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Revelation 14:4-5, 7:7
John 1:47

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THE TESTAMENT OF ISSACHAR - 1

[Issachar 1:1-44]

Issachar, the son of Jacob and Leah, and the sinless child of hire for mandrakes. He preaches True Singleness.

*1* THE copy of the words of Issachar:

*2* For he called his sons and said to them: "Listen, my children, to Issachar your father; give ear to the words of him who is beloved of the Lord.

*3* I was born the fifth son to Jacob, by way of hire for the mandrakes.

*4* For Reuben my brother brought in mandrakes from the field, and Rachel met him and took them.

*5* And Reuben wept, and at his voice Leah my mother came forth.

*6* Now these mandrakes were sweet-smelling apples which were produced in the land of Haran below a ravine of water.

*7* And Rachel said: "I will not give them to you, but they shall be to me instead of children.

*8* For the Lord has despised me, and I have not borne children to Jacob."

*9* Now there were two apples; and Leah said to Rachel: "Let it suffice you that you have taken my husband: will you take these also?"

*10* And Rachel said to her: "You shall have Jacob this night for the mandrakes of your son."

*11* And Leah said to her: "Jacob is mine, for I am the wife of his youth."

*12* But Rachel said: "Do not boast, and do not vaunt yourself; for he espoused me before you, and for my sake he served our father fourteen years.

*13* And had not craft increased on the earth and the wickedness of men prospered, you would not by now see the face of Jacob.

*14* For you are not his wife, but in craft were taken to him in my stead.

*15* And my father deceived me, and removed me on that night, and did not allow Jacob to see me; for had I been there, this would not have happened to him.

*16* Nevertheless, for the mandrakes I am hiring Jacob to you for one night."

*17* And Jacob slept with Leah, and she conceived and bore me, and on account of the hire I was called "Issachar."

*18* Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Jacob, saying: "Two children shall Rachel bear, inasmuch as she has refused company with her husband, and has chosen continency."

*19* And had it been Leah my mother did not pay the two apples for the sake of Jacob's company, she would have borne eight sons; but for this reason she bore six instead, and Rachel bore the remaining two: because on account of the mandrakes the Lord visited Rachel.

*20* For the Lord knew that it was for the sake of children (procreation) Rachel wished to company with Jacob and not for lust of (sexual) pleasure.

*21* For on the next day also Rachel again gave up Jacob.

*22* Because of the mandrakes, therefore, the Lord listened to Rachel.

*23* For though she desired them, she did not eat them, but offered them in the house of the Lord, presenting them to the priest of the Most High who was at that time.

*24* When, therefore, I grew up, my children, I walked in uprightness of heart, and I became a husbandman (a farmer) for my father and my brethren, and I brought in fruits from the field according to their season.

*25* And my father blessed me, for he saw that I walked in rectitude before him.

*26* And I was not a busybody in my doings, nor envious and malicious against my neighbour.

*27* I never slandered any one, nor did I censure the life of any man, walking as I did in singleness of eye.

*28* Therefore, when I was thirty-five years old, I took to myself a wife, for my labour wore away my strength, and I never thought on pleasure with women; but owing to my toil, sleep overcame me.

*29* And my father always rejoiced in my rectitude, because I offered through the priest to the Lord all first-fruits; then to my father also.

*30* And the Lord increased ten thousandfold His benefits in my hands; and also Jacob, my father, knew that God aided my singleness.

*31* For on all the poor and oppressed I bestowed the good things of the earth in the singleness of my heart.

*32* And now, hear me, my children, and walk in singleness of your heart, for I have seen in it all that is well-pleasing to the Lord.

*33* The single-minded man does not covet gold, he does not overreach his neighbour, he does not long after manifold dainties, he does not delight in varieties of clothings (wears).

*34* He does not desire to live a long life, but only waits for the will of God.

*35* And the spirits of deceit have no power against him, for he does not look on the beauty of women, lest he should pollute his mind with corruption.

*36* There is no envy in his thoughts, no malicious person makes his soul to pine away, nor is there worry with insatiable desire in his mind.

*37* For he walks in singleness of soul, and beholds all things in uprightness of heart, shunning eyes made evil through the error of the world, lest he should see the perversion of any of the commandments of the Lord.

*38* Keep, therefore, my children, the law of God, and get singleness, and walk in guilelessness, not playing the busybody with the business of your neighbour, but love the Lord and your neighbour, have compassion on the poor and weak.

*39* Bow down your back to husbandry (farming), and toil in labours in all manner of husbandry, offering gifts to the Lord with thanksgiving.

*40* For with the first-fruits of the earth will the Lord bless you, even as He blessed all the saints from Abel even until now.

*41* For no other portion is given to you than of the fatness of the earth, whose fruits are raised by toil.

*41* For our father Jacob blessed me with blessings of the earth and of first-fruits.

*43* And Levi and Judah were glorified by the Lord even among the sons of Jacob; for the Lord gave them an inheritance, and to Levi He gave the priesthood, and to Judah the kingdom.

*44* And do you therefore obey them, and walk in the singleness of your father; for to Gad has it been given to destroy the troops that are coming upon Israel.

THE TESTAMENT OF ISSACHAR - 2

[Issachar 2:1-18]

*1* KNOW you therefore, my children, that in the last times your sons will forsake singleness, and will cleave to insatiable desire.

*2* And forsaking guilelessness, they will draw near to malice; and forsaking the commandments of the Lord, they will cleave to Beliar.

*3* And leaving husbandry, they will follow after their own wicked devices, and they shall be dispersed among the Gentiles, and shall serve their enemies.

*4* And do you therefore give these commands to your children, that, if they sin, they may the more quickly return to the Lord; For He is merciful, and will deliver them, even to bring them back into their land.

*5* Behold, therefore, as you see, I am one hundred and twenty-six years old and am not conscious of committing any sin in my entire life.

*6* And except my wife, I have not known any woman. I never committed fornication by even the uplifting of my eyes.

*7* I drank no wine, to be led astray thereby;

*8* I did not covet any desirable thing that was my neighbour's.

*9* No guile arose in my heart;

*10* A single lie never passed through my lips.

*11* If any man was in distress I joined my sighs with his,

*12* And I shared my bread with the poor.

*13* I worked godliness, all my days I kept truth.

*14* I loved the Lord; likewise also every man with all my heart.

*15* So do you also these things, my children, and every spirit of Beliar shall flee from you, and no deed of wicked men shall rule over you;

*16* And every wild beast shall you subdue, since you have with you the God of heaven and earth and walk with men in singleness of heart."

*17* And having said these things, he commanded his sons that they should carry him up to Hebron, and bury him there in the cave with his fathers.

*18* And he stretched out his feet and died, at a good old age; with every limb sound, and with strength unabated, he slept the eternal sleep.

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The Two is not One, choose One from the Two — Separate the light from the darkness - For the latter ends of men do show their righteousness or unrighteousness, when they meet the angels of the Lord and of Satan.

THE TESTAMENT OF ASHER - 1
[Asher 1:1-48]

Asher, the son of Jacob and Zilpah, preaches against having double faces, double standards or hypocrisy.

*1* THE copy of the Testament To Asher, including things he spoke to his sons in the one hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life.

*2* For while he was still in health, he said to them: "Listen, you children of Asher, to your father, and I will declare to you all that is upright in the sight of the Lord.

*3* Two ways has God given to the sons of men, and two inclinations, and two kinds of action, and two modes of action, and two motives.

*4* Therefore all things are by twos, one over against the other.

*5* For there are two ways of good and evil, and with these are the two inclinations in our breasts discriminating them.

*6* Therefore if the soul takes pleasure in the good inclination, all its actions are in righteousness; and if that soul sins it immediately repents.

*7* For, having its thoughts set upon righteousness, and casting away wickedness, it immediately overthrows the evil, and uproots the sin.

*8* But if the soul inclines to the evil inclination, all its actions are in wickedness, and it drives away the good, and cleaves to the evil, and is ruled by Beliar; and even if that soul works what is good, he perverts it to evil.

*9* For whenever it begins to do good, he forces the motive of the action into evil for him, seeing that the treasure of the inclination is filled with an evil spirit.

*10* A person then may use words to help the good but for the motive of the evil, yet the end of the action leads to mischief.

*11* There is a case where a man shows no mercy on a wicked man who's caught up in suffering for his own evil; and this thing has two aspects, but the whole of it is evil.

*12* And there is also a case where a man loves him that works evil, because he would prefer even to die in evil for his sake; and concerning this it is clear that it has two aspects, but the whole thing is an evil work.

*13* Though indeed that man has love, yet he is wicked for hiding what is evil for the sake of the good name, but the end of the action tends to evil.

*14* Another steals, cheats, does unjustly, plunders, defrauds, and uses the proceeds to pity and feed the poor: this too has a twofold aspect, but the whole of it is evil.

*15* He who defrauds his neighbour provokes God, and swears falsely against the Most High, and yet he pities the poor: The Lord commanded that law he breaks and provokes, and yet he refreshes the poor.

*16* He defiles the soul, and makes gay the body; he kills many, and pities a few: this, too, has a twofold aspect, but the whole of it is evil.

*17* Another case is a man who commits adultery and fornication, and abstains from meats, and when he fasts he does evil, and by the power of his wealth overwhelms many: And notwithstanding his excessive wickedness he still observes the commandments: this, too, has a twofold aspect, but the whole of it is evil,

*18* Such men are like the animal called Hares, which is clean, like those that divide the hoof, but in very deed are unclean.

*19* For God in the tables of the commandments has thus declared.

*20* But my children, do not wear two faces like to them having both that of goodness and of wickedness; but rather cleave to goodness only, for God has His habitation therein, and men desire it.

*21* But flee away from wickedness, destroying the evil inclination by your good works; for they that are double-faced do not serve God, but their own lusts, so that they may please Beliar and men like themselves.

*22* For good men, even those that are of single face, are just before God, even though they are presumed to sin by them that are double-faced.

*23* For many in killing the wicked do two works, of good and evil; but the whole is good, because he has uprooted and destroyed that which is evil.

*24* One man hates a merciful but an unjust man, and hates the man who commits adultery and yet does fastings: this, too, has a twofold aspect, but the whole work is good, because he follows the Lord's example, in that he does not accept the one who seems good as being genuinely good.

*25* Another man does not desire to see good day with them that not, lest he defiles his body and pollutes his soul; this, too, is double-faced, but the whole of it is good.

*26* For such men are like to stags and to hinds, because in the manner of wild animals they seem to be unclean, but they are altogether clean; because they walk in zeal for the Lord and abstain from what God also hates and forbids by His commandments, warding off the evil from the good.

*27* You see, my children, how that there are two in all things, one against the other, and the one is hidden by the other: in wealth is hidden covetousness, in conviviality drunkenness, in laughter grief, in wedlock profligacy.

*28* Death succeeds to life, dishonour to glory, night to day, and darkness to light; and all things are under the day, just things under life, unjust things under death; wherefore also eternal life awaits death.

*29* Nor may it be said that truth is a lie, nor right wrong; for all truth is under the light, even as all things are under God.

*30* All these things, therefore, I proved in my life, and I wandered not from the truth of the Lord, and I searched out the commandments of the Most High, walking according to all my strength with singleness of face to that which is good.

*31* Take heed, therefore you also my children, to the commandments of the Lord, following the truth with singleness of face.

