T’TSAVEH (YOU SHALL COMMAND)

Parashat Tetzaveh

²⁰ “Also you are to command Bnei-Yisrael, that they are to bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually. ²¹ In the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain which is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons will set it in order, to burn from evening to morning before Adonai. It will be a statute forever throughout their generations, on behalf of Bnei-Yisrael.

Kohen’s Garments

28 “Bring your brother Aaron near with his sons from among Bnei-Yisrael, so that they may minister to Me as kohanim—Aaron and his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. ² You are to make holy garments for your brother Aaron, for splendor and for beauty. ³ You are to speak to all who are skilled, whom I have filled with a spirit of artistry, to make Aaron’s garments for consecrating him, so that he may minister to Me as a kohen. ⁴ These are the garments that they are to make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a tunic of checkered work, a turban and a sash. They are to make holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so that he may minister to Me as a kohen. ⁵ They are to use the gold, blue, purple, scarlet and fine linen.

⁶ “They are to make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet and finely twisted linen, the work of the skillful craftsman. ⁷ It is to have two shoulder pieces stitched to the two ends, so that it may be joined together. ⁸ The skillfully woven band which is upon it, with which it is to be bound, is to be made like the design, and from the same piece of gold, blue, purple, scarlet and finely twisted linen.

⁹ “You are to take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of Bnei-Yisrael: ¹⁰ six of their names on one stone and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, in the order of their birth. ¹¹ With the work of a gem cutter engraving a seal, etch the two stones, in the order of the names of Bnei-Yisrael. Make them enclosed in settings of gold. ¹² Fasten the two stones upon the shoulder pieces of the ephod, to be memorial stones for Bnei-Yisrael. So Aaron is to bear their names before Adonai on his two shoulders as a reminder. ¹³ Fashion filigree settings of gold, ¹⁴ along with two chains of pure gold, of braided work, and you will attach the chains to the filigree settings.

¹⁵ “Make a breastplate of judgment, the work of a skillful craftsman. You are to make it like the design of the ephod—of gold, blue, purple, scarlet and finely twisted linen. ¹⁶ It is to be square and doubled over, a span in length and a span in width. ¹⁷ Set within it four rows of jewels: a row of ruby, topaz and emerald for the first row; ¹⁸ a turquoise, a sapphire and a diamond for the second row; ¹⁹ a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst for the third; ²⁰ and a beryl, an onyx and a jasper for the fourth row. They are to be enclosed in gold filigree settings. ²¹ The stones are to be engraved in the order of the names of Bnei-Yisrael, twelve according to their names, like the etchings of a signet seal, one corresponding to each name of the twelve tribes.^[a]

²² “Also you are to make, upon the breastplate, braided chains of wreathed work from pure gold. ²³ Forge on the breastplate two rings of gold and fasten the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. ²⁴ Then attach the two wreathed chains of gold on the two rings at the ends of the breastplate. ²⁵ The other two ends of the chains you are to place on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod in front. ²⁶ So you are to make two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on the edge of it that is toward the inner side of the ephod. ²⁷ Also make two gold rings and place them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod underneath, in the front, close to where it is joined, above the artfully woven band of the ephod. ²⁸ Then they will bind the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue thread, so that it may be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and so that the breastplate will not come loose from it.

²⁹ “Aaron will bear the names of Bnei-Yisrael in the breastplate of judgment on his heart, whenever he enters the holy place, as a continual memorial before Adonai. ³⁰ Also put the Urim and the Thummim within the breastplate of judgment, so they will be on Aaron’s heart when he goes in before Adonai. Aaron will bear the judgment of Bnei-Yisrael on his heart before Adonai continually.

³¹ “You are to make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue. ³² It is to have a hole for the head in the center, and a binding of woven work around the hole, as a collar, so that it may not be torn. ³³ On the hem of it you are to make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet, all around the hem, with golden bells between them: ³⁴ one golden bell and a pomegranate, then another golden bell and a pomegranate, on the hem of the robe all around. ³⁵ It must be worn by Aaron whenever he ministers. The sound will be heard when he goes into the holy place before Adonai and when he comes out, so that he does not die.

