The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, the Sons of Jacob read the book online, read for free. Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs of the 12 Patriarchs

INTERESTING DATES IN BIBLE HISTORY (Old and New Testaments) Note: Many of the dates given in this list are approximate or disputed. BC e.8500 First cities in the Middle East.5000 Jericho already exists.4004 Date of creation of the world, according to Bishop Usher.3761

Great covenants, permissions and prohibitions May you have no other gods before the face of God, for the teaching of God is omnipotent, because it is true. You shall not make for yourself an idol or any idol in the form of a man, a woman, or any kind of livestock, to serve and worship them. Don't say the name

Chapters: 8-16

Chapters: 17-35

Chapters: 86-94

Chapters: 95-102

Chapters: 103-110

Preface

"The Testaments (Testaments) of the Twelve Patriarchs" is one of the most significant works of all pseudepigraphic literature. Its dating is extremely complicated by the fact that the text contains many insertions, some of which could have been made by a Jew, while others - undoubtedly, only by a Christian. According to most scholars, the main text of the “Testaments” can be attributed to the first half of the 1st century. BC - from the reign of King Alexander Janna in Judea until the capture of Jerusalem by the Roman commander Gnaeus Pompey in 63 BC. Thus, the apocrypha is a work of Jewish literature and was created, most likely, in Palestine.

The Testaments are twelve special texts united by a common authorship, design and plan. The content of the apocrypha is not purely apocalyptic; each part is devoted primarily to the glorification of some virtue or the condemnation of some vice. However, the typical apocalyptic visions in the “Testaments” of Levi, Naphtali and Joseph, as well as the general prophetic (messianic) orientation of almost all parts of the apocrypha, allow us to consider the “Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs” the most ancient monument of Jewish apocalyptic literature that has come down to us in Greek.

The Greek text is, in all likelihood, a translation of an outdated Hebrew or Aramaic. However, the “Testament of Naphtali”, preserved in Hebrew, does not have much in common with the corresponding Greek part of the “Testaments”. The same can be said about the surviving Aramaic fragments of the Testament of Levi.

The popularity of the apocrypha in the Middle Ages is evidenced by the fact that it was preserved not only in Greek (and in many manuscripts), but also in Slavic and Armenian. Fragments of Syriac and Ethiopic translations have also survived.

First edition of the Greek text: J. E. Grabius. Spicilegium sanctorum patrum, ut et haereticorum, seculi post Christum natum I, II et III. Oxoniae (Oxford), 1698. In Russian, “Testaments” were published twice: A fragment of Jewish antiquities. M., 1816 (translation made from the Latin transcription). Prot. A. Smirnov. Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs, the sons of Jacob. Kazan, 1911. This translation is based on the edition: R. H. Charles. The Greek Versions of the Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs. Oxford, 1908.

It should be noted that in scientific editions of the text of the “Testaments” (including in the named edition of Charles) not only Greek, but also Armenian and Slavic manuscripts are used. Significant differences between different manuscripts are highlighted in the margins, and often all available variants of the same piece of text are printed (sometimes up to four variants). In the translation published in this edition, in each case only one option is selected - the most detailed or the most understandable.

Preface 2

THE TWELVE PATRIARCHES' TESTAMENTS ("testaments") [Greek. Ϫιαθῆκαι τῶν ιβ´ πατριαρχῶν; lat. Testamenta XII Patriarcharum], early Christ. apocrypha, compiled on the basis of biblical and post-biblical Jewish traditions about the Old Testament patriarchs, in genre terms adjacent to the apocalyptic literature of testaments (testaments) (see article Apocalyptic, Apocryphal testaments). It is a collection of farewell instructions and prophecies for each of the 12 sons of the forefather Jacob, addressed to their brothers, heir sons and their descendants.

Sources D. p. z. and features of the genre This and other works in the testament genre are based on the biblical tradition of dying blessings and farewell conversations of forefathers, prophets and righteous people, represented primarily by such texts as Genesis 49 (blessings of Jacob) and Deuteronomy 31-34 (farewell conversation, prophecies and the story of the burial of Moses). Similar narratives are found in Gen. 27. 27-29, 38-40 (blessings of Isaac), Joshua 23-24 (last words of Joshua), 1 Samuel 12 (farewell conversation of Samuel), as well as in intertestamental works as included in the canon of the OT - Tob 14. 1-11 (Tobit's testament to his son) and 1 Macc 2. 49-70 (Mattathiah's dying instructions to his sons), and considered apocryphal - Jub 20-22 (Abraham's testament), Testaments of 3 patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) , Job, Kohath (4Q452), Moses, parts of the 1st book. Enoch and others. The main criterion for distinguishing the genre of a will is the storyline. At the same time, most of these works are characterized by the presence of predictions about the future (in the traditions of prophetic literature) and ethical instructions (in the traditions of wisdom literature). Less common are narratives close to the apocalyptic literature of the ascension. Despite the abundance of references to the writings of Enoch (II 5. 4; III 10. 5; 14. 1; IV 28. 1; VII 5. 6; VIII 4. 1; XII 9. 1), direct quotes from those known today. time of the books of Enoch in D. p. z. not found. But in the biographical sections there are numerous coincidences with the book’s narrative. Jubilees (for example, the legends about Judah, his wife, children and Tamar in Test. XII Patr. IV 8. 10-12). In intertestamental literature, the 12 patriarchs usually appear separately (with the exception of retellings and reminiscences from the book of Genesis in the general context of the history of the chosen people). The main focus is on Joseph (“Joseph and Asenath”, prayer of Joseph, Qumran. Apocrypha of Joseph (2Q22; 4Q371-373), various versions of the “History of Joseph”) and Levi (Aramaic book of Levi, book of Jubilees). Some tribes (especially Danovo) are assessed negatively. Therefore, the combination of all 12 tribes in one work is quite unusual and may indicate the non-Judaic origin of the monument. From the beginning XX century fragments of Aram became known. text of the book Levi from the Cairo Genizah (Camb. Genizah fr. Taylor-Schechter 16. 94; Bodl. Genizah fr. Hebr. C 27. Fol. 56, 11th century), the content of which echoed the Testament of Levi as part of the D. p. h. In the 2nd half. XX century several were found in Qumran. aram. fragments of the same work (1Q21; 4Q213, 213a, 213b, 214, etc. ). Row of Qumran. fragments (Aramic and Hebrew) echoes the Testaments of Judah, Joseph and Naphtali (3Q7; 4Q484; 4Q215, etc.). There are certain parallels with the Testament of Kohath (4Q542) and the Visions of Amram (4Q543-548), which could be unified with the Testament of Levi.

Text Currently 14 manuscripts of D. p. z. are known at the time. The oldest surviving manuscript - from the library of the University of Cambridge (Camb. Ff. 1. 24. Fol. 203-261v) dates back no earlier than the end. X century The full version is also presented in Vat. gr. 731 (XIII century). A different edition of the text with significant additions to the Testaments of Levi (after Test. XII Patr. III 2.3; 18.2) and Asher (after X 7.2), coinciding with the text of the Aram. book Levi, found in Ath. Cutl. 39 (X century). In Bodl. Baroc. 133 (XIV century), on the contrary, there are numerous omissions. For the reconstruction of the original text, the Sinait manuscript is important. gr. 547 (XVII century), which ends at Test. XII Patr. XI 15. 7. According to modern opinion. researchers, the closest to the archetype are the Cambridge manuscript and fragments in Marc. gr. 494 (Hollander. 1985). Greek text D. p. z. was first published by I. E. Grabius in 1698. In the 1st half. XX century The main one was considered to be the edition of R. Charles (7 manuscripts). Modern scientific-critical the publication was made by M. de Jonge (1st edition - in 1964; the last version, with the participation of H. Hollander and T. Korteweg, in 1978). For the reconstruction of the original text, Armenian is important. translation made from Greek. language no later than the 10th century. (Stone. 1969, 1975). Known approx. 58 manuscripts (the oldest - the 13th century; mainly stored in the libraries of the Mekhitarists in Venice and the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem). Lat. translation made in 1242 from the Cambridge manuscript by Robert Grosseteste, bishop. Lincoln, served as the basis for various translations into European. languages. A small fragment of D. p.z. is known. translated into sire. language (Lond. Brit. Lib. Add. 17193. Fol. 71a, 874). Apparently, in the end. IX - beginning X century glory appeared. translation (see below).

Original language Although none of the surviving manuscripts is Greek. The text contains no signs of translation from Semitic. languages, detection of Aram. fragments close to the content of D. p. z., forced some researchers to raise the question of Semitic. the original of the entire monument or its individual parts (Charles. 1908). However, the supposed presence of Semites. idioms in the text are explained by the dependence of D. p. z. from the LXX translation. In favor of the Greek the original is indicated by the use of paronomasia in the text (ἀθετοῦντα/νουθετῶν (Test. XII Patr. XII 4. 5), ἀναίρεσιν/ἀφαίρεσιν and λιμὸν/λο ιμόν (IV 23. 3), ἐν τάξει/ἄτακτον (VIII 2. 9), τάξιν/ἐν ἀταξίᾳ (Test. XII Patr. VIII 3. 2); constructions of Genetivus absolutus and the verb μέλλω with an infinitive (III 1. 2; 2. 10; 9. 9; IV 26. 3; VI 4. 10; XI 1. 1) ; terms of Greek philosophy (διάθεσις (XII 6. 5), αἴσθησις (I 3. 3; 6. 1; VIII 2. 8), φύσις (I 3. 1; 3. 3; VII 3. 5; VIII 3. 4-5), τέλος (X 1. 3, 9; 2. 1; XII 4. 1, etc.).

Origin and dating of D. p.z. were already known by the beginning. III century according to R. X., since Origen refers to them (Orig. In Jesu Nav. 15. 6). Forefathers Joseph, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Levi, Reuben. Fragment of the painting of the fence of the Solea c. Spa on Senya in Rostov. 1675 Abundance in the text of Christ. theological ideas and allusions to the gospel narrative (salvation through Christ (Test. XII Patr. II 7. 2; III 2. 11; 10. 2; 14. 2; 17. 2; 18. 9; IV 24. 6; VII 5 . 10; 6. 9; VIII 19. 11; VIII 8. 7); ; X 7. 3; XII 10. 8); inclusion of pagan peoples among those being saved (II 7. 2; III 2. 11; XI 19. 11, etc.); ) allows us to say that D. p.z. in their current form are Christ. work. Forefathers Simeon, Judah, Naphtali, Dan, Gad, Benjamin. Fragment of the painting of the fence of the Solea c. Spa on Senya in Rostov. 1675 At the same time, the presence of signs characteristic of the Heb. intertestamental literature, indicates that the origin of individual parts of the D. p. z. can be looked for in the Hellenistic era. Such signs include, first of all, the exaltation of the tribes of Levi and Judah (in addition to the Testament of Levi Test. XII Patr. I 6. 10-11; II 5. 5; 7. 1-3; IV 25. 1; VIII 5. 4; IX 8 . 1), characteristic, for example, of the book. Jubilees (30-32) and Aram. book Levi and important for religions. and political life of the Hasmonean era; frequent references to the book. Enoch the Righteous (II 5.4; III 10.5; 14.1; IV 28.1; VII 5.6; VIII 4.1; XII 9.1); the use of images of Jewish apocalypticism (ascension to the Throne of God, angelology and demonology) (III 2-5; I 2-3; 5. 6-7; IV 16. 1, etc.); anti-Samaritan tendencies (III 7.2); the opposition of Shem and Ham, whose descendants are doomed to destruction (II 6. 3-5); theme of dispersion and captivity (III 10. 4; 15. 1; 17. 9; IV 21. 6; 23. 5; VI 9. 6; VII 5. 8, 13; VIII 4. 2) and others. ., the most probable time of appearance of D. p.z. should be considered the 2nd century. according to R.H. (if this is a Christian work) or II century. BC (if the materials collected in it, not related to Christianity, once formed a unity, and then underwent Christian processing). Important for resolving the dating issue is the assessment of the prophecies about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (Test. XII Patr. III 15. 1; VII 5. 13). Towards the theory of Christ. E. Schürer, A. Dupont-Sommer, M. Filonenko, J. Charlesworth, H. Key and others were inclined towards interpolation. M. de Jonge, J. Vanderkam, J. Nickelberg advocated for Christ. origin of the monument.

Structure and content of D. p. z. is a collection of 12 self-contained works written on behalf of one of the 12 sons of Jacob and arranged in order of their seniority - from Reuben to Benjamin. Each section follows a general pattern: introduction, a story about the life of the patriarch (absent only in the Testament of Asher), ethical instructions (minimal in the Testament of Levi), prediction of the future, 2nd (short) instructions, a story about the death and burial of the patriarch (all are buried in Hebron). The sections are preceded by titles, which indicate their main theme (for example, the Testament of Simeon - about envy). Each of the patriarchs, recalling episodes of his life, talks about his sins and virtues. Based on what has been said, a warning is given against repeating sins and instructions to imitate virtues. Predictions of the future are made in the form of stereotypical revelations (usually following the pattern: sin - punishment - repentance - salvation). Reuben's will is based on 3 biblical stories: about the illegal copulation of Reuben with Bilhah, his father's concubine (Gen. 35.22); about Joseph’s refusal to cohabit with an Egyptian woman, his master’s wife (Gen. 39. 1-18); about the giants generated by the Watchers and “daughters of men” (Gen. 6. 1-4; cf.: 1 Enoch 6-11). For his sin, Reuben was punished with a plague “in the entrails” for 7 months, but was forgiven after 7 years of repentance, accompanied by fasting (Test. XII Patr. I 1. 5-10). During his repentance, Reuben received the revelation of the 7 spirits of error (more precisely, 2 groups of 8 and 7 spirits respectively, which may be the result of interpolation). Warnings about the dangers of fornication are accompanied by a negative assessment of women (5. 1-5). The final part predicts the rivalry between the descendants of Reuben and the descendants of Levi and Judah. In general, the section provides an interpretation of the obscurity or ambiguity of the biblical account of Reuben's sin (Bilhah is absolved of all guilt for this sin, despite the wicked nature of women, Reuben is severely punished, Jacob no longer touches Bilhah after this; a similar concept is presented in Jub 33. 2-8). Although, along with fornication, the Testament of Reuben condemns only the sin of drunkenness, the title “On Thoughts” probably implies that the entire section should be considered as a general anthropological introduction to D. p. z. The Testament of Simeon (on envy) discusses the attack of Simeon and Levi on Shechem (Gen. 34) and Simeon’s “annoyance” with Joseph (cf. Gen. 37. 11). The prince of error and the spirit of jealousy or envy are said to be the culprits of these offenses (Test. XII Patr. II 2. 7; 3. 1). For his sins, Simeon is punished with withered hands. He finds forgiveness after 2 years of repentance and fasting. Joseph is given as a positive example, as in the Testament of Reuben. The final part of this section again speaks of the sin of fornication and the battle of the descendants of Simeon with the descendants of Levi. The prediction about the future is made with reference to the writings of Enoch (II 5.4). In 6.1-7 the prophecies are presented in poetic form (cf. Sir 24.13-17; 50). The finale predicts the victory of people over evil spirits, the resurrection of Simeon and the Incarnation of God (6. 5-7). From the tribes of Levi and Judah will come a High Priest and King, who will be God and man and will save all nations and Israel (7. 1-2). The Testament of Levi deals with divine origin and the office of the priesthood. Pride, which is included in the title, is not mentioned in the text of the will, but is implied as the main sin of the Old Testament priesthood. Levi appears as the main mediator in the salvation of Israel and all nations, standing above Judah. Some of the text is based on Aram. book Levia. After a short introduction, 2 visions of Levi are narrated (1st, close to 1 Enoch 14-16, about a journey with an angel through 7 heavens to the Throne of God, as a result of which Levi is appointed priest and receives orders to destroy Shechem; 2nd, based on Jub 32.1 and Aram. Book of Levi 4-5, about the dressing of Levi 7 by angels in high priestly robes), followed by the vision of Jacob and the instruction of Isaac (based on Aram. Book of Levi 5-10), a series of exhortations and predictions , a narrative of the life of Levi (close to the Aramaic book of Levi 11-12), another exhortation (about the fear of God in the style of wisdom literature), an apocalyptic vision (there is no analogue in the Aramaic book of Levi; the narrative includes the history of the priesthood and its sins , the story of the destruction of the temple and the captivity, interpretation of the 70 weeks, allusions to Baptism and the temptation of the Savior, the prediction of the salvation of Adam and the defeat of Belial) and conclusion. In the Testament of Levi, in addition to plural. allusions to the texts of the NT and predictions about the coming of the Son of God and His Passion (Test. XII Patr. III 4. 4, etc.) the story about the angelic service (3. 5-6), frequent references to the book. Enoch the Righteous (10.4; 14.1; 16.1), the absence of mentions of Aaron in genealogical lists, the call for continuous reading of Scripture (13.2), etc. The testament of Judah (about courage, love of money and fornication) surpasses the rest in volume sections D. p. z. Judas appears as a hunter, warrior and progenitor of the royal family and the King-Messiah (IV 24). Ch. 9 (about Esau), close in content to Jub 37-38, may be an interpolation. The story in chapters 8, 10-12 is based on Genesis 38. As in the Testament of Reuben, the theme of drunkenness and wives is raised. deceit. In the 20th chapter. we are talking about 2 spirits (truth and error), and in the 21st chapter. it is commanded to love Levi, who is placed above Judah. The finale contains a prophecy of an eschatological nature, ending with a prediction of the resurrection of the dead. Issachar's testament (about simplicity, in the sense of a simple peasant way of life) has many similarities with the popular concepts of the Cynics and Stoics. First, the story of Genesis 30. 14-18 about Rachel, Leah and the mandrakes is reproduced. Chaste Issachar and Joseph are contrasted with Reuben and Judah. Next, Issachar talks about a number of virtues. In the 6th chapter. a prophecy is given about the last times, when his descendants will leave “simplicity.” In conclusion, the virtues of Issachar are again listed. The Testament of Zebulun (about compassion and mercy) states that he committed sins only in his thoughts and dissuaded his brothers from killing Joseph (cf. Gen. 37). For his mercy, God granted Zebulun health (VI 5.2). In the 6th chapter. It is reported that Zebulun was the first to build a boat and fish. In 9.8 the appearance of the Lord and the trampling of Belial are predicted. In conclusion, Zebulun speaks of his resurrection and that he will be the leader of those who remain faithful to the law (10.2). Dan's testament contains discussions of anger and lies. In the 5th chapter. the descendants of Dan are predicted to retreat from Levi and Judah and mix with the pagans, which will lead to captivity. By turning to the Lord, they will have mercy. From the tribe of Levi and Judah the Savior will come, who will defeat Belial. 5:12 mentions the joy of the saints in Eden and the New Jerusalem. The Testament of Naphtali (on natural goodness), after the biographical and genealogical sections, speaks of the natural order and differences in creation (according to gender, feelings, parts of the body). With reference to the writings of Enoch (VIII 4.1) it speaks of punishments for those who violate the natural order. In the 5th chapter. the conversion of pagans to God is predicted. In the finale, Naphtali calls on the brothers to unite with Levi and Judah, from whom Israel will be saved (VIII 8. 2-3). The time of abstaining from communication with his wife for prayer is also mentioned (8.8). The Testament of Gad (about hatred) speaks of the sin of this patriarch (the desire to kill Joseph because of hatred of him), the consequence of which is illness (IX 5. 9-11). Gad warns his sons against the “spirit of hatred,” which “collaborates” with Satan (IX 4. 7). 8.1 touches upon the theme of the veneration of Judah and Levi. The Testament of Asher (about the two paths of vice and virtue) is adjacent to the extensive literature of the two paths. In Part 1, duplicity and deceit are condemned. Two types of people are described: those who sin, but then repent and overcome evil, and those who, even doing good, are under the influence of Belial. It is necessary to strive for integrity. The 2nd talks about the eschatological consequences of the 2 paths. The dispersion of the descendants of Gad and Dan is predicted (X 7.6). In the 7th chapter. the coming of the Savior is mentioned, Who will eat and drink with people and “crush the head of the dragon in the water” (7.3). Joseph's testament (on chastity) begins with a large poetic text (XI 1. 2-2. 7), in which his life is described and long-suffering is glorified. What follows is a narrative of his relationship with Potiphar's wife in the form of a retelling of individual episodes. At 10.5-16. 6 talks about Joseph's relationship with his brothers. Ch. 19. 1-11 was preserved only in Armenian. translation. It predicts the Birth of a Lamb from a Virgin from the tribe of Judah (19.8) and contains a retelling of Gen. 50.24-26. In the Testament of Benjamin on pure thoughts, the patriarch calls on the children to imitate Joseph in the love of God and in fulfilling His commandments, predicts that their evil deeds will cause the removal of the kingdom of God, followed by the restoration of the temple, the return of the 12 tribes, the general resurrection (not only for the triumph, but also for shame) and the coming of the Heavenly King (XII 9; 10. 6-8). In 3.8 the blood of the covenant is mentioned, in 9.1 a reference is made to the words of Enoch the Righteous. The desire for purity of thoughts is named as one of the main virtues (chapters 5 and 6).

