VI.—The Testament of Zebulun Concerning Compassion and Mercy.

1. The record of Zebulun, which he enjoined his children in the hundred  1  The Ox. ms. reads 150, and refers the event to two years after Joseph’s death. The text of the Cam. ms. gives an impossible result here, as it would make Zebulun twenty-eight years younger than Joseph, who died at the age of 110. According to the Ox. ms., Reuben (cf. c. 1) and Zebulun would die in the same year, the former at 125, the latter 150. A comparison of Test. Reub., c. 1 shows the most probable solution to be to give the numerals, ριδ', β'. and fourteenth year of his life, thirty-two years after the death of Joseph. And he said to them: Hearken to me sons of Zebulun, attend to the words of your father. I am Zebulun, a good gift  2  The derivation of Zebulun seems to be from זבל, a collateral form of זבר, to give. Hence Leah plays on the double meaning of the former verb, Gen. xxx. 20. to my parents. For when I was born our father was increased very exceedingly, both in flocks and herds, when with the streaked rods he had his portion. I know not, my children, that in all my days I have sinned, save only in thought. Nor do I remember that I have done any iniquity, except the sin of ignorance which I committed against Joseph; for I screened my brethren, not telling to my father what had been done. And I wept sore in secret, for I feared my brethren, because they had all agreed together, that if any one should declare the secret, he should be slain with the sword. But when they wished to kill him, I adjured them much with tears not to be guilty of this iniquity.

2. For Simeon and Gad came against Joseph to kill him. And Joseph fell upon his face, and said unto them, Pity me, my brethren, have compassion upon the bowels of Jacob our father: lay not upon me your hands to shed innocent blood, for I have not sinned against you; yea, if I have sinned, with chastening chastise me, but lay not upon me your hand, for the sake of Jacob our father. And as he spoke these words, I pitied him and began to weep, and my heart melted within me, and all the substance of my bowels was loosened within my soul. And Joseph also wept, and I too wept with him; and my heart throbbed fast, and the joints of my body trembled, and I was not able to stand. And when he saw me weeping with him, and them coming against him to slay him, he fled behind me, beseeching them. And Reuben rose and said, My brethren, let us not slay him, but let us cast him into one of these dry pits which our fathers digged and found no water. For for this cause the Lord forbade that water should rise up in them, in order that Joseph might be preserved; and the Lord appointed it so, until they sold him to the Ishmaelites.

3. For in the price of Joseph, my children, I had no share; but Simeon and Gad and six other of our brethren took the price of Joseph, and bought sandals  3  Cf. the Targum Ps. Jon. on Gen. xxxvii. 28. for themselves, their wives, and their children, saying, We will not eat of it, for it is the price of our brother’s blood, but will tread it down under foot, because he said that he was king over us, and so let us see what his dreams mean. Therefore is it written in the writing of the law of Enoch, that whosoever will not raise up seed to his brother, his sandal shall be unloosed, and they shall spit into his face.  4  [Deut. xxv. 7, 8, 9. See Lardner on the animus of these quotations from Enoch, as it strikes him, vol. ii. p. 350.] And the brethren of Joseph wished not that their brother should live, and the Lord loosed unto them the sandal of Joseph. For when they came into Egypt they were unloosed by the servants of Joseph before the gate, and so made obeisance to Joseph after the fashion of Pharaoh. And not only did they make obeisance to him, but were spit upon also, falling down before him forthwith, and so they were put to shame before the Egyptians; for after this the Egyptians heard all the evils which we had done to Joseph.

4. After these things they brought forth food; for I through two days and two nights tasted nothing, through pity for Joseph. And Judah ate not with them, but watched the pit; for he feared lest Simeon and Gad should run back and slay him. And when they saw that I also ate not, they set me to watch him until he was sold. And he remained in the pit three days and three nights, and so was sold famishing. And when Reuben heard that while he was away Joseph had been sold, he rent his clothes about him, and mourned, saying, How shall I look in the face of Jacob my father? And he took the money, and ran after the merchants, and found no one; for they had left the main road, and journeyed hastily through rugged byways.  5  Cam. ms. διὰ τραγλοκολπητῶν ; Ox. ms. διὰ τρωγλοδυτῶν. And Reuben ate no food on that day. Dan therefore came to him, and said, Weep not, neither grieve; for I have found what we can say to our father Jacob. Let us slay a kid of the goats, and dip in it the coat of Joseph; and we will say, Look, if this is the coat of thy son: for they stripped off from Joseph the coat of our father when they were about to sell him, and put upon him an old garment of a slave. Now Simeon had the coat, and would not give it up, wishing to rend it with his sword; for he was angry that Joseph lived, and that he had not slain him. Then we all rose up together against him, and said, If thou give it not up, we will say that thou alone didst this wickedness in Israel; and so he gave it up, and they did even as Dan had said.