³⁶ “Also you are to make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engravings of a seal, ‘HOLY TO Adonai.’ ³⁷ Attach it with a violet cord onto the turban, on the front of the turban. ³⁸ So it will rest on Aaron’s forehead, so that Aaron will bear away the iniquity committed regarding the holy things, which Bnei-Yisrael set apart as all their holy gifts. It is to be always on his forehead, so that they may have favor before Adonai.

³⁹ “You are to weave the tunic in checkered work of fine linen, make a turban of fine linen, and make a sash, the work of a color weaver. ⁴⁰ For Aaron’s sons you are to make tunics, sashes and headwear for them—for splendor and for beauty. ⁴¹ Put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him, and anoint them, consecrate them, and sanctify them, so that they may minister to Me as kohanim.

⁴² “You are to make linen undergarments for them, to cover the skin of their nakedness, from the hips to the thighs. ⁴³ They are to be worn by Aaron and his sons when they go into the Tent of Meeting or when they approach the altar to minister in the holy place, so that they do not become subject to guilt and die. It is to be a statute forever, to him and to his offspring after him.

How to Consecrate Kohanim

29 “Now this is what you are to do to consecrate them, so that they may minister as kohanim. Take one young bull and two rams without blemish, ² along with matzot, cakes of matzot mixed with oil, and matzot wafers spread with oil. Make them from fine wheat flour. ³ You are to put them into one basket and present them, along with the bull and the two rams. ⁴ You are to bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and wash them with water. ⁵ Then take the garments, and put the tunic on Aaron, along with the robe, the ephod and the breastplate. Gird him with the artfully woven band of the ephod, ⁶ set the turban on his head, and put the holy coronet on the turban. ⁷ Then you are to take the anointing oil, pour it upon his head and anoint him. ⁸ Also you are to bring his sons and put tunics on them. ⁹ You are to gird Aaron and his sons with sashes, tie headwear on them, and they shall hold the priesthood by a perpetual statute. In this way you are to consecrate Aaron and his sons.

¹⁰ “You are to bring the bull before the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head. ¹¹ You are to slaughter the bull before Adonai at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. ¹² Then take the blood of the bull, put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour out all the remaining blood at the base of the altar. ¹³ Also take all the fat that covers the innards, the lobe above the liver, the two kidneys, along with the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar. ¹⁴ But the meat of the bull, along with its skin and its dung, you are to burn with fire outside the camp. It is a sin offering.

¹⁵ “Then take one ram, have Aaron and his sons lay their hands upon the head of the ram, ¹⁶ then slaughter the ram, take its blood, and sprinkle it around the altar. ¹⁷ You are to cut the ram into pieces, wash its innards and its legs, and place them with its head and other pieces. ¹⁸ Then you are to offer the whole ram up in smoke on the altar. It is a burnt offering to Adonai, a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to Adonai.

¹⁹ “Then take the other ram, and have Aaron and his sons lay their hands upon the head of that ram. ²⁰ Slaughter the ram, take its blood, and dab it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, on the tip of the right ears of his sons, on the thumb of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet, then pour the blood on the altar all around. ²¹ Also you are to take some of the blood that is on the altar, along with the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and their garments. In this way he and his garments are to be consecrated, along with his sons and their garments.

²² “Moreover, take some of the fat from the ram, along with the fat tail, the fat that covers the innards, the covering over the liver, the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, along with the right thigh, because it is a ram of consecration. ²³ Also take one loaf of bread, one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer out of the basket of matzot that is before Adonai. ²⁴ You are to put the entirety into Aaron’s hands and the hands of his sons, and present them as a wave offering before Adonai. ²⁵ Then you are to take them out of their hands and offer them up in smoke on the altar on top of the burnt offering, as a sweet aroma before Adonai, an offering made by fire to Adonai. ²⁶ Also take the breast of Aaron’s ram of consecration and wave it as a wave offering before Adonai—so it will be your portion.

