Book of the Bee

Historical scan page 100

THE BOOK OF THE BEE. 72 the Messiah, that He should suffer, and that the sun should become dark, and the moon be hidden. He died in peace in his own land. Haggai returned from Babylon to Jerusalem when he was young. He prophesied that the people would return, and concerning the Messiah, that He would abrogate the sacrifices of the Jews. He died in peace. Zechariah the son of Jehoiada returned from Babylon in his old age, and wrought wonders among the people. He died at a great age, and was buried by the side of the grave of Haggai. Malachi was born after the return of the people, and because of his beauty he was surnamed ‘Angel.’ He died in peace in his own land, The Jews stoned Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah in Egypt, because he rebuked them for worshipping idols ; and the Egyptians buried him by the side of Pharaoh’s palace. The Egyptians loved him much, because he prayed and the beasts died which used to come up from the river Nile and devour men. These beasts were called ‘crocodiles1.’ When Alexander the son of Philip, the Macedonian, came (to Egypt), he made enquiries about his grave, and took and brought him to Alexandria. This (prophet) during his life said to the Egyptians, ‘a child shall be born— that is the Messiah — of a virgin, and He shall be laid in a crib 2, and He will shake and cast down the idols.’ From that time, and until Christ was born, the Egyptians used to set a virgin and a baby in a crib, and to worship him, because of what Jeremiah said to them, that He should be born in a crib. Ezekiel the son of Buzi was of the priestly tribe, and from the land of Serida3. The chief of the Jews who was in the land of the Chaldeans slew him, because he rebuked him for worshipping idols. He was buried in the grave of Arphaxar, the son of Shem, the son of Noah. Daniel (was) of the tribe of Judah, and was born in Upper Beth- Horon. He was a man who kept himself from women, and hence the Jews thought that he was an eunuch, for his face was different (from that 1 Read KpoKodeiXoi. 2 See Migne, Patrologiae Cursus, Ser. Gr., t. 43, col. 421 ; and the chapter on the going down of our Lord into Egypt. 3 EpiphaniuS, (< yijs 2apr]pa.