*32* For they that are double-faced are guilty of a twofold sin; for they both do the evil thing and they have pleasure in them that do it, following the example of the spirits of deceit, and striving against mankind.

*33* Do you therefore, my children, keep the law of the Lord, and give not heed to evil as to good; but look to the thing that is really good, and keep it in all commandments of the Lord, having your conversation therein, and resting therein.

*34* For the latter ends of men do show their righteousness or unrighteousness, when they meet the angels of the Lord and of Satan.

*35* for when the soul departs troubled, it is tormented by the evil spirit which also that soul served in lusts and evil works.

*36* But if he is peaceful with joy he meets the angel of peace, and the angel leads him into eternal life.

*37* My children, do not become as Sodom, which sinned against the angels of the Lord, and perished for ever.

*38* For I know that you shall sin, and be delivered into the hands of your enemies; and your land shall be made desolate, and your holy places destroyed, and you shall be scattered to the four corners of the earth.

*39* And you shall be set at nought in the dispersion vanishing away as water.

*40* Until the Most High shall visit the earth, coming Himself as Man, with men eating and drinking, and breaking the head of the dragon in the water.

*41* He shall save Israel and all the Gentiles, God speaking in the Person of Man.

*42* Therefore do you also, my children, tell these things to your children, that they do not disobey Him.

*43* For I have known that you shall assuredly be disobedient, and assuredly act ungodly, not giving heed to the law of God, but to the commandments of men, being corrupted through wickedness.

*44* And therefore shall you be scattered as Gad and Dan my brethren, and you shall not know your lands, tribe, and tongue.

*45* But the Lord will gather you together in faith through His tender mercy, and for the sake of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

*46* And when he had said these things to them, he commanded them, saying: "Bury me in Hebron."

*47* And he fell asleep and died at a good old age.

*48* And his sons did as he had commanded them, and they carried him up to Hebron, and buried him with his fathers.

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KILL HATRED INSIDE YOU, AND BE FULL OF LOVE

THE TESTAMENT OF GAD - 1
[Gad 1:1-36]

Gad, the son of Jacob and Zilpah. He preaches against hate: This is a message about hatred.

*1* THE copy of the testament of Gad, the things he spoke to his sons, in the one hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life, saying to them:

*2* Listen, my children, I was the ninth son born to Jacob, and I was valiant in keeping the flocks.

*3* Accordingly I guarded at night the flock; and whenever the lion came, or the wolf, or any wild beast against the fold, I pursued it, and overtaking it I seized its foot with my hand and hurled it about a stone's throw, and so killed it.

*4* Now Joseph my brother was feeding the flock with us for upwards of thirty days, and being young, he fell sick by reason of the heat.

*5* And he returned to Hebron to our father, who made him lie down near him, because he loved him greatly.

*6* And Joseph told our father that the sons of Zilpah and Bilhah were killing the best of the flock and eating them against the judgment of Reuben and Judah.

*7* For he saw that I had delivered a lamb out of the mouth of a bear, and put the bear to death; but had killed the lamb, being grieved concerning it that it could not live, and that we had eaten it.

*8* And regarding this matter I was angry with Joseph until the day that he was sold.

*9* And the spirit of hatred was in me, and I wished not either to hear of Joseph with the ears, or see him with the eyes, because he rebuked us to our faces saying that we were eating of the flock without Judah.

*10* For whatever things Joseph told our father, he believed him.

*11* I confess now my sin, my children, that oftentimes I wished to kill Joseph, because I hated him from my heart.

*12* Moreover, I hated him yet more for his dreams; and I wished to lick him out of the land of the living, even as an ox licks up grass of the field.

*13* And Judah sold him secretly to the Ishmaelites.

*14* Thus the God of our fathers delivered him from our hands, that we should not work great lawlessness in Israel.

*15* And now, my children, listen to the words of truth to work righteousness, and all the law of the Most High, and do not go astray through the spirit of hatred, for it is evil in all the doings of men.

*16* Whatever a man does the hater abominates him: and though a man works the law of the Lord, the does not praise him; though a man fears the Lord, and takes pleasure in that which is righteous, the hater does not love him.

*17* The hater dispraises the truth, he envies him that prospers, he welcomes evil-speaking, he loves arrogance, for hatred blinds his soul; as I also then looked on Joseph.

*18* Beware, therefore, my children of hatred, for it works lawlessness even against the Lord Himself.

*19* For it will not hear the words of His commandments concerning the loving of one's neighbour, and it sins against God.

*20* For if a brother stumbles, it delights immediately to proclaim it to all men, and is urgent that he should be judged for it, and be punished and be put to death.

*21* And if it be a servant it stirs him up against his master, and with every affliction it devises against him, if possibly he can be put to death.

*22* For hatred works with envy also against them that prosper: so long as it hears of or sees their success it always languishes.

*23* For as love would quicken even the dead, and would call back them that are condemned to die, so hatred would slay the living, and those that had sinned venially it would not suffer to live.

*24* For the spirit of hatred works together with Satan, through hastiness of spirits, in all things to men's death; but the spirit of love works together with the law of God in long-suffering to the salvation of men.

*25* Hatred, therefore, is evil, for it constantly mates with lying, speaking against the truth; and it makes small things to be great, and causes the light to be darkness, and calls the sweet bitter, and teaches slander, and kindles wrath, and stirs up war, and violence and all covetousness; it fills the heart with evils and devilish poison.

*26* These things, therefore, I say to you from experience, my children, that you may drive forth hatred, which is of the devil, and cleave to the love of God.

*27* Righteousness casts out hatred, humility destroys envy.

*28* For he that is righteous and humble is ashamed to do what is unrighteous, being reproved not of another, but of his own heart, because the Lord looks on his inclination.

*29* He does not speak against a holy man, because the fear of God overcomes hatred.

*30* For fearing lest he should offend the Lord, he will not do wrong to any man, even in thought.

*31* These things I learnt at last, after I had repented concerning Joseph.

*32* For true repentance after a godly sort destroys ignorance, and drives away the darkness, and enlightens the eyes, and gives knowledge to the soul, and leads the mind to salvation.

*33* And those things which it has not learnt from man, it knows through repentance.

*34* For God brought upon me a disease of the liver; and had not the prayers of Jacob my father succoured me, it had hardly failed but my spirit had departed.

*35* For by those things a man transgresses by the same also is he punished.

*36* Since, therefore, my liver was set mercilessly against Joseph, in my liver too I suffered mercilessly, and was judged for eleven months, for so long a time as I had been angry against Joseph..

THE TESTAMENT OF GAD - 2
[Gad 2:1-21]

Gad exhorts his listeners against hatred showing how it has brought him into so much trouble.

*1* AND now, my children, I exhort you, love you each one his brother, and put away hatred from your hearts, love one another in deed, and in word, and in the inclination of the soul.

*2* For in the presence of my father I spoke peaceably to Joseph; and when I had gone out, the spirit of hatred darkened my mind, and stirred up my soul to kill him.

*3* Love you one another from the heart; and if a man sin against you, speak peaceably to him, and in your soul hold no guile; and if he repents and confesses, forgive him.

*4* But if he denies it, do not get into a passion with him, lest catching the poison from you he takes to swearing and so your sin doubles.

*5* Do not let another man hear your secrets when engaged in legal strife, lest he comes to hate you and becomes your enemy, and commit a great sin against you; for ofttimes he addresses you guilefully or busies himself about you with wicked intent.

*6* And though he denies it and yet have a sense of shame when reproved, get over reproving him.

*7* For he who denies may repent so as not again to wrong you; yes, he may also honour you, and fear and be at peace with you.

*8* And if he is shameless and persist in his wrong-doing, even so forgive him from the heart, and leave it to God to the avenging.

*9* If a man prospers more than you, do not be vexed, but pray also for him, that he may have perfect prosperity.

*10* For so it is expedient for you.

*11* And if he be further exalted, do not be envious of him, remembering that all flesh shall die; and offer praise to God, who gives things good and profitable to all men.

*12* Seek out the judgments of the Lord, and your mind will rest and be at peace.

*13* And though a man becomes rich by evil means, even as Esau, the brother of my father, do not be jealous; but wait for the end of the Lord.

*14* For if He takes away from a man wealth gotten by evil means He forgives him if he repents, but the unrepentant is reserved for eternal punishment.

*15* And for the poor man, if he free from envy he pleases the Lord in all things, is blessed beyond all men, because he does not have the travail of vain men.

*16* Put away, therefore, jealousy from your souls, and love one another with uprightness of heart.

*17* Do you also therefore tell these things to your children, that they honour Judah and Levi, for from them shall the Lord raise up salvation to Israel.

*18* For I know that at the last days your children shall depart from Him, and shall walk in wickedness, and affliction and corruption before the Lord."

*19* And when Gad had rested for a little while, he said again; "My children, obey your father, and bury me near to my fathers."

*20* And he drew up his feet, and fell asleep in peace.

*21* And after five years they carried him up to Hebron, and laid him with his fathers.

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Satan knows that on the day in which Israel shall repent, the kingdom of the enemy shall be brought to an end

THE TESTAMENT OF DAN - 1
[Dan 1:1-27]

Dan, the son of Jacob and Bilhah. He preaches against anger: This is a message about anger.

*1* THE copy of the words of Dan, which he spoke to his sons in his last days, in the one hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life.

*2* For he called together his family, and said: "Listen to my words, you sons of Dan; and give heed to the words of your father.

*3* I have proved in my heart, and in my whole life, that truth with righteous dealing is good and well pleasing to God, and that lying and anger are evil, because they teach man all wickedness.

*4* I confess, therefore, this day to you, my children, that in my heart I resolved on the death of Joseph my brother, who was a true and good man.

*5* And I rejoiced that he was sold, because his father loved him more than us.

*6* For the spirit of jealousy and vainglory said to me: "You youself also are his son."

*7* And one of the spirits of Beliar stirred me up, saying: "Take this sword, and with it kill Joseph: so that all your father will love you when Joseph is dead."

*8* Now that was the spirit of anger that persuaded me to crush Joseph as a leopard crushes a kid.

*9* But the God of my fathers did not allow Joseph to fall into my hands, so that I should find him alone and kill him, and cause a second tribe to be destroyed in Israel.

*10* And now, my children, behold I am dying, and I tell you of a truth, that unless you keep yourselves from the spirit of lying and of anger, and love truth and longsuffering, you shall perish.

*11* For anger is blindness, and does not allow one to see the face of any man with truth.

*12* For even though it is a father or a mother, the angry man behaves towards them as enemies; even though it is a brother, the angry man does not knows him; even though it is a prophet of the Lord, the angry man disobeys him; even though is a righteous man, the angry man does not regard him; and even though is a friend, the angry man does not acknowledge him.

*13* For the spirit of anger surrounds him with the net of deceit, and blinds his eyes, and through lying darkens his mind, and gives him its own peculiar vision, which is made of distorted perceptions and false impressions.

*14* And anger surrounds his eyes with hatred of heart, so as to be envious of his brother.

*15* For anger is an evil thing, my children, because it troubles even the soul of its host.

*16* And anger makes the body of the angry man its own, and over the man's soul anger gets the mastery, and when anger possesses a man it bestows on the body power so that its host may work all iniquity.

*17* And when the angry body does all these things, the soul justifies what is done, since it does not see things aright.

*18* Therefore he that is wrathful, if he is a mighty man, he has threefold power in his anger: one by the help of his servants through whom he may cause damages; and a second by his wealth, through which he persuades and overcomes wrongfully; and thirdly, having his own natural power he works the evil by his own hands.

