Book of Jubilees 14, 15

JUBILEES 14

YAHWEH cames to Abram in a Dream

1 After these things, in the fourth year of this week, on the new month of the third month, the word of YAHWEH came to Abram in a dream, saying: 'Fear not, Abram; I am your defender, and your reward will be exceeding great.'
2 And he said: 'YAHWEH, ALMIGHTY, what will you give me, seeing I go hence childless, and the son of Maseq, the son of my handmaid, is the Dammasek Eliezer: he will be my heir, and to me you have given no seed.'
3 And he said to him: 'This (man) will not be your heir, but one that will come out of your own bowels; he will be your heir.'
4 And He brought him forth abroad, and said to him: 'Look toward heaven and number the stars if you are able to number them.'
5 And he looked toward heaven, and beheld the stars. And He said to him: 'So shall your seed be.'
6 And he believed in YAHWEH, and it was counted to him for righteousness.
7 And He said to him: 'I am YAHWEH that brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you the land of the Canaanites to possess it forever; and I will be Sovereign Ruler unto you and to your seed after you.'
8 And he said: 'YAHWEH, ALMIGHTY, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?'
9 And He said to him: 'Take Me an heifer of three years, and a goat of three years, and a sheep of three years, and a turtle-dove, and a pigeon.'
10 And he took all these in the middle of the month and he dwelt at the oak of Mamre, which is near Hebron.
11 And he built there an altar, and sacrificed all these; and he poured their blood upon the altar, and divided them in the midst, and laid them over against each other; but the birds divided he not.
12 And birds came down upon the pieces, and Abram drove them away, and did not suffer the birds to touch them.
13 And it came to pass, when the sun had set, that an ecstasy fell upon Abram, and lo! a horror of great darkness fell upon him, and it was said to Abram: 'Know of a surety that your seed shall be a stranger in a land (that is) not theirs, and they shall bring them into bondage, and afflict them four hundred years.
14 And the nation also to whom they will be in bondage will I judge, and after that they shall come forth thence with much substance.
15 And you shall go to your fathers in shalom, and be buried in a good old age.
16 But in the fourth generation they shall return here; for the iniquity of the
17 Amorites is not yet full.' And he awoke from his sleep, and he arose, and the sun had set; and there was a flame, and behold! A furnace was smoking, and a flame of fire passed between the pieces.
18 And on that day YAHWEH made a covenant with Abram, saying: 'To your seed will I give this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates, the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Perizzites, and the Rephaim, the Phakorites, and the Hivites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.
19 And the day passed, and Abram offered the pieces, and the birds, and their fruit offerings, and their drink offerings, and the fire devoured them.
20 And on that day we made a covenant with Abram, according as we had covenanted with Noah in this month; and Abram renewed the festival and ordinance for himself forever.
21 And Abram rejoiced, and made all these things known to Sarai his wife; and he believed that he would have seed, but she did not bear.
22 And Sarai advised her husband Abram, and said to him: 'Go in unto Hagar, my Egyptian maid: it may be that I shall build up seed unto you by her.'
23 And Abram listened unto the voice of Sarai his wife, and said to her, 'Do (so).' And Sarai took Hagar, her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to Abram, her husband, to be his wife.
24 And he went in unto her, and she conceived and bare him a son, and he called his name Ishmael, in the fifth year of this week [1965 A.M.]; and this was the eighty-sixth year in the life of Abram.

JUBILEES 15

YAHWEH appeared to Abram at the feast of the firstfruits

1 And in the fifth year of the fourth week of this jubilee, [1979 A.M.] in the third month, in the middle of the month, Abram celebrated the feast of the first- fruits of the grain harvest.
2 And he offered new offerings on the altar, the first-fruits of the produce, unto YAHWEH, an heifer and a goat and a sheep on the altar as a burnt sacrifice unto YAHWEH; their fruit offerings and their drink offerings he offered upon the altar with frankincense.
3 And YAHWEH appeared to Abram, and said to him:
4 'I am YAHWEH Almighty; approve yourself before me and be you perfect. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.' And Abram fell on his face, and YAHWEH talked with him, and said:
6 'Behold my ordinance is with you, And you shall be the father of many nations.
7 Neither shall your name any more be called Abram, But your name from henceforth, even forever, shall be Abraham.
8 For the father of many nations have I made you. And I will make you very great, And I will make you into nations, And kings shall come forth from you.
9 And I shall establish My covenant between Me and you, and your seed after you, throughout their generations, for an eternal covenant, so that I may be a Sovereign Ruler to you, and to your seed after you.
10 And the land where you have been a sojourner, the land of Canaan, that you may possess it forever, and I will be their Sovereign Ruler.'
11 And YAHWEH said to Abraham: 'And as for you, do you keep my covenant, you and your seed after you: and circumcise you every male among you, and circumcise your foreskins, and it shall be a token of an eternal covenant between Me and you.
12 And the child on the eighth day you shall circumcise, every male throughout your generations, him that is born in the house, or whom you have bought with money from any stranger, whom you have acquired who is not of your seed.
13 He that is born in your house shall surely be circumcised, and those whom you have bought with money shall be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an eternal ordinance.
14 And the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin on the eighth day, that soul shall be cut off from his people, for he has broken My covenant.'
15 And YAHWEH said to Abraham: 'As for Sarai your wife, her name shall no more be called Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.
16 And I will bless her, and give you a son by her, and I will bless him, and he shall become a nation, and kings of nations shall proceed from him.'
17 And Abraham fell on his face, and rejoiced, and said in his heart: 'Shall a son be born to him that is a hundred years old, and shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bring forth?'
18 And Abraham said to YAHWEH: 'O that Ishmael might live before you!'
19 And YAHWEH said: 'Yes, and Sarah also shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Yitschaq, and I will establish My covenant with him, an everlasting covenant, and for his seed after him.
20 And as for Ishmael also have I heard you, and behold I will bless him, and make him great, and multiply him exceedingly, and he shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
21 But My covenant will I establish with Yitschaq, whom Sarah shall bear to you, in these days, in the next year.'
22 And He left off speaking with him, and YAHWEH went up from Abraham.
23 And Abraham did according as YAHWEH had said to him, and he took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and whom he had bought with his money, every male in his house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin.
24 And on the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and all the men of his house, and all those, whom he had bought with money from the children of the stranger, were circumcised with him.
25 This Torah is for all the generations forever, and there is no circumcision of the days, and no omission of one day out of the eight days; for it is an eternal ordinance, ordained and written on the heavenly tablets.
26 And every one that is born, the flesh of whose foreskin is not circumcised on the eighth day, belongs not to the children of the covenant which YAHWEH made with Abraham, but to the children of destruction; nor is there, moreover, any sign on him that he is YAHWEH's, but (he is destined) to be destroyed and slain from the earth, and to be rooted out of the earth, for he has broken the covenant of YAHWEH our Sovereign Ruler.
27 For all the malakim of the presence and all the malakim of sanctification have been so created from the day of their creation, and before the malakim of the presence and the malakim of sanctification He has sanctified Yisrael, that they should be with Him and with His kodesh malakim.
28 And do you command the children of Yisrael and let them observe the sign of this covenant for their generations as an eternal ordinance, and they will not be rooted out of the land.
29 For the command is ordained for a covenant, that they should observe it forever among all the children of Yisrael.
30 For Ishmael and his sons and his brothers and Esau, YAHWEH did not cause to approach Him, and he chose them not because they are the children of Abraham, because He knew them, but He chose Yisrael to be His people.
31 And He sanctified it, and gathered it from amongst all the children of men; for there are many nations and many peoples, and all are His, and over all has He placed spirits in authority to lead them astray from Him.
32 But over Yisrael He did not appoint any malak or spirit, for He alone is their ruler, and He will preserve them and require them at the hand of His malakim and His spirits, and at the hand of all His powers in order that He may preserve them and bless them, and that they may be His and He may be theirs from henceforth forever.
33 And now I announce unto you that the children of Yisrael will not keep true to this ordinance, and they will not circumcise their sons according to all this Torah; for in the flesh of their circumcision they will omit this circumcision of their sons, and all of them, sons of Belial, will leave their sons uncircumcised as they were born.
34 And there will be great wrath from YAHWEH against the children of Yisrael, because they have forsaken His covenant and turned aside from His word, and provoked and blasphemed, inasmuch as they do not observe the ordinance of this Torah; for they have treated their members like the Gentiles, so that they may be removed and rooted out of the land. And there will no more be pardon or forgiveness unto them [so that there should be forgiveness and pardon] for all the sin of this eternal error.

THE BOOK OF JUBILEES Index

Click on any Label below to pull up previously related Posts.

