דף מקורות לתערוכה: גרגורי אבו: ידעתיך 2021

(1) When Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done and how he had put all the prophets to the sword, (2) Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “Thus and more may the gods do if by this time tomorrow I have not made you like one of them.” (3) Frightened, he fled at once for his life. He came to Beer-sheba, which is in Judah, and left his servant there; (4) he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush and sat down under it, and prayed that he might die. “Enough!” he cried. “Now, O LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” (5) He lay down and fell asleep under a broom bush. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” (6) He looked about; and there, beside his head, was a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water! He ate and drank, and lay down again. (7) The angel of the LORD came a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” (8) He arose and ate and drank; and with the strength from that meal he walked forty days and forty nights as far as the mountain of God at Horeb. (9) There he went into a cave, and there he spent the night. Then the word of the LORD came to him. He said to him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” (10) He replied, “I am moved by zeal for the LORD, the God of Hosts, for the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and put Your prophets to the sword. I alone am left, and they are out to take my life.” (11) “Come out,” He called, “and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And lo, the LORD passed by. There was a great and mighty wind, splitting mountains and shattering rocks by the power of the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind—an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake. (12) After the earthquake—fire; but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire—a soft murmuring sound. (13) When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his mantle about his face and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then a voice addressed him: “Why are you here, Elijah?” (14) He answered, “I am moved by zeal for the LORD, the God of Hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and have put Your prophets to the sword. I alone am left, and they are out to take my life.”

(1) Let, then, Bezalel and Oholiab and all the skilled persons whom the LORD has endowed with skill and ability to perform expertly all the tasks connected with the service of the sanctuary carry out all that the LORD has commanded. (2) Moses then called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every skilled person whom the LORD had endowed with skill, everyone who excelled in ability, to undertake the task and carry it out. (3) They took over from Moses all the gifts that the Israelites had brought, to carry out the tasks connected with the service of the sanctuary. But when these continued to bring freewill offerings to him morning after morning, (4) all the artisans who were engaged in the tasks of the sanctuary came, each from the task upon which he was engaged, (5) and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than is needed for the tasks entailed in the work that the LORD has commanded to be done.” (6) Moses thereupon had this proclamation made throughout the camp: “Let no man or woman make further effort toward gifts for the sanctuary!” So the people stopped bringing: (7) their efforts had been more than enough for all the tasks to be done. (8) Then all the skilled among those engaged in the work made the Tabernacle of ten strips of cloth, which they made of fine twisted linen, blue, purple, and crimson yarns; into these they worked a design of cherubim. (9) The length of each cloth was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each cloth was four cubits, all cloths having the same measurements. (10) They joined five of the cloths to one another, and they joined the other five cloths to one another. (11) They made loops of blue wool on the edge of the outermost cloth of the one set, and did the same on the edge of the outermost cloth of the other set: (12) they made fifty loops on the one cloth, and they made fifty loops on the edge of the end cloth of the other set, the loops being opposite one another. (13) And they made fifty gold clasps and coupled the units to one another with the clasps, so that the Tabernacle became one whole. (14) They made cloths of goats’ hair for a tent over the Tabernacle; they made the cloths eleven in number. (15) The length of each cloth was thirty cubits, and the width of each cloth was four cubits, the eleven cloths having the same measurements. (16) They joined five of the cloths by themselves, and the other six cloths by themselves. (17) They made fifty loops on the edge of the outermost cloth of the one set, and they made fifty loops on the edge of the end cloth of the other set. (18) They made fifty copper clasps to couple the Tent together so that it might become one whole. (19) And they made a covering of tanned ram skins for the tent, and a covering of dolphin skins above. (20) They made the planks for the Tabernacle of acacia wood, upright. (21) The length of each plank was ten cubits, the width of each plank a cubit and a half. (22) Each plank had two tenons, parallel to each other; they did the same with all the planks of the Tabernacle. (23) Of the planks of the Tabernacle, they made twenty planks for the south side, (24) making forty silver sockets under the twenty planks, two sockets under one plank for its two tenons and two sockets under each following plank for its two tenons; (25) and for the other side wall of the Tabernacle, the north side, twenty planks, (26) with their forty silver sockets, two sockets under one plank and two sockets under each following plank. (27) And for the rear of the Tabernacle, to the west, they made six planks; (28) and they made two planks for the corners of the Tabernacle at the rear. (29) They matched at the bottom, but terminated as one at the top into one ring; they did so with both of them at the two corners. (30) Thus there were eight planks with their sockets of silver: sixteen sockets, two under each plank. (31) They made bars of acacia wood, five for the planks of the one side wall of the Tabernacle, (32) five bars for the planks of the other side wall of the Tabernacle, and five bars for the planks of the wall of the Tabernacle at the rear, to the west; (33) they made the center bar to run, halfway up the planks, from end to end. (34) They overlaid the planks with gold, and made their rings of gold, as holders for the bars; and they overlaid the bars with gold. (35) They made the curtain of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and fine twisted linen, working into it a design of cherubim. (36) They made for it four posts of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold, with their hooks of gold; and they cast for them four silver sockets. (37) They made the screen for the entrance of the Tent, of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and fine twisted linen, done in embroidery; (38) and five posts for it with their hooks. They overlaid their tops and their bands with gold; but the five sockets were of copper.

