IX.—The Testament of Gad Concerning Hatred.

1. The record of the testament of Gad, what things he spake unto his sons, in the hundred and twenty-seventh year of his life, saying: I was the seventh son born to Jacob, and I was valiant in keeping the flocks. I guarded at night the flock; and whenever the lion came, or wolf, or leopard, or bear, or any wild beast against the fold, I pursued it, and with my hand seizing its foot, and whirling it round, I stunned it, and hurled it over two furlongs, and so killed it. Now Joseph was feeding the flock with us for about thirty days, and being tender, he fell sick by reason of the heat. And he returned to Hebron to his father, who made him lie down near him, because he loved him. And Joseph told our father that the sons of Zilpah and Bilhah were slaying the best of the beasts,  1  Cf. Targum Ps. Jon. of Gen. xxxvii. 2. and devouring them without the knowledge of Judah and Reuben. For he saw that I delivered a lamb out of the mouth of the bear, and I put the bear to death; and the lamb I slew, being grieved concerning it that it could not live, and we ate it, and he told our father. And I was wroth with Joseph for that thing until the day that he was sold into Egypt. And the spirit of hatred was in me, and I wished not either to see Joseph or to hear him. And he rebuked us to our faces for having eaten of the flock without Judah. And whatsoever things he told our father, he believed him.

2. I confess now my sin, my children, that oftentimes I wished to kill him, because I hated him to the death, and there were in no wise in me bowels of mercy towards him. Moreover, I hated him yet more because of his dreams; and I would have devoured him out of the land of the living, even as a calf devoureth the grass from the earth. Therefore I and Judah sold him to the Ishmaelites for thirty  2  The narrative of Genesis (xxxvii. 28) gives twenty pieces of silver; the LXX. twenty pieces of gold, with which latter agrees Josephus’ μνῶν εἴκοσιν (Antiq., ii. 3. 3). [It is worthy of note that Judas took a meaner price for the “Son of Joseph.”] pieces of gold, and ten of them we hid, and showed the twenty to our brethren: and so through my covetousness I was fully bent on his destruction. And the God of my fathers delivered him from my hands, that I should not work iniquity in Israel.

3. And now, my children, hearken to the words of truth to work righteousness, and all the law of the Most High, and not go astray through the spirit of hatred, for it is evil in all the doings of men. Whatsoever a man doeth, that doth the hater abhor: though he worketh the law of the Lord, he praiseth him not; though he feareth the Lord, and taketh pleasure in that which is righteous, he loveth him not: he dispraiseth the truth, he envieth him that ordereth his way aright, he delighteth in evil-speaking, he loveth arrogance, for hatred hath blinded his soul; even as I also looked on Joseph.

4. Take heed therefore, my children, of hatred; for it worketh iniquity against the Lord Himself: for it will not hear the words of His commandments concerning the loving of one’s neighbour, and it sinneth against God. For if a brother stumble, immediately it wisheth to proclaim it to all men, and is urgent that he should be judged for it, and be punished and slain. And if it be a servant, it accuseth him to his master, and with all affliction it deviseth against him, if it be possible to slay him. For hatred worketh in envy, and it ever sickeneth with envy against them that prosper in well-doing, when it seeth or heareth thereof. For as love would even restore to life the dead, and would call back them that are condemned to die, so hatred would slay the living, and those that have offended in a small matter it would not suffer to live. For the spirit of hatred worketh together with Satan through hastiness  3  For this unusual use of ὀλιγοψυχία, cf. Prov. xiv. 29, LXX., where there is the same contrast with μακροθυμία. of spirit in all things unto men’s death; but the spirit of love worketh together with the law of God in long-suffering unto the salvation of men.  4  [This passage is cited by Lardner as conspicuously fine.]

