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KING YAHOSHUA

This man, Nebuchadnezzar, really knew how to carry himself like a king, something I don't compose myself to do. I act more like a servant, than like a king. You see, even if (not saying that) a tiger is stronger than a lion, the lion would still be seen as a king of the jungle simply because the lion has inbuilt in it the flair of a king in how it carries itself.

Well, that's for the jungle or for this world, but not for the Kingdom of God. What would make you a king in this world is usually what would prevent you from becoming a king in the Kingdom of Heaven. Kings in the Kingdom of Heaven walked like servants when they were yet walking this earth, including those of them that were kings on earth also like David. Michal, Saul's daughter or one of David's wives, was embarrassed by how David the king was dancing to God on the street among maidens/servants, and to her he was losing his respect among them.

The Lord Jesus Christ was born King of the Jews, King of kings; but He was meek and lowly, walking among the poor and lowest of people. He was so meek and lowly that even John the Baptist got confused about Him, asking Him, "Are You the One that should come or should we expect another?" In the Bible, two different Heralds of the Lord Jesus Christ had their proclamation of the Lord Jesus Christ disappointed by the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ different from how they proclaimed He to appear as:

*1* First Herald: John the Baptist, heralded that "He who comes after me is far greater than me, and I am not worthy to loose His shoes; His Baptism is greater than my water baptism, for He baptizes with Holy Ghost and Fire." Then one day the Lord Jesus Christ appeared and everything about Him was so different from how John had proclaimed Him, because He was so meek and lowly: John corrected himself in his proclamation of the Lord Jesus Christ, saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. This is the Man I was telling you about, He who comes after me; and the way He appears even I did not know Him for His humility and lowliness until He (God) who sent me to baptize told me the One on whom the Holy Spirit shall descend on like a dove, He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit." (John 1:29-34).

See, I love the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, I really do.

John the Baptist was praying to be baptized by the Lord, but instead He came to be baptized by John the Baptist. John the Baptist was saying he was not even worthy to loose His shoes, but the Lord and King (Jesus Christ) bowed down Himself to wash the feet of His servants and creatures. Which King of kings does that?

[Luke 22:27 ICB] — Who is more important: the one sitting at the table or the one serving him? You think the one at the table is more important. But I Am like a Servant among you!

*2" Second Herald: One of the twenty-four elders in heaven before the Throne of God heralded the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, but instead of the Lord to appear as the Lion He is, He appeared as the Lamb and much more as the Lamb that was slain. And from then, no one proclaimed Him as the Lion, but as the Lamb. Even His Throne was called the Throne of the Lamb because of His Lowliness and Humility, even though He is the King of kings had Lord of Lords and Master of all.

He has not changed: He said learn of Me:

[Matthew 11:29 AMPC] — Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer. 6:16.]

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DANIEL 4:5

[Daniel 4:5 NKJV] — I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

[Daniel 4:5 FBV] — But then one night I had a dream that really scared me—I saw visions that terrified me while I lay in my bed.

How comfortable your bed, your house or life is, does not always define how comfortable your sleep, your dream or your vision, would be. Some rich men do have rough or no sleep. According to*Ecclesiastes 5:12* - "The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep." Dream or vision from God can strike terror on a man who lives in the most secured and most comfortable palace, guarded by the strongest security system of his country. What could have scared such a king of kings from any nation of the world?

Why do I feel that apart from Solomon's dream as king, every other dream of a king expressed in the entire Bible was designed to strike that king with fear or terror as if the expressed dreams of kings were nightmares to the kings? This includes the governor's wife or Pilate's wife, beginning from Abimelech, king of Gerar (Philistine) on account of Abraham's wife.

Not that kings do not dream good and sweet dreams, but that dreams that terrified those kings were the dreams that caught their attention, respect and priority. So for a dream to get the kings' attention and respect, it must be able to terrorize and trouble kings who slept on comfortable beds, flourishing in comfortable home, prosperous with abundance of rest in palaces with hardly anything able to worry those kings.

Not that it must always be a bad news dream or prophecy of doom dream that scared those kings: Because even gospel dreams or good news dream can still scare a dreamer that is a ruler, chief or king. The Chief Cupbearer of Pharaoh had a good dream that appeared lovely and sweet as fairly tale, but yet that goodnews dream scared him as much as the bad news dream scared the other chief with him.

As it is with dreams, so with visions and revelations: They are not nightmares but they inspired fear and troubles to those who do not have enough spirit to receive them. You see why God had to give us His Spirit before giving us some kinds dreams and visions and revelations. He knows we may not be able to handle such dreams, visions or revelations without Him or His Spirit on us. John and Daniel fainted when they could not bear the visions or revelations they were seeing; and the Lord or His Angel had to touch them to revive them again, saying to them, "Fear not." So even if it's just for purpose of dreaming certain dreams or seeing certain visions, and prophesying certain revelations, God would pour Spirit. As it's written:

[Joel 2:28] — "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:"

So in the top Bible verse above, Nebuchadnezzar, in the summit of his living the best worldly life on earth, saw dream or vision on his bed which troubled him. That's part of his testimony, and like him let us consider sharing dreams, visions or revelations that terrified us in our comfort zone as testimoy because God's Hand and message is in such dreams, visions or revelations. Do not forget to share in your testimony the fear, the terror, the chills, the reflexes, etc, you felt when you were receiving the dream, vision, trance or revelation. For communicating such things help the hearer to know how much your experience touched you and the virtues that went out or came in to you during the experience, dream or vision.

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DANIEL 4:4

[Daniel 4:4 NKJV] — I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.

[Daniel 4:4 GWN] — "I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living comfortably at home. I was prosperous while living in my palace."


In this Bible verse, the testifier began the story that built his testimony. Imagine someone was to start giving testimony story, but asking, "Where should start my testimony story?" Some people would reply like, "Start from the Beginning;" but others would reply "Be brief as simple as "Once I was blind, but now I see" just as the man in "John 9:25" testified.

In discussing this Bible verse above, here are two segments: first segment looks into the part that frags "I, Nebuchadnezzar" and the other segment looks into "was at rest or living comfortably in my house, prospering or flourishing in my palace."

_________________________SEGMENT ONE_____________________

Why did he began his story with "I" and still described who the I refers to by mention his name, as if the "I" was not enough for us to know it's him?
He said it four times in this testimony or Daniel 4, "I + Nebuchadnezzar (his name)" to re-emphasize the "I" by his name "Nebuchadnezzar:" for some say repetition is for emphasis. Was that important?

I, Peterch, (doing the same thing) must have taught about who posseses the true reference of first person pronouns, second person pronouns and third person pronouns, in certain spiritual but mysterious prophecies, testimonies or messages. Sometimes you read or hear scriptures or prophecies terms like "I" "Me" "You" "He" "Him" etc, and naturally you may think by those pronouns the references point to characters or persons implied but instead they refer to another invisible Personality, to the Spirit, to the spirits, or to Seed(s), in coded terms. It could refer to both.

E.g. A man of God filled with the Holy Spirit could be speaking with "I" or "me" and that "I" may not just be the man alone but the Spirit of God also. Ananias and Saphira thought they were lying to man (Peter), but the Peter speaking then was filled with the Holy Ghost and so his "I" or "me" was not just referring to flesh and blood but to the Holy Spirit speaking through Peter.

It's by discernment or knowledge: At one time Peter spoke, flesh and blood did not reveal this to Peter but the Father in heaven, and then at the next time Peter spoke, "Get behind Satan;" and then Ananias and Saphira thought it's the usual Peter speaking, but then it's the Holy Spirit of God. In "John 13:27" Satan entered Judas Iscariot, and the Lord spoke to Satan himself by speaking to Judas Iscariot at that moment.

Demon-possessed people were testifiers, giving testimony of Jesus Christ being the Holy Son of God. But He rebuked them and silenced their testimony/revelation and cast them out. Also Paul by the Holy Spirit cast out the evil spirit taking possession of the "I" or "me" in that young girl that was testifying about Paul and Silas. At one occasion, madman ran and knelt down in prayer to the Lord Jesus praying fervently not to be cast into hell (Abyss precisely). The Lord Jesus asked the man, "What is your name?" And the demon(s) that took possession of the "I" and "me" of that man answered Him speaking as the man, saying to the Lord Jesus, "My name is "Legion" because we are many." Thus the "My" was not singular but plural because the "my or I" actually meant "we or many of us."

So in the top Bible verse, the "I, Nebuchadnezzar" meant it was truly Nebuchadnezzar in possession of himself, in possession of his "I" and not another spirit or personality or ambiguity bearing or possessing his "I" as if possessing a surname shared by different entities or people. This is singular, not plural, because it's "I, Nebuchadnezzar."

Even though Jesus Christ sent His Angel to give testimony or to testify on His behalf in the Churches, the Lord Jesus Christ used "I, Jesus" to express it's His Testimony, though by angel that testifies. As it is written:

[Revelation 22:16] — "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star."


_________________________SEGMENT TWO_____________________

[Daniel 4:4] — "I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living comfortably at home. I was prosperous while living in my palace."

*1* To many testifiers, this would have been the ending point to their testimonies, but to Nebuchadnezzar this was his starting point of his testimony.

*2* To many dreamers, this would have been the climaxing of their dream come true, but to Nebuchadnezzar this was where his dream started.

I have heard some testimonies, dreams, or ambitions; and many of them were pointing to or aiming at arrive this position where Nebuchadnezzar was occupying in the top Bible verse above. It like saying the sky is the limit for many, but for Nebuchadnezzar the sky was his starting point.

Some people's dreams/testimonies is about building houses, gaining home or living comfortably, resting, living in prosperity, promotion at working place, living in palace, being a king having dominion, etc, including Joseph who's dream and testimony was about becoming a ruler over his brothers who would bow down to him. But in the top Bible verse above, none of those dreamers or testifiers have even attained to where Nebuchadnezzar began his testimony. He was already the king of kings, having the whole world given to him by God, having rest, prosperity, fame, power etc, and there was no more any height of promotion or prosperity in human realms where Nebuchadnezzar have not attained in the pinnacle of them all.