(1) In thirty-two most occult and wonderful paths of wisdom did Yah the Lord of Hosts engrave his name: God of the armies of Israel (Tzevaot Elohai Yisrael), ever-living God (Elohim Hayim), merciful and gracious (v’Melekh Olam), sublime, dwelling on high (El Shaddai), who inhabiteth eternity. He created this universe by the three derivatives: Writing (SePHeR) Numbers (SePHoR), and Speech (SiPuR).

(2) Ten are the numbers, as are the Sefirot, and twenty-two the letters [of the Hebrew alphabet], these are the Foundation of all things. Of these letters, three are 'mothers', seven are 'double', and twelve are 'simple'.

(3) The ten numbers [the numerals represented by the letters Aleph through Teth] formed from nothing are the Decad: these are seen in the fingers of the hands, five on one, five on the other, and over them is the Covenant by voice spiritual, and the rite of Circumcision; corporeal.

(4) Ten are the numbers of the ineffable Sefirot. Ten, and not nine. Ten, and not eleven. Learn this wisdom, and be wise in the understanding of it. Investigate these numbers, and draw knowledge from them. Fix the design in its purity, and pass from it to its Creator seated on his throne.

(5) These Ten Numbers, beyond Ein Sof, have boundless realms, boundless origin and end, an abyss of good and one of evil, boundless height and depth, East and West, North and South, and the one only God and king, faithful forever seated on his throne, shall rule over all, forever and ever.

(6) These ten Sefirot which are ineffable, whose appearance is like scintillating flames, have no end, but are infinite. The word of God is in them as they burst forth, and as they return; they obey the divine command, rushing along as a whirlwind, returning to prostrate themselves at his throne.

(7) These ten Sefirot which are, moreover, ineffable, have their end even as their beginning, conjoined, even as is a flame to a burning coal: for our God is superlative in his unity, and does not permit any second one. And who canst thou place before the only one?

(8) And as to this Decad of the Sefirot, restrain thy lips from comment, and thy mind from thought of them. And if thy heart fail thee return to thy place? Therefore is it written, "The living creatures ran and returned," and on this wisdom was the covenant made with us.

(9) These are the ten emanations of number. First, is the Spirit of the Living God, blessed and more than blessed be the name of the Living God of Ages. The Holy Spirit is his Voice, his Spirit, and his Word.

(10) Second, from the Spirit he made Air and formed for speech twenty-two letters, three are 'mothers', seven are 'double', and twelve are 'simple', but the spirit is first among these.

(11) Third, Primitive Water. He also formed and designed from his Spirit, and from the void and formless made earth, even as a rampart, or standing wall, and varied its surface even as the crossing of beams.

(12) Fourth, from the Water, He designed Fire, and from it formed for himself a throne of honor, with Auphanim, Seraphim, Holy Animals, and ministering Angels, and with these he formed his dwelling, as is written in the text "Who maketh his angels spirits and his ministers a flaming fire."

(13) He selected three letters from the simple ones, and sealed them as forming his great Name, Yud, Hei, Waw, and he sealed the universe in six directions. Fifth, He looked above, and sealed the height, with Yud-Hei-Waw. Sixth, He looked below, and sealed the deep, with Yud-Waw-Hei. Seventh, He looked forward, and sealed the East, with Hei-Yud-Waw. Eighth, He looked backward, and sealed the West, with Hei-Waw-Yud. Ninth, He looked to the right, and sealed the South, with Waw-Yud-Hei. Tenth, He looked to the left, and sealed the North, with Waw-Hei-Yud.

(14) These are the ten ineffable existences, the spirit of the living God, Air, Water, Fire, Height and Depth, East and West, North and South.