Additions to the Old Testament narratives D. p. z. contain traditions that clarify or supplement the information of the Bible: an angel of God informs Jacob about the sin of Reuben with Bilhah (Test. XII Patr. I 3. 15); Jacob kills Esau (IV 9.3); Rachel takes the mandrakes received from Leah to the priest in the “house of the Lord” (V 2.5); the Egyptian woman resorts to witchcraft and drugs to seduce Joseph (I 4.9; XI 2-9); the Egyptians do not give the bones of Joseph to the Jews, believing that this will cause disaster in the land of Egypt (II 8. 3-4); Tamar is called the daughter of Aram (IV 10. 1), and Bilhah and Zilpah are called sisters (VIII 1. 9-12; cf. Jub 28). The reasons for certain unpleasant incidents are explained: Reuben sinned with Bilhah because she was drunk and naked (I 3.13); the angel of God commanded to take revenge on the inhabitants of Shechem for Dinah Levi (III 5. 3); the inhabitants of Shechem wanted to do the same with Sarah and Rebekah as with Dinah (III 6.8); Judah sinned with Tamar due to excessive drinking of wine (IV 11.2; 12.3; 13.5-7); Er and Onan did not want to take Tamar as a wife, because she was not a Canaanite (IV 10. 2-5); Tamar's sitting at the gate as a harlot was the fulfillment of the Amorite law for widows (IV 12.2); Gad hated Joseph because he reported him to his father (IX 1.6-9). The punishments for the sins of the patriarchs and the ways to their forgiveness, their mental and physical qualities, etc. are described in detail.

The Teaching about Christ The Lord Jesus in D. p. z. called Christ (III 10. 2), the Savior of the world - the pagans and the people of Israel (II 7. 2; III 2. 11; 10. 2; 14. 2; 17. 2; VII 5. 10; 6. 9; VIII 8 . 2; XI 19. 11; XII 3. 8), God and man (II 7. 2; VIII 8. 3; X 7. 3; XII 10. 7), God revealed in the flesh (XII 10. 8) , the Most High (III 4. 1; X 7. 3), High Priest and King (II 7. 2; III 8. 14; 17. 2; 18. 2; XII 10. 7), Prophet of the Most High (III 8. 15) , Only Begotten Prophet (XII 9.2), Star from Jacob and Sun of Truth (IV 24.1; VI 9.8; cf. III 18.3), Branch of the Most High God and Source of Life (IV 24.4), Lamb God (XI 19. 8; XII 3. 8). He will be born of a Virgin dressed in fine linen (XI 19.8), will appear in Jerusalem (VI 9.8), will eat and drink with people (X 7.3), will be sinless, meek, humble and fair (IV 24. 1; VII 6. 9), will speak to God as to the Father (III 17. 2). All the words of the Lord will be revealed to Him (III 18.2), the glory of God and the Holy Spirit will descend on Him from heaven with the voice of the Father (III 18.6-7; IV 24.2), the Spirit of holiness will rest on Him in the water (III 18 .7). He will crush the dragon's head in the water (X 7.3), renew the law by the power of the Most High, teaching everyone by His deeds (III 16.3; VII 6.9), pour out the Spirit of grace on people (IV 24.2), turn rebellious hearts to Lord (VII 5. 11), will take upon himself the sin of the world (XI 19. 11), dying for sinners (XII 3. 8). He will be accused of lying (III 16. 3), He will suffer, be mocked and crucified on a tree by his fellow tribesmen on the initiative of the high priests, and will die (III 4. 1; 4. 4; 14. 1-2; 16. 3; XII 9. 3), then “the stones will disintegrate, the sun will fade away, the waters will dry up and all creation will fall into confusion” (III 4. 1), the curtain in the temple will be torn (III 10. 3; XII 9. 4), but He will rise from hell (III 17.2; XII 9.5). As a result, hell will lose its power (III 4. 1), He will bind Belial, take away his captives and plunge him into fire forever (III 18. 12; IV 25. 3; VII 5. 10; XII 3. 8), ascend to heaven (XII 9.5), sanctify the nations with the grace of the Lord and open the gates of heaven (III 18.9-10), give His children greatness, knowledge and power over unclean spirits and make them one people (III 18.9, 12; IV 25. 3). The saints will eat in Eden from the Tree of Life, receive the Spirit of holiness poured out like fire, and the favor of the Lord and will rejoice in the New Jerusalem (Test. XII P. III 18.11; VII 5.12; XII 9.4). He will abolish sin (III 18.9), but the people of Israel will persist in their unbelief in Him (III 4.1), for which they will suffer captivity, dispersion among the nations, curses, shame and disasters (III 10. 4; 14.1; 15. 2-3; 16.5; 18.9; IV 23.3), they will accept innocent blood on their heads (III 16.3), the temple will be deserted and burned (III 15.1; 16.4; IV 23.3). He will appear again and will judge the people of Israel and all nations (XII 10. 8-9), those who believe in Him will rejoice (XII 10. 7), the people of Israel will have mercy and be accepted by Him (III 16. 5; XII 10. 11), His kingdom will be eternal (III 18.8; XI 19.12).

Ethics Moral teaching in D. p. z. is given top priority. Such vices as ignorance characteristic of the young (ἄϒνοια νεότητος) (I 1. 6), fornication (πορνεία) (I 1. 6; 3. 3; 4. 6-8, 11; 5. 3, 5; 6. 1, 4; II 5. 3-4; IV 14. 2-3; 15. 1; 18. 2), envy (ζῆλος, φθόνος) ), arrogance (ὑπερηφάνεια) (III 17. 11), love of money (φιλαρϒυρία) (IV 18. 2; 19. 1), drunkenness (μέθη) (IV 11. 2; 12. 6; 14. 3), anger (θυμ ός ) (VII 1.3, 8; 2.1-2), lies (ψεῦδος) (VII 1.3; 2.1, 4) and hatred (μῖσος) (IX 1.9). Such virtues as simplicity (ἁπλότης) (V 3. 2, 4), compassion (εὐσπλαϒχνία) (VI 5. 1; 8. 1), mercy (ἔλεος) (VI 5. 1, 3), chastity (σωφρο) are praised σύνη) (XI 4.1), patience (μακροθυμία, ὑπομονή), prayer with fasting (προσευχὴ μετὰ νηστείας), purity of thoughts (καθαρὰ διά νοια), etc. Great importance is attached to brotherly love and the preservation of unity (II 4.7; V 5.2 ; VI 9. 1-4; VII 5. 4). The Testament of Asher contains the teaching of two paths - vice and virtue (ὁδο δύο, καλοῦ κα κακοῦ) (X 1.5). A person is called to be “one-faced” (μονοπρόσωπος), that is, a supporter of exclusively good, and not “two-faced” (διπρόσωπος), that is, partly good and partly evil (X 4. 1, 6. 1). The list of vices and virtues generally corresponds to the stoic morality that was widespread in the Mediterranean at the turn of the era. The connection between ethical ideas of D. p. z. from Greek philosophy is perhaps confirmed by the absence of direct references to Scripture and commandments. In plural In the passages the influence of Christ is noticeable. ethics (a call to pray for those who offend (XI 18.2; cf. Mt 5.44; Lk 6.28), a combination of commandments about love for God and neighbor (V 7.6; VII 5.3; XII 3.1- 5; cf. Mk 12. 30-31; Lk 10. 27). In accordance with the Law of Moses, there are negative assessments or a direct prohibition of marriages with pagans (III 9. 10; 14. 6; cf. VII 5. 5; IV 8, 10-12), idolatry and sodomy are condemned as a violation of the natural law (VIII 3. 3-4).Sabbath keeping and circumcision are mentioned in connection with the story of the destruction of Shechem. Reference to food prohibitions occurs as a metaphor for moral purity (X 2.9; 4.5).

Angelology and demonology in D. p. z. maximally developed. The Testament of Levi describes in detail the 7 heavens and the unceasing angelic service (III 3. 5-6). Angels instruct the righteous (I 5.3; IV 15.5; V 2.1) and intercede for Israel (III 5.6). The angel of peace is mentioned (VII 6.5). God and His angels are opposed by Belial (Satan, the devil) (cf. 2 Cor 6.15) and his evil spirits (II 5.3; III 3.3, 5-7; 18.12; 19.1; IV 25 . 3; V 6. 1; VII 6. 1-2). In the Testament of Asher, the servants of Belial are called two-faced people (X 3.2). The angels of Belial participate in the afterlife reward of sinners (X 6. 4-5). In general, there is a tendency, characteristic of intertestamental literature, towards the personification of ethical concepts (for example: “spirit of fornication” (πνεῦμα τῆς πορνείας), “spirit of love” (πνεῦμα τῆς ἀϒάπης), “spirit of sleep” ( πνεῦμα τοῦ ὕπνου) and etc. (I 2-3; II 2. 7; IV 14. 2; 20. 1-2; VII 1. 8; IX 1. 9, 4. 7, etc.).

Eschatological doctrine of D. p. z. close to the picture of history traditional for the book of Deuteronomy and other historical books, including the idea of ​​sins (primarily deviation into paganism), for which the chosen people will be expelled or scattered, and about repentance, which will lead to their return (IV 23; VI 9. 5-9; VIII 4; cf.: Deut. 30). “The End of Times” (καιρὸς συντελείας) is associated with catastrophic events and the coming of the Messiah, who will enter into battle with Belial and defeat him (VII 5. 10). In a number of places, an uprising of the people against the tribes of Levi and Judah is predicted (I 6. 5-7; II 5. 4-6; VII 5. 4; IX 8. 1-2). Although Levi, as a priest appointed by God Himself, appears as the main protagonist of the last times, in a number of places it is said that the period of his priestly service is limited to the time before the coming of the Savior (cf. III 4. 4; 5. 2; 18). In the 7th (final) jubilee period, the priesthood will fall into sin and cease (III 17. 8-11). He will be replaced by a New Priest, who will administer judgment (III 18.2). The descendants of Levi will be at enmity with Him (Test. XII P. III 10. 2-3), as a result of which the temple will be destroyed. A new temple will be erected in the inheritance of Benjamin, and all 12 tribes will gather into it (XII 9.2). There will be a general resurrection from the dead (IV 25. 4) and a Judgment (XII 10. 8), at which the Lord will judge those who “did not believe in God who appeared in the flesh” (XII 10. 8). Ultimately, God will dwell among Israel (III 5. 2; XII 10. 11) and all nations will turn to Him (VI 9. 8). Ed. and transl.: Kushelev-Bezborodko. Monuments. Vol. 3. pp. 33-38; Tikhonravov N. S. Monuments to the renounced Russian. liters. St. Petersburg, 1863. T. 1. P. 96-145, 146-232; Porfiryev I. Ya. Apocryphal tales about Old Testament persons and events. Kaz., 1872. P. 256-284; Charles R. H., ed. The Greek Versions of the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs. Oxf., 1908; Smirnov A., prot. Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs, the sons of Jacob. Kaz., 1911; The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs: A Crit. Ed. of the Greek Text/Ed. M. de Jonge e. A. Leiden, 1978. Lit.: Grabius J. E. Spicilegium sanctorum patrum, ut et haereticorum, seculi post Christum natum I, II et III. Oxoniae (Oxf.), 1698. T. 1. P. 129-144, 335-374; Stone M. E., ed. The Testament of Levi: A First Study of the Armen. MS of the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs in the Convent of St. James, Jerusalem / Crit. transl. M. E. Stone. Jerusalem, 1969; idem. The Armen. Version of the Testament of Joseph. Missoula, 1975; Becker J. Untersuchungen zur Entstehungsgeschichte der Testamente der Zwölf Patriarchen. Leiden, 1970; idem. Die Testamente der zwölf Patriarchen. Götesloh, 1974. S. 15-163; Slingerland H. D. The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs: A Crit. History of Research. Missoula, 1977; Hultg rd A. L"eschatologie des Testaments des Douze Patriarches. Uppsala; Stockholm, 1977. Vol. 1: Interpr tation des textes; 1981. Vol. 2: Composition de l"ouvrage, textes et traductions; Hollander H. W. The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs: A Comment. Leiden, 1985. (SVTP; 8); Kugler R. A. The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs. Sheffield, 2001. A. A. Tkachenko, S. Yu. Zhukov

Slavic translations The monument was translated into glory. the language, perhaps in Bulgaria back in the era of Tsar Simeon (893-927) and later became widespread in Orthodoxy. glory (and especially Old Russian) bookishness. In Rus' D. p. z. became famous, probably, from the time of the adoption of Christianity, researchers note the typological and substantive influence of the monument (especially the Testament of Judas) on the Teachings of Vladimir Monomakh, created c. 1117 (Porfiryev. 1877. P. 16). D. p. z. constantly (up to the “Kirillovaya Kniga.” M., 1644) appear (under the name “Twelve Yakovlich”) in Old Russian. “Lists of books true and false”, in the section of renounced books (Gritsevskaya I. M. Indexes of true books. St. Petersburg, 2003. P. 38, 44, 163, 165-168, 170, 172, 174, 176-179, 181 , 187, 194, 198, 201, 224, 228, 233). In Russian manuscript tradition are represented by lists consisting of Paley - Tolkova (senior list - RNL. Collection of St. Petersburg DA. A.1.119, 2nd half of the 14th century) and chronographic (senior list - GIM. Bars. No. 619 (see: Barsovskaya Paley ), 10s of the 15th century) - and from the 15th century. independently, in various collections (for example, in the collection of the last quarter of the 15th century by the Kirillo-Belozersky book writer Euphrosynus as the Testament of Zebulun - RNB. Kir.-Bel. No. 9/1086. L. 270 vol. - 272). The Explanatory Paley contains an abbreviated edition of the D. p. z., and the chronographic one contains a lengthy one. The textology of the independent (outside Paley) lists of the site has not been studied enough, however, for most of them one can assume a secondary character in relation to Paley. Since in Paley D. p.z. placed after the story about the death of Joseph the Beautiful, their sequence is changed: the cycle begins with the Testament of Joseph. This structural feature is characteristic of most Russians. lists of the monument. In the 3rd quarter XV century D. p. z. were included in the Archive List of the so-called. Chronograph of Judea (RGADA. F. 181. No. 279), rewritten, in all likelihood, in Slutsk. It is less likely that this happened at the stage of creating the archetype of this chronographic code in the 13th century. (c. 1262) in Galician-Volyn Rus, since in his other lists (Warsaw and Vilna) the text of the “testaments” is missing. In the end XV - 1st third of the XVI century. In the Western Russian Metropolis, experiments were undertaken to transform D. p.z. into spiritual and edifying and even statutory reading. OK. turn of the XV and XVI centuries. they became part of the southwest. edition of Izmaragd (senior list - Vilnius. BAN of Lithuania. F. 19. No. 240. L. 586-612, early 16th century) as chapters 323-334, according to the location of the “testaments” coinciding with Palea, without a common title ( cm. : Dobryansky F.N. Description of the manuscripts of the Vilna public library, Church Slavonic and Russian. Vilna, 1882. P. 341, 380-381). In the beginning. XVI century (no later than 1512) the monument was included (probably through the mentioned variety Izmaragd) in the teaching part of Western Russia. edition of the Prologue (BAN of Lithuania. F. 19. No. 95 (Vilna, 1512). Sep.-Feb. L. 358-359 vol., 368 vol.- 369 vol., 370 vol.- 372 vol., 373 vol. - 378, 380 rpm - 383 rpm, 394 rpm - 395, 398 rpm - 399 rpm, 403 rpm - 404 rpm, 407-408, 409 rpm - 410 rpm, 411 rpm - 413 vol.), compiled, perhaps, on the initiative of Metropolitan. Joseph (Soltan). The cycle is dedicated here to the Week of St. forefathers and placed (in the sequence of Palea readings) under 11, 13-16, 18-24 December. No later than 1530, this edition of the Prologue was completely merged with the verse (see: Turilov A. A. Spiritual literature and writing. XI-XVII centuries // PE. T.: ROC. P. 388). In this lengthy compilative edition (BAN of Lithuania. F. 19. No. 96 (Slutsk, ca. 1530). Dec.-Feb.). D. p. z. according to calendar timing, volume and location of individual parts - “testaments” (L. 68-70, 84 volumes - 86, 89 volumes - 91, 95 volumes - 101, 105-109 volumes, 133-134 volumes, 141-142 vol., 149-151, 156-157 vol., 160 vol.- 162 vol., 164 vol.- 167) coincide with the original version. The manuscript tradition of both of these editions of the Prologue remains essentially unexplored. With the development of the high iconostasis in Great Russian. temples and the appearance of the forefathers’ rank in it (16th century), texts dating back to the D. p.z. appear on the scrolls of the Old Testament saints represented in it (Sergeev V.N. Inscriptions on the icons of the forefathers’ row of the iconostasis and the apocryphal “Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs” // TODRL. 1975. T. 29. P. 306-320). These inscriptions were also included in the lists of the explanatory Iconographic Original. In addition to Church Slavonic, there is also the Middle Ages. Czech translation of D. p. z., made from Latin in the XIII-XIV centuries. (see: Speransky M.N. “The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs” in ancient Czech writing // Collection of articles dedicated to V.I. Lamansky. St. Petersburg, 1907. Part 1. pp. 19-40).

