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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THE TESTAMENT OF JOSEPH - 2
[Joseph 2:1-84]

*1* You therefore, my children, see how patience works great things, and prayer with fasting.

*2* So you too, if you follow after chastity and purity with patience and prayer, with fasting in humility of heart, the Lord will dwell among you because He loves chastity.

*3* And wherever the Most High dwells, even though envy, or slavery, or slander befalls a man, the Lord who dwells in the man because of his chastity will not only deliver the man from evil, but also exalts him even as the Lord did to me.

*4* For in every way the man is lifted up, whether in deed, or in word, 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, I 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 a son of Jacob, a great man and a mighty one.

*7* You also, my children, have the fear of God in all your works before your eyes, and honour your brethren.

*8* For every one who does the law of the Lord shall be loved by Him.

*9* And when I came to the Indocolpitae with the Ishmaelites, they asked me, saying:

*10* "Are you a slave?" And I answered that "I was a home-born slave;" so that I might not put my brothers to shame.

*11* And the eldest of them said to me: "You are not a slave, for even your appearance does show it.

*12* But I said that I was their slave.

*13* Now when we came into Egypt they strove concerning me, which of them should buy me and take me.

*14* Therefore it seemed good to all that I should remain in Egypt with the merchant of their trade, until they should return bringing merchandise.

*15* And the Lord gave me favour in the eyes of the merchant, and he entrusted to me his house.

*16* And God blessed him by my means, and increased him in gold and silver and in household servants.

*17* And I was with him three months and five days.

*18* And about that time the Memphian woman, the wife of Pentephris (Potiphar's Wife) came down in a chariot, with great pomp, because she had heard from her eunuchs about me.

*19* 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.

*20* Now, therefore, render justice to him, and take away the youth to your house; so shall the God of the Hebrews bless you, for grace from heaven is upon him.

*21* And Pentephris (Potiphar) was persuaded by her words, and commanded the merchant to be brought, and said to him:

*22* "What is this that I hear about you, that you steal persons out of the land of Canaan, and sell them for slaves?"

*23* But the merchant fell at his feet, and besought him, saying: "I beseech you, my lord, I do not know what you are saying."

*24* And Pentephris asked him: "From where, then, is the Hebrew slave?"

*25* And he replied: "The Ishmaelites entrusted him to me until they should return."

*26* But he did not believe him, but commanded him to be stripped and beaten.

*27* And when he persisted in this statement, Pentephris said: "Let the youth be brought."

*28* And when I was brought in, I did bow to Pentephris for he was third in rank of the officers of Pharaoh.

*29* And he took me aside from him, and asked me: "Are you a slave or free?"

*30* And I answered: "A slave."

*31* And he said: "Whose?"

*32* And I said: "The Ishmaelites."

*33* And he said: "How did you become their slave?"

*34* And I said: "They bought me out of the land of Canaan."

*35* And he said to me: "Truly you are lying;" and straightway he commanded me to be stripped and beaten.

*36* Now, the Memphian woman was looking through a window at me while I was being beaten, for her house was near, and she sent to him saying:

*37* "Your judgement is unjust; for you do punish a free man who has been stolen, as if he is a transgressor."


*38* And when I made no change in my statement, though I was beaten, he ordered me to be imprisoned, until, as he said, the owners of the boy should come.

*39* And the woman said to her husband: "Why do you detain the captive and wellborn lad in bonds, who ought rather to be set at liberty, and be waited upon?"

*40* For she wished to see me out of a desire of sin, but I was ignorant concerning all these things.

*41* And he said to her: "It is not the custom of the Egyptians to take that which belongs to others before proof is given."

*42* This, therefore, he said concerning the merchant; but as for the lad, he must be imprisoned.

*43* Now after twenty-four days the Ishmaelites came; for they had heard that Jacob my father was mourning much concerning me.

*44* And they came and said to me: "How is it that you said that you were a slave? And look, we have learnt that you are the son of a mighty man in the land of Canaan, and your father still mourns for you in sackcloth and ashes."

*45* 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.

*46* And I said to them, "I do not know, I am a slave."

*47* Then, therefore, they took counsel to sell me, so that I should not be found in their hands.

*48* For they feared my father, lest he should come and execute upon them a grievous vengeance.

*49* For they had heard that he was mighty with God and with men.

*50* Then the merchant said to them: "Release me from the judgment of Pentiphri."

*51* And they came and requested me, saying: "Say that you were bought by us with money, and he will set us free."

*52* Now the Memphian woman said to her husband: "Buy the youth; for I hear, that they are selling him."

*53* And straightway she sent a eunuch to the Ishmaelites, and asked them to sell me.

*54* 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.

*55* And she sent another eunuch, saying: "Even though they demand two minas, give them, do not spare the gold; only buy the boy, and bring him to me."

*56* The eunuch therefore went and gave them eighty pieces of gold, and he received me; but to the Egyptian woman he said, "I have given a hundred."

*57* And though I knew this I held my peace, lest the eunuch should be put to shame.

*58* You see, therefore, my children, what great things I endured that I should not put my brethren to shame.

