165 Joshua meets the future Yahshua

Joshua meets the future Yahshua in the Tanach.

The name of Joshua the son of Nun, the man anointed by Moses to lead the ancient nation of Israel into the Promised Land, is according to the book of Joshua in the Jewish Bible (JPS 1917), written as יהושע in modern Hebrew. This is exactly the same way the name of Yahshua our Messiah and Savior is written in Hebrew, but it is also written as Yeshua in such books as Ezra (Ezra 2: 36) and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 7: 7). It is strange that the transliterated Hebrew name for the adversary namely Satan, is known as such in any language throughout the world today, but our Savior’s name is changed to J*e*s*u*s*, by some who claim faith in Messiah. This despite the fact that the name of the book Joshua in the English Bible, which bears the same Hebrew name as our Messiah, is retained in its shortened form and is at least true in meaning to Yahshua’s saving name. The question is: If both the Hebrew and Christian Bibles use the name Joshua in their English translations of the original name יהושע, where does the name of the false Messiah come from?

It is common knowledge that names of people are not changed by translation, from one language or nation to another – Vladimir Putin the Russian President remains the same in any language, and even though it might be pronounced slightly different in some countries, he is known by that name in the USA, Africa and indeed throughout the world. So is Benjamin Netanyahu, the current Israeli Prime Minister known by that name throughout the world. The question is: Should the original name given to our Savior by His Jewish parents, namely Yahshua, not remain the same, even after 2000 years since His ascension to heaven? In fact, there is not one single reference which present the name Jesus (or Iesous in Greek), as the original name of our Messiah and Savior and most authoritative sources acknowledge that the original form of the name was Yehoshua or Yahushua, as transliterated in the previously mentioned English version of the Hebrew Bible. Our Messiah was born a Jew with a Jewish mother, who gave her son a Jewish name. He was never known as Jesus Christ during His lifetime on earth and never became a Christian. We read about Yahshua’s birth In Matthew 1: 21, as follows: “And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Yahshua, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.” Yahshua means the Salvation of YHVH. The name Jesus does not have that meaning at all. The Scriptures shows that when and where people were spoken to from heaven, it was always to those who spoke the Hebrew language. The Scriptures is a Hebrew book given to spirit-filled Hebrew writers. The only language spoken until the Tower of Babel was Hebrew. We see from Genesis 10: 21 - 30 that the tribes of Shem did not join the building project at the plains of Shinar (Genesis 11: 2) where the tower of Babel was built. They dwelled at Mesha in the foothills of Mount Sephar according to Genesis 10 and their Hebrew language remained the same. The renowned Scripture scholar and archaeologist Ernest Renan writes that the Savior was never called Jesus in His life on earth. In addition there is not now nor was there ever an equivalent letter ‘j’ in the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Even the English letter ‘j’ is of a recent origin and appeared only about 500 years ago, when it often replaced the letter ‘i’, usually at the beginning of a word. The Savior’s name could therefore not contain the letter ‘j’ for the first 1500 years before today.

Does it matter whether we use the name Jesus or Yahshua? Yes, in fact it is vital to our salvation to make sure that we know and use the correct name for the Messiah, as we read from Acts 4: 12, in this way: “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.” In a fairly lengthy conversation with the Jewish leaders in John 5: 43, Yahshua answered, saying: “I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another shall come in his own name, you will receive him.” The heavenly Father's Name as we know is YHVH or Yah in its short form. Yahshua was given His Father's name, like most of us, after birth are given our earthly father's surname. We find that after the Babylonian captivity the name Joshua was changed to Yeshua (in the Tanach) – shortened because they omitted the second and third letters namely (הו), to avoid wherever possible to pronounce (YHVH)’s name. Even so, there is definitely no resemblance between the names Yehoshua /Yahushua and Jesus. However, before moving away from the importance of the names of our Elohim, we need to heed the warning not to use the false names and titles assigned to YHVH and Yahshua, in Exodus 23: 13, as follows: “Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; and do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard from your mouth.” It is not my intention to shock fellow believers at this time, but I for one do not want to be known as a Christian, and definitely do not believe in Jesus. Like Rav Shaul and the original believers in Yahshua our Messiah, we are a sect of the Pharisees, known as Nazarene Jews/Israelites, as Rav Shaul was identified in Acts 24: 5, in this way: “For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.”

