Das Testament Judas

DAS TESTAMENT JUDAS, DES VIERTEN SOHNES JAKOBS UND LEAS

1 1, 2 Die Abschrift der Worte Judas, welche Dinge er zu seinen Söhnen sprach, bevor er starb. Sie versammelten 3 sich, und er sprach zu ihnen: Hört, meine Brüder, und ihr Söhne; und 4 er sprach zu ihnen: Hört, meine Kinder, auf Juda, euren Vater. Ich war der vierte Sohn, der meinem Vater Jakob geboren wurde; und Lea, meine Mutter, nannte mich Juda und sprach: Ich danke Jahwe, weil er mir auch einen vierten Sohn gegeben hat. 5 Ich war in meiner Jugend schnell und meinem Vater in allem gehorsam. Und ich ehrte meine Mutter und die Schwester meiner Mutter. Und es geschah, als ich ein Mann wurde, dass mein Vater mich segnete und sprach: Du wirst ein König sein, in allen Dingen gedeihend.

2 1, 2 Und Jahwe zeigte mir Gunst in allen meinen Werken, sowohl auf dem Feld als auch im Haus. Ich weiß, dass 3 ich eine Hindin jagte und sie fing und das Fleisch für meinen Vater zubereitete, und er aß. Und die Rehe pflegte ich in der Jagd zu meistern und alles einzuholen, was in den Ebenen war. Ein wildes Pferd fing ich und 4 zähmte es. Ich erschlug einen Löwen und nahm ein Böcklein aus seinem Mund. Ich nahm einen Bären am Fuß und 13 schleuderte ihn den Abhang hinab, und er wurde zerschmettert. Ich lief dem Wildschwein davon und ergriff es im Laufen und 6 zerschmetterte es. Ich lief dem Wildschwein davon und ergriff es im Laufen, 6 ich zerschmetterte es. Ein Leopard sprang in Hebron auf meinen Hund, und ich fing ihn am Schwanz und 7 begrub ihn in den Feldern, und in zwei Teile zerbrochen, fand ich einen wilden Ochsen, der in den Feldern fraß, und indem ich ihn an den Hörnern ergriff, ihn herumwirbelte und betäubte, warf ich ihn von mir und erschlug ihn.

Kapitel 3

3 1 Und als die zwei Könige der Kanaaniter in Rüstung gegen unsere Herden kamen und viel Volk mit ihnen, stürzte ich mich einhändig 1 auf den ersten und schlug ihn auf die Beinschienen 2 und zerschmetterte seinen Brustpanzer. Und den anderen, den König von Tappuah, als er auf seinem 5 Pferd saß, [erschlug ich, den anderen, den König von Tappuah, als er auf seinem 5 Pferd saß, [erschlug ich, und so fiel er von seinem Pferd rückwärts. Und ich nahm einen Stein von sechzig Pfund Gewicht und schleuderte ihn und schlug sein Pferd, und es fiel mit ihm. Und ich kämpfte mit (diesem) anderen zwei 5 Stunden, und ich schlug ihn und nahm seinen Schild in zwei Teile, und (diesem) anderen zwei 5 Stunden, und ich schlug ihn, und ich nahm seinen Schild in zwei Teile, und ich hackte seine Füße ab. Und ich tötete ihn. Und als ich 6 seinen Brustpanzer auszog, begannen neunhundert Männer als seine Gefährten mit mir zu kämpfen. Und ich wickelte mein Gewand um meine Hand; und ich schleuderte Steine auf sie, und ich tötete vier von ihnen, und die übrigen flohen in Furcht. Und 7 mein Vater erschlug Beelseasch, den König aller Könige, einen Riesen an Stärke, zwölf Ellen hoch. 8, 9 Und Furcht fiel auf sie, und sie hörten auf, gegen uns Krieg zu führen. Da war mein Vater frei von 10 Sorge in den Kriegen, in denen er mit meinen Brüdern war. Denn er sah in einer Vision über mich, dass ein Engel der Macht mir überall folgte, damit ich nicht überwunden werden sollte.

Kapitel 4

4 1 Und im zweiten Jahr kam ein größerer Krieg über uns als der in Sichem; und ich trat mit meinen Brüdern in Schlachtordnung ein und verfolgte 2 tausend Männer und erschlug von ihnen zweihundert Männer und 3, 4 vier Könige. Und ich ging auf die Mauer hinauf und 3 erschlug vier mächtige Männer. Und so eroberten wir Hazor und nahmen die ganze Beute.

