THE TESTAMENT OF JOSEPH - 2
[Joseph 2:1-84]

*1* You therefore, my children, see how patience works great things, and prayer with fasting.

*2* So you too, if you follow after chastity and purity with patience and prayer, with fasting in humility of heart, the Lord will dwell among you because He loves chastity.

*3* And wherever the Most High dwells, even though envy, or slavery, or slander befalls a man, the Lord who dwells in the man because of his chastity will not only deliver the man from evil, but also exalts him even as the Lord did to me.

*4* For in every way the man is lifted up, whether in deed, or in word, or in thought.

*5* My brethren knew how my father loved me, and yet I did not exalt myself in my mind: although I was a child, I had the fear of God in my heart; for I knew that all things would pass away.

*6* And I did not raise myself against them with evil intent, but I honoured my brethren; and out of respect for them, even when I was being sold, I refrained from telling the Ishmaelites that I was a son of Jacob, a great man and a mighty one.

*7* You also, my children, have the fear of God in all your works before your eyes, and honour your brethren.

*8* For every one who does the law of the Lord shall be loved by Him.

*9* And when I came to the Indocolpitae with the Ishmaelites, they asked me, saying:

*10* "Are you a slave?" And I answered that "I was a home-born slave;" so that I might not put my brothers to shame.

*11* And the eldest of them said to me: "You are not a slave, for even your appearance does show it.

*12* But I said that I was their slave.

*13* Now when we came into Egypt they strove concerning me, which of them should buy me and take me.

*14* Therefore it seemed good to all that I should remain in Egypt with the merchant of their trade, until they should return bringing merchandise.

*15* And the Lord gave me favour in the eyes of the merchant, and he entrusted to me his house.

*16* And God blessed him by my means, and increased him in gold and silver and in household servants.

*17* And I was with him three months and five days.

*18* And about that time the Memphian woman, the wife of Pentephris (Potiphar's Wife) came down in a chariot, with great pomp, because she had heard from her eunuchs about me.

*19* And she told her husband that the merchant had become rich by means of a young Hebrew, and they say that he had assuredly been stolen out of the land of Canaan.

*20* Now, therefore, render justice to him, and take away the youth to your house; so shall the God of the Hebrews bless you, for grace from heaven is upon him.

*21* And Pentephris (Potiphar) was persuaded by her words, and commanded the merchant to be brought, and said to him:

*22* "What is this that I hear about you, that you steal persons out of the land of Canaan, and sell them for slaves?"

*23* But the merchant fell at his feet, and besought him, saying: "I beseech you, my lord, I do not know what you are saying."

*24* And Pentephris asked him: "From where, then, is the Hebrew slave?"

*25* And he replied: "The Ishmaelites entrusted him to me until they should return."

*26* But he did not believe him, but commanded him to be stripped and beaten.

*27* And when he persisted in this statement, Pentephris said: "Let the youth be brought."

*28* And when I was brought in, I did bow to Pentephris for he was third in rank of the officers of Pharaoh.

*29* And he took me aside from him, and asked me: "Are you a slave or free?"

*30* And I answered: "A slave."

*31* And he said: "Whose?"

*32* And I said: "The Ishmaelites."

*33* And he said: "How did you become their slave?"

*34* And I said: "They bought me out of the land of Canaan."

*35* And he said to me: "Truly you are lying;" and straightway he commanded me to be stripped and beaten.

*36* Now, the Memphian woman was looking through a window at me while I was being beaten, for her house was near, and she sent to him saying:

*37* "Your judgement is unjust; for you do punish a free man who has been stolen, as if he is a transgressor."


*38* And when I made no change in my statement, though I was beaten, he ordered me to be imprisoned, until, as he said, the owners of the boy should come.

*39* And the woman said to her husband: "Why do you detain the captive and wellborn lad in bonds, who ought rather to be set at liberty, and be waited upon?"

*40* For she wished to see me out of a desire of sin, but I was ignorant concerning all these things.

*41* And he said to her: "It is not the custom of the Egyptians to take that which belongs to others before proof is given."

*42* This, therefore, he said concerning the merchant; but as for the lad, he must be imprisoned.

*43* Now after twenty-four days the Ishmaelites came; for they had heard that Jacob my father was mourning much concerning me.

