|
BOOK
OF JASHER
REFERRED
TO IN
JOSHUA
AND SECOND SAMUEL.
FAITHFULLY TRANSLATED
(1840)
FROM THE ORIGINAL HEBREW INTO
ENGLISH
of
PHOTO LITHOGRAPHIC REPRINT
OF EXACT EDITION
PUBLISHED BY J.H. PARRY &
COMPANY
SALT LAKE CITY: 1887
"Is not this written in the
Book of Jasher?"--Joshua, x. 13.
"Behold it is written in
the Book of Jasher."--II Samuel, i. 18
II
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1--The Creation of Adam
and Eve. The Fall. Birth of Cain and Abel. Abel a Keeper of Sheep. Cain a
Tiller of the Soil. The Quarrel Between the Brothers and the Result. Cain,
the First Murderer, Cursed of God..........1
CHAPTER 2--Seth is Born. People
begin to Multiply and Become Idolatrous. Third Part of the Earth Destroyed.
Earth cursed and becomes corrupt through the Wickedness of Men. Cainan, a
Wise and Righteous King, Foretells the Flood. Enoch is
Born.....................................................................................3
CHAPTER 3--Enoch Reigns over the
Earth. Enoch Establishes Righteousness upon the Earth, and after Reigning Two
Hundred and Forty Years is
Translated......................................................................................................5
CHAPTER 4--The People of the
Earth Again Become Corrupt. Noah is
Born...............................................................................................................8
CHAPTER 5--Noah and Methuselah
Preach Repentance for One Hundred and Twenty Years. Noah Builds the Ark. Death of Methuselah...........................10
CHAPTER 6--Animals, Beasts, and
Fowls Preserved in the Ark. Noah and his Sons, and their Wives are Shut in.
When the Floods come the People want to get in. Noah One Year in the Ark.................................................................11
CHAPTER 7--The Generations of
Noah. The Garments of Skin made for Adam Stolen by Ham and they Descend to
Nimrod the Mighty Hunter, who Becomes the King of the Whole Earth. The Birth
of Abram........................14
CHAPTER 8--The Wise Men of
Nimrod, by their Divination, Foretell the Evil that Abram will do to Nimrod's
Kingdom, and they seek to kill the Child. Abram, with his Mother and Nurse
are Hid in a cave for Ten Years...........17
CHAPTER 9--When Ten Years Old,
Abram goes to Noah and Shem, Remains with them for Thirty-nine Years, and is
Taught in all the Ways of the Lord. The Wickedness of Nimrod and his People.
They Propose to Build a Tower to Heaven and Dethrone God. The confusion of
Tongues.................................19
CHAPTER 10--The Descendants of
Noah, Scattered over the whole earth, build themselves
Cities..................................................................................22
CHAPTER 11--Nimrod's Wicked
Reign. The Idolatry of Terah, Abram's Father. When Fifty Years old, Abram
returns to his Father's House and Discovers his Idols. Makes a pretext to
destroy them. After making Savory Meat for the gods, Abram takes a Hatchet
and destroys them, leaving the Hatchet in the hands of the larger one, where
it is discovered by his Father, who is told by Abram that the Great God had
risen up in anger and Destroyed his Fellows. Terah in his wrath betrays Abram
to the King, who brings him up before the Throne for Judgment. Abram Warns
his Father and the King, before all the Princes, of the Evils of
Idolatry.........................................................28
CHAPTER 12--Abram placed in
Prison, and is condemned after ten days to be cast into a Fiery Furnace. His
Brother Haran being Falsely Accused is condemned to the same Fate. As Haran's heart was not right before the Lord, he perished, but
Abram is Delivered and is brought forth Alive. Is Presented with Many Gifts.
The King Dreams of Abram, and again Seeks his Life. Abram flees to the House
of
Noah............................................................................29
III
CHAPTER 13--On Abram's account
Terah and all his House, with Abram, Leave Ur Casdim to go to the Land of
Canaan. They tarry in Haran, where the Lord Appears to Abram, and upon condition of
Faithfulness, Promises many Blessings. Abram, commanded of the Lord, takes
his Wife and all belonging to him and goes to the Land
of Canaan, where the Lord again appears to him and Promises the Land
of Canaan as an Everlasting Inheritance. After Fifteen Years,
Abram returns to Haran to Visit his Father. Teaches many to Walk in the Ways of
the Lord. Again commanded to go to Canaan, where he Builds an Altar. The Lord renews his Covenant
with him.............................................33
CHAPTER 14--Rikayon's cunning
Device to make Money of the
Egyptians.......................................................................................................35
CHAPTER 15--On Account of Famine
in Canaan, Abram goes to Egypt. Tells the People that Sarah is his Sister, on account
of her Beauty. Pharaoh Desires to take her, but is Prevented by an Angel of
the Lord. The Truth is made known, and Sarah is Restored to Abram, with many
Presents. Abram returns to his Home. Trouble between Lot and
Abram on account of Lot's cattle. Lot Removes to Sodom........................................................................................37
CHAPTER 16--Four Kings with
Eight Hundred Thousand Men War against Sodom and the Cities of the Plain, and destroy and plunder
their people. Abram, Hearing that Lot is taken captive, gathers together
about Three Hundred Men and Pursues the Kings, retakes the captives, and
smites the whole Army of the confederate Rings. On his Return, Abram meets
Adonizedek, King of Jerusalem, the same was Shem. Abram gives Tithing of all
he had taken to Adonizedek, and is Blessed of Him. Abram Restores to every
Man his property which he had retaken in the War, and returns to Hebron. The Lord again appears to Abram and promises to bless
him with a Numberless Posterity. Sarah being childless gives Hagar to Abram
for a Wife, and becoming jealous of her, afflicts her. An Angel comforts
Hagar. Ishmael is Born...........................................................................................................40
CHAPTER 17--The Lord Appears to
Abram and Establishes the Covenant of Circumcision, and calls his name
Abraham, and Sarai, He calls Sarah.........43
CHAPTER 18--Abraham Entertains
Three Angels, who eat with him. Sarah is promised a Son. The People of Sodom and Gomorrah, and of all the Cities of the Plain become very
Wicked..................................................................44
CHAPTER 19--The Abominations of
the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Two Angels sent to Save Lot. The Cities of the Plain
and all their Inhabitants Destroyed by
Fire..........................................................................................47
CHAPTER 20--Abraham goes to the
land of the Philistines, and again tells the People that Sarah is his Sister.
Abimelech the King desires her for a Wife. An Angel warns him, and commands
him to return her to her Husband. The whole land afflicted on account of the
matter. Sarah Restored to Abraham, who entreats the Lord to heal the People
of Abimelech........................................51
CHAPTER 21--Isaac is Born,
causing much Rejoicing among the Friends
of Abraham. Ishmael Attempts to kill Isaac, and on that account is sent away
with his Mother. Ishmael is blessed with Riches and
Posterity.............................53
CHAPTER 22--Ishmael returns to
his Father, with his Wives and Children. Abraham Returns to Canaan and
makes his Home in Beersheba, where he Hospitably Entertains all strangers and
teaches them the way of the Lord. Isaac and Ishmael's conversation. The
Offering of Isaac Foretold. Satan's opinion of the Father of the
Faithful...............................................................................55
CHAPTER 23--Abraham commanded to
Offer up Isaac, in the Land Moriah. Abraham's Obedience. Sarah's Affliction.
What Happened on the Way. Satan attempts to hinder them. Isaac an Acceptable
Offering. Father and Son alone. The willingness of Isaac. He Assists his
Father in Building the Altar. While they both weep bitterly, they yet Rejoice
to be counted worthy before the Lord. Isaac bound and placed upon the Altar.
The Angels of God intercede for Isaac, who is released at the command of the
Lord, and a Ram is offered in his place. Satan, by his deception and Evils,
causes the Death of Sarah.......................59
IV
CHAPTER 24--Abraham Purchases a Burial Place. Isaac sent to the House of Shem and Eber to Learn the
Way of the Lord. Eliezer is sent to get a Wife for Isaac. Goes to the House
of Bethuel and brings Rebecca..............................64
CHAPTER 25--Abraham takes
Keturah for a Wife, by whom he has Six Sons. The Generations of the Sons of
Keturah, and of Ishmael..............................67
CHAPTER 26--Isaac and Rebecca
pray for children. Their Prayers answered, and Esau and Jacob are Born.
