath unto the top, and
one joint shall hold them all. The like joining shall be observed for
the two boards also that are to be put in the corners.
26:25. And they shall be in all eight boards, and their silver sockets
sixteen, reckoning two sockets for each board.
26:26. Thou shalt make also five bars of setim wood, to hold together
the boards on one side of the tabernacle.
26:27. And five others on the other side, and as many at the west side:
26:28. And they shall be put along by the midst of the boards, from one
end to the other.
26:29. The boards also themselves thou shalt overlay with gold, and
shalt cast rings of gold to be set upon them, for places for the bars
to hold together the boardwork: which bars thou shalt cover with plates
of gold.
26:30. And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the pattern
that was shewn thee in the mount.
26:31. Thou shalt make also a veil of violet, and purple, and scarlet
twice dyed, and fine twisted linen, wrought with embroidered work and
goodly variety:
26:32. And thou shalt hang it up before four pillars of setim wood,
which themselves also shall be overlaid with gold, and shall have heads
of gold, but sockets of silver.
26:33. And the veil shall be hanged on with rings, and within it thou
shalt put the ark of the testimony, and the sanctuary and the holy of
the holies shall be divided with it.
The sanctuary, etc. . .That part of the tabernacle, which was without
the veil, into which the priests daily entered, is here called the
sanctuary, or holy place; that part which was within the veil, into
which no one but the high priest ever went, and he but once a year, is
called the holy of holies, (literally, the sanctuary of the
sanctuaries,) as being the most holy of all holy places.
26:34. And thou shalt set the propitiatory upon the ark of the
testimony, in the holy of holies.
26:35. And the table without the veil, and over against the table the
candlestick in the south side of the tabernacle: for the table shall
stand in the north side.
26:36. Thou shalt make also a hanging in the entrance of the tabernacle
of violet, and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine twisted linen
with embroidered work.
26:37. And thou shalt overlay with gold five pillars of setim wood,
before which the hanging shall be drawn: their heads shall be of gold,
and the sockets of brass.
Exodus Chapter 27
The altar; and the court of the tabernacle with its hangings and
pillars. Provision of oil for lamps.
27:1. Thou shalt make also an altar of setim wood, which shall be five
cubits long, and as many broad, that is four square, and three cubits
high.
27:2. And there shall be horns at the four corners of the same: and
thou shalt cover it with brass.
27:3. And thou shalt make for the uses thereof pans to receive the
ashes, and tongs and fleshhooks, and firepans: all its vessels thou
shalt make of brass.
27:4. And a grate of brass in manner of a net; at the four corners of
which, shall be four rings of brass,
27:5. Which thou shalt put under the hearth of the altar: and the grate
shall be even to the midst of the altar.
27:6. Thou shalt make also two bars for the altar, of setim wood, which
thou shalt cover with plates of brass:
27:7. And thou shalt draw them through rings, and they shall be on both
sides of the altar to carry it.
27:8. Thou shalt not make it solid, but empty and hollow in the inside,
as it was shewn thee in the mount.
27:9. Thou shalt make also the court of the tabernacle, in the south
side whereof southward there shall be hangings of fine twisted linen of
a hundred cubits long for one side.
27:10. And twenty pillars with as many sockets of brass, the heads of
which, with their engraving, shall be of silver.
27:11. In like manner also on the north side there shall be hangings of
a hundred cubits long, twenty pillars, and as many sockets of brass,
and their heads with their engraving of silver.
27:12. But in the breadth of the court, that looketh to the west, there
shall be hangings of fifty cubits, and ten pillars, and as many
sockets.
27:13. In that breadth also of the court, which looketh to the east,
there shall be fifty cubits.
27:14. In which there shall be for one side, hangings of fifteen
cubits, and three pillars, and as many sockets.
27:15. And in the other side, there shall be hangings of fifteen
cubits, with three pillars, and as many sockets.
27:16. And in the entrance of the court there shall be made a hanging
of twenty cubits of violet and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine
twisted linen, with embroidered work: it shall have four pillars, with
as many sockets.
27:17. All the pillars of the court round about shall be garnished with
plates of silver, silver heads, and sockets of brass.
27:18. In length the court shall take up a hundred cubits, in breadth
fifty, the height shall be of five cubits, and it shall be made of fine
twisted linen, and shall have sockets of brass.
27:19. All the vessels of the tabernacle for all uses and ceremonies,
and the pins both of it and of the court, thou shalt make of brass.
27:20. Command the children of Israel that they bring thee the purest
oil of the olives, and beaten with a pestle: that a lamp may burn
always,
27:21. In the tabernacle of the testimony, without the veil that hangs
before the testimony. And Aaron and his sons shall order it, that it
may give light before the Lord until the morning. It shall be a
perpetual observance throughout their successions among the children of
Israel.
Exodus Chapter 28
The holy vestments for Aaron and his sons.
28:1. Take unto thee also Aaron thy brother with his sons, from among
the children of Israel, that they may minister to me in the priest's
office: Aaron, Nadab, and Abiu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
28:2. And thou shalt make a holy vesture for Aaron, thy brother, for
glory and for beauty.
28:3. And thou shalt speak to all the wise of heart, whom I have filled
with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's vestments, in
which he being consecrated, may minister to me.
28:4. And these shall be the vestments that they shall make: A rational
and an ephod, a tunic and a strait linen garment, a mitre and a girdle.
They shall make the holy vestments for thy brother Aaron and his sons,
that they may do the office of priesthood unto me.
28:5. And they shall take gold, and violet, and purple, and scarlet
twice dyed, and fine linen.
28:6. And they shall make the ephod of gold, and violet, and purple,
and scarlet twice dyed, and fine twisted linen, embroidered with divers
colours.
28:7. It shall have the two edges joined in the top on both sides, that
they may be closed together.
28:8. The very workmanship also, and all the variety of the work, shall
be of gold, and violet, and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine
twisted linen.
28:9. And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and shalt grave on them the
names of the children of Israel:
28:10. Six names on one stone, and the other six on the other,
according to the order of their birth.
28:11. With the work of an engraver, and the graving of a jeweller,
thou shalt engrave them with the names of the children of Israel, set
in gold and compassed about:
28:12. And thou shalt put them in both sides of the ephod, a memorial
for the children of Israel. And Aaron shall bear their names before the
Lord upon both shoulders, for a remembrance.
28:13. Thou shalt make also hooks of gold.
28:14. And two little chains of the purest gold, linked one to another,
which thou shalt put into the hooks.
28:15. And thou shalt make the rational of judgment with embroidered
work of divers colours, according to the workmanship of the ephod, of
gold, violet, and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine twisted
linen.
The rational of judgment. . .This part of the priest's attire, which he
wore at his breast, was called the rational of judgment; partly because
it admonished both priest and people of their duty to God, by carrying
the names of all their tribes in his presence; and by the Urim and the
Thummim, that is, doctrine and truth, which were written upon it; and
partly because it gave divine answers and oracles, as if it were
rational and endowed with judgment.
28:16. It shall be four square and doubled: it shall be the measure of
a span both in length and in breadth.
28:17. And thou shalt set in it four rows of stones . In the first row
shall be a sardius stone, and a topaz, and an emerald:
28:18. In the second a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a jasper:
28:19. In the third a ligurius, an agate, and an amethyst:
28:20. In the fourth a chrysolite, an onyx, and a beryl. They shall be
set in gold by their rows.
28:21. And they shall have the names of the children of Israel: with
twelve names shall they be engraved, each stone with the name of one
according to the twelve tribes.
28:22. And thou shalt make on the rational chains, linked one to
another, of the purest gold:
28:23. And two rings of gold, which thou shalt put in the two ends at
the top of the rational.
28:24. And the golden chains thou shalt join to the rings, that are in
the ends thereof.
28:25. And the ends of the chains themselves, thou shalt join together
with two hooks, on both sides of the ephod, which is towards the
rational.
28:26. Thou shalt make also two rings of gold, which thou shalt put in
the top parts of the rational, in the borders that are over against the
ephod, and look towards the back parts thereof.
28:27. Moreover also other two rings of gold, which are to be set on
each side of the ephod beneath, that looketh towards the nether
joining, that the rational may be fitted with the ephod,
28:28. And may be fastened by the rings thereof unto the rings of the
ephod with a violet fillet, that the joining artificially wrought may
continue, and the rational and the ephod may not be loosed one from the
other.
28:29. And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the
rational of judgment upon his breast, when he shall enter into the
sanctuary, a memorial before the Lord for ever.
28:30. And thou shalt put in the rational of judgment doctrine and
truth, which shall be on Aaron's breast, when he shall go in before the
Lord: and he shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel on his
breast, in the sight of the Lord always.
Doctrine and Truth. . .Hebrew, Urim and Thummim: illuminations and
perfections. These words, written on the rational, seem to signify the
light of doctrine and the integrity of life, with which the priests of
God ought to approach him.
28:31. And thou shalt make the tunic of the ephod all of violet,
28:32. In the midst whereof above shall be a hole for the head, and a
border round about it woven, as is wont to be made in the outmost parts
of garments, that it may not easily be broken.
28:33. And beneath at the feet of the same tunic, round about, thou
shalt make as it were pomegranates, of violet, and purple, and scarlet
twice dyed, with little bells set between:
28:34. So that there shall be a golden bell and a pomegranate, and
again another golden bell and a pomegranate.
28:35. And Aaron shall be vested with it in the office of his ministry,
that the sound may be heard, when he goeth in and cometh out of the
sanctuary, in the sight of the Lord, and that he may not die.
28:36. Thou shalt make also a plate of the purest gold: wherein thou
shalt grave with engraver's work, Holy to the Lord.
28:37. And thou shalt tie it with a violet fillet, and it shall be upon
the mitre,
28:38. Hanging over the forehead of the high priest. And Aaron shall
bear the iniquities of those things, which the children of Israel have
offered and sanctified, in all their gifts and offerings. And the plate
shall be always on his forehead, that the Lord may be well pleased with
them.
28:39. And thou shalt gird the tunic with fine linen, and thou shalt
make a fine linen mitre, and a girdle of embroidered work.
28:40. Moreover, for the sons of Aaron thou shalt prepare linen tunics,
and girdles and mitres for glory and beauty:
28:41. And with all these things thou shalt vest Aaron thy brother, and
his sons with him. And thou shalt consecrate the hands of them all, and
shalt sanctify them, that they may do the office of priesthood unto me.
28:42. Thou shalt make also linen breeches, to cover the flesh of their
nakedness, from the reins to the thighs:
28:43. And Aaron and his sons shall use them when they shall go into
the tabernacle of the testimony, or when they approach to the altar to
minister in the sanctuary. lest being guilty of iniquity they die. It
shall be a law for ever to Aaron, and to his seed after him.
Exodus Chapter 29
The manner of consecrating Aaron and other priests; the institution of
the daily sacrifice of two lambs, one in the morning, the other at
evening.
29:1. And thou shalt also do this, that they may be consecrated to me
in priesthood. Take a calf from the herd, and two rams without blemish,
29:2. And unleavened bread, and a cake without leaven, tempered with
oil, wafers also unleavened, anointed with oil: thou shalt make them
all of wheaten flour.
29:3. And thou shalt put them in a basket, and offer them: and the calf
and the two rams.
29:4. And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the
tabernacle of the testimony. And when thou hast washed the father and
his sons with water,
29:5. Thou shalt clothe Aaron with his vestments, that is, with the
linen garment and the tunic, and the ephod and the rational, which thou
shalt gird with the girdle.
29:6. And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and the holy plate
upon the mitre,
29:7. And thou shalt pour the oil of unction upon his head: and by this
rite shall he be consecrated.
29:8. Thou shalt bring his sons also, and shalt put on them the linen
tunics, and gird them with a girdle:
29:9. To wit, Aaron and his children, and thou shalt put mitres upon
them; and they shall be priests to me by a perpetual ordinance. After
thou shalt have consecrated their hands,
29:10. Thou shalt present also the calf before the tabernacle of the
testimony. And Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands upon his head,
29:11. And thou shalt kill him in the sight of the Lord, beside the
door of the tabernacle of the testimony.
29:12. And taking some of the blood of the calf, thou shalt put it upon
the horns of the altar with thy finger, and the rest of the blood thou
shalt pour at the bottom thereof.
29:13. Thou shalt take also all the fat that covereth the entrails, and
the caul of the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon
them, and shalt offer a burn offering upon the altar:
29:14. But the flesh of the calf, and the hide and the dung, thou shalt
burn abroad, without the camp, because it is for sin.
29:15. Thou shalt take also one ram, upon the head whereof Aaron and
his sons shall lay their hands.
29:16. And when thou hast killed him, thou shalt take of the blood
thereof, and pour round about the altar.
29:17. And thou shalt cut the ram in pieces, and having washed his
entrails and feet, thou shalt put them upon the flesh that is cut in
pieces, and upon his head.
29:18. And thou shalt offer the whole ram for a burnt offering upon the
altar: it is an oblation to the Lord, a most sweet savour of the victim
of the Lord.
29:19. Thou shalt take also the other ram, upon whose head Aaron and
his sons shall lay their hands.
29:20. And when thou hast sacrificed him, thou shalt take of his blood,
and put upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron and of his sons, and
upon the thumbs and great toes of their right hand and foot, and thou
shalt pour the blood upon the altar round about.
29:21. And when thou hast taken of the blood that is upon the altar,
and of the oil of unction, thou shalt sprinkle Aaron and his vesture,
his sons and their vestments. And after they and their vestments are
consecrated,
29:22. Thou shalt take the fat of the ram, and the rump, and the fat
that covereth the lungs, and the caul of the liver, and the two
kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and the right shoulder, because
it is the ram of consecration:
29:23. And one roll of bread, a cake tempered with oil, a wafer out of
the basket of unleavened bread, which is set in the sight of the Lord:
29:24. And thou shalt put all upon the hands of Aaron and of his sons,
and shalt sanctify them elevating before the Lord.
29:25. And thou shalt take all from their hands; and shalt burn them
upon the altar for a holocaust, a most sweet savour in the sight of the
Lord, because it is his oblation.
29:26. Thou shalt take also the breast of the ram, wherewith Aaron was
consecrated, and elevating it thou shalt sanctify it before the Lord,
and it shall fall to thy share.
29:27. And thou shalt sanctify both the consecrated breast, and the
shoulder that thou didst separate of the ram,
29:28. Wherewith Aaron was consecrated and his sons, and they shall
fall to Aaron's share, and his sons', by a perpetual right from the
children of Israel: because they are the choicest and the beginnings of
their peace victims which they offer to the Lord.
29:29. And the holy vesture, which Aaron shall use, his sons shall have
after him, that they may be anointed, and their hands consecrated in
it.
29:30. He of his sons that shall be appointed high priest in his stead,
and that shall enter into the tabernacle of the testimony to minister
in the sanctuary, shall wear it seven days.
29:31. And thou shalt take the ram of the consecration, and shalt boil
the flesh thereof in the holy place:
29:32. And Aaron and his sons shall eat it. The loaves also, that are
in the basket, they shall eat in the entry of the tabernacle of the
testimony,
29:33. That it may be an atoning sacrifice, and the hands of the
offerers may be sanctified. A stranger shall not eat of them, because
they are holy.
29:34. And if there remain of the consecrated flesh, or of the bread,
till the morning, thou shalt burn the remainder with fire: they shall
not be eaten, because they are sanctified.
29:35. All that I have commanded thee, thou shalt do unto Aaron and his
sons. Seven days shalt thou consecrate their hands:
29:36. And thou shalt offer a calf for sin every day for expiation. And
thou shalt cleanse the altar when thou hast offered the victim of
expiation, and shalt anoint it to sanctify it.
29:37. Seven days shalt thou expiate the altar and sanctify it, and it
shall be most holy. Every one, that shall touch it, shall be holy.
29:38. This is what thou shalt sacrifice upon the altar: Two lambs of a
year old every day continually,
29:39. One lamb in the morning, and another in the evening.
29:40. With one lamb a tenth part of flour tempered with beaten oil, of
the fourth part of a hin, and wine for libation of the same measure.
29:41. And the other lamb thou shalt offer in the evening, according to
the rite of the morning oblation, and according to what we have said,
for a savour of sweetness:
29:42. It is a sacrifice to the Lord, by perpetual oblation unto your
generations, at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony before the
Lord, where I will appoint to speak unto thee.
29:43. And there will I command the children of Israel, and the altar
shall be sanctified by my glory.