But all those things were not even his testimony or foremost message he would share, celebrate and publish to the entire world. Where the dream or testimony of many people would never reach was were the dream and testimony of Nebuchadnezzar was beginning.

Even so, where the highest glories, highest pleasures, highest riches, highest lives, highest powers, highest fames, highest things, of this world stop is still far below where the very least things of the Kingdom of Heaven begin. Therefore I cite what is written here,

[Matthew 11:11 FBV] — I tell you the truth, that among humanity there's no one greater than John the Baptist, but even the least important in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.

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DANIEL 4:3

[Daniel 4:3 AKJV] — "How great are His signs! and how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation."

[Daniel 4:3 FBV] — His signs are incredible. His wonders are amazing! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and His rule will last for all generations!



Well at this stage of sharing testimony, one would have expressed the branch or aspect of the attributes of God he/she is witnessing/testifying about: For usually, one may not be testifying about all attributes/aspects of God. The aspect of God's attributes he/she may be focused on includes:

*1* God is good and merciful or testifying of the Goodness of God; or,
*2* God keeps covenant or testifying of Covenant-keeping God; or,
*3* God grants or answers prayers; or,
*4* God of miracles, God of wonders, working all impossibilities; or,
*5* God is real and true; or,
*6* God is Revealer of Secrets or God of Mysteries and Wisdom; or,
*7* God of Salvation or Deliverance;
*Etc*

In the top Bible verse above, the testifier/witness (Nebuchadnezzar the king) introduced the aspect or attributes of God that structured the core points or message of his testimony: The core aspect of his testimony is basically about "The Kingdom of God:" For he was preaching/witnessing about "the Kingdom and Power (Dominion) of God."

I remember telling someone that I am not just preaching the "Gospel of Salvation" but preaching the "Gospel of the Kingdom of God." And he asked me, what's the difference between the two? I don't remember answering him that question, but I made it clear the Lord Jesus Christ preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven, and He sent us to go into all the world and preach the gospel of the Kingdom. It is seek you first the Kingdom of God, not just seek you first Salvation, and all other things shall be added to you. There's difference between seeking the Kingdom and seeking Salvation. Salvation is in Word (Confession with your mouth the Lord Jesus), but the Kingdom of God is not in Word but in Power (1 Corinthians 4:20).

This was the "Theme of the Testimony" of Nebuchadnezzar:

[Daniel 4:3 AKJV] — "How great are His signs! and how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation."

Three things I show you from this:

1* First - That the Testimony is about the Kingdom of God

2* Secondly - That the Testimony is about the Power of God: Basically, the Kingdom of God is in Power. You really should not separate the Kingdom of God from the Power of God and from the Glory of God. Let those who speak of God's Kingdom talk of God's Power and Glory. Written:

[Psalms 145:11-13] – "They shall speak of the Glory of Your Kingdom, and talk of Your Power; To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His Kingdom. Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and Your Dominion endures throughout all generations."

Again, it is written,

[Matthew 6:13] — "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Yours is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever. Amen."

3* Thirdly - That the Testifier of the Testimony was himself better witness of his message (testimony), not just because of his experience but because of his position or status as king of kings.

Who better understood kingdom, power or dominion, among men by then than Nebuchadnezzar the testifier, who was king of kings, had dominion over all men and animals of the earth in all nations, and was in power controlling all magicians, witches, wizards, occults, astrologers, and all forms of diabolical powers/group: infact he practically made golden image and declared it as gods to all nations boasting that no other gods or goddess or power could deliver any of its own worshipper from his hands. So for such a man who knew what having kingdom, power, dominion, signs and wonders, whether politically, religiously, esoterically, militarily, diabolically, scientifically, to testify and declare to all nations these things about the Signs, Wonders, Kingdom and Power (Dominion) of God, then you pay most attention to what he says than to what a powerless person is saying about the kingdom of God and the power of God. Remember, the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power, and so you should have some power to talk about the kingdom of God. As it is written,

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
[I Corinthians 4:19‭-‬20 NKJV]

Speaking of having some Power to speak better for the Kingdom of God, in the top Bible verse above, Nebuchadnezzar structured the demonstration or manifestation of the Power of God in four categories, while also rating the Power of God high in each category: Which of these categories Power do you have to demonstrate or promote the Kingdom of God?

*1* CATEGORY "A" - SIGNS (Power of God manifested in Signs). Rating: He rated God's Signs as Great or Incredible. There's no sign of God that is not great, even if that sign of God appears small or little. All the Signs of God are great and incredible the more you know them in higher degrees. For the signs of God communicate greater things.

*2* CATEGORY "B" - WONDERS (Power of God manifested in Wonders). Rating: He rated God's Wonders as Mighty or Amazing. There's nothing boring or boredom or common in the Wonders of God because they are marvelous and charming, and cannot be explained by any scientific knowledge or wisdom of men's mind in natural possibilities.

*3* CATEGORY "C" - KINGDOM (Power of God manifested in Kingdom). Rating: He rated God's Kingdom as Eternal Kingdom. He's the King who's Reign is without end and therefore, not a mere regime that has beginning or end. The Kingdom of God never begins, but comes. To say the Kingdom had beginning is to say the Power of God had beginning or His Glory began

*4* CATEGORY "" - DOMINION (Power of God manifested in Dominion or Government). Rating: He rated God's Dominion as from Generation to Generation.

The difference between God's Kingdom and God's Dominion (Government or Rules) is that the Kingdom of God came to earth at one time to take over, but the Dominion of God has always been on earth all the time and had never been absent from the earth, seas and heavens. So when God's Kingdom was not yet on earth, God still rules in the kingdoms of men through God's government or dominion, which was changing kings and setting up kings, exalting one and abasing/overthrowing the other. So the higher powers (governments) that be are the ordinances (dominion) of God who rules even inside the kingdoms (governments) of men, while the Kingdom of God or God as King is yet to come and takeover.

The Dominion God gave Adam and Eve, which they blew off, has been in the Hands of God from generations to generations, but within the kingdoms of men on earth. The Will of God associated with His Kingdom is what we pray His Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. But the Will of God associated with His Dominion (Ordinances, Laws, Principles, Prophecies etc.,) have always been the Will of God done on earth with or without praying for such will, and men cannot prevail in resisting His Will.

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DANIEL 4:2

[Daniel 4:2 NKJV] — I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me.

[Daniel 4:2 GNT] — Listen to my account of the wonders and miracles which the Supreme God has shown me.



Nebuchadnezzar the great occultic and idolatrous king was converted into the faith of the Lord God Most High, and he shared the testimony of his conversion in the entire Daniel 4.

But in the Bible verse above precisely, Nebuchadnezzar acted as one of the greatest "Evangelists" publishing the gospel of the miracles, signs and wonders of the Most High (Supreme) God to the whole world. His testimony (message) reached out to the whole world that knew him as idol worshipper and occultic king, to proclaim the true God and Most High as the God of miracles, signs and wonders, to and through him.

What he said about "I thought it good" in the Bible verse above, was translated as "It pleased me" in Berean Study Bible. Basically, it means he found joy or pleasure in sharing the testimony of his experience and conversion and of the miracles, signs and wonders of God to and through him, to all the world. You will find such joy, pleasure or zeal in true evangelists and in those who find the joy at their conversion or salvation.

I have seen many converted into the Lord, but not all of them have joy or testimony or message to share from their experience, conversion or revelation of the grace and power of God. Some experienced the power of God, and were changed/converted, but even their neighbors hardly noticed because they do not have message or testimony to share, neither grateful.

Can you tell the whole world about the revelations, miracles, signs and wonders, of the Most High God, with gratitude and joy, unashamed? Can you reach out to your former sin partners and neighborhood where you were notorious, and publish the joy of your new found relationship and fellowship with the Lord Most High God?

*1* Why not you be like the madman made whole by Jesus Christ, who cast out legion of demons out of the man and the man went to publish and testify of his conversion and freedom by the Lord Jesus Christ?

*2* Why not you be like Nebuchadnezzar, who was cast out of being a man into becoming an animal and after seven years he was returned and restored into becoming a man, who then published and testified of his conversion and understanding by the Most High God?

*3* Why not you be like the Samaritan woman by the well where the Lord and Messiah sat, and she left her business to go testify to all the city of Samaria about her encounter with the Christ?

*4* Why not you be like Paul, who immediately he was converted and regained his sight began preaching or testifying of the Lord Jesus Christ?

I believe and know there are much more deep, miraculous, and wonderful, revelations of God shown to various people than they have publicized. Many of us are keeping the works of God hidden in our hearts/minds as Mary who mothered the Lord Jesus was keeping such things in her secret. There would have been more revelational and testimonial books, audios, videos and messages, about encounters with God/the Lord Jesus Christ, about angels and heavens, about hell and demons/damned souls, about dreams, about deliverances, about the earth/seas/creatures, about history, about men/women, about things to come, etc., if all who received or had them testified and published them.

Don't wait to share them as Testament, rather share them as Testimonies. It's the Testimony of Jesus that is the spirit of prophecy, not just the Testament of Jesus. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the words of our Testimony, not words of our testament. Testimony is as good as confession, which is key to salvation and prayers or utterances. I recently shared "Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs of Israel" which were basically their last testimony, confession or message before they died.

That's testament, always coming out when the testifier is dying or dead. Why share those things only when you know you would not live to face reactions or effects of your revelations or uncovered secrets? Are you trying to escape people's hatred, anger, animosity, shame, while you lived, but suddenly at your dying bed you develop boldness to share those things so that before they can react or respond to your revelations, you are already dead and wouldn't be facing how they receive or react to them?

[Psalms 118:17] — "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD."

I wouldn't wait until I am old and dying before I testify against fornication; I rather testify against Fornication and against all sins while I was young and youthful, so that I too would live facing the trials and temptations that follow my Testimony. There's place for preaching what you lived, but also place for living what you preached: Hence both Testament and Epistles.

