Joseph and Aseneth

Historical English source page 78

74 JOSEPH AND ASENATH [xxvii the earth half-dead.^ And thereupon Benjamin, having run up on to a rock, saith to Asenath's chariot-man : " Give me stones from the ravine." And he gave him fifty ^ stones. And Benjamin hurled the stones and slew the fifty* men who were with Pharaoh's son, all the stones sinking in through their temples. Then the sons of Leah, Reuben and Simeon, Levi and Judah, Issachar and Zebulon, pursued after the men who had lain in wait against Asenath and fell upon them unawares and cut them all down ; and the six men slew two thousand and seventy-six men. And the sons of Balla and Zelpha fled from their face and said : " We have perished at the hands of our brethren, and Pharaoh's son hath also died by the hand of Benjamin the lad, and all who were with him perished by the hand of the boy Benjamin. Accordingly, therefore, come let us slay Asenath and Benjamin and flee to the thicket of these reeds." And they came ^against Asenath * hold- ing their swords drawn covered with blood. And Asenath when she saw them feared greatly and said : " Lord God, who quickenedst me ""and de- liveredst me * from ^the idols and the corruption of ^ death, even as thou saidst to me that my soul shall live for ever, deliver me now also from these wicked men." And the Lord God heard Asenath's voice, and straightway the swords of the adversaries fell from their hands upon the earth and were turned into ashes. 1 Syr. Slav. om. = Syr. " 48." 3 Syr. Slav. " 48." ^ B D Syr. Slav. om. = Syr. Slav, om,