Section II.

[1] [Arabic, p. 7] 99    Matt. i. 18.Now100    This is preceded in Vat. ms. by the genealogy, Matt. i. 1–17 (see Introduction, 13), with the marginal note The Beginning of the Gospel of Matthew.  (Lagarde, op. cit., 1886, p. 154.)  The text presents nothing worthy of note in this place except that verse 16, construed on the same principle as the preceding verses, to which, except in the words printed in italics, it is strictly parallel in construction, reads thus:  “Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary, who of her begat Jesus, the Messiah” (cf. the remarkable reading of Sin. Syriac).  As it stands, this is the only possible interpretation of the words, for who is masculine.  But a mistake in the gender of a relative pronoun is very common in Arabic among illiterate people, while in Syriac there is, to begin with, no distinction.  If then we correct the relative, who of her will become of whom (fem.), and begat will of course be construed as passive.  We thus get the text followed in Ibn-at-Tayyib’s Commentary, the ordinary reading of the Peshitta, of whom was born Jesus. the birth of Jesus the Messiah was on this wise:  In the time when his mother was given in marriage to Joseph, before they came together, [2] she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.  101    Matt. i. 19.And Joseph her husband was a just man and did not wish to expose her, and he purposed to put her away secretly.  [3] 102    Matt. i. 20.But when he thought of this, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, and said unto him, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take Mary thy wife, for that [4] which is begotten103    The Arabic might even more naturally be rendered born, thus giving us the reading that Isho‘dad tells us was that of the Diatessaron (Harris, Fragments, p. 16 f.); but throughout the whole genealogy (see § 1, 81, note) this word has been used by the Vat. ms. in the sense of begat.  Here the Borg. ms. has of her for in her; but Ibn-at-Tayyib in his Commentary discusses why Matthew wrote in and not of. in her is of the Holy Spirit.  104    Matt. i. 21.She shall bear a son, and thou shalt [5] call his name Jesus, and he shall save105    cf. § 1, 78. his people from their sins.  106    Matt. i. 22.And all this was that the saying from the Lord by the prophet might be fulfilled:

[6] 107    Matt. i. 23.Behold, the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,

And they shall call his name Immanuel,

[7] which is, being interpreted, With us is our God.  108    Matt. i. 24.And when Joseph arose from his [8] sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife; 109    Matt. i. 25a.and knew her not until she brought forth her firstborn son.

[9] 110    Luke ii. 1.And in those days there went forth a decree from Augustus Cæsar that all the [10] people of his dominion111    The Arabic expression is clearly meant to represent that used in the Peshitta. should be enrolled. 112    Luke ii. 2.This first enrolment was113    This is the most natural meaning of the Arabic sentence; which, however, is simply a word-for-word reproduction. while Quirinius [11, 12] was governor of Syria.  114    Luke ii. 3.And every man went to be enrolled in his city.  115    Luke ii. 4.And Joseph went up also from Nazareth, a city of Galilee, to Judæa, to the city of David [13] which is called Bethlehem (for he was of the house of David and of his tribe), 116    Luke ii. 5.with [14] [Arabic, p. 8] Mary his betrothed, she being with child, to be enrolled there.  117    Luke ii. 6.And while [15] she was there the days for her being delivered were accomplished.  118    Luke ii. 7.And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them where they were staying.

[16] 119    Luke ii. 8.And there were in that region shepherds abiding, keeping their flock in the watch [17] of the night.  120    Luke ii. 9.And behold, the angel of God came unto them, and the glory of the [18] Lord shone upon them; and they were greatly terrified.  121    Luke ii. 10.And the angel said unto them, Be not terrified; for I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to the [19] whole world; 122    Luke ii. 11.there is born to you this day a Saviour, which is the Lord the Messiah, [20] in the city of David.  123    Luke ii. 12.And this is a sign for you:  ye shall find a babe wrapped [21] in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger.  124    Luke ii. 13.And there appeared with the angels suddenly many heavenly forces praising125    The Arabic represents Syr. idiom. God and saying,

[22] 126    Luke ii. 14.Praise be to God in the highest,

And on the earth peace, and good hope to men.

