József végrendelete

JÓZSEF VÉGRENDELETE, JÁKÓB ÉS RÁKHEL TIZENEGYEDIK FIA.

Fejezet 1

1 1 József végrendeletének másolata. Amikor halálához közeledett, összehívta fiait és testvéreit, és ezt mondta nekik: — 2 Testvéreim és gyermekeim, hallgassatok Józsefre, Izrael kedveltjére. Adj füled, fiaim, atyátokra. 3 Életemben irigységet és halált láttam. Mégis nem tévedtem el, hanem kitartottam Jáhve igazságában. 4 Ezek a testvéreim gyűlöltek engem, de Jáhve szeretett engem: Meg akartak ölni, de atyáim Jáhvéja megőrzött engem. Leengedtek egy verembe, és a Magasságos ismét felhozott. 5 Eladtak rabszolgaságba, és mindenek Jáhvéja szabaddá tett: fogságba vittek, és az ő erős keze megsegített engem. Éhség vett körül, és maga Jáhve táplált engem. 6 Egyedül voltam, és Jáhve megvigasztalt engem: beteg voltam, és Jáhve meglátogatott engem: börtönben voltam, és az én Jáhvém kegyelmet mutatott nekem; kötelékekben, és ő megszabadított engem; 7 Rágalmazva, és ő perelte ügyemet; az egyiptomiak keserűen szóltak ellenem, és ő kiszabadított engem; rabszolgatársaim irigyeltek, és ő felmagasztalt engem.

2 1, 2 És Fáraó ezen főkapitánya rám bízta házát. És én egy szemtelen asszony ellen küzdöttem, aki arra sürgetett, hogy vétkezzek vele; de Izrael Jáhvéja, atyám, kiszabadított engem a 3 égő lángból. Börtönbe vetettek, megvertek, kigúnyoltak; de Jáhve megadta nekem, hogy irgalmat találjak a börtön őrének színe előtt. 4 Mert Jáhve nem hagyja el azokat, akik félik őt, sem sötétségben, sem kötelékekben, sem nyomorúságokban, sem szükségben. 5 Mert Jáhve nem szégyenül meg, mint ember, sem nem fél, mint ember fia. Sem nem [gyenge vagy] ijedt, mint aki földből született. 6 Hanem mindezen dolgokban védelmet ad, és különféle módokon vigasztal, (bár) egy kevés időre eltávozik, hogy megpróbálja a lélek hajlamát. 7 Tíz kísértésben jóváhagyottnak mutatott engem, és mindegyikben kitartottam; mert a kitartás hatalmas varázs, és a türelem sok jó dolgot ad.

Fejezet 3

3 1 Hányszor fenyegetett engem az egyiptomi asszony halállal! Hányszor adott át büntetésre, majd visszahívott és fenyegetett, és amikor nem akartam társaságában lenni 2 vele, ezt mondta nekem: Ura leszel nekem és mindennek, ami házamban van, ha odaadod magad 3 nekem, és olyan leszel, mint a mi urunk. De én emlékeztem atyám szavaira, és bementem 4 kamrámba, sírtam és imádkoztam Jáhvéhoz. És abban a hét évben böjtöltem, és az egyiptomiak előtt úgy jelentem meg, mint aki kényesen él, mert akik Jáhvéért böjtölnek, arc szépségét nyerik. 5 És ha uram távol volt otthonról, nem ittam bort; sem három napig nem vettem ételt magamhoz, hanem 6 a szegényeknek és betegeknek adtam. És korán kerestem Jáhvét, és sírtam a memphiszi egyiptomi asszony miatt, mert igen szüntelenül zaklatott engem, mert éjjel is hozzám jött látogatás ürügyén. 7 És mivel nem volt fiúgyermeke, úgy tett, mintha fiának tekintene engem, és így imádkoztam Jáhvéhoz, és ő fiúgyermeket szült. 8 És egy ideig fiaként ölelt engem, és én nem tudtam róla; de később arra törekedett, hogy 9 paráznaságra vonjon engem. És amikor észrevettem, halálig elszomorodtam; és amikor ő kiment, magamhoz tértem, és sok napig sirattam őt, mert felismertem álnokságát és csalását. 10 És kijelentettem neki a Magasságos szavait, hátha elfordulna gonosz kívánságától.

