Showing posts with label Joseph. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joseph. Show all posts

Thursday, July 30, 2026

Acts of the Apostles (7)

Acts 7

1 Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?”
2 And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,
3 and said to him, ‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.’
4 Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell.
5 And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him.
6 But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years.
7 ‘And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.’
8 Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.

9 “And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him
10 and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
11 Now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance.
12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
13 And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to the Pharaoh.
14 Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people.
15 So Jacob went down to Egypt; and he died, he and our fathers.
16 And they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.

17 “But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt
18 till another king arose who did not know Joseph.
19 This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, making them expose their babies, so that they might not live.
20 At this time Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father’s house for three months.
21 But when he was set out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son.
22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.
23 “Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.
24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian.
25 For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand.
26 And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?’
27 But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?
28 Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?’
29 Then, at this saying, Moses fled and became a dweller in the land of Midian, where he had two sons.
30 “And when forty years had passed, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai.
31 When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him,
32 saying, ‘I am the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and dared not look.
33 ‘Then the Lord said to him, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.
34 I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.” ’
35 “This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush.
36 He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

37 “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.’
38 “This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us,
39 whom our fathers would not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt,
40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods to go before us; as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’
41 And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
42 Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets: ‘Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
43 You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch, And the star of your god Remphan, Images which you made to worship; And I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’

44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen,
45 which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David,
46 who found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob.
47 But Solomon built Him a house.
48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:
49 ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, Or what is the place of My rest?
50 Has My hand not made all these things?’

51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.
52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers,
53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord;
58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Full Bible Chapters available on this site - The Son of Man

End Times Confirmed - Other Posts referencing Scriptures


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

Friday, October 24, 2025

Three Books, One Story: Jubilees; Genesis, Jasher

Creation

Jubilees: YAHWEH Call Mosheh up to the Mountain to give the account of the division of the days
JUBILEES 2: Mosheh Is Given the complete history from Creation
1 And the malak of the presence spoke to Mosheh according to the word of YAHWEH, saying: Write the complete history of the creation, how in six days YAHWEH ALMIGHTY finished all His works and all that He created, and kept Shabbat on the seventh day and hallowed it for all ages, and appointed it as a sign for all His works.
...
29 Declare and say to the children of Yisrael the Torah of this day both that they should keep Shabbat thereon, and that they should not forsake it in the error of their hearts; (and) that it is not lawful to do any work thereon which is unseemly, to do thereon their own pleasure, and that they should not prepare thereon anything to be eaten or drunk, and (that it is not lawful) to draw water, or bring in or take out thereon through their gates any burden, which they had not prepared for themselves on the sixth day in their dwellings.
30 And they shall not bring in nor take out from house to house on that day; for that day is more kodesh and blessed than any jubilee day of the jubilees; on this we kept Shabbat in the heavens before it was made known to any flesh to keep Shabbat thereon on the earth.
31 And the Creator of all things blessed it, but he did not sanctify all peoples and nations to keep Shabbat thereon, but Yisrael alone: them alone he permitted to eat and drink and to keep Shabbat thereon on the earth.
32 And the Creator of all things blessed this day which HE had created for blessing and making it kodesh and splendid above all days.
33 This Torah and testimony was given to the children of Yisrael as a Torah forever unto their generations.

Genesis 1: The History of Creation
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
...
31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Jasher 1:1 And YAHWEH said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and YAHWEH created man in his own image.
...
35 And at that time Cain also began to build a city: and he built the city and he called the name of the city Enoch, according to the name of his son; for in those days YAHWEH had given him rest upon the earth, and he did not move about and wander as in the beginning.
36 And Irad was born to Enoch, and Irad begat Mechuyael and Mechuyael begat Methusael.



Jubilees

Genesis

Jasher

Year

Creation

Chapter 2

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

1-7

Garden of Eden

Chapter 3

Chapter 2

Chapter 1

1-7

Fall of Man

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Chapter 1

8

Cain and Abel

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Chapter 1

49-127

Family of Adam

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapters 2-4

130-1212

The Flood

Chapter 5

Chapters 6-7

Chapter 5

1308-1656


  • Jubilees covers until The Exodus of Israel from Egypt (Passover). Year 2410
  • Genesis covers until the deaths of Jacob and Joseph. Year 2255
  • Jasher covers until the division of The Land by Joshua and the start of the Rule of the Elders. Years 2516-2533

End Times Confirmed - Other Posts referencing Scriptures

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

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Book of Jubilees 45

JUBILEES 45

Yisrael went into the land of Goshen

1 And Yisrael went into the country of Egypt, into the land of Goshen, on the new month of the fourth [2172 A.M] month, in the second year of the third week of the forty-fifth jubilee.
2 And Yoseph went to meet his father Yacob, to the land of Goshen, and he fell on his father's neck and wept.
3 And Yisrael said to Yoseph: 'Now let me die since I have seen you, and now may YAHWEH ALMIGHTY of Yisrael be blessed the ALMIGHTY of Abraham and the ALMIGHTY of Yitschaq who has not withheld His mercy and His free unmerited pardon from His servant Yacob.
4 It is enough for me that I have seen your face whilst I am yet alive; yes, true is the vision which I saw at Bethel. Blessed be YAHWEH my Sovereign Ruler forever and ever, and blessed be His NAME.'
5 And Yoseph and his brothers eat bread before their father and drank wine, and Yacob rejoiced with exceeding great joy because he saw Yoseph eating with his brothers and drinking before him, and he blessed the Creator of all things who had preserved him, and had preserved for him his twelve sons.
6 And Yoseph had given to his father and to his brothers as a gift the right of dwelling in the land of Goshen and in Rameses and all the region round about, which he ruled over before Pharaoh. And Yisrael and his sons dwelt in the land of Goshen, the best part of the land of Egypt and Yisrael was one hundred and thirty years old when he came into Egypt.
7 And Yoseph nourished his father and his brethren and also their possessions with bread as much as sufficed them for the seven years of the famine.
8 And the land of Egypt suffered by reason of the famine, and Yoseph acquired all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh in return for food, and he got possession of the people and their cattle and everything for Pharaoh.
9 And the years of the famine were accomplished, and Yoseph gave to the people in the land seed and food that they might sow (the land) in the eighth year, for the river had overflowed all the land of Egypt.
10 For in the seven years of the famine it had (not) overflowed and had irrigated only a few places on the banks of the river, but now it overflowed
11 and the Egyptians sowed the land, and it bore much corn that year. And this was the first year of [2178 A.M.] the fourth week of the forty-fifth jubilee.
12 And Yoseph took of the corn of the harvest the fifth part for the king and left four parts for them for food and for seed, and Yoseph made it an ordinance for the land of Egypt until this day.
13 And Yisrael lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years, and all the days which he lived were three jubilees, one hundred and forty-seven years, and he died in the fourth [2188 A.M.] year of the fifth week of the forty-fifth jubilee.
14 And Yisrael blessed his sons before he died and told them everything that would befall them in the land of Egypt; and he made known to them what would come upon them in the last days, and blessed them and gave to Yoseph two portions in the land.
15 And he slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the double cave in the land of Canaan, near Abraham his father in the grave which he dug for himself in the double cave in the land of Hebron.
16 And he gave all his books and the books of his fathers to Levi his son that he might preserve them and renew them for his children until this day.