*19* And even though the wrathful man is weak, yet he has twofold power of that which is by nature; for wrath ever empowers such angery man in lawlessness.

*20* This spirit of anger always goes with lying at the right hand of Satan, so that through cruelty and lying his works may be done.

*21* Therefore you must understand the power of wrath, that it is vain.

*22* For it first of all gives provocation by word; then by deeds it strengthens him who is angry, and with sharp losses disturbs his mind, and so stirs up with great wrath his soul.

*23* Therefore, when any one speaks against you, do not be moved to anger, and if any man praises you as holy men, do not be uplifted: Do not be moved either to delight or to disgust, lest you be manipulated.

*24* For first it pleases the hearing, and so manipulates the mind into being keen to perceive the grounds for provocation; and then being enraged, the angry man thinks that he is right to be angry or justifies his anger.

*25* If you fall into any loss or ruin, my children, do not be afflicted; for this very spirit makes a man desire that which is perishable, in order that he may be enraged through the affliction.

*26* And if you suffer loss voluntarily, or involuntarily, do not be vexed; for from vexation arises wrath with lying.

*27* Moreover, a twofold mischief is anger with lying; and they assist one another in order to disturb the heart of man; and when the soul of man is continually disturbed, the Lord departs from the soul, and the devil rules over that soul.

THE TESTAMENT OF DAN - 2
[Dan 2:1-27]

Dan, the son of Jacob and Bilhah. He prophesies of the sins, captivity, plagues, and ultimate restitution of the people.

*1* OBSERVE, therefore, my children, the commandments of the Lord, and keep His law; depart from wrath, and hate lying, that the Lord may dwell among you, and the devil may flee from you.

*2* Speak truth each one with his neighbour. So shall you not fall into anger and confusion; but you shall be in peace, having the God of peace, so shall no war prevail over you.

*3* Love the Lord through all your life, and one another with a true heart.

*4* I know that in the last days you shall depart from the Lord, and you shall provoke Levi to anger, and fight against Judah; but you shall not prevail against them, for an angel of the Lord shall guide them both; for by them shall Israel stand.

*5* And whenever you depart from the Lord, you shall walk in all evil and work the abominations of the Gentiles, going in fornication after women of the lawless ones, while through all wickedness the spirits of wickedness work in you.

*6* For I have read in the Book of Enoch, the righteous, that your prince is Satan, and that all the spirits of wickedness and pride will conspire to attack constantly on the sons of Levi, to cause them to sin before the Lord.

*7* And my sons will draw near to Levi, and sin with them in all things; and the sons of Judah will be covetous, plundering other men's goods like lions.

*8* Therefore you shall be led away with them into captivity, and there shall you receive all the plagues of Egypt, and all the evils of the Gentiles.

*9* And so when you return to the Lord you shall obtain mercy, and He shall bring you into His sanctuary, and He shall give you peace.

*10* And there shall arise to you from the tribe of Judah and of Levi the Salvation of the Lord; and He shall make war against Beliar (the Devil).

*11* And execute an everlasting vengeance on our enemies; and the captivity shall He take from Beliar the souls of the saints, and turn disobedient hearts to the Lord, and give to them that call upon Him eternal peace.

*12* And the saints shall rest in Eden, and in the New Jerusalem shall the righteous rejoice, and it shall be to the glory of God for ever.

*13* And no longer shall Jerusalem endure desolation, nor Israel be led captive; for the Lord shall be in the midst of it, living amongst men, and the Holy One of Israel shall reign over it in humility and in power; and he who believes on Him shall reign amongst men in truth.

*14* And now, fear the Lord, my children, and beware of Satan and his spirits.

*15* Draw near to God and to the Angel that intercedes for you, for He is a Mediator between God and man, and for the peace of Israel He shall stand up against the kingdom of the enemy.

*16* Therefore is the enemy eager to destroy all that call upon the Lord.

*17* For Satan knows that on the day in which Israel shall repent, the kingdom of the enemy shall be brought to an end.

*18* For the very angel of peace shall strengthen Israel, so that it should not fall into the extremity of evil.

*19* And it shall be in the time of the lawlessness of Israel, that the Lord will not depart from them, but will transform them into a nation that does His will, for none of the angels will be equal to Him.

*20* And His Name shall be in every place in Israel, and among the Gentiles.

*21* Thereforemy children, keep yourselves from every evil work, and cast away anger and all lying, and love truth and long-suffering.

*22* And the things which you have heard from your father, do you also impart to your children that the Saviour of the Gentiles may receive you; for He is true and long-suffering, meek and lowly, and teaches by His works the law of God.

*23* Therefore, depart from all unrighteousness, and cleave to the righteousness of God, and your race will be saved for ever.

*24* And bury me near my fathers."

*25* And when he had said these things he kissed them, and fell asleep at a good old age.

*26* And his sons buried him, and after that they carried up his bones, and placed them near Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob.

*27* Nevertheless, Dan prophesied to them that they should forget their God, and should be alienated from the land of their inheritance and from the race of Israel, and from the family of their seed.

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Order in the Body, and the Body in Order

THE TESTAMENT OF NAPHTALI - 1
[Naphtali 1:1-32]

Naphtali, the son of Jacob and Bilhah. The Runner. A lesson in physiology.

*1* THE copy of the testament of Naphtali, which he ordained at the time of his death in the one hundred and thirtieth year of his life.

*2* When his sons were gathered together in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, while still in good health, he made them a feast of food and wine.

*3* And after he awoke in the morning, he said to them, "I am dying;" and they did not believe him.

*4* And as he glorified the Lord, he grew strong and said that after yesterday's feast he should die.

*5* And he began then to say: "Listen, my children, you sons of Naphtali, hear the words of your father.

*6* I was born from Bilhah, and because Rachel dealt craftly, and gave Bilhah in place of herself to Jacob, and she conceived and bore me on Rachel's knees, therefore she called my name "Naphtali."

*7* For Rachel loved me very much because I was born on her lap; and when I was still young she used to kiss me, and say: "May I have a brother of yours from mine own womb, just like you."

*8* This is why also Joseph was like me in all things, according to the prayers of Rachel.

*9* Now my mother was Bilhah, daughter of Rotheus the brother of Deborah, Rebecca's nurse, who was born in the self-same day with Rachel.

*10* And Rotheus was of the family of Abraham, a Chaldean, God-fearing, free-born, and noble.

*11* And he was taken captive and was bought by Laban; and Laban gave Rotheus his handmaid called Euna to marry as his wife, and she bore a daughter, and called her name "Zilpah," after the name of the village in which he had been taken captive.

*12* And next she bore "Bilhah," saying: "My daughter hastens after what is new," for immediately she was born she seized the breast and hastened to suck it.

*13* And I was swift on my feet like the deer, and my father Jacob appointed me for all messages, and as a deer did he give me his blessing.

*14* For as the potter knows the vessel, how much it is to contain, and brings clay accordingly, so also does the Lord make the body after the likeness of the spirit, and according to the capacity of the body does He implant the spirit.

*15* And one does not fall short of the other by a third part of a hair; for by weight, and measure, and rule was all the creation made.

*16* And as the potter knows the use of each vessel, what it is meet for, so also does the Lord know the body, how far it will persist in goodness, and when it begins in evil.

*17* For there is no inclination or thought which the Lord does not know, for He created every man after His own image.

*18* For as a man's strength, so also is his work; as his eye, so also in his sleep; as his soul, so also is his word either in the law of the Lord or in the law of Beliar.

*19* And as there is a division between light and darkness, between seeing and hearing, so also is there a division between man and man, and between woman and woman; and it is not to be said that the one is like the other either in face or in mind.

*20* For God made all things good in their order, the five senses in the head, and He joined on the neck to the head, adding to it the hair also for comeliness and glory, then the heart for understanding, the belly for excrement, and the stomach for grinding, the windpipe for taking in the breath, the liver for anger, the gall for bitterness, the spleen for laughter, the reins for prudence, the muscles of the loins for power, the lungs for drawing in, the loins for strength, and so forth.

*21* So then, my children, let all your works be done in order with good intent in the fear of God, and do nothing disorderly in scorn or out of its due season.

*22* For if you bid the eye to hear, it cannot; so neither while you are in darkness can you do the works of light.

*23* Be you, therefore, not eager to corrupt your doings through covetousness or with vain words to beguile your souls; because if you keep silence in purity of heart, you shall understand how to hold fast the will of God, and to cast away the will of Beliar.

*24* Sun, moon and stars, do not change their order; so also you should not change the law of God in the disorderliness of your doings.

*25* The Gentiles went astray, and forsook the Lord, and changed their order, and obeyed stocks and stones, spirits of deceit.

*26* But you shall not be so, my children, recognizing in the firmament, in the earth, and in the sea, and in all created things, the Lord who made all things, that you become not as Sodom, which changed the order of nature.

*27* In like manner the Watchers also changed the order of their nature, whom the Lord cursed at the flood, on whose account He made the earth without inhabitants and fruitless.

*28* These things I say to you, my children, for I have read in the Book of Enoch that you yourselves also shall depart from the Lord, walking according to all the lawlessness of the Gentiles, and you shall do according to all the wickedness of Sodom.

*29* And the Lord shall bring captivity upon you, and there shall you serve your enemies, and you shall be bowed down with every affliction and tribulation, until the Lord have consumed you all.

*30* And after you have become diminished and made few, you return and acknowledge the Lord your God; and He shall bring you back into your land, according to His abundant mercy.

*31* And it shall be, that after that they come into the land of their fathers, they shall again forget the Lord and become ungodly.

*32* And the Lord shall scatter them upon the face of all the earth, until the Compassion of the Lord shall come as a Man, working righteousness and working mercy to all them that are afar off, and to them that are near.

THE TESTAMENT OF NAPHTALI - 2
[Naphtali 2:1-36]

Naphtali, calls for Order

*1* FOR in the fortieth year of my life, I saw a vision on the Mount of Olives, on the east of Jerusalem, that the sun and the moon were standing still.

*2* And behold Isaac, the father of my father, said to us; "Run and lay hold of them, each one according to his strength; and to him that seizes them will the sun and moon belong."

*3* And we, all of us, ran together; and Levi laid hold of the sun, and Judah outstripped the others and seized the moon, and they were both of them lifted up with them.

*4* And when Levi became as a sun, look, a certain young man gave to him twelve branches of palm; and Judah was bright as the moon, and under their feet were twelve rays.

*5* And the two, Levi and Judah, ran, and laid hold of them.

*6* And look, a bull on the earth with two great horns, and an eagle's wings on its back; and we wished to seize him, but could not.

*7* But Joseph came, and seized the winged bull, and ascended up with it on high.

*8* And I saw, for I was there, and behold a holy writing appeared to us, saying: "Assyrians, Medes, Persians, Chaldeans, Syrians, shall possess in captivity the twelve tribes of Israel."

*9* And again, after seven days, I saw our father Jacob standing by the sea of Jamnia, and we were with him.

*10* And behold, there came a ship sailing by, without sailors or pilot; and there was written on the ship, "The Ship of Jacob."

*11* And our father said to us: "Come, let us embark on our ship."

*12* And when he had gone on board, there arose a vehement storm, and a mighty tempest of wind; and our father, who was holding the helm, departed from us.