Fejezet 4

4 1 Gyakran tehát szavakkal hízelgett nekem, mint szent embernek, és beszédében álnokul dicsérte 2 tisztaságomat férje előtt, miközben arra vágyott, hogy egyedül létünkben tőrbe csaljon engem. Mert nyíltan tisztának magasztalt engem, és titokban ezt mondta nekem: Ne félj férjemtől; mert ő meg van győződve 3 tisztaságodról: mert még ha valaki mondana is neki rólunk, nem hinne. Mindezek miatt a földön feküdtem, és könyörögtem Jáhvéhoz, hogy Jáhve szabadítson meg engem az ő 4 csalásától.

[4, befejezve] És amikor ezzel semmire sem ment, ismét hozzám jött tanítás ürügyén, hogy megtanulja Jáhve igéjét. És ezt mondta nekem: Ha azt akarod, hogy elhagyjam bálványaimat, feküdj velem, és én rábírom férjemet, hogy távozzon bálványaitól, és 6 Jáhvéd törvényében fogunk járni. És mondtam neki: Jáhve nem akarja, hogy akik tisztelik őt, tisztátalanságban legyenek, sem nem gyönyörködik azokban, akik házasságtörést követnek el, 7 hanem azokban, akik tiszta szívvel és szeplőtelen ajkakkal közelednek hozzá. De ő hallgatott, 8 vágyva gonosz kívánságának beteljesítésére. És még inkább böjtnek és imának adtam magam, hogy Jáhve megszabadítson engem tőle.

Fejezet 5

5 1 És ismét, egy másik alkalommal ezt mondta nekem: Ha nem akarsz házasságtörést elkövetni, méreggel megölöm 2 férjemet; és téged veszlek férjemnek. Én tehát, amikor ezt hallottam, megszaggattam ruháimat, és mondtam neki: Asszony, tiszteld Jáhvét, és ne kövesd el 3 ezt a gonosz tettet, nehogy elpusztulj; mert tudd meg bizonyosan, hogy ezt a tervedet minden embernek kijelentem. Ő tehát 4 félve könyörgött, hogy ne jelentsem ki ezt a tervet. És eltávozott, ajándékokkal nyugtatva engem, és minden gyönyörűséget elküldve nekem az emberek fiaitól.

6 1, 2 És azután ételt küldött nekem varázslatokkal keverve. És amikor az eunuch, aki hozta, eljött, felnéztem, és egy rettenetes férfit láttam, aki a tállal együtt kardot adott nekem, és 3 észrevettem, hogy (az ő) terve az, hogy tőrbe csaljon engem. És amikor ő kiment, sírtam, sem 4 azt, sem más ételét nem kóstoltam meg. Így egy nap múlva hozzám jött, és meglátta az ételt, 5 és ezt mondta nekem: Miért van az, hogy nem ettél belőle? És mondtam neki: Azért, mert megtöltötted halálos varázslatokkal; és hogyan mondtad: Nem közeledek 6 bálványokhoz, hanem egyedül Jáhvéhoz. Most tehát tudd meg, hogy atyám Jáhvéja angyala által kijelentette nekem gonoszságodat, és én megtartottam azt, hogy meggyőzzelek téged, hátha látsz és megtérsz. 7 De hogy megtanuld, hogy az istentelenek gonoszságának nincs hatalma azokon, akik tisztaságban imádják Jáhvét, íme, veszek belőle és eszem előtted. És miután ezt mondtam, így imádkoztam: Atyáim Jáhvéja és Ábrahám angyala, légy velem; és ettem. 8 És amikor ezt látta, arcra borult lábaim előtt, sírva; és én felemeltem őt, és megintettem. És megígérte, hogy ezt a gonoszságot többé nem teszi.

