Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs

Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 11

THE TESTAMENT OF JOSEPH, THE ELEVENTH SON OF JACOB AND RACHEL L i-XVL 6. Joseph tells the Story of his Life L The cop}^ of the testament of Joseph. When he was about to die he called his sons and his brethren together, and said to them : 2. My brethren and my children. Hearken to Joseph the beloved of Israel ; Give ear, my sons, unto 5^our father. 3. I have seen in my life envy and death. Yet I went not astray, '"but persevered'^ in the truth of the Lord. 4. These my brethren hated me, but the Lord loved me : They wished to sla}' me, but the God of my fathers guarded me : They let me down into a pit, and the Most High brought me up again. 5. I was sold into slavery, and the Lord of all made me free : I was taken into captivity, and His strong hand succoured me. I was beset with hunger, and the Lord Himself nourished me. 6. I was alone, and God comforted me : I was sick, and the Lord visited me : I was in prison, and my God showed favour unto me ; In bonds, and He released me ; 7. Slandered, and He pleaded my cause ; Bitterly spoken against by the Egyptians, and He delivered me ; Envied by my fellow-slaves, and He exalted me. II. And this chief captain of Pharaoh entrusted to me his house. 2. And I struggled against a shame- less woman, urging me to transgress with her; but 92 THE TESTAMENTS OF the God of Israel my father dehvered me from the burning flame. 3. I was cast into prison, I was beaten, ^i -was mocked'' ; but the Lord granted me to find merCy in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 4. For the Lord doth not forsake them that fear Him. Neither in darkness, nor in bonds, nor in tri- bulations, nor in necessities. 5. For God is not put to shame as a man, Nor as the son of man is He afraid, Nor as one that is earth-born is He [weak or] affrighted. 6. But in all these things doth He give protection. And in divers ways doth He comfort, (Though) for a little space He departeth to try the inclination of the soul. 7. In ten temptations He showed me approved. And in all of them I endured ; For endurance is a mighty charm. And patience giveth many good things. III. How often did the Egyptian woman threaten me with death ! How often did she give me over to punishment, and then call me back and threaten me, and when I was unwilling to company with her, she said to me : 2. Thou shalt be lord of me, and all that is in mine house, if thou wilt give thyself unto me, and thou shalt be as our master. 3. But I remembered the words of my father, and going into my chamber, I wept and pra3^ed unto the Lord. 4. And I fasted in those seven years, and I appeared to the Egyptians as one living delicately, for they that fast for God's sake receive beauty of face. 5. And if my lord were away from home, I drank no wine ; nor for three days did I take my food, but I gave it to the poor and sick. 6. And I sought the Lord early, and I wept for the Egyptian woman of Memphis, for very un- ceasingly did she trouble me, for also at night she came to me under pretence of visiting me. 7. And because she had no male child she pretended to regard me as a son. 8. And for a time she embraced THE TWELVE PATRIARCHS 93 me as a son, and I knew it not ; but later, she sought to draw me into fornication, g. And wlien I per- ceived it I sorrowed unto death ; and when she had gone out, I came to myself, and I lamented for her many da^-s, because I recognised her guile and her deceit. 10. x^nd I declared unto her the words of the Most High, if haply she would turn from her evil lust. IV. Often, therefore, did she flatter me with words as a holy man, and guilefully in her talk praise my chastity before her husband, while desiring to en- snare me when we were alone. 2. ^For'' she lauded me openl}' as chaste, and in secret she said unto me : Fear not my husband ; for he is persuaded concerning thy chastity : for even should one tell him concerning us, he would not believe. 3. Owing to all these things I lay upon the ground, and besought God that the Lord would deliver me from her deceit. 4. And when she prevailed nothing ""thereb}'^, she came '"again"^ to me under the plea of instruction, that she might learn the word of God. 5. And she said unto me : If thou wiliest that I should leave my idols, lie with me, and I will persuade my husband to depart from his idols, and we will walk in the law of thy Lord. 6. And I said unto her : The Lord willeth not that those that reverence Him should be in uncleanness, nor doth He take pleasure in them that commit adultery, '"but in those that approach Him with a pure heart and undefiled lips"". 7. But she held her peace, longing to accomplish her evil desire. 8. And I gave myself yet more to fasting and prayer, that the Lord might deliver me from her. V. ^And"' again, at another time she said unto me : If thou wilt not commit adultery, I will kill my husband by poison, and take thee to be my husband. 2. I therefore, when I heard this, rent my garments, and said unto her : Woman, reverence God, and do not this e^il deed, lest thou be destroyed ; for know- indeed that I will declare this thy device unto all men. 3. She therefore, being afraid, besought that 94 THE TESTAMENTS OF I would not declare this device. 