Three categories of people:

*1* Those would never share or testify the Testimonies/Revelations of God and of the Lord to them,

*2* Those who think it good to share the Testimonies/Revelations of God to them only when they are dying or retarding, and have no more to live,

*3* Those who think it good to share the Testimonies/Revelations of God to them like Nebuchadnezzar in the Bible verse above, living to declare the works of God and facing either persecution or acceptance for their Testimonies or Confessions.

Know this, if Nebuchadnezzar had not shared this Testimony, perhaps his testimony would not have become part of the Scriptures given to us, and we may not have known he was turned into animal in shame to his glory and later turned back into a man of understanding by God. So do not deny us from having the useful information of God's works on you, even if it means exposing your shameful secrets while sharing the testimony. It's not about your shame/humiliation in the story, but about the praise, honor and glory of God the Most High who delivered, changed, or converted you.

DANIEL 4:1

[Daniel 4:1 NKJV] — Nebuchadnezzar the king, To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.

[Daniel 4:1 GNT] — King Nebuchadnezzar sent the following message to the people of all nations, races, and languages in the world: “Greetings!



"Daniel 4" is basically an "Epistle" and qualifies as "General Epistle" though it was from Nebuchadnezzar the king of kings then, and hereby written to us (Christians) through Daniel the prophet.

*1* "Epistle" means special letter written and ministered as *Open Letter* but more importantly as the Oracle (Utterance) of the Spirit of God. This is because without the Spirit of God, Epistles would be mere Letters, and the Letter kills but the Spirit gives life. So when a written letter contains and transmits the Spirit and Life, it is an Epistle.

I earlier wanted to say "Many of the Books in the New Testament" but I am directed to rather say, "All of the Books in the New Testament Scriptures are basically *Epistles." And everyone who qualifies to write an Epistle in the New Testament but himself/herself first becomes an Epistle of Christ. You must be an Epistle of Christ to effectively write an Epistle in Christ. So the true Ministers of Christ are first of all the Epistle of Christ read by all men better and before all men; and as a minister of Christ, you and your life are inside your own written epistle or scriptures by the Holy Spirit of God. You are part of your message, just as Nebuchadnezzar's part of his epistle in Daniel 4 beginning in the top Bible verse.

Everyone of us was first part of the Living Book of God before we became living beings on earth; and more of the written Epistles of God are being declared for us to live by. Man shall not live by bread alone, but live by each declaration of the Living Word/Epistle of Christ's Book. To die is to have no part or portion in the Living Epistle/Book of Christ Jesus; but to live forever is to have part or portion in the Book of Life to live forth forever.

*2* "General Epistle" means the epistle cuts across racial, national, tribal, ethnic, geographic and timeline boundaries to all. As you saw in the top Bible verse above, Nebuchadnezzar the king was addressing all tribes, nations, languages, peoples, cultures, in all the earth: thus, it's a General Epistle, not private epistle.

In the New Testament Scriptures, Paul wrote many Epistles but they were not classified as "General Epistles" by men because Paul wrote them to special groups of people in certain locations or tribes. And Paul's letters or Epistles bore the titles or names of the special Bodies he was addressing to, unlike other Books in the New Testament Scriptures that bore the name of the writers. Examples Paul's letters to the Romans, to Colossians, to Ephesians, to Thessalonians, to Timothy, to Philemon, to Corinthians, to Hebrews etc. But the "General Epistles'' in" the New Testament Scriptures are those who were addressed to all men or all Christians and Jews in all parts of the world. As the Lord Jesus instructed, go into all the world, and preach to every creature. So the General Epistles are addressing the general audience and use jargon/terms applicable across all divides. The Book of Enoch (cited by Peter and Jude) is one of the most General (if not the most General) Epistle or scriptures written by men of God, cutting across all ages and all generations of mankind, from beginning to the end. The Book of Revelation is General Epistle, but focussed on end times. The Books of James, John, Peter, Jude, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts, are General Epistles.

However, though Paul's letters were not originally "General Epistles" but were "Sectarian Epistles" or "Denominational Epistles," yet the Lord made them Scriptures because the Spirit of the Lord speaks through them across and beyond those sectarians or denominations of churches to all men far and beyond thereafter. As it is written, "Let him that has ear hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches" (Notwithstanding which sect or denomination of churches the Spirit's letter/epistle was addressed to) [Revelation 3:22].

So though Old Covenant Scriptures apply to the Jews, not Gentile Church, yet I will hear what the Spirit of God is saying to those under the law because I have the ear to hear. It is as many as are led by the Spirit of God that are the sons of God, not as many as are led by New/Old Testaments or by certain denominational/Sectarian doctrines or traditions.

*3* "Greetings or Peace or Gospel - Beginning of Epistles after Address." In the top Bible verse above, Nebuchadnezzar, after establishing the epistle to be "General Epistle" and not sectarian, by the protocol of people/persons he named/tagged in the address before his main speech, he began his Epistle by "Greetings or Peace be multiplied to you."

No matter the pressure or urgency of the written Epistles, they usually begin with either joyful news, greetings, gracias, blessings or peace to the readers/hears. The Book of Revelation practically pronounced "Blessing to the readers of the Book and more to the doers." Behold, Nebuchadnezzar's as the king of the world then, greets you and decreed multiplication of peace to you, if you are his audience and reader of this epistle in Daniel 4.

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This man did not preach himself, but preached Joseph and Jesus Christ

THE TESTAMENT OF BENJAMIN - 1

[Benjamin 1:1-46]

Benjamin, son of Jacob and Rachel, Preaches "Joseph as Role Model and Example to follow Joseph's Footsteps"

*1* THE copy of the words of Benjamin, which he commanded his sons to observe, after he had lived a hundred and twenty-five years.

*2* And he kissed them, and said: "As Isaac was born to Abraham in his old age, so also was I to Jacob.

*3* And since Rachel my mother died in giving me birth, I had no milk; therefore I was suckled by Bilhah her handmaid.

*4* For Rachel remained barren for twelve years after she had borne Joseph; and she prayed the Lord with fasting twelve days, and she conceived and bore Me.

*5* For my father loved Rachel dearly, and prayed that he might see two sons born from her.

*6* Therefore was I called Benjamin, that is, "A son of days."

*7* And when I went into Egypt, to Joseph, and my brother recognized me, he asked me: "What did they tell my father when they sold me?"

*8* And I said to him, "They dabbled your coat with blood and sent it, and said: "Know whether this be your son's coat."

*9* And he said to me: "Even so, brother, when they had stripped me of my coat they gave me to the Ishmaelites, and they gave me a loin cloth, and scourged me, and bade me run."

*10* And as for one of them that had beaten me with a rod, a lion met him and killed him.

*11* And so his associates were afraid."

*12* Therefore, my children, you must also love the Lord God of heaven and earth, and keep His commandments, following the example of the good and holy man Joseph.

*13* And let your mind be to good, even as you know me; for he that has his mind right sees all things rightly.

*14* Fear you the Lord, and love your neighbour; and even though the spirits of Beliar claim you to afflict you with every evil, yet shall they not have dominion over you, even as they had not over Joseph my brother.

*15* How many men wished to kill him, and God shielded him!

*16* For he that fears God and loves his neighbour cannot be smitten by the spirit of Beliar, being shielded by the fear of God.

*17" Nor can he be ruled over by the device of men or beasts, for he is helped by the Lord through the love which he has towards his neighbour.

*18* For Joseph also besought our father that he would pray for his brethren, that the Lord would not impute to them as sin whatever evil they had done to him.

*19* And thus Jacob cried out: "My good child, you have prevailed over the bowels of your father Jacob."

*20* And he embraced him, and kissed him for two hours, saying:

*21* "In you shall be fulfilled the prophecy of heaven concerning the Lamb of God, and Saviour of the world, and that a blameless One shall be delivered up for lawless men, and a sinless One shall die for ungodly men in the blood of the covenant, for the salvation of the Gentiles and of Israel, and shall destroy Beliar and his servants."

*22* See you, therefore, my children, the end of the good man?

*23* Be followers of his compassion, therefore, with a good mind, that you also may wear crowns of glory.

*24* For the good man does not have a dark eye; for he shows mercy to all men, even though they are sinners.

*25* And though they devise with evil intent concerning him, by doing good he overcomes evil, being shielded by God; and he loves the righteous as his own soul.

*26* If any one is glorified, he does not envy him; if any one is enriched, he is not jealous; if any one is valiant, he praises him; the virtuous man he lauds; on the poor man he has mercy; on the weak he has compassion; to God he sings praises.

*27* And him that has the grace of a good spirit he loves as his own soul.

*28* If therefore, you also have a good mind, then will both wicked men be at peace with you, and the profligate will reverence you and turn to good; and the covetous will not only cease from their inordinate desire, but even give the objects of their covetousness to them that are afflicted.

*29* If you do well, even the unclean spirits will flee from you; and the beasts will dread you.

*30* For where there is reverence for good works and light in the mind, even darkness flees away from him.

*31* For if any one does violence to a holy man, he repents; for the holy man is merciful to his reviler, and holds his peace.

*32* And if any one betrays a righteous man, the righteous man prays: though for a little he is humbled, yet not long after he appears far more glorious, as was Joseph my brother.

*33* The inclination of the good man is not in the power of the deceit of the spirit of Beliar, for the angel of peace guides his soul.

*34* And he gazes not passionately on corruptible things, nor gathers together riches through a desire of pleasure.

*35* He does not delight in pleasure, he does not grieve his neighbour, he does not sate himself with luxuries, he does not err in the uplifting of the eyes, for the Lord is his portion.

*36* The good inclination does not receive glory nor dishonour from men, and it does not know any guile, or lie, or fighting or reviling; for the Lord dwells in him and lights up his soul, and he rejoices towards all men always.

*37* The good mind does not have two tongues, of blessing and of cursing, of contumely and of honour, of sorrow and of joy, of quietness and of confusion, of hypocrisy and of truth, of poverty and of wealth; but it has one disposition, uncorrupt and pure, concerning all men.

*38* It has no double sight, nor double hearing; for in everything which he does, or speaks, or sees, he knows that the Lord looks on his soul.