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.)

Monday, December 23, 2024

Book of Jubilees 43

JUBILEES 43

Yoseph reveals himself to his brothers

1 And he did as Yoseph had told him, and filled all their sacks for them with food and put their money in their sacks, and put the cup in Benjamin's sack.
2 And early in the morning they departed, and it came to pass that, when they had gone from there, Yoseph said to the steward of his house: 'Pursue them, run and seize them, saying, "For good you have requited me with evil; you have stolen from me the silver cup out of which my lord drinks." And bring back to me their youngest brother, and fetch (him) quickly before I go forth to my seat of judgment.'
3 And he ran after them and said to them according to these words.
4 And they said to him: 'YAHWEH forbid that your servants should do this thing, and steal from the house of your lord any utensil, and the money also which we found in our sacks the first time, we your servants brought back from the land of Canaan.
5 How then should we steal any utensil? Behold here are we and our sacks search, and wherever you find the cup in the sack of any man amongst us, let him be slain, and we and our asses will serve your lord.'
6 And he said to them: 'Not so, the man with whom I find, him only shall I take as a servant, and you shall return in shalom unto your house.'
7 And as he was searching in their vessels, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest, it was found in Benjamin's sack.
8 And they rent their garments, and laded their asses, and returned to the city and came to the house of Yoseph, and they all bowed themselves on their faces to the ground before him.
9 And Yoseph said to them: 'You have done evil.' And they said: 'What shall we say and how shall we defend ourselves? Our lord has discovered the transgression of his servants; behold we are the servants of our lord, and our asses also.'
10 And Yoseph said to them: 'I too fear YAHWEH; as for you, go you to your homes and let your brother be my servant, for you have done evil. Know you not that a man delights in his cup as I with this cup?
11 And yet you have stolen it from me.' And Yahudah said: 'O my lord, let your servant, I pray you, speak a word in my lord's ear two brothers did your servant's mother bear to our father: one went away and was lost, and has not been found, and he alone is left of his mother, and your servant our father loves him, and his life also is bound up with the life of this (lad).
12 And it will come to pass, when we go to your servant our father, and the lad is not with us, that he will die, and we shall bring down our father with sorrow unto death.
13 Now rather let me, your servant, abide instead of the boy as a bondsman unto my lord, and let the lad go with his brethren, for I became surety for him at the hand of your servant our father, and if I do not bring him back, your servant will hear the blame to our father forever.'
14 And Yoseph saw that they were all accordant in goodness one with another, and he could not refrain himself, and he told them that he was Yoseph.
15 And he conversed with them in the Hebrew tongue and fell on their neck and wept.
16 But they knew him not and they began to weep. And he said to them: 'Weep not over me, but hasten and bring my father to me; and you see that it is my mouth that speaks and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see.
17 For behold this is the second year of the famine, and there are
18 still five years without harvest or fruit of trees or ploughing. Come down quickly you and your households, so that you perish not through the famine, and do not be grieved for your possessions, for YAHWEH sent me before you to set things in order that many people might live.
19 And tell my father that I am still alive, and you, behold, you see that YAHWEH has made me as a father to Pharaoh, and ruler over his house and over all the land of Egypt.
20 And tell my father of all my splendor, and all the riches and splendor that YAHWEH has given me.'
21 And by the command of the mouth of Pharaoh he gave them chariots and provisions for the way, and he gave them all many-colored raiment and silver.
22 And to their father he sent raiment and silver and ten asses which carried corn, and he sent them away.
23 And they went up and told their father that Yoseph was alive, and was measuring out corn to all the nations of the earth, and that he was ruler over all the land of Egypt.
24 And their father did not believe it, for he was beside himself in his mind; but when he saw the wagons which Yoseph had sent, the life of his spirit revived, and he said: 'It is enough for me if Yoseph lives; I will go down and see him before I die.'

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.)

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Jesus says, "More time, more grace"


Click on YouTube icon in video to watch on YouTube, for additional references

Scriptures: Joshua 6:20; Matthew 20:15; Jonah 4; John 3:29; Luke 2; Matthew 2; Isaiah 9:1-7;

End Times Confirmed
Other Posts referencing Scriptures - Contemporary End Times Prophets


Click on any Label below to pull up related Posts.