Preface 3

Abstract to the book "Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs: Old Testament Apocrypha"
The book includes the most outstanding works of Old Testament apocryphal literature. In the appendix the reader will find lesser-known monuments - “Odes of Solomon”, “Ascension of Isaiah”, “Prayer of Joseph”, in which Gnostic motifs are clearly visible.
Compiled by: Pavel Bersnev

Preface 4

The Greek text is, in all likelihood, a translation of an outdated Hebrew or Aramaic. However, the “Testament of Naphtali”, preserved in Hebrew, does not have much in common with the corresponding Greek part of the “Testaments”. The same can be said about the surviving Aramaic fragments of the Testament of Levi. The popularity of the apocrypha in the Middle Ages is evidenced by the fact that it was preserved not only in Greek (and in many manuscripts), but also in Slavic and Armenian. Fragments of Syriac and Ethiopic translations have also survived. First edition of the Greek text: J. E. Grabius. Spicilegium sanctorum patrum, ut et haereticorum, seculi post Christum natum I, II et III. Oxoniae (Oxford), 1698. In Russian, “Testaments” were published twice: A fragment of Jewish antiquities. M., 1816 (translation made from the Latin transcription). Prot. A. Smirnov. Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs, the sons of Jacob. Kazan, 1911. This translation is based on the edition: R. H. Charles. The Greek Versions of the Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs. Oxford, 1908. It should be noted that in scientific editions of the text of the “Testaments” (including in the aforementioned edition by Charles) not only Greek, but also Armenian and Slavic manuscripts are used. Significant differences between different manuscripts are highlighted in the margins, and often all available variants of the same piece of text are printed (sometimes up to four variants). In the translation published in this edition, in each case only one option is chosen - the most detailed or the most understandable. The Slavic translation of the apocrypha was published in the book: N. S. Tikhonravov. Monuments of renounced Russian literature. St. Petersburg, 1863.

Preface 5

The Old Testament Apocrypha, included in this book, is a whole group of works that introduce us to texts that reveal Old Testament history from unexpected sides. Compiled in the last centuries before the birth of Christ and in the first centuries of our era, they demonstrate the forms in which the aspirations of Revelation were expressed in that era. The authors of the apocrypha talk about what seems to have remained “outside” the biblical narrative. The Apocrypha tells about the mystical wanderings of the Old Testament characters (Enoch, Isaiah, others), about the secret wisdom that was given to them so that they could convey it to the chosen ones. The nature of these works is such that they are in a state of a kind of literary echo with the canonical texts of the Old Testament - and at the same time they constantly strive to go beyond the biblical text, to add something of their own to it. With very different attitudes towards such a phenomenon as the apocrypha, without them the history of the Biblical canon would not be complete....,

“The Testaments (Testaments) of the Twelve Patriarchs” is one of the most significant works of all apocryphal literature. At the first stage, the question of the place and time of origin of this monument was very complicated. It has been suggested that, although the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs are essentially Jewish, they were most likely composed by a Christian author. Other researchers believed that the “Testaments” took shape over time and existed as independent works, which were later combined and, accordingly, revised and supplemented by Christian authors. Finally, regarding this monument, it was agreed that this work was created on a Jewish basis in Greek and that it has a clearly Christian character. However, the discovery of large fragments of this book in the Qumran caves in Aramaic and Hebrew gave rise to a revision of this position.

Indeed, the dating of the Apocrypha is extremely complicated by the fact that the text contains many insertions, some of which could have been made by a Jew, while others, undoubtedly, only by a Christian. Moreover, most Christian inserts should be dated no later than the middle of the 2nd century AD. e., for the “Testaments” are already referred to by Irenaeus, Origen and Tertullian. Today, most scientists are inclined to believe that the main text of the “Testaments” was created in the first half of the 1st century. BC e. - during the period from the reign of King Alexander Janai in Judea (103 - 76 BC) until the capture of Jerusalem by the Roman commander Gnaeus Pompey in 63 BC. e. Thus, the apocrypha is a work of Jewish literature and was created in a Semitic language - most likely in Palestine, but was finalized and edited in the 1st century. n. e. and in a later period.

The Testaments are twelve special texts united by a common authorship, design and plan. The content of the apocrypha is not purely apocalyptic, for each part is devoted primarily to the glorification of some virtue or the condemnation of some vice. However, the typical apocalyptic visions in the “Testaments” of Levi, Naphtali and Joseph, as well as the general messianic orientation of almost all parts of the apocrypha, allow us to consider the “Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs” the most ancient monument of Jewish apocalyptic literature that has come down to us in Greek. The Greek text is, in all likelihood, a translation of an outdated Hebrew or Aramaic. However, the “Testament of Naphtali”, preserved in Hebrew, does not have much in common with the corresponding Greek part of the “Testaments”. The same can be said about the surviving Aramaic fragments of the Testament of Levi.

Each “testament” can be divided into two parts - historical and moral. In the first, each of the patriarchs outlines events from his life, paying special attention to his own mistakes and virtues, and in the second, he draws moral conclusions based on his life experience.

There is no doubt that the author of the "Testaments" was familiar with the apocryphal "Book of Enoch", from which he, apparently, drew the doctrine of spirits, the tale of the fall of angels, the description of the highest heavens and their secrets, the apocalyptic vision of a calf with two large horns, etc. Very often in the Testaments direct references are made to the prophetic writings of Enoch. But it is curious that in the versions of the Book of Enoch that have come down to us, in a more or less accurate form there are almost no quotations given in the Testaments.

The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs left a significant mark on Christian culture. We find indications of them in Origen in his “Conversations on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah,” where the origin of various sins is explained by the influence of special evil spirits on a person. Jerome was probably familiar with the Testaments. Until the 9th century, it is difficult to judge the degree of popularity of the Testaments, but from that time on the apocrypha became quite widespread - at least in the Eastern Church. This is evidenced by the surviving numerous lists of “Wills” and borrowings from them, found in Byzantine chronographs. Apocrypha was also very popular among the Slavs. In addition to its fabulously instructive appeal, the “Testaments” could provide some assistance in the fight against Jewish propaganda, the center of which became the Khazar Khaganate (VII-X centuries). The most reliable means for defending the gospel teaching has always been considered to be an indication of the presence in the Old Testament of prototypes of Jesus Christ and the events of His earthly life, as well as direct prophecies about the Messiah-Christ, and in this regard, the “Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs” provided especially rich polemical material. The popularity of the apocrypha in the Middle Ages is evidenced by the fact that it was preserved not only in Greek (and in many manuscripts), but also in Slavic and Armenian. Fragments of Syriac and Ethiopic translations have also survived.

Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs

Testament of Reuben, firstborn son of Jacob and Leah

I. A list of Reuben's will, which he gave to his sons before he died, in the one hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life. 2. Two years after the death of his brother Joseph, Reuben fell ill, and his children and his children’s children gathered to visit him. 3. And he said to them: My children, behold, I am dying and going the way of my fathers. 4. When he saw Judah, Gad and Asher, his brothers, nearby, he said to them: Raise me up so that I can speak to my brothers and my children about what is hidden in my heart. For behold, I am departing today. 5. And he rose up, kissed them, and said to them: Hear, my brothers and my children, give ear to Reuben your father, what I command you. 6. Behold, I conjure you by the God of heaven, so that you do not commit a crime out of ignorance of your youth, as I indulged in vice and desecrated the bed of my father Jacob. 7. I tell you that God struck me with a great blow in my belly for seven months, and if my father Jacob had not asked the Lord for me, the Lord would have taken me. 8. I was thirty years old when I committed evil in the face of the Lord, and mortal weakness seized me for seven months. 9. After this I repented before the Lord for seven years, for my soul desired it. 10. And I did not drink wine or strong drink, and no meat entered my mouth, and I did not eat any food I desired, but I was in sorrow over my sin, for it was great, and there was no one like it in Israel. II. Now listen to me, my children, what I saw in my repentance about the seven spirits of temptation. 2. For seven spirits were given to man, and they are the sources of the deeds of youth. 3. The first is the spirit of fornication, it is contained in nature and feelings. The second is the spirit of insatiability of the stomach. 4. The third is the spirit of struggle, which is in the liver and in the bile. The fourth is the spirit of pleasing and divination in order to appear beautiful, which is of no benefit. 5. The fifth is the spirit of pride, to boast and boast. The sixth is the spirit of destructive and biased lies, in order to invent speeches and hide deeds from relatives and neighbors. 6. The seventh is the spirit of injustice, from which theft and robbery for the delight of one’s heart. For injustice contributes to other spirits when something is taken away from other people. 8. And so every young man perishes, who turns his mind away from the truth into darkness, who does not enter into the law of God, who does not listen to the instructions of his fathers, as I was in my youth. 9. Now, my children, love the truth, and it will protect you. Hear the words of Reuben your father. 10. Do not look at women, do not get along with another husband’s woman, do not have unnecessary affairs with women. 11. For if I had not seen Balla when she was bathing in a hidden place, I would not have fallen into great iniquity. 12. The thought of female nudity captured me and did not let me sleep until I committed that abomination. 13. When Jacob, my father, went to Isaac - and we were in Gadera near Ephrath in Bethlehem (Gen. 35:21 et seq.) - Balla became drunk and lay uncovered in her bedroom. 14. I entered and, seeing her nakedness, did wicked things, but she did not feel, and I went away, leaving her sleeping. 15. And immediately the angel of God revealed my wicked deed to my father. When he came, he complained about me, but did not touch Balla again.

IV. So, my children, do not look at the beauty of women and do not think about the deeds of women, but live in simplicity of heart, in the fear of the Lord, work, doing good deeds, both in the scriptures and in your pastures until the Lord gives you a spouse whatever He wills, so that you do not suffer the same as me. 2. For until the death of my father I was not allowed to see his face or speak with any of my brothers, for they blamed me. 3. And to this day my conscience torments me because of my wickedness. 4. And my father comforted me much, and asked for me before the Lord, that His anger might depart from me, and the Lord showed it to me. From then until now I have been careful and have not sinned. 5. Therefore I tell you, my children, keep everything that I instill in you, and do not sin. 6. For the sin of fornication is a spiritual abyss that separates you from God and brings you closer to idols, because it darkens the mind and thoughts and brings young men to hell before their time. 7. Fornication has destroyed many, for whether one is old, noble, rich or poor, he equally receives reproach from the sons of men and a stumbling block before Belial. 8. Have you heard about Joseph, how he was wary of women and kept his thoughts pure from all fornication and found grace before the face of God and before people. 9. But the Egyptian woman did a lot of things for him, calling on sorcerers and bringing him medicine, but the thoughts of his soul did not fall into evil lust. 10. For this, the God of our fathers delivered him from all the evil of visible and hidden death. 11. If fornication does not take hold of your thoughts, Belial will not be able to overcome you. V. For women, my children, are evil, and, not having power and strength over men, they cunningly act with their charms in order to attract them to themselves. 2. Those who cannot be bewitched by such charms are subdued by deception. 3. The angel of God spoke to me and taught me that women yield to that spirit of fornication more than men. And they plot in their hearts against their husbands, and with ornaments they seduce their thoughts, and through their eyes they pour poison into them, and so they enslave them. 4. For a woman cannot directly force her husband, but commits this crime with her prodigal charms. 5. So, flee from fornication, my children, and command your wives and your daughters not to adorn their heads and faces to deceive their thoughts, for every woman who resorts to these tricks is doomed to eternal torment. 6. For thus they deceived the Watchers who were before the Flood. They constantly looked at them, and desired them, and planned a deed: taking on human form, they met with women in the form of their husbands. 7. And they, imagining in their lust, gave birth to Giants, because the Guardians seemed to them to reach the heavens.

VI. So beware of fornication and be pure in thought. Protect your feelings from women. 2. And instruct women not to have contact with their husbands, so that they too may be pure in thought. 3. For constant communication, even if the wicked is not committed, for them is an incurable disease, but for us the destruction of Beliarov and eternal shame. 4. There is neither conscience nor piety in fornication, and all jealousy lives in its lust. 5. Therefore I say to you: you will be jealous and strive to surpass the sons of Levi, but you will not be able to. 6. Because God will avenge them, but you will die an evil death. 7. For God gave authority to Levi [and with him to Judah, and to me, and to Dan, and to Joseph, that we might be leaders]. 8. Therefore I command you to listen to Levi, for he will know the law of the Lord and will establish judgment and offer sacrifices for Israel until the end of time - the anointed high priest whom the Lord has called. 9. I want you to swear by the God of heaven that you will do justice, each to his neighbor, and have love, each to his brother. 10. And approach Levi in ​​humility of your heart, so that you may receive a blessing from his lips. 11. For he will bless Israel and Judah; the Lord has chosen him to reign over all the people. 12. And worship his seed, for he will die for you in wars visible and invisible. And he will be an eternal king over all.

VII. And Reuben died, bequeathing this to his sons. 2. And they put him in a tomb, and then they carried him out of Egypt and buried him in Hebron in a cave where his father was buried.

Testament of Simeon, second son of Jacob and Leah

I. A list of the words of Simeon that he spoke to his sons before he died in the one hundred and twentieth year of his life, the same year as his brother Joseph. 2. When Simeon fell ill, his children came to visit him, and, making an effort, he sat down, kissed them and said: II. Listen, my children, to Simeon your father; I will tell you what I have in my heart. 2. I was born of Jacob and was the second son of my father, and Leah my mother named me Simeon, for the Lord heard her prayer (Gen. 29:33). 3. I became very strong, I was not afraid of work and was not afraid of any task. 4. For my heart was dry, my liver was immobile, and my bowels were insensitive. 5. After all, courage is given from the Almighty to people in souls and bodies. 6. During my youth I was very jealous of Joseph, for my father loved him more than anyone else. 7. And I became strong against him in my heart, desiring to kill him, because the father of deceit and the spirit of envy blinded my mind, and I forgot that this was my brother, and did not spare my father Jacob. 8 But his God and the God of our fathers sent his angel and delivered Joseph out of my hands. 9. For when I went to Sikim to bring ointment for the flock, and Reuben went to Dophaim, where we had our necessities and all our storehouses, Judah my brother sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites. 10. When Reuben heard about this, he was saddened, for he wanted to take him to his father. 11. When I heard this, I was very angry with Judah, because he had let Joseph go alive, and I was angry with him for five months. 12. And the Lord bound me and removed the work of my hands from me, for my right hand became half dry for seven days. 13. And I knew, children, that it was because of Joseph that this happened to me. And, repenting, I cried and prayed to the Lord God that my hand would be restored and that I would refrain from all filth and envy and from all recklessness. 14. For I realized that I had planned an evil deed in the face of the Lord and Jacob my father, against Joseph my brother, being envious of him.

III. Now, my children, listen to me and beware of the spirit of deception and envy. 2. After all, envy rules over a person’s entire thought and prevents him from eating, drinking, or doing anything good. 3. But she constantly incites to kill the one whom a person envies, but he constantly prospers, and the envious one withers away. 4. And so, for two years I afflicted my soul with fasting in the fear of the Lord. And I learned that deliverance from envy occurs through the fear of God. 5. If someone runs to the Lord, his evil spirit leaves him and his thoughts become light. 6. And finally, he begins to sympathize with the one whom he envied, and is reconciled with those who love him, and thus gets rid of envy. IV. My father asked what was wrong with me, for he saw me grieving, and I told him that my liver was full. 2. For I grieved exceedingly that I was guilty of selling Joseph. 3. And when we went to Egypt and tied me up as a spy, I knew that I was suffering justly and was not saddened. 4. Joseph was a good man, having the spirit of God within him, merciful and compassionate; He remembered no evil against me, but loved me with my brothers.

5. So, my children, beware of all jealousy and envy and live in simplicity of heart, so that God may give you mercy and glory and blessing on your heads, as you see on Joseph. 6. On no day did he shame us for this deed, but he loved us as his own soul, and honored us more than his sons, and gave us wealth, livestock, and fruits. 7. And you, my children, love each of your brothers with goodness of heart, and the spirit of envy will depart from you. 8. For it embitters the soul and destroys the body, it introduces anger and enmity into the mind and incites to blood, and creates insanity of thoughts, and creates confusion in the soul and trembling in the body. 9. Even in a dream, evil envy, tempting a person, devours him and with evil spirits disturbs his soul, and makes his body tremble, and with confusion deprives his mind of sleep, and as a bad and destructive spirit appears to people. V. That is why Joseph was beautiful in face and pleasant in appearance, because nothing evil settled in him; for the confusion of the spirit clearly appears on the person’s face. 2. Now, my children, soften your heart before the Lord and straighten your paths before people, and you will obtain grace in the presence of the Lord and people. 3. And beware of fornication, for fornication gives rise to all kinds of evil, moving you away from God and bringing you closer to Belial. 4. I saw in the writings of Enoch that your sons will turn away from fornication and will injure their sons of Levi with the sword. 5. But they will not be able to resist Levi, for he will fight the battle of the Lord and overcome all your army. 6. And they will be few in number, divided into Levin and Judah, and there will be none of you who will rule, as our father prophesied in his blessings. VI. And so, I have told you everything in order to justify myself from your sin. 2. And if you put away from you envy and all hardness of heart, my bones will bloom like a rose in Israel, and my flesh will bloom like a lily in Jacob, and my fragrance will be like the fragrance of Lebanon, and the saints from me will multiply forever and ever, and their branches will grow. 3. Then the seed of Canaan will perish, and there will be no remnant among Amalek, and all the Cappadocians will perish, and all the Hittites will be destroyed. 4. Then the land of Ham will fade away, and all the people will perish. Then the whole earth will rest from troubles, and everything under heaven from war. 5. Then Shem will be glorified, for the Lord God of Israel will come to earth [as a man] and thereby save Adam. 6. Then every spirit of temptation will be given over to reproach, and people will gain power over evil spirits. 7. Then I too will rise in joy and bless the Most High for the sake of his miracles, [for the Lord, having taken on a body and tasted food with people, delivered people.] VII. Now, my children, listen to Levi and Judah, and do not rebel against these two tribes, for from them God’s salvation will be fulfilled for us. 2. For the Lord will arise from Levi as a High Priest, and from Judah as a King [God and man]. He will save [all nations and] the race of Israel. 3. For this reason I instill this in you, so that you also instill it in your children, so that they may preserve everything in their generations.

VIII. Simeon completed the instruction of his sons and slept with his fathers, being one hundred and twenty years old. 2. And they laid him in a wooden coffin to carry his bones to Hebron. And they carried them away in secret while the Egyptians were at war. 3. For the bones of Joseph were preserved by the Egyptians in the tomb of the kings. 4. The soothsayers told them that if Joseph’s bones were carried away, there would be darkness and gloom throughout the whole earth and great misfortune for the Egyptians, so that even with a lamp no one would recognize his brother. IX. And the sons of Simeon mourned their father. And they remained in Egypt until the days when Moses brought them out by his hand.