*39* And he cleanses his mind that he may not be condemned by men as well as by God.

*40* And in like manner the works of Beliar are twofold, and there is no singleness in them.

*41* Therefore, my children, I tell you, flee the malice of Beliar; for he gives a sword to them that obey him.

*42* And the sword is the mother of seven evils. First the mind conceives through Beliar, and first there is bloodshed; secondly ruin; thirdly, tribulation; fourthly, exile; fifthly, dearth; sixthly, panic; seventhly, destruction.

*43* 'Therefore was Cain also delivered over to seven vengeances by God, for in every hundred years the Lord brought one plague on him.

*44* And when he was two hundred years old he began to suffer, and in the nine-hundredth year he was destroyed.

*45* For on account of Abel, his brother, with all the evils was he judged, but Lamech with seventy times seven.

*46* Because forever those, who are like Cain in envy and hatred of brethren, shall be punished with the same judgement.

THE TESTAMENT OF BENJAMIN - 2

[Benjamin 2:1-33]

Benjamin, son of Jacob and Rachel, Preaches "Jesus Christ"

*1* AND do you, my children, flee evil-doing, envy, and hatred of brethren, and cleave to goodness and love.

*2* He that has a pure mind in love, does not look after a woman with a view to fornication; for he has no defilement in his heart, because the Spirit of God rests on him.

*3* For as the sun is not defiled by shining on dung and mire, but rather dries up both and drives away the evil smell; so also the pure mind, though surrounded by the defilements of earth, rather cleanses them and is not itself defiled.

*4* And I believe that there will be also evil-doings among you, from the words of Enoch the righteous: that you shall commit fornication with the fornication of Sodom, and shall perish, all except a few, and shall renew wanton deeds with women; and the kingdom of the Lord shall not be among you, for straightway He shall take it away.

*5* Nevertheless the temple of God shall be in your portion, and the last temple shall be more glorious than the first.

*6* And the twelve tribes shall be gathered together there, and all the Gentiles, until the Most High shall send forth His Salvation in the visitation of an only-begotten Prophet.

*7* And He shall enter into the first temple, and there shall the Lord be treated with outrage, and He shall be lifted up on a tree.

*8* And the veil of the temple shall be rent, and the Spirit of God shall pass on to the Gentiles as fire poured forth.

*9* And He shall ascend from Hades and shall pass from earth into heaven.

*10* And I know how lowly He shall be on earth, and how glorious in heaven.

*11* Now when Joseph was in Egypt, I longed to see his figure and the form of his countenance; and through the prayers of Jacob my father I saw him, while awake in the daytime, even his entire figure exactly as he was."

*12* And when he had said these things, he said to them: "Know you therefore, my children, that I am dying."

*13* Therefore, Do you truth each one to his neighbour, and keep the law of the Lord and His commandments.

*14* For these things are the things I leave to you instead of inheritance.

*15* Therefore, do also give them to your children for an everlasting possession; for so did both Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob.

*16* For all these things they gave us for an inheritance, saying: "Keep the commandments of God, until the Lord shall reveal His Salvation to all Gentiles."

*17* And then shall you see Enoch, Noah, and Shem, and Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, rising on the right hand in gladness,

*18* Then shall we also rise, each one over our tribe, worshipping the King of heaven, who appeared on earth in the form of a Man in humility.

*19* And as many as believe on Him on the earth shall rejoice with Him.

*20* Then also all men shall rise, some to glory and some to shame.

*21* And the Lord shall judge Israel first, for their unrighteousness; because when He appeared as God in the flesh to deliver them they did not believe Him.

*22* And then shall He judge all the Gentiles, as many as did not believe Him when He appeared on earth.

*23* And He shall convict Israel through the chosen ones of the Gentiles, even as He reproved Esau through the Midianites, who deceived their brethren, so that they fell into fornication, and idolatry; and they were alienated from God, becoming therefore children in the portion of them that fear the Lord.

*24* If you therefore, my children, walk in holiness according to the commandments of the Lord, you shall again dwell securely with me, and all Israel shall be gathered to the Lord.

*25* And I shall no longer be called a ravening wolf on account of your ravages, but a worker of the Lord distributing food to them that work what is good.

*26* And there shall arise in the latter days one beloved of the Lord, of the tribe of Judah and Levi, a doer of His good pleasure in His Mouth, with new knowledge enlightening the Gentiles.

*27* Until the consummation of the age shall He be in the synagogues of the Gentiles, and among their rulers, as a strain of music in the mouth of all.

*28* And He shall be inscribed in the holy books, both His work and His word, and He shall be a chosen One of God forever.

*29* And through them He shall go to and fro as Jacob my father, saying: "He shall fill up that which lacks of your tribe."

*30* And when he had said these things he stretched out his feet.

*31* And died in a beautiful and good sleep.

*32* And his sons did as he had enjoined them, and they took up his body and buried it in Hebron with his fathers.

*33* And the number of the days of his life was a hundred and twenty-five years.

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The Fisherman and First man to invent Boat, Preaches Treasure of Compassion for others

THE TESTAMENT OF ZEBULUN - 1

[Zebulun 1:1-37]
Zebulun, son of Jacob and Leah, recounts Joseph's ordeal partly

*1* THE copy of the words of Zebulun, which he enjoined on his sons before he died in the one hundred and fourteenth year of his life, two years after the death of Joseph.

*2* And he said to them: "Hear me, you sons of Zebulun attend to the words of your father.

*3* I, Zebulun, was born a good gift to my parents.

*4* For when I was born my father was increased very exceedingly, both in flocks and herds, when with the straked rods he had his portion.

*5* I have no consciousness of sin that I have sinned in all my days, except in the sin of thought.

*6* Nor yet do I remember that I have done any iniquity, except the sin of ignorance which I committed against Joseph; for I covenanted with my brethren not to tell my father what had been done.

*7* But I wept in secret many days on account of Joseph, for I feared my brethren, because they had all agreed that if any one should declare the secret, he should be killed.

*8* But when they wished to kill Joseph, I adjured them much with tears not to be guilty of this sin.

*9* For Simeon and Gad came against Joseph to kill him, and he said to them with tears: "Pity me, my brethren, have mercy on the bowels of Jacob our father: do not lay your hands on me to shed innocent blood, for I have not sinned against you.

*10* And if indeed I have sinned, with chastening chastise me, my brethren, but do not lay your hand on me, for the sake of Jacob our father."

*11* And as Joseph spoke these words, wailing as he did so, I was unable to bear his lamentations, and I began to weep, and my liver was poured out, and all the substance of my bowels was loosened.

*12* And I wept with Joseph and my heart sounded, and the joints of my body trembled, and I was not able to stand.

*13* And when Joseph saw me weeping with him, and them coming against him to kill him, he fled behind me, begging them.

*14* But meanwhile Reuben arose and said: "Come, my brethren, let us not kill him, but let us cast him into one of these dry pits, which our fathers digged and found no water."

*15* For it was for this reason the Lord forbade that water should rise up in them in order that Joseph should be preserved.

*16* And they did so, until they sold him to the Ishmaelites.

*17* For in his price I had no share, my children.

*18* But Simeon and Gad and six other of our brethren took the price of Joseph, and bought sandals for themselves, and their wives, and their children, saying:

*19* "We will not eat of it, for it is the price of our brother's blood, but we will assuredly tread it under foot, because he said that he would be king over us, and so let us see what will become of his dreams."

*20* [I skipped]

*21* [I skipped]

*22* [I skipped]

*23* [I skipped]

*24* [I skipped]

*25* And after he was cast into the pit my brothers sat down to eat and drink.

*26* But I, through pity for Joseph, did not eat, but watched the pit, since Judah feared lest Simeon, Dan, and Gad should rush off and slay him.

*27* But when they saw that I did not eat, they set me to watch him, till he was sold to the Ishmaelites.

*28* And when Reuben came and heard that while he was away Joseph had been sold, he tore his garments, and mourning, said:

*29* "How shall I look on the face of my father Jacob?" And he took the money and ran after the merchants but as he failed to find them he returned grieving.

*30* But the merchants had left the broad road and marched through the Troglodytes by a short cut.

*31* But Reuben was grieved, and ate no food that day.

*32* Dan therefore came to him and said: "Weep not, neither grieve; for we have found what we can say to our father Jacob.

*33* Let us kill a kid of the goats, and dip in it the coat of Joseph; and let us send it to Jacob, saying: Know, is this the coat of your son?"

*34* And they did so. For they stripped off from Joseph his coat when they were selling him, and put upon him the garment of a slave.

*35* Now Simeon took the coat, and would not give it up, for he wished to tear it with his sword, as he was angry that Joseph lived and that he had not killed him.

*36* Then we all rose up and said to him: "If you do not give up the coat, we will say to our father that you alone did this evil thing in Israel."

*37* And so he gave it to them, and they did even as Dan had said.

THE TESTAMENT OF ZEBULUN - 2

[Zebulun 2:1-42]

Zebulun preaches human sympathy and understanding of one's fellow men.

*1* AND now children, I urge you to keep the commands of the Lord, and to show mercy to your neighbours, and to have compassion towards all, not towards men only, but also towards animals.

*2* For all this thing's sake the Lord blessed me, and when all my brethren were sick, I escaped without sickness, for the Lord knows the purposes of each one.

*3* Have, therefore, compassion in your hearts, my children, because even as a man does to his neighbour, even so also will the Lord do to him.

*4* For the sons of my brethren were sickening and were dying on account of Joseph, because they showed no mercy in their hearts; but my sons were preserved without sickness, as you know.

*5* And when I was in the land of Canaan, by the sea-coast, I made a catch of fish for Jacob my father; and when many were choked in the sea, I continued unhurt.

*6* I was the first to invent a boat to sail on the sea, for the Lord gave me understanding and wisdom therein.

*7* And I let down a rudder behind it, and I stretched a sail on another upright piece of wood in the midst.

*8* And I sailed therein along the shores, catching fish for the house of my father until we came to Egypt.

*9* And through compassion I shared my catch with every stranger.