Abraham, after recounting all the Wonderful Works of the Lord, enjoins his
Son to Walk in His way and keep His Commandments. In the Fifteenth Year of
Jacob and Esau's lives, Abraham Dies and is Buried by all the Kings of the
land. All the People and even the children mourn for Abraham for a
Full.......................................................................69
CHAPTER 27--Esau slays Nimrod
and Two of his Mighty Men. Returns Home weary from the Fight, and sells his
Birthright for Value....................72
CHAPTER 28--On account of
Famine, Isaac goes to Gerar, the Land of the Philistines. After the Famine he
Returns at the Command of the Lord to Hebron. Jacob is sent to the House of Shem where he Remains
Thirty-two Years to learn the Way of the Lord, but Esau would not go. Esau
marries a Canaanitish Woman.......................................................................................73
CHAPTER 29--Jacob by deceit
obtains his Brother's Blessing. Jacob fearing his Brother's anger, flees to
the House of Eber, where he remains for Fourteen Years. Esau again marries a
Woman of the Land. Jacob returns to his Father, but being still threatened by
Esau, is advised by his Mother to go to her Brother Laban, in Haran. Jacob goes to Haran, being Commanded by his Father not to Marry any of the
Daughters of Canaan. Jacob is Waylaid on the Road, by the Son of Esau, and is
Robbed of all he Possessed..........................................75
CHAPTER 30--When he Arrives at Mount Moriah, the Lord appears to Jacob and establishes His Covenant
with him. Arriving at his Uncle's House he Engages to Serve Seven Years for
Rachel...................................................78
CHAPTER 31--Jacob is Deceived
and is given Leah in Place of Rachel, but is Given Rachel for Seven Years'
more Service. Jacob serves Laban six years longer for Wages and becomes very
Rich, when the Lord Appears to him and commands him to Return to the Land
of Canaan. Jacob Obeys and goes from Laban. Rachel Steals her
Father's gods, that he may not know where Jacob has fled. Laban Pursues him,
but establishes a covenant of peace. Laban breaks his Covenant by sending his
Son secretly to Esau that Jacob may Fall in his Hands. Esau, with Four
Hundred Men, seek to Destroy Jacob................................80
CHAPTER 32--Jacob sends a
Message of Peace to his Brother, who rejects it with contempt, and Advances
to Destroy him. Hosts of Angels cause the Fear of Jacob to come upon Esau,
and he goes to meet him in peace, in answer to Jacob's Prayer. Jacob Wrestles
with an Angel of the Lord..........................85
CHAPTER 33--Jacob goes to
Shechem. Prince Shechem defiles Dinah the Daughter of Jacob. Shechem desires
her for a Wife....................................89
CHAPTER 34--The Perfidy of
Shechem. Simeon and Levi, Sons of Jacob, avenge the Honor of their Sister
Dinah, Destroy all the Men of the City, and Spoil it. The People of Canaan
conspire to avenge the cause of Shechem. Isaac and Jacob Pray for
Succor...........................................................................93
CHAPTER 35--The Fear of God come
upon the Canaanites, and they do not Fight with
Jacob..........................................................................................98
CHAPTER 36--Jacob and his House
goes to Bethel, where the Lord appears to him, calls his name Israel, and Blesses him. The Generations of Jacob and
Esau.............................................................................................................100
CHAPTER 37--Jacob Returns to
Shechem. The Kings of Canaan again assemble against Jacob. Jacob's Ten Sons
with One Hundred and Two of their servants Fight against the Canaanites and
Amorites, and are successful......102
CHAPTER 38 and 39--The Sons of
Jacob Destroy many Cities of Canaan and all their people..................................................................................105,
109
V
CHAPTER 40--The Remaining
Twenty-one Kings of Canaan, fearing the Sons of Jacob, make a permanent Peace
with them.............................................114
CHAPTER 41--Joseph, the Son of
Jacob, Dreams of his Future Exaltation over his Brethren. Being his Father's
Favorite, his Brethren become Jealous. Joseph is sent to Visit his Brethren.
They conspire against him, and at the Suggestion of Reuben Place him in a
Pit.......................................................................118
CHAPTER 42--Joseph is sold to a
company of Midianites, who in Turn sold him to the Ishmaelites, who take him
down to Egypt. An account of his Journey thither, and of his
Affliction on the Road......................................120
CHAPTER 43--Reuben's Anguish at
not Finding Joseph in the Pit. The Brothers contrive to Deceive their Father
by Dipping his coat in Blood. Jacob's Anguish at the loss of his Son.....................................................................124
CHAPTER 44--Joseph is sold to
Potiphar, an Officer of Pharaoh. Zelicah, the Wife of Potiphar, seeks to
entice Joseph to do Evil, but all her advances are Rejected. Is Falsely
Accused by her and is brought to Judgment. Is Acquitted by his Judges, but
for the Sake of the Report against Potiphar's Wife, he is cast into
Prison....................................................................................................128
CHAPTER 45--An Account of the
Families of Jacob's Sons.....................134
CHAPTER 46--Joseph Interprets
the Dreams of his Fellow-Prisoners.......136
CHAPTER 47--Isaac Blesses his
two Sons and Dies. His Property is Divided. Esau takes all the personal
Property and Jacob chooses the Inheritance of the Land
of Canaan, with the Cave
of Machpelah for a Burying Place............137
CHAPTER 48--Pharaoh's Dreams.
Not Receiving a Satisfactory Interpretation from the Magicians, he orders the
Wise Men to be Slain. The King's Butler makes Joseph's Gifts known to Pharaoh. Joseph is Brought
before the King, who Relates his Dreams to him. Joseph, by the Gift of God,
Interprets them. A great Famine
Predicted............................................................................140
CHAPTER 49--Pharaoh Assembles
all the Great Men of the Kingdom, and desires to appoint Joseph to Govern Egypt. They Object because he cannot speak all the Seventy
Languages of the Earth. An Angel visits Joseph and teaches him all the Languages
of the Earth. When brought before the King, Joseph's Wisdom and Knowledge
please Pharaoh and all the Princes of Egypt, and he is appointed the Second to the King, and all
authority is given him. Joseph is made Wealthy and clothed in Princely
apparel and proclaimed Governor of Egypt. Is given the Daughter of Potiphar
for a Wife..............144
CHAPTER 50--Joseph goes to help
the Ishmaelites against their Enemies. Great Plenty prevails in Egypt as Joseph predicted. Joseph's Two Sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
Joseph stores up Food throughout Egypt. That stored by the Egyptians is spoiled. The Famine
prevails over all the Land and Joseph sells corn to all the Egyptians and the
surrounding Nations. Knowing that his Brethren will have to come to Egypt for Corn, he arranges to meet them when they
come....................................................................................................148
CHAPTER 51--Jacob sends his Ten
Oldest Sons to Egypt for Food. Tells them not to enter in at one gate but to
go in Separately. On the way they Covenant together to seek for Joseph, and
if they cannot ransom him they resolve to take him by force. They enter in at
ten gates, and spread themselves to seek for Joseph three days. Joseph, in
the meantime, has his men Seeking them. When found they are brought before
Joseph who accuses them of being Spies. Joseph sends his Brethren home with
corn, while Simeon is kept as a hostage till they shall again come to Egypt with their Younger Brother. They are astonished to find
their Money in their sacks of
corn.......................................................150
CHAPTER 52--Jacob's sorrow at
the absence of Simeon; Refuses to let Benjamin go. But when he and his Household
become pinched with hunger, Judah pleads for Benjamin. Tells his Father of the great glory
and Authority of the Governor of Egypt and offers himself as Security for his
Younger Brother. Jacob consents and sends his Sons again to Egypt with a conciliatory Letter and Present to the
Governor...............................................................................154
VI
CHAPTER 53--Jacob's Sons again
go to Egypt for Bread. Benjamin is presented before Joseph. Joseph's
Cup. Joseph's conduct towards Benjamin by which he makes himself known to
him. Resolves to prove his Brethren by taking away Benjamin from them, and
puts his Cup in Benjamin's sack of corn and sends them Home to their Father.