29:44. I will sanctify also the tabernacle of the testimony with the
altar, and Aaron with his sons, to do the office of priesthood unto me.
29:45. And I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel, and
will be their God:
29:46. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who have
brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might abide among them, I
the Lord their God.
Exodus Chapter 30
The altar of incense: money to be gathered for the use of the
tabernacle: the brazen laver: the holy oil of unction, and the
composition of the perfume.
30:1. Thou shalt make also an altar to burn incense, of setim wood.
An altar to burn incense. . .This burning of incense was an emblem of
prayer, ascending to God from an inflamed heart. See Ps. 140.2; Apoc.
5.8, and 8.4.
30:2. It shall be a cubit in length, and another in breadth, that is,
four square, and two in height. Horns shall go out of the same.
30:3. And thou shalt overlay it with the purest gold, as well the grate
thereof, as the walls round about, and the horns. And thou shalt make
to it a crown of gold round about,
30:4. And two golden rings under the crown on either side, that the
bars may be put into them, and the altar be carried.
30:5. And thou shalt make the bars also of setim wood, and shalt
overlay them with gold.
30:6. And thou shalt set the altar over against the veil, that hangeth
before the ark of the testimony before the propitiatory wherewith the
testimony is covered, where I will speak to thee.
30:7. And Aaron shall burn sweet smelling incense upon it in the
morning. When he shall dress the lamps, he shall burn it:
30:8. And when he shall place them in the evening, he shall burn an
everlasting incense before the Lord throughout your generations.
30:9. You shall not offer upon it incense of another composition, nor
oblation, and victim, neither shall you offer libations.
30:10. And Aaron shall pray upon the horns thereof once a year, with
the blood of that which was offered for sin; and shall make atonement
upon it in your generations. It shall be most holy to the Lord.
30:11. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
30:12. When thou shalt take the sum of the children of Israel,
according to their number, every one of them shall give a price for
their souls to the Lord, and there shall be no scourge among them, when
they shall be reckoned.
30:13. And this shall every one give that passeth at the naming, half a
sicle according to the standard of the temple. A sicle hath twenty
obols. Half a sicle shall be offered to the Lord.
Half a sicle. . .A sicle or shekel of silver, (which was also called a
stater,) according to the standard or weight of the sanctuary, which
was the most just and exact, was half an ounce of silver, that is,
about half a crown of English money. The obol, or gerah, was about
three halfpence.
30:14. He that is counted in the number from twenty years and upwards,
shall give the price.
30:15. The rich man shall not add to half a sicle, and the poor man
shall diminish nothing.
30:16. And the money received, which was contributed by the children of
Israel, thou shalt deliver unto the uses of the tabernacle of the
testimony, that it may be a memorial of them before the Lord, and he
may be merciful to their souls.
30:17. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
30:18. Thou shalt make also a brazen laver with its foot to wash in:
and thou shalt set it between the tabernacle of the testimony and the
altar. And water being put into it:
30:19. Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and feet in it:
30:20. When they are going into the tabernacle of the testimony, and
when they are to come to the altar, to offer on it incense to the Lord,
30:21. Lest perhaps they die. It shall be an everlasting law to him,
and to his seed by successions.
30:22. And the Lord spoke to Moses,
30:23. Saying: Take spices, of principal and chosen myrrh five hundred
sicles, and of cinnamon half so much; that is, two hundred and fifty
sicles, of calamus in like manner two hundred and fifty,
30:24. And of cassia five hundred sicles by the weight of the
sanctuary, of oil of olives the measure hin:
30:25. And thou shalt make the holy oil of unction, an ointment
compounded after the art of the perfumer,
30:26. And therewith thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the testimony,
and the ark of the testament,
30:27. And the table with the vessels thereof, the candlestick and
furniture thereof, the altars of incense,
30:28. And of holocaust, and all the furniture that belongeth to the
service of them.
30:29. And thou shalt sanctify all, and they shall be most holy: he
that shall touch them shall be sanctified.
30:30. Thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and shalt sanctify them,
that they may do the office of priesthood unto me.
30:31. And thou shalt say to the children of Israel: This oil of
unction shall be holy unto me throughout your generations.
30:32. The flesh of man shall not be anointed therewith, and you shall
make none other of the same composition, because it is sanctified, and
shall be holy unto you.
30:33. What man soever shall compound such, and shall give thereof to a
stranger, he shall be cut off from his people.
30:34. And the Lord said to Moses: Take unto thee spices, stacte, and
onycha, galbanum of sweet savour, and the clearest frankincense, all
shall be of equal weight.
30:35. And thou shalt make incense compounded by the work of the
perfumer, well tempered together, and pure, and most worthy of
sanctification.
30:36. And when thou hast beaten all into very small powder, thou shalt
set of it before the tabernacle of the testimony, in the place where I
will appear to thee. Most holy shall this incense be unto you.
30:37. You shall not make such a composition for your own uses, because
it is holy to the Lord.
30:38. What man soever shall make the like, to enjoy the smell thereof,
he shall perish out of his people.
Exodus Chapter 31
Beseleel and Ooliab are appointed by the Lord to make the tabernacle,
and the things belonging thereto. The observation of the sabbath day is
again commanded. And the Lord delivereth to Moses two tables written
with the finger of God.
31:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
31:2. Behold, I have called by name Beseleel the son of Uri, the son of
Hur, of the tribe of Juda,
31:3. And I have filled him with the spirit of God, with wisdom and
understanding, and knowledge in all manner of work,
31:4. To devise whatsoever may be artificially made of gold, and
silver, and brass,
31:5. Of marble, and precious stones, and variety of wood.
31:6. And I have given him for his companion Ooliab, the son of
Achisamech, of the tribe of Dan. And I have put wisdom in the heart of
every skilful man, that they may make all things which I have commanded
thee,
31:7. The tabernacle of the covenant, and the ark of the testimony, and
the propitiatory, that is over it, and all the vessels of the
tabernacle,
31:8. And the table and the vessels thereof, the most pure candlestick
with the vessels thereof, and the altars of incense,
31:9. And of holocaust, and all their vessels, the laver with its foot,
31:10. The holy vestments in the ministry for Aaron the priest, and for
his sons, that they may execute their office, about the sacred things:
31:11. The oil of unction, and the incense of spices in the sanctuary,
all things which I have commanded thee, shall they make.
31:12. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
31:13. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: See
that you keep my sabbath; because it is a sign between me and you in
your generations that you may know that I am the Lord, who sanctify
you.
31:14. keep you my sabbath: for it is holy unto you: he that shall
profane it, shall be put to death: he that shall do any work in it, his
soul shall perish out of the midst of his people.
31:15. Six days shall you do work: in the seventh day is the sabbath,
the rest holy to the Lord. Every one that shall do any work on this
day, shall die.
31:16. Let the children of Israel keep the sabbath, and celebrate it in
their generations. It is an everlasting covenant
31:17. Between me and the children of Israel, and a perpetual sign. For
in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and in the seventh he
ceased from work.
31:18. And the Lord, when he had ended these words in Mount Sinai, gave
to Moses two stone tables of testimony, written with the finger of God.
Exodus Chapter 32
The people fall into idolatry. Moses prayeth for them. He breaketh the
tables: destroyeth the idol: blameth Aaron, and causeth many of the
idolaters to be slain.
32:1. And the people seeing that Moses delayed to come down from the
mount, gathering together against Aaron, said: Arise, make us gods,
that may go before us: For as to this Moses, the man that brought us
out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has befallen him.
32:2. And Aaron said to them: Take the golden earrings from the ears of
your wives, and your sons and daughters, and bring them to me.
32:3. And the people did what he had commanded, bringing the earrings
to Aaron.
32:4. And when he had received them, he fashioned them by founders'
work, and made of them a molten calf. And they said: These are thy
gods, O Israel, that have brought thee out of the land of Egypt.
32:5. And when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it, and made
proclamation by a crier's voice, saying To morrow is the solemnity of
the Lord.
32:6. And rising in the morning, they offered holocausts, and peace
victims, and the people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to
play.
32:7. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Go, get thee down: thy
people, which thou hast brought out of the land of Egypt, hath sinned.
32:8. They have quickly strayed from the way which thou didst shew
them: and they have made to themselves a molten calf, and have adored
it, and sacrificing victims to it, have said: These are thy gods, O
Israel, that have brought thee out of the land of Egypt.
32:9. And again the Lord said to Moses: I see that this people is
stiffnecked:
32:10. Let me alone, that my wrath may be kindled against them, and
that I may destroy them, and I will make of thee a great nation.
32:11. But Moses besought the Lord his God, saying: Why, O Lord, is thy
indignation enkindled against thy people, whom thou hast brought out of
the land of Egypt, with great power, and with a mighty hand?
32:12. Let not the Egyptians say, I beseech thee: He craftily brought
them out, that he might kill them in the mountains, and destroy them
from the earth: let thy anger cease, and be appeased upon the
wickedness of thy people.
32:13. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou
sworest by thy own self, saying: I will multiply your seed as the stars
of heaven: and this whole land that I have spoken of, I will give to
your seed, and you shall possess it for ever:
32:14. And the Lord was appeased from doing the evil which he had
spoken against his people.
32:15. And Moses returned from the mount, carrying the two tables of
the testimony in his hand, written on both sides,
32:16. And made by the work of God; the writing also of God was graven
in the tables.
32:17. And Josue hearing the noise of the people shouting, said to
Moses: The noise of battle is heard in the camp.
32:18. But he answered: It is not the cry of men encouraging to fight,
nor the shout of men compelling to flee: but I hear the voice of
singers.
32:19. And when he came nigh to the camp, he saw the calf, and the
dances: and being very angry, he threw the tables out of his hand, and
broke them at the foot of the mount:
32:20. And laying hold of the calf which they had made, he burnt it,
and beat it to powder, which he strewed into water, and gave thereof to
the children of Israel to drink.
32:21. And he said to Aaron: What has this people done to thee, that
thou shouldst bring upon them a most heinous sin?
32:22. And he answered him: Let not my lord be offended; for thou
knowest this people, that they are prone to evil.
32:23. They said to me: make us gods, that may go before us; for as to
this Moses, who brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, we know not
what is befallen him.
32:24. And I said to them: Which of you hath any gold? and they took
and brought it to me; and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came
out.
32:25. And when Moses saw that the people were naked, (for Aaron had
stripped them by occasion of the shame of the filth, and had set them
naked among their enemies)
Naked. . .Having lost not only their gold, and their honour, but what
was worst of all, being stripped also of the grace of God, and having
lost him.--The shame of the filth. . .That is, of the idol, which they
had taken for their god. It is the usual phrase of the scripture to
call idols filth and abominations.
32:26. Then standing in the gate of the camp, he said: If any man be on
the Lord's side, let him join with me. And all the sons of Levi
gathered themselves together unto him:
32:27. And he said to them: Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: Put
every man his sword upon his thigh: go, and return from gate to gate
through the midst of the camp, and let every man kill his brother, and
friend, and neighbour.
32:28. And the sons of Levi did according to the words of Moses, and
there were slain that day about three and twenty thousand men.
32:29. And Moses said: You have consecrated your hands this day to the
Lord, every man in his son and in his brother, that a blessing may be
given to you.
32:30. And when the next day was come, Moses spoke to the people: You
have sinned a very great sin: I will go up to the Lord, if by any means
I may be able to entreat him for your crime.
32:31. And returning to the Lord, he said: I beseech thee: this people
hath sinned a heinous sin, and they have made to themselves gods of
gold: either forgive them this trespass,
32:32. Or if thou do not, strike me out of the book that thou hast
written.
32:33. And the Lord answered him: He that hath sinned against me, him
will I strike out of my book:
32:34. But go thou, and lead this people whither I have told thee: my
angel shall go before thee. And I in the day of revenge will visit this
sin also of theirs.
32:35. The Lord therefore struck the people for the guilt, on occasion
of the calf which Aaron had made.
Exodus Chapter 33
The people mourn for their sin. Moses pitcheth the tabernacle without
the camp. He converseth familiarly with God. Desireth to see his glory.
33:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Go, get thee up from this
place, thou and thy people which thou hast brought out of the land of
Egypt, into the land concerning which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, saying: To thy seed I will give it:
33:2. And I will send an angel before thee, that I may cast out the
Chanaanite, and the Amorrhite, and the Hethite, and the Pherezite, and
the Hevite, and the Jebusite,
33:3. That thou mayst enter into the land that floweth with milk and
honey. For I will not go up with thee, because thou art a stiffnecked
people; lest I destroy thee in the way.
33:4. And the people hearing these very bad tidings, mourned: and no
man put on his ornaments according to custom.
33:5. And the Lord said to Moses: Say to the children of Israel: Thou
art a stiffnecked people, once I shall come up in the midst of thee,
and shall destroy thee. Now presently lay aside thy ornaments, that I
may know what to do to thee.
33:6. So the children of Israel laid aside their ornaments by Mount
Horeb.
33:7. Moses also taking the tabernacle, pitched it without the camp
afar off, and called the name thereof, The tabernacle of the covenant.
And all the people, that had any question, went forth to the tabernacle
of the covenant, without the camp.
33:8. And when Moses went forth to the tabernacle, all the people rose
up, and every one stood in the door of his pavilion, and they beheld
the back of Moses, till he went into the tabernacle.
33:9. And when he was gone into the tabernacle of the covenant, the
pillar of the cloud came down, and stood at the door, and he spoke with
Moses.
33:10. And all saw that the pillar of the cloud stood at the door of
the tabernacle. And they stood and worshipped at the doors of their
tent.
33:11. And the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man is wont to
speak to his friend. And when he returned into the camp, his servant
Josue, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not from the tabernacle.
Face to face. . .That is, in a most familiar manner. Though as we learn
from this very chapter, Moses could not see the face of the Lord.
33:12. And Moses said to the Lord: Thou commandest me to lead forth
this people; and thou dost not let me know whom thou wilt send with me,
especially whereas thou hast said: I know thee by name, and thou hast
found favour in my sight.
I know thee by name. . .In the language of the scriptures, God is said
to know such as he approves and loves: and to know by name, those whom
he favours in a most singular manner, as he did his servant Moses.
33:13. If therefore I have found favour in thy sight, shew me thy face,
that I may know thee, and may find grace before thy eyes: look upon thy
people this nation.
33:14. And the Lord said: My face shall go before thee, and I will give
thee rest.
33:15. And Moses said: If thou thyself dost not go before, bring us not
out of this place.
33:16. For how shall we be able to know, I and thy people, that we have
found grace in thy sight, unless thou walk with us, that we may be
glorified by all people that dwell upon the earth?
33:17. And the Lord said to Moses: This word also, which thou hast
spoken, will I do; for thou hast found grace before me, and thee I have
known by name.
33:18. And he said: Shew me thy glory.
33:19. He answered: I will shew thee all good, and I will proclaim in
the name of the Lord before thee: and I will have mercy on whom I will,
and I will be merciful to whom it shall please me.
33:20. And again he said: Thou canst not see my face: for man shall not
see me, and live.
33:21. And again he said: Behold there is a place with me, and thou
shalt stand upon the rock.
33:22. And when my glory shall pass, I will set thee in a hole of the
rock, and protect thee with my righthand till I pass:
33:23. And I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back parts:
but my face thou canst not see.
See my back parts. . .The Lord by his angel, usually spoke to Moses in
the pillar of the cloud; so that he could not see the glory of him that
spoke familiarly with him. In the vision here mentioned he was allowed
to see something of him, in an assumed corporeal form: not in the face,
the rays of which were too bright for mortal eye to bear, but to view
him as it were behind, when his face was turned from him.
Exodus Chapter 34
The tables are renewed: all society with the Chanaanites is forbid:
some precepts concerning the firstborn, the sabbath, and other feasts:
after forty days' fast, Moses returneth to the people with the
commandments, and his face appearing horned with rays of light, he
covereth it, whensoever he speaketh to the people.
34:1. And after this he said: Hew thee two tables of stone like unto
the former, and I will write upon them the words, which were in the
tables, which thou brokest.
34:2. Be ready in the morning, that thou mayst forthwith go up into
Mount Sinai, and thou shalt stand with me upon the top of the mount.
34:3. Let no man go up with thee, and let not any man be seen
throughout all the mount; neither let the oxen nor the sheep feed over
against it.
34:4. Then he cut out two tables of stone, such as had been before; and
rising very early he went up into the Mount Sinai, as the Lord had
commanded him, carrying with him the tables.