Kapitel 5

5 1 Am nächsten Tag brachen wir nach Areten auf, 4 einer starken und ummauerten und unzugänglichen Stadt, die uns 8 mit dem Tod bedrohte. Aber ich und Gad näherten uns auf der Ostseite der Stadt und Ruben und Levi auf der Westseite. Und die auf der Mauer waren und dachten, wir seien allein, wurden gegen 4 uns herabgezogen. Und meine Brüder kletterten heimlich auf beiden Seiten hinauf und betraten die Stadt, 5 und was die betrifft, die im Turm Zuflucht genommen hatten, wir setzten den Turm in Brand und nahmen sowohl ihn mit der Schärfe des Schwertes. Und die Männer von Tappuah fielen über sie her 6, und wir weihten dem Schwert alles, was ihn mit der Schärfe des Schwertes genommen hatte. Und was die betrifft, die im Turm Zuflucht genommen hatten, wir setzten den Turm in Brand und nahmen sowohl ihn als auch sie. 6 Und als wir aufbrachen, fielen die Männer von Tappuah über unsere Beute her, und indem wir sie unseren Söhnen übergaben, kämpften wir mit ihnen bis nach Tappuah. 7 Und wir erschlugen sie und verbrannten ihre Stadt und nahmen als Beute alles, was in ihr war.

6 1, 2 Und als ich an den Wassern von Kozeha war, kamen die Männer von Jobel in der Schlacht gegen uns. Und wir kämpften mit ihnen und schlugen sie in die Flucht und verfolgten sie bis nach Selom. Wir erschlugen, und wir nahmen ihre Beute und nahmen ihre Frauen. 3 Da kamen die Männer von Makir über uns, um gegen uns hereinzukommen. Und die Amoriter kamen 4 über uns, um gegen uns hereinzukommen. Und wir griffen sie am fünften Tag an, unsere Beute zu ergreifen, denn es war eine Heerschar von ihnen, und überwanden sie in heftiger Schlacht; denn es war eine Heerschar mächtiger Männer. Und als wir vor sie herabkamen, hatten sie den Aufstieg mächtig verschlossen. Und als wir vor sie herabkamen, hatten sie Steine vom Rand des Hügels auf uns gerollt, auf dem die Stadt stand. Und ich sprach: Schießt euch hinter die Stadt, und ergriff die Höhen und zerstörte auch diese Stadt.

Kapitel 7

7 1 Und am nächsten Tag wurde mir gesagt, dass der König der Stadt Gaasch mit einer mächtigen Heerschar 2 gegen uns kam. Ich darum und Dan, uns als Amoriter verkleidend und als Verbündete, gingen nachts in ihr Lager hinein und schlugen die Amoriter und schlugen sie in die Flucht und ergriffen die Beute, und Dan, uns als Amoriter verkleidend und als Verbündete, gingen in ihre drei 4 Mauern, wir setzten uns nieder. Und wir näherten uns Thamna, wo die ganze Substanz der feindlichen Könige war. Da wir von ihnen beleidigt wurden und darum zornig waren, stürzten wir uns gegen sie und erschlugen sie durch sie, und sie sangen weiter gegen mich. 5 Und sie sprachen: Von nun an [unleserlich] 7 Und hätte Dan, mein Bruder, mir nicht geholfen, sie hätten 7 mich erschlagen. Wir kamen darum mit Zorn über sie, und sie flohen alle; und über den 8 Weg von Sammaroh ziehend, flehten sie meinen Vater an, und er machte Frieden mit ihnen. Und wir taten ihnen kein Leid, 9 und sie machten sich uns tributpflichtig, und wir gaben ihnen ihre Beute zurück. Und ich baute Thamna, und mein 10 Vater baute Pahaanath. Und ich war zwanzig Jahre alt, als dieser Krieg eintraf. Und die Kanaaniter fürchteten mich.

8 1, 2 And I had much cattle, and I had for chief herdsman Iram the Adullamite. And when I went to him I saw his daughter: and she pleased me, and I made her a feast. 5 and she bare me Er, and Onan and Shelah. And two of them the Yahweh smote: for Shelah lived, and his children are ye.