Fejezet 7

7 1 But her heart was still set upon evil, and she looked around how to ensnare me, and sighing deeply she became downcast, though she was not sick. 2 And when her husband saw her, he said unto her: Why is thy countenance fallen? And she said unto him: I have a pain at my heart, and the groanings of my spirit oppress me; and so 3 he comforted her who was not sick. Then, accordingly seizing an opportunity, she rushed unto me while her husband was yet without, and said unto me: I will hang myself, or cast myself over a cliff, 4 if thou wilt not lie with me. And when I saw the spirit of Beliar was troubling her, I prayed unto the Yahweh, and said unto her: Why, wretched woman, art thou troubled and disturbed, blinded through sins? Remember that thou kill thyself. Asteho, the concubine of thy husband, [thy] rival, 6 will beat thy children, and thou wilt destroy thy memorial from off the earth. And she said unto me: Lo, then thou lovest me; let this suffice me: only strive for my life and my children, and 7 I expect that I shall enjoy my desire also. But I said unto her: For if a man hath fallen before the passion of a wicked desire and become enslaved by it, even as she, whatever he may hear with regard to that passion, he receiveth it with a view to his wicked desire.

Fejezet 8

8 1 I declare, therefore, unto you, my children, that it was about the sixth hour when she departed from me; and I knelt before the Yahweh all day, and all the night; and about dawn I rose up, weeping 2 the while and praying for a release from her. At last, then, she laid hold of my garments, forcibly dragging me to have connexion with her. 3 When, therefore, I saw that in her madness she was holding fast to my garment, I left it behind, and fled away naked. 4 And holding fast to the garment she falsely accused me, and when her husband came he cast me into prison in his house; and on the morrow he scourged me and sent me into Pharaoh's prison. 5 And when I was in bonds, the Egyptian woman was oppressed with grief, and she came and heard how I gave thanks unto the Yahweh and sang praises in the abode of darkness, and with glad voice rejoiced, glorifying my Yahweh that I was delivered from the lustful desire of the Egyptian woman.

Fejezet 9

9 1 And often hath she sent unto me saying: Consent to fulfil my desire, and I will release thee from thy bonds, and I will free thee from the darkness. And not even in thought did I incline unto 2 her. For Yahweh loveth him who in a den of wickedness combines fasting with chastity, rather than the man who in kings' chambers combines luxury with licence. And if a man liveth in chastity, and desireth also glory, and the Most High knoweth that it is expedient for him, He bestoweth this 3 also upon me. How often, though she were sick, did she come down to me at unlooked for times, 5 and listened to my voice as I prayed! And when I heard her groanings I held my peace. For when I was in her house she was wont to bare her arms, and breasts, and legs, that I might lie with her; for she was very beautiful, splendidly adorned in order to beguile me. And the Yahweh guarded me from her devices.

10 1, 2 Ye see, therefore, my children, how great things patience worketh, and prayer with fasting. So ye too, if ye follow after chastity and purity with patience and prayer, with fasting in humility of 3 heart, the Yahweh will dwell among you, because He loveth chastity. And wheresoever the Most High dwelleth, even though envy, or slavery, or slander befalleth (a man), the Yahweh who dwelleth in him, for the sake of his chastity not only delivereth him from evil, but also exalteth him even as me. 4, 5 For in every way the man is lifted up, whether in deed, or in word, or in thought. My brethren knew how my father loved me, and yet I did not exalt myself in my mind: although I was a child, 6 I had the fear of Yahweh in my heart; for I knew that all things would pass away. And I did nor raise myself (against them) with evil intent, but I honoured my brethren; and out of respect for them, even when I was being sold, I refrained from telling the Ishmaelites that I was a son of Jacob, a great man and a mighty.

Fejezet 11

11 1 Do ye also, my children, have the fear of Yahweh in all your works before your eyes, and honour 2 your brethren. For every one who doeth the law of the Yahweh shall be loved by Him. And when I came to the Indocolpitae with the Ishmaelites, they asked me, saying: Art thou a slave? And 3 I said that I was a home-born slave, that I might not put my brethren to shame. And the eldest of them said unto me: Thou art not a slave, for even thy appearance doth make it manifest. But 4 I said that I was their slave. Now when we came into Egypt they strove concerning me, which of 5 them should buy me and take me. Therefore it seemed good to all that I should remain in Egypt 6 with the merchant of their trade, until they should return bringing merchandise. And the Yahweh 7 gave me favour in the eyes of the merchant, and he entrusted unto me his house. And Yahweh blessed 8 him by my means, and increased him in gold and silver and in household servants. And I was with him three months and five days.