An Officer is sent after them who accuses them of purloining his Master's
Cup. Brings them back to Joseph. Benjamin is taken from them by force, and
they are told to go on their
way..............................................................................................................157
CHAPTER 54--Judah breaks through the Door to get to Joseph and Benjamin.
He recounts the many Mighty Deeds of his Brethren and threatens to destroy
all Egypt if Benjamin be not released. Joseph wrangles with his
Brethren and accuses them of Selling their Brother. They commence to war upon
the Egyptians, and frighten the whole Land. After satisfying himself of their
repentance for selling their Brother, Joseph makes himself known to them, and
bestows presents upon them. They are presented before Pharaoh, who commands
Joseph to bring all his Father's Household Down to Egypt. He sends Chariots for this Purpose, laden with
Presents, Luxuries and Clothing. Jacob's joy on Learning that Joseph is still
Alive....................................................160
CHAPTER 55--The Lord commands
Jacob to go down to Egypt, where He will make him a Great Nation. Joseph and all Egypt go to meet Jacob to do him Honor when he arrives. The Land
of Goshen is given to him and his
Children.......................................................................................................168
CHAPTER 56--After Seventeen
Years' Dwelling in Egypt, Jacob dies, after Blessing his Children and commanding
them to go in the Way of the Lord. Joseph and his Brethren and all the Mighty
Men of Egypt go up to Canaan to Bury Jacob. Esau, claiming the Land
of Canaan as his, will not Allow Joseph to Bury his Father. After
Esau and many of his People are slain, Jacob is Buried by Force. All the
Kings of Canaan come up to do him Honor........170
CHAPTER 57--The Sons of Esau
make war with the Sons of Jacob and are smitten. Some are taken captive to Egypt. The Children of Esau enlist the People of Seir to
Accompany them to Egypt to Deliver their Brethren. Joseph and his Brethren and
the Egyptians slay Six Hundred Thousand. Nearly all the Mighty Men of Seir
being Slain, they make war with the Children of Esau to Drive them from their
Land. Esau prevails and utterly annihilates the Children of
Seir..........................................................................................................175
CHAPTER 58--Pharaoh dies and the
whole Government of Egypt devolves upon Joseph, Pharaoh the Younger being but
a nominal Ruler. The Children of Esau again come Against the Israelites, and
are again smitten....................178
CHAPTER 59--Jacob's Posterity in
Egypt. After Prophesying that the Lord would Deliver his
Brethren from Egypt, Joseph dies and is buried, and the Israelites are ruled
over by the Egyptians....................................................181
CHAPTER 60--Zepho, the Son of
Eliphaz, the Son of Esau, who was taken Captive by Joseph where he Buried his
Father, Escapes from Egypt with all his
Men..............................................................................................................182
CHAPTERS 61, 62, and 63--Petty
Wars and contentions of the Nations of Africa with
Zepho....................................................................184,
186, 188
CHAPTER 64--Zepho Leads a Great
Army of Chittimites, Edomites, and Ishmaelites against Egypt. Three Hundred Thousand Egyptians put to Flight, but One
Hundred and Fifty Men of Israel prevail against Zepho................191
CHAPTER 65--The Elders of Egypt
conspire with Pharaoh and cunningly bring Israel into Bondage to them. Being afraid of their power, they
afflict them in order to lessen the Number of the Children of Israel..............................194
CHAPTER 66--Pharaoh Decrees that
every Male Child born in Israel shall be Killed, and still they
increase.......................................................................196
CHAPTER 67--Aaron is Born. On
Account of Pharaoh's decree, many of the Sons of Israel live apart from their
Wives. The King's counsellors devise another plan to lessen the number of Israel by drowning them. The Lord finds a means of preserving
the Male Children....................................................198
VII
CHAPTER 68--Moses, a Child of
Promise, is born. The Egyptian Women acting as Spies. Moses is discovered,
and placed by his Mother in an Ark of Bulrushes. Is Found and Adopted by the
Daughter of Pharaoh, and grows up among the King's
Children..........................................................................202
CHAPTER 69--Pharaoh Proclaims,
that if any of the Israelites are short in their Labor, either in Bricks or
Mortar, his Youngest Son shall be put in their
Place............................................................................................................204
CHAPTER 70--Moses puts the
King's crown upon his own head. Baalam and the Wise Men make this a Pretext
against him. When grown up, Moses visits his Brethren, and learns of their
Grievances. Moses obtains a day's rest on the Sabbath for all Israel...................................................................................204
CHAPTER 71--Moses slays an
Egyptian and being Discovered flees from Egypt. Aaron
Prophecies.............................................................................207
CHAPTER 72--Moses flees to Cush. At the Death of the king, he is chosen in his Stead. He
Reigns Forty Years in Cush..................................................208
CHAPTER 73--The Reign of Moses,
and his Strategic Warfare................210
CHAPTER 74--War in Africa....................................................................213
CHAPTER 75--Thirty Thousand
Ephraimites think it Time to get out of Egypt, Rise up to go to Canaan, but
are Slain by the Philistines............................214
CHAPTER 76--Moses leaves Cush and goes to the Land
of Midian. Reuel, taking him for a Refugee, keeps him in prison
for Ten Years. Is fed by Zipporah, the Daughter of Reuel. Pharaoh smitten of
the Plague. Slays a child of the Israelites every day. He dies of the Rot,
and his Son, Adikam, Reigns in his
Stead......................................................................................................215
CHAPTER 77--Adikam Pharaoh
Afflicts Israel more than ever. Moses is Released by Reuel, and Marries
his Daughter Zipporah. Moses obtains possession of the Stick
Jehovah...................................................................218
CHAPTER 78--Moses has Two Sons.
Pharaoh withholds Straw from the Israelites.......................................................................................................221
CHAPTER 79--The Lord appears to
Moses and commands him to go down to Egypt to Deliver Israel. Aaron meets him. Israel on hearing of his Mission greatly rejoices. Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh, who
calls all the Magicians to meet Moses. They Perform Miracles as well as
Moses, and thus Deceive the King. Pharaoh, not finding the Name of Jehovah on
any of the Books of Records, says he does not know who He is, and will not
let his People go. Moses and Aaron teach Pharaoh, but he will not hearken,
but causes the labor of the Children of Israel to be increased. Moses being
discouraged is told by the Lord that with an outstretched hand and heavy Plagues,
Israel shall be
Delivered.....................................................................................................222
CHAPTER 80--After Two Years,
Moses and Aaron again go to Pharaoh, but Pharaoh will not Hearken. The Lord
afflicts Egypt with all manner of Plagues and Afflictions. The
First-born of all the Egyptians is Slain. Pharaoh sends the Children of
Israel away, and all the Egyptians rise up to urge their Departure, but they
will not go in the Night.................................................................225
CHAPTER 81--The Departure of the
Israelites from Egypt with Great Riches and Flocks and Herds. After the Egyptians bury
their First-born, many of them go after the Israelites to induce them to
return. But they refuse to return, and fight the Nobles of Egypt and drive
them home. Pharaoh resolves with the Egyptians to pursue Israel and compel them to Return. The Children of Israel are
divided--some wanting to go back. Moses prays for deliverance. The Lord tells
him not to cry to him, but proceed. The waters of the Red Sea are
Divided. The Israelites pass Through in Safety, but the Egyptians are utterly
Destroyed. The Israelites proceed on their Journey, and are fed with Manna.
The Children of Esau fight Israel, but the Latter Prevail............................229
CHAPTER 82--The Ten Commandments
are Given. While Moses is in the Mount, Aaron makes a Golden Calf, and Israel
Worships it. Civil War. The Lord has a Sanctuary Built for His Worship in the
Wilderness...................232
VIII
CHAPTER 83--Aaron and his Sons
are Placed in charge of the Lord's Service. The Sacrifices and Offerings. The
Passover is Celebrated. The People lust for Flesh to eat. Their punishment.