To establish the link between Joshua the spy, the soldier, the leader and savior of Israel and Yahshua, our Messiah, Leader, High Priest and Savior, we read the scriptural account from the book of Numbers. The 10 fearful spies, send to spy out the Promised Land gave a bad report to Moses on return from their journey to the land of Canaan, as recorded in Numbers 13: 27 – 32, as follows: ‘“Thus they told him, and said, “We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit (the cluster of grapes which two men had to carry between a pole, some pomegranates and figs). (28) Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there. (29) Amalek is living in the land of the Negev and the Hittites and Jebusites and the Amorites are living in the hill country, and the Canaanites are living by the sea and by the side of the Jordan.” (30) Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we shall surely overcome it.” (31) But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.” (32) So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size.”’ At hearing this, the Israelites who like us, are inspired by sight rather than faith, trembled in their sandals. However, we see that Joshua, who also spied out the land with Caleb and the 10 other spies, supported Caleb’s positive report. Both Joshua and Caleb confirmed their faith in YHVH, as we read from verse 7 - 9 of Numbers 14, saying: “The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. (8) If YHVH is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it to us- a land which flows with milk and honey. (9) Only do not rebel against YHVH; and do not fear the people of the land, for they shall be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and YHVH is with us; do not fear them.” However, we see that Joshua and Caleb could not convince the nation, after they became fearful, as a result of the bad report brought them by the other 10 spies. The congregation demanded that Joshua and Caleb be stoned. This angered YHVH and He threatened to destroy the Israelites, as witnessed from verse 12 of Numbers 14, in this way: “I will smite them with pestilence and dispossess them, and I will make you (meaning Moses) into a nation greater and mightier than they.”

Again, as before, Moses pleaded with Elohim, asking that He pardons the iniquity of His people. Nevertheless, we notice from verses 20 – 23 of Numbers 14, that even though YHVH forgives the nation He imposes a serious condition, saying: “I have pardoned them according to your word; (21) but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of YHVH. (22) Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs, which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, (23) shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it.”’ But, we see from verse 24 of Numbers 14 that the children of the Israelites who were brought out of Egypt, together with Joshua and Caleb, who brought a good report about the land were allowed to enter the Promised Land. There is a very important lesson for those of us called out of the world by YHVH at this time. We are being judged during this age; if we do not remain faithful and overcome, Satan, the world and the self, we shall by no means enter the Kingdom of Elohim. We better change; right now! At this time Elohim is calling His congregation of true believers out of the world, a modern type of ancient Egypt, as we read from Romans 6: 16 – 18, as follows: ‘Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? (17) But thanks be to Elohim that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, (18) and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.’ We read further about our calling from 2 Corinthians 6: 17 & 18 in this way: ‘“THEREFORE, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says YHVH. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; and I will welcome you. (18) “And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says YHVH Almighty.’ While Joshua was the human leader of the ancient nation of Israel, Yahshua is the leader of the Israel of Elohim, as we read from Galatians 6: 16, like this: ‘And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of Elohim.’ The rule spoken about here is as we read from Romans 9: 6 & 7, as follows: ‘But it is not as though the word of Elohim has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel (meaning Jacob); (7) neither are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but; “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.”

These are the words of YHVH to our father Abraham, when He made a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17: 5 – 14, saying: “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I will make you the father of a multitude of nations. (6) And I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come forth from you. (7) And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be Elohim to you and to your descendants after you. (8) And I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their Elohim.” (9) Elohim said further to Abraham, “Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. (10) This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. (11) And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. (12) And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants. (13) A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. (14) But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”’ Later in Genesis 22 after Abraham offered up Isaac on the altar and was actually stopped from killing him by the Angel of YHVH, He called to Abraham a second time in verse 15, saying to him in verses 16 – 18: “By Myself I have sworn, declares YHVH, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld you son, your only son, (17) indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. (18) And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

These are serious words and we should consider them carefully, as YHVH told Abraham, that it is an everlasting covenant. In short it is important for us to remember that YHVH made a two-fold covenant with Abraham; namely that he and his descendants after him would eventually possess the Promised Land eternally – meaning they would one day be resurrected to become spiritual beings over which the second death has no power, provided they remain faithful to His commandments including circumcising their male children at eight days old. The second part of the promise was that those descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, who eventually disobeyed and were scattered into the nations of the world, would be able to return to the covenant through Abraham’s one seed, namely Yahshua (the Word who became flesh – or the embodiment of Torah), through whom the rest of mankind will also be saved after Messiah’s millennial rule, if they decide to follow Him when Elohim will open the Scriptures to their understanding during the great white throne judgment period (as per Isaiah 25: 7 - 9). We read accordingly from Galatians 3: 16 – 19: ‘Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to His seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to One, “And to your seed,” that is, Messiah. (17) What I am saying is this; the (sacrificial) Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by Elohim, so as to nullify the promise. (18) For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but Elohim has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise. (19) Why the (sacrificial) Law then? It was added because of transgressions (of the golden calf), having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made.” This section is concluded in Galatians 3: 26 – 29, as follows: ‘For you are all sons of Elohim through faith in Messiah Yahshua. (27) For all of you who were immersed into Messiah have clothed yourselves with Messiah. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Messiah Yahshua. (29) And if you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” The promise that YHVH made to Abraham, was that He will give the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants after him as an everlasting possession, provided that every male among them are circumcised. Ask yourself: Am I Abraham’s offspring? If your answer is yes, and you are a male, then like Yahshua our perfect example you should be circumcised.

