• Ex 18:1-20:26
• Is 6:1-7:6; 9:5-6
• Mat 5:8-20

Yitro means “his excellence.”

Shemoth (Exodus) 18:1-20:26

Shemoth (Exodus) Chapter 18

The Visit of Yithro

¹Now Moshe’s father-in-law Yithro, the priest of Miḏyan, heard about all that Alahym had done for Moshe and His people Yasharal, and how 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 had brought Yasharal out of Mitsrayim. 

² After Moshe had sent back his wife Tsipporah, his father-in-law Yithro had received her, ³ along with her two sons. One son was named Gěreshom, for Moshe had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.” ⁴ The other son was named Eli‛ezer, for Moshe had said, “The Alahym of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.” 

⁵Moshe’s father-in-law Yithro, along with Moshe’s wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of Alahym. ⁶ He sent word to Moshe, “I, your father-in-law Yithro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”

⁷ So Moshe went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent. ⁸Then Moshe recounted to his father-in-law all that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 had done to Pharaoh and the Mitsrites for Yasharal’s sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 had delivered them.

⁹ And Yithro rejoiced over all the good things 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 had done for Yasharal, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Mitsrites. ¹⁰ Yithro declared, “Blessed be 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, who has delivered you from the hand of the Mitrsites and of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Mitsrites. ¹¹ Now I know that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 is greater than all other mighty ones, for He did this when they treated Yasharal with arrogance.” 

¹² Then Moshe’s father-in-law Yithro brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to Alahym, and 

Aharon came with all the elders of Yasharal to eat bread with Moshe’s father-in-law in the presence of Alahym. 

Yithro Advises Moshe  (Deuteronomy 1:9–18)

¹³ The next day Moshe took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening. ¹⁴ When his father-in-law saw all that Moshe was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?”

¹⁵“Because the people come to me to inquire of Alahym,” Moshe replied. ¹⁶ “Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of Alahym.”

¹⁷ But Moshe’s father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. ¹⁸ Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone. 

¹⁹ Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may Alahym be with you. You must be the people’s representative before Alahym and bring their causes to Him. ²⁰ Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.

²¹ Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—Alahym-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

²²Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.

²³ If you follow this advice and Alahym so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.”

²⁴ Moshe listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. ²⁵ So Moshe chose capable men from all Yasharal and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. ²⁶ And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moshe, but any minor issue they would judge themselves.

²⁷ Then Moshe sent his father-in-law on his way, and Yithro returned to his own land.

Shemoth (Exodus) Chapter 19

¹In the third month, on the same day of the month that the Yasharalites had left the land of Mitsrayim, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. ² After they had set out from Rephiḏim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai, and Yasharal camped there in front of the mountain. 

³ Then Moshe went up to Alahym, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 called to him from the mountain, “This is what you are to tell the house of Ya‛aqoḇ and explain to the children of Yasharal: ⁴ ‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Mitsrayim, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. ⁵ Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. ⁶And unto Me you shall be a reign of priests and a set-apart nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Yasharalites.”

⁷ So Moshe went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 had commanded him. ⁸ And all the people answered together, “We will do everything that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 has spoken.”

So Moshe brought their words back to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.

⁹ 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 said to Moshe, “Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and they will always put their trust in you.”

And Moshe relayed to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 what the people had said.

¹⁰ Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 said to Moshe, “Go to the people and set them apart today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes ¹¹ and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 

¹² And you are to set up a boundary for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. ¹³ No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows—whether man or beast, he must not live.’

Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”

¹⁴ When Moshe came down from the mountain to the people, he set them apart, and they washed their clothes. ¹⁵“Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.”

𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 Visits Sinai

¹⁶ On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled. ¹⁷Then Moshe brought the people out of the camp to meet with Alahym, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

¹⁸ Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. ¹⁹ And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moshe spoke and Alahym answered him in the thunder. 

²⁰ 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moshe to the summit. So Moshe went up, ²¹ and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, lest many of them perish. ²²Even the priests who approach 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 must set themselves apart, or 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 will break out against them.”

²³But Moshe said to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as set-apart.’ ”

²⁴ And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 replied, “Go down and bring Aharon with you. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, or He will break out against them.”

²⁵ So Moshe went down to the people and spoke to them.

Shemoth (Exodus) Chapter 20

The Ten Commandments  (Deuteronomy 5:6–21)

¹And Alahym spoke all these words: 

² “I am 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 your Alahym, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of slavery. 

³ You shall have no other mighty ones before Me.

⁴ You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. ⁵You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 your Alahym, am a jealous Alahym, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, ⁶ but showing loving commitment to thousands of those who love Me and keep My commandments. 

⁷ You shall not bring the name of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 your Alahym to naught, for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 will not leave anyone unpunished who brings His name to naught.