5. Hatred is evil, because it continually abideth with lying, speaking against the truth; and it maketh small things to be great, and giveth heed to darkness as to light, and calleth the sweet bitter, and teacheth slander, and war, and violence, and every excess of evil; and it filleth the heart with devilish poison. And these things I say to you from experience, my children, that ye may flee hatred, and cleave to the love of the Lord. Righteousness casteth out hatred, humility destroyeth hatred. For he that is just and humble is ashamed to do wrong, being reproved not of another, but of his own heart, because the Lord vieweth his intent: he speaketh not against any man, because the fear of the Most High overcometh hatred. For, fearing lest he should offend the Lord, he will not do any wrong to any man, no, not even in thought. These things I learnt at last, after that I had repented concerning Joseph. For true repentance after a godly sort destroyeth unbelief, and driveth away the darkness, and enlighteneth the eyes, and giveth knowledge to the soul, and guideth the mind to salvation; and those things which it hath not learnt from man, it knoweth through repentance. For God brought upon me a disease of the heart; and had not the prayers of Jacob my father intervened, it had hardly failed that my spirit had departed. For by what things a man transgresseth, by the same also is he punished.  5  [Wis. xi. 16.] For in that my heart was set mercilessly against Joseph, in my heart too I suffered mercilessly, and was judged for eleven months, for so long a time as I had been envious against Joseph until he was sold.

6. And now, my children, love ye each one his brother, and put away hatred from your hearts, loving one another in deed, and in word, and in thought of the soul. For in the presence of our father I spake peaceably with Joseph; and when I had gone out, the spirit of hatred darkened my mind, and moved my soul to slay him.  6  The Ox. ms. omits from here to the last clause of c. 7. Love ye therefore one another from your hearts; and if a man sin against thee, tell him of it gently, and drive out the poison of hatred, and foster not guile in thy soul. And if he confess and repent, forgive him; and if he deny it, strive not with him, lest he swear, and thou sin doubly. Let not a stranger hear your secrets amid your striving, lest he hate and become thy enemy, and work great sin against thee; for ofttimes he will talk guilefully  7  For δολωφωνῆσαι , the reading of the Cam. ms. here, Grabe conjectured δολοφονήσει. Probably δολοφωνήσει is to be preferred. with thee, or evilly overreach thee, taking his poison from himself. Therefore, if he deny it, and is convicted and put to shame, and is silenced, do not tempt him on. For he who denieth repenteth, so that he no more doeth wrong against thee; yea also, he will honour thee, and fear thee, and be at peace with thee. But if he be shameless, and abideth in his wrongdoing, even then forgive him from the heart, and give the vengeance to God.

7. If a man prospereth more than you, be not grieved, but pray also for him, that he may have perfect prosperity. For perchance it is expedient for you thus; and if he be further exalted, be not envious, remembering that all flesh shall die: and offer praise to God, who giveth things good and profitable to all men. Seek out the judgments of the Lord, and so shall thy mind rest and be at peace. And though a man become rich by evil means, even as Esau the brother of my father, be not jealous; but wait for the end of the Lord. For either He taketh His benefits away from the wicked, or leaveth them still to the repentant, or to the unrepentant reserveth punishment for ever. For the poor man who is free from envy, giving thanks to the Lord in all things, is rich among all men, because he hath not evil jealousy of men. Put away, therefore, hatred from your souls, and love one another with uprightness of heart.

8. And do ye also tell these things to your children, that they honour Judah and Levi, for from them shall the Lord raise up a Saviour to Israel.  8  [The Virgin was the daughter of Judah, but had kinship with Levi. Luke i. 36. Compare Jer. xxxiii. 20–22.] For I know that at the last your children shall depart from them, and shall walk in all wickedness, and mischief, and corruption before the Lord. And when he had rested for a little while, he said again to them, My children, obey your father, and bury me near to my fathers. And he drew up his feet, and fell asleep in peace. And after five years they carried him up, and laid him in Hebron with his fathers.