*13* And we, being tost with the tempest, were borne along over the sea; and the ship was filled with water, and was pounded by mighty waves, until it was broken up.

*14* And Joseph fled away on a little boat, and we were all divided upon nine planks, and Levi and Judah were together.

*15* And we were all scattered to the ends of the earth.

*16* Then Levi, girt about with sackcloth, prayed for us all to the Lord.

*17* And when the storm ceased, the ship reached the land as it were in peace.

*18* And, look, our father came, and we all rejoiced with one accord."

*19* I told my father these two dreams; and he said to me: "These things must be fulfilled in their season, after that Israel has endured many things."

*20* Then my father said to me: "I believe God that Joseph lives, for I see always that the Lord numbers him with you."

*21* And he said, weeping: "Ah me, my son Joseph, you are alive, though I do not see you, and you do not Jacob that begot you."

*22* He caused me also to weep by these words, and I burned in my heart to reveal the secret that Joseph had been sold, but I feared my brethren.

*23* And look my children, I have shown to you the last times, how everything shall come to pass in Israel.

*24* Therefore, you also should charge your children that they be united to Levi and to Judah; for through them shall salvation arise to Israel, and in them shall Jacob be blessed.

*25* For through their tribes shall God appear, dwelling among men on earth, to save the race of Israel, and to gather together the righteous from amongst the Gentiles.

*26* If you work that which is good, my children, both men and angels shall bless you; and God shall be glorified among the Gentiles through you, and the devil shall flee from you, and the wild beasts shall fear you, and the Lord shall love you, and the angels shall cleave to you.

*27* As a man who has trained a child well is kept in kindly remembrance; so also for a good work there is a good remembrance before God.

*28* But him that does not that which is good, both angels and men shall curse, and God shall be dishonoured among the Gentiles through him, and the devil shall make him as his own peculiar instrument, and every wild beast shall master him, and the Lord shall hate him.

*29* For the commandments of the law are twofold, and through prudence must they be fulfilled.

*30* For there is a season for a man to embrace his wife, and a season to abstain from that for his prayer.

*31* So, then, there are two commandments; and, unless they are done in due order, they bring very great sin upon men.

*32* So also is it with the other commandments.

*33* Be you therefore wise in God, my children, and prudent, understanding the order of His commandments, and the laws of every word, that the Lord may love you,"

*34* And when he had charged them with many such words, he exhorted them that they should remove his bones to Hebron, and that they should bury him with his fathers.

*35* And when he had eaten and drunken with a merry heart, he covered his face and died.

*36* And his sons did according to all that Naphtali their Father had commanded them.

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*30* And now, I command you, my children, not to love money, nor to gaze upon the beauty of women; because for the sake of money and beauty I was led astray to Bathshua the Canaanite.

*31* For I know that because of these two things shall my race fall into wickedness.

*32* For even wise men among my sons shall they mar, and shall cause the kingdom of Judah to be diminished, which the Lord gave me because of my obedience to my father.

*33* For I never caused grief to Jacob, my father; for all things whatever he commanded I did.

*34* And Isaac, the father of my father, blessed me to be king in Israel, and Jacob further blessed me in like manner.

*35* And I know that from me shall the kingdom be established.

*36* And I know what evils you will do in the last days.

*37* Therefore my children, beware of fornication, and the love of money, and listen to Judah your father.

*38* For these things withdraw off from the law of God, and blind the inclination of the soul, and teach arrogance, and would not allow a man to have compassion on his neighbour.

*39* They rob his soul of all goodness, and oppress him with toils and troubles, and drive away sleep from him, and devour his flesh.

*40* And he hinders the sacrifices of God; and he forgets the blessing of God, he would not listen to a prophet when he speaks, and he resents the words of godliness.

*41* For he is a slave to two contrary passions, and cannot obey God, because they have blinded his soul, and he walketh in the day as in the night.

*42* My children, the love of money leads to idolatry; because, when led astray through money, men name as gods those who are not gods, and it causes him who has it to fall into madness.

*43* For the sake of money I lost my children, and had not my repentance and my humiliation, and the prayers of my father been accepted, I should have died childless.

*44* But the God of my fathers had mercy on me, because I did it in ignorance.

*45* And the prince of deceit blinded me, and I sinned as a man and as flesh, being corrupted through sins; and I learnt my own weakness while thinking myself invincible.

*46* Know, therefore, my children, that two spirits wait upon man-the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.

*47* And in the midst is the spirit of understanding of the mind, to which it belongs to turn wherever it will. And the works of truth and the works of deceit are written upon the hearts of men, and each one of them the Lord knows.

*49* And there is no time at which the works of men can be hid; for on the heart itself have the works of the man been written down before the Lord.

*50* And the spirit of truth testifies all things, and accuses all; and the sinner is burnt up by his own heart, and cannot raise his face to the Judge.

THE TESTAMENT OF JUDAH - 4
[Judah 4:1-36]

Judah's Rankings

*1* AND now, my children, I command you, love Levi, that you may abide, and exalt not yourselves against him, lest you be utterly destroyed.

*2* For to me the Lord gave the kingdom, and to him the priesthood, and He set the kingdom beneath the priesthood.

*3* To me He gave the things on the earth; but to Levi He gave the things in the heavens.

*4* As the heaven is higher than the earth, so is the priesthood of God higher than the earthly kingdom, unless it falls away through sin from the Lord and is dominated by the earthly kingdom.

*5* For the angel of the Lord said to me: "The Lord chose him rather than you, to draw near to Him, and to eat of His Table and to offer Him the first-fruits of the choice things of the sons of Israel; but you shall be king of Jacob."

*6* And you shall be amongst them as the sea:

*7* For as, on the sea, just and unjust are tossed about, some taken into captivity while some are enriched, so also shall every race of men be in you: some shall be impoverished, being taken captive, and others grow rich by plundering the possessions of others.

*8* For the kings shall be as sea-monsters:

*9* They shall swallow men like fishes: the sons and daughters of freemen shall they enslave; houses, lands, flocks, money shall they plunder:

*10* And with the flesh of many shall they wrongfully feed the ravens and the cranes; and they shall advance in evil in covetousness uplifted, and there shall be false prophets like tempest, and they shall persecute all righteous men.

*11* And the Lord shall bring upon them divisions one against another:

*12* And there shall be continual wars in Israel; and among men of another race shall my kingdom be brought to an end, until the salvation of Israel shall come.

*13* Until the appearing of the God of righteousness, that Jacob, and all the Gentiles may rest in peace.

*14* And He shall guard the might of my kingdom for ever; for the Lord revealed to me with an oath that He would not destroy the kingdom from my seed for ever.

*15* Now I have much grief, my children, because of your lewdness and witchcrafts, and idolatries which you shall practise against the kingdom, following them that have familiar spirits, diviners, and demons of error.

*16* You shall make your daughters singing girls and harlots, and you shall mingle in the abominations of the Gentiles.

*17* For which things' sake the Lord shall bring upon you famine and pestilence, death and the sword, beleaguering by enemies, and revilings of friends, the slaughter of children, the rape of wives, the plundering of possessions, the burning of the temple of God, the laying waste of the land, the enslavement of yourselves among the Gentiles.

*18* And they shall make some of you eunuchs for their wives.

*19* Until the Lord visit you, when with perfect heart you repent and walk in all His commandments, and He bring you up from captivity among the Gentiles.

*20* And after these things shall a Star arise to you from Jacob in peace,

*21* And a Man shall arise from my seed, like the Sun of righteousness,

*22* Walking with the sons of men in meekness and righteousness;

*23* And no sin shall be found in Him.

*24* And the heavens shall be opened to Him, to pour out the Spirit, even the blessing of the Holy Father; and He shall pour out the Spirit of grace upon you;

*25* And you shall be to Him sons in truth, and you shall walk in His commandments first and last.

*26* Then shall the sceptre of my kingdom shine forth; and from your root shall arise a stem; and from it shall grow a rod of righteousness to the Gentiles, to judge and to save all that call upon the Lord.

*26* And after these things shall Abraham and Isaac and Jacob arise to life; and I and my brethren shall be chiefs of the tribes of Israel:

*28* Levi first, I the second, Joseph third, Benjamin fourth, Simeon fifth, Issachar sixth, and so all in order.

*29* And the Lord blessed Levi, and the Angel of the Presence, me; the powers of glory, Simeon; the heaven, Reuben; the earth, Issachar; the sea, Zebulun; the mountains, Joseph; the tabernacle, Benjamin; the luminaries, Dan; Eden, Naphtali; the sun, Gad; the moon, Asher.

*30* And you shall be the people of the Lord, and have one tongue; and there shall be there no spirit of deceit of Beliar, for he shall be cast into the fire forever.

*31* And they who have died in grief shall arise in joy, and they who were poor for the Lord's sake shall be made rich, and they who are put to death for the Lord's sake shall awake to life.

*32* And the harts of Jacob shall run in joyfulness, and the eagles of Israel shall fly in gladness; and all the people shall glorify the Lord forever.

*33* Observe, therefore, my children, all the law of the Lord, for there is hope for all them who hold fast to His ways.

*34* And he said to them: "Behold, I die before your eyes this day, a hundred and nineteen years old.

*35* Let no one bury me in expensive apparel, nor tear open my bowels, for this shall those who are kings do; and carry me up to Hebron with you."

*36* And Judah, when he had said these things, fell asleep; and his sons did according to all whatsoever he commanded them, and they buried him in Hebron, with his fathers.

For even though a man is a king and commits fornication, he is stripped of his kingship by becoming the slave of fornication, as I myself also suffered.

JUDAH'S RANKINGS

THE TESTAMENT OF JUDAH - 1
[Judah 1:1-54]

Judah, the fourth son of Jacob and Leah. He's the Giant, He's Athletic, He's a Warrior: Angel of Might was with him everywhere.

*1* THE copy of the words of Judah, what things he spoke to his sons before he died.

*2* They gathered themselves together, therefore, and came to him, and he said to them: "Listen, my children, to Judah your father.

*3* I was the fourth son born to my father Jacob; and Leah my mother named me Judah, saying, "I give thanks to the Lord, because He has given me a fourth son also."

*4* I was swift in my youth, and obedient to my father in everything.

*5* And I honoured my mother and my mother's sister.

*6* And it came to pass, when I became a man, that my father blessed me, saying, "You shall be a king, prospering in all things."

*7* And the Lord showed me favour in all my works both in the field and in the house.

*8* I raced a hind that I know, and caught it, and prepared the meat for my father, and he did eat.

*9* And I used to master the roes in the chase, and I use to overtake all that was in the plains.

*10* I overtook a wild mare, and caught it and tamed it.

*11* I killed a lion and plucked a kid out of its mouth.

*12* I took a bear by its paw and hurled it down the cliff, and it was crushed.

*13* I outran the wild boar, and seizing it as I ran, I tore it in sunder.

*14* A leopard in Hebron leaped on my dog, and I caught it by the tail, and hurled it on the rocks, and it was broken in two.

*15* I found a wild ox feeding in the fields, and seizing it by the horns, and whirling it round and stunning it, I cast it from me and killed it.

*16* And when the two kings of the Canaanites came sheathed, in armour against our flocks, and much people with them, single handedly I rushed on the king of Hazor, and killed him on the greives and dragged him down, and so I killed him.

*17* And the other, the king of Tappuah, as he sat upon his horse, I killed, and so I scattered all his people.