Kapitel 9

9 1 And eighteen years my father abode in peace with his brother Esau, and his sons with us, after 2 that we came from Mesopotamia, from Laban. And when nineteen years were fulfilled, in the fortieth year of my life, the brother of my father, came up with a mighty and strong 3 people. And Jacob smote Esau with an arrow, and he was taken up wounded to Mount Seir, and 4 he died at Anoniram. And we pursued after him to Mount Seir. Now they had a city with walls of iron and gates of brass; and we could not enter into it. We came upon it by night, and 5 besieged it. And when the watchers opened not unto us by night, and I set up a ladder in the midst of all and with twenty men, I went up [here the printed edition repeats the phrase "1 went up, opening the assault of the shield upon my head" many times in succession — a print defect] and seized upon the heights, and destroyed this city also. And Reuben and [illegible]. Then they asked from us terms of peace, and having taken counsel with our father, we received them as 8 tributaries. And they gave us five hundred cors of wheat, five hundred baths of oil, five hundred measures of wine, until the famine, when we went down into Egypt.

Kapitel 10

10 1 And after these things my son Er took to wife Tamar, from Mesopotamia, a daughter of Aram. 2 Now Er was wicked, and he was in need concerning Tamar, because she was not of the land of Canaan. And on the third night an angel of the Yahweh smote him. And he had not known her according to the evil craftiness of his mother, for he did not wish to have children by her. In the days of the wedding-feast I gave Onan to her in marriage; and he also in wickedness knew her not, 5 though he was spent with her a year. And when I threatened him he went in unto her, but he spilled the seed on the ground, according to the command of his mother, and he also died through wickedness. 6 And I wished to

give Shelah also to her, but his mother did not permit it, for she wrought evil against Tamar, because she was not of the daughters of Canaan, as she also herself was.

Kapitel 11

11 1 And I knew that the race of the Canaanites was wicked, but the impulse of youth blinded my mind; for I saw her, and I lusted after her in the pride of my heart, and I went in unto her, and she conceived, [illegible]. 12 1 And after these things, while Tamar was a widow, she heard after two years that I was going up 2 to shear my sheep, and adorning herself in bridal array, and sat in the city Enaim by the gate. For it was a law of the Amorites, that she who was about to marry should sit in fornication seven days 3 by the gate. Therefore being drunk with wine, I did not recognize her; and her beauty deceived 4 me through the fashion of her adorning. And I turned aside to her, and said: Let me go in unto thee. And she said: What wilt thou give me? And I gave her my staff, and my girdle, and the 6 diadem of my kingdom in pledge. And I went in unto her, and she conceived. And not knowing 5 what I had done, I wished to slay her, but she privily sent my pledges, and put me to shame, saying: 7 With child am I by the lord of these pledges. And when I knew that I had sinned, and [illegible] the words which she spake when lying with her in my drunkenness; 7 and I called her, and I repented, and I did not go in unto her again, because I had defiled her, and I had haply did it in 8 subtlety, having received the pledge from another woman. But I came not again near her while 9 I lived, because I had done this abomination in all Israel. Moreover, they who were in the city said there was no harlot in the gate, because she came from another place, and sat for a while 10 in the gate. And I thought that no one knew that I had gone in to her. And after this we came into 12 Egypt to Joseph, because of the famine. And I was forty and six years old, and seventy and three years lived I in Egypt.

Kapitel 13

13 1 And now I command you, my children, hearken to Judah your father, and keep my sayings 2 to perform all the ordinances of the Yahweh, and to obey the commands of Yahweh. And walk not after your lusts, nor in the imaginations of your thoughts in haughtiness of heart; and glory not in the deeds and strength of your youth, for this also is evil in the eyes of the Yahweh. Since I also gloried that in wars no woman's face ever enticed me, and reproved my brother concerning Bilhah, the wife of Reuben my father, I was lifted up in mind. And the spirits of jealousy and of fornication arrayed themselves against me, until I lay with Bathshua the Canaanite, and Tamar, who was espoused to my sons. For I said to the Canaanite, I will take counsel with my staff; that is, to be guided by my father-in-law. [illegible] in, it made me also to err, so that I was not ashamed of the multitude in the city, in that before the eyes of all I turned aside unto Tamar, and I wrought a great sin, and I uncovered the covering of my son's shame. After I had drunk wine I reverenced not the commandment of Yahweh, and I took a woman of Canaan to wife. For much dissension needeth the man who drinketh wine, my children; and herein is dissension in drinking wine. 8 [A man] may drink so long as he preserveth modesty; but if he go beyond this limit the spirit of deceit attacketh his mind, and it maketh the drunkard to talk filthily, and to transgress and not to be ashamed, but even to glory in his shame, and to account himself honourable.