34:5. And when the Lord was come down in a cloud, Moses stood with him,
calling upon the name of the Lord.
34:6. And when he passed before him, he said: O the Lord, the Lord God,
merciful and gracious, patient and of much compassion, and true,
34:7. Who keepest mercy unto thousands: who takest away iniquity, and
wickedness, and sin, and no man of himself is innocent before thee. Who
renderest the iniquity of the fathers to the children, and to the
grandchildren unto the third and fourth generation.
34:8. And Moses making haste, bowed down prostrate unto the earth, and
adoring,
34:9. Said: If I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, I beseech thee
that thou wilt go with us, (for it is a stiffnecked people) and take
away our iniquities and sin, and possess us.
34:10. The Lord answered: I will make a covenant in the sight of all, I
will do signs such as were never seen upon the earth, nor in any
nations; that this people, in the midst of whom thou art, may see the
terrible work of the Lord which I will do.
34:11. Observe all things which this day I command thee: I myself will
drive out before thy face the Amorrhite, and the Chanaanite, and the
Hethite, and the Pherezite, and the Hevite, and the Jebusite.
34:12. Beware thou never join in friendship with the inhabitants of
that land, which may be thy ruin:
34:13. But destroy their altars, break their statues and cut down their
groves:
34:14. Adore not any strange god. The Lord his name is jealous, he is a
jealous God.
34:15. Make no covenant with the men of those countries; lest, when
they have committed fornication with their gods, and have adored their
idols, some one call thee to eat of the things sacrificed.
34:16. Neither shalt thou take of their daughters a wife for thy son,
lest after they themselves have committed fornication, they make thy
sons also to commit fornication with their gods.
34:17. Thou shalt not make to thyself any molten gods.
34:18: Thou shalt keep the feast of the unleavened bread. Seven days
shalt thou eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee in the time of the
month of the new corn: for in the month of the spring time thou camest
out from Egypt.
34:19. All of the male kind that openeth the womb, shall be mine. Of
all beasts; both of oxen and of sheep, it shall be mine.
34:20. The firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a sheep: but if
thou wilt not give a price for it, it shall be slain. The firstborn of
thy sons thou shalt redeem: neither shalt thou appear before me empty.
34:21. Six days shalt thou work, the seventh day thou shalt cease to
plough and to reap.
34:22. Thou shalt keep the feast of weeks with the firstfruits of the
corn of thy wheat harvest, and the feast when the time of the year
returneth that all things are laid in.
34:23. Three times in the year all thy males shall appear in the sight
of the almighty Lord the God of Israel.
34:24. For when I shall have taken away the nations from thy face, and
shall have enlarged thy borders, no man shall lie in wait against thy
land when thou shalt go up, and appear in the sight of the Lord thy God
thrice in a year.
34:25. Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice upon leaven;
neither shall there remain in the morning any thing of the victim of
the solemnity of the Phase.
34:26. The first of the fruits of thy ground thou shalt offer in the
house of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not boil a kid in the milk of his
dam.
34:27. And the Lord said to Moses: Write thee these words, by which I
have made a covenant both with thee and with Israel.
34:28. And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights: he
neither ate bread nor drank water, and he wrote upon the tables the ten
words of the covenant.
34:29. And when Moses came down from the Mount Sinai, he held the two
tables of the testimony, and he knew not that his face was horned from
the conversation of the Lord.
Horned. . .That is, shining, and sending forth rays of light like horns.
34:30. And Aaron and the children of Israel seeing the face of Moses
horned, were afraid to come near.
34:31. And being called by him, they returned, both Aaron and the
rulers of the congregation. And after that he spoke to them,
34:32. And all the children of Israel came to him: and he gave them in
commandment all that he had heard of the Lord on Mount Sinai.
34:33. And having done speaking, he put a veil upon his face.
34:34. But when he went in to the Lord, and spoke with him, he took it
away until he came forth, and then he spoke to the children of Israel
all things that had been commanded him.
34:35. And they saw that the face of Moses when he came out was horned,
but he covered his face again, if at any time he spoke to them.
Exodus Chapter 35
The sabbath. Offerings for making the tabernacle. Beseleel and Ooliab
are called to the work.
35:1. And all the multitude of the children of Israel being gathered
together, he said to them: These are the things which the Lord hath
commanded to be done:
35:2. Six days you shall do work; the seventh day shall be holy unto
you, the sabbath and the rest of the Lord: he that shall do any work on
it, shall be put to death.
35:3. You shall kindle no fire in any of your habitations on the
sabbath day.
35:4. And Moses said to all the assembly of the children of Israel:
This is the word the Lord hath commanded, saying:
35:5. Set aside with you firstfruits to the Lord. Let every one that is
willing and hath a ready heart, offer them to the Lord: gold, and
silver, and brass,
35:6. Violet and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine linen, goats'
hair,
35:7. And rams' skins dyed red, and violet coloured skins, setim wood,
35:8. And oil to maintain lights, and to make ointment, and most sweet
incense,
35:9. Onyx stones, and precious stones, for the adorning of the ephod
and the rational.
35:10. Whosoever of you is wise, let him come, and make that which the
Lord hath commanded:
35:11. To wit, the tabernacle, and the roof thereof, and the cover, the
rings, and the board-work with the bars, the pillars and the sockets:
35:12. The ark and the staves, the propitiatory, and the veil that is
drawn before it:
35:13. The table with the bars and the vessels, and the loaves of
proposition:
35:14. The candlestick to bear up the lights, the vessels thereof and
the lamps, and the oil for the nourishing of fires:
35:15. The altar of incense, and the bars, and the oil of unction, and
the incense of spices: the hanging at the door of the tabernacle:
35:16. The altar of holocaust, and its grate of brass, with the bars
and vessels thereof: the laver and its foot:
35:17. The curtains of the court, with the pillars and the sockets, the
hanging in the doors of the entry.
35:18. The pins of the tabernacle, and of the court, with their little
cords:
35:19. The vestments that are to be used in the ministry of the
sanctuary, the vesture of Aaron the high priest, and of his sons, to do
the office of priesthood to me.
35:20. And all the multitude of the children of Israel going out from
the presence of Moses,
35:21. Offered firstfruits to the Lord with a most ready and devout
mind, to make the work of the tabernacle of the testimony. Whatever was
necessary to the service and to the holy vestments,
35:22. Both men and women gave bracelets and earrings, rings and
tablets: every vessel of gold was set aside to be offered to the Lord.
35:23. If any man had violet, and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, fine
linen and goats' hair, ramskins dyed red, and violet coloured skins,
35:24. Metal of silver and brass, they offered it to the Lord, and
setim wood for divers uses.
35:25. The skilful women also gave such things as they had spun,
violet, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen,
35:26. And goats' hair, giving all of their own accord.
35:27. But the princes offered onyx stones, and precious stones, for
the ephod and the rational,
35:28. And spices and oil for the lights, and for the preparing of
ointment, and to make the incense of most sweet savour.
35:29. All, both men and women, with devout mind offered gifts, that
the works might be done which the Lord had commanded by the hand of
Moses. All the children of Israel dedicated voluntary offerings to the
Lord.
35:30. And Moses said to the children of Israel: Behold, the Lord hath
called by name Beseleel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe
of Juda,
35:31. And hath filled him with the spirit of God, with wisdom and
understanding, and knowledge, and all learning,
35:32. To devise and to work in gold and silver and brass,
35:33. And in engraving stones, and in carpenters' work. Whatsoever can
be devised artificially,
35:34. He hath given in his heart: Ooliab also, the son of Achisamech,
of the tribe of Dan:
35:35. Both of them hath he instructed with wisdom, to do carpenters'
work, and tapestry, and embroidery in blue and purple, and scarlet
twice dyed, and fine linen, and to weave all things, and to invent all
new things.
Exodus Chapter 36
The offerings are delivered to the workmen, the curtains, coverings,
boards, bars, veil, pillars, and hanging are made.
36:1. Beseleel therefore, and Ooliab, and every wise man, to whom the
Lord gave wisdom and understanding, to know how to work artificially,
made the things that are necessary for the uses of the sanctuary, and
which the Lord commanded.
36:2. And when Moses had called them, and every skilful man, to whom
the Lord had given wisdom, and such as of their own accord had offered
themselves to the making of the work,
36:3. He delivered all the offerings of the children of Israel unto
them. And while they were earnest about the work, the people daily in
the morning offered their vows.
36:4. Whereupon the workmen being constrained to come,
36:5. Said to Moses: The people offereth more than is necessary.
36:6. Moses therefore commanded proclamation to be made by the crier's
voice: Let neither man nor woman offer any more for the work of the
sanctuary. And so they ceased from offering gifts,
36:7. Because the things that were offered did suffice, and were too
much.
36:8. And all the men that were wise of heart, to accomplish the work
of the tabernacle, made ten curtains of twisted fine linen, and violet,
and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, with varied work, and the art of
embroidering:
36:9. The length of one curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the
breadth four: all the curtains were of the same size.
36:10. And he joined five curtains, one to another, and the other five
he coupled one to another.
36:11. He made also loops of violet in the edge of one curtain on both
sides, and in the edge of the other curtain in like manner,
36:12. That the loops might meet one against another, and might be
joined each with the other.
36:13. Whereupon also he cast fifty rings of gold, that might catch the
loops of the curtains, and they might be made one tabernacle.
36:14. He made also eleven curtains of goats' hair, to cover the roof
of the tabernacle:
36:15. One curtain was thirty cubits long, and four cubits broad: all
the curtains were of one measure.
36:16. Five of which he joined apart, and the other six apart.
36:17. And he made fifty loops in the edge of one curtain, and fifty in
the edge of another curtain, that they might be joined one to another.
36:18. And fifty buckles of brass wherewith the roof might be knit
together, that of all the curtains there might be made one covering.
36:19. He made also a cover for the tabernacle of rams' skins dyed red;
and another cover over that of violet skins.
36:20. He made also the boards of the tabernacle of setim wood
standing.
36:21. The length of one board was ten cubits; and the breadth was one
cubit and a half.
36:22. There were two mortises throughout every board, that one might
be joined to the other. And in this manner he made for all the boards
of the tabernacle.
36:23. Of which twenty were at the south side southward,
36:24. With forty sockets of silver, two sockets were put under one
board on the two sides of the corners, where the mortises of the sides
end in the corners.
36:25. At that side also of the tabernacle, that looketh towards the
north, he made twenty boards,
36:26. With forty sockets of silver, two sockets for every board.
36:27. But against the west, to wit, at that side of the tabernacle,
which looketh to the sea, he made six boards,
36:28. And two others at each corner of the tabernacle behind:
36:29. Which were also joined from beneath unto the top, and went
together into one joint. Thus he did on both sides at the corners:
36:30. So there were in all eight boards, and they had sixteen sockets
of silver, to wit, two sockets under every board.
36:31. He made also bars of setim wood, five to hold together the
boards of one side of the tabernacle,
36:32. And five others to join together the boards of the other side;
and besides these, five other bars at the west side of the tabernacle
towards the sea.
36:33. He made also another bar, that might come by the midst of the
boards from corner to corner.
36:34. And the boards themselves he overlaid with gold casting for them
sockets of silver. And their rings he made of gold, through which the
bars might be drawn: and he covered the bars themselves with plates of
gold.
36:35. He made also a veil of violet, and purple, scarlet and fine
twisted linen, varied and distinguished with embroidery:
36:36. And four pillars of setim wood, which with their heads he
overlaid with gold, casting for them sockets of silver.
36:37. He made also a hanging in the entry of the tabernacle of violet,
purple, scarlet, and fine twisted linen, with the work of an
embroiderer.
36:38. And five pillars with their heads, which he covered with gold,
and their sockets he cast of brass.
Exodus Chapter 37
Beseleel maketh the ark: the propitiatory, and cherubims, the table,
the candlestick, the lamps, and the altar of incense, and compoundeth
the incense.
37:1. And Beseleel made also, the ark of setim wood: it was two cubits
and a half in length, and a cubit and a half in breadth, and the height
was of one cubit and a half: and he overlaid it with the purest gold
within and without.
37:2. And he made to it a crown of gold round about,
37:3. Casting four rings of gold at the four corners thereof: two rings
in one side, and two in the other.
37:4. And he made bars of setim wood, which he overlaid with gold,
37:5. And he put them into the rings that were at the sides of the ark
to carry it.
37:6. He made also the propitiatory, that is, the oracle, of the purest
gold, two cubits and a half in length, and a cubit and a half in
breadth.
37:7. Two cherubims also of beaten gold, which he set on the two sides
of the propitiatory:
37:8. One cherub in the top of one side, and the other cherub in the
top of the other side: two cherubims at the two ends of the
propitiatory,
37:9. Spreading their wings, and covering the propitiatory, and looking
one towards the other, and towards it.
37:10. He made also the table of setim wood, in length two cubits, and
in breadth one cubit, and in height it was a cubit and a half.
37:11. And he overlaid it with the finest gold, and he made to it a
golden ledge round about,
37:12. And to the ledge itself he made a polished crown of gold, of
four fingers breadth, and upon the same another golden crown.
37:13. And he cast four rings of gold, which he put in the four corners
at each foot of the table,
37:14. Over against the crown: and he put the bars into them, that the
table might be carried.
37:15. The bars also themselves he made of setim wood, and overlaid
them with gold.
37:16. And the vessels for the divers uses of the table, dishes, bowls,
and cups, and censers of pure gold, wherein the libations are to be
offered.
37:17. He made also the candlestick of beaten work of the finest gold.
from the shaft whereof its branches, its cups, and bowls, and lilies
came out:
37:18: Six on the two sides: three branches on one side, and three on
the other.
37:19. Three cups in manner of a nut on each branch, and bowls withal
and lilies: and three cups of the fashion of a nut in another branch,
and bowls withal and lilies. The work of the six branches, that went
out from the shaft of the candlestick was equal.
37:20. And in the shaft itself were four cups after the manner of a
nut, and bowls withal at every one, and lilies:
37:21. And bowls under two branches in three places, which together
made six branches going out from one shaft.
37:22. So both the bowls, and the branches were of the same, all beaten
work of the purest gold.
37:23. He made also the seven lamps with their snuffers, and the
vessels where the snuffings were to be put out, of the purest gold.
37:24. The candlestick with all the vessels thereof weighed a talent of
gold.
37:25. He made also the alter of incense of setim wood, being a cubit
on every side foursquare, and in height two cubits: from the corners of
which went out horns.
37:26. And he overlaid it with the purest gold, with its grate, and the
sides, and the horns.
37:27. And he made to it a crown of gold round about, and two golden
rings under the crown at each side, that the bars might be put into
them, and the altar be carried.
37:28. And the bars themselves he made also of setim wood, and overlaid
them with plates of gold.
37:29. He compounded also the oil for the ointment of sanctification,
and incense of the purest spices, according to the work of a perfumer.
Exodus Chapter 38
He maketh the altar of holocaust. The brazen laver. The court with its
pillars and hangings. The sum of what the people offered.
38:1. He made also the altar of holocaust of setim wood, five cubits
square, and three in height:
38:2. The horns whereof went out from the corners, and he overlaid it
with plates of brass.
38:3. And for the uses thereof, he prepared divers vessels of brass,
cauldrons, tongs, fleshhooks, pothooks and firepans.
38:4. And he made the grate thereof of brass, in manner of a net, and
under it in the midst of the altar a hearth,
38:5. Casting four rings at the four ends of the net at the top, to put
in bars to carry it:
38:6. And he made the bars of setim wood, and overlaid them with plates
of brass:
38:7. And he drew them through the rings that stood out in the sides of
the altar. And the altar itself was not solid, but hollow, of boards,
and empty within.
38:8. He made also the laver of brass, with the foot thereof, of the
mirrors of the women that watched at the door of the tabernacle.
38:9. He made also the court, in the south side whereof were hangings
of fine twisted linen of a hundred cubits.
38:10. Twenty pillars of brass with their sockets, the beads of the
pillars, and the whole graving of the work, of silver.
38:11. In like manner at the north side the hangings, the pillars, and
the sockets and heads of the pillars were of the same measure, and work
and metal.
38:12. But on that side that looketh to the west, there were hangings
of fifty cubits, ten pillars of brass with their sockets, and the heads
of the pillars, and all the graving of the work, of silver.
38:13. Moreover, towards the east he prepared hangings of fifty cubits:
38:14. Fifteen cubits of which, were on one side with three pillars,
and their sockets:
38:15. And on the other side (for between the two he made the entry of
the tabernacle) there were hangings equally of fifteen cubits, and
three pillars, and as many sockets.