*59* Do you also, therefore, love one another, and with long-suffering hide you one another's faults.

*60* For God delights in the unity of brethren, and in the purpose of a heart that takes pleasure in love.

*61* And when my brethren came into Egypt they learnt that I had returned their money to them, and upbraided them not, and comforted them.

*62* 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.

*63* And I allowed them not to be afflicted in the smallest matter; and all that was in my hand I gave to them.

*64* And their children were my children, and my children as their servants; and their life was my life, and all their suffering was my suffering, and all their sickness was my infirmity.

*65* My land was their land, and their counsel my counsel.

*66* And I did not exalt myself among them in arrogance because of my worldly glory, but I was among them as one of the least.

*67* If you also, therefore, walk in the commandments of the Lord, my children, He will exalt you there, and will bless you with good things for ever and ever.

*68* And if any one seeks to do evil to you, do well to him, and pray for him, and you shall be redeemed of the Lord from all evil.

*69* For, behold, you see that out of my humility and longsuffering I took to wife the daughter of the priest of Heliopolis.

*70* And a hundred talents of gold were given me with her, and the Lord made them to serve me.

*71* And He gave me also beauty as a flower beyond the beautiful ones of Israel; and He preserved me till old age in strength and in beauty, because I was like in all things to Jacob.

*72* And you my children, hear also the vision which I saw:

*73* There were twelve harts (Male Deer) feeding: and nine of them were first dispersed over all the earth, and likewise also the three.

*74* And I saw that from Judah was born a virgin wearing a linen garment, and from her, was born a Lamb, without spot; and on His left Hand there was as it were a lion; and all the beasts rushed against Him, and the Lamb overcame them, and destroyed them and trod them under foot.

*75* And because of Him the angels and men rejoiced, and all the land.

*76* And these things shall come to pass in their season, in the last days.

*77* Do you therefore, my children, observe the commandments of the Lord, and honour Levi and Judah; for from them shall arise to you the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, One who saves all the Gentiles and Israel.

*78* For His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, which shall not pass away; but my kingdom among you shall come to an end as a watcher's hammock, which after the summer disappears.

*79* For I know that after my death the Egyptians will afflict you, but God will avenge you, and will bring you into that land which He promised to your fathers.

*80* But you shall carry up my bones with you; for when my bones are being taken up there, the Lord shall be with you in light, and Beliar shall be in darkness with the Egyptians.

*81* And also carry you up Asenath your mother to the Hippodrome, and near Rachel your mother bury her.

*82* And when Joseph had said these things he stretched out his feet, and died at a good old age.

*83* And all Israel mourned for him, and all Egypt, with a great mourning.

*84* 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.

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THE ELEVENTH SON OF JACOB AND RACHEL.

CHAPTER 1
Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob and Rachel, the beautiful and beloved. His struggle against the Egyptian temptress. THE copy of the Testament of Joseph.

*2* When he was about to die he called his sons and his brethren together, and said to them:--

*3* My brethren and my children, listen to Joseph the beloved of Israel; give ear, my sons, to your father.

*4* I have seen in my life envy and death, yet I did not go astray, but persevered in the truth of the Lord.

*5* These my brethren hated me, but the Lord loved me:

*6* They wished to kill me, but the God of my fathers guarded me:

*7* They let me down into a pit, and the Most High brought me up again.

*8* I was sold into slavery, and the Lord of all made me free:

*9* I was taken into captivity, and His strong Hand helped me:

*10* I was beset with hunger, and the Lord Himself nourished me:

*11* I was alone, and God comforted me:

*12* I was sick, and the Lord visited me:

*13* I was in prison, and my God showed favour to me;

*14* In bonds, and He released me;

*15* Slandered, and He pleaded my cause;

*16* Bitterly spoken against by the Egyptians, and He delivered me;

*17* Envied by my fellow-slaves, and He exalted me;

*18* And this chief captain of Pharaoh entrusted to me his house;

*19* And I struggled against a shameless woman, urging me to transgress with her; but the God of Israel my father delivered me from the burning flame.

*20* 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.

*21* For the Lord does not forsake them that fear Him, neither in darkness, nor in bonds, nor in tribulations, nor in necessities.

*22* For God is not ashamed as a man, nor is He afraid as the son of man, nor is He weak or affrighted as one that is earth-born.

*23* But in all those things He gives protection, and in divers ways He does comfort, though for a little space He hides Himself in order to try the inclination of the soul.

*24* In ten temptations He showed me approved, and in all of them I endured; for endurance is a mighty charm, and patience gives many good things.

*25* How often did the Egyptian woman threaten me with death!

*26* 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:

*27* "You shall be lord of me, and all that is in my house, if you will give yourself to me, and you shall be as our master."

*28* But I remembered the words of my father, and going into my chamber, I wept and prayed to the Lord.

*29* 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, becoming more handsome.

*30* And if my master were away from home, I would not drink wine; nor for three days did I take my food, but I gave it to the poor and sick.