5. And now, my children, I bid you to keep the commands of the Lord, and to show mercy upon your neighbour, and to have compassion towards all, not towards men only, but also towards beasts. For for this thing’s sake the Lord blessed me; and when all my brethren were sick I escaped without sickness, for the Lord knoweth the purposes of each. Have therefore compassion in your hearts, my children, because even as a man doeth to his neighbour, even so also will the Lord do to him. For the sons of my brethren were sickening, were dying on account of Joseph, because they showed not mercy in their hearts; but my sons were preserved without sickness, as ye know. And when I was in Canaan, by the sea-coast, I caught spoil of fish for Jacob my father; and when many were choked in the sea, I abode unhurt.

6. I was the first who made a boat to sail upon the sea, for the Lord gave me understanding and wisdom therein; and I let down a rudder behind it, and I stretched a sail on an upright mast in the midst; and sailing therein along the shores, I caught fish for the house of my father until we went into Egypt; and through compassion, I gave of my fish to every stranger. And if any man were a stranger, or sick, or aged, I boiled the fish and dressed them well, and offered them to all men as every man had need, bringing them together and having compassion upon them. Wherefore also the Lord granted me to take much fish: for he that imparteth unto his neighbour, receiveth manifold more from the Lord. For five years I caught fish, and gave thereof to every man whom I saw, and brought sufficient for all the house of my father. In the summer I caught fish, and in the winter I kept sheep with my brethren.

7. Now I will declare unto you what I did, I saw a man in distress and nakedness in wintertime, and had compassion upon him, and stole away  6  [“Finis non determinat probitatem actus.”] a garment secretly from my house, and gave it to him who was in distress. Do you therefore, my children, from that which God bestoweth upon you, show compassion and mercy impartially to all men, and give to every man with a good heart. And if ye have not at the time wherewith to give to him that asketh you, have compassion for him in bowels of mercy. I know that my hand found not at the time wherewith to give to him that asked me, and I walked with him weeping for more than seven furlongs, and my bowels yearned towards him unto compassion.

8. Have therefore yourselves also, my children, compassion towards every man with mercy, that the Lord also may have compassion upon you, and have mercy upon you; because also in the last days God sendeth His compassion on the earth, and wheresoever He findeth bowels of mercy, He dwelleth in him. For how much compassion a man hath upon his neighbours, so much also hath the Lord upon him. For when we went down into Egypt, Joseph bore no malice against us, and when he saw me he was filled with compassion. And looking towards him, do ye also, my children, approve yourselves without malice, and love one another; and reckon not each one the evil of his brother, for this breaketh unity, and divideth all kindred, and troubleth the soul: for he who beareth malice hath not bowels of mercy.

9. Mark the waters, that they flow together, and sweep along stones, trees, sand; but if they are divided into many streams, the earth sucketh them up, and they become of no account. So also shall ye be if ye be divided. Divide not yourselves into two heads, for everything which the Lord made hath but one head; He gave two shoulders, hands, feet, but all the members are subject unto the one head. I have learnt by the writing of my fathers, that in the last days ye will depart from the Lord, and be divided in Israel, and ye will follow two kings, and will work every abomination, and every idol will ye worship, and your enemies shall lead you captive, and ye shall dwell among the nations with all infirmities and tribulations and anguish of soul. And after these things ye will remember the Lord, and will repent, and He will lead you back; for He is merciful and full of compassion, not imputing evil to the sons of men, because they are flesh, and the spirits of error deceive them in all their doings. And after these things shall the Lord Himself arise to you,  7  Mal. iv. 2. the Light of righteousness, and healing  8  The Ox. ms. reads: “And ye shall return from your land, and ye shall see the Lord in Jerusalem for His name’s sake.” [Heb. vii. 2. At least, Salem is His name.] and compassion shall be upon His wings. He shall redeem all captivity of the sons of men from Beliar, and every spirit of error shall be trodden down. And He shall bring back all the nations to zeal for Him, and ye shall see God in the fashion of a man  9  [Another of those unequivocal passages which refute Lardner’s charge of “Unitarianism” in this book.] whom the Lord shall choose, Jerusalem is His name. And again with the wickedness of your words will ye provoke Him to anger, and ye shall be cast away, even unto the time of consummation.