Testament of Levi, third son of Jacob and Leah

I. A list of the words of Levi that he spoke to his sons about everything that they would do and that would happen to them until the days of Judgment. 2. He was healthy when he called them to him; It was revealed to him that he would soon die. And when they had gathered, he said to them: II. I, Levi, was born in Hebron and came with my father to Sikim. 2. I was not yet twenty years old when I took retribution on Hamor together with Simeon for our sister Dinah. 3. And while I was tending the flock in Abelmechol, the spirit of the knowledge of the Lord came upon me, and I saw all the people who had turned aside from their way, and sin had built itself a house on the walls, and unrighteousness sat on the towers. 4. And I was in sorrow for the generation of the sons of men, and I prayed to the Lord to save me. 5. Then a dream came over me, and I saw a high mountain and I myself was on it.

6. And behold, the heavens opened, and the angel of the Lord said to me: Levi, Levi, come in! 7. And I ascended to the first heaven and saw great water hanging there. 8. And I also saw a second sky, much brighter and shining, and its height was infinite. 9. And I said to the angel: What is this? And the angel answered me: Do not be surprised, for you will see a different sky, brighter and incomparable. 10. And having gone up there, you will stand next to the Lord, and you will be His servant, and you will proclaim His secrets to people, and you will proclaim about the coming deliverance of Israel. 11. And through you and through Judas the Lord will appear to people to save the entire human race with Himself. 12. And your life is the Lord’s portion, and He will be your share and vineyard and fruit and gold and silver. III. So hear about the heavens shown to you. The lower one is gloomy in appearance because it sees the wickedness of men. 2. And it has. fire, snow and ice, prepared for the day of Judgment by God's justice. In it are all the spirits of reward for retribution to people. 3. In the second heaven are the forces of the troops built for the day of Judgment, in order to reward the spirits of temptation and Belial, and on them are the saints. 4. In the highest of all there is great glory, surpassing all holiness. 5. In the next heaven are the archangels serving the Lord and propitiating Him to all ignorance of the righteous. 6. They offer to the Lord fragrant aromas, a mental sacrifice unstained by blood. 7. In the same sky behind him are angels carrying prayers to the angels for the face of God (cf. Tov. 12:15). 8. Next to him are thrones and powers, by which a song of praise to God is sung.

9. When the Lord looks at us, we all tremble, and heaven and earth and the abyss shake at the face of His majesty. 10. The sons of men, who do not feel this, sin and anger the Most High. IV. Know now what the Lord will do in Judgment on the sons of men. When the rocks collapse, and the sun goes out, and the waters dry up, and the fire is hidden, and every creation is confused, and the invisible spirits are exhausted, and hell loses its protection [from the suffering of the Most High], then people will lose faith and will persist in their unrighteousness, and for this they will be judged and receive punishment. 2. And the Most High heard your prayer, that He might deliver you from unrighteousness and make you His son, and a slave, and a servant before Him. 3. You will shine with the light of knowledge in Jacob, and you will be like the sun to all the seed of Israel. 4. And blessing will be given to you and to all your seed until the Lord visits all nations in His mercy, forever and ever. [But only your sons will lay hands on Him to crucify Him.] 5. And for this purpose advice and knowledge have been given to you, so that you may instruct your sons in this matter. 6. For those who bless you will be blessed, and those who curse you will perish. V. And after that, an angel opened the gates of heaven for me, and I saw the Holy Most High sitting on the throne. 2. And He said to me: Levi, I have given you a blessing for the priesthood, until I come and dwell among Israel. 3. And then the angel brought me to earth and gave me a weapon and a sword and said to me: Take revenge on Shechem for Dinah your sister, and I will be with you, for the Lord has sent me. 4. And at that time I destroyed the sons of Hamor, as it is written in the tablets of the fathers. 5. And he said to him: I ask you, sir, teach me your name, so that I can call it on the day of trouble. 6. And he answered: I am an angel asking for the people of Israel, so that they may know that they will not be crushed. 7. And I, waking up, blessed the Almighty.

VI. And then I went to my father, found a bronze shield, which is why the name of the mountain is Shield, which is near Ebal at the right hand of Abima. 2. And I kept those words in my heart. 3. And I took counsel with my father and Reuben to tell the sons of Hamor that they should receive circumcision, for I was burning with zeal because of the abomination that they had committed against my sister. 4. And I killed Shechem first, and Simeon killed Hamor. 5. And after that my brothers came and killed that city with the edge of the sword. 6. And my father heard about this and, angry, was upset that they accepted circumcision and died, and in his blessings he bypassed us.

7. We sinned in this, that we did it against his will, and he was sick that day. 8. But I saw that the will of God was for the evil of the Sikim, since they wanted to do to Sarah and Rebekah what they did to Dinah our sister, but the Lord prevented them. 9. And they pursued Abraham our father, who was a foreigner, and tormented the pregnant cattle, and they cruelly insulted Eulaiah, who was born in the house of Abraham. 10. And they did this to all foreigners, abducting their wives by force and forcing them. 11. And finally the wrath of God overtook them.

VII. And I said to my father Jacob: Through you the Lord will destroy the Canaanites and give their land to you and to your seed after you. 2. From now on Sikimy will be called the city of fools. For as they laugh at fools, so we will laugh at them. 3. They have committed madness in Israel, defiling my sister. And we got up and went to Bethel (Gen. 35:1-8).

VIII. And again I saw a vision similar to the previous one, after we had been here seventy days. 2. And I saw seven men in white robes saying to me: Rise up, put on the vestments of the priesthood, and the crown of righteousness, and the breastplate of knowledge, and the lapel of righteousness, and the tablet of faith, and the miter of the head, and the ephod of prophecy. 3. And each of them carried something, handed it to me and said to me: From now on, become a priest, both you and all your seed. 4. And the first anointed me with holy oil and gave me a rod. 5. And the second washed me with clean water, and gave me bread and wine to taste, and clothed me with holy and glorious clothing. 6. The third clothed me in fine linen like an ephod. 7. The fourth one put on me a belt like purple. 8. The fifth one gave me a branch of a fat olive tree. 9. The sixth one put a crown on my head. 10. The seventh put on me the diadem of the priesthood and filled my hands with incense, that I might serve as a priest to the Lord God. 11. And they say to me: Levi, your seed will be divided into three orders as a sign of the glory of the Lord who is to come. 12. And the first lot will be great, and no other lot will appear above it. 13. The second will be the lot of the priesthood. 14. The third will be given a new name, for a king will arise from Judah and create a new priesthood in the image of the nations for all nations. 15. And his appearing shall find love, for he shall be a prophet of the Most High from the seed of Abraham your father. 16. And all that you desire in Israel will be yours, and your seed will eat everything beautiful in sight, and will share the table of the Lord. 17 And some of them will be priests and judges and scribes, and holy things will be on their lips. 18. And waking up from sleep, I realized that this dream was similar to the first. 19. And I hid it in my heart, and did not tell it to any person on earth. IX. Two days later I, Judah, and our father Jacob came to Isaac our forefather. 2. And my father’s father blessed me according to the visions which I saw. And he did not want to go with us to Bethel. 3. When we came to Bethel, my father Jacob saw a vision of me, that I would be their priest. 4. And he rose the next morning and offered tithes of everything through me to the Lord. 5. And so we came to Hebron to abide there. 6 And Isaac called me continually to instruct me in the law of the Lord, just as the angel showed me. 7. And he taught me the law of the priesthood, sacrifices, burnt offerings, firstborn of the fruits, willing and expiatory sacrifices. 8. And every day he instructed me, and was busy with me, and said to me: 9. Keep yourself from the spirit of fornication, for it is persistent and will defile the holy through your seed. 10. Therefore, take yourself a wife while you are still young, so that there will be no shame and filthiness on her, and not from a family of foreign nations. 11. And before entering the holy place, perform ablution; and when you offer a sacrifice, wash yourself; and having finished the sacrifice, wash yourself also. 12. And offer twelve trees with leaves to the Lord, as Abraham also taught me. 13. And of every clean and feathered animal you shall offer a sacrifice to the Lord. 14. And from all the firstfruits and wine you shall offer firstfruits as a sacrifice to the Lord God. And season every sacrifice with salt. X. Now, keep what I command you, children, for what I heard from our fathers I told you. 2. And behold, I am innocent of your wickedness and of the crimes that you will commit at the end of the ages [against the Savior of the world, Christ], tempting Israel and bringing upon it all sorts of troubles from God. 3. And you will create iniquity in Israel, so that Jerusalem will not bear your evil deeds, but the veil in the Temple will be torn and will not hide your indecency. 4. And you will be scattered as captives among the nations, and there will be shame and a curse on you. 5. For the house that the Lord chooses will be called Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Enoch the righteous. XI. When I took myself a wife, I was twenty-eight years old; her name was Melkha. 2. And she conceived and gave birth to a son, and they called his name Gerson, for we were in a foreign land. 3. And I saw that he would not be among the first. 4. Kohath was born in the thirty-fifth year of my life, and it happened at sunrise. 5. And I saw in a vision: he stood in the midst of the congregation on high. 6. Therefore I called his name Kohath, [which means the beginning of great things and instruction]. 7. And she gave birth to my third son in the fortieth year of my life, and because I suffered in childbirth, I named him Merari, which means grief. 8 And Jochebed was born in Egypt in my sixty-fourth year: for I was in glory among my brethren.

XII. And Gershon took a wife and begot Libni and Shimei by her. 2. The sons of Kohath are Amram, Izgar, Hebron and Uzziel. 3. And the sons of Merari are Mahli and Mushi. 4. In my ninety-fourth year Amram took my daughter Jochebed as his wife, for he and my daughter were born on the same day. 5. I was eight years old when we entered the land of Canaan, eighteen years old when I killed Shechem; I was a priest from the age of nineteen, at the age of twenty-eight I took a wife, and at the age of forty-eight I entered Egypt. 6. And now, my children, you are the third generation. 7. Joseph died when I was one hundred and eighteen years old.

XIII. Now, my children, I command you: Fear the Lord your God with all your heart, and live in simplicity according to all His laws. 2. And teach your children to read and write, so that they may have knowledge throughout their lives, constantly reading the law of God. 3. For whoever knows the law of the Lord will be honored, and he will not be received as a stranger wherever he goes. 4. And he will gain many friends, greater than his parents, and many of the people will desire to serve him and listen to the law from his mouth. 5. Do justice, my children, on earth, so that you will find it in heaven. 6. And sow good things in your souls, and you will find them in your life; if you sow evil, you will reap all turmoil and sorrow. 7. You will find wisdom in the fear of God, for if captivity comes and cities, and lands, and gold, and silver, and all property perish, then no one can take away the wisdom of a wise man, except the blindness of wickedness and the hardening of sin. 8. If someone protects himself from these evil deeds, then he will have wisdom, and a shining one for his enemies, and a homeland in a foreign land, and will give him a friend among his enemies. 9. Everyone who teaches good and does good will sit on the throne next to kings, like Joseph my brother. XIV. I have learned, my children, from the writings of Enoch that at the end of the ages you will sin against the Lord by laying hands [on Him] and you will be a laughing stock among all nations. 2. But our father Israel is clean from the wickedness of the high priests [who lay their hands on the Savior of the world]. 3. Just as the sun above the earth is pure before the face of the Lord, so be you the lights of Israel above all nations. 4. And if you are darkened by wickedness, what then should the nations do who are in blindness? And you will bring a curse on your race because the light of the law, given to you for the enlightenment of every person, you want to kill him, teaching commandments that are contrary to the laws of God. 5. You will plunder the offerings of the Lord, and you will steal His choice parts, and you will devour them boldly with harlots. 6. And you will teach the commandments of the Lord out of greed, and you will defile married women, and you will defile yourself with harlots and adulteresses, and you will take the daughters of the pagans as wives, and your confusion will be like Sodom and Gomorrah. 7. And you will be proud in your priesthood, exalting yourself above people, and not only above them, but also above the commandments of God. 8. For you despise the holy, cursing and mocking.

XV. Therefore, the Temple chosen by the Lord will be desolate in your uncleanness, and you will be captives among all nations. 2. And you will be an abomination to them, and you will receive shame and eternal reproach from the justice of God. 3. And all those who hate you will rejoice in your destruction. 4. And unless you find mercy through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob your fathers, not one of your seed will remain on the earth. XVI. And now I know that for seventy weeks you will remain in error and will begin to desecrate the priesthood and stain the altars. 2. And you will reject the law, and destroy the words of the prophets in the corruption of evil. You will persecute just men, and you will hate the pious, and you will begin to abhor truthful words. 4. I tell you that because of this your holy places will be desolate to the ground. 5. And your place will not be pure, but you will be cursed and scattered among the nations until He appears again and has mercy and receives you to Himself. XVII. And just as you have heard about the seventy weeks, hear also about the priesthood. 10. In the fifth week they will return to the land of their desolation and rebuild the House of the Lord. 11. In the seventh week they will find priests who will be idolaters, covetous, proud, lawless, wicked, child molesters and bestialists. XVIII. And when vengeance comes on them from the Lord, the priesthood will disappear. 2. Then the Lord will raise up a new priest, to whom all the words of the Lord will be revealed, and he himself will administer the judgment of righteousness on earth for many days. 3. And his star will rise in the heavens, like a royal one, carrying the light of knowledge, like the light of the sun, and will be magnified in the universe. 4. She will illuminate the earth like the sun, and destroy all darkness from under heaven, and peace will come to all the earth. 5. The heavens will rejoice in his days, and the earth will rejoice, and the clouds will rejoice, and the angels of the glory of the face of the Lord will rejoice in him. 6. The heavens will open, and from the Temple of Glory holiness will descend upon him with the voice of the Father, like the voice of Abraham to Isaac. 7. And the glory of the Most High will pour out on him, and the spirit of knowledge and holiness will rest on him [in the water]. 8. For he will give the greatness of the Lord to his sons forever; and no one will inherit it for generations and generations until forever. 9. And during his priesthood the peoples will be filled with knowledge on earth and will be sanctified by the grace of the Lord. [Israel will diminish in ignorance and be darkened in sorrow.] During his priesthood sin will disappear, and the wicked will cease to do evil. 10. And he will open the gates of Paradise and turn away the sword that threatens Adam. 11. And he will give to the saints to eat from the Tree of Life, and the spirit of holiness will remain on them. 12. And he will bind Belial and give power to his children to trample upon evil spirits. 13. And the Lord will rejoice in His children, and He will be pleased with His beloved forever. 14. Then Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will rejoice, and I will rejoice, and all the saints will be clothed with joy. XIX. Now, my children, you have heard everything. Choose for yourself either light or darkness; either the law of the Lord or the works of Belial. 2. And his sons answered him, saying: We will live in the presence of the Lord, and according to His law. 3. And their father said to them: The Lord is a witness, and His angels are witnesses, and you are witnesses, and I am a witness of the words of your mouth. And his sons said to him: Witnesses.

4. Thus Levi finished his testament to his sons, and stretched out his feet on the bed, and kissed his fathers, having lived one hundred and thirty-seven years. 5. And they laid him in a tomb and afterwards buried him in Hebron with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Testament of Judah, fourth son of Jacob and Leah

I. A list of the words of Judas that he told his sons before he died. 2. Having gathered, they came to him, and he said to them: 3. Listen, my children, to Judas your father. I was the fourth son of my father Jacob, and Leah my mother named me Judah, saying: I thank the Lord because he has given me a fourth son (Gen. 29:35). 4. I was smart in my youth and obeyed every word of my father. 5. And I honored my mother and my mother's sister. 6. And when the time of my maturity came, my father blessed me, saying: You will be a king, walking the good path in everything.

II. And the Lord gave me mercy in all my deeds: in the field and in the house. 2. I remember that I was chasing a deer, and I took it, and prepared it for my father’s food, and he ate it. 3. And I overcame the chamois in the run, and I caught everything that was on the plain. 4. I killed the lion and saved the kid from his mouth. I caught the bear by the paws and threw her into the abyss, and she broke. 5. I caught up with a wild pig, grabbed it as it ran, and tore it to pieces. 6. A leopard in Hebron attacked my dog, and I grabbed the leopard by the tail and threw it against a rock, and it broke in two. 7. I found a wild bull grazing in a field, and caught him by the horns, and having driven him around in a circle, and darkening his vision, I threw him and killed him. III. When the two kings of Canaan came armed to our pastures, and a large crowd with them, I ran up to the king alone, and, striking him on the shins, killed him. 2. I killed another king, Tappuah, sitting on a horse, and thus scattered all his people. 3. And I found King Achor, a man of enormous stature, shooting with a bow back and forth, and I picked up a sixty-pound stone, threw it at his horse and killed him. 5. And when I took off his armor, behold, eight men who were with him fought with me. 6. I wrapped my clothes around my hand and threw stones at them as if from a sling, and I killed four, but the rest fled. 7. My father Jacob killed Belisaph, the king of all kings, a man of enormous height, twelve cubits. 8. And trembling fell upon them, and they stopped fighting us. 9. That is why my father did not know trouble in wars, because I and my brothers were with him. 10. For he saw in a vision of me that an angel of power was following me everywhere, so that I would not be overcome. IV. After that, we had a war in the South, a major one in Sikimy. And I stood next to my brothers, and we pursued a thousand, and killed two hundred of them. 2. And I went up to the walls and killed their king. 3. So we liberated Hebron and took all the enemies captive. V. The next day we went to Areta, a mighty and strong city, threatening us with death. 2. I and Gad approached the city from the east, and Reuben and Levi approached the city from the west. 3. And those who were on the walls thought that we were alone, and came towards us. 4. And then our brothers secretly entered the city from other sides. 5. And we took it with the edge of the sword, and burned those who fled to the tower with fire, and so we captured everyone and all their property. 6. When we were leaving, the men from Tappuah took our spoils from us, and when we saw it, we entered into battle with them. 7. And they killed everyone, and took back the spoils I found. VI. And when we were at the waters of Chozeb, the people from Jobel went to war against us. 2. And rising up against them, we put them to flight, and killed their allies from Shiloh, and did not give them passage to come to us. 3. And again the people from Makhir came against us on the fifth day, and, rising up against them with a powerful knife, we defeated them and killed them too before they set out on the campaign. 4. When we approached their city, their women rolled stones at us from the height of the mountain where the city was. 5. And having hidden myself, Simeon and I climbed up the mountain from behind and destroyed this city too. VII. And the next day they told us that the king of the city of Gaash with a large people was coming against us. 2. Then I and Dan, pretending that we were Amorites, entered their city as allies. 3. And in the dead of night our brothers came, but we opened the gates for them, and killed and robbed all the inhabitants and destroyed their three walls. 4. And they came to Timna, where all their storehouse was. 5. Then their ridicule angered me, and I moved towards them to the top, and they threw stones at me and shot me with arrows. 6. And if Dan, my brother, had not entered into battle with me, they would have killed me. 7. And we bravely stepped on them, and they all fled, and going another way to our father, they begged him and made peace with him. 8. And we did them no harm, but made them our tributaries and gave them what we got from them. 9. And we rebuilt their city. 10. I was twenty years old when this war took place. 11. And the Canaanites were afraid of me and my brothers. VIII. I had a lot of cattle, and I had Hiru the Adollamite as my leader over the shepherds. 2. When I came to him, I saw Barsabas, king of Adullam. And he spoke to us and gave us a feast. And he proposed and gave me his daughter, named Bathsheba, as a wife. 3. She bore me Ira, Onan and Shelah. And the Lord destroyed two, but Shelah lived.