4. And she de- parted, soothing me with gifts, and sending to me every delight of the sons of men. VI. And '^afterwards"' she sent me food mingled with enchantments. 2. And when the eunuch who brought it came, I looked up and beheld a terrible man giving me with the dish a sword, and I perceived that (her) scheme was to beguile me. 3. And '"when he had gone out"i I wept, nor did I taste that nor any other of her food. 4. So then after one day she came to me and observed the food, and said unto me : Why is it that thou hast not eaten of the food ? 5. And I said unto her : It is because thou hast filled it with '"deadly"^ enchantments ; and how saidst thou : I come not near to idols, but to the Lord ^alone"^ ? 6. Now therefore know that the God of my father hath revealed unto me by His angel thy wickedness, and I have kept it to convict thee, if hapl}' thou mayest see and repent. 7. But that thou mayest learn that the wickedness of the ungodly hath no power over them that worship God with chastity, behold I will take of it and eat before thee. And having so said, I prayed thus : The God of my fathers and the angel of Abraham, be with me; and ate. 8. And '"when she sawthis"^ she fell upon her face at my feet, weep- ing; and I raised her up and admonished her. 9. And she promised to do this iniquity no more. VII. But her heart was still set upon evil, and she looked around how to ensnare me, and sighing deeply she became downcast, though she was not sick. 2. And when her husband saw her, he said unto her : Why is thy countenance fallen ? And she said ■"unto him"! : I have a pain at my heart, and the groanings of my spirit oppress me ; and so he com- forted her who was not sick. 3. Then accordingly seizing an opportunit}' she rushed unto me while her husband was yet without, and said unto me : I will hang myself, or cast myself over a cliff, if thou wilt not lie with me. 4. And when I saw the spirit of Beliar was troubling her, I prayed unto the Lord, THE TWELVE PATRIARCHS 95 and said unto her : 5. Win', f"\vretclied woman, "^ art thou troubled and disturbed, blinded through sins ? Remember that if thou kill thyself, Asteho, the concu- bine of thy husband, th}^ rival, will beat thy children, and thou wilt destroy thj' memorial from off the earth. 6. And she said unto me : Lo, then thou lovest me ; let this sufhce me : only strive for my life '"and my children'', and I expect that I shall enjoy my desire ''also''. 7. But she knew not that because of mj^ lord I spake thus, and not because of her. 8. For if a man hath fallen before the passion of a wicked desire and become enslaved by it, even as she, whatever good thing he may hear with regard to that passion, he receiveth it with a view to his wicked desire. VIII. I declare, therefore, unto you, my children, that it was about the sixth hour when she departed from me ; and I knelt before the Lord all the day, and all the night ; and about dawn I rose up, weeping the while and praying for a release from her. 2. At last, then, she laid hold of my garments, forcibly dragging me to have connection with her. 3. W'hen, ''therefore,'^ I saw that in her madness she was hold- ing fast to my garment, I left it behind, and fled away naked. 4. And holding fast to the garment she falsely accused me, and when her husband came he cast me into prison in his house ; and on the morrow he scourged me and sent me into Pharaoh's prison. 5. And when I was in bonds, the Egyptian woman was oppressed with grief, and she came and heard how I gave thanks unto the Lord and sang praises in the abode of darkness, and with glad voice rejoiced, glorifying my God that I was delivered from the lustful desire of the Egyptian woman. IX. And often hath she sent unto me saying : Con- sent ''to fulfil my desire"^, and I will release thee from thy bonds, '"and I will free thee from the darkness. 2. And not even in thought did I incline unto her. For God loveth him who in a den of darkness com- bineth fasting with chastity, rather than the man who 96 THE TESTAMENTS OF in kings' chambers combineth luxury with hcence. 3. And if a man h veth in chastity, and desireth also glory, and the Most High knoweth that it is expedient for him, He bestoweth this also upon him, even as upon me. 4. How often, "^ though she were sick, did she come down ^to me"' at unlooked-for times, and listened to my voice as I prayed ! And when I heard her groanings I held my peace. 5. ''For"' when I was in her house she was wont to bare her arms, and breasts, and legs, '"that I might lie with her; for she was"^ very beautiful, ^splendidly adorned"' in order to beguile me. And the Lord guarded me from her devices. X. Ye see, therefore, my children, how great things patience worketh, and prayer with fasting. 2. So 5^e too, ""if ye follow after chastity and purity with patience and prayer with fasting in humilit}^ of heart, the Lord will dwell among you, because He loveth chastity. 3. And wheresoever the Most High dwelleth, even though envy, or slavery, or slander befalleth (a man), the Lord who dwelleth in him, for the sake of his chastity not only"' delivereth him from evil, ""but also exalteth him even as me. 4. For in every way the man"i is lifted up, whether in deed, or in w^ord, or in thought. 