38:16. All the hangings of the court were woven with twisted linen.
38:17. The sockets of the pillars were of brass, and their heads with
all their gravings of silver: and he overlaid the pillars of the court
also with silver.
38:18. And he made in the entry thereof an embroidered hanging of
violet, purple, scarlet, and fine twisted linen, that was twenty cubits
long, and five cubits high, according to the measure of all the
hangings of the court.
38:19. And the pillars in the entry were four, with sockets of brass,
and their heads and gravings of silver.
38:20. The pins also of the tabernacle and of the court round about he
made of brass.
38:21. These are the instruments of the tabernacle of the testimony,
which were counted according to the commandment of Moses, in the
ceremonies of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son of Aaron the
priest:
38:22. Which Beseleel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur of the tribe of
Juda, had made, as the Lord commanded by Moses.
38:23. Having for his companion Ooliab, the son of Achisamech, of the
tribe of Dan: who also was an excellent artificer in wood, and worker
in tapestry and embroidery in violet, purple, scarlet, and fine linen.
38:24. All the gold that was spent in the work of the sanctuary, and
that was offered in gifts, was nine and twenty talents, and seven
hundred and thirty sicles according to the standard of the sanctuary.
38:25. And it was offered by them that went to be numbered, from twenty
years old and upwards, of six hundred and three thousand five hundred
and fifty men able to bear arms.
38:26. There were moreover a hundred talents of silver, whereof were
cast the sockets of the sanctuary, and of the entry where the veil
hangeth.
38:27. A hundred sockets were made of a hundred talents, one talent
being reckoned for every socket.
38:28. And of the thousand seven hundred and seventy-five he made the
heads of the pillars, which also he overlaid with silver.
38:29. And there were offered of brass also seventy-two thousand
talents, and four hundred sicles besides,
38:30. Of which were cast the sockets in the entry of the tabernacle of
the testimony, and the altar of brass with the grate thereof, and also
the vessels that belong to the use thereof.
38:31. And the sockets of the court as well round about as in the entry
thereof, and the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about.
Exodus Chapter 39
All the ornaments of Aaron and his sons are made. And the whole work of
the tabernacle is finished.
39:1. And he made, of violet and purple, scarlet and fine linen, the
vestments for Aaron to wear when he ministered in the holy places, as
the Lord commanded Moses.
39:2. So he made an ephod of gold, violet, and purple, and scarlet
twice dyed, and fine twisted linen,
39:3. With embroidered work, and he cut thin plates of gold, and drew
them small into threads, that they might be twisted with the woof of
the foresaid colours,
39:4. And two borders coupled one to the other in the top on either
side,
39:5. And a girdle of the same colours, as the Lord had commanded
Moses.
39:6. He prepared also two onyx stones, fast set and closed in gold,
and graven, by the art of a lapidary, with the names of the children of
Israel:
39:7. And he set them in the sides of the ephod, for a memorial of the
children of Israel, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
39:8. He made also a rational with embroidered work, according to the
work of the ephod, of gold, violet, purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and
fine twisted linen:
39:9. Foursquare, double, of the measure of a span.
39:10. And he set four rows of precious stones in it. In the first row
was a sardius, a topaz, an emerald.
39:11. In the second, a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a jasper.
39:12. In the third, a ligurius, an agate, and an amethyst.
39:13. In the fourth, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a beryl, set and
enclosed in gold by their rows.
39:14. And the twelve stones, were engraved with the names of the
twelve tribes of Israel, each one with its several name.
39:15. They made also in the rational little chains, linked one to
another, of the purest gold,
39:16. And two hooks, and as many rings of gold. And they set the rings
on either side of the rational,
39:17. On which rings the two golden chains should hang, which they put
into the hooks that stood out in the corners of the ephod.
39:18. These both before and behind so answered one another, that the
ephod and the rational were bound together,
39:19. Being fastened to the girdle, and strongly coupled with rings,
which a violet fillet joined, lest they should flag loose, and be moved
one from the other, as the Lord commanded Moses.
39:20. They made also the tunic of the ephod all of violet,
39:21. And a hole for the head in the upper part at the middle, and a
woven border round about the hole:
39:22. And beneath at the feet pomegranates of violet, purple, scarlet,
and fine twisted linen:
39:23. And little bells of the purest gold, which they put between the
pomegranates at the bottom of the tunic round about:
39:24. To wit, a bell of gold, and a pomegranate, wherewith the high
priest went adorned, when he discharged his ministry, as the Lord had
commanded Moses.
39:25. They made also fine linen tunics with woven work for Aaron and
his sons:
39:26. And mitres with their little crowns of fine linen:
39:27. And linen breeches of fine linen:
39:28. And a girdle of fine twisted linen, violet, purple, and scarlet
twice dyed, of embroidery work, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
39:29. They made also the plate of sacred veneration of the purest
gold, and they wrote on it with the engraving of a lapidary: The Holy
of the Lord:
39:30. And they fastened it to the mitre with a violet fillet, as the
Lord had commanded Moses.
39:31. So all the work of the tabernacle and of the roof of the
testimony was finished: and the children of Israel did all things which
the Lord had commanded Moses.
39:32. And they offered the tabernacle, and the roof, and the whole
furniture, the rings, the boards, the bars, the pillars and their
sockets,
39:33. The cover of rams' skins dyed red, and the other cover of violet
skins,
39:34. The veil, the ark, the bars, the propitiatory,
39:35. The table, with the vessels thereof, and the loaves of
proposition:
39:36. The candlestick, the lamps, and the furniture of them, with the
oil:
39:37. The altar of gold, and the ointment, and the incense of spices:
39:38. And the hanging in the entry of the tabernacle:
39:39. The altar of brass, the grate, the bars, and all the vessels
thereof: the laver, with the foot thereof: the hangings of the court,
and the pillars, with their sockets:
39:40. The hanging in the entry of the court, and the little cords, and
the pins thereof. Nothing was wanting of the vessels, that were
commanded to be made for the ministry of the tabernacle, and for the
roof of the covenant.
39:41. The vestments also, which the priests, to wit, Aaron and his
sons, use in the sanctuary,
39:42. The children of Israel offered, as the Lord had commanded.
39:43. And when Moses saw all things finished, he blessed them.
Exodus Chapter 40
The tabernacle is commanded to be set up and anointed. God filleth it
with his majesty.
40:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
40:2. The first month, the first day of the month, thou shalt set up
the tabernacle of the testimony,
40:3. And shalt put the ark in it, and shalt let down the veil before
it:
40:4. And thou shalt bring in the table, and set upon it the things
that are commanded according to the rite. The candlestick shall stand
with its lamps,
40:5. And the altar of gold, whereon the incense is burnt before the
ark of the testimony. Thou shalt put the hanging in the entry of the
tabernacle,
40:6. And before it the altar of holocaust.
40:7. The laver between the altar and the tabernacle, and thou shalt
fill it with water.
40:8. And thou shalt encompass the court with hangings, and the entry
thereof.
40:9. And thou shalt take the oil of unction and anoint the tabernacle
with its vessels, that they may be sanctified:
40:10. The altar of holocaust and all its vessels:
40:11. The laver with its foot: thou shalt consecrate all with the oil
of unction, that they may be most holy.
40:12. And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the
tabernacle of the testimony, and having washed them with water,
40:13. Thou shalt put on them the holy vestments, that they may
minister to me, and that the unction of them may prosper to an
everlasting priesthood.
40:14. And Moses did all that the Lord had commanded.
40:15. So in the first month of the second year, the first day of the
month, the tabernacle was set up.
40:16. And Moses reared it up, and placed the boards and the sockets
and the bars, and set up the pillars,
40:17. And spread the roof over the tabernacle, putting over it a
cover, as the Lord had commanded.
40:18. And he put the testimony in the ark, thrusting bars underneath,
and the oracle above.
40:19. And when he had brought the ark into the tabernacle, he drew the
veil before it to fulfil the commandment of the Lord.
40:20. And he set the table in the tabernacle of the testimony, at the
north side, without the veil,
40:21. Setting there in order the loaves of proposition, as the Lord
had commanded Moses.
40:22. He set the candlestick also in the tabernacle of the testimony,
over against the table on the south side,
40:23. Placing the lamps in order, according to the precept of the
Lord.
40:24. He set also the altar of gold under the roof of the testimony,
over against the veil,
40:25. And burnt upon it the incense of spices, as the Lord had
commanded Moses.
40:26. And he put also the hanging in the entry of the tabernacle of
the testimony,
40:27. And the altar of holocaust in the entry of the testimony,
offering the holocaust, and the sacrifices upon it, as the Lord had
commanded.
40:28. And he set the laver between the tabernacle of the testimony and
the altar, filling it with water.
40:29. And Moses and Aaron, and his sons, washed their hands and feet,
40:30. When they went into the tabernacle of the covenant, and went to
the altar, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
40:31. He set up also the court round about the tabernacle and the
altar, drawing the hanging in the entry thereof. After all things were
perfected,
40:32. The cloud covered the tabernacle of the testimony, and the glory
of the Lord filled it.
40:33. Neither could Moses go into the tabernacle of the covenant, the
cloud covering all things, and the majesty of the Lord shining, for the
cloud had covered all.
40:34. If at any time the cloud removed from the tabernacle, the
children of Israel went forward by their troops:
40:35. If it hung over, they remained in the same place.
40:36. For the cloud of the Lord hung over the tabernacle by day, and a
fire by night, in the sight of all the children of Israel throughout
all their mansions.
THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS
This Book is called LEVITICUS, because it treats of the Offices,
Ministries, Rites and Ceremonies of the Priests and Levites. The
Hebrews call it VAICRA, from the word with which it begins.
Leviticus Chapter 1
Of holocausts or burnt offerings.
1:1. And the Lord called Moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle of
the testimony, saying:
1:2. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: The
man among you that shall offer to the Lord a sacrifice of the cattle,
that is, offering victims of oxen and sheep:
1:3. If his offering be a holocaust, and of the herd, he shall offer a
male without blemish, at the door of the testimony, to make the Lord
favourable to him.
A holocaust. . .That is, a whole burnt offering (olokauston), so called,
because the whole victim was consumed with fire; and given in such
manner to God as wholly to evaporate, as it were, for his honour and
glory; without having any part of it reserved for the use of man. The
other sacrifices in the Old Testament were either offerings for sin, or
peace offerings: and these latter again were either offered in
thanksgiving for blessings received; or by way of prayer for new
favours or graces. So that sacrifices were then offered to God for four
different ends or intentions, answerable to the different obligations
which man has to God: 1. By way of adoration, homage, praise, and glory
due to his divine majesty. 2. By way of thanksgiving for all benefits
received from him. 3. By way of confessing and craving pardon for sins.
4. By way of prayer and petition for grace and relief in all
necessities. In the New Law we have but one sacrifice, viz., that of
the body and blood of Christ: but this one sacrifice of the New
Testament perfectly answers all these four ends; and both priest and
people, as often as it is celebrated, ought to join in offering it up
for these four ends.
1:4. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the victim: and it
shall be acceptable, and help to its expiation.
1:5. And he shall immolate the calf before the Lord: and the priests
the sons of Aaron shall offer the blood thereof, pouring it round about
the altar, which is before the door of the tabernacle.
1:6. And when they have flayed the victim, they shall cut the joints
into pieces:
1:7. And shall put fire on the altar, having before laid in order a
pile of wood.
1:8. And they shall lay the parts that are cut out in order thereupon:
to wit, the head, and all things that cleave to the liver;
1:9. The entrails and feet being washed with water. And the priest
shall burn them upon the altar for a holocaust, and a sweet savour to
the Lord.
1:10. And if the offering be of the flocks, a holocaust of sheep or of
goats, he shall offer a male without blemish.
1:11. And he shall immolate it at the side of the altar that looketh to
the north, before the Lord: but the sons of Aaron shall pour the blood
thereof upon the altar round about.
1:12. And they shall divide the joints, the head, and all that cleave
to the liver: and shall lay them upon the wood, under which the fire is
to be put.
1:13. But the entrails and the feet they shall wash with water. And the
priest shall offer it all and burn it all upon the altar for a
holocaust, and most sweet savour to the Lord.
1:14. But if the oblation of a holocaust to the Lord be of birds, of
turtles, or of young pigeons:
1:15. The priest shall offer it at the altar: and twisting back the
neck, and breaking the place of the wound, he shall make the blood run
down upon the brim of the altar.
1:16. But the crop of the throat, and the feathers he shall cast beside
the altar at the east side, in the place where the ashes are wont to be
poured out.
1:17. And he shall break the pinions thereof, and shall not cut, nor
divide it with a knife: and shall burn it upon the altar, putting fire
under the wood. It is a holocaust and oblation of most sweet savour to
the Lord.
Leviticus Chapter 2
Of offerings of flour, and firstfruits.
2:1. When any one shall offer an oblation of sacrifice to the Lord, his
offering shall be of fine flour: and he shall pour oil upon it, and put
frankincense,
2:2. And shall bring it to the sons of Aaron the priests. And one of
them shall take a handful of the flour and oil, and all the
frankincense; and shall put it a memorial upon the altar for a most
sweet savour to the Lord.
2:3. And the remnant of the sacrifice shall be Aaron's, and his sons',
holy of holies of the offerings of the Lord.
Holy of holies. . .That is, most holy, as being dedicated to God, and
set aside by his ordinance for the use of his priests.
2:4. But when thou offerest a sacrifice baked in the oven of flour, to
wit, loaves without leaven, tempered with oil, and unleavened wafers,
anointed with oil:
2:5. If thy oblation be from the fryingpan, of flour tempered with oil,
and without leaven:
2:6. Thou shalt divide it into little pieces, and
shalt pour oil upon it.
2:7. And if the sacrifice be from the gridiron, in like manner the
flour shall be tempered with oil.
2:8. And when thou offerest it to the Lord, thou shalt deliver it to
the hands of the priest.
2:9. And when he hath offered it, he shall take a memorial out of the
sacrifice, and burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour to the Lord.
2:10. And whatsoever is left, shall be Aaron's, and his sons': holy of
holies of the offerings of the Lord.
2:11. Every oblation that is offered to the Lord shall be made without
leaven: neither shall any leaven or honey be burnt in the sacrifice to
the Lord.
Without leaven or honey. . .No leaven nor honey was to be used in the
sacrifice offered to God; to signify that we are to exclude from the
pure worship of the gospel, all double dealing and affection to carnal
pleasures.
2:12. You shall offer only the firstfruits of them and gifts: but they
shall not be put upon the altar, for a savour of sweetness.
2:13. Whatsoever sacrifice thou offerest, thou shalt season it with
salt: neither shalt thou take away the salt of the covenant of thy God
from thy sacrifice. In all thy oblations thou shalt offer salt.
Salt. . .In every sacrifice salt was to be used, which is an emblem of
wisdom and discretion, without which none of our performances are
agreeable to God.
2:14. But if thou offer a gift of the firstfruits of thy corn to the
Lord, of the ears yet green, thou shalt dry it at the fire, and break
it small like meal; and so shalt thou offer thy firstfruits to the
Lord:
2:15. Pouring oil upon it and putting on frankincense, because it is
the oblation of the Lord.
2:16. Whereof the priest shall burn for a memorial of the gift, part of
the corn broken small and of the oil, and all the frankincense.
Leviticus Chapter 3
Of peace offerings.
3:1. And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offerings, and he will
offer of the herd, whether male or female: he shall offer them without
blemish before the Lord.
Peace offerings. . .Peace, in the scripture language, signifies
happiness, welfare or prosperity; in a word, all kind of
blessings.--Such sacrifices, therefore, as were offered either on
occasion of blessings received, or to obtain new favours, were called
pacific or peace offerings. In these, some part of the victim was
consumed with fire on the altar of God; other parts were eaten by the
priests and by the persons for whom the sacrifice was offered.
3:2. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his victim, which shall
be slain in the entry of the tabernacle of the testimony: and the sons
of Aaron the priests shall pour the blood round about upon the altar.
3:3. And they shall offer of the sacrifice of peace offerings, for an
oblation to the Lord: the fat that covereth the entrails, and all the
fat that is within,
3:4. The two kidneys with the fat wherewith the flanks are covered, and
the caul of the liver with the two little kidneys.
3:5. And they shall burn them upon the altar, for a holocaust, putting
fire under the wood: for an oblation of most sweet savour to the Lord.