IX. For eighteen years my father was at peace with his brother Esau, and Esau’s children were with us, after we came from Mesopotamia, from Laban. 2. When they were eighteen years old, Esau, my father’s brother, came to us with a strong armed and mighty people. 3. And Jacob struck Esau with an arrow, and he was carried wounded to Mount Seir and died. 4. And we pursued the sons of Esau, and they had a city with iron walls and bronze gates, and we could not enter into it. We surrounded and besieged it. 5. And when they did not open to us for twenty days, I placed a ladder in full view of everyone and, holding a shield over my head and holding back the blows of the stones, I went up and killed four of their mighty men. 6. Reuben and Gad killed six more. 7. Then they asked us for peace, and, after consulting with our father, we accepted them as tributaries. 8. And they gave us fifty homers of wheat, and fifty baths of oil, and fifty measures of wine, until the famine, when we went to Egypt. X. After this, Er my son married Tamar from Mesopotamia, who was the daughter of Aram. 2. Er was unkind and was embarrassed before Tamar, for she was not from Canaan, and the angel of the Lord killed him. 3/4. And I gave it to Onan my second son, and the Lord killed him. For he did not know her, although he lived with her for a year, not wanting to have children from her. 5. When I threatened him, he got along with her, but spilled his seed on the ground on the advice of his mother. And he also died from this sin. 6. I wanted to give it to Tamar and Shelah, but my mother did not allow it. She had evil thoughts, for Tamar was not one of the daughters of the Canaanites, like herself.

XI. I knew that the Canaanites were a bad race, but the thoughts of youth blinded my mind. 2. And when I saw her pouring out the wine, I was enticed and took her without my father’s will. 3. In my absence she went and took Shelah a wife from Canaan. 4. And I, having learned what she had done, cursed her in the sorrow of my soul. 5. And she died from her sins after her children. XII. When Tamar was widowed and two years had passed, she heard that I was going to shear sheep and, dressed in wedding attire, sat down in the city of Enaim at the gate. 2 Now the Amorites had a law, that a widow should sit as a harlot at the gate for seven days. 3. And I, drunk with wine, did not recognize her, and I was seduced by her beauty because of her beautiful outfit. 4. And turning from the road towards her, I said: I will come in to you. And she asked: What will you give me? And I gave her my staff, and the belt, and the diadem of my kingdom as a pledge. And when he went in to her, she conceived. 5. And not knowing what I had done, I wanted to kill Tamar. She, having secretly sent me everything given to her, shamed me. 6. And calling her, I heard those secret words that I spoke to her when I was reclining with her in my intoxication. And he could not kill her, for it was given by the Lord. 7. And I said: She was not deceitful when she took this sign from another woman. 8. But I did not meet with her again until the end of my life, for I committed an abomination in all Israel. 9. And the inhabitants of that city said that there was no harlot at the gate, for she came from another place and sat there a short time. 10. And I thought that no one saw how I went in to her. 11. After this we went to Egypt to Joseph, because there was a famine. 12. I was forty-six years old, and I spent seventy-three years in Egypt. XIII. Now I command you, my children, listen to Judas your father, and keep my words, to do everything according to the commandments of the Lord and obey his commandments. 2. Do not follow your desires in the pride of your heart, and do not boast about the deeds and strength of your youth, for this is an evil deed in the face of the Lord. 3. When I became proud because in wars the face of a beautiful woman did not deceive me, and I disgraced my brother Reuben because of Balla, my father’s woman, then the spirit of envy and fornication began to approach me, until I sinned with Bathsheba the Canaanite and with Tamar , my daughter-in-law. 4. For I said to my father-in-law: I will consult with my father, and then I will take your daughter. He did not want to, but showed me the countless amount of gold that was behind his daughter, for he was a king. 5. And he dressed her in gold and pearls, and ordered her to pour wine at the feast. 6. And wine has corrupted my eyes, and darkened my heart with pleasure. 7. And having loved her, he lay down with her, and despised the commandment of the Lord and the commandment of my father, and took her to wife. 8. And the Lord rewarded me for the thoughts of my soul, for I was not happy in her children. XIV. And now I say, my children: do not get drunk with wine, for wine turns the mind away from the truth, and produces the passion of lust, and leads the eyes into temptation. 2. After all, the spirit of fornication has wine as a servant to delight the mind, so that these two thoughts seduce a person. 3. For if someone drinks wine to the point of intoxication, he disturbs his mind with unclean thoughts, and for fornication he heats up his body in order to enjoy it, and commits sin, and is not ashamed. 4. Such is wine, my children, for he who is drunk is not ashamed of anyone. 5. Behold, it tempted me too, so that I was not ashamed of the multitude of the inhabitants of the city, for in front of everyone I lay down with Tamar, and committed a great sin, and revealed the secret of the uncleanness of my sons. 6. I drank wine, and was not ashamed of the commandment of God, and took a Canaanite woman as my wife. 7. For the drinker of wine needs great skill, my children; This is the skill of drinking wine, in order to drink as long as a person has shame. 8. When he crosses the limit, the spirit of temptation enters his mind and makes the drunken swear, and commit lawlessness, and not be ashamed of his dishonor, but boast of it and consider himself beautiful. XV. The fornicator does not feel punishment and is not ashamed of dishonor. 2. If a king commits fornication, he is deprived of his kingdom, enslaved by fornication, just as I suffered. 3. I gave my staff, which is the strength of my tribe, and my belt, which is strength, and my diadem, which is the glory of my kingdom. 4. And having repented of this, I did not drink wine or eat meat until I was old, and I did not see any joy. 5. And the angel of God showed me that both kings and beggars are ruled by women. But the prosperity of life does not lie in them. 6. They take away glory from the king, strength from the courageous, and the smallest support from the beggar in his poverty.

XVI. Beware, my children, of exceeding the limit set for wine, for in it there are four evil spirits: lust, hot passion, debauchery and greed. 2. When you drink wine in joy, be moderate, fearing God. For if the fear of God disappears in joy, intoxication will come and shamelessness will come. 3. If you want to live wisely, do not touch wine at all, so as not to sin in arrogant words, and assault, and slander, and violation of the commandments of God, and you will not perish at the wrong time. 4. Wine also reveals the secrets of God and men, just as I revealed the commandments of God and the secrets of Jacob my father to the Canaanite Bathsheba, which God did not tell me to reveal. XVII. And now I command you, my children, not to love silver and not to look at the beauty of women, for I too was tempted by silver and gold and beauty by Bathsheba the Canaanite. 2. Beware, my children, of fornication and the love of money, and listen to Judas your father. 3. For they lead away from the law of God and darken the thoughts of the soul, and teach pride, and do not allow a husband to have compassion for his neighbor. 4. They deprive his soul of all kindness and oppress him with pain and suffering, drive sleep away from him and destroy his flesh. 5. He hinders sacrifices to God, does not remember the blessing of God, and when the prophet speaks, he does not listen, and turns away from the words of piety. 6. For he slavishly serves two passions that are contrary to the commandments of God and cannot obey God. They darkened his soul, and he walks during the day as if it were night. XIX. My children, the love of money leads to idolatry, for in the temptation of silver they call those who are not God gods, and the one who has silver falls into madness. 2. I, my children, perished from silver, and if it were not for my repentance, and humility, and the prayers of my father, I would have died childless. 3. But the God of our fathers had mercy on me, for he did this out of ignorance. 4. For the father of deception blinded me and I remained in error as man and flesh, crushed by sins, and I recognized my weakness when I thought that I was invincible. XX. Know, my children, that two spirits watch over a person - the spirit of truth and the spirit of lies. 2. In the middle is the spirit of knowledge, which inclines the mind wherever it wishes. 3. But truth and lies are written on the heart of man, and all this is known to the Lord. 4. And there is no hour in which the affairs of men can be hidden, for it is written on the very heart before the face of the Lord. 5. But the spirit of righteousness exposes everything, and burns the sinner with fire in his own heart, and he cannot raise his face to the Judgment. XXI. Now, my children, I declare to you: love Levi, and remain with him, and do not be haughty over him, lest you be destroyed. 2. For God gave me the kingdom, and to him the priesthood, and made the kingdom subject to the priesthood. 3. He gave me what is on earth, and to him what is in heaven. 4. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so the priesthood of God is higher than the kingdom of the earth, unless, having sinned, it falls away from the Lord and does not begin to rule the priesthood over the kingdom of the earth. 5. For the angel of the Lord said to me: The Lord has chosen him and made him higher than you, so that you may draw near to him and eat of his table, and bring him the firstborn of the wealth of the children of Israel. You will be king over Jacob. 6. And you will be like the sea. For just as at sea the righteous and the unjust are caught in a storm, and some are taken captive, while others become rich, so it will be in you with every kind of people: some will endure danger and captivity, while others will enrich themselves by stealing the property of others. 7. For kings will become like whales: devouring people like fish, they will enslave the sons and daughters of the free and rob houses, fields, pastures and all goods. 8. And unrighteously the bodies of many will be given as food to crows and herons, and they will prosper in evil and become exalted in greed. 9. And false prophets will be like whirlwinds, and they will persecute many righteous ones. XXII. And the Lord will bring upon them strife among themselves, and there will be continuous wars in Israel. 2. And my kingdom will pass to foreigners until salvation comes to Israel, until the appearance of a just God, when Jacob and all nations rest in peace. 3. And the Lord himself will preserve forever the power of my kingdom, for He swore to me with an oath that the kingdom of my seed will not fade away forever. XXIII. Great grief for me, my children, from the wickedness and deception that you will create in my kingdom, when you follow the ventriloquists, soothsayers and demons of temptation. 2. You will make your daughters singers and harlots, and mix with the abomination of the pagans. 3. Therefore the Lord will bring upon you famine and pestilence, death and sword, siege from enemies and shame from friends, and inflammation of the eyes, and the murder of children, and the theft of property, and the burning of the Temple of God, and the enslavement of you yourself by the pagans. 4. And they will emasculate your sons, so that they may become eunuchs to their wives. 5. And it will be so until the Lord visits you, when you repent and begin to live according to all His commandments, and He will lead you out of pagan captivity. XXIV. After this, a star from Jacob will rise for you as a sign of peace, and man [from my seed] will rise as the sun of justice, and will live with people in meekness and justice, and there will be no sin on him. 2. And the heavens will open over him to pour out the spirit of blessing of the Holy Father, and he himself will pour out the spirit of mercy on you. 3. And you will be his true sons, and you will live according to his covenants first and last. 5. Then the scepter of my kingdom will shine, and a stem will come out of your root. 6. And on it shall grow a scepter of righteousness for the nations, to judge and save all who call on the Lord. XXV. After that, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will rise to life, and I and my brothers will become leaders of the tribes of Israel: the first is Levi, the second is me, the third is Joseph, the fourth is Benjamin, the fifth is Simeon, the sixth is Issachar, and so on in order. . 2. And the Lord blessed Levi, the angel of the Lord blessed me, the powers of glory - Simeon, the sky - Reuben, the earth - Issachar, the sea - Zebulun, the mountains - Joseph, the tabernacle - Benjamin, the lamps - Dan, the garden of Eden - Naphtali, the sun - Gad , moon - Asira. 3. And you will be one people of the Lord and one language, and the spirit of the temptation of Belial will not be there, for he will be thrown into the fire forever. 4. And in sorrow, those who have died will rise in joy, and the poor will be enriched by the Lord, and those who are dying will be inspired to life by the Lord. 5. And the deer of Jacob shall run in joy, and the eagles of Israel shall fly in joy, [and the wicked shall mourn, and the wicked shall weep], and all nations shall glorify the Lord forever. XXVI. Keep, my children, all the laws of the Lord, for He is the hope of all who keep His ways.

2. And Judas said, Behold, I have been dying for a hundred and eighteen years today. 3. Let no one bury me in splendid clothing, and let no one cut open my belly, whatever the rulers want to do, but take me to Hebron, where my fathers are. 4. And having said this, he slept, and his sons did in everything as he commanded them, and buried him with his fathers in Hebron.

Testament of Issachar, fifth son of Jacob and Leah

I. List of Issachar words. For he called his sons and said to them: Hear, children, Issachar your father; listen to the words of the beloved of the Lord. 2. I was born as the fifth son of Jacob, as payment for mandrakes (Gen. 30:14-18). 3. For Reuben, my brother, brought mandrakes from the field, and Rachel, meeting him, took them. 4 And Reuben wept, and Leah my mother came out to hear his voice. 5. And those were the fragrant apples that are born in the land of Haran at the bottom of water hollows. 6. And Rachel said: I will not give them to you, but I need them in order to have children. For the Lord bypassed me, and I bore no sons to Jacob. 7. And there were two apples. And Leah said to Rachel: If it is enough for you that you have taken my husband, will you also take this from me? 8. Rachel answered her: Let Jacob be with you this night for the mandrakes of your son. 9. Leah said to her, “Jacob is mine, for I am the wife of his youth.” 10. And Rachel said: Do not be arrogant and do not boast, for he was the first to cleave to me, and for my sake he served my father fourteen years (Gen. 29:15-30). 11. And if cunning had not increased on earth, and human malice had not prospered, you would not have been the one who saw the face of Jacob. 12. For you are not his wife, but you have outstripped me by cunning. 13. And my father deceived me, and sent me away that night, and did not allow me to see Jacob, for if I had been there, this would not have happened. 14. But for the mandrakes I will give you Jacob for one night. 15. And Jacob knew Leah, and when she conceived, she gave birth to me, and from this payment I was named Issachar (Gen. 30:18).

II. Then the angel of the Lord appeared to Jacob, saying: Rachel will give birth to two children, for she has neglected communication with her husband and has chosen abstinence. 2. And if my mother Leah had not given two apples for communication with Jacob, she would have given birth to eight sons, but because of this she gave birth to six, and Rachel - two, for the Lord looked upon her in the mandrakes. 3. For He saw that for the sake of the children she wanted to get along with Jacob, and not for the sake of lust. 4. And the next day she gave Jacob up to take another mandrake. For in the mandrakes the Lord heard Rachel. 5. But she, having desired them, did not taste them, but took them to the house of the Lord and gave them to the priest who was there at that time. III. When I grew to manhood, my children, I lived in uprightness of heart, and became a farmer to my father and my brothers, and brought fruit from the fields (Gen. 49:15). 2. And my father blessed me, seeing that I lived in simplicity. 3. And I was not vain in my affairs, nor envious, nor a slanderer to my neighbor. 4. I have never slandered anyone, and I have not blasphemed the life of any person. 5. When I was thirty-five years old, I took a wife for myself, because work consumed my strength, and I did not think about pleasure from a woman, but I fell asleep from fatigue. 6. And my father rejoiced in my simplicity, for I offered every firstborn through the priest to the Lord, and then to my father. 7. And the Lord multiplied my goods in my hands, and Jacob my father knew that God helps my simplicity. 8. For I gave to all the poor and suffering from the blessings of the earth in the simplicity of my heart.

IV. And now, listen to me, my children, and live in the simplicity of your hearts, for I have seen that in this is all pleasing to the Lord. 2. The simple-hearted does not strive for gold, and does not want to surpass his neighbor in wealth, and does not covet a variety of dishes, and does not desire different clothes. 3. He does not want to attribute many years to his life, but accepts only the will of God. 4. And the spirits of temptation can do nothing against him, for he did not look at the beauty of a woman, so as not to defile his mind with corruption. 5. He does not envy in his thoughts, and slander does not exhaust his soul, nor the insatiable desire of his mind. 6. He lives in simplicity of soul, sees everything with sincerity of heart, but protects his eyes from the temptation of the world, so as not to see deviations from the commandments of the Lord.

V. Keep, my children, the law of God, and find simplicity, and live in goodness, without worrying too much about the affairs of your neighbor. 2. But love the Lord and your neighbor, and have compassion on the poor and weak. 3. Incline your backs to husbandry and labor in all husbandry, offering the Lord fruits with thanksgiving. 4. For the Lord will bless you with the firstfruits of the fruits of the earth, as he has blessed all the saints from Abel to this day. 5. For you will not be given any other portion than the fatness of the earth in the labors of fertility. 6. So my father Jacob blessed me with the blessings of the earth and the firstborn fruits. 7. And Levi and Judah were glorified by the Lord and among the sons of Jacob. And the Lord gave them an inheritance: to Levi he gave the priesthood, and to Judah the kingdom. 8. Obey them and remain in the integrity of your father. VI. Know, my children, that in the last times your sons will abandon simplicity, and wallow in greed, and reject goodness, and commit atrocities, and forsake the commandments of the Lord, and cleave to Belial. 2. And they will leave agriculture, and follow their evil thoughts, and will be scattered among the nations, and will be slaves to their enemies. 3. And you shall tell this to your children, so that if they sin, they will immediately turn again to the Lord. 4. For He is merciful and will have compassion on them and bring them back to their land. VII. Now, as you see, I have lived one hundred and twenty-six years and have not known mortal sin. 2. And besides my wife, I have not known another, nor committed fornication, as I have looked with my eyes. 3. I did not drink tempting wine, I did not covet anything from my neighbor’s property. 4. Cunning was not born in my heart, no lie entered my lips. 5. I had compassion for every person who mourns, and I shared my bread with the poor. I practiced piety all my days and kept the truth. 6. I loved the Lord and every man with all my heart. 7. Do the same, my children, and every spirit of the Belials will flee from you, and no work of evil people will prevail over you, and you will subdue every wild beast, if the God of heaven and earth, who helps simple-hearted people, is with you.

8. And having said this to his sons, he commanded them to carry him to Hebron and bury him there with his fathers. 9. And stretching out his legs, he fell into eternal sleep in a beautiful old age.

Testament of Zebulun, sixth son of Jacob and Leah

I. A list of the words of Zebulun that he spoke to his sons before he died in the one hundred and fourteenth year of his life, two years after the death of Joseph. 2. He said to them: Hear me, sons of Zebulun, give ear to the words of your father. 3. I, Zebulun, was born of a beautiful gift to my father and mother (Gen. 30:20). For when I was born, my father increased greatly in flocks and herds, when he received motley cattle as an inheritance. 4. I did not know any sin in myself all my days, except only in my mind. 5. I do not remember that I committed any injustice, except for the sin of ignorance that I committed against Joseph, when I agreed with my brothers not to tell my father what had happened (Gen. 37:26-34). 6. But I wept for many days because of Joseph, in secret, for I was afraid of my brothers, for they decided that the one who betrayed the secret would be killed. 7. But when they wanted to kill Joseph, I begged them with tears not to commit this sin.