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Jasher, Chapter 48

1 In those days, after the death of Yitschaq, YAHWEH commanded and caused a famine upon the whole earth.
2 At that time Pharaoh king of Egypt was sitting upon his throne in the land of Egypt, and lay in his bed and dreamed dreams, and Pharaoh saw in his dream that he was standing by the side of the river of Egypt.
3 And while he was standing he saw and behold seven fat fleshed and well favored kine came up out of the river.
4 And seven other kine, lean fleshed and ill favored, came up after them, and the seven ill favored ones swallowed up the well favored ones, and still their appearance was ill as at first.
5 And he awoke, and he slept again and he dreamed a second time, and he saw and behold seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good, and seven thin ears blasted with the east wind sprang, up after them, and the thin ears swallowed up the full ones, and Pharaoh awoke out of his dream.
6 And in the morning the king remembered his dreams, and his spirit was sadly troubled on account of his dreams, and the king hastened and sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and the wise men, and they came and stood before Pharaoh.
7 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed dreams, and there is none to interpret them; and they said unto the king, relate your dreams to your servants and let us hear them.
8 And the king related his dreams to them, and they all answered and said with one voice to the king, may the king live forever; and this is the interpretation of your dreams.
9 The seven good kine which you didst see denote seven daughters that will be born unto you in the latter days, and the seven kine which you sawest come up after them, and swallowed them up, are for a sign that the daughters which will be born unto you will all die in the life-time of the king.
10 And that which you didst see in the second dream of seven full good ears of corn coming up upon one stalk, this is their interpretation, that you wilt build unto thyself in the latter days seven cities throughout the land of Egypt; and that which you sawest of the seven blasted ears of corn springing up after them and swallowing them up while you didst behold them with your eyes, is for a sign that the cities which you wilt build will all be destroyed in the latter days, in the life-time of the king.
11 And when they spoke these words the king did not incline his ear to their words, neither did he fix his heart upon them, for the king knew in his wisdom that they did not give a proper interpretation of the dreams; and when they had finished speaking before the king, the king answered them, saying, What is this thing that you have spoken unto me? surely you have uttered falsehood and spoken lies; therefore now give the proper interpretation of my dreams, that you may not die.
12 And the king commanded after this, and he sent and called again for other wise men, and they came and stood before the king, and the king related his dreams to them, and they all answered him according to the first interpretation, and the king's anger was kindled and he was very wroth, and the king said unto them, Surely you speak lies and utter falsehood in what you have said.
13 And the king commanded that a proclamation should be issued throughout the land of Egypt, saying, It is resolved by the king and his great men, that any wise man who knows and understands the interpretation of dreams, and will not come this day before the king, shall die.
14 And the man that will declare unto the king the proper interpretation of his dreams, there shall be given unto him all that he will require from the king. And all the wise men of the land of Egypt came before the king, together with all the magicians and sorcerers that were in Egypt and in Goshen, in Rameses, in Tachpanches, in Zoar, and in all the places on the borders of Egypt, and they all stood before the king.
15 And all the nobles and the princes, and the attendants belonging to the king, came together from all the cities of Egypt, and they all sat before the king, and the king related his dreams before the wise men, and the princes, and all that sat before the king were astonished at the vision.
16 And all the wise men who were before the king were greatly divided in their interpretation of his dreams; some of them interpreted them to the king, saying, The seven good kine are seven kings, who from the king's issue will be raised over Egypt.
17 And the seven bad kine are seven princes, who will stand up against them in the latter days and destroy them; and the seven ears of corn are the seven great princes belonging to Egypt, who will fall in the hands of the seven less powerful princes of their enemies, in the wars of our lord the king.
18 And some of them interpreted to the king in this manner, saying, The seven good kine are the strong cities of Egypt, and the seven bad kine are the seven nations of the land of Canaan, who will come against the seven cities of Egypt in the latter days and destroy them.
19 And that which you sawest in the second dream, of seven good and bad ears of corn, is a sign that the government of Egypt will again return to your seed as at first.
20 And in his reign the people of the cities of Egypt will turn against the seven cities of Canaan who are stronger than they are, and will destroy them, and the government of Egypt will return to your seed.
21 And some of them said unto the king, This is the interpretation of your dreams; the seven good kine are seven queens, whom you wilt take for wives in the latter days, and the seven bad kine denote that those women will all die in the lifetime of the king.
22 And the seven good and bad ears of corn which you didst see in the second dream are fourteen children, and it will be in the latter days that they will stand up and fight amongst themselves, and seven of them will smite the seven that are more powerful.
23 And some of them said these words unto the king, saying, The seven good kine denote that seven children will be born to you, and they will slay seven of your children's children in the latter days; and the seven good ears of corn which you didst see in the second dream, are those princes against whom seven other less powerful princes will fight and destroy them in the latter days, and avenge your children's cause, and the government will again return to your seed.
24 And the king heard all the words of the wise men of Egypt and their interpretation of his dreams, and none of them pleased the king.
25 And the king knew in his wisdom that they did not altogether speak correctly in all these words, for this was from YAHWEH to frustrate the words of the wise men of Egypt, in order that Yoseph might go forth from the house of confinement, and in order that he should become great in Egypt.
26 And the king saw that none amongst all the wise men and magicians of Egypt spoke correctly to him, and the king's wrath was kindled, and his anger burned within him.
27 And the king commanded that all the wise men and magicians should go out from before him, and they all went out from before the king with shame and disgrace.
28 And the king commanded that a proclamation be sent throughout Egypt to slay all the magicians that were in Egypt, and not one of them should be suffered to live.
29 And the captains of the guards belonging to the king rose up, and each man drew his sword, and they began to smite the magicians of Egypt, and the wise men.
30 And after this Merod, chief butler to the king, came and bowed down before the king and sat before him.
31 And the butler said unto the king, May the king live forever, and his government be exalted in the land.