*31* And I sought the Lord early, and I wept because of that Egyptian woman of Memphis, for she troubled me very persuasively and unceasingly, for also at night she would come to me under pretence of visiting me.

*32* And because she had no male child she pretended to regard me as a son.

*33* And for a time she embraced me as a son, and I did not know it; but later, she sought to draw me into fornication.

*34* And when I perceived it I sorrowed to death; and when she had gone out, I came to myself, and lamented for her many days, because I recognized her guile and her deceit.

*35* And I declared to her the words of the Most High, if perhaps she would turn from her evil lust.

*36* Oftentimes, therefore, she would flatter me with words as a holy man, and guilefully in her talk, praise my chastity before her husband, while desiring to trap me when we were alone.

*37* For she lauded me openly as chaste, and in secret she said to me: "Do not fear my husband; for he is persuaded concerning your chastity: for even if one should tell him concerning us, he would not believe."

*38* Owing to all these things I laid on the ground, and besought God that the Lord would deliver me from her deceit.

*39* And when she did not succeed with that scheme, she came again to me under the plea of instruction, pretending she wants to learn the word of God from me.

*40* And she said to me: "If you are willing that I should leave my idols, then sleep with me, and I will persuade my husband to convert from his idols, and we will walk in the law of your Lord."

*41* And I said to her: "The Lord Will does not permit those who reverence Him to be in uncleanness or unholiness, neither does He take pleasure in them that commit adultery, but in those that approach Him with a pure heart and undefiled lips."

*42* But she heed her peace, longing to accomplish her evil desire.

*43* And I gave myself yet more to fasting and prayer, that the Lord might deliver me from her.

*44* And again, at another time she said to me: "If you will not commit adultery, I will kill my husband by poison; and take you to be my husband."

*45* I therefore, when I heard this, tore my garments, and said to her:

*46* "Woman, reverence God, and do not this evil deed, lest you be destroyed; for know indeed that I will tell this your device to all men."

*47* She therefore, being afraid, begged that I would not tell anyone this device.

*48* And she departed soothing me with gifts, and sending to me every delight of the sons of men.

*49* And afterwards she sent me food mingled with charms (enchantments).

*50* And when the eunuch who brought it came, I looked up and saw a terrible man giving me with the dish a sword, and I perceived that her scheme was to beguile me.

*51* And when he had gone out I wept, nor did I taste that or any other of her food.

*52* So then after one day she came to me and observed the food, and said to me: "Why is it that you have not eaten of the food?"

*53* And I said to her: "It is because you have filled it with deadly charms (enchantments); and how would you say: "I do not come near to idols but to the Lord alone.

*54* Now therefore know that the God of my father has revealed to me by His angel your wickedness, and I have kept it to convict you, if perhaps you may see and repent.

*55* "But to show you that the wickedness of the ungodly has no power over them that worship God with chastity, behold I will take of that you enchanted and eat it before you."

"56" And having said so, I prayed thus: "The God of my fathers and the angel of Abraham, be with me;" and I ate.

"57" And when she saw this she fell upon her face at my feet, weeping; and I raised her up and admonished her.

"58" And she promised never to do this iniquity any more.

"59" 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.

*60* And when her husband saw her, he said to her: "Why is your countenance fallen?"

*61* And she said to him: "I have a pain at my heart, and the groanings of my spirit oppress me;" and so he comforted her who was not sick.

*62* Then, accordingly seizing an opportunity, she rushed to me while her husband was yet wout, and said to me: "I will hang myself, or cast myself over a cliff, if you will not sleep with me."

*63* And when I saw the spirit of Beliar was troubling her, I prayed to the Lord, and said to her:

*64* "Why, wretched woman, are you troubled and disturbed, blinded through sins?

*65* Remember that if you kill yourself, Asteho, the concubine of your husband, your rival, will beat your children, and you will destroy your memorial from off the earth."

*66* And she said to me: "Lo, then you love me; let this suffice me: only strive for my life and my children, and I expect that I shall enjoy my desire also."

*67* But she did not know that it's because of my master I said that, and not because of her.

*68* For if a man has fallen before the passion of a wicked desire and become enslaved by it, even as she was, whatever good thing the man may hear with regard to that passion, he would receive it with a view to his wicked desire.

*69* I declare, therefore, to you, my children, that it was about the sixth hour when she departed from me; and I knelt before the Lord all day, and all the night; and about dawn I rose up, weeping the while and praying for a release from her.

*70* At last, then, she laid hold of my garments, forcibly dragging me to have sex with her.

*71* When, therefore, I saw that in her madness she was holding fast to my garment, I left it behind, and fled away naked.

*72* 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 next day he scourged me and transferred me into Pharaoh's prison.

*73* And when I was in chains, the Egyptian woman was oppressed with grief, and she came and heard how I gave thanks to 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.

*74* And oftentimes would she sent to me saying: "Agree to fulfil my desire, and I will release you from your chains, and I will free you from the darkness."

*75* And not even in thought did I incline to her.

*76" For God loves him who in a den of wickedness combines fasting with chastity, rather than the man who in kings' chambers combines luxury with license.