Book of Jubilees 12, 13

JUBILEES 12

Abram destroys Terah his fathers idols

1 And it came to pass in the sixth week, in the seventh year thereof, [1904 A.M.] that Abram said to Terah his father, saying, 'Father!'
2 And he said, 'Behold, here am I, my son.' And he said, 'What help and profit have we from those idols which you do worship, And before which you do bow yourself?
3 For there is no spirit in them, For they are dumb forms, and a misleading of the heart.
4 Worship them not: Worship YAHWEH the Sovereign Ruler of heaven, Who causes the rain and the dew to descend on the earth And does everything upon the earth, And has created everything by His word, And all life is from before His face.
5 Why do you worship things that have no spirit in them? For they are the work of hands, And on your shoulders do you bear them, And you have no help from them, But they are a great cause of shame to those who make them, And a misleading of the heart to those who worship them: Worship them not.'
6 And his father said to him, I also know it, my son, but what shall I do with a people who have made me to serve before them?
7 And if I tell them the truth, they will slay me; for their soul cleaves to them to worship them and honor them. Keep silent, my son, lest they slay you.' And these words he spoke to his two brothers, and they were angry with him and he kept silent.
9 And in the fortieth jubilee, in the second week, in the seventh year thereof, [1925 A.M.] Abram took to himself a wife, and her name was Sarai, the daughter of his father, and she became his wife.
10 And Haran, his brother, took to himself a wife in the third year of the third week, [1928 A.M.] and she bare him a son in the seventh year of this week, [1932 A.M.] and he called his name Lot.
11 And Nahor, his brother, took to himself a wife.
12 And in the sixtieth year of the life of Abram, that is, in the fourth week, in the fourth year thereof, [1936 A.M.] Abram arose by night, and burned the house of the idols, and he burned all that was in the house and no man knew it.
13 And they arose in the night and sought to save their gods from the midst of the fire.
14 And Haran hasted to save them, but the fire flamed over him, and he was burnt in the fire, and he died in Ur of the Chaldees before Terah his father, and they buried him in Ur of the Chaldees.
15 And Terah went forth from Ur of the Chaldees, he and his sons, to go into the land of Lebanon and into the land of Canaan, and he dwelt in the land of Haran, and Abram dwelt with Terah his father in Haran two weeks of years.
16 And in the sixth week, in the fifth year thereof, [1951 A.M.] Abram sat up throughout the night on the new month of the seventh month to observe the stars from the evening to the morning, in order to see what would be the character of the year with regard to the rains, and he was alone as he sat and observed.
17 And a word came into his heart and he said: All the signs of the stars, and the signs of the moon and of the sun are all in the hand of YAHWEH. Why do I search them out?
18 If He desires, He causes it to rain, morning and evening; And if He desires, He withholds it, And all things are in his hand.'
19 And he prayed that night and said, 'My Sovereign Ruler, YAHWEH Most High, You alone are my Sovereign Ruler, And You and Your dominion have I chosen. And You have created all things, And all things that are the work of Your hands.
20 Deliver me from the hands of evil spirits who have dominion over the thoughts of men's hearts, and let them not lead me astray from You, my Sovereign Ruler. And establish You me and my seed forever that we go not astray from henceforth and forevermore.'
21 And he said, 'Shall I return unto Ur of the Chaldees who seek my face that I may return to them, am I to remain here in this place? The right path before You prosper it in the hands of Your servant that he may fulfill it and that I may not walk in the deceitfulness of my heart, O YAHWEH my Sovereign Ruler.'
22 And he made an end of speaking and praying, and behold the word of YAHWEH was sent to him through me, saying: 'Get you up from your country, and from your kindred and from the house of your father unto a land which I will show you, and I shall make you a great and numerous nation.
23 And I will bless you And I will make your name great, And you shall be blessed in the earth, And in You shall all families of the earth be blessed, And I will bless them that bless you, And curse them that curse you.
24 And I will be a Sovereign Ruler to you and your son, and to your son's son, and to all your seed: fear not, from henceforth and unto all generations of the earth I am YAHWEH your Sovereign Ruler.'
25 And YAHWEH ALMIGHTY said: 'Open his mouth and his ears, that he may hear and speak with his mouth, with the language which has been revealed'; for it had ceased from the mouths of all the children of men from the day of the overthrow (of Babel).
26 And I opened his mouth, and his ears and his lips, and I began to speak with him in Hebrew in the tongue of the creation.
27 And he took the books of his fathers, and these were written in Hebrew, and he transcribed them, and he began from henceforth to study them, and I made known to him that which he could not (understand), and he studied them during the six rainy months.
28 And it came to pass in the seventh year of the sixth week [1953 A.M.] that he spoke to his father and informed him, that he would leave Haran to go into the land of Canaan to see it and return to him.
29 And Terah his father said to him; Go in shalom: May the eternal YAHWEH make your path straight. And YAHWEH be with you, and protect you from all evil, And grant unto you free unmerited pardon, mercy and favour before those who see you, And may none of the children of men have power over you to harm you; Go in shalom.
30 And if you see a land pleasant to your eyes to dwell in, then arise and take me to you and take Lot with you, the son of Haran your brother as your own son: YAHWEH be with you.
31 And Nahor your brother leave with me till you return in shalom, and we go with you all together.'

JUBILEES 13

Abram leaves Haran and goes to Canaan

1 And Abram journeyed from Haran, and he took Sarai, his wife, and Lot, his brother Haran's son, to the land of Canaan, and he came into Asshur, and proceeded to Shechem, and dwelt near a lofty oak.
2 And he saw, and, behold, the land was very pleasant from the entering of Hamath to the lofty oak.
3 And YAHWEH said to him: 'To you and to your seed will I give this land.'
4 And he built an altar there, and he offered thereon a burnt sacrifice to YAHWEH, who had appeared to him.
5 And he removed from there to the mountain Bethel on the west and Ai on the east, and pitched his tent there.
6 And he saw and behold, the land was very wide and good, and everything grew thereon -vines and figs and pomegranates, oaks and ilexes, and terebinths and oil trees, and cedars and cypresses and date trees, and all trees of the field, and there was water on the mountains.
7 And he blessed YAHWEH who had led him out of Ur of the Chaldees, and had brought him to this land.
8 And it came to pass in the first year, in the seventh week, on the new month of the first month, [1954 A.M.] that he built an altar on this mountain, and called on the NAME of YAHWEH: 'You, the eternal YAHWEH, are my Sovereign Ruler.'
9 And he offered on the altar a burnt sacrifice unto YAHWEH that He should be with him and not forsake him all the days of his life.
10 And he removed from there and went towards the south, and he came to Hebron and Hebron was built at that time, and he dwelt there two years, and he went there into the land of the south, to Bealoth, and there was a famine in the land.
11 And Abram went into Egypt in the third year of the week, and he dwelt in Egypt five years before his wife was torn away from him.
12 Now Tanais in Egypt was at that time built- seven years after Hebron.
13 And it came to pass when Pharaoh seized Sarai, the wife of Abram that YAHWEH plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife.
14 And Abram was very wealthy by reason of possessions in sheep, and cattle, and asses, and horses, and camels, and menservants, and maidservants, and in silver and gold exceedingly. And Lot also his brother's son, was wealthy.
15 And Pharaoh gave back Sarai, the wife of Abram, and he sent him out of the land of Egypt, and he journeyed to the place where he had pitched his tent at the beginning, to the place of the altar, with Ai on the east, and Bethel on the west, and he blessed YAHWEH his Sovereign Ruler who had brought him back in shalom.
16 And it came to pass in the forty-first jubilee in the third year of the first week, [1963 A.M.] that he returned to this place and offered thereon a burnt sacrifice, and called on the NAME of YAHWEH, and said: 'You, the most high YAHWEH, are my Sovereign Ruler forever and ever.'
17 And in the fourth year of this week [1964 A.M.] Lot parted from him, and Lot dwelt in Sodom, and the men of Sodom were sinners exceedingly.
18 And it grieved him in his heart that his brother's son had parted from him; for he had no children.
19 In that year when Lot was taken captive, YAHWEH said to Abram, after that Lot had parted from him, in the fourth year of this week: 'Lift up your eyes from the place where you are dwelling, northward and southward, and westward and eastward.
20 For all the land which you see I will give to you and to your seed forever, and I will make your seed as the sand of the sea: though a man may number the dust of the earth, yet your seed shall not be numbered.
21 Arise, walk (through the land) in the length of it and the breadth of it, and see it all; for to your seed will I give it.' And Abram went to Hebron, and dwelt there.
22 And in this year came Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Amraphel, king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Sellasar, and Tergal, king of nations, and slew the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Sodom fled, and many fell through wounds in the vale of Siddim, by the Salt Sea.
23 And they took captive Sodom and Adam and Zeboim, and they took captive Lot also, the son of Abram's brother, and all his possessions, and they went to Dan.
24 And one who had escaped came and told Abram that his brother's son had been taken captive and Abram armed his household servants.
25 For Abram, and for his seed, a tenth of the first fruits to YAHWEH, and YAHWEH ordained it as an ordinance forever that they should give it to the priests who served before Him, that they should possess it forever.
26 And to this Torah there is no limit of days; for He has ordained it for the generations forever that they should give to YAHWEH the tenth of everything, of the seed and of the wine and of the oil and of the cattle and of the sheep.
27 And He gave it unto His priests to eat and to drink with joy before Him.
28 And the king of Sodom came to him and bowed himself before him, and said: 'Our lord Abram, give unto us the souls which you have rescued, but let the booty be yours.'
29 And Abram said to him: 'I lift up my hands to the Most High YAHWEH, that from a thread to a shoe-latchet I shall not take aught that is yours lest you should say, I have made Abram rich; save only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me -Aner, Eschol, and Mamre. These shall take their portion.'