*18* I found Achor the king, a man of giant stature, hurling javelins before and behind as he sat on horseback, and I took up a stone of sixty pounds weight, and hurled it and smote his horse, and killed it.

*19* And I fought with this other for two hours; and I clave his shield in two, and I chopped off his feet, and killed him.

*20* And as I was stripping off his breastplate, behold nine men his companions began to fight with me,

*21* And I wound my garment on my hand; and I slung stones at them, and killed four of them, and the rest of them fled.

*22* And Jacob my father killed Beelesath, king of all the kings, a giant in strength, twelve cubits high.

*23* And fear fell on them, and they ceased warring against us.

*24* Therefore my father was free from anxiety in the wars when I was with my brethren.

*25* For my father saw in a vision concerning me that an angel of might followed me everywhere, that I should not be overcome.

*26* And in the south there came against us a greater war than that in Shechem; and I joined in battle array with my brethren, and pursued a thousand men, and killed two hundred of them and four kings.

*27* And I went up on the wall, and I killed four mighty men.

*28* And so we captured Hazor, and took all the spoil.

*29* And the next day we departed to Aretan, a city strong and walled and inaccessible, threatening us with death.

*30* But I and Gad approached on the east side of the city, and Reuben and Levi on the west side.

*31* And they that were on the wall, thinking that we were alone, were drawn down against us.

*32* And so my brothers secretly climbed up the wall on both sides by stakes, and entered the city, while the men were unaware.

*33* And we took it with the edge of the sword.

*34* And as for those who had taken refuge in the tower, we set fire to the tower and took both it and, them.

*35* And as we were departing the men of Tappuah seized our spoil, and seeing this we fought with them.

*36* And we killed them all and recovered our spoil.

*37* And when I was at the waters of Kozeba, the men of Jobel came against us to battle.

*38* And we fought with them and routed them; and we killed their allies from Shiloh, and we did not leave them power to come in against us.

*39* And the men of Makir came against us the fifth day, to seize our spoil; and we attacked them and overcame them in fierce battle: for there was a host of mighty men amongst them, and we killed them before they had gone up the ascent.

*40* And when we came to their city their women rolled on us stones from the brow of the hill on which the city stood.

*41* And I and Simeon hid ourselves behind the town, and seized upon the heights, and destroyed this city also.

*42* And the next day we were told that the king of the city of Gaash with a mighty host was coming against us.

*43* I, therefore, and Dan feigned ourselves to be Amorites, and as allies went into their city.

*44* And in the depth of night our brethren came and we opened to them the gates; and we destroyed all the men and their substance, and we took for a prey all that was theirs, and their three walls we cast down.

*45* And we drew near to Thamna, where was all the substance of the hostile kings.

*46* Then being insulted by them, I was therefore angry, and rushed against them to the summit; and they kept slinging against me stones and darts.

*47* And had not Dan my brother helped me, they would have killed me.

*48* We came upon them, therefore, with anger, and they all fled; and passing by another way, they fought my father, and he made peace with them.

*49* And we did to them no hurt, and they became tributary to us, and we restored to them their spoil.

*50* And I built Thamna, and my father built Pabael.

*51* I was twenty years old when these wars happened. And the Canaanites feared me and my brethren.

*52* And I had much cattle, and I had for chief herdsman Iram the Adullamite.

*53* And when I went to him I saw Parsaba, king of Adullam; and he spoke to us, and he made us a feast; and when I was heated he gave me his daughter Bathshua to wife.

*54* She bore me Er, and Onan and Shelah; and two of them the Lord killed: but Shelah lived, and his children are you.

THE TESTAMENT OF JUDAH - 2
[Judah 2:1-35]

Judah reveals Jacob killed Esau his twin brother, his encounter with an adventuress and his sexual intercourse with Tamar

*1* FOR eighteen years my father abode in peace with his brother Esau, and his sons with us, after we came from Mesopotamia, from Laban.

*2* And when eighteen years were fulfilled, in the fortieth year of my life, Esau, the brother of my father, came against us with a mighty and strong people.

*3* And Jacob killed Esau with an arrow, and he was taken up wounded on Mount Seir, and as he went he died at Anoniram.

*4* And we pursued after the sons of Esau.

*5* Now they had a city with walls of iron and gates of brass; and we could not enter into it, and we encamped around, and besieged it.

*6* And when they opened not to us in twenty days, I set up a ladder in the sight of all and with my shield upon my head I went up, sustaining the assault of stones, upwards of three talents weight; and I killed four of their mighty men.

*7* And Reuben and Gad killed six others.

*8* Then they asked from us terms of peace; and having taken counsel with our father, we received them as tributaries.

*9* And they gave us five hundred cors of wheat, five hundred baths of oil, five hundred measures of wine, until the famine, when we went down into Egypt.

*10* And after these things my son Er married a wife Tamar, from Mesopotamia, a daughter of Aram.

*11* Now Er was wicked, and he was in need concerning Tamar, because she was not of the land of Canaan.

*12* And on the third night an angel of the Lord killed him.

*13* And he had not even slept with Tamar according to the evil craftiness of his mother, for he did not wish to have children by Tamar.

*14* In the days of the wedding feast I gave Onan to Tamar in marriage; and he also in wickedness did not sleep her, though he lived with her for a whole year.

*15* And when I threatened him he went in to sleep her, but he ejaculated on the ground, according to the command of his mother, and he also died through wickedness.

*16* And I wished to give Shelah also to her, but his mother did not permit it; for she wrought evil against Tamar her daughter-in-law, because she was not the daughters of Canaan, as she also herself was.

*17* And I knew that the race of the Canaanites was wicked, but the impulse of youth blinded my mind.

*18* And when I saw her pouring out wine, owing to the intoxication of wine I was deceived, and married her although my father had not counselled it.

*19* And while I was away she went and married for Shelah a wife from Canaan.

*20* And when I knew what she had done, I cursed her in the anguish of my soul.

*21* And she also died through her wickedness together with her sons.

*22* And after these things, while Tamar was a widow, she heard after two years that I was going up, to shear my sheep, and adorned herself in bridal array, and sat in the city Enaim by the gate.

*23* For it was a law of the Amorites, that she who was about to marry should sit in fornication seven days by the gate.

*24* Therefore being drunk with wine, I did not recognize her; and her beauty deceived me, through the fashion of her adorning.

*25* And I turned aside to her, and said: "Let me sleep with you."

*26* And she said: "What will you give me?" And I gave her my staff, and my girdle, and the diadem of my kingdom in pledge.

*27* And I slept with her, and she conceived.

*28* And not knowing what I had done, I wished to kill her; but she privily sent my pledges, and put me to shame.

*29* And when I called her, I heard also the secret words which I spoke when sleeping with her in my drunkenness; and I could not kill her, because it was the Lord's doing.

*30* For I said, "Perhaps she did it in subtlety, having received the pledge from another woman."

*31* But I never came near her again while I lived, because I had done this abomination in all Israel.

*32* Moreover, those who were in the city said there was no harlot in the gate, because she came from another place, and sat for a while in the gate.

*33* And I thought that no one knew that I had slept with her.

*34* And after this we came into Egypt to Joseph, because of the famine.

*35* And I was forty six years old then, and I have lived seventy three years in Egypt.

THE TESTAMENT OF JUDAH - 3
[Judah 3:1-50]

Judah preaches against wine and lust, showing both as twin evils

*1* AND now I command you, my children, listen to Judah your father, and keep my sayings to perform all the ordinances of the Lord, and to obey the commands of God.

*2* And do not walk after your lusts, nor in the imaginations of your thoughts in haughtiness of heart; and do not boast in the deeds and strength of your youth, for this also is evil in the eyes of the Lord.

*3* Since I also boasted that in wars no beautiful woman's face would ever enticed me, and I reproved Reuben my brother concerning Bilhah, the wife of my father, the spirits of jealousy and of fornication set themselves against me, until I fell into sleeping with Bathshua the Canaanite, and with Tamar, who was espoused to my sons.

*4* For I said to my father-in-law: "I will take advice with my father, and so will I marry your daughter."

*5* And he was unwilling but he showed me a boundless store of gold reserved in his daughter's behalf; for he was a king.

*6* And he adorned her with gold and pearls, and caused her to pour out wine for us at the feast with the beauty of women.

*7* And the wine turned aside my eyes, and pleasure blinded my heart.

*8* And I became enamoured of and I slept with her, and transgressed the commandment of the Lord and the commandment of my fathers, and therefore I had to marry her because I slept with her though under the influence of her wine.

*9* And the Lord rewarded me according to the imagination of my heart, inasmuch as I had no joy in her children.

*10* And now, my children, I say to you, do not be drunk with wine; for wine turns the mind away from the truth, and inspires the passion of lust, and leads the eyes into error.

*11* For the spirit of fornication has wine as a minister to give pleasure to the mind; for these two also take away the mind of man.

*12* For if a man drinks wine to drunkenness, it disturbs the mind with filthy thoughts leading to fornication, and heats the body to carnal union; and if the occasion of the lust be present, he works the sin, and is not ashamed.

*13* Such is the inebriated man, my children; for he who is drunken reverences no man.

*14* For, look, it made me also to err, so that I was not ashamed of the multitude in the city, in that before the eyes of all I turned aside to Tamar, and I did a great sin, and I uncovered the covering of my sons' shame.

*15* After I had drunk wine I reverenced not the commandment of God, and I took a woman of Canaan to wife.

*16* For much discretion needs the man who drinks wine, my children; and herein is discretion in drinking wine, a man may drink so long as he preserves modesty.

*17* But if he goes beyond this limit the spirit of deceit attacks his mind, and it makes the drunkard to talk filthily, and to transgress and not to be ashamed, but even to glory in his shame, and to account himself honourable.

*18* He that commits fornication is not aware when he suffers loss, and is not ashamed when put to dishonour.

*19* For even though a man is a king and commits fornication, he is stripped of his kingship by becoming the slave of fornication, as I myself also suffered.

*20* For I gave my staff, that is, the stay of my tribe; and my girdle, that is, my power; and my diadem, that is, the glory of my kingdom.

*21* And indeed I repented of these things; wine and flesh I eat not until my old age, nor did I behold any joy.

*22* And the angel of God showed me that forever do women bear rule over king and beggar alike.

*23* And from the king they take away his glory, and from the valiant man they take away his might, and from the beggar they take away even that little which is the stay of his poverty. [See "Proverbs 31:3-4" in Bible]

*24* Observe, therefore, my children, the right limit in wine; for there are inside wine four evil spirits– one is that of lust, another is that of hot desire, and there is that of profligacy, and then that of filthy lucre.

*25* If ye drink wine in gladness, be you modest in the fear of God.

*26* For if in your gladness the fear of God departs, then drunkenness arises and shamelessness steals in.

*27* But if you would live soberly do not touch wine at all, lest you sin in words of outrage, and in fightings and slanders, and transgressions of the commandments of God, and you perish before your time.

*28* Moreover, wine reveals the mysteries of God and men, even as I also revealed the commandments of God and the mysteries of Jacob my father to the Canaanitish woman Bathshua, which God bade me not to reveal.

*29* And wine is a cause both of war and confusion.

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*43* Now, therefore, observe whatsoever I command you, children; for whatsoever things I have heard from my fathers I have declared to you.

*44* And behold I am clear from your ungodliness and transgression, which you shall commit in the end of the ages against the Saviour of the world, Christ, acting godlessly, deceiving Israel, and stirring up against it great evils from the Lord.