²⁷ “Set apart the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution, which is waved and offered up, from the ram of consecration, including what belongs to Aaron and his sons. ²⁸ It is to belong to Aaron and his sons as their due share forever from Bnei-Yisrael, because it is a contribution. It is to be a contribution from Bnei-Yisrael from their sacrifices of fellowship offerings, their contribution to Adonai.

²⁹ “The holy garments of Aaron are to pass to his sons after him, to be anointed in them and to be consecrated in them. ³⁰ The son that succeeds him as kohen, who comes into the Tent of Meeting to minister in the holy place, is to put them on for seven days.

³¹ “You are to take the ram of consecration and boil its meat in a holy place. ³² Aaron and his sons are to eat the meat of the ram and the bread that is in the basket at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. ³³ They are to eat those things with which atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them, but a layman is not to eat them, because they are holy. ³⁴ If some of the meat of the consecration or the bread remains until the morning, you are to burn the remainder with fire. It shall not be eaten, because it is holy.

³⁵ “Do for Aaron and his sons everything according to what I have commanded you. Consecrate them for seven days. ³⁶ Each day you are to offer a bull as a sin offering,^[b] apart from the other offerings of atonement. Also purify the altar when you make atonement for it, and anoint it in order to sanctify it. ³⁷ You are to make atonement for the altar for seven days, and so sanctify it. The altar will be most holy, and whatever touches it will become holy.

³⁸ “Now this is what you are to offer upon the altar: two one-year-old lambs, each day, continually. ³⁹ You are to offer one lamb in the morning and the other lamb at dusk. ⁴⁰ Offer along with the first lamb a tenth of an ephah of fine flour, mixed with a fourth of a hin of beaten oil, and a fourth of a hin of wine as a drink offering. ⁴¹ The other lamb you are to offer at dusk, like the grain offering and drink offering of the morning, as a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to Adonai. ⁴² It is to be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting before Adonai. There I will meet with you, to speak with you there. ⁴³ I will meet with Bnei-Yisrael there. So it will be sanctified by My glory.

⁴⁴ “So I will sanctify the Tent of Meeting and the altar. I will also sanctify Aaron and his sons to minister to Me as kohanim. ⁴⁵ So I will dwell among Bnei-Yisrael and be their God. ⁴⁶ Then they will know that I am Adonai their God, who brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, so that I may live among them. I am Adonai their God.

Incense Altar

30 “You are to make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. ² It is to be square—one cubit in length, one cubit wide, and two cubits high. The horns must be of one piece with it. ³ You are to overlay it with pure gold on top, all around the sides and over the horns. Also you are to make a crown of gold for it all around. ⁴ Make two golden rings for it under the crown on the two sides, and they will be holders for poles to carry it. ⁵ Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. ⁶ You are to set it in front of the curtain that is in front of the Ark of the Testimony, in front of the atonement cover that is over the Testimony, where I will meet with you.

⁷ “Aaron must burn sweet spices of incense there every morning. When he attends to the lamps, he is to burn it. ⁸ Also when Aaron keeps the lamps lit at dusk he must burn it. There must be incense continually before Adonai, throughout your generations. ⁹ You must not offer up unauthorized incense on it. Nor should any burnt offering or grain offering be there, nor should you pour any drink offering there. ¹⁰ Aaron is to make atonement upon the horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering throughout your generations. It is most holy to Adonai.”

² Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot: ‘I remember what Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt. ³ Now go and strike down Amalek and put all he has under the ban of destruction—so have no pity on him; but kill both men and women, children and nursing infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

⁴ So Saul summoned the troops and numbered them in Telaim: 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah. ⁵ Saul advanced to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. ⁶ Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart, get down from among the Amalekites, or else I may destroy you with them—for you showed kindness to all Bnei-Yisrael when they came up from Egypt.” So the Kenites withdrew from among the Amalekites.

⁷ Then Saul struck down the Amalekites from Havilah until you come to Shur, which is close to Egypt. ⁸ He captured King Agag of Amalek alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. ⁹ But Saul and the people spared Agag as well as the best of the sheep, the cattle, even the fatlings and the lambs, and all that was good, since they were not willing to utterly destroy them; everything that was worthless and feeble, they destroyed completely.