32 You wast angry with your servant in those days, now two years past, and didst place me in the ward, and I was for some time in the ward, I and the chief of the bakers.
33 And there was with us a Hebrew servant belonging to the captain of the guard, his name was Yoseph, for his master had been angry with him and placed him in the house of confinement, and he attended us there.
34 And in some time after when we were in the ward, we dreamed dreams in one night, I and the chief of the bakers; we dreamed, each man according to the interpretation of his dream.
35 And we came in the morning and told them to that servant, and he interpreted to us our dreams, to each man according to his dream, did he correctly interpret.
36 And it came to pass as he interpreted to us, so was the event; there fell not to the ground any of his words.
37 And now therefore my lord and king do not slay the people of Egypt for naught; behold that slave is still confined in the house by the captain of the guard his master, in the house of confinement.
38 If it pleases the king let him send for him that he may come before you and he will make known to you, the correct interpretation of the dream which you didst dream.
39 And the king heard the words of the chief butler, and the king ordered that the wise men of Egypt should not be slain.
40 And the king ordered his servants to bring Yoseph before him, and the king said unto them, Go to him and do not terrify him lest he be confused and will not know to speak properly.
41 And the servants of the king went to Yoseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon, and the king's servants shaved him, and he changed his prison garment and he came before the king.
42 And the king was sitting upon his royal throne in a princely dress girt around with a golden ephod, and the fine gold which was upon it sparkled, and the carbuncle and the ruby and the emerald, together with all the precious stones that were upon the king's head, dazzled the eye, and Yoseph wondered greatly at the king.
43 And the throne upon which the king sat was covered with gold and silver, and with onyx stones, and it had seventy steps.
44 And it was their custom throughout the land of Egypt, that every man who came to speak to the king, if he was a prince or one that was estimable in the sight of the king, he ascended to the king's throne as far as the thirty-first step, and the king would descend to the thirty-sixth step, and speak with him.
45 If he was one of the common people, he ascended to the third step, and the king would descend to the fourth and speak to him, and their custom was, moreover, that any man who understood to speak in all the seventy languages, he ascended the seventy steps, and went up and spoke till he reached the king.
46 And any man who could not complete the seventy, he ascended as many steps as the languages which he knew to speak in.
47 And it was customary in those days in Egypt that no one should reign over them, but who understood to speak in the seventy languages.
48 And when Yoseph came before the king he bowed down to the ground before the king, and he ascended to the third step, and the king sat upon the fourth step and spoke with Yoseph.
49 And the king said unto Yoseph, I dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter to interpret it properly, and I commanded this day that all the magicians of Egypt and the wise men thereof, should come before me, and I related my dreams to them, and no one has properly interpreted them to me.
50 And after this I this day heard concerning you, that you are a wise man, and canst correctly interpret every dream that you hearest.
51 And Yoseph answered Pharaoh, saying, Let Pharaoh relate his dreams that he dreamed; surely the interpretations belong to YAHWEH; and Pharaoh related his dreams to Yoseph, the dream of the kine, and the dream of the ears of corn, and the king left off speaking.
52 And Yoseph was then clothed with the spirit of YAHWEH before the king, and he knew all the things that would befall the king from that day forward, and he knew the proper interpretation of the king's dream, and he spoke before the king.
53 And Yoseph found favor in the sight of the king, and the king inclined his ears and his heart, and he heard all the words of Yoseph. And Yoseph said unto the king, Do not imagine that they are two dreams, for it is only one dream, for that which YAHWEH has chosen to do throughout the land he has shown to the king in his dream, and this is the proper interpretation of your dream:
54 The seven good kine and ears of corn are seven years, and the seven bad kine and ears of corn are also seven years; it is one dream.
55 Behold the seven years that are coming there will be a great plenty throughout the land, and after that the seven years of famine will follow them, a very grievous famine; and all the plenty will be forgotten from the land, and the famine will consume the inhabitants of the land.
56 The king dreamed one dream, and the dream was therefore repeated unto Pharaoh because the thing is established by YAHWEH, and YAHWEH will shortly bring it to pass.
57 Now therefore I will give you counsel and deliver your soul and the souls of the inhabitants of the land from the evil of the famine, that you seek throughout your kingdom for a man very discreet and wise, who knows all the affairs of government, and appoint him to superintend over the land of Egypt.
58 And let the man whom you placest over Egypt appoint officers under him, that they gather in all the food of the good years that are coming, and let them lay up corn and deposit it in your appointed stores.
59 And let them keep that food for the seven years of famine, that it may be found for you and your people and your whole land, and that you and your land be not cut off by the famine.
60 Let all the inhabitants of the land be also ordered that they gather in, every man the produce of his field, of all sorts of food, during the seven good years, and that they place it in their stores, that it may be found for them in the days of the famine and that they may live upon it.
61 This is the proper interpretation of your dream, and this is the counsel given to save your soul and the souls of all your subjects.
62 And the king answered and said unto Yoseph, Who says and who knows that your words are correct? And he said unto the king, This shall be a sign for you respecting all my words, that they are true and that my advice is good for you.
63 Behold your wife sits this day upon the stool of delivery, and she will bear you a son and you wilt rejoice with him; when your child shall have gone forth from his mother's womb, your first born son that has been born these two years back shall die, and you wilt be comforted in the child that will be born unto you this day.
64 And Yoseph finished speaking these words to the king, and he bowed down to the king and he went out, and when Yoseph had gone out from the king's presence, those signs which Yoseph had spoken unto the king came to pass on that day.
65 And the queen bare a son on that day and the king heard the glad tidings about his son, and he rejoiced, and when the reporter had gone forth from the king's presence, the king's servants found the first born son of the king fallen dead upon the ground.
66 And there was great lamentation and noise in the king's house, and the king heard it, and he said, What is the noise and lamentation that I have heard in the house? and they told the king that his first born son had died; then the king knew that all Yoseph's words that he had spoken were correct, and the king was consoled for his son by the child that was born to him on that day as Yoseph had spoken.