*10* And if a man was a stranger, or sick, or aged, I boiled the fish, and dressed them well, and offered them to all men, as every man had need, grieving with and having compassion on them.

*11* Which is why also the Lord satisfied me with abundance of fish when catching fish; for he that shares with his neighbour receives manifold more from the Lord.

*12* For five years I caught fish and gave thereof to every man whom I saw, and sufficed for all the house of my father.

*13* And in the summer I caught fish, and in the winter I kept sheep with my brethren.

*14* Now I will declare to you what I did.

*15* I saw a man in distress through unclothedness in wintertime, and I had compassion on him, and stole away a garment secretly from my father's house, and gave it to him who was in distress.

*16* Do you, therefore, my children, from that which God bestows on you, show compassion and mercy without hesitation to all men, and give to every man with a good heart.

*17* And if you have not the means to give to him that needs, have compassion for him in bowels of mercy.

*18* I know that my hand did not find the means to give to him that needed, and I walked with him weeping for seven furlongs, and my bowels yearned towards him in compassion.

*19* Have, therefore, yourselves also, my children, compassion towards every man with mercy, that the Lord also may have compassion and mercy on you.

*20* Because also in, the last days God will send His Compassion on the earth, and wherever He finds bowels of mercy He dwells in him.

*21* For in the degree in which a man has compassion on his neighbours, in the same degree the Lord has also upon him.

*22" And when we went down into Egypt, Joseph bore no malice against us.

*23* To whom taking heed, do you also, my children, approve yourselves without malice, and love one another; and do not set down in account, each one of you, evil against his brother.

*24* For this breaks unity and divides all kindred, and troubles the soul, and wears away the countenance.

*25* Observe, therefore, the waters, and know when they flow together, they sweep along stones, trees, earth, and other things.

*26* But if they are divided into many streams, the earth swallows them up, and they vanish away.

*27* So shall you also be if you be divided. Therefore, do not be divided into two heads for everything which the Lord made has but one head, and two shoulders, two hands, two feet, and all the remaining members.

*28* For I have learnt in the writing of my fathers, that you shall be divided in Israel, and you shall follow two kings, and shall work every abomination.

*29* And your enemies shall lead you captive, and you shall be evil entreated among the Gentiles, with many infirmities and tribulations.

*30* And after these things you shall remember the Lord and repent, and He shall have mercy on you, for He is merciful and compassionate.

*31* And He does not set down in account evil against the sons of men, because they are flesh, and are deceived through their own wicked deeds.

*32* And after these things shall there arise to you the Lord Himself, the Light of righteousness, and you shall return to your land.

*33* And you shall see Him in Jerusalem, for His name's sake.

*34* And again through the wickedness of your works shall you provoke Him to anger,

*35* And you shall be cast away by Him to the time of consummation.

*36* And now, my children, do not grieve that I am dying, nor be cast down in that I am coming to my end.

*37* For I shall rise again in the midst of you, as a ruler in the midst of his sons; and I shall rejoice in the midst of my tribe, as many as shall keep the law of the Lord, and the commandments of Zebulun their father.

*38* But on the ungodly shall the Lord bring eternal fire, and destroy them throughout all generations.

*39* But I am now hastening away to my rest, as did also my fathers.

*40* But do you fear the Lord our God with all your strength all the days of your life."

*41* And when he had said these things he fell asleep, at a good old age.

*42* And his sons laid him in a wooden coffin. And afterwards they carried him up and buried him in Hebron, with his fathers.

muyico:
Where was it writen in d bible?

Revelation 14:4-5, 7:7
John 1:47

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THE TESTAMENT OF ISSACHAR - 1

[Issachar 1:1-44]

Issachar, the son of Jacob and Leah, and the sinless child of hire for mandrakes. He preaches True Singleness.

*1* THE copy of the words of Issachar:

*2* For he called his sons and said to them: "Listen, my children, to Issachar your father; give ear to the words of him who is beloved of the Lord.

*3* I was born the fifth son to Jacob, by way of hire for the mandrakes.

*4* For Reuben my brother brought in mandrakes from the field, and Rachel met him and took them.

*5* And Reuben wept, and at his voice Leah my mother came forth.

*6* Now these mandrakes were sweet-smelling apples which were produced in the land of Haran below a ravine of water.

*7* And Rachel said: "I will not give them to you, but they shall be to me instead of children.

*8* For the Lord has despised me, and I have not borne children to Jacob."

*9* Now there were two apples; and Leah said to Rachel: "Let it suffice you that you have taken my husband: will you take these also?"

*10* And Rachel said to her: "You shall have Jacob this night for the mandrakes of your son."

*11* And Leah said to her: "Jacob is mine, for I am the wife of his youth."

*12* But Rachel said: "Do not boast, and do not vaunt yourself; for he espoused me before you, and for my sake he served our father fourteen years.

*13* And had not craft increased on the earth and the wickedness of men prospered, you would not by now see the face of Jacob.

*14* For you are not his wife, but in craft were taken to him in my stead.

*15* And my father deceived me, and removed me on that night, and did not allow Jacob to see me; for had I been there, this would not have happened to him.

*16* Nevertheless, for the mandrakes I am hiring Jacob to you for one night."

*17* And Jacob slept with Leah, and she conceived and bore me, and on account of the hire I was called "Issachar."

*18* Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Jacob, saying: "Two children shall Rachel bear, inasmuch as she has refused company with her husband, and has chosen continency."

*19* And had it been Leah my mother did not pay the two apples for the sake of Jacob's company, she would have borne eight sons; but for this reason she bore six instead, and Rachel bore the remaining two: because on account of the mandrakes the Lord visited Rachel.

*20* For the Lord knew that it was for the sake of children (procreation) Rachel wished to company with Jacob and not for lust of (sexual) pleasure.

*21* For on the next day also Rachel again gave up Jacob.

*22* Because of the mandrakes, therefore, the Lord listened to Rachel.

*23* For though she desired them, she did not eat them, but offered them in the house of the Lord, presenting them to the priest of the Most High who was at that time.

*24* When, therefore, I grew up, my children, I walked in uprightness of heart, and I became a husbandman (a farmer) for my father and my brethren, and I brought in fruits from the field according to their season.

*25* And my father blessed me, for he saw that I walked in rectitude before him.

*26* And I was not a busybody in my doings, nor envious and malicious against my neighbour.

*27* I never slandered any one, nor did I censure the life of any man, walking as I did in singleness of eye.

*28* Therefore, when I was thirty-five years old, I took to myself a wife, for my labour wore away my strength, and I never thought on pleasure with women; but owing to my toil, sleep overcame me.

*29* And my father always rejoiced in my rectitude, because I offered through the priest to the Lord all first-fruits; then to my father also.

*30* And the Lord increased ten thousandfold His benefits in my hands; and also Jacob, my father, knew that God aided my singleness.

*31* For on all the poor and oppressed I bestowed the good things of the earth in the singleness of my heart.

*32* And now, hear me, my children, and walk in singleness of your heart, for I have seen in it all that is well-pleasing to the Lord.

*33* The single-minded man does not covet gold, he does not overreach his neighbour, he does not long after manifold dainties, he does not delight in varieties of clothings (wears).

*34* He does not desire to live a long life, but only waits for the will of God.

*35* And the spirits of deceit have no power against him, for he does not look on the beauty of women, lest he should pollute his mind with corruption.

*36* There is no envy in his thoughts, no malicious person makes his soul to pine away, nor is there worry with insatiable desire in his mind.

*37* For he walks in singleness of soul, and beholds all things in uprightness of heart, shunning eyes made evil through the error of the world, lest he should see the perversion of any of the commandments of the Lord.

*38* Keep, therefore, my children, the law of God, and get singleness, and walk in guilelessness, not playing the busybody with the business of your neighbour, but love the Lord and your neighbour, have compassion on the poor and weak.

*39* Bow down your back to husbandry (farming), and toil in labours in all manner of husbandry, offering gifts to the Lord with thanksgiving.

*40* For with the first-fruits of the earth will the Lord bless you, even as He blessed all the saints from Abel even until now.

*41* For no other portion is given to you than of the fatness of the earth, whose fruits are raised by toil.

*41* For our father Jacob blessed me with blessings of the earth and of first-fruits.

*43* And Levi and Judah were glorified by the Lord even among the sons of Jacob; for the Lord gave them an inheritance, and to Levi He gave the priesthood, and to Judah the kingdom.

*44* And do you therefore obey them, and walk in the singleness of your father; for to Gad has it been given to destroy the troops that are coming upon Israel.

THE TESTAMENT OF ISSACHAR - 2

[Issachar 2:1-18]

*1* KNOW you therefore, my children, that in the last times your sons will forsake singleness, and will cleave to insatiable desire.

*2* And forsaking guilelessness, they will draw near to malice; and forsaking the commandments of the Lord, they will cleave to Beliar.

*3* And leaving husbandry, they will follow after their own wicked devices, and they shall be dispersed among the Gentiles, and shall serve their enemies.

*4* And do you therefore give these commands to your children, that, if they sin, they may the more quickly return to the Lord; For He is merciful, and will deliver them, even to bring them back into their land.

*5* Behold, therefore, as you see, I am one hundred and twenty-six years old and am not conscious of committing any sin in my entire life.

*6* And except my wife, I have not known any woman. I never committed fornication by even the uplifting of my eyes.

*7* I drank no wine, to be led astray thereby;

*8* I did not covet any desirable thing that was my neighbour's.

*9* No guile arose in my heart;

*10* A single lie never passed through my lips.

*11* If any man was in distress I joined my sighs with his,

*12* And I shared my bread with the poor.

*13* I worked godliness, all my days I kept truth.

*14* I loved the Lord; likewise also every man with all my heart.

*15* So do you also these things, my children, and every spirit of Beliar shall flee from you, and no deed of wicked men shall rule over you;

*16* And every wild beast shall you subdue, since you have with you the God of heaven and earth and walk with men in singleness of heart."

*17* And having said these things, he commanded his sons that they should carry him up to Hebron, and bury him there in the cave with his fathers.

