Showing posts with label Terah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Terah. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

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.'

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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.

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Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Jasher, Chapter 22

1 And Ishmael then rose up and took his wife and his children and his cattle and all belonging to him, and he journeyed from there and he went to his father in the land of the Philistines.
2 And Abraham related to Ishmael his son the transaction with the first wife that Ishmael took, according to what she did.
3 And Ishmael and his children dwelt with Abraham many days in that land, and Abraham dwelt in the land of the Philistines a long time.
4 And the days increased and reached twenty six years, and after that Abraham with his servants and all belonging to him went from the land of the Philistines and removed to a great distance, and they came near to Hebron, and they remained there, and the servants of Abraham dug wells of water, and Abraham and all belonging to him dwelt by the water, and the servants of Abimelech king of the Philistines heard the report that Abraham's servants had dug wells of water in the borders of the land.
5 And they came and quarreled with the servants of Abraham, and they robbed them of the great well which they had dug.
6 And Abimelech king of the Philistines heard of this affair, and he with Phicol the captain of his host and twenty of his men came to Abraham, and Abimelech spoke to Abraham concerning his servants, and Abraham rebuked Abimelech concerning the well of which his servants had robbed him.
7 And Abimelech said to Abraham, As YAHWEH lives who created the whole earth, I did not hear of the act which my servants did unto your servants until this day.
8 And Abraham took seven ewe lambs and gave them to Abimelech, saying, Take these, I pray you, from my hands that it may be a testimony for me that I dug this well.
9 And Abimelech took the seven ewe lambs which Abraham had given to him, for he had also given him cattle and herds in abundance, and Abimelech swore to Abraham concerning the well, therefore he called that well Beersheba, for there they both swore concerning it.
10 And they both made a covenant in Beersheba, and Abimelech rose up with Phicol the captain of his host and all his men, and they returned to the land of the Philistines, and Abraham and all belonging to him dwelt in Beersheba and he was in that land a long time.
11 And Abraham planted a large grove in Beersheba, and he made to it four gates facing the four sides of the earth, and he planted a vineyard in it, so that if a traveler came to Abraham he entered any gate which was in his road, and remained there and ate and drank and satisfied himself and then departed.
12 For the house of Abraham was always open to the sons of men that passed and repassed, who came daily to eat and drink in the house of Abraham.
13 And any man who had hunger and came to Abraham's house, Abraham would give him bread that he might eat and drink and be satisfied, and any one that came naked to his house he would clothe with garments as he might choose, and give him silver and gold and make known to him YAHWEH who had created him in the earth; this did Abraham all his life.
14 And Abraham and his children and all belonging to him dwelt in Beersheba, and he pitched his tent as far as Hebron.
15 And Abraham's brother Nahor and his father and all belonging to them dwelt in Haran, for they did not come with Abraham to the land of Canaan.
16 And children were born to Nahor which Milca the daughter of Haran, and sister to Sarah, Abraham's wife, bare to him.
17 And these are the names of those that were born to him, Uz, Buz, Kemuel, Kesed, Chazo, Pildash, Tidlaf, and Bethuel, being eight sons, these are the children of Milca which she bare to Nahor, Abraham's brother.
18 And Nahor had a concubine and her name was Reumah, and she also bare to Nahor, Zebach, Gachash, Tachash and Maacha, being four sons.
19 And the children that were born to Nahor were twelve sons besides his daughters, and they also had children born to them in Haran.
20 And the children of Uz the first born of Nahor were Abi, Cheref, Gadin, Melus, and Deborah their sister.
21 And the sons of Buz were Berachel, Naamath, Sheva, and Madonu.
22 And the sons of Kemuel were Aram and Rechob.
23 And the sons of Kesed were Anamlech, Meshai, Benon and Yifi; and the sons of Chazo were Pildash, Mechi and Opher.
24 And the sons of Pildash were Arud, Chamum, Mered and Moloch.
25 And the sons of Tidlaf were Mushan, Cushan and Mutzi.
26 And the children of Bethuel were Sechar, Laban and their sister Rebecca.
27 These are the families of the children of Nahor, that were born to them in Haran; and Aram the son of Kemuel and Rechob his brother went away from Haran, and they found a valley in the land by the river Euphrates.