*45* And you shall deal lawlessly together with Israel, so He shall not bear with Jerusalem because of your wickedness; but the veil of the temple shall be rent, so as not to cover your shame.

*46* And you shall be scattered as captives among the Gentiles, and shall be for a reproach and for a curse there.

*47* For the house which the Lord shall choose shall be called Jerusalem, as is contained in the Book of Enoch the righteous.

*48* Therefore when I took a wife I was twenty-eight years old, and her name was Melcha.

*49* And she conceived and bare a son, and I called his name Gersam, for we were sojourners in our land.

*50* And I saw concerning him, that he would not be in the first rank.

*51* And Kohath was born in the thirty-fifth year of my life, towards sunrise.

*52* And I saw in a vision that he was standing on high in the midst of all the congregation.

*53* Therefore I called his name Kohath which is, "Beginning of majesty and instruction."

*54* And she bore me a third son, in the fortieth year of my life; and since his mother bare him with difficulty, I called him Merari, that is, "My bitterness," because he also was likely to die.

*55* And Jochebed (Levi's daughter, mother of Moses) was born in Egypt, in my sixty-fourth year, for I was renowned then in the midst of my brethren.

*56* And Gersam took a wife, and she bare to him Lomni and Semei. And the sons of Kohath, Ambram, Issachar, Hebron, and Ozeel. And the sons of Merari, Mooli, and Mouses.

*57* And in the ninety-fourth year Ambram took Jochebed my daughter to him to wife, for they were born in one day, he and my daughter.

*58* Eight years old was I when I went into the land of Canaan, and eighteen years when I slew Shechem, and at nineteen years I became priest, and at twenty-eight years I took a wife, and at forty-eight I went into Egypt (Read "Numbers 26:59" in your Bible).

*59* And behold, my children, you are a third generation. In my hundred and eighteenth year Joseph died.

THE TESTAMENT OF LEVI - 4
[Levi 4:1-29]

Levi shows how wisdom survives destruction. He has no use for scornful people.

*1* AND now, my children, I command you: Fear the Lord your God with your whole heart, and walk in simplicity according to all His law.

*2* And do you also educate your children letters, that they may have understanding all their life, reading unceasingly the law of God.

*3* For every one that knows the the law of the Lord shall be honoured, and shall not be a stranger wherever he goes.

*4* Yes, many friends shall he gain more than his parents, and many men shall desire to serve him, and to hear the law from his mouth.

*5* Work righteousness, therefore, my children, upon the earth, that you may have it as a treasure in heaven.

*6* And sow good things in your souls, that you may find them in your life.

*7* But if you sow evil things, you shall reap every trouble and affliction.

*8* Get wisdom in the fear of God with diligence; for even though there is a leading into captivity, and cities or lands are destroyed, and gold or silver or every possession perish, no one can take away the wisdom of the wise except the blindness of ungodliness, and the callousness that comes through sin.

*9* For if one keep oneself from these evil things, then even among his enemies shall wisdom be a glory to him, and in a strange country as a fatherland to him, and in the midst of foes he shall prove to be a friend.

*10* Whoever teaches noble things and does them, shall be enthroned with kings, as was also Joseph my brother.

*11* Therefore, my children, I have learnt that at the end of the ages you will transgress against the Lord, stretching out hands to wickedness against Him; and to all the Gentiles shall you become a scorn.

*12* For our father Israel is pure from the transgressions of the chief priests [who shall lay their hands upon the Saviour of the world].

*13* For as the heaven is purer in the Lord's sight than the earth, so also be you purer than all the Gentiles, for you are the lights of Israel.

*14* But if you be darkened through transgressions, what, therefore, will all the Gentiles do living in blindness?

*15* Yea, you shall bring a curse upon our race, because the light of the law which was given for to lighten every man this you desire to destroy by teaching commandments contrary to the ordinances of God.

*16* The offerings of the Lord you shall rob, and from His portion shall you steal choice portions, eating them contemptuously with harlots.

*17* And out of covetousness you shall teach the commandments of the Lord, married women shall you pollute, and the virgins of Jerusalem shall you defile; and with harlots and adulteresses shall you be joined, and the daughters of the Gentiles shall you marry, purifying them with an unlawful purification; and your union shall be like to Sodom and Gomorrah;

*18* And you shall be puffed up because of your priesthood, lifting yourselves up against men, and not only so, but also against the commands of God.

*19* For you shall contemn the holy things with jests and laughter.

*20* Therefore the temple, which the Lord shall choose, shall be laid waste through your uncleanness, and you shall be captives throughout all nations.

*21* And you shall be an abomination to them, and you shall receive reproach and everlasting shame from the righteous judgement of God.

*22* And all who hate you shall rejoice at your destruction.

*23* And if you were not to receive mercy through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our fathers, not one of our seed should be left upon the earth.

*24* And now I have learnt that for seventy weeks you shall go astray, and profane the priesthood, and pollute the sacrifices.

*25* And you shall make void the law, and set at nought the words of the prophets by evil perverseness.

*26* And you shall persecute righteous men, and hate the godly; the words of the faithful shall you abhor.

*27* And a Man who renews the law in the power of the Most High, you shall call a deceiver; and at last you shall rush upon Him to kill Him, not knowing His divinity, taking innocent blood through wickedness upon your heads.

*28* And your holy places shall be laid waste even to the ground because of Him.

*29* And you shall have no place that is clean; but you shall be among the Gentiles a curse and a dispersion until He shall again visit you, and in pity shall receive you through faith and water.

THE TESTAMENT OF LEVI - 5
[Levi 5:1-35]

Levi prophesies the Transition of Priesthood till the Highest Priest comes with everlasting Priesthood - (Jesus Christ)

*1* AND whereas you have heard concerning the seventy weeks, hear also concerning the priesthood. For in each jubilee there shall be a priesthood.

*2* And in the first jubilee, the first who is anointed to the priesthood shall be great, and shall speak to God as to a father.

*3* And his priesthood shall be perfect with the Lord, and in the day of his gladness shall he arise for the salvation of the world.

*4* In the second jubilee, he that is anointed shall be conceived in the sorrow of beloved ones; and his priesthood shall be honoured and shall be glorified by all.

*5* And the third priest shall be taken hold of by sorrow.

*6* And the fourth shall be in pain, because unrighteousness shall gather itself against him exceedingly, and all Israel shall hate each one his neighbour.

*7* The fifth shall be taken hold of by darkness. Likewise also the sixth and the seventh.

*8* And in the seventh shall, be such pollution as I cannot express before men, for they shall know it who do these things.

*9* Therefore shall they be taken captive and become a prey, and their land and their substance shall be destroyed.

*10* And in the fifth week they shall return to their desolate country, and shall renew the house of the Lord.

*11* And in the seventh week shall become priests, who are idolaters, adulterers, lovers of money, proud, lawless, lascivious, abusers of children and beasts.

*12* And after their punishment shall have come from the Lord, the priesthood shall fail.

*13* Then shall the Lord raise up a New Priest:

*14* And to Him all the words of the Lord shall be revealed; and He shall execute a righteous judgement upon the earth for a multitude of days.

*15* And His Star shall arise in heaven as of a King.

*16* Lighting up the light of knowledge as the sun of the day, and He shall be magnified in the world.

*17* He shall shine forth as the sun on the earth, and shall remove all darkness from under heaven, and there shall be peace in all the earth.

*18* The heavens shall exult in His days, and the earth shall be glad, and the clouds shall rejoice;

*19* And the knowledge of the Lord shall be poured forth upon the earth, as the water of the seas;

*20* And the angels of the glory of the presence of the Lord shall be glad in Him.

*21* The heavens shall be opened, and from the temple of glory shall come upon Him sanctification, with the Father's voice as from Abraham to Isaac.

*22* And the glory of the Most High shall be uttered over Him, and the spirit of understanding and sanctification shall rest upon Him in the water.

*23* For He shall give the majesty of the Lord to His sons in truth for evermore;

*24* And there shall none succeed Him for all generations for ever.

*25* And in His Priesthood the Gentiles shall be multiplied in knowledge upon the earth, and enlightened through the grace of the Lord. In His priesthood shall sin come to an end, and the lawless shall cease to do evil.

*26* And He shall open the gates of paradise, and shall remove the threatening sword against Adam, and He shall give to the saints to eat from the tree of life, and the spirit of holiness shall be on them.

*27* And Beliar shall be bound by Him, and He shall give power to His children to tread upon the evil spirits.

*28* And the Lord shall rejoice in His children, and be well pleased in His beloved ones for ever.

*29* Then shall Abraham and Isaac and Jacob exult, and I will be glad, and all the saints shall clothe themselves with joy.

*30* And now, my children, you have heard all; choose, therefore, for yourselves either the light or the darkness, either the law of the Lord or the works of Beliar."

*31* And his sons answered him, saying, "Before the Lord we will walk according to His law."

*32* And their father said to them, "The Lord is witness, and His angels are witnesses, and you are witnesses, and I am witness, concerning the word of your mouth."

*33* And his sons said to him: "We are witnesses."

*34* And thus Levi ceased commanding his sons; and he stretched out his feet on the bed, and was gathered to his fathers, after he had lived a hundred and thirty-seven years.

*35* And they laid him in a coffin, and afterwards they buried him in Hebron, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

THE TESTAMENT OF LEVI - 1
[Levi 1:1-27]

Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah. A mystic and dreamer of dreams, a prophet.

*1* THE copy of the words of Levi, the things which he assigned to his sons, according to all that they should do, and the things that should befall them until the day of judgement.

*2* He was sound in health when he called them to himself; for it had been revealed to him that he should die, though he was not sick at all.

*3* And when they were gathered together he said to them:

*4* I, Levi, was born in Haran, and I came with my father to Shechem.

*5* And I was young, about twenty years of age, when, together with Simeon, I wrought vengeance on Hamor for our sister Dinah.

*6* And when I was feeding the flocks in Abel-Maul, the spirit of understand of the Lord came upon me, and I saw all men corrupting their way, and that unrighteousness had built for itself walls, and lawlessness sat upon towers.

*7* And I was grieving for the race of the sons of men, and I prayed to the Lord that I might be saved.

*8* Then there a sleep fell on me, and I saw a high mountain, and I was on that mountain.

*9* And behold the heavens were opened, and an angel of God said to me, "Levi, enter."

*10* And I entered from the first heaven, and I saw there a great sea hanging.

*11* And further I saw a second heaven far brighter and more brilliant, for there was a boundless light also therein,

*12* And I said to the angel, "Why is this so?" And the angel said to me, "Do not Marvel at this, for you shall see another heaven more brilliant and incomparable.

*13* And when you have ascended into there, you shall stand near the Lord, and shall be His minister, and shall declare His mysteries to men, and shall proclaim concerning Him as He that shall redeem Israel.

*14* And by you and Judah shall the Lord appear among men, saving every race of men.

*15* And from the Lord's portion shall be your life, and He shall be your Field and Vineyard, and Fruits, Gold, and Silver.

*16* "Hear, therefore, regarding the heavens which have been shown to you:

*17* The reason the lowest (first heaven) is gloomy to you, is because it sees all the unrighteous deeds of men.

*18* And the first heaven has fire, snow, and ice made ready for the day of judgment, in the righteous judgment of God; for in it are all the spirits of the retributions for vengeance on men.

*19* And in the second heaven are the hosts of the armies which are ordained for the day of judgment, to work vengeance on the spirits of deceit and of Beliar.

*20* And above them are the holy ones.

*21* And in the highest of all dwells the Great Glory, far above all holiness.

*22* In the heaven next to it are the archangels, who minister and make propitiation to the Lord for all the sins of ignorance of the righteous;

*23* Offering to the Lord a sweet smelling savour, a reasonable and a bloodless offering.

*24* And in the heaven below this are the angels who bear answers to the angels of the presence of the Lord.

*25* And in the heaven next to this are thrones and dominions, in which always they offer praise to God.

*26* "When, therefore, the Lord looks upon us, all of us are shaken; yes, the heavens, and the earth, and the abysses are shaken at the presence of His majesty.

*27* But the sons of men, having no perception of these things, sin and provoke the Most High."

THE TESTAMENT OF LEVI - 2
[Levi 2:1-15]

Levi urges piety and education. (The angel continued speaking)

*1* "NOW, therefore, know that the Lord shall execute judgment upon the sons of men.

*2* Because when the rocks are being rent, and the sun quenched, and the waters dried up, and the fire cowering, and all creation troubled, and the invisible spirits melting away, and Hades (Hell) takes spoils through the visitations of the Most High, men will be unbelieving and persist in their iniquity.

*3* On this account with punishment shall they be judged.

*4* Therefore the Most High has heard your prayer, to separate you from iniquity, and that you should become to Him a son, and a servant, and a minister of His presence.

*5* The light of knowledge shall you light up in Jacob, and as the sun shall you be to all the seed of Israel.

*6* And there shall be given to you a blessing, and to all your seed until the Lord shall visit all the Gentiles in His tender mercies for ever.

*7* And therefore counsel and understanding have been given to you, so that you might instruct your sons concerning this;

*8* Because they that bless Him shall be blessed, and they that curse Him shall perish."

*9* And thereupon the angel opened to me the gates of heaven, and I saw the holy temple, and upon a throne of glory the Most High.

*10* And He said to me: "Levi, I have given you the blessing of the priesthood until I come and sojourn in the midst of Israel."

*11* Then the angel brought me down to the earth, and gave me a shield and a sword, and said to me: "Execute vengeance on Shechem because of Dinah, your sister, and I will be with you because the Lord has sent me."

*12* And I destroyed at that time the sons of Hamor, as it is written in the heavenly tables.

*13* And I said to him: "I pray you, O lord, tell me your name, that I may call upon you in a day of tribulation."

*14* And he said: "I am the angel who intercedes for the nation of Israel that they may not be utterly smitten, for every evil spirit attacks Israel."

*15* And after these things I awoke from sleep, and blessed the Most High, and the angel who intercedes for the nation of Israel and for all the righteous.

THE TESTAMENT OF LEVI - 3
[Levi 3:1-59]

Levi has visions and shows what rewards are in store for the righteous

*1* AND when I was going to my father, I found a brazen shield; which is why also the name of the mountain is Aspis, which is near Gebal, to the south of Abila.

*2* And I kept these words in my heart. And after this I advised my father, and Reuben my brother, to stop the sons of Hamor from going on with the proposed plan of getting circumcised; for I was zealous because of the abomination which they had done on my sister.

*3* And I slew Shechem first, and Simeon slew Hamor. And after this my brothers came and smote that city with the edge of the sword.

*4* And my father heard these things and was angry, and he was grieved in that they had received the circumcision, and after that had been put to death, and in his blessings he looked amiss upon us.

*5* For we sinned because we had done this thing against his will, and he was sick on that day.

*6* But I saw that the sentence of God was for evil upon Shechem; for they sought to do to Sarah and Rebecca as they had done to Dinah our sister, but the Lord prevented them.

*7* And they persecuted Abraham our father when he was a stranger, and they vexed his flocks when they were big with young; and Eblaen, who was born in his house, they most shamefully handled.

*8* And thus they did to all strangers, taking away their wives by force, and they banished them.

*9* But the wrath of the Lord came upon them to the uttermost.

*10* And I said to my father Jacob: "By you will the Lord despoil the Canaanites, and will give their land to you and to your seed after you.

*11" For from this day forward shall Shechem be called a city of imbeciles; for as a man mocks a fool, so did we mock them:

*12* Because also they had done folly in Israel by defiling my sister." And we departed and came to Bethel.

*13* And there again I saw a vision as the former, after we had spent there seventy days.

*14* And I saw seven men in white raiment saying to me: "Arise, put on the robe of the priesthood, and the crown of righteousness, and the breastplate of understanding, and the garment of truth, and the lace of faith, and the turban of the head, and the ephod of prophecy."

*15* And they separately carried these things and put them on me, and said to me: "From henceforth become a priest of the Lord, you and your seed for ever."

*16* And the first anointed me with holy oil, and gave to me the staff of judgement.

*17* The second washed me with pure water, and fed me with bread and wine even the most holy things, and clad me with a holy and glorious robe.

*18* The third clothed me with a linen vestment like an ephod.

*19* The fourth put round me a girdle like to purple.

*20* The fifth gave me a branch of rich olive.

*21* The sixth placed a crown on my head.

*22* The seventh placed on my head a diadem of priesthood, and filled my hands with incense, that I might serve as priest to the Lord God.

*23* And they said to me: "Levi, your seed shall be divided into three offices, for a sign of the glory of the Lord who is to come:

*24* And the first portion shall be great; yes, greater than it shall now be.

*25* The second shall be in the priesthood.

*26* And the third shall be called by a new name, because a King shall arise in Judah, and shall establish a new Priesthood, after the fashion of the Gentiles.

*27* And His Presence is beloved, as a Prophet of the Most High, of the seed of Abraham your father.

*28* Therefore, every desirable thing in Israel shall be for you and for your seed, and you shall eat everything fair to look upon, and the table of the Lord shall your seed apportion.

*29* And some of them shall be high priests, and judges, and scribes; for by their mouth shall the holy place be guarded."

*30* And when I awoke, I understood that this dream was like the first dream. And I hid this also in my heart, and did not tell it to any man on the earth.

*31* And after two days I and Judah went up with our father Jacob to Isaac our grandfather.

*32* And my grandfather (Isaac) blessed me according to all the words of the visions which I had seen. And he would not come with us to Bethel.

*33* And when we came to Bethel, my father saw a vision concerning me, that I should be their priest to God.

*34* And he rose up early in the morning, and paid tithes of all to the Lord through me. And so we came to Hebron to dwell there.

*35* And Isaac called me continually to put me in remembrance of the law of the Lord, even as the angel of the Lord showed to me.

*36* And he taught me the law of the priesthood of sacrifices, whole burnt-offerings, first-fruits, freewill-offerings, peace-offerings.

*37* And each day Isaac was instructing me, and was busied on my behalf before the Lord, and said to me: "Beware of the spirit of fornication; for this shall continue and by it shall your seed pollute the holy place:

*38* Therefore, marry a wife that is a virgin without blemish or pollution, while yet you are young, and not a woman of the race of strange nations.

*39* And before entering into the holy place, bathe; and when you are offering the sacrifice, wash; and again, when you finish the sacrifice, wash.

*40* Of twelve trees having leaves offer to the Lord, as Abraham taught me also.

*41* And of every clean animal and bird offer a sacrifice to the Lord.

*42* And of all your first-fruits and of wine offer the first, as a sacrifice to the Lord God; and every sacrifice you shall salt with salt."

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THE TESTAMENT OF SIMEON - 1
[Simeon 1:1-20]

Simeon, the second son of Jacob and Leah. The strong man. He becomes jealous of Joseph and is an instigator of the plot against Joseph.

*1* THE copy of the words of Simeon, the things which he spoke to his sons before he died, in the one hundred and twentieth year of his life, at that time Joseph, his brother, died.

*2* For when Simeon was sick, his sons came to visit him and he strengthened himself and sat up and kissed them, and said:--

*3* Listen, my children, to Simeon your father and I will declare to you what things I have in my heart.

*4* I was born of Jacob as my father's second son; and my mother Leah called me Simeon, because the Lord had heard her prayer.

*5* Moreover, I became strong exceedingly; I shrank from no achievement nor was I afraid of anything. For my heart was hard, and my liver was immovable, and my bowels without compassion.

*6* Because valour also has been given from the Most High to men in soul and body.

*7* For in the time of my youth I was jealous in many things of Joseph, because my father loved him beyond all.

*8* And I set my mind against him to destroy him because the prince of deceit sent forth the spirit of jealousy and blinded my mind, so that I regarded him not as a brother, nor did I spare even Jacob my father.

*9* But his God and the God of his fathers sent forth His angel, and delivered him out of my hands.

*10* For when I went to Shechem to bring ointment for the flocks, and Reuben to Dothan, where our necessaries and all our stores were, Judah my brother sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites.

*11* And when Reuben heard these things he was grieved, for he wished to restore Joseph to his father.

*12* But on hearing this I was exceedingly angry against Judah in that he let Joseph go away alive, and for five months I continued wrathful against Judah.

*13* But the Lord restrained me, and withheld from me the power of my hands; for my right hand was half withered for seven days.

*14* And I knew, my children, that because of Joseph this had befallen me, and I repented and wept; and I besought the Lord God that my hand might be restored and that I might hold aloof from all pollution and envy and from all folly.

*15* For I knew that I had devised an evil thing before the Lord and Jacob my father, on account of Joseph my brother, in that I envied him.

*16* And now, my children, listen to me and beware of the spirit of deceit and envy.

*17* For envy rules over the whole mind of a man, and suffers him neither to eat nor to drink, nor to do any good thing. But it ever suggests to him to destroy the one that he envies; and so long as he that is envied flourishes, he that envies fades away.

*18* Two years therefore I afflicted my soul with fasting in the fear of the Lord, and I learnt that deliverance from envy comes by the fear of God.

*19* For if a man flee to the Lord, the evil spirit runs away from him and his mind is lightened.

*20* And henceforward he sympathises with the one whom he envied and forgives those who are hostile to him, and so ceases from his envy.

THE TESTAMENT OF SIMEON - 2
[Simeon 2:1-15]

Simeon counsels his hearers against envy.

*1* AND my father asked concerning me, because he saw that I was sad; and I said to him, "I am pained in my liver."

*2* For I mourned more than they all, because I was guilty of the selling of Joseph.

*3* And when we went down into Egypt, and he bound me as a spy, I knew that I was suffering justly, and I grieved not.

*4* Now Joseph was a good man, and had the Spirit of God within him: being compassionate and pitiful, he bore no malice against me; but loved me even as the rest of his brethren.

*5* Beware, therefore, my children, of all jealousy and envy, and walk in singleness of heart, that God may give you also grace and glory, and blessing upon your heads, even as you saw in Joseph's case.

*6* All his days he never reproached us concerning this thing, but loved us as his own soul, and beyond his own sons glorified us, and gave us riches, and cattle and fruits.

*7* Do you also, my children, love each one his brother with a good heart, and the spirit of envy will withdraw from you.

*8* For envy makes savage the soul and destroys the body; it causes anger and war in the mind, and stirs up to deeds of blood, and leads the mind into frenzy, and causes tumult to the soul and trembling to the body.

*9* For even in sleep malicious jealousy gnaws, and with wicked spirits disturbs the soul, and causes the body to be troubled, and wakes the mind from sleep in confusion; and as a wicked and poisonous spirit, so it appears to men.

