The Fisherman and First man to invent Boat, Preaches Treasure of Compassion for others

THE TESTAMENT OF ZEBULUN - 1

[Zebulun 1:1-37]
Zebulun, son of Jacob and Leah, recounts Joseph's ordeal partly

*1* THE copy of the words of Zebulun, which he enjoined on his sons before he died in the one hundred and fourteenth year of his life, two years after the death of Joseph.

*2* And he said to them: "Hear me, you sons of Zebulun attend to the words of your father.

*3* I, Zebulun, was born a good gift to my parents.

*4* For when I was born my father was increased very exceedingly, both in flocks and herds, when with the straked rods he had his portion.

*5* I have no consciousness of sin that I have sinned in all my days, except in the sin of thought.

*6* Nor yet do I remember that I have done any iniquity, except the sin of ignorance which I committed against Joseph; for I covenanted with my brethren not to tell my father what had been done.

*7* But I wept in secret many days on account of Joseph, for I feared my brethren, because they had all agreed that if any one should declare the secret, he should be killed.

*8* But when they wished to kill Joseph, I adjured them much with tears not to be guilty of this sin.

*9* For Simeon and Gad came against Joseph to kill him, and he said to them with tears: "Pity me, my brethren, have mercy on the bowels of Jacob our father: do not lay your hands on me to shed innocent blood, for I have not sinned against you.

*10* And if indeed I have sinned, with chastening chastise me, my brethren, but do not lay your hand on me, for the sake of Jacob our father."

*11* And as Joseph spoke these words, wailing as he did so, I was unable to bear his lamentations, and I began to weep, and my liver was poured out, and all the substance of my bowels was loosened.

*12* And I wept with Joseph and my heart sounded, and the joints of my body trembled, and I was not able to stand.

*13* And when Joseph saw me weeping with him, and them coming against him to kill him, he fled behind me, begging them.

*14* But meanwhile Reuben arose and said: "Come, my brethren, let us not kill him, but let us cast him into one of these dry pits, which our fathers digged and found no water."

*15* For it was for this reason the Lord forbade that water should rise up in them in order that Joseph should be preserved.

*16* And they did so, until they sold him to the Ishmaelites.

*17* For in his price I had no share, my children.

*18* But Simeon and Gad and six other of our brethren took the price of Joseph, and bought sandals for themselves, and their wives, and their children, saying:

*19* "We will not eat of it, for it is the price of our brother's blood, but we will assuredly tread it under foot, because he said that he would be king over us, and so let us see what will become of his dreams."

*20* [I skipped]

*21* [I skipped]

*22* [I skipped]

*23* [I skipped]

*24* [I skipped]

*25* And after he was cast into the pit my brothers sat down to eat and drink.

*26* But I, through pity for Joseph, did not eat, but watched the pit, since Judah feared lest Simeon, Dan, and Gad should rush off and slay him.

*27* But when they saw that I did not eat, they set me to watch him, till he was sold to the Ishmaelites.

*28* And when Reuben came and heard that while he was away Joseph had been sold, he tore his garments, and mourning, said:

*29* "How shall I look on the face of my father Jacob?" And he took the money and ran after the merchants but as he failed to find them he returned grieving.

*30* But the merchants had left the broad road and marched through the Troglodytes by a short cut.

*31* But Reuben was grieved, and ate no food that day.

*32* Dan therefore came to him and said: "Weep not, neither grieve; for we have found what we can say to our father Jacob.

*33* Let us kill a kid of the goats, and dip in it the coat of Joseph; and let us send it to Jacob, saying: Know, is this the coat of your son?"

*34* And they did so. For they stripped off from Joseph his coat when they were selling him, and put upon him the garment of a slave.

*35* Now Simeon took the coat, and would not give it up, for he wished to tear it with his sword, as he was angry that Joseph lived and that he had not killed him.

*36* Then we all rose up and said to him: "If you do not give up the coat, we will say to our father that you alone did this evil thing in Israel."

*37* And so he gave it to them, and they did even as Dan had said.

THE TESTAMENT OF ZEBULUN - 2

[Zebulun 2:1-42]

Zebulun preaches human sympathy and understanding of one's fellow men.

*1* AND now children, I urge you to keep the commands of the Lord, and to show mercy to your neighbours, and to have compassion towards all, not towards men only, but also towards animals.

*2* For all this thing's sake the Lord blessed me, and when all my brethren were sick, I escaped without sickness, for the Lord knows the purposes of each one.

*3* Have, therefore, compassion in your hearts, my children, because even as a man does to his neighbour, even so also will the Lord do to him.

*4* For the sons of my brethren were sickening and were dying on account of Joseph, because they showed no mercy in their hearts; but my sons were preserved without sickness, as you know.

*5* And when I was in the land of Canaan, by the sea-coast, I made a catch of fish for Jacob my father; and when many were choked in the sea, I continued unhurt.

*6* I was the first to invent a boat to sail on the sea, for the Lord gave me understanding and wisdom therein.

*7* And I let down a rudder behind it, and I stretched a sail on another upright piece of wood in the midst.

*8* And I sailed therein along the shores, catching fish for the house of my father until we came to Egypt.

*9* And through compassion I shared my catch with every stranger.

*10* And if a man was a stranger, or sick, or aged, I boiled the fish, and dressed them well, and offered them to all men, as every man had need, grieving with and having compassion on them.

*11* Which is why also the Lord satisfied me with abundance of fish when catching fish; for he that shares with his neighbour receives manifold more from the Lord.

*12* For five years I caught fish and gave thereof to every man whom I saw, and sufficed for all the house of my father.

*13* And in the summer I caught fish, and in the winter I kept sheep with my brethren.

*14* Now I will declare to you what I did.

*15* I saw a man in distress through unclothedness in wintertime, and I had compassion on him, and stole away a garment secretly from my father's house, and gave it to him who was in distress.

*16* Do you, therefore, my children, from that which God bestows on you, show compassion and mercy without hesitation to all men, and give to every man with a good heart.

*17* And if you have not the means to give to him that needs, have compassion for him in bowels of mercy.

*18* I know that my hand did not find the means to give to him that needed, and I walked with him weeping for seven furlongs, and my bowels yearned towards him in compassion.

*19* Have, therefore, yourselves also, my children, compassion towards every man with mercy, that the Lord also may have compassion and mercy on you.

*20* Because also in, the last days God will send His Compassion on the earth, and wherever He finds bowels of mercy He dwells in him.

*21* For in the degree in which a man has compassion on his neighbours, in the same degree the Lord has also upon him.

*22" And when we went down into Egypt, Joseph bore no malice against us.

*23* To whom taking heed, do you also, my children, approve yourselves without malice, and love one another; and do not set down in account, each one of you, evil against his brother.

*24* For this breaks unity and divides all kindred, and troubles the soul, and wears away the countenance.

*25* Observe, therefore, the waters, and know when they flow together, they sweep along stones, trees, earth, and other things.

*26* But if they are divided into many streams, the earth swallows them up, and they vanish away.

*27* So shall you also be if you be divided. Therefore, do not be divided into two heads for everything which the Lord made has but one head, and two shoulders, two hands, two feet, and all the remaining members.

*28* For I have learnt in the writing of my fathers, that you shall be divided in Israel, and you shall follow two kings, and shall work every abomination.

*29* And your enemies shall lead you captive, and you shall be evil entreated among the Gentiles, with many infirmities and tribulations.

*30* And after these things you shall remember the Lord and repent, and He shall have mercy on you, for He is merciful and compassionate.

*31* And He does not set down in account evil against the sons of men, because they are flesh, and are deceived through their own wicked deeds.

*32* And after these things shall there arise to you the Lord Himself, the Light of righteousness, and you shall return to your land.

*33* And you shall see Him in Jerusalem, for His name's sake.

*34* And again through the wickedness of your works shall you provoke Him to anger,

*35* And you shall be cast away by Him to the time of consummation.

*36* And now, my children, do not grieve that I am dying, nor be cast down in that I am coming to my end.

*37* For I shall rise again in the midst of you, as a ruler in the midst of his sons; and I shall rejoice in the midst of my tribe, as many as shall keep the law of the Lord, and the commandments of Zebulun their father.

*38* But on the ungodly shall the Lord bring eternal fire, and destroy them throughout all generations.

*39* But I am now hastening away to my rest, as did also my fathers.

*40* But do you fear the Lord our God with all your strength all the days of your life."

*41* And when he had said these things he fell asleep, at a good old age.

*42* And his sons laid him in a wooden coffin. And afterwards they carried him up and buried him in Hebron, with his fathers.

+

++