The first action performed by Joshua in the Promised Land after crossing the Jordan River, was as recorded in Joshua 5: 3 – 5: ‘So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. (4) And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way, after they came out of Egypt. (5) For all the people who came out were circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised.’ The second reason for Joshua’s action was that it was about time for the annual Passover as we read from verse 48 of Exodus 12, as follows: “But if a stranger sojourns with you, and celebrates the Passover to YHVH, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near to celebrate it; and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised (male) person may eat of it.” Since circumcision is a physical requirement (or deed), by which we also show our faith, we are required to make such a decision on our own volition, if we want to serve as priests in the ‘Promised Land’. After partaking of the Passover and offering the wave sheaf of grain roasted in fire the day after the First Day of Unleavened bread, as YHVH commanded in Leviticus 23: 9 – 14, Joshua met the captain of the hosts of YHVH face to face, similar to when Jacob wrestled with Him at the place he named Peniel (meaning the face of Elohim) in Genesis 32. We read about Joshua’s meeting in Joshua 5: 13 – 15, in this way: ‘Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” (14) And he said, “No, rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of YHVH.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my master to say to his servant?” (15) And the captain of (YHVH)’s host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.’ Next In Joshua 6, we read how YHVH instructed Joshua to occupy Jericho, the first of the cities to invade in the Promised Land.

Who was the captain of the host of YHVH who appeared to Joshua? To answer this important question, we read from Genesis 32: 24 – 30: ‘Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. (25) And when he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. (26) Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (27) So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” (28) And he said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel: for you have striven with Elohim and with men and have prevailed.” (29) Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, ‘Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. (30) So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen Elohim face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” Jacob realized that this was more than an ordinary man and speaks about him again in Genesis 48: 14 – 16, as follows: ‘But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands, although Manasseh was the first-born. (15) And he blessed Joseph, and said, “The Elohim before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the Elohim who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, (16) the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and may my name live on in them, and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” But, this still leaves us with the question, who was this angel? Turning to Hosea 12: 3 – 5, we find the answer, as follows: ‘In the womb he took his brother (Esau) by the heel, and in his maturity he contended with Elohim. (4) Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept and sought His favor. He found Him at Bethel, and there He spoke with us. (5) Even YHVH, the Elohim of hosts; YHVH is His name.’ Because we know that nobody has ever seen or can see YHVH, this must have been the visible image of Elohim that Jacob beheld, as we read in Numbers 12: 8. This was the Word who later became flesh and dwelt among us, namely Yahshua.

When Jacob wrestled with the man at Bethel, he realized that he was dealing with more than a human being. He struggled to get a blessing from this Superior being and before sunset the next morning he was blessed and praised for his determination. Jacob was determined to strive with all his might not to lose Elohim’s blessing and eternal promises. Jacob’s determination was greater than that of Esau, who sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. He proved that he had strength of character to overcome his spiritual problems. The wrestling match was actually a test of character. Before Jacob’s wrestling partner left, He told Jacob that his name should be changed from Jacob to Israel, which means one who overcomes. Elohim would not give His blessing and a birthright to a man who had taken them from a weaker brother unfairly. The word of YHVH who later became flesh as Yahshua the salvation of YHVH, or YHVH in the flesh appeared as a man to give Jacob the chance to prove himself as one who is able to overcome. We the remnant of Israel who know that the Rock of offence discussed in both the Tanach and Renewed Covenant is YHVH in the flesh, the foundation stone upon which the congregation of Elohim is build. We are however assured that those of us whom YHVH is busy calling out of the religions of the world, have similarly to Jacob find the identity of Yahshua ourselves, before our names will be changed from Jacob to Israel. We have to determine that Yahshua the stone of stumbling is the face of YHVH or YHVH in the flesh – like in the case with Jacob? Whereas, some will even with this preponderance of evidence, deny that Messiah is Immanuel or Elohim with us, it is impossible to refute the witness provided by comparing Matthew 27: 3 – 10[1], with the prophecy in Zechariah 11: 12 & 13[2]. Notice in Zechariah 11: 13, YHVH is saying that He was valued at 30 pieces of silver by the chief priests and elders. Yahshua was referred to as the right hand of YHVH and at times also as (the) Branch, with reason: He was part of YHVH and completely one with Him in thought and deed. He became the Son of Man to become our kinsman redeemer, to pay the penalty due to us for transgressing the commandments of Elohim, but also to buy back the property we lost in the Promised Land, because of idolatry. Yahshua, like a branch, is an extension of YHVH: He does and say only what the Father wants Him to say and do, as He confirmed in John 12: 49, saying: “For I did not speak on my own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak.”