Moses sends Twelve Men to explore the Land
of Canaan. Ten of them bring an Evil Report, and the People want
to Return to Egypt. For their Lack of Faith that Generation shall not Live
to obtain their
Possessions...................................................................................................234
CHAPTER 84--The Earth Swallows
up the Rebellious. The Children of Israel commanded not to War with the
Children of Esau, or Moab. The Edomites will not let Israel pass through their Land..........................................................236
CHAPTER 85--Some of the
Canaanites rise up to fight Israel, who are frightened and run away. But the Sons of Levi
compel them to Return. They prevail over their Enemies. They must not touch
Ammon. Og, King of Bashan. Balaam is called upon to curse Israel, but will not. Israel commits Whoredom with the Moabites, and they are Smitten
with Pestilence.............................238
CHAPTER 86--All over twenty
years of age at the time of Leaving Egypt die at the Expiration of Forty
Years. Israel is Numbered. The Midianites are destroyed, and their
Spoil is Divided among the People.............................242
CHAPTER 87--Moses appoints
Joshua his successor. The Lord encourages Joshua. Moses teaches the
children of Israel to Walk in the Way of the Lord. He goes up to Mount Abarim and dies
there...............................................243
CHAPTER 88--The Lord commands
Joshua to prepare the People to pass over Jordan to possess the Land. Jericho is Besieged, Taken, and Destroyed. Achan brings evil
upon the camp by Purloining the cursed thing, and Brings Destruction upon
Himself. All is taken and Destroyed. The Gibeonites cunningly save
themselves. Five Kings rise up against Israel and are destroyed. The Sun and Moon stand still at
Joshua's Command...................................243
CHAPTER 89--Joshua's Song of
Praise. The Wars of Israel.....................247
CHAPTER 90--The Edomites are
Smitten by Chittim. The Land is Divided, and the people have Rest. Joshua
being Advanced in Years Exhorts the people to Observe all the Laws of Moses,
and then Dies.......................................250
CHAPTER 91--The Elders Judge Israel. They drive out all the Canaanites and Inherit the
Promised Land...........................................................................253
THE BOOK OF JASHER
THIS IS THE BOOK OF THE
GENERATIONS OF MAN WHOM GOD CREATED
UPON THE EARTH ON THE DAY WHEN
THE LORD GOD
MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH.
1
CHAPTER 1
1 And God said, Let us make man
in our image, after our likeness, and God created man in his own image.
2 And God formed man from the
ground, and he blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a
living soul endowed with speech.
3 And the Lord said, It is not
good for man to be alone; I will make unto him a helpmeet.
4 And the Lord caused a deep
sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept, and he took away one of his ribs, and
he built flesh upon it, and formed it and brought it to Adam, and Adam awoke
from his sleep, and behold a woman was standing before him.
5 And he said, This is a bone of
my bones and it shall be called woman, for this has been taken from man; and
Adam called her name Eve, for she was the mother of all living.
6 And God blessed them and
called their names Adam and Eve in the day that he created them, and the Lord
God said, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
7 And the Lord God took Adam and
his wife, and he placed them in the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep
it; and he commanded them and said unto them, From every tree of the garden
you may eat, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall
not eat, for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.
8 And when God had blessed and
commanded them, he went from them, and Adam and his wife dwelt in the garden
according to the command which the Lord had commanded them.
9 And the serpent, which God had
created with them in the earth, came to them to incite them to transgress the
command of God which he had commanded them.
10 And the serpent enticed and
persuaded the woman to eat from the tree of knowledge, and the woman
hearkened to the voice of the serpent, and she transgressed the word of God,
and took from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and she ate, and
she took from it and gave also to her husband and he ate.
11 And Adam and his wife
transgressed the command of God which he commanded them, and God knew it, and
his anger was kindled against them and he cursed them.
12 And the Lord God drove them
that day from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which they were
taken, and they went and dwelt at the east of the garden of Eden; and Adam
knew his wife Eve and she bore two sons and three daughters.
13 And she called the name of
the first born Cain, saying, I have obtained a man from the Lord, and the
name of the other she called Abel, for she said, In vanity we came into the
earth, and in vanity we shall be taken from it.
14 And the boys grew up and
their father gave them a possession in the land; and Cain was a tiller of the
ground, and Abel a keeper of sheep.
15 And it was at the expiration
of a few years, that they brought an approximating offering to the Lord, and
Cain brought from the fruit of the ground, and Abel brought from the firstlings
of his flock from the fat thereof, and God turned and inclined to Abel and
his offering, and a fire came down from the Lord from heaven and consumed it.
16 And unto Cain and his
offering the Lord did not turn, and he did not incline to it, for he had
brought from the inferior fruit of the ground before the Lord, and Cain was
jealous against his brother Abel on account of this, and he sought a pretext
to slay him.
17 And in some time after, Cain
and Abel his brother, went one day into the field to do their work; and they
were both in the field, Cain tilling and ploughing his ground, and Abel
feeding his flock; and the flock passed that part which Cain had ploughed in
the ground, and it sorely grieved Cain on this account.
18 And Cain approached his brother
Abel in anger, and he said unto him, What is there between me and thee, that
thou comest to dwell and bring thy flock to feed in my land?
19 And Abel answered his brother
Cain and said unto him, What is there between me and thee, that thou shalt eat
the flesh of my flock and clothe thyself with their wool?
20 And now therefore, put off
the wool of my sheep with which thou hast clothed thyself, and recompense me
for their fruit and flesh which thou hast eaten, and when thou shalt have
done this, I will then go from thy land as thou hast said?
21 And Cain said to his brother
Abel, Surely if I slay thee this day, who will require thy blood from me?
22 And Abel answered Cain,
saying, Surely God who has made us in the earth, he will avenge my cause, and
he will require my blood from thee shouldst thou slay me, for the Lord is the
judge and arbiter, and it is he who will requite man according to his evil,
and the wicked man according to the wickedness that he may do upon earth.
23 And now, if thou shouldst
slay me here, surely God knoweth thy secret views, and will judge thee for
the evil which thou didst declare to do unto me this day.
24 And when Cain heard the words
which Abel his brother had spoken, behold the anger of Cain was kindled
against his brother Abel for declaring this thing.
25 And Cain hastened and rose
up, and took the iron part of his ploughing instrument, with which he
suddenly smote his brother and he slew him, and Cain spilt the blood of his
brother Abel upon the earth, and the blood of Abel streamed upon the earth
before the flock.
3
26 And after this Cain repented
having slain his brother, and he was sadly grieved, and he wept over him and
it vexed him exceedingly.
27 And Cain rose up and dug a
hole in the field, wherein he put his brother's body, and he turned the dust
over it.
28 And the Lord knew what Cain
had done to his brother, and the Lord appeared to Cain and said unto him,
Where is Abel thy brother that was with thee?
29 And Cain dissembled, and
said, I do not know, am I my brother's keeper? And the Lord said unto him,
What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the
ground where thou hast slain him.
30 For thou hast slain thy brother
and hast dissembled before me, and didst imagine in thy heart that I saw thee
not, nor knew all thy actions.
31 But thou didst this thing and
didst slay thy brother for naught and because he spoke rightly to thee, and
now, therefore, cursed be thou from the ground which opened its mouth to
receive thy brother's blood from thy hand, and wherein thou didst bury him.
32 And it shall be when thou
shalt till it, it shall no more give thee its strength as in the beginning,
for thorns and thistles shall the ground produce, and thou shalt be moving
and wandering in the earth until the day of thy death.
33 And at that time Cain went
out from the presence of the Lord, from the place where he was, and he went
moving and wandering in the land toward the east of Eden, he and all
belonging to him.
34 And Cain knew his wife in
those days, and she conceived and bare a son, and he called his name Enoch,
saying, In that time the Lord began to give him rest and quiet in the earth.
35 And at that time Cain also
began to build a city: and he built the city and he called the name of the
city Enoch, according to the name of his son; for in those days the Lord had
given him rest upon the earth, and he did not move about and wander as in the
beginning.
36 And Irad was born to Enoch,
and Irad begat Mechuyael and Mechuyael begat Methusael.
CHAPTER 2
1 And it was in the hundred and
thirtieth year of the life of Adam upon the earth, that he again knew Eve his
wife, and she conceived and bare a son in his likeness and in his image, and
she called his name Seth, saying, Because God has appointed me another seed
in the place of Abel, for Cain has slain him.
2 And Seth lived one hundred and
five years, and he begat a son; and Seth called the name of his son Enosh,
saying, Because in that time the sons of men began to multiply, and to
afflict their souls and hearts by transgressing and rebelling against God.
3 And it was in the days of
Enosh that the sons of men continued to rebel and transgress against God, to
increase the anger of the Lord against the sons of men.