THE BOOK OF JUBILEES Index - Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

Click on any Label below to pull up related Posts.
(This feature is only available in Web Version. Not available in Mobile version.)

Book of Jubilees 11

JUBILEES 11

The Sons Of Noah Began To War And To Shed The Blood Of Men On The Earth, And To Eat Blood

1 And in the thirty-fifth jubilee, in the third week, in the first year [1681 A.M.] thereof, Reu took to himself a wife, and her name was 'Ora, the daughter of 'Ur, the son of Kesed, and she bare him a son, and he called his name Seroh, in the seventh year of this week in this jubilee. [1687 A.M.]
2 And the sons of Noah began to war on each other, to take captive and to slay each other, and to shed the blood of men on the earth, and to eat blood, and to build strong cities, and walls, and towers, and individuals (began) to exalt themselves above the nation, and to found the beginnings of kingdoms, and to go to war people against people, and nation against nation, and city against city, and all began to do evil, and to acquire arms, and to teach their sons war, and they began to capture cities, and to sell male and female slaves.
3 And Ur, the son of Kesed, built the city of 'Ara of the Chaldees, and called its name after his own name and the name of his father.
4 And they made for themselves molten images, and they worshipped each the idol, the molten image which they had made for themselves, and they began to make graven images and unclean simulacra, and malignant spirits assisted and seduced them into committing transgression and uncleanness.
5 And the prince Mastema exerted himself to do all this, and he sent forth other spirits, those which were put under his hand, to do all manner of wrong and sin, and all manner of transgression, to corrupt and destroy, and to shed blood upon the earth.
6 For this reason he called the name of Seroh, Serug, for every one turned to do all manner of sin and transgression.
7 And he grew up, and dwelt in Ur of the Chaldees, near to the father of his wife's mother, and he worshipped idols, and he took to himself a wife in the thirty-sixth jubilee, in the fifth week, in the first year thereof, [1744 A.M.] and her name was Melka, the daughter of Kaber, the daughter of his father's brother.
8 And she bare him Nahor, in the first year of this week, and he grew and dwelt in Ur of the Chaldees, and his father taught him the researches of the Chaldees to divine and augur, according to the signs of heaven.
9 And in the thirty-seventh jubilee in the sixth week, in the first year thereof, [1800 A.M.] he took to himself a wife, and her name was 'Ijaska, the daughter of Nestag of the Chaldees.
10 And she bare him Terah in the seventh year of this week. [1806 A.M.]
11 And the prince Mastema sent ravens and birds to devour the seed which was sown in the land, in order to destroy the land, and rob the children of men of their labours. Before they could plough in the seed, the ravens picked it from the surface of the ground.
12 And for this reason he called his name Terah because the ravens and the birds reduced them to destitution and devoured their seed.
13 And the years began to be barren, owing to the birds, and they devoured all the fruit of the trees from the trees: It was only with great effort that they could save a little of all the fruit of the earth in their days.
14 And in this thirty-ninth jubilee, in the second week in the first year, [1870 A.M.] Terah took to himself a wife, and her name was 'Edna, the daughter of 'Abram, the daughter of his father's sister.

Abram is Born
15 And in the seventh year of this week [1876 A.M.] she bare him a son, and he called his name Abram, by the name of the father of his mother; for he had died before his daughter had conceived a son.
16 And the child began to understand the errors of the earth that all went astray after graven images and after uncleanness, and his father taught him writing, and he was two weeks of years old, [1890 A.M.] and he separated himself from his father, that he might not worship idols with him.
17 And he began to pray to the Creator of all things that He might save him from the errors of the children of men, and that his portion should not fall into error after uncleanness and vileness.
18 And the seed time came for the sowing of seed upon the land, and they all went forth together to protect their seed against the ravens, and Abram went forth with those that went, and the child was a lad of fourteen years.
19 And a cloud of ravens came to devour the seed, and Abram ran to meet them before they settled on the ground, and cried to them before they settled on the ground to devour the seed, and said, ' Descend not: return to the place where you came,' and they proceeded to turn back.
20 And he caused the clouds of ravens to turn back that day seventy times, and of all the ravens throughout all the land where Abram was there settled there not so much as one.
21 And all who were with him throughout all the land saw him cry out, and all the ravens turn back, and his name became great in all the land of the Chaldees.
22 And there came to him this year all those that wished to sow, and he went with them until the time of sowing ceased: and they sowed their land, and that year they brought enough grain home and eat and were satisfied.
23 And in the first year of the fifth week [1891 A.M.] Abram taught those who made implements for oxen, the artificers in wood, and they made a vessel above the ground, facing the frame of the plough, in order to put the seed thereon, and the seed fell down there from upon the share of the plough, and was hidden in the earth, and they no longer feared the ravens.
24 And after this manner they made vessels above the ground on all the frames of the ploughs, and they sowed and tilled all the land, according as Abram commanded them, and they no longer feared the birds.

THE BOOK OF JUBILEES Index - Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

Click on any Label below to pull up related Posts.
(This feature is only available in Web Version. Not available in Mobile version.)

Jasher, Chapter 17

Year 2039

1 And in those days, in the ninety-first year of the life of Abram, the children of Chittim made war with the children of Tubal, for when YAHWEH had scattered the sons of men upon the face of the earth, the children of Chittim went and embodied themselves in the plain of Canopia, and they built themselves cities there and dwelt by the river Tibreu.
2 And the children of Tubal dwelt in Tuscanah, and their boundaries reached the river Tibreu, and the children of Tubal built a city in Tuscanan, and they called the name Sabinah, after the name of Sabinah son of Tubal their father, and they dwelt there unto this day.
3 And it was at that time the children of Chittim made war with the children of Tubal, and the children of Tubal were smitten before the children of Chittim, and the children of Chittim caused three hundred and seventy men to fall from the children of Tubal.
4 And at that time the children of Tubal swore to the children of Chittim, saying, You shall not intermarry amongst us, and no man shall give his daughter to any of the sons of Chittim.
5 For all the daughters of Tubal were in those days fair, for no women were then found in the whole earth so fair as the daughters of Tubal.
6 And all who delighted in the beauty of women went to the daughters of Tubal and took wives from them, and the sons of men, kings and princes, who greatly delighted in the beauty of women, took wives in those days from the daughters of Tubal.
7 And at the end of three years after the children of Tubal had sworn to the children of Chittim not to give them their daughters for wives, about twenty men of the children of Chittim went to take some of the daughters of Tubal, but they found none.
8 For the children of Tubal kept their oaths not to intermarry with them, and they would not break their oaths.
9 And in the days of harvest the children of Tubal went into their fields to get in their harvest, when the young men of Chittim assembled and went to the city of Sabinah, and each man took a young woman from the daughters of Tubal, and they came to their cities.
10 And the children of Tubal heard of it and they went to make war with them, and they could not prevail over them, for the mountain was exceedingly high from them, and when they saw they could not prevail over them they returned to their land.
11 And at the revolution of the year the children of Tubal went and hired about ten thousand men from those cities that were near them, and they went to war with the children of Chittim.
12 And the children of Tubal went to war with the children of Chittim, to destroy their land and to distress them, and in this engagement the children of Tubal prevailed over the children of Chittim, and the children of Chittim, seeing that they were greatly distressed, lifted up the children which they had had by the daughters of Tubal, upon the wall which had been built, to be before the eyes of the children of Tubal.
13 And the children of Chittim said to them, Have you come to make war with your own sons and daughters, and have we not been considered your flesh and bones from that time till now?
14 And when the children of Tubal heard this they ceased to make war with the children of Chittim, and they went away.
15 And they returned to their cities, and the children of Chittim at that time assembled and built two cities by the sea, and they called one Purtu and the other Ariza.
16 And Abram the son of Terah was then ninety-nine years old.
17 At that time YAHWEH appeared to him and he said to him, I will make my covenant between me and you, and I will greatly multiply your seed, and this is the covenant which I make between me and you, that every male child be circumcised, you and your seed after you.
18 At eight days old shall it be circumcised, and this covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
19 And now therefore your name shall no more be called Abram but Abraham, and your wife shall no more be called Sarai but Sarah.
20 For I will bless you both, and I will multiply your seed after you that you shall become a great nation, and kings shall come forth from you.