During the early part of the twentieth century there were religious groups, who started identifying some of the lost ten tribes of Israel. As time went on, the identity of the various nations making up the lost ten tribes became clearer. Today since the late 1990’s there are groups and even Jewish Rabbis in Israel who agree with and has in fact provided an even clearer opinion on the identity of the lost ten tribes. One source from Israel tells us that the descendants of the lost ten tribes are to be found throughout the world, but mainly amongst the so-called ‘Gentile’ peoples of Northwest Europe, North America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The Jews in Israel and those in the Diaspora are mainly descended from the tribe of Judah. The early Israelites are proven to have migrated to the west and over many years formed the nations of France, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, The USA, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The most prominent tribes were Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph’s two sons, and are mainly to be found in the present day English-speaking nations; Reuben became the forefather of the French; Benjamin the forefather of Belgium; Zebulon the forefather of the Dutch; Asher gave rise to the Scots; Issachar the Swiss; Dan contributed to the Welsh and Irish and fathered the Danes and so on. Since it is commonly accepted that we have always been attached to the Scriptures, and especially to the original covenant made between YHVH and Abraham, it is time that we consider our part of the covenant, as agreed to by our father in the faith, Abraham. We have been beneficiaries of the blessings of Abraham that he passed on through Isaac and Jacob to us. Prior to discovering our identity, we were in a wilderness of confusion for more than 2500 years. Now that we are almost at the end of the period of captivity, lasting (390 times 7 years) 2730 years of aimless wondering as ‘Gentiles’ in the wilderness, it is time that those who were not circumcised in the wilderness, honor our contractual responsibility in preparation for Yahshua’s return one day soon on the Feast of Trumpets.

We see that Yahshua brings those who follow Him to the ordinance of immersion, which was prefigured by the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea, as explained in 1 Corinthians 10: 1 & 2, in this way: ‘For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; (2) and all were immersed into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.’ Yahshua helps us overcome our sins with the Set-apart Spirit given us at immersion, as we are assured in Romans 8: 33 – 37, as follows: ‘Who will bring a charge against Elohim’s elect? Elohim is the one who justifies; (34) who is the one who condemns? Messiah Yahshua is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of Elohim, who also intercedes for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Messiah? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) Just as it is written, “FOR THY SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” (37) But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.’ If we pay attention to the Set-apart Spirit given us at immersion into Yahshua’s Name, we will choose to obey YHVH for our own good, as witnessed in Deuteronomy 30: 19 & 20, in this way: “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, (20) by loving YHVH your Elohim, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which YHVH swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” We read about the relationship between Joshua and Yahshua in Hebrew 4: 8 – 11, as follows: ‘For if Joshua had given them rest (by leading them into the Promised Land), He would not have spoken of another day after that. (9) There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of Elohim. (10) For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as Elohim did from His. (11) Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disobedience.’ The seventh day Sabbath is a type of the coming millennium, which will provide humanity with much needed peace and prosperity right here on earth. Joshua our ancient forebear was a type of Yahshua our Messiah. Whereas Joshua focused on getting ancient Israel established into the Promised Land, Yahshua Messiah reconciled us to Judah and the Father and will take us into the Kingdom of Elohim. Joshua saved the Israelites from the Canaanites, but Yahshua saved us from Satan and eternal death, by paying the death penalty due to us, for our sins.

Joshua started out as a servant of Moses, but by the end of his days, he became known as a servant of YHVH, as is recorded in Joshua 24: 29, in this way: ‘And it came about after these things that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of YHVH, died, being one hundred and ten years old.’ Joshua fulfilled the meaning of his name, by leading Elohim’s people into the Promised Land, saving them from slavery and the wilderness of sin. He was indeed a type of Yahshua our Messiah, who will ultimately take us into the Kingdom of Elohim and give us victory over eternal death, as we are assured in 1 Corinthians 15: 20 – 22 and 56 & 57, as follows: ‘But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, the first fruit(s) of those who are asleep. (21) For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. (22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Messiah all shall be made alive. (56) The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; (57) but thanks be to Elohim, who gives us the victory through our Master Yahshua Messiah.’ Halleluyah!

[1] Matthew 27: 3 – 10,‘Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, (4) saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” (5) And he threw the pieces of silver into the sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. (6) And the chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood.” (7) And they counseled together and with the money bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers. (8) For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. (9) Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, “AND THEY TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF THE ONE WHOSE PRICE HAD BEEN SET by the sons of Israel; (10) AND THEY GAVE THEM FOR THE POTTER’S FIELD, AS YHVH DIRECTED ME.’

[2] Zechariah 11: 12 & 13, ‘And I said to them, “If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not, never mind!” So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages. (13) Then YHVH said to me, “Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them.” So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of YHVH.’