4 And the sons of men went and
they served other gods, and they forgot the Lord who had created them in the
earth: and in those days the sons of men made images of brass and iron, wood
and stone, and they bowed down and served them.
5 And every man made his god and
they bowed down to them,
4
and the sons of men forsook the
Lord all the days of Enosh and his children; and the anger of the Lord was
kindled on account of their works and abominations which they did in the
earth.
6 And the Lord caused the waters
of the river Gihon to overwhelm them, and he destroyed and consumed them, and
he destroyed the third part of the earth, and notwithstanding this, the sons
of men did not turn from their evil ways, and their hands were yet extended
to do evil in the sight of the Lord.
7 And in those days there was
neither sowing nor reaping in the earth; and there was no food for the sons
of men and the famine was very great in those days.
8 And the seed which they sowed
in those days in the ground became thorns, thistles and briers; for from the
days of Adam was this declaration concerning the earth, of the curse of God,
which he cursed the earth, on account of the sin which Adam sinned before the
Lord.
9 And it was when men continued
to rebel and transgress against God, and to corrupt their ways, that the
earth also became corrupt.
10 And Enosh lived ninety years
and he begat Cainan;
11 And Cainan grew up and he was
forty years old, and he became wise and had knowledge and skill in all
wisdom, and he reigned over all the sons of men, and he led the sons of men
to wisdom and knowledge; for Cainan was a very wise man and had understanding
in all wisdom, and with his wisdom he ruled over spirits and demons;
12 And Cainan knew by his wisdom
that God would destroy the sons of men for having sinned upon earth, and that
the Lord would in the latter days bring upon them the waters of the flood.
13 And in those days Cainan
wrote upon tablets of stone, what was to take place in time to come, and he
put them in his treasures.
14 And Cainan reigned over the
whole earth, and he turned some of the sons of men to the service of God.
15 And when Cainan was seventy
years old, he begat three sons and two daughters.
16 And these are the names of
the children of Cainan; the name of the first born Mahlallel, the second
Enan, and the third Mered, and their sisters were Adah and Zillah; these are
the five children of Cainan that were born to him.
17 And Lamech, the son of
Methusael, became related to Cainan by marriage, and he took his two
daughters for his wives, and Adah conceived and bare a son to Lamech, and she
called his name Jabal.
18 And she again conceived and
bare a son, and called his name Jubal; and Zillah, her sister, was barren in
those days and had no offspring.
19 For in those days the sons of
men began to trespass against God, and to transgress the commandments which
he had commanded to Adam, to be fruitful and multiply in the earth.
20 And some of the sons of men caused
their wives to drink a draught that would render them barren, in order that
they might retain their figures and whereby their beautiful appearance might
not fade.
21 And when the sons of men
caused some of their wives to drink, Zillah drank with them.
22 And the child-bearing women
appeared abominable in the sight of
5
their husbands as widows, whilst
their husbands lived, for to the barren ones only they were attached.
23 And in the end of days and
years, when Zillah became old, the Lord opened her womb.
24 And she conceived and bare a
son and she called his name Tubal Cain, saying, After I had withered away
have I obtained him from the Almighty God.
25 And she conceived again and
bare a daughter, and she called her name Naamah, for she said, After I had
withered away have I obtained pleasure and delight.
26 And Lamech was old and
advanced in years, and his eyes were dim that he could not see, and Tubal
Cain, his son, was leading him and it was one day that Lamech went into the
field and Tubal Cain his son was with him, and whilst they were walking in
the field, Cain the son of Adam advanced towards them; for Lamech was very
old and could not see much, and Tubal Cain his son was very young.
27 And Tubal Cain told his
father to draw his bow, and with the arrows he smote Cain, who was yet far
off, and he slew him, for he appeared to them to be an animal.
28 And the arrows entered Cain's
body although he was distant from them, and he fell to the ground and died.
29 And the Lord requited Cain's
evil according to his wickedness, which he had done to his brother Abel,
according to the word of the Lord which he had spoken.
30 And it came to pass when Cain
had died, that Lamech and Tubal went to see the animal which they had slain,
and they saw, and behold Cain their grandfather was fallen dead upon the
earth.
31 And Lamech was very much
grieved at having done this, and in clapping his hands together he struck his
son and caused his death.
32. And the wives of Lamech heard
what Lamech had done, and they sought to kill him.
33 And the wives of Lamech hated
him from that day, because he slew Cain and Tubal Cain, and the wives of
Lamech separated from him, and would not hearken to him in those days.
34 And Lamech came to his wives,
and he pressed them to listen to him about this matter.
35 And he said to his wives Adah
and Zillah, Hear my voice O wives of Lamech, attend to my words, for now you
have imagined and said that I slew a man with my wounds, and a child with my
stripes for their having done no violence, but surely know that I am old and
grey-headed, and that my eyes are heavy through age, and I did this thing
unknowingly.
36 And the wives of Lamech
listened to him in this matter, and they returned to him with the advice of
their father Adam, but they bore no children to him from that time, knowing
that God's anger was increasing in those days against the sons of men, to
destroy them with the waters of the flood for their evil doings.
37 And Mahlallel the son of
Cainan lived sixty-five years and he begat Jared; and Jared lived sixty-two
years and he begat Enoch.
CHAPTER 3
1 And Enoch lived sixty-five
years and he begat Methuselah; and Enoch walked with God after having begot
Methuselah, and he served the Lord, and despised the evil ways of men.
6
2 And the soul of Enoch was
wrapped up in the instruction of the Lord, in knowledge and in understanding;
and he wisely retired from the sons of men, and secreted himself from them
for many days.
3 And it was at the expiration
of many years, whilst he was serving the Lord, and praying before him in his
house, that an angel of the Lord called to him from Heaven, and he said, Here
am I.
4 And he said, Rise, go forth from
thy house and from the place where thou dost hide thyself, and appear to the
sons of men, in order that thou mayest teach them the way in which they
should go and the work which they must accomplish to enter in the ways of
God.
5 And Enoch rose up according to
the word of the Lord, and went forth from his house, from his place and from
the chamber in which he was concealed; and he went to the sons of men and
taught them the ways of the Lord, and at that time assembled the sons of men
and acquainted them with the instruction of the Lord.
6 And he ordered it to be
proclaimed in all places where the sons of men dwelt, saying, Where is the
man who wishes to know the ways of the Lord and good works? let him come to
Enoch.
7 And all the sons of men then
assembled to him, for all who desired this thing went to Enoch, and Enoch
reigned over the sons of men according to the word of the Lord, and they came
and bowed to him and they heard his word.
8 And the spirit of God was upon
Enoch, and he taught all his men the wisdom of God and his ways, and the sons
of men served the Lord all the days of Enoch, and they came to hear his
wisdom.
9 And all the kings of the sons
of men, both first and last, together with their princes and judges, came to
Enoch when they heard of his wisdom, and they bowed down to him, and they
also required of Enoch to reign over them, to which he consented.
10 And they assembled in all,
one hundred and thirty kings and princes, and they made Enoch king over them
and they were all under his power and command.
11 And Enoch taught them wisdom,
knowledge, and the ways of the Lord; and he made peace amongst them, and
peace was throughout the earth during the life of Enoch.
12 And Enoch reigned over the
sons of men two hundred and forty-three years, and he did justice and
righteousness with all his people, and he led them in the ways of the Lord.
13 And these are the generations
of Enoch, Methuselah, Elisha, and Elimelech, three sons; and their sisters
were Melca and Nahmah, and Methuselah lived eighty-seven years and he begat
Lamech.
14 And it was in the fifty-sixth
year of the life of Lamech when Adam died; nine hundred and thirty years old
was he at his death, and his two sons, with Enoch and Methuselah his son,
buried him with great pomp, as at the burial of kings, in the cave which God
had told him.
15 And in that place all the
sons of men made a great mourning and weeping on account of Adam; it has
therefore become a custom among the sons of men to this day.
16 And Adam died because he ate
of the tree of knowledge; he and his children after him, as the Lord God had
spoken.
7
17 And it was in the year of
Adam's death which was the two hundred and forty-third year of the reign of
Enoch, in that time Enoch resolved to separate himself from the sons of men
and to secret himself as at first in order to serve the Lord.