3:6. But if his oblation and the sacrifice of peace offering be of the
flock, whether he offer male or female, they shall be without blemish.
3:7. If he offer a lamb before the Lord:
3:8. He shall put his hand upon the head of the victim. And it shall be
slain in the entry of the tabernacle of the testimony: and the sons of
Aaron shall pour the blood thereof round about upon the altar.
3:9. And they shall offer of the victim of peace offerings, a sacrifice
to the Lord: the fat and the whole rump,
3:10. With the kidneys, and the fat that covereth the belly and all the
vitals and both the little kidneys, with the fat that is about the
flanks, and the caul of the liver with the little kidneys.
3:11. And the priest shall burn them upon the altar, for the food of
the fire, and of the oblation of the Lord.
3:12. If his offering be a goat, and he offer it to the Lord:
3:13. He shall put his hand upon the head thereof: and shall immolate
it in the entry of the tabernacle of the testimony. And the sons of
Aaron shall pour the blood thereof round about upon the altar.
3:14. And they shall take of it for the food of the Lord's fire, the
fat that covereth the belly, and that covereth all the vital parts:
3:15. The two little kidneys with the caul that is upon them which is
by the flanks, and the fat of the liver with the little kidneys.
3:16. And the priest shall burn them upon the altar, for the food of
the fire, and of a most sweet savour. All the fat shall be the Lord's.
3:17. By a perpetual law for your generations, and in all your
habitations: neither blood nor fat shall you eat at all.
Fat. . .It is meant of the fat, which by the prescription of the law was
to be offered on God's altar; not of the fat of meat, such as we
commonly eat.
Leviticus Chapter 4
Of offerings for sins of ignorance.
4:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
4:2. Say to the children of Israel: The soul that sinneth through
ignorance, and doth any thing concerning any of the commandments of the
Lord, which he commanded not to be done:
Ignorance. . .To be ignorant of what we are bound to know is sinful; and
for such culpable ignorance, these sacrifices, prescribed in this and
the following chapter, were appointed.
4:3. If the priest that is anointed shall sin, making the people to
offend, he shall offer to the Lord for his sin a calf without blemish.
4:4. And he shall bring it to the door of the testimony before the
Lord: and shall put his hand upon the head thereof, and shall sacrifice
it to the Lord.
4:5. He shall take also of the blood of the calf: and carry it into the
tabernacle of the testimony.
The blood. . .As the figure of the blood of Christ shed for the
remission of our sins, and carried by him into the sanctuary of heaven.
4:6. And having dipped his finger in the blood, he shall sprinkle with
it seven times before the Lord, before the veil of the sanctuary.
4:7. And he shall put some of the same blood upon the horns of the
altar of the sweet incense most acceptable to the Lord, which is in the
tabernacle of the testimony. And he shall pour all the rest of the
blood at the foot of the altar of holocaust in the entry of the
tabernacle.
4:8. And he shall take off the fat of the calf for the sin offering, as
well that which covereth the entrails, as all the inwards:
4:9. The two little kidneys, and the caul that is upon them, which is
by the flanks, and the fat of the liver with the little kidneys:
4:10. As it is taken off from the calf of the sacrifice of peace
offerings. And he shall burn them upon the altar of holocaust.
4:11. But the skin and all the flesh with the head and the feet and the
bowels and the dung:
4:12. And the rest of the body, he shall carry forth without the camp
into a clean place where the ashes are wont to be poured out: and he
shall burn them upon a pile of wood. They shall be burnt in the place
where the ashes are poured out.
4:13. And if all the multitude of Israel shall be ignorant, and through
ignorance shall do that which is against the commandment of the Lord,
4:14. And afterwards shall understand their sin: they shall offer for
their sin a calf, and shall bring it to the door of the tabernacle.
4:15. And the ancients of the people shall put their hands upon the
head thereof before the Lord. And the calf being immolated in the sight
of the Lord:
4:16. The priest that is anointed shall carry of the blood into the
tabernacle of the testimony.
4:17. And shall dip his finger in it and sprinkle it seven times before
the veil.
4:18. And he shall put of the same blood on the horns of the altar that
is before the Lord, in the tabernacle of the testimony. And the rest of
the blood he shall pour at the foot of the altar of holocaust, which is
at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony.
4:19. And all the fat thereof he shall take off, and shall burn it upon
the altar:
4:20. Doing so with this calf, as he did also with that before. And the
priest praying for them, the Lord will be merciful unto them.
4:21. But the calf itself he shall carry forth without the camp, and
shall burn it as he did the former calf: because it is for the sin of
the multitude.
4:22. If a prince shall sin, and through ignorance do any one of the
things that the law of the Lord forbiddeth,
4:23. And afterwards shall come to know his sin: he shall offer a buck
goat without blemish, a sacrifice to the Lord.
4:24. And he shall put his hand upon the head thereof: and when he hath
immolated it in the place where the holocaust is wont to be slain
before the Lord, because it is for sin,
4:25. The priest shall dip his finger in the blood of the victim for
sin, touching therewith the horns of the altar of holocaust, and
pouring out the rest at the foot thereof.
4:26. But the fat he shall burn upon it, as is wont to be done with the
victims of peace offerings. And the priest shall pray for him, and for
his sin: and it shall be forgiven him.
4:27. And if any one of the people of the land shall sin through
ignorance, doing any of those things that by the law of the Lord are
forbidden, and offending,
4:28. And shall come to know his sin: he shall offer a she goat without
blemish.
4:29. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the victim that is for
sin: and shall immolate it in the place of the holocaust.
4:30. And the priest shall take of the blood with his finger, and shall
touch the horns of the altar of holocaust: and shall pour out the rest
at the foot thereof.
4:31. But taking off all the fat, as is wont to be taken away of the
victims of peace offerings, he shall burn it upon the altar, for a
sweet savour to the Lord: and he shall pray for him, and it shall be
forgiven him.
4:32. But if he offer of the flock a victim for his sin, to wit, an ewe
without blemish:
4:33. He shall put his hand upon the head thereof, and shall immolate
it in the place where the victims of holocausts are wont to be slain.
4:34. And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger,
and shall touch the horns of the altar of holocaust: and the rest he
shall pour out at the foot thereof.
4:35. All the fat also he shall take off, as the fat of the ram that is
offered for peace offerings is wont to be taken away: and shall burn it
upon the altar, for a burnt sacrifice of the Lord. And he shall pray
for him and his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.
Leviticus Chapter 5
Of other sacrifices for sins.
5:1. If any one sin, and hear the voice of one swearing, and is a
witness either because he himself hath seen, or is privy to it: if he
do not utter it, he shall bear his iniquity.
5:2. Whosoever toucheth any unclean thing, either that which hath been
killed by a beast, or died of itself, or any other creeping thing: and
forgetteth his uncleanness, he is guilty, and hath offended.
5:3. And if he touch any thing of the uncleanness of man, according to
any uncleanness wherewith he is wont to be defiled: and having
forgotten it, come afterwards to know it, he shall be guilty of an
offence.
5:4. The person that sweareth, and uttereth with his lips, that he
would do either evil or good, and bindeth the same with an oath, and
his word: and having forgotten it afterwards understandeth his offence,
5:5. Let him do penance for his sin:
5:6. And offer of the flocks an ewe lamb, or a she goat, and the priest
shall pray for him and for his sin.
5:7. But if he be not able to offer a beast, let him offer two turtles,
or two young pigeons to the Lord, one for sin, and the other for a
holocaust,
5:8. And he shall give them to the priest: who shall offer the first
for sin, and twist back the head of it to the little pinions, so that
it stick to the neck, and be not altogether broken off.
5:9. And of its blood he shall sprinkle the side of the altar: and
whatever is left, he shall let it drop at the bottom thereof, because
it is for sin.
5:10. And the other he shall burn for a holocaust, as is wont to be
done. And the priest shall pray for him, and for his sin, and it shall
be forgiven him.
5:11. And if his hand be not able to offer two turtles, or two young
pigeons, he shall offer for his sin the tenth part of an ephi of flour.
He shall not put oil upon it, nor put any frankincense thereon, because
it is for sin.
5:12. And he shall deliver it to the priest, who shall take a handful
thereof, and shall burn it upon the altar for a memorial of him that
offered it:
5:13. Praying for him and making atonement. But the part that is left,
he himself shall have for a gift.
5:14. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
5:15. If any one shall sin through mistake, transgressing the
ceremonies in those things that are sacrificed to the Lord, he shall
offer for his offence a ram without blemish out of the flocks, that may
be bought for two sicles, according to the weight of the sanctuary.
5:16. And he shall make good the damage itself which he hath done, and
shall add the fifth part besides, delivering it to the priest, who
shall pray for him, offering the ram: and it shall be forgiven him.
5:17. If any one sin through ignorance, and do one of those things
which by the law of the Lord are forbidden, and being guilty of sin,
understand his iniquity:
5:18. He shall offer of the flocks a ram without blemish to the priest,
according to the measure and estimation of the sin. And the priest
shall pray for him, because he did it ignorantly: And it shall be
forgiven him,
5:19. Because by mistake he trespassed against the Lord.
Leviticus Chapter 6
Oblation for sins of injustice: ordinances concerning the holocausts
and the perpetual fire: the sacrifices of the priests, and the sin
offerings.
6:1. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
6:2. Whosoever shall sin, and despising the Lord, shall deny to his
neighbour the thing delivered to his keeping, which was committed to
his trust; or shall by force extort any thing, or commit oppression;
6:3. Or shall find a thing lost, and denying it, shall also swear
falsely, or shall do any other of the many things, wherein men are wont
to sin:
6:4. Being convicted of the offence, he shall restore
6:5. All that he would have gotten by fraud, in the principal, and the
fifth part besides, to the owner, whom he wronged.
6:6. Moreover for his sin he shall offer a ram without blemish out of
the flock: and shall give it to the priest, according to the estimation
and measure of the offence.
6:7. And he shall pray for him before the Lord: and he shall have
forgiveness for every thing in doing of which he bath sinned.
6:8. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
6:9. Command Aaron and his sons: This is the law of a holocaust. It
shall be burnt upon the altar, all night until morning: the fire shall
be of the same altar.
6:10. The priest shall be vested with the tunick and the linen
breeches; and he shall take up the ashes of that which the devouring
fire hath burnt: and putting them beside the altar,
6:11. Shall put off his former vestments, and being clothed with
others, shall carry them forth without the camp, and shall cause them
to be consumed to dust in a very clean place.
6:12. And the fire on the altar shall always burn, and the priest shall
feed it, putting wood on it every day in the morning: and laying on the
holocaust, shall burn thereupon the fat of the peace offerings.
6:13. This is the perpetual fire which shall never go out on the altar.
The perpetual fire. . .This fire came from heaven, (infra. chap. 9.24,)
and was always kept burning on the altar, as a figure of the heavenly
fire of divine love, which ought to be always burning in the heart of a
Christian.
6:14. This is the law of the sacrifice and libations, which the
children of Aaron shall offer before the Lord, and before the altar.
6:15. The priest shall take a handful of the flour that is tempered
with oil, and all the frankincense that is put upon the flour: and he
shall burn on the altar for a memorial of most sweet odour to the Lord.
6:16. And the part of the flour that is left, Aaron and his sons shall
eat, without leaven: and he shall eat it in the holy place of the court
of the tabernacle.
6:17. And therefore it shall not be leavened, because part thereof is
offered for the burnt sacrifice of the Lord. It shall be most holy, as
that which is offered for sin and for trespass.
6:18. The males only of the race of Aaron shall eat it. It shall be an
ordinance everlasting in your generations concerning the sacrifices of
the Lord: Every one that toucheth them shall be sanctified.
6:19. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
6:20. This is the oblation of Aaron, and of his sons, which they must
offer to the Lord, in the day of their anointing. They shall offer the
tenth part of an ephi of flour for a perpetual sacrifice, half of it in
the morning, and half of it in the evening.
6:21. It shall be tempered with oil, and shall be fried in a fryingpan.
6:22. And the priest that rightfully succeedeth his father, shall offer
it hot, for a most sweet odour to the Lord: and it shall he wholly
burnt on the altar.
6:23. For every sacrifice of the priest shall be consumed with fire:
neither shall any man eat thereof.
6:24. And the Lord spoke to Moses. saying:
6:25. Say to Aaron and his sons: This is the law of the victim for sin.
In the place where the holocaust is offered, it shall be immolated
before the Lord. It is holy of holies.
6:26. The priest that offereth it, shall eat it in a holy place, in the
court of the tabernacle.
6:27. Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof, shall be sanctified. If
a garment be sprinkled with the blood thereof, it shall be washed in a
holy place.
6:28. And the earthen vessel, wherein it was sodden, shall be broken:
but if the vessel be of brass, it shall be scoured, and washed with
water.
6:29. Every male of the priestly race shall eat of the flesh thereof,
because it is holy of holies.
6:30. For the victim that is slain for sin, the blood of which is
carried into the tabernacle of the testimony to make atonement in the
sanctuary, shall not be eaten, but shall be burnt with fire.
Leviticus Chapter 7
Of sacrifices for trespasses and thanks offerings. No fat nor blood is
to be eaten.
7:1. This also is the law of the sacrifice for a trespass: it is most
holy.
Trespass. . .Trespasses, for which these offerings were to be made, were
lesser offences than those for which the sin offerings were appointed.
7:2. Therefore where the holocaust is immolated, the victim also for a
trespass shall be slain: the blood thereof shall be poured round about
the altar.
7:3. They shall offer thereof the rump and the fat that covereth the
entrails:
7:4. The two little kidneys, and the fat which is by the flanks, and
the caul of the liver with the little kidneys.
7:5. And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the burnt
sacrifice of the Lord for a trespass.
7:6. Every male of the priestly race, shall eat this flesh in a holy
place, because it is most holy.
7:7. As the sacrifice for sin is offered, so is also that for a
trespass: the same shall be the law of both these sacrifices. It shall
belong to the priest that offereth it.
7:8. The priest that offereth the victim of holocaust, shall have the
skin thereof.
7:9. And every sacrifice of flour that is baked in the oven, and
whatsoever is dressed on the gridiron, or in the fryingpan, shall be
the priest's that offereth it.
7:10. Whether they be tempered with oil, or dry, all the sons of Aaron
shall have one as much as another.
7:11. This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings that is
offered to the Lord.
7:12. If the oblation be for thanksgiving, they shall offer loaves
without leaven tempered with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with
oil, and fine flour fried, and cakes tempered and mingled with oil.
7:13. Moreover loaves of leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanks,
which is offered for peace offerings:
7:14. Of which one shall be offered to the Lord for firstfruits, and
shall be the priest's that shall pour out the blood of the victim.
7:15. And the flesh of it shall be eaten the same day: neither shall
any of it remain until the morning.
7:16. If any man by vow, or of his own accord offer a sacrifice, it
shall in like manner be eaten the same day. And if any of it remain
until the morrow, it is lawful to eat it.
7:17. But whatsoever shall be found on the third day shall be consumed
with fire.
7:18. If any man eat of the flesh of the victim of peace offerings on
the third day, the oblation shall be of no effect: neither shall it
profit the offerer. Yea rather, whatsoever soul shall defile itself
with such meat, shall be guilty of transgression.
7:19. The flesh that hath touched any unclean thing, shall not be
eaten: but shall be burnt with fire. He that is clean shall eat of it.
7:20. If any one that is defiled shall eat of the flesh of the
sacrifice of peace offerings, which is offered to the Lord, he shall be
cut off from his people.
7:21. And he that hath touched the uncleanness of man, or of beast, or
of any thing that can defile, and shall eat of such kind of flesh:
shall be cut off from his people.
7:22. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
7:23. Say to the children of Israel: The fat of a sheep, and of an ox,
and of a goat you shall not eat.
7:24. The fat of a carcass that hath died of itself, and of a beast
that was caught by another beast, you shall have for divers uses.
7:25. If any man eat the fat that should be offered for the burnt
sacrifice of the Lord, he shall perish out of his people.
7:26. Moreover you shall not eat the blood of any creature whatsoever,
whether of birds or beasts.
7:27. Every one that eateth blood, shall perish from among the people.
7:28. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
7:29. Speak to the children of Israel, saying: He that offereth a
victim of peace offerings to the Lord, let him offer therewith a
sacrifice also, that is, the libations thereof.
7:30. He shall hold in his hands the fat of the victim, and the breast.