5. My brethren knew how my father loved me, and yet I did not exalt myself ■"in my mind"' : although I was a child, ^1 had the fear of God in my heart "^ ; for I knew that all things would pass away. 6. And I did not raise myself (against them) with evil intent, but I honoured my brethren ; and out of respect for them, even when I was being sold, I refrained from telling the Ishmaelites that I was the son of Jacob, a great man and a mighty. XL Do ye also, therefore, my children, i^have the fear of God in all your works before your eyes, and"" honour your brethren. For every one who doeth the law of the Lord shall be loved by Him. 2. And when I came to the LidocoljntcC with the Ishmaelites, they asked me, saying : Art thou a slave ? And I said that I was a home-born slave, that I might not THE TWELVE PATRIARCHS 97 put my brethren to shame. 3. And the eldest of them said unto me : Thou art not a slave, for even thy appearance doth make it manifest. But I said that I was ''their'' slave. 4. Now when we came into Eg3-pt they strove concerning me, which of them sliould buy me and take me. 5. Therefore it seemed good to all that I should remain in Egypt with the merchant of their trade, until they should return bringing merchandise. 6. And the Lord gave me favour in the eyes of the merchant, and he entrusted unto me his house. 7. And God blessed him by my means, and increased him in gold and silver ''and in household servants''. 8. And I was with him three months and five days. XIL And about that time the Memphian woman, the wife of Pentephris, came down ''in a chariot"', ''with great pomp, because she had heard from her eunuchs concerning me''. 2. And she told her husband that the merchant had become rich by means of a young Hebrew, and they say that he had assuredly been stolen out of the land of Canaan. 3. Now, therefore, render justice unto him, and take away the 3^outh to thy house ; so shall the God of the Hebrews bless thee, for grace from heaven is upon him. XIIL And Pentephris was persuaded by her words, and commanded the merchant to be brought, and said unto him : What is this that I hear ''concerning thee'', that thou stealest persons out of the land of Canaan, and sellest them for slaves? 2. But the merchant fell at his feet, and besough't him, saying : I beseech thee, my lord, I know not what thou saj^est. 3. And Pentephris said unto him : Whence, then, is the Hebrew slave? And he said: The Ishmaelites entrusted him to me until the}^ should return. 4. But he believed him not, but commanded him to be stripped and beaten. And when he per- sisted in this statement, Pentephris said : Let the youth be brought. 5. And when I was brought in, I did obeisance to Pentephris (for he was third in rank of the officers of Pharaoh). 6. And he took G 98 THE TESTAMENTS OF me apart from him, and said unto me : Art thou a slave or free ? And I said : A slave. 7. And he said : Whose ? And I said : The Ishmaelites'. 8. And he said : How didst thou become their slave ? And I said : They bought me out of the land of Canaan. 9. And he said unto me : '"Xruly"' thou liest ; and ^straightway'' he commanded me to be stripped and beaten. XIV. Now the Memphian woman was looking through a window ''at me while I was being beaten, for her house was near, and she sent unto him, saying'' : Thy judgement is unjust ; for thou dost punish a ''free"' man who hath been stolen, as though he were a transgressor. 2. And when I made no change in m}? statement, ^though I was beaten,"' he ordered me to be imprisoned, until, he said, the owners of the boy should come. 3. And the woman said unto her husband : Wherefore dost thou detain the captive and well-born lad in bonds, who ought rather to be set at liberty, and be waited upon ? 4. For she wished to see me out of a desire '"of sin^^, but I was ignorant concerning all these things. 5. And he said to her : It is not the custom of the Egyptians to take away that which belongeth to others before proof is given. 6. This, therefore, he said concern- ing the merchant ; but as for the lad, he must be imprisoned. XV. Now after four and twenty days came the Ishmaelites ; for they had heard that Jacob '"my father"" was mourning '"much'^ concerning me. And they came and said unto me : 2. How is it that thou saidst that thou wast a slave ? andlo, we have learnt that thou art the son of a mighty man in the land of Canaan, and thy father '"stilP mourneth for thee in sackcloth '"and ashes"". 3. '"When I heard this my bowels were dissolved and my heart melted"", and I desired greatly to weep, but I restrained myself, that I should not put my brethren to shame. '"And T said unto them, I know not, I am a slave"'. 4. Then, '"therefore"', they took counsel to sell me, that I should THE T\\TLVE PATRIARCHS 99 not be found in their hands. 5. For they feared my father, lest he ''should come and"" execute upon them a grievous vengeance. For they had heard that he was mighty with God and with men. 6. Then said the merchant unto them : Release me from the judge- ment of Pentephris. 