The Testament of Simeon ('concerning envy,' /3). — He tells how strong and fearle.ss he was, yet he was jealous of Joseph and plotted his death, because the prince of deceit sent forth the spirit of jealousy and blinded his mind ; but God's angel delivered Joseph, as Simeon was away when Joseph came. In punishment for his wrath, Simeon's right hand was half-withered for seven days, whereupon he repented and besought the Lord (i. 1-ii. 14). He warns against the spirit of deceit and envy ; it wears away the envier and prompts to murder. After two years' fasting he learnt the remedy — to flee to the Lord ; then the evil spirit flees, the envier's mind is lightened, and he sympathizes with the object of his envy (iii. 1-6). He recalls Joseph's forgiving treatment of his brethren ; ' he was a good man, and had the Spirit of God within him.' Love expels envy with all its distracting power (iv. 1-v. 2). Simeon's descendants shall be few and divided, and not have sovereignty, as they shall be guilty of impurity, and resistance to Levi (v. 3-6). Still, if they forswear envy and stiH'- neckedness, Simeon shall flourish and spread far in the persons of his posterity (vi. 1, 2). Canaan, Amaiek, Cappadocia, the Hittites, and Ham shall perish. Shem shall be glorified, and the Lord Himself will appear, and save men ; evil spirits shall be trodden under foot, and Simeon shall arise (from the dead) (vi. 3-7). He enjoins obedience to Levi and Judah ; from whom will arise the salva- tion of God : from the one God will raise a High Priest, from the other a 'King (vii. 1-3). Simeon dies and is ultimately buried in Hebron (viii. I-ix.
The Testament of Levi ('concerning the priest- hood,' p). — At twenty he avenged Dinah. He describes his vision. in Abel-Maul, following on his sudden re.aliz.ation of the world's sin. He enters into each of the three ('seven,' ^) heavens, which are briefly described (i. 1-iii. 10). He foretells the Judgment (iv. 1). Levi is to be freed from iniquity, and to become to God ' a son, and a servant, and a minister of His presence,' and light up in Jacob the light of knowledge ['until the Lord shall visit all the Gentiles in His tender mercies for ever'] (iv. 2-6). He beholds the heavenly temple, and the Most High, and receives the priesthood from Him (V. 1, 2). The angel who intercedes (so ^) for Israel brings him back to earth, and arms him, and bids him execute vengeance on Shechem (v. 3-7). He and Simeon destroy the Shechemites ; he had opposed (so c) their being circumcised. He
TESTAi^IEXTS OF 12 PATRIARCHS TESTAMENTS OF 12 PATRIARCHS 561
speaks of their outrageous behaviour in general, and declares that ' the wratli of the Lord came upon them to the uttermost' (vi. 1-11). He fore- tells Jacob's conquest of the Canajinites (vii. 1-3). He describes his second vision ; .seven angels con- secrate him and put on him the high-]iriesllv robes ; they foretell his descendants' three-fold othces (i.e. Moses, the .Varonite priesthood, the Maccaba^an kings) ; the third portion sh.all be called by .a new name, and shall establisli a new priesthood, and hold a prophetic ollice (viii. 1-19). At Bethel Jacob is told in vision that Levi is to be priest ; he pays tithes to God through him (ix. 1-4). At Hebron Isaac teaches Levi tlie law of the priest- hood (ix. 5-14). [Tlie future captivity of Israel and desolation of Jerusalem, owing to the sins of Levi's posterity (X. 1-5).]* Levi speaks of his marriage and sons (xi. 1-xii. 7). He commands his children to fear God. study the Law, and keep it ; wisdom is the only inalienable possession (xiii. 1-9). [His descendants are intended to be the lights of Israel, and of the Gentiles ; but they will abrogate the Law, and be guilty of sacrilege, profanity, and im- purity. Tlie Temple will be laid waste, and, but for the merits of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all Lsrael would perish. For ' seventy weeks ' they will go astray and profane the priesthood, and murder ' a man who reneweth the law in the power of the Most High' (xiv. 1-xvi. 5).] [A fragment in which seven jubilee periods are apparently described (xvii. 1-9).] [Another obscure fragment, referring to a fifth week (Ezra and the Return) and a seventh (marked by corruption of the priesthood in pre-Maccabsean times) (xvii. 10, 11).] He foretells the failure of the priesthood, and the rise of a new priest, as a king inaugurating a period of Messianic bliss (xviii. 1-5). ['The heavens sliall be opened, and from the temple of glory shall come upon him sanctification, with the Father's voice. . . . And the spirit of understanding and sanctification shall rest upon him ' ; the Gentiles shall be enlightened, sin shall cease ; ' he (or rather ' He' ; see § 8) shall open the gates of paradise,' and give the saints to eat from the tree of life, and Beliar shall be bound by him (xviii. 6-14).] Levi's sons take an oath to keep the Law (xix. 1-3).
The Testament of Judah ('concerning courage,' /3). — Judah was an obedient son. His father blessed him and foretold his kingship (i. 1-6). He per- formed feats of strengtli, and slew Canaanite kings at Shechem and Razor (ii. 1-iv. 3). He describes the storming of various Canaanite towns (v. 1-vii. 11); he speaks of his marriage with Batli- shua (viii. 1-3), the war with Esau, who is slain by Jacob, the capture of the Edomite stronghold (ix. 1-8), Er and Onan's sin and death, the evil result of his [Judah's] Canaanite marriage (x. 1-xi. 5, xiii. 1-8). He recounts his own fall (xii. 1-12). AVine leads to fornication, which strips even a king of his kingship. In repentance he took no wine or Hesh till his old age. The fear of God is the only safeguard in drinking wine (xiv. 1-xvi. 5). He warns against the love of money and gazing on women : they harm soul and body, and hinder the service of God. Avarice is connected with idolatry. God had mercy on him because he had acted in ignorance (xvii. 1-xix. 4). Two spirits attend man, that of truth {i.e. conscience] and that of deceit ; the mind [i.e. will] is free to incline to either (xx. 1-5). He bids his sons love Levi ; the priesthood is superior to the kingship (xxi. 1-5). [He foretells the sins of the (Maccaba?an) kings, and the fall of the king- dom, till the appearing of God Himself. His sons will commit all manner of sins, be enslaved, repent, and be restored (xxi. 6-xxiii. 5).] The Messiah and His Kingdimi sh.all then come (xxiv. 1-6). The patriarchs shall rise from the dead, and the twelve