And when he hath offered and consecrated both to the Lord, he shall
deliver them to the priest,
7:31. Who shall burn the fat upon the altar. But the breast shall be
Aaron's and his sons'.
7:32. The right shoulder also of the victim, of peace offerings shall
fall to the priest for firstfruits.
7:33. He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood, and the fat:
he shall have the right shoulder also for his portion.
7:34. For the breast that is elevated and the shoulder that is
separated I have taken of the children of Israel, from off their
victims of peace offerings: and have given them to Aaron the priest,
and to his sons, by a law for ever, from all the people of Israel.
7:35. This is the anointing of Aaron and his sons, in the ceremonies of
the Lord, in the day when Moses offered them, that they might do the
office of priesthood,
7:36. And the things that the Lord commanded to be given them by the
children of Israel, by a perpetual observance in their generations.
7:37. This is the law of holocaust, and of the sacrifice for sin, and
for trespass, and for consecration, and the victims of peace offerings:
7:38. Which the Lord appointed to Moses in mount Sinai, when he
commanded the children of Israel, that they should offer their
oblations to the Lord in the desert of Sinai.
Leviticus Chapter 8
Moses consecrateth Aaron and his sons.
8:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
8:2. Take Aaron with his sons, their vestments, and the oil of unction:
a calf for sin, two rams, a basket with unleavened bread.
8:3. And thou shalt gather together all the congregation to the door of
the tabernacle.
8:4. And Moses did as the Lord had commanded. And all the multitude
being gathered together before the door of the tabernacle:
8:5. He said: This is the word that the Lord hath commanded to be done.
8:6. And immediately, he offered Aaron and his sons. And when he had
washed them,
8:7. He vested the high priest with the strait linen garment, girding
him with the girdle, and putting on him the violet tunick: and over it
he put the ephod.
8:8. And binding it with the girdle, he fitted it to the rational, on
which was Doctrine and Truth.
8:9. He put also the mitre upon his head: and upon the mitre over the
forehead, he put the plate of gold, consecrated with sanctification, as
the Lord had commanded him.
8:10. He took also the oil of unction, with which he anointed the
tabernacle, with all the furniture thereof.
8:11. And when he had sanctified and sprinkled the altar seven times,
he anointed it, and all the vessels thereof: and the laver with the
foot thereof, he sanctified with the oil.
8:12. And he poured it upon Aaron's head: and he anointed and
consecrated him.
8:13. And after he had offered his sons, he vested them with linen
tunicks, and girded them with girdles: and put mitres on them as the
Lord had commanded.
8:14. He offered also the calf for sin: and when Aaron and his sons had
put their hands upon the head thereof,
8:15. He immolated it: and took the blood, and dipping his finger in
it, he touched the horns of the altar round about. Which being
expiated, and sanctified, he poured the rest of the blood at the bottom
thereof.
8:16. But the fat that was upon the entrails, and the caul of the
liver, and the two little kidneys, with their fat, he burnt upon the
altar.
8:17. And the calf with the skin, and the flesh and the dung, he burnt
without the camp, as the Lord had commanded.
8:18. He offered also a ram for holocaust. And when Aaron and his sons
had put their hands upon its head:
8:19. He immolated it, and poured the blood thereof round about the
altar.
8:20. And cutting the ram into pieces, the head thereof, and the
joints, and the fat he burnt in the fire.
8:21. Having first washed the entrails, and the feet, and the whole ram
together he burnt upon the altar: because it was a holocaust of most
sweet odour to the Lord, as he had commanded him.
8:22. He offered also the second ram, in the consecration of priests:
and Aaron, and his sons put their hands upon the head thereof.
8:23. And when Moses had immolated it, he took of the blood thereof,
and touched the tip of Aaron's right ear, and the thumb of his right
hand, and in like manner also the great toe of his right foot.
8:24. He offered also the sons of Aaron: and when with the blood of the
ram that was immolated, he had touched the tip of the right ear of
every one of them, and the thumbs of their right hands, and the great
toes of their right feet, the rest he poured on the altar round about.
8:25. But the fat, and the rump, and all the fat that covereth the
entrails, and the caul of the liver, and the two kidneys with their
fat, and with the right shoulder, he separated.
8:26. And taking out of the basket of unleavened bread, which was
before the Lord, a loaf without leaven, and a cake tempered with oil
and a wafer, he put them upon the fat, and the right shoulder:
8:27. Delivering all to Aaron, and to his sons. Who having lifted them
up before the Lord,
8:28. He took them again from their hands, and burnt them upon the
altar of holocaust: because it was the oblation of consecration, for a
sweet odour of sacrifice to the Lord.
8:29. And he took of the ram of consecration, the breast for his
portion, elevating it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded him.
8:30. And taking the ointment, and the blood that was upon the altar,
he sprinkled Aaron, and his vestments, and his sons, and their
vestments with it.
8:31. And when he had sanctified them in their vestments, he commanded
them, saying: Boil the flesh before the door of the tabernacle, and
there eat it. Eat ye also the loaves of consecration, that are laid in
the basket, as the Lord commanded me, saying: Aaron and his sons shall
eat them.
8:32. And whatsoever shall be left of the flesh and the loaves, shall
be consumed with fire.
8:33. And you shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle for seven
days, until the day wherein the time of your consecration shall be
expired. For in seven days the consecration is finished:
8:34. As at this present it hath been done, that the rite of the
sacrifice might be accomplished.
8:35. Day and night shall you remain in the tabernacle observing the
watches of the Lord, lest you die. For so it hath been commanded me.
8:36. And Aaron and his sons did all things which the Lord spoke by the
hand of Moses.
Leviticus Chapter 9
Aaron offereth sacrifice for himself and the people. Fire cometh from
the Lord upon the altar.
9:1. And when the eighth day was come, Moses called Aaron and his sons,
and the ancients of Israel, and said to Aaron:
9:2. Take of the herd a calf for sin, and a ram for a holocaust, both
without blemish, and offer them before the Lord.
9:3. And to the children of Israel thou shalt say: Take ye a he goat
for sin, and a calf, and a lamb, both of a year old, and without
blemish for a holocaust.
9:4. Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings. And immolate them
before the Lord, offering for the sacrifice of every one of them flour
tempered with oil: for to day the Lord will appear to you.
9:5. They brought therefore all things that Moses had commanded before
the door of the tabernacle: where when all the multitude stood,
9:6. Moses said: This is the word, which the Lord hath commanded. Do
it, and his glory will appear to you.
9:7. And he said to Aaron: Approach to the altar, and offer sacrifice
for thy sin. Offer the holocaust, and pray for thyself and for the
people: and when thou hast slain the people's victim, pray for them, as
the Lord hath commanded.
9:8. And forthwith Aaron, approaching to the altar, immolated the calf
for his sin.
9:9. And his sons brought him the blood of it: and he dipped his finger
therein, and touched the horns of the altar, and poured the rest at the
foot thereof.
9:10. And the fat, and the little kidneys, and the caul of the liver,
which are for sin, he burnt upon the altar, as the Lord had commanded
Moses.
9:11. But the flesh and skins thereof he burnt with fire without the
camp.
9:12. He immolated also the victim of holocaust: and his sons brought
him the blood thereof, which he poured round about on the altar.
9:13. And the victim being cut into pieces, they brought to him the
head and all the members: all which he burnt with fire upon the altar.
9:14. Having first washed the entrails and the feet with water.
9:15. Then offering for the sin of the people, he slew the he goat: and
expiating the altar,
9:16. He offered the holocaust.
9:17. Adding in the sacrifice the libations, which are offered withal,
and burning them upon the altar, besides the ceremonies of the morning
holocaust.
9:18. He immolated also the bullock and the ram, and peace offerings of
the people: and his sons brought him the blood, which he poured upon
the altar round about.
9:19. The fat also of the bullock, and the rump of the ram, and the two
little kidneys with their fat, and the caul of the liver,
9:20. They put upon the breasts. And after the fat was burnt upon the
altar,
9:21. Aaron separated their breasts, and the right shoulders, elevating
them before the Lord, as Moses had commanded.
9:22. And stretching forth his hands to the people, he blessed them.
And so the victims for sin, and the holocausts, and the peace offerings
being finished, he came down.
9:23. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the testimony,
and afterwards came forth and blessed the people. And the glory of the
Lord appeared to all the multitude.
9:24. And, behold, a fire, coming forth from the Lord, devoured the
holocaust, and the fat that was upon the altar: which when the
multitude saw, they praised the Lord, falling on their faces.
Leviticus Chapter 10
Nadab and Abiu for offering strange fire, are burnt by fire. Priests
are forbidden to drink wine, when they enter into the tabernacle. The
law of eating the holy things.
10:1. And Nadab and Abiu, the sons of Aaron, taking their censers, put
fire therein, and incense on it, offering before the Lord strange fire:
which was not commanded them.
10:2. And fire coming out from the Lord destroyed them: and they died
before the Lord.
10:3. And Moses said to Aaron: This is what the Lord hath spoken. I
will be sanctified in them that approach to me: and I will be glorified
in the sight of all the people. And when Aaron heard this, he held his
peace.
10:4. And Moses called Misael and Elisaphan, the sons of Oziel, the
uncle of Aaron, and said to them: Go and take away your brethren from
before the sanctuary, and carry them without the camp.
10:5. And they went forthwith and took them as they lay, vested with
linen tunicks, and cast them forth, as had been commanded them.
10:6. And Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons:
Uncover not your heads, and rend not your garments, lest perhaps you
die, and indignation come upon all the congregation. Let your brethren,
and all the house of Israel, bewail the burning which the Lord has
kindled.
10:7. But you shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle: otherwise
you shall perish, for the oil of the holy unction is on you. And they
did all things according to the precept of Moses.
10:8. The Lord also said to Aaron:
10:9. You shall not drink wine nor any thing that may make drunk, thou
nor thy sons, when you enter into the tabernacle of the testimony, lest
you die. Because it is an everlasting precept; through your
generations:
10:10. And that you may have knowledge to discern between holy and
unholy, between unclean and clean:
10:11. And may teach the children of Israel all my ordinances which the
Lord hath spoken to them by the hand of Moses.
10:12. And Moses spoke to Aaron, and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons
that were left: Take the sacrifice that is remaining of the oblation of
the Lord, and eat it without leaven beside the altar, because it is
holy of holies.
10:13. And you shall eat it in a holy place: which is given to thee and
thy sons of the oblations of the Lord, as it hath been commanded me.
10:14. The breast also that is offered, and the shoulder that is
separated, you shall eat in a most clean place, thou and thy sons, and
thy daughters with thee. For they are set aside for thee and thy
children, of the victims of peace offerings of the children of Israel.
10:15. Because they have elevated before the Lord the shoulder and the
breast, and the fat that is burnt on the altar: and they belong to thee
and to thy sons by a perpetual law, as the Lord hath commanded.
10:16. While these things were a doing, when Moses sought for the buck
goat, that had been offered for sin, he found it burnt. And being angry
with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron that were left, he said:
10:17. Why did you not eat in the holy place the sacrifice for sin,
which is most holy, and given to you, that you may bear the iniquity of
the people, and may pray for them in the sight of the Lord.
10:18. Especially, whereas none of the blood thereof hath been carried
within the holy places: and you ought to have eaten it in the
sanctuary, as was commanded me?
10:19. Aaron answered: This day hath been offered the victim for sin,
and the holocaust before the Lord: and to me what thou seest has
happened. How could I eat it, or please the Lord in the ceremonies,
having a sorrowful heart?
10:20. Which when Moses had heard he was satisfied.
Leviticus Chapter 11
The distinction of clean and unclean animals.
11:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
11:2. Say to the children of Israel: These are the animals which you
are to eat of all the living things of the earth.
Animals which you are to eat, etc. . .The prohibition of so many kinds
of beasts, birds, and fishes, in the law, was ordered, 1st, to exercise
the people in obedience, and temperance; 2ndly, to restrain them from
the vices of which these animals were symbols; 3rdly, because the
things here forbidden were for the most part unwholesome, and not
proper to be eaten; 4thly, that the people of God, by being obliged to
abstain from things corporally unclean, might be trained up to seek a
spiritual cleanness.
11:3. Whatsoever hath the hoof divided, and cheweth the cud among the
beasts, you shall eat.
Hoof divided, and cheweth the cud. . .The dividing of the hoof and
chewing of the cud, signify discretion between good and evil, and
meditating on the law of God; and where either of these is wanting a
man is unclean. In like manner fishes were reputed unclean that had not
fins and scales: that is, souls that did not raise themselves up by
prayer and cover themselves with the scales of virtue.
11:4. But whatsoever cheweth indeed the cud, and hath a hoof, but
divideth it not, as the camel, and others: that you shall not eat, but
shall reckon it among the unclean.
11:5. The cherogrillus which cheweth the cud, but divideth not the
hoof, is unclean.
The cherogrillus. . .Some suppose it to be the rabbit, others the
hedgehog. St. Jerome intimates that it is another kind of animal common
in Palestine, which lives in the holes of rocks or in the earth. We
choose here, as also in the names of several other creatures that
follow (which are little known in this part of the world,) to keep the
Greek or Latin names.
11:6. The hare also: for that too cheweth the cud, but divideth not the
hoof.
11:7. And the swine, which, though it divideth the hoof, cheweth not
the cud.
11:8. The flesh of these you shall not eat, nor shall you touch their
carcasses, because they are unclean to you.
11:9. These are the things that breed in the waters, and which it is
lawful to eat. All that hath fins, and scales, as well in the sea, as
in the rivers, and the pools, you shall eat.
11:10. But whatsoever hath not fins and scales, of those things that
move and live in the waters, shall be an abomination to you,
11:11. And detestable. Their flesh you shall not eat: and their
carcasses you shall avoid.
11:12. All that have not fins and scales, in the waters, shall be
unclean.
11:13. Of birds these are they which you must not eat, and which are to
be avoided by you: The eagle, and the griffon, and the osprey.
The griffon. . .Not the monster which the painter represent, which hath
no being upon earth; but a bird of the eagle kind, larger than the
common.
11:14. And the kite, and the vulture, according to their kind.
11:15. And all that is of the raven kind, according to their likeness.
11:16. The ostrich, and the owl, and the larus, and the hawk according
to its kind.
11:17. The screech owl, and the cormorant, and the ibis.
11:18. And the swan, and the bittern, and the porphyrion.
11:19. The heron, and the charadroin according to its kind, the houp
also, and the bat.
11:20. Of things that fly, whatsoever goeth upon four feet, shall be
abominable to you.
11:21. But whatsoever walketh upon four feet, but hath the legs behind
longer, wherewith it hoppeth upon the earth,
11:22. That you shall eat: as the bruchus in its kind, the attacus, and
ophimachus, and the locust, every, one according to their kind.
11:23. But of flying things whatsoever hath four feet only, shall be an
abomination to you.
11:24. And whosoever shall touch the carcasses of them, shall be
defiled: and shall be unclean until the evening:
11:25. And if it be necessary that he carry any of these things when
they are dead: he shall wash his clothes, and shall be unclean until
the sun set.
11:26. Every beast that hath a hoof, but divideth it not, nor cheweth
the cud shall be unclean: and he that toucheth it, shall be defiled.
11:27. That which walketh upon hands of all animals which go on all
four, shall be unclean: he that shall touch their carcasses shall be
defiled until evening.
11:28. And he that shall carry such carcasses, shall wash his clothes,
and shall be unclean until evening: because all these things are
unclean to you.
11:29. These also shall be reckoned among unclean things, of all that
move upon the earth. The weasel, and the mouse, and the crocodile,
every one according to their kind:
11:30. The shrew, and the chameleon, and the stellio, and the lizard,
and the mole.
11:31. All these are unclean. He that toucheth their carcasses shall be
unclean until the evening.
11:32. And upon what thing soever any of their carcasses shall fall, it
shall be defiled, whether it be a vessel of wood, or a garment, or
skins or haircloths: or any thing in which work is done. They shall be
dipped in water, and shall be unclean until the evening, and so
afterwards shall be clean.
11:33. But an earthen vessel, into which any of these shall fall, shall
be defiled: and therefore is to be broken.
11:34. Any meat which you eat, if water from such a vessel be poured
upon it, shall be unclean; and every liquor that is drunk out of any
such vessel, shall be unclean.
11:35. And upon whatsoever thing any of these dead beasts shall fall,
it shall be unclean. Whether it be oven, or pots with feet, they shall
be destroyed, and shall be unclean.