18 And Enoch did so, but did not
entirely secret himself from them, but kept away from the sons of men three
days and then went to them for one day.
19 And during the three days
that he was in his chamber, he prayed to, and praised the Lord his God, and
the day on which he went and appeared to his subjects he taught them the ways
of the Lord, and all they asked him about the Lord he told them.
20 And he did in this manner for
many years, and he afterward concealed himself for six days, and appeared to
his people one day in seven; and after that once in a month, and then once in
a year, until all the kings, princes and sons of men sought for him, and
desired again to see the face of Enoch, and to hear his word; but they could
not, as all the sons of men were greatly afraid of Enoch, and they feared to
approach him on account of the Godlike awe that was seated upon his
countenance; therefore no man could look at him, fearing he might be punished
and die.
21 And all the kings and princes
resolved to assemble the sons of men, and to come to Enoch, thinking that
they might all speak to him at the time when he should come forth amongst
them, and they did so.
22 And the day came when Enoch
went forth and they all assembled and came to him, and Enoch spoke to them
the words of the Lord and he taught them wisdom and knowledge, and they bowed
down before him and they said, May the king live! May the king live!
23 And in some time after, when
the kings and princes and the sons of men were speaking to Enoch, and Enoch
was teaching them the ways of God, behold an angel of the Lord then called
unto Enoch from heaven, and wished to bring him up to heaven to make him reign
there over the sons of God, as he had reigned over the sons of men upon
earth.
24 When at that time Enoch heard
this he went and assembled all the inhabitants of the earth, and taught them
wisdom and knowledge and gave them divine instructions, and he said to them,
I have been required to ascend into heaven, I therefore do not know the day
of my going.
25 And now therefore I will
teach you wisdom and knowledge and will give you instruction before I leave
you, how to act upon earth whereby you may live; and he did so.
26 And he taught them wisdom and
knowledge, and gave them instruction, and he reproved them, and he placed
before them statutes and judgments to do upon earth, and he made peace
amongst them, and he taught them everlasting life, and dwelt with them some
time teaching them all these things.
27 And at that time the sons of
men were with Enoch, and Enoch was speaking to them, and they lifted up their
eyes and the likeness of a great horse descended from heaven, and the horse
paced in the air;
28 And they told Enoch what they
had seen, and Enoch said to them, On my account does this horse descend upon
earth; the time is come when I must go from you and I shall no more be seen
by you.
29 And the horse descended at
that time and stood before Enoch, and all the sons of men that were with
Enoch saw him.
8
30 And Enoch then again ordered
a voice to be proclaimed, saying, Where is the man who delighteth to know the
ways of the Lord his God, let him come this day to Enoch before he is taken
from us.
31 And all the sons of men
assembled and came to Enoch that day; and all the kings of the earth with
their princes and counsellors remained with him that day; and Enoch then
taught the sons of men wisdom and knowledge, and gave them divine
instruction; and he bade them serve the Lord and walk in his ways all the
days of their lives, and he continued to make peace amongst them.
32 And it was after this that he
rose up and rode upon the horse; and he went forth and all the sons of men
went after him, about eight hundred thousand men; and they went with him one
day's journey.
33 And the second day he said to
them, Return home to your tents, why will you go? perhaps you may die; and
some of them went from him, and those that remained went with him six day's
journey; and Enoch said to them every day, Return to your tents, lest you may
die; but they were not willing to return, and they went with him.
34 And on the sixth day some of
the men remained and clung to him, and they said to him, We will go with thee
to the place where thou goest; as the Lord liveth, death only shall separate
us.
35 And they urged so much to go
with him, that he ceased speaking to them; and they went after him and would
not return;
36 And when the kings returned
they caused a census to be taken, in order to know the number of remaining
men that went with Enoch; and it was upon the seventh day that Enoch ascended
into heaven in a whirlwind, with horses and chariots of fire.
37 And on the eighth day all the
kings that had been with Enoch sent to bring back the number of men that were
with Enoch, in that place from which he ascended into heaven.
38 And all those kings went to
the place and they found the earth there filled with snow, and upon the snow
were large stones of snow, and one said to the other, Come, let us break
through the snow and see, perhaps the men that remained with Enoch are dead,
and are now under the stones of snow, and they searched but could not find
him, for he had ascended into heaven.
CHAPTER 4
1 And all the days that Enoch
lived upon earth, were three hundred and sixty-five years.
2 And when Enoch had ascended
into heaven, all the kings of the earth rose and took Methuselah his son and
anointed him, and they caused him to reign over them in the place of his
father.
3 And Methuselah acted uprightly
in the sight of God, as his father Enoch had taught him, and he likewise
during the whole of his life taught the sons of men wisdom, knowledge and the
fear of God, and he did not turn from the good way either to the right or to
the left.
4 But in the latter days of
Methuselah, the sons of men turned from the Lord, they corrupted the earth,
they robbed and plundered each other, and they rebelled against God and they
transgressed, and they corrupted their ways, and would not hearken to the
voice of Methuselah, but rebelled against him.
5 And the Lord was exceedingly
wroth against them, and the Lord continued to destroy the seed in those
9
days, so that there was neither
sowing nor reaping in the earth.
6 For when they sowed the ground
in order that they might obtain food for their support, behold, thorns and
thistles were produced which they did not sow.
7 And still the sons of men did
not turn from their evil ways, and their hands were still extended to do evil
in the sight of God, and they provoked the Lord with their evil ways, and the
Lord was very wroth, and repented that he had made man.
8 And he thought to destroy and
annihilate them and he did so.
9 In those days when Lamech the
son of Methuselah was one hundred and sixty years old, Seth the son of Adam
died.
10 And all the days that Seth
lived, were nine hundred and twelve years, and he died.
11 And Lamech was one hundred
and eighty years old when he took Ashmua, the daughter of Elishaa the son of
Enoch his uncle, and she conceived.
12 And at that time the sons of
men sowed the ground, and a little food was produced, yet the sons of men did
not turn from their evil ways, and they trespassed and rebelled against God.
13 And the wife of Lamech conceived
and bare him a son at that time, at the revolution of the year.
14 And Methuselah called his
name Noah, saying, The earth was in his days at rest and free from
corruption, and Lamech his father called his name Menachem, saying, This one
shall comfort us in our works and miserable toil in the earth, which God had
cursed.
15 And the child grew up and was
weaned, and he went in the ways of his father Methuselah, perfect and upright
with God.
16 And all the sons of men
departed from the ways of the Lord in those days as they multiplied upon the
face of the earth with sons and daughters, and they taught one another their
evil practices and they continued sinning against the Lord.
17 And every man made unto
himself a god, and they robbed and plundered every man his neighbor as well
as his relative, and they corrupted the earth, and the earth was filled with
violence.
18 And their judges and rulers
went to the daughters of men and took their wives by force from their
husbands according to their choice, and the sons of men in those days took
from the cattle of the earth, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the
air, and taught the mixture of animals of one species with the other, in
order therewith to provoke the Lord; and God saw the whole earth and it was corrupt,
for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon earth, all men and all animals.
19 And the Lord said, I will
blot out man that I created from the face of the earth, yea from man to the
birds of the air, together with cattle and beasts that are in the field for I
repent that I made them.
20 And all men who walked in the
ways of the Lord, died in those days, before the Lord brought the evil upon
man which he had declared, for this was from the Lord, that they should not
see the evil which the Lord spoke of concerning the sons of men.
21 And Noah found grace in the
sight of the Lord, and the Lord chose him and his children to raise up seed
from them upon the face of the whole earth.
10
CHAPTER 5
1 And it was in the
eighty-fourth year of the life of Noah, that Enoch the son of Seth died, he
was nine hundred and five years old at his death.
2 And in the one hundred and
seventy ninth year of the life of Noah, Cainan the son of Enosh died, and all
the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years, and he died.
3 And in the two hundred and
thirty fourth year of the life of Noah, Mahlallel the son of Cainan died, and
the days of Mahlallel were eight hundred and ninety-five years, and he died.
4 And Jared the son of Mahlallel
died in those days, in the three hundred and thirty-sixth year of the life of
Noah; and all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years, and he
died.
5 And all who followed the Lord
died in those days, before they saw the evil which God declared to do upon
earth.