28 And they built a city there, and they called the name of the city after the name of Pethor the son of Aram, that is Aram Naherayim unto this day.
29 And the children of Kesed also went to dwell where they could find a place, and they went and they found a valley opposite to the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there.
30 And they there built themselves a city, and they called the name at the city Kesed after the name of their father, that is the land Kasdim unto this day, and the Kasdim dwelt in that land and they were fruitful and multiplied exceedingly.
31 And Terah, father of Nahor and Abraham, went and took another wife in his old age, and her name was Pelilah, and she conceived and bare him a son and he called his name Zoba.
32 And Terah lived twenty-five years after he begat Zoba.
Year 2083
33 And Terah died in that year, that is in the thirty-fifth year of the birth of Yitschaq son of Abraham.
34 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years, and he was buried in Haran.
35 And Zoba the son of Terah lived thirty years and he begat Aram, Achlis and Merik.
36 And Aram son of Zoba son of Terah, had three wives and he begat twelve sons and three daughters; and YAHWEH gave to Aram the son of Zoba, riches and possessions, and abundance of cattle, and flocks and herds, and the man increased greatly.
37 And Aram the son of Zoba and his brother and all his household journeyed from Haran, and they went to dwell where they should find a place, for their property was too great to remain in Haran; for they could not stop in Haran together with their brethren the children of Nahor.
38 And Aram the son of Zoba went with his brethren, and they found a valley at a distance toward the eastern country and they dwelt there.
39 And they also built a city there, and they called the name thereof Aram, after the name of their eldest brother; that is Aram Zoba to this day.
40 And Yitschaq (Isaac) the son of Abraham was growing up in those days, and Abraham his father taught him the way of YAHWEH to know YAHWEH, and YAHWEH was with him.
Year 2085
41 And when Yitschaq was thirty-seven years old, Ishmael his brother was going about with him in the tent.
42 And Ishmael boasted of himself to Yitschaq, saying, I was thirteen years old when YAHWEH spoke to my father to circumcise us, and I did according to the word of YAHWEH which he spoke to my father, and I gave my soul unto YAHWEH, and I did not transgress his word which he commanded my father.
43 And Yitschaq answered Ishmael, saying, Why dost you boast to me about this, about a little bit of your flesh which you didst take from your body, concerning which YAHWEH commanded you?
44 As YAHWEH liveth, the ALMIGHTY of my father Abraham, if YAHWEH should say unto my father, Take now your son Yitschaq and bring him up an offering before me, I would not refrain but I would joyfully accede to it.
45 And YAHWEH heard the word that Yitschaq spoke to Ishmael, and it seemed good in the sight of YAHWEH, and he thought to try Abraham in this matter.
46 And the day arrived when the sons of YAHWEH came and placed themselves before YAHWEH, and Satan also came with the sons of YAHWEH before YAHWEH.
47 And YAHWEH said unto Satan, Whence come you? and Satan answered YAHWEH and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
48 And YAHWEH said to Satan, What is your word to me concerning all the children of the earth? and Satan answered YAHWEH and said, I have seen all the children of the earth who serve you and remember you when they require anything from you.
49 And when you give them the thing which they require from you, they sit at their ease, and forsake you and they remember you no more.
50 Hast you seen Abraham the son of Terah, who at first had no children, and he served you and erected altars to you wherever he came, and he brought up offerings upon them, and he proclaimed your name continually to all the children of the earth.
51 And now that his son Yitschaq is born to him, he has forsaken you, he has made a great feast for all the inhabitants of the land, and YAHWEH he has forgotten.
52 For amidst all that he has done he brought you no offering; neither burnt offering nor peace offering, neither ox, lamb nor goat of all that he killed on the day that his son was weaned.
53 Even from the time of his son's birth till now, being thirty-seven years, he built no altar before you, nor brought any offering to you, for he saw that you didst give what he requested before you, and he therefore forsook you.
54 And YAHWEH said to Satan, Hast you thus considered my servant Abraham? for there is none like him upon earth, a perfect and an upright man before me, one that fears YAHWEH and avoids evil; as I live, were I to say unto him, Bring up Yitschaq your son before me, he would not withhold him from me, much more if I told him to bring up a burnt offering before me from his flock or herds.
55 And Satan answered YAHWEH and said, Speak then now unto Abraham as you hast said, and you wilt see whether he will not this day transgress and cast aside your words.