(11) The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: (12) Speak to the Israelite people and say to them: If any man’s wife has gone astray and broken faith with him (13) in that a man has had carnal relations with her unbeknown to her husband, and she keeps secret the fact that she has defiled herself without being forced, and there is no witness against her— (14) but a fit of jealousy comes over him and he is wrought up about the wife who has defiled herself; or if a fit of jealousy comes over one and he is wrought up about his wife although she has not defiled herself— (15) the man shall bring his wife to the priest. And he shall bring as an offering for her one-tenth of an ephah of barley flour. No oil shall be poured upon it and no frankincense shall be laid on it, for it is a meal offering of jealousy, a meal offering of remembrance which recalls wrongdoing. (16) The priest shall bring her forward and have her stand before the LORD. (17) The priest shall take sacral water in an earthen vessel and, taking some of the earth that is on the floor of the Tabernacle, the priest shall put it into the water. (18) After he has made the woman stand before the LORD, the priest shall bare the woman’s head and place upon her hands the meal offering of remembrance, which is a meal offering of jealousy. And in the priest’s hands shall be the water of bitterness that induces the spell. (19) The priest shall adjure the woman, saying to her, “If no man has lain with you, if you have not gone astray in defilement while married to your husband, be immune to harm from this water of bitterness that induces the spell. (20) But if you have gone astray while married to your husband and have defiled yourself, if a man other than your husband has had carnal relations with you”— (21) here the priest shall administer the curse of adjuration to the woman, as the priest goes on to say to the woman—“may the LORD make you a curse and an imprecation among your people, as the LORD causes your thigh to sag and your belly to distend; (22) may this water that induces the spell enter your body, causing the belly to distend and the thigh to sag.” And the woman shall say, “Amen, amen!” (23) The priest shall put these curses down in writing and rub it off into the water of bitterness. (24) He is to make the woman drink the water of bitterness that induces the spell, so that the spell-inducing water may enter into her to bring on bitterness. (25) Then the priest shall take from the woman’s hand the meal offering of jealousy, elevate the meal offering before the LORD, and present it on the altar. (26) The priest shall scoop out of the meal offering a token part of it and turn it into smoke on the altar. Last, he shall make the woman drink the water. (27) Once he has made her drink the water—if she has defiled herself by breaking faith with her husband, the spell-inducing water shall enter into her to bring on bitterness, so that her belly shall distend and her thigh shall sag; and the woman shall become a curse among her people. (28) But if the woman has not defiled herself and is pure, she shall be unharmed and able to retain seed. (29) This is the ritual in cases of jealousy, when a woman goes astray while married to her husband and defiles herself, (30) or when a fit of jealousy comes over a man and he is wrought up over his wife: the woman shall be made to stand before the LORD and the priest shall carry out all this ritual with her. (31) The man shall be clear of guilt; but that woman shall suffer for her guilt.

(1) When all the kings west of the Jordan—in the hill country, in the Shephelah, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea up to the vicinity of Lebanon, the [land of the] Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—learned of this, (2) they gathered with one accord to fight against Joshua and Israel. (3) But when the inhabitants of Gibeon learned how Joshua had treated Jericho and Ai, (4) they for their part resorted to cunning. They set out in disguise: they took worn-out sacks for their asses, and worn-out waterskins that were cracked and patched; (5) they had worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and threadbare clothes on their bodies; and all the bread they took as provision was dry and crumbly. (6) And so they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We come from a distant land; we propose that you make a pact with us.” (7) The men of Israel replied to the Hivites, “But perhaps you live among us; how then can we make a pact with you?” (8) They said to Joshua, “We will be your subjects.” But Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where do you come from?” (9) They replied, “Your servants have come from a very distant country, because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we heard the report of Him: of all that He did in Egypt, (10) and of all that He did to the two Amorite kings on the other side of the Jordan, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan who lived in Ashtaroth. (11) So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country instructed us as follows, ‘Take along provisions for a trip, and go to them and say: We will be your subjects; come make a pact with us.’ (12) This bread of ours, which we took from our houses as provision, was still hot when we set out to come to you; and see how dry and crumbly it has become. (13) These wineskins were new when we filled them, and see how they have cracked. These clothes and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey.” (14) The men took [their word] because of their provisions, and did not inquire of the LORD. (15) Joshua established friendship with them; he made a pact with them to spare their lives, and the chieftains of the community gave them their oath. (16) But when three days had passed after they made this pact with them, they learned that they were neighbors, living among them. (17) So the Israelites set out, and on the third day they came to their towns; these towns were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. (18) But the Israelites did not attack them, since the chieftains of the community had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. The whole community muttered against the chieftains, (19) but all the chieftains answered the whole community, “We swore to them by the LORD, the God of Israel; therefore we cannot touch them. (20) This is what we will do to them: We will spare their lives, so that there may be no wrath against us because of the oath that we swore to them.” (21) And the chieftains declared concerning them, “They shall live!” And they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the whole community, as the chieftains had decreed concerning them. (22) Joshua summoned them and spoke to them thus: “Why did you deceive us and tell us you lived very far from us, when in fact you live among us? (23) Therefore, be accursed! Never shall your descendants cease to be slaves, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the House of my God.” (24) But they replied to Joshua, “You see, your servants had heard that the LORD your God had promised His servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all the inhabitants of the country on your account; so we were in great fear for our lives on your account. That is why we did this thing. (25) And now we are at your mercy; do with us what you consider right and proper.” (26) And he did so; he saved them from being killed by the Israelites. (27) That day Joshua made them hewers of wood and drawers of water—as they still are—for the community and for the altar of the LORD, in the place that He would choose.