Intro to Judaism: Passage ID, Main Ideas

Use this set to study the main ideas of each text.

God tells Moses that people will rebel against his commandments, worship idols, and neglect Sabbaths, but eventually they will repent and be restored.

Jubilees

The Angel of Presence recounts creation, stressing that Sabbath is sacred; anyone who violates it must die, while observers are blessed.

Jubilees

This text places a heavy emphasis on death as a punishment. For example, if one violates the rules of the Sabbath, they should be put to death.

Jubilees

God stresses that he knows the stubbornness of the people, emphasizing that he knows they will not obey his commandments unless they acknowledge their sins. 

Jubilees 

“And this testimony will be heard as testimony against the,m, for they will forget all of my commandments, everything which I shall command them, and they will walk after the gentiles and after their defilement and shame. And they will serve their god, and they will become a scandal for them and an affliction and a torment and a snare. And many will be destroyed and seized and will fall into the hand of the enemy because they have forsaken my ordinances and my commandments and the feats of my covenant…”

Jubilees

“But after this they will return to me in all righteousness and with all of their heart and soul. And I shall cut off the foreskin of their heart and the foreskin of the heart of their descendants. And I shall create for them a Holy Spirit, and I shall purify them so that they will not turn away from following me from that day and forever.”

Jubilees

“And the angel of the presence spoke to Moses by the word of the Lord, saying ‘write the whole account of creation, that in six days the Lord God completed all his work and all that he created. And he observed a sabbath the seventh day, and he sanctified it for all ages. And he set it as a sign for all his works.” 

Jubilees 

“And make known that it is not permitted ti do work thereon which is unlawful, unseemly to do their pleasure thereon. And make known that they should not prepare thereon anything which will be eaten or drunk, which they have not prepared for themselves on the sixth day.”

Jubilees

“And let the man who does anything on it die. Every man who will profane this day, who will lie with his wife, and whoever will discuss a matter that he will do on it so that he might make on it a journey for any buying or selling, and whoever draws water on it, which was not prepared for him on the sixth day, and whoever lifts up anything that he will carry to take out of his tent or from his house, let him die.”

Jubilees

Discusses the holiness of the number 7 — six days for creation, the seventh day as completion with no partner.

Special Laws (Philo)

Believes the sabbath balances the body and the soul. The body rests while the soul resumes its work

Special Laws (Philo)

Acknowledges that the Sabbath law applies to all, including slaves and cattle 

Special Laws (Philo)

Discusses that every 7th year cancels debts, frees slaves, and lets the land lie fallow, which protects the poor and humbles the rich

Special Laws (Philo)

This text is very anti-moneylending and believes charging interest on loans is exploitative and deceptive.

Special Laws (Philo)

This text believes that you should treat your slave with dignity as they are human too. In turn, they will give you better work and you will feel like a better person.

Special Laws (Philo)

“On this day we are commanded to abstain from all work, not because the law inculcates slackness, on the contrary it always inures men to endure hardship and incites them to labour, and spurns those who would idle their time away, and accordingly is plain in its directions to work the full six days.”

Special Laws (Philo)

“Thus while the body is working, the soul enjoys a respite, but when the body takes its rest, the soul resumes its work, and thus the best forms of life, the theoretical and the practical, take their turn in replacing each other.” 

Special Laws (Philo)

“While on the other hand the servants are not to refuse to entertain still higher hopes, but should find in the relaxation allowed after six days an ember or spark of freedom, and look forward to their complete liberation if they continue to serve well and loyally.”

Special Laws (Philo)

“Thus he lays down a rule for cancellation of debts in every seventh year, both as a succor to the poor and as challenge to the rich to shew humanity, in order that by going some share of their own to the needy they may expect to receive the same kindness themselves, if any disaster befall them/.”

Special Laws (Philo)

“Now lending money on interest is a blameworthy action, for a person who borrows s not living on a superabundance of means, but is obviously in need, and since he is compelled to pay the interest as well as the capital, he must necessarily be in the utmost straits.”

Special Laws (Philo)

Critics like Agatharcides mocked the Sabbath, calling it foolish that Jews valued their laws over defending their city

Against Apion (Josephus)

Despite loss of wealth, cities, and freedom, Jewish law remains immortal and commands stricter obedience than rulers

Against Apion (Josephus)

Jewish law is the most ancient and excellent; even Greeks and non-Jews have imitated Jewish customs such as fasting, lamp-lighting, and charity 

Against Apion (Josephus)

Describes how Ptolemy was able to enter with his army and kill a lot of Jews because they were observing the sabbath on this day

Against Apion (Josephus)

“But no such thing is permitted amongst us. For though we be deprived of our wealth, of our cities, or of the other advantages we have, our law continues immortal. Nor can any Jew go so far from his own country, not be so affrighted at te severest lord, as not to be more affrighted at the law than at him. if therefore this be the disposition we are under, with regard to the excellency of our laws, let our enemies make us this concession, that our laws are most excellent.”