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Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Jasher, Chapter 21

Year 2048

1 And it was at that time at the end of a year and four months of Abraham's dwelling in the land of the Philistines in Gerar, that YAHWEH visited Sarah, and YAHWEH remembered her, and she conceived and bare a son to Abraham.
2 And Abraham called the name of the son which was born to him, which Sarah bare to him, Yitschaq.
3 And Abraham circumcised his son Yitschaq (Isaac) at eight days old, as YAHWEH had commanded Abraham to do unto his seed after him; and Abraham was one hundred, and Sarah ninety years old, when Yitschaq was born to them.
4 And the child grew up and he was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast upon the day that Yitschaq was weaned.
5 And Shem and Eber and all the great people of the land, and Abimelech king of the Philistines, and his servants, and Phicol, the captain of his host, came to eat and drink and rejoice at the feast which Abraham made upon the day of his son Yitschaq's being weaned.
6 Also Terah, the father of Abraham, and Nahor his brother, came from Haran, they and all belonging to them, for they greatly rejoiced on hearing that a son had been born to Sarah.
7 And they came to Abraham, and they ate and drank at the feast which Abraham made upon the day of Yitschaq's being weaned.
8 And Terah and Nahor rejoiced with Abraham, and they remained with him many days in the land of the Philistines.
Year 2049
9 At that time Serug the son of Reu died, in the first year of the birth of Yitschaq son of Abraham.
10 And all the days of Serug were two hundred and thirty-nine years, and he died.
11 And Ishmael the son of Abraham was grown up in those days; he was fourteen years old when Sarah bare Yitschaq to Abraham.
12 And YAHWEH was with Ishmael the son of Abraham, and he grew up, and he learned to use the bow and became an archer.
Year 2053
13 And when Yitschaq was five years old he was sitting with Ishmael at the door of the tent.
14 And Ishmael came to Yitschaq and seated himself opposite to him, and he took the bow and drew it and put the arrow in it, and intended to slay Yitschaq.
15 And Sarah saw the act which Ishmael desired to do to her son Yitschaq, and it grieved her exceedingly on account of her son, and she sent for Abraham, and said to him, Cast out this bondwoman and her son, for her son shall not be heir with my son, for thus did he seek to do unto him this day.
16 And Abraham hearkened to the voice of Sarah, and he rose up early in the morning, and he took twelve loaves and a bottle of water which he gave to Hagar, and sent her away with her son, and Hagar went with her son to the wilderness, and they dwelt in the wilderness of Paran with the inhabitants of the wilderness, and Ishmael was an archer, and he dwelt in the wilderness a long time.
17 And he and his mother afterward went to the land of Egypt, and they dwelt there, and Hagar took a wife for her son from Egypt, and her name was Meribah.
18 And the wife of Ishmael conceived and bare four sons and two daughters, and Ishmael and his mother and his wife and children afterward went and returned to the wilderness.
19 And they made themselves tents in the wilderness, in which they dwelt, and they continued to travel and then to rest monthly and yearly.
20 And YAHWEH gave Ishmael flocks and herds and tents on account of Abraham his father, and the man increased in cattle.
21 And Ishmael dwelt in deserts and in tents, traveling and resting for a long time, and he did not see the face of his father.
22 And in some time after, Abraham said to Sarah his wife, I will go and see my son Ishmael, for I have a desire to see him, for I have not seen him for a long time.
23 And Abraham rode upon one of his camels to the wilderness to seek his son Ishmael, for he heard that he was dwelling in a tent in the wilderness with all belonging to him.
24 And Abraham went to the wilderness, and he reached the tent of Ishmael about noon, and he asked after Ishmael, and he found the wife of Ishmael sitting in the tent with her children, and Ishmael her husband and his mother were not with them.
25 And Abraham asked the wife of Ishmael, saying, Where has Ishmael gone? and she said, He has gone to the field to hunt, and Abraham was still mounted upon the camel, for he would not get off to the ground as he had sworn to his wife Sarah that he would not get off from the camel.