11:36. But fountains and cisterns, and all gatherings together of
waters shall be clean. He that toucheth their carcasses shall be
defiled.
11:37. If it fall upon seed corn, it shall not defile it.
11:38. But if any man pour water upon the seed, and afterwards it be
touched by the carcasses, it shall be forthwith defiled.
11:39. If any beast die, of which it is lawful for you to eat, he that
toucheth the carcass thereof, shall be unclean until the evening.
11:40. And he that eateth or carrieth any thing thereof, shall wash his
clothes, and shall be unclean until the evening.
11:41. All that creepeth upon the earth shall be abominable: neither
shall it be taken for meat.
11:42. Whatsoever goeth upon the breast on four feet, or hath many
feet, or traileth on the earth, you shall not eat, because it is
abominable.
11:43. Do not defile your souls, nor touch aught thereof, lest you be
unclean,
11:44. For I am the Lord your God. Be holy because I am holy. Defile
not your souls by any creeping thing, that moveth upon the earth.
11:45. For I am the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
that I might be your God.
11:46. You shall be holy, because I am holy. This is the law of beasts
and fowls, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and
creepeth on the earth:
11:47. That you may know the differences of the clean, and unclean, and
know what you ought to eat, and what to refuse.
Leviticus Chapter 12
The purification of women after childbirth.
12:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
12:2. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: If a
woman having received seed shall bear a man child, she shall be unclean
seven days, according to the days of separation of her flowers.
12:3. And on the eighth day the infant shall be circumcised:
12:4. But she shall remain three and thirty days in the blood of her
purification. She shall touch no holy thing: neither shall she enter
into the sanctuary, until the days of her purification, be fulfilled.
12:5. But if she shall bear a maid child, she shall be unclean two
weeks, according to the custom of her monthly courses. And she shall
remain in the blood of her purification sixty-six days.
12:6. And when the days of her purification are expired, for a son, or
for a daughter, she shall bring to the door of the tabernacle of the
testimony, a lamb of a year old for a holocaust, and a young pigeon or
a turtle for sin: and shall deliver them to the priest.
12:7. Who shall offer them before the Lord, and shall pray for her: and
so she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law
for her that beareth a man child or a maid child.
12:8. And if her hand find not sufficiency, and she is not able to
offer a lamb, she shall take two turtles, or two young pigeons, one for
a holocaust, and another for sin: and the priest shall pray for her,
and so she shall be cleansed.
Leviticus Chapter 13
The law concerning leprosy in men, and in garments.
13:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
13:2. The man in whose skin or flesh shall arise a different colour or
a blister, or as it were something shining, that is the stroke of the
leprosy, shall be brought to Aaron the priest, or any or of his sons.
13:3. And if he see the leprosy in his skin, and the hair turned white
and the place where the leprosy appears lower than the skin and the
rest of the flesh: it is the stroke of the leprosy, and upon his
judgment he shall be separated.
13:4. But if there be a shining whiteness in the skin, and not lower
than the other flesh, and the hair be of the former colour, the priest
shall shut him up seven days.
13:5. And the seventh day he shall look on him: and if the leprosy be
grown no farther, and hath not spread itself in the skin, he shall shut
him up again other seven days.
13:6. And on the seventh day, he shall look on him. If the leprosy be
somewhat obscure, and not spread in the skin, he shall declare him
clean, because it is but a scab: and the man shall wash his clothes,
and shall be clean.
13:7. But, if the leprosy grow again, after he was seen by the priest
and restored to cleanness, he shall be brought to him:
13:8. And shall be condemned of uncleanness.
13:9. If the stroke of the leprosy be in a man, he shall be brought to
the priest:
13:10. And he shall view him. And when there shall be a white colour in
the skin, and it shall have changed the look of the hair, and the
living flesh itself shall appear:
13:11. It shall be judged an inveterate leprosy, and grown into the
skin. The priest therefore shall declare him unclean: and shall not
shut him up, because he is evidently unclean.
13:12. But if the leprosy spring out running about in the skin, and
cover all the skin from the head to the feet, whatsoever falleth under
the sight of the eyes:
13:13. The priest shall view him, and shall judge that the leprosy
which he has is very clean: because it is all turned into whiteness,
and therefore the man shall be clean.
13:14. But when the live flesh shall appear in him:
13:15. Then by the judgment of the priest he shall be defiled, and
shall be reckoned among the unclean. For live flesh, if it be spotted
with leprosy, is unclean.
13:16. And if again it be turned into whiteness, and cover all the man:
13:17. The priest shall view him, and shall judge him to be clean.
13:18. When also there has been an ulcer in the flesh and the skin, and
it has been healed:
13:19. And in the place of the ulcer, there appeareth a white scar, or
somewhat red, the man shall be brought to the priest.
13:20. And when he shall see the place of the leprosy lower than the
other flesh, and the hair turned white: he shall declare him unclean,
for the plague of leprosy is broken out in the ulcer.
13:21. But if the hair be of the former colour, and the scar somewhat
obscure, and be not lower than the flesh that is near it: he shall shut
him up seven days.
13:22. And if it spread, he shall judge him to have the leprosy:
13:23. But if it stay in its place, it is but the scar of an ulcer: and
the man shall be clean.
13:24. The flesh also and skin that hath been burnt, and after it is
healed hath a white or a red scar:
13:25. The priest shall view it, and if he see it turned white, and the
place thereof is lower than the other skin: he shall declare him
unclean, because the evil of leprosy is broken out in the scar.
13:26. But if the colour of the hair be not changed, nor the blemish
lower than the other flesh, and the appearance of the leprosy be
somewhat obscure: he shall shut him up seven days,
13:27. And on the seventh day he shall view him. If the leprosy be
grown farther in the skin, he shall declare him unclean.
13:28. But if the whiteness stay in its place, and be not very clear,
it is the sore of a burning: and therefore he shall be cleansed,
because it is only the scar of a burning.
13:29. If the leprosy break out in the head or the beard of a man or
woman, the priest shall see them,
13:30. And if the place be lower than the other flesh, and the hair
yellow, and thinner than usual: he shall declare them unclean, because
it is the leprosy of the head and the beard;
13:31. But if he perceive the place of the spot is equal with the flesh
that is near it, and the hair black: he shall shut him up seven days,
13:32. And on the seventh day he shall look upon it. If the spot be not
grown, and the hair keep its colour, and the place of the blemish be
even with the other flesh:
13:33. The man shall be shaven all but the place of the spot: and he
shall be shut up other seven days.
13:34. If on the seventh day the evil seem to have stayed in its place,
and not lower than the other flesh, he shall cleanse him: and his
clothes being washed he shall be clean.
13:35. But if after his cleansing the spot spread again in the skin:
13:36. He shall seek no more whether the hair be turned yellow, because
he is evidently unclean.
13:37. But if the spot be stayed, and the hair be black, let him know
that the man is healed: and let him confidently pronounce him clean.
13:38. If a whiteness appear in the skin of a man or a woman,
13:39. The priest shall view them. If he find that a darkish whiteness
shineth in the skin, let him know that it is not the leprosy, but a
white blemish, and that the man is clean.
13:40. The man whose hair falleth off from his head, he is bald and
clean:
13:41. And if the hair fall from his forehead, he is bald before and
clean.
13:42. But if in the bald head or in the bald forehead there be risen a
white or reddish colour:
13:43. And the priest perceive this, he shall condemn him undoubtedly
of leprosy which is risen in the bald part.
13:44. Now whosoever shall be defiled with the leprosy, and is
separated by the judgment of the priest:
13:45. Shall have his clothes hanging loose, his head bare, his mouth
covered with a cloth: and he shall cry out that he is defiled and
unclean.
13:46. All the time that he is a leper and unclean he shall dwell alone
without the camp.
13:47. A woollen or linen garment that shall have the leprosy
13:48. In the warp, and the woof: or skin, or whatsoever is made of a
skin:
13:49. If it be infected with a white or red spot, it shall be
accounted the leprosy, and shall be shewn to the priest.
13:50. And he shall look upon it and shall shut it up seven days.
13:51. And on the seventh day when he looketh on it again, if he find
that it is grown, it is a fixed leprosy. He shall judge the garment
unclean, and every thing wherein it shall be found.
13:52. And therefore it shall be burnt with fire.
13:53. But if he see that it is not grown,
13:54. He shall give orders, and they shall wash that part wherein the
leprosy is: and he shall shut it up other seven days.
13:55. And when he shall see that the former colour is not returned,
nor yet the leprosy spread, he shall judge it unclean: and shall burn
it with fire, for the leprosy has taken hold of the outside of the
garment, or through the whole.
13:56. But if the place of the leprosy be somewhat dark, after the
garment is washed, he shall tear it off, and divide it from that which
is sound.
13:57. And if after this there appear in those places that before were
without spot, a flying and wandering leprosy: it must be burnt with
fire.
13:58. If it cease, he shall wash with water the parts that are pure,
the second time: and they shall be clean.
13:59. This is the law touching the leprosy of any woollen or linen
garment, either in the warp or woof, or any thing of skins: how it
ought to be cleaned, or pronounced unclean.
Leviticus Chapter 14
The rites of sacrifices in cleansing the leprosy. Leprosy in houses.
14:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
14:2. This is the rite of a leper, when he is to be cleansed. He shall
be brought to the priest:
14:3. Who going out of the camp, when he shall find that the leprosy is
cleansed,
14:4. Shall command him that is to be purified, to offer for himself
two living sparrows, which it is lawful to eat, and cedar wood, and
scarlet, and hyssop.
14:5. And he shall command one of the sparrows to be immolated in an
earthen vessel over living waters.
Living waters. . .That is, waters taken from a spring, brook, or river.
14:6. But the other that is alive, he shall dip, with the cedar wood,
and the scarlet and the hyssop, in the blood of the sparrow that is
immolated:
14:7. Wherewith he shall sprinkle him that is to be cleansed seven
times, that he may be rightly purified. And he shall let go the living
sparrow, that it may fly into the field.
14:8. And when the man hath washed his clothes, he shall shave all the
hair of his body, and shall be washed with water: and being purified he
shall enter into the camp, yet so that he tarry without his own tent
seven days.
14:9. And on the seventh day he shall shave the hair of his head, and
his beard and his eyebrows, and the hair of all his body. And having
washed again his clothes, and his body,
14:10. On the eighth day, he shall take two lambs without blemish, and
an ewe of a year old without blemish, and three tenths of flour
tempered with oil for a sacrifice, and a sextary of oil apart.
A sextary. . .Heb. log: a measure of liquids, which was the twelfth part
of a hin; and held about as much as six eggs.
14:11. And when the priest that purifieth the man, hath presented him,
and all these things before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of
the testimony:
14:12. He shall take a lamb, and offer it for a trespass offering with
the sextary of oil. And having offered all before the Lord,
14:13. He shall immolate the lamb, where the victim for sin is wont to
be immolated, and the holocaust, that is, in the holy place. For as
that which is for sin, so also the victim for a trespass offering
pertaineth to the priest: it is holy of holies.
14:14. And the priest taking of the blood of the victim that was
immolated for trespass, shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of
him that is cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand and the
great toe of his right foot.
Taking of the blood, etc. . .These ceremonies used in the cleansing of a
leper, were mysterious and very significative. The sprinkling seven
times with the blood of the little bird, the washing himself and his
clothes, the shaving his hair and his beard, signify the means which
are to be used in the reconciliation of a sinner, and the steps by
which he is to return to God, viz., by the repeated application of the
blood of Christ: the washing his conscience with the waters of
compunction: and retrenching all vanities and superfluities, by
employing all that is over and above what is necessary in alms deeds.
The sin offering, and the holocaust or burnt offering, which he was to
offer at his cleansing, signify the sacrifice of a contrite and humble
heart, and that of adoration in spirit and truth, with gratitude and
thankfulness, for the forgiveness of sins, with which we are ever to
appear before the Almighty. The touching the right ear, the thumb of
the right hand, and the great toe of the right foot, first with the
blood of the victim, and then with the remainder of the oil, which had
been sprinkled seven times before the Lord, signify the application of
the blood of Christ, and the unction of the sevenfold grace of the Holy
Ghost; to the sinner's right ear, that he may duly hearken to and obey
the law of God; and to his right hand and foot, that the works of his
hands, and all the steps or affections of his soul, signified by the
feet, may be rightly directed to God.
14:15. And he shall pour of the sextary of oil into his own left hand,
14:16. And shall dip his right finger in it, and sprinkle it before the
Lord seven times.
14:17. And the rest of the oil in his left hand, he shall pour upon the
tip of the right ear of him that is cleansed, and upon the thumb of his
right hand and the great toe of his right foot, and upon the blood that
was shed for trespass:
14:18. And upon his head.
14:19. And he shall pray for him before the Lord, and shall offer the
sacrifice for sin. Then shall he immolate the holocaust.
14:20. And put it on the altar with the libations thereof: and the man
shall be rightly cleansed.
14:21. But if he be poor, and his hand cannot find the things
aforesaid: he shall take a lamb for an offering for trespass, that the
priest may pray for him, and a tenth part of flour tempered with oil
for a sacrifice, and a sextary of oil:
14:22. And two turtles or two young pigeons, of which one may be for
sin, and the other for a holocaust.
14:23. And he shall offer them on the eighth day of his purification to
the priest, at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony before the
Lord.
14:24. And the priest receiving the lamb for trespass, and the sextary
of oil, shall elevate them together.
14:25. And the lamb being immolated, he shall put of the blood thereof
upon the tip of the right ear of him that is cleansed, and upon the
thumb of his right hand, and the great toe of his right foot.
14:26. But he shall pour part of the oil into his own left hand,
14:27. And dipping the finger of his right hand in it, he shall
sprinkle it seven times before the Lord.
14:28. And he shall touch the tip of the right ear of him that is
cleansed, and the thumb of his right hand and the great toe of his
right foot, in the place of the blood that was shed for trespass.
14:29. And the other part of the oil that is in his left hand, he shall
pour upon the head of the purified person, that he may appease the Lord
for him.
14:30. And he shall offer a turtle, or young pigeon:
14:31. One for trespass, and the other for a holocaust, with their
libations.
14:32. This is the sacrifice of a leper, that is not able to have all
things that appertain to his cleansing.
14:33. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
14:34. When you shall come into the land of Chanaan, which I will give
you for a possession, if there be the plague or leprosy in a house:
14:35. He whose house it is, shall go and tell the priest, saying: It
seemeth to me, that there is the plague of leprosy in my house,
14:36. And he shall command, that they carry forth all things out of
the house, before he go into it, and see whether it have the leprosy,
let all things become unclean that are in the house. And afterwards he
shall go in to view the leprosy of the house.
14:37. And if he see in the walls thereof as it were little dints,
disfigured with paleness or redness, and lower than all he rest:
14:38. He shall go out of the door of the house, and forthwith shut it
up seven days,
14:39. And returning on the seventh day, he shall look upon it. If he
find that the leprosy is spread,
14:40. He shall command, that the stones wherein the leprosy is, be
taken out, and cast without the city into an unclean place:
14:41. And that the house be scraped on the inside round about, and the
dust of the scrapings be scattered without the city into an unclean
place:
14:42. And that other stones be laid in the place of them that were
taken away, and the house be plastered with other mortar.
14:43. But if after the stones be taken out, and the dust scraped off,
and it be plastered with other earth.
14:44. The priest going in perceive that the leprosy is returned, and
the walls full of spots, it is a lasting leprosy, and the house is
unclean.
14:45. And they shall destroy it forthwith, and shall cast the stones
and timber thereof, and all the dust without the town into an unclean
place.
14:46. He that entereth into the house when it is shut, shall be
unclean until evening,
14:47. And he that sleepeth in it, and eateth any thing, shall wash his
clothes.
14:48. But if the priest going in perceive that the leprosy is not
spread in the house, after it was plastered again, he shall purify it,
it being cured.
14:49. And for the purification thereof he shall take two sparrows, and
cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop.
14:50. And having immolated one sparrow in an earthen vessel, over
living waters,
14:51. He shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet,
and the living sparrow, and shall dip all in the blood of the sparrow
that is immolated, and in the living water: and he shall sprinkle the
house seven times.
14:52. And shall purify it as well with the blood of the sparrow, as
with the living water, and with the living sparrow, and with the cedar
wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet.
14:53. And when he hath let go the sparrow to fly freely away into the
field, he shall pray for the house: and it shall be rightly cleansed.
14:54. This is the law of every kind of leprosy and stroke.