The Book of Jasher Index - Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

Click on a Label below, to list all the related posts.

Jasher, Chapter 16

1 At that time Chedorlaomer king of Elam sent to all the neighboring kings, to Nimrod, king of Shinar who was then under his power, and to Tidal, king of Goyim, and to Arioch, king of Elasar, with whom he made a covenant, saying, Come up to me and assist me, that we may smite all the towns of Sodom and its inhabitants, for they have rebelled against me these thirteen years.
2 And these four kings went up with all their camps, about eight hundred thousand men, and they went as they were, and smote every man they found in their road.
3 And the five kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, Bera king of Sodom, Bersha king of Gomorrah, and Bela king of Zoar, went out to meet them, and they all joined together in the valley of Siddim.
4 And these nine kings made war in the valley of Siddim; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were smitten before the kings of Elam.
5 And the valley of Siddim was full of lime pits and the kings of Elam pursued the kings of Sodom, and the kings of Sodom with their camps fled and fell into the lime pits, and all that remained went to the mountain for safety, and the five kings of Elam came after them and pursued them to the gates of Sodom, and they took all that there was in Sodom.
6 And they plundered all the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and they also took Lot, Abram's brother's son, and his property, and they seized all the goods of the cities of Sodom, and they went away; and Unic, Abram's servant, who was in the battle, saw this, and told Abram all that the kings had done to the cities of Sodom, and that Lot was taken captive by them.
7 And Abram heard this, and he rose up with about three hundred and eighteen men that were with him, and he that night pursued these kings and smote them, and they all fell before Abram and his men, and there was none remaining but the four kings who fled, and they went each his own road.
8 And Abram recovered all the property of Sodom, and he also recovered Lot and his property, his wives and little ones and all belonging to him, so that Lot lacked nothing.
9 And when he returned from smiting these kings, he and his men passed the valley of Siddim where the kings had made war together.
10 And Bera king of Sodom, and the rest of his men that were with him, went out from the lime pits into which they had fallen, to meet Abram and his men.
11 And Adonizedek king of Jerusalem, the same was Shem, went out with his men to meet Abram and his people, with bread and wine, and they remained together in the valley of Melech.
12 And Adonizedek blessed Abram, and Abram gave him a tenth from all that he had brought from the spoil of his enemies, for Adonizedek was a priest before YAHWEH.
13 And all the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah who were there, with their servants, approached Abram and begged of him to return them their servants whom he had made captive, and to take unto himself all the property.
14 And Abram answered the kings of Sodom, saying, As YAHWEH lives who created heaven and earth, and who redeemed my soul from all affliction, and who delivered me this day from my enemies, and gave them into my hand, I will not take anything belonging to you, that you may not boast tomorrow, saying, Abram became rich from our property that he saved.
15 For YAHWEH my ALMIGHTY in whom I trust said unto me, You shall lack nothing, for I will bless you in all the works of your hands.
16 And now therefore behold, here is all belonging to you, take it and go; as YAHWEH lives I will not take from you from a living soul down to a shoetie or thread, excepting the expense of the food of those who went out with me to battle, as also the portions of the men who went with me, Anar, Ashcol, and Mamre, they and their men, as well as those also who had remained to watch the baggage, they shall take their portion of the spoil.
17 And the kings of Sodom gave Abram according to all that he had said, and they pressed him to take of whatever he chose, but he would not.
18 And he sent away the kings of Sodom and the remainder of their men, and he gave them orders about Lot, and they went to their respective places.
19 And Lot, his brother's son, he also sent away with his property, and he went with them, and Lot returned to his home, to Sodom, and Abram and his people returned to their home to the plains of Mamre, which is in Hebron.
20 At that time YAHWEH again appeared to Abram in Hebron, and he said to him, Do not fear, your reward is very great before me, for I will not leave you, until I shall have multiplied you, and blessed you and made your seed like the stars in heaven, which cannot be measured nor numbered.
21 And I will give unto your seed all these lands that you see with your eyes, to them will I give them for an inheritance forever, only be strong and do not fear, walk before me and be perfect.
Year 2026
22 And in the seventy-eighth year of the life of Abram, in that year died Reu, the son of Peleg, and all the days of Reu were two hundred and thirty-nine years, and he died.
23 And Sarai, the daughter of Haran, Abram's wife, was still barren in those days; she did not bear to Abram either son or daughter.
24 And when she saw that she bare no children she took her handmaid Hagar, whom Pharaoh had given her, and she gave her to Abram her husband for a wife.
25 For Hagar learned all the ways of Sarai as Sarai taught her, she was not in any way deficient in following her good ways. 26 And Sarai said to Abram, Behold here is my handmaid Hagar, go to her that she may bring forth upon my knees, that I may also obtain children through her.
Year 2033
27 And at the end of ten years of Abram's dwelling in the land of Canaan, which is the eighty-fifth year of Abram's life, Sarai gave Hagar unto him.
28 And Abram hearkened to the voice of his wife Sarai, and he took his handmaid Hagar and Abram came to her and she conceived.
29 And when Hagar saw that she had conceived she rejoiced greatly, and her mistress was despised in her eyes, and she said within herself, This can only be that I am better before YAHWEH than Sarai my mistress, for all the days that my mistress has been with my lord, she did not conceive, but me YAHWEH has caused in so short a time to conceive by him.
30 And when Sarai saw that Hagar had conceived by Abram, Sarai was jealous of her handmaid, and Sarai said within herself, This is surely nothing else but that she must be better than I am.
31 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon you, for at the time when you didst pray before YAHWEH for children why didst you not pray on my account, that YAHWEH should give me seed from you?
32 And when I speak to Hagar in your presence, she despises my words, because she has conceived, and you wilt say nothing to her; may YAHWEH judge between me and you for what you hast done to me.
33 And Abram said to Sarai, Behold your handmaid is in your hand, do unto her as it may seem good in your eyes; and Sarai afflicted her, and Hagar fled from her to the wilderness.
34 And an heavenly messenger of YAHWEH found her in the place where she had fled, by a well, and he said to her, Do not fear, for I will multiply your seed, for you shall bear a son and you shall call his name Ishmael; now then return to Sarai your mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
35 And Hagar called the place of that well Beer-lahai-roi, it is between Kadesh and the wilderness of Bered.
Year 2034
36 And Hagar at that time returned to her master's house, and at the end of days Hagar bare a son to Abram, and Abram called his name Ishmael; and Abram was eighty-six years old when he begat him.

The Book of Jasher Index - Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

Click on a Label below, to list all the related posts.