The Book of Jasher Index - Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

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

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Jasher, Chapter 42

1 And they went and sat on the opposite side, about the distance of a bow-shot, and they sat there to eat bread, and while they were eating, they held counsel together what was to be done with him, whether to slay him or to bring him back to his father.
2 They were holding the counsel, when they lifted up their eyes, and saw, and behold there was a company of Ishmaelites coming at a distance by the road of Gilead, going down to Egypt.
3 And Yahudah said unto them, What gain will it be to us if we slay our brother? peradventure YAHWEH will require him from us; this then is the counsel proposed concerning him, which you shall do unto him: Behold this company of Ishmaelites going down to Egypt,
4 Now therefore, come let us dispose of him to them, and let not our hand be upon him, and they will lead him along with them, and he will be lost amongst the people of the land, and we will not put him to death with our own hands. And the proposal pleased his brethren and they did according to the word of Yahudah.
5 And while they were discoursing about this matter, and before the company of Ishmaelites had come up to them, seven trading men of Midian passed by them, and as they passed they were thirsty, and they lifted up their eyes and saw the pit in which Yoseph was immured, and they looked, and behold every species of bird was upon him.
6 And these Midianites ran to the pit to drink water, for they thought that it contained water, and on coming before the pit they heard the voice of Yoseph crying and weeping in the pit, and they looked down into the pit, and they saw and behold there was a youth of comely appearance and well favored.
7 And they called unto him and said, Who are you and who brought you hither, and who placed you in this pit, in the wilderness? and they all assisted to raise up Yoseph and they drew him out, and brought him up from the pit, and took him and went away on their journey and passed by his brethren.
8 And these said unto them, Why do you do this, to take our servant from us and to go away? surely we placed this youth in the pit because he rebelled against us, and you come and bring him up and lead him away; now then give us back our servant.
9 And the Midianites answered and said unto the sons of Yacob, Is this your servant, or does this man attend you? peradventure you are all his servants, for he is more comely and well favored than any of you, and why do you all speak falsely unto us?
10 Now therefore we will not listen to your words, nor attend to you, for we found the youth in the pit in the wilderness, and we took him; we will therefore go on.
11 And all the sons of Yacob approached them and rose up to them and said unto them, Give us back our servant, and why will you all die by the edge of the sword? And the Midianites cried out against them, and they drew their swords, and approached to fight with the sons of Yacob.
12 And behold Simeon rose up from his seat against them, and sprang upon the ground and drew his sword and approached the Midianites and he gave a terrible shout before them, so that his shouting was heard at a distance, and the earth shook at Simeon's shouting.
13 And the Midianites were terrified on account of Simeon and the noise of his shouting, and they fell upon their faces, and were excessively alarmed.
14 And Simeon said unto them, Verily I am Simeon, the son of Yacob the Hebrew, who have, only with my brother, destroyed the city of Shechem and the cities of the Amorites; so shall YAHWEH moreover do unto me, that if all your brethren the people of Midian, and also the kings of Canaan, were to come with you, they could not fight against me.
15 Now therefore give us back the youth whom you have taken, lest I give your flesh to the birds of the skies and the beasts of the earth.
16 And the Midianites were more afraid of Simeon, and they approached the sons of Yacob with terror and fright, and with pathetic words, saying,
17 Surely you have said that the young man is your servant, and that he rebelled against you, and therefore you placed him in the pit; what then will you do with a servant who rebels against his master? Now therefore sell him unto us, and we will give you all that you require for him; and YAHWEH was pleased to do this in order that the sons of Yacob should not slay their brother.
18 And the Midianites saw that Yoseph was of a comely appearance and well-favored; they desired him in their hearts and were urgent to purchase him from his brethren.
19 And the sons of Yacob hearkened to the Midianites and they sold their brother Yoseph to them for twenty pieces of silver, and Reuben their brother was not with them, and the Midianites took Yoseph and continued their journey to Gilead.
20 They were going along the road, and the Midianites repented of what they had done, in having purchased the young man, and one said to the other, What is this thing that we have done, in taking this youth from the Hebrews, who is of comely appearance and well favored.
21 Perhaps this youth is stolen from the land of the Hebrews, and why then have we done this thing? and if he should be sought for and found in our hands we shall die through him.
22 Now surely hardy and powerful men have sold him to us, the strength of one of whom you saw this day; perhaps they stole him from his land with their might and with their powerful arm, and have therefore sold him to us for the small value which we gave unto them.
23 And while they were thus discoursing together, they looked, and behold the company of Ishmaelites which was coming at first, and which the sons of Yacob saw, was advancing toward the Midianites, and the Midianites said to each other, Come let us sell this youth to the company of Ishmaelites who are coming toward us, and we will take for him the little that we gave for him, and we will be delivered from his evil.
24 And they did so, and they reached the Ishmaelites, and the Midianites sold Yoseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver which they had given for him to his brethren.
25 And the Midianites went on their road to Gilead, and the Ishmaelites took Yoseph and they let him ride upon one of the camels, and they were leading him to Egypt.
26 And Yoseph heard that the Ishmaelites were proceeding to Egypt, and Yoseph lamented and wept at this thing that he was to be so far removed from the land of Canaan, from his father, and he wept bitterly while he was riding upon the camel, and one of their men observed him, and made him go down from the camel and walk on foot, and notwithstanding this Yoseph continued to cry and weep, and he said, O my father, my father.
27 And one of the Ishmaelites rose up and smote Yoseph upon the cheek, and still he continued to weep; and Yoseph was fatigued in the road, and was unable to proceed on account of the bitterness of his soul, and they all smote him and afflicted him in the road, and they terrified him in order that he might cease from weeping.
28 And YAHWEH saw the ambition of Yoseph and his trouble, and YAHWEH brought down upon those men darkness and confusion, and the hand of every one that smote him became withered.
29 And they said to each other, What is this thing that YAHWEH has done to us in the road? and they knew not that this befell them on account of Yoseph. And the men proceeded on the road, and they passed along the road of Ephrath where Rachel was buried.
30 And Yoseph reached his mother's grave, and Yoseph hastened and ran to his mother's grave, and fell upon the grave and wept.
31 And Yoseph cried aloud upon his mother's grave, and he said, O my mother, my mother, O you who didst give me birth, awake now, and rise and see your son, how he has been sold for a slave, and no one to pity him.
32 O rise and see your son, weep with me on account of my troubles, and see the heart of my brethren.
33 Arouse my mother, arouse, awake from your sleep for me, and direct your battles against my brethren. O how have they stripped me of my coat, and sold me already twice for a slave, and separated me from my father, and there is no one to pity me. 34 Arouse and lay your cause against them before YAHWEH, and see whom YAHWEH will justify in the judgment, and whom he will condemn.
35 Rise, O my mother, rise, awake from your sleep and see my father how his soul is with me this day, and comfort him and ease his heart.
36 And Yoseph continued to speak these words, and Yoseph cried aloud and wept bitterly upon his mother's grave; and he ceased speaking, and from bitterness of heart he became still as a stone upon the grave.
37 And Yoseph heard a voice speaking to him from beneath the ground, which answered him with bitterness of heart, and with a voice of weeping and praying in these words:
38 My son, my son Yoseph, I have heard the voice of your weeping and the voice of your lamentation; I have seen your tears; I know your troubles, my son, and it grieves me for your sake, and abundant grief is added to my grief.
39 Now therefore my son, Yoseph my son, hope to YAHWEH, and wait for him and do not fear, for YAHWEH is with you, he will deliver you from all trouble.
40 Rise my son, go down unto Egypt with your masters, and do not fear, for YAHWEH is with you, my son. And she continued to speak like unto these words unto Yoseph, and she was still.
41 And Yoseph heard this, and he wondered greatly at this, and he continued to weep; and after this one of the Ishmaelites observed him crying and weeping upon the grave, and his anger was kindled against him, and he drove him from there, and he smote him and cursed him.
42 And Yoseph said unto the men, May I find free unmerited pardon and favor in your sight to take me back to my father's house, and he will give you abundance of riches.
43 And they answered him, saying, Art you not a slave, and where is your father? and if you hadst a father you wouldst not already twice have been sold for a slave for so little value; and their anger was still roused against him, and they continued to smite him and to chastise him, and Yoseph wept bitterly.
44 And YAHWEH saw Yoseph's affliction, and YAHWEH again smote these men, and chastised them, and YAHWEH caused darkness to envelope them upon the earth, and the lightning flashed and the thunder roared, and the earth shook at the voice of the thunder and of the mighty wind, and the men were terrified and knew not where they should go.
45 And the beasts and camels stood still, and they led them, but they would not go, they smote them, and they crouched upon the ground; and the men said to each other, What is this that YAHWEH has done to us? what are our transgressions, and what are our sins that this thing has thus befallen us?
46 And one of them answered and said unto them, Perhaps on account of the sin of afflicting this slave has this thing happened this day to us; now therefore implore him strongly to forgive us, and then we shall know on whose account this evil befalls us, and if YAHWEH shall have compassion over us, then we shall know that all this comes to us on account of the sin of afflicting this slave.
47 And the men did so, and they supplicated Yoseph and pressed him to forgive them; and they said, We have sinned to YAHWEH and to you, now therefore vouchsafe to request of your ALMIGHTY that he shall put away this death from amongst us, for we have sinned to him.
48 And Yoseph did according to their words, and YAHWEH hearkened to Yoseph, and YAHWEH put away the plague which he had inflicted upon those men on account of Yoseph, and the beasts rose up from the ground and they conducted them, and they went on, and the raging storm abated and the earth became tranquilized, and the men proceeded on their journey to go down to Egypt, and the men knew that this evil had befallen them on account of Yoseph.
49 And they said to each other, Behold we know that it was on account of his affliction that this evil befell us; now therefore why shall we bring this death upon our souls? Let us hold counsel what to do to this slave.
50 And one answered and said, Surely he told us to bring him back to his father; now therefore come, let us take him back and we will go to the place that he will tell us, and take from his family the price that we gave for him and we will then go away.
51 And one answered again and said, Behold this counsel is very good, but we cannot do so for the way is very far from us, and we cannot go out of our road.
52 And one more answered and said unto them, This is the counsel to be adopted, we will not swerve from it; behold we are this day going to Egypt, and when we shall have come to Egypt, we will sell him there at a high price, and we will be delivered from his evil.
53 And this thing pleased the men and they did so, and they continued their journey to Egypt with Yoseph.