14:55. Of the leprosy of garments and houses,
14:56. Of a scar and of blisters breaking out of a shining spot, and
when the colours are diversely changed:
14:57. That it may be known when a thing is clean or unclean.
Leviticus Chapter 15
Other legal uncleannesses.
15:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
15:2. Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: The man that
hath an issue of seed, shall be unclean.
Issue of seed shall be unclean. . .These legal uncleannesses were
instituted in order to give the people a horror of carnal impurities.
15:3. And then shall he be judged subject to this evil, when a filthy
humour, at every moment, cleaveth to his flesh, and gathereth there.
15:4. Every bed on which he sleepeth, shall be unclean, and every place
on which he sitteth.
15:5. If any man touch his bed, he shall wash his clothes and being
washed with water, he shall be unclean until the evening.
15:6. If a man sit where that man hath sitten, he also shall wash his
clothes: and being washed with water, shall be unclean until the
evening.
15:7. He that toucheth his flesh, shall wash his clothes: and being
himself washed with water shall be unclean until the evening.
15:8. If such a man cast his spittle upon him that is clean, he shall
wash his clothes: and being washed with water, he shall be unclean
until the evening.
15:9. The saddle on which he hath sitten shall be unclean.
15:10. And whatsoever has been under him that hath the issue of seed,
shall be unclean until the evening. He that carrieth any of these
things, shall wash his clothes: and being washed with water, he shall
be unclean until the evening.
15:11. Every person whom such a one shall touch, not having washed his
hands before, shall wash his clothes: and being washed with water,
shall be unclean until the evening.
15:12. If he touch a vessel of earth, it shall be broken: but if a
vessel of wood, it shall be washed with water.
15:13. If he who suffereth this disease be healed, he shall number
seven days after his cleansing: and having washed his clothes, and all
his body in living water, he shall be clean.
15:14. And on the eighth day he shall take two turtles, or two young
pigeons, and he shall come before the Lord, to the door of the
tabernacle of the testimony, and shall give them to the priest.
15:15. Who shall offer one for sin, and the other for a holocaust: and
he shall pray for him before the Lord, that he may be cleansed of the
issue of his seed.
15:16. The man from whom the seed of copulation goeth out, shall wash
all his body with water: and he shall be unclean until the evening.
15:17. The garment or skin that he weareth, he shall wash with water:
and it shall be unclean until the evening.
15:18. The woman, with whom he copulateth, shall be washed with water:
and shall be unclean until the evening.
15:19. The woman, who at the return of the month, hath her issue of
blood, shall be separated seven days.
15:20. Every one that toucheth her, shall be unclean until the evening.
15:21. And every thing that she sleepeth on, or that she sitteth on in
the days of her separation, shall be defiled.
15:22. He that toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes: and being
himself washed with water, shall be unclean until the evening.
15:23. Whosoever shall touch any vessel on which she sitteth, shall
wash his clothes: and himself being washed with water, shall be defiled
until the evening.
15:24. If a man copulateth with her in the time of her flowers, he
shall be unclean seven days: and every bed on which he shall sleep,
shall be defiled.
15:25. The woman that hath still issue of blood many days out of her
ordinary time, or that ceaseth not to flow after the monthly courses,
as long as she is subject to this disease, shall be unclean, in the
same manner as if she were in her flowers.
15:26. Every bed on which she sleepeth, and every vessel on which she
sitteth, shall be defiled.
15:27. Whosoever toucheth them shall wash his clothes: and himself
being washed with water, shall be unclean until the evening.
15:28. If the blood stop and cease to run, she shall count seven days
of her purification:
15:29. And on the eighth day she shall offer for herself to the priest,
two turtles, or two young pigeons, at the door of the tabernacle of the
testimony:
15:30. And he shall offer one for sin, and the other for a holocaust,
and he shall pray for her before the Lord, and for the issue of her
uncleanness.
15:31. You shall teach therefore the children of Israel to take heed of
uncleanness, that they may not die in their filth, when they shall have
defiled my tabernacle that is among them.
15:32. This is the law of him that hath the issue of seed, and that is
defiled by copulation.
15:33. And of the woman that is separated in her monthly times, or that
hath a continual issue of blood, and of the man that sleepeth with her.
Leviticus Chapter 16
When and how the high priest must enter into the sanctuary. The feast
of expiation.
16:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, after the death of the two sons of
Aaron when they were slain upon their offering strange fire:
16:2. And he commanded him, saying: Speak to Aaron thy brother, that he
enter not at all into the sanctuary, which is within the veil before
the propitiatory, with which the ark is covered, lest he die, (for I
will appear in a cloud over the oracle),
Enter not. . .No one but the high priest, and he but once a year, could
enter into the sanctuary; to signify that no one could enter into the
sanctuary of heaven, till Christ our high priest opened it by his
passion. Heb. 10.8.
16:3. Unless he first do these things. He shall offer a calf for sin,
and a ram for a holocaust.
16:4. He shall be vested with a linen tunick: he shall cover his
nakedness with linen breeches: he shall be girded with a linen girdle,
and he shall put a linen mitre upon his head. For these are holy
vestments: all which he shall put on, after he is washed.
16:5. And he shall receive from the whole multitude of the children of
Israel two buck goats for sin, and one ram for a holocaust.
16:6. And when he hath offered the cattle and prayed for himself and
for his own house:
16:7. He shall make the two buck goats to stand before the Lord in the
door of the tabernacle of the testimony.
16:8. And casting lots upon them both, one to be offered to the Lord,
and the other to be the emissary goat:
16:9. That whose lot fell to be offered to the Lord, he shall offer for
sin.
16:10. But that whose lot was to be the emissary goat, he shall present
before the Lord, that he may pour prayers upon him, and let him go into
the wilderness.
16:11. After these things are duly celebrated, he shall offer the calf:
and praying for himself and for his own house, he shall immolate it.
16:12. And taking the censer, which he hath filled with the burning
coals of the altar, and taking up with his hands the compounded perfume
for incense, he shall go in within the veil into the holy place:
16:13. That when the perfumes are put upon the fire, the cloud and
vapour thereof may cover the oracle, which is over the testimony, and
he may not die.
16:14. He shall take also of the blood of the calf, and sprinkle with
his finger seven times towards the propitiatory to the east.
16:15. And when he hath killed the buck goat for the sin of the people,
he shall carry in the blood thereof within the veil, as he was
commanded to do with the blood of the calf, that he may sprinkle it
over against the oracle:
16:16. And may expiate the sanctuary from the uncleanness of the
children of Israel, and from their transgressions, and all their sins.
According to this rite shall he do to the tabernacle of the testimony,
which is fixed among them in the midst of the filth of their
habitation.
16:17. Let no man be in the tabernacle when the high priest goeth into
the sanctuary, to pray for himself and his house, and for the whole
congregation of Israel, until he come out.
16:18. And when he is come out to the altar that is before the Lord,
let him pray for himself: and taking the blood of the calf, and of the
buck goat, let him pour it upon the horns thereof round about.
16:19. And sprinkling with his finger seven times, let him expiate, and
sanctify it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
16:20. After he hath cleaned the sanctuary, and the tabernacle, and the
altar, then let him offer the living goat.
16:21. And putting both hands upon his head, let him confess all the
iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their offences and sins.
And praying that they may light on its head, he shall turn him out by a
man ready for it, into the desert.
16:22. And when the goat hath carried all their iniquities into an
uninhabited land, and shall be let go into the desert:
16:23. Aaron shall return into the tabernacle of the testimony, and
putting off the vestments, which he had on him before when he entered
into the sanctuary, and leaving them there,
16:24. He shall wash his flesh in the holy place, and shall put on his
own garments. And after that he is come out and hath offered his own
holocaust, and that of the people, he shall pray both for himself, and
for the people.
16:25. And the fat that is offered for sins, he shall burn on the
altar.
16:26. But he that hath let go the emissary goat, shall wash his
clothes, and his body with water, and so shall enter into the camp.
16:27. But the calf and the buck goat, that were sacrificed for sin,
and whose blood was carried into the sanctuary, to accomplish the
atonement, they shall carry forth without the camp, and shall burn with
fire: their skins and their flesh, and their dung.
16:28. And whosoever burneth them shall wash his clothes, and flesh
with water: and so shall enter into the camp.
16:29. And this shall be to you an everlasting ordinance. The seventh
month, the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and
shall do no work, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger
that sojourneth among you.
16:30. Upon this day shall be the expiation for you, and the cleansing
from all your sins. You shall be cleansed before the Lord.
16:31. For it is a sabbath of rest: and you shall afflict your souls by
a perpetual religion.
16:32. And the priest that is anointed, and whose hands are consecrated
to do the office of the priesthood in his father's stead, shall make
atonement. And he shall be vested with the linen robe and the holy
vestments.
16:33. And he shall expiate the sanctuary and the tabernacle of the
testimony and the altar: the priest also and all the people.
16:34. And this shall be an ordinance for ever, that you pray for the
children of Israel, and for all their sins once a year. He did
therefore as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Leviticus Chapter 17
No sacrifices to be offered but at the door of the tabernacle: a
prohibition of blood.
17:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
17:2. Speak to Aaron and his sons, and to all the children of Israel,
saying to them: This is the word, which the Lord hath commanded,
saying:
17:3. Any man whosoever of the house of Israel, if he kill an ox, or a
sheep, or a goat in the camp, or without the camp,
If he kill, etc. . .That is, in order to sacrifice. The law of God
forbids sacrifices to be offered in any other place but at the
tabernacle or temple of the Lord; to signify that no sacrifice would be
acceptable to God, out of his true temple, the one holy, catholic,
apostolic church.
17:4. And offer it not at the door of the tabernacle an oblation to the
Lord, shall be guilty of blood. As if he had shed blood, so shall he
perish from the midst of his people.
17:5. Therefore the children of Israel shall bring to the priest their
victims, which they kill in the field, that they may be sanctified to
the Lord before the door of the tabernacle of the testimony: and they
may sacrifice them for peace offerings to the Lord.
17:6. And the priest shall pour the blood upon the altar of the Lord,
at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony: and shall burn the fat
for a sweet odour to the Lord.
17:7. And they shall no more sacrifice their victims to devils, with
whom they have committed fornication. It shall be an ordinance for ever
to them and to their posterity.
17:8. And thou shalt say to them: The man of the house of Israel, and
of the strangers who sojourn among you, that offereth a holocaust or a
victim,
17:9. And bringeth it not to the door of the tabernacle of the
testimony, that it may be offered to the Lord, shall perish from among
his people.
17:10. If any man whosoever of the house of Israel, and of the
strangers that sojourn among them, eat blood, I will set my face
against his soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
Eat blood. . .To eat blood was forbidden in the law; partly, because God
reserved it to himself, to be offered in sacrifices on the altar, as to
the Lord of life and death; and as a figure of the blood of Christ; and
partly, to give men a horror of shedding blood. Gen. 9.4, 5, 6.
17:11. Because the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given
it to you, that you may make atonement with it upon the altar for your
souls, and the blood may be for an expiation of the soul.
17:12. Therefore I have said to the children of Israel: No soul of you,
nor of the strangers that sojourn among you, shall eat blood.
17:13. Any man whosoever of the children of Israel, and of the
strangers that sojourn among you, if by hunting or fowling, he take a
wild beast or a bird, which is lawful to eat, let him pour out its
blood, and cover it with earth.
17:14. For the life of all flesh is in the blood. Therefore I said to
the children of Israel: you shall not eat the blood of any flesh at
all, because the life of the flesh is in the blood, and whosoever
eateth it, shall be cut off.
17:15. The soul that eateth that which died of itself, or has been
caught by a beast, whether he be one of your own country or a stranger,
shall wash his clothes and himself with water, and shall be defiled
until the evening: and in this manner he shall be made clean.
17:16. But if he do not wash his clothes, and his body, he shall bear
his iniquity.
Leviticus Chapter 18
Marriage is prohibited in certain degrees of kindred: Anda all
unnatural lusts.
18:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
18:2. Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: I am
the Lord your God.
18:3. You shall not do according to the custom of the land of Egypt, in
which you dwelt: neither shall you act according to the manner of the
country of Chanaan, into which I will bring you. Nor shall you walk in
their ordinances.
18:4. You shall do my judgments, and shall observe my precepts, and
shall walk in them. I am the Lord your God.
18:5. Keep my laws and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live
in them, I am the Lord.
18:6. No man shall approach to her that is near of kin to him, to
uncover her nakedness. I am the Lord.
18:7. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father, or the
nakedness of thy mother: she is thy mother, thou shalt not uncover her
nakedness.
18:8. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's wife: for it
is the nakedness of thy father.
18:9. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy sister by father or
by mother: whether born at home or abroad.
18:10. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy son's daughter, or
thy daughter's daughter: because it is thy own nakedness.
18:11. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's wife's
daughter, whom she bore to thy father: and who is thy sister.
18:12. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister:
because she is the flesh of thy father.
18:13. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister:
because she is thy mother's flesh.
18:14. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother:
neither shalt thou approach to his wife, who is joined to thee by
affinity.
18:15. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law:
because she is thy son's wife, neither shalt thou discover her shame.
18:16. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife:
because it is the nakedness of thy brother.
18:17. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy wife and her
daughter. Thou shalt not take her son's daughter or her daughter's
daughter, to discover her shame: because they are her flesh, and such
copulation is incest.
18:18. Thou shalt not take thy wife's sister for a harlot, to rival
her: neither shalt thou discover her nakedness, while she is yet
living.
18:19. Thou shalt not approach to a woman having her flowers: neither
shalt thou uncover her nakedness.
18:20. Thou shalt not lie with thy neighbour's wife: nor be defiled
with mingling of seed.
18:21. Thou shalt not give any of thy seed to be consecrated to the
idol Moloch, nor defile the name of thy God. I am the Lord.
18:22. Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind: because it is
an abomination.
18:23. Thou shalt not copulate with any beast: neither shalt thou be
defiled with it. A woman shall not lie down to a beast, nor copulate
with it: because it is a heinous crime.
Because it is a heinous crime. . .In Hebrew, this word heinous crime is
expressed by the word confusion, signifying the shamefulness and
baseness of this abominable sin.
18:24. Defile not yourselves with any of these things with which all
the nations have been defiled, which I will cast out before you,
18:25. And with which the land is defiled: the abominations of which I
will visit, that it may vomit out its inhabitants.
18:26. Keep ye my ordinances and my judgments: and do not any of these
abominations. Neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that
sojourneth among you.
18:27. For all these detestable things the inhabitants of the land have
done, that were before you, and have defiled it.
18:28. Beware then, lest in like manner, it vomit you also out, if you
do the like things: as it vomited out the nation that was before you.
18:29. Every soul that shall commit any of these abominations, shall
perish from the midst of his people.
18:30. Keep my commandments. Do not the things which they have done,
that have been before you: and be not defiled therein. I am the Lord
your God.
Leviticus Chapter 19
Divers ordinances, partly moral, partly ceremonial or judicial.
19:1. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
19:2. Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel. And thou
shalt say to them: Be ye holy, because I the Lord your God am holy.
19:3. Let every one fear his father, and his mother. Keep my sabbaths.
I am the Lord your God.
19:4. Turn ye not to idols: nor make to yourselves molten gods. I am
the Lord your God.
19:5. If ye offer in sacrifice a peace offering to the Lord, that he
may be favourable:
19:6. You shall eat it on the same day it was offered, and the next
day. And whatsoever shall be left until the third day, you shall burn
with fire.
19:7. If after two days any man eat thereof, he shall be profane and
guilty of impiety:
19:8. And shall bear his iniquity, because he hath defiled the holy
thing of the Lord. And that soul shall perish from among his people.
19:9. When thou reapest the corn of thy land, thou shalt not cut down
all that is on the face of the earth to the very ground: nor shalt thou
gather the ears that remain.
19:10. Neither shalt thou gather the bunches and grapes that fall down
in thy vineyard: but shalt leave them to the poor and the strangers to
take. I am the Lord your God.
19:11. You shall not steal. You shall not lie: neither shall any man
deceive his neighbour.
19:12. Thou shalt not swear falsely by my name, nor profane the name of
thy God. I am the Lord.
19:13. Thou shalt not calumniate thy neighbour, nor oppress him by
violence. The wages of him that hath been hired by thee shall not abide
with thee until the morning.
19:14. Thou shalt not speak evil of the deaf, nor put a stumbling block
before the blind: but thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, because I am
the Lord.
19:15. Thou shalt not do that which is un