[23] 127    Luke ii. 15.And when the angels departed from them to heaven, the shepherds spake to one another and said, We will go to Bethlehem and see this word which hath been, as [24] the Lord made known unto us.  128    Luke ii. 16.And they came with haste, and found Mary and [25] Joseph, and the babe laid in a manger.  129    Luke ii. 17.And when they saw, they reported the word [26] which was spoken to them about the child.  130    Luke ii. 18.And all that heard wondered at the [27] description which the shepherds described131    cf. § 1, 66, note. to them.  132    Luke ii. 19.But Mary kept these133    Borg. ms. inserts all above the line, after these.  The meaning ought then to be, these things, namely, all the sayings. sayings [28] and discriminated134    The Arab. might mean set them apart; but the Syriac is against this. them in her heart.  135    Luke ii. 20.And those shepherds returned, magnifying and praising God for all that they had seen and heard, according as it was described unto them.

[29] [Arabic, p. 9] 136    Luke ii. 21.And when eight days were fulfilled that the child should be circumcised, his name was called Jesus, being that by which he was called by the angel before his conception in the womb.

[30] 137    Luke ii. 22.And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were [31] completed, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him before the Lord 138    Luke ii. 23.(as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male opening the womb shall be called the [32] holy thing of the Lord), 139    Luke ii. 24.and to give a sacrificial victim as it is said in the law of [33] the Lord, A pair of doves or two young pigeons.  140    Luke ii. 25.And there was in Jerusalem a man whose name was Simeon; and this man was upright and pious, and expecting [34] the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  141    Luke ii. 26.And it had been said unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death till he had seen with [35] his eyes the Messiah142    Or, anointed. of the Lord.  143    Luke ii. 27.And this man came by the Spirit to the temple; and at the time when his parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might [36] present for him a sacrifice, as it is written in the law, 144    Luke ii. 28.he bare him in his arms and praised God and said,

[37] 145    Luke ii. 29.Now loosest thou the bonds of thy servant, O Lord, in peace,146    For order cf. (in part) Sin. Syriac.

According to thy saying;

[38] 147    Luke ii. 30.For mine eye hath witnessed thy mercy,

[39] 148    Luke ii. 31.Which thou hast made ready because of the whole world;

[40] 149    Luke ii. 32.A light for the unveiling150    i.e., becoming manifest. of the nations,

And a glory to thy people Israel.

[41] 151    Luke ii. 33.And Joseph and his mother were marvelling at the things which were being said [42] concerning him.  152    Luke ii. 34.And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, Behold, he is set for the overthrow and rising of many in Israel; and for a sign of contention; [43] 153    Luke ii. 35.and a spear154    So also in Syriac versions and the quotation of Isho’dad from Ephraem (Harris, Fragments, p. 34), but not the Armenian version. shall pierce155    The Arabic sides with the Peshitta and Ibn-at-Tayyib’s Commentary, against the remarkable reading of Sin. supported by Isho’dad, as in last note (Syriac text), and the Armenian in Hill, p. 336.  See now also The Guardian, Dec. 18, 1895. through thine own soul; that the thoughts of the [44] [Arabic, p. 10] hearts of many may be revealed.  156    Luke ii. 36.And Anna the prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, was also advanced in years (and she dwelt [45] with her husband seven years from her virginity, 157    Luke ii. 37.and she remained a widow about eighty-four years); and she left not the temple, and served night and day with [46] fasting and prayer.  158    Luke ii. 38.And she also rose in that hour and thanked the Lord, and she [47] spake of him with every one who was expecting the deliverance of Jerusalem.  159    Luke ii. 39.And when they had accomplished everything according to what is in the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to Nazareth their city.

Caput II.

Matth. I, 18. Iesu Christi autem nativitas ita fuit: Cum esset desponsata mater eius Ioseph, antequam convenirent, inventa est in utero habens de Spiritu sancto.

19. Ioseph autem vir eius, cum esset iustus, et nollet eam traducere, meditabatur occulte dimittere eam.

20. Hoc autem eo cogitante, Angelus Domini apparuit in somnis ei, dicens: Ioseph, fili David, noli timere accipere Mariam coniugem tuam, quod enim in ea natum est, de Spiritu sancto est:

21. pariet filium; et vocabis nomen eius Iesum: ipse enim salvum faciet populum suum a peccatis eorum.

22. Hoc autem totum factum est, ut adimpleretur, quod dictum est a Domino per prophetam *.

23. Ecce, virgo concipiet, et pariet filium, et vocabunt nomen eius Emmanuel, quod est interpretatum *. Nobiscum est Deus noster.

24. Exurgens autem Ioseph a somno suo, fecit sicut praecepit ei Angelus Domini, et accepit coniugem suam.

25. Et non cognovit eam, donec peperit filium suum primogenitum.

Luc. II, 1. In illis autem diebus exiit edictum a Caesare Augusto, ut describeretur universus populus imperii sui.