II. For Simeon, Dan and Gad approached Joseph to kill him, and he spoke to them with tears, falling on his face: 2. Spare me, my brothers; have pity on the heart of Jacob our father. Do not lift up your hands to shed innocent blood, for I have not sinned against you. 3. If I have sinned, punish me with punishment, but do not raise your hands to kill your brother for the sake of our father Jacob. 4. When he spoke these words, grieving, I could not bear his groans and began to cry, and my insides shook, and everything in me weakened. 5. And I wept with Joseph, and my heart beat loudly, and the joints of my body trembled, and I was not able to stand. 6. When Joseph saw that I was crying with him, and they were approaching and wanted to kill him, he hid behind my back, begging me to help him. 7. Then Reuben stood in the middle and said: My brothers, let us not kill him, but let us throw him into one of the dry wells that our fathers dug and found no water there. 8. For this is why the Lord did not allow the water to rise there, so that Joseph would be saved. 9. And they did this until they sold it to the Ishmaelites (Gen. 37:22-25).

III. I did not take my share of the price for Joseph, my children. 2. But Simeon, Dan, Gad and our other brothers, taking payment for it, bought shoes for themselves and for their wives and children, saying: 3. We will not buy food, for this is the price of our brother’s blood, but we will trample it under our feet because he spoke as if he would rule over us; and we will see what will happen from his dreams. 4. That is why it is written in the Law of Moses: He who does not wish to repay his brother’s seed shall have his sandals taken off and spit in his face (Deut. 25:9). 5. But Joseph’s brothers did not want him to live, and the Lord took off their shoes, which they wore for their brother Joseph. 6. And when they came to Egypt, Joseph's children took off their sandals outside the gate, and so they bowed before Joseph as before Pharaoh (Gen. 42:6). 7. And not only did they bow down before him, but they were also spat upon at the same hour, falling down before him, and were disgraced before the Egyptians. 8. For the Egyptians had heard of all the evil deeds which they had committed against Joseph.

IV. And having done this, my brothers sat down to eat and drink. 2. I, being tormented because of Joseph, did not eat, but looked at the well, for I was afraid that Simeon, Dan and Gad would go and kill Joseph. 3/4. When they saw that I did not eat, they left me to guard him until they sold him to the Ishmaelites. 5. Then Reuben came and, hearing that Joseph had been sold in his absence, tore his tunic and said weeping: How can I look my father Jacob in the face? 6. And taking the silver, he ran after the merchants and, not finding them, returned saddened. The merchants, leaving the wide road, took the shortest route through the land of the Troglodytes. 7 And Reuben mourned and did not eat bread that day. And Dan came to him and said: 8. Do not weep or grieve; we will find something to say to our father. 9. Let us slaughter a goat, and stain Joseph's robe, and send it to Jacob, saying, Find out if this robe is your son? So they did (Gen. 37:29-33). 10. For when they sold Joseph, they took off his tunic and put on him a slave's cloak. 11. Simeon took the tunic and did not want to give it back, for he wanted to kill Joseph and was angry that they did not kill him. 12. And we all stood up and said to him: If you do not give back the tunic, we will tell our father that you alone have done this evil in Israel. 13. And he gave them the tunic. And they did as Dan said.

V. Now, my children, I command you to keep the commandments of the Lord, and to show mercy to your neighbor, and to be kind-hearted not only to people, but also to dumb animals. 2. For this the Lord blessed me, and when all my brothers fell ill, I remained healthy; for the Lord knew the thoughts of everyone. 3. Have mercy in your hearts, for whatever a man does to his neighbor, the Lord will do to him. 4. And the sons of my brothers were sick and died because of Joseph, for they had no mercy in their hearts. And my sons remained in good health, as you know. 5. And when we were in the land of Canaan, I was catching fish for my father Jacob, and many were drowned in the sea, but I remained unharmed. VI. I was the first to make a boat to sail on the sea, for the Lord gave me knowledge and wisdom for this purpose (Gen. 49:13). 2. And I fitted a wooden oar behind her, and on another straight piece of wood I pulled a sail in the middle. 3. And I sailed in that boat on the sea waters, and caught fish for my father’s house, until we went to Egypt. 7. For five years I fished [giving to every man I saw, and giving plenty to my father’s house]. 8. In the summer I fished, and in the winter I tended flocks with my brothers.

[VII. Now I will tell you what I have done. In the winter I saw a man suffering from nakedness, and I took pity on him, and, having stolen a cloak from my father’s house, I secretly gave it to the sufferer. 2. So you, my children, graciously allocate from what the Lord gives you to everyone without distinction, and give to every person with the kindness of your heart. 3. If you do not have anything to give to someone in need, have compassion on him with your heart. 4. I remember how my hand could not find anything to give to the needy, and I walked with him seven stages and cried with him, and my heart shook with compassion for him. VIII. So you, my children, be kind-hearted and show mercy to every person, so that the Lord, having compassion, may have mercy on you. 2. For in the last days God will send his heart to earth, and where he finds a merciful heart, he will dwell in it. 3. For as a man has pity on his neighbor, so the Lord will also have pity on him.]

4. When we came to Egypt, Joseph remembered no evil to us. 5. Having looked at him, my children, you also love one another, and do not plot evil, each one against his brother. 6. For this divides the one, and destroys all kinship, and disturbs the soul, and distorts the face. IX. Look at the waters and see that when they flow together, they sweep away stones, trees, earth and other things. 2. If they are divided into many parts, the earth will swallow them up and they will become insignificant. 3. And you, if you are divided, will be so. 4. Do not be divided into two heads, for everything that the Lord created has one head, and two shoulders, two arms, two legs and all other members obey one head (Gen. 45). 5. I learned from the writings of our fathers that you will be divided in Israel, and you will follow two kings, and you will do all kinds of abomination.

6. And your enemies will take you captive, and evil will come to you from the pagans amid much sorrow and powerlessness. 7. After this, remembering the Lord, you will turn, and He will have mercy on you, for He is merciful and kind in heart, and does not think evil against the sons of men, because they are flesh and wander in their evil deeds. 8. And after this the Lord Himself, the light of justice, will arise for you, and you will return to your land and see Him in Jerusalem, chosen for His holy name's sake. 9. And again, through the malice of your deeds, you will anger Him, and you will be rejected by Him until the end of time. X. And now, my children, do not grieve that I am dying, and do not be discouraged when I depart. 2. For I will rise again among you as a leader among my sons, and I will rejoice among those of my family who keep the law of the Lord and the commandments of Zebulun their father. 3. But the Lord will bring everlasting fire on the wicked, and destroy them until the descendants of their descendants. 4. Now I am going away to rest, just as my fathers also went away. 5. But fear the Lord our God with all your might all the days of your life.

6. And having said this, he fell into a wonderful sleep, and his sons laid him in a wooden coffin. 7. Afterwards they carried him away and buried him in Hebron with his fathers.

Testament of Dan, seventh son of Jacob and Ballah

I. A list of the words of Dan that he spoke to his sons in his last days in the one hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life. 2. For he called his family and said: Hear, O sons of Dan, my words, and give ear to the words of your father. 3. I have experienced with my heart and with my whole life that truth and doing just deeds are beautiful and pleasing to God, and that lies and anger, which teach a person evil, are bad. 4. I confess to you today, my children, what I have laid in my heart about the death of Joseph, my brother, a good and truthful husband. 5. I rejoiced that they sold him, for his father loved him more than us. 6. The spirit of envy and pride said to me: You are also his son. 7. And one of the spirits of Belial stirred me up: Take the sword and kill Joseph with it, and when he dies, your father will love you. 8. The spirit of anger urged me to strangle Joseph, like a leopard strangling a goat. 9. But the God of my fathers did not deliver him into my hands, so that I would kill him, having found one, and thereby destroy the two scepters in Israel.

II. And now, my children, behold, I am dying and truly I say to you that unless you keep yourselves from the spirit of lies and wrath and love righteousness and long-suffering, you will perish. 2. For anger is blindness, and it does not allow anyone to see anyone’s face in the truth. 3. For if either the father or the mother looks at them as enemies; even if it’s a brother, he doesn’t know; even if the prophet of the Lord does not listen; even if he is righteous, he does not see; Even if it’s a friend, he won’t know. 4. For the spirit of wrath overpowers him with the snare of temptation, and blinds his eyes, and darkens his thoughts with lies, and gives him his sight. 5. With what does he blind his eyes? With heartfelt hatred, so that he would envy his brother. III. For evil is anger, my children, which disturbs the soul. 2. And he takes possession of the body of the one who is angry, and rules over his soul, and gives strength to the body, so that it commits all kinds of iniquities. 3. When the body has created all this, the soul also justifies what it has done, for it sees incorrectly. 4. Because of this, an angry person, if he is strong in body, gains triple strength in anger: one - from the help of those who help him, the second - from wealth, with which he convinces and wins unrighteously, and the third - bodily, with which he does evil. 5. If an angry person is weak, he develops double strength from rage, for anger constantly helps him in lawlessness. 6. This spirit always comes with lies from the right hand of Satan, so that his deeds are done in cruelty and lies. IV. So know that the power of anger is vain. 2. For in speeches it first becomes aggravated, then in deeds it gives strength to the one who is angry, and with bitter harm it disturbs his mind, and so stirs up his soul with great anger. 3. And therefore, if anyone speaks against you, do not give in to anger, and if someone begins to praise you as saints, do not be arrogant. And do not change either from pleasure or from hostility. 4. For at first the ear is delighted, and therefore the mind is sharpened and listens to the excitement, and when a person becomes angry, he thinks that his wrath is just. 5. If any harm or destruction comes to you, children, do not worry, for that spirit wants to agitate the perishing, so that he will fall from the excitement of rage. 6. And if you endure suffering, voluntarily or involuntarily, do not be upset, for grief awakens anger and lies. 7. After all, this two-faced evil is anger with lies, and they help each other, disturbing the heart. And when the soul is constantly indignant, the Lord retreats from it, and Belial rules over it. V. Keep, my children, the commandments of the Lord, and keep His law. But retreat from anger and hate lies, so that the Lord may dwell in you and Belial may flee from you. 2. Speak truth every one to his neighbor and do not fall into rage and confusion, but remain in peace, having a God of peace, and war will not have power over you. 3. Love the Lord throughout your life, and also love one another with a true heart. 4. I know that in the last days you will turn away from the Lord, and you will be angry with Levi, and you will come out against Judah, but you will not be able to do anything against them. The angel of the Lord will lead them both, for Israel will stand on them. 5. And when you depart from the Lord, living in all evil, you will commit pagan abominations, indulging in fornication with the wives of wicked people, and evil spirits will do all kinds of evil through you. 8. That is why you will be taken [by them] into captivity, and there you will receive all the plagues of Egypt and all the evil of the pagans. 9. Then, turning to the Lord, you will have mercy, and He will bring you to His holiness and give you peace. 10. And the Lord will bring you salvation from [Judah and] Levi, and he will wage war against Belial and will repay vengeance for your fathers. 11. And he will take captives from Belial [the souls of the saints], and will turn rebellious hearts to the Lord, and will give eternal peace to those who call on Him. 12. And the saints will rest in Eden, and the righteous will rejoice in the new Jerusalem, the glory of the eternal God. 13. And Jerusalem will no longer be desolate, and Israel will not be taken captive, for the Lord will be in the midst of it [living among people], and the Holy One of Israel who reigns in it [in humiliation and poverty, and whoever believes in Him will reign over people in truth ]. VI. And now, fear the Lord, my children, and take care of yourselves from Satan and his spirits. 2. Come to God and the angel who comforts you, for he is the mediator between God and people, and for the peace of Israel he will rise up against the kingdom of the Enemy. 3. That is why the Enemy plots against everyone who calls on the Lord. 4. For the Enemy knows that on the day that Israel turns, his kingdom will end. 5. The angel of peace himself will give strength to Israel not to fall into the destruction of evil. 6. And it will come to pass in the times of Israel's iniquity: the Lord will not depart from them, but will come also to the nations that seek His will, for not one of the angels is equal to Him. 7. And His name is in every place of Israel and among the nations. 8. Protect yourselves, my children, from every evil deed, and throw away anger and lies from yourself, and love truth and patience. 9. And what you have heard from your father, convey to your children, [may the Savior of the nations receive you, for He is just and patient, meek and humble, and teaches by His works the law of the Lord.] 10. So turn away from all unrighteousness, and cleave to to the justice of God, and your family will be saved forever. 11. And bury me next to my fathers.

VII. And having said this, he kissed them and fell into a wonderful sleep. 2 And his sons buried him. And after that they carried his bones to where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were buried.

Testament of Naphtali, eighth son of Jacob and Ballah

I. A list of the will of Naphtali, given by him at the hour of his death in the one hundred and thirtieth year of his life. 2. When his sons gathered together in the seventh month on the first day, he gave them a feast. 3. And waking up the next morning, he said to them: I am dying. And they didn't believe him. 4. And having glorified the Lord, he gathered his strength and said: After the feast that was yesterday, my flesh died. 5. And he began to say: Hear, my children, sons of Naphtali, listen to the words of your father. 6. I was born of Ballah, for Rachel worked a trick, and gave Ballah to Jacob in her place, and she conceived and gave birth to me in Rachel’s lap, and therefore my name was called Naphtali (Gen. 30:8). 7. Rachel loved me very much, for I was born on her knees, and when I was still small, she kissed me, saying: May your brother be given to me from my womb, like you. 8. That is why Joseph was like me in everything, at the prayers of Rachel. 9. My mother Balla was the daughter of Rupheus, the brother of Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, and was born on the same day as Rachel. 10. Rutheus was from the family of Abraham, a Chaldean who worshiped God, free and noble. 11. And having been taken captive, he was bought by Laban, and he gave him Enan his maidservant as his wife, who gave birth to a daughter and called her name Zilpah, after the name of the city where Rutheus was taken captive. 12. Afterwards she gave birth to Balla and said: My daughter is in a hurry to the new, for she was born quickly and, taking the breast, immediately began to suck.

II. I was light on my feet, like a chamois, and my father Jacob entrusted me with every message, and he blessed me like a chamois. 2. Just as a potter knows how much a vessel can hold, and accordingly takes clay for it, so the Lord, in accordance with the spirit, creates the body, and according to the strength of the body, puts the spirit. 3. And there is no discrepancy by a third of a hair, for all creation is accomplished by weights, and by measure, and by rule. 4. And just as the potter knows the use of every vessel, what it is suitable for, so the Lord knows the body, to what extent it remains in goodness, and when it turns to evil. 5. For there is no creation and no thought that the Lord does not know. For He created every man in His own image. 6. And as is his strength, so is his work; as his eye is, so is his sleep; as his soul is, so is his word - either according to the law of the Lord, or according to the law of Belial. 7. And just as they differentiate between light and darkness, between sight and hearing, so they differentiate between husband and man, and between woman and woman, and it cannot be said that one is similar to the other in face or in thought. 8. For God did everything beautifully in his order: he placed the five senses in the head, and fitted the throat to the head, and grew the hair on it for beauty and glory; Afterwards he created the heart for reasoning, the stomach for digestion, the belly for cleansing the body, the throat for breathing, the liver for anger, the bile for grief, the spleen for joy, the kidneys for understanding, the sides for sleep, the thighs for power, and so on. 9. So, my children, let all your deeds be in order, and in good thoughts, and in the fear of God, and do not do anything foolish, carelessly, or at the wrong time. 10. For if you say to the eye: Listen, it will not be able to. So you, being in darkness, will not be able to do works of light.

III. So do not strive in covetousness to destroy your deeds, and do not deceive your souls with empty words, for silently, in the purity of your heart, you will see how to support the will of God and reject the will of Belial. 2. The sun, moon and stars do not change their order; So do not change the law of God by depriving your affairs of order. 3. The pagans, being mistaken and rejecting the Lord, changed their order, they began to obey wood and stone, the spirits of temptation. 4. Don’t do this, my children; recognize the Lord in the firmament, on the earth, in the sea and in all His creations, who created everything, so that you do not become like Sodom, which changed the structure of its nature (cf. Gen. 19). 5. Likewise, the Guardians changed the structure of their nature, and the Lord overthrew them with a flood, because of them making the earth deprived of settlements and fruits.

IV. Then I tell you, my children, that I learned from the writings of Enoch, that you too will apostatize from the Lord, and will begin to live in all the lawlessness of the pagans, and will do all the evil of Sodom. 2. And the Lord will bring captivity upon you, and you will be slaves to your enemies, and you will be subjected to every misfortune and sorrow, until the Lord delivers you all. 3. When you are diminished and diminished, you will return and know your God, and He will bring you back to your land according to His great mercy. 4. And it will happen that those who have come to the land of their fathers will again forget the Lord and commit wickedness. 5. And the Lord will scatter them over the face of the whole earth, until the mercy of the Lord comes, - a man who does justice and mercy to all who are far and near. V. For in the fortieth year of my life I saw a vision on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, that the sun and moon stood still. 2. And behold, Isaac, my father's father, said to us: Flee and take each one according to his strength, and he who possesses the sun and the moon will receive it. 3. And they all ran at once, and Levi took possession of the sun, and Judah managed to take the moon, and they both rose with what they took. 4. And when Levi became like the sun, behold, a certain young man gave him twelve palm branches, and Judah became as bright as the moon, and there were twelve rays under their feet. 6. And behold, a bull appeared on earth, having two great horns and the wings of an eagle on his back; and when we wanted to take it, we couldn’t. 7. Joseph came and grabbed him and went up with him on high. 8. And I saw that I was there, and behold, we saw the holy scripture, saying: The Assyrians, the Medes, the Persians, the Chaldeans, the Syrians will inherit the captivity of the twelve scepters of Israel.

VI. And again, after five days, I saw that my father Jacob was standing on the Sea of ​​Jamnia, and we were with him. 2. And behold, a ship came up, sailing without sailors or helmsmen, and it was written on it that it was the ship of Jacob. 3. And our father said to us: Let us board our ship. 4. When we ascended, there arose a strong storm and a great whirlwind, and our father, who was holding the rudder, left us. 5. And we, driven by a storm, rushed across the sea, and the ship was filled with water, and huge waves flooded it, and from them it crumbled. 6. And Joseph sailed away in the boat, and we were divided into ten planks. Levi and Judah were on the same board. 7. And it scattered us all to different ends of the earth. 8. And Levi, clothed in sackcloth, prayed to the Lord. 9. When the storm subsided, the ship arrived at the land in peace. 10. And behold, our father came, and we all rejoiced together.

VII. I told my father these two dreams, and he said to me: This must be fulfilled in due time, when Israel will endure much. 2. Then my father said: I believe God that Joseph is alive, for all the time I see that the Lord counts him with the living. 3. And he said, crying: Alas, my child Joseph, you are alive, but I do not see you, and you do not see Jacob, who gave birth to you. 4. These words made me cry; and I was inflamed in my heart to proclaim that Joseph was sold, but I was afraid of my brothers. VIII. And now, my children, I have shown you the last times, when everything will be accomplished in Israel. 2. And tell this to your children, so that they may be united with Levi and Judah. For through them salvation will come to Israel, and in them Jacob will be blessed. 3. From their scepter God [living in people] will appear on earth to save the race of Israel and bring to it the righteous from among the Gentiles. 4. And if you also do good, people and angels will bless you, and through you God will be glorified among the nations, and the devil will flee from you, and the beasts will fear you, and the Lord will love you [and the angels will embrace you]. 5. He who raises a good son acquires a good memory, and in the same way a good memory of a good deed remains with God. 6. The one who does evil will be cursed by both angels and people, and the pagans will blaspheme God because of him, and the devil will dwell in him as in his instrument, and every beast will have power over him and will hate him. Lord. 7. The commandments of the law are twofold, and art is needed to fulfill them. 8. For there is a time for communication with your wife, and a time for abstinence for prayer (cf. Ecc. 3:1-8). 9. And both commandments are from God, and if they were not fulfilled in their order, great sin would be committed by people. The same goes for the rest of the commandments. 10. Be wise in God, my children, and prudent, seeing the order of His commandments and the laws of all affairs, so that the Lord may love you.

IX. And having bequeathed many similar things to them, he asked that his bones be taken to Hebron and buried there with his fathers. 2. And he ate and drank with joy in his soul, then he covered his face and died. 3. And his sons did everything as Naphtali their father commanded them.

Testament of Gad, ninth son of Jacob and Zilpah

I. A list of the will of Gad, which he spoke to his sons in the one hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life. He said to them: 2. Listen, my children: I was born the ninth son of Jacob and was bold in the pastures. 3. I guarded the herd at night, and when a lion, or a wolf, or another animal came to the pasture, I chased him, and overtook him, and caught him by the leg with my hand, and threw him like a stone, and killed him. 4. Joseph, my brother, tended the flock with us for about thirty days and, being young, fell ill from the heat. 5. And he returned to Hebron, to our father; and he laid it next to him, for he loved him very much. 6. And Joseph said to our father: The sons of Zilpah and Ballah sacrifice good animals and eat them, but Reuben and Judah do not know it. 7. He saw how I pulled the ram out of the mouth of the bear, and killed her, and sacrificed the ram: we grieved that he could not live, and we ate him. 8. And therefore I was angry with Joseph until the day when he was sold. 9. And there was a spirit of hatred in me, and I did not want to hear about Joseph or see him, for he reproached us to our face, saying that without Judas we eat animals. For everything he said, his father believed. II. I confess my sin now, children, for many times I wanted to kill Joseph, having hated him with my soul. 2. And because of his dream, I turned hatred on him, and wanted to destroy him from the earth (alive), like a bull destroying the grass in a field. 3/4. But Judah sold it secretly to the Ishmaelites. 5. Thus the God of our fathers delivered him out of my hands, so that I would not commit great iniquity in Israel.

III. And now hear the word of truth: do justice, and do everything according to the law of the Most High, and do not be tempted by the spirit of hatred, for this is evil in all human affairs. 2. Everything that a person does is abominable to the one who hates: if he does it according to the law of the Lord, he does not praise him; if he fears the Lord and desires justice, he does not love him. 3. He condemns the truth, envyes the happy, rejoices in slander, loves pride, for hatred blinds his soul, just as it did me when I looked at Joseph. IV. Beware of hatred, my children, for he who hates also commits iniquity against the Lord. 2. For he does not want to hear His commandments about love for one’s neighbor, and thereby sins against God. 3. If his brother falls, he strives to immediately inform everyone and wants him to die, condemned and punished. 4. If a slave slanders him before his master, and rejoices if he dies in agony. 5. For envy is promoted by hatred also against the happy: whoever sees someone’s success or hears about it always becomes exhausted. 6. Just as love wants to revive the dead and wants to call those doomed to life to life, so the hatred of the living wants to kill and does not want those who have sinned only slightly to live. 7. For the spirit of hatred, through cowardice, cooperates with Satan in everything for the destruction of people, and the spirit of love, through long-suffering, contributes to the law of God for the salvation of people. V. And therefore hatred is evil because it constantly promotes lies, speaking against the truth, and makes small things great, and represents the light as darkness, and says about sweet things that they are bitter, and teaches slander, and arouses anger, and raises war, and pride, and fills all greed and hearts with evil and devilish poison. 2. From my experience I tell you this, my children, so that you may drive out the hatred of the devil and love God. 3. Justice drives out hatred, humility kills envy, for the just and humble are ashamed to do unrighteousness, and not because another will condemn him, but his own heart, for the Lord sees his soul. 4. He will not speak against a pious man, for the fear of God lives in him. 5. For fearing to offend the Lord, he will never want to offend a person, even in his thoughts. 6. I also learned about this in the end when I repented about Joseph. 7. For true turning to God [kills ignorance and] drives away darkness, illuminates the eyes, gives knowledge to the soul, and leads thoughts to salvation. 8. And I did not learn this from people, but learned it through repentance. 9. God brought liver disease on me, and if the prayers of my father had not helped, I would probably have given up my spirit. 10. For whatever a person sins, he is punished. 11. Because my liver was merciless towards Joseph, I was condemned to suffer an merciless liver for eleven months, according to the time that I was angry with Joseph. VI. And now, my children, I give you advice: love each one of your neighbors, drive away hatred from your hearts. Love each other in deed, word and spiritual thought. 2. For I spoke peaceably with Joseph in the presence of my father; When he left him, the spirit of hatred darkened my mind and confused my reasoning, so that I wanted to kill Joseph. 3. Love one another from your heart, and if anyone sins against you, say to him: Peace be with you; and do not harbor deceit in your soul. If, having repented, he admits his guilt, let him go. 4. If he denies, do not argue with him, so as not to sin twice when he swears. 6. If he denies and, caught in sin, becomes ashamed, calm down and do not reprove him; for he will repent that he has sinned against you, and, being afraid, will wish to live in peace with you. 7. If there is no shame in him and he persists in evil, then let him go from your heart, and leave retribution to God. VII. And if someone is happier than you, do not be upset, but pray for him, so that in the end he will be happy, for this will be useful to you. 2. And if he continues to rise, do not envy him, remembering that all flesh will die. Give praise to the Lord, who gives goodness and happiness to people. 3. Examine the judgments of the Lord, and He will enlighten and calm your thoughts. 4. If anyone is rich in evil, like Esau, my father’s brother, do not be jealous: wait for the Lord to set a limit. 5. If evil wealth is taken away and a person repents, the Lord will forgive, but if he does not repent, he will be handed over to eternal torment. 6. And the poor man, if he rejoices without envy in everything that the Lord gives, becomes richer than anyone else, for he does not know the vanity of idle people. 7. Put away envy from your souls and love one another with uprightness of heart.

VIII. Tell this also to your children, so that they may honor Levi and Judah, for from them the Lord will raise up salvation for Israel. 2. For I know that your children will turn away from them, and will be before God in all evil, harm and corruption.

3. And having rested a little, he said again: My children, listen to your father, and bury me next to my fathers. 4. And stretching out his legs, he rested in peace. 5 And after five years they carried him to Hebron and laid him next to his fathers.

Testament of Asher, tenth son of Jacob and Zilpah

I. List of the will of Asher, which he gave to his sons in the one hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life. 2. When he was well, he said to them: Listen, children of Asher your father, and I will show you everything that is right before the Lord. 3. God gave two ways to the sons of men, and two thoughts, and two deeds, and two ways, and two outcomes. 4. That’s why everything is in twos - one against the other. 5. For there are two ways - good and evil, and two thoughts about them in our chest, distinguishing them. 6. If the soul desires to be good, it does all its deeds in justice, and if it sins, it immediately repents. 7. Thinking what is right and rejecting what is bad, she immediately destroys evil and uproots sin. 8. If the thought of the soul inclines towards evil, every deed of it is in evil, and it rejects good, and cleaves to evil, and Belial rules over it; and even if he does good, he turns it into evil. 9. When one begins to do good, the outcome of that deed is bad, for the treasure of the thought is filled with an evil spirit.

II. It happens that the soul in words puts good above evil, but the outcome of its deeds is bad. 2. It happens that a person does not spare those who help him in an evil way, and this is two-faced, but everything in general is evil. 3. It happens that a person will love someone who does evil, so much so that he will agree to die in evil for his sake, and it is clear that this is two-faced, but the whole thing is an evil deed. 4. And if there is love, in evil is the one who hides the bad under the name of the good; the outcome of the matter is not good. 5. Some steal, offend, rob, are covetous, but have pity on the poor; and this is two-faced, but everything as a whole is evil. 6. He who takes away from his neighbor angers God, swears falsely to the Almighty, and takes pity on the beggar. He persecutes and blasphemes those who teach the law of the Lord, but he gives help to the poor. 7. He stains the soul and beautifies the body, he kills many and spares a few, and this is two-faced, and the whole thing is evil. 8. Others indulge in fornication and debauchery, but abstain from food; and in fasting he does evil deeds, and with the power of wealth he oppresses many, and gives instructions despite his great evil; and this is two-faced, yet together it is evil. 9. Such people are like hares, for they are half clean, but in truth they are unclean (Lev. 11:6; Deut. 14:7). 10. For God said so on the tablets of the commandments.

III. You, my children, do not be two-faced yourself - both good and evil together, but cling to one kindness, for the Lord God dwells in it, and people desire it. 2. And flee from evil, killing evil thoughts with good deeds, for those with two faces serve not God, but their passions, in order to please Belial and people like themselves. IV. But good and one-faced people are righteous before God, even if two-faced people say that they are sinning. 2. Many who kill evil people commit two deeds - good and evil, but everything as a whole is good, for evil that is uprooted perishes. 3. He who hates one who is merciful and unrighteous at the same time, and commits fornication and fasts together, also commits two-faced things, but all his deeds are good; for he becomes like the Lord, not accepting as true good what only seems good. 4. Another does not want to see the holiday with the dissolute, so as not to disgrace his body and not to stain his soul, and this is two-faced, but on the whole it is good. 5. Such people are like deer and fallow deer, for, having the appearance of wild animals, they seem unclean, but in general they are clean (Deut. 12:15). After all, they live in the zeal of the Lord, moving away from what God hated and forbade with his commandments, separating good from evil.

V. See, children, that there are two sides to everything - one is opposite to the other, and one behind the other is hidden: in acquisition - covetousness, in joy - intoxication, in joy - sorrow, in marriage - debauchery. 2. Life inherits death, glory - dishonor, day - night, light - darkness [and everything under the day, under life - the righteous, and under death - the unrighteous]. That is why after death comes eternal life. 3. And one cannot call the truth a lie, or the righteous unrighteous, for all truth is in the light, just as everything is under God. 4. I experienced all this in my life, and did not deviate from the truth of the Lord, and studied the commandments of the Most High, and was one-faced, striving for good with all the strength of my soul. VI. Follow, my children, the commandments of the Lord, and be one-sided, following the truth. 2. For those with two faces commit a double sin, for they both do evil and approve of those who do it, imitating the spirits of temptation and fighting against people. 3. But you, my children, keep the law of the Lord, and do not listen to evil, which is similar to good, but look at what is essentially good, and keep it according to all the commandments of the Lord, abiding and resting in it. 4. For the end of a person’s life reveals his righteousness, and he meets either the angels of the Lord or the angels of Belial. 5. When the troubled soul departs, it is convicted of an evil spirit, for that person was a slave to passions and evil deeds. 6. If the soul is calm, in joy it recognizes the angel of peace, and he leads it into eternal life. VII. Do not be like Sodom, which did not recognize the angels of the Lord and perished forever (Gen. 19). 2. For I know that you will sin and be delivered into the hands of your enemies, and your land will be desolate, and your holy places will be destroyed, but you will be scattered to the four corners of the earth, and in your dispersion you will be despised like useless water. 3. Until that time will come when the Most High will look at the earth and He will come [as a man eating and drinking with people], and will cut off the head of the dragon in the water (Ps. 73:13), and He will deliver Israel and all the nations [ God clothed in man]. 4. Tell your children about this, my children, so that you do not disobey Him. 5. For I have learned that you will disobey and remain in wickedness, heeding not the law of God, but the advice of men, turning aside to evil. 6. And for this reason you will be divided, like Gad and Dan, my brothers, whose land, clan and language you will not recognize. 7. But He will raise you up again in faith through His mercy and for the sake of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

VIII. And having said this, he bequeathed to them: Bury me in Hebron. And he died, having fallen into a wonderful sleep. 2. And his sons did as he commanded them, and carried him to Hebron, and buried him there with his fathers.

Testament of Joseph, eleventh son of Jacob and Rachel

I. List of Joseph's will. When he was about to die, he called his sons and brothers and said to them: 2. My brothers and my children, listen to Joseph, beloved of Israel, give ear to the words of my mouth. 3. I have seen envy and death in my life. And he was not tempted, but remained in the righteousness of the Lord. 4. My brothers hated me, but the Lord loved me. They wanted to kill me, but the God of my fathers preserved me. They threw me into a well, but the Almighty brought me out of there. 5. I was sold into slavery, but the Lord over all freed me. I was in captivity, but His mighty hand helped me. Hunger tormented me, but the Lord Himself fed me. 6. I was lonely, and God comforted me; I fell ill, and the Lord visited me, I was in prison, and my God had mercy on me; I heard bitter words from the Egyptians, and delivered me; He was a slave and exalted me (Gen. 37:4-36 and 39:1-6).

II. And the chief cook of Pharaoh entrusted his house to me. 2. And I wrestled with a shameless woman, who tempted me to sin with her, but the God of my fathers delivered me from the blazing fire. 3. They put me in prison, beat me and mocked me, but the Lord gave me the favor of the jailer. 4. For the Lord does not leave those who fear Him, neither in darkness, nor in chains, nor in sorrow, nor in need. 5. For God is not ashamed like man, and is not timid like the son of man, and does not flee in fear like the son of the earth. 6. But in all these sorrows He helps and consoles in various ways, and only retreats from a person for a short time in order to test the thoughts of his soul. 7. He subjected me to ten trials, and I endured all of them patiently. For long-suffering is a great remedy, and perseverance yields many good things.

III. How many times did the Egyptian woman threaten me with death! How often, having given me over to punishment, she called me to her, and when I did not want to get along with her, she told me: 2. You will be ruler over me and over everything that is in my house, if you surrender yourself to me, and you will be like our master . 3. I remembered the words of my father and, entering the room, weeping and prayed to the Lord. 4. And then I fasted for seven years, and it seemed to the Egyptians that I was living in luxury. For those who fast for the Lord show joy on their faces. 5. When my master was absent, I did not drink wine and took food once every three days, and gave the rest to the poor and weak. 6. And at dawn I turned to the Lord and cried for the Egyptian woman from Memphis, for she constantly and greatly bothered me. For even at night she approached me under the pretext that she wanted to check on me. 7. And since she did not have a male child, she acted as if I were her son. 8. And until the time she hugged me as a son, but I didn’t know it. Afterwards she wanted to involve me in fornication. 9. And when I saw it, I was saddened to death. And when she left, I went to my place and grieved for her for many days, for I knew her cunning and temptation. 10. And I spoke to her the words of the Most High, so that she would turn away from evil passion. IV. And she often flattered me with her speeches as a holy husband, and with cunning words she praised my purity in the face of her husband, wanting to lead me into temptation when we were alone. 2. She openly glorified my chastity, but secretly told me: Do not be afraid of my husband, for he is convinced of your chastity; and if anyone tells him about us, he will not believe it. 3. Then I, falling to the ground, prayed to God to deliver me from her deceit. 4. When she achieved nothing, she again came to me as if for instruction, in order to listen to the word of God. 5. And she said to me: If you want me to leave idols, get along with me, and I will be able to convince my husband to renounce them, and we will live in the presence of your Lord. 6. I answered her that the Lord does not want to be worshiped in uncleanness, and He does not take pleasure in the debauched, but only in those who come to Him with a pure heart and undefiled lips. 7. She was angry and wanted to fulfill her desire. 8. And I devoted myself to fasting and prayer, so that the Lord would deliver me from her. V. And again, at another time, she said to me: If you do not want to commit fornication, then I will kill my husband with poison and take you as my husband. 2. When I heard this, I tore my clothes and said to her: Woman, be ashamed of God and do not do this evil deed, lest you perish. For know that I will divulge this intention of yours to everyone. 3. She, being afraid, prayed to me not to disclose her plan. 4. And she left, having pleased me with all kinds of gifts and pleasures. VI. And after that she sent me food, mixing a witch’s potion in it. 2. But when the eunuch came and brought food, I looked and recognized the terrible man giving me a dish and a knife; and I realized that this was being done to seduce me. 3. And when he came out, I wept and did not try either this or any other of her dishes. 4. A day later she came to me and, seeing, said to me: Why didn’t you taste the food? 5. And I answered her: Because you filled it with a deadly potion; and how did you say that I will not approach idols, but only the Lord? 6. Now know that the God of my father revealed to me through His angel your evil, and I kept this food in order to convict you, and, having seen it, perhaps you will repent. 7. But so that you may know that the evil of the wicked has no power against those who honor God in chastity, behold, I will take some of the food and eat it before you. And having said this, I prayed thus: May the God of my fathers and the angel of Abraham be with me. And I tasted it. 8. When she saw this, she fell weeping on her face at my feet, and I lifted her up and admonished her. 9. She promised me never to do such wickedness. VII. But her heart still lay in evil, and she looked for any way to catch me in a trap. And moaning incessantly, she wasted away, although she was not sick. 2. Seeing this, her husband said to her: Why is your face thin? She answered him: I suffer from heartache, and the groaning of the spirit torments me. And he consoled her with his words. 3. She, finding a convenient time, ran to me, when her husband had already left, and said to me: I am tormented, and if you do not lie down with me, I will throw myself off the cliff. 4. I, realizing that the spirit of the Belials was tormenting her, turned with a prayer to the Lord and said to her: 5. Why are you, unfortunate one, tormented and troubled, blinded by sin? Remember that if you kill yourself, then Astipho, your husband’s concubine and your rival, will beat your children, and the memory of you will disappear on earth. 6. And she said to me: Behold, yet you love me. Let this be enough for me. Just stand up for my life and my children, and I will wait until I satisfy my passion. 7. For she did not know that it was for the sake of my Lord that I said this, and not for her sake. 8. But whoever is possessed by the passion of desire and slavishly serves it, like this woman, even if he hears something good about his suffering, he attributes it to a bad passion. VIII. And so, I say, my children, that it was about six o’clock when she left me. And kneeling down to the Lord, I stood there all day and all night, and at dawn I rose up, crying and begging to deliver me from the Egyptian woman. 2. And then, finally, she grabbed me by the clothes, wanting to force me to get together with her. 3. And seeing that in madness she grabbed me by the tunic, he left it to her and ran away naked. 4. She, taking the tunic, falsely denounced me. And her husband came and took me into custody in his house and, having beaten me with whips, sent me to Pharaoh’s prison (Gen. 39:10-20). 5. And while I was in chains, the Egyptian woman was tormented with grief. And when she came, she listened to how I thanked the Lord and sang His praises in the house of darkness and rejoiced, praising my God with a joyful voice, for He had delivered me from the Egyptian woman.

