Book of the Rolls

Book of the Rolls, Gibson1901, printed page 38

f. I122a f.. 1225 38 KITAB AL-MAGALL. fulfilled the magic rite, and its perfection is the marriage of mothers, daughters and sisters.’ Ardashir answered him concerning this, and did what he commanded him about it. Since that time the Magi allow the wedlock of mothers, sisters and daughters. The Devil also taught Ardashir the knowledge of omens and auguries!, and physiognomy, and fortune-telling, and divining and witchcraft, which were doctrines of the Devil, and the Chaldeans? gave one another this doctrine; these were the Syrians, and some people say that it is the tongue of the Nabataeans. Every one who uses aught of these doctrines, his guilt before God is great. But the knowledge which Nimrod learned from Bounitar, verily Bounitar the son of Noah learned it from God, the great and glorious, for it is the counting of the stars, and the years and the months; the Greeks call this science Astronomy, and the Persians call it Astrology. Nimrod built great towns in the East, namely, Hadanitin, Ellasar, Seleucia, Ctesiphon, Ruthin, and the towns of Atrapatene, and Telalén, and others that he chose for himself. When Terah, father of Abraham, reached two hundred and three years he died. Abraham and Lot buried him in the city of Haran. [God] commanded him that he should travel to the Holy Land. Abraham took with him Sarah his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and journeyed to the land of the Amorites. Abraham the Just was then seventy-five years old. When he reached eighty years, he fought with the nations and put them to flight and delivered Lot from them, and he had no child at that time, for Sarah was barren. When he returned from the war with the nations, God commanded him to journey and pass over to Mount Yabits. When he got there he met Melchizedek, priest of God. When Abraham saw him, he did homage to him and was blessed by him. He offered before him fine pure bread and drink. Melchizedek blessed Abraham and made vows for him. Thereupon God com- manded Melchizedek to pare his nails. Melchizedek consecrated an offering of fine bread and drink. Abraham offered some 1 See note, page 36. 2 Probably .الكلدانيون‎