 ΔΙΑΘΗΚΗ ΓΑΔ Θ ΠΕΡΙ ΜΙΣΟΥΣ 

[1] Ἀντίγραφον διαθήκης Γάδ, ἃ ἐλάλησεν αὐτὸς τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτοῦ, ἐν ἔτει ἑκατοστῷ εἰκοστῷ ἑβδόμῳ ζωῆς αὐτοῦ, λέγων: Ἕβδομος υἱὸς ἐγενόμην τῷ Ἰακώβ, καὶ ἤμην ἀνδρεῖος ἐπὶ τῶν ποιμνίων. Ἐγὼ ἐφύλαττον ἐν νυκτὶ τὸ ποίμνιον, καὶ ὅταν ἤρχετο ὁ λέων, ἢ λύκος, ἢ πάρδαλις, ἢ ἄρκος, ἢ πᾶν θηρίον ἐπὶ τὴν ποίμνην, κατεδίωκον αὐτό, καὶ πιάζων τὸν πόδα αὐτοῦ τῇ χειρί μου καὶ γυρεύων ἐσκότουν, καὶ ἀκόντιζον αὐτὸ ἐπὶ δύο σταδίους, καὶ οὕτως ἀνῄρουν. Ὁ οὖν Ἰωσὴφ ἐποίμαινε μεθ' ἡμῶν ὡς ἡμέρας λʹ, καὶ τρυφερὸς ὢν ἐμαλακίσθη ἀπὸ τοῦ καύματος: καὶ ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς Χεβρὼν πρὸς τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ: καὶ ἀνέκλινεν αὐτὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἠγάπα αὐτόν. Καὶ εἶπεν Ἰωσὴφ τῷ πατρὶ ἡμῶν ὅτι υἱοὶ Ζελφᾶς καὶ Βάλλας θύουσι τὰ καλά, καὶ κατεσθίουσιν αὐτά, παρὰ γνώμην Ἰούδα καὶ Ῥουβήμ. Εἶδε γὰρ ὅτι ἀρνὸν ἐξηλόμην ἐκ τοῦ στόματος τῆς ἄρκου, κἀκείνην ἐθανάτωσα, καὶ τὸν ἀρνὸν ἔθυσα, περὶ οὗ ἐλυπούμην ὅτι οὐκ ἠδύνατο ζῆν, καὶ ἐφάγομεν αὐτόν: καὶ εἶπε τῷ πατρὶ ἡμῶν. Καὶ ἐνεκότουν τῷ Ἰωσὴφ περὶ τοῦ λόγου τούτου, ἕως ἡμέρας διαπράσεως αὐτοῦ εἰς Αἴγυπτον. Καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ μίσους ἦν ἐν ἐμοί, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελον οὔτε δι' ὀφθαλμῶν οὔτε δι' ἀκοῆς ἰδεῖν τὸν Ἰωσήφ. Καὶ κατὰ πρόσωπον ἡμῶν ἤλεγξεν ἡμᾶς, ὅτι ἄνευ Ἰούδα ἠσθίομεν τὰ θρέμματα: καὶ πάντα ὅσα ἔλεγε τῷ πατρί, ἐπείθετο αὐτῷ.

[2] Ὁμολογῶ νῦν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν μου, τέκνα, ὅτι πλειστάκις ἤθελον ἀνελεῖν αὐτόν, ὅτι ἕως ψυχῆς ἐμίσουν αὐτόν, καὶ ὅλως οὐκ ἦν ἐν ἐμοὶ ἥπατα ἐλέους εἰς αὐτόν. Καίγε διὰ τὰ ἐνύπνια προσεθέμην μῖσος, καὶ ἤθελον αὐτὸν ἐκλεῖξαι ἐκ γῆς ζώντων, ὃν τρόπον ἐκλείχει ὁ μόσχος τὰ χλωρὰ ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς. Διὸ ἐγὼ καὶ Ἰούδας πεπράκαμεν αὐτὸν τοῖς Ἰσμαηλίταις τριάκοντα χρυσῶν, καὶ τὰ δέκα ἀποκρύψαντες τὰ εἴκοσι ἐδείξαμεν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς ἡμῶν. Καὶ οὕτως τῇ πλεονεξίᾳ ἐπληροφορήθην τῆς ἀναιρέσεως αὐτοῦ. Καὶ ὁ Θεὸς τῶν πατέρων μου ἐρρύσατο αὐτὸν ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν μου ἵνα ποιήσω ἀνόμημα ἐν Ἰσραήλ.