Kapitel 14

14 1 And now, my children, I say unto you, be not drunk with wine, [for] wine turneth the mind away 2 from the truth, and [illegible] the passion of lust, and leadeth the eyes into error. For [illegible] of fornication hath wine as a minister to give pleasure [illegible]; for these two also take away the 3 mind of man. For [illegible] drink wine to drunkenness, it disturbeth the mind with [illegible] thoughts leading to fornication, and hasteth the body to [illegible] union; and if the occasion of the lust be 4 present, he [worketh] the sin, and is not ashamed. Such is the inebriated man, [illegible] for he 5 who is drunken reverenceth no man. For,

Kapitel 15

15 1 Be that committeth fornication is not aware when he suffers loss, and is not ashamed when put 2 to dishonour. For even though a man be a king and commit fornication, he is stripped of his 3 kingship by becoming the slave of fornication, as I myself also suffered. For I gave my staff, that is, the stay of my tribe, and my girdle, that is, my power, and my diadem, that is, the glory of my 4 kingdom. And indeed I repented of these things, wine and flesh 4 eat not until my old age, nor did I behold any joy. And the angel of Yahweh showed me that for ever 5 do women bear rule over king and beggar alike. And from the king they take away his glory, and from the valiant man his might, and from the beggar even that little which is the stay of his poverty.

Kapitel 16

16 1 Observe, therefore, my children, the (right) limit in wine; for there are in it four evil spirits—of 2 lust, of hot desire, of profligacy and of filthy lucre. If ye drink wine in gladness, be ye modest in the fear of Yahweh. For if in 3 your assemblies wine departeth, then drunkenness ariseth, and 3 shamelessness stealeth in, while [illegible]

Kapitel 17

17 1 And now, I command you, my children, not to love money, nor to gaze upon the beauty of women; because for the sake of money and beauty I was led astray to Bathshua the Canaanite. 2, 3 (For I know that because of these two things shall my race fall into wickedness. For even wise men among [men] they mar, and shall cause the kingdom of [Judah] to be diminished, which 4 the Yahweh gave me because of [my obedience] to my father. For I never caused grief to Jacob, my father; for all things whatsoever he commanded I did. And Isaac, the father of my father, blessed me 6 in like manner. And I know that the kingdom shall be established.

Kapitel 18

18 1 And I know what evils ye will do in the last days. 2 Beware, therefore, my children, of fornication, and of love of money, and hearken to Judah your father. 3 For these things withdraw you from the law of Yahweh, and blind the inclination of the soul. And teach arrogance. And suffer not a man to have compassion upon his neighbour 4 They rob his [soul], oppress him with toils and troubles. And drive away [sleep] from him, And devour his flesh. 5 And he hindereth the [sacrifices] of Yahweh; And he remembereth not the blessing of Yahweh, he [hearkeneth] not to a prophet when he speaketh. And he [receiveth] the words of godliness. 6 For he is a slave to two [contrary passions]. And cannot obey Yahweh. Because they have [blinded] his soul. And he walketh in the day as in the night.

Kapitel 19

19 1 My children, the love of money leadeth to idolatry; because, when led astray through money, men [call] as gods those who

[Page opens mid-sentence; continues the Testament of Judah from p. 505. First visible line may be truncated at the top of the photograph.]

-- Left column (Testament of Judah: end of ch. 19, chs. 20-23) --

are not fools, and it causeth him who hath it to fall into madness 2 For the sake of money I lost my children, and had not my repentance, and my humiliation, and 3 the prayers of my father been accepted, I should have died childless. But the Yahweh of my fathers 4 had mercy on me, because I did it in ignorance. And the prince of deceit blinded me, and I sinned as a man and as flesh, being corrupted through sins; and I learnt my own weakness while thinking myself invincible.

Kapitel 20

20 1 Know, therefore, my children, that two spirits wait upon man the spirit of truth and the spirit 2 of deceit. And in the midst is the spirit of understanding of the mind, to which it belongeth to turn whithersoever it will. 3 And the works of truth and the works of deceit are written upon the hearts of men, and each one of them the Yahweh knoweth. 4 And there is no time at which the works of men can be hid; for on the heart itself have they been 5 written down before the Yahweh. And the spirit of truth testifieth all things, and accuseth all; and the sinner is burnt up by his own heart, and cannot raise his face to the judge.