Fejezet 12

12 1 And about that time the Memphian woman, the wife of Pentephri, came down in a chariot, with 2 great pomp, because she had heard from her eunuchs concerning me. And she told her husband that the merchant had become rich by means of a young Hebrew, and they say that he had assuredly 3 been stolen out of the land of Canaan. Now, therefore, render justice unto

[12, concluded] him, and take away the youth to thy house; so shall the Yahweh of the Hebrews bless thee, for grace from heaven is upon him.

Fejezet 13

13 1 And Pentephris was persuaded by her words, and commanded the merchant to be brought, and said unto him: What is this that I hear concerning thee, that thou stealest persons out of the land 2 of Canaan, and sellest them for slaves? But the merchant fell at his feet, and besought him, saying: 3 I beseech thee, my lord, I know not what thou sayest. And Pentephris said unto him: Whence, then, is the Hebrew slave? And he said: The Ishmaelites entrusted him unto me until they should return. 4 But he believed him not, but commanded him to be stripped and beaten. And when he persisted 5 in this statement, Pentephris said: Let the youth be brought. And when I was brought in, I did 6 obeisance to Pentephris (for he was third in rank of the officers of Pharaoh). And he took me apart 7 from him, and said unto me: Art thou a slave or free? And I said: A slave. And he said: 8 Whose? And I said: The Ishmaelites. And he said: How didst thou become their slave? And 9 I said: They bought me out of the land of Canaan. And he said unto me: Truly thou liest; and straightway he commanded me to be stripped and beaten.

Fejezet 14

14 1 Now the Memphian woman was looking through a window at me while I was being beaten, for her house was near, and she sent unto him saying: Thy judgement is unjust; for thou dost punish 2 a free man who hath been stolen, as though he were a transgressor. And when I made no change in my statement, though I was beaten, he ordered me to be imprisoned, until, he said, the owners 3 of the boy should come. And the woman said unto her husband: Wherefore dost thou detain the 4 captive and well-born lad in bonds, who ought rather to be set at liberty, and be waited upon? For 5 she wished to see me out of a desire of sin, but I was ignorant concerning all these things. And he said to her: It is not the custom of the Egyptians to take that which belongeth to others before 6 proof is given. This, therefore, he said concerning the merchant; but as for the lad, he must be imprisoned.

Fejezet 15

15 1 Now after four and twenty days came the Ishmaelites; for they had heard that Jacob my father 2 was mourning much concerning me. And they came and said unto me: How is it that thou saidst that thou wast a slave? and lo, we have learnt that thou art the son of a mighty man in the land of 3 Canaan, and thy father still mourneth for thee in sackcloth and ashes. When I heard this my bowels were dissolved and my heart melted, and I desired greatly to weep, but I restrained myself, that I should not put my brethren to shame. And I said unto them, I know not, I am a slave. 4, 5 Then, therefore, they took counsel to sell me, that I should not be found in their hands. For they feared my father, lest he [should come and] execute upon them a grievous vengeance. For they had 6 heard that he was mighty with Yahweh and with men. Then said the merchant unto them: Release 7 me from the judgement of Pentiphri. And they came and requested me, saying: Say that thou wast bought by us with money, and he will set us free.

Fejezet 16

16 1 Now the Memphian woman said to her husband: Buy the youth; for I hear, said she, that they are selling him. 2 And straightway she sent a eunuch to the 3 Ishmaelites, and asked them to sell me. But since the eunuch would not agree to buy me (at their price) he returned, having made trial of them, and he made known to his mistress that they asked a large price for their slave. 4 And she sent another eunuch, saying: Even though they demand two minas, give them, do not spare the gold; only buy the boy, and bring him to me. 5 The eunuch therefore went and gave them eighty pieces of gold, and he received me; but to the Egyptian woman he said: I have given a hundred. 6 And though I knew (this) I held my peace, lest the eunuch should be put to shame.