*77* And if a man lives in chastity, and desires also glory, and the Most High knows that it is important for him, He bestows this also upon him.

*78* How often, though she were sick, did she come down to me at unlooked for times, and listened to my voice as I prayed!

*79* And when I heard her groanings I held my peace.

*80* For when I was in her house she was wont to bare her arms, naked her breasts, and expose her legs, to seduce me that I might sleep with her; for she was very beautiful woman, splendidly adorned in order to beguile me.

*81* And the Lord guarded me from her devices.

I thought everyone here already knew where to get the "Books of Adam and Eve" that I taught from. This is how you may get copies of the Books, if you like the Books of Adam and Eve:

*1* Google search "First Book of Adam and Eve" and Google would show you links to access the Book.

*2* Better option, which I also used, is to go to "Google App Store" on Android Phone (or Apple Store on Iphone), and search for the App titled, "Lost Books" and then install it as offline book as I did.

The App (Lost Books) contains both the First and the Second Books of Adam and Eve, among other Deuterocanonicals or Apocrypha or sacred books contingent to the Bible Cannons. The "Lost Books" app contains 47 of them, but not all of them, and the 47 Books in the table of contents order include:

The Gospel of the Birth of Mary

The Protevangelion

The First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ

Thomas's Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ

The Epistles of Jesus Christ and Abgarus King of Edessa

The Gospel of Nicodemus, Formerly Called the Acts of Pontius Pilate

The Apostles’ Creed

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Laodiceans

The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to Seneca, with Seneca’s to Paul

The Acts of Paul and Thecla

The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

The Second Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

The General Epistle of Barnabas

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans

The Epistle of ignatius to the Philadelphians

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnzeans

The Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp

The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians

The Shepherd of Hermas

The Second Book of Hermas, Called His Commands

The Third Book of Hermas, Which Is Called His Similitudes

Letters of Herod and Pilate

The Lost Gospel According to Peter

The First Book of Adam and Eve

The Second Book of Adam and Eve

The Book of the Secrets of Enoch

The Psalms of Solomon

The Odes of Solomon

The Letter of Aristeas

Fourth Book of Maccabees

The Story of Ahikar

The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs

Testament of Reuben

Testament of Simeon

Testament of Levi

The Testament of Judah

The Testament of Issachar

The Testament of Zebulun

The Testament of Dan

The Testament of Naphtali

The Testament Of Gad

The Testament of Asher

The Testament of Joseph

The Testament of Benjamin

Kindly understand that not all these books are scriptures, nor am I endorsing all unless you see me teaching from any one of them I endorse.

Yes

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GOOD FRIDAY AND THE TREE OF LIFE

[1 Adam+Eve 37:1] — THEN Adam said to Eve, "Are you not seeing these figs and their leaves, with which we covered ourselves when we were stripped of our bright nature? But now, we do not know what misery and suffering may come upon us from eating them.

Adam and Eve knew the trees by their fruits, but they did not know what misery and suffering that may come from eating the fruits or eating of the tree they know. To them, it was beyond just knowing a tree by its fruit, and required also knowing what the eater of the fruit loses, and not just what the eater gains. Adam and Eve already know both "gain and loss" from eating of the same fruit: The last fruit they ate before here, they knew the tree by its fruit, and they gained some wisdom (Knowledge of good and evil) but they lost their Bright Nature and right to the Tree of Life.

When they were stripped of their Bright Nature at eating of the forbidden tree, the lights emanating from them gone, their eyes were opened to see their being naked, which is what they were not seeing before because of their own lights or glorious bodies. It's like how Rick Joyner (in his experience) was given a mantle of humility, worn to cover his own brightness in order to see some details his own light/glory prevented him from seeing. His case was better because he did not lose his bright nature like Adam and Eve before his eyes were opened to his immediate realization.

[1 Adam+Eve 37:2] — Now, therefore, O Eve, let us restrain ourselves and not eat of them, you and I; and let us ask God to give us of the fruit of the Tree of Life."

If you want to request or order for change of the food or drinks you were served, make sure you have not begin eating the food nor drank the drinks. You have more right to request for another or for change of the food when your protest involves you haven't tasted or eaten the rejected food. Adam and Eve knew this.

But they it on time to apply it before eating of the forbidden tree when they intend to request for the fruit of the Tree of Life. When they ate (tasted) of the forbidden tree that gives knowledge of good and evil, they lost right to demand for substitution/change into eating of the Tree of Life. Now they are applying it well, but already late: They are refusing to eat of the Fig Trees before them so that their right and protest for the fruit of the Tree of Life may hold sway.

This is not to say whoever eats of the Fig Trees or eats of another tree would not have the right to eat of the tree of life again. Rather, ensure you approach the fruit of the Tree of Life with hunger or prove you have not eaten from elsewhere before it. This is not just about "1 Corinthians 10:21 — You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: you cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils;" but also about "Not being filled with the worse wine because the Lord has kept the Best Wine for the Last" [John 2:10]

[1 Adam+Eve 37:3] — Thus did Adam and Eve restrain themselves, and did not eat of these figs.