10. And now, my children, grieve not that I am dying, nor be troubled in that I am passing away from you. For I shall arise once more in the midst of you, as a ruler in the midst of his sons; and I will rejoice in the midst of my tribe, as many as have kept the law of the Lord, and the commandments of Zebulun their father.  10  [Ezek. xlviii. 26, 27. An important example of Hebrew exposition of this prophet.] But upon the ungodly shall the Lord bring everlasting fire, and will destroy them throughout all generations. I am hastening away unto my rest, as did my fathers; but do ye fear the Lord your God with all your strength all the days of your life. And when he had said these things he fell calmly asleep, and his sons laid him in a coffin; and afterwards they carried him up to Hebron, and buried him with his fathers.

 ΔΙΑΘΗΚΗ ΖΑΒΟΥΛΩΝ ΠΕΡΙ ΕΥΣΠΛΑΓΧΝΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΕΛΕΟΥΣ 

[1] Ἀντίγραφον Ζαβουλών, ὃ διέθετο τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτοῦ ριδʹ ἔτει τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ, μετὰ λβʹ ἔτη τοῦ θανάτου Ἰωσήφ. Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς: Ἀκούσατέ μου, υἱοὶ Ζαβουλών, προσέχετε ῥήμασι πατρὸς ὑμῶν. Ἐγώ εἰμι Ζαβουλών, δόσις ἀγαθὴ τοῖς γονεῦσί μου. Ἐν γὰρ τῷ γεννηθῆναί με, ηὐξήθη ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν ἕως σφόδρα, καὶ τὰ ποίμνια, καὶ τὰ βουκόλια, ὅτε ἐν τοῖς ποικίλοις ῥάβδοις εἶχε τὸν κλῆρον. Οὐκ ἔγνων, τέκνα μου, ὅτι ἥμαρτον ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις μου, παρεκτὸς ἐννοίας: οὐδὲ μιμνήσκομαι ὅτι παρανομίαν ἐποίησα, πλὴν τὴν ἄγνοιαν ἣν ἐποίησα ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἰωσήφ, ὅτι ἐσκέπασα ἐπὶ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς μου, μὴ εἰπεῖν τῷ πατρί μου τὸ γενόμενον, Καὶ ἔκλαιον πολλὰ ἐν κρυφῇ: ἐφοβούμην γὰρ τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου, ὅτι συνέθεντο πάντες ὁμοῦ, εἴτις ἐξείποι τὸ μυστήριον, ἀναιρεθῆναι αὐτὸν μαχαίρᾳ. Πλὴν ὅτε ἐβούλοντο ἀνελεῖν αὐτόν, πολλὰ διεμαρτυράμην αὐτοῖς μετὰ δακρύων, τοῦ μὴ ποιῆσαι τὴν ἀνομίαν ταύτην.

[2] Ἦλθον γὰρ Συμεὼν καὶ Γὰδ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰωσὴφ τοῦ ἀνελεῖν αὐτόν: καὶ πεσὼν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον Ἰωσήφ, ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς: Ἐλεήσατέ με, ἀδελφοί μου, οἰκτειρήσατε τὰ σπλάγχνα Ἰακὼβ τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν. Μὴ ἐπαγάγετε ἐπ' ἐμὲ τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν, τοῦ ἐκχέαι αἷμα ἀθῷον, ὅτι οὐχ ἥμαρτον εἰς ὑμᾶς. Εἰ δὲ καὶ ἥμαρτον, ἐν παιδείᾳ παιδεύσατέ με: τὴν δὲ χεῖρα ὑμῶν μὴ ἐπενέγκητε διὰ Ἰακὼβ τὸν πατέρα ἡμῶν. Ὡς δὲ ἔλεγε τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα, εἰς οἶκτον ἦλθον ἐγώ, καὶ ἠρξάμην κλαίειν, καὶ τὰ ἥπατά μου ἐξελύθησαν ἐπ' ἐμέ, καὶ πᾶσα ἡ ὑπόστασις τῶν σπλάγχνων μου ἐχαυνοῦτο ἐπὶ τὴν ψυχήν μου. Ἔκλαιε δὲ καὶ Ἰωσὴφ κἀγὼ σὺν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἐβόμβη ἡ καρδία μου, καὶ οἱ ἁρμοὶ τοῦ σώματός μου ἐξέστησαν καὶ οὐκ ἠδυνάμην τοῦ στῆναι. Καὶ ἰδών με συνκλαίοντα αὐτῷ, κἀκείνους ἐπερχομένους ἀνελεῖν αὐτόν, κατέφυγεν ὀπίσω μου, δεόμενος αὐτῶν. Ἀναστὰς δὲ Ῥουβὴμ εἶπεν: Ἀδελφοί, μὴ ἀποκτείνωμεν αὐτόν, ἀλλὰ ῥίψωμεν αὐτὸν εἰς ἕνα τῶν λάκκων τῶν ξηρῶν τούτων, ὧν ὤρυξαν οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν, καὶ οὐχ εὗρον ὕδωρ. Διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο ἐκώλυσε Κύριος τοῦ ἀναβῆναι ὕδωρ ἐν αὐτοῖς, ἵνα γένηται περιποίησις τοῦ Ἰωσήφ. Καὶ ἐποίησε Κύριος οὕτως, ἕως οὗ ἐπώλησαν αὐτὸν τοῖς Ἰσμαηλίταις.