Jasher, Chapter 15

Year 2023

1 And in that year there was a heavy famine throughout the land of Canaan, and the inhabitants of the land could not remain on account of the famine for it was very grievous.
2 And Abram and all belonging to him rose and went down to Egypt on account of the famine, and when they were at the brook Mitzraim they remained there some time to rest from the fatigue of the road.
3 And Abram and Sarai were walking at the border of the brook Mitzraim, and Abram beheld his wife Sarai that she was very beautiful.
4 And Abram said to his wife Sarai, Since YAHWEH has created you with such a beautiful countenance, I am afraid of the Egyptians lest they should slay me and take you away, for the fear of YAHWEH is not in these places.
5 Surely then you shall do this, Say you are my sister to all that may ask you, in order that it may be well with me, and that we may live and not be put to death.
6 And Abram commanded the same to all those that came with him to Egypt on account of the famine; also his nephew Lot he commanded, saying, If the Egyptians ask you concerning Sarai say she is the sister of Abram.
7 And yet with all these orders Abram did not put confidence in them, but he took Sarai and placed her in a chest and concealed it amongst their vessels, for Abram was greatly concerned about Sarai on account of the wickedness of the Egyptians.
8 And Abram and all belonging to him rose up from the brook Mitzraim and came to Egypt; and they had scarcely entered the gates of the city when the guards stood up to them saying, Give tithe to the king from what you have, and then you may come into the town; and Abram and those that were with him did so.
9 And Abram with the people that were with him came to Egypt, and when they came they brought the chest in which Sarai was concealed and the Egyptians saw the chest.
10 And the king's servants approached Abram, saying, What hast you here in this chest which we have not seen? Now open you the chest and give tithe to the king of all that it contains.
11 And Abram said, This chest I will not open, but all you demand upon it I will give. And Pharaoh's officers answered Abram, saying, It is a chest of precious stones, give us the tenth thereof.
12 Abram said, All that you desire I will give, but you must not open the chest.
13 And the king's officers pressed Abram, and they reached the chest and opened it with force, and they saw, and behold a beautiful woman was in the chest.
14 And when the officers of the king beheld Sarai they were struck with admiration at her beauty, and all the princes and servants of Pharaoh assembled to see Sarai, for she was very beautiful. And the king's officers ran and told Pharaoh all that they had seen, and they praised Sarai to the king; and Pharaoh ordered her to be brought, and the woman came before the king.
15 And Pharaoh beheld Sarai and she pleased him exceedingly, and he was struck with her beauty, and the king rejoiced greatly on her account, and made presents to those who brought him the tidings concerning her.
16 And the woman was then brought to Pharaoh's house, and Abram grieved on account of his wife, and he prayed to YAHWEH to deliver her from the hands of Pharaoh.
17 And Sarai also prayed at that time and said, O YAHWEH my ALMIGHTY you didst tell my lord Abram to go from his land and from his father's house to the land of Canaan, and you didst promise to do well with him if he would perform your commands; now behold we have done that which you didst command us, and we left our land and our families, and we went to a strange land and to a people whom we have not known before.
18 And we came to this land to avoid the famine, and this evil accident has befallen me; now therefore, O YAHWEH my ALMIGHTY, deliver us and save us from the hand of this oppressor, and do well with me for the sake of your mercy.
19 And YAHWEH hearkened to the voice of Sarai, and YAHWEH sent an heavenly messenger to deliver Sarai from the power of Pharaoh.
20 And the king came and sat before Sarai and behold an heavenly messenger of YAHWEH was standing over them, and he appeared to Sarai and said to her, Do not fear, for YAHWEH has heard your prayer.
21 And the king approached Sarai and said to her, What is that man to you who brought you hither? and she said, He is my brother.
22 And the king said, It is incumbent upon us to make him great, to elevate him and to do unto him all the good which you shall command us; and at that time the king sent to Abram silver and gold and precious stones in abundance, together with cattle, men servants and maid servants; and the king ordered Abram to be brought, and he sat in the court of the king's house, and the king greatly exalted Abram on that night.
23 And the king approached to speak to Sarai, and he reached out his hand to touch her, when the heavenly messenger smote him heavily, and he was terrified and he refrained from reaching to her.
24 And when the king came near to Sarai, the heavenly messenger smote him to the ground, and acted thus to him the whole night, and the king was terrified.
25 And the heavenly messenger on that night smote heavily all the servants of the king, and his whole household, on account of Sarai, and there was a great lamentation that night amongst the people of Pharaoh's house.
26 And Pharaoh, seeing the evil that befell him, said, Surely on account of this woman has this thing happened to me, and he removed himself at some distance from her and spoke pleasing words to her.
27 And the king said to Sarai, Tell me I pray you concerning the man with whom you came here; and Sarai said, This man is my husband, and I said to you that he was my brother for I was afraid, lest you shouldst put him to death through wickedness.
28 And the king kept away from Sarai, and the plagues of the heavenly messenger of YAHWEH ceased from him and his household; and Pharaoh knew that he was smitten on account of Sarai, and the king was greatly astonished at this.
29 And in the morning the king called for Abram and said to him, What is this you hast done to me? Why didst you say, She is my sister, owing to which I took her unto me for a wife, and this heavy plague has therefore come upon me and my household.
30 Now therefore here is your wife, take her and go from our land lest we all die on her account. And Pharaoh took more cattle, men servants and maid servants, and silver and gold, to give to Abram, and he returned unto him Sarai his wife.
31 And the king took a maiden whom he begat by his concubines, and he gave her to Sarai for a handmaid.
32 And the king said to his daughter, It is better for you my daughter to be a handmaid in this man's house than to be mistress in my house, after we have beheld the evil that befell us on account of this woman.
33 And Abram arose, and he and all belonging to him went away from Egypt; and Pharaoh ordered some of his men to accompany him and all that went with him.
34 And Abram returned to the land of Canaan, to the place where he had made the altar, where he at first had pitched his tent.
35 And Lot the son of Haran, Abram's brother, had a heavy stock of cattle, flocks and herds and tents, for YAHWEH was bountiful to them on account of Abram.
36 And when Abram was dwelling in the land the herdsmen of Lot quarrelled with the herdsmen of Abram, for their property was too great for them to remain together in the land, and the land could not bear them on account of their cattle.
37 And when Abram's herdsmen went to feed their flock they would not go into the fields of the people of the land, but the cattle of Lot's herdsmen did otherwise, for they were suffered to feed in the fields of the people of the land.
38 And the people of the land saw this occurrence daily, and they came to Abram and quarrelled with him on account of Lot's herdsmen.
39 And Abram said to Lot, What is this you are doing to me, to make me despicable to the inhabitants of the land, that you order your herdsman to feed your cattle in the fields of other people? Dost you not know that I am a stranger in this land amongst the children of Canaan, and why wilt you do this unto me?
40 And Abram quarrelled daily with Lot on account of this, but Lot would not listen to Abram, and he continued to do the same and the inhabitants of the land came and told Abram.
41 And Abram said unto Lot, How long wilt you be to me for a stumbling block with the inhabitants of the land? Now I beseech you let there be no more quarrelling between us, for we are kinsmen.
42 But I pray you separate from me, go and choose a place where you may dwell with your cattle and all belonging to you, but Keep thyself at a distance from me, you and your household.
43 And be not afraid in going from me, for if any one do an injury to you, let me know and I will avenge your cause from him, only remove from me.
44 And when Abram had spoken all these words to Lot, then Lot arose and lifted up his eyes toward the plain of Yardan.
45 And he saw that the whole of this place was well watered, and good for man as well as affording pasture for the cattle.
46 And Lot went from Abram to that place, and he there pitched his tent and he dwelt in Sodom, and they were separated from each other.
47 And Abram dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and he pitched his tent there, and Abram remained in that place many years.

The Book of Jasher Index - Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

Click on a Label below, to list all the related posts.

Jasher, Chapter 13

1 And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, the wife of his son Abram, and all the souls of his household and went with them from Ur Casdim to go to the land of Canaan. And when they came as far as the land of Haran they remained there, for it was exceedingly good land for pasture, and of sufficient extent for those who accompanied them.
2 And the people of the land of Haran saw that Abram was good and upright with YAHWEH and men, and that YAHWEH his ALMIGHTY was with him, and some of the people of the land of Haran came and joined Abram, and he taught them the instruction of YAHWEH and his ways; and these men remained with Abram in his house and they adhered to him.
Year 2003
3 And Abram remained in the land three years, and at the expiration of three years YAHWEH appeared to Abram and said to him; I am YAHWEH who brought you forth from Ur Casdim, and delivered you from the hands of all your enemies.
4 And now therefore if you wilt hearken to my voice and keep my commandments, my statutes and my laws, then will I cause your enemies to fall before you, and I will multiply your seed like the stars of heaven, and I will send my blessing upon all the works of your hands, and you shall lack nothing.
5 Arise now, take your wife and all belonging to you and go to the land of Canaan and remain there, and I will there be unto you for a Father, and I will bless you. And Abram rose and took his wife and all belonging to him, and he went to the land of Canaan as YAHWEH had told him; and Abram was fifty five years old when he went from Haran.
6 And Abram came to the land of Canaan and dwelt in the midst of the city, and he there pitched his tent amongst the children of Canaan, inhabitants of the land.
7 And YAHWEH appeared to Abram when he came to the land of Canaan, and said to him, This is the land which I gave unto you and to your seed after you forever, and I will make your seed like the stars of heaven, and I will give unto your seed for an inheritance all the lands which you seest.
8 And Abram built an altar in the place where YAHWEH had spoken to him, and Abram there called upon the name of YAHWEH.
Year 2006
9 At that time, at the end of three years of Abram's dwelling in the land of Canaan, in that year Noah died, which was the fifty-eighth year of the life of Abram; and all the days that Noah lived were nine hundred and fifty years and he died.
10 And Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, he, his wife, and all belonging to him, and all those that accompanied him, together with those that joined him from the people of the land; but Nahor, Abram's brother, and Terah his father, and Lot the son of Haran and all belonging to them dwelt in Haran.
Year 2008
11 In the fifth year of Abram's dwelling in the land of Canaan the people of Sodom and Gomorrah and all the cities of the plain revolted from the power of Chedorlaomer, king of Elam; for all the kings of the cities of the plain had served Chedorlaomer for twelve years, and given him a yearly tax, but in those days in the thirteenth year, they rebelled against him.