Good, Adam and Eve were not like Esau when he was hungry and sold his birthright. Even though Adam and Eve were hungry and emaciated with hunger and fasting that was about 43 days and nights, and even though they prayed/begged for those food they were given by the Rich One, yet they still put "Restraint" and would not eat what was available for them in order for them to still keep their right/choice to be entitled to the Tree of Life.

They say, beggars have no choice, but I've seen beggars that had choice. If you are fasting and praying, you are basically a beggar with choice: Your praying is begging, but your fasting or refusing to eat is your choice by refusal. Can ye eat your cake and have it?

[1 Adam+Eve 37:4] — But Adam began to pray to God and to beseech Him to give him of the fruit of the Tree of Life, saying thus: "O God, when we transgressed Your commandment at the sixth hour of Friday, we were stripped of the bright nature we had, and did not continue in the garden after our transgression, more than three hours.

Adam began praying to God for the gift of the fruit of the Tree of Life. If you have prayed God to give you spiritual gifts, remember to also pray God to give you eternal gift such as the gift of eating of the Tree of Life. However, Adam was missing the point of asking for the gift of Salvation first before that of the Tree of Life, since he's beginning his prayer from when he sinned/transgressed the Commandment of God. Adam thought it's "Time duration period or punishment length" that would makeup or compensate for the sin they sinned, and therefore restore to them eligibility to eat of the Tree of Life. See, between when one sinned and when the sinner will have the tree of life, it's not about how much time or punishment involved but about Salvation/Covenant in the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, God with us.

Nevertheless, let's harvest some details Adam was dishing out in the commencement of his prayer in this verse above:

"Good Friday" first began with Adam and Eve, but the Lord Jesus Christ relived His own version of "Good Friday:" Therefore, let's relate both:

*a* — Third Hour, Good Friday: In Jesus' Good Friday, in the third hour Jesus Christ was crucified (Mark 15:25). But in Adam's Good Friday, in the third hour Adam was created and brought into paradise and Eve was also made in end of the third hour (1 Adam+Eve 34:10-13).

*b* — Sixth-Ninth Hour, Good Friday: In Jesus' Good Friday, in the sixth hour Jesus Christ was stripped of the Father with Him, having laid on Him the sin of the World, and therefore there was darkness throughout the whole land from the sixth hour to the ninth hour (Mark 15:33). But in Adam's Good Friday, in the sixth hour Adam was stripped of the Bright Nature, having began the sin of the World by eating of the forbidden tree or transgressing the Commandment of God, and therefore Adam and Eve were stripped of the Bright Nature and were stack naked from the sixth hour to the ninth hour.

*c* — Ninth Hour, Good Friday: In Jesus' Good Friday, in the ninth hour Jesus Christ was the One asking the Father God, "Where are You" by saying, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Mark 15:34). But in Adam's Good Friday, in the ninth hour (Cool of the day/Evening) God was the One asking Adam, "Adam, where are you?" (1 Adam+Eve 36:2).

*b* — Good Friday: In Jesus' Good Friday, the Lord brought man into Paradise with Him. As it is written, "And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you, Today (Good Friday) shall you be with Me in paradise." (Luke 23:43). But in Adam's Good Friday, the Lord who brought man into Paradise (Garden of Eden) later drove the man out of the Paradise, all happening in that same Good Friday.

[1 Adam+Eve 37:5] — But on the evening You made us come out of it. O God, we transgressed against You one hour, and all these trials and sorrows have come upon us until this day.

In the evening of Adam's Good Friday, God drove mankind out of paradise; and the sin mankind committed against God for about one hour has since then continually brought all the trials and sorrows man born of a woman have been suffering until this day.

[1 Adam+Eve 37:6] — And those days together with this forty-third day, do not redeem that one hour in which we transgressed!

Expecting 43 days of trials, sorrows, weeping, regrets, suffering and fasting, as in, 43 days of deep Penance to redeem one hour of sin. How much days of Penance would compensate for one hour sin against God?

Well, if you can find my commentary on "Ezekiel 4:4-6" in which Ezekiel laid on his left hand side without turning for 390 days to bear Israel's sin, and laid on his right hand side ditto for 40 days to bear Judah's sin, and how the Lord Jesus Christ in few days or few hours bore the sin of the entire generations men of the world.

[1 Adam+Eve 37:7] — O God, look upon us with an eye of pity, and do not requite us according to our transgression of Your commandment, in presence of You.

This one touch me. It's wise Adam did not say "Requite us according to the days or time duration suffered for sinning against You." Rather he said, "Do not requite us according to our sin."

No man can fully pay for sin against God, so stop thinking it's about how much you have suffered for something you consider as "little sin." It's not about the size of the sin, but about the size of the God or the Word of God you offended and transgressed. Do you know how much big God is? Do you know the scope and ramifications of a single Word of God to you, and the impact of that single sentence of God in the universes and galaxies and eternity.

A soldier who slaps an ordinary man on the street, and another soldier who slaps his Commander in Chief or President of his nation: Both slapped another man, yet the size of their sins is not measured just by the act of small slapping done in one minute, but includes the size, status and personality of the men involved.