[3] Καὶ γὰρ τῆς τιμῆς τοῦ Ἰωσήφ, τέκνα, ἐγὼ οὐκ ἐκοινώνησα, ἀλλὰ Συμεὼν καὶ Γὰδ καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι ἓξ ἀδελφοὶ ἡμῶν λαβόντες τὴν τιμὴν τοῦ Ἰωσήφ, ἐπριάσαντο ὑποδήματα ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ταῖς γυναιξὶν αὐτῶν καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῶν, εἰπόντες: Οὐ φαγόμεθα αὐτήν, ὅτι τιμὴ αἵματος τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ἡμῶν αὕτη, ἀλλὰ καταπατήσει καταπατήσωμεν αὐτήν, ἀνθ' ὧν εἶπε βασιλεύειν ἐφ' ἡμᾶς: καὶ εἴδωμεν, τί ἔσται τὰ ἐνύπνια αὐτοῦ. Διὰ τοῦτο ἐν γραφῇ νόμου Ἐνὼχ γέγραπται, τὸν μὴ θέλοντα ἀναστῆσαι σπέρμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ, ὑπολυθήσεσθαι τὸ ὑπόδημα, καὶ ἐμπτύεσθαι εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον. Καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ Ἰωσὴφ οὐκ ἠθέλησαν εἰς ζωὴν ἀδελφοῦ αὐτῶν: καὶ Κύριος ὑπέλυσεν αὐτοὺς τὸ ὑπόδημα Ἰωσήφ. Καὶ γὰρ ἐλθόντες ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, ὑπελύθησαν ὑπὸ τῶν παίδων Ἰωσὴφ ἔμπροσθε τοῦ πυλῶνος, καὶ οὕτως προσεκύνησαν τῷ Ἰωσὴφ κατὰ τὸν τύπον τοῦ Φαραώ. Οὐ μόνον δὲ προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐνεπτύσθησαν, παραχρῆμα πεσόντες ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ: καὶ οὕτως ᾐσχύνθησαν ἔμπροσθε τῶν Αἰγυπτίων. Μετὰ ταῦτα γὰρ ἤκουσαν οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι πάντα τὰ κακὰ ἃ ἐποιήσαμεν τῷ Ἰωσήφ.