*10* Therefore was Joseph attractive in appearance, and extremely handsome to look upon, because no wickedness dwelt in him; for the face of a man reveals some of the trouble of his spirit.

*11* And now, my children, make your hearts good before the Lord, and your ways straight before men, and you shall find grace before the Lord and men.

*12* Beware, therefore, of fornication, for fornication is mother of all evils, separating from God, and bringing near to Beliar.

*13* For I have seen it inscribed in the writing of Enoch that your sons shall be corrupted in fornication, and shall do harm to the sons of Levi with the sword.

*14* But they shall not be able to withstand Levi; for he shall wage the war of the Lord, and shall conquer all your hosts.

*15* And they shall be few in number, divided in Levi and Judah, and there shall be none of you for sovereignty, even as also our father prophesied in his blessings.

THE TESTAMENT OF SIMEON - 3
[Simeon 3:1-17]

A prophecy of the coming of the Messiah.

*1* BEHOLD I have told you all things, that I may be acquitted of your sin.

*2* Now, if you remove your envy and all stiff-neckedness from you, then as a rose shall my bones flourish in Israel, and as a lily my flesh in Jacob, and my odour shall be as the odour of Libanus; and as cedars shall holy ones be multiplied from me for ever, and their branches shall stretch afar off.

*3* Then shall the seed of Canaan perish, and a remnant shall not be to Amalek, and all the Cappadocians shall perish, and all Hittites shall be utterly destroyed.

*4* Then the land of Ham shall fail, and all the people shall perish.

*5* Then shall all the earth rest from trouble, and all the world under heaven from war.

*6* Then the Mighty One of Israel shall glorify Shem.

*7* For the Lord God shall appear on earth, and Himself save men,

*8* Then all the spirits of deceit shall be given to be trodden under foot, and men shall rule over wicked spirits.

*9* Then shall I arise in Joy and will bless the Most High because of his marvellous works, because God has taken a Body and eaten with men and saved men.

*10* And now, my children, obey Levi and Judah, and be not lifted up against these two tribes, for from them shall arise to you the salvation of God.

*11* For the Lord shall raise up from Levi as it were a High Priest, and from Judah as it were a King, God and man, He shall save all the Gentiles and the race of Israel.

*12* Therefore I give you these commands that you also may command your children, that they may observe them throughout their generations.

*13* And when Simeon had made an end of commanding his sons, he slept with his fathers, at a hundred and twenty years old.

*14* And they laid him in a wooden coffin, to take up his bones to Hebron. And they took them up secretly during a war of the Egyptians. For the bones of Joseph the Egyptians guarded in the tombs of the kings.

*15* For the sorcerers told them, that on the departure of the bones of Joseph there should be darkness and gloom throughout all the land of Egypt, and an exceeding great plague to the Egyptians, so that even with a lamp a man should not recognize his brother.

*16* And the sons of Simeon bewailed their father.

*17* And they were in Egypt until the day of their departure by the hand of Moses.

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Women are Evil - Fear Women (Fornication)

THE TESTAMENT OF REUBEN - 1
[Reuben 1:1-41]

The First-Born Son of Jacob and Leah. — Reuben, the first-born son of Jacob and Leah. The man of experience counsels against fornication and points out the ways in which men are most likely to fall into error.

*1* THE Copy of the Testament of Reuben, even the commands which he gave his sons before he died in the one hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life.

*2* Two years after the death of Joseph his brother, when Reuben fell ill, his sons and his sons' sons were gathered together to visit him.

*3* And he said to them: "My children, behold I am dying, and go the way of my fathers."

*4* And when Reuben saw Judah, Gad, Asher, his brethren, there among them, he said to them: "Raise me up that I may tell to my brethren and to my children what things I have hidden in my heart, for behold now at length I am passing away."

*5* And he arose and kissed them, and said to them: "Hear, my brethren, and do you listen my children, give ear to Reuben your father, in the commands which I give to you.

*6* "And behold I call to witness against you this day the God of heaven, that you should not walk in the sins of youth and fornication, in which I was poured out, and defiled the bed of my father Jacob.

*7* And I tell you that God smote me with a sore plague in my loins for seven months; and had not my father Jamb prayed for me to the Lord, the Lord would have destroyed me.

*8* For I was thirty years old when I did the evil thing before the Lord, and for seven months I was sick to death.

*9* And after this I repented with set purpose of my soul for seven years before the Lord.

*10* And I drank no wine nor strong drink; and no meat entered into my mouth, and I ate no pleasant food; but I mourned over my sin, for it was great, such as had not been in Israel.

*11* And now hear me, my children, what things I saw concerning the seven spirits of deceit, when I repented:

*12* Seven spirits therefore are appointed against man, and they are the leaders in the works of youth.

*13* And seven other spirits are given to him at his creation, that through them should be done every work of man.

*14* The first is the spirit of life, through which the constitution of man is created.

*15* The second is the sense of sight, through which desire arises.

*16* The third is the sense of hearing, through which teaching comes.

*17* The fourth is the sense of smell, through which tastes are given to draw air and breath.

*18* The fifth is the power of speech, through which knowledge comes.

*19* The sixth is the sense of taste, through which comes the eating of meats and drinks; and by it strength is produced, for in food is the foundation of strength.

*20* The seventh is the power of procreation and sexual intercourse, through which sins enter in by love of pleasure.

*21* For this reason, it is the last in order of creation, and the first in that of youth, because it is filled with ignorance, and leads the youth as a blind man to a pit, and as a beast to a precipice.

*22* Besides all these there is an eighth spirit of sleep, through which is brought about the trance of nature and of death.

*23* With these spirits are mingled the spirits of error:

*24* The First is the spirit of fornication, which is seated in the nature and in the senses;

*25* The second is the spirit of insatiableness, which is seated in the belly;

*26* The third is the spirit of fighting, which is seated in the liver and gall;

*27* The fourth is the spirit of subservience and trickery, through which one tries to appear fair by being overly attentive and manipulative;

*28* The fifth is the spirit of pride, that one may be boastful and arrogant;

*29* The sixth is the spirit of lying, in perdition and jealousy to practise deceits, and concealments from kindred and friends;

*30* The seventh is the spirit of injustice, through which comes thefts and acts of rapacity (greed, covetousness), that a man may fulfil the desire of his heart; for injustice works together with the other spirits by bribery.

*31* And with all these the spirit of sleep is joined which is that of error and fantasy.

*32* And so perishing every young man, darkening his mind from the truth, and not understanding the law of God, nor obeying the admonitions of his fathers, as it happened to me also in my youth.

*33* And now, my children, love the truth, and it will preserve you: hear you the words of Reuben your father.

*34* Pay no attention to the face of a woman,

*35* Nor associate with another man's wife,

*36* Nor meddle with affairs of womankind,

*37* For if I had not seen Bilhah bathing in a covered place, I would not have fallen into this great iniquity.

*38* For my mind taking in the thought of the woman's unclothedness, would not allow me to sleep until I had done the abominable thing.

*39* For while Jacob our father had travelled to Isaac his father, when we were in Eder, near to Ephrath in Bethlehem, Bilhah became drunk and was asleep uncovered in her chamber.

*40* Having therefore gone in and saw her unclothedness, I had immoral sex with her without her perceiving it, and leaving her sleeping I departed.

*41* And forthwith an angel of God revealed to my father concerning my impiety, and he came and mourned over me, and he never touched her again.

THE TESTAMENT OF REUBEN - 2
[Reuben 2:1-31]
(Reuben continues with his experiences and his good advice)

*1* PAY no heed, therefore, my children, to the beauty of women, nor set your mind--on their affairs; but walk in singleness of heart in the fear of the Lord, and expend labour on good works, and on study and on your flocks, until the Lord gives you a wife, whom He will, so that you would not suffer as I did.

*2* For until my father's death I had no boldness to look in his face, or to speak to any of my brethren, because of the reproach.

*3* Even until now my conscience causes me anguish on account of my impiety.

*4* And yet my father comforted me much, and prayed for me to the Lord, that the anger of the Lord might pass from me, even as the Lord revealed.

*5* And from then until now I have been on my guard and have not sinned.

*6* Therefore, my children, I say to you, observe all things whatsoever I command you, and you shall not sin.

*7* For a pit to the soul is the sin of fornication, separating the soul from God, and bringing it near to idols, because fornication deceives the mind and understanding, and leads young men down into Hades (Hell) before their time.

*8* For fornication has destroyed many; because even though a man is old or noble, rich or poor, he brings reproach upon himself by the sons of men and derision by Beliar.

*9* For you heard regarding Joseph how he guarded himself from a woman, and purged his thoughts from all fornication, and found favour in the sight of God and men.

*10* For the Egyptian woman did many things to him, and summoned magicians, and offered him love potions, but the purpose of Joseph's soul admitted no evil desire.

*11* Therefore the God of your fathers delivered him from every evil and hidden death.

*12* For if fornication does not overcome your mind, neither can Beliar overcome you.

*13* For women are evil, my children; and since they have no power or strength over man, they use wiles by outward attractions, that they may draw him to themselves.

*14* And whom they cannot bewitch by outward attractions, him they overcome by craft.

*15* For moreover, concerning them, the angel of the Lord told me, and taught me, that women are overcome by the spirit of fornication more than men, and in their heart they plot against men; and by means of their adornment they deceive first men's minds, and by the glance of the eye instil the poison, and then through the accomplished act they take men captive.

*16* For a woman cannot force a man openly, but by a harlot's bearing she beguiles him.

*17* Flee, therefore, fornication, my children, and command your wives and your daughters, that they should not use make-ups to adorn their heads and faces to deceive the mind: because every woman who uses these wiles has been reserved for eternal punishment.

*18* For that was the way they allured the Watchers [fallen angels] who were before the flood; for as these continually beheld them, they lusted after them, and they conceived the act in their mind; for they changed themselves into the shape of men, and appeared to them when they were with their husbands.

*19* And the women lusting in their minds after their forms, gave birth to giants, for the Watchers appeared to them as reaching even to heaven.

*20* Beware, therefore, of fornication; and if you wish to be pure in mind, guard your senses from every woman.

*21* And command the women likewise not to associate with men, that they also may be pure in mind.

*22* For constant meetings, even though the ungodly act is not done, are to them an irremediable disease, and to us a destruction of Beliar and an eternal reproach.

*23* For in fornication there is neither understanding nor godliness, and all jealousy dwells in the lust thereof.

*24* Therefore, then I say to you, you will be jealous against the sons of Levi, and will seek to be exalted over them; but you shall not be able.

*25* For God will avenge them, and you shall die by an evil death. For to Levi God gave the sovereignty and to Judah with him and to me also, and to Dan and Joseph, that we should be for rulers.

*26* Therefore I command you to listen to Levi, because he shall know the law of the Lord, and shall give ordinances for judgment and shall sacrifice for all Israel until the consummation of the times, as the anointed High Priest, of whom the Lord spoke.

*27* I adjure you by the God of heaven to do truth each one to his neighbour and to entertain love each one for his brother.

*28* And draw you near to Levi in humbleness, of heart, that you may receive a blessing from his mouth.

*29* For he shall bless Israel and Judah, because him has the Lord chosen to be king over all the nation.

*30* And bow down before his Seed, for on our behalf It will die in wars visible and invisible, and will be among you an eternal King.

*31* And Reuben died, having given these commands to his sons. And they placed him in a coffin until they carried him up from Egypt, and buried him in Hebron in the cave where his father was.

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