6 And after the lapse of many
years, in the four hundred and eightieth year of the life of Noah, when all
those men, who followed the Lord had died away from amongst the sons of men,
and only Methuselah was then left, God said unto Noah and Methuselah, saying,
7 Speak ye, and proclaim to the
sons of men, saying, Thus saith the Lord, return from your evil ways and
forsake your works, and the Lord will repent of the evil that he declared to
do to you, so that it shall not come to pass.
8 For thus saith the Lord, Behold
I give you a period of one hundred and twenty years; if you will turn to me
and forsake your evil ways, then will I also turn away from the evil which I
told you, and it shall not exist, saith the Lord.
9 And Noah and Methuselah spoke
all the words of the Lord to the sons of men, day after day, constantly
speaking to them.
10 But the sons of men would not
hearken to them, nor incline their ears to their words, and they were
stiffnecked.
11 And the Lord granted them a
period of one hundred and twenty years, saying, If they will return, then
will God repent of the evil, so as not to destroy the earth.
12 Noah the son of Lamech
refrained from taking a wife in those days, to beget children, for he said,
Surely now God will destroy the earth, wherefore then shall I beget children?
13 And Noah was a just man, he
was perfect in his generation, and the Lord chose him to raise up seed from
his seed upon the face of the earth.
14 And the Lord said unto Noah,
Take unto thee a wife, and beget children, for I have seen thee righteous
before me in this generation.
15 And thou shalt raise up seed,
and thy children with thee, in the midst of the earth; and Noah went and took
a wife, and he chose Naamah the daughter of Enoch, and she was five hundred
and eighty years old.
16 And Noah was four hundred and
ninety-eight years old, when he took Naamah for a wife.
17 And Naamah conceived and bare
a son, and he called his name Japheth, saying, God has enlarged me in the
earth; and she conceived again and bare a son, and he called his name Shem,
saying, God has made me a remnant, to raise up seed in the midst of the
earth.
18 And Noah was five hundred and
two years old when Naamah bare Shem, and the boys grew up and went in the
ways of the Lord, in all that Methuselah
11
and Noah their father taught
them.
19 And Lamech the father of
Noah, died in those days; yet verily he did not go with all his heart in the
ways of his father, and he died in the hundred and ninety-fifth year of the
life of Noah.
20 And all the days of Lamech
were seven hundred and seventy years, and he died.
21 And all the sons of men who
knew the Lord, died in that year before the Lord brought evil upon them; for
the Lord willed them to die, so as not to behold the evil that God would
bring upon their brothers and relatives, as he had so declared to do.
22 In that time, the Lord said
to Noah and Methuselah, Stand forth and proclaim to the sons of men all the
words that I spoke to you in those days, peradventure they may turn from
their evil ways, and I will then repent of the evil and will not bring it.
23 And Noah and Methuselah stood
forth, and said in the ears of the sons of men, all that God had spoken
concerning them.
24 But the sons of men would not
hearken, neither would they incline their ears to all their declarations.
25 And it was after this that
the Lord said to Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me, on account of
their evil deeds, and behold I will destroy the earth.
26 And do thou take unto thee
gopher wood, and go to a certain place and make a large ark, and place it in
that spot.
27 And thus shalt thou make it;
three hundred cubits its length, fifty cubits broad and thirty cubits high.
28 And thou shalt make unto thee
a door, open at its side, and to a cubit thou shalt finish above, and cover
it within and without with pitch.
29 And behold I will bring the
flood of waters upon the earth, and all flesh be destroyed, from under the
heavens all that is upon earth shall perish.
30 And thou and thy household
shall go and gather two couple of all living things, male and female, and
shall bring them to the ark, to raise up seed from them upon earth.
31 And gather unto thee all food
that is eaten by all the animals, that there may be food for thee and for
them.
32 And thou shalt choose for thy
sons three maidens, from the daughters of men, and they shall be wives to thy
sons.
33 And Noah rose up, and he made
the ark, in the place where God had commanded him, and Noah did as God had
ordered him.
34 In his five hundred and
ninety-fifth year Noah commenced to make the ark, and he made the ark in five
years, as the Lord had commanded.
35 Then Noah took the three
daughters of Eliakim, son of Methuselah, for wives for his sons, as the Lord
had commanded Noah.
36 And it was at that time
Methuselah the son of Enoch died, nine hundred and sixty years old was he, at
his death.
CHAPTER 6
1 At that time, after the death
of Methuselah, the Lord said to Noah, Go thou with thy household into the
ark; behold I will gather to thee all the animals of the earth, the beasts of
the field and the fowls of the air, and they shall all come and surround the
ark.
2 And thou shalt go and seat
thyself by the doors of the ark, and all the beasts, the animals, and the
fowls, shall assemble and place themselves before thee, and such of them as
shall
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come and crouch before thee,
shalt thou take and deliver into the hands of thy sons, who shall bring them
to the ark, and all that will stand before thee thou shalt leave.
3 And the Lord brought this
about on the next day, and animals, beasts and fowls came in great multitudes
and surrounded the ark.
4 And Noah went and seated
himself by the door of the ark, and of all flesh that crouched before him, he
brought into the ark, and all that stood before him he left upon earth.
5 And a lioness came, with her
two whelps, male and female, and the three crouched before Noah, and the two
whelps rose up against the lioness and smote her, and made her flee from her
place, and she went away, and they returned to their places, and crouched
upon the earth before Noah.
6 And the lioness ran away, and
stood in the place of the lions.
7 And Noah saw this, and
wondered greatly, and he rose and took the two whelps, and brought them into
the ark.
8 And Noah brought into the ark
from all living creatures that were upon earth, so that there was none left
but which Noah brought into the ark.
9 Two and two came to Noah into
the ark, but from the clean animals, and clean fowls, he brought seven
couples, as God had commanded him.
10 And all the animals, and
beasts, and fowls, were still there, and they surrounded the ark at every
place, and the rain had not descended till seven days after.
11 And on that day, the Lord
caused the whole earth to shake, and the sun darkened, and the foundations of
the world raged, and the whole earth was moved violently, and the lightning
flashed, and the thunder roared, and all the fountains in the earth were
broken up, such as was not known to the inhabitants before; and God did this
mighty act, in order to terrify the sons of men, that there might be no more
evil upon earth.
12 And still the sons of men
would not return from their evil ways, and they increased the anger of the
Lord at that time, and did not even direct their hearts to all this.
13 And at the end of seven days,
in the six hundredth year of the life of Noah, the waters of the flood were
upon the earth.
14 And all the fountains of the
deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened, and the rain was
upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
15 And Noah and his household,
and all the living creatures that were with him, came into the ark on account
of the waters of the flood, and the Lord shut him in.
16 And all the sons of men that
were left upon the earth, became exhausted through evil on account of the
rain, for the waters were coming more violently upon the earth, and the
animals and beasts were still surrounding the ark.
17 And the sons of men assembled
together, about seven hundred thousand men and women, and they came unto Noah
to the ark.
18 And they called to Noah,
saying, Open for us that we may come to thee in the ark--and wherefore shall
we die?
19 And Noah, with a loud voice,
answered them from the ark, saying, Have you not all rebelled against the
Lord, and said that he does not exist? and therefore the Lord brought upon
you this evil, to destroy and cut you off from the face of the earth.
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20 Is not this the thing that I
spoke to you of one hundred and twenty years back, and you would not hearken
to the voice of the Lord, and now do you desire to live upon earth?
21 And they said to Noah, We are
ready to return to the Lord; only open for us that we may live and not die.
22 And Noah answered them,
saying, Behold now that you see the trouble of your souls, you wish to return
to the Lord; why did you not return during these hundred and twenty years,
which the Lord granted you as the determined period?
23 But now you come and tell me
this on account of the troubles of your souls, now also the Lord will not
listen to you, neither will he give ear to you on this day, so that you will
not now succeed in your wishes.
24 And the sons of men
approached in order to break into the ark, to come in on account of the rain,
for they could not bear the rain upon them.
25 And the Lord sent all the
beasts and animals that stood round the ark. And the beasts overpowered them
and drove them from that place, and every man went his way and they again
scattered themselves upon the face of the earth.
26 And the rain was still
descending upon the earth, and it descended forty days and forty nights, and
the waters prevailed greatly upon the earth; and all flesh that was upon the
earth or in the waters died, whether men, animals, beasts, creeping things or
birds of the air, and there only remained Noah and those that were with him
in the ark.