[4] Μετὰ ταῦτα ἔβαλον ἐσθίειν ἐκεῖνοι. Ἐγὼ γὰρ δύο ἡμέρας καὶ δύο νύκτας οὐκ ἐγευσάμην, σπλαγχνιζόμενος ἐπὶ Ἰωσήφ. Καὶ Ἰούδας οὐ συνέτρωγεν αὐτοῖς: προσεῖχε δὲ τῷ λάκκῳ, ὅτι ἐφοβεῖτο μὴ ἀποπηδήσαντες Συμεὼν καὶ Γὰδ ἀνέλωσιν αὐτόν. Καὶ ὁρῶντες κἀμὲ μὴ ἐσθίοντα, ἔθεντό με τηρεῖν αὐτὸν, ἕως οὗ ἐπράθη. Ἐποίησε δὲ ἐν τῷ λάκκῳ τρεῖς ἡμέρας καὶ τρεῖς νύκτας, καὶ οὕτως ἐπράθη ἄσιτος. Καὶ ἀκούσας Ῥουβὴμ ὅτι ἐπράθη ἀπόντος αὐτοῦ, περισχισάμενος ἐθρήνει λέγων: Πῶς ὄψομαι τὸ πρόσωπον Ἰακὼβ τοῦ πατρός μου; καὶ λαβὼν τὸ ἀργύριον κατέδραμε τοῖς ἐμπόροις, καὶ οὐδένα εὗρεν: ἀφέντες γὰρ τὴν ὁδὸν τὴν μεγάλην, ἐπορεύθησαν διὰ τραγλοκολπητῶν ἐν τῇ συντόμῳ. Καὶ οὐκ ἔφαγε Ῥουβὴμ ἄρτον ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ. Προσελθὼν οὖν Δὰν εἶπεν αὐτῷ: Μὴ κλαῖε, μηδὲ πένθει: εὗρον γὰρ, τί εἴπομεν τῷ πατρὶ ἡμῶν Ἰακώβ. Θύσωμεν χίμαρρον αἰγῶν, καὶ ἐμβάψωμεν τὸν χιτῶνα Ἰωσήφ, καὶ ἐροῦμεν: Ἐπίγνωθι, εἰ χιτὼν τοῦ υἱοῦ σού ἐστιν οὗτος: τὸν γὰρ χιτῶνα τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν ἐξέδυσαν τὸν Ἰωσὴφ ἐν τῷ μέλλειν πιπράσκειν αὐτόν, καὶ ἐνέδυσαν αὐτὸν ἱμάτιον παλαιὸν δούλου. Τὸν δὲ χιτῶνα εἶχε Συμεών, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελε δοῦναι αὐτόν, θέλων τῇ ῥομφαίᾳ αὐτοῦ κατακόψαι αὐτόν, ὀργιζόμενος ὅτι ἔζησε καὶ οὐκ ἀνεῖλεν αὐτόν. Ἀναστάντες δὲ κατ' αὐτοῦ πάντες ὁμοῦ εἴπομεν ὅτι ἐὰν μὴ δῷς, ἐροῦμεν ὅτι σὺ μόνος ἐποίησας τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν Ἰσραήλ. Καὶ οὕτως δίδωσιν αὐτόν, καὶ ἐποίησαν καθὼς εἶπεν ὁ Δάν.

[5] Καὶ νῦν, τέκνα μου, ἀναγγελῶ ὑμῖν τοῦ φυλάσσειν τὰς ἐντολὰς Κυρίου, καὶ ποιεῖν ἔλεος ἐπὶ τὸν πλησίον, καὶ εὐσπλαγχνίαν πρὸς πάντας ἔχειν, οὐ μόνον πρὸς ἀνθρώπους, ἀλλὰ καὶ εἰς ἄλογα. Διὰ γὰρ ταῦτα εὐλόγησέ με Κύριος, καὶ πάντων τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου ἀσθενούντων ἐγὼ ἄνοσος παρῆλθον: οἶδε γὰρ Κύριος ἑκάστου τὴν προαίρεσιν. Ἔχετε οὖν ἔλεος ἐν σπλάγχνοις ὑμῶν, τέκνα μου, ὅτι ὡς ἄν τις ποιήσῃ τῷ πλησίον αὐτοῦ, οὕτως καὶ ὁ Κύριος ποιήσει αὐτῷ. Καὶ γὰρ οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου ἠσθένουν, ἀπέθνησκον διὰ Ἰωσήφ, ὅτι οὐκ ἐποίησαν ἔλεος ἐν σπλάγχνοις αὐτῶν: οἱ δὲ ἐμοὶ υἱοὶ ἄνοσοι διεφυλάχθησαν, ὡς οἴδατε. Καὶ ὅτε ἤμην ἐν τῇ Χαναάν, εἰς παράλιον ἐθήρευον θῆρα ἰχθύων Ἰακὼβ τῷ πατρί μου: καὶ πολλῶν ἀγχομένων ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ, ἐγὼ ἀβλαβὴς διέμεινα.