26 And Abraham said to Ishmael's wife, My daughter, give me a little water that I may drink, for I am fatigued from the journey.
27 And Ishmael's wife answered and said to Abraham, We have neither water nor bread, and she continued sitting in the tent and did not notice Abraham, neither did she ask him who he was.
28 But she was beating her children in the tent, and she was cursing them, and she also cursed her husband Ishmael and reproached him, and Abraham heard the words of Ishmael's wife to her children, and he was very angry and displeased.
29 And Abraham called to the woman to come out to him from the tent, and the woman came and stood opposite to Abraham, for Abraham was still mounted upon the camel.
30 And Abraham said to Ishmael's wife, When your husband Ishmael returns home say these words to him,
31 A very old man from the land of the Philistines came hither to seek you, and thus was his appearance and figure; I did not ask him who he was, and seeing you wast not here he spoke unto me and said, When Ishmael your husband returns tell him thus did this man say, When you come home put away this nail of the tent which you hast placed here, and place another nail in its stead.
32 And Abraham finished his instructions to the woman, and he turned and went off on the camel homeward.
33 And after that Ishmael came from the chase he and his mother, and returned to the tent, and his wife spoke these words to him,
34 A very old man from the land of the Philistines came to seek you, and thus was his appearance and figure; I did not ask him who he was, and seeing you wast not at home he said to me, When your husband comes home tell him, thus saith the old man, Put away the nail of the tent which you hast placed here and place another nail in its stead.
35 And Ishmael heard the words of his wife, and he knew that it was his father, and that his wife did not honor him.
36 And Ishmael understood his father's words that he had spoken to his wife, and Ishmael hearkened to the voice of his father, and Ishmael cast off that woman and she went away.
37 And Ishmael afterward went to the land of Canaan, and he took another wife and he brought her to his tent to the place where he then dwelt.
38 And at the end of three years Abraham said, I will go again and see Ishmael my son, for I have not seen him for a long time.
39 And he rode upon his camel and went to the wilderness, and he reached the tent of Ishmael about noon.
40 And he asked after Ishmael, and his wife came out of the tent and she said, He is not here my lord, for he has gone to hunt in the fields, and to feed the camels, and the woman said to Abraham, Turn in my lord into the tent, and eat a morsel of bread, for your soul must be wearied on account of the journey.
41 And Abraham said to her, I will not stop for I am in haste to continue my journey, but give me a little water to drink, for I have thirst; and the woman hastened and ran into the tent and she brought out water and bread to Abraham, which she placed before him and she urged him to eat, and he ate and drank and his heart was comforted and he blessed his son Ishmael.
42 And he finished his meal and he blessed YAHWEH, and he said to Ishmael's wife, When Ishmael comes home say these words to him,
43 A very old man from the land of the Philistines came hither and asked after you, and you wast not here; and I brought him out bread and water and he ate and drank and his heart was comforted.
44 And he spoke these words to me: When Ishmael your husband comes home, say unto him, The nail of the tent which you hast is very good, do not put it away from the tent.
45 And Abraham finished commanding the woman, and he rode off to his home to the land of the Philistines; and when Ishmael came to his tent his wife went forth to meet him with joy and a cheerful heart.
46 And she said to him, An old man came here from the land of the Philistines and thus was his appearance, and he asked after you and you wast not here, so I brought out bread and water, and he ate and drank and his heart was comforted.
47 And he spoke these words to me, When Ishmael your husband comes home say to him, The nail of the tent which you hast is very good, do not put it away from the tent.
48 And Ishmael knew that it was his father, and that his wife had honored him, and YAHWEH blessed Ishmael.