Against Apion (Josephus)

“In all cases, I would make that a testimonial of the excellency of our laws, and of that belief thereby delivered to us concerning God. For as there hath been a very long time for this comparison, if any on will but compare its duration with the duration of the laws made by other legislators, he will find our legislator to have been the ancientest of them all.” 

Against Apion (Josephus)

“The people known as Jews, who inhabit the most strongly fortified of cities, called by the natives Jerusalem, have a custom of abstaining from work every seventh day; on those occasions they neither bear arms nor take any agricultural operations in hand, nor engage in any other form of public service, but pray with outstretched hands in the temples until the evening.”

Against Apion (Josephus)

“For there is not any city of the Grecians, nor any of the barbarians, nor any nation whatsoever whither our custom of resting on the seventh day hath not come, and by which our fasts, and lighting up lamps, and many of our prohibitions, are not observed.” 

Against Apion (Josephus)

God sanctifies the seventh day as holy, blessing it after completing creation.

Genesis 2

Humanity is created from the dust of the ground, given life by God’s breath. and placed in Eden

Genesis 2

God establishes moral boundaries: Adam may eat from every tree except the tree of knowledge of good and evil 

Genesis 2 

God creates woman from the rib of man

Genesis 2

“And on the seventh day God finished His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it He rested from all His work which God in creating had made.”

Genesis 2

“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the an, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the place with flesh instead thereof. And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from the man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man.” 

Genesis 2 

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”

Genesis 2

God provides manna and quail to feed the Israelites after they complain of hunger in the wilderness

Exodus 16

The people are told to gather only a daily portion of manna, except on the sixth day when they gather double for the Sabbath

Exodus 16

The Sabbath command is reinforced when people disobey by looking for manna on the 7th day, angering God 

Exodus 16 

Those who hoard food on regular days find it rotten and full of worms, those who save it for the Sabbath find it preserved

Exodus 16

“Tomorrow is a solemn rest, a holy sabbath unto the Lord. Bake that which ye will bake, and seethe that which ye will seethe, and all that remained over lay ip for you to be kept until the morning. And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade, and it did not rot, neither was there any worm therein.”

Exodus 16

“How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? See that the Lord hath given you the sabbath; therefore He giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in this place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day.”

Exodus 16

“This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded: Let an omerful of it be kept throughout generations that they may see the bread wherewith I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt. And Moses said unto Aaron: Take a jar, and put an omerful of manna therein, and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept throughout your generations.” 

Exodus 16 

God declares himself as the only God of Israel; idolatry and worship of tangible images are forbidden

Exodus 20

God is a jealous God, showing mercy to those who love Him but punishing those who hate Him

Exodus 20

God tells the people they must not say his name in vain 

Exodus 20 

The sabbath must be remembered and kept holy as part of the Ten Commandments

Exodus 20

This biblical texts lists the 10 commandments

Exodus 20

The people are terrified by God’s presence and ask Moses to act as a mediator between them and God

Exodus 20

“I am the lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness, of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down unto them, nor serve them for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God”

Exodus 20 

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy, Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work but the seventh day is a sabbath unto the Lord thy God, in it thou shalt not do any manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy grates, for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

Exodus 20

“And they said unto Moses: Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with is, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people: ‘Fear not, for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before you, that ye sin not.”

Exodus 20

“Ye shall not make with Me—gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you.” 

Exodus 20 

God says that justice requires truthfulness: no false reports, unrighteous witnesses, or taking bribes that pervert righteousness

Exodus 23

God says that rest extends to everyone: people, servants, strangers, and men animals must rest on the 7th day

Exodus 23

God says that the land itself must rest every seventh year lying fallow so the poor and animals can eat 

Exodus 23 

God says Israel is command to observe three annual festivals: Unleavened Bread, Harvest, and Ingathering 

Exodus 23 

Israel must not adopt pagan practices; they are told instead to overthrow foreign worship as God drives out other nations gradually 

Exodus 23 

God promises an angel to guide Israel to the Promised Land, demanding obedience and punishing rebellion

Exodus 23

“Thou shalt not utter a false report; put not thy hand with the wicked to be an unrighteousness witness. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou bear witness in a cause to turn aside after a multitude to pervert justice; neither shalt thou favor a poor man in his cause.” 

Exodus 23 

“And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and gather in the increase thereof; but the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of thy people may eat; and what they leave the best of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy olive yard.” 

Exodus 23 

“Six days thou shalt do thy work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest; that thine ox and thine ass may have rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed. And in all things that I have said unto you take ye heed; and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.” 

Exodus 23 

“Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee by the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Take heed of him, and hearken unto his voice; be not rebellious against him; for he will not pardon your transgressions for My name is in him.”

Exodus 23

God says that sacrifices in the and must be accompanied by grain and wine offerings in proportion to the animal 

Numbers 15 

The law of offerings and sacrifices applies equally to both Israelites and resident foreigners

Numbers 15

The people must give an offering of the first portion of the ground meal to God

Numbers 15

If the whole community sins unintentionally, they must offer a bull as a burnt offering with a sin offering

Numbers 15

Defiant sin (with a high hand) shows contempt for God and result in being cut off from the community 

Numbers 15

A man gathering sticks on the Sabbath is stoned to death, showing the seriousness of the Sabbath violation 

Numbers 15 

God commands the community to put fringes in the corners of their garments that ar blue 

Numbers 15 

“And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him inward, because it had not been declare what should be done to him. And the lord said unto Moses: the man shall surely be put to death, all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.” 

Numbers 15 

“As for the congregation, there shall be one statute both for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you, a statute for ever throughout your generations; as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord. One law and one ordinance shall be both for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.”

Numbers 15

“And when ye shall err, and not observe all these commandments, which the Lord hath spoken unto Moses, even all that he Lord hath commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the Lord gave commandment, and onward throughout your generations; then it shall be, if it be done in error by the congregation, it being hid from their eyes, that all the cogeneration shall offer one young bullock for a burnt-offering, for a sweet savor unto the Lord, with the mea-offering thereof, and of the drink-offering thereof, according to the ordinance, and one he-goat for a sin-offering.”

Numbers 15

God makes a covenant not just with ancestors but with the living generation of Israel 

Deuteronomy 5 

The people saw God’s glory from the fire but feared his voice, asking Moses to act as a mediator (recantation of this event)

Deuteronomy 5

Moses repeats the 10 commandments as engraved on two stone tablets

Deuteronomy 5

The Sabbath commandment is grounded in Israel’s liberation from Egypt, not creation 

Deuteronomy 5 

God promises blessing to Israel and their descendants if they remain faithful to him

Deuteronomy 5 

“Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath command you; ye shall not turn aside to the right hadn't or to the left. Ye shall walk in all the way which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may life, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.” 

Deuteronomy 5

“Observe the sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord thy God commanded thee. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is a sabbath unto the Lord thy God, in it thou shalt not do any manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, not thy man-servant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest as well as thou. And thou shalt remember that thou was a servant in the land of Egypt and the Lord thy God brought thee out thence by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.” 

Deuteronomy 5 

God rejects the notion of empty fasting because it’s paired with exploitation, conflict, and injustice 

Isaiah 58 

God says that true fasting means loosening oppression, breaking unjust systems, and freeing the unburdened 

Isaiah 58 

It is stated that compassion defines obedience: feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and clothe the naked 

Isaiah 58 

if Israel practices true fasting, God promises light, healing, guidance, and protection 

Isaiah 58 

God says they must stop trampling on the Sabbath. The Sabbath must be honored as a delight and holy day; obedience brings joy in the Lord and covenant blessing 

Isaiah 58 

“If thou turn away thy foot because of the sabbath, from pursuing thy business on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, and the holy of the Lord honorable: and shalt honor it, not doing thy wonted ways, nor pursuing thy business, nor speaking thereof; then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord, and I will make thee to ride upon the high places of the Earth, and I will feed thee why the heritage of Jacob thy father, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”

Isaiah 58

“Wherefore have we fasted, and thou sees not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and Thou takes no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye pursue your business, and exact all your laborers. Behold, ye fast for strife and content, and to smite with the fist of wickedness, ye fast not this day, so as to make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I have chosen? The day for a man to afflict his soul?” 

Isaiah 58 

“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the fetters of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou sees the naked, that you cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” 

Isaiah 58 

Judah’s sin is deeply engraved like with a pen of iron, showing the permanence of idolatry and disobedience

Jeremiah 17

Those who turn from God will inhabit parched places, but those who trust Him will be like a tree planted by waters.

Jeremiah 17

The heart is deceitful above all things, but God alone searches it and judges it fairly

Jeremiah 17

Ill-gotten riches will slip away; in the end, such a person will be revealed as a fool

Jeremiah 17

If the sabbath is kept, then kings and princes will sit on David’s throne and the city of Jerusalem will prosper 

Jeremiah 17

If the sabbath is not kept, then God will light a fire in Jerusalem’s gate that will not be quenched 

Jeremiah 17

'“Hear ye the word of the Lord, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates; thus saith the Lord: Take heed for the sake of your souls, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem, neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, neither do ye any work; but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers; but they hearkened not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, not receive instruction.” 

Jeremiah 17

“And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto Me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but to hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein; then shall there enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall be inhabited forever.”

Jeremiah 17

“But if ye will not hearken unto Me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden and enter in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.” 

Jeremiah 17

“The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond, it is graven upon the tablet of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars.”

Jeremiah 17

The elders come to (the name of this prophet) to inquire of the Lord, but God refuses to be inquired of.

Ezekiel 20

God recounts Israel’s history of rebellion, beginning in Egypt where they clung and worshipped to idols.

Ezekiel 20

God spared Israel for the sake of His name, not because of the peoples’ righteousness

Ezekiel 20