IX. She often sent to me, saying: Deign to fulfill my desire, and I will free you from your shackles and deliver you from darkness. 2. And I didn’t even think about leaning towards her. After all, God loves more the chaste one who endures darkness in the ditch than the libertine who lives luxuriously in the royal chambers. 3. If the one who lives in chastity desires glory, and the Almighty knows that it is good for him, He will give it, as He gave it to me. 4. How many times did she, even when she was sick, come to me in the evenings and listen to my voice when I prayed; I, hearing her groans, remained silent. 5. And when I was in her house, she uncovered her hands and legs, so that I might lie with her; for she was very beautiful and was greatly adorned in order to seduce me. And the Lord saved me from her evil intentions. X. See, my children, what patience and prayer do with fasting. 2. So you too, if you strive for chastity and purity in patience and prayer with fasting, in humility of heart, the Lord will dwell in you, for He loves chastity. 3. And where the Almighty lives, even if envy comes, or slavery, or slander, the Lord, living in that person, for chastity will not only deliver him from troubles, but will also exalt him and glorify him, just like me. 4. For every person is deceived either in deeds, or in words, or in his thoughts. 5. My brothers know how much my father loved me, but I was not at all exalted in my thoughts, and even though I was still a child, I had the fear of God in my heart, for I knew that everything would pass away. 7. And I did not rebel against them in anger, but honored them; and respecting them, even when they sold me, I kept silent before the Ishmaelites that I was the son of Jacob, a great and righteous man. XI. So you, my children, have the fear of God before your eyes in all your deeds and honor your brothers, for everyone who does the law of God will be loved by Him. 2. And as I walked with the Ishmaelites, they asked me: Are you a slave? And I said that I was a house slave, so as not to disgrace my brothers. 3. The eldest of them said to me: You are not a slave, for it is clear from you. I told them: I am your servant. 4. When they came to Egypt, they argued about me, which of them would give the gold and take me. 5. And they decided that I should remain in Egypt with the dealer of their goods until they returned with their goods. 6. The Lord granted me favor in the eyes of that dealer, and he entrusted me with his house. 7. And God blessed him by my hand and enriched him with gold, silver and property. 8. And I was with him for three months. XII. And at that time the great Memphian woman, the wife of Pentephrys, arrived in great pomp, for she had heard about me from her eunuchs. 2. And she told her husband that that merchant had become rich through the hands of a certain young Jew, and they say that they stole him from the land of Canaan. 3. Now execute judgment and take the young man into our house, and the God of the Jews will bless you, for heavenly grace is upon that young man. XIII. Pentefris listened to her words, and called the merchant to him, and said to him: What do I hear about you, that you steal souls from the land of Canaan, and resell them as slaves? 2. And the merchant fell at his feet and began to beg: I beg you, sir, I don’t know what you are saying. 3. And Pentefris said to him: Where is this Jewish youth from? And he answered: The Ishmaelites gave it to me until the time when they returned. 4. And Pentefris did not believe him, but ordered him to be stripped naked and beaten. When he remained at his words, Pentefris said: Let the young man be brought. 5. And when I entered, I bowed to Pentefris, for he was the third in the rank of rulers after Pharaoh. 6. And taking me aside, he asked: Are you a slave or free? I answered: Slave. 7. And he asked: Whose? And I said: Ishmaelites. 8. He asked: How did you become their slave? And I answered: They bought me in the land of Canaan. 9. And he said to me: You are lying. And he immediately ordered them to beat me naked too. XIV. And the Memphian woman saw through the window how they beat me, for her house was nearby, and she sent to Pentefris, saying: Your judgment is unjust, for you punish the free and the stolen as a criminal. 2. But I did not refuse my words, although they beat me, and he ordered to guard me until, he said, the young man’s owners came. 3. And his wife said to him: Why are you torturing and keeping in chains a young man who was captured, whom it would be better to free, so that he could serve you? 4. For she wanted to see me in order to commit a sin, but I knew nothing about it. 5. And her husband said to her: The Egyptians do not take away what belongs to others until the trial is completed. 6. And then he said to the merchant: The young man must be imprisoned. XV. And after twenty-four days the Ishmaelites came; for they heard that Jacob my father was greatly grieved over me. And when they came, they said to me: Why is it that you call yourself a slave? And behold, we have seen that you are the son of a great man in the land of Canaan, and your father grieves for you in sackcloth and ashes. 3. When I heard this, my heart softened and melted, and I wanted to cry loudly, but I restrained myself, so as not to disgrace my brothers, and said to them: I do not know, I am a slave. 4. Then they decided to sell me, so that I would not be found in their hands. 5. For they were afraid of my father, lest he should come to celebrate terribly. They heard that he was great before God and people. 6. Then the merchant said to them: Deliver me from the judgment of Pentefris. 7. And they went and asked me: Tell me what silver you were sold to us for, and he will free us from punishment. XVI. And the Memphite woman said to her husband: Buy this young man, for I hear they say that they are selling him. 2. And she sent a eunuch to the Ishmaelites with a request to buy me. 3. But the eunuch did not buy me, but returned and told his mistress that they were asking a high price for the young man. 4. And she sent another eunuch, saying: If they ask for two minas, give them, do not spare the gold; just buy the young man and bring him to me. 5. And the eunuch went and gave them eighty pieces of gold, and took me; He told the Egyptian woman that he had given a hundred. 6. And I knew about it, but kept silent so as not to disgrace the eunuch. XVII. Look, my children, how much I had to endure so as not to disgrace my brothers. 2. And you love one another, and with patience cover up one another’s sins. 3. For God rejoices in the like-mindedness of the brothers and the thoughts of a good heart striving for good. 4. When my brothers came to Egypt, They know that I returned the money to them, and did not reproach them, but comforted them (cf. Gen. 45:22). 5. And after the death of Jacob my father, I loved them even more and whatever they desired, I did for them in abundance. 6. And I did not allow them to grieve even over the smallest things, and I gave them everything that was in my hand. 7. And their sons are my sons, and my sons are like their slaves, and their soul is my soul, and all their pain is my pain, and all their languor is my illness, and their will is my will. 8. And I did not boast among them, boasting of my love for the whole world, but I was among them as one of the least.

XVIII. If you, my children, live according to the commandments of the Lord, God will exalt you forever. 2. And if anyone wishes to do evil to you, do a good deed and pray for him, and you will be delivered from all evil by the Lord. 3. For behold, you see that for my humility and long-suffering I took as my wife the daughter of the priest of Heliopolis, and they gave me a hundred talents of gold with her, and my Lord made them my slaves. 4. And He gave me a beautiful appearance, above the beautiful ones in Israel, and kept me in health and beauty until old age. For in everything I was like Jacob. XIX. Hear, my children, also about the dream that I saw. 2. I saw twelve deer grazing, and nine of them were scattered throughout the whole earth, but three escaped, but the next day they were scattered. 3. And I saw that the three deer became three lambs and cried out to the Lord, and the Lord brought them to a place with flowers and abundant water and brought them out of darkness into the light. 4. And then the nine deer cried out to the Lord, then they gathered together and became like twelve sheep, and in a short time they increased and became many flocks. 5. After this I looked, and behold, twelve bulls appeared sucking one heifer, which gave a sea of ​​milk, and twelve herds and countless flocks drank from her. 6. And the fourth bull grew horns up to the sky and became like a wall for the herds, and between the two horns grew another horn. 7. And I saw a bull that surrounded them twelvefold, and he gave help to all the bulls. 8. And I saw among the horns a certain maiden, having a motley robe, and from her came a lamb, and on his left a lion, and all the beasts and all the creeping things went against him, and the lamb overcame them and destroyed them. 9. And the bulls, and the heifer, and the angels, and all the earth rejoiced over him. 10. And this must happen in the last days. 11. But you, my children, keep the commandments of the Lord and honor Levi and Judah, for from their seed will come [the lamb of God to take away the sin of the world], the Savior of [all nations and] Israel. 12. For His kingdom will be everlasting, and it will not pass away. My kingdom, which is in you, will not become like a guardhouse in a garden that is destroyed after the summer. XX. I know that after my death the Egyptians will oppress you, and God will avenge you and bring you to what was promised to my fathers. 2. Take my bones with you, for when you carry these bones there, the Lord will be with you in the light, and Belial will be with the Egyptians in darkness. 3. And take your mother Asinetha [to the Hippodrome] and bury her next to Rachel, my mother.

4. And having said this, he stretched out his legs and fell into a wonderful sleep. 5. And all Israel and all Egypt mourned him with great sorrow. For to the Egyptians he was like their fellow tribesman, and he did good to them, helping them in everything both with advice and with his deeds. 6. And when the children of Israel came out of Egypt, they took with them the bones of Joseph and buried them in Hebron with his fathers. And his life was a hundred and ten years (Gen. 50:24-26).

Testament of Benjamin, twelfth son of Jacob and Rachel

I. A list of the words of Benjamin, which he said to his sons, having lived one hundred and twenty-five years. 2. Having kissed them, he said: Just as Isaac was born to Abraham in his old age, so I was born to Jacob. 3. And Rachel my mother died after giving birth to me (Gen. 35:16-19), and I had no milk. Therefore, Balla, her maid, fed me. 4. Rachel, having given birth to Joseph, was barren for twelve years, and prayed to the Lord, and fasted, and when she conceived, she gave birth to me. 5. For my father loved Rachel very much and wanted to see two sons from her. 6. For this reason I was called Benjamin, that is, son of days.

II. When I came to Egypt, my brother Joseph recognized me, and he asked me: What did my brothers say to their father when they sold me? 2. And I said to him: They smeared your tunic with blood and sent it to your father, saying: Find out if this tunic is your son. 3. And he said to me: Yes, brother, for the Ishmaelites took me, and one of them took off my robe, gave me some clothes, hit me with a whip and told me to run. 4. And he went to hide my clothes, and a lion met him and killed that Ishmaelite. 5. And those who were with him were afraid and sold me to other people. 6. And my brothers did not lie in their words. For Joseph wanted to hide the deeds of our brothers from me, and calling them to him, he said to them: 7. Do not tell my father what you did to me, but say it as I told Benjamin. 8. And let your thoughts be the same, and let these words not reach the heart of my father. III. And now, my children, love the Lord God of heaven and earth, and keep His commandments, like the good and pious man Joseph. 2. And let your thoughts be good, as you know about me. For he who has right thoughts sees everything correctly. 3. Fear the Lord and love your neighbor; and if the spirits of Belial plunge you into any evil sorrow, let them not gain power over you, as they could not over Joseph my brother. 4. How many people wanted to kill him, and God protected him. For the one who fears God and loves his neighbor will not be struck down by the spirit of Belial, but the fear of God will protect him. 5. And he cannot be enslaved by the machinations of people or animals, but the love that he has for his neighbor will help him. And until Jacob died, Joseph did not want to talk about it, but Jacob, having learned from the Lord, told him. But even then Joseph denied, and was barely convinced by the oaths of Israel. 6. And Joseph asked our father to pray for his brothers, so that the Lord would not count against them the evil sin that they had committed against him. 7. And Jacob exclaimed: O worthy child, you have conquered the heart of Jacob your father; and embracing him, he kissed him for two hours, saying: 8. The heavenly prophecy [about the Lamb of God and the Savior of the world] will be fulfilled in you, that the blameless will be betrayed for the wicked, and the sinless will die for the wicked [in the blood of the Covenant for the salvation of the nations and Israel, and will destroy Belial and his servants]. IV. Behold, my children, what is the outcome of the good man. In kindness be like his mercy, so that you too may wear crowns of glory. 2. For a good man’s eye will not be darkened; after all, he has pity on everyone, even if they are sinners. 3. Even if they wish him evil, he who does good overcomes evil, protected by God. He loves the righteous as his own soul. 4. If someone is famous, he does not envy him; if someone is rich, he is not jealous; if someone is courageous, he praises him; he loves the wise, he pities the poor; He has compassion for the weak and glorifies God. 5. He protects the one who has the fear of God, he helps the one who loves the Lord; he instructs and converts the one who rejects the Most High, and he loves the one who has the grace of a good spirit as his own soul. V. If you also have good thoughts, then even evil people will be reconciled with you, and the dissolute will be ashamed of you and turn to goodness, and the covetous will not only retreat from their passion, but also what they have acquired through greed will give to the afflicted. 2. If you do good, then unclean spirits will flee from you, and animals will be afraid of you. 3. For where the light of good deeds is, there darkness flees from it. 4. And the one who arrogantly blasphemes a pious man will repent, for a pious man takes pity on the blasphemer and remains silent. 5. And if anyone betrays the righteous, he will pray. And even if he is humiliated for a short time, he will soon shine even brighter, as was the case with Joseph, my brother. VI. The thoughts of a good husband are not in the tempting hand of the spirit of Veliarov. For an angel of peace guides his soul. 2. And he does not look with lust at corruptible things and does not collect gold for the love of pleasure. 3. He does not rejoice in pleasures, [does not offend his neighbor,] is not filled with luxury, is not tempted by the gaze of his eyes. For the Lord is his portion. 4. A good thought does not listen to the glory or blasphemy of men, and is not aware of lies, disputes, or blasphemy. For the Lord dwells in him and illuminates his soul, and he rejoices for everyone at every hour. 5. A good thought does not have two languages ​​- blessing and curse, honor and reproach, peace and confusion, hypocrisy and truth, [poverty and wealth], but it has a pure and unclouded judgment about everyone. 6. Such a person has neither double vision nor hearing, for in everything he does and says, he knows that the Lord sees his soul. 7. And he purifies his thoughts, so that God and people do not condemn him. With Belial, every matter is double, and there is no simplicity in it. VII. Therefore, my children, I tell you: flee the evil of Beliarov, for he gives a knife to those who obey him. 2. And this knife gives birth to seven evils; first, thought originates from Belial. And the first evil is murder, the second is destruction, the third is oppression, the fourth is exile, the fifth is want, the sixth is confusion, the seventh is devastation. 3. That is why Cain suffered seven retributions from the Lord, for every hundred years the Lord dealt him one blow. 4. When Cain was two hundred years old, he began to receive them, and at nine hundred he was defeated for Abel, his righteous brother. Seven evils were destined for Cain, and Lamech - seventy times seven. 5. For until eternity those who imitate Cain in envy and hatred of their brothers will be punished with such judgment.

VIII. You, my children, run away from malice, envy and hatred of your brothers, and cling to kindness and love. 2. For he who has a pure mind does not look upon a woman for sexual immorality, and his heart is undefiled, for the spirit of God rests on him. 3. For just as the sun is not defiled even if it sees dirt and impurities, but on the contrary, it dries them up and drives out the bad smell, so the pure mind, dwelling in the abominations of the earth, rather cleanses them, but itself is not defiled.

IX. I will tell you, according to the words of the righteous Enoch, about your evil deeds, for you will become the fornicator of Sodom, and you will not remain except a few. And again, with women, indulge in debauchery, and the kingdom of God will not be in you, for the Lord will immediately take it away. 2. Only in one portion of yours will the temple of God arise, and the last will be more glorious than the first, and the twelve tribes and all nations will gather there until the time when the Most High sends His salvation through the visit of the only begotten Prophet. X. When Joseph was in Egypt, I wanted to see his face and his appearance, and through the prayers of Jacob my father, I saw him, while awake during the day, as his whole appearance was. 2. And then he said to them: Know, my children, that I am dying. 3. Do every one justice to his neighbor, and keep the law of the Lord and His commandments. 4. For I leave this to you in lieu of any inheritance, and you shall give it to your children for an everlasting possession, for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did so. 5. And they left all this to us as an inheritance, saying: Keep the commandments of God until the time when the Lord reveals His salvation to all nations. 6. And then you will see Enoch, and Noah, and Shem, and Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob risen at His right hand with joy. 7. Then we too will rise, each in his own portion of power, and bow before the King of Heaven [who humbly appeared on earth in human form, and those who believe in Him on earth will rejoice with Him]. 8. And all will rise: some for glory, others for dishonor, and the Lord will judge the first Israel for their unrighteousness [for they did not believe in God who appeared in the flesh]. 9. Afterwards He will judge all nations [who did not believe in Him who appeared on earth]. 10. And He will reprove Israel through the chosen nations, just as He rebuked Esau through the Midianites, who loved their brothers. Be therefore, my children, the portion of those who fear the Lord. 11. If you continue in holiness, my children, and according to the commandments of the Lord, then in sure hope you will live with me again, and all Israel will be gathered before the Lord.

XI. And I will no longer be called a ravenous wolf (Gen. 49:27) for your rapacity, but [a worker of the Lord, distributing food to those who do good. 2. And in the last times there will rise] the beloved of the Lord [from the seed of Judah and Levi], doing the good pleasure of His mouth [lighting new knowledge to all nations. The light of knowledge, He will come to Israel for their salvation, and will steal from them like a wolf and give it to the assembly of nations. 3. Until the end of the age He will remain in the assemblies of nations and in their rulers, like a sweet song on the lips of all. 4. And He will be written in the holy books, both His work and His word, and He will be the Chosen One of God forever. 5. And He will walk among them, like Jacob my father, saying: He Himself will supply the deficiency of your tribe.]

XII. And having finished his speeches, he said: I command you, my children, take my bones out of Egypt and bury me in Hebron next to my fathers. 2. And Benjamin died, being one hundred and twenty-five years old, a fine old age, and they laid him in a tomb. 3. And in the ninety-first year of the coming of the children of Israel into Egypt, they carried the bones of their father secretly, during the war of Canaan, to Hebron and buried them there at the feet of his fathers. 4. And they themselves returned from the land of Canaan and remained in Egypt until the days of their exodus from the land of Egypt.

Gen.38:1-5. The Book of Genesis says that Judah married the daughter of a certain Canaanite Shui; her name is not given. However, in the text of the Septuagint her name is Sheba.

Genesis 36:8 only says, “And Esau dwelt on Mount Seir.” Nothing is said about Esau's death.

Gen.38:6-10. The only reason given for the death of Er in the Book of Genesis is that “he was displeasing in the sight of the Lord.”

The book of Genesis in the story of Judah and Tamar (Gen. 38:12-26) places the blame on Judah, but here a significant share of the blame is shifted to his wife. The meaning of the biblical story is that Judah did not want to give Tamar his youngest son as a wife, as was customary, and she forced her father-in-law to “restore her seed.” In the Testament of Judas, his guilt is that, while drunk, he became involved with a harlot, who also turned out to be his daughter-in-law. In addition, Judah condemns himself for marrying a Canaanite (see chapters 13, 14, 16, 17) cf. Will Levi 9:10.

Sir.33:14; Wed also 42:25.

About the hostile attitude of Gad and Dan towards Joseph, see also the apocryphal “Tale of Joseph and Asenath”, in particular ch. 25, where Asher and Naphtali act as their exhorters.

According to the Book of Genesis Potiphar, courtier of the Pharaohs, chief of the bodyguards (39:1).

The hippodrome is mentioned in Genesis 48:7 (Septuagint text).

A unique interpretation of Gen. 4:15 and 24.

Unclear place. Perhaps it should be connected with the story contained in Numbers 25.