⁸ Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it set-apart. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 your Alahym, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. ¹¹ For in six days 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart. 

¹² Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 your Alahym is giving you.

¹³ You shall not murder.

¹⁴You shall not commit adultery.

¹⁵ You shall not steal.

¹⁶ You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

¹⁷You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” 

Moshe Comforts the People  (Deuteronomy 5:22–33 ;  Hebrews 12:18–29)

¹⁸ When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sounding of the ram’s horn, and the mountain enveloped in smoke, they trembled and stood at a distance. ¹⁹ “Speak to us yourself and we will listen,” they said to Moshe. “But do not let Alahym speak to us, or we will die.” 

²⁰ “Do not be afraid,” Moshe replied. “For Alahym has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you, to keep you from sinning.” ²¹ And the people stood at a distance as Moshe approached the thick darkness where Alahym was.

Idolatry Forbidden  (1 Corinthians 10:14–22)

²² Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 said to Moshe, “This is what you are to tell the Yasharalites: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven. ²³ You are not to make any mighty ones alongside Me; you are not to make for yourselves idols of silver or gold. 

²⁴ You are to make for Me an altar of earth, and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats and cattle. In every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.

²⁵ Now if you make an altar of stones for Me, you must not build it with stones shaped by tools; for if you use a chisel on it, you will defile it. ²⁶ And you must not go up to My altar on steps, lest your nakedness be exposed on it.’

YashaYahu (Isaiah)  6:1-7:6; 9:5-6

YashaYahu (Isaiah) Chapter 6

¹In the year that Sovereign Uzziyahu died, I saw 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the Hěḵal. ²Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. ³ And they were calling out to one another:

“Set-apart, set-apart, set-apart is 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 of Hosts; 

all the earth is full of His esteem.” 

⁴ At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the house was filled with smoke. 

⁵ Then I said: 

“Woe is me, 

for I am ruined, 

because I am a man of unclean lips 

dwelling among a people of unclean lips; 

for my eyes have seen the Sovereign, 

𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 of Hosts.” 

⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a live coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. ⁷ And with it he touched my mouth and said: 

“Now that this has touched your lips, 

your iniquity is removed 

and your sin is atoned for.”

8 Then I heard the voice of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 saying: 

“Whom shall I send? 

Who will go for Us?” 

And I said: 

“Here am I. Send me!” 

9 And He replied: 

“Go and tell this people, 

‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; 

be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’

¹⁰ Make the hearts of this people calloused;

deafen their ears and close their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes, 

hear with their ears, 

understand with their hearts, 

  and turn and be healed.” 

¹¹Then I asked: 

 “How long, O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄?” 

And He replied: 

 “Until the cities lie ruined 

 and without inhabitant, 

 until the houses are left unoccupied 

and the land is desolate and ravaged, 

¹² until 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 has driven men far away 

and the land is utterly forsaken. 

¹³ And though a tenth remains in the land, 

it will be burned again. 

  As the terebinth and oak leave stumps when felled, 

so the set-apart seed will be a stump in the land.”  

YashaYahu (Isaiah) Chapter 7

¹Now in the days that Aḥaz son of Yotham, son of Uzziyahu, sovereign of Yehuḏah, Retsin sovereign of Aram marched up to wage war against Yarushalayim. He was accompanied by Peqaḥ son of Remalyahu the sovereign of Yasharal, but he could not overpower the city.

²When it was reported to the house of Daud that Aram was in league with Ephrayim, the hearts of Ahaz and his people trembled like trees in the forest shaken by the wind.

³ Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 said to YashaYahu, “Go out with your son She’ar-Yashuḇ to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct that feeds the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field, ⁴ and say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Do not be afraid or disheartened over these two smoldering stubs of firewood—over the fierce anger of Retsin and Aram and of the son of Remalyahu. ⁵ For Aram, along with Ephrayim and the son of Remalyahu, has plotted your ruin, saying: ⁶ ‘Let us invade Yahudah, terrorize it, and divide it among ourselves. Then we can install the son of Taḇe’ěl over it as king.’

YashaYahu (Isaiah) Chapter 9

⁵For every trampling boot of battle and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 
⁶For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty Alahym, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Mattithyahu (Matthew) 5:8-20

The Beatitudes  (Psalm 1:1–6 ;  Luke 6:20–23)

Mattithyahu (Matthew) Chapter 5

⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, 

for they will see Alahym. 

⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, 

for they will be called sons of Alahym. 

¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, 

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

¹¹Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you. 

Salt and Light  (Mark 9:49–50 ;  Luke 14:34–35 ;  Philippians 2:12–18)

¹³ You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 

¹⁴You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and esteem your Father in heaven. 

The Fulfillment of the Law

¹⁷ Do not think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 

¹⁹ So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.