[3] Καὶ νῦν ἀκούσατε, τέκνα μου, λόγους ἀληθείας, τοῦ ποιεῖν δικαιοσύνην καὶ πάντα νόμον ὑψίστου, καὶ μὴ πλανᾶσθαι τῷ πνεύματι τοῦ μίσους, ὅτι κακόν ἐστιν ἐπὶ πάσαις πράξεσιν ἀνθρώπων. Πᾶν ὃ ἐὰν ποιῇ, ὁ μισῶν βδελύσσεται: ἐὰν ποιῇ νόμον Κυρίου, τοῦτον οὐκ ἐπαινεῖ: ἐὰν φοβῆται Κύριον καὶ θέλει δίκαια, τοῦτον οὐκ ἀγαπᾷ: τὴν ἀλήθειαν ψέγει, τῷ κατορθοῦντι φθονεῖ, καταλαλιὰν ἀσπάζετε, ὑπερηφανίαν ἀγαπᾷ: ὅτι τὸ μῖσος ἐτύφλωσε τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ, καθὼς κἀγὼ ἔβλεπον ἐν τῷ Ἰωσήφ.

[4] Φυλάξασθε οὖν, τέκνα μου, ἀπὸ τοῦ μίσους, ὅτι εἰς αὐτὸν τὸν Κύριον ἀνομίαν ποιεῖ. Οὐ γὰρ θέλει ἀκούειν λόγων ἐντολῶν αὐτοῦ περὶ ἀγάπης τοῦ πλησίον, καὶ εἰς τὸν Θεὸν ἁμαρτάνει. Ἐὰν γὰρ πταίσῃ ὁ ἀδελφός, εὐθὺς θέλει ἀναγγεῖλαι πᾶσι, καὶ σπεύδει ἵνα κριθῇ περὶ αὐτῆς καὶ κολασθεὶς ἀποθάνῃ. Ἐὰν δὲ ᾖ δοῦλος, συμβάλλει αὐτὸν πρὸς τὸν κύριον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν πάσῃ θλίψει ἐπιχειρεῖ κατ' αὐτοῦ, εἴπως θανατώσει αὐτόν. Τὸ γὰρ μῖσος ἐνεργεῖ τῷ φθόνῳ, καὶ κατὰ τῶν εὐπραγούντων τὴν προκοπὴν ἀκούων καὶ ὁρῶν, πάντοτε ἀσθενεῖ. Ὥσπερ γὰρ ἡ ἀγάπη καὶ τοὺς νεκροὺς θέλει ζωοποιῆσαι, καὶ τοὺς ἐν ἀποφάσει θανάτου θελήσει ἀνακαλέσασθαι, οὕτως τὸ μῖσος τοὺς ζῶντας θέλει ἀποκτεῖναι, καὶ τοὺς ἐν ὀλίγῳ ἁμαρτήσαντας οὐ θέλει ζῆν. Τὸ γὰρ πνεῦμα τοῦ μίσους διὰ τῆς ὀλιγοψυχίας συνεργεῖ τῷ Σατανᾷ ἐν πᾶσιν εἰς θάνατον τῶν ἀνθρώπων: τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα τῆς ἀγάπης ἐν μακροθυμίᾳ συνεργεῖ τῷ νόμῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰς σωτηρίαν ἀνθρώπων.