Year 2013
12 And in the tenth year of Abram's dwelling in the land of Canaan there was war between Nimrod king of Shinar and Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Nimrod came to fight with Chedorlaomer and to subdue him.
13 For Chedorlaomer was at that time one of the princes of the hosts of Nimrod, and when all the people at the tower were dispersed and those that remained were also scattered upon the face of the earth, Chedorlaomer went to the land of Elam and reigned over it and rebelled against his lord.
14 And in those days when Nimrod saw that the cities of the plain had rebelled, he came with pride and anger to war with Chedorlaomer, and Nimrod assembled all his princes and subjects, about seven hundred thousand men, and went against Chedorlaomer, and Chedorlaomer went out to meet him with five thousand men, and they prepared for battle in the valley of Babel which is between Elam and Shinar.
15 And all those kings fought there, and Nimrod and his people were smitten before the people of Chedorlaomer, and there fell from Nimrod's men about six hundred thousand, and Mardon the king's son fell amongst them.
16 And Nimrod fled and returned in shame and disgrace to his land, and he was under subjection to Chedorlaomer for a long time, and Chedorlaomer returned to his land and sent princes of his host to the kings that dwelt around him, to Arioch king of Elasar, and to Tidal king of Goyim, and made a covenant with them, and they were all obedient to his commands.
Year 2018
17 And it was in the fifteenth year of Abram's dwelling in the land of Canaan, which is the seventieth year of the life of Abram, and YAHWEH appeared to Abram in that year and he said to him, I am YAHWEH who brought you out from Ur Casdim to give you this land for an inheritance.
18 Now therefore walk before me and be perfect and keep my commands, for to you and to your seed I will give this land for an inheritance, from the river Mitzraim unto the great river Euphrates.
19 And you shall come to your fathers in peace and in good age, and the fourth generation shall return here in this land and shall inherit it forever; and Abram built an altar, and he called upon the name of YAHWEH who appeared to him, and he brought up sacrifices upon the altar to YAHWEH.
Year 2023
20 At that time Abram returned and went to Haran to see his father and mother, and his father's household, and Abram and his wife and all belonging to him returned to Haran, and Abram dwelt in Haran five years.
21 And many of the people of Haran, about seventy-two men, followed Abram and Abram taught them the instruction of YAHWEH and his ways, and he taught them to know YAHWEH. 22 In those days YAHWEH appeared to Abram in Haran, and he said to him, Behold, I spoke unto you these twenty years back saying,
23 Go forth from your land, from your birth-place and from your father's house, to the land which I have shown you to give it to you and to your children, for there in that land will I bless you, and make you a great nation, and make your name great, and in you shall the families of the earth be blessed.
24 Now therefore arise, go forth from this place, you, your wife, and all belonging to you, also every one born in your house and all the souls you hast made in Haran, and bring them out with you from here, and rise to return to the land of Canaan.
25 And Abram arose and took his wife Sarai and all belonging to him and all that were born to him in his house and the souls which they had made in Haran, and they came out to go to the land of Canaan.
26 And Abram went and returned to the land of Canaan, according to the word of YAHWEH. And Lot the son of his brother Haran went with him, and Abram was seventy-five years old when he went forth from Haran to return to the land of Canaan.
27 And he came to the land of Canaan according to the word of YAHWEH to Abram, and he pitched his tent and he dwelt in the plain of Mamre, and with him was Lot his brother's son, and all belonging to him.
28 And YAHWEH again appeared to Abram and said, To your seed will I give this land; and he there built an altar to YAHWEH who appeared to him, which is still to this day in the plains of Mamre.

The Book of Jasher Index - Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

Click on a Label below, to list all the related posts.

Jasher, Chapter 12

1 And when the king heard the words of Abram he ordered him to be put into prison; and Abram was ten days in prison.
2 And at the end of those days the king ordered that all the kings, princes and governors of different provinces and the sages should come before him, and they sat before him, and Abram was still in the house of confinement.
3 And the king said to the princes and sages, Have you heard what Abram, the son of Terah, has done to his father? Thus has he done to him, and I ordered him to be brought before me, and thus has he spoken; his heart did not misgive him, neither did he stir in my presence, and behold now he is confined in the prison.
4 And therefore decide what judgment is due to this man who reviled the king; who spoke and did all the things that you heard.
5 And they all answered the king saying, The man who reviles the king should be hanged upon a tree; but having done all the things that he said, and having despised our gods, he must therefore be burned to death, for this is the law in this matter.
6 If it pleases the king to do this, let him order his servants to kindle a fire both night and day in your brick furnace, and then we will cast this man into it. And the king did so, and he commanded his servants that they should prepare a fire for three days and three nights in the king's furnace, that is in Casdim; and the king ordered them to take Abram from prison and bring him out to be burned.
7 And all the king's servants, princes, lords, governors, and judges, and all the inhabitants of the land, about nine hundred thousand men, stood opposite the furnace to see Abram.
8 And all the women and little ones crowded upon the roofs and towers to see what was doing with Abram, and they all stood together at a distance; and there was not a man left that did not come on that day to behold the scene.
9 And when Abram was come, the conjurors of the king and the sages saw Abram, and they cried out to the king, saying, Our sovereign lord, surely this is the man whom we know to have been the child at whose birth the great star swallowed the four stars, which we declared to the king now fifty years since.
10 And behold now his father has also transgressed your commands, and mocked you by bringing you another child, which you didst kill. 11 And when the king heard their words, he was exceedingly wroth, and he ordered Terah to be brought before him.
12 And the king said, Hast you heard what the conjurors have spoken? Now tell me truly, how didst you; and if you shall speak truth you shall be acquitted.
13 And seeing that the king's anger was so much kindled, Terah said to the king, My lord and king, you hast heard the truth, and what the sages have spoken is right. And the king said, How couldst you do this thing, to transgress my orders and to give me a child that you didst not beget, and to take value for him?
14 And Terah answered the king, Because my tender feelings were excited for my son, at that time, and I took a son of my handmaid, and I brought him to the king.
15 And the king said Who advised you to this? Tell me, do not hide aught from me, and then you shall not die.
16 And Terah was greatly terrified in the king's presence, and he said to the king, It was Haran my eldest son who advised me to this; and Haran was in those days that Abram was born, two and thirty years old.
17 But Haran did not advise his father to anything, for Terah said this to the king in order to deliver his soul from the king, for he feared greatly; and the king said to Terah, Haran your son who advised you to this shall die through fire with Abram; for the sentence of death is upon him for having rebelled against the king's desire in doing this thing.
18 And Haran at that time felt inclined to follow the ways of Abram, but he kept it within himself.
19 And Haran said in his heart, Behold now the king has seized Abram on account of these things which Abram did, and it shall come to pass, that if Abram prevail over the king I will follow him, but if the king prevail I will go after the king.
20 And when Terah had spoken this to the king concerning Haran his son, the king ordered Haran to be seized with Abram.
21 And they brought them both, Abram and Haran his brother, to cast them into the fire; and all the inhabitants of the land and the king's servants and princes and all the women and little ones were there, standing that day over them.
22 And the king's servants took Abram and his brother, and they stripped them of all their clothes excepting their lower garments which were upon them.
23 And they bound their hands and feet with linen cords, and the servants of the king lifted them up and cast them both into the furnace.
24 And YAHWEH loved Abram and he had compassion over him, and YAHWEH came down and delivered Abram from the fire and he was not burned.
25 But all the cords with which they bound him were burned, while Abram remained and walked about in the fire.
26 And Haran died when they had cast him into the fire, and he was burned to ashes, for his heart was not perfect with YAHWEH; and those men who cast him into the fire, the flame of the fire spread over them, and they were burned, and twelve men of them died.
27 And Abram walked in the midst of the fire three days and three nights, and all the servants of the king saw him walking in the fire, and they came and told the king, saying, Behold we have seen Abram walking about in the midst of the fire, and even the lower garments which are upon him are not burned, but the cord with which he was bound is burned.
28 And when the king heard their words his heart fainted and he would not believe them; so he sent other faithful princes to see this matter, and they went and saw it and told it to the king; and the king rose to go and see it, and he saw Abram walking to and fro in the midst of the fire, and he saw Haran's body burned, and the king wondered greatly.
29 And the king ordered Abram to be taken out from the fire; and his servants approached to take him out and they could not, for the fire was round about and the flame ascending toward them from the furnace.
30 And the king's servants fled from it, and the king rebuked them, saying, Make haste and bring Abram out of the fire that you shall not die.
31 And the servants of the king again approached to bring Abram out, and the flames came upon them and burned their faces so that eight of them died.
32 And when the king saw that his servants could not approach the fire lest they should be burned, the king called to Abram, O servant of YAHWEH who is in heaven, go forth from amidst the fire and come hither before me; and Abram hearkened to the voice of the king, and he went forth from the fire and came and stood before the king.
33 And when Abram came out the king and all his servants saw Abram coming before the king, with his lower garments upon him, for they were not burned, but the cord with which he was bound was burned.
34 And the king said to Abram, How is it that you wast not burned in the fire?
35 And Abram said to the king, YAHWEH of heaven and earth in whom I trust and who has all in his power, He delivered me from the fire into which you didst cast me.
36 And Haran the brother of Abram was burned to ashes, and they sought for his body, and they found it consumed.
37 And Haran was eighty-two years old when he died in the fire of Casdim. And the king, princes, and inhabitants of the land, seeing that Abram was delivered from the fire, they came and bowed down to Abram.
38 And Abram said to them, Do not bow down to me, but bow down to YAHWEH of the world who made you, and serve him, and go in his ways for it is he who delivered me from out of this fire, and it is he who created the souls and spirits of all men, and formed man in his mother's womb, and brought him forth into the world, and it is he who will deliver those who trust in him from all pain.
39 And this thing seemed very wonderful in the eyes of the king and princes, that Abram was saved from the fire and that Haran was burned; and the king gave Abram many presents and he gave him his two head servants from the king's house; the name of one was Oni and the name of the other was Eliezer. 40 And all the kings, princes and servants gave Abram many gifts of silver and gold and pearl, and the king and his princes sent him away, and he went in peace. 41 And Abram went forth from the king in peace, and many of the king's servants followed him, and about three hundred men joined him. 42 And Abram returned on that day and went to his father's house, he and the men that followed him, and Abram served YAHWEH his ALMIGHTY all the days of his life, and he walked in his ways and followed his law.
43 And from that day forward Abram inclined the hearts of the sons of men to serve YAHWEH.
Year 1998
44 And at that time Nahor and Abram took unto themselves wives, the daughters of their brother Haran; the wife of Nahor was Milca and the name of Abram's wife was Sarai. And Sarai, wife of Abram, was barren; she had no offspring in those days.
Year 2000
45 And at the expiration of two years from Abram's going out of the fire, that is in the fifty-second year of his life, behold king Nimrod sat in Babel upon the throne, and the king fell asleep and dreamed that he was standing with his troops and hosts in a valley opposite the king's furnace.
46 And he lifted up his eyes and saw a man in the likeness of Abram coming forth from the furnace, and that he came and stood before the king with his drawn sword, and then sprang to the king with his sword, when the king fled from the man, for he was afraid; and while he was running, the man threw an egg upon the king's head, and the egg became a great river.
47 And the king dreamed that all his troops sank in that river and died, and the king took flight with three men who were before him and he escaped.
48 And the king looked at these men and they were clothed in princely dresses as the garments of kings, and had the appearance and majesty of kings.
49 And while they were running, the river again turned to an egg before the king, and there came forth from the egg a young bird which came before the king, and flew at his head and plucked out the king's eye.
50 And the king was grieved at the sight, and he awoke out of his sleep and his spirit was agitated; and he felt a great terror.
51 And in the morning the king rose from his couch in fear, and he ordered all the wise men and magicians to come before him, when the king related his dream to them.
52 And a wise servant of the king, whose name was Anuki, answered the king, saying, This is nothing else but the evil of Abram and his seed which will spring up against my lord and king in the latter days.
53 And behold the day will come when Abram and his seed and the children of his household will war with my king, and they will smite all the king's hosts and his troops.
54 And as to what you hast said concerning three men which you didst see like unto thyself, and which did escape, this means that only you wilt escape with three kings from the kings of the earth who will be with you in battle.
55 And that which you saw of the river which turned to an egg as at first, and the young bird plucking out your eye, this means nothing else but the seed of Abram which will slay the king in latter days.
56 This is my king's dream, and this is its interpretation, and the dream is true, and the interpretation which your servant has given you is right.
57 Now therefore my king, surely you know that it is now fifty-two years since your sages saw this at the birth of Abram, and if my king will suffer Abram to live in the earth it will be to the injury of my lord and king, for all the days that Abram lives neither you nor your kingdom will be established, for this was known formerly at his birth; and why will not my king slay him, that his evil may be kept from you in latter days?
58 And Nimrod hearkened to the voice of Anuki, and he sent some of his servants in secret to go and seize Abram, and bring him before the king to suffer death.
59 And Eliezer, Abram's servant whom the king had given him, was at that time in the presence of the king, and he heard what Anuki had advised the king, and what the king had said to cause Abram's death.
60 And Eliezer said to Abram, Hasten, rise up and save your soul, that you may not die through the hands of the king, for thus did he see in a dream concerning you, and thus did Anuki interpret it, and thus also did Anuki advise the king concerning you.
61 And Abram hearkened to the voice of Eliezer, and Abram hastened and ran for safety to the house of Noah and his son Shem, and he concealed himself there and found a place of safety; and the king's servants came to Abram's house to seek him, but they could not find him, and they searched through out the country and he was not to be found, and they went and searched in every direction and he was not to be met with.
62 And when the king's servants could not find Abram they returned to the king, but the king's anger against Abram was stilled, as they did not find him, and the king drove from his mind this matter concerning Abram.
63 And Abram was concealed in Noah's house for one month, until the king had forgotten this matter, but Abram was still afraid of the king; and Terah came to see Abram his son secretly in the house of Noah, and Terah was very great in the eyes of the king.
64 And Abram said to his father, Dost you not know that the king thinks to slay me, and to annihilate my name from the earth by the advice of his wicked counsellors?
65 Now whom hast you here and what hast you in this land? Arise, let us go together to the land of Canaan, that we may be delivered from his hand, lest you perish also through him in the latter days.
66 Dost you not know or hast you not heard, that it is not through love that Nimrod gives you all this honor, but it is only for his benefit that he bestows all this good upon you?
67 And if he do unto you greater good than this, surely these are only vanities of the world, for wealth and riches cannot avail in the day of wrath and anger. 68 Now therefore hearken to my voice, and let us arise and go to the land of Canaan, out of the reach of injury from Nimrod; and serve you YAHWEH who created you in the earth and it will be well with you; and cast away all the vain things which you pursuest.
69 And Abram ceased to speak, when Noah and his son Shem answered Terah, saying, True is the word which Abram hath said unto you.
70 And Terah hearkened to the voice of his son Abram, and Terah did all that Abram said, for this was from YAHWEH, that the king should not cause Abram's death.

The Book of Jasher Index - Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

Click on a Label below, to list all the related posts.