If you know the size, status and personality, of God, you will know God is far too merciful and kind even in His punishment for sin.

[1 Adam+Eve 37:8] — O, God, give us of the fruit of the Tree of Life, that we may eat of it, and live, and not turn to see sufferings and other trouble, in this earth; for You are God.

Adam and Eve have requested the fruit of the Tree of Life as the gift of God they most need and desire the above all else. Impressively, Adam and Eve already know what the fruit of the Tree of Life does and brings to the eaters thereof. They knew they would live when they eat of the fruit of the Tree of Life, and that would give them immunity from all sufferings and troubles in the earth, as well as give them immortality. They acknowledge God would not need permission from anyone else to give them the fruits of the Tree of Life because He's God, and answerable to no one.

Well, the fruit of the Tree of Life is like these other fruits, daily bread or Manna from heaven that angels or another person could bring to someone outside. Fruit of the Tree of Life not come in "Take-Away" or taken from where the Tree is to someone that needs it the most. To eat of the Tree of Life, everyone must come to the Tree and get it for his/herself. Not like Eve plucked of the forbidden tree and gave to Adam, but each one must got and get the fruit of the Tree of Life. So the implication of this Adam's prayer point here also means bringing Adam back into the garden or paradise where the Tree of Life is, and removing the Cherub out of Adam's way. Remember my illustration in difference between bringing gifts from heaven to outsiders and actually allowing the outsiders to enter into the gates or into heaven. Asking for the fruit of the Tree of Life is asking to enter into the garden/heaven, and not just like asking for the other fruits that can be sent out.


[1 Adam+Eve 37:9] — When we transgressed Your commandment, You made us come out of the garden, and did send a cherub to keep the Tree of Life, lest we should eat thereof, and live; and know nothing of faintness after we transgressed.

Adam and Eve were fully aware that keeping them from the Tree of Life is the major reason God drove them out of the garden and brought the Cherub to keep the Tree of Life out of man's reach.

The Tree of Life was the most precious treasure of the Garden.

[1 Adam+Eve 37:10] — But now, O Lord, behold, we have endured all these days, and have borne sufferings. Make these forty-three days an equivalent for the one hour in which we transgressed."

This prayer point of Adam in this verse somehow re-echoed through the Penitent Crucified Thief beside the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. When Adam was saying it here, the Lord would not grant that until about five and half millenniums away. Then at the appointed time, the request was re-quested again by the Penitential thief who admitted suffering the condemnation for his sins, while the Lord Jesus was righteous and innocent but suffering their condemnation. Then as if the voice of Adam spoke through him, he said, "Lord remember me when You come in Your Kingdom." And the Lord Jesus responded as if He was talking to Adam, "Verily I say to you, Today you shall be with Me in paradise."

You think that man had memories with the Lord to warrant the Lord to remember him? For someone to tell me to remember him, he/she must have earned my remembering him or I owe it to the person as a debt. Do you think a condemned sinner would have the boldness to be asking for "Remembrance" instead asking for "Mercy/Forgiveness" on the King of the Lord Jesus Christ? Was the Lord Jesus in any debt to the man asking for His remembering him as the Cupbearer was in debt of remembering Joseph?

THE FIRST BOOK OF ADAM AND EVE [1 Adam+Eve]
Chapter 38

When 5500 Years are Fulfilled


*1* "AFTER these things the Word of God came to Adam, and said to him:--

*2* "O Adam, as to the fruit of the Tree of Life, for which you asked, I will not give it to you now, but when the 5500 years are fulfilled. Then will I give you of the fruit of the Tree of Life, and you shall eat, and live for ever, you, and Eve, and your righteous seed.

*3* "But these forty-three days cannot make amends for the hour in which you did transgress My commandment.

*4* "O Adam, I gave you to eat of the fig-tree in which you did hide yourself. Go and eat of it, you and Eve.

*5* "I will not deny your request, neither will I disappoint your hope; therefore, bear up unto the fulfilment of the covenant I made with you."

*6* And God withdrew His Word from Adam.

THE FIRST BOOK OF ADAM AND EVE [1 Adam+Eve]
Chapter 37

Forty-three days of Penance do not redeem one hour of sin

*1* THEN Adam said to Eve, "Are you not seeing these figs and their leaves, with which we covered ourselves when we were stripped of our bright nature? But now, we do not know what misery and suffering may come upon us from eating them.

2* "Now, therefore, O Eve, let us restrain ourselves and not eat of them, you and I; and let us ask God to give us of the fruit of the Tree of Life."

*3* Thus did Adam and Eve restrain themselves, and did not eat of these figs.

*4* But Adam began to pray to God and to beseech Him to give him of the fruit of the Tree of Life, saying thus: "O God, when we transgressed Your commandment at the sixth hour of Friday, we were stripped of the bright nature we had, and did not continue in the garden after our transgression, more than three hours.

*5* "But on the evening You made us come out of it. O God, we transgressed against You one hour, and all these trials and sorrows have come upon us until this day.