*18* And he stretched out his feet and died, at a good old age; with every limb sound, and with strength unabated, he slept the eternal sleep.

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The Two is not One, choose One from the Two — Separate the light from the darkness - For the latter ends of men do show their righteousness or unrighteousness, when they meet the angels of the Lord and of Satan.

THE TESTAMENT OF ASHER - 1
[Asher 1:1-48]

Asher, the son of Jacob and Zilpah, preaches against having double faces, double standards or hypocrisy.

*1* THE copy of the Testament To Asher, including things he spoke to his sons in the one hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life.

*2* For while he was still in health, he said to them: "Listen, you children of Asher, to your father, and I will declare to you all that is upright in the sight of the Lord.

*3* Two ways has God given to the sons of men, and two inclinations, and two kinds of action, and two modes of action, and two motives.

*4* Therefore all things are by twos, one over against the other.

*5* For there are two ways of good and evil, and with these are the two inclinations in our breasts discriminating them.

*6* Therefore if the soul takes pleasure in the good inclination, all its actions are in righteousness; and if that soul sins it immediately repents.

*7* For, having its thoughts set upon righteousness, and casting away wickedness, it immediately overthrows the evil, and uproots the sin.

*8* But if the soul inclines to the evil inclination, all its actions are in wickedness, and it drives away the good, and cleaves to the evil, and is ruled by Beliar; and even if that soul works what is good, he perverts it to evil.

*9* For whenever it begins to do good, he forces the motive of the action into evil for him, seeing that the treasure of the inclination is filled with an evil spirit.

*10* A person then may use words to help the good but for the motive of the evil, yet the end of the action leads to mischief.

*11* There is a case where a man shows no mercy on a wicked man who's caught up in suffering for his own evil; and this thing has two aspects, but the whole of it is evil.

*12* And there is also a case where a man loves him that works evil, because he would prefer even to die in evil for his sake; and concerning this it is clear that it has two aspects, but the whole thing is an evil work.

*13* Though indeed that man has love, yet he is wicked for hiding what is evil for the sake of the good name, but the end of the action tends to evil.

*14* Another steals, cheats, does unjustly, plunders, defrauds, and uses the proceeds to pity and feed the poor: this too has a twofold aspect, but the whole of it is evil.

*15* He who defrauds his neighbour provokes God, and swears falsely against the Most High, and yet he pities the poor: The Lord commanded that law he breaks and provokes, and yet he refreshes the poor.

*16* He defiles the soul, and makes gay the body; he kills many, and pities a few: this, too, has a twofold aspect, but the whole of it is evil.

*17* Another case is a man who commits adultery and fornication, and abstains from meats, and when he fasts he does evil, and by the power of his wealth overwhelms many: And notwithstanding his excessive wickedness he still observes the commandments: this, too, has a twofold aspect, but the whole of it is evil,

*18* Such men are like the animal called Hares, which is clean, like those that divide the hoof, but in very deed are unclean.

*19* For God in the tables of the commandments has thus declared.

*20* But my children, do not wear two faces like to them having both that of goodness and of wickedness; but rather cleave to goodness only, for God has His habitation therein, and men desire it.

*21* But flee away from wickedness, destroying the evil inclination by your good works; for they that are double-faced do not serve God, but their own lusts, so that they may please Beliar and men like themselves.

*22* For good men, even those that are of single face, are just before God, even though they are presumed to sin by them that are double-faced.

*23* For many in killing the wicked do two works, of good and evil; but the whole is good, because he has uprooted and destroyed that which is evil.

*24* One man hates a merciful but an unjust man, and hates the man who commits adultery and yet does fastings: this, too, has a twofold aspect, but the whole work is good, because he follows the Lord's example, in that he does not accept the one who seems good as being genuinely good.

*25* Another man does not desire to see good day with them that not, lest he defiles his body and pollutes his soul; this, too, is double-faced, but the whole of it is good.

*26* For such men are like to stags and to hinds, because in the manner of wild animals they seem to be unclean, but they are altogether clean; because they walk in zeal for the Lord and abstain from what God also hates and forbids by His commandments, warding off the evil from the good.

*27* You see, my children, how that there are two in all things, one against the other, and the one is hidden by the other: in wealth is hidden covetousness, in conviviality drunkenness, in laughter grief, in wedlock profligacy.

*28* Death succeeds to life, dishonour to glory, night to day, and darkness to light; and all things are under the day, just things under life, unjust things under death; wherefore also eternal life awaits death.

*29* Nor may it be said that truth is a lie, nor right wrong; for all truth is under the light, even as all things are under God.

*30* All these things, therefore, I proved in my life, and I wandered not from the truth of the Lord, and I searched out the commandments of the Most High, walking according to all my strength with singleness of face to that which is good.

*31* Take heed, therefore you also my children, to the commandments of the Lord, following the truth with singleness of face.

*32* For they that are double-faced are guilty of a twofold sin; for they both do the evil thing and they have pleasure in them that do it, following the example of the spirits of deceit, and striving against mankind.

*33* Do you therefore, my children, keep the law of the Lord, and give not heed to evil as to good; but look to the thing that is really good, and keep it in all commandments of the Lord, having your conversation therein, and resting therein.

*34* For the latter ends of men do show their righteousness or unrighteousness, when they meet the angels of the Lord and of Satan.

*35* for when the soul departs troubled, it is tormented by the evil spirit which also that soul served in lusts and evil works.

*36* But if he is peaceful with joy he meets the angel of peace, and the angel leads him into eternal life.

*37* My children, do not become as Sodom, which sinned against the angels of the Lord, and perished for ever.

*38* For I know that you shall sin, and be delivered into the hands of your enemies; and your land shall be made desolate, and your holy places destroyed, and you shall be scattered to the four corners of the earth.

*39* And you shall be set at nought in the dispersion vanishing away as water.

*40* Until the Most High shall visit the earth, coming Himself as Man, with men eating and drinking, and breaking the head of the dragon in the water.

*41* He shall save Israel and all the Gentiles, God speaking in the Person of Man.

*42* Therefore do you also, my children, tell these things to your children, that they do not disobey Him.

*43* For I have known that you shall assuredly be disobedient, and assuredly act ungodly, not giving heed to the law of God, but to the commandments of men, being corrupted through wickedness.

*44* And therefore shall you be scattered as Gad and Dan my brethren, and you shall not know your lands, tribe, and tongue.

*45* But the Lord will gather you together in faith through His tender mercy, and for the sake of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

*46* And when he had said these things to them, he commanded them, saying: "Bury me in Hebron."

*47* And he fell asleep and died at a good old age.

*48* And his sons did as he had commanded them, and they carried him up to Hebron, and buried him with his fathers.

+

KILL HATRED INSIDE YOU, AND BE FULL OF LOVE

THE TESTAMENT OF GAD - 1
[Gad 1:1-36]

Gad, the son of Jacob and Zilpah. He preaches against hate: This is a message about hatred.

*1* THE copy of the testament of Gad, the things he spoke to his sons, in the one hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life, saying to them:

*2* Listen, my children, I was the ninth son born to Jacob, and I was valiant in keeping the flocks.

*3* Accordingly I guarded at night the flock; and whenever the lion came, or the wolf, or any wild beast against the fold, I pursued it, and overtaking it I seized its foot with my hand and hurled it about a stone's throw, and so killed it.

*4* Now Joseph my brother was feeding the flock with us for upwards of thirty days, and being young, he fell sick by reason of the heat.

*5* And he returned to Hebron to our father, who made him lie down near him, because he loved him greatly.

*6* And Joseph told our father that the sons of Zilpah and Bilhah were killing the best of the flock and eating them against the judgment of Reuben and Judah.

*7* For he saw that I had delivered a lamb out of the mouth of a bear, and put the bear to death; but had killed the lamb, being grieved concerning it that it could not live, and that we had eaten it.

*8* And regarding this matter I was angry with Joseph until the day that he was sold.

*9* And the spirit of hatred was in me, and I wished not either to hear of Joseph with the ears, or see him with the eyes, because he rebuked us to our faces saying that we were eating of the flock without Judah.

*10* For whatever things Joseph told our father, he believed him.

*11* I confess now my sin, my children, that oftentimes I wished to kill Joseph, because I hated him from my heart.

*12* Moreover, I hated him yet more for his dreams; and I wished to lick him out of the land of the living, even as an ox licks up grass of the field.

*13* And Judah sold him secretly to the Ishmaelites.

*14* Thus the God of our fathers delivered him from our hands, that we should not work great lawlessness in Israel.

*15* And now, my children, listen to the words of truth to work righteousness, and all the law of the Most High, and do not go astray through the spirit of hatred, for it is evil in all the doings of men.

*16* Whatever a man does the hater abominates him: and though a man works the law of the Lord, the does not praise him; though a man fears the Lord, and takes pleasure in that which is righteous, the hater does not love him.

*17* The hater dispraises the truth, he envies him that prospers, he welcomes evil-speaking, he loves arrogance, for hatred blinds his soul; as I also then looked on Joseph.

*18* Beware, therefore, my children of hatred, for it works lawlessness even against the Lord Himself.

*19* For it will not hear the words of His commandments concerning the loving of one's neighbour, and it sins against God.

*20* For if a brother stumbles, it delights immediately to proclaim it to all men, and is urgent that he should be judged for it, and be punished and be put to death.

*21* And if it be a servant it stirs him up against his master, and with every affliction it devises against him, if possibly he can be put to death.

*22* For hatred works with envy also against them that prosper: so long as it hears of or sees their success it always languishes.

*23* For as love would quicken even the dead, and would call back them that are condemned to die, so hatred would slay the living, and those that had sinned venially it would not suffer to live.

*24* For the spirit of hatred works together with Satan, through hastiness of spirits, in all things to men's death; but the spirit of love works together with the law of God in long-suffering to the salvation of men.

*25* Hatred, therefore, is evil, for it constantly mates with lying, speaking against the truth; and it makes small things to be great, and causes the light to be darkness, and calls the sweet bitter, and teaches slander, and kindles wrath, and stirs up war, and violence and all covetousness; it fills the heart with evils and devilish poison.