Jasher, Chapter 11

1 And Nimrod son of Cush was still in the land of Shinar, and he reigned over it and dwelt there, and he built cities in the land of Shinar.
2 And these are the names of the four cities which he built, and he called their names after the occurrences that happened to them in the building of the tower.
3 And he called the first Babel, saying, Because YAHWEH there confounded the language of the whole earth; and the name of the second he called Erech, because from there YAHWEH dispersed them.
4 And the third he called Eched, saying there was a great battle at that place; and the fourth he called Calnah, because his princes and mighty men were consumed there, and they vexed YAHWEH, they rebelled and transgressed against him.
5 And when Nimrod had built these cities in the land of Shinar, he placed in them the remainder of his people, his princes and his mighty men that were left in his kingdom.
6 And Nimrod dwelt in Babel, and he there renewed his reign over the rest of his subjects, and he reigned securely, and the subjects and princes of Nimrod called his name Amraphel, saying that at the tower his princes and men fell through his means.
7 And notwithstanding this, Nimrod did not return to YAHWEH, and he continued in wickedness and teaching wickedness to the sons of men; and Mardon, his son, was worse than his father, and continued to add to the abominations of his father.
8 And he caused the sons of men to sin, therefore it is said, From the wicked goes forth wickedness.
Year 1997
9 At that time there was war between the families of the children of Ham, as they were dwelling in the cities which they had built.
10 And Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, went away from the families of the children of Ham, and he fought with them and he subdued them, and he went to the five cities of the plain and he fought against them and he subdued them, and they were under his control.
11 And they served him twelve years, and they gave him a yearly tax.
Year 1997, Nahor died.
12 At that time died Nahor, son of Serug, in the forty-ninth year of the life of Abram son of Terah.
Year 1998
13 And in the fiftieth year of the life of Abram son of Terah, Abram came forth from the house of Noah, and went to his father's house.
14 And Abram knew YAHWEH, and he went in his ways and instructions, and YAHWEH his ALMIGHTY was with him.
15 And Terah his father was in those days, still captain of the host of king Nimrod, and he still followed strange gods.
16 And Abram came to his father's house and saw twelve gods standing there in their temples, and the anger of Abram was kindled when he saw these images in his father's house.
17 And Abram said, As YAHWEH lives these images shall not remain in my father's house; so shall YAHWEH who created me do unto me if in three days' time I do not break them all.
18 And Abram went from them, and his anger burned within him. And Abram hastened and went from the chamber to his father's outer court, and he found his father sitting in the court, and all his servants with him, and Abram came and sat before him.
19 And Abram asked his father, saying, Father, tell me where is YAHWEH who created heaven and earth, and all the sons of men upon earth, and who created you and me. And Terah answered his son Abram and said, Behold those who created us are all with us in the house.
20 And Abram said to his father, My adon, shew them to me I pray you; and Terah brought Abram into the chamber of the inner court, and Abram saw, and behold the whole room was full of gods of wood and stone, twelve great images and others less than they without number.
21 And Terah said to his son, Behold these are they which made all you seest upon earth, and which created me and you, and all mankind.
22 And Terah bowed down to his gods, and he then went away from them, and Abram, his son, went away with him.
23 And when Abram had gone from them he went to his mother and sat before her, and he said to his mother, Behold, my father has shown me those who made heaven and earth, and all the sons of men.
24 Now, therefore, hasten and fetch a kid from the flock, and make of it savory meat, that I may bring it to my father's gods as an offering for them to eat; perhaps I may thereby become acceptable to them.
25 And his mother did so, and she fetched a kid, and made savory meat thereof, and brought it to Abram, and Abram took the savory meat from his mother and brought it before his father's gods, and he drew nigh to them that they might eat; and Terah his father, did not know of it.
26 And Abram saw on the day when he was sitting amongst them, that they had no voice, no hearing, no motion, and not one of them could stretch forth his hand to eat.
27 And Abram mocked them, and said, Surely the savory meat that I prepared has not pleased them, or perhaps it was too little for them, and for that reason they would not eat; therefore tomorrow I will prepare fresh savory meat, better and more plentiful than this, in order that I may see the result.
28 And it was on the next day that Abram directed his mother concerning the savory meat, and his mother rose and fetched three fine kids from the flock, and she made of them some excellent savory meat, such as her son was fond of, and she gave it to her son Abram; and Terah his father did not know of it.
29 And Abram took the savory meat from his mother, and brought it before his father's gods into the chamber; and he came nigh unto them that they might eat, and he placed it before them, and Abram sat before them all day, thinking perhaps they might eat.
30 And Abram viewed them, and behold they had neither voice nor hearing, nor did one of them stretch forth his hand to the meat to eat.
31 And in the evening of that day in that house Abram was clothed with the spirit of YAHWEH.
32 And he called out and said, Woe unto my father and this wicked generation, whose hearts are all inclined to vanity, who serve these idols of wood and stone which can neither eat, smell, hear nor speak, who have mouths without speech, eyes without sight, ears without hearing, hands without feeling, and legs which cannot move; like them are those that made them and that trust in them.
33 And when Abram saw all these things his anger was kindled against his father, and he hastened and took a hatchet in his hand, and came unto the chamber of the gods, and he broke all his father's gods.
34 And when he had done breaking the images, he placed the hatchet in the hand of the great god which was there before them, and he went out; and Terah his father came home, for he had heard at the door the sound of the striking of the hatchet; so Terah came into the house to know what this was about.
35 And Terah, having heard the noise of the hatchet in the room of images, ran to the room to the images, and he met Abram going out.
36 And Terah entered the room and found all the idols fallen down and broken, and the hatchet in the hand of the largest, which was not broken, and the savory meat which Abram his son had made was still before them.
37 And when Terah saw this his anger was greatly kindled, and he hastened and went from the room to Abram.
38 And he found Abram his son still sitting in the house; and he said to him, What is this work you hast done to my gods?
39 And Abram answered Terah his father and he said, Not so my adonay, for I brought savory meat before them, and when I came nigh to them with the meat that they might eat, they all at once stretched forth their hands to eat before the great one had put forth his hand to eat.
40 And the large one saw their works that they did before him, and his anger was violently kindled against them, and he went and took the hatchet that was in the house and came to them and broke them all, and behold the hatchet is yet in his hand as you seest.
41 And Terah's anger was kindled against his son Abram, when he spoke this; and Terah said to Abram his son in his anger, What is this tale that you hast told? You speak lies to me.
42 Is there in these gods spirit, soul or power to do all you hast told me? Are they not wood and stone, and have I not myself made them, and canst you speak such lies, saying that the large god that was with them smote them? It is you that didst place the hatchet in his hands, and then say he smote them all.
43 And Abram answered his father and said to him, And how canst you then serve these idols in whom there is no power to do any thing? Can those idols in which you trust deliver you? can they hear your prayers when you call upon them? can they deliver you from the hands of your enemies, or will they fight your battles for you against your enemies, that you shouldst serve wood and stone which can neither speak nor hear?
44 And now surely it is not good for you nor for the sons of men that are connected with you, to do these things; are you so silly, so foolish or so short of understanding that you will serve wood and stone, and do after this manner?
45 And forget YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY who made heaven and earth, and who created you in the earth, and thereby bring a great evil upon your souls in this matter by serving stone and wood?
46 Did not our fathers in days of old sin in this matter, and YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY of the universe brought the waters of the flood upon them and destroyed the whole earth?
47 And how can you continue to do this and serve gods of wood and stone, who cannot hear, or speak, or deliver you from oppression, thereby bringing down the anger of YAHWEH of the universe upon you?
48 Now therefore my father refrain from this, and bring not evil upon your soul and the souls of your household.
49 And Abram hastened and sprang from before his father, and took the hatchet from his father's largest idol, with which Abram broke it and ran away.
50 And Terah, seeing all that Abram had done, hastened to go from his house, and he went to the king and he came before Nimrod and stood before him, and he bowed down to the king; and the king said, What dost you want?
51 And he said, I beseech you my lord, to hear me, Now fifty years back a child was born to me, and thus has he done to my gods and thus has he spoken; and now therefore, my lord and king, send for him that he may come before you, and judge him according to the law, that we may be delivered from his evil.
52 And the king sent three men of his servants, and they went and brought Abram before the king. And Nimrod and all his princes and servants were that day sitting before him, and Terah sat also before them.
53 And the king said to Abram, What is this that you hast done to your father and to his gods? And Abram answered the king in the words that he spoke to his father, and he said, The large god that was with them in the house did to them what you hast heard.
54 And the king said to Abram, Had they power to speak and eat and do as you hast said? And Abram answered the king, saying, And if there be no power in them why dost you serve them and cause the sons of men to err through your follies?
55 Dost you imagine that they can deliver you or do anything small or great, that you shouldst serve them? And why wilt you not sense the ALMIGHTY of the whole universe, who created you and in whose power it is to kill and keep alive?
56 O foolish, simple, and ignorant king, woe unto you forever.
57 I thought you wouldst teach your servants the upright way, but you hast not done this, but hast filled the whole earth with your sins and the sins of your people who have followed your ways.
58 Dost you not know, or hast you not heard, that this evil which you doest, our ancestors sinned therein in days of old, and the eternal YAHWEH brought the waters of the flood upon them and destroyed them all, and also destroyed the whole earth on their account? And wilt you and your people rise up now and do like unto this work, in order to bring down the anger of YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY of the universe, and to bring evil upon you and the whole earth?
59 Now therefore put away this evil deed which you doest, and serve YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY of the universe, as your soul is in his hands, and then it will be well with you.
60 And if your wicked heart will not hearken to my words to cause you to forsake your evil ways, and to serve the eternal YAHWEH, then wilt you die in shame in the latter days, you, your people and all who are connected with you, hearing your words or walking in your evil ways.
61 And when Abram had ceased speaking before the king and princes, Abram lifted up his eyes to the heavens, and he said, YAHWEH sees all the wicked, and he will judge them.

The Book of Jasher Index - Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

Click on a Label below, to list all the related posts.