7. And the}^ came and requested me, saying : '"Say"' that thou wast bought by us with money, and he will set us free. XVI. Now the Memphian woman said to her husband : Buy the youth ; for I hear, said she, that they are selling him. 2. And straightway she sent a eunuch to the Ishmaelites, and asked them to sell me. 3. But since the eunuch would not agree to buy me (at their price) he returned, having made trial of them, and he made known to his mistress that they asked a large price for their slave. 4. ""And she sent another eunuch,"' saying : Even though they demand two minae, '"give them,"" do not spare the gold; only buy the boy, and bring him to me. 5. The eunuch therefore went and gave them eight}^ pieces of gold, and he received me ; but to the Egj'ptian woman he said : I have given a hundred. 6. And though I knew (this) I held ni}^ peace, lest the eunuch should be put to shame. XVII. i-XVIII. 4. Joseph's Exhortation to his Sons XVII. Ye see, therefore, my children, what great things I endured that I should not put mj- brethren to shame. 2. Do ye also, '"therefore,"' love one another, ^and with long-suffering hidej^e one another's faults"'. 3. For God delighteth ''in the unity of brethren, and"' in the purpose of a heart that taketh pleasure in love. 4. And when my brethren came into Egj'pt they learnt that I had returned their monej^ unto them, and upbraided them not, and comforted them. 5. And after the death of Jacob my father I loved them ''more abundantly"^, and all things whatsoever he commanded I did '"very abundantly"' for them. 6. And I suffered them not to be afflicted even in the 100 THE TESTAMENTS OF smallest matter ; and all that was in my hand I gave unto them. 7. ^And"' their children were my children, and m}^ children as their servants ; and their life was my life, and all their suffering was my suffering, ^and all their sickness was my infirmity"^. My land was their land, and their counsel my counsel. 8. And I exalted not myself among them ''in arrogance"' because of my '"worldly"^ glory, ""but I was among them as one of the least "'. XVIII. If ye also, therefore, walk in the com- mandments of the Lord, my children. He will exalt you there, and will bless you with good things for ever and ever. 2. ""And if any one seeketh to do evil unto you, do well unto him, and pray for him, and ye shall be redeemed of the Lord from all evil.'^ 3. ''For,i behold, ye see that '"out of my humility and long-suffering"! I took unto wife the daughter of the priest of Heliopolis. And a hundred talents of gold were given me with her, and the Lord made them to serve me. 4. And He gave me also beauty as a flower beyond the beautiful ones of Israel ; and He preserved me '"unto old age in strength and"" in beauty, because I was like in all things to Jacob. XIX. 1-12. Joseph's Vision (from the Armenian Version). XIX. Hear ye, therefore, the vision which I saw. 2. I saw twelve harts feeding. And nine of them were dispersed. Now the three were preserved, but on the following day they also were dispersed, 3. And I saw that the three harts became three lambs, and they cried to the Lord, and He brought them forth into a flourishing and well-watered place, yea He brought them out of darkness into light. 4. And there they cried unto the Lord until there gathered together to them the nine harts, and they became as twelve sheep, and after a little time they increased and became many flocks. 5. And after these things I saw and behold, twelve bulls were sucking one cow, which produced a sea of milk, and there drank thereof THE TWELVE PATRIARCHS loi the twelve flocks and innumerable herds. 6. And the horns of the fourth bull \\ent up unto heaven and became as a wall for the flocks, and in the midst of the [two] horns there grew another horn. 7. And I saw a bull calf which surrounded them twelve times, and it became a help to the bulls wholly. 8. And I saw in the midst of the horns a virgin [wearing a many-coloured garment, and from her] went forth a lamb ; and on his right (was as it were a lion ; and) all the beasts and all the reptiles rushed (against him), and the lamb overcame them and destroyed them. 9. And the bulls rejoiced because of him, and the cow [and the harts] exulted together with them. 10. And these things must come to pass in their • season. 11. And do ye, my children, honour Levi and Judah, for from them shall arise the sah-ation of Israel. 12. For m^- kingdom which is among you shall come to an end as a watcher's hammock, which \\ill not appear after the summer. XX. 1-6. Joseph's Last Words to his Sons. His Death and Burial XX. rpor"^ I know that after my death the Egyptians will afflict you, but God will avenge you, and will bring you into that which He promised to your fathers. 2. But ye shall carr\- up my bones with 3^ou ; ''for when my bones are being taken up thither, the Lord shall be with 3'ou in light, and Beliar shall be in darkness with the Egyptians''. 3. And carry ye up Asenath 3'our mother [to the Hippodrome], and near Rachel your mother bur}- her. 4. x'Vnd when he had said these things he stretched out his feet, and died at a good old age. 5. And all Israel mourned for him, and all Egypt, with a great mourning. 6. And when the children of Israel went out of Egypt, they took with them the bones of Joseph, and they buried him in Hebron with his fathers, and the years of his life were one hundred and ten years. 102 THE TESTAMENTS OF