" These are especially The Book of Jamts (Protevangelivm), The Lite of the Virgin (S,ahidic Fragments, published in Forbes Robinson's CopUc ApocnijihcU GotpeU, 1806). The Death of Jogeph (Bohairic ana Sahidic, do.) which = The Ilist&ri/ of Joseph llie Carpenter (Arabic), Liber de Infnntid (Ciospel ot t'8e>ido-Matt.), The Goepel of the NativiliJ of 'Mary, The Arabic Cotpet 0/ the ChiMhoiid, The Gotpel of Thomas.
For the dates ot these see Lipsius in Diet. Christ. Biogr. ii. 700. The Prntevangrlinm dates in its present form from per- haps the latter part of the 3rd cent. The rest from perhaps the 4th to the 6th cent. Many ot these narrate the same incident, but one reference seemed to be sufficient here. It did not seem necessary to men'jon all minate variatioDS of the lei:encL
twelve, to fourteen according to others) ; the heralds proclaim this through all Juda>a, and .loseph, throwing away his axe, goes to meet them. The high priest takes the rods of all, enters into the teiiiiile, and prays, and returns the rods to each. There is no sign till Joseph receives his rod, the last of all, when a dove comes out of the rod and (lies upon his head. The priest says, ' Thou hast been chosen by lot to take into thy keeping the virgin of the "Lord.' But he refuses, saying, ' I have children ; and I am an old man, and she is a young girl. I am afraid lest I become a laughing- stock to the sons of Israel.' But he receives her [Protev. §§ 8, 9). After two years (Death Jos. jj xiv.), or four months (Niceph. Call. ii. 3, cf. Forbes Robinson, p. 187), the Annunciation takes place. The ' righteous old man,' coming in from his house- building in districts near the seashore (Pseudo- Matt. § 10), wishes to put her away privily, but on Mary's statement ot her innocence hesitates, and is assured by the angel in a dream (Protev. §§ 13, 14). Yet both he and Mary are accused by Annas the scribe, and by the priest, and are tried by the ordeal of drinking water and going to the hill-country. But they return to the priest iin- hurt (Protev. §§, 15. 16) and go home.
Having heard of the order for enrolment, Joseph sets MaiT upon an ass ; his son leads it, and ne himself follows (Protev. § 17). On arriving at Bethlehem he ^vrites his name by a scribe, ' Joseph the son of David, and Mary his wife, and Jesus his son are of the tribe of Judah' (Death Jos., Boh. § vii.). He brings her to a tomb (Lord Crawford's MS), an inn (Death Jos., Sah. vii.), a cave (Protev. § 18), where he leaves her while looking for a mid- wife. He sees all nature stand still in wonder (Protev. § 18). He is mentioned as being present at some of the many miracles performed during the flight to Egypt and the sojourn there (Pseudo- Matt. § 19 sqq. ; Arab. Gasp. §§ 10-35). Also after returning to Nazareth he is necessarily an actor in the painful tricks and precocious miracles ascribed to our Lord. He lives by his daUy toil, ' never eating bread for nought, but doing according to the law of Moses' (Death Jos., Boh. § ix. ). When he was an hundred and eleven years old his body was that of a youth, and he works at his trade of carpenter till the last day of his life (Hist. Jos. Carp. % 29), yet he is told that he is to die that year.* He goes up to Jerusalem, into the temple, repents before the altar, and prays. He returns to Nazareth, and laments. He is in great fear of death, and confesses to Jesus his sin in doubting Mary at the first, and in rebuking Him for His childish behaviour. Mary pleads with Jesus that Joseph may not die. While he himself is making the same request, his soul comes up to his throat. His children come and weep over him. Death comes with devils, who depart, rebuked by Jesus. Death is afraid (in Death Jos., Sah. lu. § xxiii. Jesm is obliged to go out before Death will come in). Jesus prays. Angels take Joseph's 8(ul (on Epepi 26 = July 20), putting it into silk najikins of fine texture. Michael and Gabriel watch it ; the angela sing before it till they give it to God. The in- habitants of Nazareth and Galilee gather together and mourn for him till the 9th hour, when they are put forth by Jesus, who pours water on the body and anoints it with oil. At Jesus' prayer two angels shroud the body. The body becomes in- corrupt even until the banquet of the thousand years (Hist. Jos. Carp. § 26). Jesus promises blessing to those who commemorate each anniver- sary of Joseph's death, give bread in his name to the poor, and wine to strangers and others on th« day of his commemoration ; who write out the book
• From here onwards the Death of Jogep\ (Boh.) Is almost the sole authority.
JOSEPH, MARYS HUSBAND
JOSEPH OF ARIMATHiEA
■7
of Joseph's friiinj:-fortli fruni tlie budy, or, if they are loo |kjoi-, cnU their sons by the name of Josepli {Death Jos., l!oh. § xxvi.). The ^eat ones of tlie city coming to bury Joseph find his shroud already fastened to his body. They dig at the door of the cave to place his body there. Jesus prays and eniljraces Joseph, who is then buried.