*6* "And those days together with this forty-third day, do not redeem that one hour in which we transgressed!

*7* "O God, look upon us with an eye of pity, and do not requite us according to our transgression of Your commandment, in presence of You.

*8* "O, God, give us of the fruit of the Tree of Life, that we may eat of it, and live, and not turn to see sufferings and other trouble, in this earth; for You are God.

*9* "When we transgressed Thy commandment, You made us come out of the garden, and did send a cherub to keep the Tree of Life, lest we should eat thereof, and live; and know nothing of faintness after we transgressed.

*10* "But now, O Lord, behold, we have endured all these days, and have borne sufferings. Make these forty-three days an equivalent for the one hour in which we transgressed."

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FIGS 2[b]

[1 Adam+Eve 36:4] — Then the cherub took two figs and brought them to Adam and Eve. But he threw them to them from afar; for they might not come near the cherub by reason of their flesh, that could not come near the fire.[/b]

The "Social Distancing" the Cherub maintained while throwing the food or fruits to Adam and Eve was not for fear of infection but safety of Adam and Eve. Two most popular reasons the Lord or His Angels do keep "Social Distancing" in proximity to avoid to close contact even with people of God in their full manifest glorious appearance include:

*1* Holiness: Being too close would negatively affect the Holiness of the Lord or His Angels.

*2* Fiery Glory: Being too close would negatively affect the Health (Body) or Life of the People.

As a mortal man in flesh and blood, you can even get too close to the sun in its full glory and heat. The Lord told Moses to warn the people to keep Social Distancing and not be too close to Mount Sinai when the God came in thick darkness that still could not completely veil off the intensity of His appearance and Thunderous Voices and Shakings. The people could not even bear to see the face of Moses that had some of the glory on his face.

It was not leprosy that made Moses to be covering his face in rule of social distancing while relating with the people, but it was glory that was making Moses to hide or to cover his and isolate from them because of their inferior body. The way glorious women are made to wear complete hijabs or cover their glorious bodies because of men of weak bodies. So also, the Cherub put in some measure of Social Distancing by not coming too close to hand the gifts from heaven (garden) to them, but cast it to them on the ground as Manna that fell from heaven for them to pick them from the ground and eat them.

From a Distance, God is watching us, from a distance: Social or Safe Distance. Ask those who didn't abide the Ark of God closely.

[1 Adam+Eve 36:5] — At first, angels trembled at the presence of Adam and were afraid of him. But now Adam trembled before the angels and was afraid of them.

All have sinned and fell short of the glory of God. Mankind was deceived with promise of becoming like gods or angels in knowing good and evil, and instead mankind fell far below angels after Lucifer fell.

Mankind was in the Image of God and the likeness of God before, and all angels trembled and respected Adam then, who alone was the image reflection of Godhead among His creation. But by sin and fall of Adam, he is not the Image of God anymore, but the image of himself. His offspring bear his image/likeness to death.

[1 Adam+Eve 36:6] — Then Adam drew near and took one fig, and Eve also came in turn and took the other.

Yes, Adam and Eve took those which were given to them from above, but they drew nearer than they were to acquire them. Fear not, these were not fruits the Serpent offered them, but fruits the Lord offered them when they asked of Him.

As for Eve, she was no longer too forward to go first and get the fruits for herself and her husband. She waited for Adam to lead, but she was not expecting him to bring both his own and her own to her. Everyone one went to gather the Manna from heaven for his or herself.

[1 Adam+Eve 36:7] — And as they took them up in their hands, they looked at them, and knew they were from the trees among which they had hidden themselves.

As soon as Adam and Eve picked up their daily bread or Manna, they looked and knew exactly the trees where they were taken from, just as Adam knew where Eve was taken from as soon as he was gifted her.

Adam and Eve had it in them to discern or know where their gifts came from, including their food. Not all people knew or cared to know where their resources are sourced. The Church in the desert led by Moses ate Manna everyday, but the reason they call it by the name "Manna" was because they didn't know where details about it including not knowing where it came from, though knew it was from God. The Chairman of the Wedding in Cana did not know where the best Wine came from, but those who served him knew where it came from. To be frank, I have eaten and drank drinks and juices I did not know where they came from or the basic recipe or ingredients used in cooking them.

Adam and Eve knew trees by their fruits, and they knew you don't gather such figs from trees that not Fig-trees. As it is written,

[Luke 6:44 NKJV] — For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.

Figs


[1 Adam+Eve 36:1] — THEN God commanded the cherub, who kept the gate of the garden with a sword of fire in his hand, to take some of the fruit of the fig-tree, and to give it to Adam.

Notice that God ordered the same Cherub, that was assigned to keep mankind out of the garden, to bring some fruits of the Garden (Fruits of the Fig-tree) to the people he and his sword of fire should not allow inside the gate. A man went to an embassy for visa processing, and when he got to the gate two police with guns and two security officers where there to keep him from entering the embassy, the security officers where also there to bring things from inside the embassy to him outside whenever they receive the order from above. Would you say they were being difficult or being kind to the man?