27 And the waters prevailed and
they greatly increased upon the earth, and they lifted up the ark and it was
raised from the earth.
28 And the ark floated upon the
face of the waters, and it was tossed upon the waters so that all the living
creatures within were turned about like pottage in a cauldron.
29 And great anxiety seized all
the living creatures that were in the ark, and the ark was like to be broken.
30 And all the living creatures
that were in the ark were terrified, and the lions roared, and the oxen
lowed, and the wolves howled, and every living creature in the ark spoke and
lamented in its own language, so that their voices reached to a great
distance, and Noah and his sons cried and wept in their troubles; they were
greatly afraid that they had reached the gates of death.
31 And Noah prayed unto the
Lord, and cried unto him on account of this, and he said, O Lord help us, for
we have no strength to bear this evil that has encompassed us, for the waves
of the waters have surrounded us, mischievous torrents have terrified us, the
snares of death have come before us; answer us, O Lord, answer us, light up
thy countenance toward us and be gracious to us, redeem us and deliver us.
32 And the Lord hearkened to the
voice of Noah, and the Lord remembered him.
33 And a wind passed over the
earth, and the waters were still and the ark rested.
34 And the fountains of the deep
and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was
restrained.
35 And the waters decreased in
those days, and the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat.
36 And Noah then opened the
windows of the ark, and Noah still called out to the Lord at that time and he
said, O Lord, who didst form the earth and the heavens and all that are
therein, bring forth our souls from this
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confinement, and from the prison
wherein thou hast placed us, for I am much wearied with sighing.
37 And the Lord hearkened to the
voice of Noah, and said to him, When though shalt have completed a full year
thou shalt then go forth.
38 And at the revolution of the
year, when a full year was completed to Noah's dwelling in the ark, the
waters were dried from off the earth, and Noah put off the covering of the
ark.
39 At that time, on the
twenty-seventh day of the second month, the earth was dry, but Noah and his
sons, and those that were with him, did not go out from the ark until the
Lord told them.
40 And the day came that the
Lord told them to go out, and they all went out from the ark.
41 And they went and returned
every one to his way and to his place, and Noah and his sons dwelt in the
land that God had told them, and they served the Lord all their days, and the
Lord blessed Noah and his sons on their going out from the ark.
42 And he said to them, Be
fruitful and fill all the earth; become strong and increase abundantly in the
earth and multiply therein.
CHAPTER 7
1 And these are the names of the
sons of Noah: Japheth, Ham and Shem; and children were born to them after the
flood, for they had taken wives before the flood.
2 These are the sons of Japheth;
Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras, seven sons.
3 And the sons of Gomer were
Askinaz, Rephath and Tegarmah.
4 And the sons of Magog were
Elichanaf and Lubal.
5 And the children of Madai were
Achon, Zeelo, Chazoni and Lot.
6 And the sons of Javan were
Elisha, Tarshish, Chittim and Dudonim.
7 And the sons of Tubal were
Ariphi, Kesed and Taari.
8 And the sons of Meshech were
Dedon, Zaron and Shebashni.
9 And the sons of Tiras were
Benib, Gera, Lupirion and Gilak; these are the sons of Japheth according to
their families, and their numbers in those days were about four hundred and
sixty men.
10 And these are the sons of
Ham; Cush, Mitzraim, Phut and Canaan, four sons; and the sons of Cush were
Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama and Satecha, and the sons of Raama were Sheba and
Dedan.
11 And the sons of Mitzraim were
Lud, Anom and Pathros, Chasloth and Chaphtor.
12 And the sons of Phut were
Gebul, Hadan, Benah and Adan.
13 And the sons of Canaan were
Zidon, Heth, Amori, Gergashi, Hivi, Arkee, Seni, Arodi, Zimodi and Chamothi.
14 These are the sons of Ham,
according to their families, and their numbers in those days were about seven
hundred and thirty men.
15 And these are the sons of
Shem; Elam, Ashur, Arpachshad, Lud and Aram, five sons; and the sons of Elam
were Shushan, Machul and Harmon.
16 And the sons of Ashar were
Mirus and Mokil, and the sons of Arpachshad were Shelach, Anar and Ashcol.
17 And the sons of Lud were
Pethor and Bizayon, and the sons of Aram were Uz, Chul, Gather and Mash.
18 These are the sons of Shem,
according to their families; and their numbers in those days were about three
hundred men.
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19 These are the generations of
Shem; Shem begat Arpachshad and Arpachshad begat Shelach, and Shelach begat
Eber and to Eber were born two children, the name of one was Peleg, for in
his days the sons of men were divided, and in the latter days, the earth was
divided.
20 And the name of the second
was Yoktan, meaning that in his day the lives of the sons of men were
diminished and lessened.
21 These are the sons of Yoktan;
Almodad, Shelaf, Chazarmoveth, Yerach, Hadurom, Ozel, Diklah, Obal, Abimael,
Sheba, Ophir, Havilah and Jobab; all these are the sons of Yoktan.
22 And Peleg his brother begat
Yen, and Yen begat Serug, and Serug begat Nahor and Nahor begat Terah, and
Terah was thirty-eight years old, and he begat Haran and Nahor.
23 And Cush the son of Ham, the
son of Noah, took a wife in those days in his old age, and she bare a son,
and they called his name Nimrod, saying, At that time the sons of men again
began to rebel and transgress against God, and the child grew up, and his
father loved him exceedingly, for he was the son of his old age.
24 And the garments of skin
which God made for Adam and his wife, when they went out of the garden, were
given to Cush.
25 For after the death of Adam
and his wife, the garments were given to Enoch, the son of Jared, and when
Enoch was taken up to God, he gave them to Methuselah, his son.
26 And at the death of
Methuselah, Noah took them and brought them to the ark, and they were with
him until he went out of the ark.
27 And in their going out, Ham
stole those garments from Noah his father, and he took them and hid them from
his brothers.
28 And when Ham begat his first
born Cush, he gave him the garments in secret, and they were with Cush many
days.
29 And Cush also concealed them
from his sons and brothers, and when Cush had begotten Nimrod, he gave him
those garments through his love for him, and Nimrod grew up, and when he was
twenty years old he put on those garments.
30 And Nimrod became strong when
he put on the garments, and God gave him might and strength, and he was a
mighty hunter in the earth, yea, he was a mighty hunter in the field, and he
hunted the animals and he built altars, and he offered upon them the animals
before the Lord.
31 And Nimrod strengthened
himself, and he rose up from amongst his brethren, and he fought the battles
of his brethren against all their enemies round about.
32 And the Lord delivered all
the enemies of his brethren in his hands, and God prospered him from time to
time in his battles, and he reigned upon earth.
33 Therefore it became current
in those days, when a man ushered forth those that he had trained up for
battle, he would say to them, Like God did to Nimrod, who was a mighty hunter
in the earth, and who succeeded in the battles that prevailed against his
brethren, that he delivered them from the hands of their enemies, so may God
strengthen us and deliver us this day.
34 And when Nimrod was forty
years old, at that time there was a war between his brethren and the children
of Japheth, so that they were in the power of their enemies.
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35 And Nimrod went forth at that
time, and he assembled all the sons of Cush and their families, about four
hundred and sixty men, and he hired also from some of his friends and
acquaintances about eighty men, and be gave them their hire, and he went with
them to battle, and when he was on the road, Nimrod strengthened the hearts
of the people that went with him.
36 And he said to them, Do not
fear, neither be alarmed, for all our enemies will be delivered into our
hands, and you may do with them as you please.
37 And all the men that went
were about five hundred, and they fought against their enemies, and they
destroyed them, and subdued them, and Nimrod placed standing officers over
them in their respective places.
38 And he took some of their
children as security, and they were all servants to Nimrod and to his
brethren, and Nimrod and all the people that were with him turned homeward.
39 And when Nimrod had joyfully
returned from battle, after having conquered his enemies, all his brethren,
together with those who knew him before, assembled to make him king over
them, and they placed the regal crown upon his head.
40 And he set over his subjects
and people, princes, judges, and rulers, as is the custom amongst kings.
41 And he placed Terah the son
of Nahor the prince of his host, and he dignified him and elevated him above
all his princes. | 