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Friday, August 30, 2024

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.

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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.

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Thursday, August 29, 2024

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.

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Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Jasher, Chapter 8

1 And it was in the night that Abram was born, that all the servants of Terah, and all the wise men of Nimrod, and his conjurors came and ate and drank in the house of Terah, and they rejoiced with him on that night.
2 And when all the wise men and conjurors went out from the house of Terah, they lifted up their eyes toward heaven that night to look at the stars, and they saw, and behold one very large star came from the east and ran in the heavens, and he swallowed up the four stars from the four sides of the heavens.
3 And all the wise men of the king and his conjurors were astonished at the sight, and the sages understood this matter, and they knew its import.
4 And they said to each other, This only betokens the child that has been born to Terah this night, who will grow up and be fruitful, and multiply, and possess all the earth, he and his children for ever, and he and his seed will slay great kings, and inherit their lands.
5 And the wise men and conjurors went home that night, and in the morning all these wise men and conjurors rose up early, and assembled in an appointed house.
6 And they spoke and said to each other, Behold the sight that we saw last night is hidden from the king, it has not been made known to him.
7 And should this thing get known to the king in the latter days, he will say to us, Why have you concealed this matter from me, and then we shall all suffer death; therefore, now let us go and tell the king the sight which we saw, and the interpretation thereof, and we shall then remain clear.
8 And they did so, and they all went to the king and bowed down to him to the ground, and they said, May the king live, may the king live.
9 We heard that a son was born to Terah the son of Nahor, the prince of your host, and we yesternight came to his house, and we ate and drank and rejoiced with him that night. 10 And when your servants went out from the house of Terah, to go to our respective homes to abide there for the night, we lifted up our eyes to heaven, and we saw a great star coming from the east, and the same star ran with great speed, and swallowed up four great stars, from the four sides of the heavens.
11 And your servants were astonished at the sight which we saw, and were greatly terrified, and we made our judgment upon the sight, and knew by our wisdom the proper interpretation thereof, that this thing applies to the child that is born to Terah, who will grow up and multiply greatly, and become powerful, and kill all the kings of the earth, and inherit all their lands, he and his seed forever.
12 And now our lord and king, behold we have truly acquainted you with what we have seen concerning this child.
13 If it seems good to the king to give his father value for this child, we will slay him before he shall grow up and increase in the land, and his evil increase against us, that we and our children perish through his evil.
14 And the king heard their words and they seemed good in his sight, and he sent and called for Terah, and Terah came before the king.
15 And the king said to Terah, I have been told that a son was yesternight born to you, and after this manner was observed in the heavens at his birth.
16 And now therefore give me the child, that we may slay him before his evil springs up against us, and I will give you for his value, your house full of silver and gold.
17 And Terah answered the king and said to him: My lord and king, I have heard your words, and your servant shall do all that his king desires.
18 But my lord and king, I will tell you what happened to me yesternight, that I may see what advice the king will give his servant, and then I will answer the king upon what he has just spoken; and the king said, Speak.
19 And Terah said to the king, Ayon, son of Mored, came to me yesternight, saying,
20 Give unto me the great and beautiful horse that the king gave you, and I will give you silver and gold, and straw and provender for its value; and I said to him, Wait till I see the king concerning your words, and behold whatever the king saith, that will I do.
21 And now my lord and king, behold I have made this thing known to you, and the advice which my king will give unto his servant, that will I follow.
22 And the king heard the words of Terah, and his anger was kindled and he considered him in the light of a fool.
23 And the king answered Terah, and he said to him, Art you so silly, ignorant, or deficient in understanding, to do this thing, to give your beautiful horse for silver and gold or even for straw and provender?
24 Art you so short of silver and gold, that you shouldst do this thing, because you canst not obtain straw and provender to feed your horse? and what is silver and gold to you, or straw and provender, that you shouldst give away that fine horse which I gave you, like which there is none to be had on the whole earth? 25 And the king left off speaking, and Terah answered the king, saying, Like unto this has the king spoken to his servant;
26 I beseech you, my lord and king, what is this which you didst say unto me, saying, Give your son that we may slay him, and I will give you silver and gold for his value; what shall I do with silver and gold after the death of my son? who shall inherit me? surely then at my death, the silver and gold will return to my king who gave it.
27 And when the king heard the words of Terah, and the parable which he brought concerning the king, it grieved him greatly and he was vexed at this thing, and his anger burned within him.
28 And Terah saw that the anger of the king was kindled against him, and he answered the king, saying, All that I have is in the king's power; whatever the king desires to do to his servant, that let him do, yea, even my son, he is in the king's power, without value in exchange, he and his two brothers that are older than he.
29 And the king said to Terah, No, but I will purchase your younger son for a price.
30 And Terah answered the king, saying, I beseech you my lord and king to let your servant speak a word before you, and let the king hear the word of his servant, and Terah said, Let my king give me three days' time till I consider this matter within myself, and consult with my family concerning the words of my king; and he pressed the king greatly to agree to this.
31 And the king hearkened to Terah, and he did so and he gave him three days' time, and Terah went out from the king's presence, and he came home to his family and spoke to them all the words of the king; and the people were greatly afraid.
32 And it was in the third day that the king sent to Terah, saying, Send me your son for a price as I spoke to you; and shouldst you not do this, I will send and slay all you hast in your house, so that you shall not even have a dog remaining.
33 And Terah hastened, (as the thing was urgent from the king), and he took a child from one of his servants, which his handmaid had born to him that day, and Terah brought the child to the king and received value for him.
34 And YAHWEH was with Terah in this matter, that Nimrod might not cause Abram's death, and the king took the child from Terah and with all his might dashed his head to the ground, for he thought it had been Abram; and this was concealed from him from that day, and it was forgotten by the king, as it was the will of Providence not to suffer Abram's death.
35 And Terah took Abram his son secretly, together with his mother and nurse, and he concealed them in a cave, and he brought them their provisions monthly.
36 And YAHWEH was with Abram in the cave and he grew up, and Abram was in the cave ten years, and the king and his princes, soothsayers and sages, thought that the king had killed Abram.

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