*26* These things, therefore, I say to you from experience, my children, that you may drive forth hatred, which is of the devil, and cleave to the love of God.

*27* Righteousness casts out hatred, humility destroys envy.

*28* For he that is righteous and humble is ashamed to do what is unrighteous, being reproved not of another, but of his own heart, because the Lord looks on his inclination.

*29* He does not speak against a holy man, because the fear of God overcomes hatred.

*30* For fearing lest he should offend the Lord, he will not do wrong to any man, even in thought.

*31* These things I learnt at last, after I had repented concerning Joseph.

*32* For true repentance after a godly sort destroys ignorance, and drives away the darkness, and enlightens the eyes, and gives knowledge to the soul, and leads the mind to salvation.

*33* And those things which it has not learnt from man, it knows through repentance.

*34* For God brought upon me a disease of the liver; and had not the prayers of Jacob my father succoured me, it had hardly failed but my spirit had departed.

*35* For by those things a man transgresses by the same also is he punished.

*36* Since, therefore, my liver was set mercilessly against Joseph, in my liver too I suffered mercilessly, and was judged for eleven months, for so long a time as I had been angry against Joseph..

THE TESTAMENT OF GAD - 2
[Gad 2:1-21]

Gad exhorts his listeners against hatred showing how it has brought him into so much trouble.

*1* AND now, my children, I exhort you, love you each one his brother, and put away hatred from your hearts, love one another in deed, and in word, and in the inclination of the soul.

*2* For in the presence of my father I spoke peaceably to Joseph; and when I had gone out, the spirit of hatred darkened my mind, and stirred up my soul to kill him.

*3* Love you one another from the heart; and if a man sin against you, speak peaceably to him, and in your soul hold no guile; and if he repents and confesses, forgive him.

*4* But if he denies it, do not get into a passion with him, lest catching the poison from you he takes to swearing and so your sin doubles.

*5* Do not let another man hear your secrets when engaged in legal strife, lest he comes to hate you and becomes your enemy, and commit a great sin against you; for ofttimes he addresses you guilefully or busies himself about you with wicked intent.

*6* And though he denies it and yet have a sense of shame when reproved, get over reproving him.

*7* For he who denies may repent so as not again to wrong you; yes, he may also honour you, and fear and be at peace with you.

*8* And if he is shameless and persist in his wrong-doing, even so forgive him from the heart, and leave it to God to the avenging.

*9* If a man prospers more than you, do not be vexed, but pray also for him, that he may have perfect prosperity.

*10* For so it is expedient for you.

*11* And if he be further exalted, do not be envious of him, remembering that all flesh shall die; and offer praise to God, who gives things good and profitable to all men.

*12* Seek out the judgments of the Lord, and your mind will rest and be at peace.

*13* And though a man becomes rich by evil means, even as Esau, the brother of my father, do not be jealous; but wait for the end of the Lord.

*14* For if He takes away from a man wealth gotten by evil means He forgives him if he repents, but the unrepentant is reserved for eternal punishment.

*15* And for the poor man, if he free from envy he pleases the Lord in all things, is blessed beyond all men, because he does not have the travail of vain men.

*16* Put away, therefore, jealousy from your souls, and love one another with uprightness of heart.

*17* Do you also therefore tell these things to your children, that they honour Judah and Levi, for from them shall the Lord raise up salvation to Israel.

*18* For I know that at the last days your children shall depart from Him, and shall walk in wickedness, and affliction and corruption before the Lord."

*19* And when Gad had rested for a little while, he said again; "My children, obey your father, and bury me near to my fathers."

*20* And he drew up his feet, and fell asleep in peace.

*21* And after five years they carried him up to Hebron, and laid him with his fathers.

+

Satan knows that on the day in which Israel shall repent, the kingdom of the enemy shall be brought to an end

THE TESTAMENT OF DAN - 1
[Dan 1:1-27]

Dan, the son of Jacob and Bilhah. He preaches against anger: This is a message about anger.

*1* THE copy of the words of Dan, which he spoke to his sons in his last days, in the one hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life.

*2* For he called together his family, and said: "Listen to my words, you sons of Dan; and give heed to the words of your father.

*3* I have proved in my heart, and in my whole life, that truth with righteous dealing is good and well pleasing to God, and that lying and anger are evil, because they teach man all wickedness.

*4* I confess, therefore, this day to you, my children, that in my heart I resolved on the death of Joseph my brother, who was a true and good man.

*5* And I rejoiced that he was sold, because his father loved him more than us.

*6* For the spirit of jealousy and vainglory said to me: "You youself also are his son."

*7* And one of the spirits of Beliar stirred me up, saying: "Take this sword, and with it kill Joseph: so that all your father will love you when Joseph is dead."

*8* Now that was the spirit of anger that persuaded me to crush Joseph as a leopard crushes a kid.

*9* But the God of my fathers did not allow Joseph to fall into my hands, so that I should find him alone and kill him, and cause a second tribe to be destroyed in Israel.

*10* And now, my children, behold I am dying, and I tell you of a truth, that unless you keep yourselves from the spirit of lying and of anger, and love truth and longsuffering, you shall perish.

*11* For anger is blindness, and does not allow one to see the face of any man with truth.

*12* For even though it is a father or a mother, the angry man behaves towards them as enemies; even though it is a brother, the angry man does not knows him; even though it is a prophet of the Lord, the angry man disobeys him; even though is a righteous man, the angry man does not regard him; and even though is a friend, the angry man does not acknowledge him.

*13* For the spirit of anger surrounds him with the net of deceit, and blinds his eyes, and through lying darkens his mind, and gives him its own peculiar vision, which is made of distorted perceptions and false impressions.

*14* And anger surrounds his eyes with hatred of heart, so as to be envious of his brother.

*15* For anger is an evil thing, my children, because it troubles even the soul of its host.

*16* And anger makes the body of the angry man its own, and over the man's soul anger gets the mastery, and when anger possesses a man it bestows on the body power so that its host may work all iniquity.

*17* And when the angry body does all these things, the soul justifies what is done, since it does not see things aright.

*18* Therefore he that is wrathful, if he is a mighty man, he has threefold power in his anger: one by the help of his servants through whom he may cause damages; and a second by his wealth, through which he persuades and overcomes wrongfully; and thirdly, having his own natural power he works the evil by his own hands.

*19* And even though the wrathful man is weak, yet he has twofold power of that which is by nature; for wrath ever empowers such angery man in lawlessness.

*20* This spirit of anger always goes with lying at the right hand of Satan, so that through cruelty and lying his works may be done.

*21* Therefore you must understand the power of wrath, that it is vain.

*22* For it first of all gives provocation by word; then by deeds it strengthens him who is angry, and with sharp losses disturbs his mind, and so stirs up with great wrath his soul.

*23* Therefore, when any one speaks against you, do not be moved to anger, and if any man praises you as holy men, do not be uplifted: Do not be moved either to delight or to disgust, lest you be manipulated.

*24* For first it pleases the hearing, and so manipulates the mind into being keen to perceive the grounds for provocation; and then being enraged, the angry man thinks that he is right to be angry or justifies his anger.

*25* If you fall into any loss or ruin, my children, do not be afflicted; for this very spirit makes a man desire that which is perishable, in order that he may be enraged through the affliction.

*26* And if you suffer loss voluntarily, or involuntarily, do not be vexed; for from vexation arises wrath with lying.

*27* Moreover, a twofold mischief is anger with lying; and they assist one another in order to disturb the heart of man; and when the soul of man is continually disturbed, the Lord departs from the soul, and the devil rules over that soul.

THE TESTAMENT OF DAN - 2
[Dan 2:1-27]

Dan, the son of Jacob and Bilhah. He prophesies of the sins, captivity, plagues, and ultimate restitution of the people.

*1* OBSERVE, therefore, my children, the commandments of the Lord, and keep His law; depart from wrath, and hate lying, that the Lord may dwell among you, and the devil may flee from you.

*2* Speak truth each one with his neighbour. So shall you not fall into anger and confusion; but you shall be in peace, having the God of peace, so shall no war prevail over you.

*3* Love the Lord through all your life, and one another with a true heart.

*4* I know that in the last days you shall depart from the Lord, and you shall provoke Levi to anger, and fight against Judah; but you shall not prevail against them, for an angel of the Lord shall guide them both; for by them shall Israel stand.

*5* And whenever you depart from the Lord, you shall walk in all evil and work the abominations of the Gentiles, going in fornication after women of the lawless ones, while through all wickedness the spirits of wickedness work in you.

*6* For I have read in the Book of Enoch, the righteous, that your prince is Satan, and that all the spirits of wickedness and pride will conspire to attack constantly on the sons of Levi, to cause them to sin before the Lord.

*7* And my sons will draw near to Levi, and sin with them in all things; and the sons of Judah will be covetous, plundering other men's goods like lions.

*8* Therefore you shall be led away with them into captivity, and there shall you receive all the plagues of Egypt, and all the evils of the Gentiles.

*9* And so when you return to the Lord you shall obtain mercy, and He shall bring you into His sanctuary, and He shall give you peace.

*10* And there shall arise to you from the tribe of Judah and of Levi the Salvation of the Lord; and He shall make war against Beliar (the Devil).

*11* And execute an everlasting vengeance on our enemies; and the captivity shall He take from Beliar the souls of the saints, and turn disobedient hearts to the Lord, and give to them that call upon Him eternal peace.

*12* And the saints shall rest in Eden, and in the New Jerusalem shall the righteous rejoice, and it shall be to the glory of God for ever.

*13* And no longer shall Jerusalem endure desolation, nor Israel be led captive; for the Lord shall be in the midst of it, living amongst men, and the Holy One of Israel shall reign over it in humility and in power; and he who believes on Him shall reign amongst men in truth.

*14* And now, fear the Lord, my children, and beware of Satan and his spirits.

*15* Draw near to God and to the Angel that intercedes for you, for He is a Mediator between God and man, and for the peace of Israel He shall stand up against the kingdom of the enemy.

*16* Therefore is the enemy eager to destroy all that call upon the Lord.