The Book of Jasher Index - Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

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

Thursday, September 12, 2024

Jasher, Chapter 36

1 At that time YAHWEH appeared unto Yacob (Jacob) saying, Arise, go to Bethel and remain there, and make there an altar to YAHWEH who appeares unto you, who delivered you and your sons from affliction.
2 And Yacob rose up with his sons and all belonging to him, and they went and came to Bethel according to the word of YAHWEH.
3 And Yacob was ninety-nine years old when he went up to Bethel, and Yacob and his sons and all the people that were with him, remained in Bethel in Luz, and he there built an altar to YAHWEH who appeared unto him, and Yacob and his sons remained in Bethel six months.
4 At that time died Deborah the daughter of Uz, the nurse of Rebecca, who had been with Yacob; and Yacob buried her beneath Bethel under an oak that was there.
Year 2208
5 And Rebecca the daughter of Bethuel, the mother of Yacob, also died at that time in Hebron, the same is Kireath-arba, and she was buried in the cave of Machpelah which Abraham had bought from the children of Heth.
6 And the life of Rebecca was one hundred and thirty-three years, and she died and when Yacob heard that his mother Rebecca was dead he wept bitterly for his mother, and made a great mourning for her, and for Deborah her nurse beneath the oak, and he called the name of that place Allon-bachuth.
7 And Laban the Syrian died in those days, for YAHWEH smote him because he transgressed the covenant that existed between him and Yacob.
8 And Yacob was a hundred years old when YAHWEH appeared unto him, and blessed him and called his name Yisrael, and Rachel the wife of Yacob conceived in those days.
9 And at that time Yacob and all belonging to him journeyed from Bethel to go to his father's house, to Hebron.
10 And while they were going on the road, and there was yet but a little way to come to Ephrath, Rachel bare a son and she had hard labor and she died.
11 And Yacob buried her in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem, and he set a pillar upon her grave, which is there unto this day; and the days of Rachel were forty-five years and she died.
12 And Yacob called the name of his son that was born to him, which Rachel bare unto him, Benjamin, for he was born to him in the land on the right hand.
13 And it was after the death of Rachel, that Yacob pitched his tent in the tent of her handmaid Bilhah.
14 And Reuben was jealous for his mother Leah on account of this, and he was filled with anger, and he rose up in his anger and went and entered the tent of Bilhah and he thence removed his father's bed.
15 At that time the portion of birthright, together with the kingly and priestly offices, was removed from the sons of Reuben, for he had profaned his father's bed, and the birthright was given unto Yoseph, the kingly office to Yahudah, and the priesthood unto Levi, because Reuben had defiled his father's bed.
16 And these are the generations of Yacob who were born to him in Padan-aram, and the sons of Yacob were twelve.
17 The sons of Leah were Reuben the first born, and Simeon, Levi, Yahudah, Issachar, Zebulun, and their sister Dinah; and the sons of Rachel were Yoseph and Benjamin.
18 The sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, were Gad and Asher, and the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, were Dan and Naphtali; these are the sons of Yacob which were born to him in Padan-aram.
19 And Yacob and his sons and all belonging to him journeyed and came to Mamre, which is Kireath-arba, that is in Hebron, where Abraham and Yitschaq sojourned, and Yacob with his sons and all belonging to him, dwelt with his father in Hebron.
20 And his brother Esau and his sons, and all belonging to him went to the land of Seir and dwelt there, and had possessions in the land of Seir, and the children of Esau were fruitful and multiplied exceedingly in the land of Seir.
21 And these are the generations of Esau that were born to him in the land of Canaan, and the sons of Esau were five.
22 And Adah bare to Esau his first born Eliphaz, and she also bare to him Reuel, and Ahlibamah bare to him Jeush, Yaalam and Korah.
23 These are the children of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan; and the sons of Eliphaz the son of Esau were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, Kenaz and Amalex, and the sons of Reuel were Nachath, Zerach, Shamah and Mizzah.
24 And the sons of Jeush were Timnah, Alvah, Jetheth; and the sons of Yaalam were Alah, Phinor and Kenaz.
25 And the sons of Korah were Teman, Mibzar, Magdiel and Eram; these are the families of the sons of Esau according to their dukedoms in the land of Seir.
26 And these are the names of the sons of Seir the Horite, inhabitants of the land of Seir, Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishan, Ezer and Dishon, being seven sons.
27 And the children of Lotan were Hori, Heman and their sister Timna, that is Timna who came to Yacob and his sons, and they would not give ear to her, and she went and became a concubine to Eliphaz the son of Esau, and she bare to him Amalek.
28 And the sons of Shobal were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam, and the sons of Zibeon were Ajah, and Anah, this was that Anah who found the Yemim in the wilderness when he fed the asses of Zibeon his father.
29 And while he was feeding his father's asses he led them to the wilderness at different times to feed them.
30 And there was a day that he brought them to one of the deserts on the sea shore, opposite the wilderness of the people, and while he was feeding them, behold a very heavy storm came from the other side of the sea and rested upon the asses that were feeding there, and they all stood still.
31 And afterward about one hundred and twenty great and terrible animals came out from the wilderness at the other side of the sea, and they all came to the place where the asses were, and they placed themselves there.
32 And those animals, from their middle downward, were in the shape of the children of men, and from their middle upward, some had the likeness of bears, and some the likeness of the keephas, with tails behind them from between their shoulders reaching down to the earth, like the tails of the ducheephath, and these animals came and mounted and rode upon these asses, and led them away, and they went away unto this day.
33 And one of these animals approached Anah and smote him with his tail, and then fled from that place.
34 And when he saw this work he was exceedingly afraid of his life, and he fled and escaped to the city.
35 And he related to his sons and brothers all that had happened to him, and many men went to seek the asses but could not find them, and Anah and his brothers went no more to that place from that day following, for they were greatly afraid of their lives.
36 And the children of Anah the son of Seir, were Dishon and his sister Ahlibamah, and the children of Dishon were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran and Cheran, and the children of Ezer were Bilhan, Zaavan and Akan, and the children of Dishon were Uz and Aran.
37 These are the families of the children of Seir the Horite, according to their dukedoms in the land of Seir.
38 And Esau and his children dwelt in the land of Seir the Horite, the inhabitant of the land, and they had possessions in it and were fruitful and multiplied exceedingly, and Yacob and his children and all belonging to them, dwelt with their father Yitschaq in the land of Canaan, as YAHWEH had commanded Abraham their father.

The Book of Jasher Index - Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

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

Monday, March 25, 2024

The Book of Enoch: Chapter LXXXVIII

Chapter LXXXVIII

1. Then one of those four went to the white cows, and taught them a mystery. While the cow was trembling, it was born, and became a man, and fabricated for himself a large ship. In this he dwelt, and three cows dwelt with him in that ship, which covered them.
2. Again I lifted up my eyes towards heaven, and saw a lofty roof. Above it were seven cataracts, which poured forth on a certain village much water.
3. Again I looked, and behold there were fountains open on the earth in that large village.
4. The water began to boil up, and rose over the earth ; so that the village was not seen, while its whole soil was covered with water.
5. Much water was over it, darkness, and clouds. Then I surveyed the height of this water; and it was elevated above the village.
6. It flowed over the village, and stood higher than the earth.
7. Then all the cows which were collected there, while I looked on them, were drowned, swallowed up, and destroyed in the water.
8. But the ship floated above it. All the cows, the elephants, the camels, and the asses, were drowned on the earth, and all cattle. Nor could I perceive them. Neither were they able to get out, but perished, and sunk into the deep.
9. Again I looked in the vision until those cataracts from that lofty roof were removed, and the fountains of the earth became equalized, while other depths were opened ;
10. Into which the water began to descend, until the dry ground appeared.
11. The ship remained on the earth; the darkness receded ; and it became light.
12. Then the white cow, which became a man, went out of the ship, and the three cows with him.
13. One of the three cows was white, resembling that cow ; one of them was red as blood ; and one of them was black. And the white cow left them.
14. Then began wild beasts and birds to bring forth.
15. Of all these the different kinds assembled together, lions, tigers, wolves, dogs, wild boars, foxes, rabbits, and the hanzar,
16. The siset, the avest, kites, the phonkas, and ravens.
17. Then a white cow was born in the midst of them.
18. And they began to bite each other ; when the white cow, which was born in the midst of them, brought forth a wild ass and a white cow at the same time, and after that many wild asses. Then the white cow, which was born, brought forth a black wild sow and a white sheep.
19. That wild sow also brought forth many swine;
20. And that sheep brought forth twelve sheep.
21. When those twelve sheep grew up, they delivered one of them to the asses.
22. Again those asses delivered that sheep to the wolves ;
23. And he grew up in the midst of them.
24. Then the Lord brought the eleven other sheep, that they might dwell and feed with him in the midst of the wolves.
25. They multiplied, and there was abundance of pasture for them.
26. But the wolves began to frighten and oppress them, while they destroyed their young ones.
27. And they left their young in torrents of deep water.
28. Now the sheep began to cry out on account of their young, and fled for refuge to their Lord. One however,which was saved, escaped,and went away to the wild asses.
29. I beheld the sheep moaning, crying, and petitioning their Lord,
3O. With all their might, until the Lord of the sheep descended at their voice from his lofty habitation ; went to them ; and inspected them.
31. He called to that sheep which had secretly stolen away from the wolves, and told him to make the wolves understand that they were not to touch the sheep.
32. Then that sheep went to the wolves with the word of the Lord, when another met him, and proceeded with him.
33. Both of them together entered the dwelling of the wolves; and conversing with them made them understand, that from thenceforwards they were not to touch the sheep.
34. Afterwards I perceived the wolves greatly prevailing over the sheep with their whole force. The sheep cried out; and their Lord came to them.
35. He began to strike the wolves, who commenced a grievous lamentation ; but the sheep were silent, nor from that time did they cry out.
36. I then looked at them, until they departed from the wolves. The eyes of the wolves were blind, who went out and followed them with all their might. But the Lord of the sheep proceeded with them, and conducted them.
37. All his sheep followed him. 38. His countenance was terrific and splendid, and glorious was his aspect. Yet the wolves began to follow the sheep, until they overtook them in a certain lake of water.
39. Then that lake became divided ; the water standing up on both sides before their face.
40. And while their Lord was conducting them, he placed himself between them and the wolves.
41. The wolves however perceived not the sheep, but went into the midst of the lake, following them, and running after them into the lake of water.
42. But when they saw the Lord of the sheep, they turned to fly from before his face.
43. Then the water of the lake returned, and that suddenly, according to its nature. It became full, and was raised up, until it covered the wolves. And I saw that all of them which had followed the sheep perished, and were drowned.
44. But the sheep passed over this water, proceedins: to a wilderness, which was without both water and grass. And they began to open their eyes and to see.
45. Then I beheld the Lord of the sheep inspect- ing them, and giving them w^ater and grass. 46. The sheep already mentioned was proceeding with them, and conducting them.
47. And when he had ascended the top of a lofty rock, the Lord of the sheep sent him to them.
48. Afterwards I perceived their Lord standing before them, with an aspect terrific and severe.
49. And when they all beheld him, they were frightened at his countenance.
50. All of them were alarmed, and trembled. They cried out after that sheep ; and to the other sheep who had been with him, and who was in the midst of them, saying, We are not able to stand before our Lord, or to look upon him.
51. Then that sheep who conducted them went away, and ascended the top of the rock;
52. When the rest of the sheep began to grow blind, and to wander from the path which he had shown them ; but he knew it not.
53. Their Lord however was moved with great indignation against them ; and when that sheep had learned what had happened,
54. He descended from the top of the rock, and comings to them, found that there were many,
55. Which had become blind ;
56. And had wandered from his path. As soon as they beheld him, they feared, and trembled at his presence;
57. And became desirous of returning to their fold.
58. Then that sheep, taking with him other sheep, went to those which had wandered.
59. And afterwards began to kill them. They were terrified at his countenance. Then he caused those which had wandered to return ; who went back to their fold.
60. I likewise saw there in the vision, that this sheep became a man, built an house for the Lord of the sheep, and made them all stand in that house.
61. I perceived also that the sheep which proceeded to meet this sheep, their conductor, died. I saw, too, that all the great sheep perished, while smaller ones rose up in their place, entered into a pasture, and approached a river of water.
62. Then that sheep, their conductor, who became a man, was separated from them, and died.
63. All the sheep sought after him, and cried for him with bitter lamentation.
64. I saw likewise that they ceased to cry after that sheep, and passed over the river of water.
65. And that there arose other sheep, all of whom conducted them, instead of those who were dead, and who had previously conducted them.