Kapitel 21

21 1 And now, my children, I command you, love Levi, that ye may abide, and exalt not yourselves 2 against him, lest ye be utterly destroyed. For to me the Yahweh gave the kingdom, and to him the 3 priesthood, and He set the kingdom beneath the priesthood. To me He gave the things upon the 4 earth; to him the things in the heavens. As the heaven is higher than the earth, so is the priesthood of Yahweh higher than the earthly kingdom, unless it falls away through sin from the Yahweh and is 5 dominated by the earthly kingdom. For the angel of the Yahweh said unto me: The Yahweh chose him rather than thee, to draw near to Him, and to eat of His table and to offer Him the first-fruits of the choice things of the sons of Israel; but thou shalt be king of Jacob. 6 And thou shalt be amongst them as the sea. For as, on the sea, just and unjust are tossed about, some taken into captivity while some are enriched, so also shall every race of men be in thee: some shall be impoverished, being taken captive, and others grow rich by plundering the possessions of others. 7 For the kings shall be as sea-monsters. They shall swallow men like fishes: The sons and daughters of free men shall they enslave; Houses, lands, flocks, money shall they plunder: 8 And with the flesh of many shall they wrongfully feed the ravens and the cranes; And they shall advance in evil, in covetousness uplifted, 9 And there shall be false prophets like tempests, And they shall persecute all righteous men.

Kapitel 22

22 1 And the Yahweh shall bring upon them divisions one against another. And there shall be continual wars in Israel; 2 And among men of another race shall my kingdom be brought to an end, Until the salvation of Israel shall come, Until the appearing of the Yahweh of righteousness, That Jacob [and all the Gentiles] may rest in peace. 3 And He shall guard the might of my kingdom for ever; For the Yahweh sware to me with an oath that He would not destroy the kingdom from my seed for ever.

Kapitel 23

23 1 Now I have much grief, my children, because of your lewdness and witchcrafts, and idolatries which ye shall practise against the kingdom, following them that have familiar spirits, diviners, and 2 demons of error. Ye shall make your daughters singing girls and harlots, and ye shall mingle in 3 the abominations of the Gentiles. For which things' sake the Yahweh shall bring upon you famine and pestilence, death and the sword, beleaguering by enemies, and revilings of friends, the slaughter of children, the rape of wives, the plundering of possessions, the burning of the temple of Yahweh,] the 4 laying waste of the land, the enslavement of yourselves among the Gentiles. And they shall make some of you eunuchs for their wives. 5 Until the Yahweh visit you, when with perfect heart ye repent and walk in all His commandments; and He bring you up from captivity among the Gentiles.

-- Right column (Testament of Judah: ch. 24, then ch. 26, then ch. 26 again -- see structural note) --

Kapitel 24

24 1 And after these things shall a star arise to you from Jacob in peace, And a man shall arise (from my seed), like the sun of righteousness, walking with the sons of men in meekness and righteousness; And no sin shall be found in him. 2 and the heavens shall be open unto him, To pour out the spirit, (even) the blessing of the Holy Father; 3 And He shall pour out the spirit of grace upon you; And ye shall be unto Him sons in truth, And ye shall walk in His commandments first and last. 4 [This Branch of Yahweh Most High, And this Fountain giving life unto all.] 5 Then shall the sceptre of my kingdom shine forth; And from your root shall arise a stem; 6 And from it shall grow a rod of righteousness to the Gentiles, To judge and to save all that call upon the Yahweh.

Kapitel 26

26 1 And after these things shall Abraham and Isaac and Jacob arise unto life, and I and my brethren shall be chiefs of the tribes of Israel: Levi first, I the second, Joseph third, Benjamin fourth, 2 Simeon fifth; Issachar sixth, and so all in order. And the Yahweh blessed Levi, and the Angel of the Presence, me; the powers of glory, Simeon; the heaven, Reuben; the earth, Issachar; the sea, Zebulun; the mountains, Joseph; the tabernacle, Benjamin; the luminaries, Dan; Eden, Naphtali; the sun, Gad; the moon, Asher. 3 And ye shall be the people of the Yahweh, and have one tongue; And there shall be there no spirit of deceit of Beliar, For he shall be cast into the fire for ever. 4 And they who have died in grief shall arise in joy, And they who were poor for the Yahweh's sake shall be made rich, And they who are put to death for the Yahweh's sake shall awake to life. 5 And the harts of Jacob shall run in joyfulness, And the eagles of Israel shall fly in gladness; And all the people shall glorify the Yahweh for ever.

26 1 Observe, therefore, my children, all the law of the Yahweh, for there is hope for all them who hold 2 fast unto His ways. And he said to them: Behold, I die before your eyes this day, a hundred and 3 nineteen years old. Let no one bury me in costly apparel, nor tear open my bowels, for this 4 shall they who are kings do; and carry me up to Hebron with you. And Judah, when he had said these things, fell asleep; and his sons did according to all whatsoever he commanded them, and they buried him in Hebron, with his fathers.