[6] Πρῶτος ἐγὼ ἐποίησα σκάφος ἐν θαλάσσῃ ἐπιπλέειν, ὅτι Κύριος ἔδωκέ μοι σύνεσιν καὶ σοφίαν ἐν αὐτῷ: καὶ καθῆκα ξύλον ὄπισθεν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὀθόνην ἐξέτεινα ἐν ὀρθῷ ξύλῳ ἐμμέσῳ: καὶ ἐν αὐτῷ διαπορευόμενος τοὺς αἰγιαλούς, ἡλίευον ἰχθύας οἴκῳ τοῦ πατρός μου, ἕως ἤλθωμεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον: καὶ ἐκ τῆς θήρας μου παντὶ ἀνθρώπῳ ξένῳ σπλαγχνιζόμενος ἐδίδουν. Εἰ δὲ ἦν ξένος, ἢ νοσῶν, ἢ γηράσας, ἑψήσας τοὺς ἰχθύας, καὶ ποιήσας αὐτὰ ἀγαθῶς, κατὰ τὴν ἑκάστου χρείαν προσέφερον πᾶσι, συνάγων καὶ συμπάσχων. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὁ Κύριος πολὺν ἰχθὺν ἐποίησέ μοι θηρᾶν. Ὁ γὰρ μεταδιδοὺς τῷ πλησίον, λαμβάνει πολλαπλασίονα παρὰ Κυρίου. Πέντε ἔτη ἡλίευσα, παντὶ ἀνθρώπῳ ὃν ἑωράκειν μεταδιδούς, καὶ παντὶ τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ πατρός μου ἐξαρκῶν. Τὸ θέρος ἡλίευον, καὶ ἐν χειμῶνι ἐποίμαινον μετὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου.

[7] Νῦν ἀναγγελῶ ὑμῖν ἃ ἐποίησα. Εἶδον θλιβόμενον ἐν γυμνότητι χειμῶνος, καὶ σπλαγχνισθεὶς ἐπ' αὐτόν, κλέψας ἱμάτιον ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου μου κρυφέως, ἔδωκα τῷ θλιβομένῳ. Καὶ ὑμεῖς οὖν, τέκνα μου, ἐξ ὧν παρέχει ὑμῖν ὁ Θεός, ἀδιακρίτως πᾶσι σπλαγχνιζόμενοι ἐλεᾶτε, καὶ παρέχετε παντὶ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐν ἀγαθῇ καρδίᾳ. Εἰ δὲ μὴ ἔχετε πρὸς καιρὸν δοῦναι τῷ χρῄζοντι, συμπάσχετε ἐν σπλάγχνοις ἐλέους. Οἶδα ὅτι ἡ χείρ μου οὐχ εὗρε πρὸς τὸ παρὸν ἐπιδοῦναι τῷ χρῄζοντι, καὶ ἔτι ἑπτὰ σταδίους συμπορευόμενος αὐτῷ, ἔκλαιον: καὶ τὰ σπλάγχνα μου ἐστρέφετο ἐπ' αὐτῷ εἰς συμπάθειαν.

[8] Καὶ ὑμεῖς οὖν, τέκνα μου, ἔχετε εὐσπλαγχνίαν κατὰ παντὸς ἀνθρώπου ἐν ἐλέει, ἵνα καὶ ὁ Κύριος εἰς ὑμᾶς σπλαγχνισθεὶς ἐλεήσῃ ὑμᾶς: ὅτι καίγε ἐπ' ἐσχάτων ἡμερῶν ὁ Θεὸς ἀποστέλλει τὸ σπλάγχνον αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, καὶ ὅπου εὕρῃ σπλάγχνα ἐλέους, ἐν αὐτῷ κατοικεῖ. Ὅσον γὰρ ἄνθρωπος σπλαγχνίζεται εἰς τὸν πλησίον, τοσοῦτον Κύριος εἰς αὐτόν. Ὅτε γὰρ κατήλθομεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον, Ἰωσὴφ οὐκ ἐμνησικάκησεν εἰς ἡμᾶς: ἐμὲ δὲ ἰδών, ἐσπλαγχνίσθη. Εἰς ὃν ἐμβλέποντες καὶ ὑμεῖς, ἀμνησίκακοι γίνεσθε, τέκνα μου, καὶ ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους, καὶ μὴ λογίζεσθε ἕκαστος τὴν κακίαν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ: ὅτι τοῦτο χωρίζει ἑνότητα, καὶ πᾶσαν συγγένειαν διασκορπίζει, καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν ταράσσει. Ὁ γὰρ μνησίκακος σπλάγχνα ἐλέους οὐκ ἔχει.

[9] Προσέχετε τὰ ὕδατα, ὅτι ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ πορεύεται, λίθους, ξύλα, τὴν ἅμμον κατασύρει: ἐὰν δὲ εἰς πολλὰ διαιρεθῇ, ἡ γῆ ἀφανίζει αὐτά, καὶ γίνεται εὐκαταφρόνητα. Καὶ ὑμεῖς, ἐὰν διαιρεθῆτε, ἔσεσθε οὕτως. Μὴ σχισθῆτε εἰς δύο κεφαλάς, ὅτι πᾶν ὃ ἐποίησεν ὁ Κύριος κεφαλὴν μίαν ἔχει. Ἔδωκε δύο ὤμους, χεῖρας, πόδας, ἀλλὰ πάντα τὰ μέλη τῇ μιᾷ κεφαλῇ ὑπακούει. Ἔγνων ἐν γραφῇ πατέρων μου, ὅτι ἐν ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις ἀποστήσεσθε ἀπὸ Κυρίου, καὶ διαιρεθήσεσθε ἐν Ἰσραήλ, καὶ δύο βασιλεῦσιν ἐξακολουθήσετε, καὶ πᾶν βδέλυγμα ποιήσετε, καίγε πᾶν εἴδωλον προσκυνήσετε, καὶ αἰχμαλωτεύσουσιν ὑμᾶς οἱ ἐχθροὶ ὑμῶν, καὶ καθίσεσθε ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἐν πάσαις ἀσθενείαις καὶ θλίψεσι καὶ ὀδύνης ψυχῆς. Καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα μνησθήσεσθε Κυρίου, καὶ μετανοήσετε, καὶ ἐπιστρέψει ὑμᾶς, ὅτι ἐλεήμων ἐστὶ καὶ εὔσπλαγχνος, μὴ λογιζόμενος κακίαν τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων, διότι σάρξ εἰσι καὶ τὰ πνεύματα τῆς πλάνης ἀπατᾷ αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ πάσαις πράξεσιν αὐτῶν. Καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἀνατέλλει ὑμῖν αὐτὸς ὁ Κύριος, φῶς δικαιοσύνης, καὶ ἴασις καὶ εὐσπλαγχνία ἐπὶ ταῖς πτέρυξιν αὐτοῦ. Αὐτὸς λυτρώσηται πᾶσαν αἰχμαλωσίαν υἱῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐκ τοῦ Βελίαρ, καὶ πᾶν πνεῦμα πλάνης πατηθήσεται: καὶ ἐπιστρέψει πάντα τὰ ἔθνη εἰς παραζήλωσιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὄψεσθε Θεὸν ἐν σχήματι ἀνθρώπου, ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται Κύριος, Ἱερουσαλὴμ ὄνομα αὐτῷ. Καὶ πάλιν ἐν πονηρίᾳ λόγων ὑμῶν παροργίσετε αὐτόν, καὶ ἀπορηφήσεσθε ἕως καιροῦ συντελείας.

[10] Καὶ νῦν, τέκνα μου, μὴ λυπεῖσθε ὅτι ἀποθνήσκω ἐγώ, μηδὲ συμπίπτετε ὅτι ἀπολείπω ὑμῶν. Ἀναστήσομαι γὰρ πάλιν ἐμμέσῳ ὑμῶν ὡς ἡγούμενος ἐμμέσῳ υἱῶν αὐτοῦ, καὶ εὐφρανθήσομαι ἐμμέσῳ τῆς φυλῆς μου, ὅσοι ἐφύλαξαν νόμον Κυρίου καὶ ἐντολὰς Ζαβουλὼν πατρὸς αὐτῶν. Ἐπὶ δὲ τοὺς ἀσεβεῖς ἐπάξει Κύριος πῦρ αἰώνιον, καὶ ἀπολέσει αὐτοὺς ἕως γενεῶν. Ἐγὼ εἰς τὴν ἀνάπαυσίν μου ἀποτρέχω, ὡς οἱ πατέρες μου: ὑμεῖς δὲ φοβεῖσθε Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν ὑμῶν ἐν πάσῃ ἰσχύι πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς ὑμῶν. Καὶ ταῦτα εἰπών, ἐκοιμήθη ὕπνῳ καλῷ, καὶ ἔθηκαν αὐτὸν οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐν θήκῃ: ὕστερον δὲ ἀναγαγόντες αὐτὸν εἰς Χεβρών, ἔθαψαν μετὰ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ.