BOOK II
Chapter 1
The grief stricken family, Cain marries Luluwa and they move away.
1.When Luluwa heard Cain's words, she wept and went to call her
father and mother, and told them how that Cain had killed his
brother Abel.
2 Then they all cried
aloud and lifted up their voices, and slapped their faces, and threw
dust upon their heads, and rent asunder their garments, and went out
and came to the place where Abel was killed.
3 And they found him
lying on the earth, killed, and beasts around him; while they wept
and cried because of this just one. From his body, by reason of its
purity, went forth a smell of sweet spices.
4 And Adam carried him,
his tears streaming down his face; and went to the Cave of
Treasures, where he laid him, and wound him up with sweet spices and
myrrh.
5 And Adam and Eve
continued by the burial of him in great grief a hundred and forty
days. Abel was fifteen and a half years old, and Cain seventeen
years and a half.
6 As for Cain, when the
mourning for his brother was ended, he took his sister Luluwa and
married her, without leave from his father and mother; for they
could not keep him from her, by reason of their heavy heart.
7 He then went down to
the bottom of the mountain, away from the garden, near to the place
where he had killed his brother.
8 And in that place were
many fruit trees and forest trees. His sister bare him children, who
in their turn began to multiply by degrees until they filled that
place.
9 But as for Adam and
Eve, they came not together after Abel's funeral, for seven years.
After this, however, Eve conceived; and while she was with child,
Adam said to her, "Come, let us take an offering and offer it up
unto God, and ask Him to give us a fair child, in whom we may find
comfort, and whom we may join in marriage to Abel's sister."
10 Then they prepared an
offering and brought it up to the altar, and offered it before the
Lord, and began to entreat Him to accept their offering, and to give
them a good offspring.
11 And God heard Adam
and accepted his offering. Then, they worshipped, Adam, Eve, and
their daughter, and came down to the Cave of Treasures and placed a
lamp in it, to burn by night and by day, before the body of Abel.
12 Then Adam and Eve
continued fasting and praying until Eve's time came that she should
be delivered, when she said to Adam, "I wish to go to the cave in
the rock, to bring forth in it."
13 And he said, "Go, and
take with thee thy daughter to wait on thee; but I will remain in
this Cave of Treasures before the body of my son Abel."
14 Then Eve hearkened to
Adam, and went, she and her daughter. But Adam remained by himself
in the Cave of Treasures.
Chapter 2
A third son is
born to Adam and Eve.
1. And Eve brought forth
a son perfectly beautiful in figure and in countenance. His beauty
was like that of his father Adam, yet more beautiful.
2 Then Eve was comforted
when she saw him, and remained eight days in the cave; then she sent
her daughter unto Adam to tell him to come and see the child and
name him. But the daughter stayed in his place by the body of her
brother, until Adam returned. So did she.
3 But when Adam came and
saw the child's good looks, his beauty, and his perfect figure, he
rejoiced over him, and was comforted for Abel. Then he named the
child Seth, that means, "that God has heard my prayer, and has
delivered me out of my affliction." But it means also "power and
strength."
4 Then after Adam had
named the child, he returned to the Cave of Treasures; and his
daughter went back to her mother.
5 But Eve continued in
her cave, until forty days were fulfilled, when she came to Adam,
and brought with her the child and her daughter.
6 And they came to a
river of water, where Adam and his daughter washed themselves, b~
cause of their sorrow for Abel; but Eve and the babe washed for
purification.
7 Then they returned,
and took an offering, and went to the mountain and offered it up,
for the babe; and God accepted their offering, and sent His blessing
upon them, and upon their son Seth; and they came back to the Cave
of Treasures.
8 As for Adam, he knew
not again his wife Eve, all the days of his life; neither was any
more offspring born of them; but only those five, Cain, Luluwa,
Abel, Aklia, and Seth alone.
9 But Seth waxed in
stature and in strength; and began to fast and pray, fervently.
Chapter 3
Satan appears as
a beautiful woman tempting Adam, telling him he is still a youth,
"Spend thy youth in mirth and pleasuse," The different forms which
Satan takes.
1.As for our father
Adam, at the end of seven years from the day he had been severed
from his wife Eve, Satan envied him, when he saw him thus separated
from her; and strove to make him live with her again.
2 Then Adam arose and
went up above the Cave of Treasures; and continued to sleep there
night by night. But as soon as it was light every day he came down
to the cave, to pray there and to receive a blessing from it.
3 But when it was
evening he went up on the roof of the cave, where he slept by
himself, fearing lest Satan should overcome him. And he continued
thus apart thirty-nine days.
4 Then Satan, the hater
of all good, when he saw Adam thus alone, fasting and praying,
appeared unto him in the form of a beautiful woman, who came and
stood before him in the night of the fortieth day, and said unto
him:-
5 "0 Adam, from the time
ye have dwelt in this cave, we have experienced great peace from
you, and your prayers have reached us, and we have been comforted
about you.
6 "But now, 0 Adam, that
thou hast gone up over the roof of the cave to sleep, we have had
doubts about thee, and a great sorrow has come upon us because of
thy separation from Eve. Then again, when thou art on the roof of
this cave, thy prayer is poured out, and thy heart wanders from side
to side.
7 "But when thou wast in
the cave thy prayer was like fire gathered together; it came down to
us, and thou didst find rest.
8 "Then I also grieved
over thy children who are severed from thee; and my sorrow is great
about the murder of thy son Abel; for he was righteous; and over a
righteous man every one will grieve.
9 "But I rejoiced over
the birth of thy son Seth; yet after a little while I sorrowed
greatly over Eve, because she is my sister. For when God sent a deep
sleep over thee, and drew her out of thy side, He brought me out
also with her. But HE raised her by placing her with thee, while He
lowered me.
10 "I rejoiced over my
sister for her being with thee. But God had made me a promise
before, and said, 'Grieve not; when Adam has gone up on the roof of
the Cave of Treasures, and is separated from Eve his wife, I will
send thee to him, thou shalt join thyself to him in marriage, and
bear him five children, as Eve did bear him five.'
11 "And now, lo! God's
promise to me is fulfilled; for it is He who has sent me to thee for
the wedding; because if thou wed me, I shall bear thee finer and
better children than those of Eve.
12 "Then again, thou art
as yet but a youth; end not thy youth in this world in sorrow; but
spend the days of thy youth in mirth and pleasure. For thy days are
few and thy trial is great. Be strong; end thy days in this world in
rejoicing. I shall take pleasure in thee, and thou shall rejoice
with me in this wise, and without fear.
13 "Up, then, and
fulfill the command of thy God," she then drew near to Adam, and
embraced him.
14 But when Adam saw
that he should be overcome by her, he prayed to God with a fervent
heart to deliver him from her.
15 Then God sent His
Word unto Adam, saying, "O Adam, that figure is the one that
promised thee the Godhead, and majesty; he is not favourably
disposed towards thee; but shows himself to thee at one time in the
form of a woman; another moment, in the likeness if an angel; on
another occasions, in the similitude of a serpent; and at another
time, in the semblance of a god; but he does all that only to
destroy thy soul.
16 "Now, therefore,
O
Adam, understanding thy heart, I have delivered thee many a time
from his hands; in order to show thee that I am a merciful God; and
that I wish thy good, and that I do not wish thy ruin."
Chapter 4
Adam sees the
Devil in his true colors.
1. Then God ordered
Satan to show himself to Adam plainly, in his own hideous form.
2 But when Adam saw him,
he feared, and trembled at the sight of him.
3 And God said to Adam,
'Look at this devil, and at his hideous look, and know that he it is
who made thee fall from brightness into darkness, from peace and
rest to toil and misery.
4 And look, O Adam, at
him, who said of himself that he is God! Can God be black? Would God
take the form of a woman? Is there any one stronger than God? And
can He be overpowered?
5 "See, then, O Adam,
and behold him bound in thy presence, in the air, unable to flee
away! Therefore, I say unto thee, be not afraid of him; henceforth
take care, and beware of him, in whatever he may do to thee."
6 Then God drove Satan
away from before Adam, whom He strengthened, and whose heart He
comforted, saying to him, "Go down to the Cave of Treasures, and
separate not thyself from Eve; I will quell in you all animal lust."
7 From that hour it left
Adam and Eve, and they enjoyed rest by the commandment of God. But
God did not the like to any one of Adam's seed; but only to Adam and
Eve.
8 Then Adam worshipped
before the Lord, for having delivered him, and for having layed his
passions. And he came down from above the cave, and dwelt with Eve
as aforetime.
9 This ended the forty
days of his separation from Eve.
Chapter 5
The devil paints
a brilliant picture for Seth to feast his thoughts upon.
1. As for Seth, when he
was seven years old, he knew good and evil, and was consistent in
fasting and praying, and spent all his nights in entreating God for
mercy and forgiveness.
2 He also fasted when
bringing up his offering every day, more than his father did; for he
was of a fair countenance, like unto an angel of God. He also had a
good heart, preserved the finest qualities of his soul; and for this
reason he brought up his offering every day.
3 And God was pleased
with his offering; but He was also pleased with his purity. And he
continued thus in doing the will of God, and of his father and
mother, until he was seven years old.
4 After that, as he was
corning down from the altar, having ended his offering, Satan
appeared unto him in the form of a beautiful angel, brilliant with
light; with a staff of light in his hand, himself girt about with a
girdle of light.
5 He greeted Seth with a
beautiful smile, and began to beguile him with fair words, saying to
him, "O Seth, why abidest thou in this mountain? For it is rough,
full of stones and of sand, and of trees with no good fruit on them;
a wilderness without habitations and without towns; no good place to
dwell in. But all is heat, weariness, and trouble."
6 He said further, 'But
we dwell in beautiful places, in another world than this earth. Our
world is one of light and our condition is of the best; our women
are handsomer than any others; and I wish thee, O Seth, to wed one
of them; because I see that thou art fair to look upon, and in this
land there is not one woman good enough for thee. Besides, all those
who live in this world, are only five souls.
7 "But in our world
there are very many men and many maidens, all more beautiful one
than another. I wish, therefore, to remove thee hence, that thou
mayest see my relations and be wedded to which ever thou likest.
8 "Thou shalt then abide
by me and be at peace; thou shalt be filled with splendour and
light, as we are.
9 "Thou shalt remain in
our world. and rest from this world and the misery of it; thou shalt
never again feel faint and weary; thou shalt never bring up an
offering, nor sue for mercy; for thou shalt commit no more sin nor
be swayed by passions.
10 "And if thou wilt
hearken to what I say, thou shalt wed one of my daughters; for with
us it is no sin so to do; neither is it reckoned animal lust.
11 "For in our world we
have no God; but we all are gods; we all are of the light, heavenly,
powerful, strong and glorious."
Chapter 6
Seth's conscience
helps him, He returns to Adam and Eve.
1. When Seth heard these
words he was amazed, and inclined his heart to Satan's treacherous
speech, and said to him, "Saidst thou there is an-other world
created than this; and other creatures more beautiful than the
creatures that are in this world?"
2 And Satan said "Yes;
behold thou hast heard me; but I will yet praise them and their
ways, in thy hearing."
3 But Seth said to him,
"Thy speech has amazed me; and thy beautiful description of it all."
4 "Yet I cannot go with
thee to-day; not until I have gone to my father Adam and to my
mother Eve, and told them all thou hast said to me. Then if they
give me leave to go with thee, I will come."
5 Again Seth said, "I am
afraid of doing any thing without my father's and mother's leave,
lest I perish like my brother Cain, and like my father Adam, who
transgressed the commandment of God. But, behold, thou knowest this
place; come, and meet me here to-morrow."
6 When Satan heard this,
he said to Seth, "If thou tellest thy father Adam what I have told
thee, he will not let thee come with me.
7 But hearken to me; do
not tell thy father and mother what I have said to thee; but come
with me to-day, to our world; where thou shalt see beautiful things
and enjoy thyself there, and revel this day among my children,
beholding them and taking thy fill of mirth; and rejoice ever more.
Then I shall bring thee back to this place to-morrow; but if thou
wouldest rather abide with me, so be it."
8 Then Seth answered,
"The spirit of my father and of my mother, hangs on me; and if I
hide from them one day, they will die, and God will hold me guilty
of sinning against them.
9 "And except that they
know I am come to this place to bring up to it my offering, they
would not be separated from me one hour; neither should I go to any
other place, unless they let me. But they treat me most kindly,
because I come back to them quickly."
10 Then Satan said to
him, "What will happen to thee if thou hide thyself from them one
night, and return to them at break of day?"
11 But Seth, when he saw
how he kept on talking, and that he would not leave him-ran, and
went up to the altar, and spread his hands unto God, and sought
deliverance from Him.
12 Then God sent His
Word, and cursed Satan, who fled from Him.
13 But as for Seth, he
had gone up to the altar, saying thus in his heart. "The altar is
the place of offering, and God is there; a divine fire shall consume
it; so shall Satan be unable to hurt me, and shall not take me away
thence."
14 Then Seth came down
from the altar and went to his father and mother, whom he found in
the way, longing to hear his voice; for he had tarried a while.
15 He then began to tell
them what had befallen him from Satan, under the form of an angel.
16 But when Adam heard
his account, he kissed his face, and warned him against that angel,
telling him it was Satan who thus appeared to him. Then Adam took
Seth, and they went to the Cave of Treasures, and rejoiced therein.
17 But from that day
forth Adam and Eve never parted from him, to whatever place he might
go, whether for his offering or for any thing else.
18 This sign happened to
Seth, when he was nine years old.
Chapter 7
Seth marries
Aklia, Adam lives to see grand children and great - grand children.
1. When our father Adam
saw that Seth was of a perfect heart, he wished him to marry; lest
the enemy should appear to him another time, and overcome him.
2 So Adam said to his
son Seth, "I wish, O my son, that thou wed thy sister Aklia, Abel's
sister, that she may bear thee children, who shall replenish the
earth, according to God's promise to us.
3 "Be not afraid, O my
son; there is no disgrace in it. I wish thee to marry, from fear
lest the enemy overcome thee.'
4 Seth, however, did not
wish to marry; but in obedience to his father and mother, he said
not a word.
5 So Adam married him to
Aklia. And he was fifteen years old.
6 But when he was twenty
years of age, he begat a son, whom he called Enos; and then begat
other children than him,
7 Then Enos grew up,
married, and begat Cainan.
8 Cainan also grew up,
married, and begat Mahalaleel.
9 Those fathers were
born during Adam's lifetime, and dwelt by the Cave of Treasures.
10 Then were the days of
Adam nine hundred and thirty years, and those of Mahalaleel one
hundred. But Mahalaleel, when he was grown up, loved fasting,
praying, and with hard labours, until the end of our father Adam's
days drew near.
Chapter 8
Adam's remarkable
last words, He predicts the Flood, He exhorts his offspring to good,
He reveals certain mysteries of life.
1. When our father Adam
saw that his end was near, he called his son Seth, who came to him
in the Cave of Treasures, and he said unto him: -
2 "O Seth, my son bring
me thy children and thy children's children, that I may shed my
blessing on them ere I die."
3 When Seth heard these
words from his father Adam, he went from him, shed a flood of tears
over his face, and gathered together his children and his children's
children, and brought them to his father Adam.
4 But when our father
Adam saw them around him, he wept at having to be separated from
them.
5 And when they saw him
weeping, they all wept together, and fell upon his face saying, "How
shalt thou be severed from us, O our father? And how shall the earth
receive thee and hide thee from our eyes?" Thus did they lament
much, and in like words.
6 Then our father Adam
blessed them all, and said to Seth, after he had blessed them:-
7 "O Seth, my son, thou knowest this world - that it is full of sorrow, and of weariness;
and thou knowest all that has come upon us, from our trials in it I
therefore flow command thee in these words: to keep innocency, to be
pure and just, and trusting in God; and lean not to the discourses
of Satan, nor to the apparitions in which he will show himself to
thee.
8 But keep the
commandments that I give thee this day; then give the same to thy
son Enos; and let Enos give it to his son Cainan; and Cainan to his
son Mahalaleel; so that this commandment abide firm among all your
children.
9 "0 Seth, my son, the
moment I am dead take ye my body and wind it up with myrrh, aloes,
and cassia, and leave me here in this Cave of Treasures in which are
all these tokens which God gave us from the garden.
10 "0 my son, hereafter
shall a flood come and overwhelm all creatures, and leave out only
eight souls.
11 "But, 0 my son, let
those whom it will leave out from among your children at that time,
take my body with them out of this cave; and when they have taken it
with them, let the oldest among them command his children to lay my
body in a ship until the flood has been assuaged, and they come out
of the ship.
12 Then they shall take
my body and lay it in the middle of the earth, shortly after they
have been saved from the waters of the flood.
13 "For the place where
my body shall be laid, is the middle of the earth; God shall come
from thence and shall save all our kindred.
14 "But now, O Seth, my
son, place thyself at the head of thy people; tend them and watch
over them in the fear of God; and lead them in the good way. Command
them to fast unto God; and make them understand they ought not to
hearken to Satan, lest he destroy them.
15 "Then, again, sever
thy children and thy children's children from Cain's children; do
not let them ever mix with those, nor come near them either in their
words or in their deeds."
16 Then Adam let his
blessing descend upon Seth, and upon his children, and upon all his
children's children.
17 He then turned to his
son Seth, and to Eve his wife, and ,said to them, "Preserve this
gold, this incense, and this myrrh, that God has given us for a
sign; for in days that are coming, a flood will overwhelm the whole
creation. But those who shall go into the ark shall take with them
the gold, the incense, and the myrrh, together with my body; and
will lay the gold, the incense, and the myrrh, with my body in the
midst of the earth.
18 "Then, after a long
time, the city in which the gold, the incense, and the myrrh are
found with my body, shall be plundered. But when it is spoiled, the
gold the incense, and the myrrh shall be taken care of with the
spoil that is kept; and naught of them shall perish, until the Word
of God, made man shall come; when kings shall take them, and shall
offer to Him, gold in token of His being King; incense, in token of
His being God of heaven and earth; and myrrh, in token of His
passion.
19 "Gold also, as a
token of His overcoming Satan, and all our foes; incense as a token
that He will rise from the dead, and be exalted above things in
heaven and things in the earth; and myrrh, in token that He will
drink bitter gall; and feel the pains of hell from Satan.
20 "And now, 0 Seth, my
son, behold I have revealed unto thee hidden mysteries, which God
had revealed unto me. Keep my commandment, for thyself, and for thy
people."
Chapter 9
The death of
Adam.
1. When Adam had ended
his commandment to Seth, his limbs were loosened, his hands and feet
lost all power, his mouth became dumb, and his tongue ceased
altogether to speak. He closed his eyes and gave up the ghost.
2 But when his children
saw that he was dead, they threw themselves over him, men and women,
old and young, weeping.
3 The death of Adam took
place at the end of nine hundred and thirty years that he lived upon
the earth; on the fifteenth day of Barmudeh, after the reckoning of
an epact of the sun, at the ninth hour.
4 It was on a Friday,
the very day on which he was created, and on which he rested; and
the hour at which he died, was the same as that at which he came out
of the garden.
5 Then Seth wound him up
well, and embalmed him with plenty of sweet spices, from sacred
trees and from the Holy Mountain; and he laid his body on the
eastern side of the inside of the cave, the side of the incense; and
placed in front of him a lamp - stand kept burning.
6 Then his children
stood before him weeping and wailing over him the whole night until
break of day.
7 Then Seth and his son
Enos, and Cainan, the son of Enos, went out and took good offerings
to present unto the Lord, and they came to the altar upon which Adam
offered gifts to God, when he did offer.
8 But Eve said to them,
"Wait until we have first asked God to accept our offering, and to
keep by Him the soul of Adam His servant, and to take it up to
rest."
9 And they all stood up
and prayed.
Chapter 10
"Adam was the
first. . ."
1. And when they had
ended their prayer, the Word of God came and comforted them
concerning their father Adam.
2 After this, they
offered their gifts for themselves and for their father.
3 And when they had
ended their offering, the Word of God came to Seth, the eldest among
them, saying unto him, "O Seth, Seth, Seth, three times. As I was
with thy father, so also shall I be with thee, until the fulfilment
of the promise I made him - thy father saying, I will send My Word
and save thee and thy seed.
4 "But as to thy father
Adam, keep thou the commandment he gave thee; and sever thy seed
from that of Cain thy brother."
5 And God withdrew His
Word from Seth.
6 Then Seth, Eve, and
their children, came down from the mountain to the Cave of
Treasures.
7 But Adam was the first
whose soul died in the land of Eden, in the Cave of Treasures; for
no one died before him, but his son Abel, who died murdered.
8 Then all the children
of Adam rose up, and wept over their father Adam, and made offerings
to him, one hundred and forty days.
Chapter 11
Seth becomes head
of the most happy and just tribe of people who ever lived.
1. After the death of
Adam and of Eve, Seth severed his children, and his children's
children, from Cain's children. Cain and his seed went down and
dwelt westward, below the place where he had killed his brother
Abel.
2 But Seth and his
children, dwelt northwards upon the mountain of the Cave of
Treasures, in order to be near to their father Adam.
3 And Seth the elder,
tall and good, with a fine soul, and of a strong mind, stood at the
head of his people; and tended them in innocence, penitence, and
meekness, and did not allow one of them to go down to Cain's
children.
4 But because of their
own purity, they were named "Children of God," and they were with
God, instead of the hosts of angels who fell; for they continued in
praises to God, and in singing psalms unto Him, in their cave - the
Cave of Treasures.
5 Then Seth stood before
the body of his father Adam, and of his mother Eve, and prayed night
and day, and asked for mercy towards himself and his children; and
that when he had some difficult dealing with a child, He would give
him counsel.
6 But Seth and his
children did not like earthly work, but gave themselves to heavenly
things; for they had no other thought than praises, doxologies, and
psalms unto God.
7 Therefore did they at
all times hear the voices of angels, praising and glorifying God;
from within the garden, or when they were sent by God on an errand,
or when they were going up to heaven.
8 For Seth and his
children, by reason of their own purity, heard and saw those angels.
Then, again, the garden was not far above them, but only some
fifteen spiritual cubits.
9 Now one spiritual
cubit answers to three cubits of man, altogether forty-five cubits.
10 Seth and his children
dwelt on the mountain below the garden; they sowed not, neither did
they reap; they wrought no food for the body. not even wheat; but
only offerings. They ate of the fruit and of trees well flavoured
that grew on the mountain where they dwelt.
11 Then Seth often
fasted every forty days, as did also his eldest children. For the
family of Seth smelled the smell of the trees in the garden, when
the wind blew that way.
12 They were happy,
innocent, without sudden fear, there was no jealousy, no evil
action, no hatred among them. There was no animal passion; from no
mouth among them went forth either foul words or curse; neither evil
counsel nor fraud. For the men of that time never swore, but under
hard circumstances, when men must swear, they swore by the blood of
Abel the just.
13 But they constrained
their children and their women every day in the cave to fast and
pray, and to worship the most High God. They blessed themselves in
the body of their father Adam, and anointed themselves with it.
14 And they did so until
the end of Seth drew near.
Chapter 12
Seth's family
affairs. His death, The headship of Enos, How the outcast branch of
Adam's family fared.
1. Then Seth, the just,
called his son Enos, and Cainan, son of Enos, and Mahalaleel, son of
Cainan, and said unto them:-
2 "As my end is near, I
wish to build a roof over the altar on which gifts are offered."
3 They hearkened to his
commandment and went out, all of them, both old and young, and
worked hard at it, and built a beautiful roof over the altar.
4 And Seth's thought, in
so doing, was that a blessing should come upon his children on the
mountain; and that he should present an offering for them before his
death.
5 Then when the building
of the roof was completed, he commanded them to make offerings. They
worked diligently at these, and brought them to Seth their father
who took them and offered them upon the altar; and prayed God to
accept their offerings, to have mercy on the souls of his children,
and to keep them from the hand of Satan.
6 And God accepted his
offering, and sent His blessing upon him and upon his children. And
then God made a promise to Seth, saying, "At the end of the great
five days and a half, concerning which I have made a promise to thee
and to thy father, I will send My Word and save thee and thy seed."
7 Then Seth and his
children, and his children's children, met together, and came down
from the altar, and went to the Cave of Treasures - where they
prayed, and blessed themselves in the body of our father Adam, and
anointed themselves with it.
8 But Seth abode in the
Cave of Treasures, a few days, and then suffered - sufferings unto
death.
9 Then Enos, his first -
born son, came to him, with Cainan, his son, and Mahalaleel,
Cainan's son, and Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, and Enoch, Jared's
son, with their wives and children to receive a blessing from Seth.
10 Then Seth prayed over
them, and blessed them, and adjured them by the blood of Abel the
just, saying, "I beg of you my children, not to let one of you go
down from this Holy and pure Mountain.
11 Make no fellowship
with the children of Cain the murderer and the sinner, who killed
his brother; for ye know, O my children, that we flee from him, and
from all his sin with all our might because he killed his brother
Abel."
12 After having said
this, Seth blessed Enos, his first - born son, and commanded him
habitually to minister in purity before the body of our father Adam,
all the days of his life; then, also, to go at times to the altar
which he Seth had built. And he commanded him to feed his people in
righteousness, in judgment and purity all the days of his life.
13 Then the limbs of
Seth were loosened; his hands and feet lost all power; his mouth
became dumb and unable to speak; and he gave up the ghost and died
the day after his nine hundred and twelfth year; on the twenty -
seventh day of the month Abib; Enoch being then twenty years old.
14 Then they wound up
carefull the body of Seth, and embalmed him with sweet spices, and
laid him in the Cave Treasures, on the right side of our father
Adam's body, and they mourned for him forty days. They offered gifts
for him, as they had done for our father Adam.
15 After the death of
Seth, Enos rose at the head of his people, whom he fed in
righteousness, and judgment, as his father had commanded him.
16 But by the time Enos
was eight hundred and twenty years old, Cain had a large progeny;
for they married frequently, being given to animal lusts; until the
land below the mountain, was filled with them.
Chapter 13
"Among the
children of Cain there was much robbery, murder and Sin."
1. In those days lived
Lamech the blind, who was of the sons of Cain. He had a son whose
name was Atun, and they two had much cattle.
2 But Lamech was in the
habit of sending them to feed with a young shepherd, who tended
them; and who, when coming home in the evening wept before his
grandfather, and before his father Atun and his mother Hazina, and
said to them, "As for me, I cannot feed those cattle alone, lest one
rob me of some of them, or kill me for the sake of them." For among
the children of Cain, there was much robbery, murder and sin.
3 Then Lamech pitied
him, and he said, "Truly, he when alone, might be overpowered by the
men of this place."
4 So Lamech arose, took
a bow he had kept ever since he was a youth, ere he became blind,
and he took large arrows, and smooth stones, and a sling which he
had, and went to the field with the young shepherd, and placed
himself behind the cattle; while the young shepherd watched the
cattle. Thus did Lamech many days.
5 Meanwhile Cain, ever
since God had cast him off, and had cursed him with trembling and
terror, could neither settle nor find rest in any one place; but
wandered from place to place.
6 In his wanderings he
came to Lamech's wives, and asked them about him. They said to him,
"He is in the field with the cattle."
7 Then Cain went to look
for him; and as he came into the field, the young shepherd heard the
noise he made, and the cattle herding together from before him,
8 Then said he to Lamech,
"O my lord, is that a wild beast or a robber?"
9 And Lamech said to
him, "Make me understand which way he looks, when he comes up.
10 Then Lamech bent his
bow, placed an arrow on it, and fitted a stone in the sling, and
when Cain came out from the open country, the shepherd said to
Lamech, "Shoot, behold, he is coming."
11 Then Lamech shot at
Cain with his arrow and hit him in his side. And Lamech struck him
with a stone from his sling, that fell upon his face, and knocked
out both his eyes; then Cain fell at once and died.
12 Then Lamech and the
young shepherd came up to him, and found him lying on the ground.
And the young shepherd said to him, "It is Cain our grandfather,
whom thou hast killed, 0 my lord!"
18 Then was Lamech sorry
for it, and from the bitterness of his regret, he clapped his hands
together, and struck with his flat palm the head of the youth, who
fell as if dead; but Lamech thought it was a feint; so he took up a
stone and smote him, and smashed his head until he died.
Chapter 14
Time, like an
ever rolling stream, bears away another generation of men.
1.When Enos was nine
hundred years old, all the children of Seth, and of Cainan, and his
first-born, with their wives and children, gathered around him,
asking for a blessing from him.
2 He then prayed over
them and blessed them, and adjured them by the blood of Abel the
just saying to them, "Let not one of your children go down from this
Holy Mountain, and let them make no fellowship with the children of
Cain the murderer."
3 Then Enos called his
son Cainan and said to him, "See, O my son, and set thy heart on thy
people, and establish them in righteousness, and in innocence; and
stand ministering before the body of our father Adam, all the days
of thy life."
4 After this Enos
entered into rest, aged nine hundred and eighty - five years; and
Cainan wound him up, and laid him in the Cave of Treasures on the
left of his father Adam; and made offerings for him, after the
custom of his fathers.
Chapter 15
The offspring of
Adam continue to keep the Cave of Treasures as a family shrine.
1.After the death of
Enos, Cainan stood at the head of his people in righteousness and
innocence, as his father had commanded him; he also continued to
minister before the body of Adam, inside the Cave of Treasures.
2 Then when he had lived
nine hundred and ten years, suffering and affliction came upon him.
And when he was about to enter into rest, all the fathers with their
wives and children came to him, and he blessed them, and adjured
them by the blood of Abel, the just, saying to them, "Let not one
among you go down from this Holy Mountain; and make no fellowship
with the children of Cain the murderer."
3 Mahalaleel, his first
- born son, received this commandment from his father, who blessed
him and died.
4 Then Mahalaleel
embalmed him with sweet spices, and laid him in the Cave of
Treasures, with his fathers; and they made offerings for him, after
the custom of their fathers.
Chapter 16
The good branch
of the family is still afraid of the children of Cain.
1. Then Mahalaleel stood
over his people, and fed them in righteousness and innocence, and
watched them to see they held no intercourse with the children of
Cain.
2 He also continued in
the Cave of Treasures praying and ministering before the body of our
father Adam, asking God for mercy on himself and on his people;
until he was eight hundred and seventy years old, when he fell sick.
3 Then all his children
gathered unto him, to see him, and to ask for his blessing on them
all, ere he left this world.
4 Then Mahalaleel arose
and sat on his bed, his tears streaming down his face, and he called
his eldest son Jared, who came to him.
5 He then kissed his
face, and said to him, "O Jared, my son, I adjure thee by Him who
made heaven and earth, to watch over thy people, and to feed them in
righteousness and in innocence; and not to let one of them go down
from this Holy Mountain to the children of Cain, lest he perish with
them.
6 "Hear, O my son,
hereafter there shall come a great destruction upon this earth on
account of them; God will be angry with the world, and will destroy
them with waters.
7 "But I also know that
thy children will not hearken to thee, and that they will go down
from this mountain and hold intercourse with the children of Cain,
and that they shall perish with them.
8 "0 my son! teach them,
and watch over them, that no guilt attach to thee on their account."
9 Mahalaleel said,
moreover, to his son Jared, "When I die, embalm my body and lay it
in the Cave of Treasures, by the bodies of my fathers; then stand
thou by my body and pray to God; and take care of them, and fulfil
thy ministry before them, until thou enterest into rest thyself."
10 Mahalaleel then
blessed all his children; and then lay down on his bed, and entered
into rest like his fathers.
11 But when Jared saw
that his father Mahalaleel was dead, he wept, and sorrowed, and
embraced and kissed his hands and his feet; and so did all his
children.
12 And his children
embalmed him carefully, and laid him by the bodies of his fathers.
Then they arose, and mourned for him forty days.
Chapter 17
Jared turns
martinet. He is lured away to the land of Cain where he sees many
voluptuous sights, Jared barely escapes with a clean heart.
1.Then Jared kept his
father's commandment, and arose like a lion over his people. He fed
them in righteousness and innocence, and commanded them to do
nothing without his counsel. For he was afraid concerning them, lest
they should go to the children of Cain.
2 Wherefore did he give
them orders repeatedly; and continued to do so until the end of the
four hundred and eighty-fifth year of his life.
3 At the end of these
said years, there came unto him this sign. As Jared was standing
like a lion before the bodies of his fathers, praying and warning
his people, Satan envied him, and wrought a beautiful apparition,
because Jared would not let his children do aught without his
counsel.
4 Satan then appeared to
him with thirty men of his hosts, in the form of handsome men; Satan
himself being the elder and tallest among them, with a fine beard.
5 They stood at the
mouth of the cave, and called out Jared, from within it.
6 He came out to them,
and found them looking like fine men, full of light, and of great
beauty. He wondered at their beauty and at their looks; and thought
within himself whether they might not be of the children of Cain.
7 He said also in his
heart, "As the children of Cain cannot come up to the height of this
mountain, and none of them is so handsome as these appear to be; and
among these men there is not one of my kindred - they must be
strangers."
8 Then Jared and they
exchanged a greeting and he said to the elder among them, "O my
father, explain to me the wonder that is in thee, and tell me who
these are, with thee; for they look to me like strange men."
9 Then the elder began
to weep, and the rest wept with him; and he said to Jared, "I am
Adam whom God made first; and this is Abel my son, who was killed by
his brother Cain, into whose heart Satan put to murder him.
10 "Then this is my son
Seth, whom I asked of the Lord, who gave him to me, to comfort me
instead of Abel.
11 "Then this one is my
son Enos, son of Seth, and that other one is Cainan, son of Enos,
and that other one is Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, thy father."
12 But Jared remained
wondering at their appearance, and at the speech of the elder to
him.
13 Then the elder said
to him, "Marvel not, 0 my son; we live in the land north of the
garden, which God created before the world. He would not let us live
there, but placed us inside the garden, below which ye are now
dwelling.
14 "But after that I
transgressed, He made me come out of it, and I was left to dwell in
this cave; great and sore troubles came upon me; and when my death
drew near, I commanded my son Seth to tend his people well; and this
my commandment is to be handed from one to another, unto the end of
the generations to come.
15 "But, 0 Jared, my
son, we live in beautiful regions, while you live here in misery, as
this thy father Mahalaleel informed me; telling me that a great
flood will come and overwhelm the whole earth.
16 "Therefore, O my son,
fearing for your sakes, I rose and took my children with me, and
came hither for us to visit thee and thy children; but I found thee
standing in this cave weeping, and thy children scattered about this
mountain, in the heat and in misery.
17 "But, O my son, as we
missed our way, and came as far as this, we found other men below
this mountain; who inhabit a beautiful country, full of trees and of
fruits, and of all manner of verdure; it is like a garden; so that
when we found them we thought they were you; until thy father Mahalaleel told me they were no such thing.
18 "Now, therefore,
O my
son, hearken to my counsel, and go down to them, thou and thy
children. Ye will rest from all this suffering in which ye are. But
if thou wilt not go down to them, then, arise, take thy children,
and come with us to our garden; ye shall live in our beautiful land,
and ye shall rest from all this trouble, which thou and thy children
are now bearing."
19 But Jared when he
heard this discourse from the elder, wondered; and went hither and
thither, but at that moment he found not one of his children.
20 Then he answered and
said to the elder, "Why have you hidden yourselves until this day?"
21 And the elder
replied, "If thy father had not told us, we should not have known
it."
22 Then Jared believed
his words were true.
23 So that elder said to
Jared, "Wherefore didst thou turn about, so and so?" And he said, "I
was seeking one of my children, to tell him about my going with you,
and about their coming down to those about whom thou hast spoken to
me."
24 When the elder heard
Jared's intention, he said to him, "Let alone that purpose at
present, and come with us; thou shalt see our country; if the land
in which we dwell pleases thee, we and thou shall return hither and
take thy family with us. But if our country does not please thee,
thou shalt come back to thine own place."
25 And the elder urged
Jared, to go before one of his children came to counsel him
otherwise.
26 Jared, then, came out
of the cave and went with them, and among them. And they comforted
him, until they came to the top of the mountain of the sons of Cain.
27 Then said the elder
to one of his companions, "We have forgotten something by the mouth
of the cave, and that is the chosen garment we had brought to clothe
Jared withal."
28 He then said to one
of them, "Go back, thou, some one; and we will wait for thee here,
until thou come back. Then will we clothe Jared and he shall be like
us, good, handsome, and fit to come with us into our country."
29 Then that one went
back.
30 But when he was a
short distance off, the elder called to him and said to him, "Tarry
thou, until I come up and speak to thee."
31 Then he stood still,
and the elder went up to him and said to him, "One thing we forgot
at the cave, it is this - to put out the lamp that burns inside it,
above the bodies that are therein. Then come back to us, quick."
32 That one went, and
the elder came back to his fellows and to Jared. And they came down
from the mountain, and Jared with them; and they stayed by a
fountain of water, near the houses of the children of Cain and
waited for their companion until he brought the garment for Jared.
33 He, then, who went
back to the cave, put out the lamp, and came to them and brought a
phantom with him and showed it them. And when Jared saw it he
wondered at the beauty and grace thereof, and rejoiced in his heart
believing it was all true.
34 But while they were
staying there, three of them went into houses of the sons of Cain
and said to them, "Bring us to - day some food by the fountain of
water, for us and our companions to eat."
35 But when the sons of
Cain saw them, they wondered at them and thought: "These are
beautiful to look at, and such as we never saw before." So they rose
and came with them to the fountain of water, to see their
companions.
36 They found them so
very handsome, that they cried aloud about their places for others
to gather together and come and look at these beautiful beings. Then
they gathered around them both men and women.
37 Then the elder said
to them, "We are strangers in your land, bring us some good food and
drink, you and your women, to refresh ourselves with you."
38 When those men heard
these words of the elder, every one of Cain's sons brought his wife,
and another brought his daughter, and so, many women came to them;
every one addressing Jared either for himself or for his wife; all
alike.
39 But when Jared saw
what they did, his very soul wrenched itself from them; neither
would he taste of their food or of their drink.
40 The elder saw him as
he wrenched himself from them, and said to him, "Be not sad; I am
the great elder, as thou shalt see me do, do thyself in like
manner."
41 Then he spread his
hands and took one of the women, and five of his companions did the
same before Jared, that he should do as they did.
42 But when Jared saw
them working infamy he wept, and said in his mind, - My fathers
never did the like.
43 He then spread his
hands and prayed with a fervent heart, and with much weeping, and
entreated God to deliver him from their hands.
44 No sooner did Jared
begin to pray than the elder fled with his companions; for they
could not abide in a place of prayer.
45 Then Jared turned
round but could not see them, but found himself standing in the
midst of the children of Cain.
46 He then wept and
said, "O God, destroy me not with this race, concerning which my
fathers have warned me; for now, O my Lord God, I was thinking that
those who appeared unto me were my fathers; but I have found them
out to be devils, who allured me by this beautiful apparition, until
I believed them.
47 "But now I ask Thee,
O God, to deliver me from this race, among whom I am now staying, as
Thou didst deliver me from those devils. Send Thy angel to draw me
out of the midst of them; for I have not myself power to escape from
among them."
48 When Jared had ended
his prayer, God sent His angel in the midst of them, who took Jared
and set him upon the mountain, and showed him the way, gave him
counsel, and then departed from him.
Chapter 18
Confusion in the
Cave of Treasures, Miraculous speech of the dead Adam.
1.The children of Jared
were in the habit of visiting him hour after hour, to receive his
blessing and to ask his advice for every thing they did; and when he
had a work to do, they did it for him.
2 But this time when
they went into the cave they found not Jared, but they found the
lamp put out, and the bodies of the fathers thrown about, and voices
came from them by the power of God, that said, "Satan in an
apparition has deceived our son, wishing to destroy him, as he
destroyed our son Cain."
3 They said also, "Lord
God of heaven and earth, deliver our son from the hand of Satan, who
wrought a great and false apparition before him." They also spake of
other matters, by the power of God.
4 But when the children
of Jared heard these voices they feared, and stood weeping for their
father; for they knew not what had befallen him.
5 And they wept for him
that day until the setting of the sun.
6 Then came Jared with a
woeful countenance, wretched in mind and body, and sorrowful at
having been separated from the bodies of his fathers.
7 But as he was drawing
near to the cave, his children saw him, and hastened to the cave,
and hung upon his neck, crying, and saying to him, "O father, where
hast thou been, and why hast thou left us, as thou wast not wont to
do?" And again, "O father, when thou didst disappear, the lamp over
the bodies of our fathers went out, the bodies were thrown about,
and voices came from them"
8 When Jared heard this
he was sorry, and went into the cave; and there found the bodies
thrown about, the lamp put out, and the fathers themselves praying
for his deliverance from the hand of Satan.
9 Then Jared fell upon
the bodies and embraced them, and said, "O my fathers, through your
intercession, let God deliver me from the hand of Satan! And I beg
you will ask God to keep me and to hide me from him unto the day of
my death."
10 Then all the voices
ceased save the voice of our father Adam, who spake to Jared by the
power of God, just as one would speak to his fellow, saying, "O
Jared, my son, offer gifts to God for having delivered thee from the
hand of Satan; and when thou bringest those offerings, so be it that
thou offerest them on the altar on which I did offer. Then also,
beware of Satan; for he deluded me many a time with his apparitions,
wishing to destroy me, but God delivered me out of his hand.
11 "Command thy people
that they be on their guard against him; and never cease to offer up
gifts to God."
12 Then the voice of
Adam also became silent; and Jared and his children wondered at
this. Then they laid the bodies as they were at first; and Jared and
his children stood praying the whole of that night, until break of
day.
13 Then Jared made an
offering and offered it up on the altar, as Adam had commanded him.
And as he went up to the altar, he prayed to God for mercy and for
forgiveness of his sin, concerning the lamp going out.
14 Then God appeared
unto Jared on the altar and blessed him and his children, and
accepted their offerings; and commanded Jared to take of the sacred
fire from the altar, and with it to light the lamp that shed light
on the body of Adam.
Chapter 19
The children of
Jared are led astray.
1. Then God revealed to
him again the promise He had made to Adam; He explained to him the
5500 years, and revealed unto him the mystery of His coming upon the
earth.
2 And God said to Jared,
"As to that fire which thou hast taken from the altar to light the
lamp withal, let it abide with you to give light to the bodies; and
let it not come out of the cave, until the body of Adam comes out of
it.
3 But, O Jared, take
care of the fire, that it burn bright in the lamp; neither go thou
again out of the cave until thou receivest an order through a
vision, and not in an apparition, when seen by thee.
4 "Then command again
thy people not to hold intercourse with the children of Cain, and
not to learn their ways; for I am God who loves not hatred and works
of iniquity."
5 God gave also many
other commandments to Jared, and blessed him. And then withdrew His
Word from him.
6 Then Jared drew near
with his children, took some fire, and came down to the cave, and
lighted the lamp before the body of Adam; and he gave his people
commandments as God had told him to do.
7 This sign happened to
Jared at the end of his four hundred and fiftieth year; as did also
many other wonders, we do not record. But we record only this one
for shortness sake, and in order not to lengthen our narrative.
8 And Jared continued to
teach his children eighty years; but after that they began to
transgress the commandments he had given them, and to do many things
without his counsel. They began to go down from the Holy Mountain
one after another, and to mix with the children of Cain, in foul
fellowships.
9 Now the reason for
which the children of Jared went down the Holy Mountain, is this,
that we will now reveal unto you.
Chapter 20
Ravishing music;
strong drink loosed among the sons of Cain, They don colorful
clothing, The children of Seth look on with longing eyes, They
revolt from wise counsel; they descend the mountain into the valley
of iniquity. They can not ascend the mountain again.
1.Aafter Cain had gone
down to the land of dark soil, and his children had multiplied
therein, there was one of them, whose name was Genun, son of Lamech
the blind who slew Cain.
2 But as to this Genun,
Satan came into him in his childhood; and he made sundry trumpets
and horns, and string instruments, cymbals and psalteries, and lyres
and harps, and flutes; and he played on them at all times and at
every hour.
3 And when he played on
them, Satan came into them, so that from among them were heard
beautiful and sweet sounds, that ravished the heart.
4 Then he gathered
companies upon companies to play on them; and when they played, it
pleased well the children of Cain, who inflamed themselves with sin
among themselves, and burnt as with fire; while Satan inflamed their
hearts, one with another, and increased lust among them.
5 Satan also taught
Genun to bring strong drink out of corn; and this Genun used to
bring together companies upon companies in drink-houses; and brought
into their hands all manner of fruits and flowers; and they drank
together.
6 Thus did this Genun
multiply sin exceedingly; he also acted with pride, and taught the
children of Cain to commit all manner of the grossest wickedness,
which they knew not; and put them up to manifold doings which they
knew not before.
7 Then Satan, when he
saw that they yielded to Genun and hearkened to him in every thing
he told them, rejoiced greatly, increased Genun's understanding
until he took iron and with it made weapons of war.
8 Then when they were
drunk, hatred and murder increased among them; one man used violence
against another to teach him evil taking his children and defiling
them before him.
9 And when men saw they
were overcome, and saw others that were not overpowered, those who
were beaten came to Genun, took refuge with him, and he made them
his confederates.
10 Then sin increased
among them greatly; until a man married his own sister, or daughter,
or mother, and others; or the daughter of his father's sister, so
that there was no more distinction of relationship, and they no
longer knew what is iniquity; but did wickedly, and the earth was
defiled with sin; and they angered God the Judge, who had created
them.
11 But Genun gathered
together companies upon companies, that played on horns and on all
the other instruments we have already mentioned, at the foot of the
Holy Mountain; and they did so in order that the children of Seth
who were on the Holy Mountain should hear it.
12 But when the children
of Seth heard the noise, they wondered, and came by companies, and
stood on the top of the mountain to look at those below; and they
did thus a whole year.
13 When, at the end of
that year, Genun saw that they were being won over to him little by
little, Satan entered into him, and taught him to make dyeing -
stuffs for garments of divers patterns, and made him understand how
to dye crimson and purple and what not.
14 And the sons of Cain
who wrought all this, and shone in beauty and gorgeous apparel,
gathered together at the foot of the mountain in splendour, with
horns and gorgeous dresses, and horse races, committing all manner
of abominations.
15 Meanwhile the
children of Seth, who were on the Holy Mountain, prayed and praised
God, in the place of the hosts of angels who had fallen; wherefore
God had called them 'angels," because He rejoiced over them greatly.
16 But after this, they
no longer kept His commandment, nor held by the promise He had made
to their fathers; but they relaxed from their fasting and praying,
and from the counsel of Jared their father. And they kept on
gathering together on the top of the mountain, to look upon the
children of Cain, from morning until evening, and upon what they
did, upon their beautiful dresses and ornaments.
17 Then the children of
Cain looked up from below, and saw the children of Seth, standing in
troops on the top of the mountain; and they called to them to come
down to them.
18 But the children of
Seth said to them from above, "We don't know the way." Then Genun,
the son of Lamech, heard them say they did not know the way, and he
bethought himself how he might bring them down.
19 Then Satan appeared
to him by night, saying, "There is no way for them to come down from
the mountain on which they dwell; but when they come to-morrow, say
to them, 'Come ye to the western side of the mountain; there you
will find the way of a stream of water, that comes down to the foot
of the mountain, between two hills; come down that way to us."
20 Then when it was day,
Genun blew the horns and beat the drums below the mountain, as he
was wont. The children of Seth heard it, and came as they used to
do.
21 Then Genun said to
them from down below, "Go to the western side of the mountain, there
you will find the way to come down."
22 But when the children
of Seth heard these words from him, they went back into the cave to
Jared, to tell him all they had heard.
23 Then when Jared heard
it, he was grieved; for he knew that they would transgress his
counsel.
24 After this a hundred
men of the children of Seth gathered together, and said among
themselves, "Come, let us go down to the children of Cain, and see
what they do, and enjoy ourselves with them."
25 But when Jared heard
this of the hundred men, his very soul was moved, and his heart was
grieved. He then arose with great fervour, and stood in the midst of
them, and adjured them by the blood of Abel the just, "Let not one
of you go down from this holy and pure mountain, in which our
fathers have ordered us to dwell."
26 But when Jared saw
that they did not receive his words, he said unto them, "O my good
and innocent and holy children, know that when once you go down from
this holy mountain, God will not allow you to return again to it."
27 He again adjured
them, saying, "I adjure by the death of our father Adam, and by the
blood of Abel, of Seth, of Enos, of Cainan, and of Mahalaleel, to
hearken to me, and not to go down from this holy mountain; for the
moment you leave it, you will be reft of life and of mercy; and you
shall no longer be called 'children of God,' but 'children of the
devil.'
28 But they would not
hearken to his words.
29 Enoch at that time
was already grown up, and in his zeal for God, he arose and said,
"Hear me, O ye sons of Seth, small and great-when ye transgress the
commandment of our fathers, and go down from this holy mountain-ye
shall not come up hither again for ever."
30 But they rose up
against Enoch, and would not hearken to his words, but went down
from the Holy Mountain.
31 And when they looked
at the daughters of Cain, at their beautiful figures, and at their
hands and feet dyed with colour, and tattooed in ornaments on their
faces, the fire of sin was kindled in them.
32 Then Satan made them
look most beautiful before the sons of Seth, as he also made the
sons of Seth appear of the fairest in the eyes of the daughters of
Cain, so that the daughters of Cain lusted after the sons of Seth
like ravenous beasts, and the sons of Seth after the daughters of
Cain, until they committed abomination with them.
33 But after they had
thus fallen into this defilement, they returned by the way they had
come, and tried to ascend the Holy Mountain. But they could not,
because the stones of that holy mountain were of fire flashing
before them, by reason of which they could not go up again.
34 And God was angry
with them, and repented of them because they had come down from
glory, and had thereby lost or forsaken their own purity or
innocence, and were fallen into the defilement of sin.
35 Then God sent His
Word to Jared, saying, "These thy children, whom thou didst call 'My
children,' - behold they have transgressed My commandment, and have
gone down to the abode of perdition, and of sin. Send a messenger to
those that are left, that they may not go down, and be lost."
36 Then Jared wept
before the Lord, and asked of Him mercy and forgiveness. But he
wished that his soul might depart from his body, rather than hear
these words from God about the going down of his children from the
Holy Mountain.
37 But he followed God's
order, and preached unto them not to go down from that holy
mountain, and not to hold intercourse with the children of Cain.
38 But they heeded not
his message, and would not obey his counsel.
Chapter 21
Jared dies in
sorrow for his sons who had gone astray, A prediction of the Flood.
1. After this another
company gathered together, and they went to look after their
brethren; but they perished as well as they. And so it was, company
after company, until only a few of them were left.
2 Then Jared sickened
from grief, and his sickness was such that the day of his death drew
near.
3 Then he called Enoch
his eldest son, and Methuselah Enoch's son, and Lamech the son of
Methuselah, and Noah the son of Lamech.
4 And when they were
come to him he prayed over them and blessed them, and said to them,
"Ye are righteous, innocent sons; go ye not down from this holy
mountain; for behold, your children and your children's children
have gone down from this holy mountain, and have estranged
themselves from this holy mountain, through their abominable lust
and transgression of God's commandment.
5 "But I know, through
the power of God, that He will not leave you on this holy mountain,
because your children have transgressed His commandment and that of
our fathers, which we had received from them.
6 "But, O my sons, God
will take you to a strange land, and ye never shall again return to
behold with your eyes this garden and this holy mountain.
7 "Therefore, O my sons,
set your hearts on your own selves, and keep the commandment of God
which is with you. And when you go from this holy mountain, into a
strange land which ye know not, take with you the body of our father
Adam, and with it these three precious gifts and offerings, namely,
the gold, the incense, and the myrrh; and let them be in the place
where the body of our father Adam shall lay.
8 "And unto him of you
who shall be left, 0 my sons, shall the Word of God come, and when
he goes out of this land he shall take with him the body of our
father Adam, and shall lay it in the middle of the earth, the place
in which salvation shall be wrought."
9 Then Noah said unto
him, "Who is he of us that shall be left?"
10 And Jared answered,
"Thou art he that shall be left. And thou shalt take the body of our
father Adam from the cave, and place it with thee in the ark when
the flood comes.
11 "And thy son Shem,
who shall come out of thy loins, he it is who shall lay the body of
our father Adam in the middle of the earth, in the place whence
salvation shall come."
12 Then Jared turned to
his son Enoch, and said unto him "Thou, my son, abide in this cave,
and minister diligently before the body of our father Adam all the
days of thy life; and feed thy people in righteousness and
innocence."
13 And Jared said no
more. His hands were loosened, his eyes closed, and he entered into
rest like his fathers. His death took place in the three hundred and
sixtieth year of Noah, and in the nine hundred and eighty-ninth year
of his own life; on the twelfth of Takhsas on a Friday.
14 But as Jared died,
tears streamed down his face by reason of his great sorrow, for the
children of Seth, who had fallen in his days.
15 Then Enoch,
Methuselah, Lamech and Noah, these four, wept over him; embalmed him
carefully, and then laid him in the Cave of Treasures. Then they
rose and mourned for him forty days.
16 And when these days
of mourning were ended, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech and Noah remained
in sorrow of heart, because their father had departed from them, and
they saw him no more.
Chapter 22
Only three
righteous men left in the world, The evil conditions of men prior to
the Flood.
1. But Enoch kept the
commandment of Jared his father, and continued to minister in the
cave.
2 It is this Enoch to
whom many wonders happened, and who also wrote a celebrated book;
but those wonders may not be told in this place.
3 Then after this, the
children of Seth went astray and fell, they, their children and
their wives. And when Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech and Noah saw them,
their hearts suffered by reason of their fall into doubt full of
unbelief; and they wept and sought of God mercy, to preserve them,
and to bring them out of that wicked generation.
4 Enoch continued in his
ministry before the Lord three hundred and eighty-five years, and at
the end of that time he became aware through the grace of God, that
God intended to remove him from the earth.
5 He then said to his
son, "O my son, I know that God intends to bring the waters of the
Flood upon the earth, and to destroy our creation.
6 "And ye are the last
rulers over this people on this mountain; for I know that not one
will be left you to beget children on this holy mountain; neither
shall any one of you rule over the children of his people; neither
shall any great company be left of you, on this mountain."
7 Enoch said also to
them, "Watch over your souls, and hold fast by your fear of God and
by your service of Him, and worship Him in upright faith, and serve
Him in righteousness, innocence and judgment, in repentance and also
in purity."
8 When Enoch had ended
his commandments to them, God transported him from that mountain to
the land of life, to the mansions of the righteous and of the
chosen, the abode of Paradise of joy, in light that reaches up to
heaven; light that is outside the light of this world; for it is the
light of God, that fills the whole world, but which no place can
contain.
9 Thus, because Enoch
was in the light of God, he found himself out of the reach of death;
until God would have him die.
10 Altogether, not one
of our fathers or of their children, remained on that holy mountain,
except those three, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah. For all the rest
went down from the mountain and fell into sin with the children of
Cain. Therefore were they forbidden that mountain, and none remained
on it but those three men.