*17* For Satan knows that on the day in which Israel shall repent, the kingdom of the enemy shall be brought to an end.

*18* For the very angel of peace shall strengthen Israel, so that it should not fall into the extremity of evil.

*19* And it shall be in the time of the lawlessness of Israel, that the Lord will not depart from them, but will transform them into a nation that does His will, for none of the angels will be equal to Him.

*20* And His Name shall be in every place in Israel, and among the Gentiles.

*21* Thereforemy children, keep yourselves from every evil work, and cast away anger and all lying, and love truth and long-suffering.

*22* And the things which you have heard from your father, do you also impart to your children that the Saviour of the Gentiles may receive you; for He is true and long-suffering, meek and lowly, and teaches by His works the law of God.

*23* Therefore, depart from all unrighteousness, and cleave to the righteousness of God, and your race will be saved for ever.

*24* And bury me near my fathers."

*25* And when he had said these things he kissed them, and fell asleep at a good old age.

*26* And his sons buried him, and after that they carried up his bones, and placed them near Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob.

*27* Nevertheless, Dan prophesied to them that they should forget their God, and should be alienated from the land of their inheritance and from the race of Israel, and from the family of their seed.

++

+

Order in the Body, and the Body in Order

THE TESTAMENT OF NAPHTALI - 1
[Naphtali 1:1-32]

Naphtali, the son of Jacob and Bilhah. The Runner. A lesson in physiology.

*1* THE copy of the testament of Naphtali, which he ordained at the time of his death in the one hundred and thirtieth year of his life.

*2* When his sons were gathered together in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, while still in good health, he made them a feast of food and wine.

*3* And after he awoke in the morning, he said to them, "I am dying;" and they did not believe him.

*4* And as he glorified the Lord, he grew strong and said that after yesterday's feast he should die.

*5* And he began then to say: "Listen, my children, you sons of Naphtali, hear the words of your father.

*6* I was born from Bilhah, and because Rachel dealt craftly, and gave Bilhah in place of herself to Jacob, and she conceived and bore me on Rachel's knees, therefore she called my name "Naphtali."

*7* For Rachel loved me very much because I was born on her lap; and when I was still young she used to kiss me, and say: "May I have a brother of yours from mine own womb, just like you."

*8* This is why also Joseph was like me in all things, according to the prayers of Rachel.

*9* Now my mother was Bilhah, daughter of Rotheus the brother of Deborah, Rebecca's nurse, who was born in the self-same day with Rachel.

*10* And Rotheus was of the family of Abraham, a Chaldean, God-fearing, free-born, and noble.

*11* And he was taken captive and was bought by Laban; and Laban gave Rotheus his handmaid called Euna to marry as his wife, and she bore a daughter, and called her name "Zilpah," after the name of the village in which he had been taken captive.

*12* And next she bore "Bilhah," saying: "My daughter hastens after what is new," for immediately she was born she seized the breast and hastened to suck it.

*13* And I was swift on my feet like the deer, and my father Jacob appointed me for all messages, and as a deer did he give me his blessing.

*14* For as the potter knows the vessel, how much it is to contain, and brings clay accordingly, so also does the Lord make the body after the likeness of the spirit, and according to the capacity of the body does He implant the spirit.

*15* And one does not fall short of the other by a third part of a hair; for by weight, and measure, and rule was all the creation made.

*16* And as the potter knows the use of each vessel, what it is meet for, so also does the Lord know the body, how far it will persist in goodness, and when it begins in evil.

*17* For there is no inclination or thought which the Lord does not know, for He created every man after His own image.

*18* For as a man's strength, so also is his work; as his eye, so also in his sleep; as his soul, so also is his word either in the law of the Lord or in the law of Beliar.

*19* And as there is a division between light and darkness, between seeing and hearing, so also is there a division between man and man, and between woman and woman; and it is not to be said that the one is like the other either in face or in mind.

*20* For God made all things good in their order, the five senses in the head, and He joined on the neck to the head, adding to it the hair also for comeliness and glory, then the heart for understanding, the belly for excrement, and the stomach for grinding, the windpipe for taking in the breath, the liver for anger, the gall for bitterness, the spleen for laughter, the reins for prudence, the muscles of the loins for power, the lungs for drawing in, the loins for strength, and so forth.

*21* So then, my children, let all your works be done in order with good intent in the fear of God, and do nothing disorderly in scorn or out of its due season.

*22* For if you bid the eye to hear, it cannot; so neither while you are in darkness can you do the works of light.

*23* Be you, therefore, not eager to corrupt your doings through covetousness or with vain words to beguile your souls; because if you keep silence in purity of heart, you shall understand how to hold fast the will of God, and to cast away the will of Beliar.

*24* Sun, moon and stars, do not change their order; so also you should not change the law of God in the disorderliness of your doings.

*25* The Gentiles went astray, and forsook the Lord, and changed their order, and obeyed stocks and stones, spirits of deceit.

*26* But you shall not be so, my children, recognizing in the firmament, in the earth, and in the sea, and in all created things, the Lord who made all things, that you become not as Sodom, which changed the order of nature.

*27* In like manner the Watchers also changed the order of their nature, whom the Lord cursed at the flood, on whose account He made the earth without inhabitants and fruitless.

*28* These things I say to you, my children, for I have read in the Book of Enoch that you yourselves also shall depart from the Lord, walking according to all the lawlessness of the Gentiles, and you shall do according to all the wickedness of Sodom.

*29* And the Lord shall bring captivity upon you, and there shall you serve your enemies, and you shall be bowed down with every affliction and tribulation, until the Lord have consumed you all.

*30* And after you have become diminished and made few, you return and acknowledge the Lord your God; and He shall bring you back into your land, according to His abundant mercy.

*31* And it shall be, that after that they come into the land of their fathers, they shall again forget the Lord and become ungodly.

*32* And the Lord shall scatter them upon the face of all the earth, until the Compassion of the Lord shall come as a Man, working righteousness and working mercy to all them that are afar off, and to them that are near.

THE TESTAMENT OF NAPHTALI - 2
[Naphtali 2:1-36]

Naphtali, calls for Order

*1* FOR in the fortieth year of my life, I saw a vision on the Mount of Olives, on the east of Jerusalem, that the sun and the moon were standing still.

*2* And behold Isaac, the father of my father, said to us; "Run and lay hold of them, each one according to his strength; and to him that seizes them will the sun and moon belong."

*3* And we, all of us, ran together; and Levi laid hold of the sun, and Judah outstripped the others and seized the moon, and they were both of them lifted up with them.

*4* And when Levi became as a sun, look, a certain young man gave to him twelve branches of palm; and Judah was bright as the moon, and under their feet were twelve rays.

*5* And the two, Levi and Judah, ran, and laid hold of them.

*6* And look, a bull on the earth with two great horns, and an eagle's wings on its back; and we wished to seize him, but could not.

*7* But Joseph came, and seized the winged bull, and ascended up with it on high.

*8* And I saw, for I was there, and behold a holy writing appeared to us, saying: "Assyrians, Medes, Persians, Chaldeans, Syrians, shall possess in captivity the twelve tribes of Israel."

*9* And again, after seven days, I saw our father Jacob standing by the sea of Jamnia, and we were with him.

*10* And behold, there came a ship sailing by, without sailors or pilot; and there was written on the ship, "The Ship of Jacob."

*11* And our father said to us: "Come, let us embark on our ship."

*12* And when he had gone on board, there arose a vehement storm, and a mighty tempest of wind; and our father, who was holding the helm, departed from us.

*13* And we, being tost with the tempest, were borne along over the sea; and the ship was filled with water, and was pounded by mighty waves, until it was broken up.

*14* And Joseph fled away on a little boat, and we were all divided upon nine planks, and Levi and Judah were together.

*15* And we were all scattered to the ends of the earth.

*16* Then Levi, girt about with sackcloth, prayed for us all to the Lord.

*17* And when the storm ceased, the ship reached the land as it were in peace.

*18* And, look, our father came, and we all rejoiced with one accord."

*19* I told my father these two dreams; and he said to me: "These things must be fulfilled in their season, after that Israel has endured many things."

*20* Then my father said to me: "I believe God that Joseph lives, for I see always that the Lord numbers him with you."

*21* And he said, weeping: "Ah me, my son Joseph, you are alive, though I do not see you, and you do not Jacob that begot you."

*22* He caused me also to weep by these words, and I burned in my heart to reveal the secret that Joseph had been sold, but I feared my brethren.

*23* And look my children, I have shown to you the last times, how everything shall come to pass in Israel.

*24* Therefore, you also should charge your children that they be united to Levi and to Judah; for through them shall salvation arise to Israel, and in them shall Jacob be blessed.

*25* For through their tribes shall God appear, dwelling among men on earth, to save the race of Israel, and to gather together the righteous from amongst the Gentiles.

*26* If you work that which is good, my children, both men and angels shall bless you; and God shall be glorified among the Gentiles through you, and the devil shall flee from you, and the wild beasts shall fear you, and the Lord shall love you, and the angels shall cleave to you.

*27* As a man who has trained a child well is kept in kindly remembrance; so also for a good work there is a good remembrance before God.

*28* But him that does not that which is good, both angels and men shall curse, and God shall be dishonoured among the Gentiles through him, and the devil shall make him as his own peculiar instrument, and every wild beast shall master him, and the Lord shall hate him.

*29* For the commandments of the law are twofold, and through prudence must they be fulfilled.

*30* For there is a season for a man to embrace his wife, and a season to abstain from that for his prayer.

*31* So, then, there are two commandments; and, unless they are done in due order, they bring very great sin upon men.

*32* So also is it with the other commandments.

*33* Be you therefore wise in God, my children, and prudent, understanding the order of His commandments, and the laws of every word, that the Lord may love you,"

*34* And when he had charged them with many such words, he exhorted them that they should remove his bones to Hebron, and that they should bury him with his fathers.

*35* And when he had eaten and drunken with a merry heart, he covered his face and died.

*36* And his sons did according to all that Naphtali their Father had commanded them.

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