2. Haec descriptio prima facta est in praefectura Cyrini in Syria.

3. Et ibant omnes, ut profiterentur, in suam civitatem.

4. Ascendit autem et Ioseph de Nazareth, civitate Galilaeae, in Iudaeam in civitatem David, quae vocatur Bethlehem, eo quod esset de domo et familia David,

5. ut profiteretur ibi cum Maria cius sponsa praegnante.

6. Et cum essent ibi, impleti sunt dies, ut pareret.

7. Et peperit filium suum primogenitum, et pannis eum involvit, et reclinavit cum in praesepio, quia non erat eis locus ubi commorabantur.

8. Et pastores erant in regione illa commorantes, qui custodiebant gregem suum in vigilia noctis.

9. Et ecce, Angelus Dei accessit ad illos, et gloria Domini circumfulsit illos; et timuerunt timore magno.

10. Et dixit illis Angelus: Nolite timere: ego enim evangelizo vobis gaudium magnum, quod erit universo mundo.

11. Natus est vobis hodie Salvator, qui est Christus Dominus, in civitate David.

12. Et hoc vobis signum: invenietis infantem pannis involutum, et positum in praesepio.

13. Et subito apparuit cum Angelis copiosa militia coelestis laudantes Deum, et dicentes:

14. Gloria in altissimis Deo, et in terra pax, et spes bona hominibus.

15. Et ut discesserunt ab eis Angeli in caelum, pastores loquebantur ad invicem, dicentes: transeamus usque Bethlehem, et videamus hoc verbum, quod factum est, sicut Dominus ostendit nobis.

16. Et venerunt festinantes, et invenerunt Mariam et Ioseph, et infantem positum in praesepio.

17. Et cum vidissent, certiores facti sunt de verbo, quod dictum erat illis de puero.

18. Et omnes, qui audierunt, mirati sunt de his, quae ipsis narraverant pastores.

19. Maria autem conservabat omnia verba haec, eaque conferebat in corde suo.

20. Et reversi sunt pastores illi, glorificantes et laudantes Deum in omnibus, quae viderant et audierant, sicut narratum est illis.

21. Et postquam consummati sunt dies octo, ut circumcideretur puer, vocatum est nomen eius IESUS; et hoc est (nomen), quo vocatum est ab Angelo prius quam in utero conciperetur.

22. Et ut impleti sunt dies purgationis eorum, secundum legem Moysi, tulerunt illuni in Ierusalem, ut sisterent eum coram Domino,

23. sicut scriptum est in lege Domini:

Omne masculinum adaperiens vulvam, sanctum Domino vocabitur;

24. et ut darent hostiam, secundum quod dictum est in lege Domini, par turturum, aut duos pullos columbarum.

25. Et homo erat in Ierusalem, cui nomen Simeon, et homo iste erat iustus, timoratus et expectans consolationem Israel; et Spiritus sanctus erat in eo.

26. Et dictum ei fuerat a Spiritu sancto, non visurum se mortem, donec videret Christum Domini.

27. Hic enim venit in spiritu in templum : et cum inducerent puerum Iesum parentes eius, ut offerrent hostiam pro eo, quemadmodum scriptum est in lege,

28. sustulit eum in ulnas suas, et laudavit Deum, et dixit:

29. Nunc solves ligamina servi tui, Domine, secundum verbum tuum, in pace;

30. iam enim oculi mei viderunt misericordiam tuam,

31. quam parasti pro mundo universo:

32. lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tuae Israel.

33. Et erat Ioseph et mater cius mirantes super his, quae dicebantur de illo.

34. Et vocavit eos Simeon, et dixit ad Mariam matrem cius : Ecce, positus est hic in ruinam et in resurrectionem multorum in Israel, et in signum contradictionis:

35. et tuam ipsius animam pertransibit gladius, ut revelentur cordium multorum cogitationes.

36. Et Anna prophetissa, filia Phanuel, de tribu Aser, erat et ipsa aetate provecta, et vixerat cura viro suo annis septem a virginitate sua;

37. et vidua permansit usque ad annos octoginta quatuor, neque discedebat de templo, ieiuniis et obsecrationibus serviens dic ac nocte.

38. Et haec, ipsa hora superveniens, gratias agebat Domino, et loquebatur ile illo omnibus, qui exspectabant redemptionem Ierusalem.

39. Et ut perfecerunt omnia secundum legem Domini, reversi sum in Galilaeam, in civitatem suam Nazareth.