[5] Κακὸν τὸ μῖσος ὅτι ἐνδελεχεῖ συνεχῶς τῷ ψεύδει, λαλῶν κατὰ τῆς ἀληθείας, καὶ τὰ μικρὰ μεγάλα ποιεῖ, τὸ σκότος φῶς προσέχει, τὸ γλυκὺ πικρὸν λέγει, καὶ συκοφαντίαν ἐκδιδάσκει καὶ πόλεμον καὶ ὕβριν καὶ πᾶσαν πλεονεξίαν κακῶν, καὶ ἰοῦ διαβολικοῦ τὴν καρδίαν πληροῖ. Καὶ ταῦτα ἐκ πείρας λέγω ὑμῖν, τέκνα μου, ὅπως φεύξησθε τὸ μῖσος, καὶ κολληθῆτε τῇ ἀγάπῃ τοῦ Κυρίου. Ἡ δικαιοσύνη ἐκβάλλει τὸ μῖσος, ἡ ταπείνωσις ἀναιρεῖ τὸ μῖσος. Ὁ γὰρ δίκαιος καὶ ταπεινὸς αἰδεῖται ποιῆσαι ἄδικον, οὐχ ὑπὸ ἄλλου καταγινωσκόμενος, ἀλλ' ὑπὸ τῆς ἰδίας καρδίας, ὅτι Κύριος ἐπισκέπει τὸ διαβούλιον αὐτοῦ. Οὐ καταλαλεῖ ἀνδρός, ἐπειδὴ ὁ φόβος τοῦ ὑψίστου νικᾷ τὸ μῖσος. Φοβούμενος γὰρ μὴ προσκρούσει Κυρίῳ, οὐ θέλει τὸ καθόλου οὐδὲ ἕως ἐννοιῶν ἀδικῆσαι ἄνθρωπον. Ταῦτα ἐγὼ ἔσχατον ἔγνων μετὰ τὸ μετανοῆσαί με περὶ τοῦ Ἰωσήφ. Ἡ γὰρ κατὰ Θεὸν ἀληθὴς μετάνοια ἀναιρεῖ τὴν ἀπείθειαν, καὶ φυγαδεύει τὸ σκότος, καὶ φωτίζει τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς, καὶ γνῶσιν παρέχει τῇ ψυχῇ, καὶ ὁδηγεῖ τὸ διαβούλιον πρὸς σωτηρίαν, καὶ ἃ οὐκ ἔμαθεν ἀπὸ ἀνθρώπων, οἶδε διὰ τῆς μετανοίας. Ἐπήγαγε γάρ μοι ὁ Θεὸς νόσον ἥπατος, καὶ εἰ μὴ αἱ εὐχαὶ Ἰακὼβ τοῦ πατρός μου ὀλίγου διεφώνησεν ἀπ' ἐμοῦ τὸ πνεῦμά μου. Δι' ὧν γὰρ ἄνθρωπος παρανομεῖ, δι' ἐκείνων καὶ κολάζεται. Ἐπεὶ οὖν ἐνέκειτο τὰ ἥπατά μου ἀνιλεῶς κατὰ τοῦ Ἰωσήφ, τῷ ἥπατι πάσχων ἀνιλεῶς, ἐκρινόμην ἐπὶ μῆνας ἕνδεκα, καθ' ὅσον χρόνον ἐνεῖχον τῷ Ἰωσήφ, ἕως ἵνα πραθῇ.

[6] Καὶ νῦν, τέκνα μου, ἀγαπήσατε ἕκαστος τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐξάρατε τὸ μῖσος ἀπὸ τῶν καρδιῶν ὑμῶν, ἀγαπῶντες ἀλλήλους ἐν ἔργῳ καὶ λόγῳ καὶ διανοίᾳ ψυχῆς. Ἐγὼ γὰρ κατὰ πρόσωπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν εἰρηνικὰ ἐλάλουν τῷ Ἰωσήφ, καὶ ἐξελθόντος μου τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ μίσους ἐσκότιζέ μου τὸν νοῦν, καὶ ἐτάρασσε τὴν ψυχήν μου τοῦ ἀνελεῖν αὐτόν. Ἀγαπᾶτε οὖν ἀλλήλους ἀπὸ καρδίας: καὶ ἐὰν ἁμάρτῃ εἰς σέ, εἰπὲ αὐτῷ ἐν εἰρήνῃ, ἐξορίσας τὸν ἰὸν τοῦ μίσους, καὶ ἐν ψυχῇ σου μὴ κρατήσῃς δόλον: καὶ ἐὰν ὁμολογήσας μετανοήσῃ, ἄφες αὐτῷ: ἐάν τε ἀρνεῖται, μὴ φιλονείκει αὐτῷ, μήποτε ὀμόσαντος αὐτοῦ, δισσῶς ἁμαρτήσῃς. Μὴ ἀκούσῃ ἐν μάχῃ ἀλλότριος μυστήριον ὑμῶν: ἵνα μὴ μισήσας σε ἐχθράνῃ, καὶ μεγάλην ἁμαρτίαν ἐργάσηται κατά σου: ὅτι πολλάκις δολωφωνῆσαι, ἢ περιεργάζεταί σε ἐν κακῷ, λαβὼν ἀπό σου τὸν ἰόν. Ἐὰν οὖν ἀρνεῖται, καὶ αἰδεσθῇ ἐλεγχόμενος, ἡσυχάσθῃ, μὴ ἐξάξῃς αὐτόν. Ὁ γὰρ ἀρνούμενος μετανοεῖ, τοῦ μηκέτι πλημμελῆσαι εἴς σε: ἀλλὰ καὶ τιμήσει σε, καὶ φοβηθήσεται καὶ εἰρηνεύσει. Ἐὰν δὲ ἀναιδής ἐστι, καὶ ἐνίσταται τῇ κακίᾳ, καὶ οὕτως ἄφες αὐτῷ ἀπὸ καρδίας, καὶ δὸς τῷ Θεῷ τὴν ἐκδίκησιν.

[7] Ἐάν τις ὑπὲρ ὑμᾶς εὐοδοῦται, μὴ λυπεῖσθε: ἀλλὰ καὶ εὔχεσθε ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ, ἵνα τελείως εὐοδοῦται. Ἴσως γὰρ ὑμῖν συμφέρει οὕτως: καὶ ἐὰν ἐπὶ πλεῖον ὑψοῦται, μὴ φθονεῖτε, μνημονεύοντες ὅτι πᾶσα σὰρξ ἀποθανεῖται. Κυρίῳ δὲ ὕμνον προσφέρετε, τῷ παρέχοντι τὰ καλὰ καὶ συμφέροντα πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις. Ἐξέτασον κρίματα Κυρίῳ, καὶ οὕτως καταλείψει, καὶ ἡσυχάσει τὸ διαβούλιόν σου. Ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ἐκ κακῶν τις πλουτίσῃ, ὡς Ἡσαῦ ὁ πατράδελφός μου, μὴ ζηλώσητε: ὅρον γὰρ Κυρίου ἐκδέξασθε. Ἢ γὰρ ἀφαιρεῖται αὐτὰ ἐν κακοῖς, ἢ μετανοοῦσιν ἀφίησιν, ἢ ἀμετανοήτῳ τηρεῖ εἰς αἰῶνα τὴν κόλασιν. Ὁ γὰρ πένης καὶ ἄφθονος, ἐπὶ πᾶσι Κυρίῳ εὐχαριστῶν, αὐτὸς παρὰ πᾶσι πλουτεῖ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔχει τὸν πονηρὸν περισπασμὸν τῶν ἀνθρώπων. Ἐξάρατε οὖν τὸ μῖσος ἀπὸ τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν, καὶ ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους ἐν εὐθύτητι καρδίας.

[8] Εἴπατε δὲ καὶ ὑμεῖς ταῦτα τοῖς τέκνοις ὑμῶν, ὅπως τιμήσωσιν Ἰούδαν καὶ τὸν Λευί: ὅτι ἐξ αὐτῶν ἀνατελεῖ Κύριος σωτῆρα τῷ Ἰσραήλ. Ἔγνων γὰρ ὅτι ἐπὶ τέλει ἀποστήσονται τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν ἀπ' αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐν πάσῃ πονηρίᾳ καὶ κακώσει καὶ διαφθορᾷ ἔσονται ἐνώπιον Κυρίου. Καὶ ὀλίγον ἡσυχάσας, πάλιν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς: Τέκνα μου, ὑπακούσατε τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν, καὶ θάψατέ με σύνεγγυς τῶν πατέρων μου. Καὶ ἐξάρας τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ, ἐκοιμήθη ἐν εἰρήνῃ. Καὶ μετὰ πέντε ἔτη ἀνήγαγον αὐτόν, καὶ ἔθηκαν αὐτὸν εἰς Χεβρών, μετὰ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ.