* The passages in square brackets are Jewish interpolations, vol.. 11 —36
sons of Jacob shall reign — Levi first, Judah second, etc. He draws a picture of future Messianic bliss (XXV. 1-5). Judah dies (xxvi. 1-4).
The Testament of Lisachar ('concernin" sim- plicity,' ji). — He begins with Rachel and 1-eah's dispute about the mandrakes. Rachel's contincncy is rewarded : she oilers the mandrakes to the Lord (i. 1-ii. 5). Issachar was a man of upright char- acter, a husbamlman, and generous to the poor and oppres.sed. lie dwells on the peace and |)0\ver of the single heart. Levi is to have the priesthood and Juilali the kingdom ; he bids his sons obey both (iii. 1-v. 8). He i)rophesies the aposta.sy of his ])osterity (vi. 1-4). lie is not conscious of sin ('unto death,' /3). He bids his sons follow his chastity, abstinence, and truthfulness. He dies (vii. 1-9).
The Testament of Zebulnn ('concerning com- passion and mercy,' /3). — He is not conscious of sin, except his suppression of the truth about Jo.seph. He gives details of the selling of Joseph : his price is spent on sandals by eight of the brethren ; his [Zebulun's] grief is described (i. 1- iv. 13). He was compassionate towards man and beast, hence his preservation from sickness and drowning (v. 1-5). He first made a l>oat to sail, and caught fish ; thus he supplied all who had need (vi. 1-8). [He once stole a garment from home to clothe the naked ; he showed Jiity at all times (vii. 1-viii. 3)— in 3 MSS only.] He exhorts to unity ; disunion will ruin his posterity (viii. 4-ix. 6) ; but they will repent, and will finally return on God's appearing. He assures his sons of his own resurrection — he will be their ruler. He dies (ix. 7-x. 7).
The Testament of Dan ( ' concerning anger and lying,' j3). — He confesses his jealousy against Joseph. Anger blinds a man, and masters him body and soul (i. 1-iv. 4). Vexation of soul makes the Lord depart. He bids his sons avoid lying, and love the Lord and one another (iv. 5-v. 3). His sons will fall away and opjrase Levi and Judah, but in vain ; [their prince is Satan, and they will join Levi and Judah in sin (v. 6, 7)]; he foretells their captivity and return ; salvation will arise from Judah and Levi ; Beliar will be overthrown ; ' the saints shall rest in Eden, and in the New Jerusalem shall the righteous rejoice' (v. 4-13). He bids his sons draw near to God and the angel that intercedes for them, ' for he is a mediator between God and man.' On the day on which Israel repents, the enemy's kingdom shall end. The Lord will transform Israel into an obedient nation, superior to the angels (vi. 1-6). He dies (vii. 1-3).
The Testament of Naphtali (' concerning natural goodness,' (3).— He speaks of his birth and his mother's family. He was swift of foot, and his body corresponded with his spirit ; bodily organs and their several functions are described (i. 1- ii. 10). He warns his sons not to go against nature and the law of God, as did the Gentiles, Sodom, and the Watchers (iii. 1-5). He prophesies his posterity's apostasy, and restoration, when a man shall come 'working righteousness ' (iv. 1-5). He "ives an account of his vision on the Mount of Olives : Levi obtains the sun, Judah the moon, and Joseph ascends on a winged bull. In a second vision — that of the Ship of Jacob in a storm — Joseph flees in a boat, Levi and Judah keep together ; at Levi's prayer they reach land (v. 1- vi. 9). Jacob on hearing these dreams concludes that Joseph is alive (vii. 1-4). Naphtali foretells th.at from Levi and Judah shall .salvation come. He contrasts the consequences of good and evil actions. He dies (viii. 1-ix. 3).
The Testament of Gad ('concerning hatred,' j3). — Misjudged liy Joseph, he hates him (i. 1-ii. 5).
562 TESTAMENTS OF 12 PATRIARCHS TESTAMENTS OF 12 PATRIARCHS
Hatred recognizes no good, liowever good a man may be ; it disregards God's law ; and, while love would fain quicken the dead, hatred would in all things work for death (iii. 1-iv. 7). Hatred leads to lying, and poisons the life ; the remedy is to be just and humble. ' True repentance after a godly sort' enlightens a man and 'leads the mind to salvation ' (v. 1-9). Gad's sickness proved that ' by what things a man transgresses, by the same also is he punished.' Heart and will must be freed from hatred. One should love from the heart and forgive, whether a man repents or not ; and pray for him who prospers more than oneself (v. 10- vii. 7). He bids his sons honour Judah and Levi. His posterity will fall away (viii. 1-5).
The Testament of Asher ('concerning the two faces of vice and virtue,' §). — He speaks of the two-foldness of things : if the soul is set on good, it does all well ; but, if on evil, it does all ill. He deals with cases of good deeds with ill motives, and cases of the reverse. He warns his sons of the nearness of pleasures to their excesses or opposites (i. 1-v. 4). He emphasizes the importance of sincerity and unity of purpose. The peaceful soul at death is met by the angel of peace, the troubled by the evil spirit it has served (vi. 1-vii. 3). [He foretells the future sin and dispersion of his tribe, as also those of Gad and Dan ; but they will finally be gathered again by God's mercy and for the sake of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (vii. 4-7).] He dies (viii. 1, 2).