Fejezet 17

17 1 Ye see, therefore, my children, what great things I endured that I should not put my brethren to 2 shame. Do ye also, therefore love one another, and with long-suffering hide ye one another's 3 faults. For Yahweh delighteth in the unity of brethren, and in the purpose of a heart that takes 4 pleasure in love. And when my brethren came into Egypt they learnt that I had returned their 5 money unto them, and upbraided them not, and comforted them. And after the death of Jacob my father I loved them more abundantly, and all things whatsoever he commanded I did very 6 abundantly for them. And I suffered them not to be afflicted in the smallest matter; and all that 7 was in my hand I gave unto them. And their children were my children, and my children as their servants; and their life was my life, and all their suffering was my suffering, and all their sickness 8 was my infirmity. My land was their land, and their counsel my counsel. And I exalted not myself among them in arrogance because of my worldly glory, but I was among them as one of the least.

Fejezet 18

18 1 If ye also, therefore, walk in the commandments of the Yahweh, my children, He will exalt you there, 2 and will bless you with good things for ever and ever. And if any one seeketh to do evil unto you, 3 do well unto him, and pray for him, and ye shall be redeemed of the Yahweh from all evil. [For], behold, ye see that out of my humility and long suffering I took unto wife the daughter of the priest of Heliopolis. And a hundred talents of gold were given me with her, and the Yahweh made 4 them to serve me. And He gave me also beauty as a flower beyond the beautiful ones of Israel, and He preserved me unto old age in strength and in beauty, because I was like in all things to Jacob.

Fejezet 19

19 1 Hear ye, therefore, my vision which I saw. 2 I saw twelve harts feeding. And nine of them were dispersed. Now the three were preserved, but on the following day they also were dispersed. 3 And I saw that the three harts became three lambs, and they cried to the Yahweh, and He brought them forth into a flourishing and well watered place, yea He brought them out of darkness into light. 4 And there they cried unto the Yahweh until there gathered together unto them the nine harts, and they became as twelve sheep, and after a little time they increased and became many 5 flocks. And after these things I saw and behold, twelve bulls were sucking one cow, which produced a sea of milk, and there drank thereof the twelve flocks and innumerable herds. 6 And the horns of the fourth bull went up unto heaven and became as a wall for the flocks, and in the midst of the two horns there grew 7 another horn. And I saw a bull calf which surrounded them twelve times, and it became a help to the bulls wholly. 8 And I saw in the midst of the horns a virgin [wearing a many-coloured garment, and from her] went forth a lamb; and on his right (was as it were a lion; and) all the beasts and all the reptiles rushed (against him), and the lamb over 9 came them and destroyed them. And the bulls rejoiced because of him, and the cow [and the 10 harts] exulted together with them. And these 11 things must come to pass in their season. Do ye therefore, my children, observe the commandments of the Yahweh, and honour Levi and Judah; for from them shall arise unto you [the Lamb of Yahweh, who taketh away the sin of the world] one who saveth [all the Gentiles and] Israel. 12 For His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, which shall not pass away; but my kingdom among you shall come to an end as a watcher's hammock, which after the summer disappeareth.

Fejezet 20

20 1 For I know that after my death the Egyptians will afflict you, but Yahweh will avenge you, and will 2 bring you into that which He promised to your fathers. But ye shall carry up my bones with you; for when my bones are being taken up thither, the Yahweh shall be with you in light, and Beliar shall be in darkness with the Egyptians. 3 And carry ye up Asenath your mother to the Hippodrome, and near Rachel your mother bury her. 4, 5 And

[Joseph concluded; then THE TESTAMENT OF BENJAMIN begins]

[20, concluded] when he had said these things he stretched out his feet, and died at a good old age. And all Israel mourned for him, and all Egypt, with a great mourning. 6 And when the children of Israel went out of Egypt, they took with them the bones of Joseph, and they buried him in Hebron with his fathers, and the years of his life were one hundred and ten years.