66. Then I saw that the sheep entered into a goodly place, and a territory delectable and glorious.
67. I saw also that they became satiated; that their house was in the midst of a delectable territory: and that sometimes their eyes were opened, and that sometimes they were blind ; until another sheep arose and conducted them. He brought them all back ; and their eyes were opened.
68. Then dogs, foxes, and wild boars began to devour them, until again another sheep arose, the master of the flock, one of themselves, a ram, to conduct them. This ram began to butt on every side those dogs, foxes, and wild boars, until they all perished.
69. But the former sheep opened his eyes, and saw the ram in the midst of them, who had laid aside his glory.
70. And he began to strike the sheep, treading upon them, and behaving himself without dignity.
71. Then their Lord sent the former sheep again to a still different sheep, and raised him up to be a ram, and to conduct them instead of that sheep who had laid aside his glory.
72. Going therefore to him, and conversing with him alone, he raised up that ram, and made him a prince and leader of the flock. All the time that the dogs troubled the sheep,
73. The first ram paid respect to this latter ram.
74. Then the latter ram arose, and fled away from before his face. And I saw that those dogs caused the first ram to fall.
75. But the latter ram arose, and conducted the smaller sheep.
76. That ram likewise begat many sheep, and died.
77. Then there was a smaller sheep, a ram, instead of him, which became a prince and leader, conducting the flock.
78. And the sheep increased in size, and multiplied.
79. And all the dogs, foxes, and wild boars feared, and fled away from him.
80. That ram also struck and killed all the wild beasts, so that they could not again prevail in the midst of the sheep, nor at any time ever snatch tnem away.
81. And that house was made large and wide ; a lofty tower being built upon it by the sheep, for the Lord of the sheep.
82. The house was low, but the tower was elevated and very high.
83. Then the Lord of the sheep stood upon that tower, and caused a full table to approach before him.
84. Again I saw that those sheep wandered, and went various ways, forsaking that their house 85. And that their Lord called to some among them, whom he sent to them.
86. But these the sheep began to kill. And when one of them was saved from slaughter, he leaped, and cried out against those who were desirous of killing him.
87. But the Lord of the sheep delivered him from their hands, and made him ascend to him, and remain with him.
8S. He sent also many others to them, to testify, and with lamentations to exclaim against them.
89. Again I saw, when some of them forsook the house of their Lord, and his tower ; wandering on all sides, and growing blind,
90. I saw that the Lord of the sheep made a great slaughter among them in their pasture, until they cried out to him in consequence of that slaughter. Then he departed from the place of his habitation, and left them in the power of lions, tigers, wolves, and the zeebt, and in the power of foxes, and of every beast.
91. And the wild beasts began to tear them.
92. I saw, too, that he forsook the house of their fathers, and their tower giving them all into the ; power of lions to tear and devour them ; into the power of every beast.
93. Then I began to cry out with all my might, imploring the Lord of the sheep, and showing him how the sheep were devoured by all the beasts of prey.
94. But he looked on in silence, rejoicing that they were devoured, swallowed up, and carried off; and leaving them in the power of every beast for food. He called also seventy shepherds, and resigned to them the care of the sheep, that they might overlook them;
95. Saying to them and to their associates. Every one of you henceforwards overlook the sheep, and whatsoever I command you, do ; and I will deliver them to you numbered.
96. I will tell you which of them shall be slain these destroy. And he delivered the sheep to them.
97. Then he called to another, and said. Understand, and watch everything which the shepherds shall do to these sheep ; for many more of them shall perish than I have commanded.
98. Of every excess and slaughter, which the shepherds shall commit, there shall he an account; as, how many may have perished by my command, and how many they may have destroyed of their own heads.
99. Of all the destruction brought about by each of the shepherds there shall be an account ; and according to the number! will cause a recital to be made before me, how many they have destroyed of their own heads, and how many they have delivered up to destruction, that I may have this testimony against them ; that I may know all their proceedings ; and that, delivering the sheep to them, I may see what they will do ; whether they will act as I have commanded them, or not.
100. Of this, however, they shall be ignorant ; neither shalt thou make any explanation to them, neither shalt thou reprove them ; but there shall be an account of all the destruction done by them in their respective seasons. Then they began to kill, and destroy more than it was commanded them.
101. And they left the sheep in the power of lions, so that very many of them were devoured and swallowed up by lions and tigers ; and wild boars preyed upon them. That tower they burnt, and overthrew that house.
102. Then I grieved extremely on account of the tower, and because the house of the sheep was overthrown.
103. Neither was I afterwards able to perceive whether they again entered that house.
104. The shepherds likewise, and their associates delivered them to all the wild beasts, that they might devour them. Each of them in his season, according to his number, was delivered up ; each of them, one with another, was described in a book, how many of them, one with another, were destroyed, in a book.
105. More, however, than was ordered, every shepherd killed and destroyed.
106. Then I began to weep, and was greatly indignant, on account of the sheep.
107. In like manner also I saw in the vision him who wrote, how he wrote down one, destroyed by the shepherds, every day. He ascended, remained, and exhibited each of his books to the Lord of the sheep, containing all which they had done, and all which each of them had made away with;
108. And all which they had delivered up to destruction.
109. He took the book up in his hands, read it, sealed it, and deposited it.
110. After this, I saw shepherds overlooking for twelve hours.
111. And behold three of the sheep departed, arrived, went in ; and began building all which was fallen down of that house.
112. But the wildboars hindered them, although they prevailed not.
113. Again they began to build as before, and raised up that tower, which was called a lofty tower.
114. And again they began to place before the tower a table, with every impure and unclean kind of bread upon it.
115. Moreover also all the sheep were blind, and could not see ; as were the shepherds likewise.
116. Thus were they delivered up to the shepherds for a great destruction, who trod them under foot, and devoured them.
117. Yet was their Lord silent, until all the sheep in the field were destroyed. The shepherds and the sheep were all mixed together ; but they did not save them from the power of the beasts.
118. Then he who wrote the book ascended, exhibited it, and read it at the residence of the Lord of the sheep. He petitioned him for them, and prayed, pointing out every act of the shepherds, and testifying before him against them all. Then taking the book, he deposited it with him, and departed.

Other labels: Saul; David; Philitines; Solomon; prophets; Elijah; Zerubbabel; Joshua; Nehemiah; Samaritans

Next ...

More...

On this Blog: Posts referencing Scriptures