You may have realized it's easier for angels to bring gifts/ things from heaven to people on earth, than for them to bring those people into heaven. When the Lord Jesus Christ promised and said, "Ask, and you shall receive; seek, and you shall find; knock, and the door will be opened to you" — That aspect that says the door will be opened to you if you knock, does not guarantee opening the door for everyone who knocked to enter, but only guarantees opening the door for everyone who knocked to receive either through the door or through the Porter (Gateman) at the door (gate). Infact, as far as it is heaven, you don't have to knock before you enter anywhere inside: Entrance is usually ministered to everyone who qualifies to enter anywhere in heaven before the person gets to the door or gate (2 Peter 1:11). It's as if the doors, the gates or the porters/gatemen already anticipate the worthy person's coming in before they get to them, and the doors open for the worthy person on their own accord like in "Acts 12:10" or like those doors that have sensors buried around their perimeter so that as soon as someone comes close and steps within the perimeter of their sensors the doors automatically opens for them. The doors in heaven that do not open in such ways are usually "Portals" or "Doors one just goes through" by entering into the doors/walls like bridges to enter into other realms/realities. Other doors in heaven that do not also open in such ways are usually "Decisions or Choices Doors" that is directly linked to people's destiny: These are doors everyone has to choose and open by choice to go through.

In heavenly communication, a person is usually invited or welcomed into any place or room just by the doors opening to the person. They usually don't send invitation cards, but sign of opening to whoever they want. E.g. Elijah and Elisha walking, Elijah saw the heavens opened, but Elisha was only busy making sure he saw Elijah when he was taken but was not concerned about whether the heavens where opened or inviting him also. In the book of Revelation (4), John saw the heavens opened, and the voice of the invitation, "Come up here." Opened Holy of Holies.

If you find people knocking on a door in heaven, it's either the door shall be opened to give them what they are asking for or they just do not have entrance which is why they knock. The Lord Jesus Christ did not promise entrance into heaven by knocking on the door, but promised opening the door to receiving by knocking:

[Luke 13:25-27] — "After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’"

See Cherub instructed to bring fruits of the garden to Adam, but still mandated with the sharp flaming Sword to keep Adam out of it. Some of these angels bringing you blessings from heaven, wait till you meet them at the gates or doors into heaven, then you will know whether they are keeping their smiling faces and friendliness towards you trying to enter heaven. Even the Lord Jesus Christ in the Bible reference I just cited above used to eat and drink with those people, and was teaching in their streets and healing them, but suddenly at the Door He changed towards them and declared He does not know them, instead of giving entrance.

[1 Adam+Eve 36:2] — The cherub obeyed the command of the Lord God, and went into the garden and brought two figs on two twigs, each fig hanging to its leaf; they were from two of the trees among which Adam and Eve hid themselves when God went to walk in the garden, and the Word of God came to Adam and Eve and said unto them, "Adam, Adam, where are you?"

From those two Fig-trees where Adam and Eve hid themselves from the walking Presence of God in the cool of the day inside the garden: The same Fig-trees, who's leaves Adam and Eve sew apron and covered themselves while hiding from God because they knew they were naked by having eaten of the knowledge of good and evil tree that was forbidden by God to be eaten of man: It was from those two Fig-trees the Cherub brought two twigs of Fig to them, in obedience to the command of the Lord to the Cherub.

Now notice that even though Fig-trees have much leaves that could cover or hide Adam and Eve, yet the number of the leaves in the two twigs were equivalent to the number of fruits (figs) in the twigs that the Cherub brought out of the two Fig-trees in the Garden. In paradise, fruits are almost as abundant as the leaves in fruit bearing Tree.

There was a day it was not Adam that was hungry but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself was hungry. He saw a fig tree with many leaves from afar, and He was expecting many fruits as well from it. Since fig leaves are good in covering, after all they covered or hid Adam and Eve from the Lord in the garden, perhaps the leaves are also covering the fruits from Him walking in the cool of that day. But when He got there and searched thoroughly, no single fruit in the midst of all those multitudes of leaves as hypocrite. And the Lord cursed that Fig-tree, and took His hunger elsewhere.

[1 Adam+Eve 36:3] — And Adam answered, "O God, here am I. When I heard the sound of You and You Voice, I hid myself, because I am naked."

The Cherub knew or witnessed all these that transpired between God and Adam, hiding behind those Fig-trees. The Cherub was very much aware and deliberately chose those Fig Trees with those memories in the verse above.

The Lord did not punish nor cursed those Fig-trees in the Garden for hiding Adam and Eve from His Presence; and because the Lord did not curse the Fig-trees, "Man could yet eat of them." Infact, Adam and Eve were about to eat from the Fig-trees where they hid themselves and covered their unclothedness from God

But you see that Fig-tree the Lord Jesus Christ cursed, "No man shall ever eat of it." The case of that cursed Fig Tree became worse than the forbidden tree of knowledge of good and evil. The Forbidden Tree was not cursed, though forbidden; but that cursed Fig Tree was cursed and instantly dried up or died.