Parashah - Shavuot I (Pentecost)

Weekly Parashah

שָׁבוּעוֹת

Scripture: 

 Exodus 19–20:23

Torah

Theophany at Sinai

19 In the third month after Bnei-Yisrael had gone out of the land of Egypt, that same day they arrived at the wilderness of Sinai. ² They travelled from Rephidim, came into to the wilderness of Sinai, and set up camp in the wilderness. Israel camped there, right in front of the mountain.

³ Moses went up to God, and Adonai called to him from the mountain saying, “Say this to the house of Jacob, and tell Bnei-Yisrael, ⁴ ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagle’s wings and brought you to Myself. ⁵ Now then, if you listen closely to My voice, and keep My covenant, then you will be My own treasure from among all people, for all the earth is Mine. ⁶ So as for you, you will be to Me a kingdom of kohanim and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you are to speak to Bnei-Yisrael.”

⁷ So Moses went, called for the elders of the people, and put before them all these words that Adonai had commanded him. ⁸ All the people answered together and said, “Everything that Adonai has spoken, we will do.” Then Moses reported the words of the people to Adonai.

⁹ Adonai said to Moses, “I am about to come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to Adonai.

¹⁰ Adonai said to Moses, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow. Let them wash their clothing. ¹¹ Be ready for the third day. For on the third day Adonai will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. ¹² You are to set boundaries for the people all around, saying, ‘Be very careful not to go up onto the mountain, or touch the border of it. Whoever touches the mountain will surely be put to death. ¹³ Not a hand is to touch it, but he will surely be stoned or shot through. Whether it is an animal or a man, it will not live.’ When the shofar sounds, they may come up to the mountain.”

 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2019%E2%80%9320%3A23&version=TLV

Scripture: 

 Ezekiel 1:1-28, 3:12

Haftarah

1 In the thirtieth year on the fifth day of the fourth month, as I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens opened, and I saw visions of God. ² In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, ³ the word of Adonai came to Ezekiel the kohen, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar. (The hand of Adonai was upon him there.)

Vision of Supernatural Beings

⁴ I looked, and behold, a storm wind came from the north, a great cloud with flashing fire and brightness all around it, and something like a glowing alloy^[a] out of the fire. ⁵ From within it came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: they had a likeness of a human, ⁶ but each one had four faces and each one of them had four wings. ⁷ Their legs were straight and the soles of their feet were like the hoof of a calf. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze. ⁸ They had human hands under their wings on their four sides. The four of them had faces and wings: ⁹ their wings touched one another; they did not turn when they moved; each could move in the direction of any of its faces. ¹⁰ As for the form of their faces, each had a human face, the four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side and the four had the face of an eagle. ¹¹ Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings touching the wing of another, while another two were covering their bodies. ¹² Now each being could move in the direction of any of its faces; wherever the Ruach would go, they went, without turning as they went.

¹³ As for the form of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, resembling torches moving between the living creatures. There was brightness to the fire, and lightning went forth from the fire. ¹⁴ The living creatures were running back and forth like flashes of lightning. ¹⁵ As I looked at the living creatures, behold, one wheel was on the ground next to each of the four-faced creatures. ¹⁶ The appearance and structure of the wheels was like the gleaming of beryl. The four had the same likeness, their appearance and their structure seemed to be a wheel within a wheel.

¹⁷ When they went, they went in any of their four directions without pivoting as they went. ¹⁸ Their rims were high and awesome—all four rims were full of eyes all around. ¹⁹ When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them. When the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. ²⁰ Wherever the Ruach wanted to go, they went, in the direction the Ruach wanted to go. The wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. ²¹ Whenever the creatures went, the wheels went. When the creatures stood still, these wheels stood still. When the creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

Ezekiel 3:12

¹² Then the Ruach lifted me up. I heard behind me the sound of a great earthquake—“Blessed is the glory of Adonai from His place!”—

 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%201%3A1-28%2C%203%3A12&version=TLV

Scripture: 

 Acts 2:1–21

Brit Chadashah

The Ruach Fills the Disciples

2 When the day of Shavuot^[a] had come, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ And tongues like fire spreading out appeared to them and settled on each one of them. ⁴ They were all filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh and began to speak in other tongues as the Ruach enabled them to speak out.

⁵ Now Jewish people were staying in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And when this sound came, the crowd gathered. They were bewildered, because each was hearing them speaking in his own language. ⁷ And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “All these who are speaking—aren’t they Galileans? ⁸ How is it that we each hear our own birth language? ⁹ Parthians and Medes and Elamites and those living in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ^{[b] 10} Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and parts of Libya toward Cyrene, and visitors from Rome ¹¹ (both Jewish people and proselytes), Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring in our own tongues the mighty deeds of God!” ¹² And they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other, “What does this mean?”

¹³ Others, poking fun, were saying, “They are full of sweet new wine!”

Peter Speaks to the Shavuot Crowd

¹⁴ But Peter, standing with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: “Fellow Judeans and all who are staying in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words. ¹⁵ These men are not drunk, as you suppose—for it’s only the third hour of the day! ^{[c] 16} But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel:

 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20Acts%202%3A1%E2%80%9321&version=TLV

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