*44* And they came and said to me: "How is it that you said that you were a slave? And look, we have learnt that you are the son of a mighty man in the land of Canaan, and your father still mourns for you in sackcloth and ashes."

*45* When I heard this my bowels were dissolved and my heart melted, and I desired greatly to weep, but I restrained myself that I should not put my brethren to shame.

*46* And I said to them, "I do not know, I am a slave."

*47* Then, therefore, they took counsel to sell me, so that I should not be found in their hands.

*48* For they feared my father, lest he should come and execute upon them a grievous vengeance.

*49* For they had heard that he was mighty with God and with men.

*50* Then the merchant said to them: "Release me from the judgment of Pentiphri."

*51* And they came and requested me, saying: "Say that you were bought by us with money, and he will set us free."

*52* Now the Memphian woman said to her husband: "Buy the youth; for I hear, that they are selling him."

*53* And straightway she sent a eunuch to the Ishmaelites, and asked them to sell me.

*54* But since the eunuch would not agree to buy me at their price he returned, having made trial of them, and he made known to his mistress that they asked a large price for their slave.

*55* And she sent another eunuch, saying: "Even though they demand two minas, give them, do not spare the gold; only buy the boy, and bring him to me."

*56* The eunuch therefore went and gave them eighty pieces of gold, and he received me; but to the Egyptian woman he said, "I have given a hundred."

*57* And though I knew this I held my peace, lest the eunuch should be put to shame.

*58* You see, therefore, my children, what great things I endured that I should not put my brethren to shame.

*59* Do you also, therefore, love one another, and with long-suffering hide you one another's faults.

*60* For God delights in the unity of brethren, and in the purpose of a heart that takes pleasure in love.

*61* And when my brethren came into Egypt they learnt that I had returned their money to them, and upbraided them not, and comforted them.

*62* And after the death of Jacob my father I loved them more abundantly, and all things whatsoever he commanded I did very abundantly for them.

*63* And I allowed them not to be afflicted in the smallest matter; and all that was in my hand I gave to them.

*64* And their children were my children, and my children as their servants; and their life was my life, and all their suffering was my suffering, and all their sickness was my infirmity.

*65* My land was their land, and their counsel my counsel.

*66* And I did not exalt myself among them in arrogance because of my worldly glory, but I was among them as one of the least.

*67* If you also, therefore, walk in the commandments of the Lord, my children, He will exalt you there, and will bless you with good things for ever and ever.

*68* And if any one seeks to do evil to you, do well to him, and pray for him, and you shall be redeemed of the Lord from all evil.

*69* For, behold, you see that out of my humility and longsuffering I took to wife the daughter of the priest of Heliopolis.

*70* And a hundred talents of gold were given me with her, and the Lord made them to serve me.

*71* And He gave me also beauty as a flower beyond the beautiful ones of Israel; and He preserved me till old age in strength and in beauty, because I was like in all things to Jacob.

*72* And you my children, hear also the vision which I saw:

*73* There were twelve harts (Male Deer) feeding: and nine of them were first dispersed over all the earth, and likewise also the three.

*74* And I saw that from Judah was born a virgin wearing a linen garment, and from her, was born a Lamb, without spot; and on His left Hand there was as it were a lion; and all the beasts rushed against Him, and the Lamb overcame them, and destroyed them and trod them under foot.

*75* And because of Him the angels and men rejoiced, and all the land.

*76* And these things shall come to pass in their season, in the last days.

*77* Do you therefore, my children, observe the commandments of the Lord, and honour Levi and Judah; for from them shall arise to you the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, One who saves all the Gentiles and Israel.

*78* For His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, which shall not pass away; but my kingdom among you shall come to an end as a watcher's hammock, which after the summer disappears.

*79* For I know that after my death the Egyptians will afflict you, but God will avenge you, and will bring you into that land which He promised to your fathers.

*80* But you shall carry up my bones with you; for when my bones are being taken up there, the Lord shall be with you in light, and Beliar shall be in darkness with the Egyptians.

*81* And also carry you up Asenath your mother to the Hippodrome, and near Rachel your mother bury her.

*82* And when Joseph had said these things he stretched out his feet, and died at a good old age.

*83* And all Israel mourned for him, and all Egypt, with a great mourning.

*84* And when the children of Israel went out of Egypt, they took with them the bones of Joseph, and they buried him in Hebron with his fathers, and the years of his life were one hundred and ten years.

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