¹⁰ Then the word of Adonai came to Samuel saying: ¹¹ “I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands.” So Samuel was troubled and cried out to Adonai all night long. ¹² Then Samuel rose early in the morning to confront Saul. But it was reported to Samuel saying, “Saul went to Carmel—for some reason, he erected a monument for himself. Then he turned and went down to Gilgal.”

¹³ Now when Samuel reached Saul, Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of Adonai! I have carried out Adonai’s command.”

¹⁴ But Samuel said, “Then what is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?”

¹⁵ “They brought them from the Amalekites,” Saul replied, “for the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice to Adonai your God—but the rest we have utterly destroyed.”

¹⁶ “Stop!” Samuel said to Saul. “Let me tell you what Adonai said to me last night.”

“Say on,” he said.

¹⁷ Then Samuel said, “Isn’t it true, though you were insignificant in your own eyes, that you were made head of the tribes of Israel? Adonai anointed you king over Israel! ¹⁸ Then Adonai sent you on a mission and said: ‘Go and utterly destroy the Amalekites, the sinners, and wage war against them until you annihilate them.’ ¹⁹ Why then did you not obey the voice of Adonai, but rushed greedily onto the spoil—doing what was evil in Adonai’s eyes?”

²⁰ “But I did obey the voice of Adonai,” Saul said to Samuel. “I went on the mission on which Adonai sent me, and brought back Agag the king of Amalek—and utterly destroyed the Amalekites. ²¹ But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen—the best of what was under the ban of destruction—to sacrifice to Adonai your God in Gilgal.”

²² Samuel said:

²³ For rebellion is like the sin of divination

and stubbornness is like iniquity

²⁴ Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned! For I have transgressed against the word of Adonai and your words—because I feared the people and listened to their voice. ^{[b] 25} So now, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship Adonai.”

²⁶ But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of Adonai, and Adonai has rejected you as king over Israel.”

²⁷ As Samuel turned about to go, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. ²⁸ Then Samuel said to him, “Adonai has torn the kingship over Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you. ²⁹ Moreover, the Eternal Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind.^[c] For He is not human that He should change His mind.”

³⁰ Then Saul said, “I have sinned! But please, honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me until I bow in worship to Adonai your God.” ³¹ So Samuel returned after Saul, and Saul bowed in worship to Adonai.

³² Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag the king of Amalek.” Agag approached him in chains, thinking, “Surely bitter death has turned back.” ³³ Then Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so will your mother be childless among women.” Then Samuel cut Agag into pieces before Adonai in Gilgal.

³⁴ Samuel then went to Ramah, while Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul.

Read full chapter

¹⁰ We have an altar from which those serving in the tabernacle have no right to eat. ¹¹ For the bodies of those animals—whose blood is brought into the Holies by the kohen gadol as an offering for sin—are burned outside the camp. ^{[a] 12} Therefore, to make the people holy through His own blood, Yeshua also suffered outside the gate. ¹³ So let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing His disgrace. ¹⁴ For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the one that is to come. ¹⁵ Through Yeshua then, let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips giving thanks to His name. ¹⁶ Do not neglect doing good and sharing,^[b] for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Read full chapter

Signs of the End

13 As Yeshua was going out of the Temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look! What stones and what buildings!”

² Yeshua said to him, “You see these great buildings? Not one stone here will be left upon another. Every one will be torn down!”

³ As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the Temple, Peter, Jacob, John, and Andrew were questioning Him privately, ⁴ “Tell us, when will these things happen? What will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?”

⁵ Yeshua began to tell them, “Watch out that no one leads you astray! ⁶ Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and they will lead many astray. ⁷ When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed, for this must happen but it is not yet the end. ⁸ For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These things are only the beginning of birth pains.

⁹ “Watch out for yourselves! They will hand you over to the courts, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of Me, as a witness to them. ¹⁰ The Good News must first be proclaimed to all the nations. ¹¹ When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Say whatever is given to you in that hour, for it is not you who speaks but the Ruach ha-Kodesh. ¹² Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. And children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. ¹³ And you will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

Birth Pangs Before Deliverance

¹⁴ “But when you see ‘the abomination of desolation’^[a] standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. ¹⁵ The one on the roof must not go down, nor enter to take anything out of his house. ¹⁶ And the one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. ¹⁷ Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! ¹⁸ Pray that it will not happen in winter.

¹⁹ “For in those days there will be trouble such as has never happened,^[b] not since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will. ²⁰ And unless Adonai had cut short those days, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He cut short the days.

²¹ “And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here’s the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there He is!’ do not believe it. ²² For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up^[c] and show signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the chosen. ²³ So be careful! See, I have told you everything beforehand.”

Messianic Victory

²⁴ “But in those days, after that trouble,

and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.’^[d]

²⁶ And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’^[e] with great power and glory. ²⁷ Then He will send out the angels and will gather together His chosen from the four winds, from the end of the earth, to the end of heaven.”

Keep Watch

²⁸ “Now learn the parable from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹ So also, when you see all these things happening, know that it is near, at the door. ³⁰ Amen, I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen. ³¹ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. ³² But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, except the Father.

³³ “Keep on the lookout! Stay alert! For you do not know when the time is. ³⁴ It is like a man away on a journey. After leaving his house and putting his servants in charge and giving each his task, he also commanded the doorkeeper to watch. ³⁵ Therefore stay alert, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the early morning. ³⁶ So watch in case, coming suddenly, he finds you asleep. ³⁷ What I say to you I say to all: ‘Stay alert!’”

Anointed for Burial

14 Now it was two days before Passover and the Feast of Matzah. The ruling kohanim and Torah scholars were searching for a way to grab Yeshua by stealth and kill Him. ² “But not during the festival,” they were saying, “so there won’t be a riot among the people.”

³ And while Yeshua was in Bethany at the house of Simon ha-Metzora, reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive oil of pure nard. Breaking open the jar, she poured it over His head. ⁴ But some got angry and said among themselves, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? ⁵ It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor!” And they kept scolding her.

⁶ But Yeshua said, “Leave her alone. Why do you cause trouble for her? She’s done Me a mitzvah. ⁷ For you always have the poor with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want; but you won’t always have Me. ⁸ She did what she could—she came beforehand to anoint My body for burial. ⁹ Amen, I tell you, wherever the Good News is proclaimed in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

¹⁰ Then Judah from Kriot, one of the Twelve, went out to the ruling kohanim to betray Yeshua to them. ¹¹ They were delighted when they heard this and promised to give him money. And Judah began looking for a chance to hand Him over.

New Covenant at the Last Seder

¹² Now on the first day of matzah, when they were slaughtering the Passover lamb, Yeshua’s disciples say to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

¹³ He sends two of His disciples and tells them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, ¹⁴ and wherever he enters, tell the homeowner, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is My guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ ¹⁵ He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

¹⁶ The disciples went out, came to the city, and found just what Yeshua had told them. And they prepared the Passover. ¹⁷ When it was evening, He came with the Twelve. ¹⁸ As they were reclining and eating, Yeshua said, “Amen, I tell you, one of you who is eating with Me will betray Me.”

¹⁹ They began to be sorrowful and to say to Him one by one, “I’m not the one, am I?”

²⁰ He said to them, “It’s one of the Twelve, one who dips with Me in the bowl. ^{[f] 21} For the Son of Man indeed goes, just as it is written about Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born!”

²² And while they were eating, He took matzah;^[g] and after He offered the bracha, He broke it and gave it to them and said, “Take; this is My body.” ²³ And He took a cup; and after giving thanks, He gave to them and they all drank from it. ²⁴ And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. ^{[h] 25} Amen, I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”

Denial Predicted

²⁶ After singing the Hallel,^[i] they went out to the Mount of Olives. ²⁷ And Yeshua said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written,

²⁸ But after I’m raised up, I will go before you to the Galilee.”

²⁹ Peter said to Him, “Even though all fall away, I won’t!”

³⁰ And Yeshua said to him, “Amen, I tell you, today—this very night—before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”

³¹ But Peter kept insisting exceedingly, “Even if I must die with You, I’ll never deny You!” And they all were saying the same.

A Night of Painful Prayer

³² Then they come to a place whose name is Gethsemane; and Yeshua says to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ He takes with Him Peter, Jacob, and John; and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ³⁴ And He tells them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”

³⁵ Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and began praying that if possible this hour might pass Him by. ³⁶ And He was saying, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You! Take this cup from Me! Yet not what I will, but what You will.”

³⁷ Then He comes and finds them sleeping; and He tells Peter, “Simon, you’re asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? ³⁸ Keep watching and praying, so that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ³⁹ Again He went away and prayed, saying the same words. ⁴⁰ And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy. They didn’t know what to answer Him. ⁴¹ And He comes the third time and says to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is being delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Get up, let’s go! Look, My betrayer is near.”

Betrayed and Abandoned

⁴³ Right away, while Yeshua was still speaking, Judah comes up, one of the Twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the ruling kohanim, Torah scholars, and elders. ⁴⁴ Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “The One I kiss, He’s the One! Seize Him and lead Him away under guard.”

⁴⁵ As soon as Judah came, he drew near^[k] to Yeshua and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him. ⁴⁶ Then they threw their hands on Yeshua and seized Him. ⁴⁷ But one of the bystanders, drawing his sword, struck the servant of the kohen gadol and cut off his ear.

⁴⁸ Yeshua said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, to capture Me as you would against a revolutionary? ⁴⁹ Every day I was with you in the Temple teaching, and you didn’t seize Me. But this is so that the Scriptures^[l] would be fulfilled.” ⁵⁰ And all fled, abandoning Him. ^{[m] 51} A certain young man was following Him, with nothing but a linen cloth around his body, and they grabbed him. ⁵² But he ran away naked, leaving behind the linen cloth.

Falsely Charged

⁵³ Then they led Yeshua away to the kohen gadol. And all the ruling kohanim, elders, and Torah scholars gathered. ⁵⁴ Peter had followed Him from a distance, right into the courtyard of the kohen gadol. He was sitting with the guards, warming himself by the fire.

⁵⁵ Now the ruling kohanim and all the Sanhedrin kept trying to get evidence against Yeshua so they could put Him to death, but they weren’t finding any. ⁵⁶ Many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony wasn’t consistent. ⁵⁷ Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, ⁵⁸ “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this Temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” ⁵⁹ Yet even then, their testimony didn’t agree.

⁶⁰ The kohen gadol stood up in the middle and questioned Yeshua, saying, “Do You have no answer? What is this they’re testifying against You?”

⁶¹ But keeping silent, Yeshua did not answer. Again the kohen gadol questioned Him, “Are you Mashiach, Son of the Blessed One?”^[n]

⁶² “I am,” said Yeshua, “and you shall see ‘the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Powerful One,’ and ‘coming with the clouds of heaven’!”^[o]

⁶³ Tearing his clothes, the kohen gadol says, “Why do we still need witnesses? ⁶⁴ You’ve heard the blasphemy. What seems right to you?”

Then all condemned Him as deserving death. ⁶⁵ Some began to spit on Him, to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, saying, “Prophesy!” Also the guards slapped Him around.

The Rooster Crows

⁶⁶ As Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the kohen gadol comes by. ⁶⁷ Seeing Peter warming himself, she looked straight at him. “You also were with Yeshua of Natzeret,” she says.

⁶⁸ But he denied it, saying, “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about!” Then he went outside to the gateway, and a rooster crowed.

⁶⁹ Seeing him, the servant girl began again to tell the bystanders, “This is one of them.”

⁷⁰ But again he denied it. And a little while later, the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “Surely you’re one of them, for you’re also a Galilean.”

⁷¹ But he began to curse himself and to swear an oath: “I do not know this Man you’re talking about!” ⁷² Right then, a rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter called to mind